CA2142960C - Produce labeller - Google Patents
Produce labeller Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2142960C CA2142960C CA002142960A CA2142960A CA2142960C CA 2142960 C CA2142960 C CA 2142960C CA 002142960 A CA002142960 A CA 002142960A CA 2142960 A CA2142960 A CA 2142960A CA 2142960 C CA2142960 C CA 2142960C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- label
- vacuum
- housing
- rotatable
- label transfer
- 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.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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
- B65C9/26—Devices for applying labels
- B65C9/36—Wipers; Pressers
-
- 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
- B65C9/18—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls
- B65C9/1865—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls the labels adhering on a backing strip
- B65C9/1876—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls the labels adhering on a backing strip and being transferred by suction means
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T156/00—Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
- Y10T156/17—Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means
- Y10T156/1702—For plural parts or plural areas of single part
- Y10T156/1744—Means bringing discrete articles into assembled relationship
- Y10T156/1768—Means simultaneously conveying plural articles from a single source and serially presenting them to an assembly station
- Y10T156/1771—Turret or rotary drum-type conveyor
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T156/00—Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
- Y10T156/17—Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means
- Y10T156/1702—For plural parts or plural areas of single part
- Y10T156/1744—Means bringing discrete articles into assembled relationship
- Y10T156/1768—Means simultaneously conveying plural articles from a single source and serially presenting them to an assembly station
- Y10T156/1771—Turret or rotary drum-type conveyor
- Y10T156/1773—For flexible sheets
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T156/00—Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
- Y10T156/17—Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means
- Y10T156/1702—For plural parts or plural areas of single part
- Y10T156/1744—Means bringing discrete articles into assembled relationship
- Y10T156/1776—Means separating articles from bulk source
- Y10T156/1778—Stacked sheet source
Abstract
A produce labeller has first and. optionally second selectively actuable label supply means for selectively supplying labels from the first or second selectively actuable label supply means to corresponding first and second label transfer positions in a first plane. A
rotatable label transfer means housing is provided. rotatable in the first plane on a drive shaft.
The rotatable label transfer means housing has mounted radially therein in the first plane radially spaced apart resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means for picking up labels from the first or second selectively actuable label supply means at the first or second label transfer position, and rotationally carrying the labels from the first or second label transfer position to a label deposit point. The labels are carried on exposed end of the radially spaced apart resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means. one label per exposed end.
by selectively actuable vacuum means on each exposed end. The radially telescoping label transfer means are mounted on a transfer plate which rotates in sealed relationship on a manifold plate.
rotatable label transfer means housing is provided. rotatable in the first plane on a drive shaft.
The rotatable label transfer means housing has mounted radially therein in the first plane radially spaced apart resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means for picking up labels from the first or second selectively actuable label supply means at the first or second label transfer position, and rotationally carrying the labels from the first or second label transfer position to a label deposit point. The labels are carried on exposed end of the radially spaced apart resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means. one label per exposed end.
by selectively actuable vacuum means on each exposed end. The radially telescoping label transfer means are mounted on a transfer plate which rotates in sealed relationship on a manifold plate.
Description
1'R()DL~C1~: LABIa.l.l.l~lt 1~ield of the Invention This invention relates to the field c~C cJmicc; for labelling produce, and in particular to devices for automatically 1ab41(in~; laroduce moviw~~; on a co~weyor by means of a rotary label transfer apparatus.
l3ack,~ound of the Invention In the prior art, applicant is aware of an electrically dt~iven produce labeller manufactured by Sinclair International of the l.Jnited Kin~;dcaro. '),he device relies on bellows selectively positionable between retracted and catcradi.d Joc~sitiuns for applying self=adhesive labels to produce moving on a conveyor. 'hhc dwic~e w.ikl~rs l'r~m~
meclvtnical complexity. The device does not allow for automated swfitching loae~-eev rroultil>ie labellers. ~l'he device may not be adjusted to regulate the pressure with which a.t label is ~y~l~li~:cl.
Thus it is an object «f~ tl~e pres~:nt invenl.iinn tc~ tirovidc a produce labeller which does not rely on a bellows mecluanisnn, but rather. relies an at last cum c~tm surface in a non-rotating cam surface hub guiding spring-biased, pistcm~tvl~~ label applicators in a radially spaced array on a rotating plate, actuation c~f~ the piaton-type applicaWr, hets~-cen retracted and extended positions governed by at least one cut~t~ surlac:c: 'w-ithi~n tf» n~~r~-rmating cam surface hub, and wherein the spring biasing i<~rce may be adjusted to ,tcljust the pressure applied to units of produce when labelling.
It is a further abject oi'tlle present iriv~rtri~°~o ti> larovide for a t~~ansverso array of such produce labeller devices along a common drive shaft sc~ a~ to rotate each plate housing the piston-type label applicators in the transverse ara-ay.
The device accordin~ to the objects ,h' the present invention accomplish a reduction in mechanical complexity and, ire partic~~lar, rur~c>v~ the ec~mpl~xitv associated with pneumatically sealing a pnetunatic,~lly assisted device 1~~ mr~rn~; eat' a ;cal provided between a rotating plate and a non-rotating hub. 'This is acc;cny,li~;l»ci_ an pairticular, by the use of Delrin (TM) material on the bearing surfaces between thv lolatc ~~rnJ Imi7.
yummary ofthe Inyention A produce labeller hits first and, optionalls-. ~,~concl sclectivelv actuable label supply means for selectively supplying labels from the first ~~r second selectively actuable label supply means to correspondin;~ firsi and sec~~nc.l lap»I ~rua7~t~.r loc>sition~, in a first plane. A
rotatable label transfer means housing is provided. rmatablc iu tht first plane on a drive shaft.
'fhe rotatable label transfer means I~ousi~y Inas n~ounte~l ivculiall.~
therein in the first plane radially spaced apart resiliently biased radially telescoping label trcrnsi~r n weans li,r picking up labels from ilZe first or second selectively actuable label supp~lv mcr:m:; at t17~ first or second label transfer position, and rotationally carrying the I:ibels i'rirrn tUe first en ~:ccortd label trarmfer position to a label deposit point. The labels are c arried on exposed ands ch~ tlm raclially spaced apart resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer me~uos, c>nr lrnhel doer mhmed wcl, by selectively 2 0 actuable vacuum means on each exposed end.
Cam means is provided in a second plane adjamnt and parallel to the first plane.
The cam means moves the radially spaced apart resiliently; hiazwc:l r-adi;nlly telescoping label transfer means between a retracted label pick up position at floc ii~:st and second label transfer positions and an extended label deposit Ioositic~ry et floe lapel cl~:pc,.~it hcai~at. (.'aim lollowc°rs on the radially spaced apart resiliently biased radially tclescopin~~ lapel trunsl~r means cooperate with the cam means.
Advantageously, the calls means has a 1 ixc,l cam surface housing and the selectively actuable vacuum means includes first vucuuul Imrts un the' exposed ends communicating Vla ~'aCUUlll C()lllnlrlllleatloll 117ea11s witll ,1 vacuum plenuln 117 the rotatable label transfer means housing.
The rotatable label transfer mea.tns IZOUSirI~! is luounted snugly adjacent the fixed cans surface housing so as to bear a lust planar sur(cc oll the roOatable:
label transfer means housing snugly against a second planar surface oll rhc~ I'ixvd r;lnl s~uHacc housing. 'The vacuum plenuan has a vacuum plenunl aperture «n the first p~lannr Pace muperating with a vacuum manifold in the fixed cam surface housing via an <:trcuatc alpcrturc un the second planar face. The vacuum manifold arcuate aperture extends bet~v~eel7 a vGmlu.lm init'iatin~~
point, corresponding to the location of the vtlcuum plenl.ull ~IpenLU~c: when the tirU ~a~uiuo port has been rotated in the first rotational direction on the rotatable label transfer ol~.ans IluuSin~~
to the first label transfer position, and a vacuum removal point curresl~concliu~ Os v~-lied thu~ first vacuum port has been rotated in the first rotational direction <ftl the rotat4tblc luh~ l trao:,(yr mralaa housing to a point past the label deposit puinC.
When the first vacuum port is ut the I first lal»I transfer position the vacuum plenum aperture corresponds to the vaeuunl initiating pc~T;itic~n on the vacuum manifold arcuate 2 0 aperture. A vacuum applied to the vacuous roanit~~l~l is tll~~rvhy comnnunicated to the ttrst vacuum port and maintained its the rutatable label translu:u nl~;ms I;nosing is rutate.d in the first rotational direction su as to rotate tl7e first ~~acl.mmn la~~rt I~rmo ,,.ui~;i first IaL~~I tr~anst~.r position to said label deposit point. As the tir:;t vacuum part is rcl~tt~d ire the first rotational direction past the label deposit point, the vacuum plellum aperture is 1°auatecl out of corrcspondillg alignment with the vacuum removal point un the v~7cuLrrn nl~lnifi~lcl ~ncGmn~ aperture su as to remove communication of the vacuum in tile vacuum manifold witi tlm f first vacuous port.
Further advantageously, the distance hetwi:i:n the first label transfer position and the label deposit point, when r~masured in tlm first rc>tati,nrul direction.
is less thatn the distance between the second label transfer p~;~;;ition ttnd floc label cl~pc~sit I~r~int vvhea measured in the first rotational direction. The first and aecond selectively uctuahle label supply means have first and second label magazines for lyousity corresp«nding first ami wcond linear arrays of linearly aligned sell=adhesive labels releasaably mounted orr first aat~i ~:;~m~ncl linear label hacking webs The first and second selectively actt.rahle lalael supply rnmtns lo~rllter huv~_ corresponding first and second selectively actuable label wch dr7w means such a~; a lcctriv stepper motors for pulling the linear label backing web from the c<>rresporadin~ lira and sec;uncl lah~.i magazines, around corresponding label separating, edges of corraspnndin~,~ llanyca c~;turning ti~om the first and second label magazines over the correspcmding Host ;:mcl sorm~~l I;ihel transfer positions so as to separate corresponding salt=aclhc;sive labels ti~o~o corrc,hondinr, lust uncl second linear label backing webs at first and second label transfer positions.
When the first selectively actuable I;.thel wc~h H~-ivc mctmns is selectively actuated first linear label backing web is pulled around the first lalml se p>uratin~
~cl~;c: cof the first flange by the first label web drive means. ~I'he~ first lit7ear array ot~ sell=adhesive labels arc thus sequentially separated from their backing web and exposed tier tranl'er to 11m calamml ends oi'the radially telescoping label transfer meatls a~; the c;xpc>scd crtcls emu rolatecl unto the bust label transfer ;? 0 position for carriage of floe labels c>n the exposed ~~adw by rnc;ms e~f the vacuum communicated through the first vacuum ports.
When the second selectively ttctuahle I~sbcl ~,4uh drive means is selectively actuated the second linear label backiry web is pulled arc»tml tlve aeconcl label separating edge of the second flange by the second label web drive mectto; ;izad th~ seconc.l linear an-ay of labels are sequentially separated and exposed ;br transfer to the capuascci wuls_ and carriage of the labels on the exposed ends by means of the vt:tc-uum comtnunic;ut~d tlvrau~.~h the First vacuum ports so long as the first selectively actuahle label v~eb drive rnc;tns lrrt~; nc>t I»~i;n selectimly actuated.
~l In the preferred embodiment, the r~sili~-ntl~ biased r~di~tllv telescoping label transfer means are a plurality of radiallv spaced chart Blaring I-~iG~sed pistons Iving in the first plane telescopingly housed 111 COrTesl)ol7dlllg radially spawd chart cylinders in th a rotatable label transfer means housing. The racially spaced a:lpart c:wlinc.,lcrs Irw~
corresponding radially extending elongate apertures extending through the tir:;t hmtrin~~ surtitm.
'fhe radially spaced apart pistons have corresponding corn iollc~wers mintt7tc~l ri~~iclfv thcreort which extending from the pistons through the elcongatc atpcrtctres in the iit-st bc~arip.~ guts.
laic.
1..0 The cam means in eludes a earn surf~.tc~:: in tln: Bcccond bearrin g st,trface against which are urged the cam followers by the springs. I~lw can? suK lace cconstrains the earn followers in a generally circular arc so as to maintain the pistow in their rWracted label pickup position as the rotatable label transfer means lm>ttsirtg is rotated in the tiMBt rotational. direction so as to rotate a first piston between the first label transfer pickup positican anck the label deposit point. The cam surface extending radiallv outward fi~oln the geneMally ~~i3~clil;u- arc tit the label deposit point, whereby the First piston extends racli~tlly uncl~r tl~c slori~yr I~iu~;in~~~
I~>rcc° c>fi~ its spring to the corresponding extended label deposit position at the label ~ichosit point.
Further advantageously in the preferred ~mho~fimmt. the drive shaft, which is journalled through the fixed cam surface housing, is rnc~lmtccl tManavcrsely across and above a 1-_~roduce conveyor moving articles of produce lio~nr cup ril-ntrc~uw lm:;iti~on to a downstream position underneath the label deposit point. ~~t the lak~~1 dalussit point a self=adhesive label, carried on the exposed end of the first piston by m~~ln5 01 the ~;lruuno communicated through the first vacuum port, may be transferred to the surface t~l~ the aMticle of produce under the label deposit point by means ol'the spring biasing firrce acting ,an n.lm first piston. When the piston is extended, the label is pressed against this suriacc c~f-th a ;tMtiele ui~
l7rorl~_tce tco thereby adhere the h~bel to the surface.
The produce conveyor way include ctn ~y,tr~:~duo s~nsoi. means for detecting whether a sensed article of produce sensed by the sensor means re~luiros either a l3rst label liom the first selectively actuable label ;;apply means or a s~~~e~rn.i laf~e~l ii~c~m the second selectively actuable label supply means. 'fhc~ ~~er~sr>r n~tar~s ~emratcs n ai rnal anal ~;:con~municates 'the signal to either the first or second selectively actuable label suphlv iocans so as tc~ actuate either the first or second selectively actuable label v'eh drive means. I In°~ul~y dither the first label or the second label is transferred to the exposed cmd ~ol~tl;e first I~iston in n timc~l lashion. Tine rotation of the first or second label on the rotatable, label transfer means luuain~~ from the: lust ar second label transfer position to the label deposit point cc7incides ~~,itl~ ;~
w~~incidin~, timed archival of the sensed article of produce.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure I is, in partial cutaway side elewiti~sn ~ i~w. the produce labeller of the present invention along Brae 1-I in FigurL 2.
Figure 2 is, in partial cutaway front elevati~m view. the produce labeller of Figure ~0 Figure f isacross-sectional viev.v=alon~~ line ~-in l~i~~ur Figure 4 is a t;rc~ss-sevctional view along line ~l~-:~ in I igua-c 2 with transfer head 28 extended in direction C' from that vi~;w shave.-n in h'igurc ~'.
2 5 Figure 5 is a side elevation view of tlm lr~hcl I~ickya and transler device of the produce labeller of the present invention.
Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a label tied mmharaism depicted in Figure 1.
Figure 7 is an alternative embodinnent r~t~tl7e cl~l ice oh Ivitrurc 3.
Figure 8 is an enlarged vieev oFthe scccnul~arv c,apn ~U Ui~~.urc 7.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment As illustrated in Figure 'I, labeller 1() loan label ~n.tgarincs 12 and 14 which when mounted, as in the terra of a cartridce, onto lahe:ller 1lJ 1Wd luL~~l:;
Irc"ot rolls ol~labels I6 and 18 respectively through identical label teed tnechanisnts '?() are ~ta t~~
position individual labels 22 and '4 ready for pickup by label pickup anti transli~r tlevic:e :-'ti. I .ulml pickup and transfer device 2G
picks up either indivic~lual labels ~?2 or- indivi<iu,tl lakael:~ :l-~l me tannsicr heads 28. Labels 22 or 24 on transfer heads 28 are transferred into pro:~innity with p~woittcc :,() an convenor 32 by means of rotation of turret plate 34 in direction A.
As illustrated in figure :~', a transverse arr~r~ cal I~thel pickup and transfer devices ~;6 may be rotatably mounted on ,:r ccanunon drive ~;hait ~l~s trmwcr~,ely across conveyor 32.
Although not illustrated, each lapel pickup amt trwnstu~ ~l~.e, i~.m '?(, would have corresponding label magazines 1? and 14.
'I~he means by which either Libels '?2 or lal~~ls 2-1 ;au: adlrercd to transfer heads 28 for transport from label feed mechanisms 2(~ into l~r~~xitnOV w itl~ l~r~~ducc s(). is the application of a- vacuum to vacuum port 36 on transfer hands 2~. ;~ ~ ucuuna:; uhpliccl to vacuum port 3C from a common vacuum source (not shown) via vucurm~ cc>rrc.iuit ~ f amt vacuum manifold 38 seen in Figure 3 in non-rotating earn surtac~~ hub 4t), and vact.~utat tran~~hr ports 4:? rm turret plate 34 as seen in Figure 4. Vacutun lines 44 ,and vac~.rum transliwr ~na~ai(u~l~ls root shown) in transfer heads 28 communicate a vacuum between v~.tcuum transfer p~yrt;; -1~', m~ci vuctmm Inorts ~(i.
Turret plate 34 and norr-rotating carp surUa~:e Iruio -1(> m<iv b~~ made of Delrin (TM) or like material so long as turret plate p4 nary be ea silo rc,~or~~ci .»~r nun-rotating cam surface hub 40, and form a pneumatic seal therebetwcero, w h~ r~ turret plate ~~ is f i,rccd against non-rotating cram surface hub 40 by spring 4f~. Ncm-rotatinb c:~rno su, l:rec h"h ~U is ri~~iclly mounted on drive shaft 48 by trteans of mounting pate ~U or the like. ~I~rnr~_ -lei may lw ,nountcd on drive shaft 48 ~;o as to be compressed against turrca plate >4 lay mans ~~I sl-,ri,y, ,ooz,ntin~~ collar ~2 secured on drive shaft 48 by means of screw ~,4 ur like I'~rst~nc:r. I liu ns~: ,o L)clrin ( I~M) or like material allows for relatively ti-ictionless rotation of turret plrtc ~~L a~~~ain~;t nc~rmroa,_rting cam surface hub 40 while maintaining a relativclv airtight seal thcreht~twc~~,l :,c~ Los to trunsFer a vacuum between ~0 vacuum manifold 38 and vacur.rrn transfer parts 42 ~la~n v;,cuunz manifold s8 and vacuum transfer ports 42 are aligned.
Transfer heads ?8 arc mounted on pistcr,rs ~f>. I'istc>ns ~~6 are journalled in a planar radially spaced array of pistr~m receiving ~.~ lindc,:, ~~ in trirrct plate ,4 so that pistons 56 when mounted in cylinders 58 prottudc fi°o,n the outer cir~;ur,o~renc~
c,1' turret plate p4. Pistons S6 when mounted in cylinders ~8 are spring biased lay l~~ li~~,l ,I~rin~~s f~t> :,o that each piston ~6 is urged in a radially outward directiorn Ir~c7rn ccorr~.~spomlin;~ cvlinciers s8. Pistons ~6 are removable from cylinders 58 upon removal of cant foliow~r~; f>~? I,-zv,o 1-,i~t,~os ~f>.
l'is~tuns ~6 are removable to allow for removal of helical springs 6(). I-lelical ~;I,rin,.y (>(i are removable so as to be 2 0 interchangeable with helical springs c,f different stren~.tlz il it i~
desired to ,,djust the spring force of helical springs 60.
Cam followers 6'? are r~:movably ri~idlv <rftixcd to pistons> >6 and extend from cylinders 58 through elongate apertures 64 on tune; hl~rtc~ ~s=1. ( ;rrr~
iollovvers 62 protrude from 2 5 bearing surface 66 on turret plate >4. E3earing ~urtac~~ tie; ~>n turret plate ~4 bears against corresponding bearing surface 68 on non-rotating cam ~krrl'~z~~c hula 4e). (-'um Followers 62, see Figure l, are constrained by c~rrn surLarce: 70 eo rnovc iro cavity i.'. in ncn-rotating cam surface hub 40 so as to follow cam surface 70 in direction L3 wlac,r tr,r,~wl lalarte s4 r~~t~rt~s in direction 1~.
r~, Thus, as turret pl4rte 34 rotates in cairvc:tirrrr :~._ c,un ie>Ilovver (?
likewise rotates in direction B on cam surface 70 under the radially out«~nrd ~lrin:.~ Isiascd Ci~rcc of helical spring G0.
As transfer heads 28 cone into prroxinoity with prr>clric4~ :~1 ~_;mn suri,rcc: i(1 at that label deposit o point curves abruptly radially cautwar~ls to thereby 4rlltw piston ~(~ to c~tcncl tiwm cylinder 58 in direction C so as to impnet transfer head 28 ay first liar ~~.uuCarw o(~
ccsrr~ap«nding produce 30 as illustrated in Figure s. As piston ~~6 is forced l~ror~i cylinder °y8 in ~lirc~ctir~n t:' vacuunn line 44 flexes. It is understood that other means to allow tin- llwiry~ ru;rv he incorporated, as for example by robotic fittings. Vacuum line 44 m::ry be pivotally rmamtecl art its cads ,o as to allow rotation of vacuum line heads 76 cm transfer head 28.
T'ransier heads 28 rnav hava liaam. sm l~i~muv~ s. applicator lads 74 so as to cushion the force cof transfer he4tds 28 hc~ing iml~ac;te:~1 argao;t tlr~,:
~;ur(a~e of produce 3U. If a label 22 or label 24 has been transferred from a label lec~i nc.~e:h~rnisnr ?!) unto a transfer head 28 and carried by that transfer head 28 into cc.antact with tl~~: suri~ac~ ol~
hrtuluce 3U. the sell=adhesive surface of label 22 or24 (whichever label was causal to ~rrly~liucl). vvhic~h self-adhesive surface is exposed outwardly from transfer head 28. contacta the suclac~ ul~ hruducu 3U
and label ?? or label %4 is adhered thereby to the surface of~ produce 31.) ,-rs L~r~~,~lric~~ ~11 «n cur~vc~yor a2 is conveyed in direction D.
GO
Stepper drive rotors 78, see Figure ?= on lapel I~ccl rn~chanisns 20 control the feed of the labels 22 or labels 24 li-orn label re~ll lh car l;:rhcl rill[ 18 rc~;l:oec~tively. If a label of a type housed in label magazine l2 is desired lur kl eertaitll tlrlit ui hroclrrcc 30 moving in direction U on conveyor 32 then stepper drive me°rtor 78 ceu~rcslmmlip~ l~~ ihr lapel fc~d mechanism 20 on ~5 magazine 12 is selectively activated to pull label roll vorh l;t:) in direction l~ by means of drive roller 82 trapping label roll wb 80 hetweeo drive roller 8-' anal i~ll~r roller 8~4. Once label roll web 80 has been pullec~l l~?y drive roller 82 so ~os tee bG~ prrllcd V~r.~u~~en ~.Irive roller 82 and idler roller 84, label mil web 80 is expelled as m-astc and nrav he ~rtractcd such as by means of a ~dacuum hibe (not shown) or the like. Label roll ~~,eb 81n wnl c~. ;3s a ;,tora~c anct transfer medium t:or self=adhesive labels 22. It is unclerstuod that au 'identical nmchanism for staring and transferring labels 24 is used in associtttioot with label ~at4ymin~: l~t etud its ccn-responding label need mechanism 2U. Label roll vvel~~ 8U carrying label:; ?~' i:; feel lrctat roll L('~ in magazine 12 first under flange 86 and then in a revers: direction b,.tch w ~r tlau;..;r 86, ac:c l~ iA~~tre 6, towards drive roller 82. Drive roller 82 pulls Jahel roll wch 8('°) rtrouncl tltc Ult~nt ~:d~e 8t>~:~ of flange 86. Labels .'2 are releasably mounted to the lower-mo,t surlacc i~f~ Eabel call wuh 81) (when viewed passing t.tnder flange 86) by their selF-ttdltesivt bacl:in~~. I)ravvitth~: lahul roll wch ~() under flange 86 and backwards over blunt edge 86a of flange 8t~ draws labels 22 afmy the underside of flange 86 so as to extend a label 22 from hunt edge 8c>~t. 'I'hu sill-ndttrsiw°
I,rtckin~ i~t' labels 22 does not sufficiently adhere labels 22 to label roll web 8() to en~ii~l~ lal~cl 22 to bu pulled back over the blunt edge 86a in the tn~umer of label doll vvela 8U. I.al~~.:1 ~'2. instead W~ lcolfcwvin g the path of label roll web 80, separates from label roll web 81> and extend mtm~ards ti'olll the blunt i:dge 86a, ready for transfer onto transfer heads 28.
Transler heads 28 un turret plat~w i~:l. ~tncl in p rti~:ulnr v~m.mnt ports 36, ~t.re rotated in direction A to a position on a singlc:M tt°anstirr hc4td ?~ tu~~l~r label '~'0 as it extencts from the blunt edge 86a of flange 86. r1t this position, a v;~ct~unt trao~;icw laort ~2. corresponding to the transfer head 28 in the vertical position. becontcs ttli~~o~~.l ~~.-iti~
vncuucn roaniluld s8 so that a ~0 vacuum is applied tea vacuum port fi adhering the nc~rt-adhuive lied nt~
label 22 against the transfer head 28.
As turret plate s4 ccmtittues r<tt,atin~ irt ~I'it~cctic~~t ,1, floc vacuum transfer port 42 corresponding to the transfer head 28 now carrying lah~l ~"2 r~.U,Urs in a circular arc over vacuum manifold 38 so as tc> thereby ntaintatin the vacut.tm atphliucl U~ floe:
cu~rrcsponeiin~, vacuum port 36.
Label 22 is thus held against transfer tread 28 as transfer head has i, rotated I~ran~ an upper vertical position to a lowered generally vertic°al del-rusit p~c>:;itic7n iii;.
l~,m-itt~:,~ hmn rutrrl.~d approYimatirly 1g0 dC~TreeS~ 111 proxlnllty t0 prOdtll~e i0. ~hhi: val;llrltll i.lppll('.li Ic) ~ ~lCllll111 I)oCt i(7 is 111allltallled as transfer head 28 is rotated thrctu~lWhe louvered deposit pl>siti~)ll in pr()ximit~~ to produce 30.
As seen in Figure i_ as turret plate ~1 (:cntinlle; to rotate in direction e'1, transfer head 28, having transferred lalael 2'' ()ttt(~ lore>ducc ~('?, is r~~tru~te(i by the action of its cam follower 62 eontintting to maul; in direction (3 ~c) Ana 1u linllaw cam surface 70 in cl radially retracting curve as transfer head '?8 is returned co its upper vm'tie~tl position. Piston 5(i is thereby lorced to retract into cylinder :~r8 .against tl~e; r(;iul~n hiulsin,z ti)rce cni~ spring 60. ~l~hue rate of retraction of piston S6 is governe(i by the r~lte oh incline n~ canl ~urfuc~
7t1. 'I he rate of incline, that is, the rate of retractic.~n of piston 5(a, governs tluc clv~ ~~ll tines that tr.lnsfcr head 28 remains in contact with produce i0. Dwell tit~oe is ~tls(~ rtll-~ct~d h~ tlo;~ dialmetc.r n1~ the produce being labelled. Smaller units of produce st) wil l have lesser ~l~l ~ f f t f mes thn l~lr;~er units of produce 30. Generally, it is desirable to reduce tire clwcll tirnc sc) Umt lapel:; arc duickly applied and transfer heads quickly retracted so as not to disttn'b_ li)r cxamlUc_ roll.
produce 0 on conveyor _~2.
As turret plate s~ moves in this malln (:r irl ciir~Gtion ;1, ~o as to retract piston 56 into cylinder 58 and return transfer head 28 to tile; vertical.
m)rru.;p~c)rnc.linS~ v,lcuunl transfer port 42 moves out of aliglunent with vacuum manitold 8 .lnd the vilcuum is therc:hy removed from a0 vacuum port 36. In the event that: IabU ::?2 clid not n(Ihcru o> the sullav~ ot~ produce i0, for example, if produce 30 was missllaper~ r'esultiny, in 1<ll)el '.~ I)uir-y c,lrricd on transfer head 28 past the deposit position, then label 22 is ejected tt'om tran :;hr hcacl '8 (in caw it has not fallen off upon removal of t'he vacuum) as it he~,in~ it upward rot~m ~nttrnt in dircccicrn ,~~ by means of pressurized air applied via channel 4s and pressure port -~~ to v,lcuurn transfer poet ~2. In this manner, label 22 is not inadvertently ~ttrri~:cl bYv tr~lnr,;lur I)~tn'i ~i~
su as ~tc) Ic)ul th(: next label pickup cycle.
In a further etnboclitnent, a, depicted in f ~i~~ur~ 7, secondary earn 88 forms an independently rotatable pant of cam surface 7() in the rl~anncl- o1" a l,iston return lever on the inclined slope of cam surface 70 causing piston 5l to retr,mt irtt.c, cylinder s8. Secondary cam 88 is a spring biased lever (lever spring riot shown) which is rcntattrrhle tthout lcvc;r hinge 9(:) so as to Ibrcibly raise cam fellow°ers 62, a cam ti~llcn~er (,? shm~ o raise°d by secondary earn 88 in Figure 8. 'Trigger 92, which may be of resilient material, i:~ c~rtanectcd 1~ Irver hinge 9U so that movement of trigger 92 in direction A lowers sccnrtcd rv d~artt ~~ against the rotimrt biasing force of the lever spring. 'Trigger 92 may he rncwecl in clircctian 1 by pins ~)4 c,r the like extending from turret plate 34 parallel to catZt followers 6'? rvhcn. a:, tirrrct I,Lutc ~-) is rotated in direction A, pins 94 engage and drag trigger c)2. Each one of histtm~. '>~, ~w,~ilcl huve a corresponding pin 94 (although only one is shown) to cock secondary earn 88. pins c)4 ,paced suhliciently in advance of their corresponding pistons ~6 so that tl°igger 9? is rel~ct~c~! on~:~
corluspottding cant follower 62 is riding over secondary cam 88. rl'he spacing of loin's 't4 ins crdvancc uf"
their corresponding pistons .56 regulates the delay betv~-een the extension ancf ratracaion oC
pistons >l. ie. dwell time of transfer heads ?8 on produce 3(:l.
Label roll 18 in label magazine 14 prop idea 4tn optional supply of produce labels which may be selectively transferred onto loroc.lucc 3() imti~rd ail prcohlce labels from magazine 12. An example of when this is desirable is when prculclm 31i is 1<novn do tall into two weight ranges. Labels from label roll 16 would thus indicate c~nc wci;a.llt rnn~~c and labels ti-om label roll 18 would indicate a second weight range l lntit~ or" to mlum~ 3t) nu.win~~ in direction D on conveyor 3? would he w~eig,lmd by a Wight-s~:~ttsor ( nli,t ~lt~w n ~
ulostr~~tnt of labeller 10 and a timed signal sent to labeller 10 from the weight senior tc~ inclic: to whlc:h wmght range ouch unit of produce 3(') fell within. 'I hus the correctly correspmnding. lak~cl liar the woight range of a 2 5 particular unit of produce 3~ would be sclectt;"d and trurrst~rr~°c:l ten the ccorrectly corresponding transfer head 28. 'hhus as that particular unit of prodtncc ~(i came into its labelling position underneath turret plate 3~ the corraspotading trunsi~r It~eld ~'~ will have picked up floc correct label, either label 22 or label 24 for trap sfer cynto that unit ofhrm.lalcc 31i.
A fut~ther example of when it ~.vcntld he uWitl to have an optional supply of produce labels in label magazine 14 is in the case wlt~emnlv a sin~lc type of produce label is desired, so that labels are label rolls 1t~ and 18 ;arc icl~n~imtl ;~c, tlutt I,th~:l ma~~aiinc 14 may be t.tsed as a back-up label supply to label toagazim I'?. In this ;ihhlication.
a sensor (not shown) would be placed between label feed mechanisms _'() rttt UU,~I ux~y~a~iuc_~ ( 2 and 14 so as to sense if a label 22 had been successfully iransl~ree~d tct 4t transfer Iwad =''~
hussin~ in direction A through the upper vertical position. In the went that a label 22 was n~}t transUrrecl onto a transfer head 28, for example. if the feed mechanism hecantc le7ulcd. then a :;i~nal ~~°rmld be sent to stepper drive motor 78 on label feed mecl~anisn~ 20 cor°rr;shunclinr_ tt~
nEy~~tiim 14 so as to extend a label .!4 into the path of vacuun ~ port ,6 on tho transter Iteat~i 2~S Iul\'tll~~
,just passed the sensor in direction A. In this manner. an aut4atnated bac;l:-ttla (ul~~l si_~phly would assure continued operation without manual intervention in the event of a failure ol~ tloc syplv oh labels 3r~om label magazine 12.
When it is desired :for a particular trartsl~r loc~t~l 28 to transfer ti label 24 rather than a label 22 the stepper drive: motor 78 correspamdin~~ to the label Iced mechanism 20 on the magazine 14 is actuated so a s to extend the iabcw1 :'.~1. rat.l»r tl~tnn ucttuttin~,~ tltc stepper drive motor l8 on the label feed mechanism 2~t corrcspconctitt~ tc~ l;al~~cl ~ma~y t~,irtr 1?. I~hns as th v transfer head 28 which is to pick up a label 2=1 is rotated in dirccticrn :\ into an upper vertical position, a label 22 has not been advanced frcom blunt cd~o 8(~~ ti.~r hi~ht,l, f,.~~irt L1<<n~~~ i~(~. but rather a label 2.4 leas been advanced from tna~azirre 14 for pickup fi°con llanf~,~ ~h ctn lethal feed mechanism 20 corresponding to label magazine 14.
When it is desired to chttng~ label tnaf!ariocs 12 or 1~1 so as to differently label produce 30, magazine 12 or l~l and their correslu~ndin~~ l,tl~~l li:cd mechanisms 2() may be removed as a unit from their suppc:n~tin~ ti~ar~le~, ( not sl~u~wo ) ~m~l a new preloaded magazine and corresponding feed mechanism 2i) itw~rte~i in their hl.o~~~. 1 mhy label magazines may be :hanged in this manner. Changing of l~tbcl n7agarirles ou~~ h~ ,ICCU>n~hlislmd dnicl.ly as the label magazines and their correspoodin~ fc;ed m~:~hvnisms ?C1 ~m~~ ni,t Ilw,i~olly coupled to the label pickup and transfer device: ?(~.
As will be aplaare;nt to thcnse skilled irl the ur~t in the light oi~ the foregoing disclosure, many alterations anti modifications arc hi~s~,ihl~ in the loractice of this irmention without departing from the spin°ii or scope lher~eal~. !~c~ur~ciin<~(v.
tlnc scope «f tine invention is to be construed in accordance with the suhstanc.c ~lelnned l» ul~~ fi~il~w in~.~
cIa1111s.
l3ack,~ound of the Invention In the prior art, applicant is aware of an electrically dt~iven produce labeller manufactured by Sinclair International of the l.Jnited Kin~;dcaro. '),he device relies on bellows selectively positionable between retracted and catcradi.d Joc~sitiuns for applying self=adhesive labels to produce moving on a conveyor. 'hhc dwic~e w.ikl~rs l'r~m~
meclvtnical complexity. The device does not allow for automated swfitching loae~-eev rroultil>ie labellers. ~l'he device may not be adjusted to regulate the pressure with which a.t label is ~y~l~li~:cl.
Thus it is an object «f~ tl~e pres~:nt invenl.iinn tc~ tirovidc a produce labeller which does not rely on a bellows mecluanisnn, but rather. relies an at last cum c~tm surface in a non-rotating cam surface hub guiding spring-biased, pistcm~tvl~~ label applicators in a radially spaced array on a rotating plate, actuation c~f~ the piaton-type applicaWr, hets~-cen retracted and extended positions governed by at least one cut~t~ surlac:c: 'w-ithi~n tf» n~~r~-rmating cam surface hub, and wherein the spring biasing i<~rce may be adjusted to ,tcljust the pressure applied to units of produce when labelling.
It is a further abject oi'tlle present iriv~rtri~°~o ti> larovide for a t~~ansverso array of such produce labeller devices along a common drive shaft sc~ a~ to rotate each plate housing the piston-type label applicators in the transverse ara-ay.
The device accordin~ to the objects ,h' the present invention accomplish a reduction in mechanical complexity and, ire partic~~lar, rur~c>v~ the ec~mpl~xitv associated with pneumatically sealing a pnetunatic,~lly assisted device 1~~ mr~rn~; eat' a ;cal provided between a rotating plate and a non-rotating hub. 'This is acc;cny,li~;l»ci_ an pairticular, by the use of Delrin (TM) material on the bearing surfaces between thv lolatc ~~rnJ Imi7.
yummary ofthe Inyention A produce labeller hits first and, optionalls-. ~,~concl sclectivelv actuable label supply means for selectively supplying labels from the first ~~r second selectively actuable label supply means to correspondin;~ firsi and sec~~nc.l lap»I ~rua7~t~.r loc>sition~, in a first plane. A
rotatable label transfer means housing is provided. rmatablc iu tht first plane on a drive shaft.
'fhe rotatable label transfer means I~ousi~y Inas n~ounte~l ivculiall.~
therein in the first plane radially spaced apart resiliently biased radially telescoping label trcrnsi~r n weans li,r picking up labels from ilZe first or second selectively actuable label supp~lv mcr:m:; at t17~ first or second label transfer position, and rotationally carrying the I:ibels i'rirrn tUe first en ~:ccortd label trarmfer position to a label deposit point. The labels are c arried on exposed ands ch~ tlm raclially spaced apart resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer me~uos, c>nr lrnhel doer mhmed wcl, by selectively 2 0 actuable vacuum means on each exposed end.
Cam means is provided in a second plane adjamnt and parallel to the first plane.
The cam means moves the radially spaced apart resiliently; hiazwc:l r-adi;nlly telescoping label transfer means between a retracted label pick up position at floc ii~:st and second label transfer positions and an extended label deposit Ioositic~ry et floe lapel cl~:pc,.~it hcai~at. (.'aim lollowc°rs on the radially spaced apart resiliently biased radially tclescopin~~ lapel trunsl~r means cooperate with the cam means.
Advantageously, the calls means has a 1 ixc,l cam surface housing and the selectively actuable vacuum means includes first vucuuul Imrts un the' exposed ends communicating Vla ~'aCUUlll C()lllnlrlllleatloll 117ea11s witll ,1 vacuum plenuln 117 the rotatable label transfer means housing.
The rotatable label transfer mea.tns IZOUSirI~! is luounted snugly adjacent the fixed cans surface housing so as to bear a lust planar sur(cc oll the roOatable:
label transfer means housing snugly against a second planar surface oll rhc~ I'ixvd r;lnl s~uHacc housing. 'The vacuum plenuan has a vacuum plenunl aperture «n the first p~lannr Pace muperating with a vacuum manifold in the fixed cam surface housing via an <:trcuatc alpcrturc un the second planar face. The vacuum manifold arcuate aperture extends bet~v~eel7 a vGmlu.lm init'iatin~~
point, corresponding to the location of the vtlcuum plenl.ull ~IpenLU~c: when the tirU ~a~uiuo port has been rotated in the first rotational direction on the rotatable label transfer ol~.ans IluuSin~~
to the first label transfer position, and a vacuum removal point curresl~concliu~ Os v~-lied thu~ first vacuum port has been rotated in the first rotational direction <ftl the rotat4tblc luh~ l trao:,(yr mralaa housing to a point past the label deposit puinC.
When the first vacuum port is ut the I first lal»I transfer position the vacuum plenum aperture corresponds to the vaeuunl initiating pc~T;itic~n on the vacuum manifold arcuate 2 0 aperture. A vacuum applied to the vacuous roanit~~l~l is tll~~rvhy comnnunicated to the ttrst vacuum port and maintained its the rutatable label translu:u nl~;ms I;nosing is rutate.d in the first rotational direction su as to rotate tl7e first ~~acl.mmn la~~rt I~rmo ,,.ui~;i first IaL~~I tr~anst~.r position to said label deposit point. As the tir:;t vacuum part is rcl~tt~d ire the first rotational direction past the label deposit point, the vacuum plellum aperture is 1°auatecl out of corrcspondillg alignment with the vacuum removal point un the v~7cuLrrn nl~lnifi~lcl ~ncGmn~ aperture su as to remove communication of the vacuum in tile vacuum manifold witi tlm f first vacuous port.
Further advantageously, the distance hetwi:i:n the first label transfer position and the label deposit point, when r~masured in tlm first rc>tati,nrul direction.
is less thatn the distance between the second label transfer p~;~;;ition ttnd floc label cl~pc~sit I~r~int vvhea measured in the first rotational direction. The first and aecond selectively uctuahle label supply means have first and second label magazines for lyousity corresp«nding first ami wcond linear arrays of linearly aligned sell=adhesive labels releasaably mounted orr first aat~i ~:;~m~ncl linear label hacking webs The first and second selectively actt.rahle lalael supply rnmtns lo~rllter huv~_ corresponding first and second selectively actuable label wch dr7w means such a~; a lcctriv stepper motors for pulling the linear label backing web from the c<>rresporadin~ lira and sec;uncl lah~.i magazines, around corresponding label separating, edges of corraspnndin~,~ llanyca c~;turning ti~om the first and second label magazines over the correspcmding Host ;:mcl sorm~~l I;ihel transfer positions so as to separate corresponding salt=aclhc;sive labels ti~o~o corrc,hondinr, lust uncl second linear label backing webs at first and second label transfer positions.
When the first selectively actuable I;.thel wc~h H~-ivc mctmns is selectively actuated first linear label backing web is pulled around the first lalml se p>uratin~
~cl~;c: cof the first flange by the first label web drive means. ~I'he~ first lit7ear array ot~ sell=adhesive labels arc thus sequentially separated from their backing web and exposed tier tranl'er to 11m calamml ends oi'the radially telescoping label transfer meatls a~; the c;xpc>scd crtcls emu rolatecl unto the bust label transfer ;? 0 position for carriage of floe labels c>n the exposed ~~adw by rnc;ms e~f the vacuum communicated through the first vacuum ports.
When the second selectively ttctuahle I~sbcl ~,4uh drive means is selectively actuated the second linear label backiry web is pulled arc»tml tlve aeconcl label separating edge of the second flange by the second label web drive mectto; ;izad th~ seconc.l linear an-ay of labels are sequentially separated and exposed ;br transfer to the capuascci wuls_ and carriage of the labels on the exposed ends by means of the vt:tc-uum comtnunic;ut~d tlvrau~.~h the First vacuum ports so long as the first selectively actuahle label v~eb drive rnc;tns lrrt~; nc>t I»~i;n selectimly actuated.
~l In the preferred embodiment, the r~sili~-ntl~ biased r~di~tllv telescoping label transfer means are a plurality of radiallv spaced chart Blaring I-~iG~sed pistons Iving in the first plane telescopingly housed 111 COrTesl)ol7dlllg radially spawd chart cylinders in th a rotatable label transfer means housing. The racially spaced a:lpart c:wlinc.,lcrs Irw~
corresponding radially extending elongate apertures extending through the tir:;t hmtrin~~ surtitm.
'fhe radially spaced apart pistons have corresponding corn iollc~wers mintt7tc~l ri~~iclfv thcreort which extending from the pistons through the elcongatc atpcrtctres in the iit-st bc~arip.~ guts.
laic.
1..0 The cam means in eludes a earn surf~.tc~:: in tln: Bcccond bearrin g st,trface against which are urged the cam followers by the springs. I~lw can? suK lace cconstrains the earn followers in a generally circular arc so as to maintain the pistow in their rWracted label pickup position as the rotatable label transfer means lm>ttsirtg is rotated in the tiMBt rotational. direction so as to rotate a first piston between the first label transfer pickup positican anck the label deposit point. The cam surface extending radiallv outward fi~oln the geneMally ~~i3~clil;u- arc tit the label deposit point, whereby the First piston extends racli~tlly uncl~r tl~c slori~yr I~iu~;in~~~
I~>rcc° c>fi~ its spring to the corresponding extended label deposit position at the label ~ichosit point.
Further advantageously in the preferred ~mho~fimmt. the drive shaft, which is journalled through the fixed cam surface housing, is rnc~lmtccl tManavcrsely across and above a 1-_~roduce conveyor moving articles of produce lio~nr cup ril-ntrc~uw lm:;iti~on to a downstream position underneath the label deposit point. ~~t the lak~~1 dalussit point a self=adhesive label, carried on the exposed end of the first piston by m~~ln5 01 the ~;lruuno communicated through the first vacuum port, may be transferred to the surface t~l~ the aMticle of produce under the label deposit point by means ol'the spring biasing firrce acting ,an n.lm first piston. When the piston is extended, the label is pressed against this suriacc c~f-th a ;tMtiele ui~
l7rorl~_tce tco thereby adhere the h~bel to the surface.
The produce conveyor way include ctn ~y,tr~:~duo s~nsoi. means for detecting whether a sensed article of produce sensed by the sensor means re~luiros either a l3rst label liom the first selectively actuable label ;;apply means or a s~~~e~rn.i laf~e~l ii~c~m the second selectively actuable label supply means. 'fhc~ ~~er~sr>r n~tar~s ~emratcs n ai rnal anal ~;:con~municates 'the signal to either the first or second selectively actuable label suphlv iocans so as tc~ actuate either the first or second selectively actuable label v'eh drive means. I In°~ul~y dither the first label or the second label is transferred to the exposed cmd ~ol~tl;e first I~iston in n timc~l lashion. Tine rotation of the first or second label on the rotatable, label transfer means luuain~~ from the: lust ar second label transfer position to the label deposit point cc7incides ~~,itl~ ;~
w~~incidin~, timed archival of the sensed article of produce.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure I is, in partial cutaway side elewiti~sn ~ i~w. the produce labeller of the present invention along Brae 1-I in FigurL 2.
Figure 2 is, in partial cutaway front elevati~m view. the produce labeller of Figure ~0 Figure f isacross-sectional viev.v=alon~~ line ~-in l~i~~ur Figure 4 is a t;rc~ss-sevctional view along line ~l~-:~ in I igua-c 2 with transfer head 28 extended in direction C' from that vi~;w shave.-n in h'igurc ~'.
2 5 Figure 5 is a side elevation view of tlm lr~hcl I~ickya and transler device of the produce labeller of the present invention.
Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a label tied mmharaism depicted in Figure 1.
Figure 7 is an alternative embodinnent r~t~tl7e cl~l ice oh Ivitrurc 3.
Figure 8 is an enlarged vieev oFthe scccnul~arv c,apn ~U Ui~~.urc 7.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment As illustrated in Figure 'I, labeller 1() loan label ~n.tgarincs 12 and 14 which when mounted, as in the terra of a cartridce, onto lahe:ller 1lJ 1Wd luL~~l:;
Irc"ot rolls ol~labels I6 and 18 respectively through identical label teed tnechanisnts '?() are ~ta t~~
position individual labels 22 and '4 ready for pickup by label pickup anti transli~r tlevic:e :-'ti. I .ulml pickup and transfer device 2G
picks up either indivic~lual labels ~?2 or- indivi<iu,tl lakael:~ :l-~l me tannsicr heads 28. Labels 22 or 24 on transfer heads 28 are transferred into pro:~innity with p~woittcc :,() an convenor 32 by means of rotation of turret plate 34 in direction A.
As illustrated in figure :~', a transverse arr~r~ cal I~thel pickup and transfer devices ~;6 may be rotatably mounted on ,:r ccanunon drive ~;hait ~l~s trmwcr~,ely across conveyor 32.
Although not illustrated, each lapel pickup amt trwnstu~ ~l~.e, i~.m '?(, would have corresponding label magazines 1? and 14.
'I~he means by which either Libels '?2 or lal~~ls 2-1 ;au: adlrercd to transfer heads 28 for transport from label feed mechanisms 2(~ into l~r~~xitnOV w itl~ l~r~~ducc s(). is the application of a- vacuum to vacuum port 36 on transfer hands 2~. ;~ ~ ucuuna:; uhpliccl to vacuum port 3C from a common vacuum source (not shown) via vucurm~ cc>rrc.iuit ~ f amt vacuum manifold 38 seen in Figure 3 in non-rotating earn surtac~~ hub 4t), and vact.~utat tran~~hr ports 4:? rm turret plate 34 as seen in Figure 4. Vacutun lines 44 ,and vac~.rum transliwr ~na~ai(u~l~ls root shown) in transfer heads 28 communicate a vacuum between v~.tcuum transfer p~yrt;; -1~', m~ci vuctmm Inorts ~(i.
Turret plate 34 and norr-rotating carp surUa~:e Iruio -1(> m<iv b~~ made of Delrin (TM) or like material so long as turret plate p4 nary be ea silo rc,~or~~ci .»~r nun-rotating cam surface hub 40, and form a pneumatic seal therebetwcero, w h~ r~ turret plate ~~ is f i,rccd against non-rotating cram surface hub 40 by spring 4f~. Ncm-rotatinb c:~rno su, l:rec h"h ~U is ri~~iclly mounted on drive shaft 48 by trteans of mounting pate ~U or the like. ~I~rnr~_ -lei may lw ,nountcd on drive shaft 48 ~;o as to be compressed against turrca plate >4 lay mans ~~I sl-,ri,y, ,ooz,ntin~~ collar ~2 secured on drive shaft 48 by means of screw ~,4 ur like I'~rst~nc:r. I liu ns~: ,o L)clrin ( I~M) or like material allows for relatively ti-ictionless rotation of turret plrtc ~~L a~~~ain~;t nc~rmroa,_rting cam surface hub 40 while maintaining a relativclv airtight seal thcreht~twc~~,l :,c~ Los to trunsFer a vacuum between ~0 vacuum manifold 38 and vacur.rrn transfer parts 42 ~la~n v;,cuunz manifold s8 and vacuum transfer ports 42 are aligned.
Transfer heads ?8 arc mounted on pistcr,rs ~f>. I'istc>ns ~~6 are journalled in a planar radially spaced array of pistr~m receiving ~.~ lindc,:, ~~ in trirrct plate ,4 so that pistons 56 when mounted in cylinders 58 prottudc fi°o,n the outer cir~;ur,o~renc~
c,1' turret plate p4. Pistons S6 when mounted in cylinders ~8 are spring biased lay l~~ li~~,l ,I~rin~~s f~t> :,o that each piston ~6 is urged in a radially outward directiorn Ir~c7rn ccorr~.~spomlin;~ cvlinciers s8. Pistons ~6 are removable from cylinders 58 upon removal of cant foliow~r~; f>~? I,-zv,o 1-,i~t,~os ~f>.
l'is~tuns ~6 are removable to allow for removal of helical springs 6(). I-lelical ~;I,rin,.y (>(i are removable so as to be 2 0 interchangeable with helical springs c,f different stren~.tlz il it i~
desired to ,,djust the spring force of helical springs 60.
Cam followers 6'? are r~:movably ri~idlv <rftixcd to pistons> >6 and extend from cylinders 58 through elongate apertures 64 on tune; hl~rtc~ ~s=1. ( ;rrr~
iollovvers 62 protrude from 2 5 bearing surface 66 on turret plate >4. E3earing ~urtac~~ tie; ~>n turret plate ~4 bears against corresponding bearing surface 68 on non-rotating cam ~krrl'~z~~c hula 4e). (-'um Followers 62, see Figure l, are constrained by c~rrn surLarce: 70 eo rnovc iro cavity i.'. in ncn-rotating cam surface hub 40 so as to follow cam surface 70 in direction L3 wlac,r tr,r,~wl lalarte s4 r~~t~rt~s in direction 1~.
r~, Thus, as turret pl4rte 34 rotates in cairvc:tirrrr :~._ c,un ie>Ilovver (?
likewise rotates in direction B on cam surface 70 under the radially out«~nrd ~lrin:.~ Isiascd Ci~rcc of helical spring G0.
As transfer heads 28 cone into prroxinoity with prr>clric4~ :~1 ~_;mn suri,rcc: i(1 at that label deposit o point curves abruptly radially cautwar~ls to thereby 4rlltw piston ~(~ to c~tcncl tiwm cylinder 58 in direction C so as to impnet transfer head 28 ay first liar ~~.uuCarw o(~
ccsrr~ap«nding produce 30 as illustrated in Figure s. As piston ~~6 is forced l~ror~i cylinder °y8 in ~lirc~ctir~n t:' vacuunn line 44 flexes. It is understood that other means to allow tin- llwiry~ ru;rv he incorporated, as for example by robotic fittings. Vacuum line 44 m::ry be pivotally rmamtecl art its cads ,o as to allow rotation of vacuum line heads 76 cm transfer head 28.
T'ransier heads 28 rnav hava liaam. sm l~i~muv~ s. applicator lads 74 so as to cushion the force cof transfer he4tds 28 hc~ing iml~ac;te:~1 argao;t tlr~,:
~;ur(a~e of produce 3U. If a label 22 or label 24 has been transferred from a label lec~i nc.~e:h~rnisnr ?!) unto a transfer head 28 and carried by that transfer head 28 into cc.antact with tl~~: suri~ac~ ol~
hrtuluce 3U. the sell=adhesive surface of label 22 or24 (whichever label was causal to ~rrly~liucl). vvhic~h self-adhesive surface is exposed outwardly from transfer head 28. contacta the suclac~ ul~ hruducu 3U
and label ?? or label %4 is adhered thereby to the surface of~ produce 31.) ,-rs L~r~~,~lric~~ ~11 «n cur~vc~yor a2 is conveyed in direction D.
GO
Stepper drive rotors 78, see Figure ?= on lapel I~ccl rn~chanisns 20 control the feed of the labels 22 or labels 24 li-orn label re~ll lh car l;:rhcl rill[ 18 rc~;l:oec~tively. If a label of a type housed in label magazine l2 is desired lur kl eertaitll tlrlit ui hroclrrcc 30 moving in direction U on conveyor 32 then stepper drive me°rtor 78 ceu~rcslmmlip~ l~~ ihr lapel fc~d mechanism 20 on ~5 magazine 12 is selectively activated to pull label roll vorh l;t:) in direction l~ by means of drive roller 82 trapping label roll wb 80 hetweeo drive roller 8-' anal i~ll~r roller 8~4. Once label roll web 80 has been pullec~l l~?y drive roller 82 so ~os tee bG~ prrllcd V~r.~u~~en ~.Irive roller 82 and idler roller 84, label mil web 80 is expelled as m-astc and nrav he ~rtractcd such as by means of a ~dacuum hibe (not shown) or the like. Label roll ~~,eb 81n wnl c~. ;3s a ;,tora~c anct transfer medium t:or self=adhesive labels 22. It is unclerstuod that au 'identical nmchanism for staring and transferring labels 24 is used in associtttioot with label ~at4ymin~: l~t etud its ccn-responding label need mechanism 2U. Label roll vvel~~ 8U carrying label:; ?~' i:; feel lrctat roll L('~ in magazine 12 first under flange 86 and then in a revers: direction b,.tch w ~r tlau;..;r 86, ac:c l~ iA~~tre 6, towards drive roller 82. Drive roller 82 pulls Jahel roll wch 8('°) rtrouncl tltc Ult~nt ~:d~e 8t>~:~ of flange 86. Labels .'2 are releasably mounted to the lower-mo,t surlacc i~f~ Eabel call wuh 81) (when viewed passing t.tnder flange 86) by their selF-ttdltesivt bacl:in~~. I)ravvitth~: lahul roll wch ~() under flange 86 and backwards over blunt edge 86a of flange 8t~ draws labels 22 afmy the underside of flange 86 so as to extend a label 22 from hunt edge 8c>~t. 'I'hu sill-ndttrsiw°
I,rtckin~ i~t' labels 22 does not sufficiently adhere labels 22 to label roll web 8() to en~ii~l~ lal~cl 22 to bu pulled back over the blunt edge 86a in the tn~umer of label doll vvela 8U. I.al~~.:1 ~'2. instead W~ lcolfcwvin g the path of label roll web 80, separates from label roll web 81> and extend mtm~ards ti'olll the blunt i:dge 86a, ready for transfer onto transfer heads 28.
Transler heads 28 un turret plat~w i~:l. ~tncl in p rti~:ulnr v~m.mnt ports 36, ~t.re rotated in direction A to a position on a singlc:M tt°anstirr hc4td ?~ tu~~l~r label '~'0 as it extencts from the blunt edge 86a of flange 86. r1t this position, a v;~ct~unt trao~;icw laort ~2. corresponding to the transfer head 28 in the vertical position. becontcs ttli~~o~~.l ~~.-iti~
vncuucn roaniluld s8 so that a ~0 vacuum is applied tea vacuum port fi adhering the nc~rt-adhuive lied nt~
label 22 against the transfer head 28.
As turret plate s4 ccmtittues r<tt,atin~ irt ~I'it~cctic~~t ,1, floc vacuum transfer port 42 corresponding to the transfer head 28 now carrying lah~l ~"2 r~.U,Urs in a circular arc over vacuum manifold 38 so as tc> thereby ntaintatin the vacut.tm atphliucl U~ floe:
cu~rrcsponeiin~, vacuum port 36.
Label 22 is thus held against transfer tread 28 as transfer head has i, rotated I~ran~ an upper vertical position to a lowered generally vertic°al del-rusit p~c>:;itic7n iii;.
l~,m-itt~:,~ hmn rutrrl.~d approYimatirly 1g0 dC~TreeS~ 111 proxlnllty t0 prOdtll~e i0. ~hhi: val;llrltll i.lppll('.li Ic) ~ ~lCllll111 I)oCt i(7 is 111allltallled as transfer head 28 is rotated thrctu~lWhe louvered deposit pl>siti~)ll in pr()ximit~~ to produce 30.
As seen in Figure i_ as turret plate ~1 (:cntinlle; to rotate in direction e'1, transfer head 28, having transferred lalael 2'' ()ttt(~ lore>ducc ~('?, is r~~tru~te(i by the action of its cam follower 62 eontintting to maul; in direction (3 ~c) Ana 1u linllaw cam surface 70 in cl radially retracting curve as transfer head '?8 is returned co its upper vm'tie~tl position. Piston 5(i is thereby lorced to retract into cylinder :~r8 .against tl~e; r(;iul~n hiulsin,z ti)rce cni~ spring 60. ~l~hue rate of retraction of piston S6 is governe(i by the r~lte oh incline n~ canl ~urfuc~
7t1. 'I he rate of incline, that is, the rate of retractic.~n of piston 5(a, governs tluc clv~ ~~ll tines that tr.lnsfcr head 28 remains in contact with produce i0. Dwell tit~oe is ~tls(~ rtll-~ct~d h~ tlo;~ dialmetc.r n1~ the produce being labelled. Smaller units of produce st) wil l have lesser ~l~l ~ f f t f mes thn l~lr;~er units of produce 30. Generally, it is desirable to reduce tire clwcll tirnc sc) Umt lapel:; arc duickly applied and transfer heads quickly retracted so as not to disttn'b_ li)r cxamlUc_ roll.
produce 0 on conveyor _~2.
As turret plate s~ moves in this malln (:r irl ciir~Gtion ;1, ~o as to retract piston 56 into cylinder 58 and return transfer head 28 to tile; vertical.
m)rru.;p~c)rnc.linS~ v,lcuunl transfer port 42 moves out of aliglunent with vacuum manitold 8 .lnd the vilcuum is therc:hy removed from a0 vacuum port 36. In the event that: IabU ::?2 clid not n(Ihcru o> the sullav~ ot~ produce i0, for example, if produce 30 was missllaper~ r'esultiny, in 1<ll)el '.~ I)uir-y c,lrricd on transfer head 28 past the deposit position, then label 22 is ejected tt'om tran :;hr hcacl '8 (in caw it has not fallen off upon removal of t'he vacuum) as it he~,in~ it upward rot~m ~nttrnt in dircccicrn ,~~ by means of pressurized air applied via channel 4s and pressure port -~~ to v,lcuurn transfer poet ~2. In this manner, label 22 is not inadvertently ~ttrri~:cl bYv tr~lnr,;lur I)~tn'i ~i~
su as ~tc) Ic)ul th(: next label pickup cycle.
In a further etnboclitnent, a, depicted in f ~i~~ur~ 7, secondary earn 88 forms an independently rotatable pant of cam surface 7() in the rl~anncl- o1" a l,iston return lever on the inclined slope of cam surface 70 causing piston 5l to retr,mt irtt.c, cylinder s8. Secondary cam 88 is a spring biased lever (lever spring riot shown) which is rcntattrrhle tthout lcvc;r hinge 9(:) so as to Ibrcibly raise cam fellow°ers 62, a cam ti~llcn~er (,? shm~ o raise°d by secondary earn 88 in Figure 8. 'Trigger 92, which may be of resilient material, i:~ c~rtanectcd 1~ Irver hinge 9U so that movement of trigger 92 in direction A lowers sccnrtcd rv d~artt ~~ against the rotimrt biasing force of the lever spring. 'Trigger 92 may he rncwecl in clircctian 1 by pins ~)4 c,r the like extending from turret plate 34 parallel to catZt followers 6'? rvhcn. a:, tirrrct I,Lutc ~-) is rotated in direction A, pins 94 engage and drag trigger c)2. Each one of histtm~. '>~, ~w,~ilcl huve a corresponding pin 94 (although only one is shown) to cock secondary earn 88. pins c)4 ,paced suhliciently in advance of their corresponding pistons ~6 so that tl°igger 9? is rel~ct~c~! on~:~
corluspottding cant follower 62 is riding over secondary cam 88. rl'he spacing of loin's 't4 ins crdvancc uf"
their corresponding pistons .56 regulates the delay betv~-een the extension ancf ratracaion oC
pistons >l. ie. dwell time of transfer heads ?8 on produce 3(:l.
Label roll 18 in label magazine 14 prop idea 4tn optional supply of produce labels which may be selectively transferred onto loroc.lucc 3() imti~rd ail prcohlce labels from magazine 12. An example of when this is desirable is when prculclm 31i is 1<novn do tall into two weight ranges. Labels from label roll 16 would thus indicate c~nc wci;a.llt rnn~~c and labels ti-om label roll 18 would indicate a second weight range l lntit~ or" to mlum~ 3t) nu.win~~ in direction D on conveyor 3? would he w~eig,lmd by a Wight-s~:~ttsor ( nli,t ~lt~w n ~
ulostr~~tnt of labeller 10 and a timed signal sent to labeller 10 from the weight senior tc~ inclic: to whlc:h wmght range ouch unit of produce 3(') fell within. 'I hus the correctly correspmnding. lak~cl liar the woight range of a 2 5 particular unit of produce 3~ would be sclectt;"d and trurrst~rr~°c:l ten the ccorrectly corresponding transfer head 28. 'hhus as that particular unit of prodtncc ~(i came into its labelling position underneath turret plate 3~ the corraspotading trunsi~r It~eld ~'~ will have picked up floc correct label, either label 22 or label 24 for trap sfer cynto that unit ofhrm.lalcc 31i.
A fut~ther example of when it ~.vcntld he uWitl to have an optional supply of produce labels in label magazine 14 is in the case wlt~emnlv a sin~lc type of produce label is desired, so that labels are label rolls 1t~ and 18 ;arc icl~n~imtl ;~c, tlutt I,th~:l ma~~aiinc 14 may be t.tsed as a back-up label supply to label toagazim I'?. In this ;ihhlication.
a sensor (not shown) would be placed between label feed mechanisms _'() rttt UU,~I ux~y~a~iuc_~ ( 2 and 14 so as to sense if a label 22 had been successfully iransl~ree~d tct 4t transfer Iwad =''~
hussin~ in direction A through the upper vertical position. In the went that a label 22 was n~}t transUrrecl onto a transfer head 28, for example. if the feed mechanism hecantc le7ulcd. then a :;i~nal ~~°rmld be sent to stepper drive motor 78 on label feed mecl~anisn~ 20 cor°rr;shunclinr_ tt~
nEy~~tiim 14 so as to extend a label .!4 into the path of vacuun ~ port ,6 on tho transter Iteat~i 2~S Iul\'tll~~
,just passed the sensor in direction A. In this manner. an aut4atnated bac;l:-ttla (ul~~l si_~phly would assure continued operation without manual intervention in the event of a failure ol~ tloc syplv oh labels 3r~om label magazine 12.
When it is desired :for a particular trartsl~r loc~t~l 28 to transfer ti label 24 rather than a label 22 the stepper drive: motor 78 correspamdin~~ to the label Iced mechanism 20 on the magazine 14 is actuated so a s to extend the iabcw1 :'.~1. rat.l»r tl~tnn ucttuttin~,~ tltc stepper drive motor l8 on the label feed mechanism 2~t corrcspconctitt~ tc~ l;al~~cl ~ma~y t~,irtr 1?. I~hns as th v transfer head 28 which is to pick up a label 2=1 is rotated in dirccticrn :\ into an upper vertical position, a label 22 has not been advanced frcom blunt cd~o 8(~~ ti.~r hi~ht,l, f,.~~irt L1<<n~~~ i~(~. but rather a label 2.4 leas been advanced from tna~azirre 14 for pickup fi°con llanf~,~ ~h ctn lethal feed mechanism 20 corresponding to label magazine 14.
When it is desired to chttng~ label tnaf!ariocs 12 or 1~1 so as to differently label produce 30, magazine 12 or l~l and their correslu~ndin~~ l,tl~~l li:cd mechanisms 2() may be removed as a unit from their suppc:n~tin~ ti~ar~le~, ( not sl~u~wo ) ~m~l a new preloaded magazine and corresponding feed mechanism 2i) itw~rte~i in their hl.o~~~. 1 mhy label magazines may be :hanged in this manner. Changing of l~tbcl n7agarirles ou~~ h~ ,ICCU>n~hlislmd dnicl.ly as the label magazines and their correspoodin~ fc;ed m~:~hvnisms ?C1 ~m~~ ni,t Ilw,i~olly coupled to the label pickup and transfer device: ?(~.
As will be aplaare;nt to thcnse skilled irl the ur~t in the light oi~ the foregoing disclosure, many alterations anti modifications arc hi~s~,ihl~ in the loractice of this irmention without departing from the spin°ii or scope lher~eal~. !~c~ur~ciin<~(v.
tlnc scope «f tine invention is to be construed in accordance with the suhstanc.c ~lelnned l» ul~~ fi~il~w in~.~
cIa1111s.
Claims (10)
1. A produce labeller comprising:
first and second selectively actuable label supply means for selectively supplying labels from said first or second selectively actuable label supply means to corresponding first and second label transfer positions in a first plane, a rotatable label transfer means housing, rotatable in said first plane in a first rotational direction, said rotatable label transfer means housing having mounted therein in said first plane, a resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means for picking up a label from said first or second selectively actuable label supply means at said first or second label transfer position and rotationally carrying said label in said first rotational direction from said first or second label transfer position to a label deposit point, said label carried on an exposed end of said resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means by selectively actuable vacuum means mounted on said exposed end, cam means in a second plane parallel to said first plane for moving in a radial direction said resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means between a retracted label pick-up position at said first and second label transfer positions and an extended label deposit position at said label deposit point, said first plane adjacent to said second plane and said resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means having cam follower means cooperating with said cam means, wherein said cam means comprises a fixed cam surface housing and said selectively actuable vacuum means comprises a first vacuum port in said exposed end communicating via vacuum communication means with a vacuum plenum in said rotatable label transfer means housing, said rotatable label transfer means housing mounted adjacent said fixed cam surface housing so as to bear a planar, low friction, first bearing surface on said rotatable label transfer means housing in sealing relationship against a planar, low friction, second bearing surface on said fixed cam surface housing, said vacuum plenum having a vacuum plenum aperture on said first bearing surface, said vacuum plenum aperture cooperating with a vacuum manifold in said fixed cam surface housing, via an arcuate aperture on said second bearing surface, said vacuum plenum aperture corresponding to said arcuate aperture, said arcuate aperture extending between a vacuum initiating point, corresponding to the location of said vacuum plenum aperture when said first vacuum port has been rotated in said first rotational direction on mid rotatable label transfer means housing to said first label transfer position, and a vacuum removal point corresponding to when said first vacuum port has been rotated in said first rotational direction on said rotatable label transfer means housing to a point past said label deposit point, whereby, as said rotatable label transfer means housing is rotated by said rotation means in said first rotational direction relative to said fixed cam surface housing, when said first vacuum port is at said first label transfer position said vacuum plenum aperture corresponds to said vacuum initiating position on said arcuate aperture and a vacuum applied to said vacuum manifold is communicated to said first vacuum port and maintained as said rotatable label transfer means housing is rotated in said first rotational direction so as to rotate said first vacuum port from said first label transfer position to said label deposit point, and whereby, as said first vacuum port is rotated in said first rotational direction past said label deposit point, said vacuum plenum aperture is rotated out of corresponding alignment with said vacuum removal point on said arcuate aperture so as to remove communication of said vacuum in said vacuum manifold with said first vacuum port thereby to release a label releasably carried on said exposed end.
first and second selectively actuable label supply means for selectively supplying labels from said first or second selectively actuable label supply means to corresponding first and second label transfer positions in a first plane, a rotatable label transfer means housing, rotatable in said first plane in a first rotational direction, said rotatable label transfer means housing having mounted therein in said first plane, a resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means for picking up a label from said first or second selectively actuable label supply means at said first or second label transfer position and rotationally carrying said label in said first rotational direction from said first or second label transfer position to a label deposit point, said label carried on an exposed end of said resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means by selectively actuable vacuum means mounted on said exposed end, cam means in a second plane parallel to said first plane for moving in a radial direction said resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means between a retracted label pick-up position at said first and second label transfer positions and an extended label deposit position at said label deposit point, said first plane adjacent to said second plane and said resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means having cam follower means cooperating with said cam means, wherein said cam means comprises a fixed cam surface housing and said selectively actuable vacuum means comprises a first vacuum port in said exposed end communicating via vacuum communication means with a vacuum plenum in said rotatable label transfer means housing, said rotatable label transfer means housing mounted adjacent said fixed cam surface housing so as to bear a planar, low friction, first bearing surface on said rotatable label transfer means housing in sealing relationship against a planar, low friction, second bearing surface on said fixed cam surface housing, said vacuum plenum having a vacuum plenum aperture on said first bearing surface, said vacuum plenum aperture cooperating with a vacuum manifold in said fixed cam surface housing, via an arcuate aperture on said second bearing surface, said vacuum plenum aperture corresponding to said arcuate aperture, said arcuate aperture extending between a vacuum initiating point, corresponding to the location of said vacuum plenum aperture when said first vacuum port has been rotated in said first rotational direction on mid rotatable label transfer means housing to said first label transfer position, and a vacuum removal point corresponding to when said first vacuum port has been rotated in said first rotational direction on said rotatable label transfer means housing to a point past said label deposit point, whereby, as said rotatable label transfer means housing is rotated by said rotation means in said first rotational direction relative to said fixed cam surface housing, when said first vacuum port is at said first label transfer position said vacuum plenum aperture corresponds to said vacuum initiating position on said arcuate aperture and a vacuum applied to said vacuum manifold is communicated to said first vacuum port and maintained as said rotatable label transfer means housing is rotated in said first rotational direction so as to rotate said first vacuum port from said first label transfer position to said label deposit point, and whereby, as said first vacuum port is rotated in said first rotational direction past said label deposit point, said vacuum plenum aperture is rotated out of corresponding alignment with said vacuum removal point on said arcuate aperture so as to remove communication of said vacuum in said vacuum manifold with said first vacuum port thereby to release a label releasably carried on said exposed end.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the distance between said first label transfer position and said label deposit point, when measured in said first rotational direction, is less than the distance between said second label transfer position and said label deposit point when measured in said first rotational direction, and wherein said first and second selectively actuable label supply means comprise first and second label magazines for housing corresponding first and second linear arrays of linearly aligned self adhesive labels releasably mounted on first and second linear label backing webs, said first and second selectively actuable label supply means further comprising corresponding first and second selectively actuable label web drive means for pulling said linear label backing web from corresponding said first and second label magazines, around corresponding label separating edges of corresponding flanges extending from said first and second label magazines over corresponding said first and second label transfer positions so as to separate corresponding self adhesive labels from corresponding said first and second linear label backing webs at said first and second label transfer positions, whereby when said first selectively actuable label web drive means is selectively actuated said first linear label backing web is pulled around said first label separating edge of said first flange by said first label web drive means, and said first linear array of self adhesive labels are sequentially separated and exposed for transfer of a label to said exposed end and carriage of said label on said exposed end by means of said vacuum communicated through said first vacuum port, and whereby when said second selectively actuable label web drive means is selectively actuated and said first selectively actuable label web drive means is not selectively actuated said second linear label backing web is pulled around said second label separating edge of said second flange by said second label web drive means and said second linear array of labels are sequentially separated and exposed for transfer of a label to said exposed end and carriage of said label on said exposed end by means of said vacuum communicated through said first vacuum port.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein said resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means comprise a plurality of radially spaced apart spring biased pistons telescopingly housed in said first plane in corresponding radially spaced apart cylinders in said rotatable label transfer means housing, said radially spaced apart cylinders having corresponding radially extending elongate apertures extending through said first bearing surface, and said radially spaced apart pistons having corresponding cam followers mounted rigidly thereon and extending from said pistons through said elongate apertures in said first bearing surface, said cam means comprising a cam surface in said second bearing surface against which are urged said cam followers by said springs, said cam surface constraining said cam followers in a generally circular arc so as to maintain said pistons in said retracted label pickup position as said rotatable label transfer means housing is rotated in said first rotational direction so as to rotate a first piston between said first label transfer pickup position and said label deposit point, said cam surface extending radially outward from said generally circular arc at said label deposit point whereby said first piston extends radially under the spring biasing force of said spring to said extended label deposit position at said label deposit point.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein said rotation means comprises a drive shaft journalled through said fixed cam surface housing, said drive shaft having rigidly mounted thereon said rotatable label transfer means housing, said drive shaft mounted transversely across and above a produce conveyor moving articles of produce from an upstream position to a downstream position underneath said label deposit point whereby a self adhesive label earned on said exposed end on said first piston by means of said vacuum communicated through said first vacuum port may be transferred to the surface of said article of produce under said label deposit point by means of said spring biasing force acting on said first piston whereby said label is pressed against said surface of said article of produce to thereby adhere said label to said surface, said produce conveyor further comprising an upstream sensor means for detecting whether a sensed article of produce sensed by said sensor means require either a first label from said first selectively actuable label supply means or a second label from said second selectively actuable label supply means, and generating a signal and communicating said signal to either said first or second selectively actuable label supply means so as to actuate either said first or second selectively actuable label web drive means and thereby either said first label or said second label to said exposed end of said first piston in a timed fashion, whereby rotation of said first or second label on said rotatable label transfer means housing from said first or second label transfer position to said label deposit point coincides with coinciding timed arrival of said sensed article of produce.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein said first and second bearing surfaces are made of Delrin (TM) material.
6. A produce labeller comprising:
first selectively actuable label supply means for selectively supplying labels from said first selectively actuable label supply means to corresponding first label transfer positions in a first plane, a rotatable label transfer means housing, rotatable in said first plane in a first rotational direction, said rotatable label transfer means housing having mounted therein in said first plane, a resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means for picking up a label from said first selectively actuable label supply means at said first label transfer position and rotationally carrying said label in said first rotational direction from said first label transfer position to a label deposit point, said label carried on an exposed end of said resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means by selectively actuable vacuum means mounted on said exposed end, cam means in a second plane parallel to said first plane for moving in a radial direction said resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means between a retracted label pick-up position at said first label transfer positions and an extended label deposit position at said label deposit point, said first plane adjacent to said second plane and said resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means having cam follower means cooperating with said cam means, wherein said cam means comprises a fixed cam surface housing and said selectively actuable vacuum means comprises a first vacuum port in said exposed end communicating via vacuum communication means with a vacuum plenum in said rotatable label transfer means housing, said rotatable label transfer means housing mounted adjacent said fixed cam surface housing so as to bear a planar, low friction, first bearing surface on said rotatable label transfer means housing in sealing relationship against a planar, low friction second bearing surface on said fixed cam surface housing, said vacuum plenum having a vacuum plenum aperture on said first bearing surface, said vacuum plenum aperture cooperating with a vacuum manifold in said fixed cam surface housing, via an arcuate aperture on said second bearing surface, said vacuum plenum aperture corresponding to said arcuate aperture, said arcuate aperture extending between a vacuum initiating point, corresponding to the location of said vacuum plenum aperture when said first vacuum port has been rotated in said first rotational direction on said rotatable label transfer means housing to said first label transfer position, and a vacuum removal point corresponding to when said first vacuum port has been rotated in said first rotational direction on said rotatable label transfer means housing to a point past said label deposit point, whereby, as said rotatable label transfer means housing is rotated by said rotation means in said first rotational direction relative to said fixed cam surface housing, when said first vacuum port is at said first label transfer position said vacuum plenum aperture corresponds to said vacuum initiating position on said arcuate aperture and a vacuum applied to said vacuum manifold is communicated to said first vacuum port and maintained as said rotatable label transfer means housing is rotated in said first rotational direction so as to rotate said first vacuum port from said first label transfer position to said label deposit point, and whereby, as said first vacuum port is rotated in said first rotational direction past said label deposit point, said vacuum plenum aperture is rotated out of corresponding alignment with said vacuum removal point on said arcuate aperture so as to remove communication of said vacuum in said vacuum manifold with said first vacuum port thereby to release a label releasably carried on said exposed end.
first selectively actuable label supply means for selectively supplying labels from said first selectively actuable label supply means to corresponding first label transfer positions in a first plane, a rotatable label transfer means housing, rotatable in said first plane in a first rotational direction, said rotatable label transfer means housing having mounted therein in said first plane, a resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means for picking up a label from said first selectively actuable label supply means at said first label transfer position and rotationally carrying said label in said first rotational direction from said first label transfer position to a label deposit point, said label carried on an exposed end of said resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means by selectively actuable vacuum means mounted on said exposed end, cam means in a second plane parallel to said first plane for moving in a radial direction said resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means between a retracted label pick-up position at said first label transfer positions and an extended label deposit position at said label deposit point, said first plane adjacent to said second plane and said resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means having cam follower means cooperating with said cam means, wherein said cam means comprises a fixed cam surface housing and said selectively actuable vacuum means comprises a first vacuum port in said exposed end communicating via vacuum communication means with a vacuum plenum in said rotatable label transfer means housing, said rotatable label transfer means housing mounted adjacent said fixed cam surface housing so as to bear a planar, low friction, first bearing surface on said rotatable label transfer means housing in sealing relationship against a planar, low friction second bearing surface on said fixed cam surface housing, said vacuum plenum having a vacuum plenum aperture on said first bearing surface, said vacuum plenum aperture cooperating with a vacuum manifold in said fixed cam surface housing, via an arcuate aperture on said second bearing surface, said vacuum plenum aperture corresponding to said arcuate aperture, said arcuate aperture extending between a vacuum initiating point, corresponding to the location of said vacuum plenum aperture when said first vacuum port has been rotated in said first rotational direction on said rotatable label transfer means housing to said first label transfer position, and a vacuum removal point corresponding to when said first vacuum port has been rotated in said first rotational direction on said rotatable label transfer means housing to a point past said label deposit point, whereby, as said rotatable label transfer means housing is rotated by said rotation means in said first rotational direction relative to said fixed cam surface housing, when said first vacuum port is at said first label transfer position said vacuum plenum aperture corresponds to said vacuum initiating position on said arcuate aperture and a vacuum applied to said vacuum manifold is communicated to said first vacuum port and maintained as said rotatable label transfer means housing is rotated in said first rotational direction so as to rotate said first vacuum port from said first label transfer position to said label deposit point, and whereby, as said first vacuum port is rotated in said first rotational direction past said label deposit point, said vacuum plenum aperture is rotated out of corresponding alignment with said vacuum removal point on said arcuate aperture so as to remove communication of said vacuum in said vacuum manifold with said first vacuum port thereby to release a label releasably carried on said exposed end.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein said resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer means comprise a plurality of radially spaced apart spring biased pistons telescopingly housed in sand first plane in corresponding radially spaced apart cylinders in said rotatable label transfer means housing, said radially spaced apart cylinders having corresponding radially extending elongate apertures extending through said first bearing surface, and said radially spaced apart pistons having corresponding cam followers mounted rigidly thereon and extending from said pistons through said elongate apertures in said first bearing surface, said cam means comprising a cam surface in said second bearing surface against which are urged said cam followers by said springs, said cam surface constraining said cam followers in a generally circular arc so as to maintain said pistons in said retracted label pickup position as said rotatable label transfer means housing is rotated in said first rotational direction so as to rotate a first piston between said first label transfer pickup position and said label deposit point, said cam surface extending radially outward from said generally circular arc at said label deposit point whereby said first piston extends radially under the spring biasing force of said spring to said extended label deposit position at said label deposit point.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein said rotation means comprises a drive shaft journalled through said fixed cam surface housing, said drive shaft having rigidly mounted thereon said rotatable label transfer means housing, said drive shaft mounted transversely across and above a produce conveyor moving articles of produce from an upstream position to a downstream position underneath said label deposit point whereby a self adhesive label carried on said exposed end on said first piston by means of said vacuum communicated through said first vacuum port may be transferred to the surface of said article of produce under said label deposit point by means of said spring biasing force acting on said first piston whereby said label is pressed against said surface of said article of produce to thereby adhere said label to said surface, said produce conveyor further comprising an upstream sensor means for detecting whether a sensed article of produce sensed by said sensor means require either a first label from said first selectively actuable label supply means or a second label from said second selectively actuable label supply means, and generating a signal and communicating said signal to either said first or second selectively actuable label supply means so as to actuate either said first or second selectively actuable label web drive means and thereby either said first label or said second label to said exposed end of said first piston in a timed fashion, whereby rotation of said first or second label on said rotatable label transfer means housing from said first or second label transfer position to said label deposit point coincides with coinciding timed arrival of said sensed article of produce.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein said first and second bearing surfaces are made of Delrin (TM) material.
10. The device of claims 3 or 7 wherein said cams means further comprises a piston return lever, pivotally mounted on said cam surface, rotatable between a piston retracted position elevated from said cam surface and, against the return biasing force of a piston return lever spring, a cam follower capture position substantially flush with said cam surface, trigger means cooperating between said piston return lever and said rotatable label transfer means housing for rotating said piston return lever between said piston retracted position and said cam follower capture position.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002142960A CA2142960C (en) | 1995-02-17 | 1995-02-17 | Produce labeller |
| US08/469,070 US5645680A (en) | 1995-02-17 | 1995-06-06 | Produce labeller |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002142960A CA2142960C (en) | 1995-02-17 | 1995-02-17 | Produce labeller |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2142960A1 CA2142960A1 (en) | 1996-08-18 |
| CA2142960C true CA2142960C (en) | 2004-05-11 |
Family
ID=4155274
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002142960A Expired - Lifetime CA2142960C (en) | 1995-02-17 | 1995-02-17 | Produce labeller |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5645680A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2142960C (en) |
Families Citing this family (30)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5829351A (en) * | 1997-05-23 | 1998-11-03 | Fmc Corporation | Labeler having stepper motor driving plural elements |
| US6257294B1 (en) | 1998-03-10 | 2001-07-10 | Agri-Tech, Ltd. | High speed produce label applicator |
| US6230779B1 (en) | 1998-03-23 | 2001-05-15 | Fmc Corporation | Labeling apparatus with enhanced bellows and associated method |
| US6427746B1 (en) * | 1998-03-23 | 2002-08-06 | Fmc Technologies, Inc. | Labeling apparatus with enhanced bellows including flexible coil tube and associated method |
| US6230780B1 (en) | 1998-04-30 | 2001-05-15 | Automated Systems Technology, L.L.C. | Label applicator mechanism and hand-held labeller |
| US6179030B1 (en) | 1998-07-28 | 2001-01-30 | Automated Systems Technology, L.L.C. | Apparatus and method for configuring, locating, and applying information to a label, and printing and applying labels to articles |
| US6619361B1 (en) * | 2000-04-28 | 2003-09-16 | Engineered Automation Of Maine | Multi-headed automated labeler |
| US6527888B2 (en) | 2000-05-17 | 2003-03-04 | Shrink Packaging Systems Corporation | Surveillance tag applicator |
| US6584753B2 (en) | 2000-08-07 | 2003-07-01 | Dsd Communications, Inc. | System and method for including inserts with goods during automated packaging |
| US6993887B2 (en) | 2000-08-07 | 2006-02-07 | Dsd Communications, Inc. | System and method for including packets with goods during automated packaging |
| WO2002012069A1 (en) | 2000-08-07 | 2002-02-14 | Dsd Communications, Inc. | System and method for including inserts with goods during automated packaging |
| US20020100254A1 (en) * | 2000-10-12 | 2002-08-01 | Dsd Communications, Inc. | System and method for targeted advertising and marketing |
| US6595259B2 (en) | 2001-01-09 | 2003-07-22 | Premark Fef L.L.C. | Vacuum actuated label applying wand |
| ITBO20010360A1 (en) * | 2001-06-06 | 2002-12-06 | Gd Spa | UNIT FOR THE APPLICATION OF COUPONS TO PACKAGES IN PACKAGING MACHINES |
| US6729375B2 (en) * | 2001-06-19 | 2004-05-04 | Joe & Samia Management Inc. | Labelling apparatus and method |
| US6792992B2 (en) * | 2002-03-15 | 2004-09-21 | Fmc Technologies Inc. | Label application device including a flow control element |
| US6830642B2 (en) * | 2003-03-17 | 2004-12-14 | Charles E. Greenhill | Method and apparatus for applying pressure sensitive adhesive labels to a series of objects moving in multiple columns |
| US7147028B2 (en) * | 2003-05-13 | 2006-12-12 | Sensormatic Electronics Corporation | Label application system |
| US7153378B2 (en) * | 2003-11-21 | 2006-12-26 | Joe & Samia Management Inc. | Product labelling |
| US7363954B2 (en) * | 2004-01-23 | 2008-04-29 | Joe & Samia Management | Tamping labeler |
| US7168472B2 (en) * | 2004-03-03 | 2007-01-30 | Sinclair Systems International, Llc | Method and apparatus for applying variable coded labels to items of produce |
| US8302955B2 (en) * | 2005-06-17 | 2012-11-06 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Rotating vacuum fingers for removal of printing media from an impression drum |
| US7712509B2 (en) * | 2005-09-14 | 2010-05-11 | Sinclair Systems International, Llc | Produce labeler with multiple cassettes at a single station |
| WO2007059204A2 (en) * | 2005-11-16 | 2007-05-24 | Sinclair Systems International, Llc | Produce labeler with multiple cassettes at a single station |
| US8066044B2 (en) * | 2008-04-17 | 2011-11-29 | Hurst International, Llc | Method and apparatus for high speed produce labeling |
| US8570356B2 (en) * | 2009-06-03 | 2013-10-29 | John Michael Tamkin | Optical system for direct imaging of light markable material |
| US8882955B2 (en) | 2011-07-07 | 2014-11-11 | Superior Tape & Label Incorporated | Automated labeling method and label supply therefor |
| CA3018795C (en) | 2016-03-24 | 2021-09-21 | Labelpac Incorporated | Labeller and method of using the same |
| CN110435962A (en) * | 2019-07-17 | 2019-11-12 | 深圳市华南新海传动机械有限公司 | Agricultural product packaging machine |
| CN114080149A (en) * | 2020-08-20 | 2022-02-22 | 三赢科技（深圳）有限公司 | Stripping device |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE1786222A1 (en) * | 1968-09-03 | 1972-01-27 | Meto Gmbh Kind Oscar | Device for attaching self-adhesive labels, especially to objects with a curved surface |
| US4194941A (en) * | 1974-07-22 | 1980-03-25 | Fmc Corporation | Labelling machine |
| FR2326754A1 (en) * | 1975-10-03 | 1977-04-29 | Perret Jean | AUTOMATIC LABELING DEVICE FOR OBJECTS WITH IRREGULAR VOLUMES |
| US4328063A (en) * | 1981-03-02 | 1982-05-04 | Ingalls James E | Automatic fruit labeler |
| US4896793A (en) * | 1987-12-04 | 1990-01-30 | Sinclair International Limited | Labelling machines |
| GB8804637D0 (en) * | 1988-02-27 | 1988-03-30 | Kliklok International Ltd | Rotary transfer mechanism |
| DE3941866A1 (en) * | 1989-12-19 | 1991-06-20 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | DEVICE FOR TRANSFERING FLAT OBJECTS |
| FR2696714B1 (en) * | 1992-10-12 | 1995-01-27 | Dispac | Method for automatically and continuously labeling articles such as fruit or vegetables and device for its implementation. |
| JP3348119B2 (en) * | 1993-10-04 | 2002-11-20 | 富士写真フイルム株式会社 | Label sticking apparatus and label mount used therefor |
-
1995
- 1995-02-17 CA CA002142960A patent/CA2142960C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-06-06 US US08/469,070 patent/US5645680A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2142960A1 (en) | 1996-08-18 |
| US5645680A (en) | 1997-07-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20150217 |