Method and apparatus for labeling containers with increased vacuum draw on label drum
AssigneeTrine Manufacturing Company, Inc.
InventorGaylen Roy Hinton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A labeling machine applies an adhesive to labels for attachment to containers and has a glue bar which engages a glue roller. A label drum receives and delivers labels into engagement with containers for wrap around labeling of the containers. An adhesive is delivered to the glue bar. The adhesive is a hot melt adhesive which can maintain its label bond while withstanding high heat such as from a pasteurization process. The hot melt adhesive has a viscosity which tends to increase if the adhesive is not kept in constant motion or is allowed to set. The shear of the adhesive is increased during adhesive transfer to ensure low viscosity transfer of the adhesive from the glue roller to a label positioned on the label drum.
Claims9
A method for applying an adhesive onto labels having leading and trailing edges for attachment to containers comprising the steps of
- feeding cut labels onto the surface of a label drum having a surface for receiving the labels thereon, the label drum including orifices on the surface thereof and positioned in an area on which the label is received,
- delivering an adhesive to a label received on the drum surface by engaging the label with an adhesive applicator,
- drawing a vacuum within orifices on the area underlying the leasing and trailing edges of the label on the drum to retain the label to the drum as the drum rotates, and
- drawing a greater vacuum within orifices underlying the leading edge of the label during adhesive transfer on the label to aid in retaining the label to the drum surface during adhesive transfer and overcoming the tendency for the label to adhere to the adhesive applicator and lift off from the label drum.
A labeling machine for applying an adhesive to labels having leading and trailing edges for attachment to containers comprising
- a rotatable label drum having a surface for receiving labels thereon, said label drum including orifices on the surface thereof and positioned in an area on which a label is held, said drum being rotatable from a position where a label is received onto the drum surface and into a position where the adhesive is applied,
- an adhesive applicator for delivering an adhesive to a label positioned on the drum surface,
- means for drawing a vacuum within orifices on the area underlying the leading and trailing edges of the label as the drum rotates the label from a position where the label is received thereon to a position where adhesive is applied, so as to retain the label on the drum, and
- means for generating a greater vacuum within orifices adjacent the leading edge of the label during adhesive transfer on the label for retaining the label to the drum surface during adhesive transfer and preventing the label from peeling from the label drum surface and sticking to the adhesive applicator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.