US 7,462,252 B2
Label applicator with single air cylinder actuator and spring-loaded hinged pad
Adam Lee Schaller, Carbondale, Pa. (US); David Allen DeLuca, Shippensburg, Pa. (US); James Joseph Masgula, Waymart, Pa. (US); and Jason Allen MacDonald, Scranton, Pa. (US)
Assigned to Illininois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, Ill. (US)
Filed on Jun. 22, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/872,377.
Prior Publication US 2005/0279440 A1, Dec. 22, 2005
Int. Cl. B32B 41/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 156—64  [156/202; 156/227; 156/361; 156/468] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Apparatus for applying labels to different surfaces of an article being conveyed along an article conveyor path, comprising:
a first label support pad assembly;
a second label support and applicator pad assembly;
means for connecting said second label support and applicator pad assembly to said first label support pad assembly such that said second label support and applicator pad assembly is movable with respect to said first label support pad assembly;
said first label support and second label support and applicator pad assemblies together defining surface means for mounting a single label, to be applied to an article being conveyed along an article conveyor path, upon said first and second label applicator pad assemblies;
actuator means, connected to said first label support pad assembly, for moving both said first label support and second label support and applicator pad assemblies from a first RETRACTED position, at which said first label support and second label support and applicator pad assemblies are disengaged from the article being conveyed along the article conveyor path, toward a second EXTENDED position, at which said second label support and applicator pad assembly will be engaged with the article being conveyed along the article conveyor path; and
means disposed upon said second label support and applicator pad assembly for applying a first end portion of the single label, disposed upon said first label support and second label support and applicator pad assemblies, onto a first surface portion of the article as the article is conveyed along the article conveyor path, for wrapping an intermediate portion of the single label around a corner portion of the article as the article continues to be conveyed along the article conveyor path, and for applying a second end portion of the single label onto a second surface portion of the article as the article is conveyed still further along the article conveyor path.