Roll-fed labelling module with forming device

Abstract

A labelling module (1; 1'; 1'') is described for labelling containers (4) using respective labels (L) obtained from a ribbon of labelling material (W), comprising: a feed roller (2) for feeding the material (W) in ribbon form, an application drum (3) for receiving the material from the feed roller (2) and applying the labels to the containers (4) while said containers are conveyed by a conveyor (5), a cutting device (6) that acts on the drum (3) to cut the material to sequentially define a plurality of longitudinal ribbon sectors (S), a forming device (7) that acts on the drum (3) to sequentially define the edges (B) of respective labels (L) inside the respective sectors (S), a removal device (8, 8', 8'') that acts on the drum (3) to remove the respective portions of the sectors (S) that are outside the respective labels (L).

Description

Roll-fed labelling module with forming device

[0001] The present invention relates to a labelling module for labelling containers for packaging pourable products, and a labelling machine for labelling containers for packaging pourable products, that comprises said labelling module.

[0002] The use of labelling machines for labelling containers is known in the pourable-product packaging sector. A labelling machine comprises a labelling module. A first type of labelling module works with precut labels. With this first type, flexibility in terms of label material and glue type is somewhat limited. Consequently, with this first type, flexibility in terms of the material of the containers to be labelled is also limited. On the other hand, a second type involves the labelling module working with a roll of labelling material, using a cutting device to sequentially separate the labels from the remainder of the ribbon. This second type, which can be referred to as roll-fed, has somewhat limited flexibility in terms of the shape of the label. The first type is more flexible in terms of label shape. On the other hand, the second type is more flexible in terms of the type of glue used to apply the labels to the containers and / or in terms of the material of the labels, and / or in terms of the material of the containers to be labelled. Furthermore, the second type has greater production autonomy.

[0003] A labelling module according to the present description and / or according to one or more of the attached module claims pertains to the second type, but with greater flexibility in terms of label shape. A labelling machine according to the present description and / or according to one or more of the attached machine claims comprises a module according to the present description and / or one or more of the attached module claims.

[0004] The features of a module according to the present description and of a machine according to the present description are set out more clearly in the detailed description below relating to respective example embodiments of such a module and such a machine.

[0005] The detailed description below relates to the attached drawings, in which:

[0006] -is a schematic top view of a first embodiment of the module,

[0007] -is a diagram of a first phase of a usage method of the module,

[0008] -is a diagram of a second phase of said usage method,

[0009] -is a diagram of a third phase of said usage method,

[0010] -is a schematic top view of a second embodiment of the module,

[0011] -is a schematic top view of a third embodiment of the module,

[0012] -is a diagram of a transfer drum included in the module.

[0013] The module is designed for labelling containers 4 using respective labels L obtained from a ribbon of labelling material W. A first embodiment of the module is shown inand indicated with 1. A second embodiment of the module is shown inand indicated with 1’. A third embodiment of the module is shown inand indicated with 1’’.

[0014] The module comprises a feed roller 2 for feeding labelling material W in ribbon form.

[0015] The module comprises an application drum 3 for receiving the labelling material from the feed roller 2, transporting the labelling material, and applying the labels to the containers 4 while said containers are conveyed by a conveyor 5. The containers may for example be bottles. The labels are for example applied to respective outer lateral surfaces of the containers 4. The conveyor 5 may for example be a carousel.

[0016] The drum 3 defines an application station A for applying the labels L, and the drum 3 is designed to rotate about itself in a direction of rotation Q to receive the material W, transport the material W and apply the labels L.

[0017] The drum 3 comprises a plurality of divisions distributed angularly in said direction of rotation Q., for example, shows a first division 31, a second division 32, a third division 33, a fourth division 34, and a fifth division 35. In, the axis of the drum 3 that coincides with the axis of rotation about which the drum 3 rotates is indicated with X.

[0018] Each division is designed to retain a respective sector S of labelling material by means of suction on a respective outer surface of the division that corresponds to a respective section of the outer lateral surface of the drum 3.

[0019] In, the outer surface of the first division 31 is indicated with 311, the outer surface of the second division 32 is indicated with 321, the outer surface 33 of the third division is indicated with 331, the outer surface of the fourth division 34 is indicated with 341, and the outer surface of the fifth division 35 is indicated with 351.

[0020] The drum 3 is designed to transport the labelling material by means of the retaining action of each division on the respective sector S.

[0021] The module comprises a cutting device 6 that acts on the drum 3 to cut the labelling material to sequentially define a plurality of longitudinal ribbon sectors S, which are distributed longitudinally in the feed direction of the ribbon. The feed direction is defined by the feed roller 2. The cutting device 6 may for example comprise a cutting roller that rotates synchronously with the production speed to sequentially cut the ribbon portion that is on the drum 3.

[0022] The module comprises a forming device 7 that acts on the drum 3 to sequentially define the edges B of respective labels L inside the respective sectors S. The forming device 7 acts by means of mechanical contact, for example by means of one or more blades. In this case, the forming device 7 may comprise a roller. Alternatively, the forming device 7 may act by means of a contactless system. For example, the forming device may be a laser forming device 7.

[0023] Each ribbon sector S comprises a first portion P1 and a second portion P2.for example shows two ribbon sectors, each comprising a respective first portion P1 and a respective second portion P2.also shows the cutting line T between the two sectors S. The cutting device 6 cuts the ribbon on that cutting line T to define the labels.

[0024] For each sector S, the second portion P2 defines the portion that will be the respective label obtained from the respective sector S. For each sector S, the forming device 7 defines the edge B of the second portion P2, so as to define the edge of the respective label L. The definition phase of the edge B is shown by way of example in.

[0025] The module comprises a removal device that acts on the drum 3 to remove the respective portions of the sectors S that are outside the respective labels L. For each sector, in the example in Figures 2 and 3, the respective portion that is outside the label corresponds to the first portion P1. The removal phase is shown by way of example in, which shows the removal of the first portion P1, which is the portion outside the label L. In the first embodiment the removal device is indicated with 8 in, in the second embodiment the removal device is indicated with 8’ in, and in the third embodiment the removal device is indicated with 8’’ in.

[0026] The module comprises a gluing device 9 that acts on the drum 3 upstream of the application station A with respect to the direction of rotation Q of the drum 3 to apply glue sequentially to the labels L. Consequently, the gluing device 9 applies glue to each label L to enable the label to be applied subsequently to the respective container.

[0027] In both the first embodiment 1 and the second embodiment 1’, the removal device 8 or 8’ acts upstream of the application station A with respect to the direction of rotation Q of the drum 3.

[0028] In the first embodiment 1, the removal device 8 acts upstream of the gluing device 9 with respect to the direction of rotation Q of the drum 3. This reduces the risk of the presence of glue having a negative impact on the removal operation performed by the removal device.

[0029] In the second embodiment 1’, the removal device 8’ acts downstream of said gluing device 9 with respect to the direction of rotation Q of the drum 3. As a result, when the glue is applied by the gluing device 9, any glue accidentally deposited outside the second portion P2 of the sector S is deposited on the first portion P1, and therefore on the sector S, and not on the drum 3. In this case, the ribbon protects the drum 3, preventing glue being accidentally deposited on the outer lateral surface of the drum 3. This improves the cleanliness of the drum 3 in the event of errors occurring when positioning the sector on the respective division and / or errors by the gluing device 9.

[0030] In the third embodiment 1’’, the removal device 8’’ acts downstream of the application station A, with respect to the direction of rotation Q of the drum 3.

[0031] The module is designed to automatically regulate the suction, for each division and during rotation of the drum 3, such as to enable removal by the removal device of the portions outside the labels, and application of the labels L. The portions outside the labels are the respective first portions P1 of the sectors S in the example in Figures 2 to 4.

[0032] The module comprises a support 10 for supporting a feed roll B. The module is designed to ensure that the feed of the labelling material W from the feed roller 2 corresponds to the unrolling of the ribbon from the supported roll B.

[0033] The removal device may for example be a pneumatic suction removal device.

[0034] The module thus simultaneously ensures optimum autonomy, since it is designed as a roll-fed module, and optimum flexibility in terms of label shape.

[0035] The gluing device 9 may comprise a gluing roller for applying glue.

[0036] The labelling machine 11 is designed to label containers 4. The labelling machine 11 comprises the labelling module and said conveyor 5.

Claims

Labelling module (1; 1’; 1’’) for labelling containers (4) by means of respective labels (L) obtained from a ribbon of labelling material (W),comprising:- a feed roller (2) for feeding the material (W) in ribbon form,- an application drum (3) for receiving the material from the feed roller (2) and applying the labels to the containers (4) while said containers are conveyed by a conveyor (5),- a cutting device (6) that acts on the drum (3) to cut the material to sequentially define a plurality of longitudinal ribbon sectors (S),- a forming device (7) that acts on the drum (3) to sequentially define the edges (B) of respective labels (L) inside the respective sectors (S),- a removal device (8, 8’, 8’’) that acts on the drum (3) to remove the respective portions of the sectors (S) that are outside the respective labels (L).Labelling module (1; 1’; 1’’) according to Claim 1, in which said application drum (3) defines an application station (A) for applying the labels (L), said drum (3) being designed to rotate about itself in a direction of rotation (Q) to receive the material (W), transport the material (W) and apply the labels (L).Labelling module (1; 1’; 1’’) according to Claim 2, in which said drum (3) comprises a plurality of divisions (31, 32, 33, 34) distributed angularly with respect to said direction of rotation (Q), in which each division (31; 32; 33; 34) is designed to retain a respective sector (S) by means of suction on a respective outer surface (311; 321; 331; 334) of the division (31; 32; 33; 34), the drum (3) being designed to transport the material by means of the retaining action of each division on the respective sector (S), the outer surface of each division corresponding to a respective section of the outer lateral surface of the drum (3).Labelling module (1; 1’; 1’’) according to Claim 2 or 3, comprising a gluing device (9) that acts on the drum (3) upstream of the application station (A) with respect to said direction of rotation (Q) to apply glue sequentially to the labels (L).Labelling module (1; 1’) according to Claim 4, in which:- said removal device (8, 8’) acts upstream of the application station (A) with respect to the direction of rotation (Q) of the drum (3).Labelling module (1) according to Claim 5, in which said removal device (8) acts upstream of said gluing device (9) with respect to said direction of rotation (Q).Labelling module (1’) according to Claim 5, in which said removal device (8’) acts downstream of said gluing device (9) with respect to said direction of rotation (Q).Labelling module (1’’) according to Claim 2 or 3, in which said removal device (8’’) acts downstream of the application station (A), with respect to the direction of rotation (Q) of the drum (3).Labelling module (1; 1’; 1’’) according to Claim 3 and to one or more of Claims 4 to 8, in which said module (1; 1’; 1’’) is designed to automatically regulate said suction, for each division (31; 32; 33; 34) and during rotation of the drum (3), such as to enable removal by the removal device (8, 8’, 8’’) and application of the labels (L).Labelling module (1; 1’; 1’’) according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said forming device (7) is a laser forming device.Labelling module (1; 1’; 1’’) according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said removal device (8; 8’; 8’’) is a pneumatic suction removal device.Labelling module (1; 1’; 1’’) according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a support (10) for supporting a feed roll (B) and designed to ensure that the feed of the material (W) from the feed roller (2) corresponds to the unrolling of said ribbon from the supported roll (B).Labelling machine (11) for labelling containers (4) comprising:a labelling module (1; 1’; 1’’) according to one or more of Claims 1 to 10,said conveyor (5).

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