IL126648A - Labelling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Machine for applying, to items, labels (4) which are distributed uniformly on a wound strip (3), comprising, mounted on a support plate (1), an arm (5) over which the strip passes, a device (6) for driving the strip, means of controlling the drive device for triggering the driving of the strip when an item to be labeled is under the arm, and means (19), associated with the arm and controlled by the 120 כ" ז בסיון התשס" א - May 20, 2001 movement of the strip, of transferring the labels from the strip onto corresponding items, the machine further comprising, on the arm, means (33) of laterally guiding the strip upstream of the label-transfer means, said means of guiding the strip comprising two approximately parallel guiding main side walls (15, 16) secured to the arm and separated from one another by a first distance that corresponds to a wider width of strip, and two guiding auxiliary walls (36) connected to the detection arm and able to move between a retracted position and at least one active position for laterally guiding the strip, in which poisition the auxiliary walls are approximately mutually parallel, approximately parallel to the main walls, and separated by a second distance which corresponds to a narrower width of strip. 121 כ" ז בסיון התשס" א - May 20, 2001

Description

Labelling machine 1. Nessim Elharrar 2. Premysl Hartman C.113634 The present invention relates to a machine for applying, to items, labels which are distributed uniformly on a wound strip, comprising, mounted on a support plate, an arm over which the strip passes, a device for driving the strip, means of controlling the drive device for triggering the driving of the strip when an item to be labelled is under the arm, and means, associated with the arm and controlled by the movement of the strip, of transferring the labels from the strip onto corresponding items, the machine further comprising, on the arm, means of laterally guiding the strip upstream of the label-transfer means.

The invention applies more particularly to machines for applying labels to fruit or vegetables.

A machine of this kind is described, for example, in Patent Application FR-A-2 , 619 , 079.

In this machine, which is placed in a packaging station or is portable and used manually, the arm is a detection arm mounted so that it can swing on the plate. An item passing under the detection arm acts in such a way as to raise this arm, and means of detecting the movement of the arm trigger, via control means, the driving of the strip and the application of a label to the item detected.

The drive device comprises a driving device connected to a drum for driving the strip. The driving drum is equipped with pegs intended to cooperate with perforations distributed along the strip, so as to hold this strip in position on the drum and make it easier for the drum to drive.

The detection arm has, upstream of the means of transferring the labels onto the items, a part with a U-section comprising two approximately parallel lateral wings for guiding the strip upstream of the transfer means, and a bottom over which the strip slides.

These wings are separated by a nominal distance which corresponds to the maximum width of strips that can be used with this machine.

Strips of labels come in different widths, and it may be desirable for such a machine to be used with stripe of labels of a width that is shorter than this nominal distance.

However, in this case, such stripe are not laterally guided and this gives rise to phenomena of the strip floating, which phenomena may result in the strip being poorly centred, on the one hand, at the transfer means and, on the other hand, at the drive drum, the pegs of which will no longer cooperate with the perforations of the strip, which means that the machine will not operate satisfactorily.

The object of the present invention is to solve these problems by providing a labelling machine capable of operating satisfactorily with strips of labels of different widths.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a machine for applying, to items, labels which are distributed uniformly on a wound strip, comprising, mounted on a support plate, an arm over which the strip passes, a device for driving the strip, means of controlling the drive device for triggering the driving of the strip when an item to be labelled is under the arm, and means, associated with the arm and controlled by the movement of the strip, of transferring the labels from the strip onto corresponding items, the machine further comprising, on the arm, means of laterally guiding the strip upstream of the label-transfer means, characterized in that the means of laterally guiding the strip comprise at least one member that can move between at least two positions for guiding strips of different widths .

According to particular embodiments of the invention, the machine may have one or more of the following features: - the means of guiding the strip comprise two approximately parallel guiding main side walls secured to the arm and separated from one another by a first distance that corresponds to a wider width of strip, and two guiding auxiliary walls connected to the detection arm and' able to move between a retracted position and at least one active position for laterally guiding the strip, in which position the auxiliary walls are approximately mutually parallel, approximately parallel to the main walls, and separated by a second distance which corresponds to a narrower width of strip; in the said active position for laterally guiding the strip, the auxiliary walls lie between the main walls; - at least one opening is made in the arm and, in their active position, at least parts of the auxiliary walls pass through the said opening to guide the strip downstream of the means of transferring the labels onto the items; - the auxiliary walls are approximately parallel wings of a part mounted, on the arm, so that it can rotate about an axis of rotation approximately orthogonal to the main walls and auxiliary walls; - in their retracted position, the auxiliary walls are intended to rest on a strip whose width exceeds the second distance.

The invention will be better understood from reading the description which will follow, given merely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - Figures 1 and 2 are side views showing two opposite sides of a labelling machine according to the invention, the guiding auxiliary walls being in the retracted position, - Figure 3 is a diagrammatic enlarged part view in section on III-III of Figure 1, - Figure 4 is a diagrammatic part view in section on IV-IV of Figure 3, and - Figures 5 and 6 are views respectively similar to Figures 3 and 4, illustrating the guiding auxiliary walls in the active position, and - Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5, illustrating an alternative version of the labelling machine of Figure 1.

Figures 1 and 2 depict a labelling machine of the type described in application FR-A-2, 619, 079 and which comprises, on a support plate 1, a reel 2 which pays out a strip 3 which, at regular intervale, has labels 4, an arm 5 for detecting the items to be labelled, a drum 6 for driving the strip, a driving device 7 for driving the drum 6 stepwise, means 8 of controlling the driving device 7 and means 9 of detecting the movement of the detection arm.

The detection arm 5 is mounted so that it can swing on a shaft 11 at the front end of the plate 1. It consists of a bent-up fitting for guiding the strip 3. At its free, front end, situated outside the plate 1, it has a running roller 12 and a guide finger 13.

The detection arm 5 comprises, between the roller 12 and the guide finger 13, a part 14 which has a U-section (Figure 3) .

This part 14 comprises two approximately parallel main side walls or wings 15 and 16, for guiding the strip 3, and a bottom 17 on which the strip 3 rests. The main wing 15 (to the left in Figure 3) is taller than the wing 16, as seen in Figure 3. The main walls 15 and 16 are separated by a first distance or nominal distance.

The front edge (to the left in Figure 1) of the bottom 17 of the part 14 and the running roller 12 constitute, as described in greater detail in the aforementioned application, means 19 of transferring the labels 4 onto the items, by detaching the labels 4 at the point of turning back of the path, described later, of the strip 3.

The driving device 7 comprises a ratchet wheel 21 secured to' the drum 6 and a pneumatic ram 22, the rod 23 of which bears a pawl 24 for cooperating with the ratchet wheel 21.

The ram 22 is connected to a source of compressed air 26 via a valve 27 which has an operating push-button 28 actuated by a lever 29 secured to the detection arm 5.

The lever 29 forms the means 9 of detecting the movement of the arm 5 and the valve 27 forms the means 8 of controlling the driving device.

The strip 3, starting from the reel 2, passes under the guide finger 13, between the main side walls 15 and 16 over the bottom 17, then bends, forming a point of turning back at the front edge of the bottom 17 of the arm 5 to run back under this arm, following a path approximately parallel to its path upstream of the label-transfer means 19.

The strip 3 then passes over an idling roller 25, mounted on the fitting that forms the arm 5, then over the drum 6 which drives the strip 3. The strip 3 has uniformly distributed transverse perforations in which pegs 31 of the drum 6 engage so as to hold the strip 3 in place on the drum 6 as it is being wound onto the latter. The strip 3 then passes over two idling rollers then between two rollers 32 secured to two cogs, just one of which has been depicted, meshing with each other and driven by a cog secured to the drum 6.

The passage of an item to be labelled under the detection arm 5 acts in such a way as to raise this arm and therefore as to displace the lever 29 which, via the valve 27, triggers the driving of the strip 3 by one step and the application of a label 4 to the item detected.

The labelling machine described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 essentially differs from the labelling machines of the prior art in that the means 33 of laterally guiding the strip comprise, in addition to the main walls 15 and 16, a guide fork or guide part 34.

The part 34 is a plate bent into a U. It comprises two lateral wings 36 forming guiding auxiliary walls, and a bottom 37.

The bottom 37 is approximately rectangular and the auxiliary walls 36 are slightly longer than the bottom 37, so that each of them has a front end 38 projecting from the front edge 39 (to the left in Figure 4) of the bottom 37.

The auxiliary walls 36 are the same length, approximately parallel, and spaced apart by a second distance shorter than the first distance separating the main walls 15 and 16 of the detection arm 5.

The lower edges 40 of the front ends 38 are rounded.

The part 34 is articulated to the part 14 of the detection arm 5 by a shaft 41 fixed to the main wall 15 and on which the rear ends of the auxiliary walls 36 pivot freely.

This shaft 41 is approximately perpendicular to the main walls 15 and 16 and to the intermediate walls 36, which are therefore approximately mutually parallel.

The axial position of the part 34 on the shaft 41 is adjusted in such a way that the part 34 is centred with respect to the part 14 of the detection arm 5, that is to say that the longitudinal mid-planes of the part 34 and of the part 14 of the detection arm are approximately coincident. The auxiliary walls 36 will therefore lie between the main walls 15 and 16.

A transverse opening 42 is made in the bottom 17 of the arm 5, slightly downstream of the shaft 41 with respect to the path of the strip 3.

The part 34 and therefore the auxiliary walls 36 are able to rotate about the shaft 41 between a retracted position (Figures 3 and 4) and an active position for laterally guiding the strip 3 (Figures 5 and 6) .

In the retracted position, the front ends 38 of the auxiliary wings 36 lie above the opening 42 and the strip 3.

In the active position for laterally guiding the strip 3, the front ends 38 of the auxiliary walls 36 pass through the opening 42 and project from the bottom 17 of the detection arm 5 downstream of the label- transfer means 19, in the path of the strip 3.

When the walls 36 are in the retracted position, the strip 3 is laterally guided by the main walls 15 and 16 upstream of the transfer means 19. This position, which corresponds to a first position of the means 33 of laterally guiding the strip, is therefore suited to the use of a strip 3 which has any width between the first and second distance.

The edges 40 of the front ends 38 of the walls 36 then rest on the strip 3 upstream of the transfer means 19, thus, together with the finger 13, contributing to pressing the strip 3 against the bottom 17. The rounded shape of the edges 40 of the front ends 38 makes it possible for the strip 3 and the labels 4 not to be damaged.

When the auxiliary walls 36 are in the active position, the strip 3 is then guided upstream and downstream of the transfer means 19 by the front ends 38 of the guiding auxiliary walls 36. This position, which corresponds to a second position of the means 33 of guiding the strip 3, is therefore suited to the use of a strip 3 which is narrower than the second distance. The part 36 automatically, under the effect of its self-weight, places itself in this position when a strip 3 of such a width is used.

The front edge 39 of the bottom 37 of the part 34 then lies above the strip 3 and the walls 36 rest on the edge delimiting the opening 42.

The guide part 34 therefore allows the strip 3 to be centred satisfactorily both in the region of the label-transfer means 19 and in the region of the drive drum 6. The operation of the labelling machine is there-fore satisfactory.

The guide means 33 of the labelling machine therefore allow the machine to operate satisfactorily with strips of different widths.

The first distance separating the main walls may, for example, be 36 mm, and the second distance, separating the auxiliary walls, may, for example, be 15 mm.

It goes without saying that these values are not in any way limiting and that they may be adapted to correspond to the various widths of strips of labels that there are.

In an alternative version, not depicted, the opening 42 is replaced by two smaller openings each intended to have one end 38 of a wall 36 pass through it when they are in the active position.

In a second alternative version illustrated in Figure 7, the separation of the walls 36 is adjustable and the opening 42 is replaced by two pairs of openings 43. Each pair of openings 43 is centred between the walls 15 and 16 and corresponds to a different width of strip.

The part 34 comprises a central wall 44 centred with respect to the walls 15 and 16 on the shaft 41. The central wall 44 pivots freely about the shaft 41 and bears a transverse rod 45. The ends of the rod 45 are each engaged in indexing means 46 borne by a wall 36. The walls 36 can slide and pivot freely on the shaft 41, and can each slide along the rod 45 via indexing means 46, between two positions in which the walls 46 each face an opening 43 of one of the pairs of openings 43.

In this second alternative version, the means 33 of lateral guidance have three guiding positions corresponding to different widths of strip. One of these positions corresponds to the retracted position of the walls 36 and the other two positions correspond to two active positions of the walls 36, in which positions the ends 38 pass through the openings 43 of one of the pairs of openings 43 (Figure 7) .

Claims (5)

- 9 - 126648/4 CLAIMS :

1. Machine for applying, to items, labels which are distributed uniformly on a wound strip, comprising, mounted on a support plate, an arm over which the strip passes, a device for driving the strip, means of controlling the drive device for triggering the driving of the strip when an item to be labeled is under the arm, and means, associated with the arm and controlled by the movement of the strip, of transferring the labels from the strip onto corresponding items, the machine further comprising, on the arm, means of laterally guiding the strip upstream of the label-transfer means, said means of guiding the strip comprising two approximately parallel guiding main side walls secured to the arm and separated from one another by a first distance that corresponds to a wider width of strip, and two guiding auxiliary walls connected to the detection arm and able to move between a retracted position and at least one active position for laterally guiding the strip, in which position the auxiliary walls are approximately mutually parallel, approximately parallel to the main walls, and separated by a second distance which corresponds to a narrower width of strip.

2. Machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that in the said active position for laterally guiding the strip, the auxiliary walls lie between the main walls.

3. Machine according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one opening is made in the arm and in that, in their active position, at least parts of the auxiliary walls pass through the said opening to guide - 10 - 126648/2 the strip downstream of the means of transferring the labels onto the items.

4. Machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the auxiliary walls are approximately parallel wings of a part mounted, on the arm, so that it can rotate about an axis of rotation approximately orthogonal to the main walls and auxiliary walls .

5. Machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, in their retracted position, the auxiliary walls are intended to rest on a strip whose width exceeds the second distance. For the Applicants, REINHOLD COHN AND PARTNERS \\EXCH- IND\ARCHIVE\01136340\01136340_00012_CLM. doc/26/10/2000