Patent ID: 6649118
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
A method for in-mold labeling a plastic blow molding machine having a rotary mold wheel that supports a plurality of molds for rotary movement along a rotary path about a mold wheel axis and for concomitant pivotal movement of mold sections of the molds between open and closed positions about associated mold axes that extend parallel with the mold wheel axis and with the mold sections opening in an outward direction from the mold wheel axis and symmetrically about associated mold parting planes that extend from the mold wheel axis through the associated mold axes, the in-mold labeling method comprising:rotating a dispensing wheel of a dispensing assembly about a dispensing wheel axis that extends parallel to the mold wheel axis, with the dispensing wheel including a plurality of dispensing head assemblies each of which includes a support and a dispensing head mounted on the support for movement along a dispensing head axis of the support between pick and place positions, and with each dispensing head including at least one label carrier for receiving a label in the pick position thereof and for transferring the label in the place position thereof to an adjacent open mold of the blow molding machine; and moving the support of each dispensing head assembly during a label depositing operation along the rotary path of the adjacent open mold about the mold wheel axis and angularly positioning the support of the dispensing head assembly about a support axis such that the dispensing head axis moves in alignment with the moving mold parting plane of the adjacent open mold as the dispensing head is moved on the support during the label depositing operation from the pick position to the place position to deposit the label within the adjacent open mold in a manner that permits high speed operation of the in-mold labeling.