Device and method for attaching banderoles, security tags, label strips, and/or control strips to containers
View Patent ↗A container handling machine and method of handling containers, in which an attachment arrangement is used to attach an elongated strip, such as a banderole, a security strip, a label strip, or a tax strip, to the removable top of a closed container. Either or both of the container holder and the attachment arrangement which attaches the strips can be rotated in order to place the strip in a particular orientation with respect to the container.
1. A container handling machine comprising:
a container holding arrangement comprising a plurality of container holders configured to receive and hold containers that are not rotationally symmetrical;
an attachment arrangement being configured to attach an elongated strip comprising one of: a banderole, a security strip, a label strip, and a tax strip, to a closed container by attaching a portion of the strip to a removable container top and at least one other portion of the strip to the container neck area;
at least one of (A) and (B):
(A) each of said container holders being configured to rotate a container held thereby about a vertical container axis to orient the container in a desired orientation with respect to an elongated strip to be attached to the container; and
(B) said attachment arrangement being configured to rotate about its axis to orient an elongated strip to be attached to a container in a desired orientation with respect to the container.
2. The container handling machine according to claim 1 , wherein only said container holders are rotatable.
3. The container handling machine according to claim 2 , further comprising a control arrangement being configured to effect and control rotational movement of said container holders, wherein said control arrangement comprises one of: servo motors, synchronous motors, stepping motors, and a cam arrangement.
4. The container handling machine according to claim 1 , wherein only said attachment arrangement is rotatable.
5. The container handling machine according to claim 4 , further comprising a control arrangement being configured to effect and control rotational movement of said attachment arrangement, wherein said control arrangement comprises one of: servo motors, synchronous motors, stepping motors, and a cam arrangement.
6. The container handling machine according to claim 1 , wherein at least said attachment arrangement is rotatable.
7. The container handling machine according to claim 6 , wherein said container holders are rotatable and said attachment arrangement is rotatable.
8. The container handling machine according to claim 7 , wherein:
each of said container holders is configured to position a container such that the container and said attachment arrangement are coaxial; and
said attachment arrangement is configured to move axially toward a removable container top to attach a strip thereto.
9. The container handling machine according to claim 8 , wherein said attachment arrangement is configured to initially attach a strip to a removable container top in a position in which the strip is essentially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the container.
10. The container handling machine according to claim 9 , wherein said attachment arrangement is configured to initially attach a central, adhesive portion of a strip to a removable container top.
11. A method of operating a container handling machine comprising the steps of:
holding containers with a container holding arrangement comprising a plurality of container holders configured to receive and hold containers that are not rotationally symmetrical;
moving containers that are not rotationally symmetrical with said container holding arrangement to an attachment arrangement being configured to attach an elongated strip comprising one of: a banderole, a security label, a label strip, and a tax strip, to a closed container;
at least one of (A) and (B):
(A) rotating a container holder and thereby rotating a container held thereby about a vertical container axis, and thereby orienting said container in a desired orientation with respect to an elongated strip to be attached to said container; and
(B) rotating said attachment arrangement about its axis and thereby orienting an elongated strip to be attached to a container in a desired orientation with respect to said container;
attaching said strip to said container by attaching a portion of said strip to a removable container top.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein only step (A) is performed to angularly move said container with respect to said strip.
13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein only step (B) is performed to angularly move said strip with respect to said container.
14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein both steps (A) and (B) are performed to relatively angularly move said strip and said container with respect to one another.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein, after said strip is attached to said removable container top, pressing a second portion of said strip to a first side of a container neck area, and pressing a third portion of said strip to a second side of said container neck area opposite said first side.
16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein said step of attaching said strip comprises attaching said strip essentially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said first container and at a first angular orientation, and then repeating said attaching step for a second strip of a second container, wherein said second strip is oriented at a second angular orientation different from said first angular orientation.
17. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said step of attaching said strip comprises pressing an adhesive portion of said strip onto said removable container top.
18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein, after said strip is attached to said removable container top, pressing a second portion of said strip to a first side of a container neck area, and pressing a third portion of said strip to a second side of said container neck area opposite said first side.
19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein said step of attaching said strip comprises attaching said strip essentially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said first container and at a first angular orientation, and then repeating said attaching step for a second strip of a second container, wherein said second strip is oriented at a second angular orientation different from said first angular orientation.
20. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said step of attaching said strip comprises attaching said strip essentially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said first container and at a first angular orientation, and then repeating said attaching step for a second strip of a second container, wherein said second strip is oriented at a second angular orientation different from said first angular orientation.