GB2038784A - Magazines for label stacks - Google Patents

Abstract

A label magazine has a plurality of plates (2, 3, 4 and 5) each having an edge provided with a plurality of lateral projections (6) for engaging the edge of at least the foremost label, the plates being adjustably mounted to ensure engagement of substantially all the projections of all the plates with the edge of the foremost label. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Magazines for label stacks for labelling machines This invention relates to magazines for label stacks for labelling machines.

Whether such a magazine be stationary, reciprocatory or oscillatory, it usually consists of a framework in which are mounted a plurality of bars terminating in claws for retaining the foremost label in the stack, each bar being individually mounted and adjustable in the framework. In addition to the considerable expense in providing many bars with claws, and mounting and adjusting screws and nuts, usually in brass, this form of magazine also suffers from other major disadvantages; that only a very limited number of claws can be provided per unit length of label periphery, which limits the amount of loading permissible to push the label stack towards the claws; that the size of the claws consequently has to be quite appreciable to ensure that the foremost label is held, but not so securely that the foremost label cannot be picked out (whether by gum or suction) without damaging the label, all of which calls for very exacting individual adjustment of the bars and/or individual filing of the claws; that the label stack has to be replenished whilst there may be an inch or more of thickness of the stack (representing several hundreds of labels) remaining; and that one stack cannot be disposed as close to another stack as the closeness of two (or more) labels on each article may require. All these disadvantages are aggravated with small labels, especially those having one dimension very appreciably smaller than the other (or another).

The object of the present invention is to provide a magazine for a label stack for a labelling machine with which all the above disadvantages are overcome.

According to the present invention, a magazine for a label stack for a labelling machine comprises a plurality of plates each corresponding to a portion of the periphery of the labels and having an edge provided with a plurality of lateral projections for engaging at intervals the edge of at least the foremost label in the stack, and each plate is mounted in a framework, with adjustment means provided to enable at least one plate to be moved to ensure engagement of substantially all the projections of all the plates with the edge of the foremost label.

Thus the projections on a few plates take the place of the claws or individual bars, and so can be provided in far greater number per unit length of label periphery. Only a very slight projection (e.g.

1/32 inch) from each plate is necessary to ensure that the foremost label cannot fall or be inadvertently removed from the stack; and, indeed, the very slightness of the projections discourages filing of them, especially as such adjustment is not necessary in addition to the plate adjustment provided. The projections may be formed by punching across the edges of the plates from one side only to form half pimples on the other side, simple jigs and tools being required for this operation.

There are preferably four plates, the plates cooperating to provide support for a foremost label around substantially all its periphery.

Thus a magazine for a stack of rectangular (or square) labels would comprise four generally flat plates with edge projections as aforesaid, one plate for each set of respective edges of the labels, and with two adjacent plates adjustable with respect to their respective opposite plates, but one or more of the plates of a magazine in accordance with the invention may be bent (preferably after punching to form the edge projections) to conform to a portion of the periphery of a label that is not a straight line.

Alternatively, or in addition, the edge of a plate may be notched or slit between edge projections to enable localised bending to be effected to suit a portion of the periphery of a label having sudden deviations from a straight line, orto permit some localised adjustment to ensure engagement of all edge projections with the foremost label.

Each plate is preferably provided with at least two pierce-nuts or clinch nuts for mounting and/or adjusting screws, and each plate may constitute only a forward part of the magazine, being extended rearwardly by bars, which at one side (e.g., the upper side) of the magazine may be shorter than on the other sides, to enable the stack to be replenished without interrupting operation of a machine on which the magazine is utilised.

One embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a magazine for a label stack according to the invention; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the magazine of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a plan of the magazine of Figure 1.

In the drawings, a magazine 1 for a label stack for a labelling machine has four plates 2,3,4 and 5 each adapted to abut one edge portion of a generally rectangular label. The foremost edge of each plate is punched to form inwardly projecting half pimples 6.

Each plate 2, 3, 4 and 5 is respectively removably mounted on a generally rectangular frame 7 with the plate members 4 and 5 adjustably mounted to allow the magazine a degree of adjustment to accept different sized labels without the need to change the plates. Thus the plates 4, 5 are each provided with two screwed stems 8 which pass through the adjacent side of the frame 7 with lock nuts 9 to hold the plates 4, 5 in the required position, the plates 2 and 3 being bolted by bolts 10 to the adjacent sides of the frame 7.

To provide support for a label stack, and at the same time allow for the replenishment of the stack without interrupting operation of the labelling machine, the plates 2, 3, 4 and 5 completely enclose the stack at the lower end, but the plates 3, 4 and 5 are considerably shorter than the plate 2, which projects rearwardly beyond the other plates to provide support for one side of the stack. The immediately adjacent side of the stack is supported by two support bars 11 bolted at their lower ends to the frame 7. The rearward parts of the support bars 11 and the plate 2 are secured to two spaced L-shaped support members 12 by bolts, the Lshaped support members 12 themselves being secured to a main, generally horizontally disposed support bar 13, to which the frame 7 is also secured at its lower end.

The main support bar 13 is utilised to locate the magazine in a labelling machine. Thus, as is shown more particularly in Figures 2 and 3, mounting bars 14 are secured to a boss 15 with provision for lateral and angular adjustment, each boss 15 being secured to the support bar 13 with provision for horizontal adjustment.

The invention therefore provides extremely simple and highly effective means of holding a label stack, in a mannerwhich allows the label stack to be replenished without interrupting the operation of the labelling machine and which allows the pick-out of the lowermost label whether by gum or by suction without damaging the label. By replacing the claws or individual bars of the prior art with the projections 6 formed, e.g., as shown in the drawings, by punching half dimples in the lowermost edge of the plates 2,3,4 and 5, a far greater number of projections per unit length of label periphery can be provided ensuring that the foremost label cannot fall or be inadvertently removed from the stack, in a manner that obviates the need to file or otherwise mechanically treat an individual projection to ensure that it functions correctly.

Although the drawings show an example of the invention intended for use with a rectangular label, it will be fully understood that the plates 2,3,4 and 5 need not be flat but can be shaped to suit the shape of a label. It would be equally possible to notch or slit one or more of the plates rearwardly of the pimpled edge to allow localised bending to be effected to suit a portion of the periphery of a label having a sudden deviation from a straight line or indeed to permit a degree of localised adjustment to ensure engagement of all edge projections with the foremost label.

Claims (9)

1. A magazine for a label stack for a labelling machine comprising a pluraity of plates each corresponding to a portion of the periphery of the labels and having an edge provided with a plurality of lateral projections for engaging at intervals the edge of at least the foremost label in the stack, and each plate is mounted in a framework, with adjustment means provided to enable at least one plate to be moved to ensure engagement of substantially all the projections of all the plates with the edge of the foremost label.

2. A magazine as in Claim 1, wherein the projections are formed by punching across the edges of the plates from one side only to form half pimples on the othe:- ide, simple jigs and tools being required for this operation.

3. A magazine as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein four plates are provided, the plates co-operating to provide support for a label around substantially all its periphery.

4. A magazine as in Claim 3, wherein two adjacent plates are adjustable with respect to their respective opposite plates to accommodate different sized labels.

5. A magazine as in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the edge of a plate may be noticed or slit to allow localised bending to be effected to suit a portion of the periphery of a label having a sudden deviation from a straight line.

6. A magazine as in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the plates co-operate to constitute a forward part of the magazine, the rearward part of the magazine being formed by bars extending from the plates which bars are shorter to one side of the magazine to enable a stack of labels to be replenished without interrupting operation of the labelling machine.

7. A magazine as in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the plates co-operate to form the forward part of the magazine, one plate being extended to provide a support to one side of the stack rearwardly of the forward part, and there being support bars extending rearwardly of the plates to provide support of another part of the label stack, and whereby two sides of the rearward part of the stack are open to allow replenishment of the stack without interrupting operation of the labelling machine.

8. A magazine as in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the framework supporting the plates is mounted on a main support bar adapted for locating the magazine in a labelling machine, the main support bar also providing support for those members constituting the rearward part of the magazine.

9. A magazine for a label stack for a labelling machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.