Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPECIF-LCATION
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for
the high speed application of labels to non-round containers, and
is an improvement upon my IJ.S. Patent No. 3,765,991.
; In the aforesaid patent there are described machines
for applying labels to round containers. Such machines typically
util~ze a rotary drum disposed between container receiving and
container discharge stations for holding the containers and carry-
ing them past a glue applicator station, and a vacuum drum bearing
labels, each having its trailing end provided with a line of glue.
The containers are gripped during this period to a~oid rotation
about their individual axes, whereby as each container is presented
to the tangent point of contact with the vacuum drum, the leading
end of each label held thereon is applied to the container at
the glue line previously applied thereto.j The container is then
transported away from the vacuum drum and is caused to rotate
about its axes at the container discharge station, which results
in wrapping the label around the container.
The above described machines are obviously not suited to
the application of labels to rectangular containers such as milk
containers ~r the like, where each label is to be applied to a
single flat surface of each container. Modification of such
equipment, to adapt it for use with non-round contalners, has
resulted in labeling apparatus of a high degree of complexity.
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For example, releasable clamps, feed bèlts and the like have been
required in the container feed mechanism of such apparatus.
Substantial maintenance may also be required. ~lighly undesirable
"do~ntime" for such maintenance and any necessary repairs may also
be encoun~ered.
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The present invention provides a truly continuous high
speed method and apparatus for application of labels to non-round
containers while at the same time miniTnizing the complexity oE
the apparatus.
Broadly speaking, therefore, the present invention
provides a method for applying labels to non-round containers
comprising feeding severed labels onto a rotating vacuum drum
having a resilient outer portion, applying glue over the e~posed
surface of each label, and feeding non-round containers into
tangential relationship with the vacuum drum following application
of the glue such that a label will be applied by pressure of the
vacuum drum to a substantially flat surface of each container,
the linear speed of the container feed being the same as the
rotation speed of the vacuum drum.
; The above method may be carried out by a label applying
machine for applying labels to a face of a non-cylindrical container,
such face presenting a relatively flat surface to the label
applicator, the machine comprising a rotary cylindrical drum
rotatable about its cylinder axis and adapted to pick-up, in
succession, labels at a label receiving station, to grip each label
; received at such station on its cylindrical surface and to deliver
the label to and release lt at a label applying station, the drum
having on its cyllndrical surface which receives, holds and
delivers the label a resilient compressible material in contact
with the label, a continuous container feed adapted to convey
` containers in sequence to the label applying station with the
relatively flat face to be labeled tangent to the drum at such
station, the drum and container feed acting to cause the label and
the aforesaid face of the container to move in the same direction
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and at the same linear component of speed at the point of label
application, the machine also having rotary roller means down
stream from and close to the label applying station, the roller
means having a resilient surface and being so located that the
resilient surface contacts each applied label as it is conveyed
away from the label applying station and acts to srnooth the applied
label and apply it more securely and evenly to the container.
The above and other features of the invention will be
apparent from the ensuing description and the appended claims.
lOCertain embodiments of the invention are shown by way
of example in the accompanying drawingsg in which:
Figure l is a view in side elevation o~ an apparatus in
accordance with this invention showing a helical screw Eeed
mechanism for bringing the containers into tangential relationship
with the vacuum drum for application of a label to a flat surface
of each container; and
Figure 2 is a view simllar to that of Figure l but of
a modification, in plan view, in which a star wheel is employed
`! to feed containers into tangential relationship with the vacuum
drum ~or application of labels to oval containers.
Referring now to Figure l, the labeling apparatus is
generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a
vacuum dru~ 11 on a shaft lla. A feed roller 12 on shaft 13 serves
to supply a continuous label stock 14 ~hich has been suitably
printed. The label stock is then severed into individual labels
15 by a cutting mechanism including a rotary cutter 17 having
kniEe 18 bolted to a support, and a stationary but oscillating
knife l9 held in a holder 21. Knife 19 is pivoted out of the way
during part of each cycle to allow passage of label stock 14, but
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is held stationary at the time oE cutting, such oscillating
operation being accomplished by the mechanism described below.
A leaf spring tnot shown) may be disposed behind the cutting
mechanism to oscillate with the knife 19 and urge label stock
toward both knives 19 and 18. Additionally, guide means 24 may
be disposed in advance of the cutting means to ensure trouble-freP
feeding of the label stock into such cutting means.
Pivoting of the knife holder 21 to and from the position
shown in Figure 1 can be accomplished by any suitable means, such
as hydraulic cylinders, rods and stops.
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Rollers 31 and 32 rotatable on shafts 33 ~nd 34r
respectively, grip label stock 14 just before an indi~id~a
label 15 is cut therefrom and retain this ~rip until the
leading end of the severed label is in contact with vacuum
drum 11 and is held by vacuum thereon. Rolle~ 31 is driven
and roller 32 is an idler roller whic'h may be biased a~ainst
; the driven roller by suitable biasing means.
Accordingly, label material 14 is ~ed by roller 12
through the cutting means, where it is severed into strips 15,
and is then fed by rollers 31, 32 onto vacuum drum 11, which
` revolves to bring each label into contact with glue applicator
-; 34. Glue is thereby applied over the exposed surace of each
strip 15. The vacuum drum 11 has axial grooves 35 to receive
any excess glue that may be present.
; ~urther re~olution of vacuum drum 11 in a clockwise
direction, as shown by the arrow, brings each label into tan-
gential contacting relationship with subs`tantially flat sur-
face 37 of each container 38. The containers 38 are fed into
tangential contact with vacuum drum Il by means of helical
screw 41. Conventional screw feed mechanisms can be employed,
such as that described in the aforesaid mentioned Patent
; No. 3,765,991. Screw portions 39 fit snugly against the walls
o the containers, and screw shaft 40 similarly contacts the
upper surface of the containers, to provide stabilizing support
during the labeling operation.
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The containers 38 are conveyed by conveyor 42
toward vacuum drum ll, the conveyor having an opening at
43 such that the glued label 15 can be revolved into contact
with the underside of the container 38. The vacuum drum has
resilient portion ~4 for exerting sealing pressure against
the label, the container 38 being held snugly between vacuum
drum ll and the lower surface 45 of shaft 40 until completion
of tangential contact with the vacuum clrum and return to the
~ other side of conveyor 42. on the right.
: 10 A large resilient compression roller ~6 and a
substantially smaller compression roller 47, also resilient,
are disposed immediately behind vacuum drum 11 for reinforcing
the seal of each label against the flat surface 37 of each
container 38. The compression rollers 46, 47 are especially
preferred for use in application where hot melt adhesive is
used to bond the label 15 to the containers 38. However, any
suitable adhesive, whether ho~ melt or cold adhesive~ can be
utilized in accordance with the method and apparatus of this
invention.
Vacuum drum 11 is rotated at a speed in relation
to the speed of the helical screw, such that each container
38 will be held relatively motionless with respect to the
vacuum drum with the glue-containing label 15 held firmly
therebetween to achieve the most effective contact between
the label and the flat surface 37 of each container 3~.
That is to say, the linear component of motion of the sur-
face of the container 38 is the same as the linear component
of motion of the label 15 at the point of tangency of the
label and the container. Also, pressure will
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be applied by the vacuum drum over 100% of the su~ace area
of the label. Accordingly, labels may be firmly bonded to
containers such as one gallon milk containers in a continuous
high speed procedure. Significantly, the container feed
mechanism, such as helical screw 41, maintains contro1 of
each container 38 throughout the entire labeling procedure;
i.e., from the leftmost point of helical screw 41 to the
rightmost point thereof. Further drive belts, clamping
means or the like, as re~uired in presently available appar-
atus or applying labels to non-round containers, are not
necessary.
Referring now to Figure 2, a similar labeling
machine is shown at 10a but is modified to handle oval con-
tainers 51. Label material 14 is fed from a feed roller 12
through rotary cutting means and the strips h~l,d by vacuum
drum 11 as in accordance with Figure 1, as well as the patent
and patent applications mentioned above. Similarly, glue
applicator 34 applies a layer of glue to the exposed surface
of each label 15. Oval containers 51 are fed in a tangential
relation to vacuum drum 11 by means of star wheel 52 rotatahle
on shaft 53, with each container 51 being held firmly in
position on the star wheel such that the side 54 of each con-
tainer 51 will be brought into contacting tangential relation-
ship with the vacuum drum 11, with the label 15 held snugly
therebetween. Vacuum drum 11 has a resilient portion 44,
as noted in Figure 1, ~or applying sealing pressure to the
label 15 against the side of the oval container 51.
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The vacuum drum 11 is rotated .in a cloc]cwise
direction (as viewed in Figure 2) at a rate and the star
wheel 52 is rotated in a counterclockwise directi.on (as
viewed in Figure 2) at a rate such that each container
51 will be momentarily mo~tionless with respect to the
vacuum drum 11 with label 15 firmly pressed against side
54 of such container 51. That is to sa~, the linear com-
ponent of motion of the sur~ace of the container 51 is
the same as the linear component of motion of the label
15 at the point of tangency of the label and the container.
To perfect the sealing of the labels to the oval containers,
compression rollers 55 and 56 are provided behind the vac-
uum drum 11. The compression rollers 55, 56 are formed of
resilient material, such as foam rubber, capable of be.ing
deformed to allow pressure to be exerted upon the curving
side portions 57 of each container 51~ Teflon is prefer-
ably used to cover the compression rollers, as such material
resists adhesion to glue. Accordingly, pressure i5 exerted
over the entire length of the label 15 to securely bond it
to the side of oval container 51, making possible a contin-
uous high speed application of labels to such containers.
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