Abstract:
A conveying device for a labeling machine is provided with a conveying belt frame ( 40 ), plurality of top seat fixtures ( 50 ) and a feeding device ( 60 ). A conveying belt ( 41 ) is mounted on the conveying belt frame ( 40 ). The top seat fixtures ( 50 ) are mounted at intervals on the conveying belt ( 41 ). A protrusion column ( 51 ) is protruded from the top surface of each top seat fixtures ( 50 ), so that a space can be formed between the bottom of containers and the top seat fixtures when the containers are mounted on the top seat fixtures. The shrinkable film labels can be set around the lower bottom of the containers after being cut by the labeling machine so that the labels can be shrunk to coat the bottom surface of the containers after being heated. The feeding device ( 60 ) cooperates with the conveying belt ( 41 ) and the top seat fixtures ( 50 ) so that the containers to be processed are conveyed by the feeding device ( 60 ) to the conveying belt ( 41 ) on the conveying belt frame.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a labeling machine, and in particular to a conveying device for a labeling machine. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Arts 
         [0004]    Containers in our daily life such as pudding cups, beverage bottles, cosmetic containers, etc. often have a thin shrinkable film label set around their surfaces for marking or decoration. A thin shrinkable film label is placed on the surface of the container and then heated by a labeling machine so that the thin shrinkable film label can be shrunk to coat the container. 
         [0005]    However, a conventional labeling machine is unable to coat the thin shrink film label to the bottom surface of the container because a conveying belt is utilized to convey the containers in the working process of the labeling machine. Referring to  FIG. 8 , since a container  20  is placed on a conveying belt  70  with a bottom surface of the container  20  contacting the conveying belt  70  when the container  20  is conveyed to a labeling machine by the conveying belt  70 , a shrinkable film label  30  cannot reach the bottom of the container  20  such that the shrinkable film label  30  is unable to coat the bottom of the container  20 . Therefore, the conventional labeling machine needs to be further improved. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In view of the aforementioned problem, an objective of the present invention is to provide a conveying device for a labeling machine to convey containers and allow the bottom surface of the containers to be coated by the shrinkable film label when the containers are manufactured, so as to provide containers of improved delicacy and diversities. 
         [0007]    The conveying device of the present invention includes a conveying belt frame, a plurality of top seat fixtures, and a feeding device, wherein 
         [0008]    the conveying belt frame is an elongated frame, comprises a feed-in end and a feed-out end each respectively on two ends of the conveying belt frame, and a conveying belt is disposed on the conveying belt frame in a longitudinal direction of the conveying belt frame; 
         [0009]    each top seat fixture has a protrusion column protruding from a top surface of the top seat fixture and is disposed on the conveying belt and spaced from the adjacent top seat fixtures by a distance, and the protrusion column extends away from the conveying belt; and 
         [0010]    the feeding device is disposed at the feed-in end of the conveying belt frame. 
         [0011]    The feeding device comprise a base, a conveyer, a screw feeding rod, a guiding rail, a feeding member and a driving mechanism, wherein 
         [0012]    the base is a bracket and has an end located at the feed-in end of the conveying belt frame; 
         [0013]    the conveyer is movably disposed on the base; 
         [0014]    the screw feeding rod has a first end facing the feed-in end of the conveying belt frame and a second end, and the screw feeding rod is rotatably disposed on the base and adjacent to the conveyer, a guiding groove that is threaded is formed on a periphery of the screw feeding rod, a second driving rod is mounted through an axis of the screw feeding rod, and a third driving wheel is disposed on the second driving rod; 
         [0015]    the guiding rail comprises a first guiding rod and a second guiding rod spaced from the first guiding rod by a distance, one end of the first guiding rod is disposed on the base and above one side of the conveyer, the other end of the first guiding rod is disposed on the feed-in end of the conveying belt frame and above one end of the conveying belt, an outer surface of the first guiding rod is spaced from the screw feeding rod, one end of the second guiding rod is disposed on the base and adjacent to the first end of the screw feeding rod, and the other end of the second guiding rod is disposed at the feed-in end of the conveying belt frame and above the other end of the conveying belt; 
         [0016]    the feeding member is shaped as a plate having a plurality of notches on a rim of the plate, is rotatably disposed on the base and adjacent to the feed-in end of the conveying belt frame, a first driving rod is mounted through an axis of the feeding member, and a first driving wheel and a second driving wheel are disposed on the first driving rod; 
         [0017]    the driving mechanism comprises a second shaft connected to a first wheel which is connected to the first driving wheel and synchronously rotated with the first driving wheel, and the second driving wheel is connected to the third driving wheel of the screw feeding rod and synchronously rotated with the third driving wheel. 
         [0018]    A stroke of the guiding groove at the first end is longer than a stroke of the guiding groove at the second end. 
         [0019]    The driving mechanism further comprises a first rod rotatably mounted on the conveying belt frame, a second wheel and a third wheel are disposed on the first rod, the second wheel and the first wheel are both bevel gears and engage with each other, and the third wheel and the first driving wheel are both sprockets and are connected to each other by a chain. 
         [0020]    The driving mechanism further comprises a second rod, a third rod, a fourth rod and a fifth rod, wherein 
         [0021]    a fourth wheel and a fifth wheel are disposed on the second rod, the second rod is rotatably mounted on the base, and the fourth wheel is connected to the second driving wheel by a belt; 
         [0022]    a sixth wheel and a seventh wheel are disposed on the third rod, the third rod is rotatably mounted on the base, and the sixth wheel is connected to the fifth wheel by a belt; 
         [0023]    an eighth wheel and a ninth wheel are disposed on the fourth rod, the fourth rod is rotatably mounted on the base, and the eighth and seventh wheels are both bevel gears and engage with each other; and 
         [0024]    a tenth wheel is disposed on the fifth rod, the fifth rod is rotatably mounted on the base, and the tenth wheel is connected to the ninth wheel by a belt and connected to the third driving wheel by another belt. 
         [0025]    The top seat fixture is a circular seat having a center on which the protrusion column is positioned. 
         [0026]    The top seat fixture is connected to the conveying belt by a connecting member protruding from a bottom of the top seat fixture. 
         [0027]    The feeding member is shaped as a disc. 
         [0028]    By utilizing the described technical features, since the top seat fixtures are disposed on the conveying belt of the conveying belt frame, when containers are placed on the conveying belt, the protrusion column supports the bottom surface of the container so that a space is formed between the bottom surface of the container and the top seat fixture. When the top seat fixtures along with the containers are conveyed to a label setting device and a heating device, the label setting device sets a shrinkable film label on the containers to cover the bottom surface of the containers. When the containers with the shrinkable film label are heated, the shrinkable film label is shrunk to coat the bottom of the containers. 
         [0029]    The feeding device feeds in the containers with assistance of the conveying belt provided with top seat fixtures. By engagement of the guiding grooves with a lateral side of the containers guided by the guiding rail, the rotation and increased stroke of the screw feeding rod provides a specific distance to each two adjacent containers, which corresponds to a distance between two adjacent notches on the feeding member. By engagement of notches with another lateral side of the containers, the feeding member rotates to move the containers sequentially to the conveying belt on the conveying belt frame along the guiding rail and place the containers on the top seat fixtures, thereby providing the automation of the conveying device of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conveying device of the present invention disposed on a labeling machine; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a side schematic view of the conveying device of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a top schematic view of the conveying device of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the conveying device of the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a driving mechanism of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is another perspective view of the driving mechanism of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  depicts a position of a motor at a feed-in end; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 8  is a side schematic view of a container with a conventional shrinkable film label. 
       
    
    
       [0038]    Elements referenced number list:  10  labeling setting device;  11  heating device;  20  container;  21  top flange;  30  film label;  40  belt frame;  401  supporter;  402  feed-in end;  403  feed-out end;  405  motor;  4051  first shaft;  4052  second shaft;  41 ,  42  conveying belt;  43  guiding rod;  50  top seat fixture;  51  protrusion column;  52  connecting member;  60  feeding device;  61  base;  611  supporter;  62  conveyer;  63  screw feeding rod;  631  first end;  632  second end;  633  guiding groove;  634  second driving rod;  635  third driving wheel;  64  guiding rail;  641  first guiding rod;  642  second guiding rod;  65  feeding member;  651  notch;  652  first driving rod;  653  first driving wheel;  654  second driving wheel;  66  driving mechanism;  661  housing;  6611 ;  662  first rod;  6621  second wheel;  6622  third wheel;  663  second rod;  6631  fourth wheel;  6632  fifth wheel;  664  third rod;  6641  sixth wheel;  6642  seventh wheel;  665  fourth rod;  6651  eighth wheel;  6652  ninth wheel;  666  fifth rod;  6661  tenth wheel;  667  fixing rod;  671  connecting member;  672  connecting member;  70  conveying belt. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a labeling machine includes a conveying device, a label setting device  10  and heating device  11 . The conveying device conveys a plurality of containers sequentially to the label setting device  10  and the heating device  11 . The label setting device  10  sets a shrinkable film label  30  on a container  20 , and the shrinkable film label  30  is heated by the heating device  11  to be shrunk and coated on the container  20 . 
         [0040]    The present invention provides a conveying device for said labeling machine. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the conveying device includes a conveying belt frame  40 , a plurality of top seat fixtures  50  and a feeding device  60 . 
         [0041]    The conveying belt frame  40  is an elongated frame supported by a plurality of supporters  401  on a plane. The conveying belt frame  40  has a feed-in end  402  and a feed-out end  403 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , two conveying belts  41  and  42  are disposed on the conveying belt frame  40  in a longitudinal direction of the conveying belt frame  40 . A first shaft  4051  and a motor  405  connected to the conveying belt  41  are disposed on one side of the conveying belt frame  40  at the feed-out end  403 . A gear (not shown) is disposed on the first shaft  4051 . Referring again to  FIG. 3 , a second shaft  4052  connected to the conveying belt  41  is disposed on the other side of the conveying belt frame  40  at the feed-in end  402 . A gear is disposed on the second shaft  4052  (not shown). The structures of the motor  405 , the first shaft  4051 , the gear disposed on the first shaft  4051 , the second shaft  4052  and the gear disposed on the second shaft  4052  are conventional and detailed descriptions are omitted. The motor  405  drives the first shaft  4051 , the second shaft  4052  and the gears to move the conveying belt  41  in a counterclockwise direction as shown in  FIG. 2 . The conveying belt  41  conveys goods, such as containers  20 , to the feed-out end  403 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , one end of the conveying belt  42  is disposed at the feed-out end of the conveying belt frame  40  and adjacent to the conveying belt  41 . The containers  20  are moved from the conveying belt  41  to the other conveying belt  42  smoothly by the guide of two guiding rods  43  extending from the conveying belt  41  to the other conveying belt  42 . The processed containers  20  are carried away by the conveying belt  42 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a protrusion column  51  protrudes from a top surface of the top seat fixture  50 . Each top seat fixture  50  is spaced from another adjacent top seat fixture  50  by a distance. The protrusion column  51  extends away from the conveying belt  41 . The shapes of the top seat fixture  50  and the protrusion column  51  can be adapted to match the bottom of the containers  20 . In this embodiment, the top seat fixture  50  has a circular shape, and the protrusion column  51  is a cylinder. The protrusion column  51  is disposed at the center of the top seat fixture  50 , and a connecting member  52  disposed on a bottom of the top seat fixture  50  connects the top seat fixture  50  to the conveying belt  41 . The containers  20  are placed on the protrusion columns  51 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the feeding device  60  includes a base  61 , a conveyer  62 , a screw feeding rod  63 , a guiding rail  64 , a feeding member  65  and a driving mechanism  66 . 
         [0044]    The base  61  is a bracket. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the base  61  is supported on a plane by two supporters  611 . One end of the base  61  is adjacent to the feed-in end  402  of the conveying belt frame  40 . 
         [0045]    The conveyer  62  is disposed on the base  61  and conveys the containers  20  to a position adjacent to the conveying belt frame  40 . 
         [0046]    The screw feeding rod  63  has a first end  631  and a second end  632 . A guiding groove  633  that is threaded is formed on an outer periphery of the screw feeding rod  63 . A stroke of the guiding groove  633  at the first end  631  is longer than a stroke of the guiding groove  633  at the second end  632 . The stroke means an axial displacement of the guiding groove  633  for one rotation of the screw feeding rod  63 . A second driving rod  634  is mounted through an axis of the screw feeding rod  63 . The screw feeding rod  63  is rotatably disposed on the base  61  and positioned above one side of the conveyer  62 . The first end  631  of the screw feeding rod  63  faces the feed-in end  402  of the conveying belt frame  40 . A pitch and a depth of the threads of the guiding groove  633  are adapted according to the shape of the containers  20 . The pitch means a distance between two adjacent screw threads. In this embodiment, the stroke of the guiding groove  633  is gradually increased from the second end  632  to the first end  631 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , a third driving wheel  635  is disposed on the second driving rod  634 . In this embodiment, the screw feeding rod  63  is mounted on the base  61  by a fixing rod  667  and connecting members. 
         [0047]    The guiding rail  64  includes two elongated rods spaced by a specific distance, which corresponds to an outer diameter of the container  20 . The two elongated rods are a first guiding rod  641  and a second guiding rod  642 . One end of the first guiding rod  641  is disposed on the base  61  and positioned above one side of the conveyer  62  that is on the base  61 , and the other end of the first guiding rod  641  is disposed at the feed-in end  402  and positioned above one end of the conveying belt  41  on the conveying belt frame  40 . One lateral side of the first guiding rod  641  is spaced from the screw feeding rod  63  by a distance. One end of the second guiding rod  642  is disposed on the base  61  and adjacent to the first end  631  of the screw feeding rod  63 , and the other end of the second guiding rod  642  is disposed at the feed-in end  402  and positioned above the other end of the conveying belt  41  on the conveying belt frame  40 . In this embodiment, a top flange  21  of the container  20  has an outer diameter larger than the distance between the first and second guiding rods  641  and  642  so that the container  20  is positioned on the guiding rail  64  by the abutment of the flange  21  against the guiding rods  641  and  642 . 
         [0048]    The feeding member  65  is shaped as a plate. In this embodiment, the feeding member  65  is a disc having a plurality of notches  651  formed on a rim of the disc. The distance between two adjacent notches  651  corresponds to the distance between two adjacent top seat fixtures  50 . The feeding member  65  is rotatably disposed on the base  61  and is adjacent to the conveying belt frame  40 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , a first driving rod  652  is mounted along a rotational axis of the feeding member  65 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , in this embodiment, a first driving wheel  653  and a second driving wheel  654  are disposed on the first driving rod  652 . 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 6 , the driving mechanism  66  includes a housing  661 , a first rod  662 , a second rod  663 , a third rod  664 , a fourth rod  665  and a fifth rod  666 . 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the housing  661  is disposed on the side of the conveying belt frame  40  opposite to the side on which the second shaft  4052  is disposed. One end of the second shaft  4052  extends through and protrudes from the housing  661  to connect a first wheel  6611 , which is rotated by the second shaft  4052 . The housing  661  enhances the stability of the first wheel  6611  during rotation. In this embodiment, the first wheel  6611  is a bevel gear. 
         [0051]    The first rod  662  is a rod rotatably mounted on the conveying belt frame  40 . A second wheel  6621  and a third wheel  6622  are disposed on the first rod  662 . The second wheel  6621  is a bevel gear engaging with the first wheel  6611 . The third wheel  6622  is a sprocket connected by a chain to the first driving wheel  653 , which is also a sprocket. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the second rod  663  is mounted through the base  61  and rotatably disposed on the base  61 . A fourth wheel  6631  and a fifth wheel  6632  are disposed on the second rod  663 . The fourth wheel  6631  is connected to the second driving wheel  654  by a belt. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the third rod  664  is rotatably mounted through the base  61 . A sixth wheel  6641  and a seventh wheel  6642  are disposed on the third rod  664 . The sixth wheel  6641  is connected to the fifth wheel  6632  by a belt, and the seventh wheel  6642  is a bevel gear. 
         [0054]    The fourth rod  665  is rotatably mounted through the base  61 . An eighth wheel  6651  and a ninth wheel  6652  are disposed on the fourth rod  665 . The eighth wheel  6651  is a bevel gear engaging with the seventh wheel  6642 . 
         [0055]    Referring to a  FIG. 5 , the fifth rod  666  is a short rod rotatably mounted through the base  61  and located between the screw feeding rod  63  and the fourth rod  665 . A tenth wheel  6661  is disposed on the fifth rod  666  and connected to the ninth wheel  6652  by a belt. The tenth wheel  6661  is also connected to the third driving wheel  635  of the screw feeding rod  63  by another belt. In this embodiment, the fifth rod  666  and the second driving rod  634  are disposed on the base  61  by two connecting members  671  and  672 . 
         [0056]    Thus, when the motor  405  rotates to drive the first shaft  4051 , the conveying belt  41  and the second rod  4052 , the first wheel  6611  is rotated by the rotation of the second shaft  4052 , and the second wheel  6621  is rotated by the first wheel  6611 . The first rod  662  and the third wheel  6622  rotate to drive the first driving wheel  653  and the feeding member  65 . The second driving wheel  654  that is connected to the feeding member  65  by the first driving rod  652  rotates to drive the fourth wheel  6631 , the second rod  663 , the fifth wheel  6632 , the sixth wheel  6641 , the third rod  664 , the seventh wheel  6642 , the eighth wheel  6651 , the fourth rod  665 , the ninth wheel  6652 , the tenth wheel  6661  and the fifth rod  666 . The rotation of the tenth wheel  6661  drives the third driving wheel  635  of the screw feeding rod  63 , whereby the screw feeding rod  63  is rotated by the second shaft  4052 . 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a plurality of containers  20  are placed on the conveyer  62  on the base  61  and distal from the conveying belt frame  40 . The conveyer  62  moves the containers  20  toward the conveying belt frame  40 , and the screw feeding rod  63  separates the containers  20  and provides a distance between any two adjacent containers  20 . The notches  651  of the feeding member  65  hold the containers  20  in position during the moving, and move the containers  20  to the top seat fixtures  50  on the conveying belt frame  40  along the guiding rail  64 . 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the protrusion column  51  abuts the bottom of the containers  20  when the containers  20  are placed on the top seat fixture  50  so that the bottom of each container  20  is spaced from the top of the top seat fixture  50  by a distance. When the containers  20  supported by the top seat fixture  50  are moved to the label setting device  10  and the heating device  11 , the bottom of the shrinkable film label  30  is cut by the label setting device  10  and set under the bottom of the container  20 . The shrinkable film label  30  is then heated and coated around the bottom of the container  20 , thereby overcoming the shortcoming of the prior art. 
         [0059]    Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.