FR2622837A1 - AUTOMATIC EDITING LABELING MACHINE AND STAPLING THESE INDIVIDUAL LABELS ON ARTICLES - Google Patents

Abstract

This machine comprises a printer (1) controlled by a computer (2) for printing, on a strip of material (3), such as paper or cardboard, unwound from a reel (4), the desired data which has to appear on the successive labels (6) which have to be affixed to the articles, a cutting device (7) arranged at the exit of the printer (1) in order to separate the individual labels (6) from the remainder of the strip (3) and a gripping and conveying device (9), located above the work plane (8), in order to convey each label (6) on a label holder (17) located at a stapling station (16).

Description

-1 2622837

  The present invention relates to an automatic label editing machine carrying variable information associated with the various articles of a succession of articles,

  and staple these individual labels on the srti-

  respective keys, applicable in particular but not exclusively to the stapling of price tags

shoes or boots.

  When shipping items such as shoes,

  it is necessary, at the time of the formation of each order, to edit individually labels carrying various information and in particular the price of the particular article on which the label is fixed, and then to fix these labels. to articles. These operations are generally performed manually and it is understood that they are therefore labor-intensive.

  The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

  by providing a machine to perform this

work automatically.

  For this purpose, this automatic label editing machine carrying associated variable information

  various articles of a succession of articles, and of agra-

  of these individual labels on the

  characterized in that it comprises a printer controlled by a computer which transmits to the printer all the information necessary for the printer to print on a strip of a material, such as paper or

  cardboard or pre-printed and / or pre-cut labels, de-

  the information desired on the successive labels to be affixed to the articles, a cutting device

  exit the printer to separate the individual labels

  duals of the rest of the band, and a gripping and transport device, located above the work surface, to carry each label on a label holder located at

a stapling station.

  One embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawing in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of an editing machine of FIG. labels and stapling these

  labels under the sole of boots, according to the invention.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the machine

the invention.

  Figure 3 is a schematic elevational view

  illustrating the stapling operation of the label.

  The machine according to the invention comprises essentially

  a printer 1 driven by a computer 2 which transmits to the printer all the necessary information

  for the printer 1 to print, on a strip of

  material, such as paper or cardboard or pre-printed and / or pre-cut labels, unwound from a reel 4, the desired information which must appear on the successive labels 6 to be fixed to articles such as

  5. At the exit of the printer 1 the labels indicate

  viduals 6 are automatically separated from the rest of the

  strip 3 by a cutting device 7 shown diagrammatically

  by a cutting blade or a vertically movable

  is lying. Each printed label 6 thus detached is

  then on a worktop 8 of the machine above the-

  which is mounted a gripping device and transport 9. This device comprises a horizontal arm 11 carrying, on its underside, a suction cup 12 to be plated on each label 6, in order to grasp it. This suction cup 12 is connected to an appropriate vacuum source of the machine, via ducts provided for this purpose. The horizontal arm 11 is mounted vertically movable on a support

  13 and its vertical movement is controlled by a vertical cylinder

  tical 14 whose stem is coupled to the horizontal arm 11.

  The support 13 of the jack 14 is itself fixed to the end of the rod of a horizontal cylinder 15 extending over the

  worktop 8. The horizontal cylinder 15 controls the trans-

  horizontal port of each label 6 so as to bring it above a stapling station 16. The stapling station 16 comprises a label holder 17 which is flush with the rest

  of the work plan 8 and which, in its central part,

  1a, a suction cup 18 open upwards, flush with the worktop 8. This suction cup 18 is connected, via a conduit 19, to a pneumatic logic and serves as a control valve.

  presence of a label 6 at the stapling station 16.

  Moreover, stapling heads 19, forming part of

  staplers 21, which are four in the example

  shown, are arranged below the worktop 8, being also flush with the worktop, on both sides of the label 17. At the stapling station

  16 is also associated with a presence detector of articles

  5, this detector comprising a transmitter-receiver unit

  photoelectric sensor 21, arranged on one side of the label holder

  17, and a reflector 22 disposed on the other side of the label holder, these elements being aligned in the transverse direction. The machine comprises a programmable controller, not shown in the drawing, which is controlled by the computer 2

  and who manages all the elements of the electro-pneuma-

tick, such as cylinders 14,15.

  When the machine is in operation, the labels

  6 are printed in the precise order of preparation

  5 items, according to the specifications of each customer.

  These items are moved on a side conveyor and arrive one after another to the label editing and stapling machine. Computer 2 manages the printer 1

  so that it prints on each label 6 all

  the information relating to each item 5, including its price. Once the label 6 is printed, it is separated

  strip 3 by the paper cutter 7 and then automatically transported

  by the device 9, on the label holder 17 o

  it is held in place by the suction pad 18 set in motion.

  pressure. It is then sufficient for an operator to take

  key 5 to mark and place it on the label holder 17, as shown diagrammatically in FIG.

  the case of a boot 5. At this moment the operator may provoke

  staple the label 6 under the sole of the boot by pressing a control button 23 .. This button causes the simultaneous operation of the four staplers 21 and consequently the insertion of four staples in the

  sole of boot 5, to secure the

6 under this sole.

  The machine makes it possible to perform masked

  than four labels in advance, namely a label pre-

  on the label holder 17, an already cut label held by the suction cup 12 of the gripping and transport device, this label being ready to be brought on the label holder 17 as soon as the boot labeled has been removed, a label ready. to be cut by the cutter 7

  as soon as the translation arm 11 has deposited, on the door

  label 17, the label it already holds and a label

  before the paper cutter 7, coming out of the printer 1. From

  this way we obtain a very great flexibility of func-

  without any label waiting between two agra-

  successive fages because the following label already prepared

arrives immediately.

  The machine offers all operational safety since, for a label to be stapled on a boot, it is necessary to simultaneously meet three conditions namely the presence of a label on the label holder 17, which is detected by the vacuum on the suction cup 18 between the stapling heads 21, the presence of a boot 5 on

  the label by cutting the light beam between the whole

  transceiver 21 and the reflector 22, and the

  the button on cycle 23.

  The machine which has just been described is particularly

  well suited for editing and automatic stapling

  price tags, and / or

  under the soles of shoes, boots or trousers.

  for, among others, self-service and super-

markets.

Claims (5)

  1.- Automatic label printing machine   variable information associated with the various   keys of a succession of articles, and of stapling these labels   individual articles on the respective articles,   characterized in that it comprises a printer (1) controlled by a computer (2) which transmits to the printer all the information necessary for the printer (1) to print, on a strip of a material (3), such as paper or   cardboard or pre-printed and / or pre-cut labels, de-   emptied from a reel (4), the desired information which must appear on the successive labels (6) to be fixed to the articles (5), a cutting device (7) disposed at the output of the printer ( 1) for separating the individual labels (6) from the rest of the web (3), and a gripping and transport device (9), located above the work surface (8), for conveying each label (6) on a label holder (17) located at a post stapling device (16).   2.- Machine according to claim i characterized in that the device for gripping and transport (9)   comprises a horizontal arm (11) carrying on its underside   a suction cup (12) intended to be pressed onto each   label (6), in order to grasp it, this sucker (12) being connected to a source of vacuum, the horizontal arm (11) is mounted vertically movable on a support (13), under the   control of a vertical cylinder (14) whose stem is accom-   to the horizontal arm (11), and the support (13) of the cylinder (14) is itself fixed to the end. the stem of a cylinder horizontal (15).   3.- Machine according to any one of the claims   characterized in that the label holder (17) is flush with the rest of the work surface (8) and has in its central part, a sucker (18) open upwards, flush with the plane working (8), this suction cup (18) being connected, by a conduit (19), to a pneumatic logic and serving as a presence sensor   from a label (6) to the stapling station (16).   4.- Machine according to any one of claims   characterized in that stapling heads (19) forming part of staplers (21) are arranged below the work surface 8, also being flush with each other.   with this work plan, on both sides of the holder quette (17).   5.- Machine according to any one of the claims   characterized in that at the stapling station (16) is associated a presence detector of the articles (5),   this detector comprising a transceiver unit   toelectric (21), disposed on one side of the central label holder (17), and a reflector (22) disposed on the other side of the label holder, these elements being aligned in the transverse direction.