EP4658571A1

EP4658571A1 - Decoration apparatus for containers with movable magazines for supplying reels

Info

Publication number: EP4658571A1
Application number: EP24700898.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alberto Bianchi; Samadhi Abouarrouche; Mattia Giuliani; Antonio MANCINO
Original assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Current assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Priority date: 2023-02-03
Filing date: 2024-01-11
Publication date: 2025-12-10
Also published as: WO2024160507A1; WO2024160507A8; IT202300001752A1

Abstract

Apparatus for automatically decorating containers, comprising: at least two decoration modules (51-53; 71-73), each of the modules being configured to operate in a decoration machine (4, 6) so as to decorate containers using at least one reel (B) of decorating material; at least one movable magazine (2); each movable magazine (2) of the apparatus comprising: a movable shuttle (21) which supports a robot (22), the movable shuttle defining a loading zone (23) configured to receive at least one reel (Bl) loaded by an operator, and a stacking zone (24) configured to receive a stack (P) of reels (B); wherein the robot is configured to: define the stack (P) starting from the loaded reels; assemble at least one reel (B2) on any one of the modules, removing it from the stack (P).

Description

DECORATION APPARATUS FOR CONTAINERS WITH MOVABLE MAGAZINES FOR SUPPLYING REELS The present invention relates to a decoration apparatus for decorating containers, provided with at least one movable magazine. In the sector relating to the packaging of pourable products by means of containers it is known that there exists the need to decorate the containers. Furthermore, it is known there exists the need to decorate the containers by means of at least two decoration modules which operate on the same production batch or on different production batches. It could be the case that at least two modules operate on each of the containers produced in the case where it is required to create several decorations per container. Each module operates decorating the container using a reel of decorating material. When the reel is empty, the decorating material must be replaced. It is very useful to have an automatic system for automatic replacement of the decorating material. At present the solutions have large dimensions and are difficult to manage. An apparatus according to the present description and/or according to any one of the attached apparatus claims is able to reduce or eliminate this drawback. A magazine according to the present description and/or according to any one of the attached magazine claims is configured to operate in an apparatus according to the present description and/or according to any one of the attached apparatus claims. The characteristics of an apparatus and a magazine according to the present description will be clarified in the detailed description below, relating to possible embodiments of said apparatus and magazine. Below “apparatus” will be understood as meaning such an embodiment of the apparatus and “magazine” as meaning such an embodiment of the magazine. The following detailed description relates to the attached drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the apparatus; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the magazine in a condition where it hitched to a decoration module; - Figure 3 is a perspective view of the magazine during an operation for creating a stack of reels; - Figure 4 is a view of the magazine an instant after that shown in Figure 3. The apparatus 1 is configured to decorate containers, for the purposes of packaging a pourable product by means of containers. The containers may be, for example, bottles or cans or any other type of container. The pourable product may be for example any beverage, such as water, milk, beer or tea or any other pourable product. The apparatus comprises a first decoration machine 4 and a second decoration machine 6. Each of the decoration machines is a labelling machine. The first decoration machine 4 comprises a first conveyor 41 for conveying containers. The first decoration machine 4 comprises a first decoration module 51, a second decoration module 52 and a third decoration module 53 which operate on the containers conveyed by the first conveyor 41. The second decoration machine 6 comprises a second conveyor 61 for conveying containers. The second decoration machine 6 comprises a fourth decoration module 71, a fifth decoration module 72 and a sixth decoration module 73, which operate on the containers conveyed by the second conveyor 61. Each of the decoration modules is a labelling module. Each conveyor comprises a respective carousel. Each module is configured to operate in a decoration machine so as to decorate containers using at least one reel of decorating material. Said material is a labelling material. For example, said reel may comprise a strip of wound labelling material. The apparatus comprises a plurality of movable magazines 2. Each magazine 2 is movable between the modules and comprises a respective movable shuttle 21 and a robot 22 which is supported by the shuttle 21. The movable shuttle 21 defines a loading zone 23 configured to receive at least one reel B1 loaded by an operator, and a stacking zone 24 configured to receive a stack P of reels B. These zones are visible in the detail shown in Figures 3 and 4. The robot 22 is configured to define the stack P starting from the loaded reels. Each robot 22 comprises a robotic arm. Each robot could be a cobot. The robot 22 is configured to assemble at least one reel B2 on any one of the modules, removing it from the stack P. The robot 22 is configured to select the replacement reel to be removed from the stack depending on the type of decoration to be used in the respective module, the reel of which is to be replaced. The type of decoration may be defined, for example, by the dimensions and/or by the material and/or by the aesthetic appearance of a label, in the case where the reel is a reel containing a strip of labelling material. In this way the operator merely has to deliver the stack to the magazine 2, without having to perform complicated and/or difficult movements for formation of the stack, in particular in order to reach the top of the stack being formed. Therefore, the activity of supplying the decorating material to the modules is simpler. In Figure 2, the reel indicated by B2 is a reel which may have just been mounted on the module. Furthermore, each movable magazine 2 may reach any one of the modules of the apparatus, in order to change the respective reel. In this way, the dimensions of the equipment needed for changing the reels of the modules are smaller since the same magazine is able to operate with several modules. The robot 22 is configured to remove a used reel from any one of the modules and replace it with a reel taken from the stack P. The reel B2 in Figure 2 could be regarded, alternatively, as being a reel which will be subsequently replaced. The apparatus 1 comprises an automatic control unit CU which is in communication with each module 2 so as to know the unwound state of each reel being used and automatically selects a specific module which requires replacement of the reel. The control unit CU is configured to inform the operator about the selected module. For this purpose an interface could be provided, whereby said interface could also form part of a movable terminal or a fixed terminal. Therefore, on the basis of this information, the operator may activate one of the modules 2 so that the module activated by the operator replaces the reel of the selected module. The control unit CU is configured to select automatically a magazine 2. The control unit CU is configured to know the filling level of the stacking zone 24 of each magazine 2, so as to select the magazine 2 depending on the filling level of the respective stacking zones 24 of all the magazines 2. In this way, the control unit CU may select, for replacement of the reel of the selected module, a magazine 2 which is in an appropriate condition for being able to replace the reel. The control unit CU is configured to automatically control operation of the selected magazine 2 so that it replaces the reel of the selected module. Each magazine 2 is self-propelling so that it may move automatically. Each magazine 2 comprises hitching means 25 for hitching to the selected module and receiving power from the hitched module. In this way, the time employed for replacement of the reel may also be used for recharging the motor of the magazine 2. This motor has the function of moving the shuttle 21. Each module comprises power transfer means 53 for transferring power to the hitched module via the hitching means 25 of the hitched module. The power transfer means could define contact power transfer means of the “plug and play” type. This power is a power of an electrical and/or electromagnetic nature. These power transfer means 53 could be of the induction type. The control unit CU could be defined as being an at least partially or totally automatic control system which could be at least partially distributed among the modules and/or among the said magazines 2. Therefore, at least part of the control unit CU could form part of at least one of the modules or of at least one of the magazines. Therefore, each magazine 2 may move among different modules of different machines, or between modules of the same machine, in order to provide each module with the decorating material, so as to reduce the dimensions of the equipment required for supplying this material to the modules. Furthermore, it could be for example the case that the first machine 4 operates on a production batch which is different from that of the second machine 6. Therefore, each magazine 2 may also operate on different modules which operate on different production batches. The robot 22 of the magazine 2 may be used to carry out any format changing operation in any machine for the packaging of pourable products. For example, the magazine 2 could be used to change the moulds of a blow- moulding machine or to replace the gluing units of a gluing machine. A deposit zone or region 3, intended for loading of the reels by the operator, may also be present.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for automatically decorating containers, comprising: - at least two decoration modules (52, 73), each of the modules being configured to operate in a decoration machine so as to decorate containers using at least one reel (B) of decorating material; - at least one movable magazine (2); each movable magazine (2) of the apparatus comprising: - a movable shuttle (21) which supports a robot (22), the movable shuttle defining a loading zone (23) configured to receive at least one reel (B1) loaded by an operator, and a stacking zone (24) configured to receive a stack (P) of reels (B); wherein the robot is configured to: - define the stack (P) starting from the loaded reels; - assemble at least one reel (B2) on any one of the modules, removing it from the stack (P); the apparatus comprising a plurality of movable magazines (2). 2. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the robot (22) is configured to remove a used reel from any one of the modules and to replace it with a reel taken from the stack (P). 3. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 2, comprising: - a control unit (CU) which is in communication with each module (2) so as to know the unwound state of each reel being used and automatically select a specific module which requires replacement of the reel. 4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the control unit is configured to inform the operator about the selected module. 5. Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (CU) is configured to select automatically a magazine (2). 6. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 5, wherein the control unit (CU) is configured to know the filling level of the stacking zone (24) of each magazine (2), so as to select the magazine (2) depending on the filling level of the respective stacking zones of all the magazines (2). 7. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4 and according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the control unit (CU) is configured to command automatically the selected magazine (2) so that it reaches the selected module and replaces the reel of the selected module. 8. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 7, wherein each magazine (2) is self-propelling so that it can move automatically. 9. Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each magazine (2) comprises hitching means (25) for hitching to the selected module and receiving power from the hitched module. 10. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 9, wherein each module comprises power transfer means (53) for transferring power to the hitched module via the hitching means (25) of the hitched module. 11. Apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein: - the apparatus comprises at least one decoration machine (4) and said two modules (52, 73) form part of the same decoration machine so as to operate on the same production batch simultaneously; or - the apparatus comprises at least two decoration machines (4, 6) and said two modules (52, 73) form part of respective different machines so that they operate on different respective production batches simultaneously.