GB2500263A

GB2500263A - Leaflet application apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: GB2500263A
Application number: GB1204684.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Yates; Martin Lupton
Original assignee: Chesapeake Ltd
Current assignee: Chesapeake Ltd
Priority date: 2012-03-16
Filing date: 2012-03-16
Publication date: 2013-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 2032-03-16
Also published as: GB2500263B; GB201204684D0

Abstract

A leaflet application apparatus 2 comprising a conveyor 154 for an article 152, and a conveyor 8 for feeding a leaflet 12 to the article 152. The leaflet conveyor 8 may comprise multiple pairs of feed belts between which said leaflet 12 is successively received. The feeding is controlled in response to a sensor 156 detecting the approach of an article 152. The feeder mechanism may feed leaflets 12 from a stack 4 of leaflets 12 by means of a first conveyor 16 engaging a leaflet 12. A gap between first conveyor 16 and the stack 4 may be controlled in response to a gap sensor.

Description

LEAFLET APPLICATION APPARATUS AND METHOD

5 The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for applying leaflets to cartons, packages or other articles.

It is sometimes desirable to apply leaflets containing for example promotional or product information to packages such as cartons. Present application methods 10 however tend to be relatively slow and do not permit accurate positioning of the leaflet on the package. The present invention seeks to overcome or at least mitigate these problems

From a first aspect the invention provides a leaflet application apparatus comprising 15 a conveyor for an article; a conveyor for feeding a leaflet to the article; said leaflet conveyor comprising at least one pair of feed belts between which said leaflet is received.

The invention also extends to a method of applying a leaflet to an article wherein 20 the leaflet is conveyed to the article between at least one pair of feed belts.

This arrangement has the advantage of securely feeding the leaflet, for example preventing the leaflet from unfolding during conveying which might adversely interfere with the leaflet application.

25

Typically cartons or other articles will be fed onto a constant speed conveyor from a magazine of the like. A problem which arises with such arrangements is that the cartons may not be supplied to the conveyor at a constant spacing. This causes problems in the accurate location of the leaflet on the carton. This problem could 30 possibly be addressed by, for example, feeding the cartons onto a flighted conveyor such that they will be presented to the leaflet conveyor at constant intervals,

allowing leaflets also to be supplied at constant intervals. However, this arrangement is cumbersome and potentially slow. Accordingly from a further aspect the invention seeks to improve the speed of leaflet application. To achieve 35 this, the apparatus is preferably provided with means associated with the article

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conveyor for sensing an article requiring a leaflet and means responsive to the sensing of the article for feeding a leaflet to the leaflet conveyor. In this manner, a leaflet is only supplied when a target article has been identified.

5 From a further broad aspect, therefore the invention provides a leaflet application apparatus comprising a conveyor for an article; a conveyor for feeding a leaflet to the article; means associated with the article conveyor for sensing an article requiring a leaflet; and means responsive to the sensing of the article for feeding a leaflet to the leaflet conveyor.

0

The invention also provides a method of feeding a leaflet for application to an article comprising sensing the article and in response to sensing the article feeding the leaflet onto a leaflet conveyor.

15 It wil! be appreciated that the potentially unequal pitch of articles on the article conveyor means that the position of the leaflet relative to the article may need adjustment such that it is applied to the article in the correct position. To this end, the leaflet conveyor is preferably provided with means to sense the position of a leaflet as it travels through the conveyor and in response thereto to adjust the 20 speed of the conveyor to ensure that the leaflet is applied to the article in the correct position. Thus the leaflet conveyor preferably comprises one or more sets of belts having an adjustable speed, thereby allowing the speed of the leaflet and thus its position relative to the article to be adjusted as the leaflet passes along the leaflet conveyor.

25

Although the leaflet conveyor may comprise just a single set of adjustable speed belts, preferably the leaflet conveyor comprises a plurality of sets of independently controllable belts arranged in series. Independent control of each set of belts allows the speed of successive leaflets held between successive sets of belts to be 30 varied as appropriate to ensure that each leaflet is presented to the article at the correct position. Providing multiple sets of belts is advantageous in that it allows potentially a higher throughput of leaflets. If only a single conveyor were provided, only one leaflet could have its position adjusted at any one time.

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To ensure that leaflets are properly transferred between successive sets of belts, the sets of belts preferably overlap. This not only ensures that the leaflets are being driven at all times, but also prevents the leaflets opening up between the successive sets of belts.

To accommodate this overlap, the respective sets of belts may comprise laterally spaced apart belts, the respective belts of successive belt sets nesting between each other.

10 Each set of belts is preferably provided with a leaflet sensor to detect a leaflet as it enters the set of belts, so that the position of the leaflet is accurately known and the speed of the belts adjusted if necessary to ensure that the leaflet exits the set of belts at the appropriate time.

15 To ensure that the leaflets are passed from one set of belts to the next in a controlled manner, it is preferred that the speed of the belt sets is controlled such that at the time of transfer, the successive sets of belts are travelling at the same speed. This will avoid either a tensile force (which might cause tearing) or a compressive force (which might cause creasing) being applied to the leaflet.

20

Thus, typically, a set of belts may be controlled so as to operate at a first speed when a leaflet is introduced to the set of belts, accelerated or decelerated once the leaflet is fully received between the belts to adjust the position of the leaflet as necessary relative to the article, and then returned to the first speed for feeding the 25 leaflet into the next set of belts. The first speed is preferably the speed of the article conveyor.

Preferably the leaflet conveyor comprises a separate application section which applies the leaflet to the article. Thus the application of the leaflet to the article and 30 the adjustment of the leaflet position are preferably effected by separate conveyors. The application section preferably runs at the same speed as the article conveyor such that at the point of application the leaflet is moving at the same speed as the article. This improves the location of the leaflet on the article.

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Preferably the application section is configured to apply the leaflet generally tangentially to the article. The application conveyor may therefore have a curved shape.

5 The leaflet is preferably attached to the article by adhesive, most preferably a hot melt adhesive applied to the article. In order to apply the leaflet firmly against the adhesive, the application conveyor preferably comprises a section which opposes the article conveyor such that the article and leaflet are squeezed between the application conveyor and the article conveyor to firmly apply the leaflet to the 10 adhesive.

The adhesive may be applied to the article on the article conveyor. Preferably the adhesive is applied some distance upstream of the application conveyor so that the adhesive has time to become tacky before the leaflet is applied, thereby improving 15 the location of the leaflet on the article.

The leaflet conveyor preferably comprises an infeed section which receives leaflets from a leaflet source, for example a stack of leaflets. In a preferred arrangement, the infeed section comprises a first conveyor which removes a leaflet from the stack 20 in response to the detection of the article, accelerates the leaflet and feeds it into a second conveyor which preferably runs at a constant speed, preferably the same speed as the article conveyor.

The first conveyor may simply comprise one or more belts engaging the end of the 25 stack. Preferably the belt(s) are spring loaded against the stack to ensure a constant engagement pressure on the leaflets.

The leaflet source may comprise a leaflet advance mechanism, e.g. a conveyor, which advances the leaflets towards the first conveyor. The feed rate is matched to 30 the feed rate of the leaflet to the first conveyor and also to the thickness of the leaflet. This also assists in maintaining a constant engagement pressure between the first conveyor and the leaflets in the stack.

The first conveyor may be movably, preferably pivotally, mounted so as to 35 accommodate the spring loading. In a preferred arrangement, a gap between the

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first conveyor and a datum is monitored and the feed rate of the leaflets into the first conveyor adjusted to maintain the gap substantially constant.

This is an advantageous arrangement in its own right, so from a further aspect the 5 invention provides a leaflet feed mechanism comprising a leaflet source comprising a leaflet feed mechanism, a conveyor arranged to engage a leaflet at one end of the leaflet source, said conveyor being movable towards and away from said leaflet source and defining a gap with a datum, a sensor to sense the gap, and means to adjust the leaflet feed mechanism so as to maintain the gap substantially constant.

10

The invention also extends to a method for controlling the feeding of leaflets from a source of leaflets to a leaflet conveyor, said conveyor being movable towards and away from said leaflet source to engage a leaflet at an end of the leaflet source and defining a variable gap with a datum, comprising sensing the gap and adjusting the 15 leaflet feed mechanism so as to maintain the gap substantially constant.

In order to accommodate different thicknesses of leaflet the belts of the or each set of belts may be adjustable towards and away from one another. For example, a first belt of each belt set may be mounted in a fixed position, and the opposed belt 20 be mounted on a movable carriage or support.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

25

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the present invention.;

Figure 2 shows a first detail of the apparatus of Figure 1;

30

Figure 3 shows a second detail of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a third detail of the apparatus of Figure 1;

35 Figure 5 shows a fourth detail of the apparatus of Figure 1.

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Figure 6 shows a first stage in the application of a leaflet to a carton by the apparatus of Figure 1;

5 Figure 7 shows a second stage in the application of a leaflet to a carton by the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 8 shows a third stage in the application of a leaflet to a carton by the apparatus of Figure 1;

10

Figure 9 shows a fourth stage in the application of a leaflet to a carton by the apparatus of Figure 1; and

Figure 10 shows a fifth stage in the application of a leaflet to a carton by the 15 apparatus of Figure 1.

With reference to Figure 1, an embodiment of apparatus 2 for applying leaflets to cartons in accordance with the invention comprises a leaflet magazine 4, a carton magazine 6, a leaflet conveyor 8 and a carton conveyor 10.

20

The leaflet magazine 4 receives a horizontal stack of leaflets 12 and is provided with means (not shown) for advancing the leaflets 12 towards an infeed section 14 of the leaflet conveyor 8. The advancing mechanism is configured such that as a leaflet 12 is fed into the leaflet conveyor 8, the stack is advanced towards the leaflet 25 conveyor 8 by an appropriate amount, for example depending on the thickness of the leaflets 12 being applied and the leaflet application speed. The distance advanced can be adjusted by a suitable mechanism (not shown).

The infeed section 14 of the leaflet conveyor 8 comprises a first conveyor 16 which 30 engages the opposing face of the first leaflet 12 in the leaflet magazine 4. The first conveyor 16 is constituted by one or more (in this embodiment two) belts 18 which are arranged opposite the end of the leaflet magazine 4 and extend around upper and lower pulleys 20U and are lower pulleys 20L (not shown). The upper pulleys 20U are driven by a servo motor (not shown). The lower pulleys 20L are supported 35 on a yoke-like carriage 21 which is pivotally mounted about the rotational axis A of

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the upper pulleys 20U. Thus the whole first conveyor 16 is pivotabie about that axis. As is shown in Figure 3, the carriage 21 and thus the belts 18 are spring biased towards the leaflet magazine 4 by a spring 22 so as in use to maintain a desired contact pressure between the belts 18 and the leaflets 12. The spring force 5 can be adjusted by means of an adjustment screw 23.

As will be seen from Figure 3, a gap G is formed between a datum 24 on the carriage and a gap sensor 25 mounted to the machine frame. As the carriage 21 is pivotaliy mounted, this gap G may vary, depending on the forces applied to the 10 carriage by the leaflets 12 as they leave the leaflet magazine 4 on the one hand and the spring 22 on the other hand. If leaflets 12 are being fed from the leaflet magazine 4 too quickly, the pressure exerted by the leaflets wili be high and the gap G wili tend to reduce. Similarly, if the leaflet feed rate is too slow, the gap will tend to increase due to the force exerted by the spring 22. The feed rate of the 15 magazine conveyor 27 is therefore controlled in response to the gap size so as to maintain the gap substantially constant.

The infeed section 14 of the leaflet conveyor 8 also comprises a second conveyor 26. This second conveyor 26 is arcuate in shape and comprises pairs 28 of 20 opposed toothed belts 28L, 28U. As can be seen from Figure 4, three pairs of belts 28 are provided in this embodiment, although more or fewer belts 28L, 28U may be provided, depending on the size of the leaflets 12 being conveyed.

The lower belts 28L of each pair 28 are guided over an arcuate (generally semi-25 circular) guide 30 having guide grooves 32 to receive and guide the beits 28L. To reduce friction in the system, a set of rollers may be provided rather than a solid guide 30. The lower belts (28L) pass around toothed guide pulleys 34 arranged at opposed ends of the guide 30. The rear surface of the belts 28L (and indeed all the beits used in the apparatus) have teeth 36 to engage with the toothed pulleys 34. 30 The front surfaces of the belts are smooth for engaging the leaflets 12.

The pulieys 34 are idler pulleys and are not driven. The lower belts 28 L are driven by frictional engagement with the upper belts 28 U and are suitably tensioned by a spring loaded tension arm 38 having a toothed idler pulley 40 at the end thereof 35 (see Figure 2). The right hand most idler pulleys 34R are mounted to rotate about

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the axis A of the driven pulleys 20U of the first conveyor 16. Thus, for example, the pulleys 34R may be freely mounted on the drive shaft extending from the servomotor which drives the first conveyor pulleys 20U. The belts 18 of the first conveyor 16 and the lower belts 28L are arranged to alternate along the axis A.

5

The upper belts 28U are driven by a servo motor 42 provided with toothed drive pulleys 44 which are keyed to rotate together. The belts 28U are and guided around toothed guide pulleys 46. The right-hand most guide pulleys 46R are adjustable towards and away from the opposed guide pulleys 34R of the lower belts 10 28L to accommodate the thickness of the leaflet 12 being conveyed. One or both of the upper guide pulleys 46U may be spring loaded so as to maintain an appropriate tension in the upper belts 28U. As will be described further below, the upper belts 28U, and thus the second conveyor 26, are driven at the same speed as the carton conveyor 10.

15

As shown in Figures 1 and 3 and as will be described further below, a first photocell 50 is positioned at the entrance to the second conveyor 26 for detecting a leaflet 12 as it passes into the second conveyor 26,

20 Immediately downstream from the second conveyor 26 are four further sets of conveyor belts 52, 70. These may be considered as speed correction belts.

The first set of speed correction belts 52 comprises four opposed pairs of toothed belts 52L, 52R, as can be seen most clearly from Figure 4. The left hand belts 52L 25 are commonly driven by a drive shaft 54L having toothed drive pulleys 56L and pass around upper and lower idler pulleys 58LU , 58LL. As can be seen from Figure 4, the idler pulleys 58LU are rotatably mounted on a common shaft 60L with the idler pulleys 46L of the first conveyor belt 28U. However, the pulleys 58LU, 46L are each freely mounted on the shaft 60L so as to be independently rotatable 30 relative to the adjacent pulley.

Similarly, the right hand belts 52R are commonly driven by a drive shaft 54R through toothed drive pulleys 58RR and pass around upper and lower idler pulleys 58RU, 58RL. As can be seen from Figure 4, the idler pulleys 58RU are rotatably 35 mounted on a common shaft 60R with the idler pulleys 34L of the first conveyor belt

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28L. However, each pulley 58RU, 34L is freely mounted on the shaft 60R so as to be independently rotatable relative to the adjacent pulley.

The belts 28U of the first conveyor 26 and the left hand belts 52L of the first set of 5 correction belts are arranged so as to alternate on the shaft 60L, such that the belts nest together. Similarly the belts 28L of the first conveyor 26 and the right hand beits 52R of the first set of correction belts are arranged so as to alternate on the shaft 60R, such that the belts nest together. This ensures that a leaflet 12 will not be released from the first conveyor 26 until it has been gripped between the belts 10 52L, 52R of the first set of speed correction belts 52.

The drive shafts are commonly driven at the same speed by a servomotor 55 through a suitable drive mechanism. This speed which can be varied, to change the speed of the leaflet 12 as it passes through the first correction belts 52. Also, 15 the belts 52 can be moved towards and away from one another to accommodate different leaflet thicknesses. For example the right hand belts 52R may be fixed laterally, with the left hand belts 52L movably, e.g. by being mounted on a laterally movable carriage.

20 The lower idler pulleys 58LL, 58RL are rotatably mounted on respective shafts 62L 62R. Between the upper and lower idler pulleys 58LU, 58LL and 58RU, 58RL are arranged respective guide blocks 64L, 64R which have vertical guide channels 66 which receive, guide and align the respective belts 52L, 52R.

25 The second set of speed correction belts 72 comprises three opposed pairs of toothed belts 72L, 72R, as can be seen most clearly from Figure 4. The left hand belts 72L are commonly driven by a drive shaft 72L through toothed drive pulleys 76L and pass around upper and lower idler pulleys 78LU, 78LL. As can be seen from Figure 4, the upper idler pulleys 78LU are rotatably mounted on the same 30 shaft 62L as the lower idler pulleys 58LL of the first correction belt 52L. However, each pulley 78LU, 58LL is freely mounted on the shaft 62L so as to be independently rotatable relative to the adjacent pulley.

Similarly, the right hand belts 72R are commonly driven by a drive shaft 74R 35 through toothed drive pulleys 76R and pass around upper and lower idler pulleys

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78RU, 78RL. As can be seen from Figure 4, the idler pulleys 78RU are rotatably mounted on the same shaft 62R as the lower idler pulleys 58RL of the first correction belt 52R. However, each pulley 78RU, 58RL is freely mounted on the shaft 62R so as to be independently rotatabie relative to the adjacent pulley.

5

The belts 52L and 52R of the first set of correction belts 52 and the belts 72L and 72R of the second set of correction belts 72 are arranged so as to alternate on the shafts 62R, 62L, such that the belts nest together. This ensures that a leaflet 12 will not be released from the first set of correction belts 52 until it has been gripped 10 by the second set of correction belts 72.

Similarly to the drive shafts 54L, 54R, the drive shafts 74L, 74R are commonly driven at a variable speed by a servomotor 75 through a suitable drive mechanism such that the speed of the leaflet 12 as it passes through the set of belts 72.

15

The lower idler pulleys 78LL, 78RL are rotatably mounted on respective shafts 82L 82R. Between the upper and lower idler pulleys 78LU, 78LL and 78RU, 78RL are arranged respective guide blocks 84 which have vertical guide channels 86 which receive, guide and align the respective beits 72L, 72R.

20

The third set of correction belts 92 (shown in Figures 4 and 5) is similar in construction to that of the first set of correction belts 52, comprising four sets of belts 92L, 92R, each driven by a respective drive shaft 94L, 94R, with a similar arrangement of upper and lower idler pulleys 98LU, 98LL, 98RU, 98RL. The 25 respective upper idler pulleys 98LU, 98RU are rotatably mounted on the same shafts 82L, 82R as the lower idler pulleys 78LL, 78RL of the second set of correction belts 72, in an alternating manner with the latter such that the respective belts 72L, 92L and 72R, 92R alternate on the shafts 82L, 82R.

30 The lower idler pulleys 98LL, 98RL are mounted on respective shafts 102L, 102R, with guide blocks 104 having vertical guide channels 106 (not visible) which receive, guide and align the respective belts 92L, 92R being provided between the respective upper and lower idler pulleys 98LU, 98LL and 98RU, 98RL.

. 11 _

Similarly to the drive shafts 54L, 54R, 74L, 74R, the drive shafts 94L, 94R are commoniy driven at a variable speed by a servomotor 95 through a suitable drive mechanism such that the speed of the leaflet 12 as it passes through the set of belts 92.

5

The belts 72L and 72R of the second set of correction belts 72 and the belts 92L and 92R of the third set of correction beits 92 are arranged so as to alternate on the shafts 100R, 100R, such that the belts nest together. This ensures that a leaflet 12 will not be released from the second set of correction beits 72 until it has been 10 gripped by the third set of correction belts 92.

The fourth and final set of correction belts 112 is similar in construction to the second set of correction belts 72, comprising three sets of belts 112L, 112R, each driven by a respective drive shaft 114L, 114R, with a similar arrangement of upper 15 and lower idier pulleys 118LU, 118LL, 118RU, 118RL. The respective upper idler pulleys 118LU, 118RU are rotatably mounted on the same shafts 102L, 102R as the lower idler pulleys 98LL, 98RL of the third set of correction belts 92, in an alternating manner with the latter such that the respective belts 112L, 92L and 112R, 92R alternate on the shafts 102L, 102R.

20

The lower idler pulleys 118LL, 118RL are mounted on respective shafts 122L, 122R, with guide blocks 124 having vertical guide channels 126 which receive, guide and align the respective belts 112L, 112R being provided between the respective upper and lower idler pulleys 118LU, 118LLand 118RU, 118RL.

25

Similarly to the drive shafts 54L, 54R, 74L, 74R, 94L, 94R, the drive shafts 114L, 114R are commonly driven at a variable speed by a servomotor 115 through a suitable drive mechanism such that the speed of the leaflet 12 as it passes through the set of belts 112.

30

The fourth set of correction belts 112 feed the leaflet 12 into a leaflet application section 132. This comprises four sets of opposed beits 132L, 132R, The left hand belts 132L are driven by a servomotor 134 provided with suitable toothed drive pulleys 136. As will be described further below, the belts 132L, 132R are driven at 35 the same speed as the carton conveyor 10.

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The belts 132L pass round idler pulleys 138U, 138L. The upper pulleys 138U are arranged on the same shaft 122L as the lower idler pulleys 118LL of the belts 112L of the fourth set of correction belts 118L in an alternating manner. Between the 5 idler pulleys 138U, 138L, the belt 132L passes over a curved guide surface 140 which is provided with grooves 142 to guide the belts 112L.

The right hand belts 132R are guided around sets toothed idler pulleys 134, one set of which 134S is mounted on the end of a spring loaded arm 136 which maintains 10 the tension in the beits 132R. The belts 132R are driven due to frictionai contact with the belts 132L. A guide plate 138 is provided at the exit of the belts 132R to provide support for leaflets 12 until they are applied to the cartons.

As can be seen from Figure 1, respective correction photocells 140, 142, 144, 146 15 are provided at the entrance to each set of correction belts 52. 72, 92, 112 in order to sense the entry of the leaflet 12 into the respective set of belts 52. 72, 92, 112 for control purposes, as will be discussed further below. The photocells are conveniently mounted in the respective guide blocks arranged between the respective sets of upper and lower pulleys.

20

The carton conveyor 10 comprises a feed conveyor 150 which removes cartons 152 from the bottom of the carton magazine 6 and feeds them onto a main carton conveyor 154 which runs at a constant speed. The spacing of the cartons 152 on the main conveyor 154 may not be regular, so a carton sensing photocell 156 is 25 provided on the main conveyor 154 to sense the presence of the carton 152 on the main conveyor 154.

Just downstream from the carton sensing photocell 156 is a glue application station 158 where, for example, a hot melt adhesive is applied to the carton 152. The 30 adhesive may be applied in a suitable pattern e.g. in beads, lines or a combination of beads and lines.

The main conveyor 154 passes under the belts 132L of the leaflet application section 132 at a vertical spacing which can be adjusted depending on the

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dimension of the carton 152 being conveyed. The spacing is chosen such that the leaflet 12 is firmly applied to the carton 152.

A typical sequence of operation of the apparatus will now be described with 5 reference to Figures 6 to 10.

With reference to Figure 6, in a first phase of leaflet application, a carton 152 has been removed from the bottom of the carton magazine 6 by the feed conveyor 150 and fed onto the main carton conveyor 154. As the carton 152 begins to move 10 along the main carton conveyor 154, a datum on the carton 152, for example its leading edge, is sensed by the carton sensing photocell 156. Once the carton 152 has been detected, this triggers operation of the first conveyor 16 of the infeed section 14 of the leaflet conveyor 8 to take a leaflet 12 from the end of the leaflet magazine 4. This first conveyor 16 accelerates the leaflet into the second conveyor 15 26. The entry of the leaflet 12 into the second conveyor 26 is sensed by the first photocell 50 which again will sense a datum e.g. the leading edge of the leaflet 12.

The second leaflet conveyor 26 runs at the same speed as the main carton conveyor 154. Accordingly, the position of the leaflet 12 in relation to the location 20 on the carton 152 where the leaflet 12 is to be applied can be calculated, knowing the distance that the leaflet 12 must pass along the leaflet conveyor 8 and the distance which the carton 152 must pass along the carton conveyor 10. Once the photocell 40 has detected the leaflet 12, the leaflet 12 is then logged into a shift register to confirm that the leaflet 12 has been fed into the second leaflet conveyor 25 26.

With reference to Figure 7, as the carton 152 is conveyed along the conveyor 154, adhesive for the leaflet 12 is applied to the carton 152 by the adhesive applicator 158. It will be seen that, in this time the leaflet 12 has moved through the second 30 leaflet conveyor 26 an equal distance to the distance the carton 152 has moved along the main carton conveyor 154.

With reference now to Figure 8, the leaflet 12 is fed from the second conveyor 26 into the first set of correction belts 52. As discussed above, the control system 35 knows the position at which the leaflet 12 is to be applied to the relevant carton 152.

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Knowing the length of the travel paths of carton 152 and leaflet 12 the control system is able to calculate the speed at which the leaflet 12 must be moved through the sets of correction belts 52, 72, 92, 112 of the leaflet conveyor 8 in order to be applied to the carton 152 in the correct position.

5

At the end of the second leaflet conveyor 26 and at the entry to the first set of correction belts 52, the first correction photocell 142 senses a datum, for example the leading edge of the leaflet 12. The control system then calculates the position of the leaflet 12 relative to the carton 152 and determines a correction which needs 10 to be applied to the leaflet 12 in order to ensure that it is eventually correctly positioned on the carton 152. This is achieved by varying the speed of the sets 52, 72, 92, 112 of correction belts in order to take up the necessary correction.

Due to the overlap between the belts 28U, 28L of the second conveyor 26 and the 15 first correction beits 52L, 52R, the leaflet 12 is reliably and accurately transferred between the conveyor 26 and the belts 52, thereby avoiding any error creeping into the correction calculation due to slippage of the leaflet 12.

Depending on the amount of correction which needs to be applied to the leaflet 12, 20 the necessary correction can be applied by just one set of belts, with the remaining belts operating at the same speed as the carton conveyor 154 or by a plurality of the sets of belts. As the leaflet 12 moves through the sets 52, 72, 92, 112 of correction belts, the photocell 140, 142, 144, 146 at the entry to each set of correction belts senses the position of the leaflet 12 whereby the control system can 25 calculate what further correction, if any, needs to be applied to the speed of the belts in order to change the position of the leaflet 12 relative to the carton 152. This process continues through al! four sets of correction belts 52, 72, 92, 112 until the leaflet enters the leaflet 12 application belts 132L, 132R.

30 in applying the correction in any set of belts, the speed of each set of belts is controlled such that as a leaflet 12 is fully received into a respective set of correction belts, the speed of all the correction belts is controlled to a known, constant speed, for example and preferably the speed of the carton conveyor belt 154. Once the leaflet 12 is fully engaged between the correction belts of any 35 particular set (which can be determined from the detection of the leaflet leading

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edge by the photocell 140, by the control system being provided with details of the length of any particular leaflet and knowing the speed of the correction belts), the belts are accelerated or decelerated by the servo motors to a correction speed in order to correct the position of the leaflet 12 relative to its final position on the 5 carton 152 within that set of belts. After that correction is carried out, the belts return to the predetermined constant speed ready for the transfer of the leaflet 12 into the next set of correction belts.

This process of detection and correction repeats as the leaflet 12 passes through 10 the respective sets of correction belts 52, 72, 92, 112. As mentioned above,

depending on the amount of correction required, the correction distance can be allocated between the sets of correction beits in any desired manner. For example, all the correction may be effected in just one of the sets of belts. Alternatively, sets of beits may be ganged together, such that for example, the first and second sets of 15 correction belts 52, 72 operate together as a single set of belts and the third and fourth sets of correction belts 92, 112 also act together in a ganged manner as a second set of belts. This latter arrangement is particularly useful where longer cartons are being used.

20 In a particular example, if a 40 mm correction needs to be made to the position of the leaflet 12 from its point of entry into the first set of correction belts 52, the first set of correction belts 52 may correct by 15 mm, the second correction belts 72 may also correct 15 mm, the third set of correction belts 92 may correct by 8 mm, leaving the last pair of belts 112 to correct by just 2 mm. This allows a very fine 25 control on the position of the leaflet 12 as it is applied to the carton 152.

Referring now to Figure 10, the leaflet application belts 132L, 132R run at the same speed as the carton conveyor 154. Accordingly, when the leaflet 12 exits the belts 132L, 132R, its surface speed is the same as that of the carton 152 so that there is 30 no relative horizontal movement between the leaflet 12 and the carton 152. This ensures that the leaflet 12 will be firmly placed on the adhesive which, since the adhesive will have had some time to set, may be tacky and improve the location of the leaflet 12.

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It will therefore be seen that by controlling the position of the leaflet 12 relative to the carton 152 by means of the sets of correction belts 52, 72, 92, 112, the point of application of the leaflet 12 on the carton 152 may be very accurately controlled. Also, the use of multiple sets of correction belts 52...112 are provided, allowing a 5 rapid throughput of leaflets 12 and cartons 152 through the system which would not be possible with just the use of a single set of correction belts.

Of course it would be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the scope of the invention. 10 For example, more or less than the four sets of correction belts may be provided depending on the particular requirements of the system.

Also, while a particular configuration and orientation of apparatus has been illustrated, this is not limiting on the scope of the invention. Thus for example the 15 references to left hand, right hand, upper and lower should not be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention.

Also, while the belts illustrated are shown as toothed belts, non toothed belts can also be used. It would also be possible to muse circular section belts rather than 20 flat belts as illustrated.

It should be understood that the term leaflet as used herein particularly but not exclusively embraces multi-ply sheet constructions, for example folded sheet constructions

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Claims

Claims

1. A leaflet application apparatus comprising a conveyor for an article; a conveyor for feeding a leaflet to the article; said leaflet conveyor comprising at least

5 one pair of feed belts between which said leaflet is received.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means associated with the article conveyor for sensing an article requiring a leaflet and means responsive to the sensing of the article for feeding a leaflet to the leaflet conveyor.

10

3. A leaflet application apparatus comprising a conveyor for an article; a conveyor for feeding a leaflet to the article; means associated with the article conveyor for sensing an article requiring a leaflet; and means responsive to the sensing of the article for feeding a leaflet to the leaflet conveyor.

15

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the leaflet conveyor further comprises means to sense the leaflet as it travels along the leaflet conveyor and further comprising control means which, in response to sensing of the leaflet, adjusts the speed of the leaflet conveyor to ensure that the leaflet is applied to the

20 article in the correct position.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the leaflet conveyor comprises one or more sets of belt pairs having an adjustable speed,

25 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein each set of belt pairs is provided with a leaflet sensor to detect a leaflet.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the leaflet conveyor comprises a plurality of sets of independently controllable belt pairs arranged in

30 series.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the sets of belts overlap.

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9. Apparatus as claimed in claim wherein the respective sets of belts comprise laterally spaced apart belts, the respective belts of successive belt sets nesting between each other.

5 10. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9 wherein the control means is configured to control the speed of the belt sets such that at the time of transfer, the successive sets of belts are travelling at the same speed.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the control means is configured 10 such that a set of belts operates at a first speed when a leaflet is introduced to the set of belts, accelerated or decelerated once the leaflet is fully received between the belts to adjust the position of the leaflet as necessary relative to the article, and then returned to the first speed for feeding the leaflet into the next set of belts.

15 12. Apparatus as ciaimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein the same speed or the first speed is the speed of the article conveyor.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the leaflet conveyor comprises an infeed section which receives leaflets from a leaflet source, the infeed

20 section comprising a first conveyor which removes a leaflet from the source in response to the detection of the article, accelerates the leaflet and feeds it into a second conveyor.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the second conveyor runs at a 25 constant speed, preferably the same speed as the article conveyor.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or 14 wherein the first conveyor comprises a belt or belts engaging the end of a stack of leaflets in the leaflet source,

30

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein, the first conveyor is spring loaded against the stack of leaflets.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the first conveyor is movably, 35 preferably pivotaily mounted.

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18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 comprising means for monitoring a gap between the first conveyor and a datum, and for adjusting the feed rate of the leaflets into the first conveyor so as to maintain the gap substantially constant.

5 19. A leaflet feed mechanism comprising a leaflet source comprising a leaflet feed mechanism, a conveyor arranged to engage a leaflet at one end of the leaflet source, said conveyor being movable towards and away from said leaflet source and defining a gap with a datum, a sensor to sense the gap, and means to adjust the leaflet feed mechanism so as to maintain the gap substantially constant.

10

20. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the belts are adjustable towards and away from one another.

21. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the leaflet conveyor 15 comprises an application section which applies the leaflet to the article.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the application section is controlled to run at the same speed as the article conveyor.

20 23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21 or 22 wherein the application section is configured to apply the leaflet generally tangentialiy to the article.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, 22 or 23 wherein the application section comprises a section which opposes the article conveyor such that the article and 25 leaflet are squeezed between the application section and the article.

25. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising means to apply adhesive to the article on the article conveyor.