US3148874A - Label folding and pressing device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 15, 1964 Fi F. FORTHMANN, JR 3,148,874-

v LABEL FOLDING AND PREssING DEVICE:

Filed Aug. 16, 1962 INVENTOR.

Faoin/x F. Fa/YTHMA/VN, J2.

BY WW W jim,

Arran/ve V5 United States Patent O 3,l48,874 LABEL FOLDNG AND PRESSNG DEVICE Frederick F. Fortlnmann, Jr., 688 Pnscack Road, Washington Township, Bergen County, NJ. Filed Aug. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 217,433 1 Claim. (Cl. 270-61) This invention relates in general to devices for folding labels, particularly cross labels, and in particular to a new and useful device having an improved hea-ting means for effecting the pressing of labels as they are folded.

The present invention is an improvement over the device indicated and described in Patent No. 2,680,612 to Hubelmeyer. In this patent there is disclosed a device for the folding and pressing of labels in an automatic operation. A machine of this nature was satisfactory for labels which were thereafter applied to individual garments by sewing or similar securing operations. At the present time, some labels are manufactured with a plastic or resinous material on one face thereof adjacent each end, which material is adapted to be heat sealed in place to affix the label to a garment. It has been found that the machines would not operate to heat and press the labels into a folded shape when the labels included the resinous material thereon for securing the label to a garment. When attempts were made to operate machinery of this character with labels of such nature, it was found that after a short period of operation, the operating elements would become completely clogged with the resinous material and would no longer operate satisfactorily.

Attempts were made to remedy the equipment in order to permit the handling of labels of this nature on such equipment. Where elements were employed which will not adhere to the resinous material, it was found that it was not possible to supply a sufficient quantity of heat in order to obtain a permanent fold in the label so that it would not go back to its original shape after it was folded and pressed. In the Hubelmeyer patented construction referred to above, the label is directed around an anvil-shaped member by means of a folding element which contains a heating element. The folding element is pressed downwardly against an upwardly reciprocating anvil or slide member and heat is applied to the label from the folding member to carry out the folding operation.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved arrangement is provided which includes means for heating the upwardly reciprocating slide member so that the heat for pressing is applied by this member. In order to prevent the accumulation of plastic material on the folding member which is adapted to pass over the portion of the label bearing the plastic, the folding member is provided with a non-adherent element such as Teflon arranged in a precise manner so that heating is not inhibited through metal parts arranged above and below the label, but the plastic is not contacted by such hot metal parts.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved pressing device for labels and similar strip material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pressing device which includes an upwardly reciprocating pressing element having heating means thereon, means for feeding a label over the element to align the fold line thereof 3,148,874 Patented Sept. 15., 1964 adjacent the edge of the element, and including means for directing a folding member with a portion nonadherent to plastic thereon arranged to overly a plastic strip portion of the label, and a metal portion adapted to contact the corner of the folded label in order to effect heating and pressing thereof with jthe upwardly directed member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding and pressing device for labels and similar strip material having resinous material adjacent one end thereof, which device includes two elements adapted to move together, including an upwardly reciprocating slide adapted to engage adjacent the fold line of the label and a folding member adapted to contact the free edge of the label and deflect it around upon itself, and including a portion arranged to overly the resinous portion thereof which will not adhere thereto, even when the material is tacky, and means for applying heat to the slide to effect complete folding and pressing of the label between said slide and said folding member.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved label folding device including means for handling labels having a plastic patch thereon for securing the label to a garmen-t which device includes a heating element adapted to engage the label from below, and a folding element adapted to deflect the label around a centering anvil and to effect pressing of the label around said anvil and the application of heat without causing the plastic material to stick to the operating parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a label folding and pressing device which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical Ito manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a front elevation of a folding and pressing device constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device indicated in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on :the line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4a is a schematic side elevation on a smaller scale of the pressing and folding device in the initial position of operation;

FIG. 4b is a view similar to FIG. 4a of the device indicated in anadvanced position;

FIG. 4c is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 4a with the device indicated in a folded and pressed condition;

FIG. 4d is a view similar .to FIG. 4a with the parts shown in the final folding and pressing position; and

FlG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a label constructed in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein includes a device generally designated 10 for folding and pressing labels generally designated 12. The folding and pressing device l@ has particular application for the folding of labels 12 (FIG. 5) which comprise a front central panel 12a upon which a design,

trademark or other indication is placed, and side flaps 12b and lZc which are folded in respect to the front panel 12a about fold lines f4, I4 to permit the label to be secured to a garment by securing the flaps thereto. The label 12 is unique inasmuch as it has a strip or panel ll, 16 of plastic or resinous material on each end which is adapted to be heat sealed to the garment for securing the label in position.

Generally, it is a simple matter to fold labels which do not have any heat-scalable material or plastic thereon. With the label l2, however, great attention must be paid to the folding and pressing thereof along fold lines la, ld to avoid having the plastic foul the operating parts while still insuring that sullicient heat and pressure are imparted to the label to effect a permanent fold.

The pressing device lll advantageously includes a movable rectangular slide block or frame generally designated I7 which includes two side frame4 members i8 and 2d. The side frame members iS and Ztl each include elongated vertical grooves 22 and 24 at each inner side face which accommodate a slide or heating and pressing member generally designated 26.

A folding member or deflector generally designated 28 is pivotally mounted at 3th to .the lower end of the blockmember l2. In accordance with the invention, the folding member 2S includes an upper pressing bar or block assembly generally designated 31 which is secured at the upper edge of the folding member 2S. The pressing block assembly 3l includes three substantially L-shaped parts: an inner angle-shaped pressing member 32, the bottom outer edge of which is adapted to Contact the label l2 at i-ts fold line ld; an insert member or at block portion 34 of'a material such as Teflon which is adapted to overlie the label at the location of the plastic strip portions 16; and angle-shaped cover portion 36 which is secured over the member 34 and a holding plate 3S both of which are secured to the pressing member 32 by a bolt 3S. The entire assembly 3l is held to the upper end of the pivoting and reciprocating folding element 2S by means of a bolt 38.

As best indicated in FIG. 4a, labels l2 are advanced into vertical alignment with the reciprocating block pressing element 26. In accordance with the invention, this element advantageously includes a heater d@ with interior induction coils 42 which are energized to heat the block 26 through a cable connection 44. The block element 26 reciprocates relative .to the folding element 2S and the entire assembly is moved in the label folding and feeding cycle by means of a bar element 46 which contacts one or more sides of the pivoting and reciprocating element 28 by means (not shown herein but fully described in Patent 2,680,612), The sliding block element 26 is reciprocated during and in timed relationship to the movement of the whole assembly by means connected through the pin 4S. As indicated in FlGS. 4a and 4b, feeder elements indicated at 5t) are adapted to move together and advance the label l2 into alignment with the reciprocating block 26 and thereafter they are adapted to release the label and move outwardly therefrom, as indicated in FIG. 4b.

With the label positioned over the block 26, -the entire assembly including the sliding block 26 and the folding element 28 is moved upwardly to cause the sliding block element 26 to contact the underside of the label l2 while an anvil or angle member 52 is moved downwardly thereover to hold it in position. Immediately thereafter, the folding member 28 is moved so that the outer edge thereof contacts the free end of lthe label adjacent fold line ld and directs the label over the angle member S2.

As indicated in FIG. 4c, when the label is held around the anvil 52 bythe upwardly moved slide 26 and the upper assembly 3l of the folding element 2S, the portion of the label l2 which has adhesive at the area lll underlies the insert 34. However, the end of the label is folded around the anvil by the metal portion of the folding element 32 and by the forward portion of the folding element 28. In addition, heat is applied to the label for pressing purposes through the sliding block element 26.

It has been found with such an arrangement that the heat which is supplied through the block element 26 is sufficient to cause a permanent crease of the label and still prevent the transfer of a large amount of heat tothe label in the vicinity of the plastic strip portions 16. A feature of the arrangement is that heat may be directed through the label from the block element 26 to the metal portion 32 of the folding assembly 31. Thus, the heating is localized at the location of the fold lines 14, I4 on each side of the label and very little, if any, heat is directed in the area adjacent lthe plastic or resin at 14. (It should be appreciated -that the apparatus has been described in connection with the folding of one end of a label, but the operation is identical in respect to the other end.)

If there is any tendency for heat to melt the plastic at the strip portions 16, there will be no melting of the plastic beyond the Teflon insert 34, so that there is no tendency for the label to become stuck or for the plastic material to clog the operating parts of the machine.

Thus, the modified design permits the handling of labels having resinous means for adhering the label to a garment on a machine which was designed for labels which were to be sewn to a garment. The arrangement is unique and unexpected inasmuch as great difficulty was encountered in obtaining an adequate crease on the label so that it would not return to its original shape, while still insuring that the resinous material on the label would not clog the machinery.

With the construction set forth, metal portions are arranged to contact each side of the label at the area of the fold lines and apply sufficient heat thereto to insure a permanent crease.

As indicated in FIG. 4d, after the label has been initially pressed with the anvil member 52 in position, the

'anvil member 52 is moved outwardly and upwardly and the folding element 28 moves downwardly into a pressing position to tightly press the label onto the heated block element 26. Thereafter, the pivoting and reciprocating folding element 23 is moved outwardly and downwardly to release the label to permit it to be carried off and packed in a container `in a folded position. During the entire operation, the resinous portions i4 of the label 12 remain undisturbed. In addition, due to the unique pressing element arrangementV and the arrangement of the Teflon insert 34, none of the plastic material becomes adhered to the operating portions of the machine.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described to illustrate the application of the Vinventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

In a label folding and pressing device, comprising a movable block element, a slide reciprocable in said block element, a folding member pivotally connected to said lblock element and being movable therewith, means to advance labels into alignment with said slide, said slide being movable against one side of said label at a spaced location from an end thereof, said folding member being movable to deflect the end of said label over the opposite side of the portion of said label engaged by said slide to fold and press the label, the improvement comprising means to handle labels having heat-sealable resin bearing areas thereonadjacent the ends thereof, including means to heat said slide carried by said slide, a folding assembly carried at the upper end of said folding member including a portion non-adherent to plastic when tacky and arranged to overlie the resinous areas of said label when said folding member is in a folding and pressing position, a metal portion adapted to overlie the fold line of said label and a portion of said block when said block and said folding member are in a position to fold and press said label, said folding assembly carried at the upper end of said folding 5 6 member including an L-shaped member and an outwardly said plastic member extending outwardly from said back extending metal portion adapted to overlie the edge of portion. said block when in a folding and pressing position, a plastic member having characteristics such that resinous ma- References Cited rl the me 0f this Patent terial is non-adherent thereto extending outwardly from 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS said back portion and including a portion extending downwardly forming a surface to overlie the area of said label gbnlrln; 289 having the resinous material thereon, a holding plate over 2785729 Smith et gl Mar 19 1957 lying said plastic member, and a covering element over

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