EP1057731A1 - Applicateur d'etiquette et procédé d'étiquetage des fruits ou des légumes - Google Patents

Applicateur d'etiquette et procédé d'étiquetage des fruits ou des légumes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1057731A1
EP1057731A1 EP00303776A EP00303776A EP1057731A1 EP 1057731 A1 EP1057731 A1 EP 1057731A1 EP 00303776 A EP00303776 A EP 00303776A EP 00303776 A EP00303776 A EP 00303776A EP 1057731 A1 EP1057731 A1 EP 1057731A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
label
labels
labeler
carrier
shaped notch
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00303776A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
David N. Anderson
Wayne C. Sherman
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.)
FMC Technologies Inc
Original Assignee
FMC Corp
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 FMC Corp filed Critical FMC Corp
Publication of EP1057731A1 publication Critical patent/EP1057731A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • B65C9/00—Details of labelling machines or apparatus
    • B65C9/08—Label feeding
    • B65C9/18—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls
    • B65C9/1865—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls the labels adhering on a backing strip
    • B65C9/1869—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls the labels adhering on a backing strip and being transferred directly from the backing strip onto the article
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
    • B65C9/00—Details of labelling machines or apparatus
    • B65C9/26—Devices for applying labels
    • B65C9/30—Rollers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
    • B65C9/00—Details of labelling machines or apparatus
    • B65C9/40—Controls; Safety devices
    • B65C9/42—Label feed control

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to labelers, and, more particularly, to a wipe-on labeler.
  • Labels are typically applied to fruits and vegetables in packing houses.
  • the speed at which these labels are applied is important because the fruit must be packed and shipped quickly so that the shelf-life in stores will be as long as possible.
  • the speed at which the labeler dispenses the labels is a limiting constraint. This constraint also results in an inefficient use of other equipment and personnel in the packing house, thus increasing the overall cost of packing fruits and vegetables.
  • Accuracy of applying the labels is also another important factor.
  • a hit rate of 100% is desirable. When the hit rate is less, a label is not successfully applied to a fruit. Packing house profitability is adversely affected when a label that would have permitted a higher selling price is not applied to fruit otherwise capable of commanding such a higher price.
  • Labelers generally apply pressure sensitive labels using a continuous label strip carrying a plurality of labels for application to the fruit as it is conveyed past the labeler.
  • many existing labelers require stiffness in the labeling material, and consequently, paper or laminated labels have to be pre-cut to lay properly on the fruit.
  • vinyl labels may be preferred because they are thin and flexible and more easily conform to any fruit shape, and the adhesion to the fruit is thus better.
  • applying such labels at high speed may be difficult.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,217,164 to La Mers discloses a bellows type labelling system using pressure sensitive labels attached along a label strip that includes a line of weakness down its middle forming separable halves, with the labels attached over both halves.
  • the label strip is pulled along a fixed plate towards a V-shaped notch in one edge of the plate.
  • the two halves of the label strip are drawn through the V-shaped notch with each half over a different side of the V. This causes the two halves of the label strip to follow divergent paths from each other, and also from the label, forcibly releasing the label.
  • the released label is then transferred to articles or an adjacent conveyor by a reciprocating bellows arrangement.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,660,676 to Brooks discloses a wipe-on labeler with a peel blade for separating the labels from the carrier strip.
  • Similiarly U.S. Patent Nos. 3,793,114 and 4,017,350 to Thomas disclose a wipe-on labelling machine that dispenses adhesive labels from a label strip that includes supply and collector reels, a pivotal rocker arm carrying an application roller, and an adjustable guide member disposed between the reels and the roller so that the labels on the label strip are peeled therefrom by movement of the label strip around the guide member.
  • a pawl is rockable about the same pivot axis as the pivotal rocker arm for applying pressure against the label strip.
  • the pawl provides a ratcheting index technique for advancing the labels. Accordingly, this labeler is difficult to operate at higher speeds because the ratcheting pivotal rocker arm must swing through a predetermined working stroke before a label is advanced.
  • wipe-on labelling machines that dispense adhesive vinyl labels include labelers manufactured by Hurst Labeling Systems, PROLABEL, and Booth Auto Pak.
  • the PROLABEL labeler includes an adjustable speed D.C. stepper motor, and an electronic eye sensor for detecting fruit location. These labelers feed the label strip over a flat edge of the applicator arm, which unfortunately may lack accuracy in placing the labels onto the fruit.
  • a labeller comprising:
  • the fruit labeler is effectively a wipe-on labeler, it is less complex than rotary and reciprocating type labelers and can place labels at a relatively high speed.
  • the label applicator is preferably an arm which pivotally extends outwardly from a label cassette, preferably along a path of travel of the articles so that the free end contacts the articles.
  • the label applicator arm also preferably includes a resilient roller attached to the free end adjacent the V-shaped notch for pressing against the articles.
  • the V-shaped notch removes the label from the carrier, and the resilient roller presses the label onto the article as it rolls over the article.
  • the label feeder also preferably includes a pair of take-up wheels for respectively taking up the pair of carrier waste portions after being split by the V-shaped notch. Because the carrier halves both support the label, if the labeler dispenses a label when there is no article, the label desirably stays on one of the waste portions and is discarded.
  • the label strip preferably has at least one edge with a predetermined profile, and the label feeder includes a dispensing wheel having a similar corresponding profile.
  • the label applicator arm preferably includes at least one spring for biasing the label applicator arm towards a conveyor carrying the articles, and a damper for damping pivotal movement of the arm when contacting articles having significant size differences.
  • the present invention likewise provides a method of applying labels to articles using a labeller comprising a label applicator mounted to a frame and having a V-shaped notch at a free end thereof, the method comprising the steps of:
  • the method preferably further includes the step of engaging a profiled edge of the label strip with a corresponding profile of a dispensing wheel. Because the label strip and the dispensing wheel have corresponding profiles, a precise and repeatable location of each label is achieved, which improves the accuracy of dispensing labels to almost 100%. This avoids the use of a more costly electronic edge detector for providing a location of the labels.
  • the label applicator including means for resiliently biasing the label applicator toward the conveyor and a damper for damping movement of the label applicator when dragged over sequential articles such as fruits having significant size differences, the speed of the preferred labeler is significantly faster than conventional wipe-on labelers.
  • FIG. 1 a perspective view of a fruit labeler, generally indicated at 10, is described, embodying the present invention.
  • the fruit labeler 10 includes a frame 12, a label cassette 14 connected to the frame for dispensing a label strip 16, a label applicator arm 18 pivotally connected to the frame adjacent the label cassette, and a label feeder 20 for advancing the label strip along the label applicator arm to a free end thereof.
  • the label feeder is generally indicated by reference 20, which will be described in greater detail below.
  • the frame 12 is supported above a conveyor 22, which advances fruit 24 along a predetermined path of travel as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
  • the label applicator arm 18 extends outwardly from the label cassette 14 along the predetermined path of travel so that the free end of the label applicator arm contacts the fruit 24.
  • the conveyor 22 preferably has conventional cradles 26 for holding and positioning individual fruit 24. Other methods of advancing fruit 24 along the predetermined path of travel are acceptable, as will be readily appreciated by one skilled in the art.
  • the label strip 16 has a carrier 30 and a plurality of labels 32 adhered thereon, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • the labels 32 are preferably vinyl since vinyl labels are thin and flexible and more easily conform to a variety of fruit shapes than paper or laminated labels. The adhesion to the fruit 24 is better because of this conformity.
  • application of the labeler 10 according to the present invention is not limited to vinyl labels, as will be readily appreciated by one skilled in the art.
  • Each of the labels 32 has a front face 32a with a decorative design or other identifying indicia printed thereon.
  • the label strip 16 includes a separation line 34 along its length at a middle portion thereof.
  • the separation line 34 is perforated but may be a line of weakness as well.
  • the label strip 16 also has at least one edge 36 with a sinusoidal or other predetermined profile which facilitates accurate positioning, as will be described in more detail below.
  • the label feeder 20 advances the label strip 16 along the label applicator arm 18 to the free end thereof.
  • the label feeder 20 includes a cassette gear 48, a dispensing wheel 50, a pair of take-up wheels 52, and a drive shaft 54 coupled therebetween.
  • the cassette gear 48 is rotated by a stepper motor 60.
  • the stepper motor 60 is also part of the label feeder 20, and is activated or energized for rotating the cassette gear 48 responsive to a fruit sensing switch 62 positioned adjacent the conveyor 22.
  • the fruit sensing switch 62 detects the approach of fruit 24 in the cradles 26 on the conveyor 22.
  • the stepper motor 60 is mounted within a housing 66 attached to the frame 12, and has an output shaft 68 with a drive gear 70 attached thereto.
  • the drive gear 70 meshes with a first idler gear 74 rotatably mounted in the housing 66.
  • a second idler gear 72 is attached to the idler gear 74 and meshes with a cassette drive gear 76.
  • the cassette drive gear 76 is rotatably mounted in the housing 66 with its teeth projecting through and above a protective cover secured to the top of the housing to engage the cassette gear 48 within the frame 12.
  • the second idler gear 72 is removably secured to the first idler gear 74 so that a gear with the number of teeth necessary to advance the label strip 16 the proper distance may be installed, as will be readily appreciated by one skilled in the art.
  • the cassette gear 48 is affixed to the drive shaft 54, as is the dispensing wheel 50 and the pair of take-up wheels 52.
  • the dispensing wheel 50 has a predetermined profile corresponding to the profile of the label strip 16. More particularly, the dispensing wheel 50 has a depressed center defined by a pair of opposing sinusoidal side walls 80.
  • the profile edges 36 of the carrier 30 are formed with a shape complementary to and engageable with the sinusoidal side walls 80.
  • the label strip 16 is wound on a core 82 which is rotatably supported on handles 12a formed on and extending upward from the frame 12.
  • the label strip 16 is trained around a guide pulley 84 rotatably carried on a tension arm 86 which is loosely carried by the drive shaft 54.
  • a second roller 88 rotatably carried by the tension arm 86 assures the label strip 16 engages the side walls 80 of the dispensing wheel 50.
  • a stepped shaft 90 extends across and is non-rotationally secured to the frame 12.
  • a full diameter section of the stepped shaft 90 is engageable by the guide roller 84 to assure the carrier 30 remains within the side walls thereof.
  • the hill diameter section of the stepped shaft 90 also limits the downward travel of the guide roller 84.
  • the guide roller 84 is biased downward by gravity to trap the label strip 16 therebetween, and stop momentum of the label strip and to maintain tension therein. As the label strip 16 is dispensed, it passes over a set of rollers 85 to provide a non-restricting path to the free end of the label applicator arm 18.
  • biasing means and a damper 73 are connected to the label applicator arm 18.
  • the biasing means preferably includes a pair of springs 71 connected between the label applicator arm 18 and the frame 12. Depending on the amount of bias desired, only one spring 71 may be used. Other methods of biasing the label applicator arm 18 are acceptable, as will be readily appreciated by one skilled in the art.
  • the damper 73 may also comprise a dashpot which cushions or dampens movement of the label applicator arm 18 to avoid damaging the fruit 24 when a label 32 is applied thereto.
  • the damper is provided by at least one spring adjacent one of the bias springs 71, and its size is about half the length of the bias spring, but larger in diameter.
  • the biasing means are provided without the damper 73.
  • the free end of the label applicator arm 18 includes a V-shaped notch 40 formed by edges 40a, 40b to split the carrier 30 of the label strip 16 along the longitudinal separation line.
  • the V-shaped notch 40 separates the labels 32 from the carrier 30 as the carrier passes over the respective edges 40a and 40b, as best shown in FIG. 6.
  • the respective carrier waste portions 30a, 30b pass briefly underneath the label applicator arm 18 and return along the upper surface on opposite sides of the label strip as shown in FIG. 5.
  • a resilient roller 41 is connected to the free end of the label applicator arm 16 via extension 43 for pressing separated labels 32 onto the fruit 24.
  • the roller 41 has an inverted V-shaped region which corresponds to the V-shaped notch 40 in the label applicator arm 18.
  • the roller 41 is preferably a soft material, such as rubber, so as not to damage the fruit 24. As the label 32 is separated from the carrier 30, the roller 41 ensures that the separated label has adequate pressure for adhering to the fruit 24.
  • Each half of the separated carrier i.e., the carrier waste portions 30a and 30b, pass along the upper surface of the label applicator arm 18 and around guide rollers 92 rotatably mounted by a shaft 94.
  • Each waste portion 30a, 30b passes between the guide rollers 92 and the take-up wheels 52, and passes over the top of the take-up wheels.
  • the take-up wheels 52 include a series of peripheral projections 98 which penetrate the respective carrier waste portions 30a, 30b of the carrier 30.
  • a wedge 104 secured to the inside of each side of the frame 12 separates the respective carrier waste portions 30a, 30b from the projections 98 on the respective take-up wheels 52.
  • a bar 106 spans one end of the frame 12 and is engageable with a hook (not shown) formed in the housing 66.
  • the bar 106 has enlarged diameter ends, the transition to which tends to center the housing 66 as it is connected to the frame 12.
  • a spring-loaded detent (not shown) is mounted on each side of the frame 12 and engages a recess on the frame to releasably retain the label cassette 14 in place.
  • the label cassettes are interchangeable so that one cassette can be loaded off-line with a reel of label strips 16 while another cassette is operatively engaged with the labeler 10 to apply labels to the fruit 24.
  • the stepper motor 60 accelerates from standstill to a rotational speed which causes the velocity of the labels 32 to match the speed at which they will be dispensed. Matching the speed can be determined by counting the rotations of an idler gear (not shown) engaging the conveyor.
  • the stepper motor 60 is deactivated, the labels 32 decelerate to a standstill.
  • the acceleration or ramp-up of the stepper motor 60 from standstill, which is initiated by closing the fruit sensing switch 62, is a function of the speed of the conveyor 22, the distance between the cradles 26 carrying the fruit 24, and the maximum tensile force to which the label strip 16 may be subjected.
EP00303776A 1999-05-13 2000-05-05 Applicateur d'etiquette et procédé d'étiquetage des fruits ou des légumes Withdrawn EP1057731A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US31122799A 1999-05-13 1999-05-13
US311227 1999-05-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1057731A1 true EP1057731A1 (fr) 2000-12-06

Family

ID=23205977

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00303776A Withdrawn EP1057731A1 (fr) 1999-05-13 2000-05-05 Applicateur d'etiquette et procédé d'étiquetage des fruits ou des légumes

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1057731A1 (fr)
AR (1) AR023970A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU3530600A (fr)
BR (1) BR0001733A (fr)
CA (1) CA2307152A1 (fr)
IL (1) IL135824A0 (fr)
MX (1) MXPA00004616A (fr)
NZ (1) NZ504226A (fr)
ZA (1) ZA200002157B (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2846630A1 (fr) * 2002-11-06 2004-05-07 Euro Label 06 Machine d'etiquetage a moyens de protection d'une bande portant des etiquettes et installation d'etiquetage correspondante
ES2401000R1 (es) * 2010-07-06 2013-12-20 Alain Rebullida Dispositivo de etiquetado de frutas, especialmente las colocadas en cestas.
EP2955119A4 (fr) * 2013-02-05 2016-01-27 Vilar Vicente José Bernat Appareil et procédé pour l'étiquetage de produits
US10106286B2 (en) 2015-01-23 2018-10-23 Id Technology Llc Label applying apparatus
CN115535407A (zh) * 2022-09-29 2022-12-30 江西武功山泉矿泉水有限责任公司 一种瓶装矿泉水自动化贴标机
WO2023244990A1 (fr) * 2022-06-14 2023-12-21 Sinclair Systems International, Llc Systèmes et procédés d'application d'étiquettes sur des produits alimentaires

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3793114A (en) 1970-07-09 1974-02-19 Pricemaster Ltd Labelling machine
GB1371126A (en) * 1971-08-20 1974-10-23 Meto Gmbh Kind Oscar Labelling machine
US4017350A (en) 1974-03-05 1977-04-12 Pricemaster Ltd. Labelling machine
US4217164A (en) 1975-10-01 1980-08-12 Mers Herbert Labelling system
EP0017858A1 (fr) * 1979-04-19 1980-10-29 HERMA GmbH + Co KG Dispositif distributeur d'étiquettes automatique pour adjonction à une machine d'emballage
US4896793A (en) * 1987-12-04 1990-01-30 Sinclair International Limited Labelling machines
US5660676A (en) 1995-10-19 1997-08-26 Brooks; Robert E. High speed labeler
US5829351A (en) 1997-05-23 1998-11-03 Fmc Corporation Labeler having stepper motor driving plural elements

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3793114A (en) 1970-07-09 1974-02-19 Pricemaster Ltd Labelling machine
GB1371126A (en) * 1971-08-20 1974-10-23 Meto Gmbh Kind Oscar Labelling machine
US4017350A (en) 1974-03-05 1977-04-12 Pricemaster Ltd. Labelling machine
US4217164A (en) 1975-10-01 1980-08-12 Mers Herbert Labelling system
EP0017858A1 (fr) * 1979-04-19 1980-10-29 HERMA GmbH + Co KG Dispositif distributeur d'étiquettes automatique pour adjonction à une machine d'emballage
US4896793A (en) * 1987-12-04 1990-01-30 Sinclair International Limited Labelling machines
US5660676A (en) 1995-10-19 1997-08-26 Brooks; Robert E. High speed labeler
US5829351A (en) 1997-05-23 1998-11-03 Fmc Corporation Labeler having stepper motor driving plural elements
EP0879764A1 (fr) * 1997-05-23 1998-11-25 Fmc Corporation Etiqueteuse avec moteur commun au déroulement de la bande et au transfert des étiquettes

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2846630A1 (fr) * 2002-11-06 2004-05-07 Euro Label 06 Machine d'etiquetage a moyens de protection d'une bande portant des etiquettes et installation d'etiquetage correspondante
EP1418125A1 (fr) * 2002-11-06 2004-05-12 Euro Label 06 Machine d'étiquetage à moyens de protection d'une bande portant des étiquettes et installation d'étiquetage correspondante
ES2401000R1 (es) * 2010-07-06 2013-12-20 Alain Rebullida Dispositivo de etiquetado de frutas, especialmente las colocadas en cestas.
EP2955119A4 (fr) * 2013-02-05 2016-01-27 Vilar Vicente José Bernat Appareil et procédé pour l'étiquetage de produits
US10106286B2 (en) 2015-01-23 2018-10-23 Id Technology Llc Label applying apparatus
WO2023244990A1 (fr) * 2022-06-14 2023-12-21 Sinclair Systems International, Llc Systèmes et procédés d'application d'étiquettes sur des produits alimentaires
CN115535407A (zh) * 2022-09-29 2022-12-30 江西武功山泉矿泉水有限责任公司 一种瓶装矿泉水自动化贴标机
CN115535407B (zh) * 2022-09-29 2023-04-21 江西武功山泉矿泉水有限责任公司 一种瓶装矿泉水自动化贴标机

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BR0001733A (pt) 2001-01-02
AR023970A1 (es) 2002-09-04
MXPA00004616A (es) 2002-03-08
AU3530600A (en) 2000-11-16
ZA200002157B (en) 2001-01-11
IL135824A0 (en) 2001-05-20
NZ504226A (en) 2000-12-22
CA2307152A1 (fr) 2000-11-13

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