Abstract:
A device that continuously applies self-adhesive handles to moving articles using a pivotable paddle that can rotate approximately 180 degrees from a vertical stopped position. The rotation of the paddle is synchronized with the movement of the articles so that an adhesive tape can be applied to a moving article by placing a first end of the tape on a downstream face of the article, and a second end of the tape is applied to an upstream face of the article, thereby forming a handle on the article. Clamps are used to temporarily connect the paddle to the tape as well as pull the tape while a knife is used for cutting the tape.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a device for the continuous application of self-adhesive handles to moving articles. 
     Conventional devices are mounted on a frame and include: means for supporting a spool of adhesive tape on one face, means for guiding the tape to a handle application station, a station that applies a section of non-adhesive tape or a label to the adhesive surface of the tape to form the gripping area of each handle with regular spacing, and at the application station, a paddle rotating about a horizontal, transverse axis that is disposed above the trajectory of the articles moving on a conveyor belt. The paddle is connected to drive means that can cause it to pivot one half-turn synchronously with movement of an article from a vertical position in which its lower part is in the trajectory of the articles and its face that supports the tape faces upstream, and being provided with holding means that temporarily and/or sequentially connect each of its lengthwise faces with the handle formed at the end of adhesive tape to pull this tape and apply its non-adhesive back to said lengthwise face, and, additionally, cooperates with means for cutting the end handle off the tape. 
     With such a conventional device, when an article comes in contact with the lower end of the vertically disposed paddle and presenting the non-cut handle of the adhesive tape and disposed with its adhesive face facing the moving article, a detector causes the paddle to rotate one half-turn. After the adhesive end of the handle has been applied to the downstream face of the article, upstream tilting of the paddle, during which tilting said paddle assumes a horizontal position above the article before returning to the vertical position just behind the article, guides the wrapping of the handle while bringing and applying the other adhesive end of this handle against the upstream face of the article. 
     Simultaneously, rotation of the paddle unwinds the adhesive tape and brings the next handle against the other lengthwise face of the paddle, namely against the face which, at the end of the cycle, points upstream. 
     As soon as the paddle has become vertical once again, the upstream end of the handle applied to the article is cut from the adhesive tape to enable the object to continue its movement. 
     Such a device is described in European Patent 560,699 in the name of the applicant according to which each end of the paddle has means for holding the adhesive tape, but also cutting means. The holding means are comprised of levers oscillating in the traverse plane and coming together to grip the tape in order to pull the tape and to form a counter-blade cooperating with the cutter blade that cuts the tape. 
     In the absence of regular maintenance and replacement of the two knives as soon as they become dull, this arrangement causes operating mishaps requiring production downtime. Typical mishaps are insufficient cutting, excessive adhesion of the tape to the clamp, fouling of the cutting means, and tearing off of the applied handle. 
     Another drawback of this device is that it requires precise adjustments of the timing means for the movements of the clamps and the movements of the knives. 
     Finally, the arrangement, at each end of the paddle, of the holding and cutting mechanisms with their drive means causes weights and inertias that limit the rotational speed of the paddle and, in any event, do not allow it to function satisfactorily at the high speeds now required, which are on the order of 80 to 100 articles/minute. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a device that simplifies and lightens the structure of the paddle and eliminates cutting mishaps while allowing the device to function at higher speeds. 
     The device, according to the invention, provides cutting means that include, on each of the two ends of the paddle, a transverse cylinder reversing the adhesive tape, the cylinder being spaced from the end of the paddle to which it is connected by a lateral support, and by a transverse cutting blade supported by the frame and disposed such that it becomes inserted between the cylinder and the end of the paddle that is upstream of the trajectory of the objects, when said paddle is substantially horizontal, while the holding means are comprised of two clamps supported by the paddle and disposed lengthwise on either side of and near the rotational axis of the paddle, each clamp cooperating with means disposed outside the paddle and controlling its movements between a holding position, in which it holds part of the adhesive tape provided with the label on the corresponding lengthwise face of the paddle, and a retracted position in which the clamp is transversely remote from the aforesaid face to enable the adhesive tape to be placed on the article. 
     Thus, separation of the handle from the rest of the tape takes place outside of the transfer area and before the transfer to the moving object, by means of a knife assuming a fixed position at this time and the cylinder provided at the end of the paddle forming a counter-blade. When the cut takes place, the cut-off end of the tape remains applied to the face of the paddle by the movement thereof until the adhesive part comes in contact with the downstream face of the next moving article. Before cutting, the section of adhesive tape to be applied to the article is connected to the paddle by actuation of a clamp. 
     This device, which uses the energy of the paddle to bring about cutting relative to a fixed knife, and holds the adhesive tape in its area covered by the label, eliminates all cutting problems and problems resulting from the sticking of the adhesive to the clamps, thus ensuring proper functioning of the application operation. 
     The arrangement of clamps on either side of a rotating shaft of the paddle reduces inertia and enables the paddle to be subjected to greater accelerations and declarations without needing to be oversized to withstand the kinetic energy. 
     These and other objects of the invention will be described in or be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be described in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a machine equipped with a self-adhesive handle applying device according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial perspective end view of a paddle in a handle cutting position; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of holding clamps taken along line  3 — 3  in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the paddle in a vertical standby position; and 
     FIGS. 5-9 are side elevational views showing the different positions of the paddle when applying an adhesive handle to a moving package. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the self-adhesive device, according to the invention, may be incorporated into a machine having a frame  2  with a horizontal conveyor belt  3  and a supply roll  5  with a spool  6  of adhesive tape  7 . The frame  2  also has a vertical plate  8  disposed laterally on one side of the conveyor belt  3  to provide support for the frame  2 . A rear face of the vertical plate  8  supports two vertically spaced pairs of nuts  9 . A vertical threaded rod  10  enables the vertical position of the vertical plate  8  relative to the conveyor belt  3  to be adjusted. As the vertical plate  8  is screwed to the pairs of nuts  9 , the vertical position of the device can be adjusted relative to the height of articles, particularly packages  12 , transported along the conveyor belt  3 . 
     The vertical plate  8  supports a magazine  13  containing a stack of sections of non-adhesive tape or labels  14 . Deflecting rollers  15  guide the adhesive tape  7  to an outlet orifice  14   a  of the magazine  13 , where the adhesive tape  7  follows a trajectory parallel to a first non-adhesive label  14 . A pneumatically or electrically actuated pusher  16  temporarily applies the adhesive tape  7  against the first non-adhesive label  14 , before the tape  7  and label  14  pass through a nip created by a pressure roller  17  cooperating with a deflecting roller  15   a . These various means relative to dispensing of the adhesive tape  7  are associated with rollers  18  that are supported by the frame  2  and ensure the reversal of the adhesive tape  7  so the adhesive face  7   a  of the tape  7  faces the first label  14  when the tape  7  passes in front of the first label  14 . 
     With the aid of the pusher  16 , the tape  7  can pick up a label  14  while moving. The label  14  is fixed to the tape  7  by passing the tape  7  and label  14  between the nip formed by the pressure roller  17  and deflecting roller  15   a . The labels  14 , which are designed to form the gripping area of the handle, are spaced lengthwise from each other by adhesive areas that will eventually be applied to the sides of the package  12 . More specifically, a label  14  is located between the portions of the tape  7  applied to an upstream face  12   a  and a downstream face  12   b  of each package  12 . 
     The vertical plate  8  also supports a bearing (not shown) of a transverse horizontal shaft  20 . The horizontal shaft  20  is disposed above the path along which the packages  12  travel and supports a paddle  22 . The horizontal shaft  20  is connected to drive means (not shown) that can move the paddle  22  through a half-turn relative to the vertical position shown in FIG.  1 . The frame  2  has a sensor  23  upstream of the paddle  22  that detects the passage of each package  12  and controls the power to the drive means driving the paddle  22 . Additionally, the vertical plate  8  also supports a knife  24  that is upstream of the paddle  22 . 
     As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 4, the paddle  22  includes a metal bar having a rectangular cross section connected at a center of the bar with the horizontal shaft  20 . The bar has two longitudinal side faces F 3  and F 4  in addition to a top face F 1  and a bottom face F 2 . As shown in FIG. 4, near each end of each face F 1  and F 2 , the paddle  22  has a recess  25  in which a pad  26 , made of an elastic, compressible material, such as an elastomer, is disposed. Also, each end of the longitudinal side face F 3  of the paddle  22  has a leg  27  attached thereto for transversely supporting a cylinder  28 . The cylinder  28  is separated from the end of the paddle  22  by a space  29 , as shown in FIGS. 4-9. 
     The paddle  22  cooperates with clamps  31  and  32  which engage the top and bottom faces F 1  and F 2 . The clamps  31  and  32  are disposed near either side of the horizontal shaft  20 . Each clamp is independent of the other and, as shown in FIG. 3, includes a plate  33  provided at one end with a lever  34  articulated substantially at a center of the clamp  31 ,  32  to an axis  35 . The axis  35  is supported by a lug  36  projecting from the side face F 4  of the paddle  22 . The other end of the lever  34  is joined to a leg  37  projecting transversely opposite the paddle  22  and can contact a cam  40  using, for example, a roller  38  at the end of the lever  34 . A spring  39 , such as a coil spring, is interposed between the paddle  22  and the end of the lever  34  supporting the leg  37  to hold the clamp  31 ,  32  in the closed position. The two rollers  38  cooperate with the cam  40  mounted on a front face of the vertical plate  8 . 
     Thus, when the paddle  22  rotates, the rollers  38  engage the cam  40  by springs  39  to control the opening and closing movements of each clamp  31  and  32 , as will be explained in detail below. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the knife  24  includes a support  24   a  and a toothed blade  24   b , each projects transversely from the front face of the vertical plate  8 . The toothed blade  24   b  is positioned lengthwise relative to a geometric axis of the rotatable horizontal shaft  20  such that the toothed blade  24   b  can be inserted into the space  29 , as shown in FIG. 2, between the cylinder  28  and the end of the paddle  22  supporting the toothed blade  24   b . The toothed blade  24   b  can cut the adhesive tape  7  in an area of the tape  7  extending between the paddle  22  and the cylinder  28 , namely the overlapping space  29  shown in FIG.  4 . 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show the toothed blade  24   b  disposed vertically so that the cutting operation occurs when the paddle  22  is substantially horizontal relative to the conveyor belt  3 . 
     When the handle-placing device is in the resting position, the paddle  22  is vertical relative to the conveyor belt  3  and, as shown in FIG. 5, has on the face F 1  facing upstream relative to the movement direction of conveyor belt  3 , represented by arrow  11 , a length of adhesive tape  7  corresponding to one handle. The adhesive tape  7  is disposed with the adhesive face  7   a  directed upstream, and in its middle part is covered with a label  14  forming the handle-gripping area. FIG. 5 shows a lower end  7   b  of the tape  7  is free and that, at an upper part, the tape  7  partially surrounds the cylinder  28  coming from deflecting roller  15   b . Clamp  31  is in the closed position while clamp  32 , associated with the bottom face F 2 , is in the open position. 
     When a package  12  enters the handle-placement area, the package  12  is detected by the sensor  23 , which controls the power supply to the drive means of the paddle  22  so the paddle  22  pivots one half-turn in the direction of arrow  21  synchronously with the movement of the package  12 . The package  12  thus engages its downstream face  12   a  against the lower part of the paddle  22 . In particular, the downstream face  12   a  engages the part of the paddle  22  equipped with a compressible pad  26  absorbing the possible differences in speed, while allowing better application of the adhesive part  7   a  of the tape  7 . At the same time the package  12  travels along the conveyor belt  3 , as shown in FIG. 6, the paddle  22  pivots about the horizontal shaft  20 , allowing the adhesive tape  7  to be applied to the bottom face F 2 . As soon as it is fully in contact with the bottom face F 2 , the cam  40  causes the clamp  32  to close, as shown in FIG.  6 . Simultaneously, the other clamp  31  begins to open after guiding the wrapping above the package  12  of the part of the adhesive tape  7  bearing the label  14 . 
     When, as shown in FIG. 7, the paddle  22  approaches the horizontal position, the toothed blade  24   b  of the knife  24  penetrates between the upstream end of the paddle  22  and the corresponding cylinder  28 , namely the knife  24  is inserted into the space  29  as the knife  24  cuts a handle  42  out of the adhesive tape  7 . The cutting process takes place at the same time the paddle  22  is pivoting. The cut-off part of the handle  42  remains applied against the top face F 1  of the paddle  22  which can thus, at the end of its movement, and as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, apply the adhesive upstream end  42   a  of handle  42  against the upstream face  12   b  of the package  12 . 
     At the end of the cycle, and as shown in FIG. 9, the paddle  22  is in a starting position, ready to place the next handle  42  on the package  12  brought to it by the conveyor belt  3 . 
     In this device, the paddle is considerably simplified relative to that of the prior art and is unencumbered with complex cutting means requiring precise adjustments. While it cooperates with clamps, the latter are disposed near to its axis of rotation and no longer cooperate with the adhesive parts of the tape but instead cooperate with the parts protected by labels, which eliminates any adhesion mishaps. Finally, the reduction in the inertia of the paddle enables it to be driven rotationally at higher speed, and even to be subjected to greater accelerations or declarations that have regular values. 
     While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiment of the invention as set forth herein is intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.