GB1228619A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,228,619. Labelling machines. G. D. PETERS & CO. Ltd. 22 Jan., 1970 [25 Oct., 1968], No. 50893/68. Heading B8F. A labelling machine comprises a rotatable head having a number of radial arms each carrying a heated pad having vacuum passages for holding a label against the pad surface, the head being indexed to bring an arm to a labelapplying position where the arm is moved relatively to the head in a label applying direction, and each pad being carried by its arm so as to be self-aligning with an article to which the label is applied. As shown pairs of parallel links 43, 44 are pivoted to a rotationally indexable sleeve 33 and are articulated to pad carriers 45. Each pad carrier 45 has a pad 49 suspended therefrom by means of a ball-and-socket connection 46, 47 permitting universal movement of the pad and permitting the carrier 45 to move downwardly relatively to its pad when the pad engages an article 13. In order to move the carriers downwardly they have guide rollers 32 running on a track provided between rails 31 which are connected by a spider 30 to a rod 24 which is reciprocated by cam means in the interval between each indexing movement of the head. Each pad has vacuum passages for retaining a label on its lower face, the passages being coupled by flexible pipes 52 to a rotary valve having a normally stationary part which is shifted to a second portion during downward movement of the rod 24 by engagement of a stop thereon with an arm of a three-armed lever 63. In its second position the valve breaks the vacuum connection to the pad at the labelling position and connects it to atmosphere. The articles are fed to the labelling station by a chain conveyer 14. The pads are individually heated to activate thermoadhesive labels by current supplied through a slip-ring assembly 36 on the rotatable sleeve 33. At least one of the pads may incorporate a temperature sensing element connected to a control circuit for maintaining the pads at a desired temperature. In a modification the pads are moved radially outwards by telescopic arms to apply the labels.