Container labeling stamp

Abstract

This utility certificate relates to a pad for applying a label to the outer surface of a container, in particular a bag containing frozen plasma that has irregularities on its outer surface. The pad comprises an applicator provided with: a) at least one rigid plate, b) a membrane made of elastic material attached to one of said at least one rigid plate, and c) a suction device. In this way, through the combined action of the elastic membrane and the vacuum created by the suction device, the label is held on the rigid plate during the contact phase between the pad applicator and the container to which the label is to be applied. Furthermore, thanks to the presence of the elastic membrane, said label can also be applied to containers with irregular surface corrugations. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Stamp for labeling containers Technical field

[0001] This utility certificate refers to a stamp for labeling containers. In particular, this utility certificate refers to a stamp for labeling bags containing liquids, such as blood or other blood components derived from blood processing. State of the art

[0002] Nowadays, tampons are made of rigid or flexible material, for example neoprene, generally with suction systems, for example the Venturi system, or with vacuum amplifiers.

[0003] However, these stamps have proven ineffective whenever a label needs to be applied to the irregular surface of bags that have been previously frozen to contain plasma. This is because after blood has been donated by a donor, subjected to laboratory tests and deemed suitable for any subsequent transfusion, it is divided into plasma and other blood components. The plasma is then frozen at -80°C in an ultra-low temperature freezer, which causes irregularities on the outer surface of the bags containing the frozen plasma, with ripples varying from bag to bag. These irregular ripples make it difficult (and in some cases impossible) to apply a label to this type of bag.

[0004] US Patent No. US 5435862 A discloses a label applicator for applying a label to an article. The label has a first side on which a printed medium is visible and a second side on which a pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied. The label applicator includes a label support structure for supporting the label, the second side of the label being placed on the label support structure, and a label transfer structure for gripping the first side of the label, for gripping the label from the label support structure, and for pressing the label onto the article.

[0005] The applicant of the present utility certificate application therefore noted the need to produce a device allowing the label to be applied even to such irregular surfaces. Summary of the invention

[0006] This utility certificate refers to a stamp for labeling containers. A stamp for applying a label to the outer surface of a container comprises an applicator provided with: a) at least one rigid plate; b) a membrane of elastic material attached to one of said at least one rigid plate, and c) a suction device, wherein said applicator is provided with a lower rigid plate, an upper rigid plate and a plurality of spring elements between said lower rigid plate and said upper rigid plate. Said membrane of elastic material is fixed under said lower rigid plate. Said applicator is also provided with spacers and / or tensioners placed at said lower rigid plate and intended to fix said membrane to said lower rigid plate.

[0007] Indeed, the present utility certificate is based on the general consideration that the technical problem indicated above can be solved efficiently and reliably by means of a stamp intended to apply a label to the outer surface of a container, said stamp comprising an applicator provided with: a) at least one rigid plate, b) a membrane of elastic material fixed to one of said at least one rigid plate, and c) a suction device.

[0008] In this way, thanks to the combined action of the membrane made of elastic material and the depression created by the suction device, the label is retained on the rigid plate during the phase of contacting the tampon applicator with the container on which the label is to be applied.

[0009] Furthermore, thanks to the presence of the membrane made of elastic material, said label can also be applied to containers having an irregular undulation of their surface.

[0010] In particular, said label may also be applied to bags containing plasma which have been placed in an ultra-low temperature freezer at -80°C, which has resulted in an irregularity on the outer surface of the bags, varying from bag to bag.

[0011] The applicator is also provided with a lower rigid plate, an upper rigid plate and a plurality of spring elements between said lower rigid plate and said upper rigid plate.

[0012] In this way, the spring elements allow the lower rigid plate to approach the upper rigid plate.

[0013] Said membrane made of elastic material is fixed under said lower rigid plate.

[0014] Said applicator is also provided with special spacers and / or tensioners placed at the level of said lower rigid plate and intended to fix said membrane of elastic material under said lower rigid plate.

[0015] In this way, when the applicator approaches the container on which the label is to be applied, the membrane of elastic material deforms and comes into direct contact with the surface of the container.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, said membrane is provided with holes or openings.

[0017] In this way, air can pass through said holes or openings.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, said suction device is a fan.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, said fan is placed between said plate lower rigid plate and said upper rigid plate.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, said applicator is also provided with a proximity sensor placed between said lower rigid plate and said upper rigid plate.

[0021] In this way, the proximity sensor detects the approach of the two rigid plates.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, said applicator is also provided with an optical sensor.

[0023] In this way, the optical sensor is able to detect the presence of the container on which the label is to be applied.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, said optical sensor is placed at the level of said lower rigid plate, preferably on the side thereof.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, said lower rigid plate and said upper rigid plate are made of metal.

[0026] In this way, the two plates have significant rigidity.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the stamp of the present utility certificate is also provided with a jack connected to said applicator and designed to allow the applicator to move so as to come into contact with said container on which the label is to be applied.

[0028] In this way, the applicator attached to the cylinder is able to move vertically downwards, towards the container on which the label is to be applied and, conversely, upwards away from the container once the label has been applied to the latter.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, said cylinder is actuated either pneumatically or electrically.

[0030] In this way, the movement of the jack is continuous and constant. Brief description of the figures

[0031] Other features and advantages of this utility certificate will become more clearly apparent upon reading the following detailed description of various preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments, illustrated solely for informational purposes, but without limitation, with the aid of the appended drawings in which:

[0032] [Fig. 1] shows an axonometric view of an embodiment of the stamp of this utility certificate;

[0033] [Fig.2] shows in detail the applicator of the tampon of [Fig.l];

[0034] [Fig.3] shows a detail of the tampon applicator of [Fig.2] in which the springs have been removed for simplicity. Detailed description

[0035] Figures 1 to 3 show an embodiment of a buffer 1 according to the present utility certificate.

[0036] The pad 1 (shown as a whole in [Fig.l]) is capable of picking up a label from a label printing or peeling system (not shown in the figures) and applying this label to the outer surface of a container (not shown in the figures), in particular to the outer surface of a bag containing frozen plasma which has irregularities on its outer surface.

[0037] In particular, the pad 1 is provided with an applicator 2 (shown in detail in [Fig.2]), consisting of a lower rigid plate 3a, an upper rigid plate 3b, both made of metal, and a plurality of spring elements 6 placed between the two rigid plates 3a, 3b. The spring elements 6 allow the two rigid plates 3a, 3b to be brought closer to each other. On the downward-facing surface of the lower rigid plate 3a there is a membrane 4 made of elastic material, provided with holes or openings to allow the passage of air. The membrane 4 is fixed to the lower rigid plate 3a by specific spacers and / or tensioners; in this way, when the applicator 2 approaches the container on which the label is to be applied, the membrane of elastic material 4 deforms and comes into direct contact with the surface of the container.

[0038] Between the two rigid plates 3a, 3b, at one of the springs 6, there is a proximity sensor 7 which detects the approach of the two rigid plates 3a, 3b to each other. The positioning of the proximity sensor 7 can be adjusted according to the need to detect the distance between the two rigid plates 3a, 3b.

[0039] Between the two rigid plates 3a, 3b there is also a fan 5 (shown in detail in [Fig. 3]); thanks to the depression created by the fan 5 and the membrane 4 made of elastic material, the applicator 2 of the pad 1 can firstly retain the label during application and, after a subsequent slight pressure on it, apply the label by the adhesive side. This allows the label to adapt also to any irregular surface of the pocket. Finally, the pad 1 thus produced is able to fit the pocket so that the label adheres completely to the surface of the pocket.

[0040] At the lower rigid plate 3a there is also an optical sensor 8, which can detect the presence of the pocket on which the label is to be applied. The positioning of the optical sensor 8 can also be adjusted according to the pocket presence detection needs.

[0041] The applicator 2 is connected to a cylinder 9 of the pad which allows the applicator 2 to move to come into contact with the pocket on which the label is to be applied. Indeed, the applicator 2, fixed to the cylinder 9, is able to move vertically downwards, towards the pocket on which the label is to be applied and, conversely, upwards away from the pocket once the label is applied to the latter. The cylinder 9 is actuated either pneumatically or electrically.

[0042] Obviously, persons skilled in the art will be able to observe numerous modifications and variations of the preferred embodiments described, while remaining within the scope of this utility certificate.

[0043] Thus, this utility certificate is not limited to the preferred embodiments described, illustrated for example purposes only and without limitation, but is defined by the following claims.

Claims

Claims

1. A pad (1) for applying a label to the outer surface of a container, said pad comprising an applicator (2) provided with: a) at least one rigid plate (3a, 3b); b) a membrane (4) of elastic material attached to one (3a) of said at least one rigid plate (3a, 3b), and c) a suction device (5), wherein said applicator (2) is provided with a lower rigid plate (3a), an upper rigid plate (3b) and a plurality of spring elements (6) between said lower rigid plate (3a) and said upper rigid plate (3b), wherein said membrane (4) of elastic material is attached under said lower rigid plate (3a) and wherein said applicator (2) is also provided with spacers and / or tensioners (10) placed at said lower rigid plate (3a) and intended to attach said membrane (4) to said lower rigid plate (3a).

2. A tampon (1) according to claim 1, wherein said membrane (4) is provided with holes or openings.

3. A pad (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said suction device (5) is a fan placed between said lower rigid plate (3a) and said upper rigid plate (3b).

4. Tampon (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said applicator (2) is also provided with a proximity sensor (7) placed between said lower rigid plate (3a) and said upper rigid plate (3b).

5. Tampon (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said applicator (2) is also provided with an optical sensor (8).

6. A buffer (1) according to claim 5, wherein said optical sensor (8) is placed at said lower rigid plate (3a).

7. A buffer (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said lower rigid plate (3a) and said upper rigid plate (3b) are made of metal.

8. Tampon (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, also provided with a jack (9) connected to said applicator (2) and designed to allow the applicator (2) to move so as to come into contact with the said container on which the label is to be applied.

Images