GB2035256A - Label transfer mechanism for a labelling machine - Google Patents
Label transfer mechanism for a labelling machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2035256A GB2035256A GB7940268A GB7940268A GB2035256A GB 2035256 A GB2035256 A GB 2035256A GB 7940268 A GB7940268 A GB 7940268A GB 7940268 A GB7940268 A GB 7940268A GB 2035256 A GB2035256 A GB 2035256A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- carrier
- axis
- cam
- segment
- transfer mechanism
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
- B65C9/00—Details of labelling machines or apparatus
- B65C9/08—Label feeding
- B65C9/12—Removing separate labels from stacks
- B65C9/16—Removing separate labels from stacks by wetting devices
Landscapes
- Labeling Devices (AREA)
Abstract
A label transfer mechanism comprising a rotary carrier (18) with a plurality of segments (17), each with an associated control mechanism (23), comprising a shaft (24) mounted on the carrier, an eccentric spindle (26) on the shaft and on which the respective segment is rotatable, an arm (27) extending from the segment, a pin-and-slot connection (28, 29) between the arm and carrier, a pinion (30) on the shaft (24), a gear quadrant (31) meshing with the pinion and pivoted at (32) on the carrier, and a follower (33) on the quadrant (31) constrained to follow a stationary cam (34), whereby as the followers (33) follow the concentric portion (35) of the cam (34) curved faces (16) on the segments (17) are concentric with the axis (20) of the carrier (18), and whereby as each follower (33) follows the deviating portions (36, 37) of the cam (34) the curved face (16) of the respective segment (17) performs a rolling action in contact with the foremost label (11) of a stack (12) in a stationary magazine (13). <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Label transfer mechanism for a labelling machine
This invention relates to a label transfer mechanism for labelling machines and being of the type in which each label is picked out from a stack in a stationary magazine by gum applied to a curved face of a segment on a rotary carrier, the segment being pivoted on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the carrier, and pivoting of the segment being controlled so that its curved face makes rolling contact with the foremost label of the stack. A plurality of segments may be provided on the one carrier.
A label transfer mechanism of this type is described in British Patent Specification No. 1,331,330 in which the curved face of each segment is in the form of part of a right-circular cylindrical surface the radius of which is smaller than the spacing between the pivotal axis of the segment and the axis of rotation of the carrier.A disadvantage of this mechanism is that, in addition to pivoting of each segment being controlled so that its curved face makes rolling contact with the foremost label of the stack, pivoting of each segment also has to be controlled so that its curved face makes substantial contact with a gumming device and also (after pick-out of a label from the stack by means of the gum thus applied) so that its curved face will make rolling contact with a rotary label-delivering member at substantially uniform speed, to enable the label to be transferred from the stack to the delivering member at high speed.This control is effected by means of a continuously changing cam profile acting through a follower roller on a quadrant gear meshing with a pinion on the axis of the segment, which cam profile has to be machined with very great accuracy in order to allow operation of the mechanism at very high speed.
Another label transfer mechanism of this type is described in British Patent Specification No.
1,414,040 in which the curved face of a segment is again in the form of part of a right-circular cylindrical surface the radius of which is smaller than the spacing between the pivotal axis of the segment and the axis of rotation of the carrier, with the same attendant disadvantage but, in this case, control is effected by a combination of a cam causing the segment to travel in a non-circular orbital path, a stationary sun wheel concentric with the axis of rotation of the carrier, a planet pinion on an intermediate axis meshing with the sun wheel, another gear on the intermediate axis meshing with a gearwheel on the pivotal axis of the segment, and a linking arrangement between the pivotal axis of the segment, the intermediate axis, the axis of rotation of the carrier and an eccentric on another planet pinion meshing with the sun wheel, whereby the speed of travel of the segment round its non-circular orbital path is increased or decreased appropriate to the rolling action of the curved face of the segment with a rotary gumming device, then over the foremost label in the stationary stack, and finally with a rotary delivering member.
Another disadvantage of the known label transfer mechanisms is that there is a limitation on the length of label that the or each segment can accommodate because the radius of curvature of the face of the segment is less than the spacing between its pivotal axis and the axis of rotation of the carrier. The greater the length of the label the greater the curved face required on the segment and the greater the deviation of the cam profile from a path concentric with the axis of rotation of the carrier.
The object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages by providing a label transfer mechanism of simplified construction.
According to the present invention, a label transfer mechanism comprises a rotary carrier with a plurality of segments, each with associated control mechanism, and a stationary cam; the cam having a profile a portion of which is concentric with the axis of rotation of the carrier, while the remainder of the cam profile has at least two sections deviating respectively radially inwardly and radially outwardly from the concentric portion; each control mechanism comprising a shaft rotatably mounted on the carrier with its axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the carrier, an eccentric spindle on the shaft and on which spindle the segment is rotatably mounted, an arm extending rigidly from the segment, a pin-andslot connection between the arm and the carrier, a pinion on the shaft, a gear quadrant meshing with the pinion and pivoted on the carrier on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the carrier, and a follower on the gear quadrant constrained to follow the cam; the axis of the spindle, the axis of the shaft and the axis of the pin all lying in a common radial plane from the axis of rotation of the carrier when the follower on the gear quadrant is following the concentric portion of the cam; and each segment having a curved face forming part of a cylinder whose axis is coincident with the axis of rotation of the carrier when the follower on the gear quadrant is following the concentric portion of the cam.
The first of the deviating sections of the cam profile to act on each follower acts through the respective gear quadrant, pinion and shaft to move the eccentric spindle first radially inwards with respect to the axis of rotation of the carrier, but swinging of the eccentric spindle about the axis of the shaft in the same direction as rotation of the carrier brings into play the arm on the segment and its pin-and-slot connection with the carrier to effect a swinging of the segment on the spindle so that the trailing edge of the part-cylindrical face of the segment moves radially outwards, then the first deviating section acts to move the eccentric spindle radially outwards, whereby the reverse swing of the eccentric spindle and the reverse action of the arm on the segment and its pin-and-slot connection with the carrier causes reverse swinging of the segment on the spindle and causes the part-cylindrical face of the segment to execute a rolling action along a plane, which can be related to the foremost label of a stack in a magazine.
The second on the deviating sections of the cam profile first acts to cause movement of the eccentric spindle radially inwards with respect to the axis of rotation of the carrier, but the consequent swinging of the spindle about the axis of the shaft in the opposite direction to rotation of the carrier causes the segment to continue the reverse swinging until at the end of the rolling action of the part-cylindrical face of the segment its leading edge moves initially purely radially inwards with respect to the axis of the carrier (i.e., without any immediate accompanying rotary movement of that leading edge with respect to the axis of the carrier), which radial movement can be related to extraction of the leading end of the foremost label from the magazine.The second of the deviating sections of the cam profile finally acts to restore the segment to its normal position with its part-cylindrical face concentric with the axis of the carrier, so that transfer of the label to a delivering member can be accompanied by simple rolling engagement and so that gumming of the segment ready for pick-out of the next label can be effected by rolling contact with a gumming roller of a gumming device.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan of a label transfer mechanism in accordance with the invention indi cated as incorporated ina a bottle labelling machine; Figure2 is a vertical section through the label transfer mechanism of Figure 1 but showing only one of its segments;
Figure 3 is a plan of the cam seen in section at the bottom of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a section of the cam in a different plane to that of Figure 2; and
Figures 5to 9 are fragmentary diagrammatic plan views showing how each segment derives its motion to effect rolling contact of its curved face with the foremost label in a stack in a stationary magazine.
In Figure 1, a label transfer mechanism 10 is of the type in which each label 11 is picked out from a stack
12 in a stationary magazine 13 by gum applied by a gumming roller 14 of a gumming device 15to a curved face 16 of one of six segments 17 on a rotary carrier 18, each segment beng pivoted on an axis 19 parallel to the axis 20 of rotation of the carrier, and pivoting of each segment being controlled (by mechanism to be described with reference to Figures 2 to 9) so that its curved face makes rolling contact with the foremost label in the stack, which label is transferred to a delivering member 21 for application to a bottle 22.
As can be seen in Figures 2 to 9, each segment 17
has an associated control mechanism 23 comprising a shaft 24 rotatably mounted on the carrier 18 with its axis 25 parallel to the axis 20 of rotation of the
carrier, an eccentric spindle 26 on the shaft and on which spindle the segment is rotatably mounted, an
arm 27 extending rigidly from the segment, a
pin-and-slot connection 28, 29 between the arm and the carrier, a pinion 30 on the shaft 24, a gear
quadrant 31 meshing with the pinion and pivoted on the carrier on an axis 32 parallel to the axis 20 of
rotation of the carrier, and a follower 33 on the gear quadrant constrained to follow a cam 34 having a
profile a portion 35 of which is concentric with the axis 20 of rotation of the carrier, while the remainder of the cam profile has two sections 36,37 deviating respectively radially inwardly and radially outwardly from the concentric portion, the axis 19 of the spindle 26, the axis 25 of the shaft and the axis of the pin 28 all lying in a common radial plane from the axis of rotation of the carrier when the follower 33 on the gear quadrant 31 isfollowing the concentric portion 35 of the cam 34 (see Figures 5 and 9); and the curved face 16 of each segment 17 forming part of a cylinder whose axis is coincident with the axis 20 of rotation of the carrier 18 when the follower 33 on the gear quadrant 31 is following the concentric portion 35 of the cam 34 (see again Figures 5 and 9).
The pin 28 of each pin-and-slot connection is provided on the carrier 18 and the slot 29 is provided in the arm 27 extending rigidly from the respective segment 17, which arm 27 extends radially inwards, and, with each gear quadrant 31 trailing from its pivot axis 32 on the carrier relative to the direction of rotation of the carrier, the deviating section 36 of the cam profile which deviates radially inwardly from the concentric portion 35 is the first deviating section with respect to the direction of rotation of the carrier.
Each arm 27 is provided at the lower end of its respective segment 17 and above the level of an upper portion 38 of the carrier 18 that is provided with the pins 28, so that the segments can be readily removed from the eccentric spindle 26 and replaced by segments of different circumferential extent and/or height, to suit different sizes and/or shapes of labels. A removable top steady 39 for each eccentric spindle 26 is provided on the carrier 18 and consists of an eccentric socket 40 for the spindle in a member 41 journalled in a plate 42 removably secured to the top of a central column 43 of the carrier.
The cam 34 is provided by at least three parts consisting of a circular plate 44 (see Figures 3 and 4) with an integral raised portion 45 bounded by a chord 46 and provided with the portion of cam groove 35 concentric with the axis of the plate, and inner and outer profile sections 47,48 respectively bolted to the remainder of the plate and between them defining a parallel-sided groove including the two sections 36,37 of the cam profile deviating respectively radially inwardly and radially outwardly from the concentric groove 35. Thus, the profile sections 47,48 can be replaced when worn or by profile sections deviating to different extents to suit different sizes of segments.
In operation, the first of the deviating sections 36 of the cam profile 34 to act on each follower 33 acts through the respective gear quadrant 31, pinion 30 and shaft 24 to move the eccentric spindle 26 first radially inwards with respect to the axis 20 of rotation of the carrier 18 (see Figure 6), but swinging of the eccentric spindle 26 about the axis 25 of the shaft 24 in the same direction as rotation of the carrier brings into play the arm 27 on the segment and its pin-and-slot connection 28,29 with the carrier to effect a swinging of the segment 17 on the spindle 26 so that the trailing edge A of the part-cylindrical face 16 of the segment moves radially outwards, into contact with the trailing end B of the foremost label 11 in the stack 12 in the stationary magazine 13, then the first deviating secton 36 acts to move the eccentric spindle 26 radially outwards (see Figure 7), whereby the reverse swing of the eccentric spindle and the reverse action of the arm 27 on the segment and its pin-and-slot connection 28, 29 with the carrier causes reverse swinging of the segment 17 on the spindle 26 and causes the part-cylindrical face 16 of the segment to execute a rolling action along the foremost label 11, thus pulling the label progressively from the magazine starting from the end B contacted by the trailing edge A of the face 16 of the segment.
The second of the deviating sections 37 of the cam profile 34 first acts to cause movement of the eccentric spindle 26 radially inwards with respect to the axis 20 of rotation of the carrier 18 (see Figure 8), but the consequent swinging of the spindle 26 about the axis 25 of the shaft 24 in the opposite direction to rotation of the carrier causes the segment to continue the reverse swinging, thus continuing the rolling action of the part-cylindrical face 16 along the label 11 until its leading end C is in contact with the leading end D of the label, and also whereby at the end of the rolling action of the part-cylindrical face of the segments its leading edge C moves initially purely radially inwards with respect to the axis 20 of the carrier 18 (i.e., without any immediate accompanying rotary movement of that leading edge C with respect to the axis of the carrier), which radial movement results in extraction of the leading end D of the label from the magazine. The second of the deviating sections 37 of the cam profile 34 finally acts to restore the segment to its normal position with its part-cylindrical face 16 concentric with the axis 20 of the carrier 18 (see Figure 9), so that transfer of the label 11 to the delivering member 21 can be accompanied by simple rolling engagement and so that gumming of the segment ready for pick-out of the next label can be effected by rolling contact with the gumming roller 14 of the gumming device.
However, the cam may be provided with a further deviating portion of its profile, which is effective to act on each segment through its respective gear quadrant, pinion and shaft, arm and spindle, and pin-and-slot connection, to effect either forward or reverse swinging of the segment relative to the direction of rotation of the carrier, for effecting either an acceleration or a deceleration of the peripheral speeds of the segments temporarily, as may be necessary to match the peripheral speed of labelreceiving members on a delivering member having a different pitch from the pitch of the segments on the carrier. There may or may-not be a concentric portion of the cam profile in succession to the two contiguous oppositely-deviating portions relative to the direction of rotation of the carrier, depending on the relative closeness of an associated label magazing to an associated delivering member, but if the curved faces of the segments are to be gummed by pure rolling contact with a gum roller having its axis parallel to the axis of the carrier, there must be a concentric portion of the cam profile in succession to the further deviating portion.
Claims (9)
1. A label transfer mechanism comprising a rotary carrier with a plurality of segments, each with associated control mechanism, and a stationary cam; the cam having a profile a portion of which is concentric with the axis of rotation of the carrier, while the remainder of the cam profile has at least two sections deviating respectively radially inwardly and radially outwardly from the concentric portion; each control mechanism comprising a shaft rotatably mounted on the carrier with its axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the carrier, an eccentric spindle on the shaft and on which spindle the segment is rotatably mounted, an arm extending rigidly from the segment, a pin-and-slot connection between the arm and the carrier, a pinion on the shaft, a gear quadrant meshing with the pinion and pivoted on the carrier on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the carrier, and a follower on the gear quadrant constrained to follow the cam; the axis of the spindle, the axis ofthe shaft and the axis of the pin all lying in a common radial plane from the axis of rotation of the carrier when the follower on the gear quadrant is following the concentric portion of the cam; and each segment having a curved face forming part of a cylinder whose axis is coincident with the axis of rotation of the carrier when the follower on the gear quadrant is following the concentric portion of the cam.
2. A label transfer mechanism as in Claim 1, wherein the pin of each pin-and-slot connection is provided on the carrier and the slot is provided in the arm extending rigidly from the respective segment.
3. A label transfer mechanism as in Claim 1 or
Claim 2, wherein each arm extends radially inwards from its respective segment.
4. A label transfer mechanism as in any one of
Claims 1 to 3, wherein each gear quadrant trails from its pivot axis on the carrier relative to the direction of rotation of the carrier.
5. A label transfer mechanism as in any one of
Claims 1 to 4, wherein each arm is provided at the lower end of its respective segment and above the level of an upper portion of the carrier that is provided with the pins.
6. A label transfer mechanism as in any one of
Claims 1 to 5, wherein a removable top steady for each eccentric spindle is provided on the carrier and consists of an eccentric socket for the spindle in a memberjournalled in a plate removably secured to the top of a central column of the carrier.
7. A label transfer mechanism as in any one of
Claims 1 to 6, wherein the cam is provided by at least three parts consisting of a circular plate with an integral raised major portion bounded by a chord and provided with a portion of cam groove concentric with the axis of the plate, and inner and outer profile sections bolted to the remainder of the plate and between them defining a parallel-sided groove including the two sections of the cam profile deviating respectively radially inwardly and radially outwardly from the concentric groove.
8. A label transfer mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accom panying drawings.
9. A labelling machine incorporating a label transfer mechanism as in any one of the preceding
Claims.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7940268A GB2035256A (en) | 1978-11-30 | 1979-11-21 | Label transfer mechanism for a labelling machine |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7846677 | 1978-11-30 | ||
| GB7940268A GB2035256A (en) | 1978-11-30 | 1979-11-21 | Label transfer mechanism for a labelling machine |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2035256A true GB2035256A (en) | 1980-06-18 |
Family
ID=26269804
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7940268A Withdrawn GB2035256A (en) | 1978-11-30 | 1979-11-21 | Label transfer mechanism for a labelling machine |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2035256A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2194504A (en) * | 1986-05-27 | 1988-03-09 | Fuji Seal Ind Co Ltd | Labelling |
| EP0666216A1 (en) * | 1994-02-04 | 1995-08-09 | KOSME S.r.l. | Improved picker for picking labels from the magazine of a labelling machine |
-
1979
- 1979-11-21 GB GB7940268A patent/GB2035256A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2194504A (en) * | 1986-05-27 | 1988-03-09 | Fuji Seal Ind Co Ltd | Labelling |
| EP0666216A1 (en) * | 1994-02-04 | 1995-08-09 | KOSME S.r.l. | Improved picker for picking labels from the magazine of a labelling machine |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |