In-mold label dispenser for plastic blow molding machine

Claim 2

An in-mold label dispenser for a plastic blow molding machine including a mold having a pair of mold sections each of which includes a cavity section, and said mold sections being movable toward and away from each other between an open position spaced from each other and a closed position where the cavity sections thereof cooperate to define an enclosed cavity in which blow molding is performed, the in-mold label dispenser comprising: a base; at least one label magazine mounted on the base adjacent the mold; a label transfer mechanism including a subbase movably mounted on the base; a first actuator that extends between the base and the subbase to move the subbase between an aligned position with respect to the open mold sections and a transfer position; a shuttle mounted for movement with the subbase under the impetus of the first actuator and for movement with respect thereto toward and away from the mold; at least one label carrier mounted on the shuttle in a fixed relationship with respect thereto and being operable to carry a label for transfer from the label magazine to the mold; a second actuator mounted for movement on the subbase and being connected to the shuttle to move the shuttle between withdrawn and inserted positions with respect to the mold; said shuttle with the label carrier fixed thereon being located adjacent the label magazine in the withdrawn position where operation of the first actuator moves the subbase and the shuttle with the label carrier fixed thereto between the mold aligned and transfer positions to permit the label carrier to receive a label from the label magazine; the second actuator then moving the shuttle to the inserted position with the subbase in the aligned position to position the label carrier fixed on the shuttle and the label carried by the label carrier between the mold sections of the open mold; the first actuator thereafter moving the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carrier fixed to the shuttle to the transfer position to transfer the label on the label carrier of the shuttle to one of the mold sections prior to movement of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carrier fixed to the shuttle back to the aligned position under the impetus of the first actuator which is followed by movement of the shuttle and the label carrier fixed thereon back to the withdrawn position in preparation for the next cycle; and a control for coordinating the operation of the first and second actuators to transfer at least one label from the label magazine to the mold during each blow molding cycle of the machine.

Claim 3

An in-mold label dispenser as in claim 1 which includes a plurality of label magazines and a plurality of label carriers so as to supply labels to a multiple cavity type mold of the blow molding machine.

Claim 4

An in-mold label dispenser as in claim 2 wherein the label magazines are fixedly mounted on the base and located so as to supply labels to the label carriers on the shuttle upon movement of the subbase from the aligned position to the transfer position with the shuttle in the withdrawn position with respect to the mold.

Claim 5

An in-mold label dispenser as claim 2 or 3 which includes an adjustable mount for fixedly mounting the label magazines on the base to control the location at which the labels are received by the label carriers and the ultimate locations at which the labels are received by the mold.

Claim 6

An in-mold label dispenser as in claim 2 or 3 which includes a support that pivotally mounts the subbase on the base for pivotal movement between the aligned and transfer positions.

Claim 7

An in-mold label dispenser as in claim 5 wherein the first actuator comprises an air cylinder having one end connected to the base and another end connected to the subbase and being retractable and extendable to pivot the subbase about the support between the aligned and transfer positions.

Claim 8

An in-mold label dispenser as in claim 6 wherein the first air cylinder actuator includes an adjuster for controlling the extent of retracting and extending movement thereof to thereby control the extent of pivotal movement of the subbase between the aligned and transfer positions and the concomitant movement of the label carriers.

Claim 9

An in-mold label dispenser as in claim 6 wherein the support has an elongated construction extending across the mold on one side thereof in a spaced relationship to the mold, the shuttle being mounted on the elongated support for pivoting and sliding movement, and the second actuator being an extendable and retractable air cylinder having one connected to the subbase and another end connected to the shuttle such that the shuttle pivots with the subbase about the support between the aligned and transfer positions and also slides along the support between the withdrawn and inserted positions during its retraction and extrusion.

Claim 10

An in-mold label dispenser as in claim 8 wherein the second air cylinder actuator includes a sensor for sensing the extension thereof to provide a control signal for indicating that the shuttle is in the inserted position with the label carriers between the open mold sections.

Claim 11

An in-mold label dispenser as in claim 9 wherein the elongated support includes opposite end mounts for providing mounting thereof on the base on opposite sides of the mold, and the sensor of the second air cylinder actuator being located on the mount on the opposite side of the mold from the pivotal subbase.

Claim 12

An in-mold label dispenser as in claim 7 wherein the first air cylinder actuator is connected to the subbase on the opposite side of the support from the label carriers.

Claim 13

An in-mold label dispenser as in claim 11 wherein the second air cylinder actuator extends parallel to the support on the opposite side thereof as the label carriers.

Claim 14

An in-mold label dispenser as in claim 12 wherein the second air cylinder actuator includes a cylinder body mounted on the subbase and also includes a piston connecting rod that extends from the cylinder body to the shuttle.

Claim 15

An in-mold label dispenser as claim 13 wherein the elongated support extends horizontally with the label carriers projecting upwardly from the shuttle above the elongated support and with the second air cylinder actuator located below the elongated support.

Claim 16

An in-mold label dispenser for a plastic blow molding machine including a mold having a pair of mold sections each of which includes a plurality of cavity sections, and said mold sections being movable toward and away from each other between an open position spaced from each other and a closed position where the cavity sections thereof cooperate to define enclosed cavities in which blow molding is performed, the in-mold label dispenser comprising: a base; a plurality of label magazines mounted on the base adjacent the mold; a label transfer mechanism including a subbase movably mounted on the base; a first air cylinder actuator that extends between the base and the subbase to move the subbase between an aligned position with respect to the open mold sections and a transfer position; a shuttle mounted for movement with the subbase under the impetus of the first actuator and for movement with respect thereto toward and away from the mold; a plurality of label carriers mounted on the shuttle in a fixed relationship with respect thereto and being operable to carry labels for transfer from the label magazines to the mold; a second air cylinder actuator mounted for movement on the subbase and being connected to the shuttle to move the shuttle between withdrawn and inserted positions with respect to the mold; said shuttle with the label carriers fixed thereon being located adjacent the label magazines in the withdrawn position where operation of the first air cylinder actuator moves the subbase and the shuttle with the label carriers fixed thereto between the mold aligned and transfer positions to permit the label carriers to receive labels from the label magazines; the second air cylinder actuator then moving the shuttle to the inserted position with the subbase in the aligned position to position the label carriers fixed on the shuttle and the labels carried by the label carriers between the mold sections of the open mold; the first air cylinder actuator thereafter moving the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed to the shuttle to the transfer position to transfer the labels on the label carriers fixed on the shuttle to one of the mold sections prior to movement of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed to the shuttle back to the aligned position under the impetus of the first air cylinder actuator which is followed by movement of the shuttle and the label carriers fixed thereon back to the withdrawn position in preparation for the next cycle; and a control for coordinating the operation of the first and second air cylinder actuators to transfer labels from the label magazines to the cavity sections of the mold during each blow molding cycle of the machine.

Claim 17

An in-mold label dispenser for a plastic blow molding machine including a mold having a pair of mold sections each of which includes a plurality of cavity sections, and said mold sections being movable toward and away from each other between an open position spaced from each other and a closed position where the cavity sections thereof cooperate to define enclosed cavities in which blow molding is performed, the in-mold label dispenser comprising: a base; a plurality of label magazines mounted on the base adjacent the mold; a label transfer mechanism including a subbase movably mounted on the base; a first air cylinder actuator that extends between the base and the subbase to move the subbase between an aligned position with respect to the open mold sections and a transfer position; a shuttle mounted for movement with the subbase under the impetus of the first actuator and for movement with respect thereto toward and away from the mold; a plurality of label carriers mounted on the shuttle in a fixed relationship with respect thereto and being operable to carry labels for transfer from the label magazines to the mold; a second air cylinder actuator mounted for movement on the subbase and being connected to the shuttle to move the shuttle between withdrawn and inserted positions with respect to the mold; said shuttle with the label carriers fixed thereon being located adjacent the label magazines in the withdrawn position where operation of the first air cylinder actuator moves the subbase and the shuttle with the label carriers fixed thereto between the mold aligned and transfer positions to permit the label carriers to receive labels from the label magazines; the second air cylinder actuator then moving the shuttle to the inserted position with the subbase in the aligned position to position the label carriers fixed on the shuttle and the labels carried by the label carriers between the mold sections of the open mold; the first air cylinder actuator thereafter moving the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed to the shuttle to the transfer position to transfer the labels on the label carriers fixed on the shuttle to one of the mold sections prior to movement of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed to the shuttle back to the aligned position under the impetus of the first air cylinder actuator which is followed by movement of the shuttle and the label carriers fixed thereon back to the withdrawn position in preparation for the next cycle; and a control for coordinating the operation of the first and second air cylinder actuators to transfer labels from the label magazines to the cavity sections of the mold during each blow molding cycle of the machine.

Claim 18

An in-mold label dispenser for a plastic blow molding machine including a mold having a pair of mold sections each of which includes a plurality of cavity sections, and said mold sections being movable toward and away from each other between an open position spaced from each other and a closed position where the cavity sections thereof cooperate to define enclosed cavities in which blow molding is performed, the in-mold label dispenser comprising: a base; a plurality of label magazines mounted in fixed locations on the base adjacent the mold; a label transfer mechanism including a subbase pivotally mounted on the base; a first air cylinder actuator that extends between the base and the subbase and is extendable and retractable to move the subbase between an aligned position with respect to the open mold sections and a transfer position; a shuttle mounted for movement with the subbase under the impetus of the first actuator and for movement with respect thereto toward and away from the mold; a plurality of label carriers mounted on the shuttle in a fixed relationship with respect thereto and being operable to carry labels for transfer from the label magazines to the mold; a second air cylinder actuator mounted for movement on the pivotal subbase and being connected to the shuttle to move the shuttle between withdrawn and inserted positions with respect to the mold; said shuttle with the label carriers fixed thereon being located adjacent the label magazines in the withdrawn position where operation of the first air cylinder actuator moves the subbase and the shuttle with the label carriers fixed thereto between the mold aligned and transfer positions to permit the label carriers to receive labels from the label magazines upon movement of the subbase from the aligned position to the transfer position under the impetus of the first air cylinder actuator prior to movement back to the aligned position; the second air cylinder actuator then moving the shuttle to the inserted position with the subbase in the aligned position to position the label carriers fixed on the shuttle and the labels carried by the label carriers between the mold sections of the open mold; the first air cylinder actuator thereafter moving the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed to the shuttle to the transfer position to transfer the labels on the label carriers fixed on the shuttle to one of the mold sections prior to movement of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed to the shuttle back to the aligned position under the impetus of the first air cylinder actuator which is followed by movement of the shuttle and the label carries fixed thereon back to the withdrawn position in preparation for the next cycle; and a control for coordinating the operation of the first and second air cylinder actuators to transfer labels from the label magazines to the cavity sections of the mold during each blow molding cycle of the machine.

Claim 19

An in-mold label dispenser for a plastic blow molding machine including a mold having a pair of mold sections each of which includes a plurality of cavity sections, and said mold sections being movable toward and away from each other between an open position spaced from each other and a closed position where the cavity sections thereof cooperate to define enclosed cavities in which blow molding is performed, the in-mold label dispenser comprising: a base; a plurality of label magazines mounted in fixed locations on the base adjacent the mold; a label transfer mechanism including a subbase pivotally mounted on the base; a first air cylinder actuator that extends between the base and the subbase and is extendable and retractable to move the subbase between an aligned position with respect to the open mold sections and a transfer position; a shuttle mounted for movement with the subbase under the impetus of the first actuator and for movement with respect thereto toward and away from the mold; a plurality of label carriers mounted on the shuttle in a fixed relationship with respect thereto and being operable to carry labels for transfer from the label magazines to the mold; a second air cylinder actuator mounted for movement on the pivotal subbase and being connected to the shuttle to move the shuttle between withdrawn and inserted positions with respect to the mold; said shuttle with the label carriers fixed thereon being located adjacent the label magazines in the withdrawn position where operation of the first air cylinder actuator moves the subbase and the shuttle with the label carriers fixed thereto between the mold aligned and transfer positions to permit the label carriers to receive labels from the label magazines upon movement of the subbase from the aligned position to the transfer position under the impetus of the first air cylinder actuator prior to movement back to the aligned position; the second air cylinder actuator then moving the shuttle to the inserted position with the subbase in the aligned position to position the label carriers fixed on the shuttle and the labels carried by the label carriers between the mold sections of the open mold; the first air cylinder actuator thereafter moving the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed to the shuttle to the transfer position to transfer the labels on the label carriers fixed on the shuttle to one of the mold sections prior to movement of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed to the shuttle back to the aligned position under the impetus of the first air cylinder actuator which is followed by movement of the shuttle and the label carries fixed thereon back to the withdrawn position in preparation for the next cycle; and a control for coordinating the operation of the first and second air cylinder actuators to transfer labels from the label magazines to the cavity sections of the mold during each blow molding cycle of the machine.

Claim 20

An in-mold label dispenser for a blow molding machine including a mold having a pair of mold sections each of which includes a plurality of cavity sections, and said mold sections being movable toward and away from each other between an open position spaced from each other and a closed position where the cavity sections thereof cooperate to define enclosed cavities in which blow molding is performed, the in-mold label dispenser comprising: a base; a plurality of label magazines mounted in fixed locations on the base adjacent the mold; a label transfer mechanism mounted on the base and including an elongated support that extends transverse to the direction of opening and closing movement of the mold sections across the mold on one side thereof in a spaced relationship thereto; a pivotal subbase mounted at a fixed location along the length of the elongated support for pivotal movement between aligned and transfer positions with respect to the mold; a shuttle that pivots with the pivotal subbase and is movable longitudinally along the elongated support toward and away from the mold; a plurality of label carriers mounted on the shuttle in a fixed relationship with respect thereto and being operable to carry labels for transfer from the label magazines to the open mold; a first air cylinder actuator extending between the base and the subbase and being operable to pivot the subbase on the support between the aligned and transfer positions; a second air cylinder actuator mounted on the subbase for pivotal movement therewith; said second air cylinder actuator extending between the subbase and the shuttle and being operable to move the shuttle along the support between withdrawn and inserted positions with respect to the open mold; the label carriers fixed on the shuttle being located adjacent the label magazines in the withdrawn position of the shuttle to receive labels therefrom upon pivoting of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed on the shuttle from the aligned position to the transfer position and the back to the aligned position under the impetus of the first air cylinder actuator; the label carriers fixed on the shuttle with the labels on the label carriers being movable to between the mold sections of the open mold by movement of the shuttle to the inserted position under the impetus of the second air cylinder actuator whereupon pivoting of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed on the shuttle from the aligned position to the transfer position deposits the labels in the cavity sections of the mold prior to pivoting of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed on the shuttle back to the aligned position under the impetus of the first air cylinder actuator which is followed by movement of the shuttle and the label carriers fixed thereon back to the withdrawn position under the impetus of the second air cylinder actuator; and a control for coordinating the operation of the first and second air cylinder actuators to transfer labels from the label magazines to the cavity sections of the mold during each blow molding cycle of the machine.

Claim 21

An in-mold label dispenser for a blow molding machine including a mold having a pair of mold sections each of which includes a plurality of cavity sections, and said mold sections being movable toward and away from each other between an open position spaced from each other and a closed position where the cavity sections thereof cooperate to define enclosed cavities in which blow molding is performed, the in-mold label dispenser comprising: a base; a plurality of label magazines mounted in fixed locations on the base adjacent the mold; a label transfer mechanism mounted on the base and including an elongated support that extends transverse to the direction of opening and closing movement of the mold sections across the mold on one side thereof in a spaced relationship thereto; a pivotal subbase mounted at a fixed location along the length of the elongated support for pivotal movement between aligned and transfer positions with respect to the mold; a shuttle that pivots with the pivotal subbase and is movable longitudinally along the elongated support toward and away from the mold; a plurality of label carriers mounted on the shuttle in a fixed relationship with respect thereto and being operable to carry labels for transfer from the label magazines to the open mold; a first air cylinder actuator extending between the base and the subbase and being operable to pivot the subbase on the support between the aligned and transfer positions; a second air cylinder actuator mounted on the subbase for pivotal movement therewith; said second air cylinder actuator extending between the subbase and the shuttle and being operable to move the shuttle along the support between withdrawn and inserted positions with respect to the open mold; the label carriers fixed on the shuttle being located adjacent the label magazines in the withdrawn position of the shuttle to receive labels therefrom upon pivoting of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed on the shuttle from the aligned position to the transfer position and the back to the aligned position under the impetus of the first air cylinder actuator; the label carriers fixed on the shuttle with the labels on the label carriers being movable to between the mold sections of the open mold by movement of the shuttle to the inserted position under the impetus of the second air cylinder actuator whereupon pivoting of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed on the shuttle from the aligned position to the transfer position deposits the labels in the cavity sections of the mold prior to pivoting of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed on the shuttle back to the aligned position under the impetus of the first air cylinder actuator which is followed by movement of the shuttle and the label carriers fixed thereon back to the withdrawn position under the impetus of the second air cylinder actuator; and a control for coordinating the operation of the first and second air cylinder actuators to transfer labels from the label magazines to the cavity sections of the mold during each blow molding cycle of the machine.

Claim 22

An in-mold label dispenser for a blow molding machine including a mold having a pair of mold sections each of which includes a plurality of cavity sections, and said mold sections being movable horizontally toward and away from each other between an open position spaced from each other and a closed position where the cavity sections thereof cooperate to define enclosed cavities in which blow molding is performed, the in-mold label dispenser comprising: a base; a plurality of label magazines mounted in fixed locations on the base adjacent the mold; a label transfer mechanism mounted on the base and including an elongated support that extends horizontally transverse to the direction of opening and closing movement of the mold sections below the mold in a spaced relationship thereto; a pivotal subbase mounted at a fixed location along the length of the elongated support for pivotal movement between aligned and transfer positions with respect to the mold; a shuttle that pivots with the pivotal subbase and is movable longitudinally along the elongated support toward and away from the mold; a plurality of label carriers mounted on the shuttle in a fixed relationship with respect thereto on the upper side of the support and being operable to carry labels for transfer from the label magazines to the open mold; a first air cylinder actuator having one end connected to the base and having another end connected to the subbase on the lower side of the support; the first air cylinder actuator being extendable and retractable to pivot the subbase on the support between the aligned and transfer positions; a second air cylinder actuating mounted on the subbase for pivotal movement therewith on the lower side of the support; said second air cylinder actuator extending horizontally between the subbase and the shuttle and being extendable and retractable to move the shuttle horizontally along the support between withdrawn and inserted positions with respect to the open mold; the label carriers fixed on the shuttle being located adjacent the label magazines in the withdrawn position of the shuttle to receive labels therefrom upon pivoting of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed on the shuttle from the aligned position to the transfer position and then back to the aligned position under the impetus of the first air cylinder actuator; the label carriers fixed on the shuttle with the labels the label carriers being movable to between the mold sections of the open mold by movement of the shuttle to the inserted position under the impetus of the second air cylinder actuator whereupon pivoting of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed on the shuttle from the aligned position to the transfer position deposits the labels in the cavity sections of the mold prior to pivoting of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed on the shuttle back to the aligned position under the impetus of the first air cylinder actuator which is followed by movement of the shuttle and the label carriers fixed thereon back to the withdrawn position under the impetus of the second air cylinder actuator; and a control for coordinating the operation of the first and second air cylinder actuators to transfer labels from the label magazines to the cavity sections of the mold during each blow molding cycle of the machine.

Claim 23

An in-mold label dispenser for a blow molding machine including a mold having a pair of mold sections each of which includes a plurality of cavity sections, and said mold sections being movable horizontally toward and away from each other between an open position spaced from each other and a closed position where the cavity sections thereof cooperate to define enclosed cavities in which blow molding is performed, the in-mold label dispenser comprising: a base; a plurality of label magazines mounted in fixed locations on the base adjacent the mold; a label transfer mechanism mounted on the base and including an elongated support that extends horizontally transverse to the direction of opening and closing movement of the mold sections below the mold in a spaced relationship thereto; a pivotal subbase mounted at a fixed location along the length of the elongated support for pivotal movement between aligned and transfer positions with respect to the mold; a shuttle that pivots with the pivotal subbase and is movable longitudinally along the elongated support toward and away from the mold; a plurality of label carriers mounted on the shuttle in a fixed relationship with respect thereto on the upper side of the support and being operable to carry labels for transfer from the label magazines to the open mold; a first air cylinder actuator having one end connected to the base and having another end connected to the subbase on the lower side of the support; the first air cylinder actuator being extendable and retractable to pivot the subbase on the support between the aligned and transfer positions; a second air cylinder actuating mounted on the subbase for pivotal movement therewith on the lower side of the support; said second air cylinder actuator extending horizontally between the subbase and the shuttle and being extendable and retractable to move the shuttle horizontally along the support between withdrawn and inserted positions with respect to the open mold; the label carriers fixed on the shuttle being located adjacent the label magazines in the withdrawn position of the shuttle to receive labels therefrom upon pivoting of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed on the shuttle from the aligned position to the transfer position and then back to the aligned position under the impetus of the first air cylinder actuator; the label carriers fixed on the shuttle with the labels the label carriers being movable to between the mold sections of the open mold by movement of the shuttle to the inserted position under the impetus of the second air cylinder actuator whereupon pivoting of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed on the shuttle from the aligned position to the transfer position deposits the labels in the cavity sections of the mold prior to pivoting of the subbase and the shuttle thereon with the label carriers fixed on the shuttle back to the aligned position under the impetus of the first air cylinder actuator which is followed by movement of the shuttle and the label carriers fixed thereon back to the withdrawn position under the impetus of the second air cylinder actuator; and a control for coordinating the operation of the first and second air cylinder actuators to transfer labels from the label magazines to the cavity sections of the mold during each blow molding cycle of the machine.