Patent Application
20170113827
Industrial labels are often difficult to peel and apply. A label dispenser can speed up this task. A label alignment system and method is presented for removing labels, particularly Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) labels on motor vehicles.
The features and advantages described in the specification are not all inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter.
According to one aspect, a system for transferring a label from a strip of labels to an attachment location includes a presenter jig includes a label flow path between first and second guides for guiding the strip of labels, a cylinder for advancing the strip of labels, a label alignment lock that centers and locks into place one label from the strip of labels, and an installation jig. The installation jig includes a pickup tool having at least one suction cup for lifting the label from the strip of labels. The pickup tool is rotatable to align the pickup tool with a receiving location. The pickup tool releases the at least one suction cup to drop the label onto the receiving location.
According to another aspect, an apparatus for transferring a label from a strip of labels to an attachment location includes a presenter jig that includes a label flow path between first and second guides for guiding the strip of labels, a cylinder for advancing the strip of labels, a switch that controls movement of the cylinder, a label alignment lock that centers and locks into place one label from the strip of labels, and a separator, the separator lifting the label from the sheet of labels. The apparatus also includes an installation jig that includes a pickup tool having at least one suction cup for lifting the label from the strip of labels, a vacuum source for removing air from the at least one suction cup when in contact with the label to create a vacuum, and a switch for releasing air into the vacuum, thereby releasing the at least one suction cup from the label. The pickup tool is rotatable to align the pickup tool with a receiving location. The pickup tool releases the at least one suction cup to drop the label onto the receiving location.
According to yet another aspect, a method of moving a label from a strip of labels on a presenter jig to an article of manufacture using an installation jig including the steps of feeding the strip of labels between a pair of guides using a cylinder, locking a cylinder in place when the label on the strip of labels is centered in an aperture on the presenter jig, removing the label with the installation jig, and placing the label on the article of manufacture.
The figures depict various embodiments of the embodiments for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the embodiments described herein.
The embodiment shown in
A presenter jig 18 is provided to feed labels 12 located on a roll 20. Although the embodiment illustrated in
Pressure-sensitive adhesives (also called PSA or self-stick) are applied with light pressure without activation or heat. Rolls 20 of labels 12 often have release liners 22 which protect the adhesive and assist label 12 handling. A release liner 22 is a paper or plastic-based film sheet (usually applied during the manufacturing process) used to prevent a sticky surface from prematurely adhering. The release liner 22 may be coated on one or both sides with a release agent, which provides a release effect against any type of a sticky material such as an adhesive or mastic.
Completed rolls 20 of labels 12 are fed into a presenter jig 18 between guides 24,26, as shown in
Also located at the label alignment lock down point 30 is an aperture 32 located above the cylinder 28. As shown in
The installation jig 34 includes a pickup tool 36 equipped with at least one suction cup 38 to remove the label 12 from the roll 20 of labels 12. The pickup tool 36 in the embodiment illustrated in
In order to make removal of the label 12 from the roll 20 easier, the presenter jig 18 may include a separator 42 to lift a portion or the entire label 12 from the roll 20 in order to facilitate removal of the label 12.
In the embodiment illustrated in the
The suction cups 38,40 are connected to a small vacuum system 48 controlled by a solenoid 50 known to those skilled in the art. The vacuum created by the suction cups 38,40 when set against the label 12 may be actuated by a typical on/off switch 52, which operates the solenoid 50 to create the vacuum in the suction cups 38,40 when turned on, and releases the vacuum when turned off. Once the label 12 is in position, a switch 52 shuts off the vacuum and the label 12 falls from the pickup tool 36 onto the motor vehicle part 14.
The installation jig 34 may contain a rear handle 54 to lift the installation jig 34 from a resting location 56 on the presenter jig 18. The resting location 56 includes a slot 58 for receiving the datum 44 of the installation jig 34 to ensure that the suction cups 38,40 of the pickup tool 36 will be aligned with the aperture 32 of the presenter jig 18. The installation jig 34 may also include a front support handle 60 for enabling a user to move the installation jig 34 into position on the motor vehicle part 14.
The installation jig 34 may be operated by a human operator, or the installation jig 34 may be positioned on a robot (not shown) in a manufacturing environment in a method known to those skilled in the art.
Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
Certain aspects of the embodiments include process steps and instructions described herein in the form of an algorithm. It should be noted that the process steps and instructions of the embodiments can be embodied in software, firmware or hardware, and when embodied in software, could be downloaded to reside on and be operated from different platforms used by a variety of operating systems. The embodiments can also be in a computer program product which can be executed on a computing system.
In addition, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the embodiments, which is set forth in the claims.
While particular embodiments and applications have been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited to the precise construction and components disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes, and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of the methods and apparatuses of the embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments as defined in the appended claims.
