Patent GB-618872-A (GB)
Title: A new or improved labelling apparatus
IPC: B65C9/28
Filed: 1946-03-16
Abstract: 618,872. Photo-electric control for the transfer of sheet material. LISSIMORE, J. P. March 16, 1946, No. 8211. [Class 40 (iii)] [Also in Group XV] In a machine for labelling articles wherein a label is withdrawn from a magazine by a suction picker, is carried into contact with a pasting device, and is then transferred by the picker to the labelling station and applied to the article by air pressure, the articles are carried in succession through the machine by a conveyer and each article, as it reaches the labelling station, activates an electric, in particular a photo-electric, starting device to initiate the labelling operation. A machine for labelling bottles as they are fed along a conveyer 2 comprises a head 8 secured on a rotary shaft 9 and carrying three equally-spaced suction pickers 25 and associated valves 36, Fig. 5. The pickers co-operate in turn with a label magazine 120, Fig. 2, a gumming device 128, and the labelling station 148, suction being applied through the valves 36 at the magazine and gumming device and air pressure at the labelling station. The shaft 9 is driven by a chain from a motor 43 through an electromagnetic clutch 49 and brake 150, and carries a disc 50 with indexing notches 51 co-operating with a pawl 52 which is withdrawn by a solenoid 54 to allow each partial rotation of the head. Also carried by the shaft 9 is a triangular camplate 55 co-operating with a dashpot plunger 56 which acts to slow down the shaft when it is approaching one of its three indexed positions. The outer end of the plunger 56 operates a switch which acts to open the clutch 49 and apply the brake 150 at the appropriate time. Each picker consists of a hollow box with a perforated, spherical convex outer face 27, and is carried by a pipe 28 pivoted to the head 8 at 29 to swing outwardly therefrom and connected by a tube 34 and flow-restricting valve 35 to the respective valve 36. The pickers are displaced outwardly, to receive a label from the magazine, or engage a label with the gumming device, or apply it to a bottle, by solenoids 37 acting through levers 117. Electric current for energizing the solenoids 37 and other solenoids 91 which actuate the valves 36 is transmitted by a series of slip rings 38 carried by the shaft 9. The latter has a hollow extension 17, Fig. 6, with a casing 67 secured to it, rotatable within fixed casings 60, 69 connected respectively by pipes 63, 70 to the suction and pressure sides of a suitable blower. The extension 17 and casing 67 are connected respectively by pipes 65, 73 to ring mains 75, 77 connected by pipes 76, 78 to the suction and pressure sides 81, 82, Fig. 7, of the three valves 36. Each valve has a tubular fitting 85 opening to the two sides and to an annular space 96 connected by a pipe 79 to the valve 35. A double piston valve 92, 93 is movable, under the action of a spring 148a or the solenoid 91, to connect the valve 35, and so the picker, to suction or pressure. The valve 35 is designed to prevent loss of vacuum if suction is applied to the picker while it is not in contact with a label. The solenoid 91 is operated to apply pressure at the picker when the latter is at the label-applying station. When the picker is swung outwardly by its solenoid 37 at this position, a collar 111 upon it actuates one of three levers 113 for operating switches controlling the solenoids 91. The label magazine 120 has fingers for retaining the labels. The gumming device 128 comprises a perforated, rubber band running over vertically-spaced rollers and dipping into a bath of gum. A flexible masking sheet prevents gum being applied to the picker. The cycle of operations of the machine is started by a photo-electric cell 147 when a bottle reaches the station 148. The cell acts to energize a solenoid 143 which moves a bottle gripper 140 to engage the bottle and also to close a switch 149. At this time, the head 8 will be indexed with a gummed label on the picker at the labelling station, or will be moving and about to be so indexed., The other pickers will be opposite the label magazine and the gumming station. Closure of the switch 149 activates the solenoids 37 to swing the pickers, and the latter operate one of the levers 113 to activate the solenoid 91 of the picker at the label applying position. Hence, a gummed label is forced by air pressure against the bottle while the other two pickers are both under suction, one picking a label from the magazine and the other pressing a label against the gumming band. After a short interval, the solenoids 37 and 91 are de-energized and the pawl 52 is retracted so that the head 8 is free to rotate. The bottle gripper also is released. After a further short interval, the clutch 49 is engaged and the brake 150 released. For determining the sequence of operations and the timing of each operation, the various solenoids are controlled by electrical relays having operating coils and contacts, the period of energization of certain relays being controlled by discharging condensers. The cycle of operations may be controlled by means of camoperated electrical contacts controlling relays and/or operating solenoids and may be initiated by a mercury switch. Specification 419,917, [Group XXXVII], is referred to.