Automatic high speed labeling system

摘要

A high speed automatic produce labeling system is provided, having a label dispense cycle of less than 17 milliseconds and capable of dispensing and applying 1,000 labels per minute per lane. First and second direct gear drives are actuated by a single stepper motor. A removable label cassette is driven by the first direct gear drive; the cassette carries a label carrier strip. An improved Geneva wheel drive forms part of the first gear drive which substantially reduces jerk and tearing of the label carrier strip while maintaining high labeling speed. The label cassette includes several quick-change components allowing the system to apply different size labels. An improved tensioning system is provided, minimizing slipping and tearing of the label carrier strip. An improved stripper plate tip actuator is also provided.

主权项

1. An automatic, high speed produce labeler capable of dispensing and applying labels to 1,000 produce items per lane per minute, wherein said labeler includes a rotary head carrying a plurality of flexible bellows, and a removable label cassette carrying a label carrier strip, comprising:
a stepper motor a first direct gear drive train connected to and driven by said stepper motor wherein said first direct gear drive train includes a Geneva wheel assembly, said Geneva wheel assembly including an input wheel and an output wheel, said label cassette connected to and driven by said Geneva output wheel, a second direct gear drive train connected to and driven by said stepper motor said rotary head connected to and driven by said second gear drive train whereby said first gear drive train with said Geneva wheel assembly advances said label carrier strip the length of a label for each step of said stepper motor, wherein each advance of said label carrier strip constitutes a label dispense cycle, and said labeler is capable of dispensing up to apply 1,000 labels per minute to be applied to produce items in a single lane by said rotary head and wherein said input and output wheels of said Geneva wheel assembly are sized and placed so that said output wheel is rotated through at least a ninety degree arc in a single label dispense cycle, whereby the jerk applied to said label carrier strip is reduced by at least 40% of the jerk otherwise imparted to the label carrier strip by the prior art.