US4032386A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for applying labels to articles
Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
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Filing: 1976-07-26
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Granted: 1977-06-28
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Expires: 1996-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A series of labels are applied to the top surfaces of a succession of articles such as containers being fed along a path by a conveyor, and each label is wiped downwardly against the corresponding container by a rotating paddle wheel applicator having outwardly projecting flexible vanes. One or more of the applicators are mounted on a shaft supported by brackets secured to a housing, and the shaft is driven by an endless belt connected to a motor enclosed within the housing. The applicator and motor form a part of a label applying unit which is supported for vertical adjustment by a pair of side support members mounted for horizontal adjustment on a base support member to provide for conveniently and quickly positioning the axis of the applicator according to the size of the labels and the height and width of the containers. Two of the label applicating units may be arranged on opposide sides of the path of articles or containers to provide for attaching opposite end portions of each label to opposite sides of the corresponding container.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald P. J. Fleet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:55
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65C; B65C9/00; B65C9/26; B65C9/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
An improved device for receiving a succession of articles being fed along a predetermined path and for successively applying corresponding labels to the articles, said device comprising a plurality of rotary applicators each including a plurality of outwardly projecting flexible wiping elements, a shaft supporting said applicator for rotation in axially aligned relation, power operated drive means connected to rotate said applicator, said wiping elements of one applicator being disposed in angular offset relation to said wiping elements of the other said applicator, and means supporting said shaft and said applicators for adjustment relative to both the height and width of the articles being fed along said path for conveniently accommodating articles of different sizes and configurations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
An improved device for receiving a succession of articles being fed along a predetermined path and for successively applying corresponding labels to the articles, said device comprising a plurality of rotary applicators each including a plurality of outwardly projecting flexible wiping elements, a shaft supporting said applicator for rotation in axially aligned relation, power operated drive means connected to rotate said applicator, said wiping elements of one applicator being disposed in angular offset relation to said wiping elements of the other said applicator, and means supporting said shaft and said applicators for adjustment relative to both the height and width of the articles being fed along said path for conveniently accommodating articles of different sizes and configurations.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
212 words
A device for receiving a succession of articles being fed along a predetermined path and for successively securing corresponding labels to the articles, said device comprising an applicator including a plurality of angularly arranged and outwardly projecting flexible wiping elements, a shaft supporting said applicator, a drive motor connected to rotate said applicator, said drive motor, said shaft and said applicator forming a label applying unit, means supporting said label applying unit for adjustment generally vertically and horizontally relative to the height and width of the articles being fed along said path for conveniently accommodating articles of different shapes and sizes, said supporting means provide for securing said label applying unit at a selected position and include a base support member extending generally parallel to the path of the articles, a pair of generally parallel side support members disposed generally perpendicular to said base support member, said label applying unit is positioned between said side support members, said adjusting means is effective to provide for adjusting said side support members on said base support member, and said adjusting means is effective to provide for adjusting said label applying unit between said side support members for quickly positioning the axis of said shaft and said applicator relative to the path of the articles.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
212 words
A device for receiving a succession of articles being fed along a predetermined path and for successively securing corresponding labels to the articles, said device comprising an applicator including a plurality of angularly arranged and outwardly projecting flexible wiping elements, a shaft supporting said applicator, a drive motor connected to rotate said applicator, said drive motor, said shaft and said applicator forming a label applying unit, means supporting said label applying unit for adjustment generally vertically and horizontally relative to the height and width of the articles being fed along said path for conveniently accommodating articles of different shapes and sizes, said supporting means provide for securing said label applying unit at a selected position and include a base support member extending generally parallel to the path of the articles, a pair of generally parallel side support members disposed generally perpendicular to said base support member, said label applying unit is positioned between said side support members, said adjusting means is effective to provide for adjusting said side support members on said base support member, and said adjusting means is effective to provide for adjusting said label applying unit between said side support members for quickly positioning the axis of said shaft and said applicator relative to the path of the articles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said wiping elements of said applicator comprises a generally flat rubber-like flexible vane, and all of said vanes of said applicator are integrally connected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said vanes has a tapered leading edge relative to the path of the articles to provide for smooth engagement of said vane with each label.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
193 words
A device adapted to be positioned adjacent a conveyor system for receiving a succession of articles being fed along a predetermined path by the conveyor system and for successively attaching corresponding labels to the articles, said device comprising a rotary applicator including a plurality of angularly arranged and outwardly projecting flexible wiping elements, a shaft supporting said applicator for rotation on an axis extending generally parallel to said path, a drive motor connected to rotate said applicator, said drive motor, said shaft and said applicator forming a label applying unit, means supporting said label applying unit for independent movement in both vertical and horizontal directions relative to said conveyor system, first adjustment means for adjustably positioning said label applying unit in a vertical direction relative to the height of the articles being fed along said path and while maintaining the orientation of said shaft and said applicator relative to said path, and second adjustment means for adjustably positioning said label applying unit in a horizontal direction relative to the width of the articles being fed along said path and while maintaining the orientation of said shaft and said applicator relative to said path.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
193 words
A device adapted to be positioned adjacent a conveyor system for receiving a succession of articles being fed along a predetermined path by the conveyor system and for successively attaching corresponding labels to the articles, said device comprising a rotary applicator including a plurality of angularly arranged and outwardly projecting flexible wiping elements, a shaft supporting said applicator for rotation on an axis extending generally parallel to said path, a drive motor connected to rotate said applicator, said drive motor, said shaft and said applicator forming a label applying unit, means supporting said label applying unit for independent movement in both vertical and horizontal directions relative to said conveyor system, first adjustment means for adjustably positioning said label applying unit in a vertical direction relative to the height of the articles being fed along said path and while maintaining the orientation of said shaft and said applicator relative to said path, and second adjustment means for adjustably positioning said label applying unit in a horizontal direction relative to the width of the articles being fed along said path and while maintaining the orientation of said shaft and said applicator relative to said path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device as defined in claim 5 including at least two of said rotary applicators supported by said shaft in axially aligned relation, and said wiping elements of said one applicator are disposed in angular offset relation to said wiping elements of the other said applicator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as defined in claim 5 wherein a plurality of said label applying units are disposed in opposing relation on opposite sides of the path of the articles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device as defined in claim 5 including a housing enclosing said motor, a set of bracket members mounted on said housing and supporting said shaft for rotation, said motor having a shaft, and drive means connecting said shaft of said motor with said shaft supporting said applicator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said applicator comprises a rubber-like body having integrally connected said wiping elements.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
124 words
A device for receiving a succession of articles being fed along a predetermined path and for successively securing corresponding labels to the articles, said device comprising an applicator including a plurality of angularly arranged and outwardly projecting flexible wiping elements, a shaft supporting said applicator for rotation on an axis, a drive motor connected to rotate said applicator, means supporting said drive motor and said shaft and said applicator to form a label applying unit, and means supporting said label applying unit for independent adjustment generally vertically and horizontally relative to the height and width of the articles being fed along said path and without changing the orientation of said axis relative to said path for conveniently accommodating articles of different shapes and sizes.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
124 words
A device for receiving a succession of articles being fed along a predetermined path and for successively securing corresponding labels to the articles, said device comprising an applicator including a plurality of angularly arranged and outwardly projecting flexible wiping elements, a shaft supporting said applicator for rotation on an axis, a drive motor connected to rotate said applicator, means supporting said drive motor and said shaft and said applicator to form a label applying unit, and means supporting said label applying unit for independent adjustment generally vertically and horizontally relative to the height and width of the articles being fed along said path and without changing the orientation of said axis relative to said path for conveniently accommodating articles of different shapes and sizes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-27 | 1980-12-27 | 1981-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-27 | 1984-12-27 | 1985-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-27 | 1988-12-27 | 1989-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |