GB2188608A - Combination labelling and literature applying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for applying labels 2 and literature packets 35 to containers 7 includes a rotary drum 202, Figure 1 which is heated for activation of adhesive coatings provided on bands 18 to secure the packets 35 and labels 2. The drum is provided with mouthpieces 4 employing suction for holding literature packets 35, support bands 18, and labels 2. Dispensers are mounted peripherally around the drum at successive work stations 1, 17, 48 for transference of labels 2, bands 18, and literature packets 35 to the mouthpieces as the drum rotates. At a final work station, a conveyor 201 transports the containers 7 to the drum whereupon the bands and labels are secured to the containers during rotation of the containers between the drum and pressure pads 59 which engage the adhesive coatings to the outer surfaces of the containers. A photoelectric sensor 301 responds to the presence of a container 7 on the conveyor 201 and triggers a mechanism 302 to dispense a label 2. The presence of a label 2 on the drum closes a first vacuum actuated electric switch 206, Figure 6, to transmit a signal to a solenoid 31 to dispense a band 18. The presence of a band 18 on the drum closes a second vacuum actuated electric switch 210 to transmit a signal to a transfer roller 50 to dispense a literature packet 35. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Combination labelling and literature applying machine This invention relates to packaging equipment and, more particularly, to a system for applying labels and literature, such as folded matter, to the outside of primarily round containers. The literature may be secured by the label or by a separate adhesive band to the container.

The majority of containers used in the market place to store and distribute food, drugs, food supplements and other such items have a substantially round cross section and are generally closed by means of a closure, such as a screw cap, upon it. Information as to the contents of the container is generally provided by the use of a label adhered to the circumferential surface of the container. When still further information aboutthe product is required, such further information is provided by a folded literature packet, sometimes referred to as an outsert which is secured to the container.

A problem exists in that the securing of the lit eratureto the container may not be accomplished as readily and expenditiously as is desirable in packaging facilities employing automated equipment for the filling and the closure of containers. These automated packaging lines generally include a labelling machinefordecorating the containers and identifying the contents. The application of the outsertto the container often requires an additional piece of equipment which increases the required floor space ofthe packaging line. Alternatively, the literature may be affixedtothecontainer manually, as by a rubber band, this decreasing the efficiency of the packaging line.It is most desirable that the securing of the literature to the container be accomplished at a rate commensurate with the other steps in the packaging operation and at no increase in the physical length of the packaging line.

The foregoing problem is overcome and other advantages are provided by a system which incor porates the invention to combine the labelling and the literature applying functions. The literature is secured either by use of a label or an adhesive band.

The system includes means for applying a primary label, for cutting adhesive bands from a supply roll of the bands, for lifting a piece of literature from a supply of the literature, for applying the adhesive band to the literature, and then for securing the band and the literature to the container. The primary labels may be supplied from a hopper or from a continuous web. The preferred embodiment ofthe invention utilizes thermosensitive material for both the label and the band and, accordingly, employs means for heating the material to activate the adhesive.

Afeatureofthe invention is the use of a heated drum located adjacent a conveyor of the containers and having the supplies of labels, bands and literature disposed about the peripheral surface of the drum so asto allow the drum to pickup and carrythe labels, bands and literature packets from the supp- lies to the containers while simultaneously applying heat to the labels and the bands to activate their adhesive coatings.

Afurther feature of the invention is the construction ofthe drum as an assembly incorporating vacuum passages whereby suction can be applied to the labels, bands and literature packets to hold them on the peripheral surface of the drum. The drum is slidably and rotatably supported alongside a stationary valve plate having orifices for initiating and ter minatingsuction asthedrum rotatesalongthevalve plate, thereby to lift and to release the labels, bands and packets at the desired locations in the operation of the system.

In addition, detachable segments, referred to as mouthpieces, are provided with vacuum passages and are positioned along the peripheral surface of the drumforcarrying the labels, bands and packets.

The vacuum passages of the mouthpiece connect with the vacuum passages of the drum for communication ofthe suction to the labels, bands and packets. The outer surface of a mouthpiece is provides with a pocket configured for carrying a packet and other regionsforcarrying a label and aband.

The mouthpieces are interchangeable, the arrangement of the foregoing pocket and regions conform ingtothe layoutofthe label,the band andthelit- erature packet on the surface of the container.

The foregoing aspects and the other features ofthe invention are explained in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure lisa top plan view of the labelling and literature banding system incorporating the invention, the view including the heated label drum, a simplified view of a label dispensing mechanism, a band dispensing mechanism, and a simplified view of a literature dispensing mechanism; Figure 2 is an enlarged isometric view of a mouthpiece showing the placement of a label, band and literaturethereon,the mouthpiece being carried by the drum of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the location of the label and the literature packet secured by the band on atypical container, the label and the band adheringtothesur- face of the container by a thermosensitive adhesive;; Figure 4 is an enlarged isometric view of an alternative mouthpiece showing an alternative labelling arrangement in which the label itself is used to securethe literature packet withoutthe use of a separate band for encompassing the literature packet and securing it to the container; Figure 5shows a view of a container having a literature packet secured thereto by a label, the attachment ofthe label and packet being accomplished with the mouthpiece of Figure 4; Figure 6is a top plan view of a valve plate constructed as a stationary vacuum ring disposed above the drum of Figure iforcontrollingasequenceof operations in lifting and releasing the label, the band and the packet by the mouthpieces of either Figures 2 or4;; Figures 7A, 7B and 7Cshow, respectively, top, sectional and bottom views of an insertforthevacuum ring of Figure 6, the vacuum ring and the insertcoacting as the valve plateforthe drum of Figure i,the insert being selected for adjusting the suction in ac cordance with the physical sizes of the label and the band; Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of the lower left mouthpiece carrying a literature packet disclosed in Figure 6;; Figures9A, 9Band 9Cshow, respectively, atop plan view, a right side view and an axial sectional view of a wheel portion of the drum of Figure 1, disclosing suction passages extending sideways, in the direction of the drum axis, beneath the label and the band carrying regions and connecting therewith, and wherein the view of Figure 9C is taken along the line 9C-9C in Figure 9A.

Figures lOA and lOB are top 89 plan and side (particallysectioned) views of a vacuum chamber ring portion of the drum having radially directed vacuum passages of differing lengths for connecting specific ones of the axial passages of Figure 9 with individual sector vacuum passages of the valve plate of Figure 6;and Figures 1 lA and 1 lB are plan and side views ofa vacuum supply porting plate which sits above adjacentthe ring of Figures 10Aand 10B and on top ofthe valve plate of Figure 6, closes offthe sectorvacuum passages of the valve plate, and incorporates ports forthe connection of an external source of vacuum to the vacuum passages.

With reference to Figures 1-8, there is shown a labelling and literature dispensing and banding system 200 incorporating the invention for securing labels and literature to the sides of containers 7 by means of thermosensitive adhesive. The literature is arranged as a packet 35 which is secured to a container7 by either a band or label coated with a thermosensitive adhesive. The system 200 is utilized in conjunction with a conveyor 201 of the containers 7 and includes a rotatable heated drum 202 disposed alongside the conveyor 201 for applying the labels and the literature to the container 7. The novel features ofthe invention may be better understood with reference to the specific details of the construction of the system 200 as is now presented.

The system 200 comprises a known label supply system 1 (such as a system manufactured by New Jersey Machine Inc., Fairfield, NewJersey) to provide a primary label 2via an intermittently rotating label transfer drum 3 to the label-applying drum 202.

An outer peripheral portion 15 ofthe drum 202 incorporates a plurality of detachable and interchangeable segments, to be referred to as mouthpieces 4for carrying labels, literature and bands. A set of six of the mouthpieces are provided byway of example in the embodiment of the applying drum 202 shown in Figure 1. A primary label 2 is securely held to the outer surface 5 of a mouthpiece 4 by means of vacuum supplied by a known source via suction holes in the outer surface 5 ofthe mouthpiece 4, there being a set of the suction holes distributed aboutthe surface 5 to engage the entire surface of the primary label 2. Timing of the vacuum action (onoff) is regulated by a stationary vacuum timing valve plate 6 (Figure 6) which is interposed between the source ofvacuum and the applying drum 202.Awellknown sensor 301, such as a photoelectric sensor, is responsive to the presence of a container 7 on the conveyor 201 fortriggering a mechanism 302 ofthe supply system 1 to dispense a label for the container 7.

The operation of the banding system 200 follows a sequence of steps which is readily described with re reference to Figure 1. Upon the approach of a container 7 to the applying drum 202, a primary label 2 is dispensed by the supply system 1 to a mouthpiece 4 as the mouthpiece 4 is carried by the drum 202 pastthe exit port of the supply system 1. The valve plate 6 administers suction via passages (to be explained with referenceto Figures 9-10) in the drum 202tothe mouth piece 4 for I if ting the label 2 away from the transfer drum 3 and holding the label against suction holes 208 in theface ofthe mouthpiece 4.The mouthpiece 4 continues to travel and passes a band dispensing system 17 wherein a further application of suction secures a band to the mouthpiece 4. Still furthertravel of the mouthpiece 4 brings itto alit- erature dispensing mechanism 48 wherein a further application of suction secures a literature packet 35 to the mouthpiece 4. The applying drum 202 is heated by conventional means (not shown), and the heat of the drum 202 permeates the adhesive coating of the label and the band so as to activate the coating.

Upon still further rotation of the applying drum 202, the mouthpiece 4 approaches the container 7whereupon the vacuum is released by the valve plate 6 and the adhesive coating contacts the outher surface of the container 7 for lifting the label, band and literature away from the mouthpiece and securing the label, band and literature to the container7.

Figures 9-11 present details in the constructions of the applying drum 202 and the valve plate 6 associated therewith. Figures 9A-9C show-a plan view, a fragmentary elevation view, and a sectional view along the drum axis ofthe portion of the drum 202 which carries the mouthpiece 4, the mouthpieces being deleted in the figures to better disclose suction passages 303 which lay beneath the mounting surface 15 in a wheel portion 305 ofthe drum 202, upon which surface 15 set the mouthpieces 4. The passages 303 apply vacuum to suction holes 306, which suction holes couple with the suction holes 208 of the mouthpieces 4.The passages 303 extend parallel to the axis ofthe drum 202 to exitthewheel portion 305 and to couple with radially extending vacuum passages 307 of a ring portion 308 (Figures 1 OA-1 OB) ofthe drum 202. The ring portion 308 ofthe drum 202 provides vacuum connection between the passages 303 of the wheel portion 305 and arcuate carrying ports 46,32,63,45 and 57, as well as ports 12,14,16, 41,44,47 and 55 ofthe valve plate 6 (Figure 6). Each ofthe carrying ports 46,32,63,45 and 57 is formed as an apertured channel wherein the channel com municatesvacuum among a set of apertures which serve for the coupling of vacuum to the mouthpieces 4. The ring portion 308 and the wheel portion 305 rotate together as an integral assembly. The radial passages 307 are of differing lengths, the inner ends of the passages 307 terminating at respective ones of the channels of the carrying ports 46,32,63,45 and 57 thereby permitting individual ones ofthe carrying ports 46, 32, 63, 45 and 57 to selectively control specific groups of the suction holes 208 in a mouth p iece 4. The top portions of the carrying ports 46,32, 63,45 and 57 are closed off by a vacuum supply plate 309 (Figures 1 1A-1 1 B),the supply plate 309 being set on top of and forming an integral assembly with the valve plate 6. The supply plate 309 also incorporates ports 310 bywhich vacuum hoses 311 (indicated schematically) connect the valve plate 6 with a source of vacuum 312.

The construction of valve plates and their connection with drums having suction portstherein iswellknown, the foregoing description being provided to show the specific structural arrangement employed in a preferred embodiment of the invention. In part- icular, it is noted that the plurality of concentric carrying ports 46,32,63,45 and 57 and the coupling thereto of the radial passages 307 of differing lengths provide for simulteneous and independent control of the suction applied to the front edge of a label (FEL) and the tail end of a label (TEL) for precise acquisition and release of a label, band, and literature packet.

Use ofthe insert 60 (Figures 7A-7C) provides for elongation of the carrying ports 46,32,63,45 and 57 into respective ones of a set ofsupply channels 65 in the insert 60so as to adjust the spatial distribution of active suction holes 208 in a mouthpiece 4to accommodate labels and bands of differing lengths.

The insert 60 sets within the cavity 61 (Figure 6) and within the cavity61 ' (Figure 11A).

Further details in the operation and in the com ponents of the banding system 200 are now described with reference to the Figures 1 -8. With respect to the supplying of labels 2 from the supply system 1 to the applying drum 202, the label transfer drum 3 rotates the primary label 2 from the receiving position at8 (indicated atthe plate of the vacuum valve 10 ofthe drum 3 in Figure 6) to the release position 9 of the transfer drum 3 (similarly indicated in Figure 6).

The label 2 is held on the transfer drum 3 during this transition by means of vacuum from a known source, such as the source312, controlled by the vacuum valve 10. The vacuum valve 10 is stationary and is located beneath the rotating transfer drum 3. As the frong suction holes 323 (Figure 6) ofthe label transfer drum 3 reach the release position 9 of the vacuum valve 10, the FEL port 11 ofthe mouthpiece 4 reaches the pick-up port 12 ofthe circular row of vacuum ports 304 (Figure 6) in the FEL row ofthe timing valve plate 6. The resulting actuation of the vacuum trans fers thefront edge of the primary label 2from the transfer drum 3 to the mouthpiece 4.As the applying drum 202 continues to rotate beneath the stationary valve plate 6with the same peripheral speed as the peripheral speed ofthetransfer drum 3,further port ions of the label 2 aretransferred to the mouthpiece4 and are held in place by suction. The suction is app lied via the holes 208 associated with the TEL port 13 (Figure 8) ofthe mouthpiece 4, with control ofthe vacuum being provided by the pick-up port 14 (Figure 6) ofthe circular row of vacuum ports 304 at the TEL row of the vacuum timing valve plate 6. The ports 304 are located in the carrying ports 32,46,45, 57 and 63 and function as orifices to prevent loss of vacuumwhena mouthpiece4carries no label.

With further rotation ofthe applying drum 202 be neath the valve plate 6, the FEL port 11 (Figure 8) of the mouthpiece 4 reaches the label sensing port 16 (Figure 6) ofthe valve plate 6, and the TEL port 13 of the mouthpiece 4 reaches a carrying port 32 (Figure 6) of the TEL row of ports 304 ofthevalve plate 6. The label sensing port 16 is connected to a source of vacuum through an orifice 325 (indicated diagrammatically in Figure 6) which is smaller in area than the combined areas ofthe vacuum holes 208 (Figures 2 and 8) connecting the FEL port 11 ofthe mouthpiece 4to its outer surface 5. Avacuum actua- ted switch 206 is indicated diagrammatically in Figure 6, such a switch being manufactured by the Barksdale Company. The switch 206 is situated between the orifice 325 and the outer surface 5 ofthe mouthpiece 4.The switch 206 includes electrical contacts 326 which close the circuit of electric wires 327 upon actuation ofthe switch 206 by the application of the vacuum to the switch 206. The presence of the label 2 covering the foregoing suction holes 208 create a vacuum in the port 16 resulting in a closing of the contacts 326 of the switch 206 and a transmission of an electric signal to the band dispensing system 17 to initiate operation for the dispensing of a band 18tothe applying drum 202.

The band dispensing system 17 comprises a supply roll 19 of a band 20 having athermallysensit- ive adhesive layer. The band 20 is drawn from the roll 19 bythe combined action of a feed roll 21 and a pressure roll 22 which is spring-loaded for contacting the feed roll 21. Pressure ofthe roll 22 againstthe roll 21 provides for secure frictional contact between the band 20 and the roll 21 for accurate drawing of the band 20 by the roll 21. A portion ofthe band 20 which is fed by the roll 21 is then passed onto a rotary knife 23 and a mating cutting edge 24 which cuts offa predetermined length of the band.The operation of the knife 23 is synchronized with the operation ofthe roll 21 so asto provideforthe cutting ofthe band at the appropriate instants of time corresponding to the desired lengths of band. The mechanism for the operation of a rotary knife 23 with its mating cutting edge 24, as well as devices for the synchronization of such mechanisms with the rotation of feed rolls, are well-known and have been deleted from the figures so as to facilitate the portrayal ofthe essential elements ofthe system 200.

In the construction of the feed roll 21, the outer peripheral surface is structured to two portions 25 and 26, the portion 25 having an extended radius while the portion 26 has a reduced radius. Thereby, the portion 25 makes contact with the pressure roll 22 while the portion 26 is sufficiently retracted so asto avoid contact with the roll 22. The roll 22 is carried by an arm 28 which is pivotally mounted between two stops 30 and 33 which limittheamountofpivoting.

An end of the arm 28 opposite the roll 22 connects with a spring 29 and an electrically operated solenoid 31 which induce, respectively, a counterclockwise rotation against the stop 30 and a clockwise rotation againstthe stop 33. The portion 26 of the peripheral surface ofthe feed roll 21 is retracted sufficiently such that there is no contact with the pressure roll 22 even when the arm 28 is in the extreme position againstthe stop 33.

Accordingly, there is a drawing ofthe band 20 by thefeed roll 21 only du ring the interval -of time assoc- iated with the contact between the peripheral surface portion 25 and the roll 22, there being no drawing of the band 20during the duration oftimewhenthe peripheral surface portion 26 is facing the pressure roll 22. The dispensing system 17 includes a drag pad 27 which contacts the band 20 so as to provide a retarding frictional force against which force the feed roll 21 must pull. The retarding force of the drag pad 27 insures that movement of the band 20 stops during the interval oftime when the surface portion 26 is facing the pressure roll 22.The force of the spring 29 tends to bias the arm 28 againstthe stop 30 forseparating the rolls 21 and 22, thereby preventing the forward motion ofthe band 20. However, when the presence of a label 2 on the mouthpiece 4 creates a vacuum in the sensing port 16 (Figure 6), the resulting closure of the contacts 326 ofthe vacuum operated switch 206 energizes the solenoid 31 via the wires 327. The energization of the solenoid 31 overcomes the force ofthe spring 29 and urges the arm 28 into the operating position against the stop 33.

The portion 34 ofthe band 20 (Figure 1) which is cut off by the rotating knife 23 protrudes beyond the knife 23 and becomes an encompassing band 18for attachment of a literature packet 35 to the container7 as portrayed in Figure 3. The band portion 34 is transferred from its cut-off position bythe band transfer roll 36 which rotates in synchronism with the movement ofthe mouthpiece 4. The synchronous rotation of all ofthe rotating elements, the feed roll 21,the rotating knife 23, and the band transfer roll 36 is achieved via well-known means, not shown in the drawing. The peripheral speeds of the rotating elements described above are equal to the peripheral speed of the outer surface 5 of the mouthpieces 4.

During the acquisition of the band portion 34 by the mouthpiece 4, the front edge ofthe band portion 34 is held by vacuum to the band transfer roll 36. The foregoing vacuum in the transfer roll 36 is actuated when suction holes 37 in the transfer roll 36 are loc ated in the pick-up position 38 (Figure 6) ofthe vacuum valve 39, the vacuum valve 39 being located beneath the transfer roll 36 and communicating therewith for controlling the vacuum thereof.

Upon further rotation of the applying drum 202, the port40 (Figure8) ofthe mouthpiece4associated with the front edge of the band (FEB) reaches the pick-up port41 (Figure 6) ofthe circular row of vacuum porting holes (FEB row) ofthevalve plate 6.

At the same time, the suction holes 37 in the transfer roll 36 reach the transfer position 42 (Figure 6) ofthe transfer-roll vacuum valve 39. Thereupon, the band portion 34 is transferred from the transfer roll 36 to the mouthpiece seg ment 4 to becometheen- compassing band 18. The front edge ofthe band 18 is held in contact with the outer surface 5 ofthe mouth piece 4 by a vacuum applied through the suction holes 208 connecting the FEB port 40 of the mouthp iece 4to the outer surface S,With still further rotation of the applying drum 202 beneath the vacuum valve plate 6, the drum 202 progressively accepts further portions of the band 18 into contact with the outer surface 5 ofthe mouthpiece 4.These further portions of the band 18 are held in contact with the outersurface 5 by the vacuum present in the suction holes 208 connecting the tail end of band (TEB) port 43 ofthe mouthpiece 4to the outer surfaceS. The vacuum is supplied to the TEB port43 from the valve plate 6 by way of the pick-up port 44 of the circular row of ports 304 (TEB row). Thereafter, the vacuum is supplied from the carrying ports 45 ofthe same row of the valve plate 6. During the foregoing rotation ofthe drum 202 the FEL port 11 of the mouthpiece 4 associated with the next label 2 has advanced in position.

The FEL port 11 has moved from the location wherein it received its vacuum from the label sensing port 16 of the FEL row of the valve plate 6 to the carrying port 46 of the same row. The carrying ports 45,46 now supply vacuum through the ports 304.

With still further rotation of the applying drum 202 the FEB port 40 ofthe mouthpiece 4 becomes coupled via the vacuum passages to the band sensing port47 ofthe valve plate 6. Following an operational procedure similar to that described above for the label sensing port 16, the band sensing port47 is connected to the source of vacuum through an orifice 209 (indicated diagrammatically in Figure 6) which is smaller in area than the combined areas of the vacuum holes 208 connecting the FEB port 40 to the outer surface 5 ofthe mouthpiece 4. A second vacuum switch 210 (of the same construction as the switch 206) is situated between the orifice 209 and the outer surface 5 ofthe mouthpiece 4.The presence of an encompassing band 18 covering the suction holes 208 creates a vacuum in the port47, thereby actuating the switch 210 to those electrical contactsforgenerating an electric signal which ac tivatesthe literature dispensing mechanism 48 (Figure 1). Upon further rotation ofthe drum 202, the FEB port 40 becomes coupled to the FEB carrying port 63 ofthe valve plate 6.

The literature dispensing mechanism 48 comprises a literature hopper 49 and a transfer roller 50 for carrying literature packets 35 from the hopper 49 to a mouthpiece 4. In operation, the signal from the vacuum switch 210 activates the literature transfer roller50to extract the terminal literature packet 35 from the hopper 49 by means of suction cups211 disposed on the transfer roller 50. The vacuum is channelled to the suction cups 211 via a stationary timing vacuumvalve 51,thevacuum valve 51 being located beneath the transfer roller 50 and communicating therewith for controlling the vacuum thereof.The transfer roller50 is driven in synchronism with the motion ofthe applying drum 202, and is driven further by an intermittent motion device (not shown) such as a well-known cyclo-index drive. The well-known intermittent motion device is further provided with a well-known lateral motion drive which positions the transfer roller in proximity with the literature hopper so asto be in a suitable position to pick up a literature packet 35 (Figure 1).

When the appropriate vacuum passage of the transfer roller 50 is located at the pick-up position 52 of the timing vacuum valve 51,thevacuum is coupled from the valve 51 to the roller 50 for applying suction atthe suction cup 211 on the roller 50. As the mouthpiece4 approaches the location for the transfer of literature from the roller 50 to the mouthpiece 4, the literature transfer position 53 of the timing valve 51 terminates suction by the roller SO to permit transfer ofthe packet 35 to the mouthpiece 4.By virtue ofthe synchronous movement of the mouthpiece 4 and the transfer drum 35, and as the transfer roller 50 reaches the transfer position, the literature port 54 of the mouthpiece 4 becomes connected to the source of vacuum via the literature pick-up port 55 ofthe circular row of ports 304, namely the LIT row in the valve plate 6 of Figure 6. Thereby, the literature packet 35 is transferred from the roller 50 to the recessed pocket 56 of the mouthpiece 4 and held therein byvacuum holes 213 (Figure 8) extending from the literature port 54 to the surface of the pocket 56. Upon further rotation of the drum 202, the literature port 54 in the mouthpiece 4 becomes connected to the source ofvacuum via the literature carrying port 57 of the LIT row of vacuum ports ofthe valve plate 6.Thereby, there has been a release ofthe literature packet 35 from the transfer roller 50 to the pocket 56 of the mouthpiece 4. The respective timing valves have terminated the suction to the transfer roller 50 and have initiated the suction to the pocket 56 so as to accomplish the foregoing release ofthe packet 35 and its acquisition to the pocket 56.

With reference now to Figures 2 and 8, the details of construction of the mouthpiece 4 are more fully explained. The mouthpiece 4 is a segment of a ring of heatconducting materials such as aluminum.The mouthpiece 4 has an inner arcuate surface 58 which is machined so that the surface is in airtight contact with the outer peripheral surface 15 of the heated drum 202, thereby to achieve heat transmission between the wheel portion 305 of the drum 202 and the mouthpiece 4. The mating of the foregoing two surfaces also reduces any vacuum loss to a minimum across the interface between the wheel portion 305 of the drum 202 and the mouthpiece 4.The outer such face 5 of the mouthpiece 4 carries the primary label 2 and the encompassing band with thethermosensitively coated surfaces of the label and band fac ing outwardly from the drum 202. The heat of the drum 202 renders these outwardlyfacing surfaces to be stickyforsubsequent adherence to a container 7.

The vacuum cavities 11,13,40,43 and 54 (Figure 8) formed in the surface 58 of a mouthpiece 4 are con nected through individual vacuum passages 303 and 307 (Figures9and 10) inthedrum 202to the respect- ive vacuum porting holes arranged in the concentric rows (FEL, TEL, FEB, TEB, LIT) in the valve plate 6 of Figure 6. Vacuum suction holes 208 drilled through the wall ofthe mouthpiece 4from the outer surface S to the foregoing vacuum cavities are arranged in a pattern to suitthe specific combination of primary label 2, encompassing band 18 and literature packet 35 as determined by the requirement of the customer and the geometry ofthe container7.As shown in the example of Figure 2, the first vertical row of suction holes 208 underthe primary label 2 are connected to the FEL port 11 (Figure 8), the remaining vertical rows underthe primary label being connected to the TEL port 13 of the mouthpiece 4.

During the operation of applying the primary label 2,the encompassing band 18, and the literature packet 35 to the container7, the container 7 rolls (as will be described subsequently) along the outer surface 5 of the mouthpiece 4, and is forced into contact with the surface of a curved pressure pad 59 (Figure 1). Therefore, the outer surface 5 carrying the primary label 2 with the encompassing band 18 and the packet 35 together must form a smooth circular applying surface to facilitate the rolling of the container 7 along the surfaces of the pad 59 and the drum 202.The smooth outer surface of the mouthp iece4isattained by elimination of a protrusion ofthe literature packet 35 beyond the outer surface 5, this being accomplished by providingfora recessing of a literature pocket 56 into the outer surface 5. The size (width and height) of the packet 56 is slightly larger in dimension than the packet 35. The position ofthe pocket 56 in the mouthpiece 4 is determined by the position of the literature packet 35 on the container 7.

The depth of the pocket 56 is recessed by an amount corresponding to the depth of the packet so thatthe outer surface of the literature packet 35 and the outer surface 5 of the mouthpiece 4 blend into a con tinuoussmooth circular surface.

The leading edge ofthe encompassing band 18 is held to the outer surface 5 of the mouthpiece 4 by suction holes 208 connected to the FEB port 40 (Figure8).Thetrailing portion oftheencompassing band 18 is first deposited into the bottom of a cavity 56, and held there by suction holes 212 connected to theTEB port 43 and the balanceofthetrailing portion surfaces at the bottom of the cavity. The end portions ofthe band 18 are held against the outer surface 5 of the mouthpiece 4 by additional suction holes 208 connected to the TEB port43 (Figures 2 and 8). Thus, the packet 35 is placed in the pocket 56 over the underlying portion ofthe band 18 and held in place by suction holes 213 connected tothe LIT port 54 (Figure 8).

Upon further rotation ofthe drum 202 carrying the primary label 2,the band 18, and the packet 35 on the outer surface 5 of a mouthpiece 4, the mouthpiece 4 approaches the next work station. At this station, the container 7 sets upon the conveyor 201 for receiving the primary label 2. The movements of the conveyor 201 and the drum 202 result in a capturing ofthecontainer 7 between the outer surface 5 ofthe mouthpiece 4 and the stationary curved pressure pad 59. The frictional contact between the container 7 and the drum 202 along with the pad 59 induces rotation of the container 7.As the mouthpiece 4 continues its advance, the front edge of the primary label 2 is adhered to the rotating container 7 and, simu ltaneously, the vacuum holding the front edge of the label2iscutoffbytheterminusoftheFELsupply channel 65 of the timing insert 60 (Figure 7). The in serf 60 is configured to fit airtight into the aforementioned corresponding cavity 61 of the valve plate 6 and cavity61 in the vacuum supply plate 309 to provide secure passages for the vacuum.

Breather holes 62 are located adjacent the ends of the respective arcuate supply channels 65 (namely, FEL,TEL,FEB,TEB, LIT) in the insert 60 which are extensions of the respective carrying ports 32,45,46, 57 and 63 ofthe corresponding circular rows in the valve plate 6. The breather holes 62 are either con necked to a compressed air supply from a known sourcevia an air manifold 64 in the insert 60, orare connected to the surrounding atmosphere to hasten the depletion of the residual vacuum in the respective ports 11, 13,40,43 and 54 to insure essentially instantaneous release ofthe carried medium (label, band, literature).

Continuing rotation of the applying drum 202 with its mouthpiece 4 will successively adhere the balance of the primary label 2, the front edge of the encompassing band 18, the literature packet 35, and the tail end of the encompassing band 18 onto the circu mferential surface ofthe rotating container 7. re- leasing of the holding vacuum of each correspond ingvacuum portinthe mouthpiece4istimed bythe ending of the corresponding supply channel 65 in the timing insert 60 in co-operation with the action of the associated breather holes 62 as described above for the release of the front edge of the label. Thefinished productofthe above procedure is illustrated in the labelling of the container7 of Figure 3.

With reference to the operation ofthe conveyor portions of the system 200 in co-operation with the rotation ofthe drum 202, it is noted that a series of the containers 7 is located on the conveyor 201 with the containers 7 being spaced apart by means of a timing worm 203. The spacing of the containers 7 is equal to the distances between successive ones of the mouthpieces 4 about the periphery of the drum 202. Additional compressive force is applied to each finished decorated container 7 by rotating the container 7 through a cooperating moving pressure belt 204 and a stationary resilient pressure pad 205.

In view ofthe foregoing description of the invention, it is readily appreciated that a containertravel- ling along a conveyor can receive a label and literaturewhich is banded secu rely to the outer surface ofthecontainer. In addition,the mounting of the mouthpiece segments 4 on the heated drum 202 provide for the ready transfer of labels, of sections of banding material, and of pieces of literature from their respective dispensers to be applied to the container.

Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative labelling arrangementwherein a single large primary label 2' is placedwithin a pocket 56 in lieu ofthe band 18 of Figure 2. Thereby, upon transference of the primary label 2' to the container7, the label 2' secures a literature packet 35' to the outer surface of the container 7 as depicted in FigureS. Thereby, the primary label 2' servesthe dual function of labelling and of securing the literature. The foregoing arrangement is readily accomplished by arranging the components of a mouthpiece 4' to accommodate the arrangement and physical sizes of the elements (the label and the literature packet) which are to be secured to the container.In addition, the passages of the valve plate 6 (Figure 6) would be modified so as to initiate and ter minatethevacuum in accordance with the positions of the front and trailing edges of the primary label 2'.

Byway offurther embodiments of the invention, it isto be noted that if portions of the primary label 2' (Figure 4) oroftheencompassing band 18 (Figure2) are thermally isolated by known means so as to be insulated from the heat of the drum 202, the isolated portions will not become activated and, hence, not be sticky. This provides a means for securing the literature without having the literature stick to the band or to the label. With this arrangement, the underlying literature can be held to the container byfrictional pressure between the encompassing medium and the container only, thereby allowing the literature to be removed without the destruction ofthe encompassing medium.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiments ofthe invention are illustrative only, and that modifications thereof may occurto those skilled in the art. Accordingly, this invention is not to be regarded as limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, but is to be limited only as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (1)

1. In a system for applying a label and literature to the exteriorsurface of a container, the system comprising: a drum rotatably mounted between a setofwork stations, a first of said stations being a dispenser of bands onto said drum, a second of said stations being a dispenser of literature packetsfordispensing said packets onto said drum, a said band and a said packet being applied to the container at a third of said stations, and a dispenser of further strips of adhesive material at a fourth of said stations, said further strips being labels; means for conveying the containerto said drum at said third work station fortransfer of a said band and a said packet to the container: the system characterised in that it includes sensor means responsive to the presence of a said container on said conveying means and in that itfurther includes means respon size to said sensor means for placing a said band on said drum at said first station and a said packet on said drum at said second station only when said sensor means senses the presence of a said con taineron said conveying means, said means respon size to said sensor means including a mechanism which dispenses a said label when said sensor means senses a said container, a first electric switch which is closed when a said label is dispensed onto said drum atsaid fourth station, the closing of said first switch transmitting an electric signal to the band dispenser to dispense a said band onto said drum at said first station, and a second electric switch which is closed when a said band is dispensed onto said drum at said first station, the closing of said second switch transmitting an electric signal to the literature packetdispenserto dispense a said packet onto said drum at said second station.