CA1154299A

CA1154299A - Method and apparatus for applying decals to articles

Info

Publication number: CA1154299A
Application number: CA000373844A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Daniel Kerwin
Original assignee: Meyercord Co
Current assignee: Meyercord Co
Priority date: 1980-07-08
Filing date: 1981-03-25
Publication date: 1983-09-27
Also published as: ZA811998B; EP0043409A1; JPS5718257A

Abstract

ABSTRACT

"Method and apparatus for applying decals to articles"

This disclosure relates to a method and machine for applying a decal to a generally cylindrical article, par-ticularly an article having a handle on one side thereof.
A series of decals are attached to an elongated web and are spaced a generally constant distance apart in the direction of the length of the web. The machine includes supply and take-up spindles for rotatably supporting reels for the web, and a web drive for moving the web from the supply reel to the take-up reel. A mandrel rotatably supports the article and a movable head presses the web and the decal against an article on the mandrel. The web passes from the supply reel, between the mandrel and the head, and to the take-up reel. The machine further includes a brake which, when engaged, holds the web against movement, and a decal sensor assembly. After the machine is actuated to cause the movable head to press the decal against an article, the brake is actuated to release the web, and the web is then pulled across the article. The moving web rotates the head which in turn engages and rotates the mandrel. The article revolves with the mandrel and the decal is rolled onto the article. The decal sensor assembly controls the operation of the brake to enable advance of the web during and after application of each decal.

Description

1~L5~9~

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING DECALS TO .P~RTICIE~;
Ker~in U. S. patent No. 3,813,268 discloses a machine for applying indicia, such as decals~ to generall~v cylindrical articles such as glasses. The decals are carried by an elongated web or strip of backing material, and the web is passed between an article support and a die The die is curved and i`t folds the decal across one side of the article when the d~e is moved against the article.
Brakes and a photocell sensor control the advance of the web through the machïne as the decals are applied to successive articles.
~hile the machine disclosed in this Kerwin patent works well and has been commerci~ally s-uccessful, its use has been limited to applying relatively short decals to one side only of a generally cylindrical article. Further, the machine shown in the patent is not readily su;ted for use in applying a decal to an article having a handle on one side, such as a mug, where the decal must be accur-ately located relative to a handle of the mug.
It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a novel and improved machine that overcomes the foregoing deficiencies.
The invention in one aspect pertains to apparatus for trans-ferring a decal from an elongated web to an article having a gener-ally cylindrical wall, comprising means for pressing the web against the wall, means for pulling the web and thereby simultaneously mov-iny the web and rotating the article to roll the decal onto the wall, and means for stopping the rotation after the decal is transferred to the article.
The inventïon also comprehends a method of transferring a decal from an elongated web to an article having a generally cylindrical wall, comprising the steps of pressing the web against the wall, pulling the web and therehy simultaneously moving the web and ro-tating the article to roll the decal onto the wall, and stopping the rotation after the decal is transferred to -the article.
A method and machine in accordance with preferred aspects of this invention is designed for use with an elongated web having a plurality of decals thereon at generally regularly spaced intervals.
The machine includes means for supporting web supply and take-up reels for the web, means forming a web transport path from the supply reel to the take-up reel and drive means for moving the web to the ~15~Z9~

2-take-up reel. The machine further includes a mandrel for rotatably supporting an article and a pressure roller~ the web ~eing passed between the roller and the mandrel, a brake for clamping and holding the webJ and decal sensor means ~or controllin~ oper~tion of the brake. The roller presses the web a~ainst the a~ticle, the brake is released, and the drive means ~oves the web. causi`ng the pressure roller and the article to rotate ~ue to the weh mo~ment, and the decal is rolled onto the article. The decal sensor means controls the operation of the hrake in order to start and stop the movement of th.e web.~ and to accurately locate the next sNbse~uent decal after each. application~
Other aspects, features and advantages of the present inven-tion will be apparent from the followïng detailed description taken in conjunction with.the accompanying fi.gures of the drawings which, by wa~ of a pre~e.rred example only, illustrates an embodiment of the invention, whereïn Fig. 1 is a front view of a machine e~bodying the present in~ention;
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vïew of a part of the machine showing another posîtion of some o the parts;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vi.ew taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view taken on the line 4-~
of Fi~. l;
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vie~ taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is an illustration of a we~ carrying decals, that may he used in the machine;
Fig. 7 is a schemati.c electrical diagram of a control system of the machine; and Fig. 8 is a chart showing the operation of the control system and the machine.
~hile the follo~ing detailed description includes references to the locations of parts relative to other parts in a figure of the drawings, such as above or below, it will be understood that such references are used herein only to facilitate the description of the parts, since the apparatus described may have various orientations before and during use.

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,:

3.

Furt~er, a~t,hau~h t,h~ method and appaxatus in accord-ance with the. pre.s.ent i~ve~tion is espe¢ially adapted for applying decals to generally cylindrical articles having handles, suc~ as a mug, it will be understood that the apparatus also has other uses and that the invention is not limited to any part;cular use. For example, the appara-tus may be used to apply labels carried by a long web rather than decais, and the art~cles may not include a handle and may be some~hat tapered instead of generally cylindrical.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, - the apparatus ~ncludes a base 10 that has fastened thereto a vertically extending support post 11. At the upper end o the support post`ll is fastened a generally rectangular mounting plate 12 which supports most of the operating mechanisms and the control circuitry of the machine.
control box and panel 13 are mounted at approxima.tely the center section of the mounting plate 12 and houses the control circuitry illustrated in Figure 7.
As mentioned, the apparatus is particularly designed to transfer decals from an elongated web to a ware or article.
With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 6, the elongated web is indicated by the reference numeral 20 and a series of decals 21 on the web are indicated by the reference numerals 21A, 21B and-21C. The decals are releasably formed on one side of the web 20 and may be conventional heat-release decals.
A series of marks 22 are formed on the other or backside of the web and are indicated by the numerals 22A, 22B and 22C, one mark being associated with each decal.
As mentioned, the machine transfers each decal from the web to a ware and in the present specific example illustrated in the drawings, the ware consists of a mug 23 having a generally cyl~ndr;cal outer wall surface 24 and a handle 25 that extends radially outwardly from one side of the surface 24, as best shown in Fig. 1 and 3. The length of each decal 21 is le$s than the outer circumference of the outer mug surface 24, and as will be described hereafter, ~L~54~9~ ~

4.

the de.cal is rolled o~ta ~he.~ sur~ce 2~ ~xom one side of the ~andle 25 ~o the ~th~r s~de of the. handle.
~ fter manufacture of the web 2Q and the decals 21 there.on, the web is wound on a feed or supply reel 2q (Fig. 1) which ~s ro~atably mounted on a supply spindle 28 of the present mach.ine. The supply spindle 28 is moun-ted in t~e upper left-hand corner of the plate 12 as seen in Fig. 1, and the supply spindle is preferably connected to an electric motor as will be described hereinafter in connection with the control circui~ of Figure 7. From the supply reel 27 the web 20 extends along a web tra~sport path to a take-up or rewind reel 29 that is rotatably mounted . on a take-up spindle 30. The spindle 30 is mounted in the - . upper right-hand corner as seen in.. Fiyure 1 of the plate 12 and another mo~or, shown in Figure 7 and to be described hereinafter, is connected to turn the take-up spi.ndle 30 in order to wind the web 20 onto the take-up :reel 29.
The web transport path carries or conducts the web 2~ ~etween the ware Z3 and a vertically movable head 33.
As is best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the head 33 has the configuration o~ the letter "T" and a pressure roller 34is freelyrotatably mounted at the lower end of the verticle or center post of the "T". The axis of the roller 34 is parallel to the surface 24 (Fiy. 3) and its length is approximately equal to the width of the web 20 but less than the height of the surface 24. The cross member or top bar of the T-shaped head 33 is fastened to the lower end of a piston rod 36 of an air cylinder 37. The air cylinder 37 ~s controlled by a solenoid-operated valve (Fiy. 7) such that, when the solenoid is energized, the piston rod 36 and the head 33 are moved downwardly to the down or lower position shown. in Fiyure 2. When the solen-oid is not energized, the piston rod 36 and the head 33 are retracted to their upper position illustrated in Figure 1.

~ he~ transport p~th fQr the web 20 furthex c~xries the ~eb past a ~s~r as~embLy 41 whi~c~ responds to the dark m~rks 22 shown ~n Fxg. 6, the sensor assembly 41 being better ~llustrated in Figures 4 and 5, past a web brake 42, past a f~rst pair of idler rollers 43 that are mounted on an arm 44, across the head 33, past a second pair of Ldler rollers 46 that are mounted on a second arm 47, past a driv~ roller 48 and pressure roller 49, and to the take-up reel 29.
With reference to F~gures 4 and 5, the sensor assem-bly 41 comprises a bracket 51 that is fastened to the mounting plate 12 ~y a plurality of mounting screws 52.
Secured to and extending for~ardly from the bracket 51 are a mounting arm 53 that is fastened to the upper end of the bracket 51 by screws 54, and a lower photocell support or housing 56 that is secured to the lower end of the bracket 51 by mounting screws 57. Extending vertically between ~he lower housing56 and the arm 53 are a guidepost 58 and an adjusting post 59. The post 58 is secured at its ends to the housing 56 and the arm 53, whereas the adjusting post 59 is rotatably mounted on the housing 56 and on the outer end of the arm 53. An upper photocell housing 61 is threadedly connected to the adjusting post 59 and slidably connected to the guidepost 58. At the upper end of the adjusting post 59 is secured a knob 63 which may be manually turned in order to rotate the post 59. While the post 59 is able to rotate, it can-not move vertically with respect to the housing 56 and the arm 53. It will be apparent from the foregoing that while the lower photocell housing 56 is fixed in place the position of the upper photocell housing 61 may be vertically adjusted relative to the lower photocell housing by turning the knob 63 and the adjusting post 59, such turning causing the upper photocell housing 61 to be screwed upwardly or downwardly depending upon the ~.

direction o~ rot.atio~ of t,he, post 5~. The guidepost 58, of course, hold~ the uppe.r photocell housing bl substan-tially parallel during such adjustment of the position of the housing 61.
The upper photocell housing 61 supports an upper photocell or sensor 66 and a light source 67, and the lower photocell housing 56 supports a lower photocell or sensor 68 and a lower light source 69.
As best shown in Figure 1, the web 20 is moved closely adjacent the sensor assembly 41 by an idle~ roller 71 which is spaced closely adjacent the photocell housings 56 and 61.
The side of the web 2a which faces the photocell sensors 66 and 68 contains the-dark marks 22. With reference to-Figure 5, the light source 67, for example, directs light toward the web 20 and in the absence of a dark mark, some of the light is reflected toward and received by the upper photocell 66. However, when a dark mark 22 crosses the light path, the light is absorbed and not reflected, and the absence of reflected light caused by the presence of the dark mark is sensed by the photocell 66. The lower light source 69 and photocell sensor 68, of course, operate similarly. The sensor assembly 41 is located relative to the decals 21 and the marks 22 so that the forward edge of a decal 21 is adjacent the pressure roller 34 when the head 33 is down as shown in Fig. 2 and when a mark 22 is adjacent the lower cell 68.
Since a mark 22 is associated with each decal 21 and since the sensors could be arranged to respond to the decals instead of the marks, the sensors may be considered to sense or respond to the decals.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the brake assembly 42 may be the same as the brake 43 shown in patent No~
3,813,268, and comprises a mounting bracket 76 that is fasten-ed to the mounting plate 12. Secured to the mounting bracket 76 are a stop 77 on one side of the we.b 20 and a support 78 ~.5~
7.

on t~e ot.her sid~ a$ th~e, we~. ~he SUppQrt 78 carries a solenoid cont~ol~ed ai.~ ~Y~inder J~ ~çludi~g a plunger 81, and a pist,on Qr pre,ss,ure mem~ex 82 ~s secu,~ed to th.e outer e.~d o~ t~e. plun~e.r 81~ The. pi,stRn~ Qr ~res$ure member 82 ~s generall~ U~s~aped ~n,d is mQy~bl,e ho'x~zo~tally as seen, In F~g. 1, and th.e en~ds of the arms. of ~he U extend across the sides o~ t..h~e. support 78 ,so ~h~at th~, movement of the piston. 82 ls gui,ded ~ e support 78.- Thç. cylinder 79, whe'n, energized, moyes the plunger 8~ and the pIston 82 toward the le.ft. and the.re,~ clamps the web 2a t~ht~y be-tween, the piston 82 an~ th,e stop 77, thexeby preYenti~n~
movement of the weh 2~ ~hen t,h,e cy~inder 79 is no~
energized, the pis;ton ~2 is moved toward the ri~h,t as see~
' in Fig. 1 away from the web 2Q and the weh is released, as shown in F~gur~ 2.
The idler rollers 43 mounted on the arm 44 and the idler rollers 46 mounted on the arm 47 are generally similar to the correspondin~ rollers and arms illustrated and described in the previously mentioned Kerwin patent No. 3,813,268. In ~he machine shown in the patent, the arms pivot durin~ operation, but in the present machine the arms are preferably locked in place~
The web transport path is further formed by a pair of guides 91 and 92 which are laterally spaced on oppo-site sides of the pressure roller 34 and the head 33.
The two guides 91 and 92 are curved at their lower ends toward each other and in the direction of the roller 34 as shown in Figure 1, and the two guides are formed at the lower ends of two plates 93 and 94 which in turn are secured to the lower edge of the mounting plate 12. The lower surfaces of the guides 91 and ~2 are approximately at the leve.l of th,e lower side of the pressure roller 34 when the head 33 is in its upper position, as shown in Figure 1. The two guides ~1 and ~2 s:~

are, of course, spaced sufficiently far apart that ~he roller 34 and the head 33 are able to move downwardly between them.
With reference to Figure 2, when the head 33 is moved downwardly, the pressure roller 34 folds the web 20 downwardly and across a pair of latexally spaced idler rollers 96 and 97. Again, the rollers 96 and 97 are spaced far enough apart to permit the vertical post of the head 33 to move downwardly between them.
~t its lowermost position, the pressure roller 34 is ¦ below the level of the guides 91 and 92 and the level of the idler rollers 96 and 97, and the pressure roller 34 folds the web and presses it against the outer sur-face 24 of the mug 23. The force of the air cylinder 37 presses the roller 34 ti~htly against the web 20 and presses the web onto the surface 24, and as shown in Figure 2, the web makes a narrow contact with the - outer surface 24 of the mug 23. The surface of the web which contacts the mug 23 is~ of course, the side which carries the decals 21. As previously mentioned, the decals may be head release decals, and in such event ~ the mugs 23 are preferably preheated before being pro-cessed in the machine;. Such a heat release decal includes a wax layer that is melted by the head and releases the decal from the web. Consequently, when the pressure ! roller 34 presses the web and the decal tightly against the heated mug, the decal is transferred from the web to the mug. Thereafter, an additional heating or baking step ; may take place to permanently fix the decal on the mug.
In the case where a label is transferred from the web to the mug, normally the above discussed heating steps are not required.
The construction of the drive roller 48 may be the same as the corresponding drive roller 31 illustrated and described in the above-mentioned Kerwin patent, and the mounting and operation of the pressure roller 49 may also be the same as the pressure roller 32 described in the patent. The drive roller 48 has an outer friction surface , ~S~ 9 9.

that pulls on the ~eb, and its drive includes a slip clutch that permits ~he roller 48 to remain substantial-ly stationary while the brake assembly 42 engages and holds the web against movement.
As previously mentioned and as described in the Kerwin patent, the take-up spindle 3~ has torque applied thereto ~y a motor to tend to turn the take-up reel 29 during operation of the machine.
AS illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the ware or mug 10 23 is supported beIow the level of the web 2~ and the vertically movable head ~3. ~ith specific reference to Fig. 3, the mug 23 i5 rotatably supported by a freely rotatable mandrel indicated generally by the reference numeral 101. ~he mandrel lUl comprises a shaft 102 that is rotata~ly supported by a generally rectangular support part 103 that'is mounted closely adjacent the post 11 and underneath t~e head 33. ~he part 103 supports a pair o spaced ~all bearings 104 which, in turn, support the rear~
ward end portion o the sha~t 102. The shaft 1~2 extends generally horizontally in the forward direction from the support part 103. On the forward end portion o~ -the shaft la2 is secured a tubular sleeve 106, the shaft 102 extending through the center o the sleeve 106 and being secured thereto by a~nut 107 on the threaded forward end of the shaft lQ2. The rearward end of the sleeve 106 engages the inner race of the forward ball bearing 104, and it will be apparent that the sleeve lQ6 and the shaft 102 are able to rota-te freely on the bearings r~lative to the support part la3 and the frame of the machine.
resilient collar 108 is Eàstened around the outside of the sleeve 1~6. While the O-ring 111 may be omitted, the speci~ic em~odiment of the lnvention shown in ~e drawings includes an O-ring 111 fastened in a gxoove formed in a flange 10~ at the''rearward end of the sleeve 106.
Another O-ring L12 is fastened' in a groove formed in the forward face of the slee've 106.
Means is also preferably provided to form a partial ~4~,9t~
10 .
may be provided for this purpose, in t~.e specific ex~mple illustrated in Figure 3.the vacuum arrangemen-t includes a I passage 116 formed su~stantially on the center line of the shaft lQ2, the passage 11~ extending from the forward end ' of the shaft to the support part 103. Radial passages`are 3 formed through a hearing support wall 100 of the. part 1~3 7 and through a spacer lQ5, and a solenoid controlled air valve. 118 i5 connected to the radial passages 117. A
tubing 11~ connects the valYe 118 with a vacuum source (not sh.own~, such a~ a ~ump. Thu~, a ~acuum applied within the passage 116 ~ill appear within the interior o~ the mug 23 and will be sealed b~ ~he O-ring 1120 Thi~ vacuum, as will be. e~plained hereinafter, is selec-`. tively applied at times to hold the mug 23 tightly in place on the mandrel while the decal is being applied.
With reference to Fig. 3, the head 33 includes two spaced apart supports 110. The pressure rollex 34 is lo-cated between the supports 11~ and freely rotatably mounted thereon ~y a pin 115. On the rearward side of the head 33 20 a ring 12~ i.s secured to the outer end of the pin 115 and it rotate~ with the pin 1~5 and the roller 34. When the machine îs provide.d ~ith the O-ring 111, the ring 12~ is ali.gned with the o-r~ng 111, and when the head 33 is in its downward position the ring 12Q tightly engages the O-ring 111. Thus, the roller 34, the pin 115, the ring 12Q, the sleeve la6 and the mug 23 all rotate in unison.
The fallowing is a brief summaxy of the oper,~tion of the machine., ~hich will then ~e descrihed in mare detail in ConneCtiQn with Figures 7 and 8. At the beginning of a cycle, an operat~r of the machine positions a mug on the mandrel lql as shown in Figures 1 to 3. Furthex, the opera-tor locate~ the handle 25 of the mug 3 adjacent ~he right-hand guide ~5 as shown in Fig. 1. At the ~eginning of a cycle of operation, the head 33 is in the uppex position shown in Figure 1. '~he operator then actuates a start switch, which may ~e an ordinary foot pedal switch, and starts a cycle of operation. The head 33 is moved downwardly by the air cylinder 37 and a partial vacuum is applied within the , ~c~

interior of the mug 23 to hold the mug in place. ~s the head 33 moves downwardly, the, we~ 2~ is ~olded ahead of the pressure roller 34 as shown in Fig. 2, and the brake 42 i5 applied to grip the web. The drive roller 48 is continu-ously powered and exerts a pull on the we~ which ~olds it tight under the head 331 but the ~eh to he folded under .
the roller 34 is pulled ~ack~ardly some~hat past th,e drive roller 48. When the head 33 reaches its lo~e.r position sho~n in Figs. 2 and 3, the pressure roller 34 presses the we~ tightly against the outer surface of the mug 23 and then the brake 4~ is xeleased. The previously mentioned wax coating on th.e decal melts due to the heat of the mug and the decal i5 transferred to the mug. ~here is good fric-ti,onal engagement ~et~,een the we~, the pressure roller 34 and th,e mug, and they all mo~e together. The drive :roller 48 pulls the ~e~ 20 forwardl~ to~ard the takeup reel 29 and the pressure exerted by the roller 34 on the web~ and against the mug 23 i5 sufficient for the web to turn the pressure roller 34 and to rotate the mug in the, clockwise direction a~ see.n in Figures 1 and 2, the entire mandrel and the mug, of course, rotating relative to the support part 103. The pressure roller 34 may ~e made, for example, of s.ilicone rub~er and be sufficiently sot to flatten slightl~ at the line af engagement ~ith t~e ~eb, and there~y place a narrow strip of the ~e~? and the decal in engagement ~ith the outer surface of the mug. This narrow engagement normally pro- I, duce.s sufficient frictional pull to turn the mug and the mandrel, but if it i5 not, the O-ring 111 may be provided.
At the. start of rotation of th,e mug, the particular de~al associated with the mug is prefera~?ly located so that its leading or forward edge is closely adjacent the mug. Then, as the we,b is pulled ~or~ardly, the leng~h c?f ~he decal is rolled and pressed onto the outex surface of the mug as ', th,e we~ moves for,w,ardl~ a~d the mug rotates. Further, at the beginning o~ the decal-applying cycle,' one of the dark mark6 22 i5 adjacent th~ ~o~er p~otocell 68 of the sensor assembly 41. As the ~e~ 20 moves ~orwardly during the time ~s~
12, that a decal is being applied, the mark that ~as adjacent the lowermost photocell mo~es downwaxdl~ and the next subsequent mark moves to th,e upper photocell 66. The spac-ing of the mark 22 is set or adju~ted 50 that at the time the next subsequent mark,xeaches -the uppermost ph.otoce~ll 66, the rearward 4r trailing end portion o~ the dec~l is pressed onta the mug 23. ~he brake 42 is applied, the head 33 is retracte.d or moved up~ardly to the position shown in Figure 1, and the vacuum in the mandrel is released. The drive roller 48 and the take-up ~eel pull up the slack in the we~
as the h.ead 33 moYes up~.ardly. ~hen the h ad re.aches its ~- upper position, ~h,e brake ~2 is again reIeased and the we~
20 i5 pulled ~or~ardly by the drive roller until the dark mark that ~as at the upper cell 66~''reaches the lower photo-cell ~8, at which time the ~rake 42 is again applied. The operator of the machine then removes the mug 23 and replaces it ~ith. a fresh mug at the ~eginning of the next:su~sequent cycle of operation.
The arrangement where~y the we~ turns the rollex 34 and the mandrel and the mug is highly ad~antageou~. The surface speeds o~ the ~eb 2~ and the mug 23 are the ~ame and ~here is no danger o~ the decal smearing or ~arping as it i5 beins applied and mechanisms are not needed to drive the mandrel or the pressure roller. Suc~ drive mechanisms would ~e expensive and relatively complex because all of the parts ~ould have to he driven in ~ynchronism.
The control circuit illustrated in Fig. 7 controls the operatian of the machine ta perform the oregoing series o~ operations,,and the chart shown in Fig. 8 shows the condition~ of the ~itches and circuit parts at various stages in t~e cycle of operation of th.e machine. With speci~ic reference to Fig. 7, the control circu;i~ includes two powe.r ~us.es 121 and 122 t~at are adapted to ~e connec-ted to an AC power supply ~y a power s~itch 123 which i~

13.

al~o shQT~n on the panel 13 in Fig. 1. A pilQt lighk 124 sho~s ~hen the power ~itch 123 i~ closed. A manually operated motor start switch 126, also shown on the panel in Fig. 1, connects the.~ power to three motors 127, 128, and 129, which are connected to turn the two reel spindles 28 and 30 and the drive roller 48, ~he two motoxs 128 and 129 are capacitor 131 ~tart motor~ and are pre~erably connected to the take-up reel and to the drive roller 48. ~he third motor is connected to the feed Qr supply spindle 28 and tends to turn the spindle 28 in the counter clockT~ise direction as seen in Fig. 1, and thereby maintains tension in the p~rtion of the web between the supply reel and the ~rake 42.
Further connected aGross the power buses 121 and 122 are two logic modules 132.and 133, the module 132 being part of the lower photocell 68 and the module 133 being part of the upper photocell 166. ~he module 132 controls operation of normally open contacts 132A and 132B, and the other module 133 controls the operation of normally closed contacts 133A and normally open contacts 133B. The two contact~ 132A and 133A are connected in series in a line that also includes a start operation switch 134, a run switch 136 (also shown on the panel in Fig. 1) and a solenoid coil 137 that controls operatlon of the air valve , for the head air cylinder 37 and the air valve 118 for tile vacuum line connected to the mandrel 1~1. When the coil 137 is energized, air under pressure is admitted to the head cy-linder 37 and the head 33 is moved downwardly, and the valve 118 is ~pened causing a partial vacuum to appear within the mandrel 101. Connected in parallel with the contacts 132A
and the s~itch 134 i5 a limi~ switch 138 which is normally Qpen but is closed when the~ head 33 i~ in the d~wn or loT~er position. ~h.e sT~itch 138 i5 al~o shoTwn in Figures 1 and 2 and, for example, may be mounted on a plate ~3 at a position where it will be engaged and actuated by the head 33 T~hen the head i~ in the down position as shown in Fig. 2.

14.

The control circuit still further includes a power supply 141 having power input terminals or connections to the power buses 121 and 122 and DC output connection~
leadin~ to control buses 142 and 143. The control circuitry includes the parallel connection of a ~rake solenoid 144 and a surge protection diode 147. The normally open contacts 132B are connected in series with the a~ove parallel connection and, in addition, another line is connected in parallel wi.th the contacts 132~. T~is other line, includes the contacts 133B, contacts T-2 of a timer 148, and limit switch contacts 14~. The limit swltch contacts 14~ are part of limit swi~ch that i5 also shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and ~hich is actuated ~hen the head 33 is in the upper position. The limit s~itch 14~ may also, for example, be mounted on the plate 93. The limit switch 14~ includes second contacts 151 which are operated simul~
taneously with the contacts 14~. The contacts 14~ are closed and the`contacts lSl are open when the head 33 i~ i moved downwardly away from its uppermost position and the opposite condition occurs when the head is up. l~he contacts 151 are connected to a reset terminal 15~ of the logic module 133.
The timer 148 includes the ahove contacts ~2 and second contacts Tl which are connected to a reset input 152 of ~he module 132..
The operation of each of t~e modules 132 and 133 is such that, ~hen a dark mark is adjacent, for example, the upper photocell 66, the module 133 is set, and khe contacts 133A and 133B are in theix abnormal p4sitions. The module 133 remains in the set mode or condition until a reset signal appe.ars at th.e reset input 15~, and when the module 133 is reset, t~e two contacts 133A and 133B are moved to their normal positions. The modul.e is then reset until it is set by the next dark mark.

15.

I`o opexate the machine, the operatox mounts a reel filled with the ~e~ on the supply spindle 28 and threads or runs the we~ through the sensor assembly 41, the brake 42 past the head 33 and the drive roller ~8 and to the takeup reel 29. The operator positions the web 2Q such that a dark mark 22 is adjacent the lower photocell 68 and, as a conse-quence, the leading end Qf a decal 21 is closely adjacent t~e pressure r~ller 34. ~he operator closes the power s~itch 23, the motor s~itch 126 and the run switch 136 and these switche~ remain closed during the operation o the machine. The operator then places a mug 23 on the mandrel 101 with the handle 2~ against the guide ~5 as previously explained and then manually closes the start s~itch 134 to start a cycle of operation. The conditions of the various switches and logic modules at this time are illustrated in the column 156 in Fig. 8 having the caption "Head Up- Start Cycle". A circuit is then completed through the head solenoia 137 and the head i~ moved downwardly and the partial vacuum i5 i5 applied to the mandrel. Since the contacts 132B are closed, the hrake solenoid 144 i5 also energized, and the armfi 44 and 47 are held stationary and the brake is applied.
The conditions of the parts when the head arrives at the down or lower position is illustrated in the column 157 in Fig. 8. The limit switch contacts 14~ and 151 shift or are actuated so that the contacts 14~ are closed in order to start the tLmer 148 and the contact~ 151 are apened.
The timer 148 has a short timing period of, for example, .8 second/ and at t~e end of the .8 second period, contacts T-l and T-2 are clased~ The contacts 133B are apened because the module 133 was previously reset. The contacts 132B and 133B
~eing open, the ~rake solenoid i~ not energized. The drive raller then pu115 khe weh causing the mug 23 and the roller 34 to rotate as the decal is rolled onto the mug as previous-ly explained. The mark moves down~ardly a~ay from the lower 16.

photocell 68, hut when the next subsequent mark reaches the upper photocell 66, the condition of the control circuit is as shown in the column 1S8 marked "Head Down- End Appli-cation". Wh.en this next dark mark reaches the upper photocell 66, the module 133 iS set by the mark and the contacts 133B open. The contacts 132B ~ere pre~iously opened ~ecause the module 132 was reset by the closure of the tîmer contacts T-l. Consequently, the brake solenoid is deenergized causing the head 33 t~ be retracted to the upper position sho~n in Fig. 1. The drive roller 48, of course, takes up the slack from the fold of the web as the head moves upwardly. When the head arrives at the upper position, the ~ondition af the parts is as illustrated in column 159 in Fig. 8. ~hen the head arrives in the upper position, the : limit switch contacts 151 are Glosed causing the module 133 t~ be reset, therehy opening the contacts 133B. The ~rake 144 solenoid is deenergized and the drive roller 48 again ad~ance~ the we~ 2Q a ~hort distance until the dark mark moves from the upper eye 66 to the lower eye 68. This condition of the parts is shown in column 160 in Fig. 8.
When the mark reaches the lower cell 68, this module 132 i5 set and the contacts 132B are closed resulting in energization of the ~rake solenoid 144 and the arms solenoid 146. The brake then holds the web 20 against further movement. The machine is then at the beginning of the next subsequent cycle and the operator removes the mug 23 and replaces it with another heated mug and then starts the next cycle of operation.
While a preferred and specific embodiment of the present invention has be.en shown and described, it will be appare.nt that the. described embodiment is suscepti~le to change and modification ~ithout departing from the scope of the broader aspects of the inventi~n, and it , .
will therefore ~e understood that the in~ention is to be limited only by the scope of the claims. For example, instead of an arrangement ~herein two photocells and a single dark mark are provided on the web for each decal, - ~.54~
17.

the reverse arrangement may ~e provided wherein only one photocell is provided and two spaced mark~ are f~rmed on the ~e~ for each decalL In such an arrangementr the difference in ~peration is that first the leading mark ~dvances or is advanced to the photocell and subsequently the brake is released to permit the second mark to be advanced to the photocell. Of course, the reason for the t~o sepaxate advances of the we~ for each cycle of operation is to allow the web to advance as the decal i5 being applied and then to advance the ~e~ a small additional amount in order to properly position the next suhsequent decal relative to the mug.
The location of the upper photocell is therefore preferably made adiustable ~o that the machine ma~ be adapted for slightly different length decal~ and to enable the operator of the machine to obtain proper registration of the decals relative to the mug~. Of course, if only a single size decal is pro~ided and the positions of the marks are pre-cisely fixed, it may not be necessary to make the location of one of the two photQcells adjustable. The apparatus may also be used to place one or more decals on a tumbler or other cylindrical article that does not have a handle.
In this instance, the control circuit may be simplified and include only a single photocell sensor and operate generally similar to the control described in Kerwin U.S.
patent No. 3,813,268.

Claims

18, The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Apparatus for transferring indicia from an web to generally cylindrical articles, a plurality of said indicia being attached to said web at substantially regularly spaced intervals, said apparatus comprising mounting means, mandrel means mounted on said mounting means, pressure roller means mounted on said mounting means adjacent said mandrel means, means on said mounting means forming a web transport path which is adapted to locate said web between said roller means and said mandrel means, said mandrel means being adapted to support an article thereon, moving means for selectively moving said roller means and said mandrel means together and thereby to firmly press the web between said roller means and the article, said mandrel means and said pressure roller means being freely rotatable, web drive means on one side of said pressure roller means for pulling said web along said path, a web brake on the other side of said pressure roller means for holding said web against the movement caused by said drive means, and control means for controlling said brake and said moving means and for releasing said brake when said web is pinched and for disengaging said brake when said roller means and said mandrel means are displaced, said drive means pulling said web for a distance along said path while said brake is disengaged and such movement of said web causing rotation of said pressure roller means and said mandrel means.

19.

2. Apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein the article is of the type including a generally cylindrical wall and a handle extending generally radially outwardly from the wall, and the length of said indicia being less than the circumfer-ential length of said wall.

3. Apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein said indicia are located at regularly spaced intervals on the web and said distance is less than said interval, said control means further including means for advancing said web a distance substan-tially equal to the difference between said interval and said distance when said pressure roller means is out of engagement with said articles.

4. Apparatus as in Claim 3, wherein said control means comprises sensor means for controlling operation of said brake means, said sensor means being responsive to marks on said web.

5. Apparatus as in Claim 4, characterized in that said sensor means comprises spaced upper and lower photocells, said upper photocell responding to a mark and engaging said brake after said web moves for said web length, and said lower photocell responding to the mark and engaging the brake after said web moves for said distance.

6. Apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein said pressure roller means and said mandrel means include interengagable means for coordinating movement between said pressure roller means and said mandrel means.

20.

7. Apparatus as in Claim 2,and further including guide means mounted adjacent the handle for properly locating said handle at the beginning of said transfer.

8. Apparatus as in Claim 1, and further including spaced guide means between said article. and the web and on opposite sides of said roller means whereby said web is folded around said guide means and said roller when said roller is in said second position, and said web and said roller means make -essentially line contact with said article.

9. A method of transferring a series of decals from an elongated web to a corresponding number of generally cy-lindrical articles, the decals being substantially regularly spaced on the web, comprising the steps of rotatably mount-ing an article adjacent the web, pressing the web against the article, rolling a decal onto the article by simmul-taneously moving the web and rotating the article a distance approximately equal to the length of a decal and then stop-ping the web movement, moving the web away from the article, and then moving the web a short distance to locate the next subsequent decal in position to be transferred to a next subsequent article.

10. A method of transferring a decal from an elongated web to an article having a generally cylindrical wall, comprising the steps of pressing the web against the wall, pulling the We and thereby simultaneously moving the web and rotating the article to roll the decal onto the wall, and stopping said rotation after said decal is transferred to the article.

21.

11. Apparatus for transferring a series of decals from an elongated web to a corresponding number of generally cylindrical articles, the decals being substantially regularly spaced on the web, comprising means for rotatably mounting an article adjacent the web, means for pressing the web against the article, and control means for rolling a decal onto the article by simultaneously moving the web and rotating the article a distance approximately equal to the length of a decal and then stopping the web movement, moving the web away from the article, and then moving the web a short distance to locate the next subsequent decal in position to be transferred to a next subsequent article.

12. Apparatus for transferring a decal from an elongated web to an article having a generally cylindrical wall, comprising means for pressing the web against the wall, means for pulling the web and thereby simultaneously moving the web and rotating the article to roll the decal onto the wall, and means for stopping said rotation after said decal is transferred to the article.