Label placement onto inner surface of cylindrical injection molding tool involves alignment of label on holding mandrel then moves to molding tool where label is transferred to tool wall and held in position

摘要

A label(1) is taken from a magazine or stack, placed around the periphery of a cylindrical mandrel(5) and held in position. The mandrel and label are then transferred into a cylindrical injection tool. The label holding system on the mandrel releases the label while simultaneously a holding system in the tool is activated so that it grips the label and holds its position against the inner surface of the tool. Removal of the mandrel leaves the label correctly located in the tool. The label(1) is held by vacuum on the mandrel(5) and after placing in the tool is transferred by blowing onto the inner surface of the tool. Labels may be electrostatically charged on the mandrel, using a coating or charging segments around the circumference, so that they retain their location on the tool surface. Each label is correctly aligned before placing in the tool. An independent claim is included for apparatus for transferring a label(1) into a cylindrical injection molding tool comprising a holder for picking up and transferring a label onto a cylindrical placing mandrel(5) with a system for holding a label on outer surface and a mechanism for moving the mandrel and label into the tool.