SYSTEM FOR MAKING COLOR-CODED INDEX TABS

• US 3,801,408 A
• Filed: 02/10/1972
• Issued: 04/02/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jay L. Carley, Richard H. Darling, Victor M. Kuring, William P. Shine, William R. Smith-Vaniz
• Original Assignee: Jay L. Carley, Richard H. Darling, Victor M. Kuring, William P. Shine, William R. Smith-Vaniz
• Inventors: Smith-Vaniz, William R., Carley, Jay L., Kuring, Victor M., Shine, William P., Darling, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Drummond, Douglas J.
• Application Number:
  US05/225,265
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 156/584,552,361,362,540,541,542,560,561,562,367,368
• US Class Current: 156/552
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2519/00 Labels, badges
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/06 permitting easy separation
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 21/00 Indexing means; Indexing tabs or protectors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 1/025 the label being picked up by the article to be labelled, i.e. the labelling head remaining stationary
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/42 Label feed control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1734 Means bringing articles into association with web
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1759 Sheet form common base

Abstract

The color-coded index tab is produced automatically by passing a tape through a label applying machine which is programmed by a computer to apply color-coded labels at precise locations of the tape. The tape is afterwards severed to produce the individual index tab for subsequent application to a file holder. The index tabs can be folded or not about the longitudinal center line so that the block of color on each label can be exposed around the edge of the file holder or on a flat edge surface of the file holder for viewing purposes. The individual index tabs and labels can be sized to present any number of different color coded blocks.

Claims

1. A machine for making index tabs comprising a first means for moving a carrier means through a predetermined path having a predetermined start position;

a plurality of label modules mounted in adjacent relation to said path and in predetermined alignment relative to each other and to said start position, each said module having means therein for supplying a label from a label supply therein;

a second means for expelling a label from each moduLe;

a third means for transferring an expelled label from said modules onto the carrier means; and

a fourth means for receiving the carrier means with the labels thereon, said fourth means being located downstream of said third means relative to said path.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first means includes a stepper motor for moving the carrier means through said path in intermittent manner.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second means includes a common drive means for selective connection to said means of each of said modules, and means for selectively connecting each said means of each module to said drive means in programmed sequence with the intermittent movement of the carrier means through said path from said start position.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a frame;

and wherein said stepper motor and said drive means are fixedly mounted in said frame and said modules are removably mounted in said frames.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of sensors, each sensor being mounted adjacent a respective module to detect passage of a label from said respective module, each said sensor being connected to said means in a respective module and to said third means to deactivate said means in said module and to activate said third means in response to the passage of a label from said respective module.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 1 which further includes a common drive means and means for selectively connecting said means of each module to expel a label.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first means includes an elongated flat table extending along a portion of said path and at least from said start position with said table being disposed adjacent to said modules and said third means being mounted on said table.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said module comprises a housing and a label supply roll mounted in said housing and including a flexible backing strip and a plurality of spaced apart semi-rigid labels removably secured on said backing strip;

and said means therein including a take-up roll mounted in said housing for taking-up the backing strip from said supply roll;

means mounted in said housing for guiding the backing strip through a peel-off station between said rolls and adjacent said second means wherein each label is removed from the backing strip, said housing having a first opening at said peel-off station for passage of a label therethrough; and

a pressure roller mounted in said housing for selective projection through a second opening in said housing to operably connect to said second means.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second means includes a common capstan positioned adjacent said pressure roller of each module for selective driving of the backing strip in said respective modules upon operable connection of each respective pressure roller and said capstan.

10. A machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein each module further comprises a brake in said housing for braking movement of the backing strip.

11. A machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said brake and said pressure roller are mounted at opposite ends of a pivotally mounted two-arm lever for selective actuation and said means therein further includes a solenoid actuator for pivoting said lever to connect said pressure roller with said second means.

12. A machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein each module further comprises a take-up drive roller operably connected to said take-up roll for rotating said take-up roll, said drive roller projecting through a third opening in said housing to operably connect to said second means.

13. A machine as set forth in claim 12 wherein said second means includes a common take-up drive shaft positioned adjacent said take-up drive roller of each module and each module includes means for selectively operably engaging said take-up drive roller with said common driVe shaft.

14. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said third means includes a plurality of label roll down assemblies, each assembly being mounted adjacent a respective one of said modules and including a press block disposed over said path of the tape and means for moving said press block into said path upon expelling of a label from said adjacent module.

15. A machine as set forth in claim 14 wherein said means for moving said press block includes at least one two-arm lever pivotably mounted on an axis parallel to said path with said press block pivotally mounted on one arm of said lever, means for pivoting said lever, and stop means on said press block for limiting pivoting of said press block on said lever in a direction away from said path.

16. A machine as set forth in claim 14 wherein said press block has an arcuate face opposite said path.

17. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fourth means includes a take-up roll for winding up the carrier means with the labels thereon.

18. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the carrier means includes a tape formed of a carrier strip to receive the labels and a backing strip removably secured to the carrier strip and wherein said fourth means includes a cut-off assembly for severing the tape into individual index tabs of predetermined length.

19. A machine as set forth in claim 18 wherein said fourth means further includes a storage bin for receiving severed index tabs.

20. A system for making index tabs comprising a machine for applying individual labels to a travelling carrier means;

said machine including a conveyor for moving the carrier means through a predetermined path having a predetermined start position therein and a plurality of stations spaced from said start position, and a plurality of label supply means for supplying labels for application to the travelling carrier means in said path downstream of said start position, each supply means being positioned at a respective one of said stations; and

means connected to said conveyor and each said supply means for selectively supplying a label from at least two of said supply means to different predetermined positions on the carrier means in said path in response to predetermined lengths of travel of the carrier means from said start position.

21. A system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said conveyor includes a stepper motor for moving the carrier means through said path in increments, and wherein said means for selectively supplying a label is connected to said stepper motor to deactivate said motor at predetermined increments corresponding to said predetermined lengths of travel of the carrier means from said start position.

22. A system as set forth in claim 20 wherein each supply means is a module removably mounted in said machine.

23. A system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said means for selectively supplying a label includes a digital computer and means for programming said computer to activate said conveyor and each said label supply means to produce an index tab including at least two labels on a predetermined length of the carrier means.

24. A system for making index tabs comprising a machine for applying individual labels to a travelling carrier means;

said machine including a conveyor for moving the carrier means through a predetermined path having a predetermined start position therein and a plurality of stations spaced from said start position, and a plurality of label supply means for applying labels to the travelling carrier means in said path downstream of said start position, each supply means being positioned at a respective one of said stations; and

means connected to said conveyor and each said supply means for selectively applying a label from at least two of said supply means to different predetermined positions on the carrier means in said path in response to predetermined lengths of travel of the carrier means from said start position.

25. A systeM as set forth in claim 24 wherein said conveyor includes a stepper motor for moving the carrier means through said path in increments, and wherein said means for selectively applying a label is connected to said stepper motor to deactivate said motor at predetermined increments corresponding to said predetermined lengths of travel of the carrier means from said start position.

26. A system as set forth in claim 25 wherein said means for selectively applying a label includes a digital computer and means for programming said computer to activate said conveyor and each said label supply means to produce an index tab including at least two labels on a predetermined length of the carrier means.

27. A label application machine comprising a first means for moving a carrier means through a predetermined path having a predetermined start position;

a plurality of label applying means mounted in adjacent relation to said path and in predetermined alignment relative to each other and to said start position, each said label applying means having means therein for applying a label onto the carrier means;

a common drive means for selective connection to each of said label applying means; and

means for selectively connecting each said label applying means to said drive means in programmed sequence with the movement of the carrier means through said path from said start position.

28. A machine as set forth in claim 27 wherein said first means includes a stepper motor for moving the carrier tape through said path in intermittent manner.

29. A labelling system comprising a machine for applying color coded labels to a carrier means, said machine including a plurality of label applying means for applying colored labels to the carrier means, and conveyor means for moving the carrier means and said label applying means relative to each other from a predetermined start position through a plurality of stations spaced from said start position;

and means connected to each applying means and to said conveyor means for selectively applying a label from at least two of said applying means to different predetermined positions on the carrier means at respective ones of said stations.

30. A labelling system as set forth in claim 29 wherein said conveyor means moves the carrier means from said start position through said stations.

31. A labelling system as set forth in claim 29 which further comprises a cutoff assembly downstream of said stations for severing the labelled carrier means into individual index tabs.