Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Tnvention
The present invention relates to a method and a container
to for a Label magazine device for supplying 7:abels to a labeling
machine. More particularly, the invention relates to a method
and label magazine device for supplying labels to a feeding
device of a labeling machine.
Description of the Background Art
Labeling machines, having various stations for applying
labels of different sizes to a container, are known in the art.
These machines generally have a station for applying glue or'
other adhesive to the label and a magazine from which the labels
2o are removed and transferred to the container. The machine also
have a member for brushing over the container to press the label
onto the container. Thecontainers are carried to a rotarx
table, which moves them through a circular path. Each container
goes onto a rotary plate that is driven to rotate the container
about the vertical axis at appropriate times as it proceeds in a
circular path. A grippes element grips a label from the magazine
and applies the label to the container as the container is
rotated past the labeling station. This type of device is
suitable for applying labels of ,a normal size to containerssuch
3o as beverage bottles.
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Labeling machines genera3ly have a magazine or other holder
of labels, which can supply the labels one at time to the labei-
applying device. One example of a magazine for a labeling device
includes a tray that can continuously feed the labels to the
s labeling machine. These label trays can hold large numbers of
the labels in a stack and continuously supply the labels to the
labeling device. When the supply of labels in the tray is
depleted, the tray is ejected and a full tray of labels is fed to
the machine to provide a continuous supply of labels. However, a
io disadvantage of this type of device is that the trays must be
filled manually, thereby increasing the labor involved in
operating the labeling machine:
Typically, labels are printed and cut by a label
manufacturer and the shipped to an end user's packaging plant
15 where the labels are applied to the end user's articles or
containers. The preprinted labels are generally stacked and
bundled together with tape or bands: The bands must be cut and
removed from the stacks of labels before the labels can be placed
into labels feeding device.
20 Examples of labeling machines with label magazinesand/or
trays are disclosed in the following patents. Numerous other
examples of this art exists.
U.S. Patent No. 4,445,951 to Kronseder et al. discloses a
labeling apparatus for bottles or the like. The device of this
2s patent has a turret rotating on a fixed axle. The turret has
circumferentially spaced apart cursed glue pallets, which pick up
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glue from a roller and then pick up a label. The label is
deposited on a cylinder such as a beverage bottle. The labels
are held as a "label stack' in a container.
U.S. Patent No. 4,478,668 to Gau discloses a labeling
s machine. The device of this patent has a rotor on which several
oscillatingly driven pallet shafts are supported. Glue pallets
both contact glue and a label in label stack comparable to that
disclosed for the '961 patent described above.
Accordingly there is a continuing need in the industry for
1o an improved method and device for. supplying the labels to a
labeling machine.
sUMM3~RY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a method and devicefor attaching a label
is to a container.: The method includes providing a carton having at
least two sidewalk, a bottom wall, first and second
longitudinal ends, and an open top end. The carton contains a
plurality of labe3.s arranged in a stack extending from the first
end to the second end. The labels have a top end and a lower: end
2o and are arranged in the carton whereby the top end of the label
is adjacent the bottom wall and the lower end is at the open top
end of the carton. The method: then includes-placing the carton
on a feed carriage of a labeling device in an inverted position
whereby the lower end of the 3abels are on a bottom wall of the
2s carriage and the labels are in an upright position: The next
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step is feeding the labels to the labeling device. Then the step
of applying the labels to the container is performed.
The device of this invention performs the invented method.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following is a brief description of the drawings, which
form a part of the disclosure of the invention.
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a labeling machine in one
embodiment of the invention.
io Figure 2 is a top view of the label carriage of the labeling
machine in an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a label magazine in the
embodiment of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is perspective view of the carton containing a
1s plurality of the labels for filling the label magazine in one,
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 is a top plan view of a blank for making a carton
for containing the labels in a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
DETALLED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to a method for filling a supply
magazine of a labeling machine and to a device for feeding labels
to a labeling-device and applying the labels to containers. A
2s primary object of the invention is to provide plurality of labels
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packaged.in a carton that can be easily transferred to a labeling
device.
The invention includes a method for,supplying a stack of
labels to a labeling machine where a carton of the labels is
s positioned on a feed carriage of a labeling device with the open
top end of the carton on a bottom wall of the carriage. The
carton is then removed from the feed carriage to transfer the
labels from the carton to the feed carriage with the labels in:
the normal upright position. The feed carriage can then be
to placed in labeling device to feed the labels into the labeling
device for applying the labels to containers.
A further aspect of the method of the invention can include
supplying a stack of labels to a labeling machine by providinga
carton of the labels and positioning a label magazine on the
is carton and inverting the carton and label magazine to transfer
the labels from the carton to the magazine. The carton is then
removed from the magazine and the magazine is placed in the
labeling machine for supplying he labels to the labeling device.
The device of the invention includes a carton containing a
2o plurality of labels where the labels are oriented in the carton
in an inverted position with respect to the normal upright
position of the-labels. The carton generally has a pair of side
walls and end walls with an open top end. The labels are
arranged in a stack extending from one end wall to the other end
2s wall. The labels are packaged in the carton with the top end of
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the labels adjacent the bottom wall of the carton and the bottom
end of the labels at the open top end-of the carton.
The method and device of the invention are primarily
directed to automated filling machines and labeling machines for
s applying labels to a container. The containers can be, for
example, bottles or cans. Referring to the drawings, the
invention is used in connection with a labeling machine of the
type having an automatic magazine for providing a continuous
supply of labels to the label-applying device. In a preferred
embodiment of the invention, the labeling machine maintains a
continuous production of labeled containers.
Figure 1 illustrates a labeling machine l0. The labeling
machine 10 includes a label carriage 12 for containing a
plurality of labels l4 in a stacked array. The label carriage 12
is feeds the labels l4 to a turntable l6. The turntable l6 has a
plurality of pick-up arms 18 that are pivotally mounted on the
turntable 16. Each of the pick-up arms l8 has a curved outer
face 20. Each curved outer face 20 rotates in the direction of
the arrow 22 over a glue roller 24 to apply an amount of glue to
the curved outer face 20 of the pick-up arms 18. The turntable
16 rotates to carry the glue-covered pick-up arms 18 to the label
carriage 12 where the curved outer face 20 contacts the outermost
label 26 of the stack of Labels 14 in the label carriage 12. The
curved outer surface 2O of the pick-up arms 18 transfers the
2s adhesive to the; bottom face of a single one of the labels 14.
The adhesive also enables the pick-up arms 18 to "pick up" or
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remove a single label from the stack of labels l4 in the label
carriage 12:
The pick-up arms l8 are mounted on the turntable l6 to pivot
about the pivot pin 28 and are pivoted generally in the direction
s of rotation of the turntable 16. The pick-up arms 18 are
oscillated as the pick-up arms 18 roll over the glue roller 24
and the label carriage l2 by a-series of cam members or by
pneumatic mechanisms (not shown) as known in the art of labeling
machines. The pick-up arms l8 assume a normal position with the
leading edge 30 of the curved outer face 20 closest to the
turntable 16 and the trailing edge 32 of the pick-up arms 18
pivoted to an outward position as the pick-up arms 18 approach
the glue roller 24 and the label carriage 12. The pick-up
arms 18 are thus able to roll over the glue roller 24 to pick up
is a predetermined amount of glue and to roll over the exposed face
of the outermost label 26 in the stack of the labels in the label
carriage 12 and pick up a single label from the stack. The
oscillating mechanism of the pick-up arms l8 returns the arms o
their original position after contacting the glue roller 24 and
2o the label carriage 12.
The turntable 16 continues to rotate and carries the pick-up
arms 18 to a transfer drum 34. The oscillating movement of the
pick-up arms l8 causes the pick-up arms 18 to pivot forward in
the direction of rotation of the turntable 16 substantially,
25 immediately after the arms pass the stack of labels in the label
carriage 12. The curved outer face 20 of the pick-up arms 18
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contacts the transfer drum 34 where the transfer drum 34
separates the label from the pick-up arms l8 and carries the
label to the container 36 in a label applying location 38. The
transfer drum 34 includes a plurality of label, pick-up or
s gripping devices 40 for separating,the labels from the pick-up
arms 18 and carrying the Tabels to a container 36.
A conveyor 42 carries a continuous supply of containers 36
through the label applying location 38 where the transfer drum 34
contacts the containers 36. The gripping device 40 on the
1o transfer drum 34 applies the labels to the side of the
containers 36. Examples of suitable labeling machines, which can
be used with the invention, are disclosed in U.S. Patent
No.4,512,842, U.S. Patent No. 4,445,961, U.S. Patent
No. 4,478,688, which are hereby incorporated by reference in
i5 their entirety.
Figure 2 illustrates the label carriage 12. The label
carriage 12 supplies a label to the pick-up turntable 16. The
label carriage 12 includes a label magazine 44 containing a stack
of labels in an array.
20 Figure 3 illustrates the label magazine 44: The label
magazine 44 generally includes a tray-like device 46 having a
bottom wall 48 and a pair of sidewalls 50: The label magazine 44
in the preferred embodiment has open longitudinal ends 52 for
allowing the labels to be pushed out of the end of the label
2s magazine 44 and picked up by the turntable l6. The labels l4 are
placed in the label magazine 44 with the bottom face of the
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labels facing toward the turntable l6 and with the printed
surface facing away from the turntable 16. The labels are also
positioned in the label magazine 44 in the normal upright
position with respect to the label.
s The label carriage 12 includes a conveyor 54 for receiving a
plurality of the label magazines 44 filled with the labels tobe
applied to the containers. The label magazines 44 are conveyed
toward the feed end 56 of'the label carriage l2 where the leading
magazine engages a stop member. A pneumatically operated plunger
58 extends outward to push the stack of labels toward the supply
end 60 of the label carriage 12 where the bottom surface of the
labels are in a position to be picked up by the turntable 16.
The turntable 16 rotate the pick-up arms l8 past the labels
where the labels are picked-up and carried to the label applying
location 38. When the stack of labels in the label magazine 44
is depleted, the stop member is released to discharge the empty
magazine. The conveyor 54 carries a full magazine to the feed
position to provide a continuous supply of the labels for the
label machine 10.
Figure 4 illustrates the labels as the labels are initially
supplied in cartons 62 having a bottom wall 64, sidewalls 66, and
end walls 68. In preferred embodiment of the invention, the
carton 62 has an open top end 70. In alternative embodiments,
the carton 62 can have a top wall,(not-shown) to close the carton
2s during shipping where the top wall can be removed before use as
discussed below in greater detail. Generally; the carton 62
g
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contains a plurality of the labels in a stacked array and can be
banded or-wrapped in shrink-wrap or similar packaging material.
Alternative embodiments of the invention include cartons
having sidewalls attached by suitable attachment means. Suitable
s attachment means can include glue or the use of folds in the
material to hold the cartons together. In this manner, a
plurality of cartons can be loaded in a single procedural step
into the label carriage 12 of Figure 2.
Alternative embodiments of the invention also include label
io cartons having shapes that hold nonrectangular labels. Labels
can appear in a variety of polygonal or other shapes. For
example, parallelogram cartons are suitable for applying "neck
labels" at an angle on the neck of a beverage bottle.
The labels 14 are, preferably, provided in the carton 62 in
1s an inverted position with respect to the normal upright position
of the labels 14. In this manner, the top end of the labels is
positioned to rest against the bottom wall 64 of the carton 62
and the bottom end of the label is positioned at the open top
end 70 of the carton 62.
20 The method of the invention fills the label magazine 44 ~y
placing the empty magazine in an inverted orientation on the
carton 62 so that the pair of sidewalls 50 of the label
magazine 44 enclose the carton 62 of labels as shown in Figure4:
The carton 62 and the label magazine 44 are then inverted
2s together to the normal upright or operable position. The labels,
which were originally in the carton in an inverted position, are
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now in the upright position in the label magazine 44. The carton
is then lifted and separated from the label magazine 44 and the
label magazine 44 is placed on the conveyor to be carried to the
label supply position.
s Figure 5 illustrates a cardboard blan)c 72 or the preferred
embodiment of carton 62. Carton 62 has a generally rectangular
shape with a longitudinal dimension for receiving a stack of
several hundred labels at a time: The carton 62 is preferable
made from a cardboard blank 72, such as the blanks shown in
Figure 5. Other flexible sheetor web materials can be used for
the carton 62: The cardboard blank 72 of Figure 5 has a bottom
panel 74, a pair of side panels 76 connected to the bottom
panel 74 by fold lines 78 and end panels 80 connected to the
bottom panel 74 by fold lines 82: A tab 84 is connected to each
end of the pair of side panels 76 along a fold line 86. The.
tabs 84 include a hooked portion 88 to be inserted into a
respective slot 90 in: the end pawels 80. The carton 62 is formed
by folding the side panels and the end panels perpendicular to
the bottom panel. The tabs are then inserted into the slots in
2o the end panels to lock the side panels to the end panels.
A desirable method for supplying a stack of labels to a
labeling device according to the invention includes the following
steps. Providing a carton of label wherein the carton has a
:pair of opposite side walls, first and second end walls, and an
open top end. The labels are arranged in a stack extending fxom
the first end wall to the second end wall. The labels have atop
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end adjacent the bottom wall of the carton and bottom end at 'the
open top end. The invention then includes positioning the carton
of labels onto a label magazine of a labeling machine. Inverting
the carton and label magazine.is performed to transfer the labels
s from the carton to the magazine. Positioning the magazine on a
feed carriage of the labeling machine with the open top end of
the carriage facing in an upright direction occurs.
Although various embodiments of the invention have been
chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by
1o those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes
can be made to he method and device of the invention without:
departing from the-spirit and;scopeof the invention as defined
in the appended claims.
