Turret Or Rotary Drum-type Conveyer Patents (Class 156/567)
  • Patent number: 5362355
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying labels to containers wherein the web on which the labels are provided is moved from a feed reel over a metering mechanism into position for transfer to containers on a turret. The web is thereafter stored on a reel. The turret has a plurality of circumferentially spaced replaceable container holders which can be readily removed to accommodate containers having a wide range of label panel radii.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventor: Terrance J. Twele
  • Patent number: 5356508
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying seals to articles has a rotary table having heads, and an article guide provided along the periphery of the rotary table. Each head is provided with a holding-moving mechanism for holding an article and moving the article on and along the article guide together with the head, and a labeling mechanism for applying a label to the article which is being transferred together with the head. The article is held by the holding-moving mechanism and moved together with the head. During the transfer of the article, the label is applied to the article. The article can be applied with the label while the article is being continuously transferred without being moved intermittently, whereby the apparatus can be easily operated at a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco, Inc.
    Inventor: Tomoichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5336359
    Abstract: A system for applying literature to a wall of an object includes a hopper having an exit for dispensing literature one piece at a time and a rotatable member having a plurality of literature receiving areas disposed around the periphery thereof. Each literature receiving area receives one piece of literature from the exit. The member is positioned such that a portion of the periphery is in facing relationship with the exit of the hopper for allowing one of the literature receiving areas to be aligned with the exit. A servomotor rotates the rotatable member in a first direction such that the literature receiving areas pass by the exit one at a time to correspondingly receive a piece of literature from the exit of the hopper. A roller guides a web past a literature receiving area having a terminal piece of literature positioned thereon such that an adhesive coating on the web is in facing relationship with the terminal piece of literature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Sancoa International Co.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Pituch, Thomas M. Basgil
  • Patent number: 5326422
    Abstract: A labelling machine for treating vessels of different shapes or with different labels comprising a rotatingly drivable turntable with at least one labelling station disposed on its circumference with following wipe-on and pressure-applying elements, the turntable having rotary tables with one associated control element each, which cooperates optionally with one of several radial cams secured against rotation and disposed in axially staggered relationship in the direction of the rotary table axis, the control element associated to the rotary table and/or the radial cams are adjusted relatively to each other for change-over of one type of vessel and/or label to another one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Inventor: Hermann Kronseder
  • Patent number: 5300179
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a magnetic disk wherein a center core having an adhesive substance previously applied thereto is adhered to a magnetic sheet. The apparatus includes a holder having a center core retaining member extending therefrom for receiving and retaining the center core, the holder being rotatable such that the retaining member rotates about an orbital path; a core feed station, disposed along the orbital path, to which the center core having the adhesive applied thereto is fed, the center core being received by the retaining member at the core feed station; an adhering station disposed along the orbital path at a position downstream of the core feed station for adhering the center core to the sheet; and an annular housing substantially surrounding the orbital path an through which hot air is circulated so as to partially dry the adhesive applied to the center core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsunobu Usui, Toshihiro Matsushita
  • Patent number: 5279699
    Abstract: A sticking apparatus in which a continuous film loaded on a film supply roller is cut off to a prescribed length and a base panel conveyed by a base panel conveyor is moved while said film is stuck, under pressure, to the plate by a pressure sticking roller. Support members for the roller are provided on the body of the apparatus so that the members can be moved rightward or leftward in order that the portion of the film, which is fed from the roller, and the other portion of the film, which is stuck to the plate, are made coincident with each other at the center line of the former portion in the direction of the feed thereof and that of the letter portion in the direction of the conveyance of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Somar Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Taguchi, Youji Washizaki, Akira Igarashi, Hiroyoshi Nakano
  • Patent number: 5275685
    Abstract: The gluing apparatus has several carrier arms attached to a rotating organ, which carry holders at their free ends. Each holder picks up an attachment slip at the supply point, transports it past an adhesive-applicator apparatus whereby adhesive is applied to the attachment slips, and on to the printed products to which the slips are then attached. The printed products are transported on supports placed perpendicular to the feed direction (A), the holders enter between consecutive pairs of supports and have means of control to move them against supports, in order to glue the attachment slips on the printed products and press them firmly into place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Hans-Ulrich Stauber
  • Patent number: 5271793
    Abstract: Apparatus for transporting containers having circular portions with any one of a number of different diameters first along an adhesive applying unit and thereupon past one or more units which apply labels all the way around the circular portions of the containers has a rotary turntable with a set of depending rotary supporting elements for discrete containers. The supporting elements are rotated about their own axes, while orbiting about the axis of rotation of the turntable, by two arcuate cams which are adjacent the path of orbital movement of the supporting elements and are tracked by roller followers provided on disc-shaped holders at the upper ends of the supporting elements. Adjustment of the apparatus for the transport of containers having circular portions of different diameters is effected by moving the cams in the circumferential direction of the turntable. The positions of the various treating units remain unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Alfill Getranketechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Seifert, Gerd-Reiner Israel
  • Patent number: 5269121
    Abstract: A method and device for applying sealing strips to packages, whereby the strips are applied to the packages as these are transferred between respective transverse pockets on three conveyors traveling at the same speed and in the same direction, the first conveyor being a loop conveyor located between a feed conveyor and an output conveyor. The strips are supplied in such a position as to close the end of the pockets on the loop conveyor facing the feed conveyor, and the packages complete one full turn of the loop conveyor prior to being transferred on to the output conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: G.D Societa' per Azioni
    Inventor: Fiorenzo Draghetti
  • Patent number: 5266149
    Abstract: An in-mold labelling system for automatically applying labels to the interior of blow mold halves prior to the placement of preforms within such blow mold halves; the preforms are blown to form containers with a label attached thereto. The labelling system is mounted on a rotating drum having a plurality of blow mold sets. A label magazine is also mounted on the drum and preferably carries two stacks of labels. Associated with each label stack is a support shaft having at one end a transverse arm which, in turn, carries a suction cup for pick-up and deposit of the label. The other end of the support shaft extends through a drive mechanism for rotating the support shaft so as to swing the transverse arm to a first position for label pick-up from the magazine and then to a second position for label deposit in the blow mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Ieuan L. Harry, Louis M. Silva
  • Patent number: 5259913
    Abstract: A rotary decorating machine for bottles having an alignment structure formed adjacent their bottom periphery, wherein the machine has at least one decorating station. A rotating table is provided with a plurality of independently rotatable bottle receiving cups spaced from one another adjacent the outer periphery of the table. The rotating table is driven by a first motor, and the bottle receiving cups are independently rotatable by pinion gears attached thereto for enabling planetary rotation of the bottles relative to the rotating table. A lower gear is provided with a second drive motor for rotation independent of the rotating table, and the pinion gears attached to individual bottle receiving cups are intermeshed with that gear. Rotation of the lower gear independently effects the rotation speed and direction of the bottle receiving cups independent of the planetary rotation resulting from movement of the rotating table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Spear, Incorporated
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Stover
  • Patent number: 5256239
    Abstract: A continuously moving web pressure-sensitive labeler applies pressure-sensitive labels to articles moving in a given direction past a label applying station. The labels are initially carried by the moving web and the labeler includes a label applying mechanism such as a peel plate and a vacuum drum for stripping labels from the moving web and delivering the stripped labels in the given direction onto articles as they pass the label applying station in the given direction. The labeler also has mechanism which generates a timing signal for timing the placing of labels in register on the label applying mechanism. In a first embodiment, the timing signal generating mechanism includes an encoder driven by the drum and also includes a rotary vacuum valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: New Jersey Machine Inc.
    Inventors: Helmut Voltmer, Urs Reuteler
  • Patent number: 5240548
    Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a recording medium having a recording disc and a center core having an adhesive coated area of attachment to the recording disc. The apparatus includes a horizontal base member, a support member rigidly fixed on the base member, and a core support table secured on the base member for carrying the center core placed thereon. The recording disc is placed on the attachment area of the center core placed on the core support table. A pushing tool is supported for vertical movement along the support member toward and away from the core support table. The pushing tool is moved downward to push the recording disc against the attachment area of the center core so as to bond the recording disc on the center core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shotoku Aramaki, Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5224586
    Abstract: A container positioning apparatus as may be used in a labeller is adapted to serve a variety of containers having different configurations. The apparatus comprises a container receptacle on which containers are placed and a support which is located below the receptacle. The container receptacle is supported by a spring so as to be elevatable with respect to the support. The support carries a plurality of pins which are resiliently urged upward. The pins are disposed in a manner to conform the configuration of containers to be positioned, and extend through pin openings formed in the container receptacle. When containers are placed on the container receptacle, which is then depressed, those pins which are located directly below the containers will be depressed together with the container receptacle, whereby those pins which surround the containers and projecting above the container receptacle are effective to position the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Shibuya Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Naka, Akira Motomura
  • Patent number: 5217562
    Abstract: In the apparatus of this invention a plurality of cylindrical matrices 2 are used to form tubular sleeves of elastomeric material to be later cured and cut into short segments to be used as belts, usually toothed belts. A coiling station 8 places a reinforcing fiber helically around the entire length of the sleeve. The matrix having the coils is then turned to a vertical position by a transfer member 28 and transferred, by means of an adjacent rotating platform 6 to a winding station 9 for application of a sheet of elastomeric material over the thread. The matrix having the completed but uncured sleeve is then placed back on the rotating platform. The coiling station and the winding station each have a tilting member 34 or 43 with two pairs of arms 39 or 52 so that while a completed matrix is swung out of the working position, a fresh matrix is swung into position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignees: Pirelli Transmissioni Industriali S.p.A., Pirelli Prodotti Diversificati S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vincenzo Macchiarulo, Federico Squerti
  • Patent number: 5215622
    Abstract: The invention is used in a labeling machine for applying liquid to the surface of the bottles after the labels are applied for the purpose of rendering scratches, abrasions, chipping and chafing of the bottle surfaces invisible. To minimize the space taken by the combination of the labeling machine and the new liquid applicator device, the device is associated with the outfeed starwheel of the labeling machine. The liquid applicator device includes a fixed arcuate friction and applicator surface on which the bottles roll by reason of being orbited in the outfeed starwheel and, while rolling, the bottles receive their coating of liquid from the applicator surface. The applicator surface is spongy and maintains a coating of the liquid on it which is applied to the surface by means of spray nozzles which are timed to spray the applicator surface by projecting a fanshaped spray through the space between successive bottles as the bottles are moving orbitally by the rotating outfeed starwheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Krones AG Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Stephan Schmelzer
  • Patent number: 5201984
    Abstract: A device for the orienting of bottles or similar containers, in particular for treatment machines such as labeling or decoration machines, each treated bottle being provided with a mark intended to come into engagement with an associated element of the orientation device, is so adapted that the associated element exerts on the bottle, as long as it is not in engagement with its mark, a push which tilts it and brings at least one point of a generatrix of its side surface to rub by contact against at least one wall during the relative displacement of the bottle and the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Inventor: Jean Bedin
  • Patent number: 5192392
    Abstract: The container labeler (2) includes broadly a container conveyor (8) and one or more label applying assemblies (4,6). The label applying assembly includes a label supply hopper (10) which stores a stack of labels (16), a transfer assembly (24) which removes labels one-at-a-time from the label supply hopper, a drive assembly (50) which drives the label from the transfer assembly to an adhesive application assembly (62), and a label pressing member (76) which presses against a container (12) on the container conveyor (78) to form a nip (74). The adhesive application assembly applies adhesive to the back of the label and delivers the label to the nip. The container conveyor includes rotating pedestals (96) upon which the containers rest so that the label from the adhesive applying assembly is applied to the container by the movement of the label into the nip and the rotation of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: The Bottling Room, Inc.
    Inventors: Preston E. Peterson, Chester L. Peterson, Andrew J. Ryan
  • Patent number: 5190612
    Abstract: In an improved machine for applying self-adhesive labels to bottles, of the type in which a set of rotating segments (1) carried on vertical shafts (7) are cycled between a magazine and a transfer station by a revolving platform (8), the design of the segment features a surface (6) with a matrix of finely pointed projections (3) by which labels are picked up from their gummed side and supported temporarily with a minimum of surface contact, such that the adhesive properties of the label remain essentially unaffected by handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Alfa Construzioni Meccaniche S.p.A.
    Inventor: Ireneo Orlandi
  • Patent number: 5188696
    Abstract: A machine for the application of pressure sensitive wrap around labels to product containers. The machine includes a rotatable product table to hold and transport the containers to be labeled, each of which is held on the table at one of a plurality of closely spaced rotatable container holding stations around the periphery of the table. Conveyor and spacer means are provided for sequentially feeding containers to be labeled to the product table and for sequentially removing the labeled containers, the rotation of the product table and the container holding stations being in timed coordination with the feeding and removing means. A plurality of spaced apart wrap around label application stations are positioned adjacent to the product table between the feeding and removing means. Each wrap around applicator station includes a supply reel of pressure sensitive label face stock carried on a releasable backing web and a takeup reel for the backing web after removal of the label therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Good, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5174852
    Abstract: In a method for attaching labels to containers, the labels are removed from a stack by rolling contact with an adhesive surface coated with a cold glue. Prior to termination of the removing step, a localized hot glue coating is in addition applied to the foremost label in the stack. After the label has thus been coated with cold glue and hot glue, it is peeled of the adhesive surface and pressed into contact of its glue-coated backside with a container. The provision that the hot glue coating is applied to the label while it is still held in the magazine ensures that the shape and position of the hot glue coating is fully independent of the speed of the labelling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Krones AG Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Georg Zepf
  • Patent number: 5174851
    Abstract: This invention relates to a labelling machine, and more particularly to a labelling machine for applying labels to containers in such a manner that the labels constitute visible proof that the containers have not been opened. One such type of container is a beverage bottle having a screw-top closure. Before the label is applied to the container, a verification is conducted on the transport path of the container to determine whether the container to be labelled has a correct closure and also to determine whether there is a label correctly positioned to be transferred to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: KHS Eti-Tec Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Zodrow, Rainer Buchholz, Wolfgang Rogall
  • Patent number: 5149392
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for sequentially applying a label to a surface of each of a plurality of containers comprising an indexing table having means for removably holding a plurality of containers and sequentially conveying each container to a label applying station; means for feeding a continuous web to the label applying station, said web having a plurality of labels removably disposed thereon, each label having a surface with an adhesive thereon; means for removing a label from the web at the label applying station and depositing the label, adhesive side exposed, to a label receiving station; means for positioning the label receiving station to position the label parallel to the surface of the container to which the label is to be applied; means for positioning the label in contact with the surface of the container enabling the adhesive surface to adhere to the container surface; and means for repositioning the label receiving station to permit the depositing of another label from the web t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Seal Spout Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick A. Plaessmann
  • Patent number: 5137136
    Abstract: A device for centering and aligning vessels, such as bottles in a bottle treating machine handles bottles that have bottom and/or sidewall recesses for being engaged by detents or alignment elements in response to swiveling of the bottle where a centering ring of a bottle support is connected through its housing to an auxiliary control arrangement in the bottle transport table while the bottle support plate which is arranged in the housing is supported so as to be freely rotatable and possesses a cylindrical friction rim against which a friction element such as a closed loop belt interfaces for driving the rim rotationally, the friction element extending through the housing of the bottle supporting assembly features a lateral access opening which allows the rim to be engaged during the time that the particular model is in the alignment zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Heinz Humele
  • Patent number: 5129984
    Abstract: A bottle labelling machine for pressing labels on bottles. The machine includes a transport star wheel with receptacles for the bottles located on its circumference. A support located above the transport star wheel has application elements located on the circumference of said support. The circular orbit of the application elements has a smaller diameter than and diverges in relation to the orbit of the receptacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: ETI-TEC Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Tomashauser, Rudolf Zodrow
  • Patent number: 5121827
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed suitable for presenting a container at a labeling station where the container is oriented before, during or after the time a label is affixed to the container. The apparatus includes a turntable that is rotatable about a fixed axis. A turret is provided on the turntable for rotation about a turret axis substantially parallel to the fixed axis. The turret is adapted to receive a container. A cam follower carriage is mounted to the turntable for reciprocal movement along the turret axis and is operatively engaged with the turret for rotating the turret when reciprocated. Reciprocal movement is imparted to the carriage by a lower cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Weiler Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Ribordy
  • Patent number: 5116452
    Abstract: Apparatus for applying labels to spinning and translating containers has a rotating vacuum cylinder almost touching the containers. The printed sides of individual labels are deposited on the vacuum cylinder at which time fingers grip the leading end of the label to prevent the label from being attracted to an ensuing glue roller which has plural annular grooves and applies a strip of glue to the leading end of the label. The leading and trailing ends are also held by vacuum devices which are cam driven to extend by a small amount radially of the vacuum cylinder. The fingers register in the grooves of the roller so they do not interfere. The label on the cylinder is carried on the cylinder and secured at its trailing end by its own radially movable vacuum device. When the trailing end reaches a second glue roller the latter device moves radially outward of the cylinder to pick up a strip of glue on the trailing end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Krones AG Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Erich Eder
  • Patent number: 5112430
    Abstract: Apparatus for placing a coupon or other small sheet onto a predetermined location of moving substrate, such as a carton blank. A coupon supply hooper and a glue station are radially spaced about the path of rotation of vacuum gripping heads mounted on opposite ends of a rotating support arm. The gripping heads are fixed to shafts which are caused to rotate by planetary gears. The gear movement causes the gripping heads to be fully extended when they reach the hopper, the glue station and the moving substrate and to have a composite angular motion enabling the entire bottom surface of the coupon to be parallel to the substrate when the coupon contacts the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: Riuerwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Donald R. Hudson
  • Patent number: 5091040
    Abstract: Labeling machine of the turret and vacuum drum type in which the vacuum drum is formed with one or more arcuate segments on its surface generally concentric to the vacuum drum but including a leading section and a trailing section which apply pressure to the leading and trailing ends of the label to adhere them to the container and a mid-section between the leading and trailing sections, which is so shaped and configured that it is in physical contact with a label on the container or is so close to the container that the label has no substantial freedom of movement apart from its movement with the vacuum drum and its orbital movement and its winding around the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: B & H Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Svatoboj Otruba
  • Patent number: 5087317
    Abstract: This invention relates to a labelling machine, in particular, a labelling machine for the labelling of objects of different diameters having cylindrical labelling surfaces, such as bottles, which can be moved on rotatable plates of a turntable past a labelling station or a marking station. Each rotatable plate is rotationally controlled by means of a translation transmission by a pivoting control lever arm guided in a stationary cam, whereby the cam has a removable cam segment. A characteristic of the invention is that the cam and the cam segment lie on top of one another at the two interfaces by means of corresponding bevelled surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: ETI-TEC Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Rogall
  • Patent number: 5078826
    Abstract: A labelling machine for cylindrical containers which are moved past a labelling station by a rotary table and which rotate past the front side of a label stack and thereby remove a front side label. A hot adhesive is sprayed onto the container by a first adhesive unit. During the rolling of the container past the label stack, a label is adhered to the front edge of the container. The rear edge of the label has adhesive applied by a second adhesive unit which is located near the labels which are stored in the stack. In order to make possible a change between different container formats, the label box, the first adhesive unit and the second adhesive unit are mounted on a common sliding carriage. The sliding carriage is a translatable in the direction of the rotary table and is pretensioned in the direction of the rotary table by a spring against a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: ETI-TEC Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Rogall
  • Patent number: 5045148
    Abstract: This article attaching apparatus (10) for attaching a coin or similar object (38) to each of a sequence of continuously moving carrying sheets (14) includes a vacuum belt conveyor (24) for transporting the carrying sheets through a gumming station (26), where said sheets are provided with an adhesive area (34), to a location below a coin storage assembly (81). The coin storage assembly includes a feed tube (142) from which an individual coin is deposited onto the carrying sheet adhesive patch without interruption of the forward movement of the carrying sheet (14) by a feed wheel assembly (80) the feed assembly being mounted to a support frame (60) and disposed between the coin storage assembly and the carrying sheet. The feed wheel assembly includes a rotatable feed wheel (102) having opposed inserts (122, 124) each provided with a circumferentially disposed coin-receiving groove (134).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: GA-Vehren Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Armand C. L. Hoffstetter, Ronald L. Schilling
  • Patent number: 5037499
    Abstract: A labeling machine employing a turrent with pairs of axially aligned chucks which are rotatable about their common axis, means to move each pair of chucks farther apart for entry and exit of containers; such machine also having a vacuum drum rotatable about an axis parallel to the turret axis and a roll on pad spaced from and concentric to the vacuum drum to confine each container released by the turret and to roll each container on the cylinder surface of the vacuum drum. The roll on pad may have a rearward (downstream) extension to contact the container and rotate them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: B & H Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Lyn E. Bright, Hugh E. Cummins
  • Patent number: 5030311
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for taping the lead (10) and tail (20) ends of a web (12) during winding of the web onto a core (14), in which a vacuum drum (72) advances tape (66) past a cutter (126) to provide tape strips (16,22) to be applied when the drum initially is lowered into contact with the empty core and subsequently is raised and lowered again by a cylinder (36) into contact with the fully wound core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Vratislav M. Michal, William A. Meredith
  • Patent number: 5022954
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for sequentially applying a label to a surface of each of a plurality of containers comprising an indexing table having means for removably holding a plurality of containers and sequentially conveying each container to a label applying station; means for feeding a continuous web to the label applying station, said web having a plurality of labels removably disposed thereon, each label having a surface with an adhesive thereon; means for removing a label from the web at the label applying station and depositing the label, adhesive side exposed, to a label receiving station; means for positioning the label receiving station to position the label parallel to the surface of the container to which the label is to be applied; means for positioning the label in contact with the surface of the container enabling the adhesive surface to adhere to the container surface; and means for repositioning the label receiving station to permit the depositing of another label from the web t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Seal Spout Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick A. Plaessmann
  • Patent number: 5021111
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying heat-sensitive adhesive tape, such as frontal diaper tape, of the type having a layer of heat sensitive adhesive material to a web moving at high speed, such as a web of water-resistant material designed for use as the outer layer of disposable diapers. The apparatus comprises a tape-feed wheel for preheating and feeding the tape to the apparatus from a supply of generally continuous tape, and a tape-applying wheel in rolling engagement with the web for applying tape fed to it from the tape-feed wheel to the web. The tape-applying wheel includes vacuum passageways for providing suction through a circumferential surface of the tape-applying wheel to hold the tape thereon, and a heating mechanism for heating the tape to an elevated temperature at which the heat-sensitive adhesive is tacky and for maintaining the tape at the elevated temperature until it is applied to the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Douglas A. Swenson
  • Patent number: 5009741
    Abstract: A device for the application of labels to packages, such as cigarette packs. Each label is applied to one or more faces or end portions of the pack. The application of the comparatively small labels to the packs can impair the performance of a packaging machine. According, the present mechanism continuously transfers the labels to packs, during the continuous transportation of each pack between two processing station by a label conveyor. The conveyor includes several label holders, each of which has a pocket to retain a package within. As the conveyor rotates between stations, the package is shifted within the pocket, and is forced through a label holder. The label holder, retains a label in a position perpendicular to the direction in which the package is moved. Thus as the package is forced through the label holder the label adheres to the package. In this manner, label application is achieved in a continuous process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Hans-Jurgen Bretthauer
  • Patent number: 5006196
    Abstract: Installation for applying labelling sleeves to articles such as cans (3), which installation is characterized in that it comprises a rectilinear transporter (2) for the cans in which is inserted a lifting table (4) capable, each time it is actuated, of bringing a can into the raised position for the application of a sleeve by means of stretching pincers (7), at least one barrier being provided below the lifting table to maintain the aligned cans (3), arranged on the transporter, in position while the table (4) is in the raised position and, when the table is lowered, to allow the can provided with a sleeve to be reintroduced into the rectilinear alignment of the cans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Protection Decoration Conditionnement Europe S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Vandevoorde
  • Patent number: 5004517
    Abstract: The device is designed to interact with a reference notch or projection (2) molded into bottles, and is applicable to rotary labeling units incorporating a turntable with a number of dishes (3) individually rotatable about vertical axes, on which the bottles are positioned in readiness for labeling; each dish operates in conjunction with a mechanical stop (18) capable of alternating between an at-rest position, and a position in which it engages the reference molding afforded by the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Alfa Costruzioni Meccaniche S.p.A.
    Inventor: Ireneo Orlandi
  • Patent number: 5000806
    Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for applying an elastic strand to disposable diapers. It uses canted, spindle-equipped wheels for engaging an elastic strand, moving the elastic strand into a sinuous configuration and stretching the strand. Stripping belts apply the strand to a diaper component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Paper Converting Machine Company
    Inventors: John R. Merkatoris, James E. Hertel, Dale E. Zeman
  • Patent number: 4994135
    Abstract: The circular platform of a rotary bottle labeler comprises a plurality of pedestals (2) ranged around its periphery, rotatable about respective vertical axes; each pedestal shaft is connected to a stepping motor (1) and rotated through a given angle calculated by a microprocessor, this in turn in receipt of the output signal from a pulse generator (21) which is driven by the platform and serves to establish the angular position of the pedestals in relation to the axis of the platform. Pulses emitted by the generator are received and counted by the microprocessor, which is programmed to pilot rotation of the stepping motor, hence of the pedestal, in such a way that the bottle above is moved into a prescribed angular position in readiness to receive its label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Alfa Costruzioni Meccaniche S.p.A.
    Inventor: Ireneo Orlandi
  • Patent number: 4976803
    Abstract: This invention relates to a pressing station for metal foil sheets applied around the top and neck of bottles. By means of bell-shaped pressing elements which can be axially lowered toward the bottle top, the foil sheets are firmly applied to the top and neck of the bottle. The pressing elements corresponding to each receiving position of the delivery star wheel are each supported by a crank. By means of a three-dimensional drive mechanism, each crank and thus also each pressing element can be lowered to the top of a bottle. To prevent collisions in the overlapping area of the rotational paths of the turntable and the delivery star wheel, each crank is coupled with another drive mechanism, which engages the crank. The cams of the two cam drive mechanisms are designed so that the pressing element is in its raised inside position in the vicinity of the turntable, and in its lowered, outside position in a portion of the area between the turntable and the delivery of the delivery star wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: ETI-TEC Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Tomashauer, Rudolf Zodrow, Rainer Buchholz
  • Patent number: 4960485
    Abstract: A wafer mounting device for automatically adhering wafers individually on a polishing plate surface for polishing the surface of the wafers. The wafers are stacked in a wafer cassette and are taken out from the wafer cassette one-by-one, and transferred to an adhesive coating section of the device by a wafer carrying means. The surface of each of the wafers is coated with an adhesive wax in a coating section. Afterward the adhesive coated wafers are carried out from the coating section by the carrying means. The wafers are taken out from the carrying means and the surfaces thereof are reversed by a reverse chuck means. The polishing plate is disposed in a position automatically where the reversed wafers arrive, and the wafers are automatically adhered onto the surface of the polishing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Enya Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusaku Ichinose, Hitoshi Imamura
  • Patent number: 4950350
    Abstract: This invention relates to a labelling machine for bottles which includes a bottle feeding mechanism to feed the bottles to a revolving bottle support platform. The support platform directs bottles to a labelling mechanism and an application mechanism prior to their removal by a bottle withdrawing mechanism. The bottles are maintained against undesired rotation on the support platform by axial force on the top of each bottle to produce contact between the bottom of each bottle disposed on a support plate for each bottle turntable on the revolving bottle support platform. The support plate includes a base portion and upper surface element having an upper contour in a central region thereof. The upper contour matches the bottom of the bottle for receipt of the bottom therein. The upper surface element is removably mounted on the base portion of the support plate and includes features for centering the upper surface element and the upper contour thereof on the base portion of the support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Holstein und Kappert AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Zodrow, Wolfgang Rogall
  • Patent number: 4944830
    Abstract: This invention relates to a labelling machine for bottles which includes a bottle feeding mechanism to feed the bottles to a revolving bottle support platform. The support platform directs bottles to a labelling mechanism and an application mechanism prior to their removal by a bottle withdrawing mechanism. The bottles are maintained against undesired rotation on the support platform by axial force on the top of each bottle to produce frictional contact between the bottom of each bottle and an elastic support plate for each bottle turntable on the revolving bottle support platform. The support plate includes an elastic body and several block-shaped friction bodies imbedded therein and distributed over its surface. The friction bodies have exposed contact surfaces, which lie in the plane of the exposed surface 13 of the elastic material. Such a support plate includes a long service life and capable of providing a high degree of friction between the micro-cracked bottom of a bottle and the friction bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Holstein und Kappert AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Zodrow, Wolfgang Rogall, Egon Hoveler, Rainer Buchholz
  • Patent number: 4943341
    Abstract: A device with contratrotating knives for severing filter cigarette uniting bands from webs for filter cigarette assemblies in automatic filter tipping mahines, in which the knives are carried by drums in arrays with their cutting edges meeting with tangential contact at successive points. The cutting edges of one series of knives are carried at a higher peripheral speed than that of the other series by a support drum. The path of the cutting edges with a higher peripheral speed develops in a plane of the tangential point between the knives of both series such that their lowermost and uppermost sections respectively, are distant from the axis of rotation by equal radii, but greater than that of at least one of their intermediate points coincident with the tangential point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: G. D. Societa Per Azioni
    Inventor: Riccardo Mattei
  • Patent number: 4930614
    Abstract: A receptacle handling machine for the handling of receptacles which are passed through the machine and having a machine frame and at least one receptacle guiding body releasably mounted on the machine frame, the guiding body on its end adjacent the frame is formed with first insertion and stop elements to respectively engage in pairs, in the assembled state, associated second insertion and stop elements of the machine frame. The guiding body is positively held transversely to the direction of insertion and a clamping member is attached to the guiding body or to the machine frame. The guiding body is held either non-positively or positively in the direction of insertion together with the stop elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Inventor: Hermann Kronseder
  • Patent number: 4931128
    Abstract: An electronic parts processing machine for continuously performing processed like writing information to electronic parts concludes a carrying portion for transferring the electronic parts to be processed, a supplying portion which is disposed upstream to the carrying portion and connects a tray containing many electronic parts in line to the carrying portion and supports the tray, a processing portion which is disposed in the carrying portion and perform predetermined information processing for the electronic parts supplied from the tray, an indicating portion for making a predetermined indication for the electronic parts located downstream or upstream to the processing portion, a collecting portion which is disposed downstream to the carrying portion and connects a tray to the carrying portion and supports the tray to receive processed electronic parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Takasago Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Hamano
  • Patent number: 4925520
    Abstract: An elastic ribbon is fed over a vacuum drum. Rotating cutter blades use the drum as an anvil to cut the ribbon into spaced apart segments. A sheet comprising a diaper web runs over a roll that is spaced from the drum. A segment transferring and stretching device is arranged between the drum and roll. One embodiment of the transferring device has grippers rotating together about the axes that are not coaxial but are at opposite acute angles relative to the roll and drum axes. The grippers engage an unstretched elastic segment on the drum when the grippers are close together but as they rotate they spread apart and stretch the segment which is then pressed onto the glue treated sheet. In another embodiment of the elastic segment stretching and transferring device, grippers are mounted to the periphery of a vacuum drum. At least one of the grippers is moved alternately toward and away from the other under the influence of a stationary cam as the drum rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry J. Beaudoin, Donald W. Lammers, John A. McCabe
  • Patent number: 4915565
    Abstract: An apparatus for inverting and handling integrated circuit dice employs rotating apparatus for rotating a chip carrier by 180 degrees to invert and transfer dice from one set of receptacles to another; together with an apparatus for precisely aligning dice resting at random positions within a set of oversized receptacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Bond, Steven Swendrowski, Michael A. Olla, Barry L. Morrison