In-mold label dispenser for blow molding

An in-mold label dispenser for a plastic blow molding machine, said blow molding machine including a mold having a pair of mold sections each of which includes a cavity section, and said mold sections being movable toward and away from each other between an open position spaced from each other and a closed position where the cavity sections thereof cooperate to define an enclosed cavity in which blow molding is performed, the in-mold label dispenser comprising:

• a base having first and second portions located on opposite sides of the mold;
• a label magazine mounted on the first base portion on one side of the mold;
• a dispensing head mounted on the first base portion for movement between a withdrawn position adjacent the label magazine and an inserted position between the open mold sections;
• a label carrier on the dispensing head for receiving a label from the label magazine with the dispensing head in the withdrawn position and for transferring the label to the cavity section of one mold section with the dispensing head in the inserted position between the mold sections of the open mold;
• a first locator on the dispensing head;
• and a second locator mounted on the second base portion for movement between a withdrawn position with respect to the open mold and an inserted position between the open mold sections, said second locator being engaged with the first locator in the inserted positions to cooperate in locating the dispensing head and label carrier with respect to the open mold to provide accuracy in aligning the label with respect to the cavity section that receives the label.

An in-mold label dispenser for a plastic blow molding machine, said blow molding machine including a mold having a pair of mold sections each of which includes a cavity section, and said mold sections being movable toward and away from each other between an open position spaced from each other and a closed position where the cavity sections thereof cooperate to define an enclosed cavity in which blow molding is performed, the in-mold label dispenser comprising:

• a base having first and second portions located on opposite sides of the mold;
• a label magazine mounted on the first base portion on one side of the mold;
• a support mounted on the first base portion adjacent the label magazine;
• a dispensing head mounted by the support on the first base portion for movement between a withdrawn position adjacent the label magazine and an inserted position between the open mold sections;
• a label carrier on the dispensing head for receiving a label from the label magazine with the dispensing head in the withdrawn position and for transferring the label to the cavity section of one mold section with the dispensing head in the inserted position between the mold sections of the open mold;
• a first locator on the dispensing head;
• an operator including a cylinder extending between the support and the dispensing head to provide movement of the dispensing head between the withdrawn and inserted positions with respect to the mold;
• a slide assembly that also extends between the support and the dispensing head to prevent rotation of the dispensing head about the cylinder;
• and a second locator that is mounted on the second base portion, said second locator being engaged with the first locator upon movement of the dispensing head to the inserted position to locate the dispensing head and label carrier with respect to the open mold to provide accuracy in aligning the label with respect to the cavity section that receives the label.

An in-mold label dispenser for a plastic blow molding machine, said blow molding machine including a mold having a pair of mold sections each of which includes a cavity section, and said mold sections being movable toward and away from each other between an open position spaced from each other and a closed position where the cavity sections cooperate to define an enclosed cavity in which blow molding is performed, the in-mold label dispenser comprising:

• a base having first and second portions located on opposite sides of the mold;
• first and second supports respectively pivotally mounted on the first and second base portions about a common axis;
• first and second actuators for pivoting the first and second supports on the first and second base portions between a mold aligned position and a label transfer position;
• a plurality of label magazines mounted on the first base portion on one side of the mold;
• a dispensing head mounted by the first support on the first base portion for movement between a withdrawn position adjacent the label magazines and an inserted position between the open mold sections;
• a plurality of label carriers on the dispensing head for receiving labels from the label magazines with the dispensing head in the withdrawn position as the first support is pivoted between the mold aligned position and the label transfer position ;
• said label carriers transferring the labels to cavity sections of the mold with the dispensing head in the inserted position as the first support is pivoted between the mold aligned position and the label transfer position ;
• a first locator on the dispensing head;
• and a second locator mounted by the second support on the second base portion, said second locator being engaged with the first locator upon movement of the dispensing head to the inserted position to locate the dispensing head and label carriers with respect to the open mold to provide accuracy in aligning the labels with respect to the cavity sections that receive the labels as the first and second actuators move the first and second supports between the mold aligned position and the label transfer position .

An in-mold label dispenser for a plastic blow molding machine, said blow molding machine including a mold having a pair of mold sections each of which includes a cavity section, and said mold sections being movable toward and away from each other between an open position spaced from each other and a closed position where the cavity sections cooperate to define an enclosed cavity in which blow molding is performed, the in-mold label dispenser comprising:

• a base having first and second portions located on opposite sides of the mold;
• first and second supports respectively pivotally mounted on the first and second base portions about a common axis;
• first and second actuators for pivoting the first and second supports on the first and second base portions between a mold aligned position and a label transfer position;
• a plurality of label magazines mounted on the first base portion on one side of the mold;
• a dispensing head mounted by the first support on the first base portion;
• said dispensing head being movable on the first support between a withdrawn position adjacent the label magazines and an inserted position between the open mold sections;
• an operator including a cylinder that extends between the first support and the dispensing head;
• said operator providing movement of the dispensing head between the withdrawn and inserted positions with respect to the mold;
• a plurality of label carriers on the dispensing head for receiving labels from the label magazines in the withdrawn position as the first support is pivoted between the mold aligned position and the label transfer position;
• said label carriers transferring the labels to cavity sections of the mold with the dispensing head in the inserted position as the first support is pivoted between the mold aligned position and the label transfer position ;
• a first locator of an elongated shape that extends from the dispensing head toward the second base portion;
• a slide assembly including a slide member of an elongated shape that extends from the dispensing head to the first support in the opposite direction as the first locator;
• the slide assembly also including a bushing on the first support;
• said bushing receiving the elongated slide member to prevent rotation of the dispensing head about the cylinder;
• and a second locator that is mounted by the second support on the second base portion, said second locator being engaged with the first locator upon movement of the dispensing head to the inserted position to locate the dispensing head and label carriers with respect to the open mold to provide accuracy in aligning the labels with respect to the cavity sections that receive the labels as the first and second actuators move the first and second supports between the mold aligned position and the label transfer position.

An in-mold label dispenser for a plastic blow molding machine, said blow molding machine including a mold having a pair of mold sections each of which includes a cavity section, and said mold sections being movable toward and away from each other between an open position spaced from each other and a closed position where the cavity sections cooperate to define an enclosed cavity in which blow molding is performed, the in-mold label dispenser comprising:

• a base having first and second portions located on opposite sides of the mold;
• first and second supports respectively pivotally mounted on the first and second base portions about a common axis;
• first and second actuators for pivoting the first and second supports on the first and second base portions between a mold aligned position and a label transfer position;
• a first operator including a first cylinder;
• said first cylinder extending between the first support and the dispensing head and moving the dispensing head between the withdrawn and inserted positions with respect to the open mold;
• a plurality of label magazines mounted on the first base portion on one side of the mold;
• a dispensing head mounted by the first support on the first base portion;
• said dispensing head being movable on the first support between a withdrawn position adjacent the label magazines and an inserted position between the open mold sections;
• a plurality of label carriers on the dispensing head for receiving labels from the label magazines in the withdrawn position as the first support is pivoted between the mold aligned position and the label transfer position;
• said label carriers transferring the labels to cavity sections of the mold with the dispensing head in the inserted position as the first support is pivoted between the mold aligned position and the label transfer position ;
• a first locator of an elongated shape that extends from the dispensing head toward the second base portion;
• a slide assembly including a slide member of an elongated shape that extends from the dispensing head to the first support in the opposite direction as the first locator;
• the slide assembly also including a slide member of an elongated shape that extends from the dispensing head to the first support in the opposite direction as the first locator;
• the slide assembly also including a bushing on the first support;
• said bushing receiving the elongated slide member to prevent rotation of the dispensing head about the cylinder;
• a skid that extends downwardly from the dispensing head to support the dispensing head during movement of the dispensing head between the withdrawn and inserted positions;
• a second locator movably mounted by the second support on the second base portion;
• said second locator being movable on the second support between the withdrawn and inserted positions with respect to the mold;
• and a second operator including a second cylinder, said second cylinder moving the second locator between the withdrawn position and the inserted position where the second locator is engaged with the first locator with the dispensing head in the inserted position of the dispensing head to locate the dispensing head and label carriers with respect to the open mold to provide accuracy in aligning the labels with respect to the cavity sections that receive the labels as the first and second actuators move the first and second supports between the mold aligned position and the label transfer position.