Apparatus for applying labels to containers

An apparatus for applying labels to containers wherein the web on which the labels are provided is moved from a feed reel over a metering mechanism into position for transfer to containers on a turret. The web is thereafter stored on a reel. The turret has a plurality of circumferentially spaced replaceable container holders which can be readily removed to accommodate containers having a wide range of label panel radii.

This invention relates to applying labels to articles such as bottles or 
containers and particularly to applying labels to containers by removal of 
labels from a web upon which they are stored and application of the labels 
to the containers. 
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In the application of labels by what is known as transfer labeling, it is 
customary to position labels on a web and thereafter transfer the labels 
to the article to be labeled. In one type of such labeling, heat sensitive 
labels are used which must be heated and applied to the articles. In 
another type, pressure sensitive labels are used which must be removed 
from the web and applied to the article. Heretofore, it has been common to 
have separate apparatus for handling each of these types of labels. 
In such apparatus, it is common to utilize a turret table and associated 
turret spiders which designed with one or more pockets or recesses for 
receiving a specifically shaped bottle or container. In order to 
accommodate bottles having different configurations such as panel areas 
for receiving labels with different radii, it is necessary to replace the 
bottle support portion of the turret. 
Among the objectives of the present invention are to provide an apparatus 
wherein the turret is provided with replaceable bottle or container 
holders; which container holders can be readily replaced; wherein the 
container holders can be adapted to various configurations of bottles or 
containers; and wherein substantial savings in cost are achieved. 
In accordance with the invention, the apparatus for applying labels to 
containers wherein the web on which the labels are provided is moved from 
a feed reel over a metering mechanism into position for transfer to 
containers on a turret. The web is thereafter stored on a reel. The turret 
has a plurality of circumferentially spaced replaceable container holders 
which can be readily removed to accommodate containers having a wide range 
of label panel radii.

DESCRIPTION 
In accordance with the invention, the basic apparatus for applying heat 
sensitive labels is utilized for applying pressure sensitive labels 
wherein the apparatus can be readily changed to apply heat sensitive 
labels or pressure sensitive labels from a web along which the labels are 
positioned. In one mode for applying heat sensitive labels, the web is 
moved from a feed reel over a shuttle mechanism, a metering mechanism and 
adjacent a preheater and to a platen where successive labels are applied 
directly from the web to successive non-rotating oval containers on a 
turret and thereafter the web is stored on a take-up reel. In a second 
mode, the preheater and platen are removed, the shuttle mechanism is 
bypassed and a peel bar assembly is positioned in place of the platen and 
the web with the labels thereon is moved about the peel bar assembly to 
peel a label from the web and apply the pressure sensitive label to a 
article on the turret and the web is thereafter redirected to the take-up 
reel. 
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional apparatus for applying labels comprises 
a frame F which supports a feed reel 10 for a web having labels thereon. 
The web passes around an idler roller 13, around an idler roller 14. The 
web thereafter passes thereafter over a metering mechanism 17 against an 
article C which comprises one of a plurality of articles such as 
containers on a turret 12. The web then passes over idler rollers 25, 26 
and is wound on a take-up reel 11. The supply of the web by the feed reel 
10 and the take-up of the web by the take-up reel 11. 
A peel bar assembly 20 is provided. In addition, a driven web take-up 
mechanism 22 is provided in advance of the take-up reel 11. Take-up 
mechanism 22 comprises a power driven resilient roll to pull the web 
toward the take-up reel 11. Rolls are yieldingly urged against the drum of 
the metering mechanism 17 to hold the web against the drum without 
slipping. Thus, the web bearing the pressure sensitive labels is trained 
about the peel bar assembly 20 where the change in direction of the web 
strips each label so that it can be applied to the article C on the turret 
12. The web after leaving the peel bar assembly 20 passes over the take-up 
drive mechanism 22 and then to the take-up reel 11. 
Referring to FIGS. 2-8 in accordance with the invention, the turret 12 for 
supporting the containers comprises a central shaft 50 on which a turret 
support plate 51 is positioned. The turret further includes axially 
moveable nose plugs 52a for engaging the open ends of the containers which 
are moved by cylinders 52 mounted on a cylinder support plate. 
In accordance with the invention, the turret support plate 51 comprises a 
plurality of circumferentially spaced replaceable bottle or container 
holders 53. Each bottle holder 53 is generally trapezoidal. Each bottle 
holder 53 includes a metal body 54 and a plastic insert 55 formed in situ 
in a cavity of the body 53, the insert 55 being formed with a recess 55a 
to conform with the base of the bottle 55 or container. Each bottle holder 
53 includes radially extending ribs 56 along its side that engage 
complementary channels or grooves 57 in the recess of the plate 51 so that 
each bottle holder 53 is inserted by engagement of the ribs 56 with the 
grooves 57 and moving the bottle holder 53 radially inwardly. Each bottle 
holder 53 is retained by cap screws 58 that are threaded into the turret 
plate 12a and have heads 59 that engage recesses 60 in the bottle holder 
53. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the bottle base holding recesses are preferably, in the 
case of generally oval containers, formed so that the panel area P is at 
an angle to the periphery of the turret plate in order to facilitate 
transfer of the pressure sensitive labels to the articles. In other words, 
the long axis of the recess is at an angle to a circumference defined by 
the axis of the recess. 
The master turret design permits the use of inexpensive bottle holders to 
be made and set into the turret. Formerly, the turret was completely built 
with the bottle holders as an integral part of the turret. The use of a 
master turret and bottle holders will reduce the time needed to obtain 
assembled turrets for new bottles to a period of one week. The bottle 
holders could also be made in the blow molding plant instead of at a 
machine shop. The benefit of this is that the time from when an acceptable 
bottle is made to when the turret can be assembled to label the bottle is 
1 week vs. 8-10 weeks. 
To permit use of a standard master turret as a machine part instead of a 
tooling part, the turret would then accept specialized parts pertinent to 
the specific bottle. The parts would then be placed into the turret to 
permit pressure sensitive labeling of the bottle.