MXPA98005617A - Method and apparatus for labeling containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for labeling containers allows labeling of containers by wrap around labeling without applying an adhesive on the leading edge of the label. Labels are held on a label drum and moved into a label applying position while containers are fed into the label applying position. Air is blown from the label drum onto the leading edge of the label at an angle to the label drum surface and in a direction backward along the label from the leading edge to force the leading edge of the label against the container. The leading edge is maintained on the container by wet adhesion or by air which is blown onto the label and container from the side opposite the label drum.

Description

? ^^ * 'METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LABELING CONTAINERS This request refers to the commonly assigned co-pending application entitled "An Item that has a Label Wrapped on the Same without Adhesive on the leading edge", filed on the date of the same by the same inventor.

- FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for labeling containers through wraparound labeling without having an adhesive on the leading edge of the label.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 15 In many parts of the world, recirculation has become commonplace and is still required by law. In recent years, plastic bottles and containers were discarded while glass containers were usually recirculated or reused. However, even in new current regulations in several areas, plastic containers, such as refillable PET containers, are required that are recirculated or reused. Many of these plastic PET containers and the like are labeled using a labeling procedure Envelope, wherein an anterior edge of the label is applied over the container and secured therein typically through an adhesive that has been applied over the leading edge while the label is moved with the rotating label drum. The container also rotates and pulls a label drum label. As the container rotates, the label is wrapped around the container and the trailing edge secured by an adhesive either on the container or covering the leading edge. If the container has a contoured surface, such as a convex or inclined end portion, a heat-shrinkable layer is shrunk with heat on the contoured or inclined surface. When the containers are recirculated or reused, the label is removed from the container. Since the leading edge of the label has been secured through an adhesive on the container, after the label has been removed from the container, usually a residue of adhesive from the leading edge is retained on the container. This is an undesirable byproduct of that labeling operation. It could be advantageous if many containers can be labeled and applied through a wraparound labeling technique without having an adhesive placed on the leading edge. In addition, said method and apparatus that could be advantageous since it can increase production. In general, a badly fed label can create a production "failure", since an adhesive roll or other means that is used to apply the adhesive on the front edge of the label can apply the adhesive on the surface of the label drum. If this occurs, then the operator usually must clean the labeling drum, which takes valuable production time and creates higher production costs.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a method and an apparatus for labeling a container, wherein a label can be applied on the container through wraparound labeling without applying an adhesive on the leading edge of the label. According to one aspect of the invention, the labels are held on a label drum and moved to a label application position as the label drum rotates. At the same time, a container to be labeled is fed from a feed mechanism to the label application position. Air is blown from the label drum onto the leading edge of the label at an angle towards the label drum surface and in a backward direction along the label from the leading edge to force the leading edge of the label against the container. As the container rotates, the leading edge of the label is held against the container. In one aspect of the invention, the leading edge is maintained through adhesion in number. In another aspect, the air is blown over the label and the container on the side opposite the label drum to hold the leading edge of the label against the container while the container is rotating, so that the label is wrapped around the container. container. The trailing edge is then secured to the leading edge through an adhesive applied over the trailing edge. In another aspect of the present invention, the container is coupled against a fixed continuous pad. After air is blown from the pad continues on the label as the leading edge of the label moves to a position adjacent to the continuous pad. The laminar flow of air under the label can be minimized by blowing air from the continuous pad in both the straight and inclined directions from holes placed in the continuous pad. It is important to reduce the laminar flow of air under the label. Any laminar flow of air under the label creates a Bernoulli effect, which makes a low pressure below the label, sucking the label tightly against the vacuum drum. In addition, the laminar flow of the air below the label can be minimized by blowing the air from the continuous pad over a slot formed in the continuous pad. In addition, any laminar flow of air below the label can be minimized as it is blown from the label drum blowing the air over a slot formed in the jÉ tam bor de etique. The label drum may use a solenoid or multiple system, first to eject a vacuum on the measured label that moves to a label application position to hold the label on the drum. After the leading edge has moved to the label application position, the vacuum is stopped and the leading edge is blown out through forced air through holes formed on the surface of the label drum. 10 The adhesive may be applied over the trailing edge of the label or applied over a portion of the label extending from the trailing edge and through the label toward the middle portion of the label or even toward an area adjacent to the leading edge of the label . Also, if the item has a surface contoured, the container can be moved towards a heat shrink oven, which shrinks a shrinkable label with caior on the contoured section of the container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above objects and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine labeling machine characterizing the aspects of the present invention. ßp Figure 2 is a schematic, sectional view of a label drum showing the configuration of the various pressure and vacuum ports. Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the label drum taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2 and showing a hub rotatably secured to the label drum allowing the formation of vacuum and pressure ports. Figure 4 is a schematic, partial sectional view of the label drum taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2- Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view of the hub showing several vacuum ports and of pressure. Figure 6 is a plan view of a portion of the label drum surface showing the angled holes and the slot adjacent the holes to minimize laminar flow below the label. Figure 7 is another plan view of a portion of the label drum surface showing vacuum ports. Figure 8 is a schematic view showing a partially wrapped container fed between the continuous pad and the label drum. Figure 9 shows an example of a heat shrink oven that can be used with the present invention. Figure 10 is another view of a heat shrink oven showing the heat shrinkage of a label on a contoured surface of a container. ? P Figure 11 is an example of a container that can be labeled using the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, the containers can now be labeled through a wrapping labeling procedure without having an adhesive applied to the leading edge of the container. a label. The method uses a labeling machine as illustrated in Figure 1, which shows a general schematic plan view of a labeling machine mounted on a mounting surface or a generally planar table top 11. Said labeling machine 10 can be one of the 4500 or 6500/6700 series manufactured by Trine / CMS Gilbreth Packaging Systems, Inc. of Turlock, California. The containers are labeled through the improved method and apparatus as explained below, where air is blown from a label drum onto the leading edge of a labels at an angle towards the label drum surface and in a backward direction along the label from the leading edge to force the leading edge of the label against the container. The air is blown at an angle from the drum surface to ensure that air is blown substantially towards the center of the container. This blown air forces the label to According to the content, measure this rotation. If the blowing was straight as in the systems of the prior art, then the label can initially be transferred onto the container, but the leading edge of the label could not be held on the container as the container rotates. through its first half-time rotation after matching the leading edge of the label. The leading edge of the label is also held on the container, while it is rotating through at least the rotation of a half turn until the trailing edge joins the leading edge. This maintenance of the leading edge on the container can be achieved through wet adhesion, where attractive forces, such as those induced by capillary action, maintain the leading edge of the label against the container. The liquid may initially be contained in the container through the natural condensation experienced in some production plants, or may be deliberately added during the supply of the containers to the label drum. The leading edge of the label can be held against the container by blowing air over the label and the container at an angle from the side opposite the label drum to hold the leading edge of the label against the container, while the container rotates. Typically, the air is blown at an angle from a continuous pad separated from the label drum.

As the container is fed, it rotates between the label drum and a fixed continuous pad. The air is again blown at an angle towards the surface of the continuous pad to ensure that the air is blown substantially towards the center of the container, which forces the label to follow the container as it wraps. In addition, the blown air tends to flow in a laminar form under the label either on the label drum or on the pad? F ^^^ continuous. This laminar flow of air below the label creates a The effect of Bernoulli, causing a higher air pressure on the upper part of the label and a deviation effect on the label towards the label drum or towards the surface of the continuous pad. The laminar flow of air below the label can be reduced to a minimum by flowing the air over a notch or groove formed in the surface of the label surface or the surface of the continuous pad. If the surface of the continuous pad is rough, air can be directed to an angle and also straight from the pad to create turbulence and minimize flow down the label. Now, one embodiment of the machine and the method of the invention will be described in greater detail. A conveyor belt 12 moves the product containers or packages 13, 14 towards the labeling machine 10 in the direction of the arrow 15. The machine labeler 10 is designed to apply labels to containers They have a wide scale of sizes, or diameters for indi cular containers. Among this spectrum of container sizes that the labeling machine 10 can process is a medium size container such as a 453.6 5 gram container that is intermediate between the maximum and minimum container sizes that the machine 10 can label. The machine can label other container sizes such as containers of two or three liters or even smaller than 170.1 grams. Sometimes, containers can be filled and capped before be labeled. The container can be dry or wet. Thin-film labels can adhere to the container if the container has a thin layer of water or other liquid still sometimes without blowing air from a side opposite the label drum. The water can be sprinkled with condensation water or optionally 15a. The containers on the conveyor belt 12 are first received on the labeling machine 10 through a star wheel assembly 32. The containers 13, 14 can have a thin layer of water such as condensation by soaking, immersion by sprinkling or other means, although the practice of The invention does not need a water layer. The star wheel assembly 32 moves the containers 13 and 14 in the direction of the arrow 15 towards a continuous pad assembly 16. In the cyclization of the containers 13, 14 through the labeling procedure, the star wheel assembly 32 takes the containers beyond the continuous pad assembly 16, the which imparts a rotation counterclockwise or # these containers in the direction of the arrow 21. The continuous pad assembly 16 generally has an arcuate guide 24 which is covered with an elastic pad 26 formed of silicone, urethane, rubber or a similar material. The elastic pad 26 grasps the containers and forces them to rotate in the desired direction. As shown in Figure 1, a label roll 30 provides a label strip 31 which is ejected through a feed roller system 32a to a cutter 35, which can be a cutter drum (not shown in detail). According to another aspect of the invention, the cutter 35 is positioned near the cylindrical label drum 34 having a perforated surface containing holes through which vacuum and pressure are ejected and ejected to retain a label therein and then blow the leading edge into engagement with a container. The vacuum and pressure can be removed and expelled - using various solenoid valve or port systems. However, after many cycles, soienoids typically become inoperable. A more efficient device uses multiple over a club such as the type described in the patent of E. U. A. No. 5, 344,519, Galchefski, et al., The description of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The band is pulled through the feed roll system 32a and compressed against the cutter 35 having a vacuum ejected inside the cutter. The cutter rotates and a blade The cutter (not shown), which emerges from the cylindrical surface of the cutter, compresses against the web to cut the web into individual "L" labels, which have respective front and rear edges 27, 28. 5 Various labels (not shown in FIG. Figure 1) are retained on the label drum 34 and rotate in the direction of the arrow 38 on the label drum 34 towards an adhesive applicator 40, which includes a gummed roller 42. The adhesive can be applied * to the surface of the label that is exposed on the drum label through the gummed roller 42, and in accordance with the present invention, applied over the trailing edge of the label. Label drum 34 rotates the leading edge of the label toward a point where the leading edge of the label is approximately in alignment with line 43 between the axis rotational drum and star wheel assembly. As illustrated, the line 43 also coincides with the termination of an arcuate feed guide 43b. The container is pushed through a tip 43a of the star wheel 32 until the blown air makes the edge The front of the label is attached to the container and the label wraps itself around the container. The container continues its rotation counterclockwise as indicated by arrow 21. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the label drum 34 includes a rotating external drum member 45, which is rotatably mounted on a hub 46. The drum member 45 includes an external support surface 47 having a rubber, polyurethane or other elastic material mounted on the external support surface to form a smooth surface 48, on which the labels rest. In this way, the "L" labels are not damaged by the high-speed operation of the machine. The air and vacuum are removed or expelled through the holes 49a, 49b, which are formed on the surface 48. The holes 49a, 49b are placed in an area of the surface 48 on which a label is held. The rotating drum member 45 is rotatably mounted to the hub 46, which is secured to a machine frame (not shown). The rotating drum member 45 includes a side flange surface 50 having an internal port adventure group 52 communicating through a manifold 53 with holes 49a on the surface 48, where the trailing edge 28 of a label is positioned. That portion of the label drum surface where the trailing edge 28 lies, is partially raised to form a projection 53a, which raises the trailing edge of the label slightly to contact the adhesive roller 42. An external group of openings port 54 communicates through a manifold 55 with the holes 49b on the surface 48, where the leading edge 27 of a label lies. Each manifold 55, 56 communicates through respective air channels 56, 57 to the respective back edge groups and of front edge of holes 49a, 49b. The hub 46 is secured thereto with a vacuum drum flange 60 (Fig. 5), which has a rear edge vacuum manifold 61 circumferentially in extension, aligned with the internal port openings 52. A vacuum source 62 is connected to the trailing edge vacuum manifold 61 and ejects a vacuum into the manifold, the air channel 57 and through the holes 49a in order to eject a vacuum over the area below the trailing edge of the label to retain a label on the label drum as the drum member 45 rotates about its axis and against the fixed vacuum drum flange 60. As shown in Figure 5, the rear edge vacuum manifold 61 extends circumferentially towards a point where the vacuum is maintained on a trailing edge 28 of the label, until the label is completely wrapped around the container. The trailing edge blank manifold 61 also includes a larger or enlarged portion 64 to form a front edge blank manifold 64a which is aligned with the outer port openings 54, and leads to manifold 55, the air channel 57 and holes 49a. Initially, a vacuum source 62 ejects a vacuum within both groups of port openings to retain both the trailing edge 28 and the leading edge 27 toward the drum surface as the label moves toward the label wrap position 63. A leading edge pressure manifold 66 is aligned with the external port openings 54 and extends after the vacuum manifold of the leading edge 64a to a point where air pressure is applied through an air pressure source 68. When the outer drum member 45 has rotated so that the leading edge of the label reaches the label application position 63, the outer port opening 54 is aligned adjacent the pressure manifold 66, terminating the vacuum ejection but blowing the air through the holes 49b. As shown in Figure 2, the leading edge holes 49b extend towards the label drum surface and are angled relative to that surface 48, so that the air is blown out of the holes 49b at an angle as shown in FIG. described earlier. The trailing edge holes, on the other hand, extend guiding towards the surface 48 towards the manifold 53. When the tag drum 34 rotates and moves the leading edge 27 of the label "L" to a label application position 63, air is blown from the holes 49b on the leading edge of the label at an angle to the label drum surface 48 and in a backward direction as far as possible. length of the label from the leading edge to force the leading edge 27 of the label against the container (Figures 2 and 8). To minimize the deviation of the label towards the drum surface caused by the laminar flow of air below the label, the air is blown over a groove 70 formed in the surface of the drum 48 (Figures 2, 6 and 8) , which minimizes the laminar flow of air below the label. Since the holes are drilled in a rubber, urethane or similar material, the holes may have the shape of an hourglass, which can improve a laminar flow from the holes 49b. The laminar flow causes the air to flow below the label and creates a Bernoulli effect, causing a higher air pressure on the top of the label, and thereby deflecting the label against the surface of the label drum. This is an undesirable effect since the leading edge of the label will not be transferred over the container. The air flowing over the groove 70 can create turbulence, thus minimizing the laminar flow of air below the label. Also, as the container rotates between the continuous pad and the label drum (Figure 8), the angled air jet from the front edge holes 49b keeps the leading edge of the label over the container 13 since the air is directed against the center of the container. As the container rotates further, the leading edge of the label can be held on the container through various means, including wet adhesion caused by the capillary action of the water acting as a temporary adhesive, thus retaining the leading edge on the container as the container rotates. Wet adhesion is particularly advantageous with thin-film labels. Alternatively, the air flow from the opposite side of the label drum can be used. A time controller -fl causes air to flow from the pad continuing on the leading edge to a point where the leading edge is adjacent to the continuous pad. In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 8, the air can be forced through two groups of holes 72, 73. The The first group 72 is formed to blow air at an angle to the container and the label, and the second group 73 is formed to blow straight air from outside the continuous pad 16. The air flow of the two groups of holes 72, 73 minimizes the flow # Laminate air below the label and minimize any deviation of the label against the surface of the continuous pad. If the continuous pad has a rough surface, then the two channels are preferred as illustrated. If the continuous pad has a smooth surface, then only an orifice angled group 72, and a slot 77 can be used. can be formed in the continuous pad to minimize the laminar flow of air below the label. Various other means and methods can be used to minimize the laminar flow below the label near the label drum or the continuous pad. However, the techniques described above have been found useful for reducing the laminar flow of air below the label, thus reducing any deviation of the label towards the label drum or continuous pad. Referring now to Figure 11, a type is shown of container 80 that can be labeled using the method and existing apparatus as described. This illustrated container has a contoured surface such as the convex surface 82 illustrated. Typically, any contoured surface will have an applied label, which shrinks by heat on the contoured surface. Examples of contoured surfaces that can be labeled according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, circular, elliptical, stepped, raised, concave and convex surfaces. Of course, a straight wall container can also be labeled with the method and apparatus of the present invention. Straight wall containers typically do not require heat shrinkage. Figure 8 illustrates a schematic view of a straight wall container, where the surface to be labeled is a straight surface that is parallel to the longitudinal axis in extension of the container. Referring to Figures 9-11, and more particularly to Figure 11, a container 80 is shown entering a heat shrink tunnel, generally indicated at 84. The container leaves the tunnel 84 having the heat shrinkage label on it. its convex surface 82. The container 80 illustrated includes upper and lower body portions 85, 86, and a central vertical axis 87. The convex surface 82 is located between the upper and lower body portions 85, 86, and presents a sector of maximum diameter 88. The convex surface 82 has a lower convex portion 89 and a portion upper convex 90. The upper convex portion 90 has a convexity greater than the convexity of the lower convex portion 89, as shown through the "X plus Y" dimension located between the maximum convex point on the upper convex portion and the upper convex portion. tangent line This is compared to the smallest dimension "X" which corresponds to the separation between the tangent line and the maximum convexity point on the lower convex portion. The upper convex portion 90 has a much larger surface area than the lower convex portion 89. The upper body portion 85 includes a generally arcuate tapered section 91, which terminates in an opening 92 on which a lid can be screwed. The lower body portion 86 includes an area of maximum diameter 93, so that the portion between the convex surface 82 and the maximum diameter area 93 on the lower body portion is of a smaller diameter, as shown in Figure 11. In one embodiment, the maximum diameter is slightly greater than the maximum convex diameter 88. Both the upper and lower body portion, 85, 86, are grooved as generally illustrated at 94. The containers 80 are typically formed from a plastic material such as PET or polyethylene, or other material known to those skilled in the art. The containers can be formed from glass. The "L" labels, which are applied on the convex surface, typically have a rectangular shape and have respective front, back and side edges, 27, 28, 28a as shown in Figure 1 1. The 'L' labels are formed from a thin film layer material and in the container 80 mode can be shrunk by heat for use with the contoured surface. Typically, the labels have a thickness of about 0.00254 to 0.00762 cm. The label material can be formed from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, or other numerous types of plastic film materials, which can be shrunk with heat, known to those skilled in the art. The label may have printed characteristics that correspond to the identification, commercial logos and other information. After having labeled through the apparatus described above, the container 80 then continues on the conveyor belt 12 towards the heat shrink tunnel illustrated in Figure 9 and schematically in Figure 10. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the heat shrink tunnel 84 is formed from a first heat tunnel portion 120 and a second heat tunnel portion 122. Each heat tunnel portion, 120, 122 is in the present embodiment a 101.6 cm forced air heat tunnel manufactured by CMS Gilbreth Packaging Systems of Trevose, Pennsylvania. The tunnel portions 120, 122 are formed of a rugged aluminum construction and each having four efficient energy blower systems illustrated at 124. A 203.2 furnace may also be used in place of two 101.6 cm tunnel portions. Each tunnel includes ends opposite, two opposite sides 120a, 122a, and two internal walls 120b, 120b. A heating chamber 121 is formed inside each tunnel (Figure 10). The container 80 passes through the chamber 121 on the conveyor belt without rotating. As illustrated, the tunnel portions 120, 122 are placed on top of the conveyor belt and do not engage the conveyor belt. Referring to Figure 10, illustrating an end view of the first heat tunnel portion 120, the tunnel includes an air baffle system 126 and heaters 128 for heating the air expelled by the blowers 124. Air is forced into an area of manifold 130 over the top of tunnel 120 and expelled towards side plenums 132, and outwardly through an air discharge slot 136 extending longitudinally along the inner wall of the lower portion of tunnel 120. Since the slot extends along the longitudinal length of the tunnel and is simply a long opening and not a harpoon jet or nozzle in the form of a fan, a less severe blowing of hot air occurs. Typically, the tunnel portions 120, 122 each have an operating temperature of up to about 260 ° C.; and a width adjustment to blow air from 0 to 21.59 cm. They have a normal height adjustment of approximately 30.48 cm. The tunnels 120, 122 are positioned above the conveyor belt and can be supported through linear actuator supports 140 to allow a width adjustment of approximately 0 to 21 .59 cm and a height adjustment of approximately 35.56 cm. Typically, the linear actuator supports may be on a drive assembly that includes leveling pads. In this way, the tunnels 120, 122 can be positioned and inclined so that the slots 136 can be placed substantially horizontally in the two tunnels 122 or at a gradual inclination such as that shown in a tunnel 120. It is evident that the present invention allows the labeling of containers without the need for the application of adhesive on the front edge of the label. This is advantageous since a label can be separated from a container without leaving a residue of adhesive on the container, which makes the recirculation of the container much more efficient and inexpensive. In addition, since there is no requirement for an adhesive applicator to apply adhesives on the leading edge of a label, during production problems when the labels are not fed, an adhesive applicator could not inadvertently apply the adhesive on the surface of the adhesive. drum label, requiring as a result a delay in production for cleaning the label drum. It should be understood that the foregoing description of the invention is merely intended to be illustrative thereof, and that other embodiments, modifications and equivalents may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from its spirit.

Claims (34)

1. CLAIMS 1 . - A method for labeling content that they buy from the steps of: moving labels held in a label drum to a label position, feeding a container that will be labeled to the label application position. , - »blow air from the label drum onto the leading edge 10 of the label at an angle to the label drum surface and in a backward direction along the label from the leading edge to force the leading edge of the label against the container, and to maintain the leading edge of the label. label against the container 15 while the container rotates, so that the label is wrapped around the container.
2. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the leading edge of the label is maintained through wet adhesion.
3. 3. The method according to claim 1, including the step of securing the trailing edge to the leading edge through an adhesive applied on the trailing edge.
4. 4. The method according to claim 1, which includes the step of blowing air onto the label and container from the side 25 opposite of the label drum to help hold the edge previous label against the container.
5. 5. The method according to claim 1, including the step of blowing air from the label drum back against the label and the container to hold the label against the surface of the container as the container rotates.
6. 6. A method for labeling containers comprising the steps of: moving labels held on a label drum to a label application position; Feed a container that will be labeled to the label application position, the container having a layer of liquid on the surface that will be labeled to provide wet adhesion from the label to the container, blow air from the label drum onto the front edge of the container. label at an angle towards the label drum surface and in a backward direction along the label from the leading edge to force the leading edge of the label against the container, and keep the leading edge of the label against the container while the container rotates, so that the label is wrapped around the container and the leading edge is retained on the container through the wet adhesion of the liquid.
7. 7. The method according to claim 6, which includes the step of securing the trailing edge to the leading edge through an adhesive applied on the trailing edge.
8. 8. - A method for labeling containers comprising the steps of: moving labels held on a label drum to a label application position, feeding a container that will be labeled to the label application position, blowing air from the label drum over the leading edge of the label at an angle towards the label drum surface and in a backward direction along the label from the leading edge to force the leading edge of the label against the container, and blow air over the label and the container from the side opposite the label drum to hold the leading edge of the label against the container, while the container is rotating, so that the label is wrapped around the container.
9. 9. The method according to claim 8, including the step of securing the trailing edge to the leading edge through an adhesive applied on the trailing edge.
10. 10. The method according to claim 8, including the step of coupling the container against a fixed continuous pad separated from the label drum, so that the container rotates between the label drum and the fixed continuous pad, and air blows from the continuous pad over the label as the leading edge of the label moves towards a position adjacent to the continuous pad.
11. 11. The method according to claim 10, including the step of blowing the air from the continuous pad in a manner to minimize the laminar flow of air under the label.
12. 12. The method according to claim 11, which includes the step of minimizing the laminar flow of air below the label by blowing air from the continuous pad onto a notch cut in the continuous pad.
13. 13. The method according to claim 11, which includes the step of minimizing the laminar flow of air below the label by blowing the air straight and at an angle.
14. 14. The method according to claim 8, including the step of blowing air from the label drum back against the label and the container to hold the label against the surface of the container as the container rotates.
15. 15. The method according to claim 8, which includes the step of controlling the air that is blown from the opposite side of the label drum to start when the leading edge of the label reaches the opposite side to the label drum and ends the blowing of air when the label has been wrapped substantially around the container.
16. 16. The method according to claim 8, which includes the step of shrinking the label on the container after the label has been wrapped therein.
17. 17. A method for labeling containers that comprises The steps of: moving the labels held on a label drum to a label application position, feeding a container that will be labeled to the label application position 5, blowing air from the label drum onto the front edge of the label drum; the label at an angle towards the label drum surface and in a backward direction on the label from the edge * ^^ f previous to force the leading edge of the label against the container, while also minimizing the laminar flow of air below the label to prevent the label from being deflected against the drum surface, and maintain the front edge of the label against the container while the container rotates, so that the label is wrapped around the container.
18. 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the leading edge of the label is maintained through wet adhesion.
19. 19. The method according to claim 17, which includes the step of securing the trailing edge to the leading edge through an adhesive applied on the trailing edge.
20. 20. The method according to claim 17, which includes the step of blowing air onto the label and the container from the opposite side of the label drum to aid in keeping the leading edge of the label against the container.
21. 21. The method according to claim 17, including the step of blowing air from the label drum back against the label and the container to hold the label against the surface of the container as the container rotates.
22. 22. A method for labeling containers comprising the steps of: moving the labels held on a label drum to a label application position, * feeding a container that will be labeled to the label application position 10, the container having a liquid layer on the surface that will be labeled to provide wet adhesion, blowing air from the label drum on the leading edge towards the label at an angle towards the label drum surface and in a backward direction on the label from the leading edge to force the leading edge of the label against the container, while also minimizing the laminar flow of air below the label to prevent the label from deviating against the drum surface, and maintain the front edge of the label against the container through wet adhesion, while the container is rotating, so that the label is wrapped around the container.
23. 23. The method according to claim 22, which includes the step of securing the trailing edge to the leading edge to through an adhesive applied on the trailing edge.
24. 24.- A method for labeling containers that includes the steps of: moving labels held on a label drum to a label application position, feeding a container that will be labeled to the label application position, blowing air from the container. label drum on the leading edge towards the label at an angle towards the label drum surface and in a backward direction on the label from the leading edge to force the leading edge of the label against the container, while minimizing also the laminar flow of air below the label to prevent the label from deviating against the drum surface, and blowing air over the label and the container from the side opposite the label drum to maintain the front edge of the label against the container, while the container is rotating, so that the label is wrapped around the container.
25. 25. The method according to claim 24, which includes the step of securing the trailing edge to the leading edge through an adhesive applied on the trailing edge.
26. 26. The method according to claim 24, which includes the step of blowing the air over a slot formed in the drum surface label to minimize the laminar flow of air below the label.
27. 27. The method according to claim 24, which includes the step of blowing air from the opposite side of the label drum into a shape to minimize the laminar flow of air below the label.
28. 28. The method according to claim 24, which includes the step of attaching the container against a fixed continuous pad separated from the label drum, so that the container rotates between the label drum and the fixed continuous pad, and air blows from the continuous pad over the label as the leading edge of the label moves towards a position adjacent to the continuous pad.
29. 29. The method according to claim 28, including the step of blowing the air from the continuous pad in a manner to minimize the laminar flow of air down the label.
30. 30. The method according to claim 29, which includes the step of minimizing the laminar flow of air below the label by blowing air from the continuous pad over a slot formed in the continuous pad.
31. 31. The method according to claim 29, which includes the step of blowing air from the continuous pad at an angle and in a straight direction toward the continuous pad to minimize the laminar flow of air below the label.
32. 32. The method according to claim 24, which includes the step of blowing air from the label drum towards back against the label and the container to hold the label against the surface of the container as the container rotates.
33. 33. - The method according to claim 24, which includes the step of controlling the blowing of air from the opposite side of the label drum to start when the leading edge of the label reaches the side opposite the label drum and finishing the blowing of the label drum. air when the label has been wrapped substantially around the container.
34. 34. The method according to claim 24, which includes the step of heat shrinking the label on the container after the label has been wrapped therein. 35.- An apparatus for labeling containers comprising: a label drum having a surface on which labels having front and rear edges are retained, and which rotates to move the labels towards a label application position, a feed of container for feeding a container to the label application position, means for blowing air outwardly from the label drum on the leading edge of the label at an angle towards the label drum surface in a backward direction along the the label from the leading edge to force the leading edge of the label against the container, and means to maintain the leading edge of the label against the container, while the container is rotating, so that the label is wrapped around the container. 36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the means for maintaining the leading edge of the label comprises a liquid film on the container for wet adhesion of the leading edge to the container. 37. The apparatus according to claim 35, including an adhesive applicator for applying adhesive to the trailing edge of the label to secure the trailing edge to the leading edge when the label is wrapped around the container and the trailing edge overlaps the edge. previous. 38.- The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the means for maintaining the leading edge of the label against the container comprises means for blowing air onto the label and the container from a position separated outwardly from the drum. label on the label. 39.- An apparatus for labeling containers comprising: a label drum having a surface on which labels having front and rear edges are retained, and which can rotate to move the labels towards a label application position, a feeding of container for feeding a container to the label application position, means for blowing air outwardly from the label drum on the leading edge of the label at an angle towards the label drum surface and in a backward direction as length of the label from the leading edge to force the leading edge of the label against the container, and means for blowing air onto the label and container from a separate position outside the label drum on the label to maintain the leading edge of the label against the container, while the container is rotating, so that the label is wrapped around the container. 40. The apparatus according to claim 39, including an adhesive applicator for applying adhesive to the trailing edge of the label to secure the trailing edge to the leading edge when the label is wrapped around the container and the trailing edge overlaps the edge. previous. 41. The apparatus according to claim 39, including a continuous pad separated from the label drum for coupling a container and compressing the container against the surface of the label drum, and the separate air blowing means including holes on the container. Continuous pad through which the air is blown over the label and the container. 42. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the orifices are configured to blow air in the manner of minimizing the laminar flow of air below the label. 43. The apparatus according to claim 41, including a channel formed in the continuous pad on which the air blows from the holes in the continuous pad to minimize the laminar flow of air below the label. * 44.- The apparatus according to claim 39, including means for controlling the blowing of air from the outwardly spaced position from the label drum, so that the air blowing starts when the leading edge of the label it has moved to a position substantially opposite to the label drum and ends when the label has been substantially wrapped around the container. 45.- The apparatus according to claim 39, which includes a heat shrink oven through which the The container passes after the labeling to heat shrink the label on the container. 46.- An apparatus for labeling containers comprising: a label drum having a surface on which labels having front and rear edges are retained, and which rotates 15 to move the labels to a label application position, a container feed to feed a container to the label application position, means to blow air outward from the label drum. 20 label and below the leading edge of the label at an angle towards the label drum surface and in a backward direction along the label from the leading edge to force the leading edge of the label against the container, means to minimize the laminar flow of blown air 25 below the label to prevent the label from deviating against the drum surface, means for maintaining the leading edge of the label against the container, while the container is rotating, so that the label is wrapped around the container. 47. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the means for maintaining the leading edge of the label comprises a film of liquid on the container for wet adhesion of the leading edge on the container. 48. The apparatus according to claim 46, including an adhesive applicator for applying adhesive to the trailing edge of the label to secure the trailing edge to the leading edge when the label is wrapped around the container and the trailing edge overlaps the leading edge . 49. The apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the means for maintaining the leading edge of the label comprises means for blowing air onto the label and the container from a separate position outside the label drum on the label. 50.- An apparatus for labeling containers comprising: a label drum having a surface on which labels having front and rear edges are retained, and which rotates to move the labels towards a label application position, a feed of container to feed a container to the label application position, means to blow air out from the label drum and below the leading edge of the label at an angle towards the label drum surface and in a backward direction along the label from the leading edge to force the the front edge of the label against the container, means for minimizing the laminar flow of the air blown below the label to prevent the label from deviating against the drum surface, and means for blowing air onto the label and the container from a separate position outside the label drum on the label to hold the leading edge of the label against the container, while the container is rotating, so that the label is wrapped around the container. 51. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the means for minimizing the laminar flow of air below the label includes a channel formed on the surface of the label drum on which the air flows. 52. The apparatus according to claim 50, including an adhesive applicator for applying adhesive to the trailing edge of the label to secure the trailing edge to the leading edge when the label is wrapped around the container and the trailing edge overlaps the edge. previous. 53. The apparatus according to claim 50, including a continuous pad separated from the label drum for coupling a container and compressing the container against the Label drum surface, and separate air blowing means include holes on the continuous pad through which air is blown over the label and container. 54.- The apparatus according to claim 53, wherein 5 the holes are configured to blow air in a form to minimize the laminar flow of air below the label. 55.- The apparatus according to claim 53, including a channel formed in the continuous pad cover, the * which blows air from the holes in the continuous pad to 10 minimize the laminar flow of air below the label. 56. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the means for blowing air out of the label drum include orifices through which air is blown over the leading edge of the label when the label is moved over the label. 15 label application position. 57. The apparatus according to claim 50, including means for ejecting a vacuum through the holes to assist in retaining the label on the label drum until the label drum has rotated and moves the label towards the 20 label application position. 58. The apparatus according to claim 50, including means for controlling the blowing of air from a separate position outside the label drum, so that the blowing starts when the leading edge of the label has moved toward a 25 position substantially opposite to the label drum and ends when the label has been substantially wrapped around the container 59. The apparatus according to claim 50, which includes a heat shrink oven through which the container passes after labeling to heat shrink the label on the container.