EP4140902A1 - Etikettiermaschine zum anbringen von etiketten auf behältern, die zur aufnahme eines fliessfähigen produkts angepasst sind - Google Patents

Etikettiermaschine zum anbringen von etiketten auf behältern, die zur aufnahme eines fliessfähigen produkts angepasst sind Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4140902A1
EP4140902A1 EP21192625.8A EP21192625A EP4140902A1 EP 4140902 A1 EP4140902 A1 EP 4140902A1 EP 21192625 A EP21192625 A EP 21192625A EP 4140902 A1 EP4140902 A1 EP 4140902A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
labelling
station
machine
cart
work platform
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP21192625.8A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Roberto SILINGARDI
Cristian ANDREATO
Alberto Bianchi
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.)
Sidel Participations SAS
Original Assignee
Sidel Participations SAS
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 Sidel Participations SAS filed Critical Sidel Participations SAS
Priority to EP21192625.8A priority Critical patent/EP4140902A1/de
Publication of EP4140902A1 publication Critical patent/EP4140902A1/de
Pending 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
    • B65C9/02—Devices for moving articles, e.g. containers, past labelling station
    • B65C9/04—Devices for moving articles, e.g. containers, past labelling station having means for rotating the articles

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a labelling machine for applying labels onto containers adapted to contain, i.e. to be filled with, a pourable product, preferably a pourable food product.
  • Labelling machines are known, which are commonly used to prepare, transport and apply labels onto articles, such as bottles, containers, or the like destined to be filled with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product.
  • glued labels i.e. portions of a labelling material that are cut at appropriate lengths from a web of labelling material initially wound around one or more reels, then sprinkled with glue and eventually applied onto the respective containers.
  • Labels of the tubular kind known as "sleeve labels” and obtained starting from a web of heat-shrinking film wound around one or more storage reels are also known; the sleeve labels are applied with a certain clearance on the respective containers and then heated in an oven to obtain their shrinking and perfect adhesion to the lateral surfaces of the containers themselves. These types of labels do not require the use of glue.
  • a known labelling machine typically comprises:
  • a labelling module typically comprises:
  • the carousel comprises a plurality of support plates, peripherally carried by the carousel itself in respective fixed positions and each configured to support one container to be labelled at a time, and to move it along the labelling path.
  • the carousel also comprises a plurality of gripping heads, each arranged in a respective fixed position above one respective support plate and configured to grip the top part of the neck portion of the container to be labelled in order to define a firm support for the same during labelling, thereby counteracting the forces exerted on the container during labelling.
  • the labelling machines of the above-mentioned type are usually part of an apparatus for packaging the pourable product, which typically comprises several units for carrying out respective operations within the packaging process, namely:
  • all these units comprise respective carousels to convey the containers undergoing the relative operations along respective operative paths (the labelling path, a filling path, a capping path, a forming path).
  • the Applicant has observed that the known packaging apparatuses are prone to further improvement, in particular as to improve their reliability and flexibility, to simplify their architecture, and to reduce the total number of their components and their overall size.
  • number 1 indicates as a whole a labelling machine for applying labels 2 onto containers 3 adapted to contain, i.e. to be filled with, a pourable product, preferably a pourable food product, such as water, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, milk, yogurt, or the like.
  • a pourable product preferably a pourable food product, such as water, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, milk, yogurt, or the like.
  • labels 2 are obtained starting from a web 2a of labelling material which is sequentially cut, in a known manner not described in detail, at predetermined intervals so as to produce labels 2 of equal length, which are then sprinkled with glue and eventually applied onto the respective containers 3.
  • the web 2a is self-adhesive and the glue is not needed.
  • the labels 2 are of the type known as "sleeve labels" and the glue is not needed.
  • Labelling machine 1 comprises:
  • the labelling module 5 comprises a transfer drum, in particular a vacuum drum 6 of the known type, configured to receive the labels 2 previously cut from the web 2a and to transfer the labels 2 to the labelling station S, at which they are applied onto the respective containers 3.
  • a transfer drum in particular a vacuum drum 6 of the known type, configured to receive the labels 2 previously cut from the web 2a and to transfer the labels 2 to the labelling station S, at which they are applied onto the respective containers 3.
  • the conveyor 4 comprises:
  • planar motor 10 comprises a plurality of electrically and individually excitable solenoids (not shown), preferably embedded in work platform 7, and apt to be supplied, in use, with electric current for generating an electromagnetic field.
  • each cart 8 is equipped with a permanent magnet configured to magnetically interact with the solenoids, thereby producing the levitating movement of the cart 8 relative to the work platform 7.
  • work platform 7 is defined by a flat table onto which carts 8 are distributed and relative to which carts 8 levitate by means of planar motor 10.
  • planar motor 10 is arranged, particularly embedded, in work platform 7.
  • each cart 8 comprises ( Figure 2 ):
  • the labelling path L can be shorter and extremely flexible and variable, since containers 3 are not to be carried in respective positions which are fixed with respect to the carousel.
  • the mechanical configuration of labelling machine 1 is less complex.
  • the labeling machine 1 according to the invention has a simplified architecture, an improved flexibility and reliability, a reduced number of components, and a reduced size.
  • base portion 11 carries the above-mentioned permanent magnet.
  • each rotary member is defined by a rotary plate 12.
  • each rotary plate 12 carries a sleeve 13 open on one (upper) side to define a seat for receiving, holding and supporting the bottom portion of at least one container 3 at a time. In this way, each container 3 is firmly supported and the risk of fall or misalignment is at least limited, preferably avoided.
  • Each container 3 has a longitudinal axis.
  • Each rotary plate 12, and particularly each sleeve 13, is configured to receive the container 3 with its longitudinal axis orthogonal to the rotary plate 12 itself and to the work platform 7.
  • Each rotary plate 12 is rotatable to revolve the respective container 3 about its longitudinal axis, i.e. on itself.
  • permanent magnets are embedded/arranged in work platform 7, while each cart 8 is equipped with at least one individually-excitable solenoid.
  • each rotary plate 12 is rotatable relative to the base portion 11 by means of interaction with the labelling module 5, and preferably by: mechanical contact of the rotary plate 12 itself with a component of the labelling module 5 (e.g. with a portion of the vacuum drum 6); and/or by mechanical contact of the sleeve 13 with a component of the labelling module 5 (e.g. with a portion of the vacuum drum 6); and/or by magnetic or electromagnetic interaction of the rotary plate 12 itself and/or of the sleeve 13 with a component of the labelling module 5 (e.g. with a portion of the vacuum drum 6).
  • the component of the labelling module 5 can be for example a toothed surface or a magnetic surface.
  • labelling machine 1 is configured so that the rotary plate 12 of each cart 8 rotates on itself at least while the cart 8 is moving through the labelling station S.
  • labelling machine 1 comprises a plurality of gripping heads 14 each configured to grip and hold the top portion, i.e. the neck or mouth portion, of at least one container 3 at a time at least during the label application thereon at labelling station S, i.e. when container 3 passes through (is conveyed through) labelling station S.
  • labelling machine 1 comprises an auxiliary conveyor 15 for cyclically conveying gripping heads 14 at labelling station S.
  • the auxiliary conveyor is configured so that each gripping head 14 is cyclically conveyed at labelling station S kinematically independently from the other gripping heads 14.
  • the machine 1 is configured so that each gripping head 14 is cyclically conveyed at labelling station S kinematically independently from the carts 8.
  • auxiliary conveyor 15 is configured so that, for each container 3 conveyed by one respective cart 8 through labelling station S, one gripping head 14 engages the top portion of such container 3 while the gripping head 14 is moving through labelling station S, so as to support and hold the container 3 against the one respective cart 8.
  • each gripping head 14 has to follow the respective member supporting the container only at the labelling station. Therefore, the number of the gripping heads 14 can be reduced. The above results in a labelling machine 1 with an increased flexibility, reliability, with a reduced number of components, and therefore with reduced costs.
  • labelling machine 1 has a more flexible configuration.
  • auxiliary conveyor 15 comprises:
  • wall 17 is arranged vertically.
  • the size, and particularly the horizontal extension of the labelling machine 1 can be reduced, allowing a more efficient coupling of the labelling machine with other machines.
  • rail 16 comprises a linear motor for moving gripping heads 14, the linear motor being of the known type (i.e. involving individually-excitable solenoids and permanent magnets).
  • one of the rail 16 and the carts 14a is equipped with individually-excitable solenoids and the other of the rail 16 and the carts 14a is equipped with permanent magnets.
  • each gripping head 14 is further configured to pressurize internally at least one container 3 at a time at least during the label application thereon.
  • the pressurization of containers 3 allows the containers 3 to withstand and counteract the forces applied thereto by the labelling process.
  • labelling machine 1 comprises a rotary distributor 18 fluidly connected to each gripping head 14 and configured for cyclically feeding a pressurizing fluid (such as sterile or aseptic air, nitrogen, or the like) to the gripping heads 14, independently from one another, at least when the gripping heads 14 are moving, in use, through labelling station S.
  • a pressurizing fluid such as sterile or aseptic air, nitrogen, or the like
  • rotary distributor 18 is fluidly connected to gripping heads 14 by respective ducts 18a (schematically shown in Figures 1 and 3 ) and is configured to receive the pressurizing fluid from a known source (not shown).
  • labelling machine 1 is configured so that, for each container 3 being conveyed through labelling station S, a gripping head 14 pressurizes internally the container 3 while the gripping head 14 is moving through the labelling station S, by means of the auxiliary conveyor 15.
  • rotary distributor 18 is fixed to wall 17 and associated to auxiliary conveyor 15.
  • rotary distributor 18 is encircled by rail 16.
  • labelling machine 1 has an even more compact configuration.
  • labelling machine 1 comprises a guiding structure 19 arranged at labelling station S and configured to cooperate in contact with carts 8 for guiding and supporting carts 8 at least at the labelling station S, by means of mechanical contact.
  • guiding structure 19 is arranged on work platform 7.
  • guiding structure 19 extends on work platform 7 so as to follow the portion of labelling path L which passes through labelling station S.
  • Guiding structure 19 comprises:
  • guiding structure 19 comprises only one of bottom guide 20 and lateral guide 21.
  • bottom guide 20 is arranged onto work platform 7 between work platform 7 and auxiliary conveyor 15, so as to be arranged operatively between work platform 7 and each gripping head 14 moving through the labelling station S.
  • At least one, preferably both, of the bottom guide 20 and lateral guide 21 defines a continuous surface.
  • each cart 8 includes at least one wheel 8a, 8b for sliding in contact onto the continuous surface.
  • wheel 8a, 8b is mounted on base portion 11.
  • each cart 8 comprises:
  • each cart 8 comprises only one of the first and second pluralities of wheels.
  • the above configuration of the guiding structure 19 allows to reduce complexity and therefore maintenance costs thereof.
  • At least one, preferably both, of the bottom guide 20 and lateral guide 21 includes a plurality of rollers 22 for cooperating in sliding contact with the base portion of each cart 8.
  • carts 8 do not include any wheel, but instead base portion 11 slides, use, on rollers 22.
  • the above configuration of the guiding structure 19 allows to reduce complexity and therefore maintenance costs of each cart 8.
  • one of bottom guide 20 and lateral guide 21 defines the continuous surface, while the other of bottom guide 20 and lateral guide 21 includes the rollers 22.
  • bottom guide 20 is made of an electromagnetically inert material, so as to prevent a perturbation of the magnetic-inductive interaction between the work surface 7 and each cart 8.
  • bottom guide 20 does not interact or hinder the magnetic-inductive action of planar motor 10.
  • labelling machine 1 is part of an apparatus 100 for packaging the pourable product.
  • apparatus 100 is configured for packaging the pourable product by means of containers 3.
  • Apparatus 1 comprises:
  • filling machine 23 is arranged on said work platform 7.
  • conveyor 4 is configured to convey containers 3, by means of said magnetic-inductive interaction between the carts 8 and the work platform 7, from the filling machine 23 to the labelling machine 1 or from the labelling machine 1 to the filling machine 23, selectively.
  • apparatus 100 is configured to be selectively arranged by a user in:
  • conveyor 4 is configured to convey, by means of said magnetic-inductive interaction, carts 8 at the capping station C prior to or after having conveyed them at the labelling station S.
  • apparatus 100 is extremely flexible and can be switched between the first and second operative configuration in a simple manner and without modifying the layout of apparatus 100, i.e. without modifying the position of labelling machine 1, filling machine 23 or capping machine 24.
  • labelling machine 1 and apparatus 100 The operation of labelling machine 1 and apparatus 100 is described hereinafter with reference to a single container 3 to be filled and starting from a condition in which a container 3 is formed by blowing machine 25 and is fed to a cart 8.
  • conveyor 4 conveys, by means of planar motor 10, cart 8 first to labelling machine 1 and then to filling machine 23 and to capping machine 24.
  • one respective gripping head 14 grips the top portion of such container 3 and pressurizes internally the container 3 by means of rotary distributor 18.
  • label 2 is applied by labelling module 5 and guiding structure 19 counteracts the aforementioned lateral and vertical forces acting on container 3.
  • conveyor 4 conveys, by means of planar motor 10, cart 8 first to filling machine 23, then to capping machine 24 1 and then to labelling machine.
  • the architecture of labelling machine 1 is simplified, the reliability and the flexibility thereof is improved and the total number of its components and, therefore, the costs and its size, are reduced.

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  • Labeling Devices (AREA)
EP21192625.8A 2021-08-23 2021-08-23 Etikettiermaschine zum anbringen von etiketten auf behältern, die zur aufnahme eines fliessfähigen produkts angepasst sind Pending EP4140902A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21192625.8A EP4140902A1 (de) 2021-08-23 2021-08-23 Etikettiermaschine zum anbringen von etiketten auf behältern, die zur aufnahme eines fliessfähigen produkts angepasst sind

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21192625.8A EP4140902A1 (de) 2021-08-23 2021-08-23 Etikettiermaschine zum anbringen von etiketten auf behältern, die zur aufnahme eines fliessfähigen produkts angepasst sind

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4140902A1 true EP4140902A1 (de) 2023-03-01

Family

ID=77447815

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21192625.8A Pending EP4140902A1 (de) 2021-08-23 2021-08-23 Etikettiermaschine zum anbringen von etiketten auf behältern, die zur aufnahme eines fliessfähigen produkts angepasst sind

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4140902A1 (de)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020001990A1 (en) * 2018-06-25 2020-01-02 Sidel Participations Labelling machine
EP3594141A1 (de) * 2018-07-10 2020-01-15 Krones AG Behandlungsmaschine für behälter
EP3594140A1 (de) * 2018-07-10 2020-01-15 Krones AG Behandlungsmaschine für behälter
WO2021115559A1 (en) * 2019-12-09 2021-06-17 Sidel Participations Method and machine for filling containers with a pourable product

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020001990A1 (en) * 2018-06-25 2020-01-02 Sidel Participations Labelling machine
EP3594141A1 (de) * 2018-07-10 2020-01-15 Krones AG Behandlungsmaschine für behälter
EP3594140A1 (de) * 2018-07-10 2020-01-15 Krones AG Behandlungsmaschine für behälter
WO2021115559A1 (en) * 2019-12-09 2021-06-17 Sidel Participations Method and machine for filling containers with a pourable product

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