WO1992009484A1

WO1992009484A1 - Device for applying a label around a barrel

Info

Publication number: WO1992009484A1
Application number: PCT/GB1991/002037
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Frederick Hulse
Original assignee: Richard Frederick Hulse
Priority date: 1990-11-30
Filing date: 1991-11-18
Publication date: 1992-06-11
Also published as: GB9026109D0; AU8905391A

Abstract

The invention relates to the provision of a removable wrap-around label (3) for a barrel (1), cask or the like and an apparatus adapted to provide such a label and a method for operating said apparatus. In use, a number of barrels (1) are positioned on conveyor (12) and travel in a forward direction (22) towards the labelling station (10). At the labelling station, the foremost edge (30) of barrel (1) contacts a first side (32) of plastic web label (3), which is fed by means of simultaneously rotation of reels (14). As the barrel (1) continues to move forward, web (3) is carried therewith such that it is wrapped around the girth of the barrel (1). Then at the centre (10A) of labelling station (10), devices (16) unite and trap therebetween web (3) by moving towards each other. Two sealing heads on these devices (16) are activated and a cutting head cuts the web (3) in between, thus providing on one side a label wrapped around the barrel and uniting again the two cut parts of the web (3) for further operation.

Description

Device for applying a label around a barrel

This invention relates to the provision of a removable label for use particularly, but not exclusively, in conjunction with a cask or barrel.

In the brewing industry barrels containing beer, cider, lager and the like are typically labelled by means of printing or gluing a label to one end of the barrel. In the past, when barrels were stored on their bellies and moved by means of rolling the barrel from place to place it was always possible to identify and read the end label. However, a change in practise has lead to barrels being stood on their ends and stacked one on top of another. This change of practise is largely due to the use of automatic handling means such as forklift trucks. Where barrels are stood on their ends, and stacked one on top of the other it is only possible to see the label attached to the barrel which is on the very top of the stack, and in some instances, depending on the height of the stack, this may not be possible. Accordingly, there is a need to provide barrels having a label about their girth.

Attempts have been made to provide printed or glued labels about the girth of barrels but this has had considerable disadvantages since printed or glued labels are very difficult to remove when barrels are returned to the brewery for re-filling. In fact, typically nine men may be employed to manually remove labels from printed or glued barrels. This is therefore a time consuming and expensive exercise.

It can therefore be seen that there is also a need to provide a removable label for a barrel such that when the barrel is returned to the brewery it can be easily cleaned before re¬ filling. Recent changes in the law have provided a further impetus for the efficient labelling of barrels from different breweries since following a report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, there is expected to be an increase in the number of public houses which are able to supply guest beers and so where a number of beers are stored in a cellar it is essential that each beer can be quickly and easily identified.

Moreover, there are further advantages to be associated with a removable label since each label may be printed with matter relating to the site of production of the barrel contents and also the date of production of the barrel's contents. This may be important when checks have to be made on the grounds of health or safety and moreover it may also be important when checks have to be made with regards the diluting of or meddling with beers contained in a barrel.

It will also be understood that the provision of a removable label must be effected in a quick and efficient manner and therefore a machine designed to achieve this objective is also considered to be an important aspect of the invention.

Accordingly the invention provides for a barrel having a removable wrap around label.

Preferably the label will be made of a plastics material which more preferably will be anti-static.

In a further preferred form the label will comprise a 2 to 3 inch band which is frictionally retained around the girth of the barrel.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a machine for applying a label around a barrel, the machine comprising a labelling station; a conveyor, a cutting and sealing station, and a control means.

Preferably the labelling station comprises a means for suspending web labelling material at a predetermined distance above the conveyor and also in a position transverse of the direction of travel of the conveyor such that a barrel travelling on the conveyor moves forward in a direction towards the labelling station and upon contact with the labelling material a length of web material being a wrap around label is applied to the barrel, the web labelling material being fed to the conveyor from two reels located on either side of the conveyor.

Preferably the control means controls and co-ordinates the activity of the labelling station, the conveyor and the cutting and sealing station such that when the barrel with a wrap around label is clear of the labelling station the barrel is halted and the cutting and sealing station is activated.

Preferably the cutting and sealing station is positioned downstream of the labelling station with respect to the direction of travel of a barrel on the conveyor and said station comprises at least one movable sealing means and at least one movable cutting means wherein at least one of said means is positioned at either side of the conveyor in aligned relationship.

Preferably a barrel moving on the conveyor comes into contact with the web label material and as a result of the forward motion of the conveyor the label wraps around the barrel until the barrel is clear of the labelling station, at this point the control means halts the barrel and activates the sealing means and cutting means which moves inwards towards each other and in so moving inwards trap the label there¬ between, the label is then sealed and cut by means of the sealing means and cutting means so that a barrel with a label there-around is produced and a new strip of label is suspended above, and transverse to the direction of travel of, the conveyor.

Preferably the sealing device is a heat sealer.

Preferably the cutting and sealing means unite at the centre of the conveyor.

Preferably the machine also comprises a printing station which in turn comprises a printing device positioned preferably on either side of the conveyor and between either/or both the first or second label reels and the label station. Preferably the printing devices will print information on at least one face of the label.

Preferably further still the machine will be provided with a detector designed to detect the amount of label on the first and second reels.

Preferably the printing devices will print a label made of two or more colours.

Preferably further still the machine will produce a labelled barrel at least every 6.5 seconds.

Preferably a gate means is provided for detaining barrels on the conveyor whilst a barrel is being labelled.

Preferably guide means are provided for directing a barrel to be labelled towards a labelling station. According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for applying a label around a barrel, the method comprises;

i) advancing a barrel towards a labelling station, ii) applying a fraction of web labelling material around the barrel, iii) sealing the web material at a first site close to the barrel and at a second spaced distance therefrom; iv) cutting the web material between the two said sealing sites such that a barrel with a label therearound is produced and a new strip of web material is provided for labelling further barrels.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures wherein:-

Fig. 1 represents a barrel having a label in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 1A represents a diagrammatic view of a sealing and cutting means;

Fig. 2 shows a diagram of a plan view of a machine designed to operate in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a diagram of the side elevation view of the machine shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 shows a diagram of a plan view of a stopping means to control movement of barrels.

Turning firstly to Fig. 1, a plurality of barrels 1 are illustrated in a stacked configuration wherein barrels 1 are stood on their ends 2 and are stacked one on top of the other. Barrels 1 are provided with a removable wrap around band 3 which is frictionally attached about their girth 4. Bands 3 are provided with various types of information relating to the contents of the barrel, site of production etc., according to the user'ε requirements. Label 3 is made of a plastics material which is preferably antistatic. Ideally, the width of label 3 will be in the order of 2 to 3 inches.

Turning now to Fig. 2, a machine designed to attach a label, as described above, around the girth of a barrel is illustrated.

The machine comprises a labelling station 10, a conveyor 12 and a cutting and sealing station 13. A control means is not illustrated.

Labelling station 10 comprises a band of web labelling material 3 suspended at an appropriate^' distance above conveyor 12 and web labelling material 3 is positioned transverse of the direction of travel of the conveyor 12 such that it can be positioned about the girth of a barrel 1 travelling on conveyor 12.

Web labelling material 3 is further wound about reels 14 located at either side of conveyor 12. Thus it can be seen that the web labelling material 3 is supplied by means of rotation of reels 14. A selector (not shown) is provided to monitor the amount of material 3 wound on reels 14 and further a printing device 100 is provided for printing material 3 as it is unwound from reels 14.

The cutting and sealing station 13 is located downstream of the labelling station. The cutting and sealing station comprises opposed cutting and sealing devices 16 which are adapted to move towards each other in a co-ordinated fashion such that the devices 16 unite at the centre of the labelling station 10A. Devices 16 are each provided with two spaced sealing heads and a single cutting head located there¬ between. This arrangement is illustrated in greater detail in Fig. 1A which shows the cutting and sealing devices 16 having a first sealing head 16A and a second sealing head 16B. Positioned there-between is a cutting head 16C. Heads 16A, 16B and 16C are located on edge 16D which edge 16D is positioned nearmost to the conveyor. Sealing device 16 reciprocates linearly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the conveyor 12. It will be understood that although only one device 16 has been illustrated in Fig. 1A, both devices 16 are of identical construction and have heads 16A, 16B and 16C located on edge 16D which in both devices is the edge nearmost to the conveyor and both sealing devices reciprocate linearly and in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the conveyor. In an alternative arrangement the cutting and sealing station comprise a device 16 as afore described and an alternative device 16X including an abutment member against which sealing head 16A, 16B abut when, in use, device 16 and the said alternative device 16X are brought together during operation.

Turning now to Fig. 3, it can be seen that conveyor 12 comprising continuous driven rollers and friction driven rollers 20 spaced along the length of conveyor 12 ideally at a distance of approximately 10cm between each roller 20. A number of barrels 1 are positioned on the upper surface of conveyor 12 and travel in a direction as indicated by the arrow 22.

Referring to figure 4, rollers 20 are shown in plan view and barrels 1 are shown travelling in direction 22A along conveyor 12. A stopping gate 62 is located upstream of the direction of travel of barrels 1. Gate 62 comprises a pair of pneumatically operated arms 64, positioned on either side of conveyor 12. Arms 64 are pivoted about pivot points 66 in a manner such that arms 64 are adapted to swing inwards towards the centre of conveyor 12. The non-pivoting ends of arms 64 are provided with plastics rollers 66 which, in an operating condition when arms 64 have swung inwards towards conveyor 12, detain barrel 1 on conveyor 12 at gate 62 until arms 64 are de-activated and so swing outwards away from conveyor 12.

Downstream of gate 62 is located labelling station 10. Below rollers 20 of conveyor 12 at station 10 there are located a number of paired pneumatic guides 70. Faired guides 70 are positioned in succession with respect to the direction of travel 22A of barrel 1. Further, the distance between each single pair of guides 70 from the centre of conveyor 12 increases as one travels in direction 22A. Thus it can be seen that paired guides 70 are adapted to guide a variety of sized barrels la, lb or lc towards station 10. Guides 70 comprise upwardly reciprocating rods 72 which are adapted to fit between rollers 20. Rods 72 are attached to pneumatic cylinders 76 at the lowermost ends 74, underneath rollers 20. Thus it can be seen that as a barrel la, lb or lc approaches station 10, cylinders 76 are activated, resulting in rods 72 being extended and so projecting upwardly above the upper surface of rollers 20. Rods 72 are operated in pairs such that each pair of guides 70 can be selectively operated to guide a barrel 1 on rollers 20 towards labelling station 10.

In use, a number of barrels are positioned on conveyor 12 and travel in a forwards direction 22 towards the labelling station 10. At the labelling station the foremost edge 30 of barrel 1 contacts a first side 32 of web label 3. As the barrel 1 continues to move forward labelling material 3 is carried therewith such that it is wrapped around the girth of the barrel. It will be understood that the label material 3 is fed by means of rotation of reels 14. When barrel 1 is clear of labelling station 10 gate 62 is activated to detain the next barrel on the conveyor 12 to be labelled and guides 70 are actuated to detain the barrel to be labelled in an appropriate position. The cutting and sealing devices 16 are then activated such that they move inwards towards each other. At the centre 10A of labelling station 10 devices 16 unite and trap there-between label 3. Each of the first sealing heads 16A and second sealing heads 16B are then activated in order to heat seal the label trapped there- between. Cutting head 16C is then activated in order to cut the label between the two sealing heads. When this operation is complete the devices 16 move away from each other, towards the edges of conveyor 12 and barrel 1 having a label 3 attached therearound is free to move forwards following the deactivation of guides 70. At this point gate 62 is de-activated and the next barrel on the conveyor 12 to be labelled moves towards station 10.

In an alternative arrangement the cutting and sealing station comprises cutting and sealing device 16 as afore described and an alternative device 16X as afore described. In use, devices 16 and 16X are activated such that they move respectively towards each other whereby sealing heads.16A and 16B are made to abut an abutment member provided on device 16X. In this manner web material is sealed at a location defined by head 16A and a second location defined by head 16B and the cutting head 16C provided on device 16 is activated in order to cut the label between these two sealing heads. Once this operation is complete devices 16 and 16X move respectively away from each other so that a barrel 1 having a label 3 attached therearound is free to move forwards on conveyer 12.

It will be understood that this process is repeated as each barrel is moved towards the labelling station.

Thus it can be seen that by means of the above apparatus a label in accordance with the invention can be attached to a barrel.

Claims

1. A machine for applying a label around a barrel or cask comprising:-

a labelling station; a conveyor; a cutting and sealing station; and a control means.

2. A machine according to Claim 1 wherein the labelling station comprises a means for suspending labelling material at a predetermined height above the conveyor.

3. A machine according to Claim 2 wherein the web labelling material is positioned transverse to the direction of travel of the conveyor such that a barrel approaching the labelling station makes contact with the web labelling material which material is subsequently wrapped around a barrel.

4. A machine according to Claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the web labelling station comprises at least one reel located on either side of the conveyor having web labelling material wound thereon and passing between the said reels.

5. A machine according to Claim 1 wherein the control means co-ordinates the functioning of the labelling station, the conveyor and the cutting and sealing station.

6. A machine according to Claim 5 wherein the control means is adapted to ensure that the conveyor is halted wherein a piece of web labelling material has been wrapped around the barrel.

7. A machine according to Claim 6 wherein the control means is adapted to seal and cut the web labelling material about the barrel after the conveyor has halted.

8. A machine according to Claim 1 wherein the cutting and sealing station is positioned downstream of the labelling station.

9. A machine according to Claims 1 or 8 wherein the cutting and sealing station comprises at least one movable sealing means and at least one movable cutting means.

10. A machine according to Claim 9 wherein at least one of said movable sealing and cutting means are positioned on either side of the conveyor.

11. A machine according to Claim 10 wherein the sealing and cutting means located on either side of the conveyor are adapted to move to a position where the two said means make contact.

12. A sealing device according to Claims 9, 10 or 11 which is a heat sealer.

13. A machine according to Claim 11 wherein the two said means unite at a position which is at the centre of the conveyor.

14. A machine according to any preceding claim comprising a printing station.

15. A machine according to Claim 14 wherein the printing station comprises a printing device adapted to print the said labelling material as said material moves towards the barrel.

16. A printing device according to Claim 15 wherein the device is adapted to print information on at least one face of the web label material.

17. A machine according to Claim 15 wherein a printin device is adapted to print a label in two or more colours.

18. A machine according to any preceding claim wherei there is provided a detector means to detect the amount of label in the machine.

19. A machine according to any preceding claim wherein label barrel is produced at least every six seconds.

20. A machine according to any preceding claim wherein gate means is provided for detaining barrels on the conveyo whilst a barrel is being labelled.

21. A machine according to any preceding claim wherei guide means is provided for directing a barrel to the labelling station.

22. A barrel, cask or container having a removable wrap¬ around label.

23. A barrel according to Claim 20 wherein the label is of plastics material.

24. A barrel according to Claim 21 wherein the plastics material is antistatic.

25. A barrel according to Claims 19, 20 or 21 wherein the label is frictionally retained around the girth of the barrel.

26. A method for applying a label around a barrel comprising:- i) advancing a barrel towards a labelling station; ii) applying a fraction of web labelling material around a barrel; iii) sealing the web material at a first site; iv) cutting the web material after said sealing whereby a barrel with a label therearound is produced.

27. A method according to Claim 24 wherein the web labelling material is sealed at a second site distant from said first site and a cut is made between the two said sealed sites such that a barrel with a label therearound is produced and a new strip of web material is provided for labelling further barrels.