Labelling

Disclosed are a labelling machine and method, a label for use therein, a container having the label secured thereto, and an adhesive applicator head especially adapted for use in the machine and the method. Adhesive is applied to the container in a pattern corresponding to a line of holes adjacent the leading edge of the label with a portion of the adhesive contacting the label adjacent the leading edge and a portion exposed through said holes to contact the portion of the label adjacent the trailing edge which is overlapped over said leading edge and said holes.

This invention relates to labelling containers and especially to labelling 
with plastic, e.g., polyethylene, labels. 
In labelling containers, such as plastic bottles, it is frequently desired 
to employ a label which extends completely around the container with the 
trailing portion overlapping the leading portion. Additionally, 
particularly where safety warnings, instructions and the like are printed 
on the label, it is preferred to use plastic, e.g., polyethylene, labels 
which are more durable than paper labels. 
In the past, paper labels have been applied to bottles by applying adhesive 
on a line, minimizing the amount of adhesive employed, to the container, 
rolling the adhesive on the container against the leading edge portion of 
a label and applying adhesive to the trailing edge portion of the adhesive 
which overlaps and is secured to the leading edge portion. Although 
satisfactory for paper labels, difficulties have been encountered when 
plastic labels have been substituted due to difficulties in adhering the 
overlapping trailing edge portion to the underlying leading edge portion. 
To overcome this problem, plastic labels have been applied to containers by 
first sealing the ends of the labels together, then stretching the label, 
slipping it over the container and releasing it to fit snugly on the 
container. In general this method of applying labels is much slower than 
prior methods of applying paper labels. Nor is the method without its own 
problems. Dimensional variations in container circumference or in label 
sealing sometimes leads to a label's being either too loose, permitting it 
to slip off the container or too small, resulting in rupture of the label. 
Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to improve 
labelling of containers to permit the secure fastening of plastic labels 
to the containers with an improved rate of application. More particularly, 
it is an object of the invention to modify the method heretofore typically 
employed in applying paper labels to permit the use therein of plastic 
labels. It is a further object of this invention to provide such a method 
which is applicable to the use, as well, of paper labels and in which 
paper and plastic labels may be interchanged as desired. Other objects of 
this invention are to improve labelling machines for use with plastic 
labels, to provide modified labels adaptable for use in the method, to 
provide an adhesive applicator and a head therefor modified for use in the 
method, and to provide containers labelled in accordance with the improved 
labelling procedures. 
In general, the invention features a label having a length exceeding the 
container circumference. Adjacent the label leading edge a plurality of 
spaced apertures, e.g., holes, are aligned with label material at the 
trailing edge thereof. Spindle receiving holes may also be provided 
adjacent the leading and trailing edges, such hole adjacent the leading 
edge positioned between said apertures and such hole adjacent the trailing 
edge aligned with label material at the leading edge. In a preferred 
embodiment the label material is polyethylene. 
The method of applying the label to a container comprises applying adhesive 
to the container and contacting the leading edge of the label with the 
adhesive on the container and with a portion of the adhesive exposed 
through the apertures. The label is thereafter wrapped around the 
container and the trailing edge of the label is contacted with the 
adhesive exposed through the apertures to adhere the trailing edge 
directly to the container. Preferably, the adhesive is applied in spots 
smaller than and centered in the apertures and in the positions 
therebetween to avoid contacting the edges of the apertures which might 
result in lifting more than one label from a stack thereof. No adhesive is 
applied in the position of the lead spindle receiving hole in the label. 
The resulting labelled container has the leading and trailing edges of the 
label adhered directly to the container by adhesive in the positions 
between the apertures at the label leading edge and exposed through the 
apertures at the trailing edge. 
The labelling machine utilized in applying a label to a container comprises 
an adhesive applicator adapted to apply adhesive to the container, a label 
station for positioning the label to be picked up by the adhesive on the 
container and drive means for rotating the container. The adhesive 
applicator is adapted to apply adhesive in spots in line with and in 
positions corresponding to and between the label aperture positions at the 
label station, the spots being smaller than the label apertures. The 
applicator is spaced a predetermined distance from the aperture positions 
at the label station for positioning adhesive at and between the aperture 
positions as the container is rotated from the applicator to the label 
station. Spindles are preferably positioned at the label station to 
receive the leading and trailing edges of the label and the applicator is 
arranged to place adhesive at positions on either side of and out of line 
with the lead spindle. In a preferred embodiment the machine comprises 
means for rolling the container through the machine with the applicator 
and label station below the path thereof and with the applicator and 
aperture positions spaced apart a distance equal to the container 
circumference. A heater bar may be provided after the label station a 
distance from the aperture positions equal to twice the container 
circumference. The applicator heater bar and at least one spindle are 
preferably adjustable along the path traversed by the container to accept 
containers of different circumferences. 
The applicator includes a head having first and second sets of adhesive 
exit passages. The first set is arranged in a pattern corresponding to the 
pattern of apertures in the label. The second set comprises passages 
between those of the first set. Preferably the exit passages open through 
separate raised platforms which limit the container contact area 
therewith.

The labelling machine illustrated in FIG. 1, in its overall arrangement, is 
similar to machines heretofore employed for applying paper labels to 
containers. 
The machine comprises a main frame 10 and a sub-frame 12 which is 
adjustable vertically by threaded members 14 to accommodate containers 
having different diameters. Drive means 15 are supported by frame 10 above 
the sub-frame 12 comprising, a motor 16 connected by a belt 18 to a sheave 
20. The drive means 15 also comprises drive belts 22,23 (two are shown in 
FIG. 5) extending from drive wheels 21, connected to the shaft on which 
sheave 20 is mounted, under idler 24 around idler wheels 25 and back to 
drive wheels 21. A plurality of spring biased idlers 26, supported on 
frame members 27, bias belts 22,23 toward the sub-frame 12. Frame members 
27 are supported on shafts 28. 
The sub-frame 12 comprises a pair of tracks 29,30 facing upwardly toward 
drive belts 22 and along which containers 31, to be labelled, are rolled 
by engagement with drive belts 22,23. The machine entrance optionally 
includes a gate 32, a sensor 34, a roller 36 driven by belt 38 connected 
to motor 40, and a solenoid 42 operable to open gate 32 upon a signal from 
sensor 34. Positioned between tracks 29,30 after the machine entrance are 
an adhesive applicator 44 and a label station 46, to be described in 
greater detail hereafter. Following label station 46, a heater bar 48 is 
optionally provided having a polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) coating 
thereon. As best shown in FIG. 5, guide rails 50 are supported beside 
tracks 29,30 and are connected by brackets 52,54 to right angled rods 55 
for horizontal and vertical adjustment to accommodate containers 31 of 
different diameters and axial dimensions. Also as best shown in FIG. 5, 
one track 30 is transversely adjustable by a toggle linkage connected 
between it and sub-frame 12. The toggle linkage 56 comprises two bars 
58,60 respectively pivotally connected to sub-frame 12 and track 30 at one 
end and pivotally connected to each other at the other end. A handle 62 
actuates a clamp at the pivotal connection of the bars to each other. A 
threaded rod 64, having an actuating handle 66 at one end extends through 
a threaded bushing 68 in one bar 60 and is rotatably secured in fixture 70 
in bar 58, whereby rotation of handle 66 adjusts the track spacing. Belt 
23 is also adjustable by movement of wheels 21,26 on their shafts and by 
movement of frame members 27 on supporting shafts 28 to position 
supporting idlers 26. 
Turning now to particular features of the present invention, the labels 72, 
best shown in FIG. 4, which are positioned at label station 46 each 
comprise a web of label material, which may be organic plastic material 
such as polyethylene. The leading edge 74 of the label, i.e., the edge 
first contacted by a container 31 as it moves through the labelling 
machine, is provided with a spindle receiving aperture or hole 76 therein 
and with a plurality of additional spaced apart apertures or holes 78 
adjacent and preferably set in a small distance from the leading edge 74, 
at least one hole 78 being positioned on each side of spindle hole 76. The 
label length between the leading and trailing edges 74,80 exceeds the 
circumference of the container 31 to be labelled by an amount sufficient 
to permit the web material adjacent the trailing edge 80 to overlap the 
leading edge 74 and holes 78. Web material is provided adjacent trailing 
edge 80 aligned with holes 78 for overlapping and covering the holes 78. A 
spindle hole 82 is provided adjacent the trailing edge 80 aligned with web 
material adjacent the leading edge. 
The adhesive applicator 44 includes an applicator head 84 for applying a 
hot melt adhesive to a container in a pattern corresponding to the 
predetermined hole pattern at the label leading edge. As illustrated in 
FIG. 4, the applicator head comprises a first plurality of adhesive exit 
passages 86 in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of holes 78 in label 
leading edge 74. Passages 86 are aligned with the position of holes 78 of 
the labels 72 in the labelling machine and are spaced therefrom a distance 
equal to the circumference of container 31. Between passages 86 are 
positioned a second set of adhesive passages 88 aligned with the position 
web material adjacent the label leading edge 74. No adhesive passage is 
provided in head 84 in alignment with the position of spindle hole 76. 
Optionally, a third set of adhesive exit passages 90 may be provided ahead 
of passages 86,88 spaced more than the container circumference from the 
label leading edge 74. Passages 86,88,90 are located in separately raised 
platforms 92 of head 84, and having a small area, e.g., about 1/8 inch 
square, to minimize the area of contact between container 31 and the 
adhesive exiting therefrom, thereby to provide discrete spots of adhesive 
on the container 31 which will avoid contact with the edges of the label 
72 around holes 78 which have a diameter, typically, of about 3/8 inch. 
The adhesive applicator 44 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 6. As 
illustrated, the applicator 44 comprises a storage chamber 100 for the 
adhesive 101, head 84 and a pump passage 102 extending therebetween. A 
pair of spring biased ball valves 104, 106 are positioned in passage 102 
between chamber 100 and head 84. Spring biased pump piston 108 is slidably 
positioned in cylinder 110 which communicates with passage 102 between 
valves 104,106. Piston rod 112 extends above the applicator for actuating 
piston 108 by depression downwardly to pump adhesive through head 84 and 
exit passages 86,88,90. A drain plug 114 is located at the base of chamber 
100 and a spill tray 116 is positioned below head 84 to return excess 
adhesive flowing from head 84 to chamber 100. 
Separate heaters are provided in applicator 44 to maintain the hot melt 
adhesive 101 at progressively higher temperatures from chamber 100 to head 
84. A flexible silicone rubber heater 118 is wrapped around chamber 100 to 
maintain adhesive therein at a temperature of about 
270.degree.-300.degree. F. to hold the adhesive in a melted condition 
without the deleterious effects of high heat. Another flexible silicone 
rubber heater 120 is wrapped around the pump portion of passage 102 to 
raise the temperature of the adhesive thereat to about 330.degree. F. 
Another flexible silicone rubber heater 122 and a cartridge heater 124 are 
located at the portion of passage 102 adjacent head 84 to raise the 
temperature of adhesive thereat to a suitable working temperature, 
normally in the range of 340.degree.-360.degree. F., for hot melt 
adhesives. A thermostat indicated at 126 controls the adhesive working 
temperature in passage 102 adjacent head 84. 
The applicator 44 is supported in a tray 128 having a lining of insulation 
130 to minimize heat losses from applicator 44. The applicator 44 in tray 
128 is supported on cross-bars 132 in the labelling machine and is 
vertically adjustable by threaded members 134 extending through tray 128 
to applicator 44. A clamp 136 fastens tray 128 to cross-bars 132 and 
permits adjustment of the applicator 44 transversely of the machine 
depending upon the container 31 configuration. Heater 48 is similarly 
supported on cross-bars 137 and is similarly adjustable transversely (not 
shown). Cross-bars 137 for heater 48, as shown in FIG. 5, are 
longitudinally adjustable along rails 138 and are secured by clamps 140 to 
rails 138 for adjustment to accommodate different container 
circumferences. Applicator support cross-bars 132 are similarly supported 
on rails 142, see FIG. 1, and are similarly adjustable (not shown). 
Label station 46, best shown in FIG. 1, comprises a platform 144 to support 
a stack of labels 72. A lower platform 146 is connected to label platform 
144 by tension springs 148 and supports spindles 150,152 which extend 
through label platform 144. Labels 72 are placed on label platform 144 
with spindles 150,152 extending through spindle receiving holes 76,82 
adjacent the leading and trailing edges of labels 72. Label platform 144 
is shown, schematically, connected to motor 154 which can be actuated by 
controls (not shown) to raise and lower the platform 144. As motor 154 is 
activated to raise the platform, the motor operates at a high speed until 
lower platform 146 reaches stop 156 when switch 158 is contacted to cause 
motor 154 to operate at slow speed. Stop 156 fixes the maximum height of 
spindles 150,152 at the height of tracks 29,30. Switch 160 detects the 
height of labels 72 and stops motor 154 when the labels reach the height 
of the container surface to be contacted by the labels 31. As labels are 
removed from the stack, switch 160 causes motor 154 to operate to further 
raise the label stack. Guide rods 162 extending from label platform 144 
through lower platform 146 move upwardly with label platform 144 until the 
stack of labels is exhausted, at which point head 164 on one guide rod 162 
contacts switch 166 which reverses motor 154 to lower label platform 144 
to receive additional labels. As platform 144 is lowered, tension springs 
148 extend spindles 150,152 through label platform 144. Spindles 150,152 
are adjustable, supported in one of a plurality of threaded holes (not 
shown) in lower platform 146 and extending through one of corresponding 
holes 168 to accommodate labels of different lengths. The label station 46 
is transversely adjustable along supporting rails 170 for adjustment to 
accommodate containers of different configurations. 
The labelling method utilized in the operation of the machine is broadly 
illustrated in FIGS. 3A-E. In general, the container 31 is rotated through 
the machine to the label applicator 44, shown in FIG. 3, where it 
depresses piston rod 112 forcing adhesive 172,174 through the exit 
passages 86,88 (not shown in FIG. 3A), 90. As the container rotates to 
head 84 it contacts and picks up the adhesive thereat in a pattern of 
small discrete spots. Thereafter the container rotates one revolution to 
the position of the label leading edge 74, illustrated in FIG. 3B. The 
adhesive 174 on container 31 from optional head passages 90 leads and 
avoids contact with the label leading edge 74. Label holes 78, adjacent 
leading edge 74, are aligned with adhesive 172 from head passages 86 
centering the adhesive 172 in holes 78, without contacting the label 
therearound, and exposing the adhesive 174 through holes 78. 
Simultaneously, adhesive from head passages 88, shown in FIG. 4, aligned 
with label web material between holes 78, contacts the label 72 and as the 
container 31 continues to rotate the label 72 is thereby picked up, 
illustrated in FIG. 3C and wrapped around the container 31, as shown in 
FIG. 3D. As shown in FIG. 3D, as container 31 is rotated one revolution 
from label leading edge, adhesive spots 174 contact the trailing portion 
of label 72 ahead of the leading edge 74 and the portion of the label 
adjacent the trailing edge 80 overlaps the leading edge 74 and holes 78 
contacting adhesive spots 172 centered in holes 78. Thus the overlapped 
portion of the label is adhered directly to the surface of container 31. 
As the container rotates one additional revolution, illustrated at FIG. 
3E, the label optionally contacts heater bar 48 to further activate the 
adhesive and thereby to assure good adherence of the label to the 
container. 
In FIG. 1, the machine is shown, somewhat schematically, applying labels to 
plastic bottles 31 having handles 33 thereon. In the operation of the 
machine, the sub-frame 12 is first adjusted vertically by members 14 with 
reference to drive belts 22,23 to accommodate the particular bottle 
diameter. Track 30 is adjusted by linkage 56 and belt 23 is adjusted by 
movement of wheels 21,26 and frame member 27, as necessary to accommodate 
the particular bottle axial height. Adjustments as necessary are also made 
in the height and spacing of guide rails 50. Transverse adjustments are 
made as necessary to applicator 44, label station 46 and heater bar 48. 
Applicator 44 is also adjusted longitudinally along the bottle path to 
space head exit passages 86,88 one revolution of bottle 31, i.e., a 
distance equal to the bottle circumference, from the position of label 
leading edge holes 78 at label station 46. Similar adjustment of heater 
bar 48 is made to space it two revolutions from the position of label 
holes 78 at station 46. A stack of labels is placed on platform 144 in its 
lowered position. Motor 154 is then activated at high speed to raise 
platform 144. When lower platform 146 strikes stop 156 and switch 158 the 
maximum spindle height is fixed and motor 154 operates at slow speed until 
the stack of labels is detected by switch 160 stopping motor 154. 
Drive belts 22,23 are driven by motor 16 to engage and rotate bottles 31 
along tracks 29,30. Motor 40 drives roller 36 at the machine entrance to 
rotate the bottles 31 until handles 33 are detected by sensor switch 34 
which then activates solenoid 42 to open gate 32 to admit the bottle to 
the machine in a predetermined orientation. The bottles are then rolled 
along the tracks 29,30 encountering applicator 44, label station 46 and 
heater bar 48, as previously described. 
At the exit of the labelling machine the bottles 31 are discharged with the 
labels 72 wrapped around the circumference thereof. The trailing portion 
of the label is secured directly to the container by adhesive exposed 
through label holes 78 thus securing the overlapped portion of the label 
adjacent the trailing edge 80. 
Advantageously, polyethylene labels are securely fastened to the containers 
when applied in this manner. Additionally, the rate of labelling is 
significantly increased relative to labelling methods typically employed 
with plastic labels. As another advantage, labels of paper with the hole 
pattern disclosed may be interchanged for plastic labels in the method and 
machine when desired thus enabling use of the machine for multiple 
purposes. 
Other embodiments of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in 
the art which are within the scope of the following claims.