Patent GB-1225638-A (GB)
IPC: B65C9/18
Filed: 1968-05-28
Abstract: 1,225,638. Labelling apparatus. NEW JERSEY MACHINE CORP. 28 May, 1968 [22 June, 1967], No. 25449/68. Heading B8F. Apparatus for labelling bottles or the like includes means for feeding a series of articles 70 along a path toward and past a place 72 for label application and label feed means whereby a web of labels 11, the labels thereon being defined by transverse cuts to form weakened connections between adjacent labels, is advanced and retained intermittently such that the terminal label 85 is pulled from the web by the bight of rolls 45, 86 and is applied to article 70<SP>1</SP> by the roll 45. The roll 10 of label web is continuously fed by a feed roll 18 and an idler roll 17 at a rate equal to one label length for each cycle of operation of the apparatus. The roll 18 is mounted on a rotatable shaft 20 provided with a gear 21 driven through a speed adjusting device 26 by electric motor 30. The portion of the web in advance of the rolls 17, 18 is maintained in the form of a loop 16 by a light blast of air from a pipe 34, the loop constituting a section of free label web from which labels are intermittently drawn by a pair of rolls 35, 36. The air pressure from the pipe maintains a slight reverse tension on the web sufficient to prevent engagement of the rolls with the leading edge of the following label. Backward motion of the web under the influence of the air pressure from the pipe is prevented by the device 38 which comprises a fixedly supported plate 40 having guide rods 41 for a floating plate, the web being lightly held between the two by the springs 44. Rolls 35, 36 are mounted on a supporting arm 48 mounted for pivotal movement on a shaft 49 to adjust for labels of different lengths. Roll 36 has a raised circumferential portion 80 with a transverse part 81 which co-operates with the roll 35 and cut out portions of the label web to advance one label 85<SP>1</SP> during one rotation. Roll 36 is driven by the motor 30 through gear 53, chain 54, and chain gear 57 on roll 86. During one cycle of operation of the apparatus one label 85<SP>1</SP> is fed from between the rolls 35, 36 and the web is stopped by the bight of the rolls engaging a cut out portion at the trailing end of the label. The terminal label advances between a continuously rotating feed roll 45 and a coacting roll 86, is pulled from the web by these rolls and retained by suction through holes 91 on one 90<SP>1</SP> of a plurality of label carrying segments 90 on roll 45, has applied glue by roll 93 and the detached label is then affixed to an article 70<SP>1</SP>. The label is finally pressed on to article 70<SP>1</SP> by the rotation of the latter between a belt 99 and a plate 100 during the forward movement of the transport device. The transport device 71 has articles regularly spaced apart a distance 103 greater than the length of labels being applied. If a bottle fails to move in its proper spacing a contacting member 69 will activate switch 68 connected by wiring to a solenoid 66 to energize the latter to pivot an arm 65 attached to a shaft 64 on which is eccentrically mounted the shaft 63 of the roll 35; the consequent motion raises the roll 35 and stops the feeding of the web by the roll 36. When another bottle engages the contacting member, the switch will restore the solenoid to its normally de-energized state and allow the spring 75 to return the rolls 35, 36, into feeding engagement. The label carrying segments are removably attached to the roll 45 and may be readily exchanged for segments adapted for different label lengths. The label web may be coated with a heat sealing thermoplastic adhesive, in which case the glue applying means 95 is replaced by means for delivering a timed blast of hot air against the adhesive on a label prior to affixing it to an article.