EP0506597A1

EP0506597A1 - Reversible self-adhesive label applicator

Info

Publication number: EP0506597A1
Application number: EP92500029A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Juan Polls Rosello
Original assignee: REVERSIBLE LABELLING SYSTEMS SL
Current assignee: CESSIONE EPO;REVERSIBLE LABELLING SYSTEMS S.L.
Priority date: 1991-03-26
Filing date: 1992-03-25
Publication date: 1992-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 2012-03-25
Also published as: ES2029433A6; DE69201318D1; DE69201318T2; ES2070615T3; EP0506597B1

Abstract

A label application of the type that comprises a label carrier reel (1) and a withdrawal roller (3,4′,6′) for the lable tape, a rewinder spool and an applicator arm (7), characterized by its detachable applicator arm so that the arm or the components it carries can be fitted to left or right without modification of the other components of the applicator and having additionally the configuration of the tape withdrawal rollers symmetical with respect to the plane passing through the axis of the lable carrier reel and the suspension arm permitting withdrawal of the tape in the same direction with either the left or the right hand assembly.

Description

This invention patent refers to a labelling head for self-adhesive labels which being reversible has distinct advantages over currently known devices of a similar nature.
Labelling heads are used in the bottling process for the attachment of an adhesive label to each bottle leaving the plant. Some machines are for affixing a label as such and others for tagging or the attachment of so-called "counter labels" or tickets.
Bottles may be presented to the machine from various directions and the heads referred to may be left or right handed to deal with the direction in which the bottles are transfered in the machine. This occasions considerable difficulties in setting the machine in that it may require a re-assembly of the machine in the appropriate form with a consequent loss of time during the setting for production.
The labelling head disclosed in this patent presents a solution to this problem in that it is based on the principle of a universal head for use either left or right handed. That is to say that the novelty resides in its ability to be set up with a very simple change over to left or right as may be desired thus reducing the costs in production wiht a decreased setting up time.
Essentially the labelling head as disclosed herein consists of an assembly which includes the label carrier reel, rollers for withdrawing the tape and for guiding the tape with these being symmetric about a plane passing through the axis of the label reel and its support arm, with the additional feature of having the applicator arm detachable from the head itself allowing it to be easily fitted to either the left or the right hand side of the plane of symmetry mentioned above, as may be required in each case of the machine setting.
The principles disclosed in this invention patent can be applied to both the "L" type machine heads and the straight or linear type of head. In the former the applicator arm lies at an angle of 90° to the label reel support arm while in the latter the reel support and the applicator arm form one single piece.
In both cases in order to alter the orientation from left to right or vice-versa it is simply a question of positioning the applicator arm relative to the guide rollers of the label carrier tape in accordance with this invention patent, the reversibilty being maintained whether the withdrawal or traction rollers are pulling from one side or the other.
To assist in the explanation drawings showing two preferred but non limititive embodiments of the device are attached to this specification.
Figures 1 and 2 show respectively a labelling head of the "L" type in both the left hand and the right hand configuration.
Figures 2 and 4 show similarly the two options as applied to the linear type head.
The labelling head comprises, in accordance with this patent a label reel or spool -1- from which the strip or label carrier tape -2- leaves tangentially, being guided by the first guide roller -3- then passing to an upper guide roller -4- which is located at the level of the centre of the label reel -1- along the length -5- of the tape which is then guided by a third roller -6- along the arm -7- which has at its extremity the plate -8- where the label is separated from its carrier tape. The tape -9- then passes without its labels down to an intermediate roller -10- then on to a further intermediate roller -11- and on to the bare tape collector reel -12-. Other devices on the head unit include among others a control device -12- and the driving motor -14-.
A characteristic of the labelling head, which is the object of this patent is that the tape withdrawal rollers both girate in the same direction of rotation whether in left hand or right hand operation this making it an essential feature,the arrangement as shown with the first guide roller -3- in the plane of symmetry of the label carrier reel -1- and the position of the roller -4- at the level of the centre line of the reel -1- as well as the position of the guide roller -6-. Both the roller -4- and the roller -6- are duplicated as shown as roller -4′- and -6′- arranged symmetrically with respect to the rollers -4- and -6-.
Other fundamental characteristics of the labelling head object of this patent include the detachable applicator arm -7- such that it may be fitted either towards the right as in figure 1 or towards the left as in figure 2 without requiring functional modifications.
Figure 2 shows that with the left hand configuration the label carrier tape -2- also leaves the label reel -1 tangentially, passing by the same guide roller -3- then to the upper roller -4′- then on to the guide roller -6′-, symmetrical to roller -6- and on to the arm -7- which will have been fitted to the left.
Other than the alterations mentioned above no further modifications are required to the head in order to change from one side to the other as may be required at the time of setting up.
In the linear or straight version of the head as shown in figures 3 and 4 the reel -15- is carried on the arm -16- which is a prolongation of the applicator arm -17-. The first roller -18- is positioned in its own line of symmetry with rollers -19- and -19′- lying symmetrical with respect to the central plane so allowing the tape to be drawn to the left or right without altering other components.
From the above it can be seen that the labelling head can be used for either left or right hand feed with the minimum of setting time given the design of the head with its easily removable applicator arm or the components carried by the arm and which can be fitted either one side or the other.
Anything not affecting, modifying or otherwise changing the essence of the above disclosed head will be a variable for purposes of this invention patent.

Claims

A reversible self-adhesive label applicator head of the type that comprises a label carrier reel with a traction or withdrawal roller for the label tape, a rewinder spool and an applicator arm characterized by its detachable applicator arm so that it can be fitted to its appropriate support means to left or right without requirement to alter other elements of the head and having furthermore the tape traction rollers located symmetrically with respect to the plane passing through the axis of the tape carrier reel and the suspension arm, so that the the tape may be drawn in the same direction for either the right hand or the left hand assembly.
A reversible self-adhesive label applicator head as in claim 1, characterized by the configuration of the first label carrier tape guide roller being in the plane of symmetry of the label carrier reel and the support arm.
A reversible self-adhesive label applicator head as in claim 1, characterized by the configuration of a pair of rollers being symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry of the head and located generally at the level of the centre line of the label carrier reel so as to allow the head to be operated from the left or right hand feed without mechanical modification.
A reversible self-adhesive label applicator head as in claim 1, characterized by having a pair of rollers symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry of the head to effect guidance to the label carrier tape prior to its guidance to the applicator arm so that either the left or right hand assembly can be carried out by simply altering the position of the applicator arm.