Label applicator belt system

• US 9,637,264 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2015
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Woznic, Frank B., Potter, Craig W., Lorence, James P., Previty, Richard A., Green, Alan, Worm, Harry, Sofie, Walt
• Primary Examiner(s): Gross, Carson
• Application Number:
  US14/931,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20160052660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 156DIG 8, 156DIG 9, 156DIG 12, 156DIG 13
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 3/08 to container bodies B65C3/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 3/14 the container being positioned for labelling with its centre-line vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 3/16 by rolling the labels onto cylindrical containers, e.g. bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 3/163 where the label is of the wrap-around type
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 3/166 the label being shrunken after application
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 3/18 to container necks B65C3/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/02 Devices for moving articles, e.g. containers, past labelling station
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/04 having means for rotating the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/30 Rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/34 Flexible bands
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/17 Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means

Abstract

A label applicator system is described comprising one or more, and preferably two, assemblies of rollers and belts. The assemblies are arranged relative to one another such that at least a portion of the belts of each assembly are aligned with one another to define an article receiving lane. The assemblies are arranged and configured such that the lane extends in a zig- zag path, a relatively straight path, and/or an arcuate path. Selection of the lane geometry along with appropriate control of belt velocities enable high rates of applying labels to articles and particularly containers having compound curves.

Claims

1. A system for applying labels onto articles, the system comprising:

a first assembly of a first belt and a first plurality of rollers, the first belt extending around the first plurality of rollers;

a second assembly of a second belt and a second plurality of rollers, the second belt extending around the second plurality of rollers;

the first assembly and the second assembly arranged relative to one another such that a portion of the first belt and a portion of the second belt are aligned with one another to define an article receiving lane between the portion of the first belt and the portion of the second belt, the lane extending in at least two different directions.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first plurality of rollers includes (i) at least one drive roller and (ii) at least two lane-defining rollers.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the second plurality of rollers includes (i) at least one drive roller and (ii) at least two lane-defining rollers.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the first plurality of rollers includes at least two lane-defining rollers, wherein one of the at least two lane-defining rollers of the first plurality of rollers is disposed between two of the at least two lane-defining rollers of the second plurality of rollers.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein one of the at least two lane-defining rollers of the second plurality of rollers is disposed between two of the at least two lane-defining rollers of the first plurality of rollers.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the lane defines an article entrance location and an article exit location, the lane extending in the at least two different directions between the entrance location and the exit location.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the at least two different directions in which the lane extends, all sum to less than 5°

.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a heater in sufficient proximity to the first belt and the second belt to heat the first belt and the second belt to a temperature of at least 50°

C.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first belt includes a substrate layer for contacting rollers and a deformable layer for contacting articles.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the second belt includes a substrate layer for contacting rollers and a deformable layer for contacting articles.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein a velocity of the first belt is different than a velocity of the second belt.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the velocity of the first belt is greater than the velocity of the second belt.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the velocity of the second belt is greater than the velocity of the first belt.

14. A system for applying labels onto articles, the system comprising:

a first assembly of a first belt and a first plurality of rollers, the first belt extending around the first plurality of rollers, wherein the first plurality of rollers includes (i) at least one drive roller and (ii) at least two lane-defining rollers;

a second assembly of a second belt and a second plurality of rollers, the second belt extending around the second plurality of rollers, wherein the second plurality of rollers includes (i) at least one drive roller and (ii) at least two lane-defining rollers;

the first assembly and the second assembly arranged relative to one another such that a portion of the first belt and a portion of the second belt are aligned and parallel with one another to define an article receiving lane between the portion of the first belt and the portion of the second belt;

wherein one of the at least two lane-defining rollers of the first plurality of rollers is disposed between two of the at least two lane-defining rollers of the second plurality of rollers;

wherein a velocity of the first belt is different than a velocity of the second belt;

and further wherein the labels are applied to the articles in the receiving lane.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the second plurality of rollers includes (i) at least one drive roller and (ii) at least two lane-defining rollers.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the velocity of the first belt is greater than the velocity of the second belt.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the velocity of the second belt is greater than the velocity of the first belt.

18. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a heater in sufficient proximity to the first belt and the second belt to heat the first belt and the second belt to a temperature of at least 50°

C.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein one of the at least two lane-defining rollers of the second plurality of rollers is disposed between two of the at least two lane-defining rollers of the first plurality of rollers.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the lane extends in at least two different directions.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the at least two different directions in which the lane extends, all sum to less than 5°

.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the lane extends in an arcuate fashion.

23. The system of claim 14 wherein the first belt includes a substrate layer for contacting rollers and a deformable layer for contacting articles.

24. The system of claim 14 wherein the second belt includes a substrate layer for contacting rollers and a deformable layer for contacting articles.

25. A system for applying labels onto articles, the system comprising:

a first assembly of a first belt and a first plurality of rollers, the first belt extending around the first plurality of rollers;

a second assembly of a second belt and a second plurality of rollers, the second belt extending around the second plurality of rollers;

the first assembly and the second assembly arranged relative to one another such that a portion of the first belt and a portion of the second belt are aligned with one another to define an article receiving lane between the portion of the first belt and the portion of the second belt, the lane extending in an arcuate fashion.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the first plurality of rollers includes (i) at least one drive roller and (ii) at least two lane-defining rollers.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the second plurality of rollers includes (i) at least one drive roller and (ii) at least two lane-defining rollers.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein a velocity of the first belt is different than a velocity of the second belt.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the velocity of the first belt is greater than the velocity of the second belt.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein the velocity of the second belt is greater than the velocity of the first belt.

31. The system of claim 25 wherein the lane defines an article entrance location and an article exit location, the lane extending about an arc of from about 5°

to about 180°

between the entrance location and the exit location.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the lane extends about an arc of from about 45°

to about 120°

.

33. The system of claim 25 further comprising:

a heater in sufficient proximity to the first belt and the second belt to heat the first belt and the second belt to a temperature of at least 50°

C.

34. The system of claim 25 wherein the first belt includes a substrate layer for contacting rollers and a deformable layer for contacting articles.

35. The system of claim 25 wherein the second belt includes a substrate layer for contacting rollers and a deformable layer for contacting articles.

36. The system of claim 25 wherein a velocity of the first belt is at least substantially the same as a velocity of the second belt.

37. A label application system comprising:

a label assembly including a polymeric film and a layer of adhesive on the film; and

a system for applying labels onto articles, the system comprising (i) a first assembly of a first belt and a first plurality of rollers, the first belt extending around the first plurality of rollers, and (ii) a second assembly of a second belt and a second plurality of rollers, the second belt extending around the second plurality of rollers, wherein the first assembly and the second assembly arranged relative to one another such that a portion of the first belt and a portion of the second belt are aligned with one another to define an article receiving lane between the portion of the first belt and the portion of the second belt, the lane extending in at least two different directions.

38. The label application system of claim 37 wherein the label assembly further includes a print layer.

39. The label application system of claim 37 wherein the polymeric film is a shrink film.

40. The label application system of claim 37 wherein the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

41. A label application system comprising:

a label assembly including a polymeric film and a layer of adhesive on the film; and

a system for applying labels onto articles, the system comprising (i) a first assembly of a first belt and a first plurality of rollers, the first belt extending around the first plurality of rollers, and (ii) a second assembly of a second belt and a second plurality of rollers, the second belt extending around the second plurality of rollers, wherein the first assembly and the second assembly arranged relative to one another such that a portion of the first belt and a portion of the second belt are aligned with one another to define an article receiving lane between the portion of the first belt and the portion of the second belt, the lane extending in an arcuate fashion.

42. The label application system of claim 41 wherein the label assembly further includes a print layer.

43. The label application system of claim 41 wherein the polymeric film is a shrink film.

44. The label application system of claim 41 wherein the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive.