Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
1~6S6~5
This invention relates generally to a heat transfer
labeling apparatus and a method of applying a heat transferable
label to a hollow article. More particularly, this invention
relates to such an apparatus and method wherein the articles are
decorated in a continuous operation.
Numerous decorating techniques are known in the art,
some of which include ~he application of a label onto a hollow
article to be decorated. One of the techniques which is desirable
in this type of decorating is the usage of a heat transferable
label which includes a decorative predetermined design thereon and
may thus be transferred onto the article or container being
decorated.
The heat transfer process permits for multicolored
designs to be applied to a container in a single operation. The
heat transfer process involves the use of a release-coated carrier
upon which the design to be transferred i6 printed. The design is
transferred from the web-like carrier to the container generally
by using a combination of heat and pressure. The principal
advantage of the heat transfer technique is that multicolored
designs of an infinite variety may be applied to a container.
Because of the heat requirements associated with the
release and application of the label from the web onto the
container, it has been generally accepted practice to maintain
the container in a stationary position, albeit rotatable in the
instances of circular containers, during the decorating step.
This has resulted in numerous prior art types of apparatus which
employ intermittently moving mechanisms which include one to
engage and deposit a container at a decorating station. Yet
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another mechanism engages the container at a decorating station.
This latter mechanism must permit relative movement between the
container and die to facilitate application of the label onto the
container to be decorated. Once the container has been decorated
it i~ removed from the decorating station by yet another mechanism
and conveyed to another destination. Each of these functions has
required numerous types of moving parts and mechanisms to impart
the desired motion and ~ransfer of the container to and from a
decorating station.
1~ 8ecause of the intermittent movement associated with
such systems, the speed of decoration has been limited. The
various movements ha~e curtailed operating speeds and placed heat
transfer labeling systems in a limited and low rate of production
category. Because the means disclosed herein have eliminated these
various undesirable mecha~isms, a system has been devised which
overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and provides ~or a
system wherein articles are decorated in a continuous manner.
Briefly stated, the invention herein disclosed provides
an apparatus for continuously applying heat transfer labels
carried on an elongated web to individual articles or containers
to be decorated. Included in the apparatus is a conveying means
which continuously conveys the articles to a decorating station
adjacent to which is disposed a plurality of receptacle means
suitable for receiving and holding the articles to be decorated as'
they pass through the decorating station. The receptacle means
containing the articles to be decorated are continuously driven
at the decorating station at the same speed as which the label
carrying web is also driven. Means are provided for heating the
5(95
labels carried on the web prior to their arrival at the decorating
~tation. At the decorating station, mea~s are provided ~or engag-
i~g and inflating the article as well as means for urging the
heated label into engagement with the article to be decorated.
Downstream of the decorating station is positioned a further
conveying means to carry ~he decorated articles away from the
decorating station.
In one of the embodiments of the invention, a vacuum
chamber is disposed beneath the conveying means which itself
includes a plurality of openings thereinO In this manner a
vacuum is applied to the bottom of the article being carried along
on the conveying means thus restricting and stabilizing its
movement. The article is fed from the conveying means in a spaced
relationship into the receptacle means by means of a feedscrew
disposed adjacent the conveying means. The feedscrew is provided
with a suitable pitch permitting the engagement of the article to
be decorated and movement from the conveying means into the
receptacle means with the pitch of the feedscrew being synchronized
to that of the spacing betweer. receptacle means.
At the decorating station a pair of spaced transfer
rollers are provided and adapted to move independently into and out
of engagement with the article. The transfer rollers are fabricated
from different materials, preferably metal and soft rubber, so that
the resilient roller that first engages the label accommodates any
surface irregularities in the article being decorated while the
metallic roller serves to iron the label onto the decorated
article. Because each of the rollers is operated at a different
temperature, the label is ini~ially heated to a temperature
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sufficient to cause transfer of the label to the article being
decorated with the heat of the second roller being higher than
that of the first so as to cause the release of the label from
the label carrying web and complete the transfer of the decora-
tive lable onto the article being decorated.
The resilient transfer roller is mounted in a heated
housing both of which are pivotally movable into and out of
engagement with the article although remaining in contact with
the label carrying web. me metallic transfer roller is mounted
to a pivotal arm member, with the movement of each of the rollers
being controlled by a separate cam member. In this respect,
each transfer roller has associated therewith a rotatable cam
member that is in operative engagement with a cam follower which
in turn has the fixed end thereof coupled to the transfer roller.
Thus, rotation of each cam causes an inward and outward movement
of the respective transfer roller. The cams are of generally
identical shapes but positioned out of phase with one another so
that each roller 6equentially engages the axticle being decorated.
A biasing spring is further provided for each of the pair of
transfer rollers to urge the rollers out of engagement with the
web until such time as the cam follower engages a predetermined
portion of the cam which is designed to move the respective
transfer roller into engagement with the article.
A variable speed drive motor is provided to drive the
rotatable cams which are mounted on a common shaft. The same
drive motor is operatively coupled to the label carrying web
drive means whereby the movement of the cam operated transfer
rollers is synchronized to the speed of the label carrying web
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routed through the decorating station.
As mentioned, the resilient transfer roller is mounted
in ~ pi~otally movable heater housing. Such housing has the
upstream end thereof pivotally mounted thus enabling the resilient
transfer roller to move into and out of engagement with the label
carrying web. Further, ~uch positioning facilitates the initial
roller engagement with the web to be the resilient roller with the
metallic roller engaging the web subsequent thereto by operation
of an independent cam member.
The first or rubber roller is heated to a suxface temp-
perature of approximately 130-250F so as to cause the transfer of
the label onto the article being decorated. m e second metallic
roller is preferably made of a chrome plated copper material and
heated to a temperature of approximately 500-600 9~ . In this
manner, the 6econd roller effects the release of the label from
the web and serves to iron the label onto the article being
decorated.
In those instances where the art:icle to be decorated has
a taper or otherwise irregular side wall, such as a tapered oval
bottle, additional cam members are provided to control the move-
ment of the transfer rollers. Specifically, each roller movement
is controlled by a cam member engaging the upper portion thereof
and another cam member engaging the lower portion of the roller.
Ihus, by appropriate cam desi~n, movement of the top and bottom
portions of the roller is independently controlled and articles
having different upper and lower shapes or sizes may be
decorated.
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Means are further provided to regulate and maintain the
degree of tension of the label carrying web as it travels to the
decoratins station from a supply wheel. In this respect, a movable
roller is provided over which the label carrying web passes. An
arm connected t~ the movable roller serves to activate a switch
disposed therebeneath in a predetermined position. Upon activa-
tion by the movement of the arm, the cwitch generates a signal
which activates a braking member associated with the supply reel.
In this manner, movement of the roller serves to regulate and
maintain constant the tension on the web being metered from the
supply reel. The switch is preferably magnetically operated by
movement of the arm. Further, a spring biasing means is connected
to the roller supporting arm tending to maintain tension on the
web.
Preferably, the apparatus is provided in modular form,
with identical but oppositely disposed modules forming a system
for decorating two different sides of an article including non-
symetrically shaped articles. With each module delivering a
separate label carrying web to the decorating station, simultan-
eous decoration of opposite sides of an article is accomplished.Moreover, different labels may thus be applied to the article.
The label carrying webs are routed through the decorating station
spaced at a distance from one another approximately equal to that
of the width of the article to be decorated. The articles are
conveyed adjacent to the decorating station and carried between
the oppositely disposed label carrying webs. Each module may be
independently driven with the respectiv~ drive motors coupled to
one another to synchronize the speeds of the respective webs.
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Also, frame or module adjustment means may be provided for each
module to enable tilting of the system so as to accommodate
decoration of articles having tapered sidewalls.
Additional features of the invention relate to the
receptacle means, an article supporting belt disposed adjacent
the decorating station, air inflating means, web and article
registration means and the manner of feeding the label carrying
web to the decorating station. Although each of these several
features are included in the overall apparatus and method of
operating the apparatus as disclosed herein, certain o~ the
details are disclosed in related United States Patents.
Specifically, reference is made to the disclosures in my U.S.
Patent 4,180,105 issued December 25, 1979 and entitled ARTICLE
INFLATING SYSTEM and U.S. Patent 4,290,518 issued September
22, 1981 and entitled ARTICLE SUPPORT SYSTEM.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to
provide an effective and reliable means for accomplishing
high speed heat transfer label decoration.
It is another object of this invention to provide a
labeling apparatus in which the articles to be decorated are
continuously moved within the apparatus and decorated therein
without any intermittent or other interruption of movement.
It is still another object of this invention to pro-
vide an apparatus for accurately positioning and transferring
heat applied labels onto the hollow containers including those
of irregular shape.
6S~S
Thes~ and other objects and features of the invention
will become more apparent from the following description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the heat transfer
labeling apparatus of this invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged front perspective view of the
decorating station of the apparatus of this invention;
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the heat transfer
labeling machine of this invention similar to ~IG. 1, with
certain cover plates and the like removed;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the drive
controls of the apparatus of this invention;
FIG. S is a front perspective view illustrating
additional drive controls employed in the apparatus of this
invention;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the label
supply drum and the associated feed regulating means;
FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the transfer
roller cams and timing means;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the label carrying web path
through the apparatus of this invention;
~IG. 9 is an enlarged plan view of the article
decorating station;
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of
the receptacle holding means~
FIG. 11 is an enlarged, front elevation view
illustrating containers entering the decorating station;
~ ~ . ~
11 ~L4~iS~5
~ IG. 12 is an enlarged, front elevation view illustrating
containers at and leaving the decorating station;
~ I~. 13 is a top, plan ~iew illustrating both sides of
a container being decorated at the decoratin~ station;
~ IG~ 14 is a side elevation view of the heat transfer
labeling machine of this invention;
FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of adjacently spaced
modules for decorating both sides of a container; and
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a cam operated transfer
roller suitable for decorating a tapered oval bottle.
With reference to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1-3,
the article to be decorated by the heat transfer labeling apparatus
of this invention is illustrated in the form of an irregular
shaped container 10. The container 10 is moved in the direction
of ~he arrow (Fig. 1) to a decorating station indicated generally
at 20 at which a label 11 is applied. Label 11 is carried to
decorating station 20 by a release coated carrier web 12 which
includes thereon a plurality of spaced labels 11 and registration
marks 13 disposed between labels on the top portion of web 12.
Container 10 is conveyed toward the decorating station
20 by an endless belt 21 which passes over drive wheels 22 and 23.
Mounted within the endless belt 21 is a vacuum chamber 24 which
has its upper surface in engagement with the inside portion of
the belt 21. Disposed in the center of the belt 21 are a
plurality of spaced apertures 25 which permit a vacuum to be
applied to the bottom of the container 10 thus holding and
stabilizing the container during conveyance. Disposed adjacent
to the end portion of belt 21 is a feedscrew 26 which has a pitch
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suitable for engagement with the particular size container 10.
~he container 10 is engaged by the threaded portion of ~crew 26
and ~ed to a receptacle holding means 30. Tb f~cilitate feeding
of container 10 into receptacle holdin~ means 30, i~ a horizontal
transfer pl~te 31 disposed at the end of belt 21 to assist in
transposing the container from the conveyor belt 21 into the
receptacle 30.
Receptacles 30 are fastened to an endless chain 32 which
i5 driven over sprockets 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 ~nd 38. Chain 32 is
a lin~ type to which the receptacle 30 is fastened. Receptacle
30 consist~ of split halves 39 and 39a (Fig. 10) which have a
deep dish contour which substantially matches the bottom portion
of the container 10 being decorated. The container 10 $s fed by
eedscrew 26 into the receptacle 30 with the leading bottom edge
of the container engaging the leadinq or forward half 39 of the
receptacle 30 (~ee ~ig. 11). As the container moves forward and
while still engaged with the feedscrew 26, chain 32 moves over
sprocket 37 with the trailing half 39a of the receptacle 30
moving up and into holding engagement with the bottom of the
container 10. Further details are disclosed in my
U.S. Patent Number 4,290,518 issued September 22, 1981
entitled ARTICLE SUPPORT SYSTEM.
While the lower portion of container 10 is being moved
$nto recept~cle 30, the upper open portion of the container is
moved into enga~ement with a cup-shaped inflating nozzle 40. A
plurality of spaced nozzles 40 are fastened to a tinung belt 41
which passes over qears 42, 43, 44 and 45, each of which has
external teeth matching those provided on the interiOr of timing
~4 10. ~
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belt 41. Al60, drive gears 46 and 47 (Fig. 1) engage timing belt
41 and are mounted in adju~table support members 48 which permit
adjusting the tension of timing belt 41. The remaining gears 42
through 45 are ~uitably mounted in bushings 49. Di~posed between
the upper ~nd lower portions of timing belt 41 is a ~anifold 50
to facilitate inflating container 10 while at the decorating
~tation 20.
A plurality of cup-shaped nozzles 40 are spaced from one
another on timing belt 41 ~nd include a container engaging
portion 51 (~ig. 12). The center portion of cup 51 is recessed
and of a size compatible for engaging the top opening of the
container 10. Cup 51 is preferably fabricated from a nylon
material. Bushing 52 i6 threaded into the center of cup portion
51 and 6erves to fasten the cup to timins ~elt 41. In order to
permit pas~age of the rearward extending portion of bushing 52,
gears 42-47 are recessed and do not engAge the center portion of
timing belt 41 which i8 gimilarly recessed. Bushing 52 has a
circular shaped rearwardly extending portion which has a diameter
~ust slightly less than the width of a groove provided in the
lower portion of manifold 50. In this manner, the groove ~erves
as a guide when timing belt 41 $~ in engaqement with the lower
portion of man$fold 50. Air i8 thus permitted to enter the
container 10 while at the decorating station 20. For further
detail6 of the inflating system, reference is made t~ my
U.S. Patent Number 4,180,105 issued December 25th, 1979
entitled ARTICLE INFLATING SYSTEM.
,~ 11.
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Supports 66 are provided for guiding the containers 10
as they travel on input and exit conveyors 21 and 60. Also, when
only one side of a container is being decorated further support
may be provided for containers 10 while at the decorating station
by providing a vertically oriented endless belt 29 for engaging
and supporting the side of the bottle not being decorated (see
Fig. g).
Once the container leaves decorating ~tation 20, at
which label 11 was applied, it i6 routed onto exit conveyor 60.
A vacuum chamber 61 is also disposed between the upper and lower
~urfaces of conveyor belt 60 which is driven about wheel 62 and
a similar one disposed at the other end thereof. Belt 60 contains
slots 63 in the center portion thereof to permit the application
of a vacuum to the lower portion of the container 10. Container
10 is discharged from the receptacle 30 as the leading portion
39 moves downward and out of engagement with container 10 after
the receptacle passe6 over sprocket 34. While the trailing half
39a of the receptacle 30 i8 still in engagement with the container,
the forward portion of container 10 is moved onto plate 65 (Fig.
12) which is disposed between endless chain 32 and exit conveyor
60. While on plate 65, movement of container 10 is controlled by
the trailing container which tends to push the container onto
plate 65 and then conveyor 60. As the receptacle 30 drops out of
engagement with the container, inflating nozzle 40 is similarly
disengaged from the open top portion of container 10. As each
nozzle 40 passes over gear 43, it is moved in an upward direction
towards the next pulley 42. This thus causes the recessed
portion of nozzle 40 to lift out of engagement from container 10.
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sos
The decorated bottle which exits from conveyor 60 is then ready
for filling or other further processing. It is noted that the
speeds obtainable with the heat transfer labeling apparatus of
this invention (over 200 labels per minute) make the equipment
suitable to serve as an in-line piece of equipment along with
filling machines and assodated equipment.
The drive system for the various conveyors will be
described with particular reference to Figs. 4 and 5. A variable
~peed DC drive motor 70 is provided in each m~dule to drive the
article and label moving members. Motor 70 is continuously
operated and as required, engaged and disengaged from the drive
system by means of a clutch 70a. The output of drive motor 70
is transmltted to a mechanical speed controller geax box 71 by
means of chain and sprocket drive 72. Output from the mechanical
gear box 71 drives a web metering roll 73, the output drive shaft
including thereon a clutch-brake 74. Another output from the
drive motor 70 is coupled by chain and sprocket drive 75 to
gear box 76. Also, by means of chain and sprocket coupling 77
which is connected to a right angle gear box 78, drive motor 70
20 i5 mechanically coupled to a similar drive motor of an adjacently
~paced module. The adjacently spaced module is identical to the
one herein described and as will be described later, is utilized
to decorate two sides of the same article (Figs. 14 and 15).
Sprocket 79 is mechanically connected to a similar sprocket on
an adjacent module, thus providing a direct mechanical linkage
of the DC drive motors 70.
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Output shaft 80 $rom the gear box 76 drives the transfer
roller cams 81 and 81a mounted on a common shaft by ~eans of the
chain and sprocket drive 82. Cams 81 and 81a, and the manner in
which they serve to drive the label transfer rollers, will be more
fully described hereinafter. Another chain and sprocket drive 83,.
connected to output shaft 80, drives gear box 84 which in turn
has its output driving the chain and sprocket B5. Shaft 86 is
driven at one end by chain and sprocket 85 while another chain
~nd ~procket drive 87 is thereby driven to provide an input drive
to gear box 90 which in turn is employed to drive the various
conveying mechanisms. In this respect, shaft 91 in addition to
driving gear box 90 has its output at the other end coupled to
the feedscrew 26 via chain and sprocket drives 92 and 93. me
conveyor 21 i5 driven by drive wheel 22 which is driven from one
output of the gear box 90 by means of chain and sprocket drives
94 and 95. Gear 43 drives the inflating nozzle timing belt 41
with gear 43 being driven by the same output from gear box 90 as
is ~procket 34 for driving receptacle chain 32. Sprocket 34 for
chain link belt 32 is driven by the chain and sprocket drive 96
coupled to the output from gear box 90 wh~ereas gear 43 is driven
therefrom via chain and sprocket drives 97 and 98. Also driven
from the same output of gear box 90 is discharge conveyor belt 60
which is driven by the chain and sprocket 96 which in turn is
coupled to the chain and sprocket 99 which drives the chain and
sprocket 100. Thus is provided a synchronized conveying system
for continuously carrying articles 10 through the apparatus with
the various speeds regulated while driven from a single source.
~L31 465~)5
~ urther driven from the same DC variable drive motor 70
is the label carrying web 12. With reference to Figs. 4 and 8 a
control panel 101 is provided on the module (Figs. 14 and 15) to
regulate the speed of the motor 70 which as previously mentioned,
drives the web meteriny roller 73 through the clutch-brake 74 and
gear box 71. Transfer roller cams 81 and 81a are driven directly
from the main motor via gear box 76, shaft 80 and chain and
sprocket drive 82 which is connected to shaft 102. The output of
~haft 102 also drives shaft 103 through the ~hain and sprocket
arrangement 104. Tachometer 103a tFig. 7), driven off shaft 103,
reads the operating speed of the machine and provides a visual
display on module panel 101.
The supply of new labels is provided on supply wheel
110, the dispensing of which is regulated by metering roll 73.
The web 12 as it is unwound from supply reel 110 passes over
idler roller 111 and then over dancer roll 112, the operation
of which will be more fully describ0d below. The web next is
routed to feed roller 113 and then into the web metering roller
73 adjacent to which a photocell 122 is disposed. Photocell
122 is disposed to be in a position capable of reading
registration marks 13 and thus control the web feed speed.
Web 12 encircles web metering roller 73 and is fed therefrom
through pinch roller 114 over adjustable roller 115. The supply
of labels on web 12 is fed by the metering roller 73 which has
pinch roller 114 adjusted so as to press against it with the feed
dispensed by the metering roll 73 being regulated by an associated
brake 73a. Metering roll 73 also has an electric clutch-brake 74
which is activated by a photocell (not shown) disposed adjacent
15.
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the decorating station 20 which in turn determines the presence or
absence of a container at the decorating station. Thus, if no
article is present to be decorated, clutch 74 disengages metering
roller 73 and terminates feeding of web 12.
Adjustable roller 115 is manually movable in ~lot 116
by means of the rotatable handle 117. This manual adjustment
permits for approximate label positioning on the container prior
to operation of the machine.
~ he web being fed by metering roller 73 next passes
over idler rollers 125, 126, 127 and 128 and is then routed to
pass over the elongated preheat plate 130 wh~ch is electrically
maintained at a temperature of approximately 200F. In addition,
radiant heater 129 is disposed facing the opposite face of the
web 11 80 as to further preheat the label prior to arrival at
the decorating station 20. At decorating station 20 are
disposed a pair of heated transfer rollers 131 and 132 which are
adapted to facilitate transfer of the label 11 onto article 10.
Transfer roller 131 has the outer label engaging surface formed
of a silicone rubber material of 35 durometer hardness which is
heated to a surface temperature of approximately 130-250F.
The interior of transfer roller 131 is iron oxide filled to
provide ~uitable conductivity. In this manner, transfer roller
131 is maintained at a temperature sufficient to cause transfer
of the label 11 to the article 10. Transfer roller 132 is
metallic, preferably copper, having a layer of chrome plating on
the surface. Transfer roller 132 is heated to a surface
temperature of approximately 500-600F ~o as to effect release
of the label 11 from the web 12.
~4~5~5
~ he transfer rollers 131 and 132 are each pivotally
mounted an in operative engagement with cams 81 and 81a so as to
sequentially regulate movement of the transfer rollers into and
out of engagement with the article 10 as it arrives at decorating
station 20. Cams 81 and 81a are mounted on a common shaft 102
which as previously mentioned is driven directly from the drive
motor 70.
Transfer roller 131 is mounted in heated housing 133
which i~ pivotally mounted at 134. A cam follower 135 in engage-
ment with upper cam 81 controls the article engaging and dis-
engaging movement of the roller 131. A spring 136, urges
transfer roller 131 and heated housing 133 out of engagement from
article 10 except when moved into engagement by means of cam 81.
Transfer roller 132 is similarly pivotally mounted at 137 and has
~pring 138 urging the roller out of engagement from web 12. A
cam follower 139, coupled to transfer roller 132, engages lower
cam 81a which thus controls movement of the metallic transfer
roller 132.
Web 12 as it leaves decorating station 20 passes over
idler rollers 150, 151 and 152. The web next passes over dancer
roll 153 and then over idler roller 154 onto the rewind reel 155.
Disposed adjacent the rewind reel 155 and beneath dancer roll 153
is a proximity switch 156, a similar switch 157 being disposed
adjacent ~upply reel 110 and beneath dancer roll 112.
A constant amount of drag is imparted to the label
6upply wheel 110 by means of the dancer roll 112 and associated
proximity swtich 157. Specifically and with particulax reference
to Figs. 6 and 8, dancer roll 112 is mounted to pivot about shaft
65~:;)5
160 which has mounted at its base an arm member 161 which ismovable over proximity 6witch 157. A spring 163 urges dancer
roll 112 in a direction of maximum extension of the carrier web
length from the supply wheel 110, i.e. in a position furthest
away from the source of supply as measured along the web travel
path. Disposed beneath arm member 161 is a magnetically
activated proximity switch 157 which in turn regulates the
degree of braking applied by brake 165 which is mounted on the
web supply 6haft 166. Potentiometer 167 is connected to web
~upply brake 16S and may be manually regulated to initially set
the desired degree of braking. Subsequently, the movement of
dancer roll 112 exerts a substantially contant force or drag on
the web supply wheel 110.
A similar proximity switch 156 is provided for the
rewind label roller 155. In this connection, dancer roll 153
includes a ~imilar arm disposed over proximity switch 156.
Proximity switch 156 however, is connected to clutch 170 which
controls movement of take up reel 155 as will be more fully
described hereinafter.
Rewind wheel 155 is driven directly by DC motor 70
through gear box 76. In this respect, output shaft 80 of gear
box 76 i8 coupled to clutch 170 by means of the chain and sprocket
drive 171. me output from clutch 170 is coupled to the rewind
reel 155 by means of the chain and sprocket dxive 172 (Fig. 4).
With reference to the drawings and particularly to
~igs. 4-8, the path of travel of label carrying web 12 is traced.
Initially the web exits from the label supply wheel 110 and passes
over idler roller 111. Dancer roll 112, which is moYable from the
18.
65~)5
solid position to the dotted position (Fig. 8), maintains a
~ubstantially constant drag on label supply wheel 110 by means
of brake 165. After passing over dancer roll 112, the web is
routed to metering roll 73 disposed adjacent to photocell 122.
Feed of the web 12 is regulated by metering roll 73 which in
~urn is responsive to a signal from photocell 122 disposed
adjacent thereto. As mentioned, metering roller 73 meters the
web supply and is driven directly by the electric drive motor
70 via clutch 74 and the associated bra~e 73a.
After being dispensed from metering roll 73, the web
then is routed over the adjustable roller 115 and then over
idler rollers 125, 126, 127 and 128 and over preheater 130.
Web 11 is next routed through the decorating station 20 at which
point lab 11 is applied to container 10. As mentioned,
transfer roller 131 and 132 are operated in timed relation with
respPct to the registration marks with the transfer rollers
moving se~uentially into and out of engagement with the container
10 respon6ive to the movement of cams 81 and 81a. In this
manner, exact registration is achieved and decoration of the
container accomplished with the labels capable of being applied
in a predetermined location with respect to the position of the
seam.
Prior to the initial operation of the machine, adjustment
screw 117 is employed to adjust the positioning of the label 12
with respect to the positioning of the conveyors. As mentioned,
rotation of screw 117 causes a forward or rearward movement of
roller 115 thus adjusting the label position at decorating 6tation
20. Once manual adjustment is completed, automatic operation is
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maintained by means of the photocell 122 reading registration
marks 13 as previously described.
A ~tepping motor is provided with its output shaft
180 coupled to gear box 71 by means of the chain and sprocket
drive 181. Signals provided to the stepping motor, such as
from photocell 122 thus provide for automatic web speed
regulation.
As mentioned, the modular construction of the
decorating apparatus of this invention allows for simultaneous
decoration to two sides of the container. In this manner,
different labels 11 may be applied to the front and back of the
container 10. (See Figs. 13, 14 and 15). Each of the modules
including the label carrying webs 12 and transfer rollers are
identical in construction and mirror images of one another. As
shown in Fig. 13, adjacent modules are positioned in an
oppositely facing relation and spaced from one another a
distance approximately equal to the width of the article being
decorated. The container conveying means, e.g. receptacles 30
on chain 32, are positioned between the spaced modules to
facilitate two sided decorating of a non-circular article.
When two sided decorating is desired the output shaft 79 of
each module is coupled to one another. Thus, each module is
provided with a separate motor 70 operated by a common
potentiometer. It is also recognized that a single mo~or may
be used to drive both modules.
The module is further provided with an adjustment
mechanism so as to accommodate decoration of tapered containers.
The entire module assembly including the drive system and web
~ 0 .
65~1S
feed system, is capable of being adjusted by tilting the rearward
portion upwardly within the slot 195 in support member 196 (Fig.
14). When the appropriate degree of inclination is achieved so
as to have the transfer rollers 131 and 132 in contact with the
article being decorated, fastener 197 is tightened and the system
ready for use. As mentioned this may also be accompli~hed with
two-sided decorating as in Figs. 14 and 15. Also, one module may
be utilized to decorate the tapered side of an irregular
container while the other module is utilized to decorate the
vertical side of the same container.
With particular reference to Fig. 16, an alternative
embodiment is described which is particularly suitable for
decorating tapered containers or other irregular shapes in which
the size or shape of the top and bottom of the container are not
the same. Although the particular structure will be described
with respect to metallic transfer roller 132, it is noted that a
similar means i5 provided on the adjacent transfer roller 131.
In this embodiment, instead of being controlled by a single cam
member, movement of transfer roller 132 is controlled by an upper
20 cam member 200 and a lower cam member 201. Cam followers 202 and
203, engaging cam members 200 and 201 respectively, are connected
to the upper and lower portions of transfer roller 132. Spring
; 138 is connected adjacent the approximate midpoint of roller 132
which is pivotally mounted on shaft 204. Thus, cams 200 and 201
independently of one another control the deqree of inward movement
of the transfer roliers. Such control permits the system to be
employed in decorating containers of irregular shape and including
the illustrated tapered container.
21~
~465(~5
Thus, there has been described a method and apparatus
which is suitable for accomplishing high speed heat transfer
label decoration. Moreover, the articles being decorated are
moved within the apparatus and decorated without any intermittent
or other interruption of movement. The system is further
suitable for multi-sided decoration of both regular and irregular
~haped containers.
Although the above description is directed to the
preferred embodiment of the invention, it is noted that other
variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in
the art, and may be made without departing from the spirit or
scope of the present disclosure.
22.
