Patent ID: 6578475
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: B65C

Abstract:
Process for labeling or printing of stackable containers comprising the steps of:supplying containers along a longitudinal conveying axis to a magazine so as to be placed in an unlabeled or unprinted stack of containers within the magazine; moving the stack of unlabeled or unprinted containers within the magazine along the longitudinal conveying axis to a labeling or printing area; at the labeling or printing area at least partially unstacking an individual container from the stack for labeling or printing of the individual container; labeling or printing the at least partially unstacked, individual container at a site adjacent the magazine; after labeling or printing, supplying along the longitudinal conveying axis the at least partially unstacked, individual container to re-stack the labeled container in a stack of labeled or printed containers; wherein the movement of the stack of unlabeled containers along the longitudinal conveying axis is momentarily halted in the labeling or printing area to permit labeling or printing of the container without a change in longitudinal direction of movement of the container, wherein before and after labeling or printing the direction of movement along the longitudinal conveying axis of the unlabeled or unprinted stack in the labeling or printing area is essentially identical to the direction of movement of the stack of labeled or printed containers such that during movement in the labeling or printing area there is only movement of the container in the labeling or printing area in a forward direction with respect to the longitudinal conveying axis of the stack of unlabeled or unprinted containers, and wherein the labeling or printing of the containers is carried out substantially continuously.