Apparatus and method for transferring labels from a label magazine for in-mold labeling prior to blow molding

Label transfer apparatus for use in transferring labels from a label magazine for in-mold labeling prior to blow molding, the label transfer apparatus comprising:

• a rotary table that is rotatable about a central axis;
• a first rotary motor that rotates the rotary table about the central axis;
• a plurality of transfer heads each of which is rotatably mounted on the rotary table for movement thereof about an associated rotary axis that is fixed with respect to the table and spaced from the central axis such that table rotation moves the transfer head adjacent the label magazine which stores a stack of labels with an exposed end from which the labels are sequentially dispensed;
• each transfer head including a pair of vacuum openings through which a vacuum is supplied;
• and
• an actuator including a second rotary motor, a rotary actuator member rotatively driven by the second rotary motor about the central axis independently of the rotary table, and a rotary connector extending between the rotary actuator member and each transfer head to rotate the transfer heads relative to the table with a rolling motion and engage one of the vacuum openings thereof with the label at the exposed end of the label magazine and to initially pull an extremity of that label away from the label stack and thereby permit air to move behind the label, to subsequently pull an intermediate portion of the label away from the label stack and thereby permit more air to move behind the label, and to finally engage the other vacuum opening of each transfer head with the label to pull an opposite extremity of the label away from the label stack in a manner that permits high speed labeling.

Label transfer apparatus for use in transferring labels from a label magazine for in-mold labeling prior to blow molding, the label transfer apparatus comprising:

• a rotary table that is rotatable about a central axis;
• a first rotary motor that rotates the rotary table about the central axis;
• a plurality of transfer heads each of which is rotatably mounted on the rotary table for movement thereof about an associated rotary axis that is fixed with respect to the table and spaced from the central axis such that table rotation moves the transfer head adjacent the label magazine which stores a stack of labels with an exposed end from which the labels are sequentially dispensed;
• each transfer head including a pair of vacuum openings through which a vacuum is supplied;
• and
• an actuator including a second rotary motor, a rotary actuator member rotatively driven by the second rotary motor about the central axis independently of the rotary table, and a rotary connector extending between the rotary actuator and each transfer head to rotate the transfer heads relative to the table with a rolling motion to engage one of the vacuum openings thereof with the label at the exposed end of the label magazine and to initially pull an extremity of that label away from the label stack and thereby permit air to move behind the label, to subsequently pull an intermediate portion of the label away from the label stack and thereby permit more air to move behind the label, and to finally engage the other vacuum opening of each transfer head with the label to pull an opposite extremity of the label away from the label stack in a manner that permits high speed labeling.

A method for transferring labels from a label magazine for in-mold labeling prior to blow molding, the label transferring method comprising:

• rotating a rotary table by a first rotary motor about a central axis adjacent the label magazine which stores a stack of labels with an exposed end from which the labels are sequentially dispensed;
• rotatably supporting a transfer head on the rotary table about a rotary axis fixed with respect to the rotary table and spaced from the central axis;
• rotating a rotary actuator member about the central axis by a second rotary motor independently of the rotary table and rotating the transfer head by a rotary connector that extends between the rotary actuator member and the transfer head;
• drawing a vacuum through a pair of vacuum openings of the transfer head;
• and
• operating the first and second rotary motors to rotate the rotary table and the transfer head in opposite directions to engage one of the vacuum openings with the label at the exposed end of the label magazine and to initially pull an extremity of that label away from the label stack and thereby permit air to move behind the label, to subsequently pull an intermediate portion of the label away from the label stack and thereby permit more air to move behind the label, and to cooperate with said one vacuum opening of the first mentioned pair of vacuum openings to finally pull an opposite extremity of the label away from the label stack in a manner that permits high speed labeling.

A method for transferring labels from a label magazine for in-mold labeling prior to blow molding, the label transferring method comprising:

• rotating a rotary table by a first rotary motor about a central axis adjacent the label magazine which stores a stack of labels with an exposed end from which the labels are sequentially dispensed;
• rotatably supporting a plurality of transfer heads on the rotary table about associated rotary axes that are fixed with respect to the table spaced from the central axis and from each other;
• rotating a rotary actuator member about the central axis by a second rotary motor independently of the rotary table and rotating the transfer head by a rotary connector that extends between the rotary actuator member and each transfer head;
• drawing a vacuum through a pair of vacuum openings of each transfer head;
• and
• operating the first and second rotary motors to rotate the rotary table and the transfer heads in opposite directions to engage one of the vacuum openings with the label at the exposed end of the label magazine and to initially pull an extremity of that label away from the label stack and thereby permit air to move behind the label, to subsequently pull an intermediate portion of the label away from the label stack and thereby permit more air to move behind the label, and to cooperate with said one vacuum opening of the first mentioned pair of vacuum openings to finally pull an opposite extremity of the label away from the label stack in a manner that permits high speed labeling.