US2341493A - Machine for applying labels to moving webs - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 8, 1944.

H. B. TUTHILI. E-rAl. 2,341,493

MACHINE FOR APPLYING LABELS TO MOVING WEBS Filed Oct. 20, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l 2 Inueniors -HowaYdB-ufh Fb M4;

H. B. TUTHILL Erm. ,3%,493

MACHNEv FOR APPLYING LABELS TO MOVING WEBS Filed Oct. 20, 1943 A 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 8, 1944.

H. B. TUTHILL ETAL MACHINE FOR APPLYING LABELS TO MOVING WEBS Filed Oct. 20, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .MH s hm uJl of e .fud n Tm Y IMMVA wwuez/ on Patented Feb. 8; 1944 MACHINE Fon. Ammo. LABELS 'ro MovlNG Howard B. Tuthill and Harry F. Caldwell, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignors to Oliver Machinery Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a limited partnership of Michigan WEBS Application October 29, 1943, Serial No. 506,926

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a paper feeding device used in connection with the application of labels to paper at intervals in the length thereof, the paper being thereafter utilized in wrapping articles so that the completely wrapped article will have exhibited on the wrapper a properly Placed and located label which contains indicia relative to the article or merchandise which is wrapped.

One place of use of our invention is in conjunction with bread wrapping machines wherein the paper is used drawn continuously into the wrapping machine and is utilized to successively wrap loaves of bread. In such machines the continuous movement of the paper into the machine is antagonistic to the necessity that when the paper is having the label applied thereto it should be at rest. It is an object and purpose of the present invention to provide a novel, practical, useful and yet simple mechanism for controlling the paper whereby it may be continuously unwound from a roll of paper and continuously drawn into the wrapping machine but at an intel-mediate station stopped to have the labels successively applied thereto; and of course such stoppings of the paper occur at periodic intervals or at the proper spaced distances for attachment of the labels to the continuous length of paper which is being operated upon.

It is to be understood that while this invention is of utility in connection with the wrapping of bread, it is not restricted or limited in any' sense to this one particular article of merchandise, but is generally available wherever wrapping paper having labels applied thereto may be used; for example, other articles than bread, or in certain cases where a roll of paper has the labels applied thereto and is thereafter used for individual wrapping of articles cutting off thev amount of paper required for each. Other manners of use of the wrapping paper with labels properly attached will occur and our invention is to.be considered as comprehending any manner of use of the final paper product after the labels {iiave been attached by the machine of our invenon. y

An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the label attaching mechanism illustrated as an attachment to a bread wrapping machine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethrough from front to rear.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section showing the upper part of the label applying mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. 2 but illustrating the parts in a diiferent position.

Fig. 4 is va fragmentary detail in section and end elevation of the paper stopping means used which means is likewise shown in Figs. l and 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view thereof. and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the body of the machine and at a lower part thereof but above the paper feed control mechanism used in our invention.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the diiierent figures of the drawings.

The bread wrapping machine is fragmentarily illustrated in elevation at I, at one end thereof.

this being the end at which the paper to wrap the loaves of bread enters the machine. From a iower part of the frame work of the machine an arm 2 extends horizontally and at its free end is provided with an upwardly extending pedestal I. 'I'he paper 4 in a roll 5 is carried on asuitable central spindle or core 6 mounted for free turning on suitable hooks as shown (Fig. l) below the pedestal 3.

This paper, when it enters the wrapping machine, is carried over a continuously rotating horizontal roller 1 carried on a shaft 8, the ends of which have bearings in the sides of the wrapping machine frame.

With our invention the paper is drawn continuously from the roll 5 and is carried continuously and at substantially the same speed of movement into the machine over the roller l. At an intermediate position between the roll 5 and its entrance into the wrapping machine labels are applied thereto at spaced intervals in the length of the paper. Upon the pedestal 3 a supporting housing is provided having spaced vertical sides 9 between which a horizontal table I0 is secured over which the paper passes, being guided over the spaced rollers I I and I2 at opposite front and rear edges of the table.

Two arms I3 are pivotally mounted adjacent one end on a horizontal shaft Il which extends through the sides 9 of the supporting housing, being located one at the outside of each side of the housing, said arms extend toward the wrapping machine and between them carry upper and lower horizontal rollers I5 and I6. At the opposite end of one arm I3 it is 4connected to a sleeve I'I against the upper end of which a collar I8 integral with a threaded shaft I9 bears. The shaft I9 extends upwardly in a generally vertical direction through an interiorly threaded sleeve 20 which is swivelly mounted on the housing side 8 and is equipped with a handle 2I for turning at its upper end. The lower end of shaft I8 is reduced in diameter, passes through the sleeve Il and carries a coiled compression spring 22 around it between the lower side of the collar I'I and` a fixed collar 23 near the lower end of the shaft. Such spring. 22 normally elevates the adjacent end of the arm I3 with which it is associated to the position shown in Figs. l and 2. Upon elevation of the end of the arms I3 which carry rollers I and I6, for example, to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, the spring 22 is compressed and has the normal effect of returning the parts to their initial position when free to do so.

'I'he paper 4 when it leaves the roll 5 is first carried underneath the roller l25 of two spaced rollers 24 and 25 mounted between arms 28 which are pivotally mounted between their ends on a cross shaft 21 a. short distance inward from the rod or core 6 and between the sides of the parts 2. The opposite end of the arm 26 is acted upon by a coiled tension spring 28. After the paper has passed under and around the roller 25 it is carried upwardly over the roller I6 and thence downwardly underneath the roller 24, and upward at an angle to the vertical to and over the roller I I, the table III and the roller I2, and directed downwardly under the roller I5 and thence to and over the roller I of the bread wrapping machine. It is to be understood that thev withdrawal of the paper is produced by the bread wrapping machine which acts upon the paper to pull it into the machine in a continuous movement.

The label strip at 29 is fed underneath a roller 30 which has pins extending therefrom like the label feed roller shown in Patent No. 2,326,436 issued August 10, 1933. The mechanism for operating the feed roller 38 is not an essential part of the present invention, such feeding of the label strip being shown in the patent mentioned and also shown in other patents which applicants have received.

A label severing and sealing mechanism is mounted on and between the sides 9 ofthe housing above the table I8. It includes an arm 32 which carries a heated sealer element 33 and a severing knife 34 which upon downward movement operates to sever the end label at 3l (Fig. 3) in conjunction with the bar 35 across the edge of which the knife passes, with a lowering of the sealing element 33 onto said label to press it against the paper 4 and cement it in place. It is to be understood that each label at its under side carries a thermoplastic adhesive softened by the application of heat and therefore adhering to the paper when the heating element 33 is pressed thereagainst.

The specific operation of the knife and of the sealing element is likewise shown in Patent No. 2,326,436 and substantially the same mechanism is utilized herein.

The application of such mechanism to the bread wrapping machine may now be outlined. The arm 33 is fixed to a rock sha'ftp36 which at one end outside of the housing (Fig. l) carries an arm 31 at the free end of which is a roller 38. 'I'he roller 38 rides upon a disk cam 38 which at one point has a concaved depression 40. When roller 38 is engaged with the major portion of the edge of the disk cam 39 arm 3'I is elevated and the shaft 36 rocked so as to elevate the arm 32 to upper position as in Fig. 2. But when the roller 38 reaches the depression at 40 the arm 3U is lowered with an operation of the severing knife 84 and a location of the heated sealing element 33 against the severed label which has been deposited upon the paper. Such label severing and sealing occurs once with each revolution of the disk 38.

Disk 39 is xed upon a stud shaft 4I mounted on the housing side 8 which shaft carries a sprocket wheel 42 driven by a sprocket chain 43 from a second sprocket wheel 44 on a continuously rotating shaft 45 of the wrapping machine.

From the arm 32 a finger 46 extends downwardly and at its lower end portion is turned at an angle toward the wrapping machine as shown. At the upper inner corners and between the housing sides 8 a xed horizontal rod 41 is located on which a horizontal bar 48- is mounted for turning, having ears extending from its ends through which the shaft 4'I passes. The bar 48 has a finger 48 extending therefrom over the lower portion of the finger 46 and carries a screw 58 which may be adjusted to different positions, the lower end of which is adapted to ride upon the lower part of the finger 46 when the arm 32 isr in upper position.

At each end of the -bar 48 an arm 5I is adjustably secured to the rod 4`I.4 Headed pins or posts 52 pass freely downwardly through the arms 5I and connect with the ends of the bar 48 between the upper side of which and the lower side of the arms 5I coiled compression springs 53 are mounted around the post or pins. 'Ihe bar 48 at its lower side carries two presser members 54 one adjacent each end of the bar which in their lowermost position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, are pressed against the paper 4 to force it against the table I0, this occurring when arm 32 is lowered with a contemporaneous lowering of the finger 46. The compression springs 53 supply the force required to press the presser members 54 against the paper to clamp it momentarily while the sealing of the label to the paper is taking place, occurring during the time that the roller 38 is traversing the depression 48 in the disk cam 38.

In the operation the paper 4 being drawn continuously over the roller 'I into the wrapping machine, while the label sealing mechanism is in upper position as in Fig. 2 the paper moves continuously over all of the rollers. But upon the severing of a label and the pressure of the sealing element 33 of said label against the paper, the paper over the table I0 is stopped in movement. Such stoppage is done by the presser members 54 pressing the paper against the table and serving to bind or clamp the paper to the table with suiicient pressure to stop its movement.

When this occurs the paper 4 going over the roller I into the wrapping machine being drawn continuously, the arms I3 are elevated, as to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. 'I'his permits the paper to be stopped in its passage over the table I0 with no stoppage of movement of paper into the wrapping machine. At the same time the lifting of the arms I3 with a stopping of the paper running underneath the roller 24 draws upon the roll of paper at 5. There is a continuous unrolling of paper from the roll 5, a continuous movement of paper into the Wrapping machine with a stopping of a length of the paper between during the time that the heating element is pressing the label 3| against the wrapping paper and cementing it thereto.

The construction described is of a practical and useful character and has been utilized in wrapping machines with wholly satisfactory results. The spring controlled arm 26 provides a yielding resistance to shock to the paper in its The invention is dened in the appended claims y and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

We claim:

l. Means for moving a continuous length of paper in the direction of its length, means for stopping the paper at an intermediate section of its length with the paper at both sides of said intermediate section continued in i'ts movement, means for aflixing a label to said stopped'intermediate section of paper while said section is held from movement, and means acted upon by the paper drawing means for moving the paper in continued movement at each side of the section thereof held against movement during the time that said section is thus held.

2. In a construction of the class described, a support, a table on said support, means for drawing paper in one direction over said table, means for successively cementing labels to the paper over the table at periodic intervals, said labels being attached to the paper at spaced distances from each other, means for stopping the paper over the table while said label is applied and sealed thereto, and means with which the paper is engaged at each side of the table actuated by the paper being drawn for drawing paper in its direction of movement at one side of the table while the paper over the table is stopped in movement an'd for releasing paper for continued movement at the opposite side of the table during the time that the paper over the table is stopped and a label is secured.

3. In a structure of the class described, a support including a horizontal table, means on said support for carrying a supply of paper; a pivotally mounted member connected with said support underneath the table at one end having upper and lower spaced rollers, the paper being guided about one roller to one side of the table, thence over the table and therefrom guided about the other roller, means for drawing paper from said paper. roll over said table and around said rollers, means located over the table for supplying labels to the paper and for engaging said labels and pressing them aganst the paper and sealing them thereto, means for periodically operating said label sealing means, and means operated in conjunction with the label sealing means for pressing the paper against the upper sideof the table and holding it against movement during the time that a label is being secured thereto.

4. In a construction of the class described, a support including a horizontal table, rollers at opposite sides of the table, means for carrying a supply of paper on said support, a structure including two spaced arms pivotally mounted on said support and extending in one direction away from said pivotal mounting, upper and lower rollers carried between said arms a distance from its pivotal mounting, the paper from the roll being carried about the lower of said rollers to one of the rollers at one side o! the table, thence over the table to and about the other roller at the opposite side of the table and thence about the second\,of said rollers carried by said arms, spring means acting upon said structure for normally turning said arms and rollers carried thereby to a lower position, means for periodically clamping the paper against said table combined with means for securing a label to the paper over said table while thus clamped, and means for periodically operating said clamping and label sealing means.

5. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 4, combined with a yielding shock absorbing means pivotally mounted on said support including pivotally mounted arms and spaced rollers between ends of said arms about which said paper passes,

and spring means acting thereon to press said rollers against said paper.

6. In combination with a wrapping machine having a roller at an upper portion thereof over which paper is continuously drawn into the machine, a support fora label attaching mechanism located adjacent the wrapping machine, a horizontal table on said support over which paper is drawn, means for successively attaching labels to the paper over said table at space d distances in the length of the paper, means associated with said first mentioned means for engaging the paper and pressing it against the table to stop the paper over the table While a labelis being attached, and movably mounted means disposed between the table and the wrapping machine through which the paper passes adapted to be lifted by the paper passing into the wrapping machine to permit continuous movement of the paper into the Wrapping machine while the paper over the table is stopped and is having a label ailixed thereto.

'7. Means for moving a continuous length of paper in the direction of its length into a wrapping mechanism, means for stopping the paper at a distance from said wrapping mechanism and outside thereof with the paper continuing its movement into said wrapping mechanism, means for affixing a label to the paper at the place where it is stopped, and yielding means with which the paper is engaged disposed between the wrapping mechanism and .the place where the label is ailixed moved by the paper going into the wrapping mechanism to permit its continued movement thereinto and a stopping of the paper at the place where a label is attached.

8. In a construction of the class described, a support including a horizontal table, said table being adapted to have paper pass thereover, a roller at the side of the table at which the paper leaves said table, label afiixing mechanism carried by said support above the table, means for operating said mechanism to periodically deposit labels one at a time at spaced apart distances on the paper and over the table and for securing a deposited label to said paper, a pivotallymounted structure on said support below said roller, said pivotally mounted structure having a horizontal roller thereon under which the paper passes after leaving the rst mentioned roller, said paper being carried from said second mentioned roller in an upward direction under a continuous pull thereon, and means for pressing the paper against the table at the time a label is being affixed thereto for stopping the paper 1o- .cated over the table against movement during such label afxing.

9. A construction containing the elements in combination dened in claim 8, said table at its opposite edge having a third roller about a portion of which the paper passes therefrom to and over the table and a yielding means through which the paper passes before its passagejto said table for absorbing shock in removment of the paper over the table after it hasgbeen stopped and a label has been secured thereto.

10. In a machine of the class described, a support including a horizontal table, means for carrying a roll of paper at the lower/.part of the support and below the table, a shock balancing means pivotally-mounted to one side of the roll of paper having arms with spaced parallel rollers generally in the same horizontal-plane at the ends of said arms and spring means acting to normally turn the arms in a downward direction, a structure including spaced apart arms pivotally mounted on said support and Vyextending therefrom over the rollers of the shock balancing means, a second pair of rollers one located over the other between the arms of said structure and located over the rollers of the shock balancing means, additional rollers one at each side of the table, the paper from the roll of paper being carried to and under the outermost rollers of the shock absorbing means, thence' upwardly to and over the lower roller on said structure, thence downwardly to and under the second roller of the shock absorbing means, thence upwardly to and over the roller at the paper entrance side of said table, over said table and over the roller at the opposite side of the table, thence downwardly over the uppermost roller of said structure and thence in an upward direction, in which direction the paper is to be pulled to move the paper, and means for engaging against the paper over said table to stop it for a .predetermined time against movement with a continuation of movement of the paper in said upward direction, as and for the purposes described.

11. A construction containing the elements in combination dened in claim 10, combined with means for adjusting said structure about its pivotal mounting, and yielding means for normally holding the outer end of said structure in its lowermost position, said yielding means permitting elevation of the outer end of said structure andthe rollers thereon when the paper is stopped over the table.

HOWARD B. TUTHILL. HARRY F. CALDWELL.

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