EP1171371B1 - Installation for treating parts such as labels or sleeves for labelling and presentation of bottles - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns an installation comprising a feeding device ( 100, 101, 103, 104, 1, 11, 12 ) unwinding the support (G) and a treating device ( 105, 4 ) for operating on the parts (P). A reading unit ( 102 ) positioned on the passage (Z) of the bar codes (CB) of the parts (P), supplies signals (SL). A data source ( 107 ) contains data concerning the bar codes (CB). A control circuit ( 106, 5 ) receives the sense signals (SL) and the data signals (SD) so as to compare them and transmit control signals (SC) for the treating device ( 105, 4 ).

Description

The present invention relates to an installation for processing parts supplied continuously on a support (tape, sheath), such as labels or sleeves container packaging, to perform an operation on each part, requiring precise identification of each part fitted with a bar code, installation comprising a device feeder unwinding the support, and a device for treatment ordered to perform the operation on the parts.

The invention relates in particular, but not exclusively, to an installation for cutting parts supplied in continuous and printed continuously on tape or sleeve such as labels or sleeves for container linings including bottles, printed surfaces each having a printed bar code indication to separate the pieces one by one with respect to the unwound strip.

It is already known to dress bottles or containers of this type with stretch or retractable sleeves, that is to say, we pull elastically over the part to which they return elastically or that we engage without deforming them on the part then we perform heat shrink.

These sleeves are unwound from a sheath, that is to say of a flat wound tube, continuous, printed with the different indications or the sleeve label as well as a bar code.

When fitting these sleeves on the bottles, the hose is unwound and the machine tears off one by one one the sleeves to put them on the bottles.

However, this known solution presents a certain number of disadvantages, the most important of which is that of realization of the rupture line separating two sleeves or two pieces of the sheath. This requires an additional operation sheath printing. This operation is delicate because it must correspond precisely with the print sleeves.

We also know from the document US 5,383,130, a printing line for folded sheets. This installation uses predetermined configuration markers. The installation detects this mark to perform the folding. Such a device requires costly installation specific marks on the sheets to be folded.

We also know from the document US 5,095,219 a method of cutting a strip of material to have products cut to good length. The band of material has a regular distribution of bars forming a special barcode and the reader 16 detects the passage each of the equidistant benchmarks to allow a calculator calculate the time interval between two benchmarks to determine the kinematic parameters of this scrolling, i.e. speed and acceleration and perform corrections based on these measurements. Besides, the complexity means implemented, this installation requires a strip 1 with printing of a special code in the form barcode with specially printed equidistant bars for the detection of kinematic parameters.

There are also similar methods for pieces such as labels unwound from a ribbon continued.

The present invention aims to develop an installation allowing operations to be carried out on parts, requiring precise identification of each part relative to the treatment device or in particular to separate parts such as labels or sleeves continuously printed on a support such as a sheath or strip, to achieve a simple and precise separation of parts for application on the part to which they are intended.

To this end, the present invention relates to a installation of the type defined in claim 1 and dependent claims.

Installation allows operations on a precisely marked part without having to carry out particular brands but using an element existing i.e. the bar code already printed on the room and occupying a precise and known position in relation to piece.

This barcode precisely positioned with respect to each piece thus makes it possible to carry out the operation such as cutting a part, in particular the sleeve at a specific location on the support or sheath, which simplifies the manufacture of the support which will no longer have to be perforated along the junction line of two pieces.

Detection of any deviation between the theoretical length and the actual length of the part, in particular label or sleeve is particularly important for plastic supports like those generally used for sheaths because this material risks sometimes sliding randomly over unwinding cylinders; depending on the size of the error between the theoretical length and the actual length of the part, it could be badly cut and these faults are not not necessarily compensating from one room to another but risking to add up, we arrive by cumulation, very quickly very significant separation faults, making these unusable.

The installation according to the invention which corrects each length defect for each part, avoids the accumulation of defaults. Since the length error on a part is not significant or at least not really noticeable, the fact that the correction be made with a shift of a part has not of practical importance.

Similarly, the operation such that the cut is offset compared to the detection of the printed indication or reading fingerprint. This offset corresponds to an integer piece lengths. These are generally a few pieces and between the measuring point and the cutting point, there can be no significant change in the length and, consequently, of the position of the cutting line.

The solution according to the invention consisting in reading the barcode is particularly interesting because the barcode readers make it very easy to detect this code and most importantly they are used to detect the position precise barcode.

In a particularly interesting way, the measuring means of the unwound length is the incremental sensor associated with an indexed wheel integral with one of the rollers reel of the reel device.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the machine has a cutting device downstream of the barcode shifted from it by an integer number of lengths of part and controlled offset by the device control.

An installation according to the present invention can apply advantageously to treatment lines or work receiving pieces in continuous strip, on which operations must be carried out and in particular separated from parts precisely as is the case with a machine fitting sleeves on bottles; this facility is combined to work in synchronism, by example, with the sleeve fitting turret.

• la figure 1 montre schématiquement une installation selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue de détail de la figure 1.
• la figure 3 est un schéma d'une installation de dévidage de manchons.

The present invention will be described below in more detail in the case of an installation for cutting parts such as labels or sleeves, using the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 schematically shows an installation according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a detail view of FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a diagram of an installation for unwinding sleeves.

According to Figure 1, the invention relates so general a P parts processing installation supplied continuously on a support G. These parts each provided of a barcode are, for example, labels or sleeves to cover containers and the installation must perform a certain operation on each part. This operation requires precise identification of each part.

The installation includes a reeling device 100 constituted for example by one or two driven cylinders one or both by a motor 101 scrolling the support G in the direction of arrow D. A single piece P with its CB barcode is shown on the sheath G for requirements of this description. In fact, the parts succeed one another almost continuously on support G.

Downstream of the unwinding device 100, the installation includes a reader 102 overlapping the zone Z of support G in which the bar code must be located CB. This zone Z is defined and known.

Downstream of reader 102, the installation includes a downstream unwinding or driving device 103 consisting also by one or two cylinders, at least one of which is driven by a motor 104. Finally, downstream of the device 103 the installation includes a processing device 105 which performs the operation. This device 105 can be for example a printing or cutting tool which must perform a operation at a precise location in the room. This location precise is defined from the start in relation to the location of the CB barcode.

The installation also includes a circuit command 106 which receives the read signal SL from the reader 102 and SP1 position or drive signals supplied schematically by the motor 101 and SP2 provided schematically by the motor 104. These signals SP1, SP2 can be reader signals associated with a sound record carried by the output axis of the motors 101, 104 to locate so specifies the angular position of the axis of the motors and give thus directly or indirectly a signal corresponding to the position of the support G or at the unwound length.

The control circuit 106 is also connected to an information source 107 which contains the information relating to bar codes. This information is information of position, dimensions and more generally of characteristics of bar codes. According to information to code, barcodes vary in size (length and width) and number of segments. All those informations are used to know the theoretical position of the barcode on the support G, for example inside the zone Z.

Information from the information source 107 are provided by an external source 108 such as a reader CD-ROM or a learning model reader 109 which is also a learning system or a library of codes (code file), which is read barcode sample CB of support G to be processed. This model reader 109 then determines the characteristics of the barcode to read to allow this code to be recognized by bars contained in the read signals supplied to the circuit 106, by comparison between the read signals SL and source information signals SD 107 to the control circuit 106.

Depending on the different signals received, the circuit 106 generally emits a control signal SC intended for the processing device 105 so that the latter performs the operation.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the reader 102 is a barcode reader that contains the source 107. The reader 102 can also be a camera that is educated using the 109 model reader and processing the signals supplied by this player to the source 107 information then comparison and signal processing in circuit 106.

Figure 2 shows schematically the detection from the CBA edge, in the direction of scrolling D of the bar code CB, seen on an enlarged scale. The detection presented is that from the front edge (in the direction of scrolling) but this solution is only an example because it is also possible to detect the rear edge.

According to Figure 3, the invention will be described in using an example of a cutting installation of parts printed continuously on a support and supplied continuously. The operation to be performed on the parts arriving continuously is a cut; the pieces are sleeves for covering bottles arriving in the form of a continuous sheath G carrying corresponding printed surfaces at each sleeve. These printed surfaces include a CB barcode.

The installation includes a reeling device inlet 1 consisting of two cylinders 11, 12 between which passes the sheath G to unwind. At least one of the cylinders 11, 12 is driven by a motor and the other is applied elastically against the first to pinch the sheath G and drag it in the direction of arrow D.

Downstream of the input unwinding device 1, the installation includes a reading device 2 for reading the barcode CB printed on the sheath G. Finally, downstream of the reading device 2, a downstream unwinding device 3 comprising cylinders 31, 32, pulls the sheath G and a device cutting 4 formed by a knife 41 and a counter knife 42 the cut. The different devices 1, 2, 3, 4 are connected to a control circuit 5 which receives the detection signals corresponding to the measurement of the sheath length unwound, upon detection of the mark constituted by the imprint printed CB; he commands the drive of the sheath by the upstream unwinding device 1, and through the unwinding device 1 downstream 3 in particular to adjust the tension between the two unwinding devices, as well as the cutting device 4. The devices 1, 3 receive control signals SC1 and SC2 from the circuit 5.

The sheath G constituting the workpiece support (here sleeves), reveals a length of sleeve L between the lower edge L1 and the upper edge L2 defining a sleeve. Between the two limits L1, L2, this sheath has a CB barcode precisely positioned by relative to the lower edge and to the upper edge L1, L2 of the sleeve Mr.

Downstream of the sleeve M being detected, appears an M1 sleeve which is about to be separated from the edge upper L1 of sleeve M still part of the sheath G, by the cutting device 4 and finally a sleeve M2 already separate.

In more detail, the sheath G is driven by the two rollers 31, 32 of the unwinding device 3. One of the rollers, for example the roller 32, bears securely in rotation an indexed wheel 13. This wheel 13 is detected by a detector 14 providing an incremental signal IF at the control circuit 5.

In theory, the sheath G does not slip relative to rollers 31, 32. In practice, there may be some slippage, however slight, which must be corrected to avoid an accumulation of errors which could lead to the cutting a sleeve at an unsuitable location. For this, the measuring device constituted by the indexed wheel 13 and the sensor 14, provides the incremental signals SI from a initial instant set by the corresponding control circuit 5 at the end of the measurement of the unwinding of the previous sleeve; this measurement will be corrected under the conditions explained below. Incremental SI signals are counted by incrementing a counter from an initial value, in general null, up to a final value corresponding to the end of unwinding a sleeve. The initial time when counting begins theoretically corresponds to the start of a sleeve and the counting continues until the end of the necessary reel unwinding to have the length L of the sleeve to be cut. The end of reeling is when the barcode reader 2 detects the front edge CBA of the barcode CB. But this measure of the unwound length can be equal, less or greater than the actual length of the sleeve. To order the end of reeling, the installation includes a code reader with CB bars. This reader 2 here detects the front edge CBA of the barcode and sends an SL read signal to the device control 5; the latter then notes that the length appropriate sheath has been unwound to allow the sleeve cut. The front edge CBA of the barcode CB is the bottom edge according to figure 3. Reading the code at CB bars by reader 2 is made at a frame rate duct G, relatively slow, controlled by the circuit 5 as soon as the measuring device 13, 14 has supplied signals IF which, cumulatively, correspond substantially to the length of sleeve to unwind.

Indeed, for each sleeve M, the system of measure 13, 14 starts at a zero point. For unwinding a new sleeve, the system takes into account the length error of sheath unwound for the previous sleeve in the conditions which will be described later. Starting from this position of the sheath, (which corresponds to the position of the beginning of a sleeve at the place for example of its cut), the unwinding devices 1, 11, 12, 31, 32 unwind a length sleeve corresponding to the actual length of the sleeve. But this length is unwound according to the measure the unwinding (SI), i.e. the rotation of the rollers 31, 32 measured by the detector 13, 14. This rotation of the roller (s) 31, 32 does not necessarily correspond to the length of the sheath actually unwound since there can be slip between the sheath G and the rollers 31, 32. These slippages nevertheless remain low under the conditions of machine operation. However, despite the weakness of these slippages, the absence of correction after each reel sleeve would result, due to cumulative errors, to important differences and the gradual cutting of sleeves with designs and inscriptions extending beyond each on the others and consequently on the cutting of sleeves bearing for example two non-contiguous drawing parts, one of the previous sleeve, the other of the following sleeve.

When the theoretical sheath length has been unwound (length corresponding to a sleeve, or just before the end of this unwinding), the unwinding by the rollers 11, 12, 31, 32 slows down and reader 2 is supposed to meet the edge before CBA (bottom edge) of the CB barcode. Reading of this edge before CBA can then be done under conditions sufficient accuracy vis-à-vis the system (so as not to have an error that would be introduced by scrolling the sheath G in the interval of two scans by the reader 2).

When reader 2 meets the bottom edge CBA (or front edge) of the CB barcode, it transmits the signal corresponding to the control device 5 which notes while the correct length of the label or sleeve has been unwound.

Comparison between the measurement signal supplied by the probe 14 cooperating with the roller 12, when is read the CBA edge of the CB barcode and the target measurement supplied to the rollers 11, 12 for unwinding, at the start of this operation gives a correction signal SC3 used for the unwinding operation of the following sleeve.

Thanks to the correction made at the time of its unwinding and taking into account the sleeve unwinding error previous (Ml sleeve), the M sleeve downstream or at the reader 2 is thus in a correct position at the installation operating precision or precision necessary for correct cutting of the sleeve.

The control circuit 5 can then control the cutting device represented schematically by the knife mobile 41 and the counter knife 42 for cutting a sleeve M1 downstream. In the example of figure 2, the measurement is made on the sleeve M while the previous sleeve M1 is cut at the end of the reel. There could also be a number larger sleeves downstream of barcode reader 2 and awaiting cutting by the cutting device 4, according to the installation data and the space available between the barcode reader 2 and the cutting device 4. It is note that the rollers 31, 32 of the unwinding device 3 downstream of the reader 2 are also used to hold the sheath G at the pass the barcode reader 2.

Downstream of the sleeve M1, there is a sleeve M2 already sectioned.

The invention is not limited to the operation of cut but concerns all the operations to be carried out on a non-separate part, belonging to a continuous assembly under strip or tube shape and requiring precise marking the position of each part to perform an operation on it without having to make a mark beforehand particular on the parts but on the contrary using a element existing on the part, precisely positioned relative to the part but whose function is not that of a benchmark.

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus for treatment of pieces continuously supplied on a support, such as labels or sleeves for packaging containers, to perform an operation on each piece requiring precise registering of each piece, each piece already being provided with a bar code and occupying a precise and known position relative to the piece, which apparatus comprises:

   a feed device (100, 101, 103, 1, 11, 12, 31, 32) unwinding the support (G),

   a treatment device (105, 4) for performing the operation on the pieces (P),

   characterised by

   A) a reader (102, 2)

   positioned on the passage (Z) of the location of
      the bar codes (CB) of the pieces (P),

   detecting the front (CBA) or rear edge in the direction of travel of the bar code (CB) carried by each piece (P) and providing read signals (SL),

   B) a data source (107, 5) having available data relating
   to the bar codes (CB) and providing data signals (SD),

   C) a control circuit (106, 5)

   receiving the read signals (SL) and the data signals (SD),

   comparing the read (SL) and data (SD) signals,

   emitting control signals (SC, SC1, SC2) for the treatment device (105, 4) as a function of the comparison of the signals (SL; SD).
2. Apparatus as described in claim 1,
   characterised by the fact that
   the data source (107) receives data relating to the bar code (CB) to be read, from a learning system (109).
3. Apparatus as described in claim 1,
   characterised by the fact that
   the control circuit (106) receives data signals (SP1, SP2) from the means (100, 101, 103, 104) for driving the support (G).
4. Apparatus as described in claim 1,
   characterised by

   a means for measuring (32, 13, 14, 104) the length of the piece unwound from a given moment,

   the reader (2) of the bar code (CB) carried by each piece (G, M) detecting the actual position of the bar code (CB CBA) when the piece is practically in the stopping position for the operation to be performed and to calculate a correction length corresponding to the difference between the theoretical position of the bar code on completion of unwinding of the piece and its actual position obtained by the measurement means,

   the control circuit (5) receiving the signal corresponding to this difference to rectify the advance of the following piece by unwinding of the support (G) and to control the tool.
5. Apparatus as described in claim 4,
   characterised by the fact that
   the means for measuring the length unwound is the incremental sensor (14) associated with an indexed wheel (13) rigidly attached to one (32) of the unwinding rollers (11, 12, 31, 32) of the unwinding device (1).
6. Apparatus as described in claim 1,
   characterised by the fact that
   the piece is a label or a sleeve and the support is a strip or a casing.
7. Apparatus as described in claim 1,
   characterised by
   a cutting device (4, 41, 42) downstream of the reader (2) offset from this by a whole number of piece (M) lengths and controlled in offset manner by the control device (5).

Images