WO2024121791A1 - Rejected label diversion and collection system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a rejected label diversion and collection system. The system (100) comprises a conveyor (20) that is mounted on a tabletop (22) and is configured for moving articles or containers (50) in a forward direction for labelling. An unwind spindle (10) is configured for mounting a label web as a spool to rotate about its axis. At least one servo-driven unit (12) is configured for advancing the label web based on a label length to be printed on the articles or containers. A printer (14) is configured for printing information or variable data on the label web. An inspection assembly is configured for checking the correctness of the information labelled on the label web. A peel blade (16) is configured for peeling off accepted labels from the label web. A vacuum drum (18) is configured for applying the peeled labels over a desired surface to said articles or containers (50). The system (100) avoids the affixing of the defective labels onto the article (50) and eliminates the monotonous work of removing the defective labels.

Description

REJECTED LABEL DIVERSION AND COLLECTION SYSTEM

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a labelling machine, in particular, a system for the diversion of rejected labels and collection thereof.

BACKGROUND

The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.

Conventionally, a number of labelling systems exist, which are used to apply pressuresensitive labels to articles or containers in an application system. Each label is provided with a respective web of labels, wound to form a reel and rotatable about an axis. Generally, these labels include information such as batch details, product codes including 2D codes, bar codes, and the like.

Generally, the pressure-sensitive labels are transported with adhesive side applied on a web roll, which is advanced past a peel blade to strip the label from the web and transferred to the surface of the article or the container for proper adhesion, by means of rollers or belts. The label, after stripping from the web by the peel blade, is first transferred onto a vacuum roller with adhesive side outwards. The rotation speed of the vacuum drum and the travelling of the article or container are required to synchronize to effectively transfer the label from the vacuum drum or roller onto the article or the container. Therefore, to synchronize, it is required to continuously monitor the speed of the web and the travelling speed of the article past the vacuum drum.

Typically, in the conventional labelling system, all the labels arriving at the peel blade get transferred onto the article or the container, irrespective of whether the label is of acceptable quality or otherwise. However, during the process of printing the labels at speeds typical of labelling systems, there is a possibility of defects that can arise due to ink smudging, incorrect coding, dry ink, or other defects associated with the printing process and the same defective label may get adhered on the surface of the article or the container. Further, the labels are inspected after printing and prior to the compulsory application onto the article, identified as acceptable or rejected. Then, the product or the article with an affixed defective label is electronically marked to be rejected separately at a rejection station. However, this practice generates an inherent risk, especially in the pharmaceutical sector, where the incorrectly labelled article which does not get rejected, can result in the ingestion of the wrong dosage, expired or even incorrect product by the patient which can lead to the serious consequences to both the patient as well as the manufacturer.

In the conventional system, a rejected label removal unit is positioned between the vacuum roller label pickup point and the point where the label gets released from the vacuum roller onto the article. The label removal unit is controlled by a label inspection unit, which requires proper coordination of rate and time. Thus, the label removal unit removes the defective label from the vacuum roller, and not from the acceptable label and transfers it to another roller with adhesive side applied to the periphery of the second roller. The transferring of the defective labels over the roller forms a thick superimposed layer of the defective labels over a period of time, which is required to be removed periodically from the roller. However, the labels adhering to each other are extremely hard to separate in cases where individual reconciliation and accounting of each printed and rejected label is necessary for example., in the case of pharmaceutical manufacturing control systems. Also, to dispose of or collect the defective labels, such collection roller is necessary of a severely restricted size, resulting in frequent stoppage or malfunctioning of the equipment and interruption in the production process.

Further, the roller on which defective labels get collected prior to application onto the article is replaced by an entirely separate web, de-reeled and reeled again, i.e. a secondary web. By suitable control means, the defective label is pulled off from the vacuum roller and transferred to the secondary web. However, the control means is an entirely separate system that is attached to the conventional system and thereby it requires extra space for its mounting and assembly. Also, In the conventional system, controlling and coordinating the various actions at high speed is difficult, which may interrupt the production process when this secondary web reel is rewound and full.

Therefore, there is a need for a rejected label diversion and collection system that alleviates the aforementioned drawbacks. OBJECTS

Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:

It is an object of the present disclosure to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a rejected label diversion and collection system.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a rejected label diversion and collection system that is compact in size.

Still, another object of the present disclosure is to provide a rejected label diversion and collection system that avoids the affixing of defective labels on an article.

Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a rejected label diversion and collection system that eliminates the monotonous work of removing defective labels.

Still, another object of the present disclosure is to provide a rejected label diversion and collection system that can collect the rejected labels for future reconciliation.

Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a rejected label diversion and collection system without the requirement of a separate web material for collecting the rejected labels.

Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a rejected label diversion and collection system. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

According to the embodiment, the present disclosure envisages a rejected label diversion and collection system. The system comprises a conveyor that is mounted on a tabletop and is configured for moving articles or containers in a forward direction for labelling. An unwind spindle is configured for mounting a label web as a spool to rotate about its axis. At least one servo-driven unit is configured for advancing the label web, based on a label length to be printed on the articles or containers. A printer is configured for printing information or variable data on the label web. An inspection assembly is configured for checking the correctness of the information labelled on the label web. A peel blade is configured for peeling off accepted labels from the label web. A vacuum drum is configured for applying the peeled labels over a desired surface to said articles or containers.

In an aspect, the label diversion and collection system further comprises an actuator configured for controlling the position of the peel blade.

In an aspect, the label diversion and collection system rotates the peel blade to guide the label onto a rewound section of the label web, in which a label needs to be rejected.

In an aspect, the label diversion and collection system further comprises a sensor configured for sensing and reconciling rejected labels.

In an aspect, the label diversion and collection system further comprises a primary label web configured for rewinding and collecting defective labels.

In an aspect, the peel blade is configured to maintain consistent web tension in both accepted and rejected label conditions.

In an aspect, the flat portion on the peel blade is in the same plane as the flat portion of a release plate.

In an aspect, the label diversion and collection system is configured to selectively divert labels to the vacuum drum for application on articles or to the primary label web for rewinding.

In an aspect, the inspection assembly is configured to determine the acceptance or rejection of labels for application on desired articles based on the correctness of the labeled information.

In an aspect, the label diversion and collection system is further configured for continuing labels on the primary label-carrying web instead of peeling them off and allowing rewinding onto the same primary label web.

In an aspect, the label diversion and collection system continues labels on the primary labelcarrying web, based on the input from label inspection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWING

The rejected label diversion and collection system of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a rejected label diversion and collection system to enable alternative paths for the label; and

Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of the product labelling system in the position corresponding to the peeling of labels and further transport onto a vacuum drum and subsequent application to an article.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND DRAWING

100 Rejected Label Diversion And Collection System

50 Product or Article or Container to be labelled

10 Unwind spindle

12 Servo drive unit

14 Printer

16 Peel blade

18 Vacuum drum

20 Conveyor

22 Tabletop

24 Release plate

26 Actuator

28 Sensor DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.

The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," “including,” and “having,” are open-ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units, and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Typically, in the conventional labelling system, all the labels arriving at the peel blade get transferred onto the article or the container, irrespective of whether the label is of acceptable quality or otherwise. Thus, there is a possibility that a defective label may get adhered to the surface of the article or the container. Further, the labels are inspected after printing and prior to the compulsory application onto the article. However, this practice generates a risk, especially in the pharmaceutical sector, where the incorrectly labelled article which does not get rejected, can result in the ingestion of the wrong dosage, expired or even incorrect product by the patient which can lead to serious consequences to both the patient as well as the manufacturer. Furthermore, the conventional system requires an extra second roller to receive the defective label from the vacuum roller. Therefore, a periodic evaluation of the vacuum roller is required which hampers the production process.

Further, in the conventional system, a control means is required to transfer the defective labels from the vacuum roller onto the secondary web. However, the control means is an entirely separate system that is attached to the conventional system and thereby it makes the conventional system bulky.

Therefore, the present disclosure envisages a rejected label diversion and collection system (hereinafter referred to as “system 100”) for the separation of the defective label and collection of the same in real-time.

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a rejected label diversion and collection system 100 to enable alternative paths for the label. According to an embodiment, an article or container 50 is detachably disposed on the conveyor 20, which makes article 50 move in a forward direction for labelling. The label web is mounted as a spool on an unwind spindle 10 which is configured to rotate around its axis. Based on the label length, the label web is advanced with the help of at least one servo-driven unit 12. A printer 14 is provided with the labelling system, configured to print different information or variable data on the label web. The printed label web is configured to pass through an inspection assembly. The inspection assembly is configured to check the correctness of the information labelled on the label web. The correctness of the label web determines the acceptance or rejection of the label web for labelling the desired product. During the advancement of the web, the accepted label is peeled off by the peel blade 16 and such peeled label is transferred on the vacuum drum 18. The vacuum drum 18 is configured to apply the peeled label over the desired surface of the article 50 in an operative configuration of the system 100.

Fig 2 is an enlarged view of the label diversion system 100 in the position corresponding to a continuation of the label on the primary label carrying the web itself, rather than being peeled off the web, and thus continuing into the rewound web.

Based on the input of the label inspection, the system 100 decides to allow the label to get peeled off and transferred on the vacuum drum 18 or enable the label to continue undisturbed and being rewound onto the same primary label web. Generally flat portion on the peel blade 16 is in the same plane as the release plate 24 flat portions. In this position, the label web has to pass on the sharp edge of the peel blade 16 which helps to peel out the label from its web, and then such a peeled-out label is transferred to the vacuum drum 18 to finally affixed on the article. In an aspect, the system 100 further comprises an actuator 26 configured for controlling the position of the peel blade 16. However, when the label needs to be rejected, system 100 rotates the peel blade 16 with help of the actuator 26 in such a position so that the label web will pass over the round portion of the peel blade 16 which allows the rejected label to go along with the label web to the rewinding wheel. In an aspect, the system 100 further comprises a sensor 28 configured for sensing and reconciling rejected labels. Such rejected label then gets sensed by the sensor 28 which then finally gets reconciliation at the end of the completion of the batch under process. The peel blade 16 is designed in such a way that the label web wrap around it in accepted condition or rejected condition will remain the same so as to maintain the same web tension in both conditions.

In an embodiment, the label diversion and collection system 100 further comprises a primary label web configured for rewinding and collecting defective labels. The system 100 is configured to selectively divert labels to the vacuum drum 18 for application on articles 50 or to the primary label web for rewinding.

Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of the product labelling system in the position corresponding to the peeling of labels and further transport onto the vacuum drum and subsequent application of the label on the product.

Advantageously, the system 100 avoids the affixing of the defective labels onto the article 50 and thus, the present system eliminates the monotonous work of removing the defective labels. Also, there is no requirement for the secondary web for mounting the defective labels, since the same primary label web is used to rewound and collect the defective labels.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

TECHNICAL ADVANCES AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of the rejected label diversion and collection system, that:

• is compact in size;

• avoids the affixing of the defective labels on the article; • eliminates the monotonous work of removing defective labels; can collect the rejected labels for future reconciliation; and

• does not require separate web material for collecting the rejected labels.

The economy significance details requirement may be called during the examination. Only after filing this Patent application, the applicant can work publicly related to the present disclosure product/process/method. The applicant will disclose all the details related to the economic significance contribution after the protection of the invention.

The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveals the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, or group of elements, but not the exclusion of any other element, or group of elements.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A label diversion and collection system (100) for real-time separation and collection of defective labels, said system (100) comprising: a conveyor (20) mounted on a tabletop (22) configured for moving articles or containers (50) in a forward direction for labelling; an unwind spindle (10) configured for mounting a label web as a spool to rotate about its axis ; at least one servo-driven unit (12) configured for advancing the label web, based on a label length to be printed on the articles or containers (50); a printer (14) configured for printing information or variable data on the label web; an inspection assembly configured for checking the correctness of the information labelled on the label web; a peel blade (16) configured for peeling off accepted labels from the label web; and a vacuum drum (18) configured for applying the peeled labels over a desired surface to said articles or containers (50).

2. The label diversion and collection system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system (100) further comprises an actuator (26) configured for controlling the position of the peel blade (16).

3. The label diversion and collection system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system (100) rotates the peel blade (16) to guide the label onto a rewound section of the label web, in which a label needs to be rejected.

4. The label diversion and collection system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system (100) further comprises a sensor (28) configured for sensing and reconciling rejected labels. The label diversion and collection system (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprises a primary label web configured for rewinding and collecting defective labels. The label diversion and collection system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peel blade (16) is configured to maintain consistent web tension in both accepted and rejected label conditions. The label diversion and collection system (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flat portion on the peel blade (16) is in the same plane as the flat portion of a release plate (24). The label diversion and collection system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system (100) is configured to selectively divert labels to the vacuum drum (18) for application on articles (50) or to the primary label web for rewinding. The label diversion and collection system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inspection assembly is configured to determine the acceptance or rejection of labels for application on desired articles (50) based on the correctness of the labeled information. The label diversion and collection system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system (100) further configured for continuing labels on the primary label-carrying web instead of peeling them off and allowing rewinding onto the same primary label web. The label diversion and collection system (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the system (100) continues labels on the primary label-carrying web, based on the input from label inspection.