Patent Publication Number: US-2023150709-A1

Title: Label applying system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application relates generally to label applying and, more particularly, to a label applying system for labeling the tops or sides of items as the items are conveyed along a path. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Material handling systems are used in many different industries and often include complex packaging and conveyor systems that convey items, such as cases (boxes), quickly from one place to the next within a facility or multiple facilities. Labeling is often necessary to communicate information about the cases so that the cases can be identified, categorized, and/or properly routed, among other reasons. One type of known system uses on overhead label applier. 
     In one type of overhead label applier, the applier includes an applying arm with a label retention face at its lower end. After the label retention face receives a label, the label applying arm is driven linearly downward to move the label into contact with the top of an item moving along a conveyance path. The contact between the label applier and the moving item creates a torque force on the label applying arm. 
     The prior art label applying system of  FIGS.  1  and  2    includes a label applying arm  10  with a rectangular tubular form. A drive gear  12  engages with a gear track  14  on the side of the label applying arm to move the arm up and down. The item conveyance direction is depicted by arrow  16 . Upper bearings  18  and lower bearings  20  are provided on opposed sides of the arm, and upper bearing  22  and lower bearing  24  are provided on the downstream side of the arm, such that the bearings help to stabilize the arm. An exemplary torque force on the label applying arm is shown by arrow  26 . Notably, the bearings  18  and  20  are oriented with rotational axes substantially parallel to the item conveyance direction, and therefore the bearings  18  and  20  do not take up any of the torque force. This results in the torque force  26  being taken up by the lower bearing  24  at the downstream side of the arm and the upper bearing  22 . Over time, this causes excessive wear on the bearings  22  and  24 , which results in a need for regular adjustment of the bearing system and/or replacement of the bearings  22  and  24 . 
     It would be desirable to provide a label applying system that addresses the above issue. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a label applying system includes a conveyance path for moving items in a conveyance direction and a label applying arm movable in one of a vertical direction or a horizontal direction relative to the conveyance path for applying labels to moving items. A bearing system is provided for supporting movement of the label applying arm, the bearing system including a first bearing having a first rolling surface engaged with a first external surface portion the label applying arm and a second bearing having a second rolling surface engaged with a second external surface portion of the label applying arm, wherein the first bearing includes a first rotational axis that extends at a first oblique angle relative to the conveyance direction, wherein the second bearing includes a second rotational axis that extends at a second oblique angle relative to the conveyance direction. 
     In another aspect, a label applying system includes a conveyance path for moving items in a conveyance direction, and a label applying arm movable relative to the conveyance path for applying labels to moving items, the label applying arm carrying a gear track that is engaged by a drive gear for moving the label applying arm, wherein the drive gear includes a rotational axis. A bearing system for supporting movement of the label applying arm, the bearing system including a first bearing having a first rolling surface engaged with a first external surface portion the label applying arm and a second bearing having a second rolling surface engaged with a second external surface portion of the label applying arm, wherein the first bearing includes a first rotational axis, wherein the second bearing includes a second rotational axis. In a view looking along a length of the label applying arm, the rotational axis of the drive gear, the first rotational axis of the first bearing and the second rotational axis of the second bearing intersect to form a triangular shape. 
     In another aspect, a label applying system includes a conveyance path for moving items in a conveyance direction, and a label applying arm movable relative to the conveyance path for applying labels to moving items on the conveyance path, wherein the label applying arm has a hexagonal tubular shape comprising six flat segments. A bearing system supports movement of the label applying arm, the bearing system including a first bearing having a first rolling surface engaged with a first one of the six flat segments and a second bearing having a second rolling surface engaged with a second one of the six flat segments. A plane in which the first one of the six flat segments lies is oriented so as to not run parallel or perpendicular to the conveyance direction, and a plane in which the second one of the six flat segments lies is oriented so as to not run parallel or perpendicular to the conveyance direction. 
     The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS.  1  and  2    are views of a prior art overhead label applying system; 
         FIGS.  3 - 4    show side elevation cross-section views of a label applying system of the present application; and 
         FIGS.  5  and  6    show top plan views of the label applying system, with  FIG.  5    in cross-section; 
         FIG.  7    shows an alternative embodiment of the label applying system oriented for applying labels to the sides of moving items; and 
         FIG.  8    shows an alternative embodiment of the label applier, incorporating three upper bearings and three lower bearings. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3 - 6   , a label applying system  30  includes a conveyance path  32  for moving items  33  in a conveyance direction  34 . Here, the label applier is arranged vertically above the conveyance path. A label applying arm  36  is mounted above the conveyance path  32  and is movable in a vertical direction up and down, per arrow  37 , relative to the conveyance path  32  for applying labels to the top panel or wall of moving items  33 . A drive motor  38  drives a drive gear  40  that engages a gear track  42  on the arm for the purpose of arm movement. The drive motor  38  extends externally of a support housing  44 , and the drive gear  40  is internal of the support housing, as is at least part of the arm  36  and track  42 . A label holding and applying head  46  is connected to the bottom of the label applying arm  36  and moves with the arm. The head  46  may, for example, include vacuum means for holding a label with adhesive side facing down toward the conveyance path  32 . 
     A bearing system is provided for supporting movement of the label applying arm  36 . The bearing system includes upper bearings  52   a,    52   b  and lower bearings  54   a,    54   b  having rolling surfaces engaged with external surface portions of the label applying arm. The upper bearings  52   a,    52   b  have rotational axes  56   a,    56   b  that extend at oblique angles a and b relative to the conveyance direction  34 . The rotational axis of lower bearing  54   a  runs substantially parallel to that of upper bearing  52   a,  and the rotational axis of lower bearing  54   b  runs substantially parallel to that of upper bearing  54   b.    
     The label applying arm  36  is of tubular form and includes multiple flat segments. Here, the form is hexagonal, and six flat segments  36   a - 36   f  are provided, and the tube may be of carbon fiber material. Flat segment  36   a  carries the gear track  42 . Flat segments  36   b  and  36   c  extend from opposite sides of the flat segment  36   a  and do not engage with any bearings. Flat segment  36   d  extends from the flat segment  36   b,  and each of the bearings  52   b  and  54   b  engage with the external surface of flat segment  36   d.  Flat segment  36   e  extends from the flat segment  36   c,  and each of the bearings  52   a  and  54   a  engage with the external surface of flat segment  36   e.  The flat segment  36   f  extends between segments  36   d  and  36   e  and does not engage with any bearings. Each of the flat segments  36   d  and  36   e  lies in a plane that runs substantially parallel to the respective bearing rotational axes  56   a  and  56   b,  and therefore is no parallel or perpendicular to the conveyance direction  34 . 
     The resulting arrangement provides a system in which bearings  52   a  and  54   a  have respective rotational axes that extend at an angle a relative to the conveyance direction  34 , and in which bearings  52   b  and  54   b  have respective rotational axes that extend at an angle b relative to the conveyance direction. Here, the angles a and b are substantially the same and approximately thirty degrees. However, variations are possible, such as angles a and b being at least twenty-five degrees (e.g., between twenty-five degrees and thirty-five degrees), or at least twenty degrees (e.g., between twenty degrees and forty degrees). The rotational axes  56   a  and  56   b  intersect at an angle c that is less than ninety degrees, in particular less than seventy degrees, such as between fifty-five and sixty-five degrees (e.g., about sixty degrees). 
     In addition, the drive gear  40  includes a rotational axis  40   a,  and, in plan view looking along a length of the label applying arm per  FIG.  5   , the rotational axis  40   a  of the drive gear, the rotational axes (e.g.,  56   a ) of the bearings  52   a,    54   a  and the rotational axes (e.g.,  56   b ) of the bearings  52   b,    54   b  intersect (e.g., axes  56   a  and  56   b  intersect each other and also each intersect with axes  40   a ) to form a triangular shape  57 . 
     With the rotational axes of the bearings offset from the conveyance direction, the above-described setup is advantageous as compared to the described prior art system. In particular, the inventive system of this application includes:  2  upper and lower bearings providing support vs  1  upper and lower in the prior art, totaling  4  bearings to take up the arm torque vs  2  on the prior art design; a hexagon shape tubular arm that provides a straighter surface for the bearings; a hexagon shape and bearing orientation that lessens the opportunity for rotation of the applying arm; a hexagon shape tubular arm that provides improved strength based on bearing orientation in relation to the gear creating a triangular orientation of bearings and gear; and a bearing orientation that allows for better and easier alignment with the hexagon carbon fiber tube vs the square or rectangle tube designs. 
     In an alternative configuration of a label applying system  30 ′, represented schematically in  FIG.  7   , the label applier is arranged alongside the conveyance path  32 ′, and the label applying arm moves horizontally, inward toward the path  32 ′ and outward away from the path  32 ′ per arrow  37 ′, for the purpose of applying labels to a side panel or wall of items  33 ′ moving in a conveyance direction  34 ′ along the path. 
     The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of labeling apparatus. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of this application. 
     For example, referring to  FIG.  8   , an alternative embodiment of the label applier, which could be used in system  30  or system  30 ′ above, is shown, where like components are labeled as above, such as conveyance direction  34 , hex arm  36 , motor  38 , gear  40 , axis  40   a,  gear track  42  and housing  44 . Hear, three different upper bearings  52   c,    52   d  and  52   e  are provided and a similarly arranged set of lower bearings (not shown are provided). The bearings  52   d  and  52   e  are arranged in positions ninety degrees opposite to the bearings  52   a  and  52   b  of the system  30 . However, bearings  52   d  and  52   e  have rotational axes  56   d  and  56   e  that are offset from the conveyance direction  34  at angles d and e that are substantially the same and approximately thirty degrees. However, variations are possible, such as angles d and e being at least twenty-five degrees (e.g., between twenty-five degrees and thirty-five degrees), or at least twenty degrees (e.g., between twenty degrees and forty degrees). This three upper bearing, three lower bearing arrangement would provide advantages similar to those described for the above two upper bearing, two lower bearing arrangement. Here, bearing  52   c,  which has a rotational axis  56   c  running substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction  34 , would oppose any force applied from the motor/drive gear, but it would eliminate any forces being applied to the motor/drive gear from the label applying arm  36  and head impacting the item being labeled. The rotational axes  56   d,    56   e  and  50   a  also intersect to form a triangular shape. 
     Still other variations are possible.