Label rejection station

Abstract

To provide a station for rejecting incompatible labels used in a labeling machine.SOLUTION: A label-rejection station comprises: a deviator element 2 movable between an inactive position I and an active position, and upon contacting a support band N at a first surface F thereof, deviating from a travelling path P; and a contrast element 3 arranged along the travelling path downstream of the deviator element, and comprising an abutting surface for receiving partially thereon a second surface S of the support band, opposite to the first surface, and a detachment edge provided for detaching a label from the support band when the deviator element moves into the active position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a station for rejecting labels that can be used in a labeling machine.

[0002] Labeling machines are used, for example, in the pharmaceutical industry to apply relevant adhesive labels containing printed information (such as product identification codes / barcodes, contents, and / or expiration dates) to various types of products, such as containers like vials or bottles.

[0003] A labeling machine generally includes a station for continuously supplying labels, where the labels to be applied to products are supplied and supported by a band along a travel path, and a control station and a label rejection station, where the conformity of the labels is checked and any non-conforming labels are discarded, respectively. Finally, a station for applying the labels is provided and is arranged at the end of the travel path, and the labels are applied to their respective products.

[0004] In the label control station, as described above, the conformity of the labels themselves, especially their printing, is checked, and it may actually happen that the printed information is faded, partially or completely missing. For this purpose, the control station generally comprises an optical type of control system.

[0005] If the label is conforming, the label proceeds along the travel path until it reaches the application station, where the label is applied to its respective product. On the other hand, if the control system detects a non-conformity of the label, the label must be discarded in order to prevent the label from being incorrectly applied to the product.

[0006] For this purpose, the label rejection station is arranged along the travel path and comprises a diverter and a separating element which act to disengage the label to be rejected from the support band of the label. The deviation angle of the band of the label must be large enough to ensure the separation of the label from the band itself rather than its lifting relative to the band. Therefore, the diverter and the separating element usually act along a direction perpendicular to the travel path of the band and deviate from that path.

[0007] The rejection station further comprises a roller for collecting the rejected labels, and the roller is arranged to catch on the way the label lifted from the support band by the diverter and the separating element, so as to attach itself to the collecting roller itself.

[0008] However, the known solutions described above have drawbacks.

[0009] That is, the deviation of the path of the support band has served to ensure the separation of non-conforming labels therefrom, accompanied by a decrease in the tension of the support band itself, and is conveyed to move along a path that is much longer than the path taken in the case of conforming labels. Even if partial, this loss of tension often results in a suboptimal and inaccurate application of the conforming label to each product and may lead to the rejection of the product itself.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0011] This object is achieved by proposing a label rejection station according to the appended claims.

[0012] Conveniently, the label rejection station according to the present invention is capable of rejecting non-conforming labels while still ensuring the optimal application of conforming labels to each product. That is, the proposed solution guarantees the tension of the support band even when one or more labels are rejected.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] Specific embodiments of the present invention and further advantages will become apparent in the following description using the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] With respect to the attached FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 1 indicates the label rejection station according to the present invention.

[0015] As previously defined, label E is of the adhesive type and may be attached to any type of product, for example, a container in the pharmaceutical industry.

[0016] Label E may include several prints containing different types of information (product identification code / barcode, content, and / or related expiration date, logo / image, etc.).

[0017] Label E is conveyed by the support band N along the travel path P (roughly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). With respect to the attached drawings, label E is schematically shown only along a part of the support band N.

[0018] The travel path P originates from the supply zone Z, and the label E to be attached to the product is supported by the support band N and supplied to a label application zone (not shown either) where the label E is attached to each product (not shown). The rejection station 1 is arranged between the supply zone Z and the label application area.

[0019] The support band N moves along the supply direction D and has two surfaces facing each other, a first surface F and a second surface S, and the label E is attached to the first surface F of the support band N.

[0020] The label rejection station according to the present invention is arranged along the travel path P and includes a divider element 2 movable between an inactive position I (Figure 1) and an active position O (Figures 2 and 3). The divider element 2 deviates from its travel path P by contacting the support band N at its first surface F.

[0021] In particular, the rejection station 1 includes a contrast element 3 arranged along the travel path P downstream of the divider element 2. The contrast element 3 includes, in turn, an adjacent surface 30 designed to partially receive on its surface the second surface S of the support band N (opposite to the first surface F) along which the support band N travels, and a separation edge 31 (shown in Figure 3) designed to separate the label E from the support band N (in particular, from the first surface F of the support band N) when the divider element 2 moves to the relatively active position O (see Figures 2 and 3).

[0022] Advantageously, the label rejection station 1 proposed in the present invention significantly reduces the loss of tension of the support band N when rejecting label E, i.e., when deviating from the travel path P, compared to known solutions. This is due to the fact that the deviator element 2 and the contrast element 3 are composed of two different elements that cooperate to enable the separation of the label E to be discarded when necessary, unlike in the prior art. In particular, the deviator element 2 and the contrast element 3 operate on two opposing surfaces F, S of the support band N. This mode advantageously results in the fact that a minimal deviation of the support band N (by the deviator element 2) is required until the separation (i.e., the lifting) of the label E to be discarded occurs from the support band N itself, as will become apparent below. From this, even when rejecting label E, the tension of the support band N remains substantially unchanged compared to the case where it is not necessary to discard label E, and as a result, the accurate application of label E to the related product is ensured, according to the fact.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the contrast element 3 is arranged in a manner fixed along the travel path P. That is, the contrast element 3 is not movable with respect to the support band N nor with respect to the deviator element 2 (both when the deviator element 2 is in the relatively inactive position I and when the deviator element 2 is in the relatively active position O). This mode ensures a particular structural and functional simplicity since only the movable deviator element 2, but also the contrast element 3, contributes to the separation of the label E from the support band N.

[0024] As already mentioned, the adjacent surface 30 of the contrast element 3 partially receives the support band N that is stationary in a part downstream of the travel path P of the divider element 2, particularly both when the divider element 2 is in the relatively inactive position I and when the divider element 2 is in the relatively active position O.

[0025] According to the preferred embodiment shown, the adjacent surface 30 of the contrast element 3 is developed in an arch shape (i.e., defines a curved contour). In this manner, when the divider element 2 is in its inactive position I, unnecessary separation of the label E is avoided.

[0026] According to the preferred embodiment shown, the separation edge 31 of the contrast element 3 has a corner 31 formed between two adjacent surfaces 32, 33 of the contrast element 3, and the two surfaces 32, 33 of the contrast element 3 form a sharp U angle therebetween. The separation edge 31 is preferably constituted by this corner 31 of the contrast element 3. Preferably, one of the two surfaces 32, 33 of the contrast element 3 has the aforementioned adjacent surface 30 (see FIG. 3).

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the contrast element 3 has a hemispherical or semi-elliptical cross-section.

[0028] According to the preferred embodiment shown, the divider element 2 has a general longitudinal development axis H and is movable by oscillating between an inactive position I and an active position O about a swing axis K passing through its development axis (see FIG. 3). Preferably, the divider element 2 is rod-shaped.

[0029] Preferably, the swing axis K of the divider element 2 is perpendicular to the longitudinal development axis H of the divider element 2. More specifically, the swing axis K is preferably perpendicular to the lateral surface of the divider element 2 (not shown in the figure).

[0030] According to the preferred embodiment shown, the longitudinal deployment axis H of the divider element 2 is arranged partially parallel to the travel path P (i.e., parallel to this section of the travel path P). Even more preferably, again with reference to the accompanying drawings, when the divider element 2 is arranged in the relatively inactive position I and when it is arranged in the relatively active position O, the support band N is partially supported. Advantageously, this aspect further reduces the deviation necessary to separate the label E from the support band N, i.e., the swinging angle of the divider element 2 about its swing axis K.

[0031] With reference to the accompanying drawings, the divider element 2 has at least one roller 20 at one of its ends, facilitating the sliding of the support band N there. With reference to the accompanying drawings, the divider element 2 has two rollers 20, one at each of its opposite ends.

[0032] Preferably, the swinging angle (between the inactive position I and the active position O) of the divider element 2 is between 25° and 45°. By keeping this angle considerably reduced, it enables a low loss of tension in the support band N compared to the known art. Even more preferably, this angle is configured between 30° and 40°. This range of values enables an even lower loss of tension than the known solutions. With reference to the accompanying drawings, the deviation angle is 33°. This value is the optimal compromise between the need to deviate from the travel path P of the support band N to obtain an accurate separation of the label E from the support band N itself and the need to minimize the tension of the support band N following such a deviation.

[0033] The rejection station 1 also preferably comprises a collection band 4 for the rejected label E, the collection band 4 extending along a collection path R (shown in a general way in FIGS. 1 and 2) for the label E and being arranged adjacent to the travel path P of the support band N at least in the contrast element 3. The collection band 4 is designed to receive the label E separated from the support band N as the divider element 2 moves to its active position O.

[0034] According to the preferred embodiment shown, the collection band 4 is at least partially wound around a collection roller 41 and can be actuated to rotate about its own axis to move the collection band 4 when the divider element 2 moves to its relatively active position O. Preferably, when the divider element 2 moves to its relatively active position O, the collection roller 41 can be rotated to move the collection band 4 at the same travel speed as the support band N, enabling an optimal transfer of the label E from the support band N to the collection band 4 (i.e., separation of the label E to be discarded from the support band N and its “automatic” adhesion to the collection band 4). On the opposite side of the collection roller, as the collection band 4 is wound around the collection roller 41, there is a rewinding roller 42 rotating in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the collection roller 41 to unwind the collection band 4 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Between the rewinding roller 42 and the collection roller 41, there is a series of return rollers 43 defining the collection path R.

[0035] Preferably, the return rollers 43 keep the collection band 4 adjacent to the support band N both when the divider element is in its relatively inactive position I and when the divider element 2 is in its relatively active position O. In this way, an easy transfer of the label E to be discarded from the support band N to the collection band 4 is ensured.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, the collecting band 4 is in contact with at least the adjacent surface 30 of the contrast element 3 near or at the separating edge 31 with respect to the support band N. In this way, more accurate adhesion of the rejected label E to the collecting band 4 is ensured.

[0037] According to a preferred embodiment, the rejection station 1 according to the invention is also arranged along the travel path P upstream of the support band N of the divider element 2 (and of the contrast element 3), and is provided with a sensor 5 arranged to detect a possible incompatibility of the label E on the support band N and to transmit a corresponding signal. The sensor 5 is preferably arranged to face the first surface F of the support band N.

[0038] The rejection station 1 further comprises a control unit 6 (schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) arranged to receive the signal from the sensor 5 and as a result to control the divider element 2 to move to a relatively active position O. The non - conformity of the label E can be, for example, its printing, i.e., faded, not visible at all, partially or completely missing.

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment, the control unit 6 is also provided to command the collecting roller 41 to rotate in order to move the collecting band 4 when a signal is received.

[0040] Preferably, the sensor 5 is a sensor 5 of the optical type (camera, video camera, photocell or others).

[0041] The operation of the label rejection station 1 according to the invention is described here briefly in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0042] Label E is supplied and conveyed by support band N along travel path P in supply zone Z and first arrives at sensor 5 in order to check the conformity of label E. If all labels E are in conformity (i.e., there are no anomalies or printing errors), they pass through rejection station 1 and diverter element 2 remains in its relatively inactive position I (Figure 1), where it partially receives the first surface F of support band N. Support band N that has passed through rejection station 1 then partially stops on the adjacent surface 30 of contrast element 3 (at its second surface S), while label E remains on support band N itself (i.e., is not separated). Support band N together with label E is conveyed towards an application zone (not shown) and label E is applied to the respective products. In this situation, collection band 4 and collection roller 41 remain stationary.

[0043] On the other hand, if during the travel of support band N sensor 5 detects a non-conforming label E, it sends a corresponding signal to control unit 6. This activates diverter element 2 so that the label E to be discarded moves to a second position if it is at separation edge 31 of contrast element 3. Also in this situation, diverter element 2 receives a part of support band N that is stationary there. At the same time, control unit 6 also activates collection roller 41 and moves collection band 4 at the same speed as support band N to receive and remove label E separated from support band N.

[0044] The invention also relates to a labeling machine M (partially visible in Figures 1 and 2), comprising a supply zone Z for label E, in which label E supported by support band N is supplied, and a zone (not shown) for applying label E to the corresponding products. Labeling machine M also comprises a rejection station 1 for label E according to any of the previously described embodiments, interposed between supply zone Z and the label application zone.

[0045] The label applicator M is preferably a label applicator M in the pharmaceutical industry.

Claims

1. A label rejection station, wherein the label is conveyed by a support band along a travel path, and the rejection station A diverter element disposed along the travel path and movable between an inactive position and an active position, the diverter element contacting the support band on a first surface of the support band to deflect from the travel path, and A contrast element disposed downstream of the travel path of the diverter element, the contrast element being provided with an adjacent surface for partially receiving a second surface of the support band opposite to the first surface during travel of the support band, and a separation edge provided for separating the label from the support band when the diverter element moves to the active position. comprising The diverter element has a longitudinal deployment axis and is swingable between the inactive position and the active position about a swing axis passing through the longitudinal deployment axis (H). A rejection station.

2. The contrast element is immovable along the travel path. The rejection station according to claim 1.

3. The adjacent surface of the contrast element expands in an arch shape. The rejection station according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The separation edge of the contrast element has a corner provided between two surfaces of the contrast element and defines an acute angle between the two surfaces of the contrast element. The rejection station according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The longitudinal deployment axis of the diverter element is at least partially parallel to the travel path. The rejection station according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The rejection station according to claim 5, wherein when the divider element is in the inactive position and when the divider element is in the active position, the divider element partially receives the support band.

7. The rejection station according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the swinging angle of the divider element is between 25° and 45°.

8. The rejection station according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a collection band for the rejected label that unfolds along the collection path of the label and is adjacent to at least the travel path of the support band in the contrast element, the collection band being provided to receive the label separated from the support band as the divider element moves to the active position.

9. The rejection station according to claim 8, wherein the collection band is at least partially wound around a collection roller, and the collection roller can be actuated to rotate so as to move the collection band at the same speed as the support band when the divider element moves to the active position.

10. At least one sensor arranged along the upstream of the travel path of the divider element, provided for detecting the non - conformity of the label on the support band and for transmitting a corresponding signal, and A control unit provided for receiving the signal from the sensor and for instructing the divider element to move to the active position The rejection station according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising.

11. The rejection station according to claim 10, wherein the control unit is also provided to instruct the collection roller to rotate so as to move the collection band when the signal is received.

12. The rejection station according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

13. - A label supply zone in which the label is conveyed by a support band, - A label application zone for applying the label to the corresponding product, - A label rejection station according to any one of claims 1 to 12 disposed between the label supply zone and the label application zone A labeling machine comprising.

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