WO2006110043A1

WO2006110043A1 - Method and device for providing a banderole on goods

Info

Publication number: WO2006110043A1
Application number: PCT/NO2006/000130
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bjørnar TORSNES; Hans Petter Frivold; Jan Borgar STRØMMEN; Christoph Bahrs
Original assignee: Tiara-Cml As
Priority date: 2005-04-15
Filing date: 2006-04-07
Publication date: 2006-10-19
Also published as: EP1868894B1; DE602006007224D1; EP1868894A1; ATE433415T1

Abstract

A method for providing goods with a banderole, wherein a predetermined length of ribbon (2) from a feeder roller (9) is transferred to a pickup roller (14) before the ribbon is brought in contact with the goods (3) to be provided with a banderole and the ribbon is released both from the feeder roller and the pickup roller during the travel of the goods on the conveying means, is described. A banderole applicator for providing a banderole on goods using the method is also described.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROVIDING A BANDEROLE ON GOODS Field of invention

The present invention relates to a method and device for providing a banderole on goods. More specifically the present invention relates to a new and improved method and a device for providing a banderole on goods. Preferably, the banderole is provided with identification marker for identification of the goods.

Technical field Banderoles are often provided about different kind of goods, to stabilize the goods and for carrying identification markers for use in logistic systems both during transport from the producer to distributors, inventory control in the different parts of the distribution chain.

The banderole used for stabilization of palletized goods may different from, or identical to the banderole used for identification purposes. Different standards or requirements from users, and /or authorities may result in the use of different banderoles for marking and stabilization purposes.

A well known device for application of a banderole to goods, such as palletized boxes, comprises two feeder rollers of plastic ribbon, one at each side of a conveyor for the goods. The ribbon is stretched between the feeder rollers. When a pallet with goods passes, the ribbon is pulled by the goods. As soon as the pallet has passed the feeder rollers, the pallet is stopped, arms carrying welding devices are placed at the rear side of the pallet and are used to weld the ribbon forming a circular banderole around the goods and again connecting the ribbons from the two feeder rollers to prepare the ribbon for the next pallet. This well known device is complex and space consuming. The device requires space at both sides of the conveyor both for installation and for maintenance. Additionally, the ribbon is always stretched across the conveyor making it difficult to avoid placing a banderole around pallets if required.

Within the food industry, covering inter alia breweries and soft drink industry, the requirements for identification are given in the standard EANAJCC 128. EAN/UCC specifies i.a. how the goods is to be marked and the number and location of the labeling, such as height above the bottom of the pallet and longitudinal placing thereon. The demand from the large distributors for efficient and cost effective handling of goods, to follow the standard is growing and the manufacturers are therefore looking for effective and reliable solutions to meet the demands.

A method for marking of goods is described in EP 0 551 558 Bl, to Peter Born AG. According to EP 0 551 558 Bl, printed labels are folded and are suspended on and kept in place by a cord used for stabilization of palletized goods in boxes. To suspend the label on the cord, gripping arms are used to hold the cord out from the surface of the boxes as the label is placed thereon.

The design of boxes used for handling and transport of goods, such as beverages, has changed the later years to make the use of the labeling system according to EP 0 551 558 Bl difficult. This is partly due to the choice of material for the boxes and open areas or openings at the side walls of the boxes, making it difficult for the gripping arms to grip the cord. Additionally, the cord is provided for stability and binding of the palletized goods. Accordingly, the height of the cord above the pallet will vary for different palletized goods, resulting in varying height for the label for different goods. This results in problems in automatic reading of the label.

The British patent application GB 2 282 124 relates to a tape applicator for an adhesive tape, comprising means, such as printing means, to provide the tape with readable information, on a pallet having a surface adopted to be provided with a label. The pallet is according to the description preferably shrink wrapped to allow the tape to be glued to the surface thereof. The use of shrink wrapping is, however, unnecessary and not wanted for many products as it adds complexity and cost both for the manufacturer and the receiver of the goods. Application of an adhesive label directly on the palletized goods is normally not an acceptable solution as the boxes used for transport and distribution, often are used for distribution of the goods to the final costumer.

The Norwegian firm Pall Pack AS has marketed an industrial device for providing a plastic ribbon about palletized goods at a predefined height above the bottom of the pallet. The device is based on the above described device comprising two feeder rollers. The ribbon may comprise preprinted information and may serve as a surface for applying adhesive tape labels with the necessary printed information. Accordingly, two separate operations are necessary, firstly providing the pallet with a plastic ribbon, and secondly applying one or more labels on the ribbon.

Accordingly, a need exists for a method and device for labeling goods, such as palletized goods, which fulfils the requirements according to standards and the costumers needs and overcomes the problems associated with the prior known solutions.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for providing goods with a banderole, comprising the following steps:

^■ transporting the goods on conveying means,

^■ providing a ribbon at a predetermined height across the transport route for the goods so that the ribbon is drawn by the goods during its travel on the conveying means,

^■ releasing ribbon from rollers at both sides of the conveying means to compensate for the movement of the goods until the goods has moved past the rollers, ^■ bringing together the ribbon from each roller at the rear side of the goods relative to its direction of travel,

^■ welding the two layers of ribbon together, and

^■ cutting the welding to form a circular banderole around the goods and a ribbon connecting the rollers, wherein a predetermined length of ribbon from a feeder roller is transferred to a pickup roller before the ribbon is brought in contact with the goods to be provided with a banderole and the ribbon is released both from the feeder roller and the pickup roller during the travel of the goods on the conveying means.

According to a preferred embodiment, the predetermined length of ribbon corresponds to approximately 50% of the circumference of the goods. By transferring about 50% of the ribbon to the pickup roller, it is assured that there is a sufficient length of ribbon at the pickup roller to get around the goods, and at the same time to avoid excess ribbon to build up around the pickup roller. According to a preferred embodiment, the pickup roller is movably arranged across the conveying means and that the ribbon is brought in position across the transport route of the goods by means of the pickup roller. By having a pickup roller that is movable across the conveying means to bring the ribbon in position across the transport route of the goods, goods that is not to be marked, may pass the present banderole applicator without interfering with the ribbon.

According to an embodiment, the ribbon is provided with identification markers after leaving the feeder roller and before being formed to a banderole around the goods. Providing the ribbon with identification markers before being formed to a banderole makes it possible to mark the goods without having to use a separate applicator for identification marks after forming the banderole, as is the situation according to the prior art.

Preferably, the identification markers are printed and positioned according to the circumference of the goods and the requested position of the identification markers at the goods. This makes it possible with a minimum number of markers, to fulfill the requirements according to certain costumers and national and/or international^' standards, and make sure that the markers are placed within the specifications.

According to a second aspect, the present application provides a banderole applicator for applying a banderole on goods, the banderole applicator comprising a feeder roller for a ribbon, a pickup roller connected to the ribbon, where the pickup roller is movably arranged so that it may be moved from a position at one side of a conveying means to the opposite side of the conveying means, and welding means to weld and cut the ribbon to produce a banderole around the goods and a ribbon connecting the feeder roller and the pickup roller. The present banderole applicator is designed to work according to the present method.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pickup roller is movably arranged on a substantially horizontal traverse arm that is arranged across and above the conveying means at a height that allows the goods to pass below. This arrangement assures that the present banderole applicator is not disturbing the transport on and the function of the conveying means when the applicator is not in use, and goods may pass the applicator without being provided with a banderole.

Accord to another embodiment, the pickup roller is adapted to receive a predetermined length of the ribbon before applying the ribbon to the goods and that both the pickup roller and the feeder roller are adopted to stretch the ribbon around the goods before the ribbon is welded. Receiving a predetermined length of ribbon on the pickup roller allows the pickup roller to release ribbon as the ribbon is brought about the goods. This assures that the ribbon is not drawn over sharp edges. Stretching the ribbon before welding is done so that the ribbon is in tight connection with the goods after being welded and released.

The banderole applicator preferably comprises a printing device for application of one or more identification markers and/or decoration on the ribbon.

Additionally the banderole application may comprise a RFID applicator for application of one or more RFID markers the ribbon before the ribbon is applied at the goods..

Short description of the figures

Figure 1 is a bird's eye view of a device according to the present invention, Figure 2 illustrates a cross section along A-A in figure 2, and Figure 3 is a close up of the welding device of the present device.

Detailed description of the invention

The present banderole applicator 1 for providing a banderole from a plastic ribbon 2 on goods 3, such as e.g. palletized goods, is placed at one side of a conveyor 4 for conveying palletized goods. The banderole applicator 1 comprises a housing 5 resting on the floor alongside the conveyor. A substantially horizontal traversal arm 6 is arranged on the housing 5 across the conveyor 4. The height of the traversal arm 5 over the conveyor 4 has to be sufficient to allow the goods to pass below the arm 5. The housing 5 is mounted on supporting legs 7, and serves as support and protection for different parts of the present device. A control unit 8 is provided inside the housing for controlling the different parts of the present device. The control unit 8 may be a computer that may be locally operated or remotely operated. A feeder roller 9 for a ribbon is controlled by an electrical motor 11.

In the present device, a printer 10 is provided to print information, such as identification markers at the ribbon as it passes through the printer and out of the housing.

A pick-up roller 14 is provided on a substantially vertically arranged supporting arm 15 that is movably connected to the traversal arm 6. The pick-up roller 14 is operated by means of an electrical motor 16 controlled by the control unit 8, and is adopted to take up a predetermined length of the ribbon. The supporting arm 15 is movably connected to the traversal arm 6, and may be moved from a first, or starting position, where the supporting arm and the pick-up roller is arranged close to the housing so that any goods on the conveyor may pass without interfering with the arm, and an outer position, where the pallet including the palletized goods may pass between the supporting arm and the housing. The starting position is always the same, whereas the outer position may vary depending on the size of the pallet or goods to be provided with a banderole. The supporting arm 15 is controlled by an electrical motor 17, preferably via a not shown transmission belt.

When a banderole is to be placed about some goods, such as palletized boxes, a pallet loaded with boxes is introduced to the present device via the conveyor 4. The pallet is stopped in a first, or waiting, identified by position 3 ' in figure 1. A predetermined length of the ribbon from the feeder roller 9 is rolled up at the pick-up roller 14. The length of ribbon rolled up on the pick-up roller is dependent on the size, or the circumference, of the goods to be provided with a banderole. The supporting arm 15 and pickup roller 14 is then moved to its outer position, indicated by 14' in figure 1. Position 14' is determined by the width of the goods.

The stopping of the pallet in the waiting position is not mandatory. It is, however, important to assure a minimum distance between the pallets and to coordinate the actions of the banderole applicator with the pallets on the conveyor. Stopping the pallet in the waiting position is a convenient way to obtain this.

The pallet is thereafter moved past the supporting arm dragging the ribbon in front of of the goods at the pallet. To avoid abrasion of and damage to the ribbon by the goods, the ribbon is rolled out from both the feeder roller and the pickup roller as the pallet is moved forwards to avoid or at least minimize any movement of the ribbon towards the surface of the goods.

When the pallet has passed below and is clear of the traversal arm 6, the pallet is again stopped in a welding position, indicated by 3 in figure 1. When the pallet is in the welding position, the supporting arm is again returned to its first position at the same time as ribbon is released from the pickup roller. The ribbon is then tightened to stretch the ribbon about the goods.

The ribbon is preferably elastic and is stretched from 5 to 20 % of its original length, more preferably about 10%. The tightening and stretching of the ribbon is controlled by the tension on the feeder roller 9 and pickup roller, respectively. A not shown sensor may be provided in the housing to measure the diameter of the feeder roller. The tension on the feeder roller may then be adjusted as a response to the varying diameter to give the correct tension on the ribbon by the control unit controlling the motor 11. The tension on the ribbon may be varied depending on the physical characteristics of the ribbon, temperature, the required tension of the ribbon in the finished banderole etc.

The ribbon leaving the housing and the ribbon connected to the pickup arm are then brought together and welded to produce a ring shaped banderole 19 around the goods, and to connect the ribbon leaving the housing with the ribbon connected to the pickup roller. The welding device used for this purpose is a traditional welding device used in the prior art, comprising a welding beam 20 and a counterpiece 20'. The two layers of ribbon to be welded are forced together by the welding beam 20 and counterpiece 20' and locally heated to melt the layers of ribbon together across the ribbon. A weakening line is preferably provided in the middle of the welding seam to easy tear of the banderole from the remaining ribbon. The skilled man in the art is aware of different ways to provide a weakening zone, such as a ridge on the hot welding surface. Figure 3 is a bird's eye view of the welding mechanism. The welding beam 20 and the counterpiece, 20' are arranged substantially vertically on a support member 21 that is connected to side of the housing 5 facing toward conveyor. One or both of the welding arms 20, 20' are movably connected to the support member 21, so that the welding beam 20 and the counterpiece 20' are brought together, one at each side of the two layers of ribbon to be welded, hi the illustrated embodiment, the welding beam 20 is movable. The movement of the welding arm(s) is controlled by means of a pneumatic cylinder.

Additionally it is preferred that the support member 21 is movably connected to the housing 5, so that the support member can be moved from a first, retracted position indicated by solid lines, and a second, welding position, indicated by dotted lines. This relocation of the support member 21 may be effected by different means, such as actuators 23. The support member and the welding arms are preferably relocated as described to protect the welding means from damage caused by the goods on the conveyor and vice versa, when moving goods is passing the banderole applicator, and to assure that the welding is performed close to the goods to avoid unnecessary slack of the banderole.

As soon as the ribbon is welded as described above, the welding beam and counterpiece are moved away from each other, if applicable retracted to the retracted position, and the pallet is moved further on the conveyor. The ribbon is then torn in the weakening zone. Due to the stretch in the ribbon, the banderole formed about the goods is tightened about the goods due to the elasticity of the material.

During the delivery of ribbon from the feeder roller 9, the printer 10 may be activated to print decoration and / or information on the ribbon. The present device additionally makes it possible to print information on the ribbon, and assure that the printed information is positioned at one or more predetermined locations around the circumference of the goods. These predetermined positions may be defined by national or international standards or by demands from the costumers. The length of the ribbon rolled up on the pickup roll is determined by the circumference of the goods. The position of the printed information on the goods is therefore determined lengthwise position of the printed information on the ribbon.

The printer may be any kind of printer compatible with the material of the ribbon, such as a thermal printer. The printer for printing directly on the plastic ribbon may alternatively be substituted by an applicator for adhesive labels. The adhesive labels may be pre-printed and/or the applicator is combined with an application

The present device may also be provided with an applicator for RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags. These tags comprise a small chip on an adhesive label. The applicator for the RFID tags may be arranged at any side of the printer. In the preferred embodiment, the RFID applicator is provided between the feeder roller and the printer. RFID chips have a failure rate of about 10%. The printer may then be combined with a RFID reader/programming unit that may program and control the information on the tag. If a RFID tag that is applied to the banderole is not working properly, an additional RFID tag may be applied to the banderole. To avoid that the RFID tags are torn off the surface to which it is adhered, the RFID tags may be applied to the side of the banderole that is faced the goods.

The skilled man in the art will understand that even if the present invention is described with reference to palletized goods, the invention is not limited to be used for that kind of goods. The present device and method is also applicable for other kinds of goods that does not need a pallet to be handled.

Claims

1.

A method for providing goods with a banderole, comprising the following steps:

■ transporting the goods on conveying means, ^■ providing a ribbon at a predetermined height across the transport route for the goods so that the ribbon is drawn by the goods during its travel on the conveying means,

^■ releasing ribbon from rollers at both sides of the conveying means to compensate for the movement of the goods until the goods has moved past the rollers,

^■ bringing together the ribbon from each roller at the rear side of the goods relative to its direction of travel,

^■ welding the two layers of ribbon together, and

2.

The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined length of ribbon corresponds to approximately 50% of the circumference of the goods.

3.

The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pickup roller is movably arranged across the conveying means and that the ribbon is brought in position across the transport route of the goods by means of the pickup roller.

4.

The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ribbon is provided with identification markers after leaving the feeder roller and before being formed to a banderole around the goods.

5.

The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the identification markers are printed and positioned according to the circumference of the goods and the requested position of the identification markers at the goods.

6.

A banderole applicator for applying a banderole on goods (3), the banderole applicator characterised in that it comprises a feeder roller (9) for a ribbon (2), a pickup roller (14) connected to the ribbon (2), where the pickup roller (14) is movably arranged so that it may be moved from a position at one side of a conveying means (4) to the opposite side of the conveying means (4), and welding means (20, 20') to weld and cut the ribbon to produce a banderole (19) around the goods and a ribbon (2) connecting the feeder roller and the pickup roller (14).

7.

The banderole applicator according to claim 6, characterised in that the pickup roller is movably arranged on a substantially horizontal traverse arm (6) that are arranged across and above the conveying means (4) at a height that allows the goods to pass below.

8.

The banderole applicator according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the pickup roller is adapted to receive a predetermined length of the ribbon before applying the ribbon to the goods and that both the pickup roller and the feeder roller are adopted to stretch the ribbon around the goods before the ribbon is welded.

9.

The banderole applicator according to one or more of the claims 6 to 8, characterised in that it additionally comprises a printing device for application of one or more identification markers and/or decoration on the ribbon.

10.

The banderole applicator according to one or more of the claims 6 to 9, characterised in that it additionally comprises a RFID applicator for application of one or more RFID markers the ribbon before the ribbon is applied at the goods..