JPH0777896B2 - Label sticking apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a labeling device and method, and more particularly to a label for applying a pressure-sensitive label to a product such as a bottle or a container of the same kind. The present invention relates to a sticking device and its method.

<Prior Art> Conventional devices of this type are generally very complex, difficult to operate, and prone to malfunction.

Various techniques have been proposed in the past for accurately applying a pressure sensitive label to a container such as a bottle at a fixed position at high speed. An example of such prior art is US Pat. No. 3,798,829. The labeling machine described in this document attaches a pressure-sensitive label held on a web serving as a mount to an article, and a label completely separated from the mount at a pickup station 60 is applied to the article at an application station 17. And then fully adhered to the article at pressure station 18. Although this machine can accurately apply the label to the article, the label applicator must be held stationary at the label pick-up station, and it is desirable to perform the operation continuously and accurately. It was

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> An important object of the present invention is to provide a label sticking device and a method thereof, which have a simple structure, are easy to use, and operate reliably as compared with a conventional device of the same kind. .

<Means for Solving the Problems> According to the present invention, an object of the present invention is to provide a label sticking device for sticking a pressure-sensitive label held by a web onto an article, the device including: A vacuum drum having a cylindrical outer surface, (b) a plurality of vacuum passages openly communicated with the outer surface and formed at equal intervals on the circumference of the drum, and (c) the web continuously. And a feed roll for feeding a pressure-sensitive label from this web to the outer surface of the drum at a predetermined label pickup station at a predetermined feed speed, and (d) as well as the pressure-sensitive label advancing to the label pickup station. The relative positional relationship with the vacuum passage advancing to the label pickup station is sequentially detected, and the feed speed of the web is adjusted according to the detection result, and the label pickup step is performed. And (e) a motor for rotating the drum, and the spacing between adjacent vacuum passages on the drum is different from each other. A vacuum is applied to the vacuum passage at the label pick-up station that is greater than the label length and the drum rotation speed is a predetermined outer surface linear velocity slightly greater than the speed at which the label is fed to the outer surface. Until the outer surface slides over each of the labels and a vacuum draws on the front edge of the pressure sensitive label, and the aspirated label moves from the label pick-up station to the labeling station on the drum. It is achieved by a labeling device that is evenly spaced. Further, the above-mentioned object is a label sticking method for sticking a pressure-sensitive label held by a web to an article at a label sticking station at the beginning, wherein the method continuously supplies the article to the label sticking station. While passing the web, the web is continuously supplied to the label pickup station to strip the label from the web, and the stripped label is held on a rotating vacuum drum via a vacuum passage and the label is attached to the label attaching station. The step of adhering to an article is carried out, and the relative feed rate between the article and the web and the relative positional relationship between the pressure-sensitive label advancing to the label pickup station and the vacuum passage advancing to the label pickup station are continuously determined. Automatically, and controls the rotation speed of the vacuum drum according to the detection result. Each pressure-sensitive label is made to reach the label application station in synchronization with the supply speed of the article, and the supply speed of the web is controlled according to the detection result to control the outer surface of the vacuum drum along the label pickup station. Labeling characterized in that each pressure-sensitive label is run at a speed slightly lower than its linear speed and the label pick-up station is controlled so that the front edge of each pressure-sensitive label is substantially aligned with the corresponding vacuum passage. Achieved by the method.

In the illustrated example, the number of vacuum passages is 6, and they may be evenly arranged at an angle of 60 °. However, the number of vacuum passages can be appropriately changed according to the length of the label and the like. The passages are arranged at equal angular intervals.

The device and method of the present invention will now be described in more detail by way of examples with reference to the drawings.

EXAMPLE In the figure, 10 generally represents a preferred labeling apparatus according to the present invention. The label applicator 10 applies the label 12 to a cylindrical or square article, typically represented as a square bottle 14.

This label sticking device 10 has a conveyor 16 that conveys bottles 14 at predetermined constant intervals in the direction of the arrow (leftward as shown).
And a vacuum drum 18 having a cylindrical outer surface 20 defining a drum axis, and a plurality of each being in open communication with the outer surface 20, extending from the outer surface toward the drum axis, and extending around the drum axis. Vacuum passages evenly spaced around the circumference
22 and. As shown, there are six vacuum passages 22, each 60 ° apart from two adjacent passages 22.

The label sticking apparatus 10 also includes a feeding unit for feeding the label 12 from the feeding unit on the feeding drum 24 to the vacuum drum 18, that is, a feeding drum and an associated lift roll and a plurality of idle rolls.

The plurality of labels 12 are pressure sensitive and each comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive on its surface. When the label 12 is wound onto the supply drum 24, the adhesive-side surface faces the axis of the supply drum 24 and the label 12 is adhered to and supported by a backing strip or web 26. .

Further, the label sticking device 10 includes a winding drum 28 for winding the web 26, a brake 30, idle rolls 32, 34, 36, 40, 44,
A supply roll 42 driven at a constant speed and a lift roll 46 facing the supply roll 42 are further provided. The lift rolls 46 are movable between the positions shown in which the rolls 42,46 bit the web 26 therebetween and the retracted position without such bites. When the lift roll 46 moves to the retracted position, the brake 30 is released by a known structure (not shown).
Actuates and engages the web 26 and stops it.

Furthermore, the sticking device 10 also includes a register roll 38 in the middle of the web 26 passing through idler rolls 36, 40 in which the position is fixed. This register roll 38 is a label position sensor that commands the web 26 to advance and retard.
Controlled by 55. The sticking device 10 further includes the gate sensor 56 and the vacuum drum in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to a position where the vacuum passage 22 communicates with the outer surface 20 of the vacuum drum 18.
Pitch marks 57 are provided at equal intervals around the outer surface 20 of 18. The gate for label position sensor 55 is controlled by pitch mark 57 and gate sensor 56. If the label 12 is behind the pitch mark 57,
The register roll 38 moves downwardly, advancing the web 26, and when the label 12 advances toward the pitch mark 57,
The register roll 38 moves up and delays the web 26. This constitutes an adjusting means for matching the relative position of each label 12 and the corresponding vacuum passage 22.

Instead of using the register roll 38, the web 26 may be advanced or delayed by making the rotation speed of the supply roll 42 adjustable, which adjustment includes label position sensor 55, gate sensor 56 and pitch mark 57. You may make it control via.

The sticking apparatus 10 further includes a separating plate 48 for separating the label 12 from the web 26 at the label pickup station 50 on the vacuum drum 18. At this pickup station the label 12 is separated from the web 26,
The labels are separated tangentially on the outer surface 20 of the vacuum drum 18 such that the adhesive-applied surface faces outward.

Labeling station on the vacuum drum 18 facing substantially diametrically with the label pick-up station 50.
58, where label 12 goes from drum 18 to bottle 14,
Moved tangentially. A drive roll 60 spaced from and facing the labeling station 58 is used to position and hold the bottle 14 for receiving the label 12. That is, the drum 18 and the drive roll 60 bite the bottle 14 between them.

The vacuum drum 18 has a rotational speed at which its cylindrical outer surface 20 moves at a predetermined linear speed or tangential speed that is the same as the feed speed of the conveyor 16, and the motor is continuously moved in the direction of the arrow, that is, in the clockwise direction as shown in the drawing. It can be rotated by a drive (not shown).

Each vacuum passage 22 is synchronized in a known manner to reach the labeling station of bottle 14 at the same time it reaches labeling station 58.
The attachment point for round bottles is generally the centerline. The attachment location of the rectangular bottle may be changed as necessary from the front edge to the vicinity of the rear edge.

The driven supply roll 42 is such that the web 26 winds the take-up drum 28 at a linear velocity lower than the linear velocity of the outer surface 20 of the vacuum drum 18.
The motor is continuously driven in the direction of the arrow (clockwise as shown) at the rotational speed of winding up.

The rotation speed of the supply roll 42 is adjusted for a given length of the label 12 so that each vacuum path 22 is picked up during the continuous rotation of the feed roll 42.
Precisely the front edge of each label 12 arrives at this label pick-up station 50 one after another.

The difference in velocity between the vacuum drum 18 and the feed roll 42, and thereby the difference in the linear velocity of the outer peripheral surface of each of these drums 18 and 42, results in a linear distance between the subsequent vacuum passages 22 (of the drum 18). It is essential to maintain continuous forward running of the web 26 while achieving separation of the label 12 along the outer surface of the vacuum drum 18 controlled by the pitch).

This difference in linear velocity on the outer peripheral surface has the effect of causing the drum to slightly slip on the label 12 until the position of the label 12 coincides with the position of the vacuum passage 22 at the label pickup station. Since the portion is drawn into the passage 22 by suction, there is an accurate and uniform relationship between the front edge of the label 12 and the vacuum passage 22 which helps to position the label relative to the article. That is, since the linear rotation speed of the drum 18 is slightly larger than the linear speed of label supply and the interval between the adjacent vacuum passages 22 is larger than the length of the label 12, the label 12 supplied at a predetermined speed.
The vacuum passage is aligned with the front edge of the label and sucked while the outer surface of the drum rotating at a linear velocity slightly higher than the feed rate of this label at the label pick-up station slips a little. Further, since the vacuum passages are arranged at equal intervals, an accurate and uniform relationship is created between the label 12 and the vacuum passage 22. Also, the conveyor 16 supplying the article 14 and the drum 18 can have equal linear velocities, which helps in determining the correct label position for the article.

In normal operation, i.e., when there is no significant spacing between the rows of regularly spaced bottles 14 approaching the labeling station 58, vacuum begins to be applied to each vacuum passage 22 at the label pickup station 50, This vacuum continues to the labeling station 58 where the vacuum ends.
Therefore, label 12 is the label pickup station.
When 50 is reached, the front edge of each label 12 is aspirated by the vacuum. The label 12 is released from the vacuum and applied to the bottle 14 at the labeling station 58.

If for some reason there is a significant gap in the row of bottles 14 approaching the labeling station 58, the bottle absent sensor 62 will send a signal to the lift roll 46 to indicate separation from the supply roll 42. , Which activates the brake 30,
Web 26 stops. When the web 26 is stopped, at the label pick-up station 50, the label 12, which should reach the labeling station 58 when there is no bottle 14 to receive it, is not transferred to the outer surface 20 of the vacuum drum 18.

As such, the applicator device 10 senses the absence or presence of gaps in the row of bottles 14 and supplies the label 12 when no such gap is present and does not supply the label 12 when present. The detection means for doing so is provided. This detecting means is well known and will not be described in detail here. It also comprises means for detecting the feed rate between the bottle 14 and the web 26. This detection means allows the feed rate of the web 26 to be adjusted to match the feed rate of the bottle 14.

The aforementioned supply roll 42 rotates at a speed such that the web 26 travels at a speed lower than the linear speed of the outer surface 20 of the drum 18. Due to this speed difference, the vacuum applied to the vacuum passage 22 in the label pick-up station 50 as described above sucks the front edge of the label 12 and causes the station 50 to move.
From the station to the station 58, the label 12 is evenly distributed on the outer surface 20 and properly dispensed into the bottle 14.

As can be understood from the above description, the above objects and advantages are realized by the configuration of the present invention.

The present invention can be implemented by variously modifying other than the above-described embodiments, and thus the above-described specific configuration is merely an example and does not limit the present invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

The figure is a schematic arrangement diagram showing a label sticking apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 12 …… Label (pressure sensitive label), 18 …… Vacuum drum 20 …… Outside, 22 …… Vacuum passage 50 …… Label pickup station, 58 …… Label sticking station

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Alfresdo F Siuwenza, Artery Park Road, Totowa, New Jersey, USA 9 (72) Inventor Anthony Freaks Park Avenyu 207, Leonia, New Jersey, USA

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A label sticking apparatus for sticking a pressure-sensitive label held by a web onto an article, comprising: (a) a vacuum drum having an axis and a cylindrical outer surface; and (b) A plurality of vacuum passages which are openly communicated with the outer surface and are formed at equal intervals on the circumference of the drum, and (c) the web is continuously advanced, and a predetermined label pickup is performed at a predetermined feeding speed. At the station, the relative position relationship between the supply roll that supplies the pressure-sensitive label from this web to the outer surface of the drum and (d) the pressure-sensitive label that advances to the label pickup station and the vacuum passage that advances to the label pickup station are shown. Sequential detection is performed, and the feed speed of the web is adjusted according to the detection result, and the front edge of each pressure-sensitive label is detected at the label pickup station. Corresponding to the corresponding vacuum passage, and (e) a motor for rotating the drum, and the distance between the adjacent vacuum passages on the drum is larger than the length of each label. Is a predetermined outer surface linear velocity which is slightly greater than the speed at which the label is applied to the outer surface and the outer surface moves over each of the labels until a vacuum is applied to the vacuum passage at the label pickup station. A label is applied that is slidably movable and a vacuum is applied to the front edge of the pressure sensitive label such that the aspirated label is evenly spaced from the label pick-up station to the label application station on the drum. Wearing device. 2. A label sticking method for sticking a pressure-sensitive label held by a web onto an article at a label sticking station, said method continuously supplying the article and passing it through the label sticking station. Along with continuously feeding the web to the label pickup station, the label is stripped from the web, and the stripped label is held on a rotating vacuum drum via a vacuum passage and stuck to the article at the label sticking station. Including the step of depositing the articles and the web, and the relative positional relationship between the feed speed of each of the article and the web and the pressure-sensitive label that advances to the label pickup station and the vacuum passage that advances to the label pickup station continuously and automatically. Of each article by controlling the rotation speed of the vacuum drum according to the detection result. Each pressure-sensitive label is made to reach the label sticking station in synchronization with the speed, and the feeding speed of the web is controlled according to the detection result, and the linear speed of the outer surface of the vacuum drum is adjusted along the label pickup station. Run each pressure sensitive label at a slightly lower speed,
A label applying method, wherein the label pick-up station controls the front edge of each pressure-sensitive label to be substantially aligned with a corresponding vacuum passage.