US3653176A - Apparatus for filling, closing, and labeling containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A compact, simplified machine is provided for sealing and labeling containers such as bottles. The machine is designed particularly for hospitals and the like requiring a relatively small number of one-dose bottles to provide liquid medicine for patients. Stations are provided for filling the bottles and placing caps thereon. The machine also has a station where the bottles are rotated to simultaneously crimp the caps thereon and apply labels thereto. A printing device is located on the machine which applies the proper indicia to the labels prior to being affixed to the bottles, and a unique system for feeding the labels to the bottles.

Description

[ Apr. 4, 1972 United States Patent Gess .53/333 X 53/334 ...l56/384 X ...l56/542 X [54] APPARATUS FOR FILLING, CLOSING AND LABELING CONTAINERS [72] Inventor: Larry C. Gess, Samaria, Mich.

Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Attorney-Allen D. Gutchess, Jr.

[73] Assignee: Xebec Corporation, Toledo, Ohio [22] Filed: Apr. 6, 1970 ABSTRACT Appl. No

52 LLS.CL................3.............1......53/64,53/137,53/333, A Simplified machine is labeling containers such as bottles.

156/384, 156/542 51 im. ....B65b57/02,B65c 3/16 Pamcularly hospmls and 15s 1 Field ofSearch......................53/64, 137, 334, 340, 333; Small f 156/363, 384, 540 541 542 for patients. Stations are provided placing caps thereon. The machine also has a station where the bottles are rotated to simultaneous] thereon and apply labels thereto. A

on the machine which applies the y crimp the caps printing device is located proper indicia to the labels UNITED STATES PATENTS ique system for n u m a u d b H F g m .m U W m. m bfi D ed 6 mr s we m d m G no i 2 fik- 2 m m m fle Mm g mm 0 0 Pf 0 XX PM was 66" 55" ll. mmd ""0 m due .m hr. FGU 180 665 999 HHH 445 PATENTEDAPR 41972 3,653,176

SHEET 1 OF 4 INVENTOR. LARRQ C.G1ESS PATENTEUAPR 4:972 3,653,176

sum 2 OF 4 INVENTOR. E LARRQ Qfmass PATENTEDAPR 4|972 3,653,176

sum 3 BF 4 94 INVENTOK (o8 LARRLJ C. Sass mam rrmr? IOQU APPARATUS FOR FILLING, CLOSING, AND LABELING CONTAINERS This invention relates to a machine for handling containers, and specifically a machine for sealing and labeling bottles.

Recently, there has been a trend toward providing medicinal doses for hospital patients in individual packages and containers. These are carefully sealed and labeled to assure that the patient receives the proper medicine and to minimize the possibility of mistakes and wastefulness, as previously occurred when medicines were dispensed from common, large containers, The packaged or containerized medicinal doses remain sealed to the time of delivery to the bedside of the patient to avoid possible contamination. The label on the package or container also remains associated with the medicine up to the time it is delivered to the patient to avoid possible errors or mistakes.

For hospitals of average or larger size, from 50 up to several hundred bottles of a particular medicine are needed daily or every few days. To avoid undue delay and costly man hours, a machine for filling the bottles with the medicine, labeling the bottles, and sealing them is almost a necessity. While machines have heretofore been known to a very limited extent for processing such bottles, such machines have been expensive and large in size, requiring considerable floor space which is often limited in hospitals. Their complexity also resulted in high maintenance costs and required an operator of considerable skill.

The present invention provides a machine for labeling and sealing containers particularly for the above-mentioned application. The new machine is lower in cost and smaller in size than those heretofore known, and its relative simplicity provides utmost reliability with minimal maintenance.

The new machine has a four-station indexing wheel, the first station of which receives the empty bottles which are to be filled, labeled, and sealed. The bottles are filled at a second station and caps are placed thereon at a third station. The bottles are sealed and labels are substantially simultaneously applied at a fourth station. Means are provided at the fourth station for rotating the bottle and cap and for crimping or sealing the cap as it rotates. Means are further provided at this station for feeding a label into engagement with the bottle during rotation to cause the label to wrap thereon. The labels are first printed with predetermined indicia adjacent the fourth station.

In a preferred form, the labels are of a pressure-sensitive type supplied longitudinally on a tape. The indicia is printed on the labels when on the tape, after which the tape is fed in a sharply divergent path from the labels to separate the labels and to cause them to continue in a predetermined path into contact with the bottles. The various components of the machine are operated through a relatively simple and low cost, yet reliable, mechanical drive, to be discussed in detail subsequently.

The machine according to the invention can also be modified to fill syringes with medicine, then seal and label them. Similar advantages are achieved as with the individual bottled doses. However, for syringes, the machine must be maintained in a sterile atmosphere.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide a machine for labeling and sealing containers, which machine is compact in size and low in cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which simultaneously seals containers and applies labels thereto.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine which prints indicia on labels immediately prior to applying the labels to containers.

A further object of the invention is to provide simplified means for applying printed labels to containers.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall view in perspective of a machine embodying the invention, including drive means for components of the machine, shown somewhat schematically;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in perspective, taken from a lower level, of a supporting and driving unit for rotating the containers and sealing caps thereon;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in vertical cross section of a container cap and crimping wheel of the unit of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical cross section taken centrally through an electromagnetic clutch of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in perspective, taken from the same angle as FIG. 1, of printing mechanism for applying in dicia to labels to be affixed to the containers and of feed mechanism for supplying the labels to the bottles; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the feeding mechanism of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. I, an overall container-handling machine embodying the invention is indicated at 10 and includes abase 12 containing the drive system and controls. The overall machine is compact, being only about 15 inches wide and 20 inches long. Consequently, space requirements are a minimum. The machine is also relatively light in weight, in the order of 100 pounds, to provide portability, if desired.

The containers handled by themachine 10 are specifically shown as small one-dose bottles 14, being about 1% inches in diameter and 2% inches high. The bottles havecaps 16 crimped and sealed thereon with integral opening tabs on the tops thereof which can only be used once. When the bottles are filled and sealed, they remain closed until reaching the bedside of the patient. There is no possibility of the caps being unscrewed and the contents altered or subjected to contamination. Once the contents are dispensed, both bottles and the caps can be disposed of.

The bottles are moved from a suitable source sequentially along a conveyor generally indicated at 18 to a first, receiving station, indicated at 20, of an indexing table or wheel 22. The table 22 is circular with four openings ornotches 24 formed at increments along the edges thereof. As the table 22 is rotated in a clockwise direction, it carries thebottles 14 to three additional stations, the bottles being retained in theopenings 24 by a circular inner edge 26 of aplatform 28.

At a second station, generally indicated at 30, the bottles receive a predetermined amount of a liquid medicine from a suitable filling machine (not shown) which is commercially available and does not constitute part of the instant invention. Thebottles 14 are then transferred to a third station indicated at 32 where thecaps 16 are applied by suitable known equipment (not shown) which, again, does not constitute part of the instant invention. Finally, the bottles are carried to a fourth station indicated at 34 where thecaps 16 are crimped on the bottles and appropriate labels designating the medicine therein are applied. As thebottles 14 are then carried beyond thefourth station 34, they are transferred to an exit chute 36 where they are pushed into astorage area 38. If desired, trays can be placed in thestorage area 38 to directly receive the bottles, with the trays being replaced from time to time as desired or as necessary.

At thefourth station 34, thebottle 14 is supported on a turntable 40 (FIG. 5) which is rotatably supported on thebase 12 below the indexing wheel 22, to enable thebottle 14 to turn freely. A cap-engaging head 42 is positioned directly above theturntable 40 and is movable in a vertical path. The head 42 has an O-ring 44 (FIGS. 2 and 3) mounted therein to frictionally engage thecap 16 when the head is moved downwardly into engagement therewith to aid in rotating thecap 16 and thebottle 14.

The cap-engaging head 42 is rotatably carried by a supporting and drivingunit 46 and specifically by ashaft 48 extending upwardly through and rotatably carried by a lower support orplatform 50 of theunit 46. Theshaft 48 also extends up into anupper wall 52 which is held above theplatform 50 by back supports 54. Front and side walls or covers of theunit 46 are removed for illustrative purposes. Theunit 46 is supported ongibs 56 above thebase 12 and the unit moves up and down by means of aball nut 58 mounted thereon and engaged with a ball screw 60. When the ball screw 60 is rotated, theball nut 58 moves up and down relative thereto and carries theunit 46 accordingly. The ball nut and ball screw are commercially available devices and will not be discussed in detail.

Power for theunit 46 is supplied through adrive shaft 62 extending into the base 12 to drive means which will be discussed subsequently. Thedrive shaft 62 also extends upwardly through theplatform 50 and theupper wall 52 and is keyed or splined to a gear hub 63 for slidable but non-rotatable movement with respect thereto and with respect to aspur gear 64 connected therewith and located above theplatform 50. Thespur gear 64 meshes with a spur gear 66 which is affixed to the shaft 43 of the cap-engaging head 42. The spur gear 66, in turn, meshes with athird spur gear 68 which is connected to a component of an electromagnetic clutch 70 to be discussed subsequently. Another component of the electromagnetic clutch '70 is connected to ashaft 72 extending centrally therethrough which is rotated by thegear 68 when power is supplied to the clutch. Theshaft 72 extends downwardly below theplatform 50 where it is affixed to an end ofa crimpingarm 74.

Near the opposite end of thearm 74, spaced from the pivot shaft '72, is a rod or axle 76 (FIG. 3) projecting downwardly from thearm 74 and carrying a crimping member orwheel 78. The wheel is rotatably mounted on theaxle 76 and is urged upwardly against a shoulder or stop 80, when not engaging acap 16, by acoil spring 82 on the lower extremity of therod 76. The crimpingwheel 78 has an outer annular flange 84 which engages a lower edge 86 of thecap 16 and forces it inwardly below the lower edge of a lip orhead 88 of thebottle 14. During this movement, thespring 82 enables the annular flange 84 of the crimping wheel to yield downwardly slightly as it moves the cap edge 86 inwardly, thereby clearing thebottle lip 88. Ashoulder 90 of the crimpingwheel 78 then engages an intermediate portion of the side of thecap 16 above the lower edge 86 to achieve a sharp bend. This design of the crimping wheel assures that the lower edge 86 of thecap 16 will be tightly and securely bent around the lower edge of thebottle lip 88 and pulls a seal on the under side of thecap 16 tightly against the top of thebottle 14 to seal same. Further, the crimping is achieved quickly with only the one crimpingwheel 78 being required.

The force applied by the crimpingwheel 78 against the edge of thecap 16 depends upon the power supplied to the electromagnetic clutch 70, which can be regulated by a variable resistor or rheostat R1 located in acontrol housing 91 in thebase 12. The higher the power, the less slipping occurs between the drivenspur gear 68 and theshaft 72 and the greater is the torque applied to thearm 74 and the force on thewheel 78. When the power supplied to theelectromagnetic clutch 70 is shut off, areturn spring 92 moves the crimpingwheel 78 away from thecap 16 and out of the path of thebottle 14 when transferring from thefourth station 34 to the discharge chute 36.

Theelectromagnetic clutch 70 is shown in more detail in FIG. 4. Thespur gear 68 is suitable affixed to an armature hub 94 which has a non-circular upper end extending into anarmature disc 96. Thearmature disc 96 is positioned adjacent arotor 98 having ahub 100 affixed to theshaft 72 by acollar 102 and setscrews 104. Astationary field member 106 has anarm 108 suitably affixed to theupper wall 52 of theunit 46 and rotatably receives therotor hub 100 and theshaft 72. When thefield member 106 is not supplied with power, thespur gear 68, the armature hub 94, and thearmature disc 96 rotate as a unit freely about theshaft 72. When power is supplied to thefield member 106, thearmature disc 96 and therotor 98 rotate together, causing thehub 100 and theshaft 72 to rotate with thespur gear 68. Thearm 74 thereby moves the crimpingwheel 78 into engagement with the bottle cap and causes the flange 84 to force the cap lip 86 inwardly under thebottle bead 88. When the crimpingwheel 78 reaches the bottle, slipping will occur between thearmature disc 96 and therotor 98, with the force applied by the crimping wheel against the bottle cap depending on the amount of power supplied to the field member 106v When power to the field is shut off, thereturn spring 92 then moves the crimpingwheel 78 and thearm 74 away from thebottle cap 16 and out of the path as the bottle is moved toward thestorage area 38. Theelectromagnetic clutch 70 enables the force applied by the crimpingwheel 78 against thebottle cap 16 to be easily adjusted by controlling the power supplied to the field member 1067Labels 1 10 FIG. 5) are applied to thebottles 14 as they are rotated on theturntable 40 by the cap-engaging head. Thelabels 110 are shown as being of the pressure-sensitive type and are supplied longitudinally on atape 112 from which they can be readily peeled 05. Thetape 112 is supplied from areel 114 located on an outboard platform 116 (FIG. 1 The reel is mounted on ahub 1 18 rotatably carried on aspindle 120 having acap 122 threaded thereon which can be turned to adjust the friction on thehub 118 and, consequently, the amount of tension on thetape 1 12 as it is pulled from thereel 114.

The tape moves past a pressure plate 124 with the tape located between the plate 124 and thelabels 110. The tape then moves past aguide bar 126 of slightly curved configuration, as best shown in FIG. 6. Thetape 112 is then pulled around apost 128 having asharp edge 130. From here, the tape separates from the labels which continue on the path toward the bottle on theturntable 40 with the tape fed back around thepost 128 between a knurled drive roll 132 (FIG. 6) and a back-uproll 134. Theroll 134 comprises a metalcylindrical hub 136 having a plurality of O-rings 138 mounted thereon in contiguous or stacked relationship. This construction provides an effective yet inexpensive back-up roll for the tape. The separatedlabel 110 continues on its predetermined path toward thebottle 14 on theturntable 40 and, specifically, between the bottle and apressure roll 140 mounted on a lever arm 142 and resiliently urged against the bottle by aspring 144. Thepressure roll 140 firmly presses thelabel 110 against thebottle 14 during clockwise rotation thereof.

Suitable indicia indicating the contents of the bottles or other containers to which the labels are applied is printed on thelabels 110 when they are in front of the pressure plate 124. To accomplish this, printing type 146 is set up in aholder 148 to provide the proper indicia. Theholder 148 is then clamped in aprinting head 150 which is moved back and forth in a lineal path, guided by a groove or tracks 152, toward and away from thelabel 110 to be printed. Theprinting head 150 is designed to quickly release theholder 148 and theholder 148 enables the type 146 to be set in any suitable pattern so that the type can be readily arranged for each batch of bottles having different contents.

When theprinting head 150 is in the retracted position, as shown in FIG. 5, aninking pad assembly 154 is brought down in front of the printing head with an inking pad 156 pressed against the type 146 to apply printers ink thereto. The inking pad 156 is located in apressure plate 158 which is affixed to ahorizontal shaft 160. Theshaft 160 is rotatably supported at one end by a bar orcolumn 162 and at the other end by an L- shapedbracket 164 with a pinion gear 166 mounted on theshaft 160 outside of thebracket 164. Agear rack 168 is affixed to the drive and supportingunit 46 and specifically to the back of theplatform 50 thereof and is positioned to be continuously in engagement with the pinion gear 166. When theunit 46 is lowered, thegear rack 168 rotates the inkingassembly 154 out of the path of theprinting head 150 and type 146 when moved forwardly into contact with thelabel 110. Similarly, when theprinting head 150 is moved to the retracted position once again, and the drivingunit 46 is raised, the inkingassembly 154 is again moved downwardly to apply ink to the type 146 from the pad 156.

A suitable drive arrangement for the machine is shown somewhat schematically in FIG. 1. A power unit including amotor 170 drives afirst shaft 172 which, through a pair ofbevel gears 174, rotates a drive pulley 176. This is connected by abelt 178 to driverolls 180 of theconveyor 18 which drive two long O-rings 182 extending around idler rolls 184. The conveyor operates continuously to always urge thebottles 14 thereon toward the indexing table 22. Asecond shaft 186 is driven from thefirst shaft 172 throughsprockets 188, 190 and a chain 192. Thesecond shaft 186 rotates the indexing table 22 through two spur gears 194 and anelectromagnetic clutch 196 connected, when energized, tothird shaft 198 depending from the table 22. Afourth shaft 200 also is driven by theshaft 186 through anelectromagnetic clutch 202, sprockets 204,206, and achain 208. Thefourth shaft 200 is an extension of theshaft 62 which drives the spur gears 64 and 66 which rotates the cap-engaging head 42. Theshaft 62 also pivots the crimpingarm 74 when theelectromagnetic clutch 70 is energized.

The ball screw 60 is rotated through afifth shaft 210 which rotates in a direction to lower theunit 46 throughsprockets 212, 214, achain 216, and anelectromagnetic clutch 218. When the clutch 218 is energized, it connects thesprocket 214 with asixth shaft 220 which is driven throughsprockets 222, 224, and achain 226 by thefirst shaft 172. When theunit 46 is to be raised, theshaft 210 is driven in the opposite direction bysprockets 228, 230, and achain 232, thesprocket 230 being connected to aseventh shaft 234 which is driven through two spur gears 236 when anelectromagnetic clutch 238 is energized. Theshaft 220 also supplies the power for driving theshaft 210 in the direction to raise theunit 46.

Aneighth shaft 240 for operating theprinting head 150 is driven through anelectromagnetic clutch 242, sprockets 244, 246, and achain 248 by theshaft 220. Theshaft 240 rotates through one revolution to drive a cam 250 (FIG. 5) through one revolution. During this motion, a crank arm or link 252, pivotally connected to the cam 250 by apin 254 and to theprinting head 150 by apin 256, moves thehead 150 through one complete forward and rearward stroke.

Theknurled roller 132 for thetape 112 is driven by an electromagnetic clutch 258 (FIG. 1) connecting the roller to a ninth shaft 260 rotated bysprockets 262, 264, and achain 266, the sprocket 264 being affixed to theshaft 200.

The operation of the machine can be controlled by any suitable means, including manually operated switches, cams mounted on a common shaft and driven by a timer motor, or combinations of timers and limit switches, by way of example. With the specific controls illustrated and employed in thehousing 91, a limit switch LS-l (FIG. 6) is actuated when the indexing table indexes one station and anarm 268 extends into anotch 270 in an edge of adisc 271 mounted on theshaft 198 below the table 22. The limit switch LS-l de-energizes the clutch 196 to stop indexing and also initiates operation of a first timer which energizes the clutch 214 to move theunit 46 down, energizes the clutch 242 to move theprinting head 150 through a forward and reverse stroke, and energizes the electromagnetic clutch 70 to move the crimpingarm 74 toward the bottle. Theunit 46 moves downwardly until thebottle 14 is engaged, at which time theelectromagnetic clutch 218 slips, maintaining pressure on thecap 16 by the head 42. The amount of pressure varies with the power supplied to the clutch 218, as controlled by a rheostat R2 in thehousing 91. When theunit 46 moves down, it actuates a limit switch LS-2 which initiates operation of a second timer which de-energizes theelectromagnetic clutch 218 and energizes theelectromagnetic clutch 238 to move theunit 46 up. It also de-energizes the clutch 70 to enable thearm 74 to move outwardly. When the second timer times out, it energizes the clutch 196 and causes the table to index again.

A limit switch LS3 is closed when the printing head is in the retracted position to de-energize the clutch 242 and stop theprinting head 150. This switch also energizes the clutch 258 to feed thelabel tape 112. The clutch 258 is de-energized when the label moves past a light beam 272 (FIG. 6) from a source 274 and enables a light-sensitive cell 276 to receive the light and de-energize the clutch 258. An electromagnetic brake associated with the shaft for theroller 132 can be energized simultaneously to abruptly and precisely stop the label feed, if desired.

A safety limit switch LS-4 (FIG. 5) is actuated by thearm 242 if no bottle is at thestation 34 after the table 22 indexes. In such an instance, the switch LS-4 prevents the clutch 70 from being energized so that the crimpingarm 74 will not move in and also prevents the clutch 258 from being energized so that the labels will not feed. Other suitable interlocks and safety switches can be employed, including at the second and third stations, if desired.

From the above, it will be seen that the container-handling machine according to the invention is compact, reliable, fastacting, and relatively maintenance free. The machine is also highly versatile, being capable of filling other containers with medicine beside bottles, such as syringes. The machine is also capable of filling containers with other liquids beside medicine, particularly whenever it is desirable to avoid possible contamination of the liquids and where proper labeling of same is also important.

Various modifications of the above described embodiment of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that such modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, if they are within the spirit and the tenor of the accompanying claims.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for filling, closing, and labeling containers comprising an indexing wheel having circumferential openings to hold the containers and to carry them sequentially to additional stations from a first station at which the containers are received, the additional stations including stations at which the containers are filled with liquid, closed, and labeled, means for conveying the containers sequentially to the first station and urging them individually into the indexing wheel opening at the first station, means at the station at which labels are applied for rotating the containers, sealing means at the labeling station for sealing closures during rotation of the containers, and feed means for feeding labels having adhesive surfaces into contact with the containers during rotation of the containers.

2. Apparatus according toclaim 1 characterized by means for imprinting indicia on the labels prior to feeding them into contact with the containers.

3, Apparatus according toclaim 1 characterized by said sealing means at the labeling station comprising a crimping wheel having a cylindrical portion of substantially uniform diameter with an annular flange extending outwardly below the cylindrical portion, said lower flange being substantially aligned with the lower edge of a lip of the container when in a sealing position, said flange being effective to force inwardly a lower annular edge of the closure with said cylindrical portion engaging an upper portion of the closure above the lower edge thereof and above the lower edge of the lip, and means including resilient means supporting said crimping wheel to enable said wheel to yield in a downward direction when moving the lower edge of the closure inwardly.

4. Apparatus according toclaim 3 characterized by said supporting means further comprising an arm, shaft means on said arm for rotatably carrying said crimping wheel and for supporting said resilient means below said wheel.

5. Apparatus according toclaim 4 characterized by drive means including an electromagnetic clutch for moving said arm in a direction to move said crimping wheel into contact with the closure, and means for changing the electrical power supplied to said electromagnetic clutch to change the force said crimping wheel applies against the closure.

6. Apparatus for filling, closing, and labeling containers comprising an indexing wheel having circumferential openings to hold the containers and to carry them sequentially to additional stations from a first station at which the containers are received, the additional stations including stations at which the containers are filled with liquid, closed, and labeled,

means for conveying the containers sequentially to the first station and urging them individually into the indexing wheel opening at the first station, means at the station at which labels are applied for rotating the containers, the labels having adhesive surfaces and being sequentially carried by an elongate flexible member, and feed means for feeding the labels into contact with the containers during rotation of the containers, said feed means including means for moving the elongate flexible member in a sharply divergent path from the labels to separate the flexible member from the labels and to enable the labels to continue in a direction toward the containers.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 characterized further by a light-sensitive cell being located on one side of the path of the labels, a light source directed toward said cell on the other side of the labels, and means controlled by the light-sensitive cell for stopping the feeding means after a label passes between said cell and said light source.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 characterized by said feed means comprising a pair of rolls, at least one of which is driven, for receiving and pulling said elongate flexible member after the member is separated from the labels.

9. Apparatus for labeling a container to indicate the contents thereof, said apparatus comprising means for supporting the container, a tape carrying a label, means for feeding the tape longitudinally toward the container-supporting means, a pressure plate past which the label and tape are moved with the tape positioned between the label and said pressure plate, a printing head mounted for movement in a lineal path between a position in engagement with the label on the tape at said pressure plate and a remote position, means for moving said printing head from the remote position to the engagement position when the tape is stationary to imprint predetermined indicia on the label, an inking plate, means movably supporting said inking plate in the path of said printing head, and means for moving said inking plate out of the path of said printing head prior to said printing head being moved toward said pressure plate.

10. Apparatus for capping a container comprising means for supporting the container, means for rotatably mounting said container-supporting means for rotatably supporting the bot tom of the container, a cap-engaging head for engaging a cap on the container when moved into engagement therewith, means for rotating said cap-engaging head, a crimping wheel, an arm rotatably carrying said crimping wheel, means pivotally supporting said arm for movement between a position in which said crimping wheel is in engagement with an edge of the cap and a position in which said wheel is remote from the cap, means urging the arm toward the latter position, means for moving the arm from the remote position toward the cap and the wheel into engagement with the cap, and means for feeding a label into engagement with the container when the container is rotated.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 characterized by means for imprinting indicia on the label prior to feeding the label toward the container.

12. Apparatus for capping a container comprising means for supporting the container, a cap-engaging head for engaging a cap on the container when moved into engagement therewith, means for rotating said cap-engaging head, a crimping wheel, an arm rotatably carrying said crimping wheel, means pivotally supporting said arm for movement between a position in which said crimping wheel is in engagement with an edge of the cap and a position in which said wheel is remote from the cap, means urging the arm toward the latter position, means for moving the arm from the remote position toward the cap and the wheel into engagement with the cap, a multiplicity of pressure-sensitive labels carried on a tape, pressure-applying means adjacent the container-supporting means and adapted to be in pressure contact with the container, means for feeding the tape longitudinally toward the pressureapplying means and the container-supporting means, and means for abruptly changing direction of the tape away from the labels to cause the labels and tape to separate and the labels to continue in a path toward said pressure-applying means to move between the pressure-applying means and the container when on said supporting means.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 characterized by a pressure plate past which said labels and tape are moved with the tape positioned between said labels and said pressure plate, a printing head mounted for movement in a lineal path, means for moving said printing head in the lineal path between a position in engagement with the labels on said tape at said pressure plate and a remote position, an inking plate, means pivotally supporting said inking plate in the lineal path of said printing head, and means for pivotally moving said inking plate out of the path of said printing head prior to said printing head being moved toward said pressure plate.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 characterized by a support for said cap-engaging head, means for moving said support up and down to move said head up and down, a gear rack associated with said support and movable therewith, said pivot means for said inking plate including a shaft, and said means for pivotally moving said inking plate out of the path of said printing plate comprises a pinion gear on said shaft and engaged with said gear rack.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12 characterized by said means for feeding the tape comprises a pair of rolls, at least one of which is driven, said rolls being positioned to receive the tape therebetween after the tape moves past the directionchanging means.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 characterized by at least one of said rolls having a plurality of O-rings mounted thereon in planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the associated roll.

17. Apparatus according to claim 12 characterized further by a light-sensitive cell located on one side of the path of movement of the labels, means on the other side of the label path for directing a beam of light toward said cell, and means responsive to said cell for stopping movement of the tapefeeding means after a label moves beyond the beam of light.

18. Apparatus for capping a container comprising means for supporting the container, a cap-engaging head for engaging a cap on the container when moved into engagement therewith, means for rotating said cap-engaging head, a crimping wheel, an arm rotatably carrying said crimping wheel, means pivotally supporting said arm for movement between a position in which said crimping wheel is in engagement with an edge of the cap and a position in which said wheel is remote from the cap, means urging the arm toward the latter position, means for moving the arm from the remote position toward the cap and the wheel into engagement with the cap, said armmoving means including an electromagnetic clutch, and means for changing the electrical power supplied to said electromagnetic clutch to change the amount of pressure the crimping wheel applies against the cap.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 characterized further by a support for said cap-engaging head, and means for moving said support up and down to move said head up and down relative to the cap.

20. Apparatus for crimping a cap on a bottle comprising means for supporting the bottle, a cap-engaging head for engaging the cap on the bottle when moved into engagement therewith, means for rotating said cap-engaging head, a crimping wheel, said crimping wheel having an annular outwardly extending flange to move an edge of the cap inwardly under a lip of the bottle and having a cylindrical shoulder of smaller diameter than the flange to engage an intermediate portion of the side of the cap and achieve a sharp bend between the side of the cap and the edge, an arm rotatably carrying said crimping wheel, means pivotally supporting said arm for movement between a position in which said crimping wheel is in engage ment with the cap and a position in which said wheel is remote from the cap, spring means urging the arm toward the remote position, and means for moving the arm from the remote position toward the cap and the crimping wheel into engagement therewith.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 characterized by said means for rotating said cap-engaging head and said means for moving said arm include common drive means.

22. Apparatus according to claim 20 characterized by means for rotatably mounting said bottle-supporting means for rotatably supporting the bottom of the bottle.

Claims (22)

1. Apparatus for filling, closing, and labeling containers comprising an indexing wheel having circumferential openings to hold the containers and to carry them sequentially to additional stations from a first station at which the containers are received, the additional stations including stations at which the containers are filled with liquid, closed, and labeled, means for conveying the containers sequentially to the first station and urging them individually into the indexing wheel opening at the first station, means at the station at which labels are applied for rotating the containers, sealing means at the labeling station for sealing closures during rotation of the containers, and feed means for feeding labels having adhesive surfaces into contact with the containers during rotation of the containers.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized by means for imprinting indicia on the labels prior to feeding them into contact with the containers.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized by said sealing means at the labeling station comprising a crimping wheel having a cylindrical portion of substantially uniform diameter with an annular flange extending outwardly below the cylindrical portion, said lower flange being substantially aligned with the lower edge of a lip of the container when in a sealing position, said flange being effective to force inwardly a lower annular edge of the closure with said cylindrical portion engaging an upper portion of the closure above the lower edge thereof and above the lower edge of the lip, and means including resilient means supporting said crimping wheel to enable said wheel to yield in a downward direction when moving the lower edge of the closure inwardly.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 characterized by said supporting means further comprising an arm, shaft means on said arm for rotatably carrying said crimping wheel and for supporting said resilient means below said wheel.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 characterized by drive means including an electromagnetic clutch for moving said arm in a direction to move said crimping wheel into contact with the closure, and means for changing the electrical power supplied to said electromagnetic clutch to change the force said crimping wheel applies against the closure.

6. Apparatus for filling, closing, and labeling containers comprising an indexing wheel having circumferential openings to hold the containers and to carry them sequentially to additional stations from a first station at which the containers are received, the additional stations including stations at which the containers are filled with liquid, closed, and labeled, means for conveying the containers sequentially to the first station and urging them individually into the indexing wheel opening at the first station, means at the station at which labels are applied for rotating the containers, the labels having adhesive surfaces and being sequentially carried by an elongate flexible member, and feed means for feeding the labels into contact with the containers during rotation of the containers, said feed means including means for moving the elongate flexible member in a sharply divergent path from the labels to separate the flexible member from the labels and to enable the labels to continue in a direction toward the containers.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 characterized further by a light-sensitive cell being located on one side of the path of the labels, a light source directed toward said cell on the other side of the labels, and means controlled by the light-sensitive cell for stopping the feeding means after a label passes between said cell and said light source.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 characterized by said feed means comprising a pair of rolls, at least one of which is driven, for receiving and pulling said elongate flexible member after the membeR is separated from the labels.

9. Apparatus for labeling a container to indicate the contents thereof, said apparatus comprising means for supporting the container, a tape carrying a label, means for feeding the tape longitudinally toward the container-supporting means, a pressure plate past which the label and tape are moved with the tape positioned between the label and said pressure plate, a printing head mounted for movement in a lineal path between a position in engagement with the label on the tape at said pressure plate and a remote position, means for moving said printing head from the remote position to the engagement position when the tape is stationary to imprint predetermined indicia on the label, an inking plate, means movably supporting said inking plate in the path of said printing head, and means for moving said inking plate out of the path of said printing head prior to said printing head being moved toward said pressure plate.

10. Apparatus for capping a container comprising means for supporting the container, means for rotatably mounting said container-supporting means for rotatably supporting the bottom of the container, a cap-engaging head for engaging a cap on the container when moved into engagement therewith, means for rotating said cap-engaging head, a crimping wheel, an arm rotatably carrying said crimping wheel, means pivotally supporting said arm for movement between a position in which said crimping wheel is in engagement with an edge of the cap and a position in which said wheel is remote from the cap, means urging the arm toward the latter position, means for moving the arm from the remote position toward the cap and the wheel into engagement with the cap, and means for feeding a label into engagement with the container when the container is rotated.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 characterized by means for imprinting indicia on the label prior to feeding the label toward the container.

12. Apparatus for capping a container comprising means for supporting the container, a cap-engaging head for engaging a cap on the container when moved into engagement therewith, means for rotating said cap-engaging head, a crimping wheel, an arm rotatably carrying said crimping wheel, means pivotally supporting said arm for movement between a position in which said crimping wheel is in engagement with an edge of the cap and a position in which said wheel is remote from the cap, means urging the arm toward the latter position, means for moving the arm from the remote position toward the cap and the wheel into engagement with the cap, a multiplicity of pressure-sensitive labels carried on a tape, pressure-applying means adjacent the container-supporting means and adapted to be in pressure contact with the container, means for feeding the tape longitudinally toward the pressure-applying means and the container-supporting means, and means for abruptly changing direction of the tape away from the labels to cause the labels and tape to separate and the labels to continue in a path toward said pressure-applying means to move between the pressure-applying means and the container when on said supporting means.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 characterized by a pressure plate past which said labels and tape are moved with the tape positioned between said labels and said pressure plate, a printing head mounted for movement in a lineal path, means for moving said printing head in the lineal path between a position in engagement with the labels on said tape at said pressure plate and a remote position, an inking plate, means pivotally supporting said inking plate in the lineal path of said printing head, and means for pivotally moving said inking plate out of the path of said printing head prior to said printing head being moved toward said pressure plate.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 characterized by a support for said cap-engaging head, means for moving said support up and down to move said head up and down, a gear rAck associated with said support and movable therewith, said pivot means for said inking plate including a shaft, and said means for pivotally moving said inking plate out of the path of said printing plate comprises a pinion gear on said shaft and engaged with said gear rack.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12 characterized by said means for feeding the tape comprises a pair of rolls, at least one of which is driven, said rolls being positioned to receive the tape therebetween after the tape moves past the direction-changing means.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 characterized by at least one of said rolls having a plurality of O-rings mounted thereon in planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the associated roll.

17. Apparatus according to claim 12 characterized further by a light-sensitive cell located on one side of the path of movement of the labels, means on the other side of the label path for directing a beam of light toward said cell, and means responsive to said cell for stopping movement of the tape-feeding means after a label moves beyond the beam of light.

18. Apparatus for capping a container comprising means for supporting the container, a cap-engaging head for engaging a cap on the container when moved into engagement therewith, means for rotating said cap-engaging head, a crimping wheel, an arm rotatably carrying said crimping wheel, means pivotally supporting said arm for movement between a position in which said crimping wheel is in engagement with an edge of the cap and a position in which said wheel is remote from the cap, means urging the arm toward the latter position, means for moving the arm from the remote position toward the cap and the wheel into engagement with the cap, said arm-moving means including an electromagnetic clutch, and means for changing the electrical power supplied to said electromagnetic clutch to change the amount of pressure the crimping wheel applies against the cap.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 characterized further by a support for said cap-engaging head, and means for moving said support up and down to move said head up and down relative to the cap.

20. Apparatus for crimping a cap on a bottle comprising means for supporting the bottle, a cap-engaging head for engaging the cap on the bottle when moved into engagement therewith, means for rotating said cap-engaging head, a crimping wheel, said crimping wheel having an annular outwardly extending flange to move an edge of the cap inwardly under a lip of the bottle and having a cylindrical shoulder of smaller diameter than the flange to engage an intermediate portion of the side of the cap and achieve a sharp bend between the side of the cap and the edge, an arm rotatably carrying said crimping wheel, means pivotally supporting said arm for movement between a position in which said crimping wheel is in engagement with the cap and a position in which said wheel is remote from the cap, spring means urging the arm toward the remote position, and means for moving the arm from the remote position toward the cap and the crimping wheel into engagement therewith.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 characterized by said means for rotating said cap-engaging head and said means for moving said arm include common drive means.

22. Apparatus according to claim 20 characterized by means for rotatably mounting said bottle-supporting means for rotatably supporting the bottom of the bottle.

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