A system for applying pressure sensitive adhesive labels from a feed web with high position precision onto flat uniform size articles mechanically links the advance of the article to be labeled and the advance of the current label to be applied in unison, so that forward advancement speed of the article and the current label are matched exactly, independent of any speed variation in the application system. This is accomplished using a label following member that comes to rest at the trailing edge of a succeeding label and is freely allowed to follow the succeeding label as it advances on the web spaced downstream of the current label. Such following member is mechanically coupled to a pusher which advances the article to be labelled in the precise speed and relative location of the current label as it advances, thereby accurately placing the current label on the article as it peels from the continuous support web. As the label following member and the article pusher are always in exact unison with each other, any variation in their coupled speed of movement in the system is not significant so precision movement sensors are not required.
A method and apparatus for removing adhesive backed components from a carrier tape and applying them onto a substrate which utilizes a retracting blade having a top surface for positioning the adhesive backed components. Extension of the retracting blade and advancement of the carrier occur simultaneously and independently from one another thereby enabling a significant reduction in cycle times.
A process for dispensing pressure-sensitive adhesive laminates (3) or laminate sections from a movable primary (1) onto a movable secondary carrier band (2), the laminates (3), upon deflection of the primary band (1) around a dispenser edge (4), being detached and dispensed onto the secondary band (2), is characterized in that the primary band (1) is provided with at least one separation line or predetermined breaking line, thus subdividing it into at least two strips (5, 5'), and that the strips are individually drawn from separate sections (4', 4'') of the dispenser edge (4).
A label applicator that prints and applies a label onto an elongated object, such as a wire. The label applicator includes a base assembly having an upper surface. A printer is fixed to the base assembly for printing indicia on a label to form a printed label. A label wrapper is fixed to the base assembly adjacent to the printer for receiving the printed label and an object. In operation, the printer feeds the printed label into the label wrapper to form slack in the label to remove tension from the label prior to the label wrapper wrapping the label onto the object.
A label wrapper assembly for wrapping a label on an elongated object. The assembly includes a support frame having a first wall spaced from a second wall. A wrapper frame is interposed between the first and second walls, and has a first end and a second end. The wrapper frame includes an opening for receiving the elongated object extending through the wrapper frame between the first and second ends, wherein the wrapper frame revolves around the elongated object to wrap a label thereon. In one embodiment, the first end is rotatably mounted to only one of the first and second walls, and the second end is adjacent to the other of the first and second walls. In another embodiment, a clamp mechanism is mounted to each of the walls, wherein each of the clamp mechanisms clamp onto the elongated object extending through the wrapper frame to hold the elongated object as the wrapper frame revolves around the elongated object. In yet another embodiment, a block assembly is supported by the wrapper frame for urging a label against the elongated object.
An unwind spool assembly for dispensing material wound into a roll includes a rotatable shaft and a mounting block rotatably mounted on the shaft for rotation about the shaft in a wind direction and an unwind direction, wherein in the unwind direction the material unwinds from the roll, and in the wind direction the material winds onto the roll. A biasing member interposed between the shaft and the mounting block rotatably biases the mounting block toward the wind direction. In another embodiment, a slip clutch is fixed to the shaft for maintaining a drag on the shaft as the shaft rotates in the unwind direction to maintain tension in the material unwinding from the roll. In yet another embodiment, the unwind spool assembly includes a spool core for holding the roll of material. The spool core is rotatable about an axis, and at least one flange extending radially from the core is rotatable about the axis independently of the core.
