EP3067285A1 - Appareil d'étiquetage pour étiqueter des articles pendant que les articles sont transportés par un moyen de transport - Google Patents

Appareil d'étiquetage pour étiqueter des articles pendant que les articles sont transportés par un moyen de transport Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3067285A1
EP3067285A1 EP15158580.9A EP15158580A EP3067285A1 EP 3067285 A1 EP3067285 A1 EP 3067285A1 EP 15158580 A EP15158580 A EP 15158580A EP 3067285 A1 EP3067285 A1 EP 3067285A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
label
labelling
applicators
piston
items
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Withdrawn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
EP15158580.9A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Will Bushnell
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.)
Marel Ltd
Marel Seattle Inc
Original Assignee
Marel Ltd
Marel Seattle Inc
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 Marel Ltd, Marel Seattle Inc filed Critical Marel Ltd
Priority to EP15158580.9A priority Critical patent/EP3067285A1/fr
Publication of EP3067285A1 publication Critical patent/EP3067285A1/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Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • B65C9/26—Devices for applying labels
    • B65C9/36—Wipers; Pressers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
    • B65C1/00—Labelling flat essentially-rigid surfaces
    • B65C1/04—Affixing labels, e.g. wrap-around labels, to two or more flat surfaces of a polyhedral article
    • B65C1/042—Affixing labels, e.g. wrap-around labels, to two or more flat surfaces of a polyhedral article using two or more applicators, e.g. cooperating rollers or brushes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a labelling apparatus for labelling items while the items are conveyed by a conveyor means and to a method for labelling items using the labelling apparatus.
  • Labelling devices that are capable of automatically labelling food items or packages have existed for the last decades.
  • EP1118542 discloses a method for labelling products that are sold with a sleeve-type product identification band or wrapping member which serves to encircle or wrap around a product.
  • An example of such a labelling is depicted figure 1 showing a perspective view and a front view of an item 103 resting in a tray 102 that has been labelled by a prior art labelling apparatus.
  • An oblong label 101 extends across the item where the "wing-shaped" end parts of the oblong label are subsequently wrapped around the item as indicated by the arrows so that it fully encircles the item 103 and the tray 101.
  • This type of labelling is often referred to as D-wrapped labelling.
  • the label may as an example include sleeve-type product identification band or wrapping member which serves to encircle or wrap around a product so that it at least partly encircles the item.
  • Embodiments of the invention preferably seeks to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art singly or in any combination.
  • a labelling apparatus for labelling items while the items are conveyed by a conveyor means, comprising:
  • items having convex or round shaped profile e.g. a chicken resting on a substantially flat tray
  • a substantially flat tray may be labelled with e.g. an oblong label which shape may be adapted to the item to be shaped, where a long side of the label might, in case the item is a chicken, in this particular case have a concave shape.
  • the label may be attached to the substantially flat tray and e.g. partly surround at least a part of the periphery of the item.
  • the labels may have all types of shape and may as an example be oblong labels that are adapted to be mounted to the items in a sleeve or sleeve-simulating format which serves to encircle or wrap at least partly around the items.
  • the items may include any type of food items in trays, e.g. trays having bottom and side walls or trays that are substantially flat or have a dish-format, and where the labels may be adapted to fully encircle the items (often referred to as D-wrap) and the trays, or e.g. to encircle only the top and bottom and one side of the items in the trays (often referred to as C-wrap).
  • the food items are typically sealed before being labelled with any type of sealant material, e.g. a sealant film.
  • the present invention is not limited to any particular shape of labels, e.g. should not be construed to be limited to the above mentioned shape, but any type of shapes is possible.
  • the first path is a substantially horizontal path and the second path is substantially a path vertical to the first path.
  • the internal arrangment of the at least two applicators is adapted to the shape of the items to be labelled. It may thus be ensured that the labelling fits perfectly to the surfaces of the items to be labeled.
  • the number of the at least two applicators is adapted to the shape of the items to be labelled and/or the surface area of the items to be labelled.
  • the number of applicators may thus be minimized, depending to the application. If as an example the item is in a tray (containing e.g. any type of food or ready meal) having an upper U-shaped form, it may be sufficient to use only two applicators having an internal arrangement such that the label, in this case typically an oblong label, fully follows the U-shaped form.
  • the at least two applicators are arranged along the label in two or more rows arranged along the label such that the two or more rows form a matrix like arrangement of applicators.
  • This may as an example be of relevance when the label has such large width where a single raw of two or more applicators is not sufficient to either hold the label, and/or where the labelling surface has such a complex geometry that more than a single row of applicators is needed to align the label to the shape of the item. Accordingly, by utilizing such a matrix like arrangement of applicators the labelling may be completed on all types of surfaces.
  • each of the at least two applicators comprises:
  • the force-switching-state system comprises:
  • the labelling apparatus further comprises a holding station adapted to receive and hold the label prior to be received by the at least two applicators.
  • the holding station comprises an outwardly protruding structure positioned downstream in relation to a moving direction of the label feeder, where the outwardly protruding structure comprises a holding side facing the conveyor means, where outwardly protruding structure is positioned at a height level in relation the received label such that the holding side is positioned at substantially same height level or slightly above the height level of the received label, and where the outwardly protruding structure is operable connected to a means for providing a holding force between the label and the holding side so as to temporarily holding the label.
  • the outwardly protruding structure comprises two or more slits at the distal end of the outwardly protruding structure, the internal arrangment of the slits being such that the slits intersect with the second path of the at least two applicators so as to allow the applicators to pass through the two or more slits and simultaneously receive the label from the holding side of the outwardly protruding structure.
  • a simple solution is thus provided for receiving the label by means of "showling" the at least two applicators downwardly and through the outwardly protruding structure.
  • the outwardly protruding structure which may have a nose-like shape, preferably having one end facing a returning end of the label feeder and the opposite end, or the tip of the nose, pointing distally away from the label feeder.
  • the returning end of the label feeder may be defined as the end where a backing paper of the label feeder, i.e. after the label is received from the label feeder, is returned and is e.g. threaded onto a rewind. This returning end may be relative sharp so upon returning the label is at least partly be exposed with the non-adhesive side facing the holding side of the outwardly protruding structure that removes the label from the label feeder vie e.g. saution.
  • the means for providing the holding force comprises a suction source operably connected to an inner side of the outwardly protruding structure for providing a suction force at the holding side, where the holding side may comprise plurality of openings for transferring the sauction force to the holding side.
  • This suction force is preferably adapted to the size and/or the shape of the label such that it is sufficiently large to remporarily maintain the labels at the planar structure with the adhesive side facing the conveyor means.
  • the at least two applicators interact essentially simultaneously with the label when receiving the label and have indpendent labelling positions depending on the contour of the item to be labeled. It is thus ensured that upon receiving the label it is securly received and carried by the carrying mechanisms of the applicators so the risk that the received label does not fall off the applicators before being put onto the item is eliminated.
  • the labelig apparatus further comprises a printing station adapted to print information on the labels.
  • the the print information may in one embodiment comprise variable information, e.g. weight or price related information, registered by a device and where an indexed relationship is provided between the indiviudual items and the individual item related information such that the labelling on an individual item contains the item related information. This may as an example be where the weight of a tray with a food item is measured while the tray is conveyed towards a packaging and/or labelling station where the the label with exact weight is placed onto the tray.
  • the variable information information may also be selected from, but is not limited to, the price of the items, a quality indicator indicating the quality of the items, information relating to the origination of the items etc..
  • the second path is a cyclic movement path and where upon receiving the label the moving direction of the at least two labels is substantially perpendicular to the first path.
  • Figure 2a,b depicts a labelling apparatus 200 according to the present invention for labelling items 211 while the items are conveyed by a conveyor means 212, which may be a conveyor comprising an endless conveyor belts, moving in a direction as indicated by the arrow 215.
  • a conveyor means 212 which may be a conveyor comprising an endless conveyor belts, moving in a direction as indicated by the arrow 215.
  • the labelling apparatus comprises a label feeder 201 adapted for feeding self-adhesive labels along a first path as indicated by arrow 208, and at least two applicators 202, 203 each of which comprising linearly displaceable pistons 220, 221 including a label carrying mechanism 204, 205 at its distal end, respectively.
  • the at least two applicators 209, 210 are adapted to receive a label 206 supplied by the label feeder 201 and move the received label 206 along a second path as indicated by arrows 209, 210, which is substantially perpendicular to the first path 208, towards a labelling position (see figure 2b ) where labelling the item 211 takes place.
  • the at least two applicators are arranged essentially perpendicular to the first path 208 such that when receiving the label the at least two applicators are arranged along the label when moving the received label towards the labelling position.
  • the labellig apparatus shown in this embodiment further comprises a holding station 220, which as shown here comprises an outwardly protruding structure 207 positioned downstream in relation to a moving direction 208 of the labels from the label feeder 208.
  • the outwardly protruding structure 207 comprises a holding side positioned at substantially same height level or slightly above the height level of the received label facing the conveyor means 212 for receiving and holding the labels prior to be received by the at least two applicators 202, 203.
  • the holding force needed to temporarily hold the received labels before it is received by the at least two applicators may be provided by means of operably connecting an inner side of the outwardly protruding structure 207 to a suction source where the holding side may be provided with plurality of openings, slits and the like, to transfer the sauction force to the received label.
  • the outwardly protruding structure comprises two slits 205, 206 at the distal end of the outwardly protruding structure 207 for receiving the two applicators 202, 203 shown, where the internal arrangment of the slits is such that the slits intersect with the second path 209, 210 of the two applicators such that so as to allow the applicators to pass through the two slits and simultaneously receive the label 206 from the side of the outwardly protruding structure.
  • the number of slits and applicators should of course not be construed to be limited to two, but more than two applicators and slits may be used
  • the internal arrangment and/or the number of the at least two applicators is adapted to the shape of the items to be labelled and/or the surface area of the items to be labelled such that it is possible to align the label to the surface of the item. This will be discussed in more details later.
  • the at least two applicators 202, 203 interact essentially simultaneously with the label 206 when receiving the label from the holding side.
  • the applicators further have indpendent labelling positions depending on the contour of the item to be labeled.
  • Figure 3a,b shows the labelling apparatus 300 in figure 2a,b further comprising a printing station 301 adapted to print information on the labels, but this information may be fixed information or variable information such as the weight of the items, the price of the items etc., where this information may be measured (e.g. a scale) and/or calculated such as based on measured weight where the price may be calculated.
  • this variable information may be measured (e.g. a scale) and/or calculated such as based on measured weight where the price may be calculated.
  • an indexed relationship is provided between the indiviudual items and the individual item related information such that the labelling on an individual item contains the item related information.
  • the items may be tracked from where the variable information is obtained until the actual labeling takes place to ensure that the variable information are associated to the respective one of the items being associated with the variable information.
  • a given item 311 is e.g. weighed by a weighing device (such as dynamic scale) and has a weighing of 253g
  • this weighing result is sent to a computer (not shown) that operates the printing station 301 such that when the item arrives at the labelling apparatus 300 (see figure 3b ) the weight of 253g (and e.g. other variable information such as the price) is printed on a lable 306 that is subsequently received by the applicators as discussed in relation to figure 2a,b and moved to a labeling position ( figure 3b ) where the labeling takes place.
  • Figure 4a,b depicts an example of second path movement of the at least two applicators 202, 203 in figure 3 (and figure 2 in the absence of the printing station shown), which is a cyclic movement as indicated by the arrow 401, where preferably the cyclic movement lies within a plane that lies within the slits 205, 206.
  • the number of applicators/slits should of course not be constured to be limited two applicators, but could just as well be three or more applicators.
  • Figure 5 shows where the backing paper 503 (not shown in figure 2 and 3 ), i.e. after the labels have been removed from the label feeder 201, moves in an opposite direction as indicated by arrow 502 and is threaded onto a rewind 501.
  • Figure 6a,b shows a persptive view and a front view on one example of where the number and the position of applicators 601-603 is adapetd to the shape of the item 604.
  • the item 604 may e.g. be a piece of meat that is resting on a substantially flat plate or tray 605, and where the labeling is fully alligned with the shape of the item 604, where the middle applicator 602 has its labelling position on the top of the item 604 whereas the applicators 603, 601 have their labeling positions on the flate plate adjacent to the item.
  • Figures 7a , b and 8a , b depict graphically one embodiment of a perspective view and a front view of one embodiment of an applicator to be used in relation to the present invention for labeling items 711 while being conveyed in a conveying direction as indicated by the arrow 712.
  • the applicator comprises a linearly displaceable piston 701, a labeling carrying mechanism 702, a force-switching-state system 710, a moving mechanism 709 and a frame structure 708.
  • the linearly displaceable piston 701 is operable connected to the moving mechanism 706 that moves the piston from a resting position to a labeling position and vice versa.
  • the moving mechanism comprises an endless belt 706 extending along the piston 701 between two wheels including a driving wheel 707. The coupling between the piston 701 and the endless belt 706 will be discussed in more details later.
  • the labeling carrying mechanism 702 is arranged at the distal end of the piston 201 and is adapted to carry an adhesive label (not shown) and for affixing the adhesive label to an item 711 via physical contact with the item at the labeling position of the piston 701.
  • the labeling carrying mechanism 702 may be a flexible pad may be connected to a media source (not shown) for providing a negative pressure, i.e. suction function, to maintain the label fixed at the flexible pad.
  • the flexible pad 702 may be selected such that it can easily adapt to different surfaces, e.g. incline, declined surfaces or u-shaped surfaces, e.g. is a rubber or plastic material of any type that is flexible.
  • figures 7 and 8 show the labeling device 700 in different operational positions, where figure 7a and b shows the labeling device 700 in the resting position and figure 8a and b shows the labeling device 700 in the labeling position.
  • the force-switching-state system 710 is operable to maintain the piston 201 in relation to the conveyor belt 206 in an attracting force state such that the piston moves with the belt 706 from the resting position shown in figure 7 towards the labeling position shown in figure 8 while maintaining this attracting force at all time.
  • an opposite repelling force 801 from the item 711 onto the pad 702 is formed causing a separation of the displaceable piston 701 from the belt 706. This separation causes a change of the force state of the displaceable piston 701 from being in an attracting force state to a repelling force stage causing the linearly displaceable piston to move back to the resting position.
  • this force state is based on an interplay between magnetic forces which will be discussed in more details here below, but it should be noted that the solution of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to magnetic forces, but the interplay between an electrical field and electrical forces might just as well be applied or electro-magnetic forces.
  • the force-switching-state system 710 comprises a drive coupling housing 703, a fixed magnet 704 that is rigidly fixed to a frame structure 708 of the labeling device 700 at a position defining the resting position and a piston magnet 705 that is rigidly fixed to the piston 701.
  • the drive coupling housing 703 circumferentially surrounds the piston 701 in a linear slideable manner and is attached to the belt 706.
  • the drive coupling housing 703 has a cavity facing the fixed magnet 704 with means for generating a localized magnetic field within the cavity of the same pole direction. This may as an example be achieved by arranging one or more small magnets discs 713 having the same magnetic poles under an appropriate angle within the cavity and in that way provide the localized magnetic field. Utilizing the piston magnet 705 which is opposite poled compared to this localized magnetic field, this localized field acts with an attractive magnetic force on the piston magnet 705 when the piston magnet is positioned in the cavity. This state may be defined as the attractive force state.
  • FIG. 9 This is depicted graphically in figure 9 showing where the piston magnet 705 is positioned within the cavity where the localized magnetic field 901 acts with an attractive force on the piston magnet, and thus acts with an attractive force on the piston since the piston magnet is rigidly mounted to the piston.
  • the scenario shown in figure 9 corresponds to the scenario shown in figure 7 .
  • the drive coupling housing In the resting position the drive coupling housing is positioned adjacent to the fixed magnet with the piston magnet placed there between.
  • Figure 10 depicts in more details the scenario in figure 8 where the labeling pad 702 comes into contact with the item to be labeled causing an opposite repelling force 801 from the item onto the labeling pad.
  • This opposite force causes a displacement of the piston magnet 705 from the localized magnetic field 901.
  • the field of the fixed magnet 704 has the same direction as that of the localized magnetic field 901 and moreover the fixed magnet is selected such that the field strength of the fixed magnet is of a size such that upon release of the piston magnet from the localized magnetic field the fixed magnet exerts with a magnetic force 1001 being larger than the force exerted by the localized magnetic field causing the piston magnet and thus the piston to accelerate towards the fixed magnet.
  • This scenario is shown in figure 8a and b.
  • a sensor may further be provided to sense when the labeling device has reached the resting position, where the sensing signal may be sent to the control unit.
EP15158580.9A 2015-03-11 2015-03-11 Appareil d'étiquetage pour étiqueter des articles pendant que les articles sont transportés par un moyen de transport Withdrawn EP3067285A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP15158580.9A EP3067285A1 (fr) 2015-03-11 2015-03-11 Appareil d'étiquetage pour étiqueter des articles pendant que les articles sont transportés par un moyen de transport

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP15158580.9A EP3067285A1 (fr) 2015-03-11 2015-03-11 Appareil d'étiquetage pour étiqueter des articles pendant que les articles sont transportés par un moyen de transport

Publications (1)

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EP3067285A1 true EP3067285A1 (fr) 2016-09-14

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EP15158580.9A Withdrawn EP3067285A1 (fr) 2015-03-11 2015-03-11 Appareil d'étiquetage pour étiqueter des articles pendant que les articles sont transportés par un moyen de transport

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2018100385A1 (fr) * 2016-11-30 2018-06-07 Nobac Limited Machine d'étiquetage destinée à l'emballage à enveloppe saillante
CN114056647A (zh) * 2021-12-03 2022-02-18 合肥研力电子科技有限公司 一种针对台阶结构的贴胶装置及贴胶方法
WO2023209361A1 (fr) * 2022-04-26 2023-11-02 Marel Limited Appareil d'étiquetage et procédé d'étiquetage

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5300181A (en) * 1991-10-09 1994-04-05 Osaka Sealing Printing Co., Ltd. Label sticking apparatus
EP1118542A1 (fr) 1999-12-17 2001-07-25 Buralls Of Wisbech Limited Procédé et appareil pour emballer des articles
JP2010195403A (ja) * 2009-02-23 2010-09-09 Ishida Co Ltd ラベル貼付装置
EP2695819A1 (fr) * 2012-08-10 2014-02-12 Marel Limited Dispositif et procédé d'étiquetage pour étiqueter des objets, en particulier des objets en mouvement

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5300181A (en) * 1991-10-09 1994-04-05 Osaka Sealing Printing Co., Ltd. Label sticking apparatus
EP1118542A1 (fr) 1999-12-17 2001-07-25 Buralls Of Wisbech Limited Procédé et appareil pour emballer des articles
JP2010195403A (ja) * 2009-02-23 2010-09-09 Ishida Co Ltd ラベル貼付装置
EP2695819A1 (fr) * 2012-08-10 2014-02-12 Marel Limited Dispositif et procédé d'étiquetage pour étiqueter des objets, en particulier des objets en mouvement

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2018100385A1 (fr) * 2016-11-30 2018-06-07 Nobac Limited Machine d'étiquetage destinée à l'emballage à enveloppe saillante
CN114056647A (zh) * 2021-12-03 2022-02-18 合肥研力电子科技有限公司 一种针对台阶结构的贴胶装置及贴胶方法
WO2023209361A1 (fr) * 2022-04-26 2023-11-02 Marel Limited Appareil d'étiquetage et procédé d'étiquetage

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