US3178329A

US3178329A - Methods of applying labels to bottles and apparatus therefor

Info

Publication number: US3178329A
Application number: US92807A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rohbogner Alois
Original assignee: Lowenbrau Munchen
Current assignee: Lowenbrau Munchen
Priority date: 1960-03-07
Filing date: 1961-03-02
Publication date: 1965-04-13
Anticipated expiration: 1982-04-13
Also published as: CH400893A; LU39831A1; DK109125C; GB984277A

Description

April 13, 1965 A. ROHBOGNER METHODS OF APPLYING LABELS TO BOTTLES AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed March 2. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l I l MQMQwQQMQQQQQQQ G M V m s m. 1 I k0 k eweQQQQQQQKQAQKQAQQ a a0 Q 2 Mme/var A/0/5 Rohbogner By his affomeys April 13, 1965 A. ROHBOGNER 3,173,329

METHODS OF APPLYING LABELS TO BOTTLES AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed March 2. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 By his afforne s W A ril 13, 1965 A. ROHBOGNER 3,178,329

METHODS OF APPLYING LABELS TO BOTTLES AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed March 2. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 3

5 22 5' 5' 5' I L l I 22 O 0 0 o o o 0 o o o 0 l l F; s' I 5' by 5' I if/T L; Ti T T 77 mum/0r A /0/5 fPa/rbogner By his olfomeys MAM United States Patent R 27, 15 (Ilairns. (Q1. 156-259) The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to methods of labelling bottles, and apparatus therefor.

Numerous arrangements have been proposed for applying labels to bottles by machine, but in such arrangements either individual separate labels are used which are stored in bulk in storage containers or alternatively a roll of labelling material is provided from which individual labels are torn off prior to being applied to respective bottles. In each case the known arrangements used to apply the labels to the bottles have involved the use of complicated gripping devices to select each label and to bring it individually into contact with a corresponding bottle so as to cause it to adhere to said bottle, said gripping devices either being operated in a plurality of Working stages or, not being capable of continuous, automatic operation. The disadvantages of these known arrangements lie therefore not only in their dependence upon such complicated label gripping devices but also in the fact that their overall speed of operation is inadequate for them to be capable of satisfactorily fulfilling the requirements of modern high-speed production. This is particularly so in the case where the bottles to be labelled are beer bottle which in up-to-date brewery plants which handle a very great number of bottles, have to be labelled without any delay so as to avoid any hitches in the production lines.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a method of labelling bottles, together with apparatus therefor, by means of which the above referred to disadvantages are substantially eliminated and the labelling of said bottles may be simply yet expeditiously carried out.

Broadly speaking the present invention consists in a method of labelling bottles wherein a continuous strip of adhesive labelling material is firstly brought into contact with a series of bottles, wherein a part of said labelling material is caused to adhere to each of said bottles, and wherein the labelling material is subsequently divided along a series of lines each located between a pair of adjacent bottles.

Similarly, the invention also consists in apparatus for labelling bottles comprising means for conveying a series of bottles along a path; means for dispensing in contact with said bottles a continuously extending strip of adhesive labelling material; means for causing a part of said strip of labelling material to adhere to each of said bottles; and means for subsequently dividing said strip along a series of lines each located between a respective pair of adjacent bottles.

In greater detail the invention consists in applying a continuously extending strip of adhesive labelling material tangentially to bottles which freely stand upright at intervals on a conveyor belt which is moved with the said strip at a constant speed, the arrangement being such that when the strip impinges against said bottles, part of said strip is cemented to each of said bottles by means of resilient pressure, and division of said strip into separate portions adhering respectively to corresponding bottle is effected 'by said resilient pressure acting upon the strip after it has been applied, whereafter each separate portion, which represents a label, is rolled completely onto its corresponding bottle in one or two stages during the uniform continuous further movement of the bottles.

If the adhesive on the strip is provided at the edge of each of those portions of the strip which become the separate label portions, the rest of each label portion can be rolled on by means of a single rolling movement. However if said adhesive is, for certain reasons, provided only in the centre of each of those portions of the strip which become the label portions, then two rolling movements in opposite sense of rotation are required.

Rolling on of the label portions can be conveniently effected during the uniform continuous further movement of the bottles on the conveyor belt by causing said bottles to pivot thereon about their respective axes, so that the relative position of the bottles to each other on the conveyor belt is not changed, although the degree of pivotal movement of the bottles of course depends upon the size of the label portion to be rolled on.

The resilient pressure exerted for cementing the labels may be obtained by a pair of endless rotating belts of sponge or foam rubber (or corresponding belts of synthetic material) arranged respectively on opposite sides of the conveyor belt and adjacent to the bodies of the bottles. These belts may be moved by means of driving rollers and, supporting rollers may be provided to press said belts against the bottles, the nature of the belts themselves eusuring that resilient pressure is obtained.

The application of the strip of labelling material to the bottles requires belts which are driven with uniform speed, this speed being equal to the speed of the conveyor belt, and separation of the strip into label portions occurring by reason of expansion of the resilient belt when not compressed against the bottles.

To effect the pivotal movement of the bottles about their axes, at least one second pair of belts may be provided, one of which belts is driven at a higher speed than the conveyor belt, whereas the other belt is driven at a lower speed than the conveyor belt.

A further characteristic of the invention consists in disposing the various operating parts of the apparatus symmetrically with respect to the conveyor belt so that label portions can be ailixed simultaneously on opposite parts of the bodies of the bottles in one operation i.e. for example front and back labels.

A particularly great advantage of the invention is that it is unnecessary to use pre-gummed or pre-printed labelling material since the gumming or printing thereof may be carried out as a function of the apparatus itself, for example, prior to the application of the strips to the bottles. The same is true for the embossing of the labelling material. For this purpose a label embossing device and/or a label printing device is arranged ahead of any adhesive applying device which may be incorporated in the apparatus.

The labelling material itself may be perforated at certain intervals e.g. at intervals which correspond to the width of the labels. The intervals may alternatively be larger, namely if the material is stored folded in a manner known per se rather than rolled. If however, as is possible, a label cutting device is provided, preferably for operation prior to the adhesive applying device, this may be arranged to prepare the strips into label portions which remain connected to each other only by few, e.g. two, narrow bridges.

One embodiment of strip labelling material according to the invention provides perforated strips along the two longitudinal sides in order to make it possible to ensure that the movement of the strip from the storage roll or the like to the place of contact with the bottles is synchronous with the movement of the conveyor belt whereon the bottles are transported. These perforated strips may also be trimmed by a second cutting device included in the apparatus and located for operation preferably before or at the same time as the label glueing device.

Finally it may be mentioned that all the working parts of the apparatus may be rigidly coupled to each other to provide synchronous operation of the apparatus as a whole. I

A preferred embodiment of the invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 represents a plan view of'a bottle-labelling apparatus,

FIGURE 2 represents a plan view in enlarged scale of part of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 1 together with a further part of the apparatus, and

FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate respectively two alternative constructions of labelling material which may be used on the apparatus shown in FIGURES l and 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a conveyor belt whereon are placed upright a series of bottles 2 arranged relatively in spaced alignment as shown and maintained in said spaced relationship by a worm device 3, the spaces between adjacent bottles being predetermined according to the width of the labels which are to be applied to said bottles. The conveyor belt 1 is moveable in the direction of the arrow X shown in FIGURE 1 and is driven at a uniform speed. Disposed on each side of the conveyor belt 1 are storage containers within each of which'is arranged a roll 4 of labelling material which is peeled 01f the parent roll in the form of a continuously extending strip 5 which is passed through printing arrangements 6 (upper half of FIGURE 1) or embossing arrangements 7 (lower half of FIGURE 1) which successively stamp on the strip passing therethrough the design required for each label. Subsequently, by means of a guiding roller 8, the strips 5 are each passed to a respective cutting device 9 which perforates the strip delivered thereto so as to leave only narrow connecting bridges joining each part of the strip having a label design printed or embossed thereon to the next adjacent part whereon is printed or embossed the next label design.

After the strips 5 have thus been preperforated, they are passed to respective guiding rollers 11 to adhesive depositing devices which apply adhesive to one side of each of the strips, whereafter said adhesive strips are fed so as tocontact the row of moving bottles 2 on the belt 1.

If it is necessary to trim the strips 5 in any way prior to feeding them on to the bottle 2, this can conveniently be effected by a trimming device located at 12, so that the strips have adhesive applied to them and are trimmed virtually at one and the same time.

The strips 5 are fed onto the bottles 2 substantially tangentially as will be evident from FIGURE 1, and are pressed respectively against opposite parts of the Walls of the bottles by pressing devices comprising respectively

endless belts

13, 13 made of thick foam or sponge rub her, and driven by rollers 14 so as to move in the same direction and at the same speed as the bottles 2 on the belt 1. As shown clearly in FIGURE 1 between each of the rollers 14 of each pressing device are arranged smaller 21 diameter supporting rollers 15 which ensure that the strips 5 are properly applied to the bottles 2 passing between the belts 13 and 13'.

The efiect of these

belts

13, 13 is not only to ensure that the adhesive strips are caused to adhere to the bottles 2 passing between said belts, but also to cause the strips to divide along the lines of perforation applied previously by the cutting devices 9 as explained. This happens since, as each pair of adjacent bottles has the adhesive strip pressed on to it by the belts 13, 13' the belts press towards each other onto the lines of perforation located on those portions of the strips which extend connectively between each of said pair of adjacent bottles and which portions are of course substantially parallel to the belts 13, 13'. Thus when the bottles 2 emerge fiom between the belts 13, 13', each has a complete separate portion of each of the strips 5 adhering thereto, said portions including a complete label design, in the arrangement described one such design having been printed by the printing arrangement 6 and the other design, applied to the opposite part of the body of the bottle, having been embossed by the embossing device 7.

Each of the bottles 2 with its two separate portions respectively from the two strips 5 adhering thereto is now passed between a first pair of rolling devices similar in construction to the pressing devices and comprising respectively sponge or foam rubber belts 16, 16' driven by rollers 17 between which are smaller diameter sup-' porting rollers 18. The belt 16 is driven at a higher speed than the conveyor belt 1, whilst the belt 16 is driven at a lower speed than the said conveyor belt 1, with the result that the bottles 2 are caused to pivot about the axes so that thus one side of the label portions is slowly rolled round to adhere to its respective bottle body, the difference of the driving speeds of the

belts

16, 16 being chosen so that the pivoting of each bottle is just sufiicient for this rolling-on action to take place.

The bottles are now passed on the conveyor belt 1 between a second pair of rolling devices, identical to the first mentioned pair of rolling devices and comprising sponge or foam rubber belts 19, 19' driven by rollers 20 between which are smaller diameter supporting rollers 21. In this case however the driving speed of the belt 19 is lower, and that of the belt 19' greater than the driving speed of the conveyor belt 1, with the result that each of the bottles 2 is now pivotal about its axis in a direction opposite to that in which it was pivoted when passing through the belts 16 and 16' of the first pair of rolling devices. The remaining or other side of the label portions are thus rolled on to their respective bottle bodies, so that when the bottles emerge from between the said belts 19, 19', the label portions are completely adhering thereto.

It is possible to combine with the second rolling device, e.g. with the

belts

19, 19, an arrangement, known per se, for attaching neck labels or neck foils so on leaving the conveyor belt 1 the bottles 2 are quite ready for dispatch without further treatment. In this case the belts 19, 19' are of greater length.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a strip 5 wherein individual label portions 5 have been perforated by the cutting device 9. The individual label portions thus being connectively joined to each other only by narrow bridges 22 as previously referred to.

An alternative label portion 5 having longitudinally extending perforated strips 23, as well as the bridges 22, is shown in FIGURE 4. Where this type of label portion is used the strips 23 are severed along the broken lines shown at 24 by means of the previously mentioned trim: ming device 12.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for labelling bottles comprising means for conveying a series of bottles in upright position along a path; means for dispensing in contact with the sides of said bottles a continuously extending strip of adhesive labelling material; resilient pressure means separate from said conveying means for causing a part of said strip of labelling material to adhere to each of said bottles, and means cooperating with said resilient pressure means for subsequently severing said strip along a series of lines each located between a respective pair of adjacent bottles.

2. Apparatus for labelling bottles comprising means for conveying bottles in upright position along a path; a pair of resilient endless belts arranged on opposite sides of said path for co-operation with said series of bottles conveyed therealong; means for applying an adhesive coating to one side of a continuously extending strip of labelling material; means for partly pre-cutting said strip in identical portions and means for introducing said strip between one of said pair of belts and the bottles co-operating therewith, the material of said one belt being such as firstly to cause the strip to adhere to said bottles and thereafter to cause said strip to separate Where partly pre-cut into a number of identical portions each of which, after separation remains in adherence with its respective bottle.

3. Apparatus for labelling bottles comprising mews for partly pre-cutting a continuously extending strip of labelling material into a number of adjacent sections; means for applying an adhesive coating to at least a part of said partly cut strip; a first pair of driving rollers; a first resilient endless belt driven by said first pair or" driving rollers; a second pair of driving rollers; a second resilient endless belt driven by said second pair of driving rollers and having one run separated from said first resilient endless belt facing and travelling in the same direction as one run of said first resilient endless belt; means for introducing a series of bottles in upright position between said runs; and resilient means for introducing said strip between said bottles and one of said runs the material of one such belt being such as to cause the strip to adhere to said bottles and thereafter to cause it to divide into identical portions which then remain in adherence with its respective bottle.

4. Apparatus for labelling bottles comprising means for conveying along a path a series of bottles having circular cross-sections; means for partly pre-cutting a continuously extending strip of labelling material into adjacent sections; resilient means for applying said strip against said bottles; means cooperating with said resilient means for separating said strip at the places where precut when such places are located between respective pairs of adjacent bottles; and means for rotating said bottles about their axes whilst being conveyed along said path so as to cause a section of said labelling material to be pressed on to each of said bottles.

5. Apparatus for labelling bottles comprising a conveyor belt for conveying a series of bottles along a path; resilient means for applying two continuously extending strips of labelling material to opposite portions of the bottles and for subsequently separating said strips along a series of lines each located between a respective pair of adjacent bottles; means for rotating said bottles so that one half of each of said separated portions is pressed against a respective one of said bottles; and means for counter-rotating said bottles on said conveyor belt so that the other half of each divided portion is pressed against said respective bottle.

6. The method of labelling bottles comprising conveying a series of bottles in spaced positions along a predetermined path, bringing a continuous strip of adhesive labelling material into contact with the series, causing at least a part of said strip to adhere to the bottle in an are at the place of contact, applying resilient pressure to said strip between said bottles and causing the strip of labelling material to separate between each pair of adjacent bottles.

7. The method of labelling bottles comprising conveying a series of bottles in spaced positions along a predetermined path, bringing a continuous strip of adhesive labelling material tangentially into contact with the series, applying resilient pressure to cause at least a part of said strip to adhere to each of said bottles, applying resilient pressure to said strip between said bottles after said adherence to cause separation of said strip between each pair of adjacent bottles with the separated portions remaining in adherence to their bottles, and then applying resilient rotative pressure to each bottle to cause adhesion of the entire label to its bottle.

8. The method of labelling bottles comprising partly precutting two continuous strips of labelling material into a series of adjacent sections, applying adhesive to at least a center portion of each section, conveying a series of bottles along a predetermined path in spaced positions, bringing said adhesively coated portions into contact with the series of bottles and causing them to adhere to the bottles, applying pressure to said strips between each pair of said bottles and causing the strips of labelling material to divide where precut between said sections, and causing said bottles to rotate and counter-rotate while applying pressure to make each section adhere entirely to its bottle.

9. The method of labelling bottles comprising horizontally conveying a series of free-standing bottles in spaced positions along a predetermined path, continuously moving a continuous strip of adhesive labelling material and impinging it tangentially against each bottle of said series along a narrow perpendicular section which forms part of a label portion, applying resilient pressure at least to said narrow section to cause the labelling material to adhere along said narrow sections to each bottle, applying resilient pressure upon said strip between adjacent adhered narrow sections to sever said strip, and rolling each severed label portion completely onto its bottle during the uniform continued conveyance of said series of bottles.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the rolling on of the previously unadhered label portions is effected by application of resilient pressure and limited rotation of the bottles about their respective axes.

11. Apparatus for labelling bottles comprising at least two pairs of cooperating endless moving belts of thick resilient material, a conveyor belt transporting a series of bottles in upright position, said thick belts being arranged on opposite sides of said bottles, means to feed continuous strips of labelling material between said bottles and said thick belts, supporting rollers pressing said thick belts and labelling strips against said bottles and applying pressure against said thick belts and labelling strip to cause separation of said strip between adjacent bottles into individual labels.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 having cutting devices to partially precut said labelling strips into individual labels, and adhesive depositing devices for applying adhesive to said strips after said precutting and prior to engaging the bottles.

13. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which the resilient pressure is applied as the bottles move along said predetermined path by a force which moves parallel with the bottles but at a different speed than the bottles, thereby causing rotation of the bottles as they proceed.

14. A method as claimed in claim 7 in which the resilient pressure is applied as the bottles move along said predetermined path by a force Which moves parallel with the bottles but at a dilferent speed than the bottles, thereby causing rotation of the bottles as they proceed.

15. A method of labelling bottles comprising causing a continuous strip of labelling material to be partly precut along a series of lines into a series of adjacent sections, applying adhesive to a centre portion of each section, bringing said labelling material into contact with a series of continuously moving bottles in such manner that the adhesively-coated centre portions of said mate- 2,596,179 5/52 Seymour 54-53.5 rial are applied to said bottles, applying resilient pressure 2,621,823 12/52 Perry 156-215 to said strip to cause it to divide along said series, of 2,636,835 4/53 Boulware 154-535 lines when located between a pair of adjacent bottles, 2,643,016 6/53 Steckling 156-489 XR subsequently rotating and counter-rotating said bottles 5 2,776,068 1/57 Johnson 156-493 XR so as to cause the entire sections to adhere to said bottles. 2,787,941 4/57 Aldrich 156-213 2,873,040 2/59 Manas 156-493 XR References Cited by the Examiner 2 9 9 105 1 1 Jones 15 475 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2 291 280 7/42 Joplin 1S6 522 XR 1 EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner. 2,438,089 3/48 Carson 156-213 CARL KR n r-

Claims

6. THE METHOD OF LABELING BOTTLES COMPRISING CONVEYING A SERIES OF BOTTLES IN SPACED POSITIONS ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH, BRINGING A CONTINUOUS STRIP OF ADHESIVE LABELING MATERIAL INTO CONTACT WITH THE SERIES, CAUSING AT LEAST A PART OF SAID STRIP TO ADHERE TO THE BOTTLE IN AN ARC AT THE PLACE OF CONTACT, APPLYING RESILIENT PRES-