Abstract: An apparatus for decorating the outer surface of a hollow article, such as a bottle, with a label, which includes a turret for transporting the article and a label from a loading to an unloading location while simultaneously rotating the article around its own axis which facilitates the label to be transferred to the outer surface of the bottle. The turret also includes nozzles which engage each article at the decorating station. Furthermore, air may be blown into the article through the nozzle to support the article in instances when said article is made of a plastic or other deformable material. The apparatus also includes an indexing station for turning the article to a preelected orientation before the application of the label. The article is preferably mounted in such manner that the label is not applied on a seam of the bottle.

Abstract: An apparatus for decorating the cylindrical surface of an article, such as a bottle, with a label, which includes a turret for transporting the article and a label from a loading to an unloading location while simultaneously rotating the article around its own axis which facilitates the label to be transferred to the cylindrical surface of the bottle. The turret also includes nozzles which engage each article at the decorating station. Furthermore, air may be blown into the article through the nozzle to support the article in instances when said article is made of a plastic or other deformable material.

Abstract: Disclosed is an article inflating system for engaging and inflating articles to be decorated including an endless belt assembly for engaging the article to permit inflation thereof while the article is being decorated. A plurality of spaced cup-shaped nozzles are disposed on a horizontal moving endless belt so as to allow the cup-shaped nozzles to engage the article prior to decoration and assume a sealed relation therewith while passing through the decorating station. While at the decorating station, the open end of the cup-shaped nozzle is positioned in communication with an air supply manifold disposed adjacent the decorating station to enable inflation of the article during decorating. After the label has been applied to the article, the nozzle is gradually lifted out of engagement with the decorated article while the latter is conveyed away from the decorating station.

Abstract: A support system for articles being decorated at a decorating station is disclosed. A plurality of spaced receptacles are disposed on a horizontally moving endless conveyor which transports the receptacles and articles supported therein to the decorating station. The receptacles are contoured to the general shape of the bottom of the article to be decorated and have a recessed portion and upwardly extending edge portions. Each receptacle is formed of two sections separated along a line transverse to the path of travel of the conveyor such that the receptacle sections open and separate from one another when passing over a curved surface. In this manner, the article to be decorated may be conveyed along an adjacently disposed conveying system and directly transferred into engagement with the receptacle for conveying to the decorating station.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of applying heat transferable labels from a web onto a hollow article. The articles to be decorated pass through the apparatus continuously with the label being applied without any stoppage or other intermittent motion imparted to the article being decorated. In this respect, the articles are conveyed to a receptacle holding means which receives and holds the article while passing through the decorating station. The label carrying web, which is driven through the decorating station, is heated both at and prior to the decorating station to facilitate transfer without the necessity of interrupting either the movement of the label carrying web or article to be decorated.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of applying heat transferable labels from a web onto a hollow article. The articles to be decorated pass through the apparatus continuously with the label being applied without any stoppage or other intermittent motion imparted to the article being decorated. In this respect, the articles are conveyed to a receptacle holding means which receives and holds the article while passing through the decorating station. The label carrying web, which is driven through the decorating station, is heated both at and prior to the decorating station to facilitate transfer without the necessity of interrupting either the movement of the label carrying web or article to be decorated.

Abstract: An article inflating system for engaging and inflating articles to be decorated is disclosed. A plurality of spaced cup-shaped nozzles are disposed on a horizontal moving endless belt so as to allow the cup-shaped nozzles to engage the article prior to decoration and assume a sealed relation therewith while passing through the decorating station. While at the decorating station, the open end of the cup-shaped nozzle is positioned in communication with an air supply manifold disposed adjacent the decorating station to enable inflation of the article during decorating. After the label has been applied to the article, the nozzle is gradually lifted out of engagement with the decorated article while the latter is conveyed away from the decorating station.

Abstract: A web with labels thereon passes from a feed roll to a take-up reel for application of the labels to bottles in register with the bottles, by means of adjustable photoelectric means to detect index or register marks on the label web and move the web by controlled metering and shuttle movement.