Decoration machine for decorating containers with groups of fixed laser devices

Abstract

There is described decoration machine (1) for decorating containers (2) adapted to contain a pourable product with a decoration having at least one first decoration portion (A1), the decoration machine comprising: - a fixed frame (7); - a conveyor (3) for advancing a sequence of containers (2) along a decoration path (D), by means of a movement of the conveyor (3) with respect to the frame (7); - a first decoration system (5) comprising a respective group of laser devices (6) arranged at the decoration path (D) and supported by the frame (7); wherein each laser device (6) of the first decoration system (5) is associated with the first decoration portion (A1) to engrave said first decoration portion (A1).

Description

[0001]DECORATION MACHINE FOR DECORATING CONTAINERS WITH GROUPS OF FIXED LASER DEVICES TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a decoration machine for decorating containers, such as bottles, jars, flacons or the like, adapted to contain a pourable product, preferably a pourable food product, with laser decoration. BACKGROUND ART Decoration machines are known for decorating containers adapted to contain a pourable product. A common widespread type of decoration machine are labelling machines. In particular, labelling machines are known, which are commonly used to prepare, transport and apply labels onto containers such as bottles, flacons, jars or the like, destined to be filled with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product. Labelling machines of this sort typically operate with well-known “glued labels”, which are cut from a web of labelling material at appropriate lengths, sprinkled with glue and then applied on the containers. In other embodiments, labelling machines can operate with so-called “sleeve-labels”, which are cut from a web of heat-shrinking film, are applied with a certain clearance on the articles, and then heated in an oven to obtain their shrinking and perfect adhesion to the lateral surfaces of the containers. Regardless of the type of label used, a known labelling machine typically comprises: - a carousel rotatable around a vertical axis and configured to convey a plurality of containers along a horizontal, arc-shaped labelling path; and - a labelling module, peripherally arranged relatively to the carousel (i.e. radially with respect to the aforementioned vertical axis) and configured to prepare, transport and feed a plurality of labels to the carousel at an application station, in order to apply such labels to the respective containers. The carousel comprises a series of support members, for example embodied as support plates, arranged at a peripheral portion thereof and each configured to support a respective container. The carousel advances the support members along a circular trajectory, so that the containers are advanced along the labelling path. Typically, the labelling module comprises: - at least one support shaft around which the web of labelling material is initially wound in form of a reel; - a feed roller for unwinding the web off the reel and advance it along a feed path; - a cutting unit for repeatedly cut the web at a cutting station so as to separate a sequence of labels from the web itself; and - a transfer drum, for example a known vacuum drum arranged peripherally to the carousel, configured to receive, retain by suction and advance each label previously cut and to feed each label to the carousel, at the application station. In case glued labels are used, the labelling module further comprises a gluing roller arranged peripherally to the transfer drum, for sequentially sprinkling with glue each label retained and transferred by the drum itself. From the above, it is clear that the known decoration machines comprise a lot of different units and devices and entail the use of several raw materials, which render the decoration process rather cumbersome and complicated, and also difficult to adapt to a container format change. Hence, the known decoration machines entail a large number of components, which require maintenance and which lower the overall reliability of the decoration machine. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a decoration machine which is designed to overcome at least one of the above-mentioned drawbacks in a straightforward and low-cost manner. This object is achieved by a decoration machine as claimed in claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic top view, with parts removed for clarity, of a first embodiment of a decoration machine according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a larger-scale, schematic lateral view, with parts removed for clarity, of part of the first embodiment; Figure 3 is a schematic top view, with parts removed for clarity, of the first embodiment; Figure 3B is a schematic lateral view, with parts removed for clarity, of the first embodiment; Figure 4 is a schematic top view, with parts removed for clarity, of a second embodiment of a decoration machine according to the invention; Figure 4B is a schematic lateral view, with parts removed for clarity, of the second embodiment; Figure 5 is a schematic lateral view, with parts removed for clarity, of a third embodiment of a decoration machine according to the invention; and Figure 6 is a schematic lateral view of a container decorated by a decoration machine according to the invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With reference to Figure 1, number 1 indicates as a whole a decoration machine for decorating containers 2, such as bottles, jars, flacons or the like, adapted to contain a pourable product, preferably a pourable food product (water, beer, wine, milk, juice, yogurt, or the like). Containers 2 are preferably made of plastic material, such as PET, or of glass. Preferably, decoration machine 1 is part of a packaging assembly (not shown) of the known type which is configured for packaging the pourable product by means of the containers 2. To this end, the packaging assembly may comprise: - a filling machine for filling containers 2 with the pourable product; - a capping machine for capping the filled containers; and - the decoration machine 1. The decoration machine 1 is configured for decorating containers 2 adapted to contain a pourable product with a decoration having at least one first decoration portion A1. The first decoration portion A1 is shown in Figure 1. The machine 1 comprises a fixed frame 7. The frame 7 is indicated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. The machine 1 comprises a conveyor 3 for sequentially advancing the containers 2 along a decoration path D, by means of a movement of the conveyor 3 with respect to the frame 7. The conveyor 3 is configured to advance said containers 2 spaced from one another along the decoration path D by a distance b. The distance b defines a container pitch b along the decoration path D. The pitch or distance b is indicated in Figures 3, 3B, 4, 4B and 5. The conveyor 3 advances the containers by means of a plurality of support members 4 which are integral with said movement. Each support member is configured for supporting a respective container 2 to advance the supported container 2. The support members 4 are indicated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 3B, 4 and 4B. The conveyor 3 includes a carousel rotatable with respect to the frame 7 about a central axis X. The decoration path D extends around the central axis X, so that the movement is a rotational movement around the axis X. The decoration path D stretches along a part of a circular path P. The machine 1 comprises a first decoration system 5. The first decoration system 5 comprises a respective group of laser devices 6a and 6b arranged at the decoration path D and supported by the frame 7. Each laser device 6a or 6b of the first decoration system 5 is associated with the first decoration portion A1 to engrave the first decoration portion A1. Having the laser devices supported by the frame 7, allows to perform a laser decoration by means of a rotative machine with a less complicated decoration apparatus, because the first decoration system 5 is mechanically independent from the movement of the conveyor 3. Moreover, the decoration apparatus is less prone to vibrations, especially at high production speed. The conveyor 3 is configured to advance several pluralities of containers 2 in such a way that the containers 2 of each plurality of containers are sequentially advanced while being interleaved or interspersed or intercalated along the decoration path D with the containers 2 of the other pluralities of containers. The decoration machine 1 is configured so that each laser device 6a or 6b of the first decoration system 5 is associated with one respective plurality of containers 2 to sequentially engrave said first decoration portion A1 on advancing containers of the associated plurality. In this way, the time interval in which the first decoration portion can be made is longer, because each laser device acts on a different plurality of containers. Therefore, the duration of the time interval which is available for performing the first decoration portion is longer. Therefore, the decoration can be more accurate. Also, the angular extension of the decoration can be bigger. Also flexibility of the machine is improved. The laser devices 6a and 6b of the first decoration system 5 are spaced from one another along the decoration path D by a distance B which is equal or bigger than a distance corresponding to a number of container pitches b equal to the number of laser devices 6 of said first decoration system 5. The distance B between laser devices 6 and 6b is indicated in Figures 3, 3B, 4, 4B and 5. In this way, interference between laser of different laser devices is avoided, to obtain the above increase of accuracy with a reduced risk of interference between laser of different laser devices, or without said risk. The conveyor 3 is configured to advance at least two pluralities of containers 2 in such a way that the containers 2 of a first plurality of containers are sequentially advanced while being interleaved or interspersed or intercalated along the decoration path D with the containers 2 of a second plurality of containers. In Figures 3 and 4, the containers of the first plurality are in white, while the containers of the second plurality are in grey. The first decoration system 5 comprises a first laser device 6a associated to the first plurality of containers to sequentially engrave the first decoration portion A1 on advancing containers 2 of the first plurality. The first decoration system 5 comprises a second laser device 6b associated to the second plurality of containers to sequentially engrave the first decoration portion A1 on advancing containers 2 of the second plurality. The first laser device 6a and the second laser device 6b are indicated in Figures 1, 3, 3B, 4, 4B, 5. The first laser device 6a and the second laser device 6b are spaced from one another along the decoration path D by a distance B which is equal or bigger than a distance corresponding to two container pitches b. The decoration includes at least a second decoration portion A2. The second decoration portion A2 is indicated in Figure 6. The decoration machine 1 comprises at least a second laser decoration system 8 which is distinct from said first laser decoration system 5. The second system 8 is arranged at the decoration path D and includes a respective group of laser devices 10a and 10b. Each laser device 10a or 10b of the second decoration system 8 is associated with said second decoration portion A2 to engrave said second decoration portion A2. The second laser decoration system 8 comprises a third laser device 10a associated to the first plurality of containers to sequentially engrave said second decoration portion A2 on advancing containers 2 of the first plurality. The second laser decoration system 8 comprises a fourth laser device 10b associated to the second plurality to sequentially engrave said second decoration portion A2 on advancing containers 2 of the second plurality. The third laser device 10a and the fourth laser device 10b are indicated in Figures 4, 4B, and 5. The third laser device 10a and the fourth laser device 10b are spaced from one another by a distance B which is equal or bigger than a distance corresponding to two container pitches b. The first decoration portion A1 and the second decoration portion A2 are located at different heights along the longitudinal axis of the container. Along the central axis X and with respect to said frame 7, the first laser decoration system 5 is arranged at a first axial height H1, and the second laser decoration system 8 is arranged at a second axial height H2 which is different from the first axial height H1. In this way, the laser devices of the first decoration system 5 can be used to engrave the first decoration portion A1 and the second decoration system 8 can be used to engrave the second decoration portion A2, with the first decoration portion A1 and the second decoration portion A2 being located at different height along the axis of the container 2, as shown for example in Figure 6. Therefore, an increase of the extension of the decoration along the axis of the container 2 can be obtained, with a simple configuration of the machine and with the above- mentioned increase in the accuracy of the decoration. The first laser device 6a and the second laser device 6b are arranged at said first axial height H1. The third laser device 10a and the fourth laser device 10b are arranged at said second axial height H2. The first height H1 and the second height H2 are indicated in Figures 4B and 5. The first laser device 6a and the second laser device 6b are interleaved or interspersed or intercalated along the decoration path D with the third laser device 10a and the fourth laser device 10b. In this way the spaces between the laser devices of the first system 5 can be used for the laser devices of the second system 8, in particular because the risk of interference between the laser of the first system 5 and the laser of the second system 8 is reduce or eliminated due to the different heights of the first system 5 and the second system 8. Therefore, the decoration apparatus of the machine reaches the above-mentioned advantages in terms of increased accuracy and increased extension of the height of the decoration, with an optimal compactness. The angular footprint of the decoration apparatus is very low and optimized. The third laser device 10a and fourth laser device 10b are spaced along the decoration path D from said first laser device 6a and second laser device 6b, respectively, by a distance C which is equal or bigger than a distance corresponding to one container pitch b. In this way the laser devices of each system can be spaced by two pitches while the laser devices of one system being interleaved with the laser devices of the other system, to avoid interference between laser devices which are used for performing decoration portions at the same height, and allowing the optimal compactness mentioned above. The distance C is indicated in Figures 4B and 5. The decoration includes at least a third decoration portion A3, which is located at the same height of the first portion A1, along the longitudinal axis of the container 2. The decoration machine 1 comprises at least a third laser decoration system 11 which is distinct from said first laser decoration system 5 and second laser decoration system 8. The third system 11 is arranged at the decoration path D in a position operatively downstream of first laser decoration system 5. The third system 11 includes a respective group of laser devices 12a and 12b. Each laser device 12a or 12b of the third decoration system 11 is associated with the third decoration portion A3 to engrave said third decoration portion A3. The third laser decoration system 11 comprises a fifth laser device 12a associated to the first plurality to sequentially engrave said third decoration portion A3 on containers 2 of the first plurality. The third system 11 comprises a sixth laser device 12b associated to the second plurality to sequentially engrave said third decoration portion A3 on containers 2 of the second plurality. The decoration includes at least a fourth decoration portion A4, which is located at the same height of the second decoration portion A2, along the longitudinal axis of the container 2. The decoration machine 1 comprises at least a fourth laser decoration system 13 which is distinct from said first laser decoration system 5, second laser decoration system 8 and third laser decoration system 11. The fourth system 13 is arranged at the decoration path D in a position operatively downstream of second laser decoration system 8. The fourth system 13 includes a respective group of laser devices 14a and 14b. Each laser device 14a or 14b of the fourth decoration system 14 is associated with the fourth decoration portion A4 to engrave said fourth decoration portion A4. The fourth laser decoration system 13 comprises a seventh laser device 14a associated to the first plurality to sequentially engrave said fourth decoration portion A4 on containers 2 of the first plurality. The fourth decoration system 13 comprises a eighth laser device 14b associated to the second plurality to sequentially engrave said fourth decoration portion A4 on containers 2 of the second plurality. The first laser device 6a, the second laser device 6b, the fifth laser device 12a and the sixth laser device 12b are arranged at said first axial height H1. The third laser device 10a, the fourth laser device 10b, the seventh laser device 14a, and the eighth laser device 14b are arranged at said second axial height H2. The fifth laser device 12a and the sixth laser device 12b are interleaved or intercalated or interspersed along the decoration path D with the seventh laser device 14a and eighth laser device 14b. The fifth laser device 12a and the sixth laser device 12b are spaced along the decoration path D from one another by a distance B which is equal or bigger than a distance corresponding to two container pitches b. The seventh laser device 14a and the eighth laser device 14b are spaced along the decoration path D from one another by a distance B which is equal or bigger than a distance corresponding to two container pitches b. The seventh laser device 14a and the eighth laser device 14b are spaced along the decoration path D from said fifth laser device 11a and sixth laser device 11b, respectively, by a distance C which is equal or bigger than a distance corresponding to one said container pitch b. Each laser device is fixable or can be fixed to the frame 7, to reduce furtherly the impact of possible vibrations on the quality of decoration, and to enhance the above advantages in terms of improved accuracy. Each decoration portion may be an aesthetic pattern (a motive, a design, a trademark, etc…) or an informative pattern (a QR code, a bar code, etc…), or the like. Each laser device can be fixed to the frame in a respective angular position with respect to the axis X. The machine 1 may be configured so that the angular position of each laser device with respect to axis X can be varied manually or automatically during a changeover mode of the machine, and / or during the production mode of the machine, and therefore during the decoration process. For example, a linear motor can be used for varying the angular position of each laser device. Each laser device can anyway be fixed manually or automatically in a selected angular position. Each laser device of the machine is arranged in position radially more external than carousel 3, and therefore than containers 2 advanced thereon, with respect to axis X. That is, laser devices are arranged in a position radially more external than decoration path D. The advantages of decoration machine 1 according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description. In particular, thanks to the configuration of decoration machine 1 according to the aforementioned advantageous embodiments of the invention, it is possible to obtain a more accurate and precise decoration of containers 2 by means of a rotative laser decoration machine 1. Moreover, the increased time and angular space available for each decoration allows to increase the (angular) extension of each engraved decoration portion. Therefore, flexibility of decoration machine 1 is improved. In addition, in case laser decoration systems are arranged at different axial heights H1, H2, decoration machine 1 is able to engrave on each container 2 different decoration portions at different heights, without the need for complicated systems for controlling and / or adjusting the axial height (relative to axis X) of the laser devices since each decoration portion is associated to its own laser decoration system at the appropriate height. Furthermore, in case the laser devices of different laser decoration systems are interspersed with one another along a direction parallel to the decoration path D, decoration machine 1 can have a more compact configuration whatever the number of subdivisions of the decoration, thereby reducing the total footprint of decoration machine 1 and ultimately of packaging assembly. Clearly, changes may be made to decoration machine 1 as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of protection as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1.- Decoration machine (1) for decorating containers (2) adapted to contain a pourable product with a decoration having at least one first decoration portion (A1), the decoration machine comprising: - a fixed frame (7); - a conveyor (3) for advancing a sequence of containers (2) along a decoration path (D), by means of a movement of the conveyor (3) with respect to the frame (7); - a first decoration system (5) comprising a respective group of laser devices (6a, 6b) arranged at the decoration path (D) and supported by the frame (7); wherein each laser device (6a; 6b) of the first decoration system (5) is associated with the first decoration portion (A1) to engrave said first decoration portion (A1). 2.- Decoration machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveyor (3) is configured to advance several pluralities of containers (2) in such a way that the containers (2) of each plurality of containers are sequentially advanced while being interleaved along the decoration path (D) with the containers (2) of the other pluralities of containers, and wherein the decoration machine (1) is configuredso that each laser device (6a; 6b) is associated with one respective plurality of containers (2) to sequentially engrave said first decoration portion (A1) on advancing containers of the associated plurality. 3.- Decoration machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the conveyor (3) is configured to advance the containers (2) spaced from one another by a distance (b) along the decoration path (D), said distance defining a container pitch (b) along the decoration path (D); and wherein the laser devices (6a; 6b) of said first decoration system (5) are spaced from one another along the decoration path (D) by a distance (B) which is equal or bigger than a distance corresponding to a number of said container pitches (b) equal to the number of laser devices (6) of said first decoration system (5). 4.- Decoration machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveyor (3) is configured to advance at least two pluralities of containers (2) in such a way that the containers (2) of a first plurality of containers are sequentially advanced while being interleaved along the decoration path (D) with the containers (2) of a second plurality of containers; wherein the first decoration system (5) comprises at least: - a first laser device (6a) associated to the firstplurality of containers to sequentially engrave the first decoration portion (A1) on advancing containers (2) of the first plurality; and - a second laser device (6b) associated to the second plurality of containers to sequentially engrave the first decoration portion (A1) on advancing containers (2) of the second plurality. 5.- Decoration machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the conveyor (3) is configured to advance said containers (2) spaced from one another by a distance (b) along the decoration path (D), said distance defining a container pitch (b) along the decoration path (D); and wherein said first laser device (6a) and second laser device (6b) are spaced along the decoration path (D) from one another along the decoration path (D) by a distance (B) which is equal or bigger than a distance corresponding to two said container pitches (b). 6.- Decoration machine as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein said decoration includes at least a second decoration portion (A2), wherein the decoration machine (1) comprises at least a second laser decoration system (8) which is distinct from said first laser decoration system (5), arranged at the decoration path (D), and including a respective group of laser devices (10a, 10b), each laserdevice (10a; 10b) of the second decoration system (8) being associated with said second decoration portion (A2) to engrave said second decoration portion (A2), the second laser decoration system (8) comprising: - a third laser device (10a) associated to the first plurality of containers to sequentially engrave said second decoration portion (A2) on advancing containers (2) of the first plurality; and - a fourth laser device (10b) associated to the second plurality of containers to sequentially engrave said second decoration portion (A2) on advancing containers (2) of the second plurality. 7.- Decoration machine (1) according to Claims 5 and 6, wherein said third laser device (10a) and fourth laser device (10b) are spaced along the decoration path (D) from one another by a distance (B) which is equal or bigger than a distance corresponding to two said container pitches (b). 8.- Decoration machine as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the conveyor (3) includes a carousel rotatable with respect to the frame (7) about a central axis (X), the decoration path (D) extending around the central axis (X), so that said movement is a rotational movement around said axis (X); wherein the first decoration portion (A1) and thesecond decoration portion (A2) are located at different heights along the longitudinal axis of the container (2), the axis of the container being preferably parallel to the central axis (X) of the carousel; wherein, along said central axis (X) and with respect to said frame (7), the first laser decoration system (5) is arranged at a first axial height (H1), and the second laser decoration system (8) is arranged at a second axial height (H2) which is different from the first axial height (H1). 9.- Decoration machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first laser device (6a) and second laser device (6b) are arranged at said first axial height (H1), and wherein said third laser device (10a) and fourth laser device (10b) are arranged at said second axial height (H2). 10.- Decoration machine as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the first laser device (6a) and the second laser device (6b) are interleaved along the decoration path (D) with the third laser device (10a) and the fourth laser device (10b). 11.- Decoration machine as claimed in claims 7 and 10, wherein said third laser device (10a) and fourth laser device (10b) are spaced along the decoration path (D) from said first laser device (6a) and second laser device(6b), respectively, by a distance (C) which is equal or bigger than a distance corresponding to one said container pitch (b). 12.- Decoration machine as claimed in any of claims 6 to 11, wherein said decoration includes at least a third decoration portion (A3), which is located at the same height of the first decoration portion (A1), along the longitudinal axis of the container (2), wherein the decoration machine (1) comprises at least a third laser decoration system (11) which is distinct from said first laser decoration system (5) and second laser decoration system (8), arranged at the decoration path (D) in a position operatively downstream of first laser decoration system (5), and including a respective group of laser devices (12a, 12b), each laser device (12a, 12b) of the third decoration system (11) being associated with the third decoration portion (A3) to engrave said third decoration portion (A3), wherein the third laser decoration system (11) comprises: - a fifth laser device (12a) associated to the first plurality to sequentially engrave said third decoration portion (A3) on containers (2) of the first plurality; and - a sixth laser device (12b) associated to the secondplurality of container to sequentially engrave said third decoration portion (A3) on containers (2) of the second plurality; wherein said decoration includes at least a fourth decoration portion (A4), which is located at the same height of the second decoration portion (A2), along the longitudinal axis of the container (2), wherein the decoration machine (1) comprises at least a fourth laser decoration system (13) which is from distinct from said first laser decoration system (5), second laser decoration system (8) and third laser decoration system (11), arranged at the decoration path (D) in a position operatively downstream of second laser decoration system (8), and including a respective group of laser devices (14a, 14b), each laser device (14a, 14b) of the fourth decoration system (14) being associated with the fourth decoration portion (A4) to engrave said fourth decoration portion (A4), the fourth laser decoration system (13) comprising: - a seventh laser device (14a) associated to the first plurality of containers to sequentially engrave said fourth decoration portion (A4) on containers (2) of the first plurality; and - a eighth laser device (14b) associated to the second plurality of containers to sequentially engravesaid fourth decoration portion (A4) on containers (2) of the second plurality. 13.- Decoration machine (1) as claimed in claims 5, 9, 10, 11 and 12, wherein said first laser device (6a), said second laser device (6b), said fifth laser device (12a) and said sixth laser (12b) laser devices are arranged at said first axial height (H1), and the third laser device (10a), the fourth laser device (10b), the seventh laser device (14a) and the eighth laser device (14b) are arranged at said second axial height (H2); and wherein the fifth laser device (12a) and the sixth laser device (12b) are interleaved along the decoration path (D) with the seventh laser device (14a) and the eighth laser device (14b); wherein said fifth laser device (11a) and sixth laser device (11b) are spaced along the decoration path (D) from one another by a distance (B) which is equal or bigger than a distance corresponding to two said container pitches (b); wherein said seventh laser device (14a) and eighth laser device (14b) are spaced along the decoration path (D) from one another by a distance (B) which is equal or bigger than a distance corresponding to two said container pitches (b); wherein said seventh laser device (14a) and eighthlaser device (14b) are spaced along the decoration path (D) from said fifth laser device (11a) and sixth laser device (11b), respectively, by a distance (C) which is equal or bigger than a distance corresponding to one said container pitch (b). 14.- Decoration machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, wherein each laser device is fixed to the frame (7).

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