GB1597421A - Method and apparatus for applying labels to nonround containers - Google Patents

Description

(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LABELS TO NON-ROUND CONTAINERS (71) We, B & H MANUFACTURING COMPANY INC., a Corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of California, United States of America, of 3461 Roeding Road, Ceres, California 95307, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement.- This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the high speed application of labels to non-round containers, and is an improvement upon the apparatus disclosed in the specifications of United States Patent Nos. 3,765,991 and 4,108,710.

In the aforesaid patent specifications there are described machines for applying labels to round containers. Such machines typically utilize a rotary drum disposed between container receiving and container discharge stations for holding the containers and carrying them past a glue applicator station, and a vacuum drum bearing labels, each having its trailing end provided with a line of glue. The containers are gripped during this period to avoid rotation about their individual axes, whereby as each container is presented to the tangent point of contact with the vacuum drum, the leading end of each label held thereon is applied to the container at the glue line previously applied thereto. The container is then transported away from the vacuum drum and is caused to rotate about its axis at the container discharge station, which results in wrapping the label around the container.

The above described machines are obviously not suited to the application of labels to rectangular containers such as milk containers or the like, where each label is to be applied to a single flat surface of each container. Modification of such equipment, to adapt it for use with non-round containers, has resulted in labeling apparatus of a high degree of complexity. For example, releasable clamps, feed belts and the like have been required in the container feed mechanism of such apparatus. Substantial maintenance may also be required. Highly undesirable "downtime" for such maintenance and any necessary repairs may also be encountered.

The present invention provides a truly continuous high speed method and apparatus for application of labels to non-round containers while at the same time minimizing the complexity of the apparatus.

According to the present invention there is provided a label applying machine for applying labels to a face of a non-cylindrical container, such face presenting a relatively flat surface to the label applicator, said machine comprising: a rotary cylindrical vacuum drum rotatable about its cylinder axis and adapted to pick up, in succession, labels at a label receiving station, to grip each label received at such station on its cylindrical surface and to deliver the label to and release it at a label applying station, said drum having on its cylindrical surface which, in use of the machine, receives, holds and delivers the label a resilient compressible material for contact with the label; a continuous container feed adapted to convey containers in sequence to said label applying station with the relatively flat container face to be labeled tangent to the drum at such station, said drum and container feed being so arranged as, in use, to cause the label and the aforesaid face of the container to move in the same direction and at the same linear component of speed at the point of label application; and rotary roller means downstream from and close to the label applying station said roller means having a resilient surface and being so located that, in use of the machine, said resilient surface contacts each applied label as it is conveyed away from the label applying station and acts to smooth the applied label and apply it more securely and evenly to the container, said container feed comprising single conveyor means, adapted to engage the containers on the side thereof opposite the drum and to carry the containers past the roller means.

According to another aspect of the in vention there is provided a method of applying labels to non-round containers comprising feeding severed labels onto a rotating vacuum drum having a resilient outer portion, applying glue over the exposed surface of each label, and feeding non-round containers into tanagential relationship with the vacuum drum following application of the glue such that a label will be applied by pressure of the vacuum drum to a substantially flat surface of each container, the linear speed of the container feed being the same as the speed of the periphery of the vacuum drum, and passing the containers past rotating compression rollers having a resilient surface engaging the applied labels to smooth them and to apply them more securely to the respective containers, a single conveyor being used to pass the containers into tangential relationship with the drum and past the compression rollers.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an apparatus in accordance with this invention showing a helical screw feed mechanism for bringing the containers into tangential relationship with the vacuum drum for application of a label to a flat surface of each container; and Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but of a modification, in plan view, in which a star wheel is employed to feed containers into tangential relationship with the vacuum drum for application of labels to oval containers.

Referring now to Figure 1, the labeling apparatus is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a vacuum drum 11 on a shaft 1 la. A feed roller 12 on shaft 13 serves to supply a continuous label stock 14 which has been suitably printed. The label stock is then severed into individual labels 15 by a cutting mechanism including a rotary cutter -17 having knife 18 bolted to a support, and a stationary but oscillating knife 19 held in a holder 21. Knife 19 is pivoted out of the way during part of each cycle to allow passage of label stock 14, but is held stationary at the time of cutting, such oscillating operation being accomplished by the mechanism described below. A leaf spring (not shown) may be disposed behind the cutting mechanism to oscillate with the knife 19 and urge label stock toward both knives 19 and 18.Additionally, guide means 24 may be disposed in advance of the cutting means to ensure troubIe-free feeding of the label stock into such cutting means.

Pivoting of the knife holder 21 to and from the position shown in Figure 1 can be accomplished by any suitable means, for example, that shown at 147, 148 in Figure 9 of the specification of United States Patent No. 4,108,710, or by hydraulic cylinders, rods and stops. Similarly, oscillation of a leaf spring with the knife 19 can be as described in the above-mentioned patent specification No. 4,108,710.

Rollers 31 and 32 rotatable on shafts 33 and 34, respectively, grip label stock 14 just before an individual label 15 is cut therefrom and retain this grip until the leading end of the severed label is in contact with vacuum drum 11 and is held by vacuum thereon. Roller 31 is driven and roller 32 is an idler roller which may be biased against the driven roller by suitable biasing means.

Accordingly, label material 14 is fed by roller 12 through the cutting means, where it is severed into strips 15, and is then fed by rollers 31, 32 onto vacuum drum 11, which revolves to bring each label into contact with glue applicator 34. Glue is thereby applied over the exposed surface of each strip 15. The vacuum drum 11 has axial grooves 35 to recieve any excess glue that may be present.

Further revolution of vacuum drum 11 in a clockwise direction, as shown by the arrow, brings each label into tangential contacting relationship with substantially flat surface 37 of each container 38. The containers 38 are fed into tangential contact with vacuum drum 11 by means of helical screw 41. Conventional screw feed mechanisms can be employed, such as that described in the aforesaid Patent Specification No. 3,765,991. Screw portions 39 fit snugly against the walls of the containers, and screw shaft 40 similarly contacts the upper surface of the containers, to provide stabilizing support during the labeling operation.

The containers 38 are conveyed by conveyor 42 toward vacuum drum 11, the conveyor having an opening at 43 such that the glued label 15 can be revolved into contact with the underside of the container 38. The vacuum drum has resilient portion 44 for exerting sealing pressure against the label, the container 38 being held snugly between vacuum drum 11 and the lower surface 45 of shaft 40 until completion of tangential contact with the vacuum drum and return to the other side of conveyor 42, on the right.

A large resilient compression roller 46 and a substantially smaller compression roller 47, also resilient, are disposed immediately behind vacuum drum 11 for reinforcing the seal of each label against the flat surface 37 of each container 38.

The compression rollers 46, 47 are especially preferred for use in application where hot melt adhesive is used to bond the label 15 to the containers 38. However, any suitable adhesive, whether hot melt or cold adhesive, can be utilized.

Vacuum drum 11 is rotated at a speed in relation to the speed of the helical screw, such that each container 38 will be held relatively motionless with respect to the vacuum drum with the glue-containing label 15 held firmly therebetween to achieve the most effective contact between the label and the flat surface 37 of each container 38. That is to say, the linear component of motion of the surface of the container 38 is the same as the linear component of motion of the label 15 at the point of tangency of the label and the container.

Also, pressure will be applied by the vacuum drum over 1000/o of the surface area of the label. Accordingly, labels may be firmly bonded to containers such as one gallon milk containers in a continuous high speed procedure. Significantly the container feed mechanism, such as helical screw 41, maintains control of each container 38 throughout the entire labeling procedure; i.e., from the leftmost point of helical screw 41 to the rightmost point thereof. Further drive belts, clamping means or the like, as required in presently available apparatus for applying labels to non-round containers, are not necessary.

Referring now to Figure 2, a similar labeling machine is shown at 10a but is modified to handle oval containers 51.

Label material 14 is fed from a feed roller 12 through rotary cutting means and the strips held by vacuum drum 11 as in accordance with Figure 1, as well as the patent specifications mentioned above.

Similarly, glue applicator 34 applies a layer of glue to the exposed surface of each label 15. Oval containers 51 are fed in a tangential relation to vacuum drum 11 by means of star wheel 52 rotatable on shaft 53, with each container 51 being held firmly in position on the star wheel such that the side 54 of each container 51 will be brought into contacting tangential relationship with the vacuum drum 11, with the label 15 held snugly therebetween.

Vacuum drum 11 has a resilient portion 44, as noted in Figure 1, for applying sealing pressure to the label 15 against the side of the oval container 51.

The vacuum drum 11 is rotated in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 2) at a rate and the star wheel 52 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 2) at a rate such that each container 51 will be momentarily motionless with respect to the vacuum drum 11 with label 15 firmly pressed against side 54 of such container 51. That is to say, the linear component of motion of the surface of the container 51 is the same as the linear component of motion of the label 15 at the point of tangency of the label and the container. To perfect the sealing of the labels to the oval containers, compression rollers 55 and 56 are provided behind- the vacuum drum 11.The compression rollers 55, 56 are formed of resilient material, such as foam rubber capable of being deformed to allow pressure to be exerted upon the curving side portions 57 of each container 51. Polytetrafiouroethylene is preferably used to cover the compression rollers, as such material resists adhesion to glue. Accordingly, pressure is exerted over the entire length of the label 15 to securely bond it to the side of oval container 51, making possible a continuous high speed application of labels to such containers.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A label applying machine for applying labels to a face of a non-cylindrical container, such face presenting a relatively flat surface to the label applicator, said machine comprising: a rotary cylindrical vacuum drum rotatable about its cylinder axis and adapted to pick up, in succession, labels at a label receiving station, to grip each label received at such station on its cylindrical surface and to deliver the label to and release it at a label applying station, said drum having on its cylindrical surface which, in use of the machine, receives, holds and delivers the label a resilient compressible material for contact with the label; a continuous container feed adapted to convey containers in sequence to said label applying station with the relatively flat container face to be labeled tangent to the drum at such station, said drum and container feed being so arranged as, in use, to cause the label and the aforesaid face of the container to move in the same direction and at the same linear component of speed at the point of label application; and rotary roller means downstream from and close to the label applying station, said roller means having a resilient surface and being so located that, in use of the machine, said resilient surface contacts each applied label as it is conveyed away from the label applying station and acts to smooth the applied label and apply it more securely and evenly to the container, said container feed comprising single conveyor means, adapted to engage the containers on the side thereof opposite the drum and to carry the containers past the roller means.

2. A machine according to Claim 1, wherein the container feed conveyor means is a helical feed screw which is adapted positively to grip and to hold each container with its relatively flat surface in required relationship to the label at the label applying station and to the rotary roller

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   15 to the containers 38. However, any suitable adhesive, whether hot melt or cold adhesive, can be utilized.

   Vacuum drum 11 is rotated at a speed in relation to the speed of the helical screw, such that each container 38 will be held relatively motionless with respect to the vacuum drum with the glue-containing label 15 held firmly therebetween to achieve the most effective contact between the label and the flat surface 37 of each container 38. That is to say, the linear component of motion of the surface of the container 38 is the same as the linear component of motion of the label 15 at the point of tangency of the label and the container.

   Also, pressure will be applied by the vacuum drum over 1000/o of the surface area of the label. Accordingly, labels may be firmly bonded to containers such as one gallon milk containers in a continuous high speed procedure. Significantly the container feed mechanism, such as helical screw 41, maintains control of each container 38 throughout the entire labeling procedure; i.e., from the leftmost point of helical screw 41 to the rightmost point thereof. Further drive belts, clamping means or the like, as required in presently available apparatus for applying labels to non-round containers, are not necessary.

   Referring now to Figure 2, a similar labeling machine is shown at 10a but is modified to handle oval containers 51.

   Label material 14 is fed from a feed roller 12 through rotary cutting means and the strips held by vacuum drum 11 as in accordance with Figure 1, as well as the patent specifications mentioned above.

   Similarly, glue applicator 34 applies a layer of glue to the exposed surface of each label 15. Oval containers 51 are fed in a tangential relation to vacuum drum 11 by means of star wheel 52 rotatable on shaft 53, with each container 51 being held firmly in position on the star wheel such that the side 54 of each container 51 will be brought into contacting tangential relationship with the vacuum drum 11, with the label 15 held snugly therebetween.

   Vacuum drum 11 has a resilient portion 44, as noted in Figure 1, for applying sealing pressure to the label 15 against the side of the oval container 51.

   The vacuum drum 11 is rotated in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 2) at a rate and the star wheel 52 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 2) at a rate such that each container 51 will be momentarily motionless with respect to the vacuum drum 11 with label 15 firmly pressed against side 54 of such container 51. That is to say, the linear component of motion of the surface of the container 51 is the same as the linear component of motion of the label 15 at the point of tangency of the label and the container. To perfect the sealing of the labels to the oval containers, compression rollers 55 and 56 are provided behind- the vacuum drum 11.The compression rollers 55, 56 are formed of resilient material, such as foam rubber capable of being deformed to allow pressure to be exerted upon the curving side portions 57 of each container 51. Polytetrafiouroethylene is preferably used to cover the compression rollers, as such material resists adhesion to glue. Accordingly, pressure is exerted over the entire length of the label 15 to securely bond it to the side of oval container 51, making possible a continuous high speed application of labels to such containers.

   WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A label applying machine for applying labels to a face of a non-cylindrical container, such face presenting a relatively flat surface to the label applicator, said machine comprising: a rotary cylindrical vacuum drum rotatable about its cylinder axis and adapted to pick up, in succession, labels at a label receiving station, to grip each label received at such station on its cylindrical surface and to deliver the label to and release it at a label applying station, said drum having on its cylindrical surface which, in use of the machine, receives, holds and delivers the label a resilient compressible material for contact with the label; a continuous container feed adapted to convey containers in sequence to said label applying station with the relatively flat container face to be labeled tangent to the drum at such station, said drum and container feed being so arranged as, in use, to cause the label and the aforesaid face of the container to move in the same direction and at the same linear component of speed at the point of label application; and rotary roller means downstream from and close to the label applying station, said roller means having a resilient surface and being so located that, in use of the machine, said resilient surface contacts each applied label as it is conveyed away from the label applying station and acts to smooth the applied label and apply it more securely and evenly to the container, said container feed comprising single conveyor means, adapted to engage the containers on the side thereof opposite the drum and to carry the containers past the roller means.
2. 2. A machine according to Claim 1, wherein the container feed conveyor means is a helical feed screw which is adapted positively to grip and to hold each container with its relatively flat surface in required relationship to the label at the label applying station and to the rotary roller

   means.
3. 3. A machine according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the helical feed screw is adapted to convey the containers to, through and beyond the label applying station and said roller means in a straight line.
4. 4. A machine according to Claim 1, wherein said container feed conveyor means includes a rotary feed having pockets for transporting containers to, through and beyond the label applying station and said roller means, said pockets being adapted to act to hold the relatively flat surface of each container in required relationship to the label at the label applying station and to the rotary roller means.
5. 5. A machine according to any preceding Claim, wherein said rotary roller means comprises a pair of rollers one in advance of the other.
6. 6. A method of applying labels to nonround containers comprising feeding severed labels onto a rotating vacuum drum having a resilient outer portion, applying glue over the exposed surface of each label, and feeding non-round containers into tangential relationship with the vacuum drum following application of the glue such that a label will be applied by pressure of the vacuum drum to a substantially flat surface of each container, the linear speed of the container feed being the same as the speed of the periphery of the vacuum drum, and passing the containers past rotating compression rollers having a resilient surface engaging the applied labels to smooth them and to apply them more securely to the respective containers, a single conveyor being used to pass the containers into tangential relationship with the drum and past the compression rollers.
7. 7. A method according to Claim 6, wherein a helical screw is used to bring the non-round containers into tangential relationship with the vacuum drum.
8. 8. A method according to Claim 6, wherein a star wheel is used to bring the non-round containers into tangential relationship with the vacuum drum.
9. 9. A label applying machine constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
10. 10. A method of applying labels to nonround containers substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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