Apparatus for applying labels onto small cylindrical articles having improved vacuum and air pressure porting for label transport drum

An apparatus for applying thin film polymer labels to small cylindrical articles comprising:

• a label transport drum having an inner cylindrically configured hub and a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted on said hub,
• means for rotating said drum on said hub,
• means for supplying a label to the surface of said drum,
• means for applying an adhesive onto an area adjacent the leading edge of a label while said label is moving with said drum,
• means for applying a solvent onto an area adjacent the trailing edge of a label while said label is moving with said drum,
• means for conveying cylindrical articles into tangential spinning engagement with said drum and into rotative engagement with the leading edge of a label at said article wrapping position so as to transfer the label onto the article,
• a first radially extending, slotted vacuum manifold defining a label retention area and extending circumferentially around a substantial portion of the circumference of said hub, and a first radially extending slotted pressure manifold aligned circumferentially after said first vacuum manifold and at said article wrapping position,
• a second radially extending, slotted vacuum manifold spaced offset from said first vacuum and pressure manifolds and extending circumferentially past said label drag area and terminating at a position past said article wrapping position,
• means for drawing a vacuum within said first and second slotted vacuum manifolds,
• means for pressurizing said first slotted pressure manifold,
• first valve port means positioned on the inner surface of said drum and communicating with the surface of said drum in an area where the leading edge of a label is positioned for receiving the vacuum draw from said first vacuum manifold to retain the leading edge of said label onto the surface of said drum, and for receiving pressure from said first pressure manifold at the article wrapping position to blow the leading label edge from said drum surface onto an article positioned thereat, and
• second valve port means positioned on the inner surface of said drum and communicating with the surface of said drum in an area where the trailing edge and midportions of the label are positioned for receiving the vacuum draw from the second slotted manifold to retain the label onto the surface of the drum 1) in the label drag area and 2) past the article wrapping position if a label does not engage an article at the article wrapping position.

An apparatus for applying thin film polymer labels to small cylindrical articles comprising:

• a label transport drum having an inner cylindrically configured hub and a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted on said hub,
• means for rotating said drum on said hub,
• means for supplying a strip of label material to the surface of said drum,
• means for cutting the strip of label material into labels of predetermined size while said strip is on said drum,
• means for applying an adhesive onto an area adjacent the leading edge of a label while said label is moving with said drum,
• a wiper member having a flexible solvent application tip positioned adjacent said label transport drum for engaging the trailing edge of a label as the label moves adjacent thereto so as to apply a predetermined amount of solvent onto the area adjacent the leading edge of said label,
• means for conveying cylindrical articles into tangential spinning engagement with said drum and into rotative engagement with the leading edge of a label at an article wrapping position so as to transfer the label onto the article,
• a radially extending, slotted vacuum manifold defining a label retention area and extending circumferentially around a substantial portion of the circumference of said hub, and a radially extending slotted pressure manifold aligned circumferentially after said vacuum manifold at said article wrapping position,
• means for drawing a vacuum within said vacuum manifold,
• means for pressurizing said pressure manifold, and
• valve port means positioned on the inner surface of said drum and communicating with an area on the drum surface where a label is positioned for receiving the vacuum draw from said vacuum manifold to retain the label onto the surface of said drum as said label moves through said label retention area, and for receiving pressure from said pressure manifold to blow the leading edge of the label into engagement with an article positioned at the article wrapping position.

An apparatus for applying thin film polymer labels to small cylindrical articles comprising:

• a label transport drum having an inner cylindrically configured hub and a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted on said hub for rotation thereabout,
• means for rotating said drum about said hub,
• means for supplying a strip of label material to the surface of said drum,
• means for cutting the strip into labels of predetermined size while said strip is retained on the drum surface,
• means for applying an adhesive onto an area adjacent the leading edge of a label while said label is moving with said drum,
• means for applying a solvent onto an area adjacent the leading edge of a label while said label is moving with said drum,
• means for conveying cylindrical articles into tangential spinning engagement with said drum and into rotative engagement with the leading edge of a label at said article wrapping position so as to transfer the label onto the article,
• a first radially extending, slotted vacuum manifold defining a label retention area and extending circumferentially around a substantial portion of the circumference of said hub, and a first radially extending slotted pressure manifold aligned circumferentially after said slotted vacuum manifold in the direction of rotation of said drum at an article wrapping position,
• a plurality of leading edge valve ports substantially evenly spaced on the inner surface of said drum and aligned circumferentially with said vacuum and pressure manifolds, means positioned within said drum and communicating with respective valve ports and with the surface of said drum at respective areas where the leading edges of labels are positioned,
• means for drawing a vacuum within said vacuum manifold and through said leading edge valve ports for retaining the leading edge of labels onto the surface of said drum, and
• means for pressurizing said pressure manifold to blow-off the leading edge of a label from the drum surface onto an article thereat when a valve port is aligned over the pressure manifold to aid label transfer onto said article.