EP0514340A1 - Method and device for preparing packing blanks - Google Patents

Method and device for preparing packing blanks Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0514340A1
EP0514340A1 EP92810351A EP92810351A EP0514340A1 EP 0514340 A1 EP0514340 A1 EP 0514340A1 EP 92810351 A EP92810351 A EP 92810351A EP 92810351 A EP92810351 A EP 92810351A EP 0514340 A1 EP0514340 A1 EP 0514340A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
blank
drum
discs
glue
cylindrical bearing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP92810351A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0514340B1 (en
Inventor
Albert Sigrist
Roberto Rizzolo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Philip Morris Products SA
Original Assignee
Fabriques de Tabac Reunies SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fabriques de Tabac Reunies SA filed Critical Fabriques de Tabac Reunies SA
Publication of EP0514340A1 publication Critical patent/EP0514340A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0514340B1 publication Critical patent/EP0514340B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31F—MECHANICAL WORKING OR DEFORMATION OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31F1/00—Mechanical deformation without removing material, e.g. in combination with laminating
    • B31F1/0003—Shaping by bending, folding, twisting, straightening, flattening or rim-rolling; Shaping by bending, folding or rim-rolling combined with joining; Apparatus therefor
    • B31F1/0006—Bending or folding; Folding edges combined with joining; Reinforcing edges during the folding thereof
    • B31F1/0009—Bending or folding; Folding edges combined with joining; Reinforcing edges during the folding thereof of plates, sheets or webs
    • B31F1/0019—Bending or folding; Folding edges combined with joining; Reinforcing edges during the folding thereof of plates, sheets or webs the plates, sheets or webs moving continuously
    • B31F1/0029—Folding edges; Folding edges combined with joining; Reinforcing edges during the folding thereof, e.g. by introducing a thread; Folding the edges of a sheathing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B50/00—Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
    • B31B50/26—Folding sheets, blanks or webs
    • B31B50/36—Folding sheets, blanks or webs by continuously feeding the sheets, blanks or webs to stationary members, e.g. plates, ploughs or cores
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B50/00—Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
    • B31B50/006—Controlling; Regulating; Measuring; Improving safety
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B50/00—Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
    • B31B50/02—Feeding or positioning sheets, blanks or webs
    • B31B50/04—Feeding sheets or blanks
    • B31B50/06—Feeding sheets or blanks from stacks
    • B31B50/062—Feeding sheets or blanks from stacks from the underside of a magazine

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a process for preparing blanks for cardboard packaging, in particular for cigarette pack labels, as well as a device developed for this purpose.
  • Packing packages especially cigarette packages, requires a large number of operations; the present invention particularly considers the preparation of a cardboard blank called a label, after the latter has received an impression, of an advertising or other type, on one of its faces and after it has been cut and received the folds necessary to complete the packaging.
  • the operations concerned by the present invention consist in depositing one or more drops of glue on one or more portions of surfaces of said label, of folding and folding down one or more portions of surfaces or tabs, adjacent to the portions of previous surfaces, on top said portions of previous surfaces and strongly pressing one against the other the portions of folded surfaces in order to constitute one or more new portions of reinforced surfaces, then to deposit by printing a coding on any portion of surface of said label.
  • the label will be resumed to be taken to the packaging machine where the packaging will finally be formed around the packet of cigarettes, this latter operation no longer being part of the method according to the invention.
  • a machine performing the mentioned operations is generally arranged just before or at the entrance to a packaging machine; this preparation machine is generally consisting of a first part where the labels are stored and from which the labels are removed one after the other and arranged one behind the other on a conveyor belt from where they are removed in front of each work station where they undergo one or the other of the operations mentioned. Due to the numerous movements of the labels, from the conveyor belt to each work station and vice versa, it is difficult to work at high production speed with such a device which generally does not allow the rate of preparation of 400 labels / min to be exceeded. On the other hand, since each preparation operation is carried out following the previous one, on a portion downstream of the conveyor belt, the preparation machines according to the prior art are therefore of large dimensions.
  • the object of the invention is therefore to propose a method and a device for preparing packaging, in particular for preparing cigarette labels, which can work at high production speed, ie at a rate much higher than 400 labels / min, said device being considerably less bulky than the preparation machines according to the prior art, the synchronization of the various operations to be carried out being simplified.
  • Another object of the invention is to obtain a device making it possible to control the presence or absence of a label as well as its correct positioning, in order to control the running of the packaging machine, thus making it possible to reduce losses. production due to jams and causing machine stops.
  • the method of preparing packages according to the invention meets the characteristics of claims 1 to 6, while the packaging preparation device according to the invention meets the characteristics of claims 7 to 28.
  • FIGS. 1A and 1B there is an example of a cardboard label 1 intended for a pack of cigarettes, as prepared to be introduced into the preparation device according to the invention.
  • One side 10 of the label the front was first printed with any pattern or text, while the back 11 remained unprinted.
  • the label 1 was cut to the desired format, the cut also comprising a certain number of cutouts 12 internal to the format, represented in bold lines, intended to facilitate the subsequent shaping of the package.
  • a number of fold primers 13, shown in finer lines have been made on said label and which will correspond to the subsequent folds of the package.
  • the labels arranged in this way, or in another comparable way are supplied to the distribution means of the device in the form of stacks, all the superimposed labels being turned and oriented identically.
  • FIGS. 2A and 2B represent two partial views of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, said device being seen at the end in FIG. 2A and by the longitudinal side in FIG. 2B.
  • the main elements constituting the device according to the invention the distribution means 2, which include the storage means 20 as well as the transfer means 21, the drum 3 around which the means are arranged 4 and glue 5 control, both symbolized by block 4/5, the folding means 6, as well as the printing means 7, and the label removal means 8 comprising the removal device 80 and routing means 81 to the packaging machine, as well as the drive, suction and control means 9.
  • the main element of the device according to the invention is the drum 3, of which FIG. 2B represents a preferred embodiment. It consists of a longitudinal shaft 30, supported by two bearings of the machine, (not shown) and driven in sequential rotation, for example, from a motor 90, preferably an electric motor, on the axis of which is mounted a drive box 91, of known technique, the outlet axis of which has a discontinuous rotational movement, composed of portions of turns between which said outlet axis is stopped.
  • the drive gear 91 is indexed, so that its output shaft performs portions of a turn equivalent to one sixth of a turn, in the case of the application example considered, between which the longitudinal shaft 30, respectively the drum 3 are stopped.
  • the shaft 30 supports a plurality of discs 31, 32, 33 and 34, arranged coaxially and along planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 30 and generally spaced apart.
  • the disc 31 is a support disc, while the discs 32 and 34 are retaining discs and the disc 33 has a dual function, support disc and printing disc as will be seen below.
  • the support discs 31 and 33 have an identical external diameter, relatively large, the external cylindrical surfaces of the two support discs 31, 33 defining, by their extension, the cylindrical support surface of the drum 3, on which the labels will be arranged. In order not to load FIG. 2B, the labels normally placed on the drum 3 have not been shown.
  • the diameter of the retaining discs 32 and 34, as well as the height of the suction nozzles 35, are such that the suction surfaces of said nozzles are tangent to the cylindrical bearing surface of the drum 3, defined by the surfaces of support of the support discs 31 and 33 as mentioned previously.
  • the suction nozzles 35 of each of the retaining discs 32, 34 are aligned with each other on generatrices of said cylindrical bearing surface.
  • the shaft 30 is hollow, its hollowed out central part being occupied by a plurality of suction pipes 36, six in the example considered, and of which only two of them, the pipes 36A and 36B have been completely shown in Figure 2B, so as not to unnecessarily load the figure.
  • the pipe 36A is connected to three suction nozzles 35, arranged on the same generator, while the second pipe 36B is connected to the three nozzles 35 arranged on another same generator; it should be understood by this that each of the nozzles 35 disposed on the same generator is connected to the same independent suction pipe.
  • the other ends of the pipes 36 are connected to a distributor 92, of known technique, responsible for controlling the suction of the nozzles 35 disposed on a given generator, depending on the operating steps of the label preparation device, as will be seen below.
  • the distributor 92 is connected to a suction installation 93, of known technique. In this way, the suction can be selectively controlled for each row of nozzles 35, thus making it possible to maintain a label 1, by the vacuum created by three nozzles 35 aligned on a generator of the cylindrical bearing surface of the drum 3.
  • the storage means 20 of the distribution means 2 are visible in FIGS. 2A and 2B; they are arranged exactly above the drum 3, vertical to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 30. They preferably consist of four angles 20A arranged vertically at the four corners of the stack of labels 1 in stock, said stack of labels being retained only by the bottom by portions of inclined walls 20B, so that the stack is held in the storage means 20, but that the label disposed under the stack can be removed by removing it by said pile bottom.
  • the labels 1 are arranged in the stack, all having their front 10, respectively the printed side, facing down, and the surface portion to be folded 16 disposed to the left with respect to FIG. 2B, so that the fold 13A is located slightly outside the vertical alignment of the outer circular face of the cylinder 3, respectively of the support disc 31.
  • the transfer means 21 of the distribution means 2 are visible in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3A. These transfer means consist of a shaft portion 22, pivoting about its longitudinal axis around an axis 23 disposed parallel to the axis of the shaft 30 on the rear side of the preparation device and approximately between the storage means 20 and the drum 3.
  • the shaft portion 22 is provided, on its side facing the drum 3, with a plurality of gripping fingers 24, four in the example illustrated, projecting perpendicular to the axis 23, and being able to penetrate inside the space occupied by the drum 3, respectively between the discs 31, 32 or 33. As seen in FIG.
  • a first gripping finger can pass between the bearing disc 31 and the first retaining disc 32
  • a second gripping finger can pass between the two central retaining discs 32
  • a third gripping finger can penetrate between the second retaining disc and the second support disc 33
  • the fourth finger gripping pass outside the last retaining disc 34, which is close to the support disc 33.
  • Any other respective arrangement of the discs and fingers is also possible depending on the operations to be performed.
  • Each of the gripping fingers 24 is provided at its end with a suction nozzle 25, similar to the nozzles 35, and turned upwards.
  • the suction nozzles 25 are connected by a single flexible pipe to a sequential suction center 93A, of known technique (see FIG. 2A) which may be the same as the suction center 93 seen above.
  • the oscillation movement of the gripping fingers 24 around the axis 23 is provided, as can be seen in FIG. 2A, by the general drive motor 90 of the device, to which a transmission box 94, of known technique and transforming the continuous rotational movement of the output axis of the motor 90, respectively of the input axis of the box 94, into an angular oscillation movement of the output axis of said box.
  • a crankpin 95 being mounted on the outlet axis of the box 94, transmits this oscillatory movement to a rod 26, connected to a lever arm 27, projecting from the shaft portion 22, in the opposite direction to that of the gripping fingers 24.
  • the connection between the crankpin 95 and the rod 26, as well as between said rod and the lever arm 27, is made by pivoting couplings of known technique.
  • the rotational movement of the motor 90 is transformed into an oscillatory movement of the crankpin 95, an oscillatory movement which is transmitted to the gripping fingers 24, via the rod 26 and the lever arm 27, the oscillating movement of said gripping fingers being thus absolutely synchronized with the rotational movement of the motor 90 and being such that the gripping fingers 24 rise and fall once every sixth of a revolution of the drum 3.
  • the gripping fingers 24 continue their downward movement and are inserted between the discs 31, 32, 33 and 34 as indicated above, until the underside, respectively the front 10, of the label 1 reaches the contact of the nozzles 35 arranged in the high position, as shown in FIG. 3A.
  • the switch suction 92 starts the suction of the nozzles 35 of the row placed in the high position, while the suction 93A of the nozzles 25 of the gripping fingers 24 is stopped.
  • the gripping fingers 24 still continue their way down for a short distance in order to free themselves entirely from the label 1, which is now retained by the suction effect of the nozzles 35.
  • the transmission box 91 then imposes a rotational movement of 60 ° to the drum 3, in order to bring the label 1 opposite the control means 4 and the adhesive depositing means 5, as shown in FIG. 4A. As soon as this position is reached, the drum 3 stops again and the gripping fingers 24 go back to the high position in order to grasp a new label 1, in the same manner as described above.
  • control means 4 and the adhesive depositing means 5 are formed in a single block, disposed at 60 ° relative to the vertical and fixed to the frame of the device in a known manner.
  • the block passes over the label 1 placed on the nozzles 35, respectively over the discs constituting the drum 3: preferably , this block will be detachably or pivotally attached to the frame of the device, in order to be able to access the drum 3 in the event of a device failure.
  • the control means 4 comprise, according to a preferred embodiment, a plurality of emitter-receiver photoelectric cells 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, and 45, shown schematically in FIGS. 4B and 4C, each emitting a ray, respectively 40A, 41A, 42A, 43A, 44A and 45A, towards the reverse side 11 of the label 1, ray which is reflected against said face and returns to the receiving cell corresponding.
  • the cell 40 placed opposite an approximately central position of the label 1, is intended to determine whether the label 1 is correctly oriented, that is to say whether its back 11, that is the unprinted side, is well directed upwards.
  • the ray 40A emitted by the cell 40, and reflected by the back 11 generally of white color, returns to the receiving part of the said cell with an amplitude greater than what it would be if the said ray was reflected against the front 10 printed, since the front 10 printed reflects less light than the back 11.
  • the cell 40 will stop the machine, in order to remove the incorrectly oriented label and allow the operator to check whether the following labels in the stack placed in the storage means 20 are correctly or badly oriented and to correct their position if necessary.
  • the cell 41 can be placed at any place where its radius 41A can be reflected by the face 11 of the label; it is simply intended to detect the presence of a label and controls the adhesive depositing device 5 as will be seen below.
  • the cells 42, 43, 44, and 45 are arranged on two parallel lines spaced a distance very slightly less than the width of the label 1; in this way, if a label 1 is slightly crooked, two of the spokes 42A, 43A, 44A and 45A will not be reflected towards the corresponding cells. A fault of this type also causes the device to stop.
  • control device 4 described here with six emitting-receiving photoelectric cells, can be arranged in any other suitable manner, with cells of another type or arranged differently or with less or more cells.
  • the adhesive depositing device 5 which, in the described embodiment of the preparation device is mounted on the same block as the control device 4, is located opposite the portion of the label 1 comprising the surface 15 on which two points of glue 14 are to be deposited, respectively outside the support disc 31. It comprises in particular an injection device 50, supplied by a pipe 51 coming from a glue tank (not shown) , and injecting on command of the cell 41 as seen previously, two jets of glue 52, 53 through the nozzles 54, 55 towards the two points 14 to be glued. It is obvious that the adhesive depositing device could comprise a number of nozzles other than two, just as it could deposit a line of adhesive instead of one or more points 14.
  • the drum 3 resumes its rotation and it is during this second rotation of 60 ° that the folding of the tongue 16 around the fold 13A and gluing of this tongue 16 on the surface portion 15 via the glue dots 14 is made, as is the operation of printing the coding 17 on the surface portion 18.
  • the fold 13A is disposed slightly outside the right of the outer edge of the support disc 31; as soon as the drum 3 resumes its rotation after the operations mentioned above, as can be seen in FIG. 5, the tongue 16 enters the folding device 6, arranged on the outside of the support disc 31 and consisting first of a guide device 60 in the form of a propeller section, in which the tongue 16 is folded upwards, around the fold start 13A, then over the surface portion 15. As soon as the tongue 16, folded over the surface portion 15 leaves the guide device 60, the label 1 penetrates between two rollers 61 and 62, in contact with one another by one of their generatrices, and each rotating freely around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum 3.
  • These two rollers 61 and 62 are located on the outer side of the first bearing disc 31, the contact line of the outer cylindrical surfaces of the two rollers being disposed in the defined cylindrical bearing surface previously, and just after the outlet end of the guide device 60. Since the two rollers 61 and 62 press firmly against each other, the passage of the surface portion 15, on which the tongue 16 has been simply folded down and between which the drops of glue 14 were previously placed, between the two said rollers, ensures good bonding of the tongue 16 on the surface portion 15. It can be seen in FIG. 2A that the two rollers 61 and 62 have their centers aligned on a straight line passing through the longitudinal axis of the drum 3, said line making an angle slightly less than 60 ° relative to at the drum stop position opposite the block 4/5.
  • the rotation movement of the drum 3 takes place exactly over a portion of arc of 60 °
  • the pressing of the tongue 16 on the surface portion 15 by the rollers 61 and 62 takes place while the drum 3 is moving, towards the end of its rotational movement while the drum is decelerating, so that the excess torque exerted by the braking due to the support of the two rollers on the tongue 16 and the surface portion 15 does not cause an increase in the driving torque of the drum 3, but contributes to its braking.
  • the disc 33 has a dual function, support disc and printing disc.
  • the disc 33 is constituted as seen in Figures 6A and 6B for a first embodiment.
  • the disc 33 has, on its outer cylindrical surface, a plurality, in the example of embodiment considered six notches 70, distributed every 60 ° around the periphery of the disc; each of said notches being provided with a printing block 71, which can be composed of block letters or individually separable.
  • the notches 70 may be larger than shown in the figure, each printing unit 71 consisting of a plurality of small disks whose common axis is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the disc 33, each of these small discs comprising a plurality of printing characters arranged on their periphery.
  • the angular position of these small discs is indexable by known means, so that, in the printing position, a succession of characters, each belonging to this particular small disc, appears on the circumference disc 33.
  • the printing blocks 71 are preferably identical for each of the notches 70, but can just as easily be different from one notch to another. Each of the printing blocks 71 or each printing character can be removed from the notch and be exchanged for another printing block or another printing character, in order to change the code 17 printed on the label 1
  • the method of fixing the printing blocks 71 or the printing characters inside the corresponding notch is of known technique, and is such that the printing surface of the block or characters is flush with the surface of cylindrical support of the disc 33.
  • the printing blocks 71 are self-inking, that is to say that the ink necessary for printing reaches them through the inside of the disc 33 , according to a known printing technique.
  • a support wheel 72 preferably made of rubberized material, rotating freely around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum 3, presses the surface portion 18 against the printing block 71 when it passes under said roller.
  • the angular position of the axis of the caster is the same as that of the casters 61 and 62, as seen in FIG. 2A, for the same reasons as explained previously.
  • the label 1 is removed from the drum 3 when the drum is next stopped at the next position, that is to say the 180 ° position.
  • the withdrawal means 8 of the device are composed mainly according to the first embodiment described above, of a withdrawal device 80 as well as a discharge conveyor 81.
  • the removal device 80 also consists of a shaft portion 82, pivoting about an axis 83, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum 3 and located behind said drum , from which a plurality of withdrawal fingers 84, four in the example considered, extend in the direction of the drum, penetrating into the spaces existing between the discs.
  • Each withdrawal finger 84 is provided at its end with a support surface 84A, facing downwards.
  • the shaft portion 82 has, on its side opposite to that where the withdrawal fingers 84 are projected, a lever arm 85, connected by a rod 85A to the lever arm 27 of the transfer means 21, so that the fingers withdrawal 84 act in synchronism with the gripping fingers 24, respectively with the rotation of the drum 3.
  • the withdrawal fingers 84 respectively the surfaces of support 84A, are in the high position, that is to say that the label 1 is placed under said support surfaces.
  • the distributor 92 cuts the vacuum supply to the nozzles 35 disposed at 180 °, which releases the label 1, which then falls towards the conveyor belt 81; this movement is accompanied by the withdrawal fingers 84, so that the label 1 separates well from the drum 3 and does not remain stuck there inadvertently.
  • the treadmill 81 is an endless belt, the upper strand of which runs in the direction indicated by the arrow, preferably in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum 3.
  • the treadmill circulates around two rollers 86, one of them being driven by the motor 90, via a gearbox 96.
  • the outer surface of the treadmill 81 is provided with lugs 81A, responsible for pushing towards the before the labels 1 placed on said conveyor, in particular for the label leaving the conveyor belt to penetrate between two drive rollers 87, driven by another drive unit 98, and rotating with a peripheral speed higher than the speed in advance of the conveyor belt 81, so as to accelerate the label leaving said conveyor belt and to send it, for example, to another conveyor belt 88 which will bring it to the machine responsible for packaging the cigars heads, not shown.
  • FIG. 2C shows another embodiment of the withdrawal means.
  • a gearbox 181, driven by the motor 90 actuates a lever device 182, pivoting about its axis 183, and the upper end of which can circulate in the empty space disposed between the slides 180.
  • the gearbox transmission 181 applies to the lever 182 a movement of movement in the direction of the label which has been deposited on the slides 180 such that, the label 1 is accelerated in its longitudinal direction, slides on the slides 180 and comes into position to be gripped between the roller 184 and the strip 185.
  • the lever 182 can continue to rotate or be brought back, to drive the next label.
  • the strip 185 which is sent by the roller 186, has lugs 187 protruding in the center of the strip, so that the label 1 is then pushed by a projection 187 as it slides on two other slides 188 leaving also a free space between them for the passage of the projections 187.
  • Motorized means 189 drive the rollers 184 and 186.
  • the control means 9 additionally comprise a control unit 97, which may be a microprocessor card, or a suitable computer, responsible for synchronizing the various stages of the process and for controlling the operation of the device.
  • the control unit 97 controls the running of the drive motor 90, checks the presence of the labels on the drum via the control device 4 and the cell 41, as well as the correct positioning of the labels by the cells 40, 42, 43, 44, and 45.
  • This control unit 97 also controls the distributor 92, so that the suction of the nozzles 35 is activated between the 0 ° and 180 ° positions of the drum, in order to maintain the label 1 there. , and deactivated between the 180 ° and 360 ° positions.
  • the control unit 97 can also act on the packaging machine located downstream so that, in the event that a label is missing on the preparation device, situation identified by cell 41, or is incorrectly oriented, situation identified by cell 40, the corresponding packet of cigarettes which should be wrapped in said label is retained on the packaging machine and is therefore not lost.
  • the rotation sequences of the drum 3 would be 45 ° and we would in particular have eight rows nozzles 35 arranged every 45 ° on the retaining discs 32, as well as eight printing blocks 71.
  • the diameter of the discs, respectively the diameter of the cylindrical bearing surface of the drum 3 would be increased accordingly.
  • the means for synchronizing the gripping fingers 24 and the withdrawal fingers 84 with the drive of the drum 3 can be envisaged by electronic, pneumatic, hydraulic or other means.
  • the method and the device for preparing blanks for packaging, in particular for labels for packaging cigarette packs it is possible to feed a packaging machine at a high rate, seen that said blanks or labels do not leave the drum during all the preparation operations.
  • the preparation device takes up significantly less space than the devices according to the prior art. Given the compactness and the high degree of integration of the device, as well as by the positioning checks carried out, the synchronization means are simplified, which remarkably limits the waste as well as the machine stoppages due to jams.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Labeling Devices (AREA)
  • Making Paper Articles (AREA)

Abstract

The blanks or labels (1) are taken one after the other from a storage part (20) by transfer means (21) and are arranged on the cylindrical bearing surface of a drum (3) driven in rotation according to turn portions. It is during the rotational movement of the drum or during the stops between two rotational movements that different preparation operations are performed on the blanks, such as, for example, the folding of a tab (16) and the adhesive bonding of this tab against a surface portion (15) of the blank or, alternatively, the printing of a code (17) on a part of the blank. Before these operations are carried out, the correct presence, positioning and alignment of the blank on the drum are checked. When the above operations have been effected, the blank is removed from the drum in order to be conveyed towards the packing machine. <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention concerne un procédé de préparation d'ébauches d'emballage cartonnés, notamment d'étiquettes de paquets de cigarettes, ainsi qu'un dispositif mis au point à cet effet.The present invention relates to a process for preparing blanks for cardboard packaging, in particular for cigarette pack labels, as well as a device developed for this purpose.

L'emballage de paquets, notamment de paquets de cigarettes requiert un grand nombre d'opérations; la présente invention considère particulièrement la préparation d'une ébauche en carton appelée étiquette, après que cette dernière ait reçu une impression, de type publicitaire ou autre, sur une de ses faces et qu'elle ait été découpée et ait reçu les amorces de plis nécessaires à la terminaison de l'emballage. Les opérations concernées par la présente invention consistent à déposer une ou plusieurs gouttes de colle sur une ou plusieurs portions de surfaces de ladite étiquette, de plier et de rabattre une ou plusieurs portions de surfaces ou languettes, adjacentes aux portions de surfaces précédentes, par dessus lesdites portions de surfaces précédentes et de presser fortement l'une contre l'autre les portions de surfaces rabattues afin de constituer une ou plusieurs nouvelles portions de surfaces renforcées, puis à déposer par impression un codage sur une portion de surface quelconque de ladite étiquette. Par la suite, l'étiquette sera reprise pour être emmenée vers la machine d'empaquetage où l'emballage sera finalement formé autour du paquet de cigarettes, cette dernière opération ne faisant plus partie du procédé selon l'invention.Packing packages, especially cigarette packages, requires a large number of operations; the present invention particularly considers the preparation of a cardboard blank called a label, after the latter has received an impression, of an advertising or other type, on one of its faces and after it has been cut and received the folds necessary to complete the packaging. The operations concerned by the present invention consist in depositing one or more drops of glue on one or more portions of surfaces of said label, of folding and folding down one or more portions of surfaces or tabs, adjacent to the portions of previous surfaces, on top said portions of previous surfaces and strongly pressing one against the other the portions of folded surfaces in order to constitute one or more new portions of reinforced surfaces, then to deposit by printing a coding on any portion of surface of said label. Subsequently, the label will be resumed to be taken to the packaging machine where the packaging will finally be formed around the packet of cigarettes, this latter operation no longer being part of the method according to the invention.

Dans les techniques selon l'art antérieur, une machine effectuant les opérations mentionnées est généralement disposée juste avant ou à l'entrée d'une machine d'empaquetage; cette machine de préparation est généralement constituée d'une première partie où les étiquettes sont stockées et de laquelle les étiquettes sont retirées l'une après l'autre et disposées les unes derrière les autres sur un tapis roulant d'où elles sont retirées en face de chaque poste de travail où elles subissent l'une ou l'autre des opérations mentionnées. De par les nombreux déplacements des étiquettes, du tapis roulant vers chaque poste de travail et réciproquement, il est difficile de travailler à grande vitesse de production avec un tel dispositif qui ne permet généralement pas de dépasser la cadence de préparation de 400 étiquettes/min. D'autre part, vu que chaque opération de préparation s'effectue à la suite de la précédente, sur une portion en aval du tapis roulant, les machines de préparation selon l'art antérieur sont donc de dimensions importantes.In the techniques according to the prior art, a machine performing the mentioned operations is generally arranged just before or at the entrance to a packaging machine; this preparation machine is generally consisting of a first part where the labels are stored and from which the labels are removed one after the other and arranged one behind the other on a conveyor belt from where they are removed in front of each work station where they undergo one or the other of the operations mentioned. Due to the numerous movements of the labels, from the conveyor belt to each work station and vice versa, it is difficult to work at high production speed with such a device which generally does not allow the rate of preparation of 400 labels / min to be exceeded. On the other hand, since each preparation operation is carried out following the previous one, on a portion downstream of the conveyor belt, the preparation machines according to the prior art are therefore of large dimensions.

Le but de l'invention est donc de proposer un procédé et un dispositif de préparation d'emballages, notamment de préparation d'étiquettes de cigarettes, pouvant travailler à grande vitesse de production, soit à une cadence bien supérieure à 400 étiquettes/min, ledit dispositif étant nettement moins encombrant que les machines de préparation selon l'art antérieur, la synchronisation des différentes opérations à effectuer en étant simplifiée.The object of the invention is therefore to propose a method and a device for preparing packaging, in particular for preparing cigarette labels, which can work at high production speed, ie at a rate much higher than 400 labels / min, said device being considerably less bulky than the preparation machines according to the prior art, the synchronization of the various operations to be carried out being simplified.

Un autre but de l'invention est d'obtenir un dispositif permettant de contrôler la présence ou l'absence d'une étiquette ainsi que son positionnement correct, afin de commander la marche de la machine d'empaquetage, permettant ainsi de diminuer les pertes de production dues aux bourrages et provoquant des arrêts de la machine.Another object of the invention is to obtain a device making it possible to control the presence or absence of a label as well as its correct positioning, in order to control the running of the packaging machine, thus making it possible to reduce losses. production due to jams and causing machine stops.

Afin d'atteindre ces buts, le procédé de préparation d'emballages selon l'invention répond aux caractéristiques des revendications 1 à 6, alors que le dispositif de préparation d'emballages selon l'invention répond aux caractéristiques des revendications 7 à 28.In order to achieve these goals, the method of preparing packages according to the invention meets the characteristics of claims 1 to 6, while the packaging preparation device according to the invention meets the characteristics of claims 7 to 28.

Le procédé et le dispositif selon l'invention ont été développés et seront décrits par la suite, s'appliquant aux étiquettes cartonnées de paquets de cigarettes; il est bien entendu que tout ce qui est décrit ci-dessous peut s'appliquer tout aussi bien à des emballages cartonnés ou présentant une certaine rigidité et destinés à un tout autre usage que l'emballage de cigarettes.The method and the device according to the invention have been developed and will be described later, applying to the cardboard labels of cigarette packs; it is understood that all that is described below can apply just as well to cardboard packaging or having a certain rigidity and intended for any other use than the packaging of cigarettes.

Afin de mieux comprendre l'invention, on peut se référer au dessin en annexe, représentant un mode d'exécution préférentiel du dispositif selon l'invention, avec les figures où:

  • la figure 1A représente une vue en plan d'une étiquette, vue du côté verso,
  • la figure 1B représente la même étiquette, vue du côté recto, une portion de surface ayant été repliée,
  • la figure 2A représente une partie du dispositif de préparation vu en bout,
  • la figure 2B représente une partie du même dispositif vu en long,
  • la figure 2C représente une partie du dispositif vu en long comportant une autre forme d'exécution des moyens d'acheminement,
  • la figure 3 représente les moyens de transfert du dispositif vus en perspective,
  • la figure 4A représente les moyens de contrôle et de collage du dispositif, vus en perspective,
  • la figure 4B est une vue schématique des moyens de contrôle et de collage du dispositif,
  • la figure 4C est une vue en plan des moyens de contrôle et de collage du dispositif montrant une disposition préférentielle des cellules photo-électriques,
  • la figure 5 représente les moyens de pliage du dispositif, vus en perspective,
  • la figure 6A représente les moyens d'impression du dispositif, vus en perspective,
  • la figure 6B représente une portion des moyens d'impression à plus grande échelle, vus en perspective, et
  • la figure 7 représente une forme d'exécution des moyens de retrait du dispositif, vus en perspective.
In order to better understand the invention, reference can be made to the appended drawing, representing a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, with the figures where:
  • FIG. 1A represents a plan view of a label, seen from the back side,
  • FIG. 1B represents the same label, seen from the front side, a portion of surface having been folded back,
  • FIG. 2A represents part of the preparation device seen at the end,
  • FIG. 2B represents part of the same device seen in length,
  • FIG. 2C represents a part of the device seen in length comprising another embodiment of the conveying means,
  • FIG. 3 represents the transfer means of the device seen in perspective,
  • FIG. 4A represents the means of control and bonding of the device, seen in perspective,
  • FIG. 4B is a schematic view of the means for checking and bonding the device,
  • FIG. 4C is a plan view of the control and bonding means of the device showing a preferential arrangement of photocells,
  • FIG. 5 represents the means for folding the device, seen in perspective,
  • FIG. 6A represents the printing means of the device, seen in perspective,
  • FIG. 6B represents a portion of the printing means on a larger scale, seen in perspective, and
  • FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the means for removing the device, seen in perspective.

Sur les figures 1A et 1B, on a un exemple d'une étiquette 1 en carton destinée à un paquet de cigarettes, telle qu'apprêtée pour être introduite dans le dispositif de préparation selon l'invention. Une face 10 de l'étiquette, le recto a tout d'abord été imprimé avec un motif ou un texte quelconque, alors que le verso 11 est resté sans impression. Puis l'étiquette 1 a été découpée au format désiré, la découpe comprenant aussi un certain nombre de découpes 12 internes au format, représentées en traits gras, destinées à faciliter le façonnage ultérieur du paquet. Simultanément, un certain nombre d'amorces de plis 13, représentées en traits plus fins, ont été faites sur ladite étiquette et qui correspondront aux plis ultérieurs du paquet. Les étiquettes aménagées de cette façon, ou d'une autre façon comparable, sont fournies aux moyens de distribution du dispositif sous forme de piles, toutes les étiquettes superposées étant tournées et orientées de façon identique.In FIGS. 1A and 1B, there is an example of a cardboard label 1 intended for a pack of cigarettes, as prepared to be introduced into the preparation device according to the invention. One side 10 of the label, the front was first printed with any pattern or text, while the back 11 remained unprinted. Then the label 1 was cut to the desired format, the cut also comprising a certain number of cutouts 12 internal to the format, represented in bold lines, intended to facilitate the subsequent shaping of the package. Simultaneously, a number of fold primers 13, shown in finer lines, have been made on said label and which will correspond to the subsequent folds of the package. The labels arranged in this way, or in another comparable way, are supplied to the distribution means of the device in the form of stacks, all the superimposed labels being turned and oriented identically.

Les opérations à effectuer par le dispositif de préparation sont:

  • saisie d'une étiquette à partir d'une pile de stockage,
  • dépose d'un ou plusieurs points de colle 14 sur une portion de surface 15 du verso 11 de l'étiquette 1,
  • pliage d'une portion de surface 16 ou languette, adjacente à la portion de surface 15, autour d'un pli 13A,
  • application de la portion de surface 16 sur la portion de surface 15 et collage des deux dites surfaces l'une sur l'autre, afin de renforcer une portion de l'emballage qui servira ultérieurement de point de saisie pour l'ouverture du paquet de cigarettes,
  • impression d'un code 17 sur une portion de surface 18 du recto 10 de l'étiquette 1,
  • envoi de l'étiquette ainsi préparée vers la machine d'emballage.
The operations to be carried out by the preparation device are:
  • entering a label from a storage stack,
  • depositing one or more glue dots 14 on a surface portion 15 of the back 11 of the label 1,
  • folding of a surface portion 16 or tongue, adjacent to the surface portion 15, around a fold 13A,
  • application of the surface portion 16 on the surface portion 15 and bonding of the two said surfaces to each other, in order to reinforce a portion of the packaging which will later serve as a point of attachment for opening the package of cigarettes,
  • printing of a code 17 on a surface portion 18 of the front 10 of the label 1,
  • sending the label thus prepared to the packaging machine.

Il est évident que les opérations décrites ci-dessus se rapportent à l'exemple choisi de la préparation d'une étiquette de paquet de cigarettes bien déterminée; on peut tout aussi bien concevoir d'autres opérations de pliage, avec ou sans collage, ainsi que d'autres opérations d'impression. De même, l'une ou l'autre des opérations mentionnées peut être omise; le dispositif de préparation décrit ci-dessous sera donc adapté en fonction des opérations à réaliser.It is obvious that the operations described above relate to the chosen example of the preparation of a well-defined cigarette package label; one can just as easily design other folding operations, with or without gluing, as well as other printing operations. Likewise, either of the operations mentioned may be omitted; the preparation device described below will therefore be adapted according to the operations to be carried out.

Les figures 2A et 2B représentent deux vues partielles d'une forme d'exécution préférentielle du dispositif selon l'invention, ledit dispositif étant vu en bout à la figure 2A et par le côté longitudinal à la figure 2B. On distingue, particulièrement sur la figure 2A, les éléments principaux constituant le dispositif selon l'invention: les moyens de distribution 2, qui comprennent les moyens de stockage 20 ainsi que les moyens de transfert 21, le tambour 3 autour duquel sont disposées les moyens de contrôle 4 et de dépose de colle 5, tous deux symbolisés par le bloc 4/5, les moyens de pliage 6, ainsi que les moyens d'impression 7, et les moyens de retrait des étiquettes 8 comprenant le dispositif de retrait 80 et des moyens d'acheminement 81 vers la machine d'empaquetage, ainsi que les moyens d'entraînement, d'aspiration et de commande 9.FIGS. 2A and 2B represent two partial views of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, said device being seen at the end in FIG. 2A and by the longitudinal side in FIG. 2B. There are, particularly in FIG. 2A, the main elements constituting the device according to the invention: the distribution means 2, which include the storage means 20 as well as the transfer means 21, the drum 3 around which the means are arranged 4 and glue 5 control, both symbolized by block 4/5, the folding means 6, as well as the printing means 7, and the label removal means 8 comprising the removal device 80 and routing means 81 to the packaging machine, as well as the drive, suction and control means 9.

L'élément principal du dispositif selon l'invention est le tambour 3, dont la figure 2B représente une forme d'exécution préférentielle. Il est constitué d'un arbre longitudinal 30, supporté par deux paliers de la machine, (non représentés) et entraîné en rotation séquentielle, par exemple, à partir d'un moteur 90, de préférence un moteur électrique, sur l'axe duquel est montée une boîte d'entraînement 91, de technique connue, dont l'axe de sortie a un mouvement de rotation discontinu, composé de portions de tours entre lesquels ledit axe de sortie est arrêté. La boîte d'entraînement 91 est indexée, de manière à ce que son arbre de sortie effectue des portions de tour équivalentes à un sixième de tour, dans le cas de l'exemple d'application considéré, entre lesquelles l'arbre longitudinal 30, respectivement le tambour 3 sont à l'arrêt. L'arbre 30 supporte une pluralité de disques 31, 32, 33 et 34, disposés coaxialement et selon des plans transversaux à l'axe longitudinal de l'arbre 30 et généralement espacés entre eux. Le disque 31 est un disque d'appui, alors que les disques 32 et 34 sont des disques de retenue et que le disque 33 a une double fonction, disque d'appui et disque d'impression comme on le verra plus loin. Les disques d'appui 31 et 33 ont un diamètre extérieur identique, relativement important, les surfaces cylindriques extérieures des deux disques d'appui 31, 33 définissant, par leur prolongement, la surface d'appui cylindrique du tambour 3, sur laquelle les étiquettes seront disposées. Afin de ne pas charger la figure 2B, les étiquettes normalement disposées sur le tambour 3 n'ont pas été représentées. Dans l'espace séparant les disques d'appui 31 et 33, on trouve deux disques de retenue 32, alors qu'un troisième disque de retenue 34 est disposé à l'extérieur dudit espace, à proximité du disque 33. Le diamètre extérieur des disques de retenue 32, 34 est inférieur à celui des disques d'appui 31 et 33. Des buses d'aspiration 35, six pour chacun des disques de retenue 32 ou 34 selon la forme d'exécution représentée, sont disposées sur le pourtour de chacun desdits disques de retenue, régulièrement espacées, tous les 60° dans l'exemple illustré (voir figure 2A). Le diamètre des disques de retenue 32 et 34, ainsi que la hauteur des buses d'aspiration 35, sont tels que les surfaces d'aspiration desdites buses sont tangentes à la surface d'appui cylindrique du tambour 3, définie par les surfaces d'appui des disques d'appui 31 et 33 comme mentionné précédemment. Les buses d'aspiration 35 de chacun des disques de retenue 32, 34 sont alignées entre elles sur des génératrices de ladite surface d'appui cylindrique.The main element of the device according to the invention is the drum 3, of which FIG. 2B represents a preferred embodiment. It consists of a longitudinal shaft 30, supported by two bearings of the machine, (not shown) and driven in sequential rotation, for example, from a motor 90, preferably an electric motor, on the axis of which is mounted a drive box 91, of known technique, the outlet axis of which has a discontinuous rotational movement, composed of portions of turns between which said outlet axis is stopped. The drive gear 91 is indexed, so that its output shaft performs portions of a turn equivalent to one sixth of a turn, in the case of the application example considered, between which the longitudinal shaft 30, respectively the drum 3 are stopped. The shaft 30 supports a plurality of discs 31, 32, 33 and 34, arranged coaxially and along planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 30 and generally spaced apart. The disc 31 is a support disc, while the discs 32 and 34 are retaining discs and the disc 33 has a dual function, support disc and printing disc as will be seen below. The support discs 31 and 33 have an identical external diameter, relatively large, the external cylindrical surfaces of the two support discs 31, 33 defining, by their extension, the cylindrical support surface of the drum 3, on which the labels will be arranged. In order not to load FIG. 2B, the labels normally placed on the drum 3 have not been shown. In the space separating the support discs 31 and 33, we finds two retaining discs 32, while a third retaining disc 34 is disposed outside of said space, near the disc 33. The outside diameter of the retaining discs 32, 34 is less than that of the support discs 31 and 33. Suction nozzles 35, six for each of the retaining discs 32 or 34 according to the embodiment shown, are arranged on the periphery of each of said retaining discs, regularly spaced, every 60 ° in the illustrated example (see Figure 2A). The diameter of the retaining discs 32 and 34, as well as the height of the suction nozzles 35, are such that the suction surfaces of said nozzles are tangent to the cylindrical bearing surface of the drum 3, defined by the surfaces of support of the support discs 31 and 33 as mentioned previously. The suction nozzles 35 of each of the retaining discs 32, 34 are aligned with each other on generatrices of said cylindrical bearing surface.

De façon préférentielle, l'arbre 30 est creux, sa partie centrale évidée étant occupée par une pluralité de canalisations d'aspiration 36, six dans l'exemple considéré, et dont seulement deux d'entre elles, les canalisations 36A et 36B ont été complètement représentées sur la figure 2B, afin de ne pas charger inutilement la figure. On remarque que la canalisation 36A est reliée à trois buses d'aspiration 35, disposées sur une même génératrice, alors que la deuxième canalisation 36B est reliée aux trois buses 35 disposées sur une autre même génératrice; on doit comprendre par ceci que chacune des buses 35 disposée sur une même génératrice est reliée à une même canalisation d'aspiration indépendante. Les autres extrémités des canalisations 36 sont reliées à un distributeur 92, de technique connue, chargé de commander l'aspiration des buses 35 disposées sur une génératrice donnée, en fonction des étapes de fonctionnement du dispositif de préparation d'étiquettes, comme on le verra plus loin. Le distributeur 92 est relié à une installation d'aspiration 93, de technique connue. De cette manière, l'aspiration peut sélectivement être commandée pour chaque rangée de buses 35, permettant ainsi de maintenir une étiquette 1, par la dépression créée par trois buses 35 alignées sur une génératrice de la surface d'appui cylindrique du tambour 3.Preferably, the shaft 30 is hollow, its hollowed out central part being occupied by a plurality of suction pipes 36, six in the example considered, and of which only two of them, the pipes 36A and 36B have been completely shown in Figure 2B, so as not to unnecessarily load the figure. Note that the pipe 36A is connected to three suction nozzles 35, arranged on the same generator, while the second pipe 36B is connected to the three nozzles 35 arranged on another same generator; it should be understood by this that each of the nozzles 35 disposed on the same generator is connected to the same independent suction pipe. The other ends of the pipes 36 are connected to a distributor 92, of known technique, responsible for controlling the suction of the nozzles 35 disposed on a given generator, depending on the operating steps of the label preparation device, as will be seen below. The distributor 92 is connected to a suction installation 93, of known technique. In this way, the suction can be selectively controlled for each row of nozzles 35, thus making it possible to maintain a label 1, by the vacuum created by three nozzles 35 aligned on a generator of the cylindrical bearing surface of the drum 3.

Les moyens de stockage 20 des moyens de distribution 2 sont visibles sur les figures 2A et 2B; ils sont disposés exactement au-dessus du tambour 3, à la verticale de l'axe longitudinal de l'arbre 30. Ils sont constitués de préférence de quatre cornières 20A disposées verticalement aux quatre coins de la pile d'étiquettes 1 en stock, ladite pile d'étiquettes étant seulement retenue par le fond par des portions de parois inclinées 20B, de façon à ce que la pile soit maintenue dans les moyens de stockage 20, mais que l'étiquette disposée sous la pile puisse en être extraite en la retirant par ledit fond de pile. Les étiquettes 1 sont disposées dans la pile, ayant toutes leur recto 10, respectivement la face imprimée, tournée vers le bas, et la portion de surface à replier 16 disposée vers la gauche par rapport à la figure 2B, de manière que le pli 13A soit situé légèrement à l'extérieur de l'aplomb de la face circulaire extérieure du cylindre 3, respectivement du disque d'appui 31.The storage means 20 of the distribution means 2 are visible in FIGS. 2A and 2B; they are arranged exactly above the drum 3, vertical to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 30. They preferably consist of four angles 20A arranged vertically at the four corners of the stack of labels 1 in stock, said stack of labels being retained only by the bottom by portions of inclined walls 20B, so that the stack is held in the storage means 20, but that the label disposed under the stack can be removed by removing it by said pile bottom. The labels 1 are arranged in the stack, all having their front 10, respectively the printed side, facing down, and the surface portion to be folded 16 disposed to the left with respect to FIG. 2B, so that the fold 13A is located slightly outside the vertical alignment of the outer circular face of the cylinder 3, respectively of the support disc 31.

Les moyens de transfert 21 des moyens de distribution 2 sont visibles sur les figure 2A, 2B et 3A. Ces moyens de transfert sont constitués d'une portion d'arbre 22, pivotante autour de son axe longitudinal autour d'un axe 23 disposé parallèlement à l'axe de l'arbre 30 sur le côté arrière du dispositif de préparation et environ entre les moyens de stockage 20 et le tambour 3. La portion d'arbre 22 est munie, sur son côté tourné vers le tambour 3, d'une pluralité de doigts de saisie 24, quatre dans l'exemple illustré, se projetant perpendiculairement à l'axe 23, et pouvant pénétrer à l'intérieur de l'espace occupé par le tambour 3, respectivement entre les disques 31, 32 ou 33. Comme on le voit à la figure 2B, un premier doigt de saisie peut passer entre le disque d'appui 31 et le premier disque de retenue 32, un deuxième doigt de saisie peut passer entre les deux disques de retenue 32 disposés au centre, un troisième doigt de saisie peut pénétrer entre le deuxième disque de retenue et le second disque d'appui 33, alors que le quatrième doigt de saisie passe à l'extérieur du dernier disque de retenue 34, qui est proche du disque d'appui 33. Toute autre disposition respective des disques et des doigts est aussi envisageable selon les opérations à effectuer. Chacun des doigts de saisie 24 est muni à son extrémité d'une buse d'aspiration 25, semblable aux buses 35, et tournées vers le haut. Les buses d'aspiration 25 sont reliées par une canalisation souple unique, à une centrale d'aspiration séquentielle 93A, de technique connue, (voir figure 2A) pouvant être la même que la centrale d'aspiration 93 vue plus haut.The transfer means 21 of the distribution means 2 are visible in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3A. These transfer means consist of a shaft portion 22, pivoting about its longitudinal axis around an axis 23 disposed parallel to the axis of the shaft 30 on the rear side of the preparation device and approximately between the storage means 20 and the drum 3. The shaft portion 22 is provided, on its side facing the drum 3, with a plurality of gripping fingers 24, four in the example illustrated, projecting perpendicular to the axis 23, and being able to penetrate inside the space occupied by the drum 3, respectively between the discs 31, 32 or 33. As seen in FIG. 2B, a first gripping finger can pass between the bearing disc 31 and the first retaining disc 32, a second gripping finger can pass between the two central retaining discs 32, a third gripping finger can penetrate between the second retaining disc and the second support disc 33, while the fourth finger gripping pass outside the last retaining disc 34, which is close to the support disc 33. Any other respective arrangement of the discs and fingers is also possible depending on the operations to be performed. Each of the gripping fingers 24 is provided at its end with a suction nozzle 25, similar to the nozzles 35, and turned upwards. The suction nozzles 25 are connected by a single flexible pipe to a sequential suction center 93A, of known technique (see FIG. 2A) which may be the same as the suction center 93 seen above.

Le mouvement d'oscillation des doigts de saisie 24, autour de l'axe 23 est fourni, comme on le voit à la figure 2A, par le moteur 90 d'entraînement général du dispositif, auquel est reliée une boîte de transmission 94, de technique connue et transformant le mouvement de rotation continue de l'axe de sortie du moteur 90, respectivement de l'axe d'entrée de la boîte 94, en un mouvement d'oscillation angulaire de l'axe de sortie de ladite boîte. Un maneton 95 étant monté sur l'axe de sortie de la boîte 94, transmet ce mouvement oscillatoire à une tige 26, reliée à un bras de levier 27, se projetant à partir de la portion d'arbre 22, en sens opposé à celui des doigts de saisie 24. La liaison entre le maneton 95 et la tige 26, ainsi qu'entre ladite tige et le bras de levier 27, se fait par des accouplements pivotants de technique connue. Ainsi, le mouvement de rotation du moteur 90 est transformé en un mouvement oscillatoire du maneton 95, mouvement oscillatoire qui est transmis aux doigts de saisie 24, via la tige 26 et le bras de levier 27, le mouvement oscillatoire desdits doigts de saisie étant ainsi absolument synchronisé avec le mouvement de rotation du moteur 90 et étant tel que les doigts de saisie 24 s'élèvent et s'abaissent une fois tous les sixièmes de tour du tambour 3.The oscillation movement of the gripping fingers 24 around the axis 23 is provided, as can be seen in FIG. 2A, by the general drive motor 90 of the device, to which a transmission box 94, of known technique and transforming the continuous rotational movement of the output axis of the motor 90, respectively of the input axis of the box 94, into an angular oscillation movement of the output axis of said box. A crankpin 95 being mounted on the outlet axis of the box 94, transmits this oscillatory movement to a rod 26, connected to a lever arm 27, projecting from the shaft portion 22, in the opposite direction to that of the gripping fingers 24. The connection between the crankpin 95 and the rod 26, as well as between said rod and the lever arm 27, is made by pivoting couplings of known technique. Thus, the rotational movement of the motor 90 is transformed into an oscillatory movement of the crankpin 95, an oscillatory movement which is transmitted to the gripping fingers 24, via the rod 26 and the lever arm 27, the oscillating movement of said gripping fingers being thus absolutely synchronized with the rotational movement of the motor 90 and being such that the gripping fingers 24 rise and fall once every sixth of a revolution of the drum 3.

Il est donc possible maintenant d'effectuer la première opération consistant à saisir l'étiquette 1 disposée tout au-dessous de la pile disposée dans les moyens de stockage 20 et de l'amener sur le tambour 3. Pour ceci, ledit tambour est pour le moment arrêté, de manière qu'une rangée de buses d'aspiration 35 soit en position haute. Les doigts de saisie 24 sont amenés en position haute, comme représenté à la figure 2A, les buses d'aspiration 25, en contact avec la face inférieure de l'étiquette 1 située tout au-dessous de la pile; l'aspiration 93A est enclenchée, ce qui fait adhérer ladite étiquette aux buses 25, alors que les doigts de saisie entreprennent leur mouvement vers le bas, comme représenté à la figure 2B, ce qui a permis de retirer l'étiquette 1 du fond de la pile. Les doigts de saisie 24 poursuivent leur mouvement vers le bas et s'insèrent entre les disques 31, 32, 33 et 34 comme indiqué précédemment, jusqu'à ce que la face inférieure, respectivement le recto 10, de l'étiquette 1 arrive au contact des buses 35 disposées en position haute, comme représenté à la figure 3A. A ce moment, le commutateur d'aspiration 92 enclenche l'aspiration des buses 35 de la rangée placée en position haute, alors que l'aspiration 93A des buses 25 des doigts de saisie 24 est stoppée. Les doigts de saisie 24 poursuivent encore leur chemin vers le bas sur une courte distance afin de se dégager entièrement de l'étiquette 1, qui est maintenant retenue par l'effet d'aspiration des buses 35. La boîte de transmission 91 impose alors un mouvement de rotation de 60° au tambour 3, afin d'amener l'étiquette 1 en face des moyens de contrôle 4 et des moyens de dépose de colle 5, comme représenté à la figure 4A. Dès que cette position est atteinte, le tambour 3 s'arrête à nouveau et les doigts de saisie 24 remontent en position haute afin de saisir une nouvelle étiquette 1, de la même manière que décrit précédemment.It is therefore now possible to carry out the first operation consisting in grasping the label 1 placed far below the stack placed in the storage means 20 and bringing it to the drum 3. For this, said drum is for the moment stopped, so that a row of suction nozzles 35 is in the high position. The gripping fingers 24 are brought into the high position, as shown in FIG. 2A, the suction nozzles 25, in contact with the underside of the label 1 located just below the stack; the suction 93A is switched on, which causes said label to adhere to the nozzles 25, while the gripping fingers begin their movement downwards, as shown in FIG. 2B, which has made it possible to remove the label 1 from the bottom of the battery. The gripping fingers 24 continue their downward movement and are inserted between the discs 31, 32, 33 and 34 as indicated above, until the underside, respectively the front 10, of the label 1 reaches the contact of the nozzles 35 arranged in the high position, as shown in FIG. 3A. At this time, the switch suction 92 starts the suction of the nozzles 35 of the row placed in the high position, while the suction 93A of the nozzles 25 of the gripping fingers 24 is stopped. The gripping fingers 24 still continue their way down for a short distance in order to free themselves entirely from the label 1, which is now retained by the suction effect of the nozzles 35. The transmission box 91 then imposes a rotational movement of 60 ° to the drum 3, in order to bring the label 1 opposite the control means 4 and the adhesive depositing means 5, as shown in FIG. 4A. As soon as this position is reached, the drum 3 stops again and the gripping fingers 24 go back to the high position in order to grasp a new label 1, in the same manner as described above.

On voit à la figure 4A, que les moyens de contrôle 4 et les moyens de dépose de colle 5 sont constitués en un seul bloc, disposé à 60° par rapport à la verticale et fixé au bâti du dispositif d'une manière connue. Comme représenté de manière schématique à la figure 4A, et comme on le voit aussi sur les figures 4B et 4C, le bloc passe par dessus l'étiquette 1 disposée sur les buses 35, respectivement par dessus les disques constituant le tambour 3: de préférence, ce bloc sera fixé de manière détachable ou pivotante au bâti du dispositif, afin de pouvoir accéder au tambour 3 en cas de panne du dispositif.It can be seen in FIG. 4A, that the control means 4 and the adhesive depositing means 5 are formed in a single block, disposed at 60 ° relative to the vertical and fixed to the frame of the device in a known manner. As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4A, and as also seen in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the block passes over the label 1 placed on the nozzles 35, respectively over the discs constituting the drum 3: preferably , this block will be detachably or pivotally attached to the frame of the device, in order to be able to access the drum 3 in the event of a device failure.

Les moyens de contrôle 4 comprennent, selon une forme d'exécution préférentielle, une pluralité de cellules photo-électriques émettrices-réceptrices 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, et 45, représentées de manière schématique aux figures 4B et 4C, émettant chacune un rayon, respectivement 40A, 41A, 42A, 43A, 44A et 45A, vers la face verso 11 de l'étiquette 1, rayon qui se réfléchit contre ladite face et retourne à la cellule réceptrice correspondante.The control means 4 comprise, according to a preferred embodiment, a plurality of emitter-receiver photoelectric cells 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, and 45, shown schematically in FIGS. 4B and 4C, each emitting a ray, respectively 40A, 41A, 42A, 43A, 44A and 45A, towards the reverse side 11 of the label 1, ray which is reflected against said face and returns to the receiving cell corresponding.

La cellule 40, disposée en face d'une position approximativement centrale de l'étiquette 1, est destinée à déterminer si l'étiquette 1 est correctement orientée, c'est-à-dire si son verso 11, soit la face non imprimée, se trouve bien dirigé vers haut. Dans ce cas, le rayon 40A, émis par la cellule 40, et réfléchi par le verso 11 généralement de couleur blanche, retourne à la partie réceptrice de ladite cellule avec une amplitude supérieure à ce qu'elle serait si ledit rayon se réfléchissait contre le recto 10 imprimé, vu que le recto 10 imprimé réfléchit moins de lumière que le verso 11. Dans le cas d'une étiquette mal orientée, la cellule 40 commandera l'arrêt de la machine, afin de retirer l'étiquette mal orientée et de permettre à l'opérateur de contrôler si les étiquettes suivantes dans la pile disposée dans les moyens de stockage 20 sont bien ou mal orientées et de rectifier leur position si nécessaire.The cell 40, placed opposite an approximately central position of the label 1, is intended to determine whether the label 1 is correctly oriented, that is to say whether its back 11, that is the unprinted side, is well directed upwards. In this case, the ray 40A, emitted by the cell 40, and reflected by the back 11 generally of white color, returns to the receiving part of the said cell with an amplitude greater than what it would be if the said ray was reflected against the front 10 printed, since the front 10 printed reflects less light than the back 11. In the case of an incorrectly oriented label, the cell 40 will stop the machine, in order to remove the incorrectly oriented label and allow the operator to check whether the following labels in the stack placed in the storage means 20 are correctly or badly oriented and to correct their position if necessary.

Dans le cadre de la présente description une étiquette bien orientée a son verso 11 tourné vers l'extérieur alors que son recto 10 est en contact avec la surface d'appui cylindrique du tambour 3; il ne peut y avoir d'erreur d'orientation autour d'un axe perpendiculaire au plan de l'étiquette 1, vu que la forme asymétrique de ladite étiquette permet de prévoir des cornières 20A de forme adaptée pour ne recevoir que des étiquettes correctement orientées par rapport à cet axe.In the context of the present description, a label oriented correctly on its back 11 facing outwards while its front 10 is in contact with the cylindrical bearing surface of the drum 3; there can be no orientation error around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the label 1, since the asymmetrical shape of said label makes it possible to provide angles 20A of shape adapted to receive only correctly oriented labels with respect to this axis.

La cellule 41 peut être disposée en n'importe quel endroit où son rayon 41A puisse être réfléchi par la face 11 de l'étiquette; elle est simplement destinée à détecter la présence d'une étiquette et commande le dispositif de dépose de colle 5 comme on le verra plus bas.The cell 41 can be placed at any place where its radius 41A can be reflected by the face 11 of the label; it is simply intended to detect the presence of a label and controls the adhesive depositing device 5 as will be seen below.

Les cellules 42, 43, 44, et 45 sont disposées sur deux lignes parallèles espacées d'une distance très légèrement inférieure à la largeur de l'étiquette 1; de cette manière, si une étiquette 1 se présente légèrement de travers, deux parmi les rayons 42A, 43A, 44A et 45A ne seront pas réfléchis vers les cellules correspondantes. Un défaut de ce type commande aussi un arrêt du dispositif.The cells 42, 43, 44, and 45 are arranged on two parallel lines spaced a distance very slightly less than the width of the label 1; in this way, if a label 1 is slightly crooked, two of the spokes 42A, 43A, 44A and 45A will not be reflected towards the corresponding cells. A fault of this type also causes the device to stop.

Il est évident que le dispositif de contrôle 4, décrit ici avec six cellules photo-électriques émettrices-réceptrices, peut être agencé de n'importe quelle autre manière adéquate, avec des cellules d'un autre type ou disposées différemment ou avec moins ou davantage de cellules.It is obvious that the control device 4, described here with six emitting-receiving photoelectric cells, can be arranged in any other suitable manner, with cells of another type or arranged differently or with less or more cells.

Le dispositif de dépose de colle 5 qui, dans la forme d'exécution décrite du dispositif de préparation est monté sur le même bloc que le dispositif de contrôle 4, se situe en face de la portion de l'étiquette 1 comprenant la surface 15 sur laquelle deux points de colle 14 sont à déposer, respectivement à l'extérieur du disque d'appui 31. Il comprend en particulier un dispositif d'injection 50, alimenté par une canalisation 51 en provenance d'un réservoir de colle (non représenté), et injectant sur commande de la cellule 41 comme vu précédemment, deux jets de colle 52, 53 par les buses 54, 55 vers les deux points 14 à encoller. Il est évident que le dispositif de dépose de colle pourrait comprendre un nombre de buses différent de deux, de même qu'il pourrait déposer un trait de colle au-lieu d'un ou plusieurs points 14.The adhesive depositing device 5 which, in the described embodiment of the preparation device is mounted on the same block as the control device 4, is located opposite the portion of the label 1 comprising the surface 15 on which two points of glue 14 are to be deposited, respectively outside the support disc 31. It comprises in particular an injection device 50, supplied by a pipe 51 coming from a glue tank (not shown) , and injecting on command of the cell 41 as seen previously, two jets of glue 52, 53 through the nozzles 54, 55 towards the two points 14 to be glued. It is obvious that the adhesive depositing device could comprise a number of nozzles other than two, just as it could deposit a line of adhesive instead of one or more points 14.

Dès que ces opérations de contrôle et de dépose de colle sont effectuées, le tambour 3 reprend sa rotation et c'est durant cette deuxième rotation de 60° que le pliage de la languette 16 autour du pli 13A et de collage de cette languette 16 sur la portion de surface 15 via les points de colle 14 est faite, de même que l'opération d'impression du codage 17 sur la portion de surface 18.As soon as these control and glue removal operations are carried out, the drum 3 resumes its rotation and it is during this second rotation of 60 ° that the folding of the tongue 16 around the fold 13A and gluing of this tongue 16 on the surface portion 15 via the glue dots 14 is made, as is the operation of printing the coding 17 on the surface portion 18.

On a vu plus haut que le pli 13A est disposé légèrement à l'extérieur du droit de l'arête extérieure du disque d'appui 31; dès que le tambour 3 reprend sa rotation après les opérations mentionnées précédemment, comme on le voit à la figure 5, la languette 16 pénètre dans le dispositif de pliage 6, disposé sur le côté extérieur du disque d'appui 31 et constitué premièrement d'un dispositif de guidage 60 en forme de tronçon d'hélice, dans lequel la languette 16 est rabattue vers le haut, autour de l'amorce de pli 13A, puis par dessus la portion de surface 15. Dès que la languette 16, repliée sur la portion de surface 15 quitte le dispositif de guidage 60, l'étiquette 1 pénètre entre deux rouleaux 61 et 62, en contact l'un avec l'autre par une de leurs génératrices, et tournant chacun librement autour d'un axe parallèle à l'axe longitudinal du tambour 3. Ces deux rouleaux 61 et 62 sont situés sur le côté extérieur du premier disque d'appui 31, la ligne de contact des surfaces cylindriques extérieures des deux rouleaux étant disposée dans la surface d'appui cylindrique définie précédemment, et juste après l'extrémité de sortie du dispositif de guidage 60. Vu que les deux rouleaux 61 et 62 appuient fermement l'un sur l'autre, le passage de la portion de surface 15, sur laquelle la languette 16 a été simplement rabattue et entre lesquelles les gouttes de colle 14 ont été disposées précédemment, entre les deux dits rouleaux, assure un bon collage de la languette 16 sur la portion de surface 15. On remarque sur la figure 2A que les deux rouleaux 61 et 62 ont leurs centres alignés sur une droite passant par l'axe longitudinal du tambour 3, ladite ligne faisant un angle légèrement inférieur à 60° par rapport à la position d'arrêt du tambour en face du bloc 4/5. Vu que, dans l'exemple de forme d'exécution décrite, le mouvement de rotation du tambour 3 a lieu exactement sur une portion d'arc de 60°, le pressage de la languette 16 sur la portion de surface 15 par les rouleaux 61 et 62 a lieu alors que le tambour 3 est en mouvement, vers la fin de son mouvement de rotation alors que le tambour est en décélération, afin que le surplus de couple exercé par le freinage dû à l'appui des deux rouleaux sur la languette 16 et la portion de surface 15 ne provoque pas une augmentation du couple d'entraînement du tambour 3, mais contribue à son freinage.We have seen above that the fold 13A is disposed slightly outside the right of the outer edge of the support disc 31; as soon as the drum 3 resumes its rotation after the operations mentioned above, as can be seen in FIG. 5, the tongue 16 enters the folding device 6, arranged on the outside of the support disc 31 and consisting first of a guide device 60 in the form of a propeller section, in which the tongue 16 is folded upwards, around the fold start 13A, then over the surface portion 15. As soon as the tongue 16, folded over the surface portion 15 leaves the guide device 60, the label 1 penetrates between two rollers 61 and 62, in contact with one another by one of their generatrices, and each rotating freely around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum 3. These two rollers 61 and 62 are located on the outer side of the first bearing disc 31, the contact line of the outer cylindrical surfaces of the two rollers being disposed in the defined cylindrical bearing surface previously, and just after the outlet end of the guide device 60. Since the two rollers 61 and 62 press firmly against each other, the passage of the surface portion 15, on which the tongue 16 has been simply folded down and between which the drops of glue 14 were previously placed, between the two said rollers, ensures good bonding of the tongue 16 on the surface portion 15. It can be seen in FIG. 2A that the two rollers 61 and 62 have their centers aligned on a straight line passing through the longitudinal axis of the drum 3, said line making an angle slightly less than 60 ° relative to at the drum stop position opposite the block 4/5. Since, in the example of embodiment described, the rotation movement of the drum 3 takes place exactly over a portion of arc of 60 °, the pressing of the tongue 16 on the surface portion 15 by the rollers 61 and 62 takes place while the drum 3 is moving, towards the end of its rotational movement while the drum is decelerating, so that the excess torque exerted by the braking due to the support of the two rollers on the tongue 16 and the surface portion 15 does not cause an increase in the driving torque of the drum 3, but contributes to its braking.

Il a été dit plus haut que le disque 33 avait une double fonction, disque d'appui et disque d'impression. Pour ceci, il est constitué comme on le voit aux figures 6A et 6B pour une première forme d'exécution. Le disque 33 comporte, sur sa surface cylindrique extérieure, une pluralité, dans l'exemple de forme d'exécution considéré six encoches 70, réparties tous les 60° sur le pourtour du disque; chacune desdites encoches étant munie d'un bloc d'impression 71, pouvant être composé de caractères d'imprimerie solidairement ou individuellement séparables.It has been said above that the disc 33 has a dual function, support disc and printing disc. For this, it is constituted as seen in Figures 6A and 6B for a first embodiment. The disc 33 has, on its outer cylindrical surface, a plurality, in the example of embodiment considered six notches 70, distributed every 60 ° around the periphery of the disc; each of said notches being provided with a printing block 71, which can be composed of block letters or individually separable.

Selon une autre forme d'exécution non représentée, les encoches 70 peuvent être plus grandes que représenté sur la figure, chaque bloc d'impression 71 étant constitué d'une pluralité de petits disques dont l'axe commun est perpendiculaire à l'axe de rotation du disque 33, chacun de ces petits disques comportant une pluralité de caractères d'imprimerie disposés sur leur périphérie. La position angulaire de ces petits disques est indexable par des moyens connus, de telle manière que, en position d'impression, une succession de caractères, chacun appartenant à ce petit disque particulier, apparaisse sur la circonférence extérieure du disque 33.According to another embodiment, not shown, the notches 70 may be larger than shown in the figure, each printing unit 71 consisting of a plurality of small disks whose common axis is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the disc 33, each of these small discs comprising a plurality of printing characters arranged on their periphery. The angular position of these small discs is indexable by known means, so that, in the printing position, a succession of characters, each belonging to this particular small disc, appears on the circumference disc 33.

Ces caractères peuvent être quelconques, soit des chiffres, des lettres ou des symboles ou peuvent constituer un code de type code-barre. Il est ainsi possible de composer n'importe quel code, que ce soit une date, un numéro ou un nom de produit ou n'importe quelle indication utile. Les blocs d'impression 71 sont de préférence identiques pour chacune des encoches 70, mais peuvent tout aussi bien être différents d'une encoche à l'autre. Chacun des blocs d'impression 71 ou chaque caractère d'imprimerie peut être retiré de l'encoche et être échangé contre un autre bloc d'impression ou un autre caractère d'imprimerie, afin de changer le code 17 imprimé sur l'étiquette 1. Le mode de fixation des blocs d'impression 71 ou des caractères d'imprimerie à l'intérieur de l'encoche correspondante est de technique connue, et est tel que la surface d'impression du bloc ou des caractères affleure la surface d'appui cylindrique du disque 33. Les blocs d'impression 71, respectivement les caractères d'imprimerie sont auto-encreurs, c'es(-à-dire que l'encre nécessaire à l'impression leur parvient par l'intérieur du disque 33, selon une technique connue de l'imprimerie. Afin que l'impression du code 17 sur la portion de surface 18 du recto 10 de l'étiquette 1 se fasse correctement, une roulette d'appui 72, de préférence en matière caoutchoutée, tournant librement autour d'un axe parallèle à l'axe longitudinal du tambour 3, fait appuyer la portion de surface 18 contre le bloc d'impression 71 lors de son passage sous ladite roulette. De préférence la position angulaire de l'axe de la roulette est la même que celle des roulettes 61 et 62, comme on le voit à la figure 2A, pour les même raisons qu'expliquées précédemment.These characters can be any number, numbers, letters or symbols or can constitute a barcode type code. It is thus possible to dial any code, be it a date, a number or a product name or any useful indication. The printing blocks 71 are preferably identical for each of the notches 70, but can just as easily be different from one notch to another. Each of the printing blocks 71 or each printing character can be removed from the notch and be exchanged for another printing block or another printing character, in order to change the code 17 printed on the label 1 The method of fixing the printing blocks 71 or the printing characters inside the corresponding notch is of known technique, and is such that the printing surface of the block or characters is flush with the surface of cylindrical support of the disc 33. The printing blocks 71, respectively the block letters are self-inking, that is to say that the ink necessary for printing reaches them through the inside of the disc 33 , according to a known printing technique. In order for the printing of the code 17 on the surface portion 18 of the front 10 of the label 1 to be carried out correctly, a support wheel 72, preferably made of rubberized material, rotating freely around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum 3, presses the surface portion 18 against the printing block 71 when it passes under said roller. Preferably the angular position of the axis of the caster is the same as that of the casters 61 and 62, as seen in FIG. 2A, for the same reasons as explained previously.

Ainsi, durant le parcours de la deuxième portion d'arc de 60°, le pliage de la languette 16 et son collage sur la portion de surface 15, de même que l'impression du code 17 sur la portion de surface 18, ont pu être réalisés.So during the course of the second 60 ° arc portion, the folding of the tongue 16 and its bonding on the surface portion 15, as well as the printing of the code 17 on the surface portion 18, could be carried out.

Lors de l'arrêt suivant du tambour 3, et que l'étiquette est sur la position 120°, aucune opération n'est faite sur l'étiquette 1.During the next stop of the drum 3, and that the label is in the 120 ° position, no operation is made on the label 1.

Le retrait de l'étiquette 1 du tambour 3 est faite lors du prochain arrêt dudit tambour à la position suivante, soit la position 180°. Pour ceci, on peut à nouveau se référer aux figures 2A et 2B ainsi qu'à la figure 7. Les moyens de retrait 8 du dispositif sont composés principalement selon la première forme d'exécution décrite précédemment, d'un dispositif de retrait 80 ainsi que d'un tapis roulant d'évacuation 81. Le dispositif de retrait 80 est aussi constitué d'une portion d'arbre 82, pivotante autour d'un axe 83, parallèle à l'axe longitudinal du tambour 3 et situé derrière ledit tambour, de laquelle une pluralité de doigts de retrait 84, quatre dans l'exemple considéré, s'étendent en direction du tambour, pénétrant dans les espaces existant entre les disques. Chaque doigt de retrait 84 est muni à son extrémité d'une surface d'appui 84A, tournée vers le bas. La portion d'arbre 82 comporte, sur son côté opposé à celui où se projettent les doigts de retrait 84, un bras de levier 85, relié par une tige 85A au bras de levier 27 des moyens de transfert 21, de manière que les doigts de retrait 84 agissent en synchronisme avec les doigts de saisie 24, respectivement avec la rotation du tambour 3. Lorsque l'étiquette 1, sur le tambour 3, arrive en position à 180°, les doigts de retrait 84, respectivement les surfaces d'appui 84A, sont en position haute, c'est-à-dire que l'étiquette 1 vient se placer sous lesdites surfaces d'appui. A ce moment, le distributeur 92 coupe l'alimentation en dépression des buses 35 disposées à 180°, ce qui libère l'étiquette 1, qui tombe alors vers le tapis roulant 81; ce mouvement est accompagné par les doigts de retrait 84, afin que l'étiquette 1 se sépare bien du tambour 3 et n'y reste pas collée intempestivement.The label 1 is removed from the drum 3 when the drum is next stopped at the next position, that is to say the 180 ° position. For this, one can again refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B as well as to FIG. 7. The withdrawal means 8 of the device are composed mainly according to the first embodiment described above, of a withdrawal device 80 as well as a discharge conveyor 81. The removal device 80 also consists of a shaft portion 82, pivoting about an axis 83, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum 3 and located behind said drum , from which a plurality of withdrawal fingers 84, four in the example considered, extend in the direction of the drum, penetrating into the spaces existing between the discs. Each withdrawal finger 84 is provided at its end with a support surface 84A, facing downwards. The shaft portion 82 has, on its side opposite to that where the withdrawal fingers 84 are projected, a lever arm 85, connected by a rod 85A to the lever arm 27 of the transfer means 21, so that the fingers withdrawal 84 act in synchronism with the gripping fingers 24, respectively with the rotation of the drum 3. When the label 1, on the drum 3, arrives in position at 180 °, the withdrawal fingers 84, respectively the surfaces of support 84A, are in the high position, that is to say that the label 1 is placed under said support surfaces. At this time, the distributor 92 cuts the vacuum supply to the nozzles 35 disposed at 180 °, which releases the label 1, which then falls towards the conveyor belt 81; this movement is accompanied by the withdrawal fingers 84, so that the label 1 separates well from the drum 3 and does not remain stuck there inadvertently.

En se référant à la figure 2B, on voit que le tapis roulant 81 est une bande sans fin, dont le brin supérieur circule dans le sens indiqué par la flèche, de préférence dans une direction parallèle à l'axe longitudinal du tambour 3. Le tapis roulant circule autour de deux rouleaux 86, l'un d'entre eux étant entraîné par le moteur 90, via une boîte de transmission 96. La surface extérieure du tapis roulant 81 est munie d'ergots 81A, chargés de pousser vers l'avant les étiquettes 1 disposées sur ledit tapis, en particulier de faire pénétrer l'étiquette sortant du tapis roulant entre deux rouleaux d'entraînement 87, entraînés par une autre unité d'entraînement 98, et tournant avec une vitesse périphérique plus élevée que la vitesse d'avance du tapis roulant 81, de manière à faire accélérer l'étiquette sortant dudit tapis roulant et à l'envoyer, par exemple, vers un autre tapis roulant 88 qui l'amènera vers la machine chargée de l'empaquetage des cigarettes, non représentée.Referring to FIG. 2B, it can be seen that the treadmill 81 is an endless belt, the upper strand of which runs in the direction indicated by the arrow, preferably in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum 3. The treadmill circulates around two rollers 86, one of them being driven by the motor 90, via a gearbox 96. The outer surface of the treadmill 81 is provided with lugs 81A, responsible for pushing towards the before the labels 1 placed on said conveyor, in particular for the label leaving the conveyor belt to penetrate between two drive rollers 87, driven by another drive unit 98, and rotating with a peripheral speed higher than the speed in advance of the conveyor belt 81, so as to accelerate the label leaving said conveyor belt and to send it, for example, to another conveyor belt 88 which will bring it to the machine responsible for packaging the cigars heads, not shown.

La figure 2C montre une autre forme d'exécution des moyens de retrait. L'étiquette 1 détachée du tambour 3 de la même manière que précédemment, tombe sur une double glissière 180 constituée principalement de deux faces supérieures planes, laissant entre elles un espace vide longitudinal. Une boîte de transmission 181, entraînée par le moteur 90 actionne un dispositif à levier 182, pivotant autour de son axe 183, et dont l'extrémité supérieure peut circuler dans l'espace vide disposé entre les glissières 180. La boîte de transmission 181 applique au levier 182 un mouvement de déplacement en direction de l'étiquette qui a été déposée sur les glissières 180 tel que, l'étiquette 1 est accélérée selon sa direction longitudinale, glisse sur les glissières 180 et vient en position pour être saisie entre le rouleau 184 et la bande 185. A ce moment, le levier 182 peut continuer sa rotation ou être ramené en arrière, pour entraîner l'étiquette suivante. La bande 185, qui est envoyée par le rouleau 186, comporte des ergots 187 faisant saillie au centre de la bande, de telle manière que l'étiquette 1 est ensuite poussée par une saillie 187 alors qu'elle glisse sur deux autres glissières 188 laissant aussi un espace libre entre elles pour le passage des saillies 187. Des moyens motorisés 189 assurent l'entraînement des rouleaux 184 et 186.FIG. 2C shows another embodiment of the withdrawal means. The label 1 detached from the drum 3 in the same manner as above, falls on a double slide 180 consisting mainly of two flat upper faces, leaving between them a longitudinal empty space. A gearbox 181, driven by the motor 90 actuates a lever device 182, pivoting about its axis 183, and the upper end of which can circulate in the empty space disposed between the slides 180. The gearbox transmission 181 applies to the lever 182 a movement of movement in the direction of the label which has been deposited on the slides 180 such that, the label 1 is accelerated in its longitudinal direction, slides on the slides 180 and comes into position to be gripped between the roller 184 and the strip 185. At this time, the lever 182 can continue to rotate or be brought back, to drive the next label. The strip 185, which is sent by the roller 186, has lugs 187 protruding in the center of the strip, so that the label 1 is then pushed by a projection 187 as it slides on two other slides 188 leaving also a free space between them for the passage of the projections 187. Motorized means 189 drive the rollers 184 and 186.

Les moyens de commande 9 comprennent en plus une unité de commande 97, pouvant être une carte à micro-processeur, ou un ordinateur adéquat, chargée de la synchronisation des diverses étapes du procédé et du contrôle de fonctionnement du dispositif. En particulier, l'unité de commande 97 commande la marche du moteur d'entraînement 90, contrôle la présence des étiquettes sur le tambour via le dispositif de contrôle 4 et la cellule 41, ainsi que le positionnement correct des étiquettes par les cellules 40, 42, 43, 44, et 45. Cette unité de commande 97 commande aussi le distributeur 92, afin que l'aspiration des buses 35 soit activée entre les positions 0° et 180° du tambour, afin d'y maintenir l'étiquette 1, et désactivée entre les positions 180° et 360°. L'unité de commande 97 peut aussi agir sur la machine d'empaquetage située en aval afin que, au cas où une étiquette viendrait à manquer sur le dispositif de préparation, situation repérée par la cellule 41, ou serait mal orientée, situation repérée par la cellule 40, le paquet de cigarettes correspondant qui devrait être emballé dans ladite étiquette soit retenu sur la machine d'emballage et ne soit donc pas perdu.The control means 9 additionally comprise a control unit 97, which may be a microprocessor card, or a suitable computer, responsible for synchronizing the various stages of the process and for controlling the operation of the device. In particular, the control unit 97 controls the running of the drive motor 90, checks the presence of the labels on the drum via the control device 4 and the cell 41, as well as the correct positioning of the labels by the cells 40, 42, 43, 44, and 45. This control unit 97 also controls the distributor 92, so that the suction of the nozzles 35 is activated between the 0 ° and 180 ° positions of the drum, in order to maintain the label 1 there. , and deactivated between the 180 ° and 360 ° positions. The control unit 97 can also act on the packaging machine located downstream so that, in the event that a label is missing on the preparation device, situation identified by cell 41, or is incorrectly oriented, situation identified by cell 40, the corresponding packet of cigarettes which should be wrapped in said label is retained on the packaging machine and is therefore not lost.

Diverses variantes de formes d'exécution du dispositif selon l'invention peuvent être envisagées; tout d'abord, il se pourrait que l'une ou l'autre des opérations de dépose de colle, de pliage d'une portion de surface et d'impression soit omise, ou placée à un endroit différent de celui décrit, de même que l'une ou l'autre de ces opérations soit produite plusieurs fois pour la préparation d'une étiquette ou d'une ébauche d'emballage particulière. Dans ce cas, la disposition décrite des disques d'appui et de maintien sur l'axe longitudinal pourrait être différente, de même qu'il pourrait être nécessaire de prévoir plus ou moins de positions d'arrêt du tambour 3 que les quatre positions décrites (0°, 60°, 120° et 180°) sur un demi-tour du tambour. Dans ce cas, tout ce qui a été décrit plus haut et se rapportant à un angle de 60° devrait être adapté en conséquence. Par exemple, au cas où on aurait besoin de cinq positions d'arrêt, (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°) les séquences de rotation du tambour 3 seraient de 45° et on aurait en particulier huit rangées de buses 35 disposées tous les 45° sur les disques de retenue 32, ainsi que huit blocs d'impression 71. Le diamètre des disques, respectivement le diamètre de la surface d'appui cylindrique du tambour 3 serait augmenté en conséquence. D'autre part il est tout aussi envisageable de concevoir différemment certaines particularités mécaniques décrites; en particulier, les moyens de synchronisation des doigts de saisie 24 et des doigts de retrait 84 avec l'entraînement du tambour 3 peuvent être envisagés par des moyens électroniques, pneumatiques, hydrauliques ou autres.Various variants of embodiments of the device according to the invention can be envisaged; first of all, it could be that one or the other of the operations of depositing of glue, folding of a portion of surface and printing is omitted, or placed in a different place from that described, similarly that one or the other of these operations be produced several times for the preparation of a particular label or blank for packaging. In this case, the described arrangement of the support and holding discs on the longitudinal axis could be different, just as it might be necessary to provide more or less stop positions for the drum 3 than the four positions described. (0 °, 60 °, 120 ° and 180 °) on a half-turn of the drum. In this case, everything that has been described above and relating to an angle of 60 ° should be adapted accordingly. For example, in case we need five stop positions, (0 °, 45 °, 90 °, 135 °, 180 °) the rotation sequences of the drum 3 would be 45 ° and we would in particular have eight rows nozzles 35 arranged every 45 ° on the retaining discs 32, as well as eight printing blocks 71. The diameter of the discs, respectively the diameter of the cylindrical bearing surface of the drum 3 would be increased accordingly. On the other hand, it is also conceivable to design differently certain mechanical features described; in particular, the means for synchronizing the gripping fingers 24 and the withdrawal fingers 84 with the drive of the drum 3 can be envisaged by electronic, pneumatic, hydraulic or other means.

Ainsi, par le procédé et le dispositif de préparation d'ébauches d'emballages, notamment d'étiquettes d'emballages de paquets de cigarettes, selon l'invention, il est possible d'alimenter une machine d'emballage à cadence élevée, vu que lesdites ébauches ou étiquettes ne quittent pas le tambour durant toutes les opérations de préparation. De plus, vu les dimensions limitées de ce tambour, le dispositif de préparation prend nettement moins de place que les dispositifs selon l'art antérieur. Vu la compacité et le haut degré d'intégration du dispositif, ainsi que par les contrôles de positionnement effectués, les moyens de synchronisation en sont simplifiés, ce qui limite de façon remarquable les déchets ainsi que les arrêts de machine dûs à des bourrages.Thus, by the method and the device for preparing blanks for packaging, in particular for labels for packaging cigarette packs, according to the invention, it is possible to feed a packaging machine at a high rate, seen that said blanks or labels do not leave the drum during all the preparation operations. In addition, given the limited dimensions of this drum, the preparation device takes up significantly less space than the devices according to the prior art. Given the compactness and the high degree of integration of the device, as well as by the positioning checks carried out, the synchronization means are simplified, which remarkably limits the waste as well as the machine stoppages due to jams.

Claims (29)

1-Procédé de préparation d'une ébauche d'emballage
   caractérisé en ce que - ladite ébauche (1) est prélevée d'un paquet par des moyens de transfert (21), - ladite ébauche est déposée sur une portion longitudinale d'une surface d'appui cylindrique d'un tambour (3) où elle est maintenue en place par des moyens de retenue (35), après que lesdits moyens de transfert aient cessé leur action, ledit tambour étant animé d'un mouvement de rotation séquentielle,    et en ce qu'au moins une des étapes de préparation suivantes est réalisée: - contrôle de la présence, du positionnement ainsi que de l'orientation corrects de ladite ébauche par des moyens de contrôle (4), - dépose d'au moins une goutte de colle (14) sur au moins une portion de surface (15) de ladite ébauche, - introduction d'au moins une autre portion de surface (16) de ladite ébauche dans des moyens de pliage (6) où au moins un pli (13A) est formé, - introduction de ladite ou desdites autres portions de surface pliées dans des moyens de compression (61,62) où elles sont pressées, contre la ou les portions de surface ayant reçu de la colle, - impression d'un codage (17) sur au moins encore une autre portion de surface (18) de ladite ébauche,    à la suite de quoi: - ladite ébauche est retirée dudit tambour par des moyens de retrait (8), après que lesdits moyens de retenue aient cessé leur action. 1- Process for preparing a packaging blank
characterized in that said blank (1) is removed from a packet by transfer means (21), said blank is deposited on a longitudinal portion of a cylindrical bearing surface of a drum (3) where it is held in place by retaining means (35), after said transfer means have ceased to act, said drum being driven in a sequential rotational movement, and in that at least one of the following preparation steps is carried out: - control of the presence, positioning as well as correct orientation of said blank by control means (4), - depositing at least one drop of glue (14) on at least one surface portion (15) of said blank, - introduction of at least one other surface portion (16) of said blank into folding means (6) where at least one fold (13A) is formed, - introduction of said one or more other folded surface portions into compression means (61, 62) where they are pressed, against the surface portion or portions which have received glue, - printing a coding (17) on at least yet another surface portion (18) of said blank, after what: - Said blank is withdrawn from said drum by withdrawal means (8), after said retaining means have ceased their action. 2-Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les ébauches sont déposées côte-à-côte sur une portion périphérique de la surface d'appui cylindrique du tambour et passent successivement par lesdites étapes de préparation lors des séquences de rotation ou d'arrêt dudit tambour 2- A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the blanks are deposited side-by-side on a peripheral portion of the cylindrical bearing surface of the drum and pass successively through said preparation steps during the rotation or said drum stopped 3-Procédé selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que ledit tambour est arrêté selon une première position angulaire lors de l'étape de dépose d'une ébauche sur une portion de la surface d'appui cylindrique du tambour, selon une deuxième position angulaire lors de l'étape de contrôle de la présence, de l'orientation et de l'alignement de l'ébauche, selon une troisième position angulaire lors de l'étape de dépose de colle, et selon une quatrième position angulaire lors de l'étape de retrait de ladite ébauche du tambour. 3- A method according to claim 2, characterized in that said drum is stopped in a first angular position during the step of depositing a blank on a portion of the cylindrical bearing surface of the drum, in a second angular position during the step of checking the presence, the orientation and the alignment of the blank, according to a third angular position during the step of depositing glue, and according to a fourth angular position during the step of removing said blank from the drum. 4-Procédé selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que lesdites deuxième position angulaire et troisième position angulaire représentent une même position angulaire. 4- A method according to claim 3, characterized in that said second angular position and third angular position represent the same angular position. 5-Procédé selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit tambour est en rotation lors de l'étape d'introduction et de pliage d'au moins une portion de surface dans et par lesdits moyens de pliage, de compression desdites portions de surface et d'impression d'un codage. 5- Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said drum is rotated during the step of introducing and folding at least a portion of surface in and by said folding means, compression of said surface and print portions of a coding. 6-Procédé selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que lesdites étapes de compression et d'impression sont réalisées lorsque le tambour est en décélération. 6- A method according to claim 5, characterized in that said compression and printing steps are performed when the drum is decelerating. 7-Dispositif pour la préparation d'ébauches d'emballage, selon le procédé de l'une des revendications précédentes,
   caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend: - un tambour (3) en rotation autour de son axe longitudinal (30), comprenant une surface d'appui cylindrique circulaire ainsi que des moyens de retenue (35) desdites ébauches sur ladite surface d'appui cylindrique, - des moyens de transfert (21,24,25) prélevant une à une lesdites ébauches d'une partie de stockage (20) afin de les disposer les unes après les autres sur ladite surface d'appui cylindrique dudit tambour, - des moyens de préparation desdites ébauches, et comprenant au moins un des moyens suivants: -- des moyens de contrôle (4) chargés de contrôler la présence, l'orientation et l'alignement corrects d'une ébauche sur une portion de ladite surface d'appui cylindrique du tambour, -- des moyens de dépose (5) d'au moins une goutte de colle (14) sur au moins une portion de surface (15) de ladite ébauche, -des moyens de pliage (6) d'au moins une autre portion de surface (16) de ladite ébauche, autour d'au moins un pli préformé (13A), -- des moyens de compression (61,62) d'au moins une autre portion de surface repliée par dessus au moins une portion de surface sur laquelle au moins une goutte de colle a été déposé, -- des moyens d'impression (7) d'un code (17) ou d'un texte sur au moins encore une autre portion de surface (18) de ladite ébauche,    ainsi que - des moyens de retrait (8) retirant une à une lesdites ébauches de ladite surface d'appui cylindrique du tambour afin de les disposer sur des moyens d'acheminement (81,87,88;180,182,185,188) chargés de les transporter vers la machine suivante, et - des moyens de commande (9) chargés de synchroniser le fonctionnement du dispositif. 7- Device for the preparation of packaging blanks, according to the method of one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that it comprises: - a drum (3) rotating around its longitudinal axis (30), comprising a circular cylindrical bearing surface as well as means (35) for retaining said blanks on said cylindrical bearing surface, transfer means (21, 24, 25) taking up said blanks one by one from a storage part (20) so as to arrange them one after the other on said cylindrical bearing surface of said drum, means for preparing said blanks, and comprising at least one of the following means: control means (4) responsible for checking the presence, the orientation and the correct alignment of a blank on a portion of said cylindrical bearing surface of the drum, - means for depositing (5) at least one drop of glue (14) on at least one surface portion (15) of said blank, - folding means (6) for at least one other portion of surface (16) of said blank, around at least one preformed fold (13A), - compression means (61, 62) of at least one other surface portion folded over at least one surface portion on which at least one drop of glue has been deposited, means for printing (7) a code (17) or a text on at least yet another surface portion (18) of said blank, as well as - removal means (8) one by one removing said blanks from said cylindrical bearing surface of the drum in order to place them on conveying means (81,87,88; 180,182,185,188) responsible for transporting them to the next machine, and - control means (9) responsible for synchronizing the operation of the device. 8-Dispositif selon la revendication 7,
   caractérisé en ce que ledit tambour est constitué - d'un axe longitudinal (30) sur lequel une pluralité de disques circulaires d'appui (31,33) ayant tous le même diamètre, sont disposés coaxialement et perpendiculairement audit axe longitudinal, lesdits disques d'appui étant espacés entre eux, le prolongement des surfaces cylindriques circulaires extérieures desdits disques, définissant ladite surface d'appui cylindrique dudit tambour, - d'une pluralité de disques circulaires de retenue (32), disposés coaxialement et perpendiculairementÅaudit axe longitudinal et parallèlement auxdits disques d'appui, certains desdits disques de retenue étant disposés dans l'espace séparant,lesdits disques d'appui, alors que d'autres peuvent être disposés à l'extérieur dudit espace, le diamètre extérieur desdits disques de retenue étant inférieur à celui desdits disques d'appui, - lesdits moyens de retenue étant constitués de buses d'aspiration (35), disposées régulièrement sur le pourtour de chacun desdits disques de retenue, l'orifice d'aspiration de chacune desdites buses étant tangent à ladite surface d'appui cylindrique, les buses d'aspiration de chacun desdits disques de retenue étant alignées selon des génératrices de ladite surface d'appui cylindrique    et en ce que ledit tambour est animé d'un mouvement de rotation séquentiel autour de son axe longitudinal, ledit mouvement étant constitué de rotations selon un portion de tour, chacune desdites rotations étant suivie d'un moment d'arrêt. 8- Device according to claim 7,
characterized in that said drum consists - a longitudinal axis (30) on which a plurality of circular support discs (31,33) all having the same diameter, are arranged coaxially and perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said support discs being spaced apart, the extension of the outer circular cylindrical surfaces of said discs, defining said cylindrical bearing surface of said drum, - a plurality of circular retaining discs (32), arranged coaxially and perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and parallel to said support discs, some of said retaining discs being arranged in the space separating, said support discs, while d others can be arranged outside said space, the outside diameter of said retaining discs being less than that of said support discs, - Said retaining means being constituted by suction nozzles (35), regularly arranged around the periphery of each of said retaining discs, the suction orifice of each of said nozzles being tangent to said cylindrical bearing surface, the nozzles suction of each of said retaining discs being aligned along generatrices of said cylindrical bearing surface and in that said drum is animated by a sequential rotational movement about its longitudinal axis, said movement consisting of rotations according to a portion of a turn, each of said rotations being followed by a stopping moment. 9-Dispositif selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que chaque alignement de buses selon une même génératrice possède une canalisation d'aspiration (36,36A,36B) reliant lesdites buses alignées sur une même génératrice, lesdites canalisations d'aspiration de chacun desdits alignements de buses étant séparées et étant reliées à des moyens d'aspiration (93) par des moyens de commutation (92) activant et désactivant séquentiellement l'aspiration par lesdites buses alignées. 9- Device according to claim 8, characterized in that each alignment of nozzles along the same generator has a suction line (36,36A, 36B) connecting said nozzles aligned on the same generator, said suction lines of each of said Nozzles alignments being separated and being connected to suction means (93) by switching means (92) activating and deactivating sequentially the suction by said aligned nozzles. 10-Dispositif selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de transfert (21) sont constitués d'un axe pivotant (22,23), parallèle audit axe longitudinal du tambour, une pluralité de doigts de saisie (24) se projetant perpendiculairement dudit axe, en direction dudit tambour, et pouvant pénétrer depuis l'extérieur de la surface d'appui cylindrique dudit tambour, dans les espaces disposés entre les disques, des moyens d'actionnement en pivotement (95,26,27) dudit axe imposant un mouvement d'élévation et d'abaissement desdits doigts de saisie, synchronisé au mouvement de rotation du tambour, l'extrémité de chacun desdits doigts de saisie étant muni d'une buse d'aspiration (25) qui est activée depuis la position haute desdits doigts, où une ébauche est saisie dans la partie de stockage (20), jusque vers une position proche de la position basse desdits doigts et correspondant à une position où l'ébauche est déposée longitudinalement sur la surface d'appui cylindrique du tambour et qui est désactivée depuis ladite position de dépôt jusqu'à sa position basse et depuis cette position basse jusqu'à sa position haute. 10- Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said transfer means (21) consist of a pivoting axis (22,23), parallel to said longitudinal axis of the drum, a plurality of gripping fingers (24) projecting perpendicularly from said axis, in the direction of said drum, and being able to penetrate from the outside of the cylindrical bearing surface of said drum, in the spaces arranged between the discs, pivoting actuation means (95, 26, 27) of said axis imposing an upward and downward movement of said gripping fingers, synchronized with the rotation movement of the drum, the end of each of said gripping fingers being provided with a suction nozzle (25) which is activated from the position top of said fingers, where a blank is gripped in the storage part (20), up to a position close to the bottom position of said fingers and corresponding to a position where the blank is deposited longitudinally on the surface d cylindrical drum support and which is deactivated from said deposit position to its low position and from this low position to its high position. 11-Dispositif selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de contrôle (4) comprennent un premier jeu de cellules (41) de détection de la présence d'une ébauche, un deuxième jeu de cellules (40) de détection de l'orientation selon laquelle l'ébauche est présentée et une troisième jeu de cellules (42,43,44,45) de détection de l'alignement de l'ébauche. 11- Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said control means (4) comprise a first set of cells (41) for detecting the presence of a blank, a second set of cells (40) for detecting the orientation according to which the blank is presented and a third set of cells (42,43,44,45) for detecting the alignment of the blank. 12-Dispositif selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que ledit premier jeu de cellules de détection de la présence d'une ébauche commande la dépose d'au moins une goutte de colle (14) par lesdits moyens de dépose de colle (5) lorsqu'une ébauche est en position pour recevoir de la colle. 12- Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said first set of cells for detecting the presence of a blank controls the deposit of at least one drop of glue (14) by said glue depositing means (5) when a blank is in position to receive glue. 13-Dispositif selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que ledit deuxième jeu de cellules de détection de l'orientation et ledit troisième jeu de cellules de détection de l'alignement commandent l'arrêt de la machine au cas où une ébauche n'est pas correctement orientée ou alignée. 13- Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said second set of orientation detection cells and said third set of alignment detection cells control the stopping of the machine in case a blank is not not properly oriented or aligned. 14-Dispositif selon la revendication 13, caractérisé en ce que lesdits deuxième et troisième jeu de cellules commandent aussi le blocage, sur une machine d'emballage, du paquet du produit destiné à être emballé dans une ébauche et correspondant à l'ébauche détectée comme mal tournée ou mal alignée. 14- Device according to claim 13, characterized in that said second and third set of cells also control the blocking, on a packaging machine, of the package of the product intended to be packed in a blank and corresponding to the blank detected as badly turned or badly aligned. 15-Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 11 à 14, caractérisé en ce que lesdites cellules de détection sont des cellules photo-électriques d'émission et de réception. 15- Device according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that said detection cells are photoelectric cells for transmission and reception. 16-Dispositif selon les revendications 7 et 12, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de dépose de colle sont constitués d'un dispositif d'injection (50) relié à au moins une buse d'injection (54,55), déposant au moins une goutte (14) ou un trait de colle sur ladite portion de surface de l'ébauche, ledit dispositif étant commandé par ledit premier jeu de cellule de détection de la présence d'une ébauche. 16- Device according to claims 7 and 12, characterized in that said glue depositing means consist of an injection device (50) connected to at least one injection nozzle (54,55), depositing at least a drop (14) or a line of glue on said surface portion of the blank, said device being controlled by said first set of cells for detecting the presence of a blank. 17-Dispositif selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de pliage (6) sont constitués d'un rail de guidage semi hélicoïdal (60), disposé sensiblement perpendiculairement audit axe longitudinal, et chargé de replier ladite autre portion de surface autour d'un pli préformé, sur ladite portion de surface ayant reçu au moins une goutte de colle. 17- Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said folding means (6) consist of a semi-helical guide rail (60), disposed substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and responsible for folding said other surface portion around a preformed fold, on said surface portion having received at least one drop of glue. 18-Dispositif selon la revendication 17, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de pliage sont complétés de moyens de compression constitués de deux roulettes (61,62) en rotation autour d'axes parallèles à l'axe longitudinal et entre les surfaces périphériques desquelles ladite portion de surface, sur laquelle ladite autre portion de surface est repliée, est introduite afin que les deux dites portions de surfaces soient pressées l'une contre l'autre. 18- Device according to claim 17, characterized in that said folding means are supplemented by compression means consisting of two rollers (61,62) rotating around axes parallel to the longitudinal axis and between the peripheral surfaces of which said surface portion, on which said other surface portion is folded, is introduced so that the two said surface portions are pressed against each other. 19-Dispositif selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens d'impression (7) sont constitués d'une pluralité de blocs d'impression (71) pouvant être constitués de disques indexables, disposés dans des encoches (70) aménagées régulièrement sur le pourtour de la surface d'appui d'au moins un desdits disques d'appui (33), la surface d'impression desdits blocs affleurant ladite surface d'appui, l'encrage de ladite surface d'impression provenant de moyens disposés à l'intérieur dudit disque d'appui, une roulette d'appui (72) en rotation autour d'un axe parallèle à l'axe longitudinal venant faire appuyer ladite portion de surface à imprimer contre le bloc d'impression qui fait face à ladite roulette d'appui. 19- Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said printing means (7) consist of a plurality of printing blocks (71) which can consist of indexable discs, arranged in notches (70) regularly arranged around the periphery of the support surface of at least one of said support discs (33), the printing surface of said blocks flush with said support surface, the inking of said printing surface coming from means arranged inside said support disc, a support wheel (72) rotating about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis coming to press said portion of surface to be printed against the printing unit which faces said support roller. 20-Dispositif selon la revendication 19, caractérisé en ce que lesdits blocs d'impression sont démontables. 20- Device according to claim 19, characterized in that said printing blocks are removable. 21-Dispositif selon la revendication 20, caractérisé en ce que chaque caractère desdits blocs d'impression est séparément échangeable. 21- Device according to claim 20, characterized in that each character of said printing blocks is separately exchangeable. 22-Dispositif selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de retrait (8) sont constitués d'un axe pivotant (82,83), parallèle audit axe longitudinal du tambour, une pluralité de doigts de retrait (84) se projetant perpendiculairement dudit axe, en direction dudit tambour, et pouvant pénétrer depuis l'extérieur de la surface d'appui cylindrique dudit tambour, dans les espaces disposés entre les disques, des moyens d'actionnement en pivotement (85,85A) dudit axe imposant un mouvement d'élévation et d'abaissement desdits doigts de retrait, synchronisé au mouvement de rotation du tambour, les extrémités desdits doigts de retrait comprenant chacune une surface d'appui (84A), appuyant sur le recto (10) de l'ébauche depuis une position proche de la position haute desdits doigts de retrait et, après que les moyens de retenue de l'ébauche sur le tambour aient cessé de fonctionner, accompagnant ladite ébauche par leur mouvement de descente jusque vers une position basse desdits doigts de retrait où l'ébauche est déposées sur des moyens d'acheminement (81,87,88;180, 182, 185, 188) vers la machine suivante, lesdits doigts de retrait reprenant leur montée jusqu'à une position haute, permettant ainsi à une nouvelle ébauche de venir se glisser, par pivotement du tambour, sous lesdites surfaces d'appui. 22- Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said withdrawal means (8) consist of a pivoting axis (82,83), parallel to said longitudinal axis of the drum, a plurality of withdrawal fingers (84) projecting perpendicularly from said axis, in the direction of said drum, and being able to penetrate from the outside of the cylindrical bearing surface of said drum, in the spaces arranged between the discs, pivoting actuation means (85,85A) of said axis imposing a movement of raising and lowering of said withdrawal fingers, synchronized with the rotation movement of the drum, the ends of said withdrawal fingers each comprising a bearing surface (84A), pressing on the front (10) of the blank from a position close to the high position of said withdrawal fingers and, after the retaining means of the blank on the drum have stopped working, accompanying said blank by their downward movement to a low position of said withdrawal fingers where the blank is deposited on conveying means (81,87,88; 180, 182, 185, 188) to the next machine, said withdrawal fingers resuming their rise to a high position, thus allowing a new blank to slide, by pivoting the drum, under said bearing surfaces. 23-Dispositif selon la revendication 22, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens d'acheminement sont constitués d'un premier tapis roulant (81), suivi de deux rouleaux de transfert (87), entre les surfaces périphériques desquels passent les ébauches, et dont la vitesse périphérique est supérieure à la vitesse d'avance dudit premier tapis roulant, les deux dits rouleaux de transfert étant suivis d'un deuxième tapis roulant (88) dont la vitesse d'avance est identique à la vitesse périphérique des deux rouleaux de transfert. 23- Device according to claim 22, characterized in that said conveying means consist of a first conveyor belt (81), followed by two transfer rollers (87), between the peripheral surfaces from which the blanks pass, and of which the peripheral speed is higher than the speed of advance of said first conveyor belt, said two transfer rollers being followed by a second conveyor belt (88) whose feed rate is identical to the pe riphérique speed of the two rolls transfer. 24-Dispositif selon la revendication 23, caractérisé en ce que ledit premier tapis roulant est muni, sur sa face extérieure, d'ergots (81A) de poussée des ébauches. 24- Device according to claim 23, characterized in that said first conveyor belt is provided on its outer face with lugs (81A) for pushing blanks. 25-Dispositif selon la revendication 22, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens d'acheminement sont constitués d'une double glissière (180) comportant un espace libre longitudinal, d'un levier (182) dont une portion supérieure peut circuler dans ledit espace libre, de moyens d'entraînement (181) dudit levier, tels qu'une étiquette (1) disposée sur la double glissière (180) est accélérée selon sa direction longitudinale, et de moyens de transfert constitués d'un premier rouleau entraîné (184) et d'une bande (185) munie de saillies (187). 25- Device according to claim 22, characterized in that said conveying means consist of a double slide (180) having a longitudinal free space, a lever (182) of which an upper portion can circulate in said free space , drive means (181) of said lever, such that a label (1) disposed on the double slide (180) is accelerated in its longitudinal direction, and transfer means constituted a first driven roller (184) and a strip (185) provided with projections (187). 26-Dispositif selon la revendication 7,
   caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de commande (9,97) comprennent: - des moyens d'entraînement en rotation séquentielle (90,91) du tambour selon des portions de tour suivies de moments d'arrêt, - des premiers moyens de synchronisation (95,26,27) des moyens de transfert (21) afin de déposer une ébauche sur la surface d'appui cylindrique du tambour lorsque ce dernier est arrêté, - des deuxièmes moyens de synchronisation (92) pour activer la retenue de l'ébauche dès qu'elle est déposés sur la surface d'appui cylindrique du tambour, et pour désactiver ladite retenue lorsque l'ébauche est en position prête à être retirée, - des troisièmes moyens de synchronisation (41) pour déposer au moins une goutte de colle sur au moins une portion de surface de l'ébauche lorsque le tambour est arrêté, - des quatrièmes moyens de synchronisation (85,85A) des moyens de retrait (82) pour accompagner l'ébauche durant son trajet vers les moyens d'acheminement, - des cinquièmes moyens de synchronisation (96,98;181,189) pour ajuster les vitesses des moyens d'acheminement et de transfert, - des premiers moyens de contrôle (41) inhibant les moyens de dépose de colle lorsque aucune ébauche n'est en position pour recevoir de la colle, - des seconds moyens de contrôle (40,42, 43,44,45) pour arrêter le dispositif lorsqu'une ébauche est mal orientée ou mal alignée. 26- Device according to claim 7,
characterized in that said control means (9,97) comprise: - means for driving in sequential rotation (90, 91) of the drum according to portions of a turn followed by stopping moments, first synchronization means (95, 26, 27) transfer means (21) in order to deposit a blank on the cylindrical bearing surface of the drum when the latter is stopped, - second synchronization means (92) to activate the retention of the blank as soon as it is deposited on the cylindrical bearing surface of the drum, and to deactivate said retention when the blank is in the position ready to be removed, - third synchronization means (41) for depositing at least one drop of glue on at least a portion of the surface of the blank when the drum is stopped, - fourth synchronization means (85,85A) of the withdrawal means (82) to accompany the blank during its journey towards the conveying means, - fifth synchronization means (96.98; 181.189) for adjusting the speeds of the routing and transfer means, - first control means (41) inhibiting the means for depositing glue when no blank is in position for receiving glue, - second control means (40,42, 43,44,45) for stopping the device when a blank is badly oriented or badly aligned. 27-Dispositif selon la revendication 26,
   caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de commande comprennent en outre - des moyens de contrôle pour bloquer le paquet de produit destiné à être emballé dans une ébauche, lorsque ladite ébauche est manquante dans ledit dispositif de préparation. 27- Device according to claim 26,
characterized in that said control means further comprises - Control means for blocking the product package intended to be packaged in a blank, when said blank is missing in said preparation device. 28-Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 7 à 27, caractérisé en ce que lesdites portions de tour dudit tambour sont des sixièmes de tour. 28- Device according to one of claims 7 to 27, characterized in that said tower portions of said drum are sixths of a turn. 29-Machine d'empaquetage de paquets de cigarettes, caractérisé en ce qu'elle est équipée d'un dispositif de préparation des ébauches d'emballage selon l'une des revendications 7 à 28. 29- Cigarette packet packaging machine, characterized in that it is equipped with a device for preparing the packaging blanks according to one of claims 7 to 28.
EP92810351A 1991-05-16 1992-05-12 Method and device for preparing packing blanks Expired - Lifetime EP0514340B1 (en)

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CH1468/91 1991-05-16
CH146891 1991-05-16

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EP0514340B1 (en) 1994-11-02
DE69200610T2 (en) 1995-05-18
DE69200610D1 (en) 1994-12-08

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