Abstract:
An apparatus and method for breaking connector elements between a rotatable shell and a base of a label affixed to an article. A first belt transports a labeled article at a first rate. A second belt holds the article in a nonrotatable position relative to the first belt. A third belt, advancing at a second rate different from the first rate, selectively contacts the rotatable shell of the label, causing the connection ties between the rotatable portion and the base portion to break, permitting the shell to rotate relative to the base portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to rotatable labels, and more particularly to breaking connective elements, such as adhesive or perforated material, between the rotatable portion of the label and the non-rotatable portion. 
     Rotatable labels are well known and include an inner layer, or base, adhered directly to a container, and an outer layer, or shell, concentrically and rotatably mounted on the base. During manufacture an application to a container, the shell typically is fixed to the base using connective elements, for example, adhesives or perforations. The consumer or user of the container breaks the connective elements, typically by grasping the shell with respect to the container and the base adhered to the container. 
     A conventional prior art rotatable label, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,421, is illustrated in its flat, unapplied state in FIG.  1  and is generally designated  10 . The label includes a base  12 , which is affixed directly to the container (not shown) and a shell having a rotatable portion  14  and top and bottom guide rails  16 ,  18 . A transparent window  20  permits consumers to view information on base layer  12  through the shell. The shell is temporarily affixed to the base layer  12  along the top and bottom rails  16 ,  18 . Both the base layer and the shell are wrapped around the container. Consumers break the ties  54  manually to allow free the rotatable portion  14  for rotation in the direction designated S. 
     Rotatable labels present a variety of problems. First, there is no way to assure that the label has been constructed properly. For example, if the base and the shell are unintentionally completely glued to one another, there is no way to test for such a defect. Second, it can be difficult to break the connective elements on large labels used on large containers. Third, elderly and/or weak consumers may have difficulty breaking the perforations or ties utilized with any sized label. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aforementioned problems are overcome by the present invention which mechanically breaks the ties or perforations associated with rotatable labels during manufacture. The apparatus and related method of pre-breaking ties during manufacture includes a conveyor for transporting containers having rotatable labels adhered thereto, a holding device for preventing rotation of the containers while on the conveyor, and a contacting device for selectively contacting the rotatable shell of the label to rotate the shell and thereby break the perforations and/or ties. 
     With this apparatus and method of pre-breaking the ties, the construction of the rotatable label can be properly tested. Additionally, the mechanical pre-breaking of the ties or perforations insures that the weak and/or elderly may use the rotatable label effectively. Finally, the pre-breaking apparatus may be adjustably configured to accommodate a variety of different sized containers and labels; consequently, larger rotatable labels having ties or perforations that are difficult to manually disengage may be mechanically broken for ultimate consumer use. 
     These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exploded flat rotatable label of the type used in the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus; and 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A tie-breaking apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 , and generally designated  30 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tie-breaker includes a conveyor belt  32 , a holding belt  34 , and a contact belt  36 . Container  50  is held between the holding belt  34  and the conveyor belt  32  while contact belt  36  comes into contact with the outer most portion of container  50 , being the rotatable portion  52 , to urge rotation of that portion and cause the ties or perforations  54  to break and allow the rotatable portion to rotate freely. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a more detailed schematic of the preferred embodiment, designated  30 . Container  50  is conveyed along a conveyor belt  32 . Conveyor belt  32  rotates about a set of pulleys, one shown, at  48  and the other not shown. Pulley  48  rotates on shaft  82 , which is mounted to support  80 . Conveyor belt  32  advances in the direction and rate designated R 2  in FIG. 3; accordingly, article  50  also advances forward, that is, out of the drawing, in direction and rate designated R 2 . 
     The top portion of the container  50  is compressed by holding belt  34  which advances in direction and rate R 1 , which for purposes of this embodiment is equal to R 2 . In this manner, the top and bottom of the container  50  advance at the same rate and permit container  50  to be held in a fixed, stable position relative to conveyor belt  32 . Holding belt  34  rotates on a set of pulleys, one shown at  40 , and the other pulley not shown. Pulley  40  conventionally rotates on shaft  42 . The pulley  40  and pulley shaft  42  are connected to bracket  77  which further is attached to telescoping tubes  76  and  78 . Tube  76  may telescope with respect to tube  78  upon rotation of horizontal adjuster handle  70 , which consequently rotates horizontal adjuster shaft  72  received in adjuster bracket  74 . Accordingly, holding belt  34  may be moved back and forth across the width of the conveyor belt; this range of movement allows a variety of different sized and shaped containers to be accommodated by the device. Similar alternative configurations which allow similar ranges of movement may also be used to implement the invention. 
     With reference to FIG. 3, contact belt  36  preferably advances in the rate and direction designated R 3  in FIG.  3 . In alternative embodiments, the contact belt may advance at a rate in a direction 180° opposite R 1  or rate R 3  may be zero, that is, the contact belt doesn&#39;t move. In the preferred embodiment, contact belt  36  is mounted on pulley  44  which rotates on shaft  46 . Contact belt  36  also rotates about a drive pulley (not shown) which advances the contact belt at rate and in direction R 3 . With respect to the rates as depicted in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3, rate R 1  is equal to rate R 2 , while R 3  is greater than rates R 1  and consequentially, R 2 . 
     The pulley shaft  46  is further mounted to telescoping tubes  66  and  64  in a conventional manner. These tubes act in concert with vertical adjusted handle  60  and vertical adjustment shaft  62 , as well as vertical adjustment tube  68 . Upon rotation of vertical adjustment handle  60 , vertical adjustment shaft  62  rotates. Because the vertical adjustment shaft  62  is threaded, as are telescoping tubes  66  and  64 , contact pulley  44  and all connected apparatus may be vertically adjusted up and down relative to conveyor belt  32  to accommodate a variety of different sized and shaped containers. The conveyor belt  32 , the holding belt  34 , and the contact belt  36  may be made of any material including nylon reinforced rubber, plastic, or any suitable flexible synthetic material. It is, however, preferred for the belts to be made of a semi-tacky substance to assure adequate gripping of the container and the rotatable portion of the label by the belts. Additionally, contact pulley  44  and contact belt  36  may be altered or replaced by different sized pulleys and contact belts to accommodate a variety of different sized rotatable layers  52  on containers  50 . 
     Operation 
     As shown collectively in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 , the conveyor belt  32  advances the containers having rotatable labels attached thereto in direction and rate as indicated as R 2 . Holding belt  31  is positioned by an operator using the horizontal and vertical adjusting  60  and  70  so that it tightly presses against the uppermost portion of the container  50 , and accordingly compresses the container against conveyor belt  32  so that rotational or any other translational movement of the container  50  is inhibited, but at the same time preventing conveyor belt  32  from being bound against the pulley  48 . 
     Holding belt  34  advances at the same rate and direction as conveyor belt  32 , that is, R 1  is equal to rate R 2  as depicted. With the containers  50  being advanced on the conveyor belt  32 , the contact belt  36  is aligned between perforations  54  on the rotatable label so that its contact surface only selectively engages the rotatable portion of the label  52 . Contact belt  36  rotates in direction R 3 , the same as the direction R 1  and R 2 , however, rate R 3  is greater than rate R 1  and R 2 . Accordingly, when contact surface of the contact pulley  36  is brought into contact with the rotatable label portion  52 , that rotatable portion  52  is rotated with respect to the container  50 , thus causing perforations or ties  54  to be broken and the rotatable portion to rotate relative to the container  50 . 
     After the perforations  54  have been broken, the container advances to the next applicable step in the process of manufacture, after being ejected, removed or dropping off conveyor belt  32  and disengaged from contact belt  36  and holding belt  34 . 
     The above description is that of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Various alternations or changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example using the articles “a”, “and” or “said” is not to be construed as limiting the element to only one element unless so specifically stated. The claims are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles and patent law including the doctrine of equivalence.