Label application apparatus

#1. Field of the Invention.

#This invention generally relates to method and apparatus for applying labels to articles and, more particularly, for applying labels simultaneously to opposite sides of articles which may be relatively flimsy and difficult to handle because of a tendency toward dimensional instability.

#2. Description of the Prior Art.

#In the drawings, where like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout

#FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of label application apparatus embodying the teachings of this invention;

#FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are top plan, front elevational, and side elevational views, respectively, of a plastic carrier to which labels are to be applied according to the teachings of this invention;

#Referring now to FIG. 1 there is illustrated label application apparatus indicated generally at 20 in which a stack of plastic carriers 31 have individual carriers removed therefrom by a carrier feeding means indicated generally at 50. A carrier supply chute 52 retains the stack 31, with the stack being urged forwardly by gravity, spring mechanisms or other suitable means. The end or top of the stack is held in position by opposed sets of bristles, brushes or other suitable means 54 which yieldingly engage lips or edges 39 of the carries 31.

#FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate a carrier, generally indicated by reference numeral 31, for which this embodiment of the invention is particularly well suited for label application. Carrier 31 may be formed in a single piece from a sheet of a suitable thermoplastic material by a process which includes a thermoforming operation to shape the sheet into the illustrated complex generally four-sided three dimensional shape. Carrier 31 is designed to be applied to a plurality of filled and capped beverage bottles by being directed downwardly over the tops thereof, and may be dimensionally designed to be used with any of the popular sizes and types of bottles used in packaging single service quantities of a beverage, e.g., 16 oz. glass bottles. A suitable carrier for six (6) of such 16 oz. glass bottles can be formed from a sheet of high density polyethylene of approximately 25 mil (0.025 in.) sheet thickness.

#Carrier 31 comprises a top panel 32 and a peripheral skirt 33 which extends downwardly and slightly outwardly from and along the periphery of the top panel 32. The upper portion of the peripheral skirt which extends downwardly for substantially less than one-half of the overall downward extent of the peripheral skirt, comprises plural outwardly convex arcuate first wall portions 35 and plural outwardly concave second wall portions 36, each of which is disposed between a pair of the adjacent first wall portions 35. Carrier 31 also comprises a plurality of ledges 37 that extend outwardly from the second wall portions to merge into the juncture of the remaining portion of the peripheral skirt 33, which extends below the level of the ledges 37. A lip 39 extends outwardly from the lower edge of peripheral skirt 33.