WO1997000205A1

WO1997000205A1 - Machine for orienting labels on containers

Info

Publication number: WO1997000205A1
Application number: PCT/US1996/004642
Authority: WO
Inventors: Svatoboj Otruba
Original assignee: B & H Manufacturing Company, Inc.
Priority date: 1995-06-16
Filing date: 1996-04-03
Publication date: 1997-01-03
Also published as: CR5334A; TW304183B; AR002490A1; AU5385296A; CO4520123A1

Abstract

A machine for applying labels (28) or other segments of sheet material to containers (10) or other articles having cylindrical bodies and which have a geometric feature above or below the cylindrical body, for example, a handle (15) which can be grasped. An article transport mechanism (18) is provided to transport each article (10) to a wrapping mechanism and during such transport to spin each article (10) about its cylindrical axis. A latch device (45) is provided which is biased to a latching position. As each article (10) enters the transport mechanism (18), it is caused to spin about its cylinder axis at least one revolution or until it is restrained from further spinning. When each article is spun to a predetermined position with respect to the geometric feature the latch device (45) grasps such feature and holds the article (10) in such position. Cam structure (60) is employed to release the latch device (45) as the article (10) enters the wrapping mechanisms.

Description

Machine for Orienting Labels on Containers

Technical Field

This invention relates to labeling containers having a geometric feature such as a handle and where it is desired to apply labels to the containers in a predetermined orientation with respect to such handle.

Although labels and containers will generally be referred to it is to be understood that other articles than containers and other segments of sheet material than labels may be applied, for example, decorative sheet material on ornamental articles. By way of example, certain containers have handles for grasping the container when the contents are being consumed and it is desirable to apply labels to such containers in a manner such that they are easily visible while grasping the container by its handle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is a view from the top of the machine of the invention as a whole, certain parts being shown fragmentarily.

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 with a container in place in the machine.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary drawing showing a container latched by a finger at the point where the container is released from the feed turret to the labeling mechanism. Figure 4 shows the position of the finger a very short distance (and time) later than in Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows the finger released from the handle and Figure 6 shows the container (and the preceding container) more completely separated from the star wheel container transport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention a labeling machine such as that shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,500,986 is employed, such machine comprising a container feed which supplies containers in timed sequence to a star wheel container transport, which receives each container in turn from this container feed and transports it to a position where it is in tangent contact with a vacuum drum on which there is a label. The container is released from the star wheel and follows a circular path slightly compressed between the surface of the vacuum drum and a roll on pad and is caused to spin , thereby wrapping a label around it. Adhesive (glue, solvent or heat fusion) adheres the label to the container. The machine comprises a finger or latch mechanism for each pocket of the star wheel which is spring biased into a position such that it can grasp the handle of a container and hold it in a fixed angular position. The container is caused to spin until it is latched. That is, the container is caused to spin until it is grasped by the latch and is locked in a predetermined angular position. It is then released and presented to the labeling mechanism, where it receives the leading end of a label, in a predetermined angular position. The leading end of the label is adhered to the container in this position. The container is caused to spin and to wrap the label about itself. Before the container is presented to the labeling mechanism a cam mechanism acts to release the container from the latch. By this means each label is applied to a container in fixed predetermined relation to the handle of the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPΗON OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, in Figure 1 containers 10 are shown and the machine as a whole is designated with the reference number 11.

Referring to Figure 2, a container 10 is there shown in upright position as it travels with a star wheel from the entry point to the point of delivery to the labeling mechanism. It is shown as having a cylindrical body 12, a tapered neck 13 and a threaded top 14. A handle 15 is shown by which the container may be grasped while its contents are consumed. It is desired to apply a label to the cylindrical body 12 so that it can be conveniently viewed while the container is held by hand. Without such orienting means labels would be applied to the cylindrical body 12 in random manner. Referring again to Figure 1 a container in-feed 16 is shown which during operation ofthe machine is filled with containers in a row. A stop 17 is provided which, by means well known in the art releases each container in timed relation to rotation of a star wheel 18 rotating about the axis of a shaft 19. Each container is supplied to a pocket 25 of the star wheel. As will be seen in Figure 2, there are upper and lower sections 18a and 18b to the star wheel. A bottom plate (not shown) supports the containers in the pockets of the star wheel. A curved guide 26 holds each container and in its pocket 25 until release to a vacuum drum 27 carrying labels 28. At the point of contact of a container 10 with a label 28 on vacuum drum 27 the star wheel continues its circular motion and the container, such as the container indicated as A in Figure 5 is released and is slightly compressed between the vacuum drum 27 and a roll on pad 35. The container continues on this circular path as shown, meanwhile being caused to spin and to wrap the label about itself until it reaches the terminus 36 of the pad 35 and contacts a moving belt 37. The labeled container then moves to the right as viewed in Figure 1. Suitable confining means (not shown) is provided to keep the labeled container in contact with the belt 37 and may include means to smooth and more firmly adhere it to the container.

Returning to the container 10 marked as B in Figure 1 , this has just been caught in a pocket 25 of star wheel 18, having been released by stop 17, and its handle 15 is shown in a random position. A belt 40 driven by pulley 41 spinning about the axis of a shaft 42 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1 and it extends around the star wheel 18 in such manner that each container 10, as it enters a pocket 25 of the star wheel is caused to spin in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1. A retaining or orienting finger or latch 45 is provided for each pocket 25. Each finger is pivoted on the star wheel on a post 46 and has at its outer end a notch 47. A biasing spring 48 is provided for each finger, being attached at one end to a post 49 on the star wheel and at its other end to the finger 45. This spring holds the finger normally in a position shown by the finger which is about to engage the handle 15 of a container 10 that has just entered a pocket 25 of the star wheel 17.

The belt 40 causes the container B to spin. The handle 15 on the container B is shown about to contact the finger 45. As the container B and with it the handle 15 continues to spin it will pivot the finger to the left as viewed in Figure 1 against the force of spring 48 until the handle reaches notch 47. At this instant the spring will pivot the finger 45 until it grasps the handle 15 as shown in the case of the container indicated as C in Figure 1. The speed of the belt 40 is such that the container will spin, unless it is restrained, at least one complete revolution. Thus each container will, before it reaches the position of the container C, be locked in a predetermined angular position. This ensures that the label 28 is applied to the container in a predetermined orientation with respect to the handle 45.

It will therefore be apparent that a label is applied at its leading end to each container, in turn, at the same point with relation to the handle 15. To release the finger from the handle 15 and allow the container to travel between the vacuum drum 27 and the roll on pad 35 and to wrap a label 28 about itself, a cam 60 is provided which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 19 ofthe star wheel 18. This cam is adjustable angularly by means of an arm 61 mounted on the frame of the machine. Bolts 62 extend through a curved slot 63 in the cam 60 by means of which the cam 60 may be swiveled on the shaft 19 so that its curved cam surface 64 can be adjusted for the purpose of unlatching the finger 45 at the critical moment.

Figures 3 to 6 show this operation. The finger 45 has a hub or cam follower 65 which contacts cam curve 64. In Figures 3 and 4 follower 65 is in initial contact with the cam curve 64 but has not as yet pivoted finger 45 out of latching engagement with the handle 15. In Figure 5 the cam curve 64 and follower 65 have rotated the finger to partially release it from the handle and in Figure 6 the finger has been completely released such that the finger can then continue to rotate about the star wheel axis, the spring 48 acting to restore it to its initial position.

If a container 10 is so oriented as it enters a pocket 16 of the star wheel that the handle is in its way it contacts the handle and pivots it out of the way to allow the container to enter a pocket. Thereafter the spring will act to operate the finger in the manner described above.

It will therefore be apparent that a machine and a method for orienting containers with respect to a geometric feature such as a handle and for applying labels to such containers in predetermined relation to such feature have been provided.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. In a machine for wrapping segments of sheet material about articles, each such article having a cylindrical body portion above or below which there is a handle or other geometric feature which is capable of being grasped by a latch member or finger to restrain spinning of the article, and in which such articles are caused to enter in sequence a wrapping mechanism for spinning each article, in turn, about the central axis of such body portion and wrapping such segment about the body portion, the improvement for so wrapping segments about the body portion in a predetermined orientation with respect to such geometric feature, said improvement comprising an article transport adapted to hold each article, in turn, and to transport it to said wrapping mechanism, means for spinning each article during such transport about the central axis of its cylindrical body portion, a latch means for each article while being so transported, said latch means serving, when latched to said geometric feature, to restrain further spinning of the article and to present it to the wrapping mechanism with such geometric feature in a predetermined orientation, said latch means acting, during transport of the article to the wrapping mechanism to latch the article in such orientation and to release the latched article when it has been delivered to the wrapping mechanism.

2. The improvement of Claim 1 wherein the article transport is a star wheel having a plurality of pockets each capable of nesting an article, means for confining an article in a pocket during transport, means for spinning the article when so confined at least 360°or until such spinning is restrained, a latch pivotally mounted on the star wheel adjacent said pocket, spring means biasing each latch into a latching position capable of latching an article by grasping such geometric feature, and cam means for moving the latch against the force of said biasing means to release the latch from the article at the time of or shortly after its entry into the wrapping mechanism.

3. The improvement of Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the wrapping mechanism comprises a cylindrical vacuum drum for carrying labels on its cylindrical surface and a roll on pad which is spaced from the vacuum drum to provide, with the vacuum drum, a circular path of travel for each article to thereby wrap a segment about it.

4. The improvement of Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the articles are containers, the geometric feature is a handle and the segments are labels.

5. The improvement of Claim 3 wherein the articles are containers, the geometric feature is a handle and the segments are labels.

6. A method of wrapping segments of sheet material around cylindrical bodies or articles each of which has above or below such body a geometric feature such as a handle which is capable of being grasped, said method being capable of wrapping segments about the articles in a predetermined orientation with respect to such feature, said method comprising: (a) causing each article, in turn, to enter and pass through a wrapping mechanism to wrap such segments about the cylindrical bodies of the articles, and in so doing causing a segment to be wrapped around the body portion of each article,

(b) transporting each container, in turn, to said wrapping mechanism,

(c) spinning each article during such transport about the central axis of its body portion,

(d) during such transport latching each article by means of a latching mechanism against further spinning and with said geometric feature in a predetermined orientation and

(e) causing each article, so latched, to enter said wrapping mechanism.