Jefferson Smurfit Corporation

Graphic Packaging International, Inc.

Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation

Leonard Kessler

Mark Marabito

Ignatius S Yee

In one aspect, a method of correcting a loosely wound supply roll to be used with a label applying machine is described. The method includes providing a supply roll having a material web wound thereon, the supply roll mounted on a supply roll spindle such that the material web is aligned with an intake of a labeling mechanism on the label applying machine. The method further includes mounting a moveable web guide to apply pressure to the material web being supplied to the labeling mechanism, wherein the web guide includes an encoder. The method further includes determining the tension of the material web wound around the supply roll using the movable web guide and the encoder. Further still, the method includes adjusting the tension of the material web wound around the supply roll if the material web is determined to be too loosely wound about the supply roll to provide adequate tension to the web as the web leaves the supply roll.

Correction of loosely wound label rolls

A heat transfer decorating machine is disclosed. In particular, the disclosed heat transfer decorating machine provides mechanisms to allow the machine to be rapidly re-configured from applying labels to a particular article configuration to applying labels to a different article configuration by an operator without substantial use of tools. In addition, the disclosed heat transfer labeling machine features a distributed drive system which provides a motor for all major movable mechanical elements rather than use a centralized drive system with a distributed transmission. Further, the disclosed heat transfer decorating machine is capable of labeling filled and chilled articles by providing for removal of environmental contamination prior to application of the labels.

System and method for configuring a heat transfer decorating machine for different package configurations

System and method for environmentally cleaning a package for a heat transfer decorating machine

A funnel-shaped concentrator that is attachable to the outlet of a standard cast iron burner is disclosed. The concentrator directs the flame produced by the burner toward the outlet of the concentrator causing the flame emanating therefrom to be directed toward the container being labeled. One or more layers of refractory insulating material are placed along the sides of the concentrator, the body of the burner and the top and bottom surfaces of the concentrator so as to minimize the amount of infrared radiation emanating therefrom. In this manner, the containers being labeled or on which a label has been affixed are exposed only to the flame being directed outwardly from the outlet of the concentrator and the amount of infrared radiation to which the containers is exposed is greatly reduced.

Growing community of inventors

Reading, OH, United States of America

Leonard Kessler