EP3960645A1

EP3960645A1 - Labelling method for packaging a pourable product with higher precision in the labelling, and machine for carrying out the labelling method

Info

Publication number: EP3960645A1
Application number: EP20193285.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco Ferri; Salman AYUB; Andrea Piazza
Original assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Current assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Priority date: 2020-08-28
Filing date: 2020-08-28
Publication date: 2022-03-02

Abstract

Labelling machine (1, 1', 1", 1''') for labelling a plurality of containers (B1, B2, B3, B4) by means of a plurality of respective portions (L1, L2, L3, L4) of a web (W) of labelling material, comprising: a cutting station (2) configured to cut sequentially the web (W) with a cutting time frequency, so that a plurality of web portions (L1, L2, 13) are subsequently released by the cutting station (2); a conveying system (3) to convey the web (W) according to an advancement direction (A) and along a conveying path (P), wherein the machine (1) is configured to generate, with a time frequency equal to the cutting frequency, a spatial oscillation of a section (S) of the path (P), said section (S) being located upstream of the cutting station (2) according to the advancement direction (A). [Figure 1]

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an improved labelling method for labelling a plurality of containers by means of a plurality of respective portions of a web of labelling material, to a labelling machine configured for carrying out the method, to a packaging method for packaging a pourable product with a plurality of containers and comprising the labelling method, and to a packaging apparatus configured for carrying out the packaging method and comprising the labelling machine.

BACKGROUND ART

In the general field of packaging a pourable product with a plurality of containers, it is known to apply respective labels on the containers by means of a labelling machine for labelling a plurality of containers by means of a plurality of respective portions of a web of labelling material. The labelling machine can be for example of a roll-fed type. This type of labelling machine comprises a conveying system, a cutting station, and a transfer drum. The cutting station is configured to cut sequentially the web, so that a plurality of web portions are sequentially released by the cutting station. The conveying system is configured to convey the web according to an advancement direction and along a conveying path. The path extends up to the cutting station and the conveying system comprises at least a motorized feed roller which defines a conveying speed of the web along the path. The machine comprises a conveyor for conveying the containers to be labelled. As the containers are conveyed spaced from each other, the transfer drum must be configured, by means of rotating around its axis, for angularly spacing around said axis and from each other the released portions, and for transferring the spaced portions to apply them subsequently on respective containers. To this end, the transfer drum comprises a plurality of angular label retaining sectors which are angularly spaced to each other around said axis. The transfer drum is configured to transfers the spaced portions by carrying them on respective retaining sectors and by means of suction. The transfer drum comprises a plurality of no retaining sectors which are alternated around said axis with the retaining sectors.
The cutting station comprises a cutter roller and is configured to release subsequently the plurality of portions to the transfer drum by the cutter roller rotating on itself with a peripheral speed of the cutter roller. As the labels before the cutting station are joined together to form the web and the production speed is imposed, said peripheral speed must be different from the peripheral speed of the transfer drum. This causes a sliding of the portion on the no retaining sectors, where residues of glue or dirt can be present in such a way to decrease the precision in the positioning of the web portions on the transfer drum and therefore in the the subsequent applying of the portions on the respective containers.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

A labelling method according to present description or according to any of the appended labelling method claims is for labelling a plurality of containers by means of a plurality of respective portions of a web of labelling material, and can be implemented by means of a labelling machine resulting in a better precision in labelling the containers with respect to already known labelling machines. A packaging method according to present description or according to any of the appended packaging method claims comprises a labelling method according to present description or according to any of the appended labelling method claims.
A labelling machine according to present description or according to any of appended labelling machine claims is configured for carrying out a labelling method according to present description or according to any of the appended labelling method claims. Notwithstanding a labelling method according to present description or according to any of the appended labelling method claims is preferably implemented by a roll fed type labelling machine, a labelling machine according to present description or according to any of appended labelling machine claims can be a roll fed type labelling machine or can be a labelling machine of another type.
A packaging apparatus according to present description or according to any of appended apparatus claims comprises a labelling machine according to present description or according to any of appended labelling machine claims, and is configured for carrying out a packaging method according to present description or according to any of the appended packaging method claims.
The following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of invention are referred to a first exemplary possible embodiment, a second exemplary possible embodiment, a third exemplary possible embodiment, and a fourth exemplary possible embodiment of a labelling machine according to present description.
In the following, the first embodiment will be defined for convenience simply as "first machine". In the following, the second embodiment will be defined for convenience simply as "second machine". In the following, the third embodiment will be defined for convenience simply as "third machine". In the following, the fourth embodiment will be defined for convenience simply as "fourth machine". In the following, the word "machine", where it is used not in conjunction with any of "first", "second", "third" and fourth", will mean "any of the first machine, second machine, third machine and fourth machine".
The following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of invention are referred to a possible exemplary embodiment of a packaging apparatus according to present description, to a possible exemplary embodiment of a labelling method according to present description, and to a possible packaging method according to present description. In the following, said embodiment of the packaging apparatus will be defined for convenience simply as "apparatus", said embodiment of the labelling method will be defined simply as "labelling method", and said embodiment of the packaging method will be defined for convenience simply as "packaging method".
The apparatus comprises the machine.
The machine is configured for carrying out the labelling method. The labelling method is specially adapted to be carried out by the machine. The apparatus is configured for carrying out the packaging method. The packaging method is specially adapted to be carried out by the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description is referred to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows schematically the first machine in a first instant of the labelling method, while the first machine is adopting a first operative configuration;
Figure 1A shows schematically in greater detail a part of Figure 1;
Figure 2 shows schematically the first machine in a second instant occurring after the first instant, while the first machine is adopting a second operative configuration;
Figure 2A shows schematically in greater detail a part of Figure 2;
Figure 3 shows schematically the first machine in a third instant occurring after the second instant, while the first machine is adopting an intermediate configuration;
Figure 3A shows schematically in greater detail a part of Figure 3;
Figure 4 shows schematically the first machine in a fourth instant occurring after the third instant, while the first machine is adopting the first configuration again;
Figure 4A shows schematically in greater detail a part of Figure 4;
Figure 1B shows schematically a part of the second machine in the first instant, while the second machine is adopting the first operative configuration;
Figure 2B shows schematically a part of the second machine in the second instant, while the second machine is adopting the second operative configuration;
Figure 1C shows schematically a part of the third machine in the first instant, while the third machine is adopting the first operative configuration;
Figure 2C shows schematically a part of the third machine in the second instant, while the third machine is adopting the second operative configuration;
Figure 1D shows schematically the fourth machine in the first instant, while the fourth machine is adopting the first operative configuration;
Figure 2D shows schematically the fourth machine in the second instant, while the fourth machine is adopting the second operative configuration.

The first machine is indicated with 1 in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. The second machine is indicated with 1' in Figures 1B and 2B. The third machine is indicated with 1" in Figures 1C and 2C. The fourth machine is indicated with 1"' in Figures 1D and 2D.
The machine 1 or 1' or 1'' or 1"' is configured for labelling a plurality of containers by means of a plurality of respective portions of a web of labelling material. In the Figures, exemplary containers are indicated and showed. The exemplary containers comprise a first container B1, a second container B2, a third container B3, and a fourth container B4. In the Figures, exemplary web portions are indicated.
The exemplary portions comprise first portion L1, second portion L2, third portion L3 and fourth portion L4. In the Figures, an exemplary web is indicated with W.
The containers can belong to any one of a plurality of types of containers. The plurality of types can comprise bottles, jars, cans, vessels, receptacles or the like. Any one of those types can for example be made of base components, like glass, paper or cardboard, plastics, aluminum, steel, and composites.
The containers are fillable or are filled with a pourable product, e.g. a pourable food product such as carbonated liquids (e.g. sparkling water, soft drinks and beer) or non-carbonated liquids (e.g. still water, juices, teas, sport drinks, liquid cleaners, wine, emulsions, suspensions, high viscosity liquids and beverages containing pulps, edible oil) or non-liquid food products (e.g. salt, sugar or the like) or pourable non-food products such as mineral oil, detergents and the like.
The machine 1 or 1' or 1" or 1'" comprises a cutting station 2. The cutting station 2 is configured to cut sequentially the web W with a cutting time frequency, so that a plurality of web portions L1, L2, L3, L4 are subsequently released by the cutting station 2. The cutting station 2 is indicated for the first machine 1 in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4.
The cutting station 2 comprises a first cutter roller 21. The machine 1 or 1' or 1" or 1'" comprises a transfer drum 4.
The cutting station 2 is configured to cut the web and release subsequently the plurality of portions L1, L2, L3, L4 to said transfer drum 4 by the first cutter roller 21 rotating on itself. The first cutter roller 21 is indicated for the first machine 1 in Figures 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A. The first cutter roller 21 is indicated for the second machine 1' in Figures 1B and 2B. The first cutter roller 21 is indicated for the third machine 1" in Figures 1C and 2C. The rotation of the first cutter roller 21 is indicated by the arrow R3 in Figures 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 1B, 1C, 2B, 2C, 1D and 2D.
The cutting station 2 comprises a second cutter roller 22. It can be for example that the first cutter roller 21 carries a blade and the second cutter roller 22 carries a counter blade or viceversa. The cutting station 2 is configured to cut the web and release subsequently the plurality of portions L1, L2, L3, L4 to said transfer drum 4 by also the second cutter roller 22 rotating on itself. The second cutter roller 22 is indicated for the first machine 1 in Figures 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A. The second cutter roller 22 is indicated for the second machine 1' in Figures 1B and 2B. The second cutter roller 22 is indicated for the third machine 1" in Figures 1C and 2C. The rotation of the second cutter roller 22 is indicated by the arrow R4 in Figures 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 1B, 1C, 2B, 2C.
The machine 1 or 1' or 1" or 1'" comprises a conveying system 3. The conveying system 3 is configured to convey the web W according to an advancement direction A and along a conveying path P. The web W and the path P overlap to each other in the accompanying Figures. Therefore, in the accompanying Figures, the same element is indicated with W and P.
The path P extends up to the cutting station 2. The conveying system 3 comprises at least a motorized feed roller 31 defining a conveying speed of said web W along the path P. The feed roller 31 defines the conveying speed by rotating on itself. The rotation on itself of the feed roller 31 is characterized by an angular speed of the feed roller 31. The feed roller 31 is indicated for the first machine 1 in Figures 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 3, 3A, 4 and 4A. The feed roller 31 is indicated for the second machine 1' in Figures 1B, and 2B, for the third machine 1" in Figures 1C and 2C, and for the fourth machine 1''' in Figures 1D and 2D. The rotation of the feed roller 31 is indicated only in Figures 1D and 2D by the arrow R5.
The transfer drum 4 defines an axis X of the transfer drum 4. The machine 1 or 1' or 1" or 1'" is configured so that the transfer drum rotates on itself around the axis X of the transfer drum 4. The rotation of the transfer drum 4 is indicated by the arrow R1.
The machine 1 or 1' or 1'' or 1''' comprises a conveyor 6 The conveyor 6 is configured for conveying the containers to be labelled by means of a movement of the conveyor 6 with respect to the transfer drum 4. This movement can be a rotation of the conveyor 6 on itself. The conveyor 6 defines an axis Y of the conveyor 6. The conveyor 6 is configured for rotating around its axis Y. The rotation of the conveyor 6 is around the axis Y of the conveyor 6 and is indicated in the Figures by the arrow R2.
The transfer drum 4 is configured, by means of rotating around its axis X, for angularly spacing from each other and around said axis X the released portions L1, L2, L3, L4. This spacing is necessary because the portions have a pitch on the web W which is different from the pitch of the containers on the conveyor 6.
The machine 1 or 1' or 1" or 1'" is configured so that the applying of the web portions on the respective containers is obtained by cooperation between the rotation on itself of the transfer drum 4 and the movement of the conveyor 6.
The transfer drum 4 is configured for transferring the spaced portions L1, L2, L3, L4, to apply the spaced portions subsequently on respective containers B1, B2, B3, B4.
Therefore, the transfer drum 4 receives from the cutting station 2 the first portion L1, carries the first portion L1 on itself, and applies the first portion L1 on the first container B1. The transfer drum 4 receives the second portion L2 from the cutting station 2 after having received the first portion L1, starts to carry the second portion L2 on itself after having started to carry the first portion L1, spaces the second portion L2 angularly around the axis X and with respect to the first portion L1, and applies the second portion L2 on the second container B2 after having applied the first portion L1 on the first container B1. The transfer drum 4 receives the third portion L3 from the cutting station 2 after having received the second portion L2, starts to carry the third portion L3 on itself after having started to carry the second portion L2, spaces the third portion L3 angularly around the axis X and with respect to the second portion L2, and applies the third portion L3 on the third container B3 after having applied the second portion L2 on the second container B2. The transfer drum 4 receives the fourth portion L4 from the cutting station 2 after having received the third portion L3, starts to carry the fourth portion L4 on itself after having started to carry the third portion L3, spaces the fourth portion L4 angularly around the axis X and with respect to the third portion L3, and applies the fourth portion L4 on the fourth container B4 after having applied the third portion L3 on the third container B3.
To carry and space from each other the label portions, the transfer drum 4 comprises a plurality of angular label retaining sectors which are angularly spaced to each other around said axis X of the transfer drum 4. In Figure 1 a first retaining sector 41, a second retaining sector 43, a third retaining sector 45, a fourth retaining sector 47 and a fifth retaining sector 49 are indicated. The transfer drum 4 is configured to transfers the spaced portions by carrying them on respective retaining sectors and by means of suction. The first portion L1 can be seen while being carried by the transfer drum 4 in Figures 1, 2, 1D, and 2D. As showed in Figure 1, the first portion L1 is carried on the first retaining sector 41 of the transfer drum 4. In Figure 3, the first portion L1 is showed during the applying of the first portion L1 on the first container B1, and therefore while the first portion L1 is interposed between the first retaining sector 41 and the first container B1.
The second portion L2 can be seen while being carried by the transfer drum 4 in Figures 1, 1A, 1C, 2, 2A, 3, 4, 1D, and 2D. As showed in Figure 1, the second portion L2 is carried on the second retaining sector 43 of the transfer drum 4.
In Figures 1, 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, the third portion L3 is showed while the third portion L3 is being separated by cutting from the remaining part of the web W, by means of the cutting station 2. In Figures 2, 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D, the third portion L3 is showed while it is being released from the cutting station 2 to the third retaining sector 45 of the transfer drum 4. In Figures 3, 3A, 4 and 4A, the third portion L3 is showed while being carried by the transfer drum 4. In Figure 3 it is showed that the third portion L3 is carried on the third retaining sector 45 of the transfer drum 4.
In Figures 4 and 4A the fourth portion L4 is showed while the fourth portion L4 is being separated by cutting from the remaining part of the web W, by means of the cutting station 2.
The transfer drum 4 comprises a plurality of angular no retaining sectors which are alternated with the retaining sectors around said axis X of the transfer drum 4. In Figure 1 a first no retaining sector 42, a second no retaining sector 44, a third no retaining sector 46, a fourth no retaining sector 48 and a fifth no retaining sector 50 are indicated.
In the general field of roll fed type machines, the retaining sectors are known as "pad sectors", while no retaining sectors are known as "prepad sectors".
It is to be noted that the following considerations related to the third portion L3 are applicable to any one of the portions of the web W which are subsequently separated by the cutting station 2 and released by the cutting station 2 to the transfer drum 4. It is to be noted that the following considerations related to the third portion L3 and to the fourth portion L4 can be considered applicable to any couple of consecutive portions of the web W which are subsequently separated by the cutting station 2 and released by the cutting station 2 to the transfer drum 4.
Figures 1 and 1A for the first machine 1, Figure 1B for the second machine 1', Figure 1C for the third machine 1", and Figure 1D for the fourth machine 1"', refer to a first instant of the labelling method. In this first instant, the web W is cut so that the third portion L3 is separated from the remaining part of the web W. In this first instant the machine 1 or 1' or 1" or 1'" adopts a first operative configuration. The first operative configuration corresponds to a first geometrical configuration of a section S of the path P. This section S is located upstream of the cutting station 2 according to the web advancement direction A.
Figures 2 and 2A, for the first machine 1, Figure 2B for the second machine 1', Figure 2C for the third machine 1", and Figure 2D for the fourth machine 1"', refer to a second instant of the labelling method, which occurs after the first instant and in which the third portion L3 is being released to the transfer drum 4. In this second instant the machine 1 or 1' or 1" or 1'" adopts a second operative configuration. The second operative configuration corresponds to a second geometrical configuration of the section S of the path. The second geometrical configuration is different from the first geometrical configuration. The difference between the first geometrical configuration and the second geometrical configuration can be understood by comparing between each other in particular Figures 1A and 2A, or 1B and 2B, or 1C and 2C, or 1D and 2D.
In the second instant the cutting station 2 is releasing the third portion L3 to the transfer drum 4 by means of a peripheral speed of the first cutter roller 21.
Thanks to the oscillation of the machine between the first operative configuration (Figures 1, 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D) and the second operative configuration (Figures 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D), it is produced a distance along the path between the third portion L3 and the remaining part of the web W. This distance can be easily identified in particular in Figures 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D. Thanks to this distance said peripheral speed of the first cutter roller 21 can be closer or equal to the peripheral speed of the transfer drum 4. Indeed, this distance allows to adapt the pitch of the web portions along the web and upstream of the cutting station 2 with respect the advancement direction A, which pitch is equal to the label length, to the pitch of the web portions on the transfer drum 4, which is greater than the previous one, by means of a peripheral speed of the first cutter roller 21 during the releasing of the third portion L3 to the transfer drum 4, which peripheral speed of the first cutter roller 21 is closer or equal to the peripheral speed of the transfer drum 4. A peripheral speed of the first cutter roller 21 equal to the peripheral speed of the transfer drum 4 allows to avoid any sliding of the third portion L3 on the prepad sectors of the transfer drum 4. A peripheral speed of the first cutter roller 21 closer to the peripheral speed of the transfer drum 4 allows to reduce the sliding of the third portion L3 on the prepad sectors of the transfer drum 4.
By means of reducing the risk of or avoiding the sliding of the label portions on the prepad sectors of the transfer drum 4, as the sliding of the web portions on the prepad sectors would have caused a reduction in precision or accuracy of the positioning of the web portions over the transfer drum 4, it is improved the accuracy and/or the precision in the positioning of the web portions over the transfer drum 4 and therefore also in the labelling of the containers by means of the machine.
Figures 4 and 4A refers only to the first machine 1 but can applicable also to either of second machine 1', third machine 1" and fourth machine 1"'. Figure 4 and 4A refer to a fourth instant of the labelling method, which occurs after the second instant. In this fourth instant, the web W is cut so that the fourth portion L4 is separated from the remaining part of the web W. In this fourth instant the machine 1 or 1' or 1" or 1"' adopts the first operative configuration again.
Therefore, between the first instant and the fourth instant an oscillation of the machine 1 or 1' or 1" or 1''' occurs, said oscillation being between the first operative configuration and the second operative configuration. This oscillation corresponds to a spatial oscillation of the section S between the first geometrical configuration and the second geometrical configuration.
Therefore the above mentioned aims are achieved thanks to the machine 1 or 1' or 1" or 1"' being configured to generate, with an oscillation time frequency equal to the cutting frequency, said spatial oscillation of the section S of the path P, and the section S being located upstream of the cutting station 2 according to the advancement direction A.
Moreover, the machine 1 or 1' or 1" or 1'" is configured so that, by means of the cutting frequency being the same as the oscillation frequency, the web portions L1, L2, L3, L4 are released subsequently by the cutting station 2 to respective subsequent retaining sectors 41, 43, 45, 47 of the transfer drum, skipping the no retaining sectors 42, 44, 46, 48.
Figures 3 and 3A refer only to the first machine 1 but can applicable also to either of second machine 1', third machine 1'' and fourth machine 1'''. Figure 3 and 3A refer to a third instant of the labelling method, which occurs after the second instant and before the fourth instant. In this third instant, the machine is returning to the first operative configuration from the second operative configuration and, correspondingly, the section S of the path P is returning to the first geometrical configuration from the second geometrical configuration. In this fourth instant the machine 1 or 1' or 1" or 1"' adopts an intermediate operative configuration. In this third instant the third portion L3 has been completely released to the transfer drum 4 and is being carried by the transfer drum 4.
For example it can be considered that third portion L3 skips the second no retaining sector 44, because third portion L3 is released on the third retaining sector 45 without (or with reduced) sliding on second no retaining sector 44, as can be seen in particular in Figures 1A, 2A and 3A. This thanks to the oscillation of the section S of the web which occurred before the first instant.
For example fourth portion L4 skips the third no retaining sector 46, because fourth portion L4 will be released on the fourth retaining sector 47 without sliding on the third no retaining sector 46, as can be derived in particular from Figures 4 and 4A.
The diameter of the first cutter roller 21 is correlated and preferably equal to the diameter of the transfer drum 4 divided by the number of retaining sectors. The closer is the diameter of the first cutter roller 21 to the diameter of the transfer drum 4 divided by the number of retaining sectors, the narrower or smaller can be the oscillation of the angular speed of the first cutter roller 21 for each cutting. If the diameter of the first cutter roller 21 is equal to the diameter of the transfer drum 4 divided by the number of retaining sectors, the first cutter roller 21 can rotate always with the same specific value of angular speed corresponding to the peripheral speed of the first cutter roller being equal to the peripheral speed of the transfer drum 4, leading to a great simplification of the controlling of the machine 1 or 1' or 1'' or 1"'.
In the first machine 1, in the second machine 1', and in the third 1", the machine 1 or 1' or 1" comprises a web buffer system 5 or 5' or 5" which can adopt a first operative condition causing and corresponding to said first geometrical configuration and a second operative condition causing and corresponding to said second geometrical configuration. The buffer system 5 or 5' or 5" is located, according to the web advancement direction A, upstream of the cutting station 2. The feed roller 31 is located, according to the web advancement direction A, upstream of the cutting station 2 and downstream of the buffer system 5 or 5' or 5".
In Figures 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 4, 4A, the buffer system 5 or 5' or 5" adopts the first operative condition. In Figures 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, the buffer system 5 or 5' or 5" adopts the second operative condition. In Figures 3 and 3A the buffer system 5 adopts an intermediate operative condition between the first operative condition and the second operative condition.
In the first machine 1, in the second machine 1' and in the third machine 1", the machine 1 or 1' or 1" is configured for generating said spatial oscillation at least by generating, with the same oscillation frequency, an oscillation of said buffer system 5 or 5' or 5" between said first operative condition and said second operative condition.
In the first machine 1, in the second machine 1' and in the third machine 1", the machine 1 or 1' or 1" is configured for allowing said oscillation of the buffer system (5, 5', 5'') at least by generating, with the same frequency, an oscillation of an angular speed of the feed roller 31 between a first value and a second value different from the first value.
The buffer system 5 or 5' or 5" allows for controlling the oscillation between the first operative configuration, corresponding to the first geometrical configuration of the section S, and the second operative configuration, corresponding to the second geometrical configuration of the section S, by means of controlling the angular speed of the feed roller 31, in order to simplify the setting of the machine 1 or 1' or 1''.
In the first machine 1, the buffer system 5 comprises a blowing element 51 acting on said section S. The buffer system 5 of the first machine 1 is configured so that the first operative condition corresponds to a first blowing action of the blowing element 51 on the section S and the second operative condition corresponds to a second blowing action of the blowing element 51 on the section S. The second blowing action is different from the first blowing action. The direction of the blowing action is indicated by arrows Q.
In the second machine 1', the buffer system 5' comprises a suction roller 51'. The buffer system 5' of the second machine 1' is configured for generating said spatial oscillation by applying a suction on said section S from a lateral wall 511' of the suction roller 51'. The conveying system 3 comprises said suction roller 51' so that said suction roller 51' contributes to the conveying of said web W along said path P. The buffer system 5' of the second machine 1' has an higher precision in obtaining the oscillation with respect to the buffer system 5 of the first machine 1.
In the third machine 1", the buffer system 5" comprises a mechanical spring roller 51" for generating said spatial oscillation by applying an elastic force on said section S. The conveying system 3 comprises said mechanical spring roller 51" so that said mechanical spring roller 51" contributes to the conveying of said web W along said path P.
The buffer system 5" of the third machine 1" is more subject to wear with respect to the buffer systems 5 and 5' of the first machine 1 and second machine 1", respectively, but it is less expensive in relation to energy consumption. The buffer system 5' of the second machine 1' is more precise in obtaining the oscillation of the section S of the path P with respect to the buffer system 5 of the first machine 1, but the buffer system 5 of the first machine 1 is less expensive in relation to energy consumption.
The cutting station 2 is configured to release subsequently the plurality of portions to said transfer drum 4 by the first cutter roller 21 rotating on itself with a peripheral speed.
The fourth machine 1''' comprises a mechanical cam element 7. The fourth machine 1''' is configured to cause a rotation of said cam element 7 on itself and with respect to the feed roller 31. The rotation of the cam element is indicated by the arrow R6 only in Figures 1D and 2D. The cam element 7 can move by its rotation between a respective first position causing and corresponding to said first geometrical configuration of the section S (first operative configuration of the fourth machine 1"') and a second position causing and corresponding to said second geometrical configuration of the section S (second operative configuration of fourth machine 1"').
The cam element 7 is located upstream of the cutting station 2 according to said advancement direction A. The cam element 7 is located downstream of the feed roller 31 according to said advancement direction A. Thanks to the cam element 7 being located downstream of the feed roller 31, the feed roller 31 can ensure that the web does not loosen due to the oscillation.
The fourth machine 1"' can be considered an optimal compromise between precision and costs.
The labelling method comprises comprising each of the portions L1, L2, L3 and L4 being subjected sequentially to at least:

a respective conveying phase associated to the respective portion L1 or L2 or L3 or L4, during which the portion L1 or L2 or L3 or L4 is conveyed along a conveying path P and according to an advancement direction A;
after the respective conveying phase, a separating phase associated to the respective portion L1 or L2 or L3 or L4, during which the conveyed portion L1 or L2 or L3 or L4 is separated from the remaining part of the web W;
after the respective separating phase, a respective releasing phase associated to the respective portion L1 or L2 or L3 or L4, during which the separated portion L1 or L2 or L3 or L4 is released to the transfer drum 4;
after the respective releasing phase, a respective spacing and transferring phase associated to the respective portion L1 or L2 or L3 or L4, during which the released portion L1 or L2 or L3 is simultaneously transferred and angularly spaced around an axis X from a subsequently separated portion L2 or L3 or L4 (or from the portion separated after the fourth portion L4, if the respective portion is the fourth portion L4);
after the respective spacing and transferring phase, a respective applying phase associated to the respective portion L1 or L2 or L3 or L4, during which the spaced and transferred portion L1 or L2 or L3 or L4 is applied on a respective container B1 or B2 or B3 or B4.

The method comprises, for each cutting phase associated to a portion L1 or L2 or L3 or L4, before the respective cutting phase and during the respective conveying phase, a respective oscillation phase associated to the respective portion L1 or L2 or L3or L4. During the oscillation phase a spatial oscillation occurs of a section S of the path P located upstream of the respective portion L1 or L2 or L3 or L4. The spatial oscillation can be considered a spatial oscillation which includes at least a translational component which is parallel to a plane perpendicular to the axis X of the transfer drum 4.
The oscillation of the section S can be considered in general with respect to the transfer drum 4.
The labelling method allows the machine 1 or 1' or 1" or 1''', which is configured for carrying out the labelling method, to be used as a roll fed labelling machine with higher precision over known roll fed labelling machine. The spacing of the separated web portions with respect to each other, necessary for applying the web portions on the spaced containers, is carried out by means of the spatial oscillation of the section S of the path P in cooperation with the rotation of the transfer drum 4. This allows to have a peripheral speed o the first cutter roller 21, during the releasing phase, equal or closer to the peripheral speed of the transfer drum 4. This in turn allows the reduction or absence of the sliding of web portions on the no retaining sectors of the vacuum drum 4, to improve the precision and accuracy of the method and therefore of the machine 1 or 1' or 1'' or 1"'.
The packaging method comprises the labelling method.

Claims

Labelling machine (1, 1', 1", 1"') for labelling a plurality of containers (B1, B2, B3, B4) by means of a plurality of respective portions (L1, L2, L3, L4) of a web (W) of labelling material, comprising:
- a cutting station (2) configured to cut sequentially the web (W) with a cutting time frequency, so that a plurality of web portions (L1, L2, 13) are subsequently released by the cutting station (2);

- a conveying system (3) to convey the web (W) according to an advancement direction (A) and along a conveying path (P), said path (P) extending up to the cutting station (2) and said system (3) comprising at least a motorized feed roller (31) defining a conveying speed of said web (W) along said path (P);

- a transfer drum (4) configured, by means of rotating around its axis (X), for angularly spacing from each other and around said axis (X) the released portions (L1, L2, L3, L4), and for transferring the spaced portions (L1, L2, L3, L4) to apply the spaced portions subsequently on respective containers (B1, B2, B3);

- wherein the machine (1) is configured to generate, with an oscillation time frequency equal to the cutting frequency, a spatial oscillation of a section (S) of the path (P), said section (S) being located upstream of the cutting station (2) according to the advancement direction (A).
Machine (1, 1', 1", 1"') according to claim (1), wherein:
- the machine (1) is configured so that said spatial oscillation corresponds to the said section (S) of the path (P) oscillating between a first geometrical configuration and a second geometrical configuration of the section (S), said second geometrical configuration being different from the first geometrical configuration.
Machine (1, 1', 1") according to claim 2, wherein:
- the machine (1, 1', 1") comprises a web buffer system (5, 5', 5") which can adopt a first operative condition causing and corresponding to said first geometrical configuration and a second operative condition causing and corresponding to said second configuration, said buffer system (5, 5', 5'') being located upstream of the cutting station (2) according to said advancement direction (A);

- the machine (1, 1', 1") is configured for generating said spatial oscillation at least by generating, with the same oscillation frequency, an oscillation of said buffer system (5, 5', 5") between said first operative condition and said second operative condition.
Machine (1, 1', 1") according to claim 3, wherein said machine (1, 1', 1") is configured for allowing said oscillation of the buffer system (5, 5', 5'') at least by generating, with the same frequency, an oscillation of an angular speed of the feed roller (31) between a first value and a second value different from the first value.
Machine (1, 1', 1") according to claim 4, wherein the feed roller (31) is located downstream of the buffer system (5, 5', 5'') and upstream of the cutting station (2) according to said web advancement direction (A).
Machine (1) according to any of claims from 3 to 5, wherein the buffer system (5) comprises a blowing element (51) acting on said section (S), the buffer system (5) being configured so that the first operative condition corresponds to a first blowing action of the blowing element (51) on the section (S) and the second operative condition corresponds to a second blowing action of the blowing element (51) on the section (S), the second blowing action being different from the first blowing action.
Machine (1') according to any of claims from 3 to 5, wherein the buffer system (5') comprises a suction roller (51') and is configured for generating said spatial oscillation by applying a suction on said section (S) from a lateral wall (511') of the suction roller (51'), said conveying system (3) comprising said suction roller (51') such that said suction roller (51') contributes to the conveying of said web (W) along said path (P).
Machine (1") according to any of claims from 3 to 5, wherein the buffer system (5'') comprises a mechanical spring roller (51'') for generating said spatial oscillation by applying an elastic force on said section (S), said conveying system (3) comprising said spring roller (51") such that said spring roller (51") contributes to the conveying of said web (W) along said path (P).
Machine (1''') according to claim 2, wherein:
- said machine (1"') comprises a mechanical cam element (7) and is configured to cause a rotation of said cam element (7) on itself and with respect to the feed roller (31), so that the cam element (7) can move between a respective first position causing and corresponding to said first geometrical configuration and a second position causing and corresponding to said second geometrical configuration, said cam element (7) being located upstream of the cutting station (2) according to the advancement direction (A).
Machine (1"') according to claim 9, wherein said cam element (7) is located downstream of the feed roller (31) according to said advancement direction (A).
Machine (1, 1', 1", 1"') according to any of the previous claims, wherein:
- the transfer drum (4) comprises a plurality of angular label retaining sectors (41, 43, 45, 47) which are angularly spaced to each other around said axis (X), the transfer drum (4) being configured to transfers the spaced portions (L1, L2, L3, L4) by carrying them on respective retaining sectors (41, 43, 45, 47) and by means of suction;

- the transfer drum (4) comprises a plurality of not retaining sectors (42, 44, 46, 48) which are alternated around said axis with the retaining sectors (41, 43, 45, 47) ;

- the machine (1, 1', 1'', 1"') is configured so that, by means of the cutting frequency being the same as the oscillation frequency of the section (S), the portions (L1, L2, L3, L4) are released subsequently by the cutting station (2) to respective subsequent retaining sectors (41, 43, 45, 47) of the transfer drum, skipping the not retaining sectors (42, 44, 46, 48) .
Machine (1, 1', 1", 1"') according to claim 11, wherein the cutting station (2) comprises a cutter roller (21) and is configured to release subsequently the plurality of portions (L1, L2, L3, L4) to said transfer drum (4) by the cutter roller (21) rotating on itself with a peripheral speed of the cutter roller (21) equal to the peripheral speed to the transfer drum (4).
Machine (1, 1', 1", 1"') according to claim 12, wherein the value of the diameter of the cutter roller (21) is correlated and preferably equal to the diameter of the transfer drum (4) divided by the number of retaining sectors.
Packaging apparatus for packaging a pourable product with a plurality of containers (B1, B2, B3, B4), comprising a labelling machine (1) according to any of previous claims.
Labelling method (1) for labelling a plurality of containers by means of a plurality of respective portions (L1, L2, L3, L4) of a web (W) of labelling material, comprising each of the portions (L1, L2, L3) being subjected sequentially to at least:
- a respective conveying phase associated to the respective portion (L1; L2; L3; L4), during which the portion (L1; L2; L3; L4) is conveyed along a conveying path (P) and according to an advancement direction (A);

- after the respective conveying phase, a separating phase associated to the respective portion (L1; L2; L3; L4), during which the conveyed portion (L1; L2; L3; L4) is separated from the remaining part of the web (W);

- after the respective separating phase, a respective releasing phase associated to the respective portion (L1; L2; L3; L4), during which the separated portion (L1; L2; L3; L4) is released;

- after the respective releasing phase, a respective spacing and transferring phase associated to the respective portion (L1; L2; L3; L4), during which the released portion (L1; L2; L3) is simultaneously transferred and angularly spaced around an axis (X) from a subsequently separated portion (L2; L3; L4);

- after the respective releasing phase, a respective applying phase associated to the respective portion (L1; L2; L3; L4), during which the transferred portion (L1; L2; L3; L4) is applied on a respective container (B1; B2; B3; B4); wherein the method comprises, for each separating phase associated to a portion (L1; L2; L3; L4) and during the respective conveying phase, a respective oscillation phase associated to the respective portion (L1; L2; L3; L4), during which a spatial oscillation occurs of a section (S) of the path (P) located upstream of the respective portion (L1; L2; L3; L4).
Packaging method for packaging a pourable product with a plurality of containers (B1, B2, B3, B4), comprising a labelling method (1) according to claim 13.