GB1443633A - Label applying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1443633 Labelling machine STACKPOLE MACHINERY CO 4 Sept 1974 [6 Sept 1973] 38640/74 Heading B8F Apparatus 10, Fig. 1, for applying a label 28 across a portion of the upper surface of a container 26 and a portion of the side of the container comprises a conveyer 12 for moving containers seriatim along a horizontal path to a label applying station 14, a first label pressing station 16 and a second label pressing station 18 including a label conforming station, wherein the label applying station includes means 44, 46, Fig. 4, for gripping and removing labels from a magazine 42, means 50 for applying glue to the labels, and means 56, 58 for causing release of the label to overlie a container upper surface, the first pressing station includes means 62, Fig. 5, to apply downward pressure against a glued label on the container upper surface, and means 66 spaced to either side of the centreline of the conveyer for turning a portion of the label into contact with a side of the container, and the second pressing station and label conforming station comprise an endless belt 70 overlying the conveyer and supports 72 which mount reciprocating plungers 74, Fig. 6, and label pressing and conforming pads 76 for engaging the upper surface of the container. The conveyer 12 includes a plurality of conveyer belts or chains 20, 22, 24. At the label applying station 14 a vacuum bar 44 assists in removal of a label from the magazine and a gripper drum 46 grips the leading end of the label and moves it past a glue applying roller 50. Blowers 56, 58 are connected to a source of pressurized air and operate such that the trailing end of the label is precluded from dropping too early on to the container upper surface. The blower 58 turns the tab 32 of the label downwardly and the label is then pressed on to the container upper surface by a leaf spring 62. A pair of brushes 66 apply the tab 32C to the container side. Each support frame 72 of a pressure and conforming assembly 71E on the endless belt 70 has a reciprocable plunger 74, conforming pads 76 and an adapter arm 78. A cup 80 is mounted on the plunger for engaging the container upper surface and the arm 78 is mounted in pantographic relationship to the frame 72. The frame is cammed towards the container by the action of a roller 106 against a camming rail 104 and the container reacts against the cup to force the plunger upwards inside a guide 103 until the pads are brought into contact with the label and container. In an alternative embodiment, Figs. 7, 8 (not shown), a second camming rail (108) is provided so that frangible or crushable containers may be labelled with the reaction forces caused by applying pressure to the container being absorbed by the mechanism (114A).