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

In a blow molding machine, the combination comprising at least one set of mold sections movable between a spaced-apart open position for receiving a parison and a closed position to form a cavity for enclosing the parison to be blown outwardly against the confines of said cavity, and in-mold labeling apparatus comprising:

• a first source of labels,
• first conveyor means having a first end adjacent to said first source and a second end adjacent to said mold sections in said open position,
• first label pickup means positioned adjacent said first end of said conveyor means and including means for engaging a label at said source and depositing the label on said conveyor means at said first end, and
• first label placement means positioned adjacent to said second end of said conveyor means for removing labels from said conveyor means and placing the labels in an open mold section,
• said first conveyor means comprises means for driving said conveyor means intermittently from said first end toward said second end of said conveyor means,
• said first pickup means comprising at least one pickup head,
• vacuum means on said head for selectively grasping and releasing a label,
• means for intermittently moving said head between a position adjacent to said first source and a position adjacent said first end of said conveyor means, and
• synchronizing means synchronizing motion of said pickup head to the motion of said conveyor means and to the motion of said selectively grasping and releasing mean such that both said pickup means and said first conveyor means are stationary when a label is released from said head onto said conveyor means, and said conveyor and said pickup head are stationary when the label is grasped since grasping and releasing are done at the same time,
• said first pickup means comprising means for mounting said head for rotation in the same direction as movement of said conveyor means and for radial movement,
• means for intermittently rotating said head between a position adjacent to said first source and a position adjacent to said first conveyor means, and means for intermittently moving said head in a radial direction between an inner position and an outer position,
• means for constraining said head motion to said radial direction only,
• said first pickup means further comprises means coupled to said radially moving means and to said synchronizing means for rotating said head and advancing said conveyor means simultaneously and for moving said head radially only when said conveyor means is stationary and said pickup means is stationary.