EP0911264B1 - Labelling machine for products having an irregular elongated shape like sausages - Google Patents

Labelling machine for products having an irregular elongated shape like sausages Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0911264B1
EP0911264B1 EP98118764A EP98118764A EP0911264B1 EP 0911264 B1 EP0911264 B1 EP 0911264B1 EP 98118764 A EP98118764 A EP 98118764A EP 98118764 A EP98118764 A EP 98118764A EP 0911264 B1 EP0911264 B1 EP 0911264B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
products
pliers
labelling machine
piston
machine according
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98118764A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0911264A1 (en
Inventor
Alberto Bertani
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.)
Rbm Automazioni Srl
Original Assignee
Rbm Automazioni Srl
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 Rbm Automazioni Srl filed Critical Rbm Automazioni Srl
Publication of EP0911264A1 publication Critical patent/EP0911264A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0911264B1 publication Critical patent/EP0911264B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
    • B65C3/00—Labelling other than flat surfaces
    • B65C3/02—Affixing labels to elongated objects, e.g. wires, cables, bars, tubes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a labelling machine for products having an irregular elongated shape according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the present invention relates to a labelling machine for alimentary products having an irregular, elongated shape, such as, for instance, salami or charcuterie in general.
  • a labelling machine for paper rolls is known from FR-A-2 443 387. Said machine has the features of the preamble of claim 1.
  • the products having an irregular elongated shape in particular alimentary products
  • Some products, and in particular some alimentary products are packed only with labels or wrappers as their fundamental and origin characteristics require such a presentation, either by tradition or because of their organoleptic and constitutional characteristics.
  • a specific example of such products is constituted by charcuterie in general; they have elongated configurations of an approximately cylindrical shape in the central part, but with more or less regular profiles, according to the type of products, the bowel or the envelope adopted for the charcuterie, and so on.
  • salami in general are those that show the most irregular peripheral characteristics, and for which the operations of automated labelling with wrappers have not given till now satisfactory results. This is due to the fact that the wrapping effect of labels has been always too associated to the configuration of the application peripheral surfaces, and they assume imperfect wrappings, with twisted or helical orientations, without a correct superposition of edges, etc.; actually, still today they are preferably applied by hand, which is obvious a time and work consuming operation.
  • Object of the present invention is to eliminate the above drawback.
  • object of this invention is to provide a labelling machine particularly suitable for the application of labels in a perfect manner and without edge superposition, on the surface of alimentary products such as charcuterie and in particular salami, having elongated configurations with irregular profiles or surfaces.
  • the rotating means for grasping the products may be two opposite side pliers which engage at the ends of the products which advance on the machine, whose feeding is by step-by-step advancement means.
  • the rotary grasping means or pliers, and therefore the product engaged therewith, result to be orthogonally aligned with a feed channel wherein labels, still in the form of a continuous tape, unwind from a roll and remain perfectly coaxially guided until the humidifying of the glue and of the measure-cutting, with subsequent pressing, independently on the peripheral irregularity of the surface of the product, whereon the label is wound in the form of a wrapper.
  • This wrapping is obtained by the natural drawing of the label by small pliers directly engaged on one of the rotary grasping means.
  • the lower tackified part of the label is humidified by means of a pad which remains then slidingly engaged with the end of the label, even after the cross-cut, operating in this way an adjustable pressure during the last stage of the wrapper winding, in order to keep on the same a correct product-adhesion tension, without causing side shifting of the label, especially of the last edge, but keeping its cylindrical ring-like aligned wrapping.
  • An upper pressure means which moves at the same speed of the advancement means, acts on the last humidified edge, pressing it on the underlying wound part of the wrapper so as to complete the gluing. The pressing action is exercised for all the time necessary to deposit the products on the side step-by-step advancing means and the release means of the grasping pliers, up to the complete adhesion of the superposed parts.
  • labels are wrapped around any type of elongated product having any cylindrical, conic, semiconic, regular or irregular shape, according to a perfectly circular/cylindrical motion, in an entirely guided manner, not strictly associated to the conformation of the product.
  • the machine is provided with adjustable guides, which keep the labels than unwind from continuous rolls, correctly guided up to the final gluing.
  • the products are taken and kept in a correct rolling position by means of side grasp pliers to which small pliers are associated which grasp the wrapping end edge of the tape labels.
  • the continuous label tape is kept in controlled guide and wrapping tension also after the end cross-cut and up to the release of the wrapped product.
  • the advantages achieved by the labelling machine of the present invention lie essentially in that the wrapper-labelling on the products having an elongated shape and an irregular peripheral surface is obtainable in an entirely automatic manner, with high possibilities of production and product uniformity, without using workmen, except those that are necessary to load and unload the product, unless the machine is automatically fed. Besides, the regular and periodic maintenance is very limited, thanks to the structural simplicity of the machine.
  • the Figures show a labelling machine for products having an elongated shape and irregular surfaces, such as for instance and in particular salami, which comprises a bearing structure 1 provided with an inclined race 2 whereon a continuous label tape 3 can slide which unwinds from a roll 4 and aligns with a product 6 to be wrap-labelled, such as for instance a salami 6.
  • Race 2 is substantially made up by a longitudinal channel provided with a longitudinal fixed shoulder 8 and a lower fixed guide 10.
  • the thickness of said channel is sufficient to comprise the continuous label tape 3 and its width is adjustable in function of the width of the tape. Width adjustment is obtained by means of a mobile plate 7, that can be positioned with respect to the longitudinal fixed shoulder 8 of race 2.
  • a lid 9 closes at the top race 2, so as to circumscribe to a sufficient minimum the space within which the continuous label tape 3 can move in a closely guided manner, during the unwinding.
  • the inclination of the lower fixed guide 10 of said race 2, with the related plate 7 and lid 9, is adjustable in function of the diameter of the products to be labelled, preferably with respect to prefixed size ranges.
  • the fixed guide 10 is provided with an aperture 11, aligned to race 2 wherein there slides the continuous tape 3, in correspondence of which, from the lower part, an advancement roll 12 appears which has a free wheel and is moved in alternated motion by a lever 13 activated by a piston 14.
  • a supplementary small wheel 15 which is supported by a bracket 16 integral with a small piston 17.
  • the continuous label tape 3 rests on the bottom of race 2 and slides thereon, between said advancement roller 12 and the small upper wheel 15.
  • the supplementary upper small wheel 15 lowers, pressing the label tape 3 against the advancement roll 12, which is caused to rotate by piston 14. In this way, the start edge 19 of tape 3 is caused to advance up to its positioning in alignment with the underlying product 6, or salami 6, to be wrapped.
  • piston 17 acts with its point-piece 20 on lid 9 of the fixed guide 10, lifting bracket 16 and the small wheel 15 associated to the same, so that tape 3 is free again, simply resting in its guide 2, with no hindrances to its guided sliding, except that due to the calibrated width of the race and the sliding friction in the same.
  • a small friction roll 21, combined with a free wheel control 22 by means of a small piston 23, acts on the peripheral surface of roll 4 of a continuous label tape 3, and unwinds it for just the length sufficient to create an excess free amount 24 which ensures the subsequent traction stages of said tape, without the effect of the natural resistance ensuing from the inertia of roll 4.
  • the small piston 23, makes a free wheel return travel for positioning the small roll 21, for a subsequent operating stage.
  • two rotary pliers 25 are provided which engage with the ends of product 6 to be labelled and grasp it in such a way as to drag it in rotation about an axis substantially corresponding to the theoretical axis of said product.
  • Each pliers 25 are provided with a bent panel 26 and on a bent panel 26 of at least one of said pliers 25 a guide 27 is applied.
  • two superposed saddles 28, 29 slide which comprise, at the front ends, the two superposed point-pieces of pliers 30 which align with said edge 19 of tape 3 and engage with it in a dragging grasp.
  • the lower saddle 28 is integral with the lower horizontal fixed point of the small pliers 30 and is coupled to the piston of a first cylinder-piston system 31 which causes it to axially slide along guide 27.
  • the upper saddle 29 is coupled to the lower one 28 and moves together with it, in the same way, along guide 27, but its front end is engaged with hinge 32 of pliers 30 and its back end is engaged with the piston of a second cylinder-piston system 33, whose function is to cause the opening/closing of the mobile upper point, hinges in 32, of said small pliers.
  • the piston of the second cylinder-piston system 33 is directly engaged with that of the first cylinder-piston system 31 and is therefore subject to all the axial forwards and/or backwards shifting generated by the latter.
  • the position of said pliers 30 is therefore near the surface of product 6 and in correspondence of the tangency coupling point with the label tape 3, with the possibility of axial advancement/backing and opening/closing.
  • tape 3 is wound on product 6, forming two annular vaults (generally and preferably at least two), which are perfectly aligned with each other, independently on the possible irregular configuration of the peripheral surface of the product, thanks to the unwinding of tape 3, guided by race 2 and not restrained by mechanical means, but unwound by the only effect of the sliding friction.
  • Pad 36 operates in opposition to an upper guide bent panel 37, so that the last edge of label, already separated from tape 3 by means of a transversal blade 68, is engaged between them and kept in traction during the last wrapping stage: in this way, the wrapper is substantially stretched around product 6 and goes near to it to wrap it in a way as adhering as possible, while remaining perfectly aligned thanks to the lasting grasp of pliers 30, on the one side, and the grasp of pad 36 against the bent panel 37, on the other side.
  • a pressure pad 38 is caused to lower until it rests on the surface of product 6, in correspondence of the humidified edge of wrapper 5.
  • the pressure pad 38 has the function of keeping said humidified edge adhering to the underlying vault or the wrapper, to ensure the mutual adhesion.
  • pliers 30 release their grasp on edge 19, by effect of the release of the pressure in the second cylinder-piston system 33.
  • the first cylinder-piston system 31 causes pliers 30 to return backwards by unthreading it entirely from under the wrapper, without opening it, while the bent panels of the grasp pliers 25 are caused to open to release the labelled product 6.
  • the opening of pliers 30 for the preparation of the subsequent work stage takes place sequentially.
  • the labelled products 6 are laid on parallel side grids 40 provided with sequential V-shaped spaces wherein the end parts of said products rest.
  • FIG. 1 shows an embodiment, solely given by way of example, of said movement and control means. They comprise cylinder-piston systems 42 which, through levers 43, having their fulcrum in 44, cause the lifting of the bench saddle 41, the side grids 40 associated to the same and the pressure pad 38, which acts on the just manufactured wrapper 5.
  • opening/closing means of the grasp pliers 25 are represented in Figures 2 and 3.
  • Pliers 25, aligned with one another in opposition to grasp the opposite ends of products 6, are engaged with back pins that rotate in support 47 and which receive the motion through chain gearing systems 48 or the like, coupled to a ratio-motor 49.
  • Coaxially with said pins drive bars 50 are provided which, through levers 51 with elastic fulcrum 52 and cylinder-piston systems 53 and 54, cause the return and/or the release of the activating levers 55, with ensuing opening and/or closing of the grasp bent panels 26.
  • fulcra 52 are constituted by small rolls which are free to oscillate on the surface of supports 56, to make up for possible axial shifting.
  • the cylinder-piston control systems 53 and 54 are preferably couples by twos: the first ones 53, thrusters, and the second one 54, pressure adjusters, to prevent possible lacerations of the peripheral surfaces of products 6.
  • the same opening/closing controls of the pliers may be realised by cylinder-piston systems 58 applied directly and coaxially to the control bars 50 (see Fig. 3).
  • the machine is provided with adjustment means that allow an adequate alignment of the continuous label tape 3 with said product.
  • said means are constituted by simple end-of-travel means, such as, for instance, adjustment screws applied to an only drum 59.
  • Said drum 59 is placed near one of the control end of the grasp pliers 25 and allows the adjustment of the inclined orientation of race 2, in function of the tangency point of the label tape 3 with the product diameter, and an adjustment of the opening/closing of grasp pliers 25 and the raising/lowering of the bench-saddle 41, with the related side grids 40, always in function of the diameter of the product being treated.
  • said devices are adopted within defined, circumscribed and preferred use fields.
  • On drum 59 there are provided a first set of axial end-of-travels 60', a second set of radial end-of-travels 60'', and at least a third type of radial end-of-travels 60''' for raising the bench saddle 41.
  • the axial end-of-travels 61' stops the closing travel of pliers 25 in function of the diameter of the product they must grasp.
  • the radial end-of-travels 60 in function of the same product diameter, form the front rest 62, suitably inclined, of the fixed guide 10 with race 2, which rotates around its back fulcrum 63.
  • the third type of end-of-travel 60''' allows to adjust the raising of the bench saddle 41 with the related side grids 40.
  • the inclined orientation of guide 10 that feeds the continuous label tape 3, the opening/closing of grasp pliers 25 and the raising/lowering of the transport means 40 may be realised without the utilisation of said drum 59.
  • said devices In rest conditions, said devices are positioned in the maximum opening condition, or they are positioned as if they were to label the products having the maximum diameter.
  • the various adjustments are performed.
  • the raising/lowering of the transport means 40 is made through a proximity switch (not shown), located on the control board of the machine, through which it is possible to select, among defined positions, the one corresponding to the travel desired.
  • any desired travel comprised within the use field of the machine may be selected. In any case, the choice of the travels should be made taking into account the fact that the products to be labelled must assume a loading position that is almost axed with the open grasp pliers 25.
  • the raising/lowering of the bench saddle 41 is generated, as described, by pistons 42 controlled by closed centre electro-valves,
  • the bent panels 26 of pliers 25 close on the products to be labelled 6 according to the same principle described above, by means of coupled pistons 53 and 54.
  • the fixed guide 10 which feeds the continuous label tape 3 and the grasp pliers 25 are at the maximum opening, but in such a position that the start edge 19 of the label is aligned, with a correct feed, with pliers 30.
  • pliers 30 engage with edge 19 of the continuous label tape 3, pliers 25 close their bent panels 26 around said product and guide 10 feeding tape 3 rotates, inclining, until it steps near the external periphery of said product, controlled by a proximity micro-switch 67 to which a lever 70 is coupled which lies against one of said bent panels 26 already closed in restraining position.
  • a proximity micro-switch 67 to which a lever 70 is coupled which lies against one of said bent panels 26 already closed in restraining position.
  • the rotation of guide 10 feeding the continuous tape 3, takes place around its back fulcrum 63 and is produced by means of at least a piston, piloted by at least a closed centre electro-valve.
  • feed guide 10 raises again, the bent panels 26 open again entirely, the bench saddle 41 raises and the side grids 40 collect and shift towards the unloading point the labelled product and align in the machine another product to be labelled.

Landscapes

  • Package Frames And Binding Bands (AREA)
  • Labeling Devices (AREA)
EP98118764A 1997-10-10 1998-10-05 Labelling machine for products having an irregular elongated shape like sausages Expired - Lifetime EP0911264B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT97RE000072A IT1297986B1 (it) 1997-10-10 1997-10-10 Etichettatrice per prodotti a forma allungata irregolare
ITRE970072 1997-10-10

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0911264A1 EP0911264A1 (en) 1999-04-28
EP0911264B1 true EP0911264B1 (en) 2002-02-06

Family

ID=11399112

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98118764A Expired - Lifetime EP0911264B1 (en) 1997-10-10 1998-10-05 Labelling machine for products having an irregular elongated shape like sausages

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0911264B1 (it)
AT (1) ATE212932T1 (it)
DE (1) DE69803735D1 (it)
IT (1) IT1297986B1 (it)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113665931B (zh) * 2021-08-27 2022-11-08 中国人民解放军陆军军医大学第一附属医院 采血管自动贴码装置

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2443387A1 (fr) * 1978-12-08 1980-07-04 Ditzel Gmbh Gebr Dispositif pour le collage de bandes et/ou l'etiquetage
FR2547555B1 (fr) * 1983-06-14 1986-04-18 Dard Claude Machine a etiqueter des produits cylindriques, notamment des saucissons
IT1173970B (it) * 1984-05-09 1987-06-24 Gianfranco Cecchi Procedimento ed apparecchiatura per applicare automaticamente fascette a corpi,in particolare prodotti alimentari,di forma irregolare sostanzialmente cilindrica
ES8706552A1 (es) * 1986-06-19 1987-07-01 Vilanova Alzamora Manuel Perfeccionamientos en dispositivos aplicadores de etiquetas en piezas de embutido

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITRE970072A1 (it) 1999-04-10
EP0911264A1 (en) 1999-04-28
ATE212932T1 (de) 2002-02-15
DE69803735D1 (de) 2002-03-21
IT1297986B1 (it) 1999-12-20
ITRE970072A0 (it) 1997-10-10

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