Patent GB-1000360-A (GB)
Abstract: 1,000,360. Labelling machines; endless conveyers. GEO. J. MEYER MANUFACTURING CO. Jan. 27, 1964 [June 27, 1963], No. 3361/64. Headings B8A and B8F. Relates to a labelling machine of the type in which bottles are advanced continuously in succession by a conveyer C, Fig. 3, and are spaced thereon by a star-wheel S to bring them each in turn opposite a picker P, Fig. 1, of the separable-blade type which receives gum from a roll 195 and takes a label from a magazine (not shown) to transfer it to a suction pad 702a, Fig. 13, which applies the label to an advancing bottle, wipers subsequently adhering the label firmly to the bottle and control means being provided which prevent normal operation of the picker P unless a bottle is advancing towards the picker. According to the invention, a constant speed electric motor drives, via a variable-speed transmission, a shaft for transmitting motion to the conveyer, the star-wheel and the label applying parts and an electrically actuated speed control device has normally open switches which, when concomitantly closed, cause the variable-speed transmission to increase the speed of the machine, the drive motor circuit comprising a normally open, manuallyactuable push-button switch and a holding relay whereby, when this switch is momentarily closed, the motor starts and continues to run until the supply of current to the motor is terminated by the opening of another switch. A further switch is actuated by a single detector device responsive to the passage of a bottle toward the labelapplying parts while at a substantial distance therefrom, this further switch and the speed control device being connected in a memory circuit including the normally open switches such that only when the detector actuated switch is closed successively by a plurality of bottles spaced apart the prescribed distance determined by the star-wheel, is the speed control device actuated to increase the speed of the machine. As described, body, shoulder and neck labels may be applied simultaneously to opposite sides of a bottle, rotary brush wipers, Fig. 38 (not shown), being provided for the neck labels. The endless conveyer C comprises a link chain passing about a sprocket 105, Fig. 4, driven by a chain 106a, speed-reducing mechanism 106x and main shaft 119 in turn driven through a speed-reducing mechanism R and an endless belt 22 by the electric motor M. The belt 22 is variably tensioned by a pulley 25 whose position depends upon the pressure of air within a cylinder 29. The arrangement is such that admission of air to the cylinder decreases the speed of the shaft 119. On pressing the start button and assuming no bottles are being fed, the machine starts at low speed and a solenoid SV-4 is de-energized so that the pickers will not take labels from the magazine. As bottles are fed into the machine and released by the star-wheel S, Fig. 3, each bottle will break an electric-eye beam at a scanning device PH1 and will complete a memory circuit controlling the label picker solenoid SV-4, so that the latter is energized to effect action of the picker before the first bottle reaches the labelling station. If the beam is continually broken by the bottles, the SV-4 solenoid remains energized and a solenoid valve releases air from the cylinder 29 so that the machine shifts to and remains at high speed. However, if a space occurs in the line of bottles so that the scanning device PH1 is not actuated, the solenoid valve admits compressed air to. the cylinder 29 to cause the machine to drop to low speed. Wiper means are provided in two stages for the body labels, first a primary wiper consisting of a thick soft presser P<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 4a, and a final wiper consisting of a firmer shaped presser P<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 4a, and a final wiper consisting of a firmer shaped presser P<SP>2</SP>. The suction pad together with the wipers are supported by a shaft which is arranged to rock and also to move endwise in fixed bearings so that the labels are applied and adhered to the bottles while moving on the conveyer. A hold-down device D, Fig. 1, of the endlessbelt type is provided for holding the bottles upright on the conveyer during application of the labels and additional means for prior straightening and orienting a bottle having a spotting element are also provided. As shown in Figs. 16, 20, pads 631 are provided on rocker arms 606 which are also arranged to move with the conveyer, the pads engaging a bottle to ensure accurate positioning of its axis in the vertical plane of the conveyer path. Alternatively, if both straightening and orienting of the bottle is required, the lever arrangement 613, 614, 621, 622, Fig. 20, may be employed for engaging a tear drop Y on the bottle, this arrangement being associated with pads 631, Fig. 29 (not shown), for engagement with the neck of the bottle. A preliminary orienting means is also provided and comprises a pair of endless chains 630, 631, Fig. 20, moving in the same direction and at the same speed as the conveyer, the chain 631 carrying pairs of bottle spinning rolls 641 which are rotated by means of a powered rack 643 to rotate the bottles anti-clockwise, the other chain 630 carrying freely rotatable rolls 652, Fig. 24, in association with spring-urged pivoted dogs 653 which by engagement with a spotting element on a bottle terminates its rotation. The chains 630, 631 are resiliently urged towards the conveyer path.