MXPA98004382A - Method and apparatus for supplying labels and similars to a compression molding machine for molding plast closures - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for supplying labels and the like to a compression molding machine, for molding plastic closures, wherein the labels or discs are successively supplied from a source to the cavities. The method and apparatus comprises a division or indexing turret supporting a plurality of stacks of labels, a selection and placement turret for removing a label from a stack, and a label insertion turret which traverses a portion of the path of the labels. cavities of the compression molding machine and supplies the labels successively towards the cavities

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING LABELS AND SIMILAR TO A MOLDING MACHINE BY COMPRESSION, FOR MOLDING PLASTIC CLOSURES Technical Field The present invention relates to compression-molded plastic closures and particularly to compression-molded plastic closures with labels or discs interspersed or sandwiched therein.

Background and Brief Description of the Invention In compression molding of plastic closures, a load of molten plastic is supplied to the tooling of the machine and the load is molded to the final shape by the tooling. In such a machine, a turret supports a plurality of tools, each including a cavity and a core in a rotating turret. It has hitherto been proposed to decorate the base wall of the closure on the inside or outside thereof. Among the objectives of the present invention are to provide a plastic closure with a label or disc embedded or interleaved in the closure and REF: 27688 a method and apparatus wherein the label or disc is successively supplied to the cavities of the molding machine by compression. According to the invention, the labels or discs are supplied successively from a source to the cavities. The method and apparatus preferably comprise a sorting or indexing turret supporting a plurality of stacks of labels, a selection and placement turret for removing a label from a stack, and a label insertion turret which tracks a portion of the label. trajectory of the cavities of the compression and molding machine, and supplies the labels successively towards the cavities.

Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of the system in which the invention takes shape. Figure 2 is a partial sectional elevational view of a portion of the system. Figure 3 is a sectional, partial view of the system. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the movement of the suction cups on the selected label shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is an elevation view of a supply of the labels. Figure 6 is a top plan view of the supply of labels shown in Figure 5. Figure 7 is a partial, sectional plan view of a portion of the system shown in Figure 2. Figure 8 is an enlarged view, fragmentary, partially sectional, partially diagrammatic, of a portion of the system shown in Figure 7. Figure 9 is a diagram of the vacuum and discharge or purge pneumatic system shown in Figures 2, 7 and 8. Figure 10 is a view in plan of a cam used in the portion of the system shown in Figures 2, 7 and 8. Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevation view of a cam used in a portion of the system in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 12 is an elevation view of a portion of the system shown in Figures 2, 7 and 8. Figure 13 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the system shown in Figures 2, 7 and 8. Figure 14 is a view in lifting of the stork or crank of the suction cup and cam roller used in the portion of the system shown in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 15 is a sectional view taken along line 15-15 of Figure 14. Figure 16 is a top view of the handle of the suction cup and the cam roller shown in Figure 14. Figure 17 is a plan view of a cam roller of the stork or crank used in a portion of the system shown in Figures 2 , 7 and 8. Figure 18 is a partial section elevation view of a label supply system taken along line 18-18 in Figure 9. Figure 18A is a sectional view taken along of line 18A-18A in Figure 9. Figure 19 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 18. Figure 20 is a sectional view taken along line 20-20 in the Figure 19. Figure 21 is a plan view of another portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 18. Figure 22 is a sectional view taken along line 22-22 in Figure 21. Figure 23 is a partial sectional elevational view of a modified form of a label supply and selection system.

Figure 24 is a sectional elevational, partial view of a closure made in accordance with the invention.

Description of the Preferred Modalities Referring to Figure 1, which is a schematic view of the method and apparatus for compressing the compression molded plastic closures with tags or disks embedded or interleaved therein, the apparatus comprises an intermittent pulse turret A which includes a plurality of deposit of labels to supply labels or disks to a turret B of selection and placement, rotating. When used here, a label will mean a flexible label or a rigid disc. The turret B selects a label from the tank and supplies it to a turntable C label inserter, rotating. The turret C receives a label from the turret B and supplies the label to a cavity of the compression molding machine M which afterwards receives a molten charge from the plastic and the load is compression molded to form a closure having a sandwich tag or sandwiched in it. During the supply of the label, the path of the label tracks the movement of the cavity to ensure proper supply of the label to the cavity. Referring to Figure 2, the apparatus of the turret B is shown to remove a label L from a reservoir 30 and supply it to the turret C. The turret B comprises a base 32 and a rotating turret 34 which includes a vertical axis 36 rotatably mounted on a column 38 by spaced bearings 40, 42. A plurality of crank arm and sucker arm assemblies 44 are provided on the turret 34 for oscillating movement about the radial axes (Figure 3) by the horizontal radial bearings 46. Referring to Figs. 14-16, each crank arm and suction arm assembly 44 comprises a stork 48 having a first crank arm 50 generally vertical and a second crank arm 52 generally horizontal at 90 ° (Fig. 14) and an angle (Fig. 16). The horizontal crank arm 52 has a first portion 52a adjacent the arm 50 and a second portion 52b at an obtuse angle with respect to the first portion 52a. A suction cup V is provided on the end of the first crank bladder 50 and a cam roller 54 is provided on the end of the second portion 52a of the arm 52 of the bell. An opening 56 of the pivot shaft is provided at the junction of the crank arm 50 and the crank arm 52.

Referring to Figures 2-4 and 11, the cam rollers 54 of the various crank arm assemblies 44 travel on a grooved rail or tread 58 of a cylindrical grooved cam 60 which comprises an upper portion 62 and a lower portion 64 supported by brackets 66 spaced circumferentially on the base 32. When the turret B is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 1, each stork and sucker V 44 assembly is moved once the tank 30 has been passed. When each assembly approaches a label, it is tilted as shown diagrammatically in Figure 4. An approximation suction cup V is tilted up and forward in engagement with the label more lower in the reservoir 30 and then it is tilted and lowered backwards, whereby the label is removed. The assembly 44 is then brought to a position where the handle of the crank 50 is vertical and adjacent to the Canvas C to supply the label L to one of a plurality of load assemblies or vacuum head 70 spaced circumferentially on the turret C for coloring the labels (Figure 2). Referring to Figures 2, 7, 8, 17 and 18, the turret C includes a base 72 having a hollow column 74 thereon, in which a vertical axis 76 on a turret 78 is rotatably mounted by roller bearings 80. spaced. Each load assembly or vacuum head 70 comprises a stork 82 having a crank arm 84 with a cam roller 86 thereon. Each load assembly or vacuum head 70 and crank or stork 82, is rotatably mounted on the turret 78 by a vertical roller bearing 88 and held in place by means of a nut and screw. The various cam rollers 86 travel on a rail or band 90 of the cam, of a cam 92 (Figures 2 and 8-10). The rail or tread 90 has a configuration such that, in the positions for receiving a tag from the turret B and for supplying a tag to a cavity of the compression molding machine M, each vacuum assembly 70 moves. along the arc of travel of the assemblies 40 of the crank arm of the turret B and the path of the cavities of the compression molding machine M (Figures I, 8 and 9). Referring to Figures 8 and 9, in each of these two positions, the rail or tread 90 has a portion 94 extending radially inwardly, and a portion 96 extending radially outward, which causes the crank. or stork 82 oscillate in such a way that the assemblies of the load or vacuum head 70 and the associated head follow a trajectory P having its center at an angle X (figure 8) with respect to the normal trajectory. Referring to Figures 9 and 18-22, a stationary manifold 110 is urged downwardly on a multiple manifold 112 fixed on the turret 78. The vacuum is supplied to the manifold 110 through a side opening 114 and flows to an arched passageway. 116 in manifold 110. Circumferentially spaced axial openings 118 are provided in manifold 112 such that they communicate with passageway 116 when rotating turret 78. Stationary manifold 110 also includes an axial inlet 120 to discharge air, which supplies air to a plurality of radial air outlets 122 in manifold 112 of the manifold, and connected by hoses 124a, 24a to each head assembly 70. The manifold 110 includes arcuate grooves 128, 130 on the upper surface into which the springs 132 and a synchronization bolt 134 extend, respectively. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, each label deposit 30 includes an upper supply section 100 that provides a larger supply of labels L and a lower section 102. In production, the supply of labels is in both sections 100 and 102 combined. When the "low tag" sensors S in section 102 send signals that the level of the tags is low, the carousel divides or indexes a loaded section 100 directly above the section 102. A gate 104 on the bottom of the section 100 opens the release of the labels to section 102. When the labels are used up in 100 and the labels in 102 reach the lower level, the division or indexing of the carousel is repeated. The operator reloads the 100 section (s) with fresh labels when necessary. In operation, the selection and placement turret B and the insertion turret C of the labels are rotated in synchronization with the molding turret by the gears illustrated in Figure 2. When each assembly of crank arms 44 approaches turn to the tank 30 on the turret A, the vacuum is applied to the suction cup V of this assembly of the arm of the handle, and the arm of the handle is moved in a pivoting manner (Figure 4) so that the suction cup approaches the lower label of the tank in an upward angular movement. When the suction cup makes contact with the lowermost label in the reservoir, the vacuum applied to the suction cup will hold in place. effective the label. The suction cup is then moved away from the reservoir 30 in an angular downward direction (Figure 4) to remove the label from the reservoir. When each assembly 44 of the crank arm approaches tangentially with the turret insert C of the labels, the same movement of mounting the crank arm takes place to present the label to the underside of a vacuum head assembly 70. on the turret C. At this point, the vacuum is removed from the suction cup V of this assembly of the crank arm, so that the label L can be transferred. When each mounting of vacuum heads 70 on the turret C is in turn tangentially rotated with the turret B, the crank or stork 82 on which this vacuum head assembly is mounted cooperates with the rail or tread 90 on the cam 92 to move the vacuum head assembly to a constant orientation above a small rotation arc so that a label L can be transferred from the turret B. The vacuum is applied to the vacuum head assembly by the plates 110, 112 and lines 124a (Figures 7 and 9) so that the vacuum head assembly selects the labels from the assembly of the underlying crank arm 44. The turret C then rotates the assembly of the vacuum head 70 and the label carried by it to the molding turret M. When the vacuum head assembly approaches tangentially with the turret M, the crank or crank 82 again cooperates with the rail or tread 90 of the cam, to move the vacuum head assembly to a constant orientation with respect to the turret M over a small arc. The vacuum is released from the vacuum head assembly, and the label falls into the underlying compression molding cavity on the turret M. A modified turret B is shown in Figure 23 where crank and suction mounts 44a they include crank arms 48a which have a cam roller 54a that follows a horizontal cam slot 58a and a tip in a similar manner as shown in Figure 4. Referring to Figure 24, it can be seen that it has been provided a plastic closure with a label or disc sandwiched or interspersed in the closure and a method and apparatus wherein the label or disc is successively supplied to the cavities of the compression molding machine.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it refers.

Having described the invention as above, it is claimed as property and / or content in the following

Claims (21)

1. An apparatus for successively supplying labels and the like from a source to a plurality of compression molding cavities that move in an arcuate path on the compression molding machine for compression of the molding loads in the cavities, characterized in that it comprises: rotating turret means for receiving the labels, to successively receive a label from a source, rotary turret selection and positioning means to receive labels successively from the turret receiving means of the labels and to supply them successively to the cavities.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the turret means receiving the tag comprises a turret and a plurality of vacuum assemblies spaced circumferentially around the turret.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that each vacuum assembly includes a crank or stork that supports a suction cup that extends generally upwards so that each suction cup can receive a label from the source.

4. The apparatus described in claim 3, characterized in that the means of the turret receiving the label includes inclining means for tilting each crank or stork in such a way that each suction cup when moving up and forward of the source, is placed in the vertical position under the force to receive a label from the source and tilted back away from the source.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the tilting means comprise an annular cam and a cam roller on each of the cams, which couples said cams.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the turret selection and positioning means comprise a turret and a plurality of vacuum head assemblies spaced circumferentially over the turret, to receive a label from the suction cup and supply the label to a cavity.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that each vacuum head assembly includes a vacuum head assembly facing down to receive a label from a suction cup.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that it includes means for moving each assembly of the vacuum head in such a way that it is moved radially inward relative to each suction cup, in such a way that the assembly of the vacuum head to along the arc of travel aligned with the stroke arc of the suction cup provide a label to the suction cup and to move the vacuum head assembly in such a way that it is moved radially inward relative to a cavity to which a The label is to be supplied along an arc of travel aligned with the arc of travel of the cavity to which the label is to be supplied.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the means for moving each of the vacuum heads radially comprise camming means.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that it includes means for successively applying the vacuum and air to each of the heads, in such a way that each of the head assemblies can receive and retain a label from a suction cup and supply a label to a cavity.

11. A method for supplying labels and the like from a source successively to a plurality of compression molding cavities that move in an arcuate path on the compression molding machine to compress the molding loads in the cavities, characterized in that it comprises: rotating turret means for receiving the labels, to successively receive a label from a source, moving the rotary turret selection and positioning means to receive the labels successively from the turret means for the receipt of the labels and supplying them successively to the cavities.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that it includes providing the turret means for receiving the tag, a turret and a plurality of vacuum assemblies spaced circumferentially around the turret.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that it includes providing each vacuum assembly with a crank or stork that supports a suction cup that extends generally upwards, such that each suction cup can receive a label from the source.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that it includes providing the means of the turret for receiving the labels, inclination means to tilt each of the cranks or storks and to move them in such a way that each suction cup when moving up and forward towards the source, place it in its vertical position under the source to receive a label from the source and lean back away from the source.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that it includes providing the tilting means, an annular cam and a cam roller on each of said cams, for coupling each cam.

16. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that it includes turret selection and positioning means with a turret and a plurality of vacuum head assemblies spaced circumferentially on the turret, to receive a label from the suction cup and supply the label to a cavity.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that it includes providing each vacuum head assembly with a vacuum head assembly and positioning the vacuum head so that it is facing down to receive a label from a vacuum cup.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that it includes moving each assembly of the vacuum head in such a way that it is moved radially inwards with respect to each suction cup in such a way that the assembly of the vacuum head along a Travel arc aligned with the stroke arc of the suction cup provide a label to the suction cup and move the vacuum head assembly so that it is moved radially inward relative to a cavity to which a label is to be supplied along an arc of travel aligned with the arc of travel of the cavity to which the label is to be supplied.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the step of providing means for moving each radiological vacuum head comprises providing cam means.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that it includes successively applying vacuum and air to each of the heads so that each head assembly can receive and retain a label from a cup and supply a label to a cavity.

21. The method according to any of claims 11-20, characterized in that it includes supplying a plastic load to the cavities and compression molding the pills or microspheres to provide a plastic closure where a label is sandwiched or interspersed in the closure.