GB1604574A - Labelling machine having a rotating device for supporting and positioning a container therein - Google Patents

Description

(54) A LABELLING MACHINE HAVING A ROTATING DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING AND POSITIONING A CONTAINER THEREIN (71) We, MA-CO S.A.S. di SASO VITTORIO & C., a Limited Partnership, organized and existing under the laws of Italy, of Via Masetti, 6 ZOLA PREDOSA - Province of Bologna - Italy - do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a labelling machine having a device for supporting and positioning containers therein.

Labelling machines are known at the present time in which the containers or bottles, on the outer surface of which the label is to be fixed, are distributed at the periphery of a turntable and locked on to a rotating disc on which they rest.

In labelling machines of the aforesaid type, a frequent complaint is that the label is fixed off-centre due to a greater degree of rotation of the container support disc than that required, because of inertia.

Although this may not be significant when labelling cylindrical containers, it is unacceptable if the container is of irregular shape. In particular, containers for alcoholic drinks are known, to which the label must be fitted in a well defined region such as a cavity or a raised surface on the container.

We have therefore sought to provide a labelling machine which obviates the aforesaid disadvantage of off-centering of labels due to the rotational inertia of the containers, in particular by providing a centering or positioning mechanism for the containers.

We provide in accordance with the present invention a labelling machine comprising a plate rotatable about a vertical axis and a device for supporting and positioning a container, the device comprising at least one tubular member rotatably supported parallel to the axis of rotation of the device at the periphery of said plate and provided at its top with a disc for supporting the bottom of a container, a rod slidably guided in said tubular member and provided at its top with means for peripherally retaining the container, a resilient member arranged to urge said rod, a gear wheel keyed on said tubular member and provided with elements angularly distributed on it and engaging with a stationary guide concentric to the axis of rotation of said device so as to keep the gear wheel fixed with respect to the plate during part of the rotational travel of the device, and a toothed sector arranged to engage with said gear wheel and concentrically rigid with said stationary guide during a predetermined portion of the rotational travel of the device, so as to cause rotation of the tubular member and disc and thus of a container supported by the disc, there being further provided a mechanism for positioning or centering a container supported on the disc, comprising a spindle supported by said plate parallel to the axis of rotation of the device and provided at its top with means for snap-engagement with a notch or projection provided on the outer surface of the container, and cam means for controlling said spindle.

Further characteristics will be more evident from the detailed description given hereinafter of one preferred embodiment, illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of part of device for supporting and positioning a container in a labelling machine in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a partly diagrammatic plan view of a mechanism in a labelling machine for positioning a container illustrated herein.

With reference to the said Figures, the device comprises a vertical shaft 1 driven continuously by a drive member, not shown on the drawing.

The shaft 1 is rotatably supported in a sleeve 2 fixed to a base 3. A collar 4 comprising a flange 5 is rigidly fixed on to that part of the shaft 1 which projects above the sleeve 2. On the collar 4 a circular plate 6 is centred and fixed, its periphery comprising angularly distributed holes 7. A bush 8 provided with a collar 9 is inserted into the holes 7 and fixed into the plate by screws 10.

A tubular member 13 is rotatably supported in the bush 8 by bearings 11, 12, and carries fixed to its lower end a gear wheel 14 made rotatably rigid with the member 13 by a key 15. The tubular member 13 is supported, via a distance piece 16, by a thrust bearing 17 which rests on the bush 8, on which it is locked by a cap 18. To prevent the tubular member 13 from being able to slide upwards, there is provided a second distance piece 19 supported by a circlip 20 housed in a groove in the member 13, said distance piece 19 abutting against the lower edge of the bush 8. The top of the member 13 is covered by a bell member 21 resting on a bush 22 inserted into the member 13 and supported on the edge thereof by its flange.

A disc 23 is fixed on the bell member 21 and constitutes the support for the containers or bottles 24 on to the outer surface of which the label is to be fixed. On the disc 23 there is provided a facing 25 of the same shape, and of a material suitable for increasing the adherence of the container.

A cylindrical rod 26 is slidably guided inside the tubular member 13, and is traversed by a diametrical pin 27 when in its lower position. The pin 27 emerges to the outside through slots 28 provided longitudinally and in diametrically opposing positions in the tubular member 13. The opposing ends of the pin 27 are engaged in a second bush 29 guided on the member 13.

The bush 29 comprises a collar 30 at its bottom, and its upper portion is threaded to enable a nut 31 and locking nut 32 to be screwed thereon. The nut 31 and collar 30 define an annular cavity in which a ring 33 carrying an idle roller 34 is rotatably disposed.

The upper portion of the cylindrical rod 26 is traversed by a second diametrical pin 35 which emerges on the outside through slots 36, 37 provided longitudinally in diametrically opposing positions in the tubular member 13 and bell member 21. The opposing ends of the pin 35 carry bearings 38 by means of which an annular member 39 slidably guided on the bell member 21 is supported. The annular member 39 compnses at its lower end an annular groove closed by a disc 40 by means of screws 41, so as to define an annular cavity 42 in which the bearings 38 rotatably engage. On the annular member 39 there is keyed a sleeve 43 fixed on to the disc 40, which projects laterally from the member 39 and is clamped between said sleeve 43 and an underlying ring 44 by screws 45.The sleeve 43 is made rotationally rigid with the member 39 by a key 46 and carries at its top a head comprising a central aperture, the edges of which are slightly concave. As will be more apparent from the description of the operation of the device, the assembly formed by the member 39 and sleeve 43 is lifted relative to the disc 23 so that when a container 24 is disposed on the disc, the edges of the aperture in the head 47 enclose the base of the container, so firmly holding it.

In the region in which it engages with the second pin 35, the cylindrical rod 26 carries a bush 48 against which there acts a cylindrical spiral spring 49 housed in a compartment provided between the inner surface of the tubular member 13 and the outer surface of the rod 26, and which rests at one end on the bush 48 and at the other end on a shoulder 50 on the inner surface of the tubular member 13.

The rod 26 is caused to lift by a stationary cam 51 which extends circumferentially about the shaft 1 and on which the roller 34 rolls during the rotation of the plate 6. The cam 51 is fitted to a bracket 52 which is mounted on the top of a column 53 and retained there by a nut 54 screwed on a threaded shank which traverses the bracket.

The column 53 is fixed by a nut 55 on to a plate 56 shaped substantially as a circular ring concentric to the shaft 1.

The plate 56 is centred and fixed on a flange 57 of the sleeve 2, and is made rigid with the base 3 by screw supports 58. In the periphery of the plate 56 there is provided a seat 59 for a toothed sector 60 which extends concentrically about the shaft 1 at a distance therefrom such that it tangentially engages with the gear wheel 14. The length of the toothed sector 60 is such as to make the gear wheel 14 pass through a given angle from the point in which it comes into engagement with the toothed sector 60, this angle being determined by the rotation which it is required to give the container 24. It should be noted that in Figure 1 the toothed sector 60 and cam 51 have been shown lying in the same sectional plane, whereas in reality the cam 51 is upstream of the toothed sector, in a position corresponding with the station in which the containers are fed to the disc 23.

In order to preserve the same positioning of the disc 23 relative to the shaft 1, i.e. to prevent the tubular member 13 rotating about itself during rotation of the plate 6, pins 61 are mounted on the gear wheel 14 and support relative idle rollers 62 such that they project to a certain extent below these latter. The rollers 62 engage, by rolling, on the outer periphery of the plate 56, which constitutes a guide perfectly concentric to the shaft 1.

In this manner the gear wheel 14 remains fixed relative to the plate 56 over its entire perimeter with the exception of the portion corresponding to the toothed sector 60, along which the plate 56 comprises a corresponding peripheral recess to enable the gear wheel to rotate.

In order to prevent a too violent impact when the gear wheel 14 comes into contact with the toothed sector 60, there is provided a guide cam 63 constituted by a groove formed in a block 64 fixed lowerly to the plate 56. That portion of the first of the pins 61 which lies below the relative roller 62 is inserted into a cam 63.

The sleeve 2 comprises at its top a flange 65 to which is fixed a second circular plate 66 carrying, fixed in a peripheral position thereon, a support 67 for a cam which controls the positioning device for the container or bottle to be labelled.

This positioning device comprises a spindle 68 which is slidably inserted via smooth bearings 69, 70 in a sleeve 71 which passes through a hole 72 provided in the circular plate 6 and is fixed by screws 73. The vertical axis of the spindle 68 is disposed on the same radial circumference of the shaft 1 as the rod 26, but for reasons of clarity it is shown in Figure 1 developed in the same sectional plane as the support device for the container. The true position of the support 67 is indicated in Figure 1 by the dashed line 74.

The lower portion 75 of the spindle 68 is splined, and along this there slides in engagement therewith a bush 76 which is equally splined internally. The bush 76 is rotatably supported by bearings 77, 78 in a seat provided by a plate 79 fixed by screws 80 to a member 81 which is fixed by screws 82 to the bottom of the plate 6.

The bush 76 carries an arm 83 which is rotatably rigid therewith by means of a key 84; the arm 83 extends towards the plate 66 through an opening 85 provided in the plate 79. At its free end, the arm 83 supports a pin 86 projecting above it, where it engages via a bearing 87 in a groove 88 provided circumferentially on the lower face of the plate 66. The groove 88 is shaped to constitute a cam for controlling the axial rotation of the spindle 68.

At its top, the spindle 68 carries a second arm 89 substantially directed tangentially to the container supported by the disc 23. The arm 89 comprises a forked end which engages on the spindle 68, and is locked by a stay bolt 90. At its other end, it is connected to a pin 91 for rotatable coupling to an arm 92 which has one end shaped as a sharp edge for engaging with a notch or projection 93 provided on the container to be labelled.

The arm 92 is kept in contact with the container by a rod 94 slidably inserted through a plate 95 fixed on to the arm 89 and opposed by a spiral spring 96.

The drive force for raising the spindle 68 is transmitted, as already stated, by a stationary cam which extends circumferentially about the shaft 1 and is constituted by an upper guide 97 fitted in the manner of a bracket to the support 67 and fixed by a bolt 98, and an underlying lower guide 99 fixed to the side of the plate 66. In the cam defined by the upper guide 97 and lower guide 99 there slides a bearing 100 which is mounted, together with one or more others angularly distributed, on a bush 101 rotatably engaged on the spindle 68. The bush 101 is supported via bearings 102, 103, and is axially locked by circlips 104, 105 housed in grooves on the spindle 68 above the splined portion 75 thereof.

Above the container 24 there is disposed a label presser constituted by a resilient pad 106 rigid with an inclined piston 107 which slides in a cylinder 108 supported by a fixed frame 109. The piston 107 carries a pin 110 which emerges from the cylinder 108 through a slit 111 provided therein. The pin 110 engages via a roller 112 with a cam 113 which controls the lowering of the pad 106 for pressing the label against the curvature of the container.

The operation of the described device is as follows. With the plate 6 rotating uniformly and continuously, the roller 34 comes into contact with the cam 51 in a position corresponding with the container feed station, and is urged downwards together with the ring 33 on which it is mounted. When this ring is lowered, it also lowers the bush 29 which pulls the rod 26 downwards against the return action of the spring 49.

During this stage, the tubular member 13 is prevented from rotating by the engagement of a pair of rollers 62 with the outer periphery of the plate 56.

At this point, a container 24 is transferred on to the disc 23. If the container or bottle is of the type in which the label is to be fixed in a given region (for example a relief surface or a cavity), the arm 92 of the positioning device is brought into contact with the container by rotating and raising the relative spindle 68 by means of the cams which act respectively on the bearings or rollers 87 and 100. Figure 2 shows in detail the position of the arm 89 and bearing 87, illustrated by a dashed and dotted line 114, before the rotation of the spindle 68. If the container 24 is now rotated in the direction A of Figure 2, the arm 92 hits against the projection 93 which is provided on such containers or bottles for identifying the labelling position. The container is rotated by the toothed sector 60, which engages with the gear wheel 14 mounted on the tubular member 13.As the rotation of the plate 6 continues, the roller 34 leaves the stationary cam 51, so that the rod 26 rises to make the head 47 laterally retain the base of the container 24. This system enables containers or bottles of different shapes and sizes to be supported, as shown by the dashed and dotted line 115 in Figures 1 and 2.

When the plate 6 has travelled through a certain angle, the container 24 reaches the labelling station, at which a label is to be transferred on to its outer surface. The label is applied by firstly bringing a vertical edge of the label into contact with the container, to which it adheres, adhesive having previously been applied to the label. After this, rotation of the container proceeds through a sufficient angle for the entire label to adhere to its surface. This rotation begins when the gear wheel 14 comes into engagement with the toothed sector 60, guided by the pin 61 which runs in the groove 63. When the pin 61 halts the gear wheel 14, the container is removed.

For this purpose there is provided a further fixed cam, not shown on the drawing but operating in a manner analogous to that of the cam 51. This cam acts on the ring 33 to lower the head 47, so enabling the container to be transferrd to a removal conveyor.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A machine for labelling containers comprising a plate rotatable about a vertical axis and a device for supporting and positioning a container, the device comprising at least one tubular member rotatably supported parallel to the axis of rotation of the device at the periphery of said plate and provided at its top with a disc for supporting the bottom of a container, a rod slidably guided in said tubular member and provided at its top with means for peripherally retaining the container, a resilient member arranged to urge said rod, a gear wheel keyed on said tubular member and provided with elements angularly distributed on it and engagable with a stationary guide concentric to the axis of rotation of said device so as to keep the gear wheel fixed with respect to the plate during part of the rotational travel of the device, and a toothed sector arranged to engage with said gear wheel and concentrically rigid with said stationary guide during a predetermined portion of the rotational travel of the device, so as to cause rotation of the tubular member and disc, and thus of a container when supported on the disc when the label is being transferred onto the container, there being further provided a mechanism for positioning or centering a container supported on the disc, comprising a spindle supported by said plate parallel to the axis of rotation of the device and provided at its top with a means for snap-engagement with a notch or projection provided on the outer surface of the container, and cam means for controlling said spindle.

2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said means for peripherally retaining a container comprise a head with a central aperture arranged to contain the container base, said rod being drivable between a position in which the upper surface of said head is a coplanar with the disc and a position in which said head is above said disc for retaining the container.

3. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising drive means for said rod which comprises a pin extending diametrically through the rod and with its end portions projecting beyond the outer face of the tubular member through a pair of longitudinally opposed slots in said tubular member and a bush fast with the end portion of said pin and slidable on said tubular member, said bush defining an annular seat for a ring on which a roller is projection-mounted so as to engage with a fixed cam surface extending concentrically to the axis of rotation of the device thereby to raise and lower said rod.

4. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said spindle is slidably and rotatably engaged in a sleeve fixed to said plate, and carries at its top a first arm which extends generally tangentially to a container supported by the disc, and a second arm pivotally mounted on one end of the first arm and arranged to make contact by one of its ends with said notch or projection on the container, and spring means opposing pivotal movement of the second arm caused by rotation of a container when in contact therewith.

5. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cam control means for said spindle comprise an arm slidably engaged in a splined portion of the spindle and carrying a roller which engages with a fixed cam concentric to the axis of rotation of the device, so as to rotate the spindle about its axis, and a bush fast with the spindle and carrying a roller engaging a pair of circumferentially extending fixed guides so as to control the raising and lowering of said spindle.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tubular member 13. As the rotation of the plate 6 continues, the roller 34 leaves the stationary cam 51, so that the rod 26 rises to make the head 47 laterally retain the base of the container 24. This system enables containers or bottles of different shapes and sizes to be supported, as shown by the dashed and dotted line 115 in Figures 1 and 2. When the plate 6 has travelled through a certain angle, the container 24 reaches the labelling station, at which a label is to be transferred on to its outer surface. The label is applied by firstly bringing a vertical edge of the label into contact with the container, to which it adheres, adhesive having previously been applied to the label. After this, rotation of the container proceeds through a sufficient angle for the entire label to adhere to its surface. This rotation begins when the gear wheel 14 comes into engagement with the toothed sector 60, guided by the pin 61 which runs in the groove 63. When the pin 61 halts the gear wheel 14, the container is removed. For this purpose there is provided a further fixed cam, not shown on the drawing but operating in a manner analogous to that of the cam 51. This cam acts on the ring 33 to lower the head 47, so enabling the container to be transferrd to a removal conveyor. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A machine for labelling containers comprising a plate rotatable about a vertical axis and a device for supporting and positioning a container, the device comprising at least one tubular member rotatably supported parallel to the axis of rotation of the device at the periphery of said plate and provided at its top with a disc for supporting the bottom of a container, a rod slidably guided in said tubular member and provided at its top with means for peripherally retaining the container, a resilient member arranged to urge said rod, a gear wheel keyed on said tubular member and provided with elements angularly distributed on it and engagable with a stationary guide concentric to the axis of rotation of said device so as to keep the gear wheel fixed with respect to the plate during part of the rotational travel of the device, and a toothed sector arranged to engage with said gear wheel and concentrically rigid with said stationary guide during a predetermined portion of the rotational travel of the device, so as to cause rotation of the tubular member and disc, and thus of a container when supported on the disc when the label is being transferred onto the container, there being further provided a mechanism for positioning or centering a container supported on the disc, comprising a spindle supported by said plate parallel to the axis of rotation of the device and provided at its top with a means for snap-engagement with a notch or projection provided on the outer surface of the container, and cam means for controlling said spindle.

2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said means for peripherally retaining a container comprise a head with a central aperture arranged to contain the container base, said rod being drivable between a position in which the upper surface of said head is a coplanar with the disc and a position in which said head is above said disc for retaining the container.

3. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising drive means for said rod which comprises a pin extending diametrically through the rod and with its end portions projecting beyond the outer face of the tubular member through a pair of longitudinally opposed slots in said tubular member and a bush fast with the end portion of said pin and slidable on said tubular member, said bush defining an annular seat for a ring on which a roller is projection-mounted so as to engage with a fixed cam surface extending concentrically to the axis of rotation of the device thereby to raise and lower said rod.

4. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said spindle is slidably and rotatably engaged in a sleeve fixed to said plate, and carries at its top a first arm which extends generally tangentially to a container supported by the disc, and a second arm pivotally mounted on one end of the first arm and arranged to make contact by one of its ends with said notch or projection on the container, and spring means opposing pivotal movement of the second arm caused by rotation of a container when in contact therewith.

5. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cam control means for said spindle comprise an arm slidably engaged in a splined portion of the spindle and carrying a roller which engages with a fixed cam concentric to the axis of rotation of the device, so as to rotate the spindle about its axis, and a bush fast with the spindle and carrying a roller engaging a pair of circumferentially extending fixed guides so as to control the raising and lowering of said spindle.

6. A labelling machine substantially as

hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.