Machine for labeling bodies and shoulders of containers

Machine for applying labels to containers having cylindrical bodies and tapered shoulders, comprising a vacuum drum having one or more pairs of suction pads including a lower pad for adhering a body label to be applied to the cylindrical body of a container, such pad being fixed except for rotation with the drum, the upper pad being mounted for tilting about one or two axes to bring it into proper position for applying a label to the tapered shoulder of a container.

This invention relates to a labeling machine for applying labels to the 
bodies and to the shoulders of containers which have cylindrical bodies 
and tapered shoulders or necks. The machine is capable of applying labels 
to the shoulders alone if that is desired. 
In the application of labels to cylindrical containers such as, for 
example, that shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,709 it is sufficient to 
provide a rotating vacuum drum which picks up the labels at a label 
receiving station as they are supplied to it by a continuous label cutting 
instrumentality, to transport each label from the label receiving station 
past a glue applicator which applies a pattern of glue to the label and 
then to a container feed at which the label is applied to the container 
and the container is caused to spin to wrap the label around the 
container. For such purpose, the vacuum drum has on it one or more pads 
equipped preferably with a resilient surface and also equipped with 
suction ducts connected with a source of vacuum to grip each label in turn 
by its leading end, to hold the label on the pad during the transit from 
the label receiving station to the label applying station and to release 
the label to the container at the label applying station. 
However, where the container has a tapered or conical shoulder or neck 
above the cylindrical body portion and where it is desired to apply labels 
to this portion of the container, it is necessary both to tilt each 
shoulder label into a posture such that it contacts and has the proper 
position to be applied to the shoulder. 
it is advantageous to provide a machine which will apply body labels to the 
cylindrical bodies of containers and shoulder labels to the tapered or 
conical shoulders of containers in a single operation without the need to 
pass the containers through a body labeling station and then through the 
shoulder labeling station. 
Further, it is advantageous to sever the body labels and the shoulder 
labels from a single continuous length of label stock without having to 
employ pre-cut labels and/or to sever body labels from one strip of label 
stock and shoulder labels from another strip of label stock. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a labeling machine 
satisfying the requirements described above. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a labeling machine which 
is capable of severing shoulder labels from continuous label stock to the 
desired shape and dimensions, transporting each severed label past a glue 
applicator for application of pattern of glue thereto and then tilting 
each label to the proper position for application to the shoulder of a 
rotating container at a label applying station. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a labeling machine 
capable of severing and handling shoulder labels as described immediately 
above which is also capable of continuously severing body labels from the 
same label stock and applying them to the cylindrical bodies of containers 
simultaneously with severance and application of shoulder labels. 
Yet another object is to provide a body and shoulder labeling machine 
having the attributes discussed above and which is economical in its 
utilization of label stock in that it minimizes the amount of label stock 
which is wasted as scrap. 
The above and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the 
ensuing description and the appended claims.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the machine is generally designated by the 
reference numeral 10. A roll 11 of label stock 12 is shown, the label 
stock passing between rollers 13 and 14, one of which is driven and which 
together constitute the label feed. Also shown is a cutter 15 comprising, 
for example, a rotary cutter 16 and an anvil roller 17. Guides 18 and 19 
and an air jet 20 are also shown to guide the label stock from the cutter 
to a label drum. Scrap material 12a passes over a roller 21 and is rolled 
up at 22. 
The cutter 15 may be a rotary die cutter such as shown in Hoffmann U.S. 
patent application, Ser. No. 875,891, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,181,555 and 
Dickey U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 871,554, now U.S. Pat. No. 
4,188,843. However, other types of cutter may be used. 
Labels are supplied by this feed and cutting mechanism to a vacuum drum 25 
which transports the labels from the label receiving station past a glue 
applicator 26 to a container feed 27. Preferably the peripheral speed of 
the vacuum drum 25 is such that it is slightly greater than the linear 
feed of the label stock and the operation of the label feed and the vacuum 
drum are such in relation to one another that each label (both body label 
and shoulder label) is gripped by the vacuum drum before it is severed 
from the label stock. Thus, a pull is exerted on each label before it is 
severed and there is a slight, pre-determined slippage of the label on the 
surface of the label drum. The glue applicator 26 may be of any well known 
construction and may apply any of a number of glue patterns, such 
constructions and patterns being well known in the art. For example, glue 
may be applied to the leading end and the trailing end of each label 
whereby the leading end of each label will be adhered to a container by 
the glue line at its leading end and the label is completely wrapped 
around the container with the glue line at the trailing end overlapping 
and adhering to the leading end of the label. Such would be the case for a 
full-wrap label. Partial-wrap is shown in the present invention and in 
that case the glue applicator 26 may apply what is known as a "picture 
frame" glue pattern; that is to say, a glue line may be applied to each 
end of the label and to each side of the label. 
The container feed 27 includes, by way of illustration, a star wheel 28 
having pockets 29 in which containers 30 are seated as they are guided by 
a container guide 31. Each container is guided into a circular path by a 
curved pad 32 of resilient material suitably mounted on the frame of the 
machine. A brush 33 is shown mounted on a frame bracket 34 which serves 
the purpose of contacting, smoothing out and ensuring proper application 
of the shoulder labels. The fully labeled containers pass out of the 
machine through a guide 35. Shoulder labels 41 are shown applied to the 
shoulders of the containers. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, the label cutting instrumentality 15 (see FIG. 1) 
is such that a generally rectangular body label 40 and a generally 
trapezoidal shoulder label 41 are severed. The shoulder label has a 
concave top edge 42, a convex bottom edge 43 and sloping, downwardly 
diverging sides 44, such configuration and the dimensions being adapted to 
the geometry of the shoulder of the container. 
FIG. 2 also illustrates an important aspect of the present invention, 
namely the economy that it effects in the width of label stock. As will be 
seen the shoulder label is cut from the label stock parallel to the body 
label and it is applied to the vacuum drum in that position. Subsequently, 
as will appear below, before the shoulder label is applied to a container 
(and after it has passed through the glue station) it is doubly tilted, 
first about a radial axis. In an alternative embodiment this tilting about 
a radial axis may be accomplished by cutting the shoulder label on a bias 
so that it assumes, when it is cut, the position shown in broken lines. As 
will be apparent, by cutting the shoulder label parallel to the body 
label, there is a saving of a width of label stock "w", and the requisite 
tilt is accomplished after the shoulder label is applied to the vacuum 
drum. 
As shown in FIG. 2, both labels are spaced somewhat inwardly of the edges 
of the label stock. They may be cut adjacent these edges thereby effecting 
a further saving of label stock but the resulting scrap material is not as 
easily disposed of and the desired pull on the continuous scrap material 
by the roller 20 is lost. The spacing between the body label 40 and the 
shoulder label 41 is determined by the spacing between these labels on the 
container. 
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, in FIG. 3 a shoulder label 41 is shown 
tilted about a first axis and in FIG. 4 it is shown tilted also about a 
second axis to bring it into the proper attitude for application to the 
shoulder of a container. A typical container is shown having a cylindrical 
body portion 50, a base cup (explained hereinbelow) 51, a tapered shoulder 
52 and a neck 53. The container illustrated is what is known as a PET 
(signifying polyethylene terephthalate) container. Such containers are 
blow molded giving them, therefore, a rounded bottom which does not 
provide stability. For that reason a plastic base cup 51 is provided. It 
will be understood that other types and shapes of container, e.g. plastic, 
glass, metal, etc., may take the place of the particular container 30 
shown in FIG. 4. 
In FIG. 4 there is shown a body pad 55 and a shoulder pad 56. The body pad 
is provided with a support 58 to which a resilient exposed layer of 
material (the "pad" proper) is secured, suction passages 59 being provided 
for application of vacuum. Except for its shape, size and biaxial 
mounting, the shoulder pad 56 is of identical construction and similar 
parts are similarly numbered. Front or elevational views of a body pad 55 
and a shoulder pad 56 are shown in FIG. 7. 
Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9 and as needed to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, the 
support 58 for shoulder pad 56 is mounted for biaxial movement (in 
addition to being mounted for movement with the body pad about the axis of 
drive shaft 61, see FIG. 8) as follows: A bracket 70 is mounted for 
pivotal movement about the axis of pin 72 carried in a frame bracket 73. 
This component of movement acts to tilt the pad with a shoulder label 
attached to it, to the position shown at the left of FIG. 3. This axis 
will be referred to as the "first" or "radial" axis because the first 
tilting movement of the label is about this axis and it lies along a 
radius from the main axis of the vacuum drum. The bracket 70 is formed 
with a saddle 74 between the legs of which is supported a pivot pin 76. 
This defines a second axis. Mounted for rotation about this axis is a 
U-shaped bracket 77 best shown in FIG. 10. The support 58 for shoulder pad 
56 is in turn carried by bracket 77. Screws 78 threaded through the 
bracker 77 bear against an inner surface of the support 58. Screws 78 are 
employed to locate the pad 56 in the proper radial position, that is to 
say, at the proper distance from the axis of drive shaft 61. When properly 
adjusted the pad is clamped in place by means of screws 79. To back off 
the support 59, as shown in FIG. 6, a screw 78a extending through (but not 
threaded to) the support 58 is threaded into bracket 77. This screw is 
manipulated for this purpose. 
It will be apparent that the pad 56 and with it the shoulder label 41 are 
capable of rotation about two axes. The first or radial axis is the axis 
of pin 72 and this component of motion serves to tilt the label to the 
skewed position shown in FIG. 3. The other component of movement, namely 
that about the axis of pin 76, (the second axis serves to tilt the pad and 
with it, the shoulder label to the slanting position shown in FIG. 4 so as 
to bring the label into contact with the shoulder of the container. The 
shoulder pad 56 is normally held in its "rest" position shown in FIGS. 8 
and 10 by a spring 80 attached at one end to a pin 81 projecting from the 
support 58 of shoulder pad 56 and at its other end to a pin 82 fixed to 
the support 59 of the shoulder pad 58. The angle to which shoulder label 
is tilted is such that as it is applied to the shoulder of a container and 
the container is rotated, the shoulder label will be properly wrapped 
(partially) about the container. 
Such movements of the pad are affected by a cam mechanism shown in FIG. 9. 
There is shown a cam 90 which is located in the lower part of the vacuum 
drum structure and is stationary. It includes a rise portion 91 
terminating in a segment 91-A which merges into a horizontal dwell portion 
92 which then slopes downwardly at 93. A cam follower roller 94 rides on 
this cam once during each revolution of the vacuum drum and acts to move a 
rod 95 upwardly as it ascends the rise 91 and 91-A and to hold the rod in 
its upper position while it rides on dwell 92 and then lowers the rod when 
it rides down the decline 93. The spring 80 serves to return the rod 95 to 
its lower position. The rod 95 slides in a bushing 96 and has at its upper 
end a plate or cap 97. A screw 100 having a rounded lower end is threaded 
through the bracket 70 and is locked in adjusted position by a lock nut 
101. Movement of the rod 95 during travel of the roller 94 along the 
incline or rise 91 operates to tilt the bracket 70 from its horizontal 
rest position shown in FIG. 8 to the tilted or inclined position shown in 
FIG. 9. The rest position of the bracket 70 is determined by adjustment of 
a screw 102 which is locked in adjusted position by a lock nut 103. 
The degree to which the bracket 70 is pivoted, therefore the angle which 
the label assumes when fully tilted about the first axis is determined by 
a screw 112 threaded through the upper portion of the bracket 77 and 
locked in adjusted position by lock nut 113. When, as shown in FIG. 9, the 
screw 112 bottoms against a plate 114, such motion is halted but at this 
instant the cam follower roller continues on up the last segment 91-A of 
the rise of the cam 90. Accordingly the rod 95 is pushed upwardly another 
increment as shown in broken lines in FIG. 9. The result of this last 
increment of motion of rod 95 results in slippage of the lower rounded end 
of pin 112 on the plate 114 and therefore rotation of bracket 77 and with 
it support 58, shoulder pad 56 and the shoulder label 41 about the axis of 
pin 76. 
The dwell 92 of cam 90 is so located and is of such length that the 
shoulder label is held in this doubly tilted position as it is applied to 
the shoulder of a container. Thereafter, as cam follower roller 94 goes 
down the decline 93 of cam 90, the spring 80 serves to return the pad 56 
and its mounting means to the rest position shown in FIG. 8. A screw 120 
threaded through bracket 77 bottoms on a plate 121. 
As noted above, a vacuum or suction system is incorporated in the labeling 
machine, parts of which are shown at 59 in FIGS. 4 and 6, the function of 
which is to apply suction to grip each body label and shoulder label on 
the respective pads as they are delivered by the label feed and cutter, to 
hold each label during transport past the glue applicator and to the 
labeling station and to release the labels at the labeling station. This 
system is conventional except that flexible hoses are provided at 125 (see 
FIGS.8 and 9) to allow tilting of the shoulder pads without breaking the 
suction. 
Further, although for reasons stated above it is preferred to sever 
shoulder labels from the label stock parallel to the body labels, and then 
tilt them about the first axis, it is possible and within the scope of the 
invention to sever the labels on a bias so that they require only tilting 
about the second axis. In that case, and referring to FIGS. 9 and 12, the 
shoulder pad and its support will be mounted permanently in the tilted 
positions shown in FIG. 8 but will be mounted for movement about the axis 
of pin 76. In that case the cam 90, rod 95 construction will be modified 
to effect only such tilting movement. 
It has been found to be advantageous to install a freely rotating roller 
(not shown) at the position where the shoulder label 41 first comes into 
contact with the shoulder pad 56. Referring to FIG. 5, this roller is 
located in the area between the jet 20, the guide 18 and that portion of 
the vacuum drum 25 where the shoulder pads 56 are located, and in a 
position such that this roller will contact the shoulder label on the 
shoulder pad just before the label is severed. This roller is mounted on a 
bracket to pivot about an axis parallel to the vacuum drum axis and is 
adjustably biased by a spring so as to contact the shoulder label and 
press it against the shoulder pad. 
It will be apparent that shoulder labels alone may be applied to containers 
in which event the body pads 40 will be eliminated, or they may be present 
on a second, body labeling machine. 
It will therefore be apparent that new, useful and advantageous labeling 
machine and method have been provided.