Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to labelling equipment for
applying labels to cylindrical portions of containers such as
bottles and more particularly to equipment for applying labels
that wrap around the outer surface of the container.
It is well known to utilize mechanical handling
equipment to apply labels to a container or the like. Such
equipment usually includes a drum upon which the label is
secured and which moves the label into engagement with the
outer surface of the container. The label adheres to the
container and is subsequently wrapped around the container by
rolling it along a fixed surface.
In order to improve the efficiency of such machines
it has been proposed to derive the rolling motion of the con-
tainer from the rotation of the drum. The container is
located between a stationary surface and the drum so that
continued rotation of the drum will roll the container along
the stationary surface. Whilst this arrangement simplifies
the machine it has been fowld unsatisfactory in the handling
; of large labels.
; 20 In order to increase the capacity of the machine it
has been proposed to mount the containers on a large wheel
which rotates in synchronism with the label carrying drum.
As each container passes the drum it is rotated on its own
axis to partially wrap the label onto the container. Whilst
? 25 this arrangement offers certain benefits in terms of machine
capacity compared with prior art machines, it requires each
container to be mounted on the wheel so as to be rotatable
about its own axis. This necessarily complicates the machine
and increases its cost. Further it does not overcome the
, 30 problems of applying large labels to containers.
Accordingly the present invention is intended to
provide a labelling machine including a label carrier having
a plurality of support portions each operable to receive and
retain a label and move the label along a predetermined path
at a predetermined speed, a container feeder operable to
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direct containers to a position adjacent the predetermined
path, and a drive system includ~ng transfer means to bring
a portion of the label into contact with the container and
drive means to rotate the container at a peripheral speed
greater than the predetermined speed whereby upon contact
of the label with the container, the label is drawn under
tension from the support portion and onto the container.
It has been found that by inducing rotation of the
container at a speed greater t~an the peripheral speed of
the drum, the label is drawn off the drum under tension.
This prevents bucking of the label and enables large labels
- to be applied to containers. It is preferred to induce
rotation of the container by means of a belt entrained
- around the drum, but moving at a greater speed than the drum.
The belt leaves the drum at a location to engage a container
and carries the label with it. Thus the container, belt and
label are moving at a speed greater than the periphery of
the drum to pull the label under tension from the drum.
This drive arrangement avoids the need for separate rotatable
pads for each container and thereby results in reduced cost,
simplification and increased versitility for the machine.
The general improvement in labelling machines has
resulted in increased use of rolls of labels which are
individually severed as they are placed on the drum. The use
of such rolls has avoided the problems associated with feeding
individual precut labels from a batch, but some difficulty
has been encountered in severing labels from the roll.
Flying knife shears have been utilized, but these require
accurate adjustment to prevent rapid wear of the cutting
edge whilst ensuring the label is completely cut.
In our Canadian patent 951,685 there is disclosed
a knife arrangement in which a stationary knife is inclined
to the axis of rotation of a rotating knife to achieve a
progressive cut across the width of the label. This arrange-
ment has been successful in achieving complete cutting of
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the label without premature wear of the cutting edge. Withthis arrangement the label is engaged by a drum prior to
severing and a tension induced in the label by rotating the
drum at a greater peripheral speed than the feed rate of the
label roll. It has now been found that the induced tension
may cause the label to be torn from the roll as the knife
approaches the end of its cutting action. This is due to
the progressive reduction in width of unsevered paper which
must resist the tension appliea to the label. The tearing
of the label is undesirable because of its appearance and
because of the misregistration of the label on the drum.
According, therefore, to a further aspect of the
invention there is provided for use in a labelling machine
having a feed mechanism to feed a strip of labels along a
predetermined label path and into engagement with a label
carrier, a cutter assembly located in the path for severing
labels from the strip, the cutter assembly comprising a
fixed support, a first cutting element attached to the fixed
support to extend transverse to the strip, a rotatable knife
carrier mounted for rotation about a first axis, a second
knife element attached to the rotatable knife carrier for
movement therewith, drive means to rotate the rotatable
knife carrier about the first axis and move the second knife
element past the first knife element to produce a cutting
action, the knife elements divexging in the direction of
travel of the second knife element to provide progressive
severing of the strip in a direction transverse to the strip,
and cam means associated with the rotatable knife carrier and
moveable into the path to engage the strip and during a latter
part of the cutting action out of the path to disengage the
strip whereby tension is removed from strip between the
cutter assembly and the label carrier during the latter part
o the cutting action.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention a cam
portion is mounted on a rotating knife holder to engage the
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label being severed from the roll. The cam portion is posi-
tioned ahead of the knife blade and moves out of engagement
with the label as the knife blade approaches the end of its
cut. The label is then slack as the cut is completed to avoid
tearing of the label.
It is preferable to arrange the cutter assembly in
- a manner that permits easy adjustment and maintenance.
- However, since the various components must rotate in synch-
ronism it has frequently been necessary to disengage drive
components during maintenance.
According to a yet further aspect of the invention
there is provided a label feeder assembly for use in drawing
a strip of labels off a spool and severing the strip into
individual labels, the label feeder including: a main roll;
a first shaft attached to the main roll; and a pinch roll
biased into engagement with the main roll; a fixed first
. blade and a second blade rotatable to combine with the first
,~ blade to cut the strip into individual labels once every
revolution of the second blade; a second shaft coupled to
the second blade to drive this blade; gear means coupling
the shafts to one another to synchronise the main roll and
the second blade and including an epicyclic connection to
permit continuous adjustment of the second blade relative
to the main roll, the gear means permitting rotating the
label feeder about one of the first and seaond shafts to
facilitate maintenance.
An embodiment of the invention will now be des-
cribed by way of example only with reference to the accom-
panying drawings in which:-
Fig. l is a perspective view of a preferred embodi-
ment of labelling equipment looking generally from an end
of the equipment from which bottles are fed to receive labels;
Fig. Z is a plan view having portions sectioned
,~ to show details of the labelling equipment;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2
showing a portion of the equipment;
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Fig, 4 is a further plan view showing a part of
a label feeder assembly to a larger scale than that used
in Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 to illus-
trate the operation of cutting blades used to sever indi-
vidual labels from a strip of la~els;
Fig. 6 is a side view of the label feeder assembly
showing some parts in section; and
Fig. 7 is a compound view of a label carrier which
receives labels from the label feeder assembly, the right
half being in section and the left half being generally an
elevation.
The drawings illustrate labelling equipment capable
of handling a strip of labels supplied on a spool, severing
these labels individually, handling the labels and then
applying them to bottles which are controlled and fed through
the labelling equipment. Although the equipment is capable
of use with various sizes of bottles, it is particularly
; designed for large bottles or other containers having cylind-
' 20 rical portions for receiving wrap-around labels. These labels
tend to be unwieldy and therefore difficult to handle. Also,
because of the length of the labels they tend to buckle or
apply unevenly with unacceptable results. The present equip-
ment controls the labels and applies them to the bottles while
maintaining some tension in the labels. As a result the
labels are applied evenly and positively to the bottles or
containers.
Reference is now made to Fig. 1 which illustrates
a preferred embodiment of labelling equipment 20 for use in
applying wrap-around labels to a cylindrical portion of large
, plastic bottles. Labels in the form of a strip or web 22
are fed from a spool 24 to meet individually with bottles 26,
28 which are initially fed to the equipment by a conveyor 30.
The bottles meet a separator 32 which allows them to be moved
individually by a bottle feeder 34 to a point where each
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bottle receives a label from a label carrier 36. The bottle
is then controlled by a bottle drive system 38 which rolls
the bottle to receive the label and then dispatches the
bottle out of the equipment.
The strip 22 of labels is drawn by a label feeder
assembly 40 which also includes a cutting head as will be
described later. As the labels leave the feeder assembly
40 they are attached individually to the label carrier using
a pneumatic vacuum system in the carrier 36. The labels
then pass a glue applicator assembly 42 before being applied
to bottles.
The general arrangement can also be seen in Fig. 2.
In this view an end of the strip 22 has been captured by
label carrier 36, and preceding labels 44, 46 are attached
to the carrier under the ;nfluence of the vacuum system as
will be described. A label 48 precedes label 46 and has
' almost completely separated from the carrier 36 in the course
of application onto a bottle 50. Details of Fig. 2 will be
described more fully in combination with subsea5uent views but
at this point it is important to note that the peripheral
speed of the portion of the label carrier 36 which receives
the labels is slightly greater than the linear speed of the
strip 22 to maintain some tension in the label as it trans-
fers from the label feeder assembly 40 to the label carrier
36. Similarly, the bottle drive system 38 is arranged to
move the periphery of the bottle slightly faster than the
label is moving with the carrier 36. This again ensures
tension in the label as it is transferred from the carrier
36 to the bottle 50.
For the sake of convenience the label feeder
assembly 40 will be described in detail before then describ-
ing the label carrier 36 and bottle drive system 38. Other
parts of the equipment will be described where they relate
to the feeder assembly, label carrier, and drive system.
Reference is next made to Figs. 2, 4 and 6 with
particular reference initially to Fig. 4 to describe the
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main components of the label feeder assembly 40. The strip
22 of labels is drawn into thè label feeder assembly by a
main or drive roll 52 combining with a rubber pinch roll 54
which is biased towards the main roll 52 by a pneumatic
actuator 56 operating on the end of an L-shaped arm 58 which
is in fixed relation with a pair of arms 60 and which pivots
about an upright spindle 62. The arms 60 support a further
spindle 64 about which the roll 54 is free to rotate. Con-
sequently upon energizing the actuator 56 the pinch roll 54
is biased into engagement with the main roll 52 resulting in
a driving force to progress the strip 22 through the assembly.
The strip is also guided by idlers 66, 68 which both tend to
remove any natural curl from the labels and also ensures
that the strip is in good contact with the main roll 52 before
the strip meets the pinch roll 54. The strip passes from the
main roll 52 through a cutter assembly 70 and into engagement
with the periphery of the carrier 36 where it is held by
vacuum pads as will be described below. Because of the
greater peripheral speed of the carrier 36, the strip slips
relative to the carrîer so that it is under tension. As
seen in Fig. 4, the strip is moved from the main roll 52
into a position for severing into individual labels by a
cutter assembly 70. This assembly consists of a stationary
; portion 72 and a rotating cutter head 74. The stationary
portion 72 includes a blade 76 attached by screws 78 to a
fixed bracket 80. The blade 76 can be aligned with a
further blade 82 in a notched roll 84 using adjusting screws
86 before tightening screws 78 completely. The blade 82 is
held in the notched roll 84 by screws 86.
3Q The arrangement of the blades 76 and 82 is such
that the strip is cut progressively across the width of the
strip as indicated in Fig. 5. Here it will be seen that
the blade 76 is inclined to a vertical axis whereas the
blade 82 is vertical. As shown, the strip is being cut at
a point 88 and has already been cut up to that point running
from the bottom to the top of the strip 22.
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It has been found that the arrangement of blade
76 relative to blade 82 results in an improved cut because
of the scissor action as the blades come together while the
` strip is moving past the blades.
- 5 The inclination of the blade to the vertical axisensures a square edge is cut as the label passes through the
cutter assembly 70 so that it is not necessary to interrupt
movement of the label whilst it is being cut.
A cam lobe 85 is attached to the notched roll 84
- 10 in advance of the blade 82. The cam lobe 85 is positioned
so that its peripheral surface 87 engages the strip 22 as
it moves past the stationary blade 76. As may best be seen
in Fig. 4, the strip 22 is deflected in its path so that the
effective distance between the stationary blade 76 and the
point of engagement of the strip with the carrier 36 is
increased. Since the strip is firmly held by pinch wheel 54
and main roll 52, the strip will slide relative to the peri-
phery of the carrier 36.
As the notched roll 84 continues to rotate, as
indicated in chain dot lines in Fig. 4, the cam lobe 85
moves out of the path of the strip 22 so that there is a
temporary slack in the strip 22. The cam lobe 85 is posi-
tioned so as to disengage the strip 22 as the blades 76, 82
complete the cut. Since the tension is momentarily released
' 25 from the strip, the tendency to tear the label from the strip
'i is reduced.
It will be apparent that the path of the strip
may be modified so that the cam engages the strip over a
reduced arc provided that sufficient slack is created in the
label to premit the cut to be completed before the difference
, in speed between the carrier 36 and the main roll 52 again
introduces tension in the label.
Turning now to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the
parts described with reference to Fig. 4 are driven from a
single input spur gear 90 (part of which is shown). The
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- gear meshes with a second gear 92 which is in turn in mesh with a further gear 94. The gear 92 is attached to the
lower end of a shaft 95 to drive the notched roll 84. Simi-
larly, the gear 94 is attached to the planetary portion of
an epicyclic gear box 96 to drive the sun gear which is
attached to the lower end of a shaft 98 associated with the
; main roll 52 (Fig. 4). (For simplicity, the planetary gears
and sun gear have been omitted from the drawing.) The
epicyclic gear box 96 includes a housing 100 which for the
moment can be considered to be stationary. As a result,
drive from the intermediate gear 92 results in rotation of
the shaft 98 which is attached to the main roll 52 (Fig. 4)
to drive the strip 22.
The epicyclic gear box 96 permits differential
movement between the shafts 95 and 98. If the housing 100
is stationary, then the shaft 98 will rotate at a speed
dictated by the relationship between the planet and sun
~ gears in the epicyclic gear box. However it is possible
; to either advance or retard the shaft 98 relative to the
shaft 95 by turning the housing 100 about the axis of shaft
98. This is necessary because of the allowance in length
of each label. If it is found that the labels are being
cut either in advance or behind the desired cutting line,
then adjustment can be made through a motor and gear box
102 which drives a pinion 104 in mesh with a ring gear 106
associated with housing 100. The motor and gear box is
reversible and is driven via a control circuit 108 which
receives a signal from a device which senses the location
of a label to determine whether or not the cutter should
be advanced or retarded in relation to the labels. The
device senses a predetermined marking on the labels and
produces a signal to move the motor and gear box in an
, appropriate direction to ensure the cutter engages the label
at the required position. The structure shown in Fig. 6
~' 35 has a particular advantage from the standpoint of ad~ustment
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and maintenance. It will be seen that the structure includes
a plate 110 resting on a part 112 of the frame of the equip-
ment. The structure is located relative to the part 112 by
a bearing housing 114 attached to the part 112 and containing
a cylindrical portion 116 of the structure. The plate 110
can slide on the part 112 and rotate about the axis of shaft
95 so that the assembly shown in Fig. 6 can be swung about
this axis and into a position for more convenient adjustment
and maintenance. This is also made possible by the fact
that such movement takes place about the axis of the shaft 95
so that the engagement of the gears 92, 94 is not affected.
The assembly shown in Fig. 6 can be locked in posi-
tion using a simple engagement fitting controlled by a handle
118 and with the structure locked in position by this handle
it assumes the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Such movement
is particularly useful for adjusting the blade 76 (Fig. 4)
of the stationary portion 72 of the cutter assembly 70. It
will be appreciated that the spur gear 90 shGwn in Fig. 6
is driven through a suitable drive chain from a bull gear
121 shown at the bottom of Fig. 7. It will become apparent
that this ensures that the label carrier 36 shown in Fig. 1
is driven synchronously with the notched roll 84. The reason
for this will become evident from subsequent description.
Returning-to Fig. 2, the label carrier 36 consists
essentially of a large wheel having a discontinuous periphery.
Four raised peripheral pads 12Q, 122, 124 and 126 are pro- `
vided spaced equally about the periphery of the wheel. As
will be described with reference to Fig. 7, these pads are
provided with openings connected to a vacuum system to hold
labels such as labels 44 and 46 on the pads.
Fig. 2 shows a label 129 which is projecting outside
the label feeder assembly 40, but has yet to be severed from
the strip 22. It will be seen that the leading edge of the
label projects beyond the leading end of the pad 126 whereas
the label 44 which has been severed from the strip sits on
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the pad and does not overhang the pad. This is because the
wheel is made to move with suffic;ent peripheral speed that
it creates slippage between the pad 126 and the label 129.
Because the vacuum system maintains the label in contact
with the pad, a tension exists in the label and this ensures
that the label is drawn into firm engagement with the pad.
When the label is severed from the strip, it will have
slipped on the wheel to a point where the leading end of
the label lies immediately adjacent the leading end of the
pad 126. As soon as the la~el is severed it will be drawn
onto the pad and take up a position such as that shown for
label 44. This process continues as the severed label pro-
gresses with the wheel past the glue applicator assembly
42. Here glue is applied in a conventional manner, the
applicator assembly being controlled to move out of engage-
ment with the wheel should there be no label on the pad.
This control will be described subsequently.
After a label such as label 46 has passed the appli-
cator assembly 42 a leading end is stripped off the wheel
by a pair of belts 128 Cone of which is seen in Fig. 2 and
both of which can be seen in Fig. 71. These belts pass
around the wheel 119 driven by a roll 130 which causes a
linear velocity in the belts greater than the peripheral
velocity of the wheel 119. Conventional bottle feeder 34
is driven also from the bull gear 121 (Fig. 7) to cause
bottles to be in position to receive labels from the wheel
119. The bottle 50 for instance has reached a reaction pad
132 supported by a wall 134 and is biased into contact with
the belt 128 so that the bottle is driven linearly along
the conveyor 30 at half the speed of the belt. The belt
guides the leading edge of the label into contact with the
outer surface of the bottle 50 which is moving faster than
the label, so that as soon as the adhesive on the label
comes into contact with the bottle, the label begins to
adhere to the bottle and is pulled off the wheel while main-
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6219
taining sliding engagement with the associated one of the
raised pads on the wheel. This tension ensures an even and
controlled application of the label as the bottle rolls in
contact with the pad 132. However, because some labels are
S particularly long, an auxiliary vacuum pad 136 is provided
to further support the label after it has slid off the pad
132 and before it is applied completely to the bottle 50.
This will be better understood with reference to Fig. 3
which shows a sectional view through the auxiliary vacuum
pad 136. Once the label has been applied the bottle is
driven along at about the speed of the conveyor by a further
single belt 138 which is also driven by the roll 130.
Returning now to the details of construction of
the label carrier 36, it is evident from Fig. 2 that the
lS wheel 119 includes two groups of vacuum pipes, an outer
group 140 and an inner group 142. It will be seen that the
outer pipes 140 serve the ends of the labels whereas the
inner pipes 142 serve the centres of the labels. With this
arrangement it is possible to release or more postively
secure the centre of the label independently of the ends and
vice versa.
Reference is next made to Fig. 7 to describe the
structure of the label carrier 36. The carrier rotates
about an axis defined by a vertical shaft 144 driven from
a main drive and gear box 146. The bull gear 121 is attached
to the shaft 144 and drives all of the other parts of the
equipment through a conventional drive chain.
The shaft 144 passes through a bearing housing 148
and is supported at ends of the housing by suitable bearings
150, 152 which include a thrust bearing. The bearing housing
148 includes a flange 154 sitting on a part 156 of the frame
of the equipment and attached by suitable bolts 158.
The bearing housing 148 also supports a vacuum
distributor 160 having a lower part 162 fixed to the bearing
housîng by a further flange 164 and an upper or movable
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portion 166 which rotates with the wheel 119 driven by a
pin 168 as will be described. The portions 162 and 166 are
machined to define smooth faces in engagement with one ~
another to facilitate the upper portion riding on the lower
portion as the upper portion rotates.
The lower portion 162 de~ines an annular recess
170 covered by a plate 172 and seal 174. These parts com-
bine to define an annular manifold served by a vacuum con-
nection 176. This manifold then serves the pipes 140, 142
by way of concentric rows of openings 178, 180 in the
fixed part 162 and corresponding openings 182, 184 associ-
ated with the pipes 14Q, 142. The openings 178, 180 extend
partially about the part 162 as illustrated in broken out-
line in Fig. 2. Consequently, as the wheel 119 rotates
the openings 182, 184 are affected by vacuum when they coin-
cide with openings 178l 180. It will be evident that the
size of openings 178, 180 can be varied to provide different
degrees of vacuum in the pipes 140, 142 as the wheel 119
rotates.
Each of the pipes 140, 142 terminates at its upper
extremity in a fitting which connects the pipe to one of
a series of upright bores 186. Each of these bores acts
as a manifold to a series of radial openings 188 for
drawing air from the front of one of the raised pads such
as pad 120. A label is shown in ghost outline fixed to
such a pad. In fact, these pads are preferably of an
elastomeric material bonded to an outer ring 190 which is
made up of two halves and attached to the main body of the
wheel.
Each of the bores 186 is associated with the pipes
140 at the leading end of a label has a vacuum sensor 192
at its lower end. This sensor normally rides on a track
194 until it passes a point at which a label should be picked
up. In the event that a label is picked up there will be a
build up of negative pressure in the bore 186 which will
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retain a loose plunger 196 against a seat 198 to thereby
seal the bore 186. The plunger 196 will then be in a raised
position and as the wheel 119 rotates the plunger will pass
above an electrical switch 200. However, in the event that
a label is not supplied to the wheel for som~e reason there
will be insufficient vacuum built up in the bore 186 to
maintain the plunger in its upper position and it will then
drop off the end of the track into the position shown in
Fig. 7. As the wheel rotates the plunger will contact the
switch 200 and this switch will be used to energize an
actuator 202 (Fig. 2~ associated with the glue applicator
assembly 42. Energizing this actuator results in moving
the applicator assembly away from the wheel to avoid applying
glue to the wheel in the absence of a label.
After the plunger 196 has met the switch 200, it
will continue in the d~opped or lower position until it
reaches an incline 204 at a leading end of the track 194
which raises the plunger back to a position in which it
engages seat 198.
The wheel 119 includes a central boss 206 which
locates on an upper extremity of the shaft 144 and is engaged
on the shaft by a key 208. An extension 209 on the upper
extremity of the shaft is threaded to receive a knob 212
which reta;ns the wheel on the shaft. It will be evident
that once the knob is removed it is possible to disconnect
the pipes 140, 142 and to lift the wheel off the equipment.
Once this is done the distributor can be removed so that
it is quite simple to service the equipment and to change
parts if this is necessary for different labels.
Returning to the operation of the equipment, in
the position shown in Fig. 2, pipe 140 adjacent label 128
is applying vacuum and has picked up the forward end of the
label. As the wheel 119 rotates this label remains in con-
tact although it will slide on the wheel until the label
is separated from the strip 22. At this point it will have
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dropped back from label 44 by the amount of the space between
pads 126 and 120 and will then effectively take up a position
similar to that shown for label 44. Because a label has
been attached to the wheel, the sensor 192 (Fig. 7) will fail
to touch the switch 200 so that glue will be applied to the
label as it continues to move into position for application
to a bottle. It should be noted that it is possible with the
arrangement of pipes 140, 142 to apply more vacuum at the
centre of the label during gluing if required and in fact
to vary the vacuum effect on the label by changing the sizes
of the holes in the parts of the distributor serving the
pipes. As mentioned earlier, the leading end of the label
is stripped from the wheel by the belts 128 and at this
point vacuum is no longer applied to the leading end of the
lS label. Also, at this point the label becomes attached to a
bottle and in order to simplify slippage of the label on the
wheel it is preferable to discontinue vacuum through the pipe
142 to the centre of the label and to rely on vacuum on the
i trailing edge of the label through one of the pipes 140.
Thus the holes 180 terminate ata position corresponding to
the circumferential position of the conduit 140 just after
the leading edge of the label is detached from the suction
pad. The initial contact between the label and the bottle
takes place just where the belt leaves the wheel and the
differential speed between the belt and the wheel ensures
tension in the label. This differential speed is achieved
using a particular arrangement of belt engagement on the
wheel 119 as will be described.
Reference is again made to Fig. 7 to describe the
parts of the wheel 119 associated with containing the belts
128. These belts sit in respective recesses 210, 212 in
radial engagement with slip rings 214, 216 made up in segments
and of a low friction plastic material such as polytetra-
fluoroethylene. In turn, these slip rings are in radial
engagement with brass wear strips 218, 220 which are also
positioned in the ring 190 at the bottom of the respective
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recesses 210, 212. As a result of this arrangement the belts
128 can be driven at a linear speed greater than the peri-
pheral speed of the wheel without interfering with the labels
before they are ready to be stripped from the wheel. However,
as soon as a label is stripped off the wheel and in engagement
with a bottle, the speed of the label becomes that of the belt
thereby ensuring tension in the label as it is stripped off
the wheel.
The belts 128 are driven continuously by roll 130
which in turn is driven from the bull gear 121 (Fig. 7)
through suitable drive members. Tension is maintained in the
belt by an idler 222 and, as mentioned earlier, the single
belt 138 is also driven by the roll 130. This belt passes
around an idler 224 and tensioning idler 226 so that the
belts 128 and 138 combine to roll the bottles along the
reaction pad 132 and subsequent pad 228 with a linear velocity
substantially equal to that of the conveyor 30. Guides 230
are shown in ghost outline to support the bottles at the neck
and to limit the possibility of the bottles being toppled by
engagement with the label etc.
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