Elongated object labeling device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11180274-B2
Application number	US-201916279298-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2019
Priority date	Feb 23, 2018
Publication date	Nov 23, 2021
Grant date	Nov 23, 2021

Abstract

An elongated object label applicator has a driver operably connected to a wrapping mechanism. The wrapping mechanism has a plurality of guide rollers spaced about a central portion. A belt is tensioned around the guide rollers and across an opening in the central portion through which an object to labeled is received. The belt is deflectable against an elastic force such that the belt can be recessed with the central portion by a force provided by the object to be labeled. The wrapping mechanism is driven by the driver to rotate the guide rollers about an axis of rotation of the wrapping mechanism passing through the central portion. The wrapping mechanism orbits the object to be labeled located within the central portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An elongated object label applicator comprising:
a first driver; and
a wrapping mechanism comprising a plurality of guide rollers spaced about a central portion, a belt tensioned around the guide rollers and across an opening in the central portion through which an object to be labeled is received, the belt deflectable against an elastic force such that the belt can be recessed with the central portion by a force provided by the object to be labeled, the wrapping mechanism driven by the first driver to simultaneously rotate the guide rollers about an axis of rotation of the wrapping mechanism passing through the central portion wherein the wrapping mechanism orbits the object to be labeled located within the central portion.

2. The elongated object label applicator of claim 1 wherein the belt is freewheeling about the guide rollers.

3. The elongated object label applicator of claim 2 wherein the opening is defined between a first guide roller in the plurality of guide rollers spaced across the opening from a second guide roller in the plurality of guide rollers.

4. The elongated object applicator of claim 3 wherein a third guide roller in the plurality of guide rollers is located between the first and second guide rollers and opposite the opening, the third guide roller elastically mounted to the wrapping mechanism wherein the third guide roller is movable under a force provided by engagement between the belt and the object to be labeled which deflects the belt within the central portion of the wrapping mechanism.

5. The elongated object label applicator of claim 4 wherein a fourth guide roller in the plurality of guide rollers is located between the first and second guide rollers and opposite the opening, the fourth guide roller is elastically mounted to the wrapping mechanism wherein the fourth guide roller is movable under a force provided by engagement between the belt and the object to be labeled which deflects the belt within the central portion of the wrapping mechanism.

6. The elongated object label applicator of claim 5 further comprising:
an incoming conveyor driven by a conveyor driver, the incoming conveyor in operable alignment with the wrapping mechanism wherein a label traveling on the incoming conveyor is delivered to the wrapping mechanism; and
a conveyor assist lever actuated by the conveyor driver to operably engage the incoming conveyor and form a nip therewith through which the label travels to the wrapping mechanism.

7. The elongated object label applicator of claim 6 further comprising:
an object lift mechanism comprising a cradle movable between a home position where the object to be labeled is loaded onto the cradle and wrap position where the object to be labeled is located within the central portion of the wrapping mechanism.

8. The elongated object label applicator of claim 7 further comprising:
a suction system comprising a vacuum source connected by a duct to a position adjacent the incoming conveyor wherein a vacuum force provided by the vacuum source urges the label against the incoming conveyor to retain the label to the incoming conveyor.

Assignees

• Panduit Corp

Inventors

• Nelson Kevin L
• Obenshain Marc R

Classifications

• B65C9/30

  Rollers · CPC title

• B65C3/02 Primary

  Affixing labels to elongated objects, e.g. wires, cables, bars, tubes · CPC title