CA1255706A - Linear actuator and rotary arm label transfer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure A label transferring apparatus usable for in-mold label application. In a first embodiment, a transfer device is mounted on a pivotable radial arm and comprises two pairs of transfer heads mounted for rapid, reciprocal transverse move-ment. A stack of labels is supplied by corresponding two pairs of magazines located at a first radial position. The radial arm is positioned by a fluid actuated rack and pinion mechanism In another embodiment, a transfer device is mounted on a linear actuator having a piston rod extending out a first end and carrying the label transfer device and extending out the other end whereat it is supported on a track means. A stack of lables is supplied by corresponding two pairs of magazines located at a first radial position. In a second embodiment the linear actuator is mounted so as to be cantilevered back over the forward end of the piston and cylinder which comprises the linear actuator. In this em-bodiment the piston and cylinder may be shortened by excluding that portion of the piston rod extending out the other end of the cylinder.

Description

~2~;57~
BACgGROUND OF THE INVBNTION

The present invention relates to apparatus ~or providing a supply of labels and for transferring those labels to another loca-tion. In particular, the present invention relates to label transfer apparatus for pic]sing up a label from a label supply means such as a magazine and transferring and depositing the label at a distal location, such as in the mold of a molding machine.

The present invention also relates to apparatus for transferring an object, such as a label, from a pickup point at a delivery point. In particular, the present invention relates to a linear actuator for transporting a label transfer device from a label supply means such as a magazine to a distal location, such as the interior of a mold cavity of a molding machine.

The present invention is also an improve~ent of the invention disclosed in Canadian patent 1,233,308, by the same inventors. This patent also discusses the problems and disadvantages existing in the prior art label transferring apparatuses. ~owever, those problems and disadvantages will be summarized herein for convenience.

"

7~3$i ; kl~o~ o a~)L).Ly ~ l to ~ L~ L~ r n~ )y l~.low IlloL(iil~-J l)y Ll~ L\/ il~(J
I~r~vi~ rr~ lt~ for sul)~?lyinq ~ ll e L .~ o .
are depicted, for exaTnple, in the Dickinson U.S. Patent ~lo.
3,32~,~0~, the ~orklnan U.S. ~atent No. 3,292,2~9, the two U.~.
Helllner U.S. ~atents l~os. 4,355,967 and ~,359,31~i, and the l~ellmer et al Patent No. 4,397,625. rrhese references are dis-cussed in the aforementioned patent application.
While the prior art does recognize the basic concept of supplying labels at one location and transferring those labels into an open mold at another location, the devices of the prior art suffer from certain ~isadvantages. Generally, the afore-mentioned patents disclose label transferring and applying machines having complex structures that are incapable of modi-fication so as to permit their incorporation into conventional, installed mold machinery. ~urthermore, the prior art devices do not permit very rapid~ yet accurate transferring and po-sitionil~g of the labels.
The successul, rapid and accur~te positioning of a label insi~e the mold of a molding rnachine re~uires the interrelated, cooperative aspects of several cornponents. 0~ particular iln-portance is a transfer mechanisTn tnat is capable of positively and accurately removing a label frorn a label supply means, re-taining the label during a transfer operation, and accurately, reliably de~ositing the label at the same location inside the mold. In addition, the transfer apparatus rnust have a reliable m~ans for rapidly and accurately Inoving the trans~er heads from a label supply mearls to the inside of a mold, and then retract to outside of the mold and return to the label supply Ineans to continue the cycle.

Tl~e problelns becolne even more difficul~ when ~tle rc-uirelnent is add~d tilat the label delivery apparatu; Inus~ be designed with flexibility so that it can be incorpor~ted into a num~er of different types of previously inx~aLLed Inolding ~p-paratuses. The requirelnellt for component fLexibility also mealls that the individual compollents must work se~arately and in combillation in a variety of orientations and in a variety of machillery environments.
The critical interfelationships between the label pickup means and the label supplying means becornes even rnore important when high label transfer speed and accurate label positioning are re~uired. Consistent accuracy can be achieved if tne label transfer mecllanisln has a simplistic motion and it has to travel a minimal distance. In all of the devices of the afore-mentioned Dickinson, Borklnan, ~ellmer and ~lellmer et al patents, there is a transverse component of movement between the transfer head and the label both at the moment of pickup of the label and at the moment of transfer of the label to the mold cavity. That transverse component of motion tends to ~scuff" the label as it is being transferred, thereby possibly damaging the label and certainly minimizing the ability to per-fectly position the label on the label transfer head and within the mold cavity. A simple motion of the tra~nsfer head is also dictated in order to permit the retrofitting of a label trans-fer mechanisln to installed molding machines. Therefore, accuracy and speed of label transfer are increased ~1ith an in-crease in the simplicity of label pickup Inotion and distance of travel.

~ 1hen considering the further probleI~s of retrofitting an in-lnold label application system into an existing, operating molding rnac`hine, the existing prior art devices becorne itnpos-sible to lnodify. The principal reason is that existing molding lnachines have liInite~ access space both for inserting the label and for installing t~e label transferring device and the label storage Inealls. ~uite often, tI1ere is a sInall area into ~hich an extensible label transfer head can be inserted froIn a distal location. ~he prol)leIn~ however, is that the inserted device car1not be supported close to the mold and thereEore must be nounted in a cantilever fashion. As is ~ell known, it is very difficult to accurate position a heavy object over an extended distance when that object has been Inounted by a cantilever nountirly .
Henc~, tnere exists a need for further irnprovernents in apparatus for transferril1g labels frorn a label supply rneans to tl mol(i sucll ~nat tl~e lal~el can bc accllra~ely, ye~ rc~idly transferreù an(l positiolled, Summary oE the Invelltion It is, therefore, a purpose of the present invenkion to provide a new and imuroved label pickup and transferriny ap-paratus which overcolnes the disadvantages and limitations that have existed in the prior art.
The present invention is especially adapted for use with molding machines and is particularly usable with blo~ molding Inachines. However, it will be understood that the present in-vention may also be applicable to other types of molding machines such as vacuum, deep draw plastic forminy rnachines or injection molding inachines.
More specifically, the present invention is specifically adapted to being incorporated into existing inolding rnachines which, particularly, have mold halves that rnove away from each other to dispose of a formed item and to receive additional mateLial, such as a new parison, after which the mold halves move together for the subsequent Inolding operations. The present invention utilizes the time and spacing when the rnold halves are separated from each other for placement of labels into the mold halves. The particular ernbodirnents of the in-vention depicted in this application relate more principally to the storage of labels and the pickup of those labels by a transfer head in preparation for subsequent delivery of the labels into the mold halves. ~owever, the salne motion oE the ap~aratus for picking up a label is subsequently utiliæed by the apparatus for the ~eposition of the label into the rnold halves.

~L2~ 3~
l'he goals of tl~ present invention are ~l~hiev~ t~rou(JI~ an embo(Jilnent tnereof which will be describe~ in ;re~er (le~
below. ~enerally, however r the elnbo~ ellt utilizes the concept of accurately positiolling a label on a transfer head and rapidly moving the transfer head bet~een rnold halves during tlle short time that the mold halves are separated to ~iscnarge a molded article, and then rapidly depositing the labels in the mold cavities and withdrawiny the head from the mold so that the molding process can be resumed. This is accomplished by utilizing a label transfer mechanism that moves essentially directly toward the labels or label application surfaces with a siMple movement having an insignificant or no lateral component of motion.
A first embodirnent of the present invention utilizes a pivotably mounted radial arm onto which a label transfer means having at least one label transfer head is rnounted. Means are provided for pivoting the arrn from a first radial position to a second radial position, which positions define a first plane of movement. Further means are provided for reciprocally moving the trans~er head in a second plane that is substantially per-pendicular to the first plane.
In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the radial arln is pivotably rnounted at one end thereof and the label transfer means is rigidly rnounted collinearly ~ith the arm at tne other en~ thereof.
In another particular embo~iment of the present invention, a radial arm is pivotably mounted at a first end thereof and two, opposed la~el pickup heads oppositely rnounted for opposite reciprocal movelnent are mounted at the other end of the radial arm.- ~ label mayazine is located at a first position that is spaced vertically below the pivot point all(l' a Inol~ maci~ )e llavin~ two spaced apart Inold secl;ionr; is Inountcd at a second position that is sL)aced hori~ontally froln the pivot point.
~rhusl the transfer pickup heads enter the space between the mold sectlons from therebelow.
Hence, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new anc3 improved la~el transferriny apparatus usable for in-mold labeling.
It is still another object of the presellt invention to pro-vide a new and improved label transferring apparatus whic~ re-cognizes tlle overall blow molding cycle an~ utilizes different portions of the cycle to enhance the efficiency of the label transferring apparatus.
It is still another object of the present invention to pro-vide a new and irnproved mechanism for direct, rapid movement of the label transfer heads from a first position in wnich a label can be picked up from a label s-toring rneans to a second po-sition wllere the labels can be applied to the interior of a nold cavity It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved mountiny and pivoting means for uivoting a label transfer head between a label storing rnagazine to a central position between two spaced apart rnold halves in a simple, direct line of motion.
It is still another object of tne present invention to rapidly and reciprocally position and withdraw a label transfer means to and Erom the space between two spaced apart mold sec-tions ~rom a direction located arcuately below and to the side of the mold sections.

~lso The present invention~provides a linear extension motor for rapidly, repeatedly and accurately transporting a label transfer device from a label pickup location to a distal label deposition location. I~ore particularly, the present invention provides an accurate means lor positioning a label trans~er device mounted at one end of a piston rod driven by a linear extension motorO In order to achieve the accuracy, t`ne present invention provides a means for reducing the stroke of the linear actuator or by providing an a~clitional piston rod ex-tending out the opposite end of the actuator c~linder and sup-porting the piston rod at that point.
The goals of the present invention are achieved through em-bodiments thereof which are described in greater detail below.
Generally, ho~èver, the embodirnents utilize the concept of accurately positioning a label transfer head to receive a label stored in a magazine and tnen rapidly moving the transfer head between mold halves of a molding machine during the short time that the mold halves are separated to discharge a molded article. The present invention permits the accurate position-ing of the transfer head between the mold halves so that the transfer head can accurately position the labels in the mold cavities. Then, the present invention rapidly ~lithdra~s the transfer head from the mold so tnat the moldillg process can be resulned. Tnis is accomplished by either shortening the stroke of tlle linear actuator and/or by providing additional support ~eans for the actuator piston rod.
A Çirst embodiment of the present invention utilizes a linear actuator comprisiny a piston mounted for reciprocal -6~-'7~
motion in a cylil~der and a piStOII ro(l co~ ectilll~ ~o Ine pi ~o"
and extelldin(J out both ends o~ tile cylinder. T~ounting Inc~an!;
mount a label transfer device to one end of the piston rod and an aliynmellt rneans is connected to the ot~er cnd of thc piston rod where it extends outside the rear of the cylindcr for rnain-taining alignmellt of tne piston rod durill(J the movclnent tnereof.
In anotller embodiment of the present inventiol-, a linear actuator for a label transfer device comprises a piston recip-rocally mounted inside a cylinder and a piston rod connected to the piston and extending out a forward end of the cylinder.
The forward end oE an elongated label transfer device is mounted with cantilever means to the for~ard piston end such that tne label transfer device extends rearwardly over the cylinder forward end when the piston is at a rearward portion oE th~ cylinder. In this elnbodiment of the invention tne accuracy of the positioning of an extended label transfer device is increased by shorteniny the stroke of the piston rod.
~ lence, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved label transferring apparatus usable for in-nold labeling.
It is still anotller object of the present invention to pro-vide a new and ilnproved label transferring apparatus ~hich re-cognizes the overall blow molding cycle and utilizes different portions of the cycle to enhance the efficiency of the label transferrin~ apparatus.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved mechanism for direct, rapid movement oE a label transfer head froln a ~irst position in ~/hiCIl a lat)cl can be picked up from a label storing mealls to a second position where the label can be applied to the interior o~ a -6~-. ~

moLd cavit~. ~2~
It is sti11 an"tl~er o~ect of the pre e1lt inv~ntion 10 ~)r(,-vide a new and improved mountiny and transporting meclns for mo-unting and transportiny a label transfer h~ad hetween a label storiny magazine to an accurate position Locate(l bet~/een t~,lo space(l apart molct halves in a simple, direct line of motion.
It is still anot11er ob~ect of the present invention to pro-vide Ineans for accurately positioniny a label transfer nea~
attached to a linear actuator when the actuator is in the e~tended position and the cantilever mounting of the transfer head is at a distal, extended position.
These and other objects of the present invention will becolle apparent Erom the detailed description to follo~, taken togetner with the accompanying drawings.

~rief Uescription of the Dra~ings rri.ere follows a detailed description of preferred em-bodilne1lts of the present invention which are to be read in lig1~t oE the accompanying drawings wherein:
L~igure l is a perspective view with parts removed for clarity illustrating a label transfer apparatus that includes a label magazine, a pivotably mounted radial arm which, in turn, mounts a plurality of label transfer heads.
Figure 2 is a diagrarnlnatic, cross-sectional vie~ of a rack and pinion radiaI arln pivoting means.
Figure 3 is a diagrarnmatic, positional illustration of the label transfer device, the label storing magazines, and the mold halves.
Figure 4 is a diagrarnmatic, cross-sectional view of a cam actuated transfer h~ad positioning means~
Figure 5 is a top plan view of the label rnayazine.

~ igure 6 is a diagrammatic positional illustration of a second embodirnent of a rotary arm l.abel transfer a~paratus.
~ iyure 7 is a diagram1natic positional i.llustration of still another embodiment of a rotar~ arrn label transfer apparatus.

-- ~, c -- , Figure 1 is a perspective view with parts relnoved for clarity illustrating a linear actuator haviny a label transfer qevice mounted at the forward end thereof in front of a label magazine and having a means for supportil)g a portion of the piston rod that extends outside the rearward portion of the cylinder.
Yigure 2 is a diagramrnataic, end view of the linear actuator of Figure 1.
~ igure ~A is a transverse view silnilar to Figure ~, but showing a modified track structure.
I~igure 3 is a perspective view of a second ernbodilnent of the present invention, showing a linear actuator and a .Label transfer device mounted to the forward end of the actuator with a cantilever mounting rnernber.
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of Figure 3, illus-trating more clearly the guide Inechanisln for the transfer device.
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Detailed Description of the ~referred Embodiments There follows a detailed description of preferred em-bodiments of the present invention wtlerein .Like elelnents are represellted by like nulnerals througllout the several views.
Figure 1 illustrates one embodilnent of a rotary arm label transier apparatus 1~ mounted on a vertical su~L)ort ~/all 12 which is preferably separate froln, but a~:tached ~o the~ rnachine platten 12a.. A1SO Inoullted oll support walL 12 is a ~wo-bottlc molding apparatus 14. Label transfer apparatus 10 includes a label transfer device 16 rigidly mounted on one end of a pivotably mounted radial arln 18. Label transfer apparatus 10 furtl~èr includes four laoel mayazines, only two label rnagazines 1'3 and 20 being depicted.
As shown in ~igures 1 and 2, radial arln 18 is pivotably mounted and pivoted by a rotary actuator 22. l~otary actuator 22 cornprises a housing 24 rnounted onto a base 26 which in turn is mounted onto support wall 12. The ~idth of base 26 is selected so as to properly position radial arln 18 and its plane of swing at the proper transverse distance. Rotary actuator 22 is comprised of a toothed rack 28 in Ineshing, driving en--gagemellt with a pinion 29. Rack 28 is mounted to housiny 24 with two spaced apart Inounting blocks 30 which have corres-ponding slide bearings 31 that support rack 23. Pinion 2~ is rigidly mounted to and rotatably drives radial arln 1~ by a sllaft 32. Thus, when rack 2~ is longitudinally rnoved, pinion

2~ is rotated thereby and, in turn, pivots radial arm 18.
- l~ack 2~ is longitudinally positioned by two fluid actuated pistons 33a and 33b mounted inside corresponding cylinders 3~a and 34b and connected to corresponding ends of rack 28 with piston rods 35a and 35b. Pressurized fluid or electricity is supplied to the appropriate cylinder while the other cylinder is vented with fluid conduits 36a and 36b. Pre~erably, pistons 33a and 33b are driven by pressurized air, however, they can also be hydralllic pistons operated by hydraulic oil.

_~_ An arrow ~7 in Figures 1 and 2 depict khe motion and di-rection at pinion 29 and ~lence label transfer device 16 and radial arJn 1~ are drivell when rack 2~ is move~ in ~lle longi-tudinal direction. Arrows ~7 also define a first plane of movement which, in lig. 1, is shown paraLlel to support wall 12 ~owever, as would be obvious, by usiny a we~ge shaped base 26, the plan~ of Inotion indicatei by arrows 37 can be at an anc~le with respect to wall 12, thereby providing design flexi-bility Generally, however, an orthogonal syste~ is ~esired for both simplicity and Eor permitting apparatus 10 to be ret-roEitted for use with installed rnolding apparatus 14 having a predeterminéd orientation.
Label transfer ~evice 16 is cornprised of a housiny or frame

3~ onto which two pairs of oppositely opposed transfer hea~s 40 and 42 are mounted with rods 44 and 45, respectively (see also Fig. g). I~eads 40 and 42 are rnovable in Inutually parallel directions that are perpendicular to the direction of movement of radial arm 18, which as sho~n by arrow 46 is in the trans-verse iirection in Fig. 1.
Transfer heads ~0 and 42 may comprise a riyid plastic pad 50 having a plurality of orifices 52 aligned in a row and ex-tending therethrough to a plenum (not shown) located between the bac~ ~urface of pad 50 and a backing plate 54. A vacuum tube 56 is connected to the rear of backing plate 54 and co-~nlnunicates through an orifice therein (not snown) with the aforementioned plenum.
It has been ~ound that transfer heads 40 and 42 are effective for transferring a label L lshown at attached to transfer heads 42) that has a length greater tllan the width of pad 50 so that the edges of label L can curl around pad 50 ~L~ S 5 ~ 6 Preferdbly, a label L to be transferred by lleclds ~ an(i 4~ i relatively t~in and Elexible, and thus ha!; a very Liyh~
weight.
Magazines :L9 and 2~ are depicted in Fiy. 1 dS being oriented in a vertical plane. However, magazines 19 and 20 can be oriented in any appropriate plane depending upon the space availability around molding apparatus 14. ~urthermore, mayazines 1~ and 20 can be oriented in a rotated, non--orthoyonal orientation where the label pickup station is desired to be moved or where transfer device 16 is not collinear with radial arm 18 (as depicted in Fig. 6).
Magazines 19 and 20 can be either independently mounted ~o support ~all 12, or as depicted in Fiy. 1, can be attached to one another along their interior edges and separately mounted to support ~all 12 with mounting plates 56 and 58. Stacks of labels L are stored in magazines 19 and 2U and are fed thereby with means described in greater detail hereinbelow.
~ ne type of mounting and moving mealls usuable with the present invention for transfer heads 40 and 42 is depicted in Figure 4. Rotatably mounted inside frame 38 is an oblong-shaped or racetrack shaped cam 60 rigidly attached to a shaft 62. Cam 60 is rotated by any type of means, such as a power servo motor, a rotary electrical motor, a stepping motor or a rotary actuator, any one of which can be driven by pneu-matics, hydraulics, electricity, solid state electronic devices or turbines.
As can be clearly seen in l?igure 4, transEer heads 40 and 42, moullted on their respective rods 44 an~ 45 are riyidly, colinearly mounted inside frame 3~. Proxilnal ends 64 and 65 of rods 44 and ~5 engage cam 60 and ride along the outer surface 7~6 thereo~ us, uroxima1 ends ~4 and 6S serv( a; c~lln followers. Tlle dista1 ends 66 arl(l 67 are rigi(lly, r(~lnovat,ly mounted onto neads ~0 and ~2, respectively, with means SUCil as bolts (not showll). I~i(Jid1y mounted to reC;pective rnid portions oE rods 44 and ~5 are disks 6~ an~ 69 and mounted around the ~isks 6~ and 69 and the mid portions of rods ~ and ~5 are res-~ective cylinders 70 dnd 71. Coil sprinys 72 and 73, mounted inside cylinders 70 and 71 around rods 44 and ~5, respectively, extend betweell removab1e slide beariny end pluys 74 and 75 and disks 6~ and 6-3, respectively. Tt~us, rods 44 and 45 are slidably, resiliently moùnted inside cylinders 70 and 71, res-pectively, in cam following enyayernent with respective ends of cam 60.
~ am 60 has a shape that provides two maximuln points or lobes 76 and 77 and two minimuln cam lobes 78 and 79 such that as cam 60 is rotated, ro~s ~4 and 45 are alternately at tneir outermost, label pickup position (indicated by solid lines in Fig. ~) and their retracted, innerlnost position (indicated by dashed lines in Figure ~). As a result of the shape of carn 60 pickup heads 40 and 42 have a rapid rate of retraction.
~ eferring now to ~igs. 1 and 5, there is shown one type oE
magazille l~ wllich can be used with the present invention.
~ayazine 1'3 is comprised of a sturdy, riyid metal bar frame lO0 that has an annular generally rectangular shaue. Tt~e shape of frame 100 urovides for greater flexibility in orientation and location. In addition, as shown in Figure l, the frarne oE
magazille 19 can be riyidly attachecl to the frame of magazine 20.
Mounte(l onto magazine frame lO0 is a label Eeedin(3 means tllat positively suppiies labels L so that the outermost label is always in approximately tne same position, on the one hand, d y~t tl~ b(`1 is ri~Ji(il~ ld ~t tl)dt l)oSi tiOIl ~/11('~1 tran-;fer ilea(l ~0 or ~2 colnes into ~011~ ac~ ther( ~ith. ~rl"~ la~el feeding mealls is comprised oE two pairs of two spac~d apclrt bars 106 and lU8, each bar lU6 and 10~ havirl(J a plura1ity of ratchet teeth 110 mounted on the in~Jardly facing surfaces thereof Bars lU6 and 10~ are mounte~ to inclivi~ual mountincJ
bloGks 1l2 which in turn, are remova~ly, rigidly mounted onto frame 100 witll screws 114. Mounting block 112 can be rnounted with any one of a p1urality of holes 116 provided in fralne 100 along the periphery thereof. In tnis way, difEerent shaped and siæed la~els can be accommodated with a sinyle size magazine frame 100. The label feeding rneans further includes a flexible label backing plate or pad 118 which is preferably made of a rigid plastic material so that labels L will not be cut or ratch~t teeth 110 worn too quickly. ~late 118 is preferably curved and nas is relatively thin at the transverse edges so that they can be engaged by ratchet teeth 110. ~ars 106 and 10~ witn their ratchet teeth 110 and plate 11~ togetiler comprise a ratchet mecllanisln for feeding labels to a label supply location.
Rigidly mounted to the end of eac~l bar 106 or 108 of nagazine 19 is a retaining finger 120 that has an inwardly pro-jecting tip 122. Finger 120 is rigidly mounted to the end of tne respective bar 1~6 or 108 by means such as being we1ded or attached with screws. Tip 122 preferably has an inclined sur-face with an angle that will retain the outerlnost label, on the one hand, yet will release it to a transfer head, on the other halld. Mounted to the bottom oE frame 100 are a pair of support mem~ers 124. Support members 124 preferably have a smooth upper surface for supporting the bottom of labels L

d ~ ~

while still perlnittillg the labels L to slide therealong.
Label backin~J plate 118 is resiliently uryed in a orw-lrd, outward directioll by a pring means which compri es of a pivotally mounted arm 126 haviny a bend therein and a coil spring (not shown) mounted between the bottoln surface of tne top oE frame lO0 and a point near the bend. Arm 126 is mounted at its upper end with a pivot pin 132 to a mounting block 134, which in turn, is rigidly mounted with Ineans, sucn as a screw 136 to ttle top of fralne 100. The other end of spring arm :L26 is mounted to the back of ulate 118 by means which permit low friction linear movelnent of plate 118 relative to the arcurate movement of arm 126.
Referring to Fig. 1, molding apparatus 14 will be briefly clescribed so as to provide a better understanding of the opera-tion of the present invention, although molding apparatus 14 does not form a part of the present invention and tne one depicted is exelnplary only.
~ loldin~ apparatus 14 comprises two mold halves 150 and 152. Each mold half 150 or 152 has two mold cavities 154 and 156. An ori~ice 158 and 160 connects the corresponding rnold cavity 154 and 156 with a supply of pressurized air which is used during the blow molding operation. l~old halves 150 and 152 are slidably mounted on support bars 162 and 16~, one end o~ whictl can be connected to support wall 12 for supporting molding apparatus 14. ~ower means (not shown) are provided for opening an~ closing Inold halves 150 and 152. In addition, molding apparatus 1~ includes numerous other pipes, conveying apparatus to convey parisons to the molds and ~nokled objects from the mold, and instrumentation (all of which has bee omitted for clarity).

37~

~ 1ith re~erel~ce now to Lig. 6, a 5ecolld elllbodililell~ of a rotary arln label transfer apparatus 2()0 is .;nowll in dia(3ralntic forln. Label transfer apparatus 200 transfers la~els to a rnolding apparatus 214 and supplies the labels to an interior nold cavity (not shown). Label transLer apparatus 20~ corn-~rises a label transfer device 216 rigidly ~nounted at one end of a radial arm 218. Irhe other end of radial arm 218 is pivotably mounted and is pivotably driven by a shaft 232.
~owever, whereas label transfer device 16 is collinearly aligned and Inounted one en~ of radial arln 18, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, label transEer device 216 is rigidly Inounted at an angle to one end of radial arln 21~. In the ernbodiment of Fig.
6, because of limitations in movement, radial arm 218 can pivot ollly through an angle of 60 instead of the 90 through wnich radial arm 18 pivots. Therefore, in order to properly position a label in the lnold cavity of a vertically aligned molding ap-pdratus 214, it is necessary to attach label transfer device 216 at an an(31e with res-pect to radial arm 21~. Tl~e inside angle of attachment indicated by arrow 221 is the complelnent of the al~qle of rotation through which radial arln 218 travels.
Th~refore, ror a travel of 60 for radial arm 218, label trans-fer device 216 must be rigidly attached so as to forln an angle shown by arrow 221 that is 120. As l~entione~ above, label magazilles 21~ and 220 will also have to be reoriented in order to ~roperly present a label to transfer device 216.
In the ernbodiment in Fig. 6, the pivot point or location of shaft 232 is at least as high as the mold cavity of moldinq ap-paratus 214. In the embo~ilnent of Fig. 1, the pivot poirlt: of radial arm 18 is horizontally opposite the deposit point in nold cavity 154 and 156. tlowever, because of the reduced arc of travel of radial arln 2l8, the pivot point and shaf~ 2~2 of radial arm 218 must be located above the mold cavity of rnoldiny apparatus 214. However, it is noted that label transfer device 216 still enters the space between the spaced apart Inold halves frorn the bottom.
Yet another elnbodiment of the present invention is depicted in l~i~. 7. A label transfer apparatus 300 for depositil~y a label to a molding a~paratus 314 comprises of a radial arrn 318 piv~table between molding apparatus 314 and Inaga~ines 31~ alld 320.
It will be apparent that in any of the embodirnents, the angle of Inover,lent of the arm and the location of the pivot can be varied to accomodate the differellt motions and locations of tlle arln and magazine to adapt to the various types of molding machines.
Unlike radial arrns 18 and 218, radial arm 318 is moun~ed at a mid portion thereof by a shaft 332. E~adial arln 318 is also provided with 30 bend 380 just below the pivot point and a counterweigilt 382 at one end. At the other end of radial arm 318 a label transfer device 316 is rnounted~
Radial arm 31~ is rotated by a linear extension actuator 384 oriente~ 20 above the horizontal as shown by arrow 386.
~ eturning now to Fig. 1, the operation of label transfer apparatus 10 will be ~escribed in general terms. ~owever, it is to be appreciated that with obvious differences, the opera-tion of label transfer apparatuses 200 and 300 will be sirnilar.
Label transfer device 16 is initially positioned by radial arm 1~ in a first vertical orientation so that transfer heads 40 and 42 are in transverse alignment wi~h magd~ines 1~ alld ~U. ~aln 6~ (I`i(;. 4) is ac~iv.lted cau;in-3 rods ~4 ~n~J ~5 ~o t)e re~3iliently exl:endcd o~ Jardly ill tlle i~ansve~sc (lire(,l,ir~
whi~ll is l)~rpell(iiclllar to the direction of moveln~nt o~ tr~nsfer device 1~. ~t the same time, a vacuum is applill(i to ~ickup heads 40 and 42 as the heads move transversely outwardly and into engagement with the uppermost label L. As soon as contact is made, further outward movement of heads 40 and 42 is resisted as a result of the ratchet mechanism of magazines 12 and 14. This provides a firln contact between the outer surface of heads 40 and 42 and the outermost label L. As carn 60 continues to turn, springs 72 and 74 will rapidly return heads 40 and 42 to their respective withdrawn positions taking with them the corresuonding labels now securely attached to the outer surfaces of the heads. Air is then ernitted througn fluid line 366 to cause piston 366 to move to the right as snown in Fig. 2, thereby similarly causing rack 28 to move to the right and to rotate pinion 29. The rotation of pinion 29 causes radial arm 1~ to be pivoted in the counter-clockwise direction (as sllowll in ~ig. 1) toward a distal location where molding ap-paratus 14 is located. l~hile device 16 is being positioned, cam 60 continues to rotate and the pickup heads 40 and 42 begin to move in tlle transverse outwardly directions. ~ith proper timing and transverse distances properly selected, transfer de-vice will enter the space between mold l~alves 150 and 152 at exactly the correct time as transfer heads 40 and 42 are being moved in the outward direction so as to minimize the amount of time that device 16 is between the two mold nalves. When heads 40 and 42 llaVe been extended to their full outward position, they will be in contact with the inner surfaces of the mold halves. At that time, the vacuum being supplied to heads 40 and ~12 is terlninated al)d v(lcuuln is ap~lied ~o ~h~ oJ(~ ~aLves so as to retain tlle labels t~erein. ~'aln G~) con~inu(s ~o ~urn alld Witl~ pro~r tilnin(J, aEter tJle labcl trans~er, heads ~U and 42 are again rapidly wittldrawn. Silnultaneously, p~essurized air is adrnitted ~o fluid line 36a while fluid line 36b is vented. ~rhis causes rack 31 to be driven in tne le~thand direction and transfer device 16 to be ayain positioned in ront of magazines 19 and 2U. The mold halves can then be closed and the molding process begun.
It will be understood that these improvements in label applicator hea~s are applicable to any of the label transfer apparatus described in the prior art apparatuses.
f~O~ fn\~
'rhere follows~a,~detailed description of preferred ernbodi-ments of the ~resent invention wherein like elel~ents are rep-resented by like nulnerals throughout the several views.
Referrillg to Fig. 1, one elnbodirnent of a linear actuator 10 is shown. Actuator 10 extends in the lonyitudinal direction and is horizontally moullted by means such as a support table 12. A
cantilever Inounting rneans cornprising a mounting plate 14 mounts the rearward end of an elongate label transfer device 16 to the forward end of a ~iston rod 18. Label transfer device 16 is shown in Fig. 1 positioned in a label pickup location in front oE two llorizontally mounted label rnagazines, a forward mayazine 1~ and a rearward magazine 20. It will be appreciate~ thdt a second pair of a forward and a rearward label rnagazine is ~ositioned transversely opposite Inagazines 1~ and 2U at the label pickup location or position, but have been relnoved ~ro Fig. 1 ~or purposes of clarity.

. .

Linear actuator 1~ is c~lnprisecJ of ~ linear e~ten;io~ otor 22 comL)rising the aforelnentione~ piston rod 18, a piStOIl 23 rigidly conn~cted to a mid portion of piston rod 1~, and an elongate cylinder 24 housing the piston 23. A pressurized fluid is admitted to either the rearward side o~ piston 23 ~ith a hose 25 or to the forward side of piston 23 ~lith a forward hose 26' ~referably, extension motor 22 is pneulnatically oper-ated with pressurized air. ~owever, any pressurized fluid, such as a hydraulic oil, or an electrically powerecl ball screw can be utilized. In addition, a fluid delivery means selec-tively admits a pressurized fluid to one side of piston 23 while venting the other side thereof for driving piston 23 and tlle attached piston rod 18 in the desired direction. Thus, for example, if pressurized air is adrnitted through hose 25 through a directional valve (not s~lowrl), hose 26 will be connected to atmosphere.
~ iston ro~ l~ extends completely through cylin~er 24 and is sealillgly mounted for longitudinal movement at the forward cylinder end and the rearward cylinder end by correspollding slide bearinys 27 The rearward part of piston ro(l 18 is also delloted the tail rod 28. Tail rod 28 is rigiclly mountecl at its for~ard end to piston 23 and is rigidly mounted at its rearward end to a trolley 2'~. As mentioned above, piston rod 18 is pre-ferably a single, unitary rod extending from trolley 29 tnrough cylinder 24 to label transfer device 16 ~ ith reference also to Fig. 2, trolley 2~ is comprised of a mountillg plate 30 riyi~ly l,~ounted tO the end oE tail rod 2c8 with mealls such as a nut 3l conllccted to a threaded portioll of tail rod 2~. Connected to the lower part of mountinc3 plate ~0 is a trolley housing 32. Trolley housillg 32 engages d-rail 33 wtlich is riyidly Inoullted to ;uL~port ~atLe L2 wi~ n~.lrl! su~t, ~s bolts, and wlli~n extellds paral.Lel to al\d un(ler tail rod 2~.
Three sets of ~otatably Inounted wheeLs, a top wlleel 3~ and side wheels 35 and 36 enyaye correspondiny porti.ons a rail 33.
rnus, tro.lley 29 :Ls both supported and kep~ in aliynlnent by rail ~0 ~ iy~lre 2A illustrates a Inodification of the track structure wtlerein E)late 30 is replaced by a plate 5U whicn rides in a yroove 52 formed in table 12. Rollers 53 rnounted on shafts 54 forlned by plate 50 engage the sides of groove 52. rrhe bottorn of plate 5~ is either of a low friction rnaterial or would in-cluc~e a third roller, such dS roller 34 of Yigure 2, oeariny against the bottoln of groove 52 As shown in Fig. 1, label transfer device lG colnprises a housing or frarne 3~ onto which two pairs of oppositely opposed transfer~or heads ~10 and 42 are mounted witn rods 44 and 45, res~ectively (see also Fig. 4). ~rransfer heads 40 and 42 are movable in mutually parallel directions that are perpendicular to the direction of movement of radial ar~n 18, which, as shown by arrow 4~, is in the transverse direction in Fig. 1.
ransfer heads 40 and 42 are comprised of a rigid plastic ~ad SO hc~ving a plurality of orifices 52 aligned in a row and extending therethrough to a plenuln (not shown) located between the back surface of pad 50 and a backiny plate 54. A vacuurn tube 56 is connected to the rear of trolley rnountiny plate 30 and a vacuum is auplied to trans-fer head orifices 52 thro~gn a base (not shown) throuyh tubin~ (also not shown) connected to tlle forward end o piston rod l~ and tllrouyn the a~orernen~ion-:~

plenllln .
It has been found that transfer heads 40 an~ 42 are effec-tive Lor transferrin~ a label L (showrl only as attached to transfer heads 42) that has a lenyth yreater than tne width of pad 5U so that the ed~es of label L carl curl arollnd pad SO.
Preferably, a label L to be transferred by heads ~0 and ~2 is -l9-rL,~ 6 rela~ively ti~Ln an(l llexible, an(l th~ls ha, a ver~ Lign~
weiyht Magclzines 19 alld 20 can be either indepen(iently mounted on support table 12, or as shown in Fig. 1, can ~e ~ttached to one anotller along their interior edges Stacks of labels L are store~ in magazines 19 and 20 and are fed thereby witn means described in yreater detail herein~o~e.
A second embodirnent of a linear actuator 210 is shown in ~ig 3 and is mounted on a support table 212 Linear actuator 210 includes a cantilever mounting plate 214 for mounting a label transfer device 216 orlto the forward end of a pis~on rod 21~. Linear actuator 21~ also includes a piston 223 connected to a rearward portion oE piston rod21~; and a cylinder 2~4 wllicl~ houses piston 223 and part of piston rod 218. Pressur-ized ~luid is applied into cylinder 224 on either the rear~1ard side of piston223 with a rear hose 225 or on the forward side of piStOIl 223 with a forward hose.
Label transfer device 216 is substantially identical to label transfer device 16 depicted in Fig. 1. The only substan-tial difference is that the rearward end of transfer device 16 is Inounted onto mounting plate 14 of linear actuator 10 whereas the forward end of label transfer device 216 is lnounted onto an u~per portioll of mounting plate 214. In this tnanner, label transfer device ~1~ has a cantilever mounting and re~uires less longitudinal space for its pos~tioning. With less lonc3itudinal space required, piston rod 218 can be shorter and thus the noment exerted by the weignt of transfer device 216 is le~s when piston rod 218 is fully extended. Conse~uently, by usiny tlle cantilever mourltillg of label transfer dèvice 216; it can be I more accurately positioned.

In order to avoid turning rnovelnents o~ the trans~er device '~ 216 in a vertical plane about d transverse axis passirlc3 through the lower portion of plate 2L4, a guide means is provided.

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rhis ~3uide means is SilOWn in dashed lines in Figure ~ and in yreater detail in Figure 6 and 7. As shown therei~-l a pair o~
brackets 2~2 and 25~ are rigidly snounted to support table 212.
~ pair of guide rods 2~0 Which are ~i~ed to the pla~e 21~ y bolts 251 are then slideably snounted in the brackets 252 and 253; passing throuyh suitable bearings 254. ~rhe rod 250 is lon-3 enough that whell the linear accuator 21~ snoves to its forwardmost position (leftmost as shown in the drawings) the right hand end of rod 250 will not have pa~ed throuyh the opening of bracket 253.
It will be understood that the feature shown in Figure 3 of mountillg the transs-er device over the forward end oE the cylinder can also be applied advantageously to the embodirnent of Figure l to shorten the distance between tne linear actuator 10 and tt~ space between the mold halves.
l~efer~ing now to Yig. 1, the operation of linear actuator 10 will be described in ger.eral terrns. However, it is to be a~preciated that with obvious differences, the operation of linear actuator 210 will be similar.
Label transfer device 16 is initially positioned by linear actuator 10 so that pickup heads 40 and 42 are in transverse alignment with magazines 19 and 20. cam 60 (Fig. 4) is activated, causing rods 44 and 45 to be resiliently extended outwardly in the transverse direction, whlch is perpendicular to direction of movesnent of piston rod 18 and thus the direc-tion of movemellt of transfer device 16. At the sas,le tisne, a vacuum is applied through hose 56 to transfer heads 40 and 42 as the heads move transversely outwardly and into enyayement with the outermost label L. As soon as contact is snade, furtl~er outwar~ Inovelnent heads 40 and 42 is resisted as a 7~6 result as the ratchet mechanisln ot magazines 12 and 2Q.
This provides a ~irm colltact betwecn the outer ;ur~ace o~
heads 40 and 42 and the outermost label L. As cam 6() continues to turn, springs 72 and 74 will rapidly return heads 40 and 42 to their respective withdrawn positions taking with thern the corresponding labels now securely attached to the outer sur-faces of the heads. Air is tnen emitted through fluid line 25 to cause piston 23 to move to the right as shown in FigO 1, tilereby similarly causing yiston rod 18, trolley 29, and trans-fer device 16 also to move to the right Transfer device 16 is thus moved to a distal location where a molding apparatus (not shown) is located. While device 16 is being positioned, c~rn 60 continues to rotate and the trans~er heads 40 and 42 begin to move in the transverse outward directions. With proper tirniny and transverse distances properly selected, the transfer device may enter the space between the rnold halves of the molding ap-paratus at exactly the correct tirne as transfer heads 40 and 42 are ~eing m~ved in the outward directioll ~o as to rninirnize the amoullt of time tnat device 16 is between the two mold halves.
Whell transfer heads 4~ an~ ~2 have been e~tended to their full outward position, they will be in contact with the inner surfaces of the mold cavities. At that time, the vacuurn being supplied to heads 10 and 42 is terminated and a vacuurn is applied to the mold halves so as to retain the labels therein.
Cam 60 continues to turn and with proper timing, after the label transfer, transfer heads 40 and 42 are again rapidly withdrawn. Simultaneously, prexsurized air is adrnitted to fluid line 26 whiLe fluid line 26 is vented. This causes piston 23 to be driven in the lefthand direction and transfer device 16 to be again positioned in front of magazines 19 and 7~
2~ ol(J 11~lv~ t1~ t~ ~lt),~ (J t1~t~1nol(li11(J L,r~1vv ~egu1~ whilc 1~CW labels are pit,kcd up.
It will be u1l(lcritood that thcse iml~rovcme1lts in linear actuators may be applicable to an~ oE tne la~el tranciEer ap-paratus described in the tt3e aforementioned patent applic3tion.
The operation of the various embodirnents have either been discussed during the descri~tion of the respective ernbodirnents or will be apparent thereErorn.
Although tle inventio1l nas been described with respect to specific embodiments, it will be apparent that tne invention is capable oE numerous rnodiications and variations without de-parting from the s~irit and scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A linear actuator for a label transfer device comprising:
a cylinder;
a piston mounted for reciprocal motion in said cylinder;
a piston rod connected to said piston and extending out both ends of said cylinder;
fluid supply means for selectively supplying a pressurized fluid on either side of said piston;
means for mounting a label transfer device to one end of said piston rod outside of said cylinder; and means connected to the other end of said piston rod outside of said cylinder for maintaining alignment of said piston rod during the movement thereof.

2. A linear actuator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said piston rod is a single unitary member and said piston is rigidly mounted to a central portion of said rod which is located inside said cylinder.

3. A linear actuator as claimed in claim 1, including cantilever means for mounting a forward end of said transfer device to one end of said piston rod such that said label transfer device extends rearwardly over said cylinder forward end when said piston is at a rearward portion of said cylinder.

4. A linear actuator for a label transfer device comprising:
a cylinder;
a piston mounted for reciprocal motion in said cylinder;
a piston rod connected to said piston one end of which extends out a forward end of said cylinder;
fluid supply means for selectively supplying a pressurized fluid on either side of said piston; and cantilever means for mounting a forward end of an elongated label transfer device to said one end of said piston such that said label transfer device extends rearwardly over said cylinder forward end when said piston is at a rearward portion of said cylinder.

5. A linear actuator as claimed in claim 4, including a pair of guide rods connected to the transfer device, and bracket means for mounting said guide rods to assure linear travel of the transfer device upon movement of the linear actuator.