Patent ID: 6644647
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: B29C,B65H

Abstract:
Label transfer apparatus for use in transferring labels from a label magazine for in-mold labeling prior to blow molding, the label transfer apparatus comprising:a rotary table that is rotatable about a central axis; a first rotary motor that rotates the rotary table about the central axis; a transfer head that is rotatable on the rotary table about a rotary axis that is fixed with respect to the table and spaced from the central axis such that table rotation moves the transfer head adjacent the label magazine which stores a stack of labels with an exposed end from which the labels are sequentially dispensed; the transfer head including a pair of vacuum openings through which a vacuum is supplied; and an actuator including a second rotary motor, a rotary actuator member rotatively driven by the second rotary motor about the central axis independently of the rotary table, and a rotary connector extending between the rotary actuator member and the transfer head to rotate the transfer head with a rolling motion and engage one of the vacuum openings with the label at the exposed end of the label magazine to initially pull an extremity of that label away from the label stack and thereby permit air to move behind the label, to subsequently pull an intermediate portion of the label away from the label stack and thereby permit more air to move behind the label, and to then engage the other vacuum opening of the transfer head with the opposite extremity of the label to finally pull an opposite extremity of the label away from the label stack in a manner that permits high speed labeling.