EP2758316B1

EP2758316B1 - Method and apparatus for application of labels

Info

Publication number: EP2758316B1
Application number: EP12833088.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kaj Christensen; Henning Kongstad
Original assignee: Linerless Automatic Application ApS
Current assignee: Linerless Automatic Application ApS
Priority date: 2011-09-20
Filing date: 2012-09-11
Publication date: 2016-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2032-09-11
Also published as: EP2758316A4; DK2758316T3; WO2013041100A1; EP2758316A1

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a method for applying labels and of the kind indicated in the preamble of claim 1.
The invention also concerns an apparatus for applying labels, the apparatus including at least one internal transport means for transferring labels from a receiving position to an application position.

Background of the Invention

GB 2,253,829 discloses a machine for labelling, where labels are supplied on a carrier strip from a magazine, where labels are printed before the labels are moved to a rotating applicator head by gripping arms, from where labels are applied on items by means of compressed air.
The mechanical handling of labels from printer to applicator head is unnecessarily complicated and the machine may thereby become unreliable. This prior art machine will therefore not be suited for use in connection with labelling items in connection with continuous production. Transfer of labels by means of compressed air may entail inaccurate disposition, particularly if labels are to be transferred across large distances. Transfer across large distances may also imply folding of labels which are subsequently to be removed and replaced by new ones.
US 3,751,324 discloses labelling items, primarily address labels for envelopes, using a high-speed multi-label transfer wheel, where series of labels arrive on a web but are divided and handled as series of individual pieces without a carrier web, wherein labels are retained on the surface of the transfer wheel by means of a system of vacuum apertures in the surface during passage of a glue application roller before the series of labels are transferred to series of items by direct contact between the transfer wheel and items conveyed in series on a passing conveyor belt.
By this prior art labelling method, series of labels are rolled onto series of items by a continuous process which is not suited for labelling items on belts where there may be random spacing between the items.
Delivery of labels on e.g. a silicone impregnated carrier web implies an unnecessary increase in the price of labels, and the carrier web is subsequently to be disposed of, implying a possible unnecessary environmental load.
US 5486253 discloses a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 3.

Object of the Invention

It is the purpose of the invention to avoid using a carrier web by labelling and simultaneously achieve a simple method and a reliable apparatus for applying individual labels, wherein the application is effected rapidly and accurately on items with different shapes and/or sizes.

Description of the Invention

The method according to the invention, as defined in claim 1, is peculiar in that as transfer means is used a rotating transfer drum having closed end walls and an external cylinder surface consisting of a netting or a perforated sheet, the transfer drum being separated into one or more internal segments of the inside of the drum by means of stationary, radial partitionings, including a vacuum chamber providing the transfer of labels attached to the cylinder surface from the cutting unit past the glue application unit to the application unit.
In labelling, use of a carrier web can hereby be avoided, and at the same time there is achieved a very simple method for application of individual labels wherein the application can be effected rapidly and precisely on items with different shapes and/or sizes.
The method according to the invention includes that the vacuum is established by means of one or more ventilators which are built into a stationary radial partitioning forming a rearmost wall in the vacuum chamber, as seen in the direction of rotation of the transfer roller. It will be understood such that the suction side of the ventilators face the vacuum chamber.
The method according to the invention may furthermore be modified in that a blow nozzle is used as the application unit, ensuring that at least a foremost part of the label is transferred with certainty to the items during passage of the application unit.
The invention also concerns an apparatus for applying labels on items having different shapes and/or sizes according to claim 3, the labels coming as a web from a printer to a cutting unit which cuts up the label web into individual labels that have a front side with applied print and a back side intended for contact with the items, the apparatus including transfer means for individual transfer of labels from the cutting unit past a glue application unit to an application unit wherein the labels are applied on the items during their passage of the application unit, the apparatus being peculiar in that the transfer means is constituted by a rotating transfer drum having closed end walls and an external cylinder surface consisting of a canvas, a netting or a perforated sheet, the transfer drum being divided into one or more internal chambers by means of stationary, radial partitionings, including a vacuum chamber providing the transfer of labels attached to the cylinder surface from the cutting unit past the glue application unit to the application unit for successive application of labels on items passing by the application unit, and that it includes a source of vacuum in the form of at least one ventilator which is built into one of said stationary, radial partitionings forming a rearmost wall in the vacuum chamber, as seen in the direction of rotation of the transfer drum.
The apparatus according to the invention is preferably designed such that the glue application unit includes a rotating glue application roller, the surface of which is supplied glue from a vessel with glue as a surface pattern of the glue application roller is preferably adapted to the size and/or shape of the actual label.
In order to avoid unnecessary smudging of the cylinder surface of the transfer drum by glue residues, requiring tedious cleaning work, it is aimed to adapt the surface pattern of the glue application roller to the size and shape of the actual label such that primarily an outer edge area of the back side of the label is kept free from application of glue. For the same reason - avoiding smudging of the cylinder surface - the apparatus according to the invention may advantageously be designed such that the glue application unit is arranged pivotable relative to the transfer drum in such a way that the glue application roller can be pivoted from an inactive position against a back side of a label which is attached to the cylinder surface of the transfer drum.
In a particularly simple and advantageous way, the apparatus according to the invention can be designed such that the application unit includes one or more blow nozzles disposed internally of the vacuum chamber at a front wall thereof, ensuring that at least a foremost part of a label temporarily attached on the cylinder surface of the transfer drum is released from the latter and applied on an item during its passage of the application unit.
In a way known per se, the apparatus according to the invention may advantageously be designed such that the application unit furthermore includes one or more separate application drums which are adapted to smoothen and affix labels on passing items.
The apparatus according to the invention may suitably be designed such that it includes means, e.g. by means of marking on the labels or by detecting a leading or trailing edge of the labels, for controlling activation of the glue application unit, the blow nozzles and the separate application drums.

Description of the Drawing

The invention is now explained below in detail in connection with the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention in a system for applying labels, as seen from the side;
Fig. 2 shows a plan view of an embodiment of the transfer drum itself for an apparatus according to the invention;
Fig. 3 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention;
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, shown with open vacuum chamber;
Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, as seen from the opposite side;
Fig. 6 shows a third embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention with a secondary dispenser;
Fig. 7 shows a detail perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention as shown in Fig. 3; and
Fig. 8 shows a perspective exploded view of a vacuum chamber for the apparatus shown in Fig. 7.

Detailed Description of the Invention

On Figs. 1 and 2 appears a printer A with associated cutting unit B and an apparatus Q according to the invention for applying labels M by means of a rotating transfer drum P arranged pivotable relative to printer A on a support holder H such that the apparatus Q and the transfer roller P can be pivoted away from the front side of printer A when the apparatus Q is not is use.
A product (item) T to be labelled by means of the apparatus Q is conveyed on a belt conveyor O.
On Fig. 1 is seen how the transfer drum P is divided into a number of chambers by means of stationary, radial partitionings F such that a vacuum chamber I is formed in a transfer zone Z extending from the cutting unit B and an application unit R at a short distance from the item T.
The vacuum chamber is delimited by closed circular end walls K and a cylinder surface X covered with netting, forming a cylindric carrier face upon which labels M can be attached because a vacuum is formed in vacuum chamber I such that labels M can be attached externally on the cylinder surface X of the transfer drum P.
Vacuum (subpressure) is established in the vacuum chamber I by means of one or more ventilators E built into one of said stationary, radial partitionings F which are disposed closely behind the cutting unit B. As shown by arrows, the suction sides of the ventilators E face the vacuum chamber I.
As most clearly shown on Fig. 2, the transfer drum P consists of a drum casing in the form of a cylinder surface X which as indicated by arrow L can be pushed in around the partitionings F and be screwed into a rotating hub N by means of a central tube with screw thread Y such that the transfer roller P can be rotated as a unit by means of an electric motor N1.
Labels M are moved from the cutting unit B to the application unit R attached externally on the transfer drum P whereby the label M is moved past a glue application unit D which includes a passively rotating glue application roller C, the surface of which being supplied with glue in a way known per se. The glue application unit D is thus pivotably arranged such that by means of a cylinder V it can be pivoted inwardly for contact with the back side of the label M when the latter is passing by the glue application unit D.
When the label M then - still attached to the cylinder face Z by means of vacuum - arrives at the application unit R, a number of blow nozzles G are activated, thereby providing that at least a foremost part of the label M is brought into contact with the product or item T while the latter is passing by the application unit R on the conveyor belt O.
Figs. 3-5 show a second embodiment of an apparatus Q2, in principle with the same components as the apparatus Q, and where the same references are used and with a sensor ∅1 sending a control signal to the glue application unit D when the item T passes by on the conveyor belt O. On Fig. 5 appear motors N1 and N2 for the transfer drum P and glue application unit D, respectively.
Fig. 6 shows a third embodiment of an apparatus Q3 with a secondary dispenser Æ inserted between the transfer drum P and the conveyor belt O. Figs. 7 and 8 show further detail views of the apparatus Q2.
It is to be mentioned that the apparatus according to the invention includes means, e.g. by means of marking on the labels or e.g. by detecting a leading or trailing edge of the labels, for controlling activation of the glue application unit, the blow nozzles and the separate application drums.
Finally, it is to be mentioned that linerless labels are self-adhesive labels without carrier paper. Linerless labels are provided with self-adhesive glue on a back side whereas the front side of linerless labels are surface treated with a release agent such that a web of linerless labels can be rolled up in the same way as common office tape, intended for being divided into single labels which then can be directly applied on an item.

Claims

A method for applying labels (M) on items (T), the items having different shapes and sizes, the labels being moved from a printer (A) as a web to a cutting unit (B), wherein the label web is cut up into individual labels (M), the labels having a front side with applied print and a back side intended for contact with the items (T), the labels being moved individually by transfer means past a glue application unit (D) to an application unit (G) where the labels (M) are applied to the items (T) during the items (T) passing the application unit (G), wherein the transfer means consisting of a rotating transfer drum (P) having closed end walls and an external cylinder surface (X) consisting of a canvas, a netting or a perforated sheet, the transfer drum (P) being divided by means of stationary, radial partitionings (F) into one or more internal chambers, including a vacuum chamber (I), the transfer drum (P) providing the transfer of labels (M) attached to the cylinder surface (X) from the cutting unit (B) past the glue application unit (D) to the application unit (G), characterized in that the vacuum is established by means of a ventilator which is built into one of said stationary, radial partitionings (F), this partitioning forming a rearmost wall in the vacuum chamber (I) as seen in the direction of rotation of the transfer drum (P).
Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the application unit comprising a blow nozzle (G), ensuring that at least a foremost part of the label (M) is transferred with certainty to the items (T) during the items (T) passing the application unit (G).
An apparatus (Q) for applying labels (M) on items (T), the items having different shapes and/or sizes, the apparatus including a printer (A) and a cutting unit (B) which cuts up the label web into individual labels (M) that have a front side with applied print and a back side intended for contact with the items (T), wherein the labels being moved as a web from the printer (A) to the cutting unit (B), the apparatus (Q) further including transfer means for an individual transfer of labels (M) from the cutting unit (B) past a glue application unit (D) to an application unit (G) where the labels (M) are applied on the items (T) during the items (T) passing the application unit (G), wherein the transfer means consisting of a rotating transfer drum (P) having closed end walls and an external cylinder surface (X) consisting of a canvas, a netting or a perforated sheet, said transfer drum (P) is separated into one or more internal chambers by means of stationary, radial partitionings (F), including a vacuum chamber (I), the transfer drum (P) providing the transfer of labels (M) attached to the cylinder surface (X) from the cutting unit (B) past the glue application unit (D) to the application unit (G) for successive application of labels (M) on items (T) passing the application unit (G), characterized in that the transfer drum (P) comprising a source of vacuum in the form of at least one ventilator which is built into one of said stationary, radial partitionings, this partitioning forming a rearmost wall in the vacuum chamber, as seen in the direction of rotation of the transfer drum.
Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that the glue application unit (D) includes a rotating glue application roller (C), the surface of which is supplied with glue from a vessel with glue, wherein a surface pattern of the glue application roller is preferably adapted to the size and/or shape of the actual label.
Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the glue application unit (D) is arranged pivotable relative to the transfer drum (P) in such a way that the glue application roller (C) can be pivoted from an inactive position inwardly for contact with a back side of a label which is attached to the cylinder surface of the transfer drum.
Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that the application unit includes one or more blow nozzles (G) disposed internally of the vacuum chamber (I) at a front wall thereof, ensuring that at least a foremost part of a label (M) temporarily attached on the cylinder surface (X) of the transfer drum is released from the latter and applied on an item (T) during its passage of the application unit (G).
Apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the application unit furthermore includes one or more separate application drums which are adapted to smoothen and affix labels on passing items.
Apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 7, characterised in that it includes means for controlling activation of the glue application unit, the blow nozzles and the separate application drums, the controlling means including means for detecting markings on the labels or a leading or trailing edge of the labels.