LABELING MACHINE WITH RADIAL MOTION TURRET

摘要

The present invention relates to a labeling machine (10) for labeling a plurality of containers (12). It comprises an infeed conveyor (38), a loading star wheel (14), a rotatable turret (16) having a plurality of receptacles (18) which are able to pivot in a limited arcuated path about a pivot pin (22), a label dispenser (30), wherein each container (12) is fed by the loading star wheel (14) to one of the receptacles (18) that grips the container as it is rotated around the turret (16) until it reaches a pick-up point (92) where the container contacts the adherent side (50) of the label (33) causing the label to adhere to the container, the leading end (24) of the receptacles pivoting toward the turret prior to label pick up and trailing end (26) of the receptacle pivoting toward the turret throughout the label application operation until the label is released from the label dispenser (30) to adjust for changes in a contoured surface of the container relative to the axis of rotation of the turret as the turret rotates the container past the label dispenser.