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US 11,554,890 B2Granted
Labeling system adapted for labeling syringes or vials
AssigneeNjm Packaging Inc.
InventorsDale C. Merrill, Simon Lajoie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A labeling system includes a drive for moving a trunnion part along a labeling path and a labeling station positioned peripherally of the labeling path. A housing assembly around the rotational drive and the labeling station forms a guarding enclosure for an interior space of the housing assembly. Multiple container infeed paths are provided for different container types, and multiple container outfeed types are provided for the different container types. Sets of changeover parts are used to configure the system for a given container type. The housing assembly may include guarding assemblies associated with the infeed and outfeed paths.
Claims18
A labeling system, comprising:
- a rotational drive for rotating a starwheel assembly;
- a labeling station positioned for labeling of containers;
- a housing assembly around the rotational drive and the labeling station as a guarding enclosure for an interior space of the housing assembly;
- a first container infeed path through the housing assembly for feeding a first container type into the interior space for labeling;
- a second container infeed path through the housing assembly for feeding a second container type into the interior space for labeling;
- a first container outfeed path through the housing assembly for feeding the first container type out of the interior space after labeling;
- a second container outfeed path through the housing assembly for feeding the second container type out of the interior space after labeling;
- wherein the labeling station is positioned peripherally of the rotational drive at a location that is, in top plan view, both (i) circumferentially between the first infeed path and the first outfeed path and (ii) circumferentially between the second infeed path and the second outfeed path;
- wherein, in a first operating configuration of the housing assembly, the first container infeed path is open and the second container infeed path is blocked, and the first container outfeed path is open and the second container outfeed path is blocked.
6 more elements
A labeling system, comprising:
- a rotational starwheel drive;
- a labeling station positioned for labeling of containers;
- a housing assembly around the rotational starwheel drive and the labeling station as a guarding enclosure for an interior space of the housing assembly;
- a first container infeed path through the housing assembly for feeding a first container type into the interior space for labeling;
- a second container infeed path through the housing assembly for feeding a second container type into the interior space for labeling;
- a first container outfeed path through the housing assembly for feeding the first container type out of the interior space after labeling;
- a second container outfeed path through the housing assembly for feeding the second container type out of the interior space after labeling;
- wherein the labeling station is positioned peripherally of the rotational starwheel drive at a location that is, in top plan view, both (i) circumferentially between the first infeed path and the first outfeed path and (ii) circumferentially between the second infeed path and the second outfeed path;
- a first set of changeover components for configuring the labeling system for handling of the first container type, the first set of changeover components including a first starwheel assembly configured to receive and move the first container type around a first arcuate labeling path;
- and
- a second set of changeover components for configuring the labeling system for handling of the second container type, the second set of changeover components including a second starwheel assembly configured to receive and move the second container type around a second arcuate labeling path;
- wherein, when the first set of changeover components are mounted within the interior space, the labeling system is configured to receive the first container type via the first infeed path, direct the first container type into engagement with the first starwheel assembly such that the first container type is moved around the first arcuate labeling path past the labeling station for labeling, direct the first container type out of engagement with the first starwheel assembly to the first outfeed path for exiting the interior space;
- wherein, when the second set of changeover components are mounted within the interior space, the labeling system is configured to receive the second container type via the second infeed path, direct the second container type into engagement with the second starwheel assembly such that the second container type is moved around the second arcuate labeling path past the labeling station for labeling, direct the second container type out of engagement with the second starwheel assembly to the second outfeed path for exiting the interior space.
10 more elements
A labeling system, comprising:
- a drive for moving a trunnion part along a labeling path;
- a labeling station positioned for labeling of containers, the labeling station positioned peripherally of the labeling path;
- a housing assembly around the drive and the labeling station as a guarding enclosure for an interior space of the housing assembly;
- a first container infeed path through the housing assembly, the first container infeed path configured for feeding a first container type into the interior space for labeling;
- a second container infeed path through the housing assembly, the second container infeed path configured for feeding a second container type into the interior space for labeling, wherein the second container type is configured differently than the first container type;
- a first container outfeed path through the housing assembly, the first container outfeed path configured for feeding the first container type out of the interior space after labeling;
- a second container outfeed path through the housing assembly, the second container outfeed path configured for feeding the second container type out of the interior space after labeling;
- wherein, in a first operating configuration of the housing assembly, the first container infeed path is open and the second container infeed path is blocked, and the first container outfeed path is open and the second container outfeed path is blocked.
5 more elements
A labeling system, comprising:
- a labeling station positioned for labeling of containers;
- a housing assembly around the labeling station as a guarding enclosure for an interior space of the housing assembly;
- a first container infeed path through the housing assembly for feeding a first container type into the interior space for labeling;
- a second container infeed path through the housing assembly for feeding a second container type into the interior space for labeling;
- a first container outfeed path through the housing assembly for feeding the first container type out of the interior space after labeling;
- a second container outfeed path through the housing assembly for feeding the second container type out of the interior space after labeling;
- wherein the first container infeed path and the second container infeed path are located on an infeed side of the housing assembly and alongside each other, wherein the first container infeed path is through a first housing assembly infeed opening and the second container infeed path is through a second housing assembly infeed opening;
- wherein the housing assembly includes a first guard assembly located at the infeed side, wherein the first guard assembly includes a first panel movable between a first guarding position of the first panel and a second guarding position of the first panel;
- wherein, in the first guarding position of the first panel, the first panel blocks the first housing assembly infeed opening and does not block the second housing assembly infeed opening;
- and
- wherein, in the second guarding position of the first panel, the first panel blocks the second housing assembly infeed opening and does not block the first housing assembly infeed opening.
8 more elements
A labeling system, comprising:
- a rotational drive for rotating a starwheel assembly;
- a labeling station positioned for labeling of containers;
- a housing assembly around the rotational drive and the labeling station as a guarding enclosure for an interior space of the housing assembly;
- a first container infeed path through the housing assembly for feeding a first container type into the interior space for labeling;
- a second container infeed path through the housing assembly for feeding a second container type into the interior space for labeling;
- a first container outfeed path through the housing assembly for feeding the first container type out of the interior space after labeling;
- a second container outfeed path through the housing assembly for feeding the second container type out of the interior space after labeling;
- wherein the labeling station is positioned peripherally of the rotational drive at a location that is, in top plan view, both (i) circumferentially between the first infeed path and the first outfeed path and (ii) circumferentially between the second infeed path and the second outfeed path;
- wherein the housing assembly includes a guard assembly including a portion movable between a first guarding position and a second guarding position;
- wherein, in the first guarding position, the portion blocks the first container infeed path and does not block the second container infeed path;
- and
- wherein, in the second guarding position, the portion blocks the second container infeed path and does not block the first container infeed path.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.