Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2029S~l -
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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 the container along a fixed surface.
In order to improve the efficiency of such
machines, it has been proposed to derive the rolling motion
of the container 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. While this
arrangement simplifies the machine, it has been found
unsatisfactory in the handling of large labels.
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.
While 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 necessari~y
complicates the machine and increases its cost. Further, it
does not overcome the problems of applying large labels to
containers.
,., ~ .. . . ... , . . . .. . , , .. . . ~ . . . ~.
202g~41
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In European Patent 18,457, there is provided 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
direct containers to a position adjacent the predetermined
path, and a drive system including 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.
The machine in this patent operates by inducing
rotation of the container at a speed greater than the
peripheral speed of the drum so that the label is drawn off
the drum under tension. This prevents bucking of the label
and enables large labels to be applied to containers.
Rotation of the container is induced by means of a belt
20 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
versatility 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.
~,
However, the use of roll fed machines has been
limited to applications in which the label is applied to the
2029541 -
maximum diameter of the container. In many containers,
however, it is desirable to apply labels to an area of
reduced diameter such as a neck of a bottle. The diameter
of the neck relative to the body of the container is such
that movement of the container under the influence of the
drive means is too slow to maintain the label under tension.
Moreover, the problem is compounded using lands at opposite
ends of the label support pad which effectively increase the
speed of movement of the terminal portions of label. This
causes the tail of the label to advance toward the leading
edge and buckle the label.
According to the invention there is provided a
labelling machine including a label carrier having a
plurality of support portions each operable to receive and
retain a label and move said label along a predetermined
path at a predetermined speed, a container feeder operable
to direct containers to a position adjacent said
predetérmined path, and a drive system including transfer
means to bring a portion of said label into contact with
said container and drive means to rotate said container at a
peripheral speed greater than said predetermined speed
whereby upon contact of said label with said container, said
label i8 drawn under tension from said support portion and
onto said container.
Preferably the label carrier is a wheel having a
stepped peripheral surface with first and second
circumferential bands of differing radii. The support
portions are located on the radially outer band. Preferably
also the drive means is a belt entrained about the wheel and
located in a recess on the radially inner band. The belt
moves at a speed greater than the peripheral speed of the
radially inner band.
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Preferably also an air jet is directed toward the
second portion as the label is applied thereto to force the
label on to the second portion.
An embodiment of the invention will now be
described by way of example only with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred
embodiment of labelling equipment looking generally from an
end of the equipment from which bottles are fed to receive
labels;
Figure 2 is a plan view having portions sectioned
to show details of the labelling equipment;
Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure
2 showing a portion of the equipment, the upward direction
in Figure 2 being the rightward direction in Figure 3;
Figure 4 is a further plan view showing a part of
a label feeder assembly to a larger scale than that used in
Figure,2:
t,~ Figure 5 is a view on line 5-5 of Figure 4 to
illustrate the operation of cutting blades used to sever
individual labels from a strip of labels;
Figure 6 is a side view of the label feeder
assembly showing some parts in section, being a view from
25 the left of Figure 4, on a smaller scale; and -
Fi~ure 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. The equipment is
. - .
,
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particularly suited to apply labels to a portion of the
container of reduced diameter such as the neck of the
bottle.
Reference is now made to Figure 1 which
illustrates a preferred embodiment of labelling equipment 20
for use in applying wrap-around labels to a neck portion of
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 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 Figure
2 (the positions reached by bottles in Figure 2 being
slightly different from the positions shown in Figure 1).
In this view a label 129 at 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 influence 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
Figure 2 will be described more fully in combination with
,
202gS41
-- 6 --
subsequent 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 transfers 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 to which the label is applied 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.
.
The labelling equipment 20 is particularly suited
to apply labels to bottles having a body 26a and a portion
of reduced cross-section, e.g. a neck indicated at 26b.
For the sake of convenience the label feeder
assembly 40 will be described in detail before then
describing 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
syste~.
Reference is next made to Figures 2, 4 and 6 with
particular reference initially to Figure 4 to describe the
main components of the label feeder assembly 40. The strip
22 of labels i8 drawn into the label feeder as~embly 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
30 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.
Consequently upon energizing the actuator 56 the pinch roll
54 is biased into engagement with the main roll 52 resulting
'" ' ! ,~ . ' . . ' ,; ~ , i . . ~ ' .
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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 ensure 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 peripherv 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 carrier so that it is under
tension. As seen in Figure 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 86a.
The arrangement of the blades 76 and 82 iB such
that the strip i8 cut progressively across the width of the
strip as indicated in Figure 5. Here it will be seen that
the blade 76 is inclined to a vertical axis (i.e. an axis
from bottom to top of Figure 5) 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
top to the bottom of the strip 22.
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.
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The inclination of the blade 76 to the vertical
axis ensures 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
downstream 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. That is to say, the
peripheral surface 87 and the blade 82 are located
substantially equidistant from the axis of the roll 84. As
may best be seen in Figure 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 periphery of the carrier 36.
As the notched roll 84 continues to rotate, as
indicated in chain dot linesi in Figure 4, the cam lobe 85
moves out of the path of the strip 22 80 that there is a
temporary slack in the strip 22. The cam lobe 85 i8
positioned so as to disengage the strip 22 as the blades 76,
82 complete the cut. Since the tension is momentarily
released from the strip, the tendency to tear the label from
the strip 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 permit 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.
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g
Turning now to Figure 6, it will be seen that the
parts described with reference to Figure 4 are driven from a
single input spur gear 90 (part of which is shown). The
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.
Similarly, the gear 94 is attached to the planetary portion
of an epicyclic gear box 96 to drive a sun gear therein
which is attached to the lower end of a shaft 98 associated
with the main roll 52 (Figure 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 i8 attached to the main roll
52 (Figure 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 o~8 will rotate at a speed
dictated by the relationship between the planet and sun
gears in the epicyclic gear box. However, it i8 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
ad~ustment 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
202g5~1
-- 10 --
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 Figure 6 has a
particular advantage from the standpoint of adjustment and
maintenance. It will be seen that the structure includes a
plate 110 resting on a part 112 of the frame of the
equipment. 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 Figure 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 Figure 6 can be locked in
position 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 Figures 1 and 2.
Such movement is particularly useful for ad~usting the blade
76 (Figure 4) of the stationary portion 72 of the cutter
assembly @0. It will be appreciated that the spur gear 90
shown in Figure 6 is driven through a suitable drive chain
from a bull gear 121 shown at the bottom of Figure 7. It
will become apparent that this ensures that the label
carrier 36 shown in Figure 1 is driven synchronously with
the notched roll 84. The reason for this will become
evident from subsequent description.
Returning to Figure 2, the label carrier 36
consists essentially of a large wheel 119 having a
discontinuous periphery. As can be seen in Figure 7, the
circumferential surface of the wheel 119 is stepped to
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-- 11 --
provide first and second bands 250,252 of differing radius.
Four raised peripheral pads 120, 122,124 and 126 are
provided spaced equally about the periphery of the wheel on
the radially outer band 250. As will be described with
reference to Figure 7, these pads are provided with openings
connected to a vacuum system to hold labels such as labels
44 and 46 on the pads.
Figure 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 the pad and does not overhang the pad. This
is because the wheel is made to move with sufficient
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 ad~acent the
leading end of the pad 126. As soon as the label is severed
it wil} be drawn onto the pad and take up a position such as
that shown on label 44. This process continues as the
severed label progresses with the wheel past the glue
applicator assembly 42. Here glue i8 applied in a
conventional manner, the applicator assembly being
controlled to move out of engagement with the wheel should
there be no label on the pad. This control will be
described subsequently.
As can be seen in Figure 2, the terminal portion
of each of the pads 120,122,124,126 is raised slightly to
provide lands 254,256 that support the terminal portions of
':
~ ,.
:: 2029S41
- 12 -
the label. This ensures that glue is only applied to the
ends of the label as the body of the label is held in the
recess between the pad by the vacuum.
After a label such as label 46 has pacsed the
applicator assembly 42, a leadinq end is engaged by the neck
26b of the bottle. Conventional bottle feeder 34 is driven -
also from the bull gear 121 (Figure 7) to cause bottles to
be in position to receive labels from the wheel 119. As the
label 46 engages the neck 26b, the bottle 26 has reached a
reaction pad 132 supported by a wall 134 and is biased by
the pad 132 into contact with the label support pad
120,122,124,126 so that the bottle is rotated and driven
linearly along the conveyor 30 to roll the label 46 onto the
neck 26b. However, due to the slightly reduced diameter of
the pads between lands 254,256, the tail of the label is
moving faster than the neck 26b and tends to buckle the
label 46. This is avoided by utilizing a belt 128 entrained
about the radially inner band 252. Belt 128 is driven by a
roll 130 at a linear velocity greater than the velocity of
the terminal portion 256 of the pad. Belt 128 i8 located to
engage body 26b of the bottle just after the leading edge of
the label 46 is applied so that as soon as the adhesive on
the label comes into contact with the neck 26b of the
bottle, the label is pulled faster than the wheel 119 while
maintaining 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 the neck
labels are inherently short, an air jet 136 is provided to
maintain the label after it has slid off the raised pad on
the wheel 119, and before it is applied completely to the
bottle 26. This will be better understood with reference to
Figure 3 which shows a sectional view through the jet 136
with the air being directed toward the neck 26b and along
.,
2029541
- 13 -
the label 46 to control the movement of the label 46 as it
is applied to the neck 26b. Once the label has been
applied, the bottle is driven along at about the speed of
the conveyor 30 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 Figure 2 that the
wheel 119 includes two qroups of vacuum pipes, an outer
group 140 and an inner group 142. It will be seen that the
outer pipes 140 serve the leading ends of the labels and the
inner group serve the trailing end of the labels. With this
arrangement it is possible to release or more positively
secure the centre of the label independently of the ends and
vice versa.
Reference is next made to Figure 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
housing by a further flange 164 and an upper or movable
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
2029S41
- 14 -
another to facilitate the upper portion riding on the lower
portion as the upper portion rotates. The lower portion 162
defines an annular recess 170 covered by a plate 172 and
seal 174. These parts combine to define an annular manifold
served by a vacuum connection 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 associated with the pipes 140,142. The
openings 178,180 extend partially about the part 162 as
illustrated in broken outline in Figure 2. Consequently, as
the wheel 119 rotates, the openings 182,184 are affected by
vacuum when they coincide with openings 178,180. 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 (Figure 7). 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 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
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
202g~41
- 15 -
above an electrical switch 200. However, in the event that
a label is not supplied to the wheel for some 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
Figure 7. As the wheel rotates, the plunger will contact
the switch 200, and this switch will be used to energize an
actuator 202 (Figure 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 dropped 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 retains the wheel on the shaft. It will be
evident that once the knob is removed it i8 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 Figure 2, pipe 140 adjacent label 129
is applying vacuum and has picked up the forward end of the
label. As the wheel 119 rotates, this label remains in
contact although it will slide on the wheel until the label
is separated from the strip 22. At this point it will have
;:~.: .. , . . .. , .. . ,;,., . , , ... .: .... , .;, .. : , ,;, . . . .. . . .
202g54~
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- 16 -
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 (Figure
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
engagement with neck 26b and at this point vacuum is no
longer applied to the leading end of the 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 trailing
edge of the label through one of the pipes 140. Thus the
holes 180 terminate at a position corresponding to the
circumferential position of the conduit 140 ~ust after the
leading edge of the label is detached from the suction pad.
The initial contact between the label and the bottle takes
place ~ust prior to position at which the belt leaves the
wheel and the differential speed between the belt and the
wheel ensures tension in the label. This differential speed
i6 achieved using a particular arrangement of belt
engagement on the wheel 119 as will be described.
Reference is again made to Figure 7 to describe
the parts of the wheel 119 associated with containing the
belts 128. These belts sit in respective recesses 210,212
in the radially inner band 252 and in radial engagement with
slip rings 214,216. Rings 214,216 are made up in segments
2029~41
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- 17 -
and of a low friction plastic material such as
polytetrafluoroethylene. 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 recesses 210,212. As a result of this
arrangement the belts 128 can be driven at a linear speed
greater than the peripheral 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
belt 128 engages the body 26a which drives the bottle along
the reaction pad 132 at one half the speed of the belt.
This engagement of the bottle by belt 128 causes an
acceleration in the linear speed of the neck portion 26b
which "snaps" the label and maintains it under tension until
the trailing edge leaves the pad 120,122,124,126. The belt
i8 moved at sufficient speed that the neck 26b is moved
faster than the linear velocity of the land 256 to avoid the
buckling of the label.
The belts 128 are driven continuously by roll 130
(Figure 2) which in turn is driven from the bull gear 121
(Figure 7) through suitable drive members. Tension is
maintained in the belts 128 by an idler 222 and, as
mentioned earlier, the single belt 138 is also driven by the
roll 180. This belt 138 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 a
subsefquent pad 228 with a linear velocity subfstantially
efqual to that of the conveyor 30. Guides 230 are shown in
ghost outline to support the bottleff~ at the neck and to
limit the possibility of the bottles being toppled by
engagement with the labelling efquipment.
20295~1 :
- 18 -
It is necessary to allow the neck 26b to engage
the label prior to the belt engaging the body 26a to avoid a
speed differential between the label and the neck 26b. Such
a differential would tend to tilt the bottle as the label is
engaged and cause the label to be rolled on a skew.
