Labelling module with web arresting device carried by the drum

Abstract

It is described a system (1) for applying labels (L) on containers (B) comprising: a transfer drum (2) for receiving the labels (L) still joined to each other to form a web of labelling material (W), for transferring the received labels (L), and for applying the labels (L) on respective containers (B), by means of said drum (2) rotating around its axis (X), the transfer drum (2) comprising a plurality of angular sectors (21) which are angularly distributed around the axis (X) of the drum (2) and each of which is configured for supporting a respective label (L) being transferred, each sector (21) comprising a trailing pad (21) for supporting a trailing portion (TP) of the label (L) being supported; a cutting unit (4) for sequentially cutting the web (W) being transferred by the drum (2), to sequentially separate the labels (L) from the remaining part of the web (W), by sequentially cooperating with the trailing pads (23), the cutting unit (4) comprising a blade (41) and being configured for sequentially cutting the web (W) by means of said blade (41) rotating; wherein each trailing pad (23) comprises a respective protuberance (232) which is configured for cooperating with said cutting unit (4) for pressing the web (W) against the cutting unit (4) during the cut, said protuberance (232) being located downstream of said blade (41), according to the rotation (R) of said drum (2).

Description

LABELLING MODULE WITH WEB ARRESTING DEVICE CARRIED BY THE DRUM

[0001] The present invention relates to a labelling module configured for labelling containers being conveyed by means of labels obtained from a web of labelling material, which is configured for increasing flexibility while maintaining an optimal quality of production.

[0002] Labelling machines are known for labelling containers. In particular, labelling machines are known which label containers by means of respective labels obtained from a web of labelling material which comprises the labels, and which is sequentially cut by means of a cutting unit while the labels are transferred by a transfer drum.

[0003] There is a solution in which the cutting unit is provided with a pressure element which presses the web downstream of the blade during the cut, to lock the web in the instant of cutting to increase the precision of cutting. In this solution, the pressure element is carried by the cutting unit, which results in a suboptimal position of the pressure element during the pressing action. Therefore, the action of pressing being less effective, the quality of production is reduced because the precision of cutting is reduced.

[0004] A label application system according to any of the appended system claims or according to present description is configured for increasing the quality of production of the labelling module in which it operates.

[0005] A labelling module according to present description or according to any of the appended module claims comprises a system according to present description or according to any of the appended system claims.

[0006] A labelling machine according to present description or according to any of the appended machine claims comprises a module according to present description or according to any of the appended module claims.

[0007] The following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention will be referred to a possible example embodiment of a label application system according to present description, a possible example embodiment of a labelling module according to present description, and a possible example embodiment of a labelling machine according to present description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The following detailed description will be referred to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009] is a perspective of a part of the labelling machine comprising the labelling module which comprises the label application system;

[0010] is a view from the top of the labelling machine;

[0011] is a detail of the system in a first operative instant;

[0012] is a detail of the system in a second operative instant;

[0013] is a perspective of a portion of the system.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The system 1 is configured for applying labels L on containers B. The containers B may be bottles, for example glass bottle or PET bottle. The containers B may for example, in the alternative, kegs or cans or jars. The containers B are configured for containing a pourable product, for example a pourable food product.

[0015] The system comprises a transfer suction drum 2. The transfer drum 2 is configured for receiving the labels L still joined to each other to form a web of labelling material W, by means of said drum 2 rotating around the axis X of said drum 2. The drum 2 is configured for transferring the received labels L, and for applying the labels L on respective containers B, by means of said drum 2 rotating around its axis X. The drum 2 comprises a plurality of angular sectors 21 which are angularly distributed around the axis X of the drum 2 and each of which is configured for supporting a respective label L being transferred. Each sector 21 comprises a respective trailing pad 23 for supporting a trailing portion TP of the label L being supported.

[0016] The drum 2 is configured for performing said receiving, transferring and applying by controlling the suction action on the radial external surface of the drum 2.

[0017] The labelling module 10 comprises the system 1. The labelling module 10 comprises a feed roller 6 for feeding the web W to the drum 2. The labelling machine 100 comprises the labelling module 10 and a conveyor 5 for conveying the containers B to be labelled. The labelling machine 100 is configured so that the containers B are sequentially labelled while being conveyed by the conveyor 5.

[0018] The conveyor 5 comprises a carousel for conveying the containers B.

[0019] The drum 2 may be monolithic part comprising the sectors 21. Alternatively, the sectors 21 may be separable from each other.

[0020] The system 1 comprises a cutting unit 4 for sequentially cutting the web W being transferred by the drum 2, in such a way to sequentially separate the labels L from the remaining part of the web W. The cutting unit 4 is configured for sequentially cutting the web W by sequentially cooperating with the trailing pads 23. The cutting unit 4 comprises a blade 41 and is configured for sequentially cutting the web W by means of said blade 41 being carried in rotation. The direction of rotation defined by the blade 41 being carried in rotation is indicated with Z in. The blade 41 is indicated inand 4.shows a first instant before the instant of cutting.shows a second instant corresponding to the instant of cutting.

[0021] Each trailing pad 23 comprises a respective protuberance 232 which is configured for cooperating with the cutting unit 4 for pressing the web W against the cutting unit 4 during the cut. The protuberance 232 is located downstream of the blade 41, according to the rotation R of the drum 2. The rotation of the drum 2 is indicated with R in Figures 2 and 3.

[0022] In this way the action of pressing the web W during the cut is performed in an optimal way, because the protuberance 232 being integral with the drum 21 can adopt a better position to improve the pressing action. In this way, the quality of production generated by the labelling module 10 is improved.

[0023] The protuberance 232 defines a web arresting device which is carried by the drum 2.

[0024] Moreover, being the protuberance 232 downstream with respect to the blade 41, the web W can also slide over the drum 2 after the cut.

[0025] The cutting unit 4 comprises a structure 42 for carrying the blade 41 in rotation to sequentially cut the web W. Each protuberance 232 is configured for cooperating with the cutting unit 4 for pressing the web W against the structure 42 during the cut.

[0026] Each protuberance 232 comprises a body 2321 which is elongated along a direction which is parallel to the axis X of the drum 2. The body 2321 is attached or located to or on the external surface 23a of the respective trailing pad 23. In this way, the pressing action can be uniform along the height of the label L. The external surface 23a of the trailing pad 23 is indicated in.

[0027] The body 2321 can be made for example by rubber and / or by an elastomeric material.

[0028] Each trailing pad 23 comprises a respective slot 231. The system 1 is configured so that the blade 41 cooperates with the slot 231 to cut the web W, for example by engaging the slot 231.

[0029] Each sector 21 comprises a respective leading pad 22 for supporting a leading portion LP of the label L being supported.

[0030] The system 1 comprises a gluing unit 3 for applying glue on the respective leading portion LP and on the respective trailing portion TP of each label L. The system 1 is configured so that the gluing unit 3 operates downstream the cutting unit 4 according to the rotation of the drum 2.

[0031] Alternatively, the web may be already provided with adhesive, without the need to apply the glue.

[0032] The labelling module 10 is for example a roll fed labelling module.

Claims

- System (1) for applying labels (L) on containers (B) comprising:a transfer suction drum (2) for receiving the labels (L) still joined to each other to form a web of labelling material (W), for transferring the received labels (L), and for applying the labels (L) onto respective containers (B), by means of said drum (2) rotating around its axis (X), the transfer drum (2) comprising a plurality of angular sectors (21) which are angularly distributed around the axis (X) of the drum (2) and each of which is configured for supporting a respective label (L) being transferred, each sector (21) comprising a respective trailing pad (23) for supporting a trailing portion (TP) of the label (L) being supported;a cutting unit (4) for sequentially cutting the web (W) being transferred by the drum (2), to sequentially separate the labels (L) from the remaining part of the web (W), by sequentially cooperating with the trailing pads (23), the cutting unit (4) comprising a blade (41) and being configured for sequentially cutting the web (W) by means of said blade (41) rotating;wherein each trailing pad (23) comprises a respective protuberance (232) which is configured for cooperating with said cutting unit (4) for pressing the web (W) against the cutting unit (4) during the cut, said protuberance (232) being located downstream of said blade (41), according to the rotation (R) of said drum (2).System (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the cutting unit (4) comprises a structure (42) for carrying the blade (41) in rotation to sequentially cut said web (W), wherein each protuberance (232) is configured for cooperating with said cutting unit (4) for pressing the web (W) against said structure (42) during the cut.System (1) according to Claim 2, wherein each protuberance (232) comprises a respective body (2321) which is elongated along a direction which is parallel to the axis (X) of the drum, said body (2321) being located on the external surface (23a) of the respective trailing pad (23).System (1) according to Claim 3, wherein each trailing pad (23) comprises a respective slot (231), the system (1) being configured so that the blade (41) cooperates with said slot (231) to cut the web (W), for example by engaging the slot (231).System (1) according to Claim 4, wherein each sector (21) comprises a respective leading pad (22) to support a leading portion (LP) of the label (L) being supported.System (1) according to Claim 5, comprising a gluing unit (3) for applying glue on the respective leading portion (LP) and on the respective trailing portion (TP) of each label (L), the system (1) being configured so that the gluing unit (3) operates preferably downstream the cutting unit (4), according to the rotation (R) of the drum (2).Labelling module (10) for labelling containers (B) being conveyed, comprising a system (1) according to any of the previous claims and a feed roller (6) for feeding the web (W) to the drum (2).Labelling machine (100) for labelling containers (B), comprising:a labelling module (10) according to Claim 7;a conveyor (5) for conveying the containers (B), the machine (100) being configured so that the module (10) labels the containers (B) being conveyed by the conveyor (5).

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