Devices For Presenting Articles In Predetermined Attitude Or Position At Labelling Station (9/06) Patents (Class 156/DIG27)
  • Patent number: 5968303
    Abstract: A label is supplied from a label supplier to a rotating suction drum. The supplied label is absorbed on the suction drum and conveyed to a label sticking station. During conveyance of the label, passage time of the label at a predetermined point is measured, and a first shifting amount of the label relative to a label conveying direction is calculated. A standby position of the work in the label conveying direction is altered based on the first shifting amount. Further, during conveyance of the label, its location relative to a perpendicular direction to the label conveying direction is detected, and a second shifting amount of the label relative to the perpendicular direction is calculated. A standby position of the work in the perpendicular direction is altered based on the second shifting amount. The position of the work is adjusted to the label so that the label is stuck on the work with great accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihide Nagasaka
  • Patent number: 5868288
    Abstract: A dispensing container comprising a molded plastic bottle and a cap. The molded plastic bottle has a top closed end, a cylindrical side wall, and a shoulder section at a dispensing end of the side wall. The shoulder has one or more indented portions which form the positioning lugs in the shoulder section. The plastic bottle also has a neck with external threads defining a mouth. The cap is selectively connected to the neck. The cap has an internally threaded cuff for interconnection with the external threads of the neck. The cap also has structure for dispensing of an enclosed material which is near the mouth. The cap is cup-shaped with a face and a cylindrical wall extending from the face to define an interior of the cap. When the cap is connected to the neck, the indented portions which form the positioning lugs in the shoulder are hidden from view within the interior of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Redmond, Sr., Timothy E. Fitten, Linda C. Nash, Robin Laraine Doyle
  • Patent number: 5413666
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of labeling machines for bottles provided with a reference recess (13) on the bottle base, which recess (13) can be used to effect the centering of the labels on the bottle: more precisely the invention relates to a bottle-bearing plate, comprising an internal body (3) which can slide vertically and rotate about its own axis, and which is non-contactingly surrounded by an external body (2) which can be engaged and raised by the internal body (3) after an initial non-contacting upward-moving rotation. A centering ring (4) is fixed to the external body (2), which ring (4) perfectly reproduces the the external surface curvature of the bottle at its base. A centering device (5), destined to insert into the reference recess (13), is fixed to the internal body (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Alfa Construzioni Meccanische S.p.A.
    Inventor: Ireneo Orlandi
  • Patent number: 5407512
    Abstract: An apparatus for accurately, efficiently, and consistently aligning a tabbing strip with the edges of the photographic print to which it is to be applied. The apparatus comprises a support panel, a tabbing strip registration guide, a photographic print registration guide, a clamping member including a linear clamp bar, and a spring for pivotally mounting the clamping member to the support panel. The present invention further provides a method of using the apparatus for accurately, efficiently, and consistently aligning a tabbing strip with the edges of the photographic print to which it is to be applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Qualex Financial Corporation
    Inventor: Stanislaw A. Policht
  • Patent number: 5387302
    Abstract: A method of automatically and continuously labelling articles such as fruit or vegetables. The method consists in placing said articles in indented trays having parallel rows of indentations, in disposing the trays in single file on a continuously moving conveyor, said rows being disposed perpendicularly to the advance direction of the conveyor, and in moving at least one labelling head over a row of indentations with composite rectilinear translation motion resulting from longitudinal advance motion corresponding to that of the conveyor combined with transverse motion such that a label is placed successively on each article in said row, and then in renewing said operation for each of said rows. The invention also provides apparatus for implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: DISPAC
    Inventors: Jacques Bernard, Laurent Koenig
  • Patent number: 5362348
    Abstract: A method of applying a foil indicia on a video cassette including the steps of mounting a video cassette on a conveyor, indexing the video cassette to a stamping position adjacent a first hot foil stamping means and a second hot foil stamping means, applying a foil indicia on a first predetermined surface of the video cassette, applying a second foil indicia on a second predetermined surface of the video cassette, where the first predetermined surface and second predetermined surface are disposed at a substantial angular relation to each other, indexing the video cassette to an exit position, and removing the video cassette from the conveyor. An apparatus for carrying out the method of the present invention is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Inventor: William T. Gutherie
  • 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: 5290388
    Abstract: In a labelling machine comprising at least one plate (1), which is adapted to carry out controlled rotations, and a plunger (2), which is adapted to carry out controlled upward and downward movements, the object to be labelled, e.g. a bottle (24), being fixed between said plate and said plunger such that it is secured against rotation relative thereto, the plunger has associated therewith a rotating means (3), which will rotate said plunger to a specific angular position and/or fix it in said angular position, if the plunger is not in contact with the object to be labelled. However, if the plunger is in contact with the object to be labelled, it will be decoupled from said rotating means, whereupon it can rotate freely together with the object to be labelled, which is driven by the plate. Such a rotating means can be established with the aid of simple structural means and permits a manifold use of asymmetric plungers having a preferred position. This is the case e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Krones AG Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Georg Zepf
  • 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: 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: 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: 4911285
    Abstract: A drive shaft is for a rotary plate of a labelling machine for bottles or the like and includes a rotatable turntable of the labelling machine having an upper portion. A circular cam block is mounted below the turntable and has a curved slot therein. The rotary plate is mounted for rotation on the upper portion of the turntable. A drive shaft is mounted for rotation in the turntable and has an upper end and a lower end. The rotary plate is coupled to the upper end of the drive shaft. The lower end of the drive shaft includes a crank arm which is disposed in the curved slot for cammed rotation of the drive shaft during rotation of the turntable. The curved slot includes an opening in the cam block and the drive shaft including the crank arm is alignable with the opening for downward removal from and upward installation in the turntable through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: ETI-TEC Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Rogall, Wilfried Rubel, Dieter Thiel, Rudolf Zodrow
  • Patent number: 4758303
    Abstract: Apparatus for applying labels at selected locations thereon to such diverse artifacts as audio and video cassettes, compact and floppy discs, and envelopes and to a wide variety of other artifacts. The labels are peeled from a continuous backing supplied in roll or fanfold form by pulling the backing around the sharp edge of a peeler which is automatically elevated at an appropriate point in the operating cycle of the apparatus to facilitate the loading and unloading of the artifacts being labeled. A roller cooperates with the peeler in stripping the labels from the backing; and that roller, a second roller, or a brush is used to press the label onto the artifact being labeled. The artifact is supported by an interchangeable insert from a rectilinearly displaceable carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: Investment Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon L. Shastko
  • Patent number: 4731149
    Abstract: A apparatus is described for producing optically satisfactorily laterally spaced letters which have been sequentially transferred from a dry transfer sheet. The sheet (28) is held in a holder (20) which incorporates a short free-motion linkage enabling the sheet so held to be moved horizontally over a short distance, the short distance being accurately repeated each time such movement is effected. By butting the letter next to be transferred to the letter just transferred and then moving the fixed distance away, visually pleasing letter spacing may be simply achieved without the use of extra transferable markings which need to be transferred to the working surface and subsequently removed, and without the need for excessively complex apparatus or for drawing alignment or spacing lines on the receptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Esselte Pendaflex Corporation
    Inventors: Martin E. Dowzall, Vazgen J. Houssian
  • Patent number: 4711687
    Abstract: A method for precision labeling of containers such as cans for labeling top, bottom or sides, including labeling sides of containers with lids; side labels may have secondary labels, e.g., tax stamps, placed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: United States Tobacco Company
    Inventor: Eugene H. Paules
  • Patent number: 4671844
    Abstract: A labeling apparatus holds an article to which a label is to be stuck, on a holder and then moves the holder carrying the article from a home position via a waiting position and a labeling position back to the home position. In a label peeling and issuing section, the article is moved up toward a label being issued in the label peeling and issuing section and is brought into contact with the label so that the label is peeled from the supporting strip and stuck to the article as the holder holding the article is moved toward the home position along guide paths. Reverse movement preventing plates prevent the reverse movement of the holder as the holder is moved along the guide paths. With the labeling apparatus the label can applied to the article simply and automatically without requiring a manual labeling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignees: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Hirosaki, Seiji Koike, Motonobu Hamada, Takahiko Ohhata, Yasuo Inoue, Haruyuki Karibe, Hideki Hama
  • Patent number: 4657622
    Abstract: A machine and a method for precision labeling of containers such as cans for labeling top, bottom or sides, including labeling sides of containers with lids; side labels may have secondary labels, e.g., tax stamps, placed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Assignee: United States Tobacco Company
    Inventor: Eugene H. Paules
  • Patent number: 4636278
    Abstract: An improvement in labeling machines of the type disclosed in Wesley U.S. Pat. No.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Labelette Company
    Inventor: Wesley, John G.
  • Patent number: 4529469
    Abstract: A machine for labeling containers which are oriented vertically and have a bottom surface provided with a transverse jam recess that is at least partially radial to the longitudinal axis of the container. The machine includes a labeler and a work table moveable relative to the labeler. A plurality of plates are each mounted on the table for rotation about vertical axis and each plate includes a container supporting surface. A holder is disposed above each plate for vertical movement relative thereto. A counter jam is mounted on each rotary plate for movement between a first position below the container supporting surface and a second position in which a portion of the counter jam extends above the container supporting surface for cooperating with the jam recess of a container positioned on the support surface. At least three rollers are mounted on each rotary plate to support the container for rotational movement about its longitudinal axis relative to the rotary plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Assignee: Messrs. Carl Pirzer Co.
    Inventor: Norbert Jorss
  • Patent number: 4487650
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1984
    Assignee: Jagenberg Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Werner Mohn, Heinz-J/u/ rgen Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 4443285
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Assignee: New Way Packaging Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Roth, Nevin Snyder
  • Patent number: 4430141
    Abstract: In a labelling machine for objects such as bottles, comprising a bottle carrier having turntables for the bottles, a support, label pick-up elements on said support, a label gripper cylinder with transfer members, drive means coupling the support and the gripper cylinder so as to drive the pick-up elements successively past a glue roller, label stack and the gripper cylinder, and means for rotating each turntable comprising a stationary or fixed cam groove 30, 31 and a cam follower 24,25 so that during transfer of a label from the gripper cylinder to a bottle there is substantial synchronism between the transfer members of the gripper cylinder and the bottle areas to which the labels are to be applied, the improvement wherein the stationary cam in the area of the gripper cylinder contains a second cam 26, 27 which is exchangeable with another cam 39 or which is displaceable by a control means 32-38 such that upon entry and departure of the cam follower into or out of the second cam, the second cam merges with
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: Jagenberg Werke AG
    Inventor: Rudolf Zodrow
  • Patent number: 4397710
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a machine for transferring indicia, preferably decals, from a rolled carrier strip or web to a series of articles. The articles may have straight cylindrical sides like that of root beer mugs, they may have positive tapered sides such as tapered water glasses, or they may have negative tapered sides such as the upper part of stemmed wine glasses. A series of the decals are attached to the elongated web and are spaced a generally constant distance apart in the direction of the length of the web. The configuration of the decals corresponds to a flat layout of the outer surface of the articles being decorated. For a straight mug the decal is generally rectangular; for a glass having a positive taper the decal is curved in one direction; and for a glass having a negative taper the decal is curved in the other direction. The machine includes a mandrel that rotatably supports an article and a pressure mechanism for pressing the web and the decal against the article on the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Assignee: The Meyercord Co.
    Inventor: Barney G. Gaylord
  • Patent number: 4369582
    Abstract: The present invention provides a label jig adapted to guide accurate manual application of an adhesive label or label cover at an edge of a file panel. The jig includes a file edge guide, a label edge guide, raised relative to the file edge guide and a seat portion between and at generally right angles to the edge guides at the top of the file edge guide and at the base of the label edge guide. The seat portion which is used to seat only part of the label has low affinity for the adhesive on the label so as not to detract from its adhesiveness when the seated part of the label is removed from the seat portion of the jig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Assignee: Datafile Limited
    Inventor: George B. Pfeffer
  • Patent number: 4338155
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for properly positioning multi-faced containers to facilitate the proper application of labels. This invention, used in conjunction with labeling machines having star-wheel feed mechanisms, facilitates the proper indexing of multi-faced containers to insure that labels are applied consistently in the proper position. This invention may be used with multi-faced containers having any number of flat sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: H. J. Heinz Company
    Inventor: Byron D. Buchele
  • Patent number: 4325774
    Abstract: A correction label applying device for use with a portable label printing machine is disclosed. The device comprises a price tag holding device for temporarily holding a price tag to be corrected. The price tag holding device is mounted on a guide at the underside of the portable label printing machine so as to be movable between an operative forward position, in which it holds a price tag or the like in a position to receive at a predetermined location thereon a correction label piece fed out by the portable label printing machine, and a rest rearward position, in which the price tag holding device is positioned rearwardly from the correction label exit of the printing machine so as not to interfere with the label printing machine being operated to print and apply a label in the usual manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sato Kenkyusho
    Inventor: Yo Sato
  • Patent number: 4283245
    Abstract: Container conveying apparatus comprises a conveyor for conveying evenly spaced-apart containers and means for individually engaging containers and shifting containers laterally of the conveyor. Such container conveying apparatus may be used in association with container labelling apparatus where lateral movement of container on conveyor is desired preparatory to the next labelling step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Inventor: Horst A. Benoit
  • Patent number: 4259138
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a correction label applying device for a portable label printing machine, which is used to correct the characters printed on price tags. The correction label applying device is detachably secured to the body of the portable label printing machine. The price tag holding device of the label applying device is provided with adjusting means in which the positions of stoppers which receive the tip edge portion of an inserted price tag and the positions of a pair of guides which guide both the side edges of the inserted price tag can be changed. A leaf spring gives elastic force to the price tag holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1981
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sato Kenkyusho
    Inventor: Yo Sato
  • Patent number: 4239570
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1980
    Assignee: The Meyercord Co.
    Inventor: Daniel Kerwin
  • Patent number: 4235661
    Abstract: An article labelling machine, especially for labelling cheeses, comprises a conveying means for conveying the articles to be labelled and a labelling means.The articles to be labelled are fed one-by-one to a stirrup which ensures the automatic centering of the articles with respect to a label-applying head overlying the stirrup. The stirrup and the label-applying head are movable as an assembly, transversely with respect to the direction of advance of the conveying means, from a position in which the label-applying head receives a label to a transversely displaced position in which the label is applied to an article and the labelled article is discharged from the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1980
    Inventor: Jacques E. M. Evrard
  • Patent number: 4201621
    Abstract: A label applicator which grips the article to be labeled on the opposite sides of the article to hold the article in a predetermined orientation. One or more labels are applied to the article while it is held in the predetermined orientation. The article is gripped between a movable resilient member and a guide which holds the article against the movable resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: Label-Aire Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Crankshaw, Leo Kucheck
  • Patent number: 4143754
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1979
    Assignee: Morgan Fairest Limited
    Inventor: Paul J. Eldred
  • Patent number: 4104105
    Abstract: Disclosed is a label or patch overlay dispensing apparatus having a storage reel for carrying a supply tape of adhesive overlays, a feed throat for receiving a document to which an overlay is to be attached and a contact for sensing a document in the feed throat and for causing the advancement of the document to a label attaching position. The device is responsive to the receipt of the document in the overlay attaching position for releasing an overlay or patch for attachment to the document and a pressure bonder for attaching the label is activated when the overlay is removed from the supply roll. As the overlay is attached the document is concurrently ejected from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1978
    Assignee: Burroughs Corporation
    Inventors: Wilson Parker Rayfield, Robert H. Jurgensen