Apparatus for applying labels in the molds of a plastic blow molding machine

In a blow molding apparatus comprising a plurality of sets of mold sections on a wheel rotatable about a horizontal axis wherein the mold sections are relatively moved radially toward and away from one another and when closed define a cavity which encloses a parison and the parison is then blown to the confines of the cavity between the mold sections as the wheel rotates, an in-mold labeling apparatus comprising

• a first in mold applying mechanism and a second in mold label applying mechanism associated with each mold section,
• each first and second in mold label applying mechanism comprising
• a source of labels,
• a conveyor extending from each said source of labels to a position adjacent the open mold sections,
• a label pickup mechanism adjacent each source of labels for taking labels successively from each said source of labels and delivering them to a first end of respective first and second conveyor,
• a label placement mechanism adjacent a second end of each conveyor positioned in a path of the open mold sections for successively removing labels from a respective conveyor and delivering said labels to a respective mold section, and
• means individual to each conveyor for intermittently driving said conveyor in a direction to receive labels from its respective label pickup mechanism and transfer labels in a path successively to its respective label placement mechanism.

In a blow molding apparatus comprising a plurality of sets of mold sections on a wheel rotatable about a horizontal axis wherein the mold sections are relatively moved radially toward and away from one another and when closed define a cavity which encloses a parison and the parison is then blown to the confines of the cavity between the mold sections as the wheel rotates, an in-mold labeling apparatus comprising

• a first in mold applying mechanism and a second in mold label applying mechanism associated with each mold section,
• each first and second in mold label applying mechanism comprising
• a source of labels,
• an endless conveyor having a first end extending from each said source of labels and a second end extending to a position adjacent a path of said open mold sections,
• a label placement mechanism adjacent the second end of each conveyor positioned in a path of the open mold sections for successively removing labels from a respective conveyor and delivering said label to a respective open mold section of each set,
• said second in-mold label applying mechanism being positioned circumferentially with respect to the first in-mold label applying mechanism such that the second in-mold label applying mechanism may be actuated successively with respect to the first in-mold label applying mechanism to accommodate for relative movement of the mold sections on the wheel during continuous rotation of the wheel for supplying a label to each mold section of a set of mold sections.

An in-mold labeling apparatus for use in a blow molding apparatus wherein said blow molding apparatus comprises sets of mold sections wherein the mold sections are moved toward and away from one another and when closed define a mold cavity which encloses a parison and the parison is blown to the confines of the cavity, said in-mold labeling apparatus comprising

• a first source of labels,
• first endless conveyor means having a first end extending from said first source and a second end adapted to a position adjacent a path of said open mold sections,
• first label pickup means adjacent the source of labels for taking labels successively from the source of labels and delivering them to the first conveyor means,
• said first conveyor means being operable to receive labels from said first label pickup means adjacent the first end successively and carry the labels in a first path to the second end,
• first label placement means adjacent the second end of the first conveyor means, said label placement means being adapted to be positioned in the path of the open mold sections for successively removing labels from said first conveyor means and delivering said labels to a first section of each set of mold sections and,
• first means for intermittently driving said first endless conveyor means carrying a series of labels in a direction to receive labels from said first label pickup means and to transfer the labels successively to said first label placement means.