In-mold labeling apparatus and method
An in-mold labeling apparatus for an injection-molded product includes a label magazine, a handling tool, an injection mold, and a controller. The injection mold has a suction port disposed in the mold cavity. A pin may be fixedly or movably disposed in the suction port. A method of in-mold labeling an injection-molded product includes applying a static charge to the label using the handling tool, activating the suction port in the mold cavity, deactivating a suction port of the handling tool, and activating the injection molding.
1. An apparatus for in-mold labeling an injection-molded product, comprising
a label magazine comprising a plurality of label storage stations,
a handling tool configured to handle a plurality of labels, and
a mold having a plurality of mold cavities, the mold being configured to receive injected material to create an injection-molded product, wherein the handling tool is configured to remove a plurality of labels from the magazine, and to position each of the labels in a target area in one of the mold cavities, and each of the target areas of the mold cavities comprises a suction port located along a longitudinal length of the mold cavity, wherein the suction port has a pin disposed therein, and the pin comprises an end, a first body portion and a second body portion, the end, the first body portion and the second body portion are axially aligned, at least two of the end, the first body portion, and the second body portion each have a differently-shaped cross-section, the second body portion has a modified triangularly shaped cross section and modified corners of the triangularly shaped cross section contact the interior of the suction port to center the pin in the port, and the pin is positioned in the suction port so that the end is disposed in the mold cavity during at least a portion of the injection-molding process.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each label storage station of the label magazine has a perimeter, a number of vertically extending bars are disposed around the perimeter of the label storage station to define a label stacking column, at least one of the vertically extending bars is axially rotatable, and another of the vertically extending bars is non-rotatable.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each label storage station includes a label dispensing aperture and a tab extending at least partially into the label dispensing area.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the tab has an upwardly facing rounded surface configured to at least temporarily engage a surface of a label.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the position of the tab is adjustable relative to the label dispensing aperture.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , comprising a sensing device coupled to the label dispensing aperture.
7. An apparatus for in-mold labeling an injection-molded product, comprising
a label magazine comprising a plurality of label storage stations,
a handling tool configured to handle a plurality of labels, and
a mold having a plurality of mold cavities, each mold cavity being configured to receive material forced into the mold cavity by injection to create an injection-molded product, wherein the handling tool is configured to remove multiple labels from the magazine, and position each of the removed labels in a target area located along a longitudinal length of one of the mold cavities, and the target area is configured to maintain the position of each of the labels in the mold cavities during the injection of material into the mold cavity, wherein each target area has a suction port disposed therein, the suction port has a pin disposed therein, the pin comprises an end and a plurality of body portions each having a different cross-section, and one of the body portions has a modified triangularly shaped cross section and modified corners of the triangularly shaped cross section contact the interior of the suction port to center the pin in the suction port.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the pin has a first position in which the suction port is open and a second position spaced from the first position, in which the suction port is closed.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein a head of the pin supports the label when the pin is in the second position.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the head of the pin is at least partially in the mold cavity when the pin is in the first position.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the target area has a textured surface.
12. The apparatus of claim 7 , comprising a plurality of tracks in the target area and intersecting the suction port.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the end of the pin is not substantially flush with any surface of the mold cavity during at least a portion of the injection-molding process.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the differently-shaped cross sections of the first and second body portions cooperate with the suction port to define varying amounts of clearance between the pin and a side of the suction port along the length of the pin.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first and second body portions cooperate with the suction port to define a first amount of clearance near a proximal end of the pin and a second amount of clearance near a distal end of the pin, and wherein the first amount of clearance is smaller than the second amount of clearance.