Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2~4218
The invention relates to improvements in
apparatus for affixing sheetq to moving object~Q, and more
particularly to improvements in apparatus for applying
labels to containers. Still more particularly, the
invention relates to improvementq in apparatus for
convoluting labels around, preferably all the way around,
the external surfaces of containers which are tran3ported
along a predetermined path and simultaneously rotate about
their own axes.
Containers of the type ~uitable to be treated in
the apparatuQ of the present invention include, among
others, bottleq, cups and jars of glasQ or plaqtic
material (for example, PET bottleq) aQ well aq metallic or
plastic cans of the type often uqed for confinement of
beverageq. Labels which can be manipulated in the
apparatuq of the present invention can be made of paper or
of a plastic material, particularly a shrinkable polymer
such a~ polypropylene.
It is already known to apply labelQ to
containers, for example, to cylindrical external surfaces
of jars, bottles or cans, in an apparatus wherein the
containers are transported along a circular path and are
simultaneously caused to turn about their own axe~. The
containers can be orbited about a vertical axis by a
rotary turntable which carrieq discrete rotary holderq
serving to support discrete container_ from above or from
below and being driven to rotate each container about its
own axis. For example, a container in the form of a
bottle can be Quqpended from its holder by being engaged
at the neck, and the holder causes the su~pended bottle to
turn about a vertical axi~. To thi~ end, the neckQ of
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such bottles are or can be provided with quitable collars
to permit reliable engagement by a holder which orbits
with the turntable and ~imultaneously turns the su~pended
bottle about an axis extending in paralleliqm with the
axis of the turntable. Containers in the form of metallic
cans or the like are often supported from below while
advancing along an endle~s circular path paQt a labelling
station.
A drawback of conventional labelling apparatuq
is that they cannot be readily converted for the
application of labels to the external surfaces of
containers having different diameter~. Furthermore,
presently known labelling apparatus cannot always maintain ~ -
the labels in optimum positions for application to the
external surfaces of orbiting containers.
The invention is embodies in an apparatu~ for
convoluting labels around external surfaces (particularly
cylindrical external surfaces) of containerq. The
improved apparatus comprises means (including, e.g., a
horizontal turntable) for transporting succesqive
containers of a serieq of containers along a substantially
circular path and having means for simultaneously rotating
the containers about discrete parallel axes, and meanq for
delivering to 3uccesqive rotating containers discrete
labels along a second path which extends substantially
tangentially of a predetermined portion of the first path.
~he transporting means can include means for orbiting the
containerq about a predetermined axi~ (e.g., a vertical
axiq) which is parallel to the aforementioned discrete
axes.
As a rule, or at least in certain instances, the
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axes are qubstantially vertical or nearly vertical and the
delivering meanq can compriqe at least one label advancing
endless belt, pulleys which are rotatable about
substantially vertical axes, and mean~ for temporarily
attaching ~e.g., attracting) labels to the at least one
belt. The latter i3 trained over the pulleys.
If the at least one belt is foraminous, the
attaching means can include at least one suction chamber
which is adjacent a predetermined portion of the second
path to attract labelq to the foraminous belt. A first
side of the at least one belt confronts the first path and
serves to advance a series of labels into contact with
succeqsive containers arriving at the aforementioned
portion of the first path, and a ~econd side which faces
away from such portion of the first path. A resilient
back ~upport (e.g., a back support including an elongated
rail made of spring steel) can be installed adjacent to
and bear against the second side of the at least one belt
at the aforementioned portion of the first path to urge
labels again3t successive containers arriving at such
portion of the first path. The back support can be
perforated and can constitute a component part of the
aforementioned suction chamber which attracts labels to
the first side of the at lea~t one belt.
If the apparatus is to be used for the
application of labels to external surfaces of containers
having dif~erent diameters, the delivering means
preferably further comprises adjustable means for driving
the at least one belt at a plurality of different ~peeds,
one for each of two or more different diameter~. The
rotating meanQ of Yuch ver~atile apparatu~ can comprise
,
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2 ~ 2 1 8
meanq for rotating the containers at a fixed angular speed
irrespective of the diameters of the containers, i-e- r
irreqpective of the diameters of the external surfaces of
such container~. The just described versatile apparatuq
can further comprise meanq for shifting at least a portion
of the qecond path relative to the aforementioned portion
of the first path in dependency on the diameters of
containers which are being transported along the first
path. The shifting means can include mean~ for moving the
aforementioned portion of the second path sub~qtantially
radially of the first path.
The apparatus can further comprise means for
applying an adhesive to external surfaces of containers in
the first path, and such adhesive applying means can be
surrounded by the firqt path. The apparatus can further
compri~e means for supplying an adhesive to partly
convoluted labels on successive containers in the first
pathr and the first path can qurround quch adhesive
supplying means. The adhesive supplying means is
installed downstream of the adhesive applying means, as
~een in the direction of transport of containers along the
firqt path.
The novel features which are concidered as
characteriqtic of the invention are qet forth in
particular in the appended claimq. The improved apparatus
itselfr however, both as to its construction and it~ mode
of operation, together with additional features and
advantage~ thereof, will be best understood upon perusal
of the following detailed description of certain presently
preferred specific embodiments with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
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FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an apparatus
which embodie~ one form of the invention and is de3igned
to convolute labels all the way around cylindrical
external surfaces of container~ in the ~orm of cans;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a detail in the
apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view as qeen in the
direction of arrow III in FIG. 2, with certain parts shown
in a vertical sectional view;
FIG. 4 is a developed view of a re~ilient back
support for use in the label delivering means o~ the
improved apparatus; and
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view
substantially as seen in the direction of arrows from the
line V-V in FIG. 4.
The label applying apparatu~ which is shown in
FIGS. 1 to 5 comprise~ means for transporting a series of
successive equidistant containers 6 along a circular first
path in the direction of arrow 3, and means 1 for
delivering a succession of discrete labels 14 along a
second path extending substantially tangentially of a
portion (at 19) of the circular first path. The
transporting means comprises a horizontal turntable 2
which is driven by a shaft 2a to rotate about a vertical
axis X, and the transporting means further comprises means
for rotating (arrow 7) discrete containers 6 about their
own vertical axes Y. ~ach rotating mean~ comprises a :
rotary carrier or support 4 which shares the movements of
the turntable 2 and rotates a container 6 about the
respective axis Y the direction of arrow 7, at leaqt while
the container is advanced (by the turntable 2) along the
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2~9~2~8
portion 19 of the first path. Each container 6 can
constitute an upright bottle made of glass or plastic
material and having a cylindrical portion with an external
surface 6e having its center on the respective axis Y.
The speed of orbital movement of carriers 4 about the axis
X is related to the speed of rotational movement about the
respective axes Y so that the external surface~ 6e are
moved at a predetermined peripheral speed while orbiting
at a predetermined speed along the circular first path
which iR defined by the turntable 2. Means for rotating a
turntable about its own axis while simultaneouRly rotating
the carriers 4 about their respective axes are well known
in the art of filling and otherwise manipulati~g bottles,
cans, jars or like containerq and, therefore, all details
of the transporting means including the turntable 2, the
shaft 2a and the carriers 4 are not shown in the drawing.
If the containers 6 are bottles, they can be rotated by
carriers 4 which define platforms for the bottom portions
of the respective bottles and/or by carriers which
maintain the respective bottles in suqpended position.
Successive carriers 4 on the turntable 2 receive
unlabelled containers 6 from a feeding conveyor 8 which
aan constitute or include a conventional turnstile and
receive~ container~ from a preceding station, e.g., a
bottle filing station (not shown). The carrier~ 4 deliver
properly labelled containers 6 to a removing conveyor 9
which can also constitute or include a turnstile and
cooperates with one or more additional conveyors ~or the
transport of labelled containers to storage, to a crating
~tation or to another destination.
The circular path for the carriers 4 and for the
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containers 6 thereon or therein ~urrounds an adhesive
dispensing unit 11 which includes two pasters 12 and 13.
The paster 12 iserve~ as a means for applying a ~uitable
adhesive to the external surfaces 6e of succesqive
container~ 6 upi~tream o~ the portion 19 (hereinafter
called labelling station) of the circular fir3t path (for
the containers 6 and their carriers 4), and the paster 13
erves ais a means for supplying a quitable adhesive to
selected portions of labels 14 which are partially
convoluted around the external qurfaces 6e of the
respective containers 6. The paQter 13 iq located
downstream of the paster 12 (as seen in the direction of
arrow 3, i.e., in the direction of orbital movement of the
carrieriQ 4 and of the containeri~q 6 which are being rotated
by the respective carriers). The paiQter 12 can include
one or more nozzles which discharge sprays of liquid or
liquefied adhesive against the external surfaces 6e of the
adjacent containers 6, and the paster 13 can include a
wheel 15 with raiised radially outwardly extending portions
16 which are dimensioned to deliver strips or films of
adheqive to iselected portions of external surfaces of
partly applied (partly convoluted) labels 14. Each label
14 is dimensioned in iquch a way that it can be completely
convoluted around the respective external Qurface 6e in
such a way that the internal surface of itQ trailing end
overlies the external Qurface of itiQ leader. The raisefl
portions 16 on the wheel 15 of the paster 13 apply
adhesive to the external surfaces of the leaderq of
iQuccesisive labels 14 so that the thu~ applied a&esive
attracts the internal surfaces of the trailing ends of the
respective labels 14 during the last stage of each
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~ 2~9~218
convoluting operation. The paster 13 further comprises a
source 17 of adheqive pa te and an applicator or transfer
element which dips into the source 17 and delivers films
of adhesive to successive raised portions 16 on the
intermittently or continuously rotated wheel 15 of the
paster 13.
An adjuQting device 18 i~ provided to change the
positions of the pasters 12 and 13 of the adhesive
dispensing unit 11 relative to the containers 6 at the
station l9. Such adjustment is necessary to ensure the
application of adhesive to predetermined portions of
external surfaces of the leaders of succe3sive labels 14.
The detail~ of a presently preferred embodiment
of the label delivering means 1 are illustrated in FIGS. 2
to 5. The positions of various parts of the delivering
means l qhown in FIG. 2 are selected with a view to ensure
proper application of labels 14 to the external surfaces
6e of successive containers 6A having an average or medium
diameter. The delivering means 1 is adjusted (in a manner
to be described hereinafter) if a row or serieq of
containers 6A is followed by a row or serieq of containers
6B having a diameter smaller than that of a container 6A
or by a series or row of containers 6C having a diameter
greater than that of a container 6A. That portion of the
~econd path (defined by the delivering means 1 for the
labels 14) which is adjacent the ~tation 19 i9 tangential
or nearly tangential to the respective portion of the
circular path for the containers 6.
A comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3 will show that
certain parts in the right-hand portion of FIG. 3 are
moved from their respective planes into the planes of
. .
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2~9~2~
parts shown in the left-hand portion of FIG. 3. This has
been done for the sake of clarity and for convenience of
illustration.
The delivering means 1 compriQes a set of
endless foraminous (e.g., perforated) belts Z1 which are
disposed in parallel hori~ontal planes. The combined
width of the beltq 21 can exceed the axial length of the
external surface 6e of a container 6, i.e., certain belts
21 will be put to use (they will actually contact a label
14 during application to an ex-ternal surface 6e) only if
the apparatus i~ in the process of applying labels to
(i.e., of convoluting labels around) cylindrical external
~urface~ 6e of tallest or very tall container~ 6.
Moreover, one or more belts 21 will be out of use if the
delivering means 1 is in the process of supplying
relatively small labels 14 to much larger external
surfaces 6e, i.e., labels which are dimensioned to overlie
only certain portions of the external surfaces 6e of the
respective containers 6. The belts 21 are inqtalled
between a top wall 22 and a bottom wall 23 of the
delivering means 1. The top wall 22 has been omitted in
FIG. 2 for the qake of clarity.
The belts 21 are trained over two sets 24, 26 of
pulleys and over at least one additional pulley 27. The
pulleys 32 of the set 24 are driven, and the pulleys 36 of
the set 26 are idler pulleys, the same as the pulley or
pulleys 27. The axes of the pulleys 32, 36 and 27 are
vertical, i.e., parallel to the axes Y of the containers
60 The meanC for driving the pulleys 32 at a plurality of
different speeds (at least one for each series of
containers 6 of different diameters to be labelled in the
. .
-- 10 --
209~2~8
apparatus of the present invention) includes a variable-
speed electric motor 28 which i~ adjustable at 59. The
output element of the motor 28 drives a belt or band 29
which iq trained over a pulley 31 on the common ~haft 34
of the driven pulleys 32 for the belts 21. The belts 21
are driven in ~uch a way that their inner reaches
(adjacent the circular path for the containers 6) advance
in the direction of arrow 30. Each belt 21 is provided
with internal teeth 33 mating with external teeth of the
respective driven pulley 32. The pulleys 32 are keyed to
the shaft 34 which i9 driven by the motor 28 through the
band 29.
The idler pulleyq 36 for the belts 21 are keyed
to a common shaft 37 which i8 journalled in two spaced-
apart levers or links 64, and these leverq are pivotably
mounted on the adjacent walls 22 and 23. The shaft 34 is
journalled in levers or linkQ 61 which are pivotable
relative to the walls 22 and 23. A discrete idler pulley
36 iQ provided for each driven pulley 32.
As already mentioned above, the belts 21 are
foraminous. For example, each belt 21 can be provided
with suitably distributed perforationQ 38 (qee FIG. 5)
which enable a suction chamber 39 to temporarily attract
successive labels 14 to the outer side~ of the belts 21 so
that the belts can advance the labels in the direction of
arrow 30 for application to the external surfaces 6e of
successive containers 6 arriving at the station 19.
The character 41 denotes in FIG. 2 a portion of
a hose which serves to connect the suction chamber 39 to
the suction intake of a fan or another suitable suction
generating device, not shown. A second suction chamber 53
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1.", ~ ,,;,,, " ~ ", " ", ,", ~ ,"~ " " ~, "~"~ ~, ; "~, " ~ " ~ " ~ ~ " " ~
- ... . ~. i , , . .. , .. , ., , , . . . , , . , . . ~ .. . .. .
2~218
is provided adjacent the path of the labels 14 at the
station 19. This second suction chamber 53 is defined in
part by the belts 21 and in part by a perforated resilient
back support 42 includin~ a rail 43 of ~pring steel or a
like material and located at the station 19 behind those
sides of the belts 21 which face away from the turntable
2. The rail 43 i5 of one piece with or iQ connected to a
nipple 57 which evacuates air from the suction chamber 53
when the apparatus is in actual use. The back ~upport 42
serves to define a portion of the ~uction chamber 53 as
well as to cause the belts 21 to yieldably urge the labels
14 against the adjacent oncoming containers 6 so that the
labels are convoluted around the respective external
surfaceQ 6e due to orbiting of the carriers 4 about the
axiq X, due to rotation of carriers 4 about the axes Y of
the containers 6 which are rotated thereby, and due to
movement of the labels 14 in the direction of arrow 30.
The rail 43 of the back support 42 has two end
portion~q one of which is affixed to the respective end of
a coil spring 52 which stores energy and maintains the
rail 43 under tension in the region behind the station 19.
The other end portion of the rail 43 i~ secured to a
cylindrical or diqc-3haped holder 47 which i3 keyed to the
shaft 37 for the idler pulleys 36. The other end portion
of the rail 43 includes two parallel stripq 46 (see FIG.
4) which define a slot 44 for one of the idler pulleys 36
and have free ends riveted or otherwise affixed to the
disc-shaped member 47. The one end portion of the rail 43
also includes two parallel strips 49 which flank a window
48 for one of the driven pulleys 32 and are affixed to two
discs 51; these di~cs are free to rotate on the shaft 34
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2~9~218
for the driven pulleys 32. One end convolution of the
spring 52 is connected to a tip 50 of the one end portion
of the rail 43 and its other end convolution is affixed to
a shaft 65 extending between the wallA 22 and 23 and
journalled in the levers 64.
The front side of the rail 43 abutq and is in
sealing engagement with a sealing element 54 which engages
the rear qide of at least one belt 21 and is affixed to
the rail 43 by rivets 56 or other suitable fasteners. The
sealing element 54 iq formed with a rece~s or depreqsion
which i~ actually the ~uction chamber 53. As mentioned
above, a nipple 57 is provided on or is integral with the
rail 43 to evacuate air from the suction chamber 53 and to
thus ensures that a label 14 is attracted to the adjacent
sides of the belts 21 during advancement at the station
19. The outer side of the rail 43 iq reinforced by
stiffening ribs 58 or in any other suitable way.
The label delivering means 1 can be converted
for the application of labels 14 to the external surfaces
6e of containers (6C, 6A, 6B) having larger, medium-sized
or smaller diameters in the following way: The converqion
involves an adjustment of the speed of the belts 21 (i.e.,
an adjustment of the variable-speed motor 28) as well as
an adjustment of the label-carrying stretcheq of the belts
21 in directions toward or away from the axis X of the
turntable 2. The carriers 4 rotate the containers 6A, 6B
or 6C in accordance with a preqelected program which
determines the peripheral speed of the momentarily treated
containers. The adjusting means 59 regulates the speed of
the motor 28 in order to conform the speed of the belts 21
to the peripheral speed of the containers 6A, 6B or 6C.
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If the RPM of each carrier 4 about the corresponding axis
Y is constant, the peripheral speed of the external
surfaces 6e varies if the containers 6A are replaced with
containers 6B or 6C, and this necessitates an appropriate
adjustment of the speed of the belts ~1 in response to
adjustment of the motor 28.
The meanq for shifting ~he belts 21 toward or
away from the axiq X of the turntable 2 comprises a
parallel motion which is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and
whose function is to move the shafts 34 and 37 relative to
the axis X. The parallel motion includes the
aforementioned levers or links 61 which carry the end
portions of the shaft 34 for the driven pulleyi~ 32 and are
pivotable about the axis of a shaft 62 which is mounted in
the walls 22 and 23 and can be non-rotatably but
releasably ~ecured to such walls by nut~ 63 or in any
other suitable way. The parallel motion mechanism further
comprises the levers or links 64 which are mounted on a
shaft 69; the latter is mounted in the walls 22, 23 and
can be non-rotatably a~fixed to such walls by nuts 68 or
in any other suitable way. The shafts 62 and 69 can be
released to change their angular po itions relative to the
walls 22 and 23; all that i~q necessary is to loosen the
nuts 63 and/or 68. The levers or links 64 are connected
to each other by the shaft 65 which is parallel to the
shaft 69 and i9 connected to the disc-shaped holder 47
(i.e., to the holder for the end portion (strips 46) of
the rail 43 by a radially extending screw 66.
The shaft 37 is journalled in at least one fork
67 which i9 secured to the suction chamber 39. The shaft
69 further carries tensioning levers 71 (one shown), one
:
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~. 2~9g218
for each belt 21 and each carrying a tensioning roller 72
in engagement with the inner side of the respective belt
21. The levers 71 are biased by a coil ~pring 73 which
react~ again~t the suction chamber 39. The shaft 65 haq
an end portion 74 which extends through the adjacent lever
64 and with clearance through an opening 76 of the fixed
wall 22. The opening 76 can constitute an elongated ~lot
(see FIG. 2).
The levers or links 61, 64 are connected to each
other by at leaqt one link 79 one end of which is
rotatably mounted on a lever 61 by a pivok member 78 and
the other end of which i~ articulately connected to a
lever 64 by a pivot member 77. The lower portion of one
of the levers or links 61 carrie~ a scale 81 having
graduation~ 83 and being turnable at 62 relative to a
fixed index or pointer 82. The scale 81 is calibrated to
indicate different position of the delivering means 1 -
relative to the turntable 2 and its carriers 4. The
graduationq 83 of the scale 81 are distributed in
dependency on the diameters of external surfaces 6e of
containers having smaller (6B), medium large (6A) or large
~6C) diameters. It is clear that the apparatus of the
pre~ent invention can apply labelq to more than three
series of containers or that it can be simplified so as to . .
apply labels to containers having.a single diameter (such
as 6A) or to containers of two sets (such as 6A, 6B or 6A,
6C or 6B, 6C).
In order to carry out a necessary adjustment, ~ .
the nuts 63 and 68 are loosened together with a nut 75 on
the end portion 74 of the ~haft 65. This renders it
po~sible to move the ~et 26 of idler pulleys 36 relative
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2~42~8
to the station 19 while the link 79 adjusts the position
of the scale 81 and its graduations 83 relative to the
fixed index 82. Actuation of the parallel motion
including the levers or links 61, 64 and the link 79
involves a pivoting of the delivering means 1 about the
axis of the idler pulley or pulleys 27 until the outer
sides of the belts 21 at the station 19 contact the
external surfaces 6e of containers 6 which are being
supplied by the turnstile 8 for labelling at the station
19. The next ~tep involves renewed tightening of the nuts
63, 68 and 75 so aq to fix the delivering means 1 in a
newly selected po~ition relative to the turntable 2 and
itq carriers 4. Fuxthermore, the adjusting means 59 is
manipulated to select the speed of the variable-speed
motor 29 (i.e., the speed of the belts 21) in dependency
on the diameters of containers 6 which are about to be
provided with labels 14.
The mode of operation of the improved apparatu~
i~ as followq:
The turnstile 8 delivers unlabelled containers 6 .:
at a spacing matching that of the carriers 4 on the :
turntable 2 so that each carrier 4 which arrives at the
transfer station between the turnstile 8 and the turntable
2 receives an upright container 6 which thereupon proceeds
to turn (arrow 7) about its own axis Y at a predetermined
speed while simultaneously orbiting (arrow 3) about the
axis X at a preselected speed. This ensures that a
predetermined portion of the external surface 6e of each
of a longer or shorter serie3 of identical containers 6 . ..
assumes a predetermined position in front of the nozzle or
nozzles of the paster 12 which applies a coat of adhesive ~ :
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20~2~
to en~ure that the leader of the oncoming label 14 will
a &ere to such selected portion of the external surface
6e. The labels 14 are delivered by the belts 21 which
advance in the direction of arrow 30, and the labels are
attracted by the suction chambers 39, 53 so ais to ensure
that the leader of each of a shorter or longer series of
successively delivered labels 14 comes into contact with
the adhesive-coated portion of the external 3urface 6e on
an oncoming container 6.
The attachment of the leader of a label 1~ to
the a~hesive-coated portion of the external surface 6e of
a container 6 takes place in the portion U1 ~FIG. 2) of
the circular first path. The external surface of the
partially convoluted label 14 i9 thereupon coated with a
film of adhe~ive by the nearest raised portion 16 of the
rotor 15 of the paster 13 o that the inner side of the
trailing end of the same label 14 is bonded to the
external surface of the leader when the respective
container 6 reaches the portion U2 (FIG. 2~ of the
circular first path, i.e., when the conversion of an
initially flat label 14 into a cylindrical collar
completely surrounding the external surface 6e of the
re~pective container 6 i~ completed. The path portion -
where the outer sides of the leaders of successive labels
1~ are provided with a &esive which is supplied by
successive raised portions 16 of the rotor 15 is denoted
by the character U3 (see FIG. 1).
Successive labels 14 are biased against the
external surfaces 6e of the adjacent containers 6 during
advancement from the portion U1 to the portion U2 of their
circular path. This is ensured by the resilient rail 43.
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2~94218
In addition, the belts 21 can be trained over the
respective pulleys 32, 36, 27 in stressed condition to
even further enhance the making of truly cylindrical
sleeves (converted labels 14) during advancement of
containers 6 from the portion U1 to the portion U2 of
their circular path.
Containers 6 which are provided with properly
applied labels 14 leave the respective carriers 4 at the
tran~fer station between the turntable 2 and the turnstile
9 to be conveyed to storage, to a crating station or to
another de-~tination.
An important advantage of the improved apparatus . .
is that it can apply labels to containers 6 having small,
medium large or large diameters, and that the diameters of
the containers do not influence the quality of the
labelling action. Moreover, the adjustability of
delivering means 1 relative to the turntable 2 renders it
possible to leave the speed of the turntable (about the
axis X) and the speed of the carriers 4 (about the
respective axes Y) unchanged, irreqpective of the
diameters of containers which are being supplied by the
turnstile 8. :
Another important advantage of the improved
apparatus is its compactness. Such compactneqs i9
achieved, in part, due to the proviqion of the resilient
rail 43, which simultaneously forms part of the suction
chamber 53, and by such positioning of the delivering
means 1 that the label-bearing reaches of the belts 21 are
at lea~t substantially tangential to the circular path of
orbital movement of containers 6 about the axis X of the :
turntable 2. . .
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"` 20~218
A further advantage of the improved apparatus is
that the position of the delivering means 1 relative to
the circular path for the containers 6 can be adjusted in
a simple and time-saving manner. In fact, it is equally
within the purview of the invention to monitor the
diameters of containers 6 in the turn~tile 8 and/or on the
carriers 4 upstream of the paster 12 and to automatically
adjust the speed of the belt 21 and the position of the
delivering means 1 relative to the turntable 2 when the
conveyor 8 begins to supply larger-diameter containers
following the delivery of smaller-diameter containers or . .
vice versa. It i3 even possible to deliver to the
carriers 4 a series of containers including randomly
distributed larger-diameter containers and Qmaller-
diameter containers; the monitoring means then adjusts the
speed of the belts 21 and the position of the delivering
means 1 in dependency on the diameters of oncoming
containers. :
The adhesive dispensing unit 11 could be
installed outside of the path of orbital movement of
containers 6 about the axis X of the turntable 2. :-
Moreover, the adhesive dispensing unit could be designed
to apply adhesive only to the labels 14, i.e., to position
the paster 12 in such a way that it applies sprays or ::~
films of adhesive to the leaders o successive labels 14 : -
on the belts 21 rather than to selected portions of (or to ~ -
entire) external surfaces 6e of successive containers 6.
The illustrated mode of installing the adhesive applying
unit 11 is preferred at this time because this contributes
to compactness of the apparatu~ and ensures the
application of adhesive (by the pa~ter 12) to accurately
.
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-` 20~218
selected portions of external surfaceR 6e on successive
containers 6 which reach the portion U1 of their circular
path about the axi~ X.
It iq further posqible to modify the improved
apparatu~ for the application of labelq which need not
completely surround the external surface3 of the
respective containers. The application of labelq all the
way around the external surfaceQ of containers is
preferred in many instances. Furthermore, it i~ posQible
to omit the pa~ter 12 and to use only the paqter 13 to
thu~ ensure that the trailing ends of succe~sive labels
will be properly bonded to the respective leaders. This
ensure~ that the label~ are not bonded to the containers
and Qimplifies the task of removing the label~ from
emptied container~, e.g., to Qati fy the rule~ and
regulations of authoritie~ in charge of controlling
ecologically acceptable disposal of empty bottleQ, jarQ,
cans or like containers.
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