Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6253438
-
Patent Number
6,253,438
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, September 22, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 3, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Echols; P. W.
- Blount; Steve
Agents
- Warner Norcross & Judd LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 029 822
- 029 4264
- 029 4261
- 198 415
- 225 102
- 225 93
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An apparatus and method for breaking connector elements between a rotatable shell and a base of a label affixed to an article. A first belt transports a labeled article at a first rate. A second belt holds the article in a nonrotatable position relative to the first belt. A third belt, advancing at a second rate different from the first rate, selectively contacts the rotatable shell of the label, causing the connection ties between the rotatable portion and the base portion to break, permitting the shell to rotate relative to the base portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to rotatable labels, and more particularly to breaking connective elements, such as adhesive or perforated material, between the rotatable portion of the label and the non-rotatable portion.
Rotatable labels are well known and include an inner layer, or base, adhered directly to a container, and an outer layer, or shell, concentrically and rotatably mounted on the base. During manufacture an application to a container, the shell typically is fixed to the base using connective elements, for example, adhesives or perforations. The consumer or user of the container breaks the connective elements, typically by grasping the shell with respect to the container and the base adhered to the container.
A conventional prior art rotatable label, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,421, is illustrated in its flat, unapplied state in FIG.
1
and is generally designated
10
. The label includes a base
12
, which is affixed directly to the container (not shown) and a shell having a rotatable portion
14
and top and bottom guide rails
16
,
18
. A transparent window
20
permits consumers to view information on base layer
12
through the shell. The shell is temporarily affixed to the base layer
12
along the top and bottom rails
16
,
18
. Both the base layer and the shell are wrapped around the container. Consumers break the ties
54
manually to allow free the rotatable portion
14
for rotation in the direction designated S.
Rotatable labels present a variety of problems. First, there is no way to assure that the label has been constructed properly. For example, if the base and the shell are unintentionally completely glued to one another, there is no way to test for such a defect. Second, it can be difficult to break the connective elements on large labels used on large containers. Third, elderly and/or weak consumers may have difficulty breaking the perforations or ties utilized with any sized label.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned problems are overcome by the present invention which mechanically breaks the ties or perforations associated with rotatable labels during manufacture. The apparatus and related method of pre-breaking ties during manufacture includes a conveyor for transporting containers having rotatable labels adhered thereto, a holding device for preventing rotation of the containers while on the conveyor, and a contacting device for selectively contacting the rotatable shell of the label to rotate the shell and thereby break the perforations and/or ties.
With this apparatus and method of pre-breaking the ties, the construction of the rotatable label can be properly tested. Additionally, the mechanical pre-breaking of the ties or perforations insures that the weak and/or elderly may use the rotatable label effectively. Finally, the pre-breaking apparatus may be adjustably configured to accommodate a variety of different sized containers and labels; consequently, larger rotatable labels having ties or perforations that are difficult to manually disengage may be mechanically broken for ultimate consumer use.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an exploded flat rotatable label of the type used in the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 3
is a top plan view of the apparatus; and
FIG. 4
is a front elevational view of the apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A tie-breaking apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
FIGS. 2
,
3
and
4
, and generally designated
30
. As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
, the tie-breaker includes a conveyor belt
32
, a holding belt
34
, and a contact belt
36
. Container
50
is held between the holding belt
34
and the conveyor belt
32
while contact belt
36
comes into contact with the outer most portion of container
50
, being the rotatable portion
52
, to urge rotation of that portion and cause the ties or perforations
54
to break and allow the rotatable portion to rotate freely.
FIG. 4
illustrates a more detailed schematic of the preferred embodiment, designated
30
. Container
50
is conveyed along a conveyor belt
32
. Conveyor belt
32
rotates about a set of pulleys, one shown, at
48
and the other not shown. Pulley
48
rotates on shaft
82
, which is mounted to support
80
. Conveyor belt
32
advances in the direction and rate designated R
2
in
FIG. 3
; accordingly, article
50
also advances forward, that is, out of the drawing, in direction and rate designated R
2
.
The top portion of the container
50
is compressed by holding belt
34
which advances in direction and rate R
1
, which for purposes of this embodiment is equal to R
2
. In this manner, the top and bottom of the container
50
advance at the same rate and permit container
50
to be held in a fixed, stable position relative to conveyor belt
32
. Holding belt
34
rotates on a set of pulleys, one shown at
40
, and the other pulley not shown. Pulley
40
conventionally rotates on shaft
42
. The pulley
40
and pulley shaft
42
are connected to bracket
77
which further is attached to telescoping tubes
76
and
78
. Tube
76
may telescope with respect to tube
78
upon rotation of horizontal adjuster handle
70
, which consequently rotates horizontal adjuster shaft
72
received in adjuster bracket
74
. Accordingly, holding belt
34
may be moved back and forth across the width of the conveyor belt; this range of movement allows a variety of different sized and shaped containers to be accommodated by the device. Similar alternative configurations which allow similar ranges of movement may also be used to implement the invention.
With reference to
FIG. 3
, contact belt
36
preferably advances in the rate and direction designated R
3
in FIG.
3
. In alternative embodiments, the contact belt may advance at a rate in a direction 180° opposite R
1
or rate R
3
may be zero, that is, the contact belt doesn't move. In the preferred embodiment, contact belt
36
is mounted on pulley
44
which rotates on shaft
46
. Contact belt
36
also rotates about a drive pulley (not shown) which advances the contact belt at rate and in direction R
3
. With respect to the rates as depicted in the preferred embodiment of
FIG. 3
, rate R
1
is equal to rate R
2
, while R
3
is greater than rates R
1
and consequentially, R
2
.
The pulley shaft
46
is further mounted to telescoping tubes
66
and
64
in a conventional manner. These tubes act in concert with vertical adjusted handle
60
and vertical adjustment shaft
62
, as well as vertical adjustment tube
68
. Upon rotation of vertical adjustment handle
60
, vertical adjustment shaft
62
rotates. Because the vertical adjustment shaft
62
is threaded, as are telescoping tubes
66
and
64
, contact pulley
44
and all connected apparatus may be vertically adjusted up and down relative to conveyor belt
32
to accommodate a variety of different sized and shaped containers. The conveyor belt
32
, the holding belt
34
, and the contact belt
36
may be made of any material including nylon reinforced rubber, plastic, or any suitable flexible synthetic material. It is, however, preferred for the belts to be made of a semi-tacky substance to assure adequate gripping of the container and the rotatable portion of the label by the belts. Additionally, contact pulley
44
and contact belt
36
may be altered or replaced by different sized pulleys and contact belts to accommodate a variety of different sized rotatable layers
52
on containers
50
.
Operation
As shown collectively in
FIGS. 2
,
3
and
4
, the conveyor belt
32
advances the containers having rotatable labels attached thereto in direction and rate as indicated as R
2
. Holding belt
31
is positioned by an operator using the horizontal and vertical adjusting
60
and
70
so that it tightly presses against the uppermost portion of the container
50
, and accordingly compresses the container against conveyor belt
32
so that rotational or any other translational movement of the container
50
is inhibited, but at the same time preventing conveyor belt
32
from being bound against the pulley
48
.
Holding belt
34
advances at the same rate and direction as conveyor belt
32
, that is, R
1
is equal to rate R
2
as depicted. With the containers
50
being advanced on the conveyor belt
32
, the contact belt
36
is aligned between perforations
54
on the rotatable label so that its contact surface only selectively engages the rotatable portion of the label
52
. Contact belt
36
rotates in direction R
3
, the same as the direction R
1
and R
2
, however, rate R
3
is greater than rate R
1
and R
2
. Accordingly, when contact surface of the contact pulley
36
is brought into contact with the rotatable label portion
52
, that rotatable portion
52
is rotated with respect to the container
50
, thus causing perforations or ties
54
to be broken and the rotatable portion to rotate relative to the container
50
.
After the perforations
54
have been broken, the container advances to the next applicable step in the process of manufacture, after being ejected, removed or dropping off conveyor belt
32
and disengaged from contact belt
36
and holding belt
34
.
The above description is that of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Various alternations or changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example using the articles “a”, “and” or “said” is not to be construed as limiting the element to only one element unless so specifically stated. The claims are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles and patent law including the doctrine of equivalence.
Claims
- 1. An apparatus for rotating a first label layer relative to a second label layer positioned on an article, comprising:conveyor for moving the article; a first belt parallel to said conveyor for holding the article in fixed position relative to said conveyor to prevent rotation of the article; and a second belt parallel to said conveyor for selectively engaging the first label layer and moving the first layer relative to the second layer.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said conveyor advances linearly at a first rate and said first belt advances linearly at a second rate equal to said first rate.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said second belt advances linearly at a third rate being greater than said first rate.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said second belt is capable of selectively engaging the article by contacting a portion of the first label layer.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first label layer is rotatable relative to the second label layer which is affixed to the article when said second belt selectively engages the article.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first belt is adjustable with respect to said conveyor whereby different sized articles may be held in a fixed position relative to said conveyor.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said second belt is selectively configurable in a plurality of orientations with respect to said conveyor whereby different sized and shaped articles may be selectively engaged by said second belt.
- 8. An apparatus for breaking connection ties between a rotatable shell and a base, the base being affixed to a container, comprising:means for conveying the container; means for holding the article in a fixed, non-rotating position relative to the conveyor; and means for selectively engaging the rotatable shell and breaking the ties between the rotatable shell and the base.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said conveying means and said holding means advance parallel to one another.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said breaking means further includes a contact surface width which is less than the width of the rotatable shell.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said breaking means is adjustable to a plurality of orientations to accommodate a variety of container sizes and container shapes.
- 12. An apparatus for rotating a first layer relative to a second layer on a label with the label affixed to a container, comprising:a conveyor for transporting the container; a holding belt positioned above said conveyor, said holding belt preventing translational and rotational movement of the container relative to said conveyor; and an engagement belt proximal to said conveyor and capable of contacting the first layer of the label whereby the first layer of the label is rotated relative to the second layer of the label.
- 13. A method for breaking connection ties between a rotatable shell and a base where the base is affixed to an article comprising the steps of:providing an article including a label with a rotatable shell releasably attached to a base; holding the article in a fixed, non-rotating position between a first belt and a second belt that advance at an equal rate; and rotating the rotatable shell relative to the base with a third belt advancing at a second rate that contacts the rotatable shell whereby the connection ties are broken.
- 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said holding step is accomplished by the second belt compressing the article against the first belt.
- 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said third belt moves linearly and parallel to the first belt whereby contacting the rotatable shell with the third belt causes the rotatable shell to rotate relative to the base.
- 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first belt and second belt are adjustable to accommodate a variety of different sized articles.
- 17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of transferring the article from the first belt and second belt to a fourth belt.
- 18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of removing the article from the first belt and second belt.
US Referenced Citations (7)