GB2220915A

GB2220915A - Labelling systems

Info

Publication number: GB2220915A
Application number: GB8911942A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael James Beresford
Original assignee: LABEL CONVERTERS Ltd
Current assignee: LABEL CONVERTERS Ltd
Priority date: 1988-07-23
Filing date: 1989-05-24
Publication date: 1990-01-24
Also published as: GB8817596D0; GB8911942D0

Abstract

A label application mechanism comprises a head (14) which holds pressure sensitive labels in front of a moving article (18) which moves towards the head. As the article moves and engages the label so the head is caused to move under power in the direction (22) of the article travel and also in a direction at right angles and upwardly relative to the article travel, from position B to position C, so as to wipe the label onto the article front face. When a subsequent article is detected, the head, in the meantime supplied with another label, is lowered so as to lie in front of the next on-coming article. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements Relating to Labelling Systems This invention relates to labelling systems, and in particular concerns a system for the labelling of the front faces of articles moving on a conveyor, such articles being spaced in the direction of movement of the conveyor.

A known system for applying labels to the front faces of articles moving on a conveyor comprises a pivotable or swinging assembly having a head which carries the label to be applied to the article front face. The head lies in the path of movement of the article presenting the label to the article front face. As the front face engages the label, the head is swung by virtue of the movement of the article so that the head in effect rides up the front face, wiping the label onto such article front face. The label has an adhesive surface opposite said front face for the adhesion of the label thereto.

Such a system has a number of disadvantages including that because the system is a swinging system which relies on gravity for application of the labels to said front faces, it tends to be rather ineffective and unpredictable. Also it has a relatively short operational life, and a third difficulty is that it places a limit on how closely the articles to be labelled can be spaced.

As an alternative to this system, other known arrangements involve turning the articles through 900 whilst on the conveyor so that the front faces become side faces, and higher speed application systems can be used for applying labels to side faces compared to the application of labels to front faces. With the increase in demand for higher application speeds, the turning of articles through 900 whilst being conveyed presents considerable problems.

The present invention seeks to provide a system for labelling the front faces of articles which are moving and which, at least in the preferred form, overcome the aforesaid disadvantages of the known arrangements.

In accordance with the present invention a system for applying labels to the front faces of moving articles comprises a head for holding a label to be applied to a front face, the said head being mounted on movement control means effecting the movement of the head in relation to the movement of the article simultaneously in the direction of movement of the article, and also in a direction transverse thereto.

By this means, the head can be controlled to move with the article on the one hand, and also to move up relative to the article so as to wipe and apply the label to the article front face, and eventually lift clear of the top of the article enabling it to proceed with the applied label. The head can be returned to an initial position for application of a label to a subsequent article, and in this connection, the head will be associated with label loading means for inserting labels into the head in the correct attitude for application to the oncoming article front face.

The label application head may be associated with a conventional label supply mechanism, designed to hold a reel of self-ahesive labels carried on a backing sheet. Said mechanism effects detachment of the labels individually from the backing sheet and enables same to be inserted in the head.

The system will be designed to operate synchronously with the advancement of the articles, and in this connection the arrival of an article may operate a sensor to cause the head to apply a label to the next arriving article by setting in motion the sequence of operations to effect the application, followed by the returning of the head to the initial position ready to operate when the system senses the arrival of the next article to be labelled.

The means for moving the head may comprise pneumatic cylinders controlled from a microprocessor to ensure that the cylinders operate in synchronism with the speed of movement of the article.

Preferably, the head is arranged to move at a slightly slower speed than the article in a direction of travel of the article so that the label will be applied against a slight resistance enabling a greater pressure to be applied between the label and the article surface, effecting a more positive and reliable application of the label. In fact the label can be made to follow slight contours in the article front face to ensure that it is applied over its entire area.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, of which the single figure shows in diagrammatic sectional elevation a conveyor carrying boxes to which labels are to be applied, and a label applicator system.

Referring to the drawing, the label applicator system comprises a label applicator mechanism 10 of conventional construction, adapted to hold a reel 12 of self adhesive labels carried by a backing web, said mechanism 10 being adapted to supply labels one by one, detached from the backing web, to a head 14 which is movable by drive means (not shown) to enable it effectively to apply a label to the front face 16 of a box 18 to which the label is to be applied. The said drive means preferably comprise pneumatically driven vertical and horizontal carriages. The system also includes a microprocessor control unit for controlling the sequence of operations for-application of the labels to the front faces 16 of the boxes 18 as will be described.

The boxes 18 are mounted on a conveyor 20 which moves in the direction indicated by arrow 22, and although the boxes are shown as spaced evenly, it is not necessary that the spacing should be even, but a certain amount of spacing will be necessary to enable the head 14 to be placed between adjacent boxes for the label application method to be effected.

The figure shows how the labels are applied. The head 14 is positioned at position B after having received a label from the mechanism 10. The label is held by the head at a rearwardly inclined direction so that the lower edge of the label meets the product first. The holding means may comprise PTFE rollers forming part of the head. With the head in position B, the arrival of the box 18 is detected by means of a sensor, setting in motion the cycle of operations involving the application of the label. The lower edge of the label is applied to the face 16, and at the same time the head 14 is moved from the position B to the position C by means of the driven vertical and horizontal carriages. It is driven therefore in the direction 22 by means of the horizontal carriage, and in the direction at right angles to the conveyor and upwardly so that it arrives at the position C.During this composite movement, the label is firmly wiped to the face 16; at position C the head 14 is clear of the box 18, and the box can move forwards. The head is returned to position A and then is pneumatically driven down to the point of application B ready to apply the next label, which has in the meantime been supplied to the head from the mechanism 10, to the next arriving box 18.

The apparatus of course operates repeatedly effecting application of labels to moving products 18. The arrangement described has a number of significant advantages including that positive application of the label by the drive means ensures that the label will be firmly wiped onto the front faces of the boxes. Because of the controlled movement of the head 14, the head can be moved to a position much closer to the lowermost edge of the face 16 and with a much closer spacing of the boxes 18.

Any suitable control and structural drive means may be used for controlling the movement of the head 14 to give effect of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for applying labels to the front faces of moving articles comprising a head for holding a label to be applied to a front face, the said head being mounted on movement control means effecting the movement of the head in relation to the movement of the article simultaneously in the direction of movement of the article, and also in a direction transverse thereto.

2. A system according to Claim 1 wherein the head is adapted to be returned to an initial position for application of a label to a susbequent article, the head furthermore being associated with label loading means for inserting labels into the head in the correct attitude for application to the oncoming article front face.

3. A system according to Claim 2, wherein the head is associated with a conventional label supply mechanism designed to hold a reel of self-adhesive labels carried on a backing sheet.

4. A system according to Claim 3 wherein said mechanism is adapted to effect detachment of the labels individually from a backing sheet to enable same to be inserted in the head.

5. A system according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the system is adapted to operate synchronously with the advancement of the articles, and including a sensor for detecting the arrival of an article to be labelled and to cause the head to apply a label by the setting in motion of the sequence of operations to affect the application of a label.

6. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for moving the head comprises pneumatic cylinders controlled from a microprocessor to ensure that the cylinders operate in synchronism with the speed of movement of the article.

7. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the head is arranged to move at a slightly slower speed than the article in the direction of travel of the article so that the label will be applied against a slight resistance enabling a greater pressure to be applied between the label and the article surface, effecting a more positive and reliable application of the label.

8. A system for applying labels to the front faces of moving articles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.