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(11) | EP 0 131 852 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | An automatic labelling machine for incorporation to case packaging machines for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and the like products, both of the continuous and intermittent feed types |
| (57) An automatic labelling machine for incorporation to case packaging machines in general,
of both the continuous and intermittent feed types using pushers, and including a
printer head (9) and a wedge element (21) operative to break labels (5a) away from
a carrier web (11) being paid out from a web storage reel, and a carrier web take-up
reel, comprising a feeder (14) mounted rotatable about a parallel axis to the case
feed plane and, hingedly connected peripherally thereto, oscillating arms (17a, 17b,
17c, 17d) which are guided at the opposed ends thereof by an annular guide (18) having
a cam profile (18a) and carry a box-like body (19) alternately subjected to a vacuum
and adapted to receive one label (5a) from said label detaching wedge element (21),
transfer it to an area of application thereof to a case moving along a case transport
line, and apply it by pressure to said case; also provided being a means of rotating
said feeder (14) and driving said carrier web forward, as well as sensor and timer
means effective to synchronise the rotation speed of said feeder to the case feed
rate and determine start-up and stop times for the web feeding means and means of
providing said vacuum. |
[0001] This invention relates to an automatic labelling machine for incorporation to case packaging machines for pharmaceutical,cosmetic,and the like products, both of the continuous and intermittent,or alternating,feed types.
[0002] lore precisely, the invention relates to an essential modular apparatus adapted for automatic application of self-sticking labels to packaging cases or cartons, both as filled or empty and flattened, on conventional packaging machines of the continuous and intermittent feed types.
[0003] As is known, the techniques for applying self-sticking labels to cases of the pharmaceutical and the like types have been evolved and improved as a consequence of the occurrence of frequent prices changes due, in some cases, to directions from regulatory bodies, and in other cases, to a number of contingent factors known to the general consumer. As a rule, on the occurrence of a price change, the price indication originally marked on the packages is updated by the application of a self-adhesive price label, which is normally transparent and laid over the previous price. This operation, where involving, as is sometimes the case, already stored packages, is carried out either manually or by means of automatic or semiautomatic labelling machines of the off-the-line type, often purposely set up at the warehouse area.
[0004] Such off-the-line machines do not lend themselves for use at the product packaging station, because, like all labelling machines, they are based on the principle of concurrent delivery of a label to the exact point of application to a packaging case or carton, through the use of light detectors or the like, and quite unreliable in actual practice owing to the occurrence of light reflection phenomena or other effects hindering proper centering thereof; furthermore, the varied selection of the areas where a label or punch may be applied, which are left for the discretion of the manufacturers, has heretofore prevented full use of the off-the-line labelling machine capabilities. Thus, the techniques employed in the past have failed to make rational provisions for the automatic application of labels directly at continuous cycle packaging lines and for securing such obvious advantages as a reduction in space requirements and labor cost, the faculty of utilising a common transport system for both the packages and labels, and a significant saving in time.
[0005] Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an automatic labelling apparatus in the form of a compact labelling head adapted for convenient incorporation to packaging machines of the continuous type and to apply conventional labels perfectly centered on a packaging case or carton even where speed variations are experienced with the packaging machine during the production cycle, and hence independently of the packaging machine rate of operation and of whether this happens to be of the continuous or intermittent type, as well as an apparatus adapted for out-of-line installation on alternating packaging machines.
[0006] A further object of the invention is to provide a labelling head of the modular type, which can use large capacity label rolls, employ conventional printer assemblies, and cut off lengths or segments of a self-sticking module (label) from a continuous web which are overprinted at the moment of their application, thus bringing about a significant economical advantage resulting from the absence of waste material.
[0007] These and other objects, such as will be more clearly apparent from the ensuing description, are achieved by an automatic labelling machine for incorporation to a case packaging machine, of the type providing for continuous or intermittent feed of packaging cases by means of pushers or the like, and provided with a printer head and a wedge element for breaking labels away from a carrier web being paid out from a storage reel, which labelling machine comprises, in accordance with this invention, a feeder stand mounted rotatable about a parallel axis to the packaging case forward feed plane and having hinged peripherally thereto, at angularly spaced locations, oscillating arms guided at the opposed ends along a cam-like profile annular guide and each carrying a box-like body alternately subjected to a vacuum and adapted to receive a label from said label detaching wedge element and apply it onto a case moving along the transport line under pressure horizontally thereon, means being also provided of rotating said arm carrying stand and advancing said label carrying web, as well as sensor and timer means for synchronising the rotational speed of said rotatable arm carrying stand with the case feed rate, as well as determining the start-up and stop times of the label carrying web means of advancement to allow application of the labels at a centered location on the moving cases without requiring stopping thereof.
[0008] More particularly, said oscillating arms are guided, at the remote ends thereof to the ends hinged to the rotatable stand, along a closed profile guide so configured as to impart to each oscillating arm a substantially vertical attitude at the area of detachment and pick-up of a label and a horizontal attitude at the area of application of the label to a packaging case, said profile of said cam being effective to enable the label carrying box-like body to move horizontally over a short distance in order to ensure that the label is applied to the moving packaging case.
[0009] According to a further aspect of the invention, provided at the corner edge of the label detaching wedge element is a fixed blade forming the anvil blade for a cutting edge associated with each label pick-up box-like body, said anvil blade and cutting edge forming a cutter means for cutting off lengths of continuous (label-forming) self-sticking web laminated onto a silicone coated transfer web.
[0010] Further constructional and functional features of the labelling machine according to the invention will be better understood by making reference to the detailed description that follows, in conjunction with the accompanying illustrative drawings, where:
Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of the end portion of a conventional packaging machine, and precisely, the portion thereof located downstream of the packaging area, where the inventive labelling machine would be installed most conveniently;
Figure 2 is a schematic side-view of a labelling machine according to the invention; and
Figure 3 is a perspective detail view of label forming modules being detached from a continuous self-sticking web adapted for use with the labelling machine of the preceding figures.
[0011] Making reference to the drawing views, and in particular to Figure 1, that portion of a packaging machine to which the labelling machine or head of this invention may be attached comprises essentially the end portion 1 of a case or package continuous feeder 2; the feeder 1 includes a chain conveyor provided with pusher toes 3, which are spaced apart at equal distances and operative to push, in the direction of the arrow F each case or carton at a constant preset speed. The affected machine portion further includes a reel 4 for a self-sticking label carrier web 5, of a type known per se, a set of guide, deflector and tension rollers 6,7,8, ...., a printer head 9 operative to overprint the labels with a desired inscription, a device 10 for adjusting the tension on the web 5 and being hand operated, and a driven take-up roller 12 for taking up the silicone coated web 11 after the labels have been detached therefrom.
[0012] Schematically indicated at 13 are a pair of side- by-side prismatic supports, in between which supports is an automatic labelling head as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
[0013] With reference to Figure 2, the automatic labelling head of this invention comprises a spider element 14, set for rotation about its barycentric axis 15, which axis extends horizontally and parallely to the plane of the conveyor 1 for the cases 3,3a, 3b, .... The spider element 14 has four identical spokes 14a,14b,14c and 14d, orthogonal to one another; it is driven in a counterclockwise direction by a specially provided motor (not shown).
[0014] Hinged to the ends of the spokes 14a,...., as at 16, are oscillating arms 17a,17b,17c,17d the opposed ends whereof are guided, by means of rollers or the like, within a fixed camming guide, generally indicated at 18 and having a special profile explained hereinafter.
[0015] Each oscillating arm 17a,.... carries on one side a respective box-like body 19, all the bodies being identical to one another and alternately formed with a vacuum therein by means of a suitable vacuum pump, not shown. The front face 19a of each box-like body 19 is flat, perforated, and dimensioned to receive and retain, by the action of the inside vacuum, a label picked up from the label carrier web 5, as explained hereinafter; furthermore, the corner edge 20 of each box-like body 19 is configured to provide a cutting edge for separating, substantially with a guillotine motion, cuttings of self-sticking module as shown in Figure 3 and further discussed hereinafter.
[0016] Located above the spider 14 is a wedge element 21, of a type known per se, which defines a terminal of separation of the labels 5a from their respective silicone coated carrier web 11. Across the separating element 21 there extends a blade 22 which is hingedly connected to a fixed support or stand and can swing in a vertical plane against the bias force of springs 23. The blade 22 forms the fixed anvil blade for the cutting edge 20 of each box-like body 19. Below the assembly formed by the spider 14 and cam 18, is a flat section 24 of the conveying surface for the cases 3a, 3 , 3b .... which is mounted yieldably and oscillably against the bias of springs 25. The section 24 is in essence an oscillating plate arranged to receive a case at the precise position for centered application under a pressure of a label, as effected by the cited box-like bodies 19.
[0017] The cam 18 has, as mentioned, a special profile, the peculiar aspect whereof resides in the provision of a bottom profile section 18a lying substantially parallel to the plane of advancement 1 of the cases to allow (as explained hereinafter) each arm 17 and respective label-carrying box-like body 19 to follow, during the label application step and over a certain distance, the case movement while holding the label pressed onto the case, as is required to cause the self-sticking label to adhere on the case body without shifting from its centered position. Furthermore, the profile of the cam 18 is such that the four oscillating arms 17a,17b, ...., being forced to rotate with the spider 14 with one end held along a constant radius circle, can be oriented, because obliged by their other ends to follow a shaped path different from a circle, to assume vertical positions at the label separation area, inclined intermediate positions, and a substantially horizontal position, and over a certain distance, at the lower area of application of the label to the cases.
[0018] Also according to the invention, the above- described labelling head is adapted to cut self-sticking labels (i.e., segments thereof) off a continuous self-sticking web laminated onto a continuous carrier web.
[0019] In fact, as shown in Figure 3, a web 5b is fed onto the separating wedge 21 which carries a continuous self-sticking web 5c. In this instance, the cutting edge 20 of the box-like body 19, on reaching the separating wedge 21, will cut off a segment 5d of self-sticking web by acting against the fixed anvil blade 22, the cut being effected substantially guillotine- fashion. The fixed anvil blade 22 is preferably configured yoke-like, 26, to provide two limited edge portions 26 rather than a continuous edge spanning the full width of the web 5c. This particular configuration of the anvil blade, by allowing formation of a slight bend line in the web against the edges 27 at the time of cutting, ensures a perfectly regular cut to be achieved.
[0020] The labelling machine of this invention is further provided with sensors or feelers, of an electric or mechanical or the like type, positioned on the case conveyor, as well as with timers and electric actuating circuits, cooperating to synchronise the case advancement rate with the angular velocity of the spider carrying the oscillating arms and to start and stop the forward movement of the label carrier web, as well as to start and stop the vacuum pump for generating the vacuum within the box-like bodies 19. All these elements are of a known type, and hence no further discussed herein.
[0021] The labelling machine of this invention, as described above, operates essentially as follows.
[0022] After placing the label carrier web around the separating wedge 21 and activating the printer head 9, the labelling head is ready for use. With the continuous packaging machine in operation, cases 3a, 3 , 3b, .... are caused to move forward at a constant speed by the toes 3. As a case 3a approaches the oscillating plate 24, as exemplified by the view of Figure 2, since the spider 14 has already been set into rotation at the selected speed, a sensor activated by the oncoming case 3b will supply a signal to the starting means of the take-up roller 12 for the silicone coated web 11, thereby the label carrier web 5 will move forward past the separating wedge 21 and release one label 5a (Figure 2). On completion of the separation of the label from the carrier web 11, the perforated surface of the box-like body will contact the label and hold it back owing to the vacuum condition prevailing within the box-like body; the label, as so held back, is transferred by the oscillating arm toward the application area, and along this path, the oscillating arm moves gradually into an inclined position until it reaches the horizontal position at the application area. The distance from the surface receiving the case 3a (which in the meantime has been delivered onto the oscillating plate and is indicated at 3 in Figure 2) to the label carrying face of the box-like body is such that the latter will press the case to stably apply the self-sticking label, and that pressure is maintained over a certain distance (thanks to the horizontal profile section 18a of the cam 18). Then, air is admitted into the box-like body and the label detached from the perforated face of the box-like body. Thus, the cycle may be repeated by the operation of other oscillating arms, which pick up one label and apply it to successive cases being moved forward at a constant rate.
[0023] The drawing figures depict an embodiment wherein the inventive labelling head is incorporated to a packaging machine of the continuous feed type. However, this labelling head could also be installed out of the packaging line, where case feeders and collectors/ rearrangers for cases already packaged on other machines would have to be provided. Finally, it would be possible to install this labelling head on intermittent feed packaging machines, by suitably adjusting the coming into operation of the labelling head components.
1. An automatic labelling machine for incorporation to case packaging machines, of
the type providing for continuous or intermittent feed of packaging cases (2) by means
of pushers (3) or the like, comprising a printer head (9) and a wedge element (21)
for breaking labels (5a) away from a carrier web (11) being paid out from a storage
reel, as well as a carrier web (11) take-up reel, characterised in that it comprises
a feeder stand (14) mounted rotatable about a parallel axis to the packaging case
forward feed plane and having hinged peripherally thereto, at angularly spaced locations,
oscillating arms (17a,17b,17c,17d)guided at the opposed ends along a cam-like profile
(18a) annular guide (18) and each carrying a box-like body (19) alternately subjected
to a vacuum and adapted to receive a label (5a) from said label detaching wedge element
(21) and take it to an area for its application to a case moving along the transport
line and apply it under pressure horizontally thereon, means being also provided of
rotating said arm carrying stand and for advancing said label carrier web, as well
as sensor and timer means for synchronising the rotational speed of said oscillating
arm carrying stand (14) with the case feed rate, as well as determining the start-up
and stop times of the web means of advancement and times of formation of said vacuum.
2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that said rotatable stand (14)
comprises preferably a spider with equispaced spokes having said oscillating arms
(17a,17b,17c,17d) hingedly connected to the ends thereof.
3. An apparatus according to Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that provided at said
wedge element (21) for breaking the labels away from the carrier web (11) is a fixed
anvil blade (22) being biased by springs (23) and configured as a yoke (26) or the
like, adapted to permit guillotine cutting of continuous self-sticking label segments
associated with the carrier web.
4. An apparatus according to the preceding claims, characterised in that it employs
labels of the thermally adhesive, or glued, or the like types, fed to the labelling
head (9) in accordance with conventional methods.
5. An apparatus according to the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises,
located at the case conveyor area selected for label application, an oscillating plate
(24) or the like, adapted to react to the pressure exerted on the cases by said label
carrying box-like bodies during the label pressure application step.
6. An apparatus according to the preceding claims, characterised in that it is provided
for the above- specified objects in accordance with what has been described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.