MX2008009162A - Method and apparatus for labeling containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A label for a container is formed by wrapping a length of label material around a cylindrical mandrel and introducing heat, adhesive or other sealing means into a gap between the leading end portion of the label material and the trailing end portion as the label material is wrapped around the mandrel. The cylindrical sleeve is slid off of the mandrel and telescoped over a container passing thereunder. The container with a cylindrical sleeve therearound is then moved to a heating station which heats the label material, preferably foam polystyrene, to cause it to shrink into conformity with the contour of the container.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LABELING PACKAGING CROSS REFERENCE WITH RELATED APPLICATION This request is based on and claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60 / 760,850 filed on January 20, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has long been known to apply plastic or other heat-shrinkable labels to bottles and other containers by wrapping a length of heat shrinkable label material around a container, to form a sleeve around the container and then heating the sleeve to causing it to shrink in interfacial engagement with the side wall of the container. In the formation of the shirt it is important to have a good seal in the union. This is achieved by overlapping the edges and sealing the inner surface of a short portion adjacent an edge of the outer surface of a short portion adjacent to the other edge either by solvent, adhesive or heat seal. See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 5,415,721, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. According to a widely used process, a A stretch of label material is wrapped around a mandrel and sealed. The sealed sleeve is then placed on the package from the top or bottom. The package and the label are then exposed to heat, causing the jacket of the label material to shrink to the contour of the package. Since a separate mandrel was used to form the sleeve, the sleeve must be placed in conspicuously complex containers and then shrunk. According to another prior art process, a stretch of label material is wrapped around the container, an adhesive is used to seal the leading and trailing edges of the label together and the combination is then heated to shrink the sleeve to the container which forms the label. Although this system provides a low cost method for applying a shrinkable label to the container, it is limited to containers that have practically cylindrical shapes. Thus, in this case, the label material was wrapped around the package and sealed using the package as a wrapping mandrel in contrast to the previously described process in which the shirt was formed by wrapping a length of label material around it. of a mandril. In the first process described, a large, expensive machine was needed to perform the tasks required. In a series of such machines, hot sealing bars were used to seal the leading and trailing edges to form the joint of the sleeves in the mandrel. In a modification of the mandrel process, hot air was directed to the desired sealing area. In both cases (hot rod, hot air) the complexity of the sealing system not only required expensive mechanical systems, the change over the size or design of the container to another required prolonged periods of time for the mechanical changes of expensive tools. It also required a prolonged period of time to give the machine the proper speed and temperature to seal by heat, resulting in a large amount of expensive waste that was generated. The companies that use the sleeve in the mandrel procedure usually had very long operations of the same package. As a result, start-up time, cost of tools and waste ratios were not important issues. The present invention provides a method and apparatus with the ability to label packages of complex shapes as can be done with the mandrel sleeve process while reducing the cost, the complexity of the equipment, and the starting time required with such a process. of mandrel / shirt. The invention also provides reduced tool costs, machine start times and reduced waste generation. The system of the present invention includes a mechanism self-sealing to effect the sealing of a short length (6.3 mm to 9.5 mm (1/4"to 3/8")) of label material adjacent the trailing edge to a short length of label material adjacent to the leading edge to form a cylindrical sleeve that can be placed on a container and shrunk by heat on it to form the label. The autonomous mechanism is activated (either mechanically or electrically) to be synchronized with the turret of the mandrel and provides introduction of a hot surface, a flow of hot air, a solvent material or an adhesive to the sealing position between the overlap of the leading edge and the length of the trailing edge of the label material as it is completed, wraps around the mandrel. Under one embodiment, a nozzle rotates in a rotating turret at a speed that matches the speed of a mandrel with a rolled label that rotates in a turret of the mandrel and, through a cam action, provides a rest from the "nose" "of the nozzle in the sealing area to provide means for sealing the leading edge portion to the edge portion before and afterwards, through the cam action it retracts from the sealing area. In operation, the nozzle matches the overlap speed of the label, the breaks, relative to the turret, for a portion of the turret rotation while supplying the heat or other means of adhesion in a space that is present momentarily between the exit end portion and the anterior end portion, and then retracted. The mechanism rotates a number of sealing devices in a timely manner with the various mandrels in the turret on which the mandrels are carried. Since the nozzles are carried in a rotating turret that is separate from the wrapping device of the mandrel turret, it has a significantly smaller mass than the prior art mandrel type machines. These can be raised to operate at temperature and speed quickly, thereby reducing the start times of the entire process.

THE INVENTION The present invention is focused on the application of a heat shrinkable plastic label or other shrinkable material for a container first by winding a stretch of label material around a mandrel to form a sleeve, sealing a short section of the exit end of the label material to a short section of the anterior end, sliding the sleeve over a container and shrinking the sleeve around the container. One embodiment is characterized by the particular feature of carrying the rotary mandrels receiving the label material in a rotating turret that is placed adjacent to a second rotating turret on which a plurality of nozzles are mounted having nose elements placed for insertion into the rotating turret. a space between a short section of the anterior end and a short section of the exit end of the label material such that the label material is being wound around the mandrel. The nozzles direct either heat into such a space in order to soften the label material in such a way that the outlet end segment will adhere to the outer surface of the front end segment when such ends are in contact with each other or supply a adhesive to the outer surface of the front end segment or to the inner surface of the outlet end segment such that the outlet end segment will adhere to the outer surface of the front end segment when such an output end segment is placed in contact with these.

According to one embodiment, the nozzle for supplying either heat or adhesive to such space is carried in a rotating turret with a cam mechanism that moves in a pair of cam notches formed in a fixed member. The contour of the cam grooves is such that it allows the nose of the nozzle to be positioned in the space between the leading and trailing ends of the length of label material being wound on the mandrel by a short arcuate distance of travel, in the range of 20 ° to 40 ° with the preferred length of arched travel that is of the order of 30 °. According to another embodiment, instead of using a nozzle extending into the space formed momentarily between the front end portion of the label material and the exit end portion of the label material as the label material is wound around the mandrel, the sealing of the outlet end portion to the anterior end portion can be effected by the use of a heating element or susceptor in the mandrel. The susceptor is heated to a temperature high enough to cause an interfacial bond between the leading end portions and the output end portion, overlapped as they come into interfacial contact. An endless roller or filter driven against the front end portions and overlapping output on the mandrel, can be used to urge the exit end portion to the interfacial coupling with the anterior end portion. According to one embodiment, the susceptor can be heated by induction of heat from an induction coil placed slightly outside the mandrel and the label is wound around. Preferably, the susceptor surface is slightly recessed from the outer periphery of the cylindrical mandrel in order to ensure that the wound label does not come into contact with the hot surface of the susceptor until the overlapping leading and trailing end portions are drive there against a roller, band or other sealing means to make them come into contact with each other. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and of the accompanying Figures 1 to 17B.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is a top plan view of the complete system for labeling a package according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a partial sectional view, showing a package with a jacket around immediately after transfer from a mandrel to a package, but before heat shrinking. Figure 3 is a partial sectional view, showing the package after heating and the shrinkage of the jacket to form a label in tight engagement with the side wall of the package. Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the label stock material being wrapped around a mandrel carried in a rotating turret and the take-up nozzle carried in a second turret having a pair of cams, each coupled in a cam notch. Figure 5 is an elevation view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 4. Figure 6 is a schematic representation of the paths followed (1) by the outermost surface of the mandrels and (2) by the nozzles. Figure 7 is a modified embodiment in which the assortment nozzle is mounted rigidly on the second turret so that the nose or nozzle end of the nozzle follows only one circular path and is positioned in the space between the edge of the nozzle and output and the leading edge of the label material only for a moment, provided that there is no overlap of the circular path traveled by the outer edge of the mandrel and the circular path of the nozzle end of the nozzle. Figure 8 is a schematic representation of the trajectories followed (1) by the outermost surface of the mandrels and (2) by the nozzles of the embodiment of Figure 7. Figure 9 is a top plan view showing an embodiment additional with a heater in a discrete portion of the mandrel. Figures 10 and 11 are schematic views showing the placement of the nozzle in the space of several arched positions according to the embodiment of Figures 4-6. Figure 12 is a top plan view of a modified nozzle. Figure 13 is a modified embodiment showing the use of a susceptor mounted on the mandrel and an induction coil for heating the susceptor. Figure 14 is an exploded perspective view showing the mandrel and the susceptor. Figure 15 is a top plan view of the mandrel with the susceptor placed therein.

Figure 16 is a top plan view of a portion of the mandrel and susceptor and a cooperating downward movement roller. Figures 17A and 17B are views showing vacuum holes in the mandrel adjacent a recess for receiving the susceptor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES With reference to Figure 1, there is schematically shown an apparatus for applying labels to packages C in accordance with the teachings of the present patent application. The containers C are distributed on a conveyor 10 and are transferred by a feed screw 12 to a rotating turret 14 having a plurality of bags 16 for receiving the packages C and transferring them by rotary movement in a clockwise direction of the turret 14 to a label application station (not shown) in which the label material 24 formed for the cylindrical sleeves S as described below, slides on the packages C for distribution to a second conveyor 18 and a conveyor station. heating (not shown) wherein such cylindrical sleeves shrink in close conformity with the external surface of the C. containers. Preferably, the label material 24 is polystyrene foam; however, a wide variety of other heat-shrinkable materials could be used. Placed in a lifting position, above the turret 14 and the containers C carried in the bags 16 thereof, there is a turret of the mandrel 20 that rotates in a counter clockwise direction about an axis A. The mandrel turret 20 has a plurality of bags 21 that are facing outwards, each of which has placed therein a mandrel 22. The mandrels 22 are mounted for rotation in a counter-clockwise direction within the bags 21 as the turret of the mandrel 20 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction. In this way, each mandrel 22 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction about its own longitudinal axis L in its respective bag 21 of the mandrel turret 20 since the turret of the mandrel 20 carries them in a counter-clockwise direction. clockwise around the axis A. In addition to being located at a higher elevation than the turret 14 carrying the containers C, the mandrel turret 20 is positioned in such a way that, according to the bags 21 and the mandrels 22 carried by these they approximately reach the position of two o'clock of each rotation movement, each mandrel 22 will briefly cover a bag 16 of the turret 14 that moves in the clockwise direction and cover the package C carried therein. During the interval where a mandrel 22 is covering a container C, the cylindrical sleeve which is carried by such mandrel 22, slides down the mandrel and onto the container C. The containers with the practically cylindrical shirts fitted thereon are then sequentially transferred from the bag 16 of the turret 14 to a removal turret (not shown) that has a bag or other withdrawal means well known in the art and distributes them to the conveyor 18. The conveyor 18 will distribute the cans C with the shirts loosely placed thereon towards a heating station wherein such liners are heated to a temperature at which they will shrink in engagement with the outer surface of their associated package, including those portions of the package that are cut into teeth of the portions of the container C that have a larger diameter. Figure 2 is a partial sectional view, showing the package C with a jacket S around it immediately after the transfer of a mandrel 22 to a package C, but before the heat shrinkage. The jacket S has a joint 27 formed by the overlap of the exit end 24B of the label material on the front end 24A. Figure 3 is a partial sectional view, showing the container C after heating and shrinking of the jacket to form a label L in tight engagement with the side wall of the container C. It should be noted that the label couples all the portions of the underlying wall surface including those portions that have a smaller diameter to the adjacent portions. Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown an embodiment of apparatus for applying a length of label stock material 24 onto a rotating mandrel 22 in a bag 21 of a mandrel turret 20. The label material 24 is cut off. from a roller of reserve material to a length designed for the diameter of the container C to which it is to be applied. According to the present invention, the length of the label material 24 to be used for some specific container will depend on the size of such container and will be from approximately 6.3 mm (1/4") to 9.5 mm (3/8"). larger than the length of the circumference of the sleeve S. The circumference of the sleeve S is determined by its diameter which is slightly larger than the container C at its maximum diameter, such that the sleeve S can be easily slid over East.

As shown in Figure 4, the leading edge 24A of the label material 24 engages the rotating mandrel 22 and the label material 24 is wound around as the mandrel 22 rotates. Since the mandrel 22 completes the 360 ° rotation of the area engaged by the front end 24A, the outlet end 24B of the label material 24 and a short section adjacent to it (in the range of 6.3mm to 9.5mm (1 / 4"to 3/8"), will cover but not be in contact with the front end 24A and a similar length (in the range of 6.3 mm to 9.5 mm (1/4"to 3/8")), adjacent to this in order to leave a space G between the outlet end 24B and the short section adjacent to it and the front end 24A and the short section adjacent to it. As the mandrel 22 continues its rotation about its longitudinal axis L, such outlet end 24B and the adjacent portion will be urged to be in contact with the outer surface of the forward end 24A and its adjacent portion, thus closing the space G and seal such adjacent portions to form a joint 27 as shown in Figure 2. During this time, the turret of the mandrel 20 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction about the axis A, such that the outermost portion of the mandrels 22 follow a circular path 40. The anterior end 24A and the short section adjacent to it define one side of the space G, that also follows such a circular path. According to the present invention, during the short interval where there is a vacuum G before its closure by driving the outlet end portion 24B in engagement with the front end portion 24A, the successive ones of a plurality of nozzles 26 are inserted in such space G and either will blow into such space hot air of sufficient temperature to heat either or both of such front end portions 24A or outlet end portion 24B to a temperature sufficient to cause such outlet end portion 24B adhere to the front end portion 24A to thereby form a joint 27 (see Figure 2) or the nozzle 26 can jet a solvent or an adhesive into the space G to thereby form an adhesively sealed junction 27. apparatus for moving each of the respective nozzles 26 in and out of the successive spaces G includes, for each nozzle 26, an arm 28 which is pivotally mounted at the pivot point 41 on an oscillating member 30 which is mounted on a rotating turret 36. The oscillating member 30 is movable radially inwardly and outwardly, continuously from the mandrel turret 20 by means of a cam 31 positioned in a cam notch 32. A second cam 33 is placed in a second cam groove 34. The cam grooves 32 and 34 are formed in a fixed plate 38 positioned below the turret 36. The second cam groove 34 is contoured in such a manner to cause rotation of the arm 28 around the point of pivot 41 from a first position in which the nozzle 26 is separated from the space G (shown in dashed lines in Figure 4) to a second position where the nozzle 26 is placed in the space G (shown in solid lines in the Figure 4) at a time when the first cam notch 32 causes the first cam 31 to move the arm 28 and the nozzle 26 radially outward to a position in which the nozzle 26 can move towards the space G. The arm 28, the oscillating member 30 and the cams 31 are mounted on the rotating turret 36 which rotates clockwise, as indicated by the arrow 39 around an axis B. See Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6. notches of cam 32 and 34 s they follow a circular path in the fixed plate 38 in all areas, except for the short area shown in Figure 4, where each of them are contoured to follow a reverse arched path 32R and 34R that are parallel to the arcuate path. followed by the outermost portions of the mandrels 22 as they rotate through the mandrel turret 20. As the rotating turret 36 rotates in a clockwise direction as indicated by arrow 39, the cams 31 and 33 move in their respective cam grooves 32 and 34 and by means of such cam grooves 32, 34 are urged to extend radially towards off when the cams 31 and 33 are in the reverse curved paths 32R and 34R, respectively, and to be retracted radially inward toward the axis of the rotating turret 36 when they are beyond the reverse curved paths 32R and 34R. The movement of the cam 33 in the reverse curve path 34R also causes the arm 28 to pivot about the pivot point 41 to bring the nozzle 26 first towards and then out of the space G. As a result of the cams 31 and 33 following the inverse curved paths 32R and 34R of the respective cam grooves 32 and 34, the path followed by the nozzle 26 will be substantially the same as the path followed by the outermost surface of the rotary mandrels 32 for a longer period of time. time than is possible if the nozzle 26 followed a fixed circular path through its rotational movement carried by the rotating turret 36. Preferably, the degree of the reverse curve paths 32R and 34R is approximately 45 ° of the turret 36; however, it could be as big as 55 °.

Assuming that the mandrel turret 20 has a diameter of 81.2 cm (32") and the turret 36 has a diameter of 60.9 cm (24"), the nozzle 26 could remain in space G by a degree of approximately 30 ° to 40 ° of arcuate movement of the mandrels 22. This allows the nozzle 26 to blow hot air into the space G for a longer period of time than would be possible if the nozzle 26 followed a simple circular path at a fixed radius from the B axis of the turret 36. As previously described, as a result of the characteristic of the outer end of the arm 28 having a second cam 33 following a second cam notch 34, the arm 28 is urged to pivot slightly with respect to the axis 41 of its connection with the oscillating member 30. As a result, the arm 28 will move a short distance in a clockwise direction as the cam 33 changes direction in its movement from a circular path of the cam groove 32 to a path following the inverse curve portion of the notch path 34R in order to move the nozzle 26 towards the position in the space G between the front end portion 24A of the material of label 24 and the outlet end portion 24B. When cam 33 reaches the opposite end of the reverse curve path 34R, changes from the inverse curve back to the convex curved path with outward direction, the cam 33 causes the arm 28 to retract slightly in a counterclockwise direction to remove the nozzle 26 from the space G immediately before that the outlet end portion 24B of the label material 24 is urged to be in sealed engagement with the front end portion 24A. Figure 6 is a schematic representation showing, in the lower segment, the circular path 40 of the movement followed by the external diameters of the mandrels 22 as they rotate in the turret of the mandrel 20 about the axis A. Figure 6 shows, in the upper segment, the path followed by the tip of each nozzle 26 as it rotates in the rotating turret 36 about the axis B. As can clearly be seen in Figure 6, the nozzle 26 follows a convex circular path with outward direction 42 around of the larger portion of its rotational cycle and a concave path with irregular inward direction 44 (inward toward the B axis) by a shorter distance in the range of about 45 ° of movement by the turret 36. Thanks to the different diameters of the turret 36 and the turret of the mandrel 20, the arched length of the overlap of the concave path with inward direction 44 of the nozzle 26 as a result of the reverse curved paths 32R and 34R is approximately 30 degrees of arc with reference to the turret of the mandrel 20 and its circular path 25 about the axis A. Preferably, the turret 36 has a diameter of approximately 60.9 cm (24") and has twelve nozzles 26 mounted thereon. In contrast, the turret of the mandrel 20 can have a diameter of approximately 81.2 cm (32") with eighteen mandrels 22 mounted thereon. Referring to Figure 7, a modified embodiment is shown in which the nozzle 26 is rigidly mounted on a rotating turret 36 such that the tip 26T of the nozzle 26 follows a constant circular path 46 about the axis B of the rotating turret 36. As a result, there is no overlap of the circular path 46 of the tip of the nozzle 26T and the circular path 40 of the outer surface of the mandrels 22 that rotate about the axis A. According to this embodiment, the tip of the nozzle 26T is placed in space G only for a moment. This obviously results in a shorter period for heating or supplying solvent or adhesive than is allowed in the embodiment of Figures 4-6. According to this modality, in the case of heating, the hot air is at a temperature higher than that used in the embodiment of Figures 1-4. Further, in order to heat the front end portions 24A and outlet end 24B of the label material 24, the respective mandrel turret 20 and the turret 36 will operate at a slower speed than is possible with the mode of Figures 2-4. The embodiment of Figure 7 is also very suitable for applying solvent or adhesive in the space G instead of hot air in order to form a seal between the leading and trailing ends of the label material 24. With reference to Figure 8 , the rotational trajectories followed by the external diameter of the mandrels 22 and by the tip 26T of the nozzle 26 according to the embodiment of Figure 7 are schematically shown. As can be seen, the path 46 of the tip of the nozzle 26T is circular and follows the circular path 40 of the outermost portion of the mandrels only at a single point of contact 50. Figure 9 is a modified embodiment under which the turret of the mandrel 22A is provided with a ferrous core 48 which is heated electrically by induction. The ferrous core 48 is positioned with respect to each mandrel 22A so as to align with the forward end 24A and the exit end 24B of the label material 24.

As a result, the leading edge 24A will be heated by the ferrous core at a sufficiently high temperature to cause the outlet end 24B to become sealed there, when driven on the contrary by a sealing roller. Figures 10 and 11 are schematic representations showing the placement of the tip 26T of the nozzles 26 in the spaces G between the leading and trailing ends of the label material during the short overlap interval of 30 ° as described in the embodiment of Figures 4-6. Figure 12 is a modified nozzle 52 having a passageway 54 extending to its tip 52T for the flow of hot air into the space between the leading and trailing ends of the label material being wound around a mandrel. The passageway 54 adjacent to the tip 52T bifurcates to form a first exit opening 53 which directs hot air to the inner surface of the outlet end 24B and a second exit opening 55 which directs hot air to the external surface of the core to a temperature high enough to cause the outlet end 24B to become sealed there when it is driven to the contrary by a sealing roller. Figures 10 and 11 are representations schematics showing the placement of the tip 26T of the nozzles 26 in the spaces G between the leading and trailing ends of the label material during the short overlap interval of 30 ° as described in the embodiment of Figures 4-6. Figure 12 is a modified nozzle 52 having a passageway 54 extending to its tip 52T for the flow of hot air into the space between the leading and trailing ends of the label material being wound around a mandrel. The passageway 54 adjacent the point 52T bifurcates to form a first exit opening 53 which directs hot air towards the inner surface of the exit end 24B and a second exit opening 55 which directs hot air towards the external surface of the anterior end 24A . Additionally, the modified nozzle 52 has a Teflon® coating on a flat surface 58 for engagement with the outer surface of the front end portion 24A of the label material 24 to provide pressure heating of such front end portions. With reference to Figures 13-17, there is shown another embodiment of the present invention that uses a different means to effect a seal between the front end portion and the exit end portion of the conformal shirt is rolled around of a mandril. Schematically shown in Figure 13 is a top plan view of a modified apparatus for applying labels to packages. The packages C are distributed on a conveyor 110 and are transferred by a feed screw 112 to a rotating turret 114 having a plurality of bags 116 for receiving the packages C and transferring them by rotary movement in a clockwise direction of the turret 114 to a label application station (not shown) in which the label material formed for the cylindrical sleeves as described below slides over the containers C to be distributed to a second conveyor 118 and to a heating station (not shown) wherein such cylindrical sleeves shrink in close conformity with the outer surface of the containers C. Placed at an elevation above the turret 114 and the containers C carried in the bags 116 therein, there is a turret of the mandrel 120 that is rotatable in a counter-clockwise direction about an X axis. As in the previous embodiment, the turret of the mandrel 120 has a plurality of bags facing outwardly 121, each of which is disposed within a mandrel 122. The mandrels 122 are mounted for rotation in a counter direction. clockwise inside the bags 121 as the turret of the mandrel 120 rotates in a counter clockwise direction. In addition to being located at an elevation higher than that of the turret 144 carrying the containers C, the turret of the mandrel 120 is positioned in such a way that, according to the bag 121 and the mandrel 122 carried, they reach approximately the position of ten o'clock in At the point of each rotational movement, each mandrel 122 will briefly cover a bag 116 of the movement turret clockwise 114 and cover the package C carried therein. During the interval wherein a mandrel 122 is covering a container C, the cylindrical sleeve which is carried by such mandrel 122 slides in the downward direction of the mandrel and on the container C. The containers with the substantially cylindrical liners are engaged with each other , then sequentially transferred from the bag 116 of the turret 114 to a conveyor 118. The conveyor 18 will distribute the containers C with the shirts loosely placed on them towards a heating station where such shirts are heated to a temperature at which will shrink being in engagement with the outer surface of their associated container, which include those portions of the container that are cut in the form of teeth from the portions of the container C that have a larger diameter. In contrast to the previous embodiment that makes a seal between the front end portion 24A and the exit end portion 24B of the jacket of the label material 24 by introducing sealing means into the space between the front end portion 24A and the outlet end portion 24B as the material is wound around the mandrel, the present embodiment heats the front end portion 24A of the label material 24 as it is wound around the mandrel 122. This is heated to a temperature at which the end portion of outlet 24B can be sealed after being propelled against it. The heating of the front end portion 24A of the label material is effected by a hot susceptor 160 carried by each rotating mandrel 122 in a slotted recess 156 thereof. See Figures 14 and 15. Preferably, the susceptor 160, which is formed of metal, is heated by an induction coil 154 which is curved in a short arc in closely spaced relation to the path followed by the external surface of the mandrels and the label material that is being wound around them. The induction coil 154 is located in a position to heat the susceptor immediately before the output end 24B reaches a position that covers the previous end 24A. According to this embodiment, the mandrel 122 is formed of a hard plastic such as nylon or other suitable plastic. As shown in Figure 13, the induction coil 154 may be positioned in closely spaced relation to the mandrel 122 following an arcuate path, parallel to the path followed by the outer surfaces of the mandrel during rotation of the mandrel turret 120. As it can be seen in Figures 14-16, each mandrel 122 is provided with an axially extending slot 156 inwardly from the external surface 122A and extending substantially the entire height of the mandrel 122. Mounted in the axial slot 156, it is a susceptor 160 formed of a metal such as steel that can be easily heated by the induction coil 154 as the susceptor 160 passes there during rotation of the turret of the mandrel 120 and the mandrel 122 is placed in the bag 116 thereof. The susceptor 160 has a length that is substantially equal to the entire height of the mandrel 122 so that the entire height of the front end portion of the jacket material to be heated is heated. Preferably, a layer of Teflon® 171 or other non-stick means will be applied to the external surface of the susceptor. As can be seen in Figures 13 and 16, a sealing roller 162 is mounted for (1) rotation about a Y axis parallel to the X axis and (2) movement to and from a position for urging the exit end portion 24B of the label material 24 to the sealing engagement with the front end portion 24A quickly after the susceptor 160 leaves a position aligned with the induction coil 154 that heats it. As can be seen in Figure 13, instead of a sealing roller 162 for driving the exit end 24B of the label material 24 to the sealed coupling with the forward end 24A, a band 164 that rotates around a plurality may be used. of pulleys 166 to urge the exit end portion 24B of the label material against the hot end portion 24A. With reference to Figure 16, a modified embodiment using the susceptor 160 to effect the seal between the exit end portion 24B and the anterior end portion 24A is shown. According to this embodiment, the susceptor 160 is sized and placed within the axial slot 156 so that the outer side 160A thereof is slightly recessed from the outer cylindrical side 122A of the mandrel 122. By providing the light hole of the front surface 160A of the susceptor relative to such an outer cylindrical side 122A, the front end portion 24A of the label material 24 is kept out of contact with such an external side of the susceptor 160A until the outlet end portion 24B has been wound up a cover position, at which time the sealing roller 162 will force such matching end portions 24B and 24A into engagement with the recessed outer side 160A of the hot susceptor 160. Referring to FIGS. 17A and 17B a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. mandrel 122 wherein a plurality of vacuum tag fastening holes 166 are provided to hold the front end portion 24A of the label material 24 that is wrapped around it to hold such a front end portion in position against the outer surface of the mandrel 122A so that such label material 24 does not come into inadvertent contact with the or hot 160 before being urged against the seal roller 162. Vacuum orifices 166 are also shown in dotted lines in Figure 16. The present invention has potential uses other than packaging labeling. For example, it could be used to form cups or other items that have side wall portions that narrow inward, from top to bottom. Such articles could be formed easily and economically simply by forming a cylindrical sleeve as described herein and sliding such a cylindrical sleeve axially out of the cylindrical mandrel and onto a narrow mandrel which then leads the cylindrical sleeve to a heating station for heating and shrinking such a cylindrical sleeve in accordance with the narrow mandrel. As is well known in the cup making art, before placing the cylindrical sleeve on the narrow mandrel, a flat plastic disc is placed on the small end of the mandrel. The end of the cylindrical sleeve will extend axially beyond such a small end of the mandrel and, after heating and shrinking of the cylindrical sleeve, the axially extending portion beyond will shrink radially inward to a position where it can be driven. axially by a compaction movement towards the sealing coupling with the plastic disc to form a bottom for such a cup. The detailed description above of the present invention is given for the purpose of explanation. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (20)

1. Method for labeling a container having a body portion comprising the steps of: (a) winding a length of label material around a cylindrical mandrel that rotates about its own axis, the length of the label material having a portion of front end that makes initial contact with the mandrel and an exit end portion that overlaps the anterior end portion after the termination of the housing, the exit end portion defines a space, separate from the anterior end portion immediately before the termination; (b) causing the mandrel to be rotated about a second axis such that the outer periphery of the mandrel follows a path defining a circle; (c) causing a nozzle to supply a hot gas or liquid medium to be rotated about a third axis spaced out from the circle defining the trajectory of the mandrels, the nozzle follows a convex path with an outward direction through a greater portion of its rotation around the third axis; (d) supplying the medium from the nozzle to the space; (e) urging the exit end portion to the sealed coupling with the anterior end portion overlapped to form a blank. label; and (f) placing the label primordium around the body portion.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle is mounted for rotation along an annular path that includes a larger segment that covers outside the circle and a smaller segment that follows the path of the circle and that also includes the step of causing that the nozzle supplies the medium to the space while the nozzle is moving along the minor segment.

3. Method for preparing a label for affixing to a package comprising the steps of: (a) winding a length of label material around an outer surface of a rotating cylindrical mandrel, the length of the label material having a front end portion that makes initial contact with the mandrel and an exit end portion that covers the front end portion after the winding termination, the exit end portion defines a space separated from the front end portion immediately before termination; (b) rotating the mandrel about its own axis in a first direction; (c) carry the mandrel along a rotating path in the same direction as the first direction, the rotary path is about a second axis spaced from the axis of the mandrel so that the path followed by the outer surface of the mandrel is circular; (d) moving the nozzle along an annular path, the annular path includes a larger segment that covers the outside of the circular path and a smaller segment that follows the circular path; (e) causing the nozzle to extend into space a means for causing the exit end portion to adhere to the front end portion while the nozzle moves along the minor segment; and (f) urging the exit end portion to the sealed coupling with the anterior end portion to form a label blank.

4. Apparatus for labeling containers, the containers have a body portion comprising: (a) a turret having one or several bags, the turret is rotatable about an axis; (b) a cylindrical mandrel placed in one or more of the bags, each mandrel rotates in the bag around its own axis, the trajectory followed by the outermost portion of each mandrel as it rotates in the turret around the axis of the turret defines a circle or a segment of a circle; (c) a spout for feeding a stretch of label material having one end above and one outlet end to each mandrel as it rotates about its own axis and rotates about the axis of the turret, the front end contacts the mandrel according to the length being wound around it, the outlet end and an adjacent portion of the length that covers a portion of the section adjacent to the forward end and which cooperates therewith to define a space immediately before the exit end contacts the portion of the length adjacent to the previous end.; (d) a nozzle for supplying a medium to the space to cause the portion of the network adjacent to the outlet end and the portion of the net adjacent the front end to form a seal; the mouthpiece is located outside the circle; and (e) a cam for directing the movement of the nozzle along the path followed by the space and to a position for supplying the medium to the space.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, further including a rotating support mechanism that carries the nozzle through an annular path, the support mechanism carries the nozzle along a circular path through a larger portion of the annular path, the circular path is out of the path followed by the outermost portion of the mandrel as it rotates about the axis of the turret, and, cooperating with the cam, carries the nozzle along the path followed by space through a minor portion of the annular path.

6. Apparatus for preparing a label to be attached to an article, comprising: (a) a turret having one or several bags, the turret is rotatable about an axis; (b) a cylindrical mandrel placed in one or several bags, each mandrel has an external surface and rotates in the bag around its own axis, the trajectory followed by the external surface of each mandrel as it rotates on the turret around the axis of the turret defines at least one segment of a circle; (c) a spout for feeding a length of label material having a front end portion and an exit end portion to each mandrel as it rotates about its own axis and is rotated by the turret, the front end portion contacting the outer surface of the mandrel followed by the section being wound around it, the outlet end portion covers the front end portion and cooperates with it to define a space immediately before the end portion of the mandrel. outlet makes contact with the anterior end portion; (d) a nozzle to supply a medium into space to cause the outlet end portion to form a seal with the anterior end portion; (e) a cam for directing the movement of the nozzle along the path followed by the space and to a position for supplying the medium to the space; and (f) a rotating support mechanism that carries the nozzle through an annular path, the supporting mechanism (i) takes the nozzle along a circular path through a larger portion of the annular path, the circular path is outside the circular path followed by the external surface of the mandrel as it rotates about the axis of the turret; and (ii) cooperating with the cam, carrying the nozzle along the path followed by the space through a minor portion of the annular path.

7. Method for forming a cup having a top portion and tapering inward to a smaller portion having a body portion, the body portion includes an upper end and a lower end, the upper end has a further cross sectional size larger than the lower end, comprising the steps of: (a) rotating a cylindrical mandrel in a first direction about its own axis and causing the mandrel to be rotated about a second axis of such that the outer periphery of the cylindrical mandrel follows a path that defines a circle; (b) winding a length of plastic material around the rotating cylindrical mandrel, the length of the material having an anterior end portion that makes initial contact with the mandrel and an exit end portion that covers the anterior end portion after the winding termination, the exit end portion cooperates with the front end portion to define a space, spaced from the front end immediately before termination; (c) providing a nozzle for supplying hot gas or liquid medium, the nozzle is mounted for rotation about an annular path, the annular path includes a larger segment that covers off the circle and a smaller segment following the path of the circle; (d) causing the nozzle to hit the medium in space while the nozzle moves along the minor segment; (e) urging the outlet end portion to the sealed coupling with the leading end portion to form a cylindrical primordium; (f) transferring the cylindrical blank to a narrow mandrel, the narrow mandrel has a larger cross-sectional size in a first area than in a second area; Y (g) shrink the cylindrical primordium to the coupling with the narrow mandrel.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the mandrel has an end adjacent to the second area and the cylindrical blank, after the step (e) extends axially beyond the end and which further includes the step of placing a plastic disk on the end before step (f), the shrinking step causes the axially extending portion to shrink radially inward and urge the radially shrunk portion to the sealed engagement with the plastic disc.

9. Method for forming an article having a body portion extending along an axis, the body portion having a larger cross-sectional size in a first axial area than in a second axial area, comprising the steps of : (a) rotating a cylindrical mandrel around its own axis in a first direction; (b) bringing the cylindrical mandrel along a rotary path in the same direction as the first direction, the rotary path is about a second axis spaced from the axis of the cylindrical mandrel in such a way that the path followed by the external surface of the Cylindrical mandrel is circular; (c) wind a length of shrinkable material around an external surface of the cylindrical mandrel, in such a manner that the exit end portion covers the anterior end portion after the winding termination; the outlet end portion cooperates with the front end portion to define a space, spaced from the front end portion immediately before termination; (d) moving a nozzle along an annular path, the annular path includes a larger segment that covers off the circular path and a smaller segment that follows the circular path; (e) causing the nozzle to pull the medium into space while the nozzle moves along the minor segment; (f) sealing the outlet end to the anterior end portion to form a cylindrical primordium; (g) sliding the cylindrical primordium out of the cylindrical mandrel; (h) placing the cylindrical primordium around a non-cylindrical member; (i) shrink the shrinkable material in engagement with the non-cylindrical member.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of: (j) placing a susceptor on the mandrel, the susceptor has an outward facing sealing surface that extends along a path that is parallel to the longitudinal axis; (k) heating the susceptor; (1) coordinate the passage of winding with the rotation of the mandrel in such a manner that, when the exit end portion overlies the anterior end portion, the susceptor underlies the leading and trailing end portions; and (m) urging the exit end portion against the anterior end portion to urge the anterior end portion against the susceptor that seals the surface to effect passage (f).

11. The method according to claim 10, further including the steps of: (n) causing the susceptor sealing surface to be recessed from the cylindrical outer surface of the mandrel, and (o) maintaining the first end portion in spaced relationship with the surface of sealing the susceptor until the first end portion is in contact with the second end portion.

12. The method according to claim 11, further including the steps of: (p) providing vacuum openings in the mandrel adjacent to the susceptor; and (q) applying vacuum to the openings to retain the anterior end portion against the outer surface.

13. Method according to claim 1, further including the steps of: (g) causing the nozzle follow a concave path outward through a minor portion of its rotation about the third axis, the concave path outward is parallel to the circle that defines the trajectory of the mandrels.

14. Method for forming an article having a body portion extending along an axis, comprising the steps of: (a) winding a length of shrinkable material around a cylindrical mandrel, the mandrel has a cylindrical outer surface that it extends around a longitudinal axis and a recess in which a susceptor is placed having an outward facing sealing surface that extends along a path that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, the material has an end portion anterior that makes contact with the first mandrel and an exit end portion; (b) heat the susceptor; (c) coordinating the winding step with the rotation of the mandrel in such a way that, when the exit end portion overlies the anterior end portion, the susceptor lies in the leading and trailing end portions; and (d) urging the exit end portion against the anterior end portion to urge the anterior end portion against the sealing surface of the susceptor to seal the exit end portion to the portion of previous end.

The method according to claim 14, further including the steps of: (e) causing the sealing surface of the receiver to be recessed from the cylindrical outer surface of the mandrel, and (f) maintaining the first end portion in spaced relation with the sealing surface of the receiver until the first end portion is contacted by the second end portion.

16. The method according to claim 15, further including the steps of: (g) providing vacuum openings in the mandrel adjacent to the susceptor; and (h) applying vacuum to the openings to retain the anterior end portion against the external surface.

17. Apparatus for forming a cylindrical body from a section of material comprising: (a) a turret having one or several bags, the turret is rotatable about an axis; (b) a cylindrical mandrel placed in one or more of the bags, each mandrel is rotatable in the bag around its own axis, the trajectory followed by the outermost portion of the mandrel reach as it rotates on the turret around the axis of the turret defines a circle, or a segment of a circle; (c) a slot in the mandrel, the slot is parallel to the axis of the mandrel; (d) a susceptor placed in the slot; (e) means for heating the susceptor; (f) a spout for feeding a length of material having a leading end and an output end to each mandrel as it rotates about its own axis and is rotated about the axis of the turret, the leading end contacts the mandrel followed by the section that is being wound around it, the outlet end and an adjacent portion of the length that covers a portion of the section adjacent the anterior end, the covering portion is aligned with and is heated by the susceptor; and (g) means for urging the portion covering the coupling with the susceptor to effect a seal.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, further including an induction coil for heating the susceptor.

19. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the susceptor is recessed from the outermost portion of the mandrel.

20. Apparatus according to claim 17, further including aisles on opposite sides of the slot and means for imparting vacuum to the aisles when the The length is being wound around the mandrel to keep the material spaced from the susceptor until the outlet end portion covers the anterior end portion.