Reversible self-adhesive label applicator

Abstract: A label application of the type that comprises a label carrier reel (1) and a withdrawal roller (3,4′,6′) for the lable tape, a rewinder spool and an applicator arm (7), characterized by its detachable applicator arm so that the arm or the components it carries can be fitted to left or right without modification of the other components of the applicator and having additionally the configuration of the tape withdrawal rollers symmetical with respect to the plane passing through the axis of the lable carrier reel and the suspension arm permitting withdrawal of the tape in the same direction with either the left or the right hand assembly.

Description: This invention refers to a reversible label applicator head for self-adhesive labels according to the preamble of claim 1. Labelling heads are used in the bottling process for the attachment of an adhesibe label to each bottle leaving the plant. Some machines are for affixing a label as such and others for tagging or the attachment of so-called "counter labels" or tickets. Bottles may be presented to the machine from various directions and the heads referred to may be left or right handed to deal with the direction in which the bottles are transferred in the machine. This occasions considerable difficulties in setting the machine in that it may require a re-assembly of the machine in the appropriate form with a consequent loss of time during the setting for production. To tackle this problem DE-U 87 06 722 discloses a reversible label applicator head in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. According to this prior art label applicator head, the support means are formed by a plate which is symmetrical in respect to a centre line which goes through the motor, dividing the plate in two halves. The label carrier tape reel and the bare tape collector reel can be changed from one half to the other depending whether the end of the applicator arm where the labels are separated from the tape should be arranged on left or the right side of the plate. For changing the applicator arm from one side to the other still various manipulations are necessary, however. That is, besides the applicator arm, the label carrier tape reel, the bare tape collector reel, the driving roller and the applicator arm have to be changed from one side of the plate to the other, the sense of rotations of the motor has to be changed, too, and an adaptation of the driving means is necessary. The object of the present invention is to provide a reversible label applicator head which is set up with a very simple change over to the left or to the right side as maybe desired, thus reducing the costs in production with a decreased setting-up time. This object is attained by the reversible label applicator head according to claim 1. Essentially, the label applicator head as disclosed herein consists of an assembly which includes the label carrier tape reel, rollers for withdrawing and for guiding the tape with the additional feature of having the applicator arm detachable from the support means for supporting the applicator arm, allowing it to be easily fitted with its end, where the labels are separated from the tape, to either the left or the right hand side of said support means. The principles disclosed in this invention patent can be applied to both the "L" type machine heads and the straight or linear type of head. In the former the applicator arm lies at an angle of 90° to the label reel suspension arm while in the latter the suspension arm and the applicator arm form one single piece. In both cases in order to alter the orientation from left to right or vice-versa it is simply a question of positioning the applicator arm relative to the guide rollers of the label carrier tape in accordance with this invention patent, the reversibilty being maintained whether the withdrawal or traction rollers are pulling from one side or the other. To assist in the explanation drawings showing two preferred but non limititive embodiments of the device are attached to this specification. Figures 1 and 2 show respectively a labelling head of the "L" type in both the left hand and the right hand configuration. Figures 3 and 4 show similarly the two options as applied to the linear type head. The labelling head comprises, in accordance with this patent a label reel or spool -1- from which the strip or label carrier tape -2- leaves tangentially, being guided by the first guide roller -3- then passing to an upper guide roller -4- which is located at the level of the centre of the label reel -1-along the length -5- of the tape which is then guided by a third roller -6- along the arm -7- which has at its extremity the plate -8- where the label is separated from its carrier tape. The tape -9- then passes without its labels down to an intermediate roller -10- then on to a further intermediate roller -11- and on to the bare tape collector reel -12-. Other devices on the head unit include among others a control device -12- and the driving motor -14-. A characteristic of the labelling head, which is the object of this patent is that the tape withdrawal rollers -11- rotate in the same direction of rotation as shown by arrow A, independent whether in left hand or right hand operation, this making it an essential feature, the arrangement as shown with the first guide roller -3- in the plane of symmetry of the label carrier reel -1- and the position of the roller -4- at the level of the centre line of the reel -1- as well as the position of the guide roller -6-. Both the roller -4- and the roller -6- are duplicated as shown as roller -4′-and -6′- arranged symmetrically with respect to the rollers -4- and -6-. Other fundamental characteristics of the labelling head object of this patent include the detachable applicator arm -7- such that it may be fitted either towards the right as in figure 1 or towards the left as in figure 2 without requiring functional modifications. Figure 2 shows that with the left hand configuration the label carrier tape -2- also leaves the label reel -1 tangentially, passing by the same guide roller -3- then to the upper roller -4′- then on to the guide roller -6′-, symmetrical to roller -6- and on to the arm -7- which will have been fitted to the left. Other than the alterations mentioned above no further modifications are required to the head in order to change from one side to the other as may be required at the time of setting up. In the linear or straight version of the head as shown in figures 3 and 4 the reel -15- is carried on the arm -16- which is a prolongation of the applicator arm -17-. The first roller -18- is positioned in its own line of symmetry with rollers -19- and -19′- lying symmetrical with respect to the central plane so allowing the tape to be drawn to the left or right without altering other components. From the above it can be seen that the labelling head can be used for either left or right hand feed with the minimum of setting time given the design of the head with its easily removable applicator arm or the components carried by the arm and which can be fitted either one side or the other.

Claims: A reversible label applicator head for self-adhesive labels which comprises a label carrier tape reel (1, 15), a suspension arm (16) carrying the tape reel (1, 15) the axis of the tape reel (1, 15) being perpendicular to the suspension arm, a plurality of rollers (3, 4, 4', 6, 6', 18, 19, 19') for the tape (2), a traction or withdrawal roller (11), a bare tape collector reel (12), an applicator arm (7, 17) having one end where the labels are separated from the tape (2), and support means for supporting the applicator arm (7, 17), the applicator arm (7, 17) being detachable so that it can be fitted to the support means with said one end being on the left or the right side of the support means, characterized in that the first roller (3, 18), which the tape (2) is guided directly from the label carrier tape reel (1, 15), is positioned in a plane of symmetry in which both the suspension arm (16) and the axis of the label carrier tape reel (1, 15) extend, a plurality of rollers (4, 4', 6, 6', 19, 19') being located symmetrically with respect to said plane of symmetry, and the applicator arm (7, 17) extending either in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of symmetry or in the plane of symmetry. A reversible label applicator head as in claim 1, characterized in that one pair of the rollers (4, 4', 19, 19') is positioned symmetrically with respect to said plane of symmetry and is located substantially at the line through the centre of said label carrier reel (1) perpendicular to said axis of said reel (1) and Perpendicular to the direction in which said suspension arm (16) extends. A reversible label applicator head as claimed in claim 1 and 2, characterized by having a pair of rollers (6, 6') positioned symmetrically with respect to said plane of symmetry, said rollers (6, 6') guiding the tape (2) directly towards the applicator arm (7).

Inventors: POLLS-ROSELLO JUAN, POLLS-ROSELLO, JUAN, Polls Rosello, Juan
Applicants: POLLS ROSELLO JUAN, POLLS-ROSELLO, JUAN
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65C9
IPC codes: B65C9