WO2015160301A1

WO2015160301A1 - Proceeding for label applying and a device for accomplish the same

Info

Publication number: WO2015160301A1
Application number: PCT/SE2015/050424
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerard Dijkstra; Jonas SÖDERGÅRD
Original assignee: Autolabel Ab
Priority date: 2014-04-16
Filing date: 2015-04-09
Publication date: 2015-10-22
Also published as: SE1450469A1; SE537983C2; EP3131821A4; EP3131821A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a proceeding for the application of labels (B) onto products (E) moving in a flow past an application station (H) for said labels (B) by means of a product conveyor (D). According to the invention, there being applied label (B) to, and delivered label (B) from, respectively, a common label-receiving and label-applying conveyor (I) at different speeds. The invention also concerns a device (K) for accomplishing the proceeding.

Description

Proceeding for labelapplying and a device for accomplish the same

The present invention concerns a

proceeding for the application of labels onto products, which are moving in a flow past an application station for said labels by means of a product conveyor.

Furthermore, the invention concerns a device for accomplishing a proceeding of the indicated kind.

In industrial labelling of products by intended labels in a flow wherein the products are brought forward by means of a conveyor intended therefor, e.g., a belt conveyor, adjustability of the placement of the label onto the product is important. Different requirements of label placement are made in different applications, particularly in packages having small size and where accordingly the label must not end up outside the edge limits of the package. Often, there may be requirements of being able to manage label placement within a margin of down to 0,5-1 mm.

Known solutions therefor often comprise some form of sensor, which is arranged to record the product that is to be provided with a label and the position of the product. By a set-up which prints labels and also applies the same to intended products in correct position, it is attempted to provide said application in the best way by a number of sensors.

Crucial for the accuracy of targeting is handling of label from printer, via applicator onto the front of the product to be labelled. This is usually- carried out by simple technique and by simple control of electronics and mechanics. This may create slipping between label, applicator and product, which may cause varying accuracy of targeting in repeated labelling of label up to 10 mm and more.

It is partly the friction on the surfaces of said products that creates the slipping, but also quality of label material and the adhesive on the labels may influence the repeatability. Foremost, it is the friction between the label and the applicator, contra the friction between the label and the sub paper, onto which the label is pasted, that influence the application tolerance when intended speeds, X2 and XI, are varying.

Embodiments of prior art within the technical fields of the invention comprise label printers or label dispensers, which may be of arbitrary model.

Often, so-called thermal transfer printers are used in so- called "print and apply applications" when a label is to be applied onto a product.

Applicator used to transport label to product may be of different model and be based on

different techniques, and combinations of techniques:

linear or rotary movements, driving belts or bands and blow-off nozzles.

By DE 19533775 Al a proceeding and a device, respectively, are previously known for applying printed labels onto objects passed by a said application device. The labels are in that connection printed by means of printer built-up by microcomputer technique. In doing so, different printing rates for printing text and images and logo, respectively, are employed to obtain high- quality print. The applicator of the labels is also idle, only turnable or displaceable , as is shown in Fig. 3 and in Fig. 4, respectively, which entails that the length of the labels is limited to end up correctly on intended object onto which they are applied.

Label application apparatus known by GB 1235207 A comprises a number of reels and mechanisms to move the label from a label pile in a magazine to a label roller for adhesion application onto the labels at varying speed.

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is primarily to solve said problems simply and efficiently and using reliably working means therefor.

Said object is achieved by means of a proceeding of the above, indicated type, and by a device of the above-mentioned kind, respectively, which

essentially are characterized by,

there being applied label to, and

delivered label from, respectively, a common label- receiving and label -applying conveyor at different speeds by there being utilized a combined label-receiving and label-applying conveyor which is allowed to run at different fixed speeds and said combined label -receiving and label-applying conveyor is driven at essentially the same speed as the label is fed onto said combined label- receiving and label-applying conveyor and as the label is applied onto product, respectively, which is supported by and which the product conveyor transports upon the application of a said label onto a product being

transported past said combined label-receiving and label- applying conveyor, first the product in question being recorded by a sensor, that, in connection with said registration of the product in question, a printer is started for the printout of label for said product and/or that feed-out of a label in question to said common label - receiving and label -applying conveyor is provided, and that, thereupon, said label is applied onto the product in question, said common label -receiving and label -applying conveyor being arranged to be driven at the same speed as at which the product in question is transported past the application station,

and that a combined label-receiving and label -applying conveyor, respectively, having different speeds adapted to receiving occasion and application occasion, respectively, for a label in question, is situated along the path of travel of the product conveyor, that said combined label-receiving and label -applying conveyor is formed of belt or band conveyor and having blowing function for the retention of labels thereon by vacuum or fan in reverse position, i.e., with the adhesive side turned from the conveyor in question, and that sensor is arranged to record the positions of the products, and that the operation of said combined label-receiving and label -applying conveyor is interconnected to be actuated thereby.

The invention is described below as example in the form of preferred embodiment, reference being made to the appended drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a label -applying set-up intended for the application of labels from above, and

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of a label -applying set-up intended for the application of labels from below onto transported products.

Embodiments of technique within the technical field of the invention comprise label printers or label dispensers, which may be of arbitrary model.

Suitably, so-called thermal transfer printers are used in so-called "print and apply applications" when a label is to be applied onto a product.

Applicators which are used to transport labels to the products may be of different model and be based on different techniques, and combinations of

techniques: linear or rotary movements, driving belts or bands, and having blow-off nozzles.

According to the present invention, in an intended proceeding, for the application of labels B onto products E moving in a flow past an application station H for said labels B by means of a product conveyor D, said label B is applied onto and said label B is delivered from, respectively, a common label-receiving and label- applying conveyor I driven at different speeds X1-X3.

More precisely, a combined label-receiving and label-applying conveyor I is utilized, which is allowed to run at different fixed speeds X1-X3 and said combined label-receiving and label-applying conveyor I is driven at essentially the same speed XI and X3 ,

respectively, as the label B is fed onto said combined label-receiving and label-applying conveyor I and as the label B is applied onto product E, respectively, which is supported by and which the product conveyor D transports upon the application of a said label B onto a product E being transported past said combined label-receiving and label-applying conveyor I.

In that connection, first the product E in question is recorded by a sensor 1 and that, in connection with the registration of the product E in question, a printer A is started for the printout of a label B for said product E and/or that feed-out of a label B in question to said common label-receiving and label-applying conveyor I is provided from a dispenser therefor.

Thereupon, said label B is applied onto the product E in question, said common label-receiving and label-applying conveyor I being arranged to be driven at the same speed X3 as at which the product E in question is transported past the application station H.

The speed X2 of said common label- receiving and label-applying conveyor I is adapted to the speed XI at which the printer A feeds out the label B upon printout so that not until after the entire label B has been fed out on said common label-receiving and label- applying conveyor I its speed X2 is changed so that it corresponds to the speed X3 at which the product E in question is transported past the application station H, the application speed X2 of label B in question from the common label-receiving and label-applying conveyor I corresponding to said transportation speed X3 of the product E past the application station H.

At least two different speeds X1-X3 are utilized, a lower speed XI being utilized upon receipt of a label B from the printer A, whereupon said combined label-receiving and label-applying conveyor I is

accelerated after stopping the same or that a further sensor 2 has recorded the product E, or after an arbitrary time interval.

To sum up, it may be said that upon printout of the label by a printer A, there are utilised a printer A and an applicator C in which a said common label-receiving and label-applying conveyor I is included. A label B is printed by the printer. Labels are

transported by the applicator C, from the printer A to the product E to be labelled. The product E is transported by a conveyor D.

The product E is in that connection first recorded by a sensor 1, which begins printout of label B from the printer A. Speed XI at which the printer A feeds out the label B upon printout is matched with speed of the applicator I. Not until after the entire label B has been fed out from the printer A, or from a dispenser, not shown, but before the label B thereof has reached the product E, which is intended to be labelled by a label B, the applicator C changes its speed X2 to the same speed X3 as the conveyor D has, until a label B is placed on the object E. Change to higher speed for driving the

applicator C between speed XI and X3 takes place by an acceleration. This acceleration may be preceded by a stop of the applicator C to wait for the product E being recorded by sensor 2 or until arbitrary time has passed.

A device K, which is utilized for

accomplishing a proceeding for the application of labels B onto products E moving in a flow past an application station H for said labels B by means of a product conveyor D comprises a combined label-receiving and label-applying conveyor I having different speeds X1-X3 adapted to receiving occasion 10 and application occasion 20, respectively, for a label in question B and which is situated along the path of travel of the product conveyor D.

Said combined label-receiving and label- applying conveyor I is formed of belt or band conveyor and having blowing function for the retention of labels thereon by vacuum or fan in reverse position, i.e., with the adhesive side of the label turned in the direction from the conveyor I in question, and suitably said combined label -receiving and label-applying conveyor I is driven by a stepping motor. Also a servomotor would work equally well.

Sensor 1, 2 is arranged to record the positions of the intended objects E, and the operation of said combined label-receiving and label-applying conveyor I is interconnected to be actuated thereby.

The applicator C is based on motor driven belts or bands G, which transport the label B. The label B is kept in place on the applicator by vacuum suction or fan under label B. The labels B are located with the adhesive side turned out from bands or belts of the applicator C.

Speed of printer A, applicator C, and conveyor I may be predetermined or be controlled

arbitrarily by the system. The design of the invention does not limit this. Normally, a printer/dispenser feeds out labels between 100 and 500 mm/s . Conveyors of products normally run in speeds between 300 and 1000 mm/s. The applicator then has to at least manage speeds in these ranges .

The motor operation may consist of a so- called stepping motor which intelligently can control acceleration and speed ever so accurately and reliably. Since a stepping motor is controlled step by step, it will not lose its position because of impact of friction or load, as long as the maximal torque of the motor is not exceeded .

The transition between the speed XI and X3 and a possibly stop therebetween can then be managed in a controlled way. If the label is not stopped on the

applicator, the controlled process means that it will always take equally long time from the moment the label has left the printer/dispenser until it hits the object to be labelled. If the label is stopped on the applicator while waiting for the object to be labelled to reach sensor 2, the controlled process means that the label always stops at the same spot of the applicator, and that it always takes equally long time from that the applicator restarts in speed X3 until the label hits the object to be labelled. These processes affect accuracy and

repeatability of handling of label for the invention in question.

Placement of label is managed by the invention to be attached with tolerance within 0,5-1 mm upon repeating labelling of products in a flow. This tolerance may be important, for example when objects to be labelled and label are of similar size. Then it is

important that the label hits correctly and does not project outside the packet. Also when the objects are transported at high speeds, prior art gives impaired precision. In addition, when label placement for design reasons should be accurate, the invention entails an advantage. In these cases, the invention entails advantage and high performance .

Labelling by the invention may take place on optional side of optional object, by optional

transportation of the object. Printer and applicator are positioned according to needs and are not governed by the design of the invention.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the

accompanying drawings. Modifications are feasible, particularly as for the nature of the different parts, or by usage of equivalent technique, without departing from the protection area of the invention, such as it is defined in the claims

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Proceeding for the application of labels

(B) onto products (E) moving in a flow past an application station (H) for said labels (B) by means of a product conveyor (D) ,

characterized in that there being applied label (B) to, and delivered label (B) from, respectively, a common label -receiving and label-applying conveyor (I) at

different speeds (X1-X3) by there being utilized a

combined label-receiving and label -applying conveyor (I) which is allowed to run at different fixed speeds (X1-X3) and said combined label -receiving and label -applying conveyor (I) is driven at essentially the same speed (XI and X3 , respectively,) as the label (B) is fed onto said combined label-receiving and label -applying conveyor (I) and as the label (B) is applied onto product (E) ,

respectively, which is supported by and which the product conveyor (D) transports upon the application of a said label (B) onto a product (E) being transported past said combined label -receiving and label -applying conveyor (I) , first the product (E) in question being recorded by a sensor (1) , that, in connection with said registration of the product (E) in question, a printer (A) is started for the printout of label (B) for said product (E) and/or that feed-out of a label (B) in question to said common label- receiving and label -applying conveyor (I) is provided, and that, thereupon, said label (B) is applied onto the product in question, said common label-receiving and label-applying conveyor (I) being arranged to be driven at the same speed (X2) as at which the product (E) in

question is transported past the application station (H) .

2. Proceeding according to claim 1,

characterized in that the speed (X2) of said common label - receiving and label -ap lying conveyor (I) is adapted at which the printer (A) feeds out the label (B) upon

printout so that not until after the entire label (B) has been fed out on said common label -receiving and label - applying conveyor (I) its speed is changed so that it corresponds to the speed (X3) at which the product (E) in question is transported past the application station, the application speed (X3) of label in question from said common label-receiving and label -applying conveyor (I) corresponding to said transportation speed (X3) of the product (E) past the application station (H) .

3. Proceeding according to claim 2,

characterized in that at least two different speeds (XI, X3) are utilized, a lower speed (XI) being utilized upon receipt of a label (B) from the printer (A) .

4. Proceeding according to claim 3,

characterized in that said combined label-receiving and label -applying conveyor (I) is accelerated after stopping the same or that a further sensor (2) has recorded the product (E) , or after an arbitrary time interval.

5. Device for accomplishing a proceeding for the application of labels (B) onto products (E) moving in a flow past an application station (H) for said labels (B) by means of a product conveyor (D) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that a combined label- receiving and label -applying conveyor (I) , having

different speeds adapted to receiving occasion and

application occasion, respectively, for a label (B) in question, is situated along the path of travel of the product conveyor (D) , that said combined label -receiving and label-applying conveyor (I) is formed of belt or band conveyor and having blowing function for the retention of labels thereon by vacuum or fan in reverse position, i.e., with the adhesive side turned from the conveyor (I) in question, and that sensor (1, 2) is arranged to record the positions of the products, and that the operation of said combined label -receiving and label -applying conveyor (I) is interconnected to be actuated thereby. 6 Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said combined label-receiving and label -applying conveyor (I) is driven by a stepping motor or a

servomotor .