WO2023209361A1

WO2023209361A1 - Labelling apparatus and method for labelling

Info

Publication number: WO2023209361A1
Application number: PCT/GB2023/051095
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Drury; James Ainsworth; Will Bushnell
Original assignee: Marel Limited
Priority date: 2022-04-26
Filing date: 2023-04-25
Publication date: 2023-11-02

Abstract

A labelling apparatus comprising a label feeder configured to dispense label material, a label separator configured to separate a label from the label material, a label transfer belt to continuously convey the label in a first direction from the label separator to an item conveyor belt, and a printer configured to print on one or more print zones of the label as the label is continuously conveyed by the transfer belt.

Description

LABELLING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LABELLING

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a labelling apparatus and a method for labelling. In particular, but not exclusively, it relates to a pack labelling machine providing printing for items such as food packaging which is being conveyed on a conveyor.

Aspects of the invention relate to a labelling machine and a method for labelling an item.

BACKGROUND

Labelling devices are known that are capable of automatically labelling items, products, or packages, such as food products from a production line. Labelling devices may further provide the capability to print onto a label prior to application to the item, product, or package, for example to provide best before dates and item weights and prices on the label.

It is an aim of the present invention to address at least some of the disadvantages associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a labelling apparatus, and a method of labelling an item, as claimed in the appended claims.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a labelling apparatus comprising: a label feeder configured to dispense label material; a label separator configured to separate a label from the label material; a label transfer belt to continuously convey the label in a first direction from the label separator to an item conveyor belt; and a printer configured to print on one or more print zones of the label as the label is continuously conveyed by the label transfer belt. An advantage of this invention is that throughput of labels to be applied to items on the item conveyor belt can be increased by minimising or eliminating the static time of the label during printing and minimising or eliminating the time required to accelerate and decelerate the label during printing. Such an advantage can be observed from the invention without the need to increase the apparatus length or size.

The label may be configured to be conveyed on the label transfer belt in the first direction leading with a wide edge of the label. The label may comprise a linerless label material. The label may comprise a pre-printed portion.

The printer may comprise one or more non-contact print head. The, or each, print head may comprise an inkjet print head. An advantage of this feature is that the printing is contactless and can be carried out whilst the label is in motion. Another advantage of this feature is that the printing can be conducted at a range of speeds with the inkjet print frequency varying to maintain placement accuracy of printed ink dots from the inkjet head thereby reducing or avoiding image distortion.

The printer may comprise one or more printing modules, each of the one or more printing modules being arranged to print on a respective designated print area of the label.

The, or each, printing module may comprise one or more static print head, the, or each, static print head being configured to address a portion of the respective designated print area of the label.

Each of the one or more printing modules may be positioned at any point across the width of the label transfer belt to correspond to a respective designated print area of the label. An advantage of this feature is that different label designs can be printed upon by repositioning the printing modules prior to printing of the labels.

One or more of the one or more respective designated print areas may be oriented to be conveyed on the label transfer belt in the first direction leading with a short edge of the designated print area. One or more of the one or more respective designated print areas may be oriented to be conveyed on the label transfer belt in the first direction leading with a wide edge of the designated print area. An advantage of these features is that information may be printed in a different orientation in different designated print areas. The diameter of a belt wheel at a terminating end of the label transfer belt in the first direction may be below a threshold diameter whereby the label is caused to disengage from the label transfer belt and transfer to an item on the item conveyor belt.

The labelling apparatus may comprise a label tucker configured to fold the label around at least one side portion of the item to which the label is transferred, following transfer of the label to the item on the item conveyor belt.

One or more of the one or more designated print areas may be located on the label in a location which is configured to be folded onto a side or the bottom of the item or product.

The width of the label transfer belt may be greater than the width of the item conveyor belt.

The relative velocity between the label transfer belt and the item conveyor belt may vary to synchronise the application of the label to an item on the item conveyor belt. An advantage of this feature is that erroneous label positioning can be minimised.

The label transfer belt may move in the first direction at a constant velocity. Alternatively, the label transfer belt may move in the first direction at a variable non-zero velocity in order to synchronise the application of the label to the item on the item conveyor belt.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method of labelling an item, comprising: dispensing label material from a label feeder; separating a label from the label material; continuously conveying the label in a first direction along a label transfer belt; and printing on one or more print zones of the label as the label is continuously conveyed by the label transfer belt. An advantage of this invention is that throughput of labels to be applied to items on the item conveyor belt can be increased by minimising or eliminating the static time of the label during printing and minimising or eliminating the time required to accelerate and decelerate the label during printing.

The label may comprise a linerless label material.

The printing may be carried out by one or more printing modules, each of the one or more printing modules printing on a respective designated print area of the label. The printing may be performed by a non-contact printer.

The method of labelling a product may comprise disengaging the label from the label transfer belt to transfer the label to an item on an item conveyor belt.

The method of labelling a product may comprise folding the label around at least one side portion of the item to which the label is transferred, following transfer of the label to the item on the item conveyor belt.

The method of labelling a product may comprise varying the relative velocity between the label transfer belt and the item conveyor belt to synchronise the application of the label to the item on the conveyor belt. An advantage of this feature is that erroneous label positioning can be minimised.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a print head comprising an ink supply, the print head for use in the printer of the apparatus according to any preceding aspect.

Within the scope of this application, it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples, and alternatives, set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a labelling apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates label material and a label according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 illustrates a labelling apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 illustrates a printer according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 illustrates a labelling apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 6 is a flow diagram of the method of labelling an item according to an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, like parts are denoted by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Examples of the present disclosure relate to a labelling apparatus. In particular, examples of the present disclosure relate to a labelling apparatus for printing labels and applying the printed labels to items on a conveyor belt. Non-limiting examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The figures illustrate a labelling apparatus 10. The labelling apparatus 10 is intended for use in an item or product packaging arrangement, in particular a product packaging arrangement suitable for packaging food items.

Figure 1 is an illustration of a labelling apparatus 10. The labelling apparatus 10 comprises a label feed module 20, wherein the label feed module 20 comprises label feed means 22 in the form of a label feeder 22, and label separation means 30 in the form of a label separator 30.

The labelling apparatus 10 comprises a label transfer module 40. The label transfer module 40 comprises label transfer means 42 in the form of a label transfer belt 42 and printing means 50 in the form of a printer 50. The label transfer module 40 conveys labels 28 along length of the label transfer belt 42 in a first direction 44. The label feeder 22 is arranged or configured to dispense label material 24. The label feeder 22 may comprise a roll of label material 24 on a reel, as illustrated in Figure 1 and more clearly illustrated in the perspective view of Figure 2, or a stack of label material 24. The label feeder 22 is arranged or configured to dispense, at a free end 26 of the roll or stack of label material 24, enough label material 24 to form a single label 28. In Figure 1 the label 28 is shown already formed by the operation of the label feed module 20 and positioned on the label transfer belt 42.

Each label 28 may be dispensed from the roll or stack of label material 24 in response to the detection of a product or item 60 on an associated item conveyor belt 62, such that each item 60 on the item conveyor belt 62 can be provided with a single label 28 at an appropriate time. The dispense of a label 28 from the label material 24 is therefore non-continuous, but occurs only when a label 28 has been detected to be required.

The conveyor belt 62 may be located beneath the label feed module 20. The label feeder 22 dispenses individual labels 28 intermittently in synchronisation with the detection of products or items 60 on the item conveyor belt 62 which are travelling along the conveyor belt 62 in a second direction 64. Sensor 66 on the item conveyor belt 62 may detect the presence of, and may measure certain parameters of, items 60 on the item conveyor belt 62. For example, the weight of an item 60 can be measured by a sensor 66 such that if the item 60 is of a weight that is outside of desired parameters, for example too light or too heavy for a particular product, then a label 28 may not be provided to that item 60. The position of an item 60 on the item conveyor belt 62 may be detected or measured such that the dispensing of a label 28 from the labelling apparatus 10 may be synchronised with the item 60 on the item conveyor belt 62.

The label separator 30 is arranged or configured to separate a label 28 from the label material 24. The label separator 30 may comprise a cutting device 32, such as a guillotine, for cutting the label material 24 to separate an individual label 28 from the roll or stack of label material 24.

Alternatively, the label separator 30 may comprise a tensioner to provide a force to a free end 26 of the roll or stack of label material 24 in order to separate an individual label 28 from the roll or stack of label material 24. In the latter scenario the roll or stack or label material 24 may be perforated across the width of the label material 24, at spaced apart positions along the length of the label material 24, each set of perforations delineating one label 28 from a next label 28 on the roll or stack of label material 24.

The label transfer module 40 comprises a label transfer belt 42 to continuously convey the label 28 in a first direction 44 from the label separator 30 to an item conveyor belt 62. The label transfer belt 42 may be in continuous motion when the labelling apparatus 10 is active, or in continuous motion from a time when a label is presented to the label transfer belt 42, until a time when the label has been dispensed from the label transfer belt 42 onto an item 60 on the item conveyor belt 62. In either case, a label 28 on the label transfer belt 42 is in continuous motion when on the label transfer belt 42. Therefore, the label 28 transfers from the non- continuous movement of the label feed module 20 to the continuous movement of the label transfer module 40.

The printer 50 is located above the label transfer belt 42 and is arranged or configured to print onto the label 28 during its travel along the label transfer belt 42. The printer 50 is arranged or configured to print on one or more print areas or zones 52, 54, 56 of the label 28 as the label 28 is continuously conveyed by the label transfer belt 42. By continuously moving the label 28 along the label transfer belt 42, the throughput of labels 28 to be applied to items 60 on the item conveyor belt 62 can be increased by eliminating the static time of the label 28 during printing, and by minimising or eliminating the deceleration and acceleration of the label 28 during printing. Thus, by providing continuously moving labels 28 through the printer 50 there is less requirement to increase speed of label production by, for example, adding additional label printing lines to the labelling apparatus.

Dependent on the separation of items 60 on the item conveyor belt 62, the label feeder 22 may dispense, and the label separator 30 may separate, a plurality of labels 28 to be passed to the label transfer belt 42, such that the label transfer belt 42 may retain and convey multiple labels 28 at the same time.

Labels 28 which are separated from the label material 24 may be arranged or configured to be conveyed on the label transfer belt 42 in the first direction 44 leading with a wide edge 58 of the label 28, such labels 28 may be termed wide edge leading labels 28. The wide edge 58 of the label 28 is, as shown in Figure 2, the long edge of the label, with the shorter edge of the label 28 being perpendicular to the wide edge 58. In some embodiments, the label material 24 may be linerless, such that the labels 28 formed from the label material 24 are linerless labels 28.

The linerless label material 24 may have an adhesive disposed on a lower surface 68, or back side, which lower surface 68 is intended to engage with an item 60 to which the label 28 is to be applied. The adhesive may be of sufficient strength to ensure adhesion of the label 28 to the label transfer belt 42 during conveyance of the label 28 in the first direction 44 from the label separator 30 to the item conveyor belt 62, in particular to be sufficiently adhered to the label transfer belt 42 to avoid movement of the label 28 relative to the label transfer belt 42 during acceleration and transfer of the label 28.

The label transfer belt 42 may be formed of, or coated with, a material which allows adhesion of the label 28 to the label transfer belt 42 but also facilitate separation of the label 28 from the label transfer belt 42 at a terminating end 70 of the label transfer belt 42 in the first direction 44. For example, the label transfer belt 42 may be formed of, or coated with, a non-stick, or low friction, material.

The adhesive may be of a strength, which, in combination with the non-stick or low friction surface of the label transfer belt 42, facilitates separation of the label 28 from the label transfer belt 42 at the terminating end 70 of the label transfer belt 42 in the first direction 44, such that the label 28 can subsequently engage with, and be adhered to, the item 60 to which the label 28 is to be applied.

The requirements of the strength of the adhesive on the lower surface 68 of the linerless label material 24 and the effectiveness of the non-stick or low friction surface of the label transfer belt 42 may vary depending on the stiffness of the label 28 itself and the arrangement of the terminating end 70 of the label transfer belt 42 in the first direction 44.

A stiffer, or more rigid, label 28 will be more inclined to separate from the label transfer belt 42 at the terminating end 70 of the label transfer belt 42, than a less stiff or less rigid label 28, as it is less likely to continue to adhere to the label transfer belt 42 as the belt passes over a belt wheel 72, or conveyor roller, at the terminating end 70. The belt wheel 72 at the terminating end 70 of the label transfer belt 42 may be of a diameter to provide a curvature in the label transfer belt 42 imparting a sufficient separation force to be applied between the label transfer belt 42 and the label 28 to separate the label 28 from the label transfer belt 42 and ensure that the label 28 continues on a path to intersect the item 60 on the item conveyor belt 62. Further, a smaller diameter belt wheel 72 provides or applies a greater separation force and therefore increases the likelihood of separation of the label 28 from the label transfer belt 42.

The diameter of the belt wheel 72 at the terminating end 70 of the label transfer belt 42 in the first direction 44 may be selected to be below a threshold diameter whereby the label 28 will be caused to disengage from the label transfer belt 42 and transfer to an item 60 on the item conveyor belt 62. The adhesive on the label 28 is sufficient to ensure securing of the label 28 to the item 60.

In alternative embodiments, the label 28 may comprise a backing material, and the labelling apparatus 10 comprise a backing material separator located at a position either before or after the label separator 30 in the direction of travel of the label 28, and further located at a position prior to the label transfer belt 42 in the direction of travel of the label 28.

The label 28 may comprise a pre-printed portion. The pre-printed portion may be decorative or provide information to a purchaser, such as providing an image of the product or providing information as to what the item or product is. The label 28 may comprise one or more print areas or zones 52, 54, 56 of the label 28 upon which the printer 50 may print as the label 28 is continuously conveyed by the label transfer belt 42.

One or more of the one or more respective designated print areas 52, 54, 56 of the label 28 may be oriented to be conveyed on the label transfer belt 42 in the first direction 44 leading with a short edge of the designated print area 52, 54, 56. One or more of the one or more respective designated print areas 52, 54, 56 may be oriented to be conveyed on the label transfer belt 42 in the first direction 44 leading with a wide edge of the designated print area 52, 54, 56. Printing wide edge leading may be preferable in certain circumstances, such as when the label content to be printed is high, or where the label 28 is narrow. Thus, information may be printed in a different orientation in different designated print areas 52, 54, 56 of the label 28. For example, information printed in one designated print area 52, 54, 56 may be ninety degrees rotated from information printed in another designated print area 52, 54, 56. In alternative embodiments, information printed in one designated print area 52, 54, 56 may be one hundred and eighty degrees rotated from information printed in another designated print area 52, 54, 56. Thus, information can be printed onto the label 28 in varying orientations, which may be appropriate for when the label is applied to the item 60, for example to orient the information in line with the visual aspects of the pre-printed portion of the label 28, which may dictate the orientation of the item 60 when being displayed to a potential purchaser of the item 60. Printing short edge leading can allow the label 28 to be printed upon whilst being conveyed at a higher speed than if printing long edge leading.

Figure 3 illustrates the label 28 in position on the label transfer belt 42 under the printer 50. The printer 50 may comprise one or more non-contact print head, where the, or each, noncontact print head may be, for example, an inkjet print head. Each non-contact print head may be a static print head, that is, a print head intended to be at a fixed position or location along the width of the label transfer belt 42, for printing in or on a respective designated print area 52, 54, 56 of a label 28.

The print head may comprise an ink supply, which may in some embodiments be provided by an ink cartridge at, or forming part of, the print head, or in other embodiments may be provided via a pipe or tubing operatively connected or coupled to an ink reservoir elsewhere on the labelling apparatus 10.

The printer 50 may comprise one or more printing modules 80, 82, 84, each of which may comprise one or more print head, where the one or more print head may be a non-contact print head.

Each printing module 80, 82, 84 may be positioned at a location along a width of the label transfer belt 42. Each print head of a printing module 80, 82, 84 may address a portion of a respective designated print area 52, 54, 56 of a label 28. That is, each print head may be statically positioned along the width of the label transfer belt 42, for printing in or on a respective designated print area 52, 54, 56 of the label 28.

Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention, where the printer 50 comprises three printing modules 80, 82, 84 positioned along a width of the label transfer belt 42, each of the one or more printing modules 80, 82, 84 being arranged to print on a respective designated print area 52, 54, 56 of the label 28.

The printing modules 80, 82, 84 are positioned in a spaced apart arrangement along the width of the label transfer belt 42, between a first end 74 of the label transfer belt 42, that being an initiating end 74 of the label transfer belt 42, and a second end 70 of the label transfer belt 42, that being a terminating end 70 of the label transfer belt 42.

Each of the printing modules 80, 82, 84 may be configured to print on a respective designated print area 52, 54, 56 of the label 28. That is, each printing module 80, 82, 84 addresses a different area of the label 28 and can be used to print information onto the designated print area 52, 54, 56 of the label 28, for example to print a use by date, pack weight, pack price, or any other pertinent information for the item 60 to be labelled.

There may be a single print module or multiple print modules 80, 82, 84 across the width of the label transfer belt 42.

If a single print module 80 is provided, this can be positioned to address a respective designated print area 52 on the label 28, thereby allowing for the printing of item specific information onto the label 28.

In Figure 4, three print modules 80, 82, 84 are illustrated. The three print modules may be manually positioned by a user, to be located at specific points or positions across the width of the label transfer belt 42, where those positions correspond to the position of respective designated print areas 52, 54, 56, on the label 28, which are to be printed with item specific information.

In other embodiments, the setting of the location of the, or each, print module 80, 82, 84 may be automatically set by the detection, on the label 28, of designated print areas 52, 54, 56. For example, a computer or controller, comprising a processor, connected to sensing means, for example in the form of video sensors, may detect the position of designated print areas 52, 54, 56 on the labels 28 of the label material 24 and move the print modules 80, 82, 84 to positions along the width of the label transfer belt 42 automatically, without user intervention. Different labels 28 can be printed upon by repositioning the print modules 80, 82, 84 prior to printing of the labels 28, either manually, or automatically as noted above.

The print modules 80, 82, 84 may comprise a plurality of static print heads 80-1 , 80-2, 82-1 , 82-2, 82-3, 82-4, 84-1 , 84-2 each configured to address a portion of the respective designated print area 52, 54, 56 of the label 28. The print heads may be positioned close to the label 28 during the transit of the label 28 beneath the printer 50. For example, the print heads may be around 1 mm from the label 28 during printing to minimise printing errors. The print heads 80- 1 , 80-2, 82-1 , 82-2, 82-3, 82-4, 84-1 , 84-2 may be inkjet print heads providing the advantage of contactless printing such that the printing can be carried out whilst the label is in motion reducing the print time by avoiding the time taken to decelerate, print, and accelerate the label 28, and therefore increasing production through-put. The print heads 80-1 , 80-2, 82-1 , 82-2, 82-3, 82-4, 84-1 , 84-2, of particular print modules 80, 82, 84, may be offset from one another such that different parts of the image are printed at different times. The inkjet print heads also provide the advantage of not requiring a rigid support for the label 28 during printing, as would be required when using any form of contact printing, such as thermal transfer printing.

When the print heads 80-1 , 80-2, 82-1 , 82-2, 82-3, 82-4, 84-1 , 84-2 are inkjet print heads, the inkjet printing frequency can be varied to synchronise with the motion of the label 28. In other words, the printing frequency can be adjusted to ensure that the printed ink dots from the inkjet print heads 80-1 , 80-2, 82-1 , 82-2, 82-3, 82-4, 84-1 , 84-2 provide a printed image on the label 28 with no, or reduced, image distortion, relative to the intended image. The synchronisation of the inkjet print heads 80-1 , 80-2, 82-1 , 82-2, 82-3, 82-4, 84-1 , 84-2 with the motion of the label 28 may be based on the velocity of the label transfer belt 42 upon which the label 28 is conveyed, such that the printer 50 has an input relating to the velocity of the label transfer belt 42 and an output of a frequency for printing.

In Figure 4, it can be seen that a first print module 80 comprises two print heads 80-1 , 80-2, a second print module 82 comprises four print heads 82-1 , 82-2, 82-3, and 82-4, and a third print module 84 comprises two print heads 84-1 , 84-2. In this configuration the second print module 82 can print information on a designated print area 54 which is twice the width of the designated print areas 52, 56 for the other two print modules 80, 84. For example, the second print module may be able to print up to a width of 50 mm, whereas the first print module 80 and third print module 84 can print up to a width of 25 mm. As illustrated as an optional component of a labelling apparatus 10 in Figure 1 , a label tucker 90 may be provided at the apparatus 10. The label tucker 90 may be configured to fold the label 28 around at least one side portion of the item 60 to which the label 28 is transferred, following transfer of the label 28 to the item 60 on the item conveyor belt 62.

In some embodiments the label 28 may be intended to be adhered to a top and one side of the item 60. In other embodiments, the label 28 may be a C-wrap label, intended to be adhered to the top, one side, and the bottom of the item 60. In other embodiments, the label 28 may be a D-wrap label, intended to be adhered to the top, two sides, and the bottom of the item 60, that is to fully wrap around, or substantially wrap around the item 60.

Depending on the type of label 28 to be applied to the item 60, one or more of the one or more designated print areas 52, 54, 56 may be located on the label 28 in a location which is configured to be folded onto a side or the bottom of the item 60 by the operation of the label tucker 90.

Thus, the printing modules 80, 82, 84 may be positioned at points along the width of the label transfer belt 42 which correspond to locations which are widthwise exterior of the item 60 to which the label 28 is to be applied. Therefore, separate printing modules 80, 82, 84 may be separated by a distance greater than the width of the item 60 to which the label 28 is to be applied.

In arrangements where the label 28 is a C-wrap label, intended to be adhered to the top, one side, and the bottom of the item 60, or where the label 28 is a D-wrap label, intended to be adhered to the top, two sides, and the bottom of the item 60, the information to be printed on a designated print area which will ultimately be positioned on the top of the label 28 may be relatively rotated one hundred and eighty degrees from the information to be printed on a designated print area which will ultimately be positioned on the bottom of the label 28, thereby allowing a person to view the information printed on both the top of the item 60 and the bottom of the item 60 by rotating the item 60 in one axis.

The width of the label transfer belt 42 may be greater than the width of the item conveyor belt 62, as the label transfer belt 42 may need to accommodate labels 28 which are intended to be wrapped, at least in part, around the item 60, for example when using C-wrap or D-wrap labels 28.

The relative velocity between the label transfer belt 42 and the item conveyor belt 62 may be controlled to synchronise the application of the label 28 to an item 60 on the item conveyor belt 62. In particular, the velocity of one or both of the label transfer belt 42 and item conveyor belt 62 may be varied to ensure desired engagement of the label 28 on the item 60.

By using sensors to detect the position of the item 60, and the position of the label 28, the position of the label 28 on the item 60 can be controlled to ensure that it is located at the correct location, thereby avoiding rejection of the item 60 when an incorrectly positioned label 28 is applied to the item 60. A photoelectric sensor, or photoelectric cell (PEC) may be selected based on the product to be sensed. In food packaging scenarios, trays of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material are common which would require a photoelectric sensor which is able to detect objects which have a degree of transparency. An example of such a sensor is the E3ZM-B manufactured by Omron. This is a reflective type device arranged such that the product to be sensed passes between the sensor and the optic intercepting the sensor light path.

The position of the item 60 along the length of the item conveyor belt 62 can, at least in part, be inferred from output from an encoder of the item conveyor belt 62 which detects rotation of a roller of the item conveyor belt 62, where the item conveyor belt 62 is tensioned between two rollers, minimising or preventing slippage of the item conveyor belt 62.

The position of the label may be inferred, at least in part, from the velocity of the label transfer belt 42 when the label 28 is adhered to the label transfer belt 42 during conveyance of the label 28 from an initiating end 74 of the label transfer belt 42, positioned after the label separator 30 in the direction of travel of the label through the labelling apparatus 10, to the terminating end 70 of the label transfer belt 42.

In one embodiment, the label transfer belt 42 moves in the first direction 44 at a constant velocity. In this scenario, the item conveyor belt velocity may vary in order to ensure synchronisation between an item 60 on the item conveyor belt 62 and the label 28 on the label transfer belt 42. Sensors may be provided to measure or determine the relative locations and/or velocities of the label 28 on the label transfer belt 42 and the item 60 on the item conveyor belt 62 to ensure synchronisation in the labelling apparatus 10. Such sensors to detect the position of the item 60 in particular, may avoid errors in labelling the item 60 due to drift of the item 60 on the item conveyor belt 62 at high speeds due to vibration, slippage at the transfer between conveyor belt elements, unbalanced loading of the item, and aerodynamic effects on the item.

In an alternative embodiment, the label transfer belt 42 moves in the first direction 44 at a variable non-zero velocity in order to synchronise the application of the label 28 to the item 60 on the item conveyor belt 62.

Figure 5 illustrates the label 28 in position where it is exiting the label transfer belt 42 at the terminating end 70 of the label transfer belt 42. At this point, the label 28 and the item 60 are synchronised in their location, such that when the label 28 is separated from the label transfer belt 42, it engages with the item 60 on the item conveyor belt 62.

Figure 6 shows a flow diagram 100 for the method of labelling an item using the labelling apparatus 10 is as described above.

In operation, an item 60 to which a printed label 28 is to be applied is conveyed on the item conveyor belt 62 and is sensed or detected by a sensor 66 which initiates the label 28 production process of the labelling apparatus 10. The item 60 may be weighed, or otherwise analysed, to ensure that it meets predetermined criteria for the item 60 before initiating the label 28 production process. If the item 60 is out of specification, for example by being under a predetermined weight, then the item 60 may be rejected meaning that no label 28 is required to be produced for that item 60. This helps to avoid waste in the production of a label 28 that will be applied to an out of specification item 60.

If the label 28 production process is initiated then, at block 102, label material 24 is dispensed from a label feeder 22.

At block 104 a label 28 is separated from the label material 24. The separation of the label 28 from the label material 24 may be for example by the action of a label separator 30 in the form of a guillotine, or cutting blade, which separates a label 28 from the label material 24. Such a label separator 30 may be set to operate following the dispense of a certain amount of label material 24 from the label feeder 22. The amount of label material 24 dispensed from the label feeder 22, prior to action of the label separator 30, may be based on detection of the movement of the label material 24, or may be carried out using a sensor to detect a pre-printed stop mark or flag delineating each label 28 on the label material 24.

At block 106 the label 28 is passed to a label transfer belt 42 and then continuously conveyed along the label transfer belt 42 in a first direction 44.

At block 108 a printer 50, for example a printer 50 having printing modules 80, 82, 84 with static printing heads 80-1 , 80-2, 82-1 , 82-2, 82-3, 82-4, 84-1 , 84-2, prints on one or more print zones 52, 54, 56 of the label 28 as the label 28 is continuously conveyed by the label transfer belt 42. The printer may be a non-contact printer to perform non-contact printing on one or more print zones 52, 54, 56 of the label 28 as the label 28 is continuously conveyed by the label transfer belt 42.

Optionally, at block 110 the relative velocity between the label transfer belt 42 and the item conveyor belt 62 can be varied in order to synchronise the application of the label 28 to the item 60 on a conveyor belt 62.

At block 112 the label 28 is disengaged from the label transfer belt 42 to transfer the label 28 to the item 60 on the item conveyor belt 62.

Optionally, at block 114, the label 28 may be folded around at least one side portion of the item 60 to which the label 28 is transferred, following transfer of the label 28 to the item 60 on the item conveyor belt 62.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described. Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A labelling apparatus comprising: a label feeder configured to dispense label material; a label separator configured to separate a label from the label material; a label transfer belt to continuously convey the label in a first direction from the label separator to an item conveyor belt; and a printer configured to print on one or more print zones of the label as the label is continuously conveyed by the label transfer belt.

2. A labelling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the label is configured to be conveyed on the label transfer belt in the first direction leading with a wide edge of the label.

3. A labelling apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the label comprises a linerless label material.

4. A labelling apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the label comprises a pre-printed portion.

5. A labelling apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the printer comprises one or more non-contact print head.

6. A labelling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the, or each, print head comprises an inkjet print head.

7. A labelling apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the printer comprises one or more printing modules, each of the one or more printing modules being arranged to print on a respective designated print area of the label.

8. A labelling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the, or each, printing module comprises one or more static print head, the, or each, static print head being configured to address a portion of the respective designated print area of the label.

9. A labelling apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 8, wherein each of the one or more printing modules can be positioned at any point across the width of the label transfer belt to correspond to a respective designated print area of the label.

10. A labelling apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 9, wherein one or more of the one or more respective designated print areas is oriented to be conveyed on the label transfer belt in the first direction leading with a short edge of the designated print area.

11. A labelling apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 10, wherein one or more of the one or more respective designated print areas is oriented to be conveyed on the label transfer belt in the first direction leading with a wide edge of the designated print area.

12. A labelling apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the diameter of a belt wheel at a terminating end of the label transfer belt in the first direction is below a threshold diameter whereby the label is caused to disengage from the label transfer belt and transfer to an item on the item conveyor belt.

13. A labelling apparatus according to claim 12, comprising a label tucker configured to fold the label around at least one side portion of the item to which the label is transferred, following transfer of the label to the item on the item conveyor belt.

14. A labelling apparatus according to claim 13, when also dependent on claim 5, wherein one or more of the one or more designated print areas is located on the label in a location which is configured to be folded onto a side or the bottom of the item or product.

15. A labelling apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the width of the label transfer belt is greater than the width of the item conveyor belt.

16. A labelling apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the relative velocity between the label transfer belt and the item conveyor belt varies to synchronise the application of the label to an item on the item conveyor belt.

17. A labelling apparatus according claim 16, wherein the label transfer belt moves in the first direction at a constant velocity.

18. A labelling apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the label transfer belt moves in the first direction at a variable non-zero velocity in order to synchronise the application of the label to the item on the item conveyor belt.

19. A method of labelling an item, comprising: dispensing label material from a label feeder; separating a label from the label material; continuously conveying the label in a first direction along a label transfer belt; and printing on one or more print zones of the label as the label is continuously conveyed by the label transfer belt.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the label comprises a linerless label material.

21. A method according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the printing is carried out by one or more printing modules, each of the one or more printing modules printing on a respective designated print area of the label.

22. A method according to any of claims 19 to 21 , wherein the printing is performed by a non-contact printer.

23. A method of labelling an item according to any of claims 19 to 22, comprising: disengaging the label from the label transfer belt to transfer the label to an item on an item conveyor belt.

24. A method of labelling an item according to claim 23, comprising: folding the label around at least one side portion of the item to which the label is transferred, following transfer of the label to the item on the item conveyor belt.

25. A method of labelling an item according to claim 23 or claim 24, comprising: varying the relative velocity between the label transfer belt and the item conveyor belt to synchronise the application of the label to the item on the conveyor belt.

26. A print head comprising an ink supply, the print head for use in the printer of the apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 18.