B&h Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Other

Wolfgang Hoffmann

Michael West

A precision centerable, rotatable shaft assembly (60) has a shaft (62) and a housing (64) extending generally axially along the shaft (62). The shaft (62) is journalled to the housing (64) by a first roller bearing assembly (66) and a second roller bearing assembly (68). The first roller bearing assembly (66) is connected to the shaft (62) near end (80) and a second roller bearing assembly (68) is connected to the shaft (62) near end (83). The first roller bearing assembly has a first inner race (70) fixedly attached to the shaft (62) and a first outer race (74) fixedly attached to the housing (64). The outer race has an inner surface (78) tapering toward the shaft (62) approaching the end of the shaft (62). The second roller bearing assembly has a second inner race (82) fixedly attached to the shaft (62) and a second outer race (86) axially movable within the housing (64) toward the first roller bearing (66). The second outer race (86) has an inner surface (91) tapering away from the shaft (62) moving toward the first roller bearing assembly (66). A flange (94), rod (96) and micrometer (100) are attached to the second roller bearing assembly (68) so that adjustment of the micrometer (100) moves the second outer race (86) downward within housing (64) to compensate for wear of the bearing assemblies (66) and (68) in use of the rotatable shaft assembly (60).

Rotatable shaft assembly

A system (50) includes a labeling machine (52) and a digital data processing system (54) connected to the labeling machine (52). A cutter (56) of the labeling machine (52) has a shaft (58) with a mark (60), which is sensed by a sensor (62). The sensor (62) supplies shaft (58) information on line (64) to digital data processing system (54). The digital data processing system (54) supplies control signals on line (64) to feed roll (66) stepper motor (67). The digital data processing means (54) is also connected to an optical sensor (76) by line (78). The optical sensor (76) senses the position of position mark (74) on the labels (70), which is correlated with the position of shaft (58) in order to feed the labels (70) to the cutter (56) at the proper rate so that the labels (70) are always cut at the kerf (72) between each label (70).

System for computer controlled labeling machine

Method and apparatus for heat shrinking projecting edges of heat shrinkable (but unshrunken) film onto articles such as cylindrical containers. The film is tightly wrapped around the bodies of the articles and the overlapping ends are held together by glue. The projecting edges of the articles are then heat shrunk onto the shoulders and/or curved lower ends of the bodies as the containers are transported and are caused to spin while being transported. In so doing the hot air is blown in a direction such that it does not blow directly onto the glue at the side seams. This may be accomplished by using a circular, turret type transport and by having blowers which blow hot air obliquely, rather than radially at the articles. Where the articles are closely packed, each article acts to shield the next article when its side seam is parallel to the flow of hot air.

Machine and method for applying heat shrink labels

A system (50) includes a labelling machine (52) and a digital data processing system (54) connected to the labelling machine (52). A cutter (56) of the labelling machine (52) has a shaft (58) with a mark (60), which is sensed by a sensor (62). The sensor (62) supplies shaft (58) information on line (3) to digital data processing system (54). The digital data processing system (54) supplies control signals on line (64) to feed roll (66) stepper motor (67). The digital data processing means (54) is also connected to an optical sensor (76) by line (78). The optical sensor (76) senses the position of position mark (74) on the labels (70), which is correlated with the position of shaft (58) in order to feed the labels (70) to the cutter (56) at the proper rate so that the labels (70) are always cut at the kerf (72) between each label (70).

Computer controlled labelling machine

Machine and method for applying liquid coatings to cylindrical articles such as plastic continues, in which each article during movement by a rotary transport is caused to spin about its cylindrical axis and a liquid coating is applied to the cylindrical surface of the spinning container. A wiper spreads the coating uniformly and a drier dries the coating. The ratio of orbital movement of the containers and the rate and direction of spin of the containers may be adjusted and controlled.

Machine and method for coating plastic containers

A machine and method for applying heat shrink labels or the like to articles such as containers having cylindrical body portions and an end portion or portions adjoining the body portion and sloping inwardly therefrom. The label has a length such that its leading end overlaps the trailing end and a seam is formed at the overlap. The label is secured to the article by adhesive between the leading end and the container and by adhesive between the overlapping leading end and trailing end. The label is of a width such that it projects beyond the junction or junctions of the end portion or portions with the body portion, resulting in free standing edge or edges which are then heat shrunk onto the container by heat from an external source. A tongue is interposed between the heat source and the seam at each free standing edges or edges. This tongue serves as a heat shield to moderate application of heat to the seam. Most advantageously the end of each tongue is wedge shaped so that as it is extended it acts as a wedge to urge the free standing edge toward the article. In a preferred embodiment of the invention heat is applied in the form of hot air in stages such that the free standing edge or edges are shrunk commencing with their junctions with the container and progressing to the outer edges whereby no air is entrapped.

Labeling machine for heat shrink labels

A machine and method for applying heat shrink labels or the like to articles such as containers having cylindrical body portions and an end portion or portions adjoining the body portion and sloping inwardly therefrom. The label has a length such that its leading end overlaps the trailing end and a seam is formed at the overlap. The label is secured to the article by adhesive between the leading end and the container and by adhesive between the overlapping leading end and trailing end. The label is of a width such that it projects beyond the junction or junctions of the end portion or portions with the body portion, resulting in free standing edge or edges which are then heat shrunk onto the container. To provide pressure in forming the seam of the free standing edge or edges, a tongue or tongues are interposed between the article and the intended seam which provide a continuation of the body of the article.

System and apparatus for applying heat shrink film to containers and

Apparatus and method for applying plastic base cups to plastic containers, such plastic containers being blow-molded, having round bottoms and being unable to stand erect, such base cups providing a flat, stable base for the container. Cups are supplied automatically to holders or sockets at a cup receiving station; they are then indexed to an adhesive applying station where a circular line of adhesive is applied to the bottom of the cup by spinning the cup; the cup is then indexed to a container delivery station, where a container is deposited in the cup, and air under pressure is applied to the interior of the container to apply pressure to the glue line, such pressure also acting to smooth out irregularities in the container. Each container-cup assembly is removed at a removal station. Detector means may be employed at or ahead of the adhesive applying station to determine whether a cup is present in a holder. Following the container delivery station, pressure testing, leak testing and/or alignment testing stations may be provided.

Base cup applying apparatus and method

Machine for applying labels to containers having cylindrical bodies and tapered shoulders, comprising a vacuum drum having one or more pairs of suction pads including a lower pad for adhering a body label to be applied to the cylindrical body of a container, such pad being fixed except for rotation with the drum, the upper pad being mounted for tilting about one or two axes to bring it into proper position for applying a label to the tapered shoulder of a container.

Machine for labeling bodies and shoulders of containers

Labeling machine in which continuous label stock is pulled from a roll of same by a continuously operating drive roller and a pinch roller which is alternately engaged with and disengaged from the drive roller; means for storing a supply of label stock in the form of a loop; reciprocating label feed withdrawing label stock from the loop and feeding it forwardly one label at a time; means for severing a label during each cycle of operation; a vacuum feed drum for receiving labels from the severing means and having pivoted pads which can be pivoted out of contact with a glue wheel when there is no label on the pad; means for applying glue to each label on a pad; means for then applying each label to a container.

Labeling machine

Continuous labeling apparatus and method for applying labels to containers of various shapes (cylindrical, oval, etc.) and wherein the labels may be other than rectangular in shape, wherein a continuous label stock which is pre-printed is fed between an anvil roller and a rotary die, labels are severed, scrap material (if continuous) is rewound, each severed label is picked up by a rotary vacuum drum and is supplied to a label applying station where the drum and a container feed come together.

Labeling apparatus and method for continuously severing labels from

Method and apparatus for continuous high speed application of labels to containers wherein the adhesive is applied to a predetermined location upon each of a succession of containers moved past a vacuum drum applying the leading edge of a label to each container at such location. The labels are successively cut from a strip by means ensuring continuous label movement and have an adhesive applied to a trailing edge thereof before application to containers. The containers are then moved to a discharge station where the labels are wrapped about the containers.

Apparatus for applying labels to containers

Machine for applying labels to cylindrical containers such as metal cans wherein labels on a vacuum drum and/or containers on a turret have an adhesive applied thereto and each label is attached to a container and is wrapped around the container by rotating the container. The containers are supplied by a rotary turret and are rotated with the turret from an entry point to an exit point between which the labels are applied. Each container, in addition to its planetary motion about the turret axis, is rotated about its own axis to speed up the application of labels. The capacity of a machine is thereby increased because the containers can be packed closer together without interference between label attached to one container but not yet wrapped around the container being interfered with by the next container.

Label applying machine

An improved label feed comprising a first roller means for feeding an elongated parent strip of label material into the labeling apparatus, guide means in advance of the first roller means, cuttng means in the form of a rotary blade and an oscillating stationary blade adjacent the guide means for severing individual labels from the parent strip, and second roller means in advance of the cutting means for feeding the label strips onto a vacuum drum or the like for application to containers. A leaf spring is disposed above the parent strip adjacent the stationary blade and oscillates therewith. The guide means has air jets for directing streams of air against the parent strip before it is fed into the cutting means, to insure adequate feeding of limp label material. The second roller means can be a single pair of rollers, with a driven roller disposed beneath the label and a biased roller disposed above the label, or, in the case of very short labels, an additional pair of rollers disposed between the first pair and the cutting means, with the driven roller of the second pair being disposed above the strip and the biased roller thereof being disposed below the strip.

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Modesto, CA, United States of America

Wolfgang Hoffmann