Patent ID: 6543514
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: B29C,B65C,Y10T

Abstract:
A sleeve application machine for labeling containers such as bottles, comprising:a sleeve carrier, said sleeve carrier defining a bottle-receiving aperture circumscribed by a controllable label holder; a sleeve carrier transport system, comprising a first endless track pivotably coupled to said sleeve carrier on a first side of said sleeve carrier at a first position on said sleeve carrier; and a second endless track pivotably coupled to said sleeve carrier on a second side of said sleeve carrier opposite said first side at a second position on said sleeve carrier, said second endless track parallel to said first endless track and offset from said first endless track by a distance equal to an offset present in said sleeve carrier between said first position and said second position; whereby said sleeve carrier transport system transports said sleeve carrier and keeps said sleeve carrier in a horizontal position throughout a complete cycle of said sleeve carrier transport system; whereby said sleeve carrier transport system transports said sleeve carrier and causes said sleeve carrier to circumscribe a bottle so that said bottle may be labeled by said sleeve carrier, said bottle passing through said aperture during a sleeving operation; and a pedestal, moveable horizontally and vertically, said pedestal receives and supports said bottle for labeling by said sleeve carrier, said pedestal maintaining an elevation of said bottle at a constant level when engaged with said bottle; whereby said bottle may pass into and out of the sleeve application machine in a straight-line fashion, said bottle maintaining a substantially constant elevation during the sleeving operation.