Apparatus for conforming a label

• Main Authors: CRANK DOUGLAS, ALLEN CLINTON L, MEYERS WILLIAM F
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 05.02.2013
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; CONVEYING; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULARARTICLES; LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; STORING; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

An apparatus and method are provided for conforming a label to the contour of a container. The apparatus includes a conveyor configured to move the container along a travel path, a heat source positioned along the conveyor and configured to heat at least a portion of the label to a sufficient temperature to achieve a sufficient degree of plasticity as the container moves along the travel path, and a mechanical pressure applicator positioned along the conveyor downstream from the heat source. The mechanical pressure applicator is configured to apply pressure to at least a portion of the heated label to conform it to the contour of the container as the container moves along the travel path. The method includes heating at least a portion of the label to a sufficient temperature to achieve a sufficient degree of plasticity, and applying mechanical pressure to at least a portion of the heated label to conform it to the contour of the container.