In-mold labeling cylindrical bottles
OwnerThomas P. Ballayinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In-mold-labeling method and apparatus for labeling a plurality of cylindrical bottles simultaneously by withdrawing the end label from each of a plurality of spaced apart lanes of a label magazine, moving the transfer mechanism supporting such labels to a position aligned with the recesses of a mold and inserting a label in each of said recesses. The support mechanism with vacuum heads carrying adjacent labels causes adjacent vacuum heads to be moved to a position closer together when aligned with the mold recesses than when aligned with the respective lanes of the label magazine.
Claims12
A method for labeling plastic bottles having a circular cross-sectional configuration in the area to be labeled comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing
- (i) a label magazine having first and second lanes for retaining a plurality of labels, each lane having a substantially flat end label;
- (ii) a label transfer mechanism having first and second label grippers;
- and
- (iii) a blow mold having sections moveable between an open position and a closed position, each of said sections having a plurality of recesses and adapted to receive therebetween tubular plastic parisons when in the open position and, when closed, defining a plurality cavities;
- (b) providing relative movement of said first and second label grippers toward one another while said labels are retained thereon to cause;
- labels retained on said first and second label grippers to become overlapped;
- (c) moving said transfer mechanism with a label retained on each of said label grippers between said mold sections to position said labels between said mold sections;
- and
- (d) inserting labels in each of said recesses.
A method for positioning a label in each of a plurality of first recesses of a first mold section, said first mold section having a mating second mold section closeable therewith, said second mold section having second recesses each of which cooperates with one of said first recesses when said first and second mold sections are closed to define a cavity having a cylindrical portion, said first recesses being spaced apart from one another with the center-to-center distance between adjacent first recesses being less than one-half the circumference of a cylinder defined by said cylindrical portion, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing first and second label engaging heads;
- (b) providing a label dispenser for dispensing the end label from each of a pair of lanes;
- (c) engaging the end label of one of said lanes with said first label engaging head and engaging the end label of the other of said lanes with said second label engaging head;
- (d) providing relative movement of said first and second label engaging heads toward one another while said labels are retained thereon to cause said retained labels to become overlapped;
- and
- (e) inserting labels in each of said first recesses.
In combination
- (a) a machine for blow molding plastic articles, said machine including a blow mold having a plurality of molding cavities, said molding cavities including a cylindrical wall portion, said blow molds defined by mold sections, each mold section having a plurality of recesses which cooperate with recesses of a mating mold section to define said molding cavities when said mold sections are closed, said recesses of a mold section being spaced apart a fixed distance;
- and
- (b) a labeling unit for positioning labels in said recesses including
- (i) a label magazine having a plurality of lanes, each having a centerline and containing a supply of labels including an end label, the distance between the centerlines of adjacent lanes being greater than said fixed distance between said mold section recesses;
- (ii) a label transfer assembly for engaging a first end label from one of said lanes and a second end label from the other of said lanes and transferring said first and second end labels to one of said mold sections and inserting said first end label into one of said recesses and said second end label into an adjacent one of said recesses, said label transfer assembly including spaced apart first and second label grippers and means for moving said first and second label grippers with labels affixed thereto closer together.
In combination
- (a) a machine for molding plastic articles, said machine including a mold having a plurality of molding cavities, said molds defined by mold sections, each mold section having a plurality of recesses which cooperate with recesses of a mating mold section to define said molding cavities when said mold sections are closed, said recesses of a mold section being spaced apart a fixed distance;
- and
- (b) a labeling unit for positioning labels in said recesses including
- (i) a label magazine having a plurality of lanes, each having a centerline and containing a supply of labels including an end label, the distance between the centerlines of adjacent lanes being greater than said fixed distance between said mold section recesses;
- (ii) a label transfer assembly for engaging a first end label from one of said lanes and a second end label from the other of said lanes and transferring said first and second end labels to one of said mold sections and inserting said first end label into one of said recesses and said second end label into an adjacent one of said recesses, said label transfer assembly including spaced apart first and second label grippers and means for moving said first and second label grippers with labels affixed thereto closer together.
A method for positioning a label in each of a plurality of first recesses of a first mold section, said first mold section having a mating second mold section closeable therewith, said second mold section having second recesses each of which cooperates with one of said first recesses when said first and second mold sections are closed to define a cavity, said first recesses being spaced apart from one another with the center-to-center distance between adjacent first recesses being less than one-half the circumference defined by said cavity, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing first and second label engaging heads;
- (b) providing a label dispenser for dispensing the end label from each of a pair of lanes;
- (c) engaging the end label of one of said lanes with said first label engaging head and engaging the end label of the other of said lanes with said second label engaging head;
- (d) providing relative movement of said first and second label engaging heads toward one another while said labels are retained thereon to cause said retained labels to become overlapped;
- and
- (e) inserting labels in each of said first recesses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.