CA2337585A1 - Bottle top label applicator - Google Patents

Abstract

A labeling machine for applying labels successively to the tap of each one of a succession of traveling containers includes a conveyor for transporting a succession of upright containers such as wine bottles. A
labeling turret having a plurality of label applying heads is rotatable around a central axis. The label applying heads are manipulated by a cam follower traveling on a cam surface and are positioned adjacent to the conveyor so that the label applying heads each successively engage one container upon each cycle of the turret. Each label applying head travels during each cycle to a label staging location where a label is picked up by the head, and subsequently to a position adjacent to the conveyor where the head captures the top of a container. The cam and cam follower are arranged to cause the head to dwell in a vertically aligned position over the container, and an actuator associated with the head advances the label, applying it to the top of the container. In a preferred embodiment the head includes a centering bell which extends downwardly to engage the container during application of the label.

Description

Patent Docket No. 1056.16252 Bottle Top Label Applicator This invention relates to apparatus and processes for labeling containers. More specifically the invention relates to application. of labels to the ends of containers, for example, inside tine necks of corked wine bottles.
Background of the Invention Application of labels to the tops of wine bottles has become increasingly common in the industry. Heretofore equipment and processes for applying such labels have been 1~ of a cumbersome nature. Usually such processes have been of an intermittent nature wherein the bottles are stationary or nearly stationary during label application.
This requires starting and stopping of a stream of transported bottles. As a practical matter it is difficult to attach labels to t:he tops of bottles in this manner at speeds greater than 100 labels per minute. However, contemporary bottling lines require significantly greater speeds. Thus a significant desire has existed for improved apparatus and processes for applying such labels.
Summary of the Invention It is a principal object of the present invention to provide apparatus and processes for applying labels to the ends of containers, especially a moving line of wine bottles to which labels are applied at the top. In accordance with an important aspect a plurality of labeling heads are rotatably mounted on a turret which carries the labeling heads over a moving column of bottles. An important objective of the invention is to provide such equipment capable of applying labels at commercially acceptable rates of ;speed for example 200-400 labels per minute.
In accordance with an important aspect of the invention the label applying heads are controlled by cam followers traveling in a cam track which causes the 1~ labeling heads to dwell in a vertical orientation over the bottles for a time sufficient for the head to advance and apply a label to each bottle. In accordance with a related aspect a label supplying device is provided adjacent to the turret. In accordance with a still related aspect of the invention the labeling head is caused to pause or dwell briefly over the label supplying device for the purpose of picking up of a label by each labeling head. In accordance.
with a preferred embodiment of.the invention the labels are applied by means of a hot melt adhesive which is applied to each label as it travels past an adhesive application station during rotation of the turret. In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention all of the pivoting movements of the labeling heads are accurately controlled by means of cams and cam followers.
In accord<~nce with another aspect of the invention the labels <~re picked up by the labeling heads by means of vacuum suction into a funnel shaped guide. In accordance with a sti.l.l further aspect of the invention a sensor is provided to inspect each traveling labeling head 3~ to determine whether a label is present in the head. The sensor provides a signal to the adhesive delivery system when the presence of a label is detected. In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention the adhesive application is accomplished by spraying a hot melt adhesive on each picked label inside the funnel-shaped guide as it travels past the glue: applicator. In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention the cam system employed causes the label dwell or pause in front of the glue applicator nozzle.
In accordance with the invention the containers to which the labels are applied are transported by a conveyor to a position adjacent to the label applying heads. The preferred type of conveyor utilizes double stacked timing or feed screws to transport the containers.
1~ In accordance with another related aspect of the invention the pitch of the timing screws is designed such that the velocity of each bottle matches that of the associated labeling head during i:he label applying steps. The pitch of the feed screws may be configured to that the velocity of the containers varies as they travel in conjunction with the label applying heads.
In accordance with yet further aspects of the invention, each labeling head is provided with a centering bell which extends or advances over the neck of a container 2~ thereby engaging the traveling container and thus insuring that the head and its associated container move in unison during the label applying steps. The advancing motion of the centering bell onto the container captures and holds each successive traveling container firmly during the label application step. In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention each label is applied to the container top by means of a central. piston which advances within the centering bell to apply an adhesive-coated label to the container.
3~ In accordance with yet further aspects of the invention, after the center piston retracts, the centering bell retracts and releases the labeled container. In accordance with the other aspects of the invention the cam causes the labeling head to travel, as the turret rotates back to the label supplying device to pick up another label for labeling another container.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the device is provided with centering bells specially designed fo:r the configuration of the particular container to which t:he labels are to be applied. In another related aspect of the invention, a clutch is provided so that the labeling system can be disengaged when not in use.
Briefly, the invention provides a labeling 10' machine for applying 7.abels successively to the top of each one of a succession of traveling containers includes a conveyor for transporting a succession of upright containers such as wine bottles. A labeling turret having a plurality of label applying heads is rotatable around a 15 central axis. The label applying heads are manipulated by a cam follower traveling on a cam surface and are positioned adjacent to the conveyor so that the label applying heads each s,accessively engage one container upon each machine cycle. Each label applying head travels 2~ during each machine cycle to a label staging location where a label is picked up by the head, and, subsequently, to a position adjacent to the conveyor where the head captures the top of a container. The cam and cam follower are arranged to cause the head to dwell in a vertically aligned 25 position over the container, and an actuator associated with the head advances the label, applying it to the top of the container. In a preferred embodiment the head includes a centering bell which extends downwardly to engage the container during application of the label. The preferred form of conveyor includes double stacked timing screws which allow accurate control of the container velocity and matching of the velocity of the container with that of the associated head.
Further aspects and objects of the invention will 35 be apparent from the appended claims, the following detailed description and the drawings.
Description of the Drawincrs Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bottle top label applicator mechanism of this invention showing the labeling heads and th.e drive mechanism (without the drive gear box) in separated relationship;
Figure 2 i.s a front elevational view of the applicator mechanism of Figure 1 and its supporting framework;
1~ Figure 3 is a side view of the mechanism taken perpendicular to the view of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the mechanism of Figure 1 further showing a conveyor in the form of double ~~tacked timing screws in conjunction therewith;
Figure 5a is a fragmentary side elevational view of the label applicator assembly of Figure 1 shown in conjunction with cooperating components of the assembly and showing a single labeling head positioned in front of a label supplying device with each of the other labeling heads illustrated by means of phantom lines;
Figure 5b e;hows the assembly of Figure 5a after it has advanced away from the label supplying device;
Figure 5c :;bows the assembly of Figure 5a after the illustrated labeling head has traveled to a position adjacent to a label presence detection sensor;
Figure 5d ~;hows the assembly of Figure 5a after the illustrated labeling head has traveled to a glue applicator station;
Figure 5e shows the assembly of Figure 5a with the illustrated head engaging a bottle shown by phantom lines;
Figure 5f is a view of the assembly of Figure 5a immediately after application of a label to a bottle shown by phantom lines;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a single labeling head shown in conjunction with its associated cam mechanism illustrated by phantom lines but without showing its supporting plate;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the labeling head of Figure 6 taken from the reverse side;
Figure 8 is a central sectional view of the labeling head of Figure 6 taken along line 8-8 of Figure 6;
Figure 8a is a side view in a central section of 1~ the labeling head taken along line 8-8 of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of the labeling head of Figure 6 additionally showing the related pressurized air and vacuum supply system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring more particularly to the drawings, there as seen, in Figures 1 through 3, a label applying assembly 10. Assembly 10 includes a rotatable turret or wheel 12 which carriea a plurality of labeling heads 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26. These labeling heads are 2~ mounted through openings 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, and 27, respectively, each extending through wheel 12.
Rotatable wheel 12 is mounted concentrically with a stationary disk 40 which contains a cam track 42. Cam track 42 controls the orientation of labeling heads 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26 as they are rotated by wheel 12.
Each of the labeling Izeads is provided with a cam follower 44 which will be subsequently described in greater detail.
The constantly changing orientation of the labeling heads 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26 as wheel 12 rotates, and as 3~ the cam followers 44 travel in cam track 42 is best seen in Figure 2. Rotatable wheel or turret 12 is driven by a rotary drive means such as a shaft 37 driven through a gear box 35, which is coupled to a source of rotary poser such as an electric motor (not shown).
Also, seen in Figure 2, are a label dispensing _ 7 _ device 50 and a glue applicator 52. A supporting framework 54 for the device is also shown generally in Figure 2. A
pressurized air conduit 56 provides a means for supplying air pressure to the device through a central manifold 58 as will be subsequently described in greater detail.
The overall. operation of the labeling heads is best seen in Figure 4. As shown, the wheel or turret 12, usually driven by an electric motor or similar power source, rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow.
The orientation of the labeling heads is continually controlled by means o:E the action of the cam track 42 upon the cam followers 44. In Figures 4 and 5a labeling head 16 is shown adjacent to the label feeding or supplying device 50. Label supplying device 50 may be of a magazine-type, but more preferably is of a type wherein the series of labels are carried by a carrier web. The carrier web is caused to travel, in known fashion, around a sharp corner causing the individual labels to become separated at the dispensing point. Such devices are commercially available from the assignee herein under the trade name Autocol(R).
The cam track 42 is contoured so that as the labeling head travels past the label pick-up station, the cam provides the head with a zero velocity dwell at the label supplying device 50. Thus, each label 51 is accurately positioned in front of one of the labeling heads by label supplying device 50 and is successively picked up by one of the labeling heads 14-26. During the zero velocity dwell vacuum is applied through the labeling head to draw a label 51 into the label guide 91, which, as subsequently described, is funnel shaped so that the label 51 is seated centered precisely in the label applying head.
In a preferred embodiment, the cam track is contoured to enable each head to dwell adjacent to the label supplying dispenser 50 for approximately 10° of rotation of the turret 12.

g _ At the position occupied by head 14 in Figure 4 or 16 in Figure 5b), the orientation of the head is being rotated as shown by t:he arrows. Then, the labeling heads travel to the position occupied by head 26 in Figure 4 (or head 16 in Figure 5c). At this position the head is aligned with optical sensor 60. Optical sensor 60 is used to detect whether or not a label 51 is in place in each successive labeling head as it travels past the sensor 60.
If the sensor 60 dea ects the presence of a label, it electrically signals a hot-melt glue delivery applicator 52 to dispense, causing a jet of a controlled amount of glue to be fed hot through supply line 49, to be sprayed from the glue applicator device 52 onto the label 51 at the position occupied by head 16 in Figure 5d. At that position the cam 42 and cam follower 44 provide another zero velocity dwell o:r pause over the glue gun nozzle 53 so that a jet of hot melt glue is accurately applied to each label 51. Of course" if sensor 60 does not detect the presence of a label, the glue applicator is not signaled to apply glue to the labeling head.
As also seem in Figure 4, the containers 70 are conveyed by double stacked feed screws 72 and 74 which are provided with concave bottle moving screw threads 73 and 75, respectively. The cam track 42 causes the heads to remain in a vertical orientation throughout the positions occupied by heads 22 and 20 in Figure 4 (or 16 in Figure 5e). At the position occupied by head 22 in Figure 4, a centering bell 76, which forms part of the head 22, is caused to advance into a position over a container 70, thereby capturing the container 70 on the outer diameter of its neck and holdinc3 it positively in place for label application with the head 22 and bottle 70 continuing to travel in synchronization.
Once a container 70 is captured, a central piston 90 (Fig. 8) that is holding the label 51, with a hot glue _ g _ coating thereon, extends and places the label 51 onto the top of the container 70. In the position occupied by head 20 in Figure 4, the cc=ntering bell 76 has retracted thereby releasing the bottle 70. Each bottle 70, with a label 51 attached continues to be conveyed for further labeling or packaging. The heads, successively, then continue to travel back to the label dispensing station in front of label supplying device 50 to repeat the foregoing cycle The centering bell 7ES in fully retracted at that time in 1~ order to again expose: the guide 91 and pad 90 for pick up of another label 51. 1?referably the dimensions of the guide 91 and the individual labels 51 are selected so that the edges of the label 51 are supported by the interior of the guide 91 until the piaton 90 is advance to apply the label to a bottle.
While douk>le stacked screws constitute the preferred means for conveying the bottles 70 at a controlled rate of speed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art tl'nat various other conveyors could be substituted. Such conveyers include, for example, endless belt type conveyors, chain type conveyors, etc. Also, while the roll type label dispensing mechanism depicted herein is also preferred, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that alternate label supplying devices can be substituted. For example, stack fed device which includes a magazine such as that depicted in U.S. Patent No.
4,137,121 issued Jan. 30, 1979 the details of the stack feeding device of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The specific details of the labeling heads will be explained referring to Figures 6-9, inclusive. In these drawings, one of they labeling heads, 14, is shown for purposes of illustration. It will be understood that each of the other labeling heads is of similar construction. As shown, the labeling head 14 includes a base portion which carries the extendable-retractable centering bell 76.
Extension and retraction of the centering bell 76 is guided by a pair of laterally displaced guide rods 84, around which spiral springs 86 are provided to apply a yieldable biasing force to the downward movement of the centering bell 76 against botltles 70. Centering bell 76 is fully retracted during the: label pick up and glue application steps. In this manner the funnel-shaped label guide 91 and the end of piston 90 are presented toward the label 1~ dispensing device 50 and the glue applying nozzle 53.
As best seem in Figure 7, cam follower element 44 is carried on an arm 87 which is mounted on a shaft 88.
Shaft 88 is centrally mounted through housing 80. A
bushing 89 on shaft 88 is mounted in opening 23 of wheel 12. It will thus be appreciated that the tilting of centering bell 76 is controlled by the cam track 42 acting on cam follower 44 as track 42 curves so that the effective distance between cam track 42 and opening 23 varies, thereby requiring tilting of the labeling head 14. As previously noted, the cam track 42 is contoured to keep the head 14 perfectly vertical during the capture of a bottle 70 and the subsequent application of a label 51 thereto, as well as during rele<~se of each bottle 70. The pitch and rotational velocity of the feed screws 73 and 75 are provided and contro7Lled so that the velocity of each bottle 70 matches the: velocity at which the labeling heads 14-26 travel.
When head 1.4 is over the bottle 70, the centering bell 76 extends down onto the container which is captured 3~ on the outer diameter of its neck and locked positively in place. Once a container 70 is captured, piston 90, which is centrally mounted within centering bell 76, is caused to extend and to place a glue-coated label 51, which it is holding by means of vacuum, onto the top of the container 70. A bushing 92 between the central piston 90 and centering bell 76 gu<~rantees accurate label placement of label 51 onto the top of bottle 70 by serving to accurately align the top of the bottle 70 with the labeling head 14.
After the label 51 is applied and pressed into place by the piston 90, the piston 90 is retracted. Thereafter-the centering bell 76 retracts and releases the container 70.
Conduit 5Ei is connected to a source of pressurized air and provides pressurized air to the assembly 10. Air flowing through conduit 56 enters a 1~ rotary distributor 30 and flows into a manifold 34.
Manifold 34 distributes air to the various roller valves 98. The rollers of valves 98a, 98b and 98c are controlled by arms 106 which are: actuated by cams 36a, 36b, and 36c, respectively.
Air provided through conduit 95, actuated by cam 36a, causes retraction of centering bell 76. Conduit 99, shown in fragmentary fashion, provides air to the next successive labeling head. Thus conduit 99 provides air to the next head, 16, head 14 being shown in Figure 9 for purposes of illustration. Each of the heads 14-26 are, thus, provided with compressed air through a "daisy chain"
system, in similar fashion.
Also, as seen Figure 9, conduit 104 provides a supply of air to anot'.her roller valve 98b, actuated by cam 36b, which supplies air to a vacuum generator 108. When vacuum is generated by generator 108, the negative pressure or vacuum is supplied to the nozzle 90 to thereby hold the label 51, as best seen in Figure 8a. Compressed air, through conduit 96, flows into the vacuum generator 108 which draws air through conduit 116 and thus out from central bore 82 of the piston rod shaft integral with piston 92, thereby holding label 51 in place within the centering guide 91.
Cam 36c provides air to the system which extends and retracts the piston 90 to place label 51 into contact with the top of a bottle 70. Another roller valve 98c, controlled by cam 36c, is used to alternately provide compressed air through conduit 94 to extend piston 90, or, alternatively through conduit 97, to cause piston 90 to retract.
While the device is shown as being rotatable in a counterclockwise direction, it will be apparent that the components can also be arranged to provide for rotation in a clockwise direction. This choice is often dictated by the overall arrangement of the related bottling and labeling equipment in a plant.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the foregoing illustrative embodiment are possible. Thus, the invention also encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (25)

1. A labeling machine for applying labels successively to the top of each one of a succession of traveling containers comprising:
a conveyor for transporting a succession of upright containers, a labeling turret having a plurality of label applying heads, said turret being rotatable in a cycle around a central axis, said label applying heads being provided with a cam follower traveling on a cam surface and being positioned adjacent to said conveyor so that said label applying heads each successively engage one of said containers during each cycle of said turret, each label applying head traveling during each cycle to a position adjacent to a label dispenser where a label is picked up by said head, and, subsequently to a position adjacent said conveyor where said head is aligned over the top of one of said containers with a central vertical axis of said container, said cam and cam follower being arranged to cause said head to dwell in a vertically aligned position over said top of said container, and an actuator associated with said head whereby said label is applied to said top of said container.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said head includes a centering bell and an actuator therefor which causes said bel1 to extend downwardly to engage said container for application of a label thereto.

3. A machine according to claim 1 further comprising a detector which senses the presence of a label on each successive head as said heads are rotated by said turret.

4. A machine according to claim 3 further comprising a glue applicator positioned to apply glue to each label whose presence is detected by said detector.

5. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said conveyor comprises a double stacked timing screw whereby the velocity of the containers is accurately controlled.

6. A machine according to claim 2 wherein said head comprises a piston and an actuator which causes said piston to advance when said bell engages said container, thereby applying a label thereto.

7. A machine according to claim 1 wherein each of said heads comprises a central piston provided with connection to a vacuum source whereby vacuum is used to hold said label on said central piston.

8. A machine according to claim 7 wherein said cam and cam follower are configured to cause head to pause in a zero velocity dwell during continuing rotation of said turret for application of a label to said head.

9. A machine according to claim 8 wherein said head comprises a funnel-shaped guide and a source of vacuum whereby a label is accurately drawn by vacuum to a selected position in said head.

10. A machine according to claim 4 wherein said cam and cam-follower cause each said label-applying head to pause in a zero velocity dwell for application of glue thereto as said turret rotates.

11. A machine according to claim 5 comprising means to control the velocity of each of said heads during said vertical dwell over an associated one of said containers in synchronization with the velocity of said one container.

12. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said label supplying device comprises a magazine which feeds said labels from a stack of labels.

13. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said label supplying device comprises means for advancing a label-carrying web from a roll around a dispensing end around which the web is bent as it travels, thereby separating said labels from said web.

14. A container labeling assembly for applying labels to the ends of a succession of containers comprising a turret in the form of a flat, rotatable element mounted for rotation around a central axis, and having a plurality of openings therethrough around the perimeter thereof displaced from said axis, means to rotate said turret around said axis, a plurality of labeling head assemblies, each mounted rotatably through one of said openings, a stationary cam member mounted around said central axis and having an endless, curved cam track around a planer surface which faces said turret;
each of said labeling head assemblies, comprising a labeling head which is adapted to engage an end of a container, and a supporting shaft which extends through an associated one of said openings and an offset arm integral with said supporting shaft, said offset arm having a cam follower element offset from said shaft and positioned in said cam track, a conveyor for containers aligned with said labeling heads whereby upon rotation of said turret, each of said heads successively comes into a position over said conveyor during each cycle of said turret.

15. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said turret is adapted to rotate at a velocity such that the velocity of each labeling head moving over said conveyor equals the velocity of a succession of containers traveling on said conveyor.

16. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said head includes a centering bell and an actuator therefor which causes said bell to extend downwardly to engage said container for application of a label thereto.

17. An assembly according to claim 14 further comprising a detector which senses the presence of a label on each successive head as said heads are rotated by said turret.

18. An assembly according to claim 17 further comprising a glue applicator positioned to apply glue to each label whose presence is detected by said detector.

19. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said conveyor comprises a double stacked screw conveyor.

20. An assembly according to claim 16 wherein said head comprises a piston and an actuator which causes said piston to advance when said bell engages said container, thereby applying a label thereto.

21. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein each of said heads comprises a central piston provided with connection to a vacuum source whereby vacuum is used to hold said label on said central piston.

22. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said cam and cam follower are configured to cause head to pause in a zero velocity dwell during continuing rotation of said turret for application of a label to said head.

23. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said head comprises a funnel-shaped guide and a source of vacuum whereby a label is accurately drawn by vacuum to a selected position in said head.

24. An assembly according to claim 18 wherein said cam and cam-follower cause each said label-applying head to pause in a zero velocity dwell for application of glue thereto as said turret rotates.

25. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said cam track is arranged to cause each said head to dwell in a vertically aligned position over the top of a container, and an actuator associated with said head for advancing said head whereby said label is applied to said top of said container.