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(11) | EP 3 351 401 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | MACHINE FOR DRY-MARKING SHEETED ARTICLES |
| (57) The present invention concerns a machine (1) for dry-marking sheeted articles, comprising
a marking head (3) provided with a dry-marking element (5) carrying characters in
relief, and an abutment body (7). Between the marking head (3) and the abutment body
(7) it is possible to insert a sheeted article to be marked. The abutment body (7)
is movable towards and away from the marking head (3) to carry out a marking of the
sheeted article. The special feature of the invention consists of the fact that it comprises an electric actuator (9) kinematically connected to the abutment body (7) to transmit on the abutment body (7) the motion towards and away from the marking head (3). |
[0002] The dry-marking is used to print onto a sheeted article, like for example a case made of card or plasticised material, an alphanumeric code that can indicate a production date, an expiry date, a batch number, a product code, etc.
[0003] The dry-marking is obtained by pressing a printing element, like for example a set of characters in relief, against the surface of the article to be marked.
[0004] Dry-marking is distinguished from so-called dry sticker application, generally used to print graphical elements, as well as numbers and letters, on documents that need to be endorsed, in that it does not comprise a printing counter-element associated with the printing element. In dry-marking, indeed, the sheeted article to be marked is arranged between a flat rigid support and the printing element that carries the characters in relief.
[0005] Currently, dry-marking is carried out through pneumatic actuation machines that operate directly on the production and/or packaging lines of articles to be marked.
[0006] Such pneumatic actuation marking machines, however, have drawbacks that limit the use thereof to large-scale production, like for example pharmaceutical production. In particular, such marking machines can only be used in plants where there is the possibility of connection to compressors or to a compressed air circuit.
[0007] Moreover, such pneumatic actuation marking machines are particularly bulky and noisy, and therefore only usable in dedicated environments, like indeed production and/or packaging department of big industries.
[0008] The purpose of the present invention is to make a machine for dry-marking sheeted articles that is versatile, of reduced bulk, portable and quiet.
[0009] Another purpose of the present invention is to make a machine for dry-marking sheeted articles that is capable of giving the greatest guarantees of reliability and safety in use.
[0010] Yet another purpose of the invention consists of the fact that a machine for dry-marking sheeted articles is made that is easy to make and economically competitive if compared with the prior art.
[0011] These and other purposes according to the present invention are accomplished by making a machine for dry-marking sheeted articles as outlined in claim 1.
[0013] The characteristics and advantages of a machine for dry-marking sheeted articles according to the present invention will become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:
figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine for dry-marking sheeted articles, according to the invention;
figure 2 is a perspective view of a detail of the machine of figure 1, according to the invention, illustrating in particular the marking head;
figure 3 is a different perspective view of the machine of figure 1, according to the invention, from which the protective body has been removed;
figure 4 is a perspective view from behind of the machine of figure 1, according to the invention, partially disassembled;
figure 5 is a perspective view from behind of the machine of figure 1, according to the invention, with the marking group partially extracted from the outer casing;
figure 6 is a front view of the marking group of the machine of figure 1, according to the invention;
figure 7 is a view from below of the marking group of figure 6, according to the invention;
figure 8 is an exploded view of some components of the marking head of the machine of figure 1, according to the invention;
figure 9 is a perspective view of the device for activating the marking mounted on the machine of figure 1, according to the invention;
figure 10 illustrates a detail of the device for activating the marking of figure 9, according to the invention;
figure 11 illustrates a variant of the liftable arm that supports the marking head.
[0014] With reference to the figures, a machine 1 for dry-marking sheeted articles is shown, which comprises a marking head 3, provided with a printing element 5, and an abutment body 7. The sheeted article to be marked can be inserted between the marking head 3 and the abutment body 7. The abutment body 7 is movable towards and away from the marking head 3 to carry out the marking of the sheeted article.
[0015] According to the invention, the machine 1 comprises an electric actuator 9 kinematically connected to the abutment body 7 to transmit on the abutment body 7 the aforementioned motion towards and away from the marking head 3.
[0017] The machine 1 advantageously comprises a load-bearing structure, globally indicated with reference numeral 15, with which some components of the machine 1 itself are associated. Advantageously, such a load-bearing structure 15 can be made of a material such as aluminium or iron.
[0018] Advantageously, the machine 1 comprises an eccentric 11 associated with the electric actuator 9 through a reduction unit 13. The abutment body 7 comprises a piston 70 axially movable by means of the eccentric 11. The sheeted article can be inserted between the flat upper face of the piston 70 and the marking head 3.
[0019] Basically, the electric actuator 9 sets the eccentric 11 in rotation, through the reduction unit 13, said eccentric 11, through its rotation, giving axial movement to the piston 70 sliding inside a hollow cylinder 151 belonging to the load-bearing structure 15 of the machine 1. The sheeted article is inserted between the upper face of the piston 70 and the marking head 3, so that the upward movement of the piston 70 causes the marking of the sheeted article.
[0020] Advantageously, the printing element 5 comprises a plurality of characters in relief 50, and the marking head 3 comprises a central body 30 adapted for housing said plurality of characters in relief 50.
[0021] The central body 30 also advantageously comprises means 32 for adjusting the axial position of the printing element 5.
[0022] Such adjustment means 32 make it possible to vary the axial position of the printing element 5 as a function of the thickness of the sheeted article to be marked.
[0023] The characters in relief 50 can have a height advantageously less than 6 millimetres, preferably less than 4 millimetres, and even more preferably substantially equal to 2 millimetres.
[0024] The adjustment means 32 advantageously comprise an externally threaded cylindrical body 34 associated with the central body 30 of the marking head 3, and an internally threaded hollow body 36, able to be screwed into the cylindrical body 34 to take the printing element 5 towards and/or away from the abutment body 7, based on the thickness of the sheeted article to be marked.
[0025] Advantageously, the marking head 3 is associated with the load-bearing structure 15 of the machine 1, and in particular with a liftable arm 150 of the same load-bearing structure 15, through a hand-grip 38 having an internally threaded hollow portion 39, able to be associated with a corresponding threaded portion 40 of the marking head 3.
[0026] Advantageously, between the hand-grip 38 and the threaded portion 40 of the marking head 3 it is possible to arrange a spring 42 and a washer 44.
[0027] The possibility of lifting the arm 150 allows the marking head 3 to be taken away from the abutment body 7 to be able to remove the marking head 3, for example to replace, if necessary, the characters in relief 50.
[0028] As illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the load-bearing structure 15 comprises two flanks 152 inside which the arm 150 can be lowered. Advantageously, the arm 150 is hinged at an end thereof to such two flanks 152.
[0029] The two flanks 152 and the arm 150 each have a through hole 154. The insertion of a pin 156 through the holes 154 aligned with one another allows the arm 150 to be locked with respect to the two flanks 152.
[0030] Advantageously, the marking head 3 is associated with the load-bearing structure 15 of the machine 1, and in particular with a head portion 153 of the liftable arm 150, where between the marking head 3 and the load-bearing structure 15, and in particular between the marking head 3 and the head portion 153 of the liftable arm 150, at least one Belleville washer 17 is arranged.
[0031] Preferably, between the marking head 3 and the load-bearing structure 15, and in particular between the marking head 3 and the head portion 153 of the liftable arm 150, two Belleville washers 17 are arranged.
[0032] Advantageously, the Belleville washer 17 has a thickness of about 2 millimetres and a deflection of about 0.9 millimetres.
[0033] Advantageously it is possible to select Belleville washers 17 having different technical characteristics of thickness and deflection as a function of the degree of rigidity required by the machine 1 for marking the sheeted article.
[0034] The machine 1 advantageously comprises an electronic board 19 associated with an extractable plate 21. The extractable plate 21 is constrained to the load-bearing structure 15 through a plurality of screws 23 accessible from the outside of the load-bearing structure 15 of the marking group, once it has been removed from the metal outer casing 41 as illustrated in figures 4 and 5.
[0035] In particular, two screws 23 are accessible from the opening on the bottom of the load-bearing structure 15, as illustrated in figure 7, whereas a third screw, not visible in the figures, is accessible with a screwdriver through the hole 230 formed in the side wall of the load-bearing structure, and visible in figure 7.
[0036] As illustrated in figure 6, the flanks 152 with which the liftable arm 150 is associated proceed towards the bottom of the load-bearing structure 15, where they are indicated with reference numeral 152'. Advantageously, as illustrated in figure 7, the extractable plate 21 is constrained, through the screws 23, to one of said flanks 152'.
[0037] The machine 1 advantageously comprises a microswitch 25 configured to actuate the marking of the sheeted article, where the microswitch 25 can be activated by means of a pressure exerted by the same sheeted article to be marked.
[0038] Advantageously, the microswitch 25 can be activated by means of a pressure exerted by an abutment lever 27 for the sheeted article.
[0039] As illustrated in the attached figures, the marking area is delimited, on three sides, by a transparent protective barrier 43, and on a fourth side by the abutment lever 27 which, pressed by the sheeted article to be printed, presses and activates the microswitch 25 to start the marking of the sheeted article.
[0040] Advantageously, the microswitch 25 can be electrically connected to the machine 1 through an electric connector from outside of the machine 1 itself.
[0041] In particular, the microswitch 25 can be connected to a socket 250, visible in figures 4 and 5, present on the back of the machine 1, through a pin connector 252.
[0042] If necessary, it is also possible to connect other types of control to the socket 250 of the machine 1, like for example a keypad or a pedal control, in order to supply a marking start command alternately with that foreseen with the microswitch 25.
[0043] As illustrated in figures 3 and 9, the microswitch 25 and the abutment lever 27 can be associated with the load-bearing structure 15 of the machine 1, and in particular with one of the flanks 152 or 152', through a bar 45 and a screw 47. The bar 45 has a loop 49 that makes it possible to adjust the position of the abutment lever 27 with respect to the marking area of the sheeted article.
[0045] Advantageously, the electric actuator 9 is configured to invert its direction of rotation in the case of stucking of the marking head 3 against the abutment body 7, for example due to an excessive thickness of the sheeted article to be marked.
[0046] In particular, in the electronic board 19 an electronic control system is implemented that detects an excessive absorption of electric current by the electric motor, an indicator of a condition of stucking, and intervenes by inverting the direction of rotation of the motor, so as to pull back the abutment body 7 from the condition of stucking.
[0047] Advantageously, the machine 1 also comprises a detector of the number of markings made, like for example a hit-counter that counts the number of cycles carried out by the abutment body 7.
[0048] Advantageously, the machine 1 comprises a control and monitoring group 60 of the marking operations. Such a control and monitoring group 60 advantageously comprises an electronic board associated with a display 61. Such a display 61 is advantageously configured to show indications concerning the manufacturer of the machine 1, the code of the software implemented in the aforementioned electronic board, indications concerning the state of stucking of the machine 1 and the subsequent unlocking state, and/or the number of marking strikes carried out (zeroable).
[0049] Advantageously, the control and management group 60 also comprises a start button 62 of the machine 1, a button 63 to access, through the display 61, the operating menu of the machine 1, a line indicator light 64, an operation indicating light 65 and a safety key 66.
[0050] Figure 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the liftable arm 150', which is made in a single body, formed as a whole, with the head portion 153'. Advantageously, the liftable arm 150' and the head portion 153' can be made of a material such as aluminium.
[0051] Advantageously, the central body 30 can be rotated by at least 180° about the central axis of the marking head 3. In this way, it is possible to modify, up to inverting, the printing orientation of the printing characters 50 based on where the marking must be carried out with respect to the orientation of the sheeted article.
[0052] The machine 1 is advantageously capable of marking sheeted articles such as cards or cases, possibly plasticised, for packaging, for example for packaging medicines.
[0053] The machine for dry-marking sheeted articles object of the present invention has the advantage of being versatile and portable.
[0054] The machine according to the invention can indeed be used in any environment, for example also in an office, since it does not require any connection to compressors or to compressed air circuits, but a simple connection to the electrical mains.
[0055] Moreover, thanks to the electric rather than pneumatic actuation, the machine is absolutely silent.
[0056] The machine according to the invention adapts well even to sporadic use for marking, from time to time, of small amounts of sheeted articles.
[0057] In particular, thanks to its versatility, the machine is particularly convenient for marking small batches of articles, for example at businesses that carry out the packing of products for third parties.
[0058] Finally, it is clear that the machine for marking sheeted articles thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all of which are covered by the invention; moreover, all of the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the sizes, can be whatever depending on the technical requirements.
1. Machine (1) for dry-marking sheeted articles comprising a marking head (3) provided
with a printing element (5) and an abutment body (7), a sheeted article to be marked
being insertable between said marking head (3) and said abutment body (7), said abutment
body (7) being movable towards and away from said marking head (3) to carry out a
marking of said sheeted article, characterised in that it comprises an electric actuator (9) kinematically connected to said abutment body
(7) to transmit on said abutment body (7) said motion towards and away from said marking
head (3).
2. Machine (1), according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises an eccentric (11) associated with said electric actuator (9) through
a reduction unit (13), said abutment body (7) comprising a piston (70) axially movable
by means of said eccentric (11), said sheeted article being able to be inserted between
the flat upper face of said piston (70) and said marking head (3).
3. Machine (1), according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said printing element (5) comprises a plurality of characters in relief (50), said
marking head (3) comprising a central body (30) adapted for housing said plurality
of characters in relief (50), said central body (30) also comprising means (32) for
adjusting the axial position of said printing element (5).
4. Machine (1), according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said marking head (3) is associated with the load-bearing structure (15) of said
machine (1), wherein at least one Belleville washer (17) is arranged between said
marking head (3) and said load-bearing structure (15).
5. Machine (1), according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises an electronic board (19) associated with an extractable plate (21),
said extractable plate (21) being constrained to said load-bearing structure (15)
through a plurality of screws (23) accessible from outside said load-bearing structure
(15).
6. Machine (1), according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises a microswitch (25) configured to actuate the marking of said sheeted
article, said microswitch (25) being activatable by means of a pressure exerted by
said sheeted article to be marked.
7. Machine (1), according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said microswitch (25) can be activated by means of a pressure exerted by an abutment
lever (27) for said sheeted article.
8. Machine (1), according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said electric actuator (9) is a permanent magnets DC electric motor.
9. Machine (1), according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said electric actuator (9) is configured to invert its direction of rotation in the
case of stucking of said marking head (3) against said abutment body (7).