Method and apparatus for breaking connection ties on a rotatable label
AssigneeCCL Label, Inc.
InventorMichael G. Jespersen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for breaking connector elements between a rotatable shell and a base of a label affixed to an article. A first belt transports a labeled article at a first rate. A second belt holds the article in a nonrotatable position relative to the first belt. A third belt, advancing at a second rate different from the first rate, selectively contacts the rotatable shell of the label, causing the connection ties between the rotatable portion and the base portion to break, permitting the shell to rotate relative to the base portion.
Claims18
An apparatus for rotating a first label layer relative to a second label layer positioned on an article, comprising:
- conveyor for moving the article;
- a first belt parallel to said conveyor for holding the article in fixed position relative to said conveyor to prevent rotation of the article;
- and
- a second belt parallel to said conveyor for selectively engaging the first label layer and moving the first layer relative to the second layer.
An apparatus for breaking connection ties between a rotatable shell and a base, the base being affixed to a container, comprising:
- means for conveying the container;
- means for holding the article in a fixed, non-rotating position relative to the conveyor;
- and
- means for selectively engaging the rotatable shell and breaking the ties between the rotatable shell and the base.
An apparatus for rotating a first layer relative to a second layer on a label with the label affixed to a container, comprising:
- a conveyor for transporting the container;
- a holding belt positioned above said conveyor, said holding belt preventing translational and rotational movement of the container relative to said conveyor;
- and
- an engagement belt proximal to said conveyor and capable of contacting the first layer of the label whereby the first layer of the label is rotated relative to the second layer of the label.
A method for breaking connection ties between a rotatable shell and a base where the base is affixed to an article comprising the steps of:
- providing an article including a label with a rotatable shell releasably attached to a base;
- holding the article in a fixed, non-rotating position between a first belt and a second belt that advance at an equal rate;
- and
- rotating the rotatable shell relative to the base with a third belt advancing at a second rate that contacts the rotatable shell whereby the connection ties are broken.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.