WO2008012633A2

WO2008012633A2 - Apparatus and method for rejecting irregular or faulty labels

Info

Publication number: WO2008012633A2
Application number: PCT/IB2007/002055
Authority: WO
Inventors: Franco Gironi; Leonardo Ficalbi
Original assignee: Ima Life S.R.L.
Priority date: 2006-07-21
Filing date: 2007-07-20
Publication date: 2008-01-31
Also published as: EP2046651B1; WO2008012633A3; ES2400300T3; EP2046651A2; ITBO20060545A1

Abstract

An apparatus (1), particularly for a labelling machine, for discarding altered or faulty labels (2' ), removably applied on a supporting tape (3) of labels (2, 2' ) moving along an advancing direction (A), comprises removing means (5) for removing said altered or faulty labels (2' ) from said.supporting tape (3) and collecting means (6) arranged for receiving said altered labels (2' ) from said removing means (5); said collecting means (6) comprises a further supporting tape (17) suitable for supporting and collecting said altered labels (2' ).

Description

Apparatus and method for rejecting irregular or faulty labels The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for rejecting irregular or faulty labels, in particular self- sticking labels. Such an apparatus is associated with a labelling machine arranged for applying labels on cylindrical or profiled containers, such as bottles, cruets, vials, or similar, for example made of glass, plastics, metal or cardboard. The labels provided with a self-sticking side are supported by a supporting tape and contain information relating to the product contained in said containers, such as for example the commercial name and/or a distinguishing image, the number of the production batch, the chemical composition, the dates of packaging and expiration, or similar. In particular, said apparatus for discarding and recovering labels is arranged for removing from the supporting tape altered or generally non-satisfying labels, for example because provided with faded or unreadable printing, before said altered or generally non-satisfying labels are applied on a respective container.

Such operation results necessary in order to prevent an altered label from being applied on a container, which label should be subsequently removed by an operator, with a remarkable waste of time and money, in order to recover said container.

Apparatuses are known for discarding and recovering labels associated with labelling machines, said apparatuses comprising a bedplate supporting an operating group and a collecting group. The operating group comprises an operating roller cooperating with removing means arranged for removing the altered labels from the supporting tape and transferring said altered labels on the collecting group. The collecting group comprises a rotating arm mounted rotating at one its own end on a pin associated with said bedplate. The arm supports a collecting group, free to rotate around one its own vertical axis, peripherally provided with an element for collecting altered labels, said element consisting of a ring of cardboard, The collecting group is further provided with elastic elements positioned near said pin, said elastic elements being arranged for maintaining the collecting element firmly in contact with said operating roller. Thus, in use, the operating roller places in rotation by friction the collecting roller.

When the discarding and recovering apparatus detects, by means of a sensor, the presence of an altered label, a control unit actuates the operating group, which removes such label from the supporting tape. The altered label, gradually detached from the supporting tape, is stuck on the collecting element due to the pressing action exerted by the operating roller against the collecting element . In other words, during a removing phase, the altered label results interposed between the operating roller and the collecting element.

Thus, the collecting element, maintained so as to constantly abut the operating roller by means of the elastic elements, accumulates a plurality of altered labels, increasing consequently its own diameter up to a limit value established by an operator.

Once such limit value has been reached, the operator removes and substitutes the collecting element. A disadvantage of the apparatus disclosed above is that the altered labels can not be recovered, because said altered labels result stuck above each other on the cardboard ring and consequently are difficult to be separated. That prevents the altered labels from being examined, for example in order to establish the causes that produced such alterations .

An object of the invention is to improve the apparatuses and the methods for discarding and collecting discarded labels, in particular self-sticking labels.

A further object is to provide an apparatus and a method for diøcarding and collecting labels, which apparatus and method enable the altered, discarded and recovered labels to be examined in simple and rapid manner.

Still another aspect is to produce an apparatus of compact dimensions, of simple and robust construction and having accurate and reliable operation. In a first aspect of the invention, an apparatus, particularly for a labelling machine, for discarding altered or faulty- labels, removably applied on a supporting tape of labels movable along an advancing direction, comprising removing means for removing said altered labels from said supporting tape and collecting means arranged for receiving said altered labels from said removing means, characterized in that said collecting means comprises a further supporting tape suitable for supporting said altered labels. In a second aspect of the invention, a method for discarding altered or faulty labels, removably applied on a supporting tape of labels moved along an advancing direction, comprising the phase of removing said altered labels from said supporting tape and associating said altered labels with collecting means so that said altered labels do not overlap each other. Owing to these aspect of the invention, an apparatus and a method for discarding and collecting altered labels can be obtained that enable said altered labels to be recovered in a simple and rapid manner. Actually, the altered labels collected from the supporting tape are applied after each other on the further supporting tape, driven in phase with the supporting tape, by proper driving means along a further advancing direction opposed to the advancing direction of the supporting tape. Furthermore, the further supporting tape can be wound on a winding reel.

Thus, when the further supporting tape has been exhausted and removed from said winding reel, said winding reel can be unwound in order for all the altered labels to be inspected and analyzed.

The invention can be better understood and carried out with reference to the enclosed drawings that illustrate a preferred, exemplifying and non-restrictive embodiment thereof, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for discarding and collecting labels_/ said apparatus being suitable for being associated with an automatic labelling machine;

- Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a top view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in a first operating configuration; and - Figure 4 is a top view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in a second operating configuration.

With reference to Figures 1 to 4, an apparatus 1 is shown for discarding labels 2, each label 2 being provided with a respective adhesivized surface. The labels 2 are supported, by the adhesive surface thereof, by a first side 15 of a supporting tape 3, suitably unwound from a reel, not shown, along an advancing direction A at a desired advancing speed. Downwards of the apparatus l, with respect to said advancing direction A, a labelling machine, not shown, is provided arranged for applying and attaching the labels 2 on cylindrical or profiled containers, such as bottles, cruets, vials, or similar, for example made of glass, plastics, metal or cardboard. The labels 2 contain, in particular, information concerning the product contained in said containers, such as for example the commercial name and/or a distinguishing image, the number of the production batch, the chemical composition, the dates of packaging and expiration, or similar. According to what is better shown in the figures 1, 2 and 3, the apparatus 1 comprises a supporting plate 4 provided with fastening means 27, for example a clamp, arranged for fastening the apparatus 1 with a frame of said labelling machine.

The supporting plate 4 supports on one first own surface 28 thereof an operating group 5 arranged for removing altered labels 2' (Figure 4) from the supporting tape 3, so that said labels 2' are not erroneously applied on said containers by the labelling machine.

The operating group 5 comprises a sucking element 8, having substantially cylindrical shape, and rotating according to the direction indicated by the first arrow Pl around a first rotation axis Z1.

It is to be noted that the direction of rotation of the sucking element 8 is concurrent with the advancing direction A of the supporting tape 3.

The sucking element 8 is provided with a cylinder 40 defining a suction chamber 9.

According to what is shown in the figures 1 and 2, the cylinder 40 is peripherally delimited by a ring 10 substantially cylindrical provided with a plurality of through slots 11 arranged to allow the suction chamber 9 to communicate with the external environment.

The operating group 5 further comprises separating means 12 arranged for cooperating with the sucking element 8 for separating the altered labels 2' from the supporting tape 3, the separating means 12 being opposed to the sucking element

8.

In other words, in use, the separating means 12 and the sucking element 8 are mutually spaced apart, so as to define a passage 60 through which the supporting tape 3 is sliding.

The separating means 12 comprises an active element 13 having substantially the shape of a parallelepiped extending substantially parallel to the first rotation axis Z1.

The active element 13 is provided with an active edge 14 and is further moving along an operating direction B between a first operating position Wl, shown in Figure 4, wherein the active edge 14 contacts and bends a second side 16 of the supporting tape 3, and a second operating position W2, shown in Figure 3, wherein the active edge 14 does not interact with the second side 16, the second side 16 being opposed to the first side 15 whereon the labels 2 are applied.

In other words, in use, the first side 15 is facing and properly spaced apart from the ring 10, while the second side 16 is facing and properly spaced apart from the active edge 14. La supporting plate 4 further supports on the first surface 28 a collecting group 6 arranged for collecting the altered labels 2' removed from the supporting tape 3. The collecting group 6 comprises a further supporting tape 17 arranged for supporting the altered labels 2' . The further supporting tape 17 is unwound in the direction indicated by the third arrow F3 from a first reel 18 and is wound, provided with altered labels 2' previously removed from the supporting tape 3, on a second reel 22 by means of a moving group 7, also fixed on the first surface 28, the first reel 18 and the second reel 22 being respectively positioned upstream and downstream of the sucking element 8 with respect to a further advancing direction C (figure 4) of the further supporting tape 17 opposed to the advancing direction A. The moving group 7 is positioned between the sucking element 8 and the second reel 22 and comprises a pair of driving rollers 70 arranged for driving by friction the further supporting tape 17.

According to what is shown in the figures 1 and 4, the driving rollers 70 comprise a motor roller 23 rotating around a second rotation axis Z2 in the direction indicated by the second arrow F2, the second rotation axis 22 being substantially parallel to the first rotation axis Z1. It is to be noted that the direction of rotation (arrow P2) of the motor roller 23 is opposed to the direction of rotation (arrow Pl) of the sucking element 8.

The driving rollers 70 further comprise an idle roller 24 provided with an external knurled surface 41 in order to better drive the further supporting tape 17. The idle roller 24 faces, and is properly spaced apart from, the motor roller 23 and is free to rotate around one its own rotation axis substantially parallel to the second rotation axis Z2.

According to what is shown in the figure 1, the moving group

7 further comprises a supporting element 71 having substantially shape of upside-down "L" and comprising a first supporting element 72, substantially parallel to the first

Thus, the driving rollers 70 result interposed and rotationally supported between the supporting plate 4 and the

the motor roller 23 between a working position for tightening and driving said further supporting tape 17 and a disengaging position in order to substitute said further supporting tape 17, by means of, for example, a knob 25 associated with an end 26 of the idle roller 24 and positioned above the second supporting element 75.

Thus, the mutual distance between the idle roller 24 and the motor roller 23 can be varied and consequently the width of the slot can be varied, for example in order to more easily insert a new further supporting tape 17 in the apparatus 1. The apparatus 1 further comprises a first tensioning roller

19 and a second tensioning roller 20 positioned on the first surface 28 of the supporting plate 4.

In particular, the first tensioning roller 19 is substantially faced to the active element 13 and cooperates with this latter, properly positioned in the first operating position Wl, in order to bend the supporting tape 3 with an angle of curvature such as to detach the altered label 2', while the second tensioning roller 20 is substantially interposed between the sucking element 8 and the first reel 18.

Furthermore, the first tensioning roller 19 and the second tensioning roller 20 are free to rotate around to respective rotation axes substantially parallel to the first rotation axis Z1. Thus, as shown in figures 3 and 4, Ia first reel 18, the first tensioning roller 19, the second tensioning roller 20, a peripheral portion 21 of the cylinder 10, the driving rollers 70, and the second reel 22 cooperate in defining an advancing path D for the further supporting tape 17. The supporting plate 4 is further provided with a second surface 30 (figure 2), opposed to the first surface 28, arranged for supporting a motorizing group 31. The motorizing group 31 comprises a motor, for example an electric stepper motor 32, arranged for actuating to rotate, by means of a plurality of gears, not shown, the sucking element 8, the motor roller 23, and Ia second reel 22, as that will be better disclosed in the following. The apparatus 1 is further provided with tensioning means, not shown, arranged for maintaining the further supporting tape 17 at a proper tension during unwinding from the first reel 18 and during winding on the second reel 22 along the path D.

In particular, the tensioning means comprises first speed regulating means, for example brake means, associated with the first reel 18 and second speed regulating means associated with the second reel 22. The second speed regulating means, comprising for example a clutch, is arranged for regulating a peripheral speed of the second reel 22, by properly engaging and disengaging the clutch according to the diameter of the second reel 22, i.e. according to the amount of further supporting tape 17 wound around said second reel 22.

It is to be noted that, when the second regulating means were not present, the peripheral speed of the second reel 22 would continue to increase while the further supporting tape 17 would wind around said second reel 22, while the speed of rotation of the sucking element 8 and the motor roller 23 would remain constant.

That would involve an excessive tensioning of the further supporting tape 17 that could damage itself, and in the more severe cases, could tear.

According to what is shown in the figures 3 and 4, the apparatus 1 is further provided with a first sensor 34 positioned upstream of the operating group 5 with respect to the advancing direction A of the supporting tape 3. The first sensor 34 is arranged for detecting possible alterations present on the labels 2 and sending, when such alterations were found, a proper turning-on signal to the motorizing group 31, The apparatus 1 further comprises a second sensor 35, positioned between the first reel 18 and the second tensioning roller 20, arranged for detecting the presence of the further supporting tape 17 and sending to a control unit, not shown, an exhausted signal of the further supporting tape 17 for enabling this latter to be promptly substituted. In the following the operation of the apparatus 1 is described with particular reference to the Figures 3 and 4. In the figure 3 the apparatus 1 is shown in a first operating configuration indicated with H1, wherein the first sensor 34 does not detect any altered label 2'. In the first operating configuration Hl, the active element 13 is positioned in the second operating position W2 at a proper distance from the supporting tape 3 and the motorizing group 31 does not actuate the operating group 5. In other words, while the supporting tape 3 proceeds along the advancing direction A at the pre-established advancing speed, the further supporting tape 17 is stationary.

In the figure 4 the apparatus 1 is shown in a second operating configuration indicated with H2, wherein the first sensor 34 has detected an altered label 2': In the case of altered label 2' , the first sensor 34 sends a turning-on signal to the motorizing group 31, that starts the stepper motor 32 in phase with the advancing speed of the supporting tape 3.

In other words, the supporting tape 17 is moved along the further advancing direction C at an operating speed substantially equal to the advancing speed of the supporting tape 3.

Still in phase with the advancing speed of the tape 3, the separating element 13 is further actuated, which separating element 13 is positioned in the first operating position Wl in such a manner that the active edge 14 intercepts a border portion 50 of the altered label 2'.

Still in phase with the advancing speed of the tape 3, the sucking element 8 is rotated in such a manner that a peripheral speed of this latter element 8 is substantially equal to the advancing speed of the same tape 3, and the suction chamber 9 is activated producing a vacuum pressure substantially at the slots 11 of the ring 10. Thus, when the active edge 14 of the separating element 13 contacts a portion of the second surface 16 of the supporting tape 3 opposed to, and substantially at the edge portion 50 of the altered label 2', the element 8 cooperates with the first tensioning roller 19 in order to subject the supporting tape 3 to an abrupt change of trajectory that facilitates the detachment of the edge portion 50 of the altered label 2' from the respective supporting tape 3.

At this point, the edge portion 50 raised by the active edge 14 is maintained in contact with an external surface 80 of the ring 10 at a plurality of slots 11, facing said edge portion 50 and acting as suction cups.

Thus, the supporting tape 3, advancing along the advancing direction A, cooperates with the active element 13, the first tensioning roller 19 and the sucking element 8 in removing the altered label 2' from the supporting tape 3. The sucking element 8 retains and drives the altered label 2' over an angular sector of said sucking element 8, until the adhesive surface of said label 2' , pressed between the external surface 80 of the ring 10 and a portion of the further tape 17 opposed to the same external surface 80, sticks on the supporting tape 17- It is to be noted that the stepper motor 32 drives the further tape 17 by an extent such that the altered label 2' results properly attached on said further tape 17. Subsequently, when the altered label 2' has been stuck on the further supporting tape 17, the apparatus 1 moves automatically back to the first operating configuration H1, i.e. the stepper motor 32 stops, the suction chamber 9 deactivates and the active element 13 repositions itself in the second operating position W2.

It is to be noted that advantageously, where a further altered label 2' were detected, the stepper motor 32 would be activated so as to stick the further altered label 2' on the further supporting tape 17 at a proper distance from the previous altered label 2' so that the further altered label 2' does not overlap the previous altered label 2' , and so on for any subsequent detected altered label 2' . Thus, when the second sensor 35 has sent an exhausted signal of the further supporting tape 17, said further supporting tape 17 can be removed from the second reel 22, can be unwound and all the altered labels 2' positioned in a row after each other can be easily analyzed, in order to verify the reasons of the discard.

The so conceived invention is capable of various changes and variations, all falling in the scope of the inventive concept; all the details may furthermore substituted by technically equivalent elements.

Claims

1. Apparatus (1), particularly for a labelling machine, for discarding altered or faulty labels (2'), removably applied on a supporting tape (3) of labels (2, 2') movable along an advancing direction (A), comprising removing means (5) for removing said altered labels (2') from said supporting tape (3) and collecting means (6) arranged for receiving said altered labels (2') from said removing means (5), characterized in that said collecting means (6) comprises a further supporting tape (17) suitable for supporting said altered labels (2' ) .

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising supporting means (4) arranged for supporting said removing means (5) and said collecting means (6) .

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by comprising moving means (7) supported by said supporting means <4) and arranged for moving said further supporting tape (17) along a further advancing direction (C) with a desired operating speed.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said further advancing direction (C) is opposed to said advancing direction (A).

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, or 4, wherein said operating speed is substantially equal to an advancing speed of said supporting tape (3) .

6. Apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein said moving means (7) comprises driving roller means (70) arranged for moving said further supporting tape (17) .

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said driving roller means (70) comprises a motor roller (23) routable around a rotation axis (Z2).

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said driving roller means (70) comprises an idle roller (24) extending substantially parallel to and facing said motor roller (23), said idle roller (24) being arranged for cooperating with said motor roller (23) for moving said further supporting tape (17 ) .

9. Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein said driving roller means (70) comprises a knurled surface (41) .

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said knurled surface is an external surface (41) of said idle roller (24) .

11. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein said idle roller (24) and said motor roller (23) are mutually movable near, to and/or away from each other between a working position for tightening and moving said further supporting tape (17) , and a disengaging position wherein said idle roller (24) and said motor roller (23) are spaced apart for enabling said further supporting tape (17) to pass freely.

12. Apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 11, characterized by comprising first reel means (18) arranged for supporting a roll of said further supporting tape (17) void of said altered labels (2')_f said roll being arranged for being unwound from said first reel means (IS) by means of said moving means (7) .

13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims l to 12, characterized by comprising second reel means (22) arranged for receiving said further supporting tape (17) provided with said altered labels (2').

14. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 13_/ wherein said removing means (5) comprises retaining means (8) for removing and retaining said altered labels (2').

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said- retaining means comprises sucking means (8) having shape of suction cup.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said sucking element (8) is routable around a further rotation axis (Z1) substantially parallel to said rotation axis (22) .

17. Apparatus according to claims 5 and 15, or 5 and 16, wherein said sucking element (8) rotates with a peripheral speed substantially equal to said advancing speed.

18. Apparatus according to any of claims 15 to 17, wherein said sucking element (8) comprises a cylindrical element (40) defining a suction chamber (9) .

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said sucking element (8) comprises a cylindrical ring (10) peripherally delimiting said cylindrical element (40) .

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said ring (10) is provided with a plurality of through slots (ll) arranged to allow said suction chamber (9) to communicate with an external environment.

21. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 20. wherein said removing means (5) comprises movable separating means (12) arranged for acting on said supporting tape (3) so as to detach said altered labels (2') from said supporting tape (3) .

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said separating means (12) is actuated in phase with said retaining means (8) and with said advancing speed.

23. Apparatus according to claim 21 or 22, wherein said separating means (12) is opposed to said retaining means (8) .

24. Apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 23, wherein said separating means (12) comprises an active element (13) movable along an operating direction (B) between a first operating position (Wl) wherein said active element (13) contacts and bends said supporting tape (3) and a second operating position (W2) , wherein said active element (13) does not interact with said supporting tape (3) .

25. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 24, wherein tensioning roller means (19, 20) is provided for tensioning said further supporting tape (17) .

26. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said tensioning roller means (19, 20) comprises a first tensioning roller (19) arranged facing said active element (13) and cooperating with said active element (13) in said first operating position (Wi) for bending said supporting tape (3) ,

27. Apparatus according to any of claims 25 to 26, wherein said first reel means (18), said tensioning roller means (19, 20), said retaining means (8) , said moving means (7) and said second reel means (22) cooperate for defining an advancing path (D) of said further supporting tape (17) ,

28. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 27, wherein tensioning means is provided for tensioning said further supporting tape (17) .

29. Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said tensioning means comprises first speed regulating means associated with said first reel means (18) and arranged for regulating an unwinding speed of said further supporting tape (17) from said first reel means (18) .

30. Method for discarding altered or faulty labels (2' ) , removably applied on a supporting tape (3) of labels (2, 2') moved along an advancing direction (A) , comprising the phase of removing said altered labels (2' ) from said supporting tape

(3) and associating said altered labels (2') with collecting means (17) so that said altered labels (2') do not overlap each other.

31. Method according to claim 30, wherein said associating comprises moving said collecting means (17) in phase with an advancing speed of said supporting tape (3) along said advancing direction (A) .

32. Method according to claim 31, wherein said moving the collecting means (17) comprises moving said collecting means (17) according to a further advancing direction (C) opposed to said advancing direction (A) .

33. Method according to any of claims 30 to 32, wherein said associating comprises arranging said altered labels (2' ) on said collecting means (17) so as to substantially define a row.

34. Method according to any of claims 30 to 33, wherein said removing is substantially in phase with a displacement of said supporting tape (3) along said advancing direction (A) .

35. Method according to any of claims 30 to 34, wherein said removing comprises bending said supporting tape (3) .

36. Method according to claim 35, wherein said removing further comprises, substantially simultaneously with said bending, retaining a face of said altered labels (2'), by means of retaining means.

37. Method according to any of claims 30 to 36, wherein before said removing, there is provided detecting said altered labels (2') .

38. Apparatus for discarding altered or faulty labels, substantially as described and disclosed with reference to the enclosed figures.

39. Method for discarding altered or faulty labels, substantially as described and disclosed with reference to the enclosed figures.