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
  • B65C3/06—Affixing labels to short rigid containers
  • B65C3/08—Affixing labels to short rigid containers to container bodies
  • B65C3/14—Affixing labels to short rigid containers to container bodies the container being positioned for labelling with its centre-line vertical
• • 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
  • B65C3/06—Affixing labels to short rigid containers
  • B65C3/065—Affixing labels to short rigid containers by placing tubular labels around the container
• • 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
• • 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
  • B65C9/1803—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls the labels being cut from a strip
  • B65C9/1815—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls the labels being cut from a strip and transferred by suction means
  • B65C9/1819—Label feeding from strips, e.g. from rolls the labels being cut from a strip and transferred by suction means the suction means being a vacuum drum

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a labelling machine.
• the present invention also relates to a labelling method .
• Labelling machines to apply labels on items, in particular containers for pourable food products are known for example from patent application WO2010/040397 in the name of the same Applicant.
• a labelling unit arranged laterally to the rotating conveyor and in a position interposed between the inlet and outlet conveyors.
• the rotating conveyor comprises on its periphery a plurality of forming spindles, a plurality of motors to rotate respective forming spindles about respective axes, and a plurality of sealing devices associated to respective forming spindles.
• the labelling unit comprises feeding means for a band of flat labels, a blade to separate the labels one after another from the band and a drum for transferring the cut labels .
• Each forming spindle substantially comprises:
• main body which is slightly upwardly conical, and provided on top with a support plate for a respective item and a plurality of openings, which can be selectively connected fluidically with a vacuum source;
• a shaft having a first end engaging, by cam means, a frame of the rotating conveyor and a second end, opposite to the first end, configured like a bell so as to engage a top portion of the item.
• the forming spindles are also rotatingly mounted about a second axis, parallel to the first axis, with respect to the periphery of the rotating conveyor.
• Each spindle withdraws a respective item to be labelled from the inlet conveyor and moves it along an arc- shaped path, along which it applies a respective flat label cut by the labelling unit on the respective item.
• each spindle when at the labelling unit, it is rotated about the second axis in an opposite sense to the drum of the labelling unit. Thereby, a flat cut label is transferred from the drum to the forming spindle and wound on the forming spindle until the opposite edges of the label are overlapped.
• the flat label is retained by appropriate openings of the drum connected to a vacuum source.
• the openings of the drum are connected to a pressurised air source and further openings of the main body of the above said spindle are connected fluidically with the vacuum source.
• the label is then retained on the spindle by means of the further openings connected to the vacuum source and the rotation of the forming spindle determines the winding of the label thereon.
• the sealing element seals the opposite edges of the label so as to form a tubular element.
• connection between vacuum source and openings of the forming spindles is then interrupted and the forming spindles are lowered parallelly to the second axis.
• each tubular element disengages the main body of the respective forming spindle.
• each item is lowered together with the respective forming spindle until it engages the respective tubular element applied thereon.
• the rotating conveyor makes each item with the respective tubular element applied thereon available for the outlet conveyor.
• the items with the respective tubular elements are then conveyed to a thermal retraction station, in which a heat source determines the retraction of the tubular elements and their ultimate attachment to the respective items .
• the above disclosed labelling machines are of the rotating type, i.e. are machine in which the motors, the forming spindles and the sealing devices are rotated by the rotating conveyor about the first axis.
• the above disclosed labelling machines require a plurality of driving elements, for example slip- rings and/or mechanical joints, to transfer electric and pneumatic power, vacuum and cooling water from respective sources arranged in a fixed position with respect to the rotating conveyor to the loads (for example motors, forming spindles and sealing devices) rotating on this rotating conveyor .
• driving elements for example slip- rings and/or mechanical joints
• the present invention also relates to a labelling method according to claim 14.
• FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a labelling machine made according to the invention, with parts removed for clarity;
• figure 2 shows a top view of first details of the labelling machine according to figure 1 ;
• figure 3 shows a top view of the labelling machine according to figure 1 ;
• FIG. 4 and 5 show a side view of further details of the labelling machine of figures 1 to 3 ;
• FIG. 6 shows a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a first embodiment of a detail of the labelling machine of figures from 1 to 5 ;
• figure 7 shows a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a second embodiment of a detail of the detail of the labelling machine shown in figure 6 ;
• FIG. 8 shows on an enlarged scale a working step of the labelling machine of figures 1 to 7;
• figure 9 shows a particularly enlarged view of the details in figure 6.
• numeral 1 indicates a labelling machine adapted to apply labels 2 on items 3 , 3 ' .
• items 3, 3' are filled with a pourable food product, yoghurt in the case shown.
• Labelling machine 1 is of the "shrink-sleeve" type, i.e. adapted to:
• tubular elements 4 from corresponding flat labels 2 made of thermally retractable material;
• labelling machine 1 comprises:
• conveyor 6 comprises a pair of rectilinear and opposite branches 7, 8 and a branch 9 configured as an arc of semicircle and interposed between branches 7 , 8.
• Branch 7 is interposed between star wheel 10 and branch 9 and branch 8 is interposed between branch 9 and star wheel 11.
• Branches 7, 8 are parallel to respective directions A, A' and are covered by items 3, 3' respectively in a first sense and a second sense which are opposite to each other.
• directions A, A' are horizontal.
• Path P comprises:
• Segments Q, S extend parallelly to respective directions A, A'.
• Conveyor 6 is in the case shown of the chain type.
• Conveyor 6 comprises a flat surface, from which a plurality of engaging elements 12 for respective items 3, 3 ' protrudes .
• Engaging elements 12 moving along branches 7, 8 are symmetrical with respect to corresponding axes aligned along respective directions A, A'.
• Star wheel 11 defines a thermal retraction station of labelling machine 1. This thermal retraction station is not disclosed herein in detail, as it is not part of the present invention.
• Labelling machine 1 also includes:
• Carriages 16, 17 extend parallelly to respective directions G, G' parallel to directions A, A', and slide with respect to frame 5 along respective directions G, G' and along respective directions C, C'.
• carriages 16, 17 are moved parallelly to respective directions G, G' by respective motors 55 and parallelly to respective directions C, C' by respective motors 56.
• motors 55, 56 are of the brushless type ( Figure 2) .
• Directions C, C' are orthogonal to directions G, G' and extend horizontally in the case shown.
• Each carriage 16, 17 comprises a frame 30 and a plurality of modules 20, 21 attached to frame 30.
• Frame 30 of each carriage 16, 17 comprises ( Figure 1, 4 and 5) :
• Plates 35 are alternated along corresponding direction G, G' to vertically open hemicylindrical seats 36.
• Plates 33 are trapezoidal and lie, in the case shown, on respective vertical planes.
• each module 20, 21 is formed by:
• Labelling unit 15 comprises a roller rotating about a vertical axis to feed a continuous band of labels 2, a cutting element (not shown) to separate single labels 2 from the band, and a drum 14 rotating about a vertical axis F in a clockwise direction with reference to the position shown in Figure 3.
• Drum 14 receives labels 2 separate from one another from roller, retains them by the action of vacuum and makes them available to spindles 22, 23 of carriages 16, 17.
• the outer side surface of drum 14 comprises a plurality of openings which are connectable selectively to a vacuum source to transfer labels 2 to spindles 22, 23 of carriages 16, 17.
• the side surface of drum 14 is tangent to a plane V parallel to directions A, A' on the side of branch 7 and thus to direction A.
• the side surface of drum 14 is tangent to a plane V parallel to directions A, A' on the side of branch 8 and thus to direction A'.
• Planes V, V are arranged on diametrically opposite sides of axis F of drum 14.
• Each motor 24, 25 is arranged on one (top) side of corresponding plate 34 while each spindle 22, 23 is arranged on the other (bottom) side of corresponding plate 34.
• Each spindle 22, 23 comprises on its external side surface a plurality of openings 18 connectable to a vacuum source .
• the axes of spindles 22 (23) define a plane M ( ⁇ ') parallel to plane V (V) .
• Drum 14 is arranged on the side opposite to plane N ( ⁇ ') with respect to plane M' ( ⁇ ').
• Planes M, M', N, N' are arranged vertically in the case shown.
• Spindles 22, 23 further comprise respective rollers 37 adapted to ease the sliding and adhesion of corresponding labels 2 transferred from drum 14.
• Sealing element 26, 27 of each module 20, 21 is borne by corresponding plate 35 and is arranged in a position interposed between relative plate 35 and relative spindle 22, 23.
• Each sealing element 26, 27 is mobile along relative direction C, C with respect to relative plate 35 from and towards relative spindle 22, 23, to weld edges 48, 49 of relative label 2 and form corresponding tubular element 4.
• sealing element 26, 27 is of the welding bar type.
• Each transfer element 28, 29 comprises essentially
• an actuator 40 comprising a fixed part 38 and a stem 39 extending parallelly to relative axis D, D' which can slide with respect to frame 30 of relative carriage 16, 17 forwards and backwards parallelly to axis D, D' and passing with play through plate 34 of corresponding carriage 16, 17;
• each transfer element 28, 29 comprises :
• Each gripping element 41 is configured as a half- cylinder having axis D, D', and comprises on its wall 43 facing corresponding tubular element 4, 4', a plurality of openings 44 selectively connectable with a third vacuum source 80 (only diagrammatically shown in Figure 9) .
• Each wall 43 cooperates, in greater detail, with a side surface 60 of tubular element 4 which is external to relative axis D, D' .
• Wall 43 of each transfer element 28, 29 is also integrally mobile with relative tubular element 4 between the respective lowered and lifted positions. In other words, there are no parts of gripping element 41 which are mobile in relation to tubular element 4, when the relative transfer element 28, 29 moves from the lifted position to the lowered position.
• Each gripping element 41 is normally arranged in an intermediate position along relative axis D, D' between a lifted position (shown in Figure 4) in which it withdraws respective tubular element 4 from relative spindle 22, 23 and a lowered position (shown in figure 5) in which it applies respective tubular element 4 on corresponding item 3, 3 ' .
• each gripping element 41 When each gripping element 41 is in the lifted position, the connection between openings 18 and the second vacuum source is interrupted while openings 44 are connected with third vacuum source 80. Thereby, each gripping element 41 withdraws respective tubular element 4 from relative spindle 22.
• each gripping element 41 When each gripping element 41 is in a lowered position, the connection between openings 44 and third vacuum source 80 is interrupted. Thereby, each gripping element 41 can apply relative tubular element 4 on corresponding item 3, 3'.
• gripping elements 41 of each carriage 16, 17 could be connected to one another by a crossbar 50 extending parallelly to relative direction G, G' ( Figure 7) .
• each carriage 16, 17 is alternatively mobile according to a cycle comprising: - a respective forward run along which respective spindles 22, 23 receive respective labels 2 from drum 14 of respective labelling unit 15; and
• carriages 16, 17 cover the respective forward runs following senses opposite to the senses by which items 3 move on corresponding branches 7, 8.
• Carriages 16, 17 also cover the respective return runs following the same senses as the senses by which items 3 move on corresponding branches 7, 8.
• carriage 16 covers the forward run in the second sense and the return run in the first sense.
• Carriage 17 covers the forward run in the first sense and the return run in the second sense.
• Each carriage 16, 17 is arranged, during the respective forward run, in a first position in which the relative direction G, G' coincides with a direction B, B' tangent to the side surface of relative spindles 22, 23 on the side of drum 14 and to the side surface of drum 14 on the side of direction A, A' .
• Each carriage 16, 17 is arranged during the respective return run, in a second position in which directions A, A' coincide with planes M, M' defined by relative spindles 22, 23 ( Figures 2 and 3) .
• the symmetry axes of spindles 22, 23 lie on the same plane as the symmetry axes of engagement elements 12.
• transfer elements 28, 29 transfer corresponding tubular elements 4 on relative items 3, 3' moving forward on branches 7, 8.
• each carriage 16, 17 also comprises :
• Motors 55, 56 are simultaneously actuated during the first and the second inversion runs.
• each carriage 16 (17) During the first inversion run, each carriage 16 (17) :
• drum 14 moving away from relative branch 7 (8) until it reaches the relative second position; and - accelerates along direction B ( ⁇ ') in the second (first) sense until it reaches the constant speed by which it moves along the relative return run.
• Sealing devices 26, 27 weld opposite edges 48, 49 of relative labels 2 and form corresponding tubular elements 4 during the first inversion run of relative carriage 16 (17) .
• drum 14 approaches three labels 2 at a time. Therefore, the further time interval is equal to the time required to move one label 2 and a half forward on drum 14.
• carriage 16 (17) covers the whole relative forward run
• carriage 17 (16) completes the relative forward run, covers the relative first inversion run, the relative return run and starts the relative second inversion run.
• carriage 16 (17) covers the relative first inversion run, carriage 17 (16) completes the relative second inversion run. While carriage 16 (17) covers the relative return run and the relative second inversion run, carriage 17 (16) starts the relative forward run.
• the duration of the forward run of each carriage 16 (17) is equal to half of the whole working cycle.
• Transfer elements 28 transfer tubular elements 4 on items 3 which move forward on branch 7 while carriage 16 covers the return run.
• Transfer elements 28 do not transfer tubular elements 4 on items 3' which move forward on branch 7 while carriage 16 covers the forward run.
• branch 9 of conveyor 6 transfers along segment S items 3, on which tubular element 4 has been applied, and items 3' which still do not have tubular element 4 applied.
• Transfer elements 29 transfer tubular elements 4 on items 3' which move forward on branch 8 while carriage 17 covers the return run.
• Transfer elements 29 do not transfer tubular elements 4 on items 3 - on which relative tubular elements 4 have been previously applied - which are on branch 8 while carriage 16 covers the forward run.
• star wheel 10 feeds items 3, 3' to conveyor 6.
• transfer elements 28 apply respective first tubular elements 4 on corresponding items 3 while the latter move along branch 7 of conveyor 6.
• Transfer elements 28 of carriage 16 do not apply first tubular elements 4 on items 3' while the latter move forward along branch 7 of conveyor 6.
• branch 9 of conveyor 6 is covered by items 3 on which respective first tubular elements 4 are applied and by items 3' on which second tubular elements 4 must still be applied.
• Transfer elements 29 of carriage 17 transfer respective second tubular elements 4 on corresponding items 3' while the latter move forward along branch 8 of conveyor 6.
• star wheel 11 moves items 3 on which first tubular element 4 has been applied along branch 7 of conveyor 6 and items 3' on which second tubular element 4 has been applied along branch 8 of conveyor 6.
• First and second tubular elements 4 are subjected to a thermal retraction operation while they move forward on star wheel 11. Thereby, first and second tubular elements 4 are fixed respectively to items 3, 3'. More precisely, each carriage 16 (17) performs a working cycle comprising:
• Carriages 16, 17 cover the above said forward and return runs with respective constant speeds.
• carriage 16 (17) covers the whole relative forward run
• carriage 17 (16) completes the relative forward run, covers the relative first inversion run, the relative return run and part of the relative second inversion run.
• carriage 16 (17) covers the relative first inversion run from drum 14
• carriage 17 (16) completes the relative second inversion run and covers most of the relative return run.
• the duration of the forward run of each carriage 16 (17) is equivalent to the sum of the durations of the first and second inversion runs and of the return run, and is equivalent to half the working cycle of carriage 16, 17.
• each carriage 16 (17) is disclosed in greater detail hereinafter, from a condition in which carriage 16 (17) is in the respective first position and at the beginning of the respective forward run, and in which transfer elements 28 (29) are in the respective intermediate positions.
• planes N, V and ( ⁇ ', V) coincide in this condition.
• the band of flat labels 2 is unwound from the roller of labelling unit 15 and the cutting element separates single labels 2 from the band.
• the openings of drum 14 are connected to the first vacuum source, so that separated labels 2 are rotated one after another by drum 14 about axis F.
• Carriage 16 (17) covers the forward run parallelly to direction B ( ⁇ ') in the second (first) sense and, thus, in a sense opposite to items 3, 3' moving forward along segment Q (S) of path P.
• spindles 22 (23) reach one after another the generating line of side surface of drum 14 lying on plane V (V) .
• First (second) labels 2 are transferred, on after another, from drum 14 to relative spindles 22 (23), during the forward run of carriage 16 (17) .
• first (second) labels 2 reach plane V (V)
• the openings of drum 14 adjacent at this moment in time to plane V (V) are disconnected from the first vacuum source and openings 18 of spindles 22 (23) adjacent at this moment in time to drum 14 are connected to the second vacuum source.
• first (second) labels 2 are transferred from drum 14 to spindles 22 (23) .
• motors 24 (25) determine the rotation of spindles 22 (23) about corresponding axes D (D'), so as to determine the winding of first labels 2 on spindles 22 (23) .
• first (second) labels 2 are completely wound on spindles 22 (23) so that edges 48, 49 are overlapped to one another .
• carriage 16 (17) covers the respective first inversion run, in which drum 14 moves away from branch 7 ( 8 ) .
• each carriage 16 (17) is :
• sealing elements 26 (27) are actuated. Thereby, sealing elements 26 (27) weld to one another edges 48, 49 of first labels 2 wound on spindles 22 (23) and form first tubular elements 4.
• carriage 16 (17) covers the respective return run in a direction parallel to direction A ( ⁇ ') .
• carriage 16 (17) covers the return run in the first (second) sense.
• carriage 16 (17) covers the respective return run in the same sense as the sense by which items 3, 3' move forward on branch 7 (8) .
• carriage 16 (17) moves with the same speed as corresponding branch 7 (8) of conveyor 6.
• transfer elements 28 (29) transfer first tubular elements 4 on corresponding items 3 ( 3 ' ) .
• actuators 40 move transfer elements 28 (29) from respective intermediate positions towards the respective lifted positions.
• openings 44 of gripping elements 41 are connected with third vacuum source 80 and openings 18 are disconnected from third vacuum source 80.
• first (second) tubular elements 4 are transferred from spindle 22 (23) to transfer element 28 (29).
• actuators 40 move respective gripping elements 41 of transfer elements 28 (29) from the respective lifted positions to the respective lowered positions, at which items 3 (3') are.
• gripping elements 41 of transfer elements 28 (29) release respective tubular elements 4 on items 3 (3') moving forward on branch 7 (8) of conveyor 6.
• each item 3, 3' entirely covers labelling path P and is therefore moved forward along branches 7, 9 and 8 of conveyor 6.
• carriages 16, 17 cover the respective second inversion runs along which they approach drum 14.
• each carriage 16 (17) is :
• labelling machine 1 does not need driving elements required to make electric power, pneumatic power, vacuum and cooling water available from fixed sources to rotating members.
• labelling machine 1 results simpler to build, easier to maintain and smaller with respect to the rotating labelling machine disclosed in the introduction of the present description.
• Carriages 16, 17 are synchronised with one another so that one of carriages 16, 17 covers the relative return run while the other of carriages 16, 17 covers the relative forward run.
• Transfer elements 28, 29 transfer respective tubular elements 4 from relative spindles 22, 23 to corresponding items 3, 3', by the action of vacuum.
• transfer elements 28, 29 allow to transfer relative tubular elements 4 without generating risks of folding and/or crimping of tubular elements 4.
• transfer elements 28, 29 allow to apply relative tubular elements 4 at an adjustable height on corresponding item 3, 3', therefore increasing the flexibility of labelling machine 1.
• the labelling machine could comprise only one carriage 16 or 17.

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• Labeling Devices (AREA)
• Transition And Organic Metals Composition Catalysts For Addition Polymerization (AREA)
• Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
• Reciprocating, Oscillating Or Vibrating Motors (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=43976756

Family Applications (1)

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Family Cites Families (9)

• 2011
  • 2011-02-11 IT IT000009U patent/ITTO20110009U1/it unknown
  • 2011-04-21 IT IT000357A patent/ITTO20110357A1/it unknown
  • 2011-04-21 IT IT000356A patent/ITTO20110356A1/it unknown
• 2012
  • 2012-02-13 EP EP12704067.3A patent/EP2673200B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2012-02-13 WO PCT/EP2012/052410 patent/WO2012107590A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-02-13 WO PCT/EP2012/052382 patent/WO2012107588A1/en active Application Filing

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