US3648823A - Labeling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A labeling machine having a single narrow endless can feed belt that engages the median areas of the sidewalls of the cans mounted on respective pulley assemblies with an articulated drive and supports therefor that are adjustable to different diameter cans and supported from one side of the machine, comprises pairs of rigid vertical rack and stiffening bars positioned at opposite ends of the machine, with adjustable lower and upper sets of pressure rollers for the belt. A can runway with adjustable rigid and flexible can guides. The initial portion, at the feed end of the machine, of the can runway is in the form of a narrow can runway strip for supporting the cans from below at their median sidewall areas. This, together with the narrow feed belt engagement with the upper exposed median areas of the cans enables the cans to travel and be fed over the narrow runway strip with the greater portion of the upper and lower sidewall areas of the cans uncontacted and undisturbed beyond the median contact areas by the belt and runway strip for a desired operation thereon by the labeling machine function.

Description

United States Patent Neer Mar. 14, 1972 s41 LABELING MACHINE [57 ABSTRACT lflvafllofl Clifford H- e Baltimore, Md. I A labeling machine having a single narrow endless can feed belt that engages the median areas of the sidewalls of the cans [73] Ass'gnee' gg r xz zj Company Incorporated mounted on respective pulley assemblies with an articulateddrive and supports therefor that are adjustable to different [22] Filed: I Dec. 28, 1966 diameter cans and supported from one side of the machine,

comprises pairs of rigid vertical rack and stiffening bars posi- [zn Appl' 605279 tioned at opposite ends of the machine, with adjustable lower and upper sets of pressure rollers for the belt. A can runway 21 CI 198/160 with adjustable rigid and flexiblecan guides. The initial por- [51] B 8 15/ 12 tion, at the feed end of the machine, of the can runway is in [58] Field of Search ..l56/453, 455; 198/33 R, h form f a w can runway strip for supporting the cans from below at their median sidewall areas. This, together with [56] w Cited the narrow feed belt engagement with the upper exposed UNITED STATES PATENTS median areas of the cans enables the cans to travel and be fed over the narrow runway strip with the greater portion of the 1,555,431 9/1925 Murphy ....l98/ X upper and lower sidewall areas of the cans uncontacted and 1,995,306 3/1935 Hesson ..'....l56/453 di b b d h di n Con a t areas by the belt and runway strip for a desired operation thereon by the labeling Primary Examiner-Edward A. Sroka machine f i Attomey-J. Wesley Everett and George L. Brehm 7 Claims, 56 Drawing Figures l4 ls l 8 c |7- c o a V i 26' T 5' 23? a G Y Q o Q I 685224 'ii me 28 22 272 I41 \24l' 391 310 an er 1----T PATENTEDMAR 14 I972 3.648 823 sum 01M 23 INVENTOR ATTORNEY PATENTEDMAR14 I912 3,648,823

SHEET 02 HF 23 I N VENTQR 677708;? H. Deer ATTORNEY PATENTEDMAR 14 1972 SHEET 030F123 INVENTOR Chf/orcl nee-r MM ATTORNEY I PATENIEBMAR 14 I972 SHEET 0% HF 23 ATTORNEY PATENTEDMAR 14 I972 3 648 823 SHEET 05 HF 23 INVENTOR C'lffmd linear ATTORNEY PATENTEDMAR 14 I972 3, 648 82 3 SHEET as or 23 INVENTOR ATTORNEY PAIENTEDMIIRMIHTZ 3.648.828

' SHEET 070F 23 INVENT OR 45 /W/f nee? ATTORNEY PATENTEOHAR 14 I972 3. 648.823 sum 08 0F 23 IN VENTOR Chi /0rd H. Nee-r BY M ATTORNEY PAIENTEDMAR 14 I972 3, 648 823 sum 09 or 23 I N VENTOR Clifford H, Near ATTORNEY PATENTEUMAR 14 1972 3, 648 823 SHEEI mar 23 I N VENTOR ff H nee-r BY M ATTORNEY PAIENTEDMAR 14 I973 SHEET 110F213 Fly/ I A INVENTOR Ch/ford H, flee?" ATTORNEY PAIE/NIEBHARMIHIL I 3.648.823

SHEET 12M 23 Fly. /6'.

6777mm! flee-r- ATTORNEY PATENTEDMAR 14 \912 SHEET 130F 23 INVENTOR 'J 1% Deer ATTORNEY PAI-ENTEDHAR 14 I972 'SHEEI IQUF 23 INVENTOR ATTORNEY PAIENTEBMAR 14 I972 SHEET lSUF 23 INVENTOR C/I/fO-rd H. /7ee-r- ATTORNEY PATENTEBHAR 14 I972 sum 5 0F 23 2.00 INVENTOR C'Ward fl. l7e-r 4 ATTORNEY Pmmmmmm 3,648,823

sum mar 23 INVENTOR ATTORNEY SHEET lBOF 23 PAIENTEDMAR 14 11112 PATENTEDMAR 14 1912 SHEET 190F 23 508 will 544 545 E3 575 Er INVENTOR ATTORNEY

Claims (7)

1. In a can labeling machine having a feed belt engaging the cans from above to feed the cans through the machine, and can feed belt pulleys at opposite ends of the machine for supporting the belt, overhanging supporting means for the pulleys and feed belt supported from one side of the machine, means positioned at opposite ends of the machine for adjustably raising or lowering the overhanging supporting means for the pulleys and belt to provide for feeding cans of different diameters through the machine, the overhanging supporting means for the feed belt and pulleys comprises overhanging bearing extensions having free ends and supported ends, a primary support for each of the supported ends comprising rack bars fixedly engaged thereto at their upper ends and adjustably supported at their lower ends, means for equally and simultaneously raising or lowering the rack bars and their overhanging extensions, comprising a lower fixed guide bearing for each of the rack bars spaced below the supported ends of the extensions.

2. The labeling machine and oVerhanging supporting means as claimed in claim 1 in which the supported ends of the overhanging extensions have sliding engagement with supplemental stiffening and strengthening bars for the overhanging extensions and having their lower ends fixedly positioned in supporting means therefor spaced below the supported ends of the extensions, the said supported ends of the extensions having stiffening guide and bearing means for sliding engagement with the upper portions of the supplemental stiffening and strengthening bars for purposes of supplementally preventing sag in the overhanging extensions due to the weight load towards the free ends of the extensions.

3. In a can labeling machine having a feed belt engaging the cans from above to feed the cans through the machine, and can feed belt pulleys at opposite ends of the machine for supporting the belt, overhanging supporting means for the pulleys and feed belt supported from one side of the machine, means positioned at opposite ends of the machine for adjustably raising or lowering the overhanging supporting means for the pulleys and belt to provide for feeding cans of different diameters through the machine, the overhanging supporting means comprises overhanging extensions positioned at opposite ends of the machine for supporting the feed belt and feed belt pulleys, articulated driving means for the feed belt and feed belt pulleys comprising operatively joined articulated segments of sprocket gears and sprocket chains with articulated supporting frames therefor, the said articulated driving means having interengaging structural elements to operatively conform to different heights and to drive the feed belt pulleys and feed belt at various heights or adjusted positions.

4. In a can labeling machine having a feed belt engaging the cans from above to feed the cans through the machine, and can feed belt pulleys at opposite ends of the machine for supporting the belt, overhanging supporting means for the pulleys and feed belt supported from one side of the machine, means positioned at opposite ends of the machine for adjustably raising or lowering the overhanging supporting means for the pulleys and belt to provide for feeding cans of different diameters through the machine, the supporting means for the overhanging extensions at opposite ends of the machine comprises means for interconnecting the said supporting means at opposite ends of the machine for equally and simultaneously raising or lowering the said supporting means and independent means for fixedly positioning the raised or lowered positions of the supporting means comprising a rotatable and clampable disc member positioned between a fixed abutting clamping surface for the disc and an adjustably mounted and movable clamping member for applying or releasing clamping pressure against the disc positioned between the abutting clamp surface and the movable clamping member for fixing the adjusted position of the said supports.

5. In a can labeling machine having a feed belt engaging the cans from above to feed the cans through the machine, and can feed belt pulleys at opposite ends of the machine for supporting the belt, overhanging supporting means for the pulleys and feed belt supported from one side of the machine, means positioned at opposite ends of the machine for adjustably raising or lowering the overhanging supporting means for the pulleys and belt to provide for feeding cans of different diameters through the machine, the overhanging supporting means for the feed belt pulleys and feed belt comprises overhanging extensions, each having one of their ends supported and their respective opposite ends being free of support, the said pulleys and feed belt being carried by the free ends of the said extensions, means for raising or lowering the pulleys and feed belt with their respective supporting extensions, a motor for driving one of said feed belt pulleys and means for connecting the motor to the driven feed belt pulley, comprising articulated driving means haVing articulated joined segments of sprockets and sprocket chains with articulated supporting frames therefor, to drive the belt pulley at various raised or lowered adjusted positions, for purposes of providing a power drive for the belt pulleys and belt that is self-adapting to various heights for feeding cans of different diameters through the machine.

6. In a can labeling machine having a feed belt engaging the cans from above to feed the cans through the machine, and can feed belt pulleys at opposite ends of the machine for supporting the belt, overhanging supporting means for the pulleys and feed belt supported from one side of the machine, means positioned at opposite ends of the machine for adjustably raising or lowering the overhanging supporting means for the pulleys and belt to provide for feeding cans of different diameters through the machine, the cans are conveyed through the machine by the feed belt and pulleys between spaced parallel guide bars on the opposite sides of the machine, having adjustable interconnected actuating means for simultaneously and uniformly increasing or decreasing the can guiding space between the can guide bars, comprising outwardly extending arms with each of their inner ends fixedly attached and positioned near each of the opposite ends of the respective guide bars on each side of the machine with each of their respective outer ends pivotally engaged to one arm of a pivotally mounted bellcrank member, each of said guide bars being actuated by one pair of said bellcranks, the respective bellcranks of each pair being separately positioned at opposite ends of the machine and having inwardly directed arm members, the said arm members of each pair being interconnected, means for actuating the bellcranks and guide bars simultaneously and uniformly comprising transverse connecting means between oppositely positioned bellcranks at one end of the machine for adjustably positioning the guide bars to different sized cans and means for fixedly positioning the adjusted position of the actuating means and the can spacing between the guide bars.

7. In a can labeling machine having a feed belt for feeding cans through the machine, means for positioning the belt for contacting the median areas of the side walls of the cans while being fed through the machine, means for supporting and guiding the cans while being fed through the machine, the supporting means comprising a lower runway and an upper runway for the cans, means for applying yielding pressure to the belt comprising separate sets of spring loaded rollers, certain of said rollers having means for adjusting their respective spring pressure, the belt contacting points of the rollers of each set being on different horizontal planes to substantially compensate for the differences in the perspective heights between the lower and upper runways for the cans and the feed belt during normal operation of the machine, means for supporting and driving the belt comprising pulleys positioned at each end of the machine, an articulated drive for one of the pulleys for driving the pulley when at various predetermined heights from the can runways, means for supporting and raising and lowering the pulleys and belt positioned at each end of the machine, means for interconnecting the said end supports and their raising and lowering means for simultaneously raising and lowering the end supports for the pulleys and belt, the end supports comprising overhanging extensions projecting over the runways having unsupported free ends and supported ends, each comprising an attached, movable and actuated toothed rack bar for moving the extensions vertically by the said raising the lowering means and a fixed stationary bar fixedly supported at its lower end, with its upper end having sliding engagement with a bearing positioned in each of the supported ends of the overhanging extensions.

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