|
(11) | EP 1 975 075 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | Label applicator device |
| (57) The device (1) allows the application of labels (L) to articles (A) conveyed by a
conveyor (2) in a predetermined direction (F) and comprises: an operationally stationary support structure (3, 4); a rotary fluid actuator (7) including a body (8) containing a chamber (9) inside which a piston (10) is mounted so as to rotate in a reciprocating manner about an axis (Y) which is preferably vertical; and an applicator (12-14) connected to the piston (10) and extending outside the body (8) of the actuator (7) and comprising a perforated vane element (14) provided with a flat surface or side at least as big as a label (L) to be applied and having a plurality of through-openings (15). The arrangement is such that, as a result of a pressure pulse, the actuator (7) is able to pass in a pulsed manner from a first condition where the piston (10) arranges the applicator (12-14) in a retracted angular position where this applicator (12-14) is able to receive, on said flat surface or side of the perforated vane element (14), a label (L) to be applied, into a second condition where the piston (10) arranges the applicator (12-14) in an extracted angular position, where its perforated vane element (14) is able to apply onto an article (A) the label (L) which the vane element (14) has received and transported. |
[0002] More specifically the invention relates to a device for applying labels and the like to articles conveyed by a conveyor in a predetermined direction, preferably a horizontal direction.
[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide an applicator device of the improved type, which can be produced in a relatively simple and low-cost manner and is highly reliable from an operational point of view.
[0004] This object, together with other objects, is achieved according to the invention with a device comprising:
an operationally stationary support structure,
a rotary fluid actuator including a body fixed to said structure and containing a chamber inside which a piston which is mounted so as to rotate in a reciprocating manner about an axis which is essentially perpendicular to the abovementioned direction and preferably vertical; and
an applicator connected to said piston and extending outside the body of the actuator, the applicator comprising a perforated vane element provided with a flat surface or side essentially parallel to said axis and at least as big as a label to be applied and having a plurality of through-openings;
the arrangement being such that, as a result of a pressure pulse, the actuator is able to pass in a pulsed manner from
a first condition where the piston arranges the applicator in a retracted angular position where the applicator is able to receive, on said flat surface or side of the perforated vane element, a label to be applied, into
a second condition where the piston arranges the applicator in an extracted angular position, where its perforated vane element is able to apply onto an article the label which said vane element has received and transported.
[0005] Conveniently, the actuator is of the pneumatic type and the piston is mounted rotatably, but not in air-tight manner, inside the chamber of the actuator body.
[0006] In a preferred embodiment the pneumatic actuator is of the single-acting type, there being envisaged resilient means for recalling the piston from the abovementioned second condition into the abovementioned first condition.
[0007] Advantageously the applicator may comprise a flexible arm which interconnects the piston to the perforated vane applicator element. The latter may also conveniently be flexible.
[0008] Further characteristic features and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description below, provided purely by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an applicator device according to the invention, for applying labels to articles conveyed by an adjacent conveyor;
Figure 2 is a partial perspective view which shows the applicator device according to the invention in a first condition;
Figure 3 is a partial plan view of the device according to the invention, showing the applicator during the transition from the abovementioned first condition into the abovementioned second condition;
Figure 4 is a partial plan view, similar to that shown in Figure 3, and shows the applicator about to apply a label to an article passing by on the adjacent conveyor; and
Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 2 and shows the applicator device in the condition where it is applying a label to an article.
[0009] In the drawings 1 denotes overall a label applicator device according to the present invention.
[0010] This device is intended to apply labels, in particular of the type already provided with adhesive on one side, to articles A conveyed in succession in a predetermined direction from an adjacent conveyor 2, for example of the belt type. The direction of conveying of the articles A, denoted by the arrows F in Figures 1 to 3, is preferably horizontal.
[0011] The applicator device 1 comprises a support structure 3 which is operationally stationary. In the example of embodiment shown this structure is fixed to the top of a label printing machine, denoted overall by 4, of a type known per se.
[0012] In particular, the label applicator device 1 according to the invention is fixed in the vicinity of the outlet of a label feeder device 5 provided at the outlet of the machine 4. This feeder device, of a type known per se, has an outlet slit 6 (Figures 2-5) which is essentially parallel to the conveyor 2 and through which, during operation, labels to be applied to the articles A "emerge" in succession in an upwards direction. Such a label is shown in broken lines in Figure 2, where it is denoted by L. In the case of self-adhesive labels, which are provided with glue on one side, the labels L emerge from the feeder device 5 with the adhesive directed towards the conveyor 2.
[0013] The applicator device 1 comprises a rotary fluid actuator, denoted overall by 7. This actuator is preferably a pneumatic actuator of the single-acting type.
[0014] The actuator 7 comprises a body fixed to the structure 3. This body 8 is hollow and contains a chamber 9 inside which a flanged piston 10 is mounted so as to rotate in a reciprocating manner about an axis Y which is essentially perpendicular to the direction of feeding of the products A on the conveyor 2, and preferably vertical (see in particular Figures 3 to 5).
[0015] In the example of embodiment shown the chamber 9, in plan view, is essentially formed in the manner of a circle segment with an amplitude of, for example, about 120° and has one end which is closed by a wall 8a (Figures 2 to 4) and the other end open (Figure 5). The end wall 8a, which is essentially vertical, has formed therein an opening which seats a connection piece 11 able to supply pressure pulses to the chamber 9, specifically to the portion of this chamber which is situated between the wall 8a and the flanged piston 10.
[0016] With reference to Figures 2 to 5, the piston 10 has, integral therewith, a rigid arm 12 which is situated angularly on the opposite part to the connection piece 11 relative to said piston (see in particular Figures 3 and 4).
[0017] A flexible intermediate arm 13, for example in the form of a spatula (Figures 2 and 5) formed for example by a plate made of spring steel, is connected to the arm 12.
[0018] The intermediate arm 13 connects, to the arm 12, a perforated vane element 14 which, in the example shown, has an essentially rectangular form.
[0019] The vane element 14 is preferably made in the form of a flat plate with a plurality of through-openings 15 (Figures 2 and 5), which is at least as big as a label L to be applied.
[0020] 16 denotes a recall spring connected at one end to the rotating part (arm 12) of the actuator 7 and at the other end to a retaining piece integral with the support structure 3.
[0021] The spring 16 tends to keep the moving part of the pneumatic actuator 7 in the position shown in Figure 2, where the perforated vane element 14 extends vertically in the vicinity of the outlet slit 6 for the labels L from the feeder device 5, in particular on the opposite side to the conveyor 2 relative to said slit.
[0022] The arrangement is such that, from this condition, the supply of a pressure pulse to the connection piece 11 causes a rotation of the piston 10 inside the chamber 8 against the action of the spring 16. The latter is arranged so that initially its resistance to the movement of the piston 10 and the associated applicator 12-14 is relatively small, this resistance then increasing with an increase in the angular travel of the piston 10 and said applicator.
[0023] By means of synchronization of the label feeder device 5 with supplying of the pressure pulses to the pneumatic actuator 7, it is possible to ensure that the latter causes the movement of the perforated vane element 14 (from the position shown in Figure 2) at the moment when a label L to be applied onto an article A arriving on the conveyor 2 emerges from the outlet slit 6 of the feeder device 5.
The piston 10 is rotatably mounted in the chamber 9, but preferably without a pneumatic seal being formed between this piston and the wall of the chamber 9.
[0024] A pressure pulse imparted to the piston 10 is thus able to cause in a correspondingly pulsed manner switching-over of the actuator 7 and the associated applicator 12-14 from the condition shown in Figure 2 into the condition shown in Figure 5.
[0025] In the condition shown in Figure 2, the pressure pulse causes the vane element 14 to "capture" the label L emerging from the slit 6 of the feeder device 5 and push it or convey it towards the article A arriving on the conveyor 2. Owing to the perforations in the vane element 14 and the pulsed nature of the action which the latter exerts on the "captured" label L, the latter in fact adheres to this vane element for the time needed to cover the angular trajectory towards the position shown in Figure 5, for application of this label on the arriving article A, as shown in Figure 5.
[0026] Transfer of the label L from the outlet of the label feeder 5 to the article A is therefore conveniently performed without using vacuum systems intended to prevent the label from "dropping" during application.
[0027] When the vane element 14 has applied the label onto the article A arriving on the conveyor 2, the pressure pulse supplied to the actuator 7 has already completed its action. The parts rotating about the axis Y (piston 10 and applicator 10-14) are therefore recalled into the initial position, shown in Figure 2, by the action of the spring 16. Since the piston 10 is rotatable inside the chamber 9 without sealing, i.e. substantially so as to allow the infiltration of air, the return stroke of the rotating parts occurs offering only a limited resistance to the action of the spring 16.
[0028] Operation may therefore continue with a new label application cycle identical to the one described above.
[0029] In the embodiment illustrated by way of example in the drawings, the applicator device 1 applies labels onto the sides situated at the front (with respect to the feeding direction F) of the articles A moved by means of the conveyor 2.
[0030] With slight modifications, but without altering the general configuration, the applicator device 1 according to the invention is also suitable for applying labels onto a side surface of the articles A, in particular the side surface of these articles which is directed towards the applicator device 1. For such an application it is moreover convenient that the perforated vane element 14 should also be formed as an elastically flexible vane element 14 so as to "spread" more effectively the labels onto the side surfaces of the articles.
[0031] Obviously, without modifying the principle of the invention, the embodiments and constructional details may be widely varied with respect to that described and illustrated purely by way of a non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.
an operationally stationary support structure (3, 4);
a rotary fluid actuator (7) including a body (8) fixed to said structure (3, 4) and containing a chamber (9) inside which a piston (10) is mounted so as to rotate in a reciprocating manner about an axis (Y) which is essentially perpendicular to said direction (F) and preferably vertical; and
an applicator (12-14) connected to said piston (10) and extending outside the body (8) of the actuator (7) and comprising a perforated vane element (14) provided with a flat surface or side essentially parallel to said axis (Y) and at least as big as a label (L) to be applied and having a plurality of through-openings (15);
the arrangement being such that, as a result of a pressure pulse, the actuator (7) is able to pass in a pulsed manner from
a first condition where the piston (10) arranges the applicator (12-14) in a retracted angular position (Figure 2) where this applicator (12-14) is able to receive, on said flat surface or side of the perforated vane element (14), a label (L) to be applied, into
a second condition where the piston (10) arranges the applicator (12-14) in an extracted angular position (Figure 5), where its perforated vane element (14) is able to apply onto an article (A) the label (L) which said vane element (14) has received and transported.