Cms Gilbreth Packaging Systems, Inc.

Other

Ian Westbury

John M Galchefski

John Stevenson

An apparatus for applying a label onto a small, cylindrical article, such as a dry cell battery, is disclosed. A rotatable label transport drum has a central, horizontal axis. A label is fed to the drum surface, retained thereto as the drum rotates, and moved with the rotating drum into an article wrapping position defined at the upper area of the drum. An article delivery system, such as a star transfer wheel, delivers the articles sequentially onto the drum surface. The delivery system is spaced outward from the drum surface to clear the trailing edge of the label which is outwardly positioned from the drum surface. An attractive force is imparted on the article in a direction so as to aid smooth delivery of the article onto the drum surface and the label moving therewith. In one aspect of the invention, when the articles are magnetically attractive drycell batteries, at least one magnet retains the drycells against an article engaging surface of a pressure plate which defines an article entrance portion that is disposed downward to the drum surface so that the drycells are smoothly and tangentially transferred onto the drum surface. In another aspect of the invention, a web feed and cutting mechanism is disclosed. In still another aspect of the invention, an adhesive delivery system using a gravure roller is disclosed.

Apparatus and method for applying labels onto small cylindrical articles

An apparatus and method for applying labels onto small cylindrical articles such as dry cell batteries is disclosed. A label transport drum has a substantially smooth surface. Cut labels are applied to the surface and an adhesive applicator applies a preferred cold adhesive onto an area adjacent the leading edge of the label. A solvent applicator applies a predetermined amount of solvent on the area adjacent the trailing edge of the label. The solvent applicator includes a solvent transfer roll and a rotatably support rotary pad print head. The rotary pad print head includes at least one narrowly tapering, flexible wiper tip. In one embodiment the wiper tip has a V-notch on its end. The flexible tip engages the solvent transfer roll, transferring solvent from the solvent transfer roll into the V-notch. the rotary pad print head is timed to rotate so that the flexible tip is deflected against the area adjacent the trailing edge of the label. Solvent contained within the V-notch is evenly applied onto the label. An article conveying mechanism present cylindrical articles into tangential spinning engagement with the drum and into rotative engagement with the adhesive whereby the label is transferred onto the article as the label is moved into engagement with the rotating article. In another embodiment, the flexible tip is tapered preferably without a V-notch. The slower speed of the wiper relative to the drum causes even application of the solvent onto the label. A servomotor and encoder provide speed control to ensure that the surface speed of the rotary pad print head is slower than the surface speed of the label transport drum.

An apparatus for applying thin film polymer labels onto small cylindrical articles has a label transport drum with a substantially smooth, outer surface on which labels are fed. A cold adhesive that is viscous at room temperature is printed onto an area adjacent the leading edge of the label. A solvent is applied by two static wiper assemblies onto an area adjacent the trailing edge of the label. The first static wiper assembly wipes an amount of solvent onto the area adjacent the trailing edge of the label for cleaning and softening that area. A second wiper assembly applies an amount of solvent onto the area adjacent the trailing edge of the label for dissolving a portion of the label to create a tacky, bonding quality to the label and form a solvent seal bond when the trailing edge overlaps the leading edge. Solvent is applied to the wiper bodies for dispersion throughout and to the wiper tip. A plunger is formed in the drum at those areas where the trailing edges of labels are positioned. Each plunger is spring biased outward from the drum surface to position the trailing edge of a label at a position beyond the peripheral drum surface for engaging the wiper tips. During wrapping, the article forces the plunger downward so it will not interfere with article wrapping.

An apparatus and method for applying thin film polymer labels to small cylindrical articles such as dry cell batteries without label mismatching is disclosed. A label transport drum is rotatably mounted on a frame. Cut labels are supplied to the surface of the label transport drum as the drum is rotated. An adhesive is applied onto the area adjacent the leading edge of the label while the label is moving with the drum, and a solvent is applied onto an area adjacent the trailing edge of the label. Cylindrical articles are conveyed in tangential spinning engagement with the label transport drum and into rotative engagement with the adhesive on the leading edge of the label so as to transfer the label onto the article as the label is moved into engagement with the rotating article. A pressure plate imparts pressure against selected sides and ends of the article during wrapping to prevent mismatching of the label as the label wraps around the article. A seam is formed at the overlap of leading and trailing edge portions. The pressure plate has an article engaging surface positioned adjacent the surface of the drum. The camber of the plate may be varied relative to the articles conveyed on the surface of the drum, thus varying the pressure imparted against selected areas of the article during labeling to prevent mismatching of the label.

An apparatus and method for applying labels onto small cylindrical articles such as dry cell batteries is disclosed. A label transport drum has a substantially smooth surface. Cut labels are applied to the surface and an adhesive applicator applies a preferred cold adhesive onto an area adjacent the leading edge of the label. A solvent applicator applies a predetermined amount of solvent on the area adjacent the trailing edge of the label. The solvent applicator includes a solvent transfer roll and a rotatably supported rotary pad print head. The rotary pad print head includes at least one narrowly tapering, flexible wiper tip. In one embodiment the wiper tip has a V-notch on its end. The flexible tip engages the solvent transfer roll, transferring solvent from the solvent transfer roll into the V-notch. The rotary pad print head is timed to rotate so that the flexible tip is deflected against the area adjacent the trailing edge of the label. Solvent contained within the V-notch is evenly applied onto the label. An article conveying mechanism presents cylindrical articles into tangential spinning engagement with the drum and into rotative engagement with the adhesive whereby the label is transferred onto the article as the label is moved into engagement with the rotating article. In another embodiment, the wiper member is timed to rotate slower than the surface speed of the drum. In this embodiment, the flexible tip is tapered preferably without a V-notch. The slower speed of the wiper relative to the drum causes even application of the solvent onto the label. A servomotor and encoder provide speed control to ensure that the surface speed of the rotary pad print head is slower than the surface speed of the label transport drum.

An apparatus for applying thin film polymer labels onto small cylindrical articles includes a label transport drum that is constructed for aiding the transfer of a label onto a cylindrical article. The apparatus includes a label transport drum having a cylindrically configured hub and cylindrical drum mounted on the hub for rotation thereabout. The drum has an outer surface on which labels are fed while the drum is rotated about the hub. A first radially extending, slotted vacuum manifold defines a label retention area and extends circumferentially around a substantial portion of the circumference of the hub. A first radially extending slotted pressure manifold is aligned circumferentially after the slotted vacuum manifold at an article wrapping position. A valve port, circumferentially aligned with the vacuum and pressure manifolds is positioned on the inner surface of the drum and communicates with the area on the drum surface where the leading edge of the label lies. As the drum rotates, the valve port aligns with the vacuum manifold and draws a vacuum onto the label to retain the label onto the drum. As the drum rotates further the valve port aligns with the pressure manifold to blow air onto the leading edge of the label to force the label outwardly from the drum surface onto an article thereat to aid in label transfer. A second vacuum manifold and valve port draw vacuum onto the label to retain the label on the drum surface past the article wrapping position if an article is not wrapped. The label is blown from the drum surface if an article misfeeds.

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Turlock, CA, United States of America

Ian Westbury