The invention relates to labeling of elongated objects; more particularly, the invention relates to labelers for wrapping labels about wires, cables, and the like.
Labeling of wires and cables has traditionally been accomplished manually or by way of apparatuses requiring cumbersome, noisy hydraulic or high-pressure air lines. Various such apparatuses have been developed. Typically, such machines grasp two ends of a section of the wire and pull this section of wire taut. Once the wire is pulled taut, a label applicator or platform orbits around the taut section of wire to apply the label to the wire. This labeler must be capable of orbiting around the wire while applying an appropriate amount and type of pressure between the labeler and the wire. Because the wire or object to be wrapped may take on various shapes or sizes, this can complicate the design and operation of such wire labelers.
It follows that wire labeling apparatuses are typically complex in terms of parts and operation. Separate components are necessary for straightening, centering, and clamping. Moreover, sufficient space must be allotted in the machine to accommodate the orbiting of the label applicator about the wire. Frequently, this means the use of such wire wrappers are limited to immovable fixtures or devices that are not well-adapted for portable use.
Many of the currently available labeling devices are cumbersome, complex and slow. These apparatuses typically deliver discrete labels from a roll. More efficient, faster labeling options require lamination of printed film and adhesive tape on the apparatus.
The present invention is provided to solve the problems discussed above and other problems, and to provide advantages and aspects not provided by prior labeling devices of this type. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A first aspect of the invention is directed to an elongated object label applicator. The applicator comprises a first driver and a wrapping mechanism. The wrapping mechanism comprises a plurality of guide rollers spaced about a central portion. A belt is tensioned around the guide rollers and across an opening in the central portion through which an object to be labeled is received. The belt is deflectable against an elastic force such that the belt can be recessed within the central portion by a force provide by the object to be labeled. The wrapping mechanism is driven by the first driver to rotate the guide rollers about an axis of rotation of the wrapping mechanism passing through the central portion wherein the wrapping mechanism orbits the object to be labeled located within the central portion.
This aspect may include one or more of the following features. The belt is freewheeling about the guide rollers. The opening is defined between a first guide roller in the plurality of guide rollers spaced across the opening from a second guide roller in the plurality of guide rollers. A third guide roller in the plurality of guide rollers is located between the first and second guide rollers and opposite the opening. The third guide roller is elastically mounted to the wrapping mechanism wherein the third guide roller is movable under a force provided by engagement between the belt and the object to be labeled which deflects the belt within the central portion of the wrapping mechanism. A fourth guide roller in the plurality of guide rollers is located between the first and second guide rollers and opposite the opening. The fourth guide roller is elastically mounted to the wrapping mechanism wherein the fourth guide roller is movable under a force provided by engagement between the belt and the object to be labeled which deflects the belt within the central portion of the wrapping mechanism.
The first aspect of the invention may further comprise an incoming conveyor driven by a conveyor driver. The incoming conveyor is in operable alignment with the wrapping mechanism wherein a label traveling on the incoming conveyor is delivered to the wrapping mechanism.
The first aspect of the invention may further comprise a conveyor assist lever actuated by the conveyor driver to operably engage the incoming conveyor and form a nip therewith through which the label travels to the wrapping mechanism.
The first aspect of the invention may further comprise an object lift mechanism comprising a cradle movable between a home position wherein the object to be labeled is loaded onto the cradle and wrap position where the object to be labeled is located within the central portion of the wrapping mechanism.
The first aspect of the invention may further comprise a suction system comprising a vacuum source connected by a duct to a position adjacent the incoming conveyor wherein a vacuum force provided by the vacuum source urges the label against the incoming conveyor to retain the label to the incoming conveyor.
A second aspect of the invention is directed to an elongated object label applicator. The applicator comprises a wrapping mechanism, an incoming conveyor, and a conveyor lift mechanism. The wrapping mechanism has a recessed central portion configured to receive an elongated object therein. The wrapping mechanism is rotatable about an axis of rotation passing through the central portion wherein the wrapping mechanism orbits an object to be labeled located within the central portion. The incoming conveyor is driven by a conveyor driver to deliver a label to the wrapping mechanism. The incoming conveyor is in operable alignment with the wrapping mechanism wherein a label traveling on the incoming conveyor is delivered to the wrapping mechanism. The conveyor assist lever is actuated by the conveyor driver to operably engage the incoming conveyor and form a nip therewith through which the label travels to the wrapping mechanism.
This aspect may include one or more of the following features. Activation of the conveyor driver causes the conveyor assist lever to engage the incoming conveyor. A force provided by the conveyor assist lever against incoming conveyor is regulated by a damper located between the conveyor driver the conveyor assist lever. The damper is a viscous damper.
The second aspect of the invention may further comprise a source of printed labels in operable alignment with the incoming conveyor wherein the incoming conveyor receives printed labels from the source of printed labels.
The first aspect of the invention may further comprise an object lift mechanism comprising a cradle movable between a home position where the object to be labeled is loaded onto the cradle and wrap position where the object to be labeled is located within the central portion of the wrapping mechanism.
The first aspect of the invention may further comprise a suction system comprising a vacuum source connected by a duct to a position adjacent the incoming conveyor wherein a vacuum force provided by the vacuum source urges the label against the incoming conveyor to retain the label to the incoming conveyor.
A third aspect of the invention is directed to an elongated object label applicator. The applicator comprises a wrapping mechanism, an incoming conveyor, and an object lift mechanism. The wrapping mechanism has a recessed central portion configured to receive an elongated object therein. The wrapping mechanism is rotatable about an axis of rotation passing through the central portion wherein the wrapping mechanism orbits an object to be labeled located within the central portion. The incoming conveyor is driven by a conveyor driver. The incoming conveyor is in operable alignment with the wrapping mechanism wherein a label traveling on the incoming conveyor is delivered to the wrapping mechanism. The object lift mechanism comprises a cradle that is movable between a home position wherein the object to be labeled is loaded onto the cradle and wrap position where the object to be labeled is located within the central portion of the wrapping mechanism.
The third aspect of the invention may further comprise a suction system comprising a vacuum source connected by a duct to a position adjacent the incoming conveyor wherein a vacuum force provided by the vacuum source urges the label against the incoming conveyor to retain the label to the incoming conveyor.
The third aspect of the invention may further comprise a source of printed labels in operable alignment with the incoming conveyor wherein the incoming conveyor receives printed labels from the source of printed labels.
The third aspect of the invention may further comprise a conveyor assist lever actuated by the driver to operably engage the incoming conveyor and form a nip therewith through which the label travels to the wrapping mechanism.
A fourth aspect of the invention is directed to an elongated object label applicator. The applicator comprises a first driver, a wrapping mechanism, an incoming conveyor, a conveyor assist lever, a conveyor lift mechanism, and a suction system. The wrapping mechanism comprises a plurality of guide rollers spaced about a central portion. A belt is tensioned around the guide rollers and across an opening in the central portion through which an object to be labeled is received. The belt is deflectable against an elastic force such that the belt can be recessed with the central portion by a force provide by the object to be labeled. The wrapping mechanism is driven by the first driver to rotate the guide rollers simultaneously about an axis of rotation of the wrapping mechanism passing through the central portion wherein the wrapping mechanism orbits the object to be labeled located within the central portion. The incoming conveyor is driven by a conveyor driver to deliver a label to the wrapping mechanism. The incoming conveyor is in operable alignment with the wrapping mechanism wherein a label traveling on the incoming conveyor is delivered to the wrapping mechanism. The conveyor assist lever is actuated by the conveyor driver to operably engage the incoming conveyor and form a nip therewith through which the label travels to the wrapping mechanism. The object lift mechanism comprises a cradle movable between a home position where the object to be labeled is loaded onto the cradle and a wrap position where the object to be labeled is located within the central portion of the wrapping mechanism. The suction system comprises a vacuum source connected by a duct to a position adjacent the incoming conveyor wherein a vacuum force provided by the vacuum source urges the label against the incoming conveyor to retain the label to the incoming conveyor.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
Referring generally to the figures, automated apparatuses for applying printed labels to wires, cables or other elongated objects of varying diameters are illustrated. Labels are wrapped around the objects without spinning the objects about their elongated longitudinal axes. The apparatuses are particularly useful for label types that require that the label be wrapped around an object using more than one revolution. Self-laminating labels are one such type, requiring a transparent end of the label to be wrapped over top of a printed region to provide protection to the printed content.
The following description utilizes the following drawing conventions. Elements of a first embodiment are given reference numbers less than 1000; elements of a second embodiment are given reference numbers between 1000 and 1999; elements of a third embodiment are given reference numbers between 2000 and 2999, and so on. The last three digits of the reference numbers given to elements of the second, third, fourth embodiments, etc. correspond to the reference numbers given the same elements of the first embodiment where applicable. In each case, the last three digits of each embodiment correspond to like elements in the other embodiments. Movement of various elements is shown by arrows.
Referring to
In an embodiment of the invention, the subsystems 14,18,22 are attached to desktop label printer 26 connected via support plates 30. Any appropriate fastener may be used to attach the subsystems 14,18,22 to the label printer 26, such as bolts, screws, welds, clamps, etc.
Referring to
The wrapping mechanism 18 is illustrated in
The rollers 66 are spaced about a perimeter of the wrapping mechanism 18 so that a central portion 70 of the wrapping mechanism 18 is free from the guide rollers 66. A first pair of the rollers 66 is supported between tensioner arms 74 that are held in tension with extension springs 78. The tensioner arms remove slack in the belts 62 and keep the belts 62 straight and taught and allow the belts 62 to be moved or pushed into the central portion 70 by the object 82 to be wrapped.
For example, the object 82 is inserted into the wrapping mechanism 18 and forces the belts 62 within the central portion 70 against a tension of the springs 78 until the object 82 reaches approximately a center of the wrapping mechanism's rotational axis 79. The belts 62 together with the rollers 66 rotate 1 or more times, so that a surface of the belts 62 travels along the full circumference of the object 82. The belts 62 push against a surface of the object 82 with the tension provided by the tensioner arms 74. While the wrapping mechanism 18 is being rotated, the belts 66 are driven by the contact/engagement between the belt surface and the object 82 that was inserted into the wrapping mechanism 18.
Rotation of the wrapping mechanism 18 is accomplished by the gear train 58 (
The subsystems 14, 18, 22 work together to control and transport labels 86 presented to the label applicator from a label peel-and-present mechanism 34 that is independent of the label applicator 10. A typical peel-and-present mechanism 34 is depicted in
Referring to
The label 86, now positioned on the wrapping mechanism 18 (see
Once removed, the process is complete and additional labels and objects may be processed in the same way.
Now referring to
This automated label applicator 1010 comprises of two primary systems, as shown in
The incoming conveyor 1014 and the wrapping mechanism 1018 subsystems are shown, for example, in
The incoming conveyor 1014 moves labels 1086 from a peel-and-present mechanism 1034 (shown in
The incoming conveyor 1014 further includes a conveyor assist lever 1122 (see
When the incoming conveyor 1014 stops or slows sufficiently, the torque applied to the conveyor assist lever 1122 is reduced, and conveyor assist lever 1122 drops to the original position in preparation for a new label 1086, as shown in
The wrapping mechanism 1018 is shown in
The wrapping mechanism has tensioner arms 1074 that are held in tension with extension springs 1078. The tensioner arms 1074 remove slack in the belts 1062 and keep the belts 1062 straight and taught. This allows the belts 1062 to be pushed into the wrapping mechanism's central portion 1070 toward an axis of rotation 1079 (
The incoming conveyor 1014, wrapping mechanism 1018, and suction system 1022 work together to control and transport labels 1086 presented to the label applicator 1010 from a label peel-and-present mechanism 1034 that is independent of the label applicator 1010. A typical peel-and-present mechanism 1034 is depicted in
The printer 1026 presents printed labels 1086 the label applicator 1010 at an entry end of the incoming conveyor 1014 with an adhesive side 1094 of the label 1086 facing away from the belt 1050 surface (see, e.g.
The label 1086 is positioned on the wrapping mechanism 1018 (see
Once removed, the process is complete and additional labels and objects may be processed in the same way.
An industrial label printer 1026 can be purchased or retrofitted with optional peel and present modules. A typical system is depicted in
The support box 1106 shown in
The cable insertion system 1110 is an electromechanical assembly that shuttles and holds the object 1082 in position in the wrapping mechanism 1018. After the label 1086 is wrapped about the object 1082, the cable insertion system 1110 removes the object 1082 from the wrapping mechanism 1018. The cable insertion system 1110 includes a lift 1162 which delivers a section of the object 1082 into the central portion 1070 of the wrapping mechanism 1018.
The cable insertion system 1110 starts the wrapping process via a switch 1166, preferably a snap-action process switch, preferably two such switches, mounted on a cradle 1170 upon which the object 1082 is raised and lowered. The process begins when both switches 1166 are actuated, preferably simultaneously activated.
As illustrated in
The cradle 1170 is a rigid feature with a recess 1198, preferably V-shaped, to center the object 1082. The recess 1198 may be spring-loaded to allow variations in the size of the object 1082 to be wrapped. A path of the shuttle 1190 is defined by a guide, preferably two steel guide rods 1202 mounted to a base 1206.
When the label applicator 1010 is initialized, the lift 1162 is moved to a home position 1210 with the shuttle 1190 at mid-stroke if it is not already there, as shown in
When the switches 1166 are actuated, the lift 1162 moves to a wrap position 1214 (as shown in
When the wrap is completed, the cable insertions system 1110 advances further to an eject position 1216 (shown in
The support box 1106 includes the suction system 1022 (see
The suction system 1022 comprises a high-flow fan 1222, a bypass valve 1226 to a control airflow diverted to an up-flow diffuser 1230 aimed at an underside of the incoming conveyor 1014, ducts 1234 to route the airflow around the cable insertion system 1110, and various support brackets. A downtube 1238 mates with a similarly shaped feature molded into the cover 1146 of the applicator head 1102 to focus a vacuum over the wrapping mechanism 1018 and the incoming conveyor 1014.
The up-flow diffuser 1230 takes some air recirculated from exhaust from the fan 1222 supported by a fan bracket 1224 and directs it up to the incoming conveyor 1014 and the applicator head 1102. It also attempts to diffuse a fluid pressure evenly over the entire distance via vanes 1242 molded across an exit 1246. This ensures the peeled label 1086 stays planted on the belt 1062 of the incoming conveyor 1014 and maintain proper orientation until adhered to the object 1082. A butterfly valve 1250 (see
Referring to
The label applicator 2010 of this embodiment is a benchtop label applicator and comprises of two primary mechanisms and additional components, as shown in
The wrapping mechanism 2018 and the label peel-and-present mechanism 2034 are supported on a base plate 2254 of electrical enclosure 2258. The wrapping mechanism 2018 operates substantially the same as the wrapping mechanisms 18, 1018 of the previous embodiments. The label peel-and-present mechanism 2034 contains systems to handle the unwinding, tensioning and peeling of labels 2086 as well as the rewinding of a label liner 2262.
Labels 2086 are printed in bulk off-line and wound onto a core 2264 suitable for use in the benchtop applicator 2010 with the labels 2086 facing outward. The labels 2086 and liner 2262 are loaded into the peel-and-present mechanism 2034 as shown in
With the labels 2086 loaded into the peel-and-present mechanism 2034, a label liner rewind 2266 rotates and applies a tension to the liner 2262, pulling the liner 2262 and labels 2086 through the mechanism 2034 and around a peeling plate 2270. As the leading edge 2098 of the label 2086 reaches a tip of the peeling plate 2270, the label adhesive is peeled away from the liner 2262 and the label 2086 is fed, with adhesive side 2094 up, away from the central portion 2070 until the label 2086 rests on the top of the wrapping mechanism 2018.
The label 2086, now positioned on the wrapping mechanism 2018 (see
Next, the object is inserted into the wrapping mechanism 2018 so that the surface of the object first contacts the adhesive side 2094 of the label 2086 traps the label 2086 between the object and the surface of the belt 2062. As the object is inserted further, the label 2086 is pressed against the object over an increasing arc length. Once the object is inserted fully, so that it is approximately at the axis of rotation 2079 of the wrapping mechanism 2018, as determined by switches or sensory means, the wrapping mechanism 2018 starts to rotate, and the label 2086 is pushed against the object from all angles as the belt 2062 moves along the surface of the object. This process is very similar to the process described in relation to the previous embodiment, with the exception that this embodiment does not include the incoming conveyor of the presence and use of the incoming conveyor.
After rotating several times to ensure that the entire length of the label 2086 has been pressed against the object, the object may be removed from the wrapping mechanism 2018.
Once removed, the process is complete and the next label is presented to the wrapping mechanism.
A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of wrapping a label about an elongated object as described above in connection with the various apparatuses.
It follows that a method of applying an adhesive label to an elongated object comprising the steps of: 1) providing a source of labels wherein the source of labels comprises a label having an adhesive side with a liner thereon; 2) feeding the label from the source of labels to a wrapping mechanism; 3) contacting an object to be labeled with the wrapping mechanism; and 4) rotating the wrapping mechanism about an axis of rotation wherein the axis of rotation intersects a cross-sectional area of the object taken transverse to an elongated length of the object substantially coincident with a longitudinal axis of the object.
As explained in detail in connection with the various embodiments, the method may include inserting the object to be labeled within an opening in the wrapping mechanism prior to the rotating step. A portion of the wrapping member may be deflected inwardly into the opening in the wrapping mechanism against an elastic force during the inserting step. The label may be retained between the portion of the wrapping member and the object to be labeled during the rotating step The object to be labeled and the portion of the wrapping mechanism may remain rotationally stationary during the rotating step.
As explained in detail in connection with the various embodiments, the method may include applying a fluid pressure to the label during the feeding step to control the label during movement. The fluid pressure may be supplied by a suction system comprising a vacuum source connected by a duct to a position adjacent an incoming conveyor wherein a vacuum force provided by the vacuum source urges the label against the incoming conveyor to retain the label to the incoming conveyor.
As explained in detail in connection with the various embodiments, the method may include applying a mechanical force to the label during the feeding step to control the label during movement. The applying a mechanical force step may be provided by a conveyor assist lever actuated by a conveyor driver to operably engage an incoming conveyor and form a nip therewith through which the label travels during the feeding step.
As explained in detail in connection with the various embodiments, the method may include supporting the object to be labeled on a support and automatically transporting the object to be labeled to the wrapping mechanism via automated relative movement between the support and the wrapping mechanism. This step may be performed by an object lift mechanism comprising a cradle movable between a home position where the object to be labeled is loaded onto the cradle and wrap position where the object to be labeled is located within a central portion of the wrapping mechanism.
While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/279,298, filed on Feb. 19, 2019, which claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/634,279, filed Feb. 23, 2018, the entirety of all of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62634279 | Feb 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16279298 | Feb 2019 | US |
Child | 17507372 | US |