Heat Shrink Device for a Bottom of a Sleeve Label

Abstract

A heat shrink device includes a front conveyor, a baker, and a rear conveyor mounted on a frame in sequence. Left and right conveyors are respectively located on two sides of the frame and are located above the front and rear conveyors. Each of the left and right conveyors gradually declines from a front end thereof towards a rear end thereof. A container wrapped with a sleeve label can be conveyed rearward by an upper run of the front conveyor. The left and right conveyors together clamp and convey the container and the sleeve label rearward. The left and right conveyors gradually push a bottom of the sleeve label beyond a bottom face of the container. The baker bakes the bottom of the sleeve label to cause the bottom of the sleeve label to heat shrink and envelope a peripheral area of the bottom face of the container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a heat shrink device for a bottom of a sleeve label and, more particularly, to a heat shrink device for heat shrinking a bottom of a sleeve label to envelope a peripheral area of a bottom face of a container.

A conventional sleeve label heat shrink device uses a roll of sleeve labels printed with figures and words. The roll of sleeve labels is automatically moved and cut into a plurality of sleeve labels of a predetermined size. Each sleeve label is placed around a container, such as a can or a bottle, and is then fixed on the container by heat shrinking.

Such a heat shrink device includes a frame having a central post to expand the roll of sleeve labels, which is conveyed downward by a guiding mechanism and then cut by a cutter into a plurality of sleeve labels of the predetermined size so as to be placed around cylindrical or parallelepiped containers. Each container is passed through a baker to heat shrink the sleeve label and, thus, engages the sleeve label on a predetermined location of the container.

The sleeve label wrapping operation of the heat shrink device is automatic and continuous, significantly increasing the working speed. However, the sleeve label can only be wrapped around the upper, middle, and bottom portions of the outer periphery of the container for subsequent positioning by heat shrinking. The bottom face of the container can not be automatically wrapped at the same time unless manual operation is provided to pull the bottom of the sleeve label beyond the bottom face of the container and then heat shrink the bottom of sleeve label to envelope the bottom face of the container. However, the manual operation adversely affects the packaging quality, consumes considerable manpower, and reduces the yield.

Thus, a need exists for a novel heat shrink device for heat shrinking a bottom of a sleeve label to envelope a peripheral area of a bottom face of a container.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a heat shrink device for automatically pushing a bottom of a sleeve label beyond a bottom face of a container and automatically heat shrinking the bottom of a sleeve label to envelope a peripheral area of the bottom face of the container, effectively increasing the operational efficiency and quality of the heat shrink device, saving manpower and time, and increasing the yield.

To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a heat shrink device including a frame having a front end and a rear end spaced from the front end in a longitudinal direction. A front conveyor is mounted on the front end of the frame. The front conveyor moves along an annular path and has an upper run. The upper run of the front conveyor is adapted to convey a container wrapped with a sleeve label rearward. A rear conveyor is mounted on the rear end of the frame and is spaced from the front conveyor in the longitudinal direction. The rear conveyor moves along an annular path and has an upper run. The upper run of the rear conveyor is adapted to convey the container wrapped with the sleeve label rearward. A baker is mounted between and spaced from the front and rear conveyors. The baker includes a top end having a baking opening located below front and rear conveyors in a height direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Left and right conveyors are respectively located on left and right sides of the frame and are located above the front and rear conveyors in the height direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The left and right conveyors are spaced from each other in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the height direction. Each of the left and right conveyors moves along an annular path. The left conveyor includes an inner run facing the right conveyor and moving rearward. The right conveyor includes an inner run facing the left conveyor and moving rearward. Each of the left and right conveyors gradually declines from a front end thereof towards a rear end thereof.

A container wrapped with a sleeve label can be conveyed rearward by the upper run of the front conveyor, with a bottom face of the container located on the front conveyor. The left and right conveyors are adapted to together clamp the container and the sleeve label wrapped around the container and are adapted to convey the container rearward toward the rear conveyor. The left and right conveyors are adapted to gradually push the sleeve label downward to expose a bottom of the sleeve label beyond the bottom face of the container. The baker is adapted to bake the bottom of the sleeve label passing above the baking opening to cause the bottom of the sleeve label to heat shrink and envelope a peripheral area of the bottom face of the container.

Preferably, the front, rear, left, and right conveyors move synchronously.

In an embodiment, each of the left and right conveyors includes a support. The support of each of the left and right conveyors includes a plurality of rollers and a transmission wheel to tension and drive a corresponding one of the left and right conveyors.

In an embodiment, a sliding seat is pivotably mounted to each of two ends of each of the plurality of rollers of each of the left and right conveyors. The support of each of the left and right conveyors includes a plurality of guiding grooves receiving the sliding seats of a corresponding one of the left and right conveyors. A spring is mounted in each of the plurality of guiding grooves and biases a corresponding one of the plurality of rollers and a corresponding one of the sliding seats to tension a corresponding one of the left and right conveyors.

In an embodiment, the heat shrink device further includes a motor, a gearbox connected to the motor, and two transmission shafts connected to the gearbox. The transmission shafts rotate in different directions. The transmission shafts are connected to and drive the left and right conveyors via the transmission wheels, respectively.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat shrink device for a bottom of a sleeve label according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the heat shrink device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the heat shrink device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the heat shrink device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of left and right conveyors of the heat shrink device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the heat shrink device of FIG. 1, illustrating adjustment of a spacing between the left and right conveyors.

FIG. 7 is a top view illustrating operation of the heat shrink device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along section line A-A of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along section line B-B of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along section line C-C of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along section line D-D of FIG. 7.

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken along section line E-E of FIG. 7.

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken along section line F-F of FIG. 7.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a container wrapped with a sleeve label by the shrink heat device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a heat shrink device according to the present invention includes a frame 1 having a front end and a rear end spaced from the front end in a longitudinal direction. The frame 1 includes a plurality of legs 11 and a base 12.

A front conveyor 2 is mounted on the front end of the frame 1. The front conveyor 2 includes a rail 21 also mounted on the frame 1. The front conveyor 2 is fixed by legs 22. The front conveyor 2 moves along an annular path and has an upper run. The upper run of the front conveyor 2 is adapted to convey a container 8 rearward (toward the rear end of the frame 1). A transmission device (not shown) is mounted in the rail 21 to drive the front conveyor 2 to move along its annular path.

A rear conveyor 3 is mounted on the rear end of the frame 1 and is spaced from the front conveyor 2 in the longitudinal direction. The rear conveyor 3 includes a rail 31 also mounted on the frame 1. The rear conveyor 3 is fixed by legs 32. The rear conveyor 3 moves along an annular path and has an upper run. The upper run of the rear conveyor 3 is adapted to carry a container with a sleeve label rearward (away from the front end of the frame 1). A transmission device (not shown) is mounted in the rail 31 to drive the rear conveyor 3 to move along its annular path.

A baker 4 is mounted between and spaced from the front and rear conveyors 2 and 3 and is fixed in the frame 1 by a bracket 42. The baker 4 includes a top end having a baking opening 41 located below front and rear conveyors 2 and 3 in a height direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Left and right conveyors 5 and 6 are respectively located on left and right sides of the frame 1 and are located above the front and rear conveyors 2 and 3 in the height direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The left and right conveyors 5 and 6 are spaced from each other in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the height direction. Each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 moves along an annular path. The left conveyor 5 includes an inner run facing the right conveyor 6 and moving rearward (toward the rear conveyor 3). The right conveyor 6 includes an inner run facing the left conveyor 5 and moving rearward (toward the rear conveyor 3). Each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 gradually declines from a front end thereof towards a rear end thereof.

With reference to FIGS. 5-8, according to the form shown, each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 includes a support 51, 61. The support 51, 61 of each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 includes a plurality of rollers 52, 62 and a transmission wheel 53, 63 to tension and drive a corresponding one of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6. A sliding seat 54, 64 is pivotably mounted to each of two ends of each roller 52, 62 of each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6. The support 51, 61 of each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 includes a plurality of guiding grooves 511, 611 receiving the sliding seats 54, 64 of a corresponding one of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6. A cover 56, 66 is fixed by a bolt 561, 661 to each of an upper side and a lower side of the support 51, 61 of each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6. A spring 55, 65 is mounted in each guiding groove 511, 611 and biases a corresponding one of the rollers 52, 62 and a corresponding one of the sliding seats 54, 64 to tension a corresponding one of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 in the width direction. The front, rear, left, and right conveyors 2, 3, 5, and 6 move synchronously.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, according to the form shown, each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 is provided with a height adjusting mechanism 57, 67 having a hand wheel 571, 671 that can be operated to rotate a screw rod to proceed with height adjustment. Furthermore, each of the right conveyors 5 and 6 is provided with a spacing adjusting mechanism 58, 68 having a hand wheel 581, 681 that can be operated to rotate a screw rod to proceed with adjustment of a spacing between the left and right conveyors 5 and 6. Thus, the container 8 wrapped with a sleeve label 81 can be clamped by the inner runs of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 and conveyed rearward toward the rear conveyor 3.

The declination angle of each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 can be in a range between 1 and 3 degrees. It can be appreciated that the height adjustment mechanism 57 and 67 can be operated to adjust the declination angles of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 by adjusting the heights of the supports 51 and 61, such that each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 gradually decline from the front end thereof towards the rear end thereof.

A motor 7 is mounted on a lower section of the base 12 of the frame 1 (FIGS. 1-3) to drive the left and right conveyors 5 and 6. The motor 7 is connected to a gearbox 71, which, in turn, is connected to and drives two transmission shafts 72 and 73. The transmission shafts 72 and 73 rotate in different directions and are respectively connected to the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 via the transmission wheels 53 and 63. Thus, each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 moves along the annular path and gradually declines from the front end thereof toward the rear end thereof. The inner runs of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 move rearward.

In use of the heat shrink device according to the present invention, the spacing adjusting mechanisms 58 and 68 are operated to adjust the spacing between the left and right conveyors 5 and 6. The front, rear, left, and right conveyors 2, 3, 5, and 6 move synchronously. A container 8 wrapped with a sleeve label 81 rests on the front conveyor 2 and is conveyed rearward toward the rear conveyor 3 (FIGS. 7 and 8). A bottom face 82 of the container 8 is located on the upper run of the front conveyor 2. A bottom 83 of the sleeve label 81 rests on the upper run of the front conveyor 2.

The left and right conveyors 5 and 6 together clamp the container 8 and the sleeve label 81 around the container 8 to carry the container 8 rearward toward the rear conveyor 3. Since each of the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 gradually declines from the front end thereof toward the rear end thereof, the left and right conveyors 5 gradually push the sleeve label 81 downward such that the bottom 83 of the sleeve label 81 becomes wavy (see FIGS. 7, 9, and 10).

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 11, after the container 8 has passed the front conveyor 2, the container 8 is clamped by the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 and hangs in the air. Thus, the bottom 83 of the sleeve label 81 restores its shape and extends beyond the bottom face 82 of the container 8.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 12, and 14, when the container 8 is moved rearward by the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 to pass above the baking opening 41 of the baker 4, the baker 4 bakes the bottom 83 of the sleeve label 81 to cause the bottom 83 of the sleeve label 81 to heat shrink and envelope a peripheral area of the bottom face 82 of the container 8.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 13, the container 8 is moved rearward by the left and right conveyors 5 and 6 onto the rear conveyor 3 and passes through the heat shrink device. Since the bottom 83 of the sleeve label 81 has shrunk and enveloped the peripheral area of the bottom face 82 of the container 8, the sleeve label 8 will not be pushed downward. Then, the container 8 wrapped with the sleeve label 81 passes through another baker (not shown) to bake and heat shrink the upper, middle, and lower sections of the sleeve label 8 around the peripheral of the container 8. In view of the foregoing, the heat shrink device solves the disadvantages of the conventional devices by pushing the bottom 83 of the sleeve label 81 beyond the bottom face 82 of the container 8 and by heat shrinking the bottom 83 of the sleeve label 81 to envelope the peripheral area of the bottom face 82 of the container 8, effectively increasing the operational efficiency and quality of the heat shrink device, saving manpower and time, and increasing the yield.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A heat shrink device comprising:

a frame including a front end and a rear end spaced from the front end in a longitudinal direction;

a front conveyor mounted on the front end of the frame, with the front conveyor moving along an annular path and having an upper run, with the upper run of the front conveyor adapted to convey a container wrapped with a sleeve label rearward;

a rear conveyor mounted on the rear end of the frame and spaced from the front conveyor in the longitudinal direction, with the rear conveyor moving along an annular path and having an upper run, with the upper run of the rear conveyor adapted to convey the container wrapped with the sleeve label rearward;

a baker mounted between and spaced from the front and rear conveyors, with the baker including a top end having a baking opening located below front and rear conveyors in a height direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and

left and right conveyors respectively located on left and right sides of the frame and located above the front and rear conveyors in the height direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, with the left and right conveyors spaced from each other in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the height direction, with each of the left and right conveyors moving along an annular path, with the left conveyor including an inner run facing the right conveyor and moving rearward, with the right conveyor including an inner run facing the left conveyor and moving rearward, and with each of the left and right conveyors gradually declining from a front end thereof towards a rear end thereof,

with a container wrapped with a sleeve label adapted to be conveyed rearward by the upper run of the front conveyor, with a bottom face of the container located on the front conveyor,

with the left and right conveyors adapted to together clamp the container and the sleeve label wrapped around the container and adapted to convey the container rearward toward the rear conveyor, and with the left and right conveyors adapted to gradually push the sleeve label downward to expose a bottom of the sleeve label beyond the bottom face of the container, and

with the baker adapted to bake the bottom of the sleeve label passing above the baking opening to cause the bottom of the sleeve label to heat shrink and envelope a peripheral area of the bottom face of the container.

2. The heat shrink device as claimed in claim 1, with the front, rear, left, and right conveyors moving synchronously.

3. The heat shrink device as claimed in claim 1, with each of the left and right conveyors including a support, and with the support of each of the left and right conveyors including a plurality of rollers and a transmission wheel to tension and drive a corresponding one of the left and right conveyors.

4. The heat shrink device as claimed in claim 3, with a sliding seat pivotably mounted to each of two ends of each of the plurality of rollers of each of the left and right conveyors, with the support of each of the left and right conveyors including a plurality of guiding grooves receiving the sliding seats of a corresponding one of the left and right conveyors, and with a spring mounted in each of the plurality of guiding grooves and biasing a corresponding one of the plurality of rollers and a corresponding one of the sliding seats to tension a corresponding one of the left and right conveyors.

5. The heat shrink device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: a motor, a gearbox connected to the motor, and two transmission shafts connected to the gearbox, with the two transmission shafts rotating in different directions, and with the two transmission shafts connected to and driving the left and right conveyors via the transmission wheels, respectively.