The present application relates generally to machines that apply tubular shrink sleeve material to containers and, more particularly, to a system and method for applying tamper evident bands to the necks of containers.
Tubular shrink sleeve application devices commonly utilize a mandrel over which a tubular shrink film is moved for cutting, and then the cut sleeve-type label is ejected from the mandrel onto a container located below the mandrel. A downstream application of heat can then be used to shrink the film. These same sleeving machines are used to apply tamper evident bands (TE band) to the cap and neck section of containers. Generally, the TE band is simply a shorter sleeve that is sized so it will not fit around the main body of the container so that the band will engage with the cap and neck section of the container during the heat shrink. The TE band therefore provides an indication of whether the container has been opened. Because of the typical short of height of TE bands, they can be difficult to apply to contains at high speeds.
Therefore, it would be desirable and advantageous to provide a system and method that enhances the ability to effectively and expediently apply tamper evident bands.
In one aspect, a machine for applying a tamper evident band to a container includes a mandrel assembly about which tubular film is passed, the mandrel assembly include a lower output end, a conveyor for moving a container in a feed direction below the output end of the mandrel assembly, a film cutter positioned for cutting the tubular film into a tamper evident band sized for application to a cap and neck section of the container and a band ejection arrangement for ejecting the tamper evident band from the mandrel assembly toward the conveyor. The output end of the mandrel assembly includes a band guide structure that includes an upstream side and a downstream side, relative to the feed direction, and a downwardly angled portion extending between the upstream side and the downstream side. The upstream side of the band guide structure is positioned at a first height and the downstream side of the band guide structure is positioned at a second height that is lower than the first height.
In another aspect, a machine for applying a tamper evident band to a container moving in a feed direction includes a mandrel assembly about which tubular film is passed, the mandrel assembly include a lower output end, a film cutter positioned for cutting the tubular film into a tamper evident band sized for application to a cap and neck section of the container and a band ejection arrangement for ejecting the tamper evident band from the mandrel assembly. The output end of the mandrel assembly includes a band guide structure that includes an upstream side and a downstream side, relative to the feed direction, and a downwardly angled portion extending between the upstream side and the downstream side. The upstream side of the band guide structure is positioned at a first height and the downstream side of the band guide structure is positioned at a second height that is lower than the first height.
In a further aspect, a method of applying a tamper evident band to a cap and neck section of a container involves the steps of: moving a container in a feed direction below and past a mandrel assembly that includes a lower end with a band guide structure, the band guide structure having an upstream side and a downstream side, relative to the feed direction, and a downwardly angled portion extending between the upstream side and the downstream side; utilizing the mandrel assembly to form a tamper evident band; ejecting the tamper evident band downward from the mandrel assembly toward the container before the container is completely under the mandrel assembly causing a leading side of the tamper evident band to move over a leading side of a cap and neck section of the container while a trailing side of the tamper evident band is above a trailing side of the cap and neck section of the container; and, as the container continues to move past the mandrel assembly, the band guide structure pushes the trailing side of the tamper evident band over the trailing side of the cap and neck section of the container.
In a further aspect, a method of applying a tamper evident band to a cap and neck section of a container involves the steps of: moving a container in a feed direction along a feed path below a mandrel assembly that includes a lower end with a band guide structure, the band guide structure having an upstream side and a downstream side, relative to the feed direction, and a downwardly angled portion extending between the upstream side and the downstream side; utilizing the mandrel assembly to form a tamper evident band; moving the tamper evident band downward from the mandrel assembly around the band guide structure and toward the feed path before the container is completely under the mandrel assembly causing a leading side of the tamper evident band to move down past a top of the container and alongside a leading side of a cap and neck section of the container while a trailing side of the tamper evident band contacts the top of the container to remain above a trailing side of the cap and neck section of the container; and, as the container continues to move past the mandrel assembly, the band guide structure pushes the trailing side of the tamper evident band over the trailing side of the cap and neck section of the container.
In a further aspect, a method of applying a tamper evident band to a cap and neck section of a container involves: moving a container in a feed direction along a feed path below a mandrel assembly; utilizing the mandrel assembly to form a tamper evident band; and moving the tamper evident band downward from the mandrel assembly and toward the feed path by ejecting a leading side of the tamper evident band from the mandrel assembly sooner than and/or faster than a trailing side of the tamper evident band is ejected from the mandrel assembly.
In another aspect, a machine for applying a tamper evident band to a container moving in a feed direction includes a mandrel assembly about which tubular film is passed, the mandrel assembly include a lower output end, a film cutter positioned for cutting the tubular film into a tamper evident band sized for application to a cap and neck section of the container and a band ejection arrangement for ejecting the tamper evident band from the mandrel assembly. The band ejection arrangement includes a first ejector wheel and a second ejector wheel, diametrically opposed to each other along the feed direction, wherein the first ejector wheel and the second ejector wheel are independently operable, wherein the first ejector wheel is a downstream ejector wheel and the second ejector wheel is an upstream ejector wheel.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawing and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawing, and from the claims.
An exemplary tubular shrink sleeve applying apparatus 30 is shown in schematic form in
Notably, the mandrel 50 includes a band guide structure 40 at the lower output end. As more clearly seen in
Here, the band guide structure 40 is formed as a separate piece that is connected to the bottom a main body 51 of the mandrel 50, such as by one or more fasteners 52 or by a screw in connection. Thus, the band guide structure 40 is removably connected to the main body of the mandrel. However, other variations are possible. The band guide structure 40 is sized to be within the external perimeter of the mandrel section that defines the tubular shape of the film so that a tamper evident band will move off the mandrel without interference from the band guide structure.
The controller 110 is configured to control the machine components (e.g., the conveyor and the band ejection arrangement) such that such that the tamper evident band 120 is ejected from the mandrel assembly before the container 88 is completely under the mandrel 50, per
Thus, the machine provides for a method of applying a tamper evident band to a cap and neck section of a container. The method involves: moving a container in a feed direction below and past a mandrel assembly that includes a lower end with a band guide structure, the band guide structure having an upstream side and a downstream side, relative to the feed direction, and a downwardly angled portion extending between the upstream side and the downstream side; utilizing the mandrel assembly to form a tamper evident band (e.g. by cutting the film); ejecting the tamper evident band downward from the mandrel assembly toward the container before the container is completely under the mandrel assembly causing a leading side of the tamper evident band to move over a leading side of a cap and neck section of the container while a trailing side of the tamper evident band is above a trailing side of the cap and neck section of the container; and, as the container continues to move past the mandrel assembly, the band guide structure pushes the trailing side of the tamper evident band over the trailing side of the cap and neck section of the container.
The machine also provides for a method of applying a tamper evident band to a cap and neck section of a container, where the method involves: moving a container in a feed direction along a feed path below a mandrel assembly that includes a lower end with a band guide structure, the band guide structure having an upstream side and a downstream side, relative to the feed direction, and a downwardly angled portion extending between the upstream side and the downstream side; utilizing the mandrel assembly to form a tamper evident band; moving the tamper evident band downward from the mandrel assembly around the band guide structure and toward the feed path before the container is completely under the mandrel assembly causing a leading side of the tamper evident band to move down past a top of the container and alongside a leading side of a cap and neck section of the container while a trailing side of the tamper evident band contacts the top of the container to remain above a trailing side of the cap and neck section of the container; and, as the container continues to move past the mandrel assembly, the band guide structure pushes the trailing side of the tamper evident band over the trailing side of the cap and neck section of the container.
Notably, the tamper evident band 120 includes a central longitudinal axis 130. The tamper evident band is initially moved downward toward the feed path while the central longitudinal axis 130 is in a first orientation that runs substantially perpendicular to the feed direction 90 (per
It is to be clearly understood that the above description is intended by way of illustration and example only, is not intended to be taken by way of limitation, and that other changes and modifications are possible. In particular, while
For example, referring to
In
As the container 218 moves beneath the mandrel, the downstream ejector wheel 206A is operated first, or at least faster than wheel 206B, causing the band 208 to tilt so that its axis 230 becomes offset from the mandrel axis 232, creating a lead-in angle for the leading side of the container 218 to run into. The upstream ejector wheel 206B operates at a later time, per
All applicable timers and motion profiles may be controllable/adjustable from the HMI of the system controller. For example, the HMI can be used to designate which ejector wheel is the upstream ejector wheel and which is the downstream ejector wheel, based upon the travel direction of containers to be banded. The band guide structure (or the entire mandrel assembly) can be connectable in two different orientations (e.g., the two positions rotationally offset by one-hundred eighty degrees) for this purpose, also depending upon the direction of container travel.
In one implementation of the system, the controller is configured such that the band 208 is cut and then the downstream ejector wheel is operated immediately (e.g., for a short cycle) to drop the leading side of the band down to wait for a container. In another implementation, the controller is configured to wait for a container to trigger the cycle (e.g., based upon container detection by a sensor) before operating the downstream ejector wheel to drop the leading side of the band down.