Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus – Preform assembly means and means for bonding of plural... – Reshaping means utilizing fluid pressure directly contacting...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-18
2001-02-13
Davis, Robert (Department: 1722)
Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus
Preform assembly means and means for bonding of plural...
Reshaping means utilizing fluid pressure directly contacting...
C264S509000, C425S126100, C425S522000, C425S540000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186767
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a dispensing head for an in-mold labeling system and having a construction that is adjustable for different labeling runs.
BACKGROUND ART
In-mold labeling has been developed in the recent past to provide superior bonding of labels to blow molded containers. Such in-mold labeling is performed by inserting a label within an open mold prior to closing of the mold around an extruded hot plastic tube or a heated injection molded plastic preform. Subsequent mold closing and blow molding forms the hot plastic around the label to the shape of the mold and activates a heat sensitive adhesive that provides a permanent bond which is incapable of being broken by moisture or otherwise. Also, such in-mold labeling provides a smooth transition between the label and the adjacent surface of the container and further provides additional strength since the label cooperates with the container wall in resisting deformation. Such strengthening also allows the use of less plastic to blow mold the container and thereby reduces the ultimate cost to the consumer. Furthermore, when utilized with containers for carbonated beverages, the in-mold labeling reduces the flow of carbon dioxide out through the container wall over a period of time and thereby increases the shelf life.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,770 Slat et al., 4,582,474 Ziegler, 4,639,207 Slat et al., and 4,909,723 Slat et al. disclose in-mold labeling systems wherein a dispensing head of the in-mold labeling system is moved between a label supply location aligned with one or more label magazines adjacent the associated blow molding machine and a label delivery position within an adjacent open mold of the blow molding machine, and one or more label carriers on the dispensing head is moved between a retracted position and a label transfer position in order to provide a pick and place movement of the labels from the label magazines into the mold where a vacuum is drawn to secure the label to the mold before mold closing for the blow molding operation. A vacuum is also utilized by the label carrier to secure the labels for the movement from the associated label magazine to the associated mold.
In-mold labeling systems of the type described above have previously included a common mechanical drive from the blow molding machine for driving the dispensing head between the label supply and delivery locations and for also driving the label carriers between the retracted and label transfer positions. As such, the respective speeds and movements of the dispensing head and each label carrier are coupled with each other.
With relatively high speed labeling, it has been found that it is difficult to remove labels from a label magazine at a greater speed than about 65 to 70 labels per minute since such high speed operation does not allow time for air to enter behind the label as the label carrier pulls it from the label magazine. As such, more than one label can be pulled away and thereby cause problems in the in-mold labeling process.
Previously, in-mold labeling of a pair of labels to an associated pair of mold members of a mold has been performed in two ways. In one practice, a pair of rotary drive members that are spaced from each other and each rotates an associated lever that has a cam and follower connection to an associated label carrier to provide the label carrier movement between the retracted and label transfer positions. In another practice, a single rotary drive member is utilized and through a lever drives one label carrier that is connected by a gear and rack assembly to another label carrier so that both label carriers are concomitantly moved between the retracted and label transfer positions by the rotation of the one rotary drive member.
Other United States patents disclosing in-mold labeling for plastic blow molding include: 4,680,000 Nowicki et al.; 4,729,731 Hasl et al.; 4,801,260 Oles et al.; 4,808,366 Kaminski et al.; 4,834,641 Keyser; 4,861,542 Oles et al.; 4,880,368 Hasl et al.; 4,944,665 Hasl et al.; 4,973,241 Keyser; 5,044,922 Plenzler et al.; 5,086,937 Robinson; 5,169,653 Tate et al.; 5,192,554 Savich et al.; 5,275,780 Robinson; 5,344,305 McKillip; 5,350,483 Yager et al.; 5,383,779 Robinson; 5,665,404 Weber et al.; 5,753,278 Aguilar; and 5,759,593 Weber et al.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispensing head for an in-mold labeling system for use with a plastic blow molding machine to transfer labels from a pair of label magazines adjacent the blow molding machine to open molds thereof prior to mold closing for blow molding.
In carrying out the above object, the dispensing head of the invention includes a head member that is mounted for movement between a supply location adjacent the label magazines and a delivery location between mold members of an open mold. A pair of label carriers of the dispensing head are mounted on the head member for movement between a retracted position and a label transfer position. A rotary drive member is rotatable in response to the blow molding machine operation. A lever assembly of the dispensing head is rotatively driven by the rotary drive member and has a pair of levers that are adjustable with respect to the rotary drive member independently of each other. Each lever has a connection to an associated label carrier such that rotation of the rotary drive member provides movement of the label carriers between the retracted and label transfer positions such that the label carriers are moved from the retracted position to the label transfer position while the dispensing head is in the supply location to receive labels from the label magazine and are then moved back to the retraced position for movement of the dispensing head to the delivery location where the label carriers are again moved to the label transfer position to transfer the labels to an adjacent open mold prior to mold closing for the blow molding.
In the preferred construction, the dispensing head has the pair of levers of the lever assembly extending from the rotary drive member in generally opposite directions from each other, and a key ring adjustably secures the pair of levers to each other.
The preferred construction of the dispensing head also includes a pair of rails mounted on the head member with the rotary drive member located between the pair of rails. The pair of label carriers are respectively mounted by the pair of rails for movement between the retracted and label transfer positions. Each connection is preferably a cam and follower connection that extends between the associated lever and the associated label carrier to provide movement thereof between the retracted and label transfer positions under the impetus of the rotary drive member. Each of the pair of levers has a distal end including an elongated slot that extends radially with respect to the rotation of the rotary drive member. Each cam and follower connection includes a cam having a mount including a T-shaped member with a threaded shank that extends through the elongated slot in the distal end of the associated lever. Each mount also has a nut that is secured to the threaded shank of the associated T-shaped member. The cam of each cam and follower connection has a threaded shank threaded into the associated T-shaped member, and each cam and follower connection also includes an elongated follower mounted on the associated label carrier and receiving the associated cam to be moved thereby under the impetus of the rotary drive member. Each cam and follower connection also includes a set screw that secures the threaded shank of the cam to the associated T-shaped member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4397625 (1983-08-01), Hellmer et al.
patent: 4479770 (1984-10-01), Slat et al.
patent: 4582474 (1986-04-01), Ziegler
patent: 4639207 (1987-01-01), Slat et al.
patent: 4680000 (1987-07-01), Nowicki et al.
patent: 4729731 (1988-03-01), Hasl et al.
patent: 4801260 (1989-01-01), Oles et al.
patent: 4808366 (1989-02-01), Kaminski et al.
patent: 4834641 (1989-05-01), Keyser
patent: 4861542 (1989-08
Amirault David M.
Dunlap Richard L.
Sanford Edward L.
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Davis Robert
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