Abstract: Labelling equipment is provided for applying wrap-around labels to cylindrical containers. The equipment includes a label carrier having a wheel rotatable about its axis, a vacuum system coupled to the wheel to retain labels on the wheel, a feeder for directing containers individually to the wheel adjacent the periphery of the wheel to receive a label, and a drive system for receiving containers from the bottle feeder and for rolling the containers upon receiving the label from the label carrier. The drive system includes at least one belt engaged about the wheel in slipping relationship therewith to permit the belt to move faster than the periphery of the wheel and including a portion for moving in contact with the container immediately after the container leaves the feeder to both carry the label off the wheel and to engage it on the container. A cutter arrangement is provided with a lobe which removes tension from the label as it is severed from the strip of labels.

Abstract: The invention concerns a labeling machine for bottles that are to have one or more labels applied to them in a position determined by a specific indication on the bottle. Before the first label is applied, the bottles, which are secured between a rotating plate and a rotating head, are probed for the indication and rotated by an electric motor. The rotation from the motor is introduced through one input of a differential gear. Rotations derived from an invariable labeling program are introduced through the other input. The bottles can accordingly be positioned in the desired orientation without being loosened between the rotating plate and rotating head and without using a frictional clutch or gearshift.

Abstract: Fixed jaw means for receiving, holding, rotating and maintaining containers in a vertical alignment while traveling around a rotatable turret periphery is shown. The jaw means nests the container in the center of a pair of peripheral rollers and a pair of idler rollers.

Abstract: A tapered article labelling machine and method providing the capability for automated high-speed accurate register continuous application of generally crescent shaped labels to curved and tapered articles, including auxiliary sub-assembly machine stations for accomplishing continuous tapered article infeed, adhesive application and label feed and application respectively to the sidewall surface thereof, label compression after adhesive application to accomplish label conformation to the tapered article exterior sidewall supporting surface during adhesive set, and thereafter automatic delivery of labeled articles from the machine to inspection and cartoning stations or the like.

Abstract: An article-holding turret which is particularly suitable for rotatably conveying large objects. A friction brake is fixed to a pawl plate, and these axially mounted structures are oscillated by a rack and pinion assembly driven from a turret index shuttle. A ratchet and spindle assembly is coaxially mounted on the turret's central shaft, and caused to periodically index through desired angular intervals by a pawl carried on the pawl plate. The forward rotation of the ratchet and spindle assembly is accompanied by a commensurate rotation of the friction brake, thereby minimizing rotational drive forces required during this segment. An auxiliary pawl and bracket assembly prevents retrogression of the ratchet and spindle during the reverse oscillation of the friction brake assembly.

Abstract: A method of applying multiple labels to a label receiving surface of an article comprising conveying articles to be labeled to a label applying station, dispensing first and second labels onto a vacuum belt transport, transporting the first and second labels to the label applying station utilizing the vacuum belt transport and wrapping the first and second labels onto different locations on the label-receiving surface of a first of the articles.

Abstract: Objects to be labelled with, for example, heat transfer labels, are initially stabilized by being positioned on freely movable platforms and conveyed to a station where the platforms are stabilized and the objects labelled.

Abstract: A sleeve forming apparatus wherein a rectangular sheet of thermoplastic material is formed into a tubular shape having overlapped end portions that are sealed together so as to minimize the lap thickness of the seam. Also disclosed is a method of forming a tubular shape wherein the seam area is worked to minimize its thickness while preserving its liquid-tight characteristics.

Abstract: A support having a plurality of circularly arranged rotatable platforms for bottles includes a drive mechanism having a plane stationary cam plate and sensing elements for each platform in contact with the cam plate. The drive mechanism is mounted in the support and configured such that the same lever arm, sensing element and platform drive shaft can be utilized for both counterclockwise and clockwise rotation of the platform merely by the angular orientation of the drive mechanism with respect to the cam plate.

Abstract: This disclosure deals with a machine for transferring indicia (such as decalcomanias) from an elongated web or carrier strip to tapered articles, such as tumblers, at a high rate of speed. The articles are moved along a transport path and means is provided to turn the articles as the articles are moved through an indicia transferring portion of the path. The web and the articles are moved in the same direction and in a generally straight line, and the articles are rolled across the web and the indicium, thereby peeling the indicium from the web. Means is provided to tilt the axes of the tapered tumblers relative to the plane of the web in order to place the side of the tumbler, which engages the web, parallel to the web. Hold down means is provided to force the tumblers to move in a straight line while rolling. Decals formed with an initial compensating distortion are used in the machine, to compensate for the distortion of the decals that occurs as the decals are transferred to the tumblers.

Abstract: A mechanism for automatically labelling articles, such as fruit, has a chute for guiding fruit into contact with an upstanding label, the engagement of the fruit with the label being effective to transfer the label to the fruit and to cause the movement of a new label into transfer position.

Abstract: A labelling machine has each of a number of article supporting plates mounted in a rotary table for movement within a recess in a guide plate when a clamp presses an article against a spring urging the supporting plate to a position flush with the guide plate, and the supporting plate has a plurality of peripheral notches making a sliding fit with projections on the guide plate extending into the recess and having surfaces converging towards each other in the direction away from the clamp, whereby each article coming into contact with the converging surfaces of the projections as the clamp pressing the article causes the supporting plate to move into the recess in the guide plate against the spring urge results in the article being moved into a definite position on the supporting plate in relation to its cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A device for labelling objects, notably cassettes, on two sides. The device is provided with two magazines for labels and a device co-operating therewith for removing and transporting the labels to stations in the device which are adapted to receive the objects to be labelled. At least one feeding device for the objects to be labelled is provided to feed the objects to a track along which they can be moved to the said stations. At the area of the said stations the track is provided with positioning means for the objects. Between these two stations a turnover device is provided which comprises a completely or partly closed window which is arranged to transverse to the track. This window has an inner circumference which at least substantially corresponds to the outer circumference of the objects in a direction transverse to the track, and is situated in the track such that the objects can slide through the window during their movement over the track.

Abstract: A labelling system for labelling articles comprising a cassette label applicator having a supply of labels and a conveyor for moving articles past the label applicator where the label applicator applies the label to the articles as they are moved past the label applicator and the conveyor is adapted so the cassette label applicator may be replaced with another cassette label applicator after the supply of labels of the original cassette label applicator becomes at least substantially exhausted.