EP2345136A1

EP2345136A1 - Motorized roll for labelling machines and labelling machine comprising such a roll

Info

Publication number: EP2345136A1
Application number: EP08805135A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mattia Giuliani; Marco Ferri; Antonio Secchi
Original assignee: Sidel SpA
Current assignee: Sidel SpA
Priority date: 2008-10-08
Filing date: 2008-10-08
Publication date: 2011-07-20
Also published as: WO2010040395A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved roll to be used for moving films of various materials along an operative path. The roll according to the invention can specifically be used in labelling machines for labelling containers such as bottles, particularly for self adhesive labels labelling groups. In particular, the present invention relates to a machine (1) for handling objects (3) having a drive gears system (7, 8, 11) that comprises at least one feeding roll (7) which moves a film of a material along a predefined path, characterised in that the said feeding roll (7) houses motor means, having a stator and a rotor, and in that the external member of said feeding roll is mounted on said rotor.

Description

"MOTORIZED ROLL FOR LABELLING MACHINES SMD LABELLING MACHINE COMPRISING SUCH A ROLL"

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an improved roll to be used for moving films of various materials along an operative path. The roll according to the invention can specifically be used in labelling machines for labelling containers such as bottles, particularly for self adhesive labels labelling groups. The invention also relates to a labelling machine comprising such a roll.

Labelling machines that separate self adhesive labels from a backing film and transfer them onto the surface of containers are known and widespread used. In these machines the containers are carried by a carrousel and come into contact with a labelling unit. In such labelling unit, a reel comprising a backing film that carries a plurality of self adhesive labels adhered thereon is delivered, by means of appropriate driving means, to the containers rotating around the carrousel. Before the application to a container, a self adhesive label is separated from the backing film by means of a suitable blade or wedge device. The backing film portion separated from the labels is wound again to form a recovering reel. Typically, the driving means comprise a feeding roll having an external member with an outer cylindrical surface that pulls the film to move it from the reel to the containers labelling station and a removing roll having an external member with an outer cylindrical surface that pulls the empty portion of the film to move it to the recovering reel. Normally, these rolls are driven by a motorization through gears or belt systems. While the dispensing and the recovering reels are motorized and move continuously, the feeding and removing rolls have a discontinuous motion. This is due to the fact that, for economical reasons (high cost of backing film) , the pitch between the labels on the backing film is minimum and is much smaller than the pitch between the containers to be labelled on the carrousel. The feeding and removing rolls therefore must stop between one label application and the next one to phase with. As the advancement of the label film is discontinuous, the inertia of the gear system strongly influences the delivery of the labels and thus the performance of the labelling operations.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a label feeding system that overcomes the above drawbacks, as defined in the appended claims whose definitions are integral part of the present description .

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description of a preferred embodiment, which is given below by way of a non-limiting illustration, with reference to the following figures:

Fig. 1 is a schematic layout of a labelling unit making use of a feeding roll according to the invention; Fig- 2 is a perspective sectional view of a feeding roll according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional side view of a feeding roll according to a different embodiment;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a different embodiment of a labelling unit making use of a feeding roll according to the invention.

With reference to the figures, the labelling unit of the invention is indicated with the numeral 1. The labelling unit 1 is coupled to a carrousel 2 carrying at its periphery a plurality of objects 3 to be labelled. The objects 3 are sustained by suitable platforms and chucks of conventional type (not visible in the schematic view) that also provide for the spinning of each object 3 when it comes into contact with a self adhesive label 4, in order to facilitate the wrapping of the label around the object body The labels 4 are adhered onto a backing to form a labels film 5 that is wound in a motorized dispensing reel 6. The labels film 5 is also pulled by means of a feeding roll 7 that moves the labels film 5 along a path defined by a plurality of tensioning rollers 8_r that are mounted neutral, and a fixed wedge means 9 around which the labels film 5 is forced to pass, so that, thanks to the sudden change of direction of the film around the very acute angle formed by the wedge, the detaching of each self adhesive label 4 is facilitated The wedge means 9 is positioned adjacent to the carrousel 2, in order to assist the taking up of each label 4 by a respective object 3.

The portion of the labels film 5 that is then free from the labels, thus constituting a backing film 5' , is also pulled by the feeding roll 7 and sent towards a motorized recovering reel 10, that in the embodiment of figure 1 is rotated of 45° with respect to the feeding reel 6 to reduce the hindrance of the labelling unit 1. Pressing rollers 11 provides for keeping the labels film 5/backing film 5' pressed against the feeding roll 7^, The pressing rollers 11 too are mounted neutral. Typically, four pressing rollers 11 are provided, two positioned along the path of the labels film 5 and pressing against the feeding roll 7, so that the labels film 5 passes there through, and two positioned with the same architecture along the path of the backing film 5'

As the motorized dispensing and recovering reels 6, 10 have a continuous motion, while the feeding roll 7 has a discontinuous motion, buffer devices 30, 30' are provided to host the film loop that is inevitably formed both along the path from the dispensing reel 6 to the feeding roll 7 and along the path from the feeding roll 7 towards the recovering reel 10. According to the invention, the feeding roll 7 is not driven by a remote motorization, but it is motorized on its own.

With reference to figure 2, the motorised feeding roll 7 comprises motor means 12, having a statσr 14 and a rotor 15, and a cylindrical external member 13 mounted on said rotor 15. The external member 13 is directly and fixedly mounted on the rotor 15_f i.e., it is mounted on the rotor 15 without interposition of transmission means like gears, belts, shafts or the like. The said motor means 12 preferably are a direct drive (DC} torque motor, more preferably a brushless motor. These motor means 12 have a stator 14, comprising a wound element (not represented) , positioned coaxially around the rotor 15. In the inventive motor means 12, the stator 14 has a cylindrical shape and is open at the top, while its bottom is closed and terminates with a turret element 16 hosting power and signal connectors 17, 17' for the motor. An outwardly faced flange 18 is positioned in the region between the bottom portion of the stator 14 and the turret element 16. The flange 18 comprises one or more holes 19, for examples threaded holes, for fixing the feeding roll 7 to a basement {not shown) of the labelling unit 1, Preferably, stator 14, turret element 16 and flange 18 are integral.

The rotor 15 is of substantially cylindrical shape and comprises linking means 20 that connect the rotor 15 to the external member 13. Preferably, the linking means 20 are a flanged element that extends outwardly from the rotor 15, bridges the stator 14 at its top end and links the external member 13. Preferably, rotor 15, Linking means 20 and external member 13 are integral.

The external member 13 comprises a tubular element with a cylindrical outer surface and an inner surface that is substantially complementary in shape to the outer surface of the stator 14, but has a greater diameter, so that a gap 21 is created between the two surfaces. The gap 21 serves the function to allow the circulation of a cooling fluid, such as cooling air. Since the motor generates heat, the gap 21 allows the external member 13 to be kept at low temperature.

The fluid circulation in the gap 21 can be achieved by suction of external air due to the vortex created by rotation of the external member 13 with respect to the stator 14. However, suitable fan means can also be provided in order to inflate air or other cooling fluid from the top of the feeding roll 7.

To this end, the linking means 20 may comprise openings 23 to put into flow communication nhe gap 21 with the exterior_*

The external member 13 will generally be made of a light material, typically aluminium, in order to minimise the inertia of the system. Moreover, the outer surface of the external member 13 can be coated by a gripping material such as a rubber, in order to facilitate gripping of the labels film 5/backing film 5' . Alternatively, the said gripping material is provided in the form of a sleeve that can be inserted onto the external member 13. This arrangement is advantageous, as the said rubber sleeve can be substituted after prolonged use. In a still different embodiment , the surface of the external member 13 is treated or arranged in order to increase gripping, such as for example by providing it with corrugations or the like ,

According to a different embodiment of the feeding roll, shown schematically in figure 3, the motorised feeding roll 107 comprises motor means 112, having a stator 114 and a rotor 115 and a cylindrical external member 113 mounted on said rotor 115. The external member 113 is directly mounted on the rotor 115, i.e., it is mounted on the rotor 115 without interposition of transmission means like gears, belts, shafts or the like

The said motor means 112 preferably are a direct drive (DC) torque motor, more preferably a brushless motor, with the stator 114, comprising the wound element, positioned internally and the rotor 115 positioned coaxially around the stator 114.

At its bottom, the stator 114 comprises one or more holes 119, for examples threaded holes, for fixing the feeding roll 107 to a basement 35 of the labelling unit 1 The feeding roll 107 is closed at the top by a closure element 140 that can house an encoder and/or power and signal connectors (not shown)

Rotor 115 and external member 113 can be integral or the external member 113 can be fitted with interference onto the rotor 115 in such a way as to move integrally. The surface of the external member 113 can be coated or worked as said before in connection with the first embodiment of the feeding roll

It is clear that the motorized roll of the present invention can be advantageously used to replace gear, belt or mechanical joints, in any machine or operative unit wherein a film must be moved along a path and wherein the inertia of system can influence the performance of the labelling operation, Another example is shown in figure 4 that represents a plan view of a labelling machine of the type that uses an uncut film of plastic labels, cuts them into discrete strips and applies them on an object carried on a carrousel The labelling unit, generally indicated with the numeral 201, is coupled to a carrousel 202, carrying at its periphery a plurality of objects 3 to be labelled, through a vacuum drum 250 of conventional type

The objects 3 are sustained by suitable platforms and chucks of conventional type (not visible in the schematic view) that also provide for the spinning of said objects 3 when they come into contact with the label strip, in order to facilitate the wrapping of the label around the object body, The vacuum drum 250 has a plurality of holes on its surface, which are in flow communication with a vacuum source.. The vacuum drum 250 takes the label strips that are supplied from a cutting roll 251, passes in correspondence with a gluing roll 252 that spreads on the label strips a thin film of glue and transfers the glued labels onto the objects 3 transported by the carrousel 202. This operation is conventional and will not be described in more details.

An uncut label film 205 is dispensed from a dispensing reel 206.. Normally, two dispensing reels 206 are present, which work alternately in order to avoid long stopping of the machine when the first reel is empty .

The path of the label film 205 forces it to pass through a buffer device 253 to absorb inertial movements of the dispensing reel 206, that comprises a resiliently hinged arm 255 with a roller 254 hinged neutral at its distal end.

The label film 205 then passes through an aligning device 256, that adjusts the film with respect to its transversal alignment, and a feeding roll 207 that pulls the label film 205 and sends it to the cutting roll 251 wherein it is cut into discrete labels.

A plurality of tensioning rollers 208 is positioned along the path of the label film 205, while a pressing roller 211 provides to press the label film against the feeding roll 207 to enhance its gripping function Tensioning rollers 208 and pressing roller 211 are mounted neutral All the components described above, except for the feeding roll 207, are conventional and will not be described in more details.

The feeding roll 207 can be either the feeding roll 7 of the first embodiment (figure 2) or the feeding roll 107 of the second embodiment (figure 3), therefore it will not be described again.

The advantages of the invention are clear. No transmission means are provided between the motor means 12, 112 and the feeding roll I₁ 107, 207 as the motor directly transmits the motion to the roll. In such a way, the inertia of the mechanism is dramatically reduced, In fact, in this application the inertia is substantially due to the same weight of the gears and roll, while the label film has a negligible mass Also the cleaning operations as well as the maintainance of the feeding roll 7, 107, 207 have been improved, as the elimination of the transmission gears between motor and roll reduces the hindrance of the mechanism and the moving parts. It will be appreciated that only particular embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, to which those skilled in the art will be able to make any and all modifications necessary for its adjustment to specific applications, without however departing from the scope of protection of the present invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Claims

1. Feeding roll [1 , 107, 207), intended for use with a machine (1, 201} for handling objects (3), said feeding roll having an external member (13, 113) with an outer cylindrical surface, for moving a film of a material along a predefined path when the feeding roll is in place in the machine, characterised in that the said feeding roll (7, 107, 207) houses motor means (12, 112), having a stator {14, 114) and a rotor (15, 115) , and in that the external member (13, 113) of said feeding roll (7, 107, 207) is directly and fixedly mounted on said rotor (15, 115) ,

2. Feeding roll (7) according to claim 1, wherein the said stator (14) is positioned coaκially around the said rotor (15) and the said external member (13) is positioned coaxially around the said stator (14), linking means (20) connecting the said rotor (15) to the said external member (13) ,

3. Feeding roll (7) according to claim 2, the said rotor (15), linking means (20) and external member (13) being integral.

4. Feeding roll (7) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein between the inner surface of the said external member (13) and the outer surface of the said stator {14} is created a gap (21) for circulating a cooling fluid such as air- Feeding roll (7) according no any of claims from 1 to 4, wherein the bottom end of the said stator (14} terminates with a turret element

(16) hosting power and signal connectors (17,

17' ) for the motor, an outwardly faced flange

(18} being positioned in the region between the bottom portion of the stator (14) and the turret element {16}, the flange (18) comprising one or more holes (19) for fixing the feeding roll (7) to the machine (1) .

6. Feeding roll (7) according to claim 5, wherein stator (14), turret element (16) and flange (18) are integral.

7. Feeding roll (107) according to claim 1, wherein the said stator (114) , comprising the wound element, is positioned internally and the said rotor {115) is positioned coaxial Iy around the stator (114) .

8. Feeding roll (107) according to claim 7, wherein, at its bottom, the stator (114) comprises one or more holes {119) for fixing it to a basement (35) of a machine (1, 201) . , Feeding roll (107) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the said feeding roll (107J is closed at the top by a closure element (140) that can house an encoder and/or power and signal connectors . 0, Feeding roll (107) according to any of claims from 7 to 9, wherein the rotor (115) and the external member (113) are integral or the external member (113) can be fitted with interference onto the rotor (115) in such a way as to move integrally

11 Feeding roll (7, 107, 207) according to any of claims from 1 to 10, wherein the said motor means (12, 112) are a direct drive torque motor, preferably a brushless motor.

32. Machine (1, 201} comprising at least one feeding roll (7, 107, 207) according to any one of claims from 1 to 11, wherein said machine is a labelling unit (1) . 13. Machine (1, 201) according to claim 12, wherein the said labelling unit (1, 201) is a self adhesive labels labelling unit (1) or a labelling unit (201} of the type that uses an uncut label film, cuts it into discrete label strips, glues the said label strips and transfers them onto objects (3) to be labelled^,

14. Machine (1, 201) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the said labelling unit (1, 201) is coupled to a carrousel (2, 202) carrying at its periphery a plurality of objects (3) to be labelled, wherein the objects (3) are sustained by platforms and chucks that also provide for the spinning of said objects (3) when they come into contact with a label (4), in order to facilitate the wrapping of the label around the object (3) body.

15. Machine (1) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the said labelling unit is a self- adhesive labels labelling unit (1) , the said path being defined by a plurality of tensioning rollers (8), that are mounted neutral, and a fixed wedge means {9} around which a labels film (5) is forced to pass, so that, thanks to the sudden change of direction of the film around the very acute angle formed by the wedge, the detaching of the self adhesive label (4) is facilitated,

16. Machine (1) according to claim 15, wherein the said wedge means (9) is positioned adjacent to the carrousel (2), in order to assist the taking up of the label (4) by the object (3)

17. Machine (1) according to claim 15 or 16, wherein only one feeding roll (7, 107) is provided to feed the said labels film (5) towards the object (3) and to pull the backing film (5' ) free from labels (4) from the wedge means ( 9) -

18. Machine (1) according to claim 17, wherein pressing rollers (11) are positioned along the path of the labels film (5) and along the path of the backing film (5' ) and press against the feeding roll (7, 107), so that the labels film (5) and backing film (5') pass there through, the said pressing rollers (11) being mounted neutral

19. Machine (1) according to claim 18, wherein four pressing rollers (11) are provided.

20. Machine (201) according to claim 13, wherein the said labelling unit (201) is of the type that uses an uncut label film, cuts it into discrete label strips, glues the said label strips and transfers them onto objects (3) to be labelled, the said labelling unit (201) comprising at least one dispensing reel (206) for dispensing an uncut label film (205) to a cutting roll (251) wherein the label film (205) is cut into discrete label strips and a path along which the said uncut label film (205) is moved, the said path comprising: (a) buffer device (253) to absorb inertial movements of the dispensing reel (206) , the said buffer device (253) comprising a resiliently hinged arm (255) having a roller (254) mounted neutral at its distal end; {b} an aligning device (256) to adjust the label film (205) with respect to its transversal alignment;

(c) a feeding roll (207) that pulls the label film (205) and send it to the cutting roll (251} wherein it is cut into discrete labels;

(d) A plurality of tensioning rollers (208) ;

(e) A pressing roller (211) that presses the label film (205) against the feeding roll (207)