HK1222610B - Labelling machine - Google Patents

Description

Labelling machine

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a machine for applying or printing and applying labels, which falls within the field of industrial labeling and can be used for labeling products in different industrial and commercial sectors (for example in the manufacture of tires and automobile parts, in pharmaceutical laboratories and the like).

Background

There are currently a variety of devices that are capable of applying or printing and applying labels to various products moving along a production line in real time, according to the height of each product, by combining the application height from one product to the next.

In these labeling processes, each product must be identified prior to labeling. However, in some production lines, it may take too long to perform a label application cycle using current machines (for printing and applying labels at a certain height), thus reducing the productivity of the customer.

Another disadvantage of these systems is that the machine must be stopped each time the label must be repositioned, thus significantly reducing production.

Finally, it is to be noted that the current machines for applying or printing and applying labels only make it possible to work with one label format at a time.

Document DE102012002250 discloses an applicator device for applying a wound label to a package, having a transverse transport device (19) which is configured to transport a label, which is first dispensed by a label dispenser, in particular a label printer (11), in a vertical direction into an intermediate position, from which it is transported transversely with respect to the vertical direction into an application position in which it can be received by a passing package.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims to solve the above problems by means of a labelling machine which makes it possible to apply and/or print and apply labels of different formats in real time, without having to perform operations in the machine that needs to be stopped.

Another object of the invention is to make it possible to apply labels at different heights, while keeping the machine operating continuously without having to stop it.

A further object of the invention is to make it possible to change the current consumer product without having to stop the machine.

Finally, given the advantages described above, the machine will make it possible to increase the productivity of the labelling operation.

The machine object of the invention comprises a series of application or printing and application systems which dispense the labels and are of the type known in the art. Arranged in a row within the housing, the label application device is separate from the label dispenser, which may be of any kind, such as a roller, a scraper, a brush or the like.

In the machine object of the invention, the label transport means are arranged between the label dispenser and the label application device. These devices include two transport modules; a first mobile transport module vertically movable in positions coinciding with those occupied by the label dispenser to receive in each position a label supplied by said label dispenser; and a second transport module, which is not vertically movable but is responsible for applying the label by means of a cylinder which causes the application module to rotate so that it is closer to the object to be applied with the label, the first moving module being positionable opposite the second fixed module in order to transfer the label from said first module to said second module.

The first module is mounted to a guide or a vertical linear drive for movement thereby. The guide comprises a pulling means responsible for moving the module between positions that can be positioned opposite the label dispenser and the second fixed module.

The label application device, regardless of how it is configured, is preferably mounted to the second stationary transport module at the output of the label application device.

The second stationary module and label applicator are preferably taller than the first moving module and labels to facilitate application of labels at different heights without having to lift or lower the second module.

The first and second transport modules are formed from continuous belts or ropes that are adjacent to and parallel to each other. During their trajectory they define a straight run which forms a flat transport surface in the set of belts or ropes. Each module also comprises a vacuum system based on suction (by means of several ventilators inside the belt or rope) by which the labels are pressed against the flat transport surface in the area defined by said flat surface, thus ensuring that they are pulled by the rope or belt forming the transport system.

The second transport module is mounted to a fixed support by means of a vertical shaft on which it can oscillate (tip) between a label receiving position for receiving a label from the first module against said first module and a delivery or labelling position in which the label application device is against the product to be labelled.

In the machine object of the invention, the modules constituting the transport means for transporting the labels are arranged after several labelling devices (printers or labelling heads) responsible for dispensing the printed labels. Starting from several pieces of labelling equipment, a first movement module transports the labels from the piece of dispensing equipment (printer or print head) to a second transport module which is responsible for transporting the labels to a label application device in the form of a roller, a blade or a brush or the like, mounted at the end of the second module. This label application device is used to place a label in contact with a product to be labeled and to apply said label to the product.

As already indicated, the first movement module is mounted to a vertical linear axis enabling the first movement module to collect labels from any of the label dispensers arranged in a column and place itself opposite the second transport module at a desired labeling height, in order to transfer the labels to be applied to a certain product to the second transport module.

When the product to be labelled reaches the level of the label application means, the second transport module will swing around the vertical axis, placing the label in contact with the product via the rollers or brushes or the like constituting the label application means, thus ending the labelling process.

The second moving module may begin collecting the next label as the second transport module applies the label. If the system is operated with only one piece of dispensing equipment, this will reduce the time for the labeling cycle to complete due to this time overlap. If more than one piece of vertical dispensing equipment is installed, the machine will be able to continue to operate when the supplies (labels and tape) consumed by the machine are changed, in addition to the aforementioned advantages. It will also be able to work with different tag formats simultaneously.

Finally, the machine object of the invention enables the time between the processes in the two modules to overlap and, moreover, the machine does not have to be stopped when the supplies it consumes are changed. This machine therefore has a high productivity and makes it possible to apply labels having different formats (as regards size and design) simultaneously.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings illustrate possible non-limiting embodiments of a labeling machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the transport device between the label dispenser and the label applicator;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of detail A shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the transport device shown in FIG. 2; and is

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the transport device according to the cutting line V-V shown in figure 4.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 depicts a labelling machine comprising a casing 1 in which a series of label dispensers 2 are housed, arranged in columns and at different levels one above the other, which are built in a known manner.

The machine shown in fig. 1 also comprises a label application device 3, which may be of the roller, brush or blade type, or the like. The label application means 3 is located at a distance from the cylindrical body of the label dispenser 2.

The label transport means is located between the column of label dispensers 2 and the label application device 3. They are responsible for transporting labels supplied by one label dispenser 2 to the label application device 3.

The mentioned transport means comprise: a first transport module 4, which is vertically movable between positions coinciding with those occupied by the label dispenser 2; and a second transport module 5, the height of which is fixed in position.

The first transport module 4 is mounted to a guide or vertical applicator 6 having means for moving the first module 4 vertically to position it in a position opposite any one of the label dispensers 2 so as to adjust to each position the labels printed and provided by the label dispenser.

Fig. 2 shows the first transport module 4 mounted to a vertical guide 6 comprising a lifting mechanism 7, for example of the chain type.

The second transport module 5 is mounted to the base 8 by means of a vertical shaft 9 on which it can swing by means of the drive of a hydraulic cylinder 10.

The transport module 3, shown in more detail in fig. 3, is formed by a series of continuous ropes or belts which are mounted between vertical traction rollers and change direction. These cords or belts define a flat plane along their trajectory, which plane constitutes the label transport surface, as shown in the front view in fig. 3. This module also comprises means 13 for creating a vacuum system inside the module, which will create a suction force from the outside to the inside via the rope or belt 12, causing the labels 14 reaching the transport surface of the module to be driven or pressed against said rope or belt.

The first transport module 4 is constructed in the same way as described for the second module 5. In other words, it is a transport system formed by a continuous rope or belt defining a flat platform serving as transport surface for the labels 15, which also comprises a vacuum system, for example made of a ventilator, similar to that of the second transport module 5.

With the described configuration, when one wishes to collect labels provided by some label dispensers 2, the first transport module 4 moves along the guides 6 until it is at the same height as the label dispenser, the flat transport surface being defined by a continuous rope or belt extending the output of the label dispenser, as shown in fig. 1. The first transport module 4 then moves along the guides 6 until it reaches the height of the second transport module 5, this second module occupying the position shown in fig. 4, in which the flat transport surface of the second module is maintained in a position substantially coplanar with the flat transport surface of the first module 4. In this orientation, the label may be moved from the first transport module 4 to the second transport module 5. During this movement, the second transport module 5 will oscillate about the vertical axis 9, fixed by the cylinder 10, until the label application device 3 is opposite and substantially tangential to the surface of the object or article to be labelled.

As can be seen in fig. 2, the second transport module 5 is higher than the labels 14 in order to facilitate label application at different heights without the module having to be raised and lowered. When the object to be labelled reaches the level of the label application device 3, the second transport module will swing around in order to place the label in contact with the product via the application device 3, thereby ending the labelling process.

The first transport module 4 may collect labels from another label dispenser 2 as the second transport module 5 applies labels.

In addition to the time overlap between the actions of the transport modules 4 and 5, the individual label dispensers 2 are mounted in columns which, in addition to allowing the machine to operate simultaneously in different label formats, also enables the machine to continue to operate as the supply consumed by the machine is changed.

As the label dispensing machine 2 operates, information regarding the arrival of the product is received and such information is then managed, if necessary, for any changes shown on the printed label. The first transport module 1 then selects and dispenses the required label in order to transfer it to the correct height at which the second transport module 5 and the label application means responsible for transferring the label to the product are located.

The described configuration of the machine, object of the invention, makes it possible to:

the productivity of those label applications or prints and application processes on products at different heights is increased.

This thus makes it possible to use different tag formats.

Thus enabling manufacturing without stopping.

As a result, the time for performing the production cycle itself is not increased.

Claims (6)

1. A labeling machine, the labeling machine comprising: a series of label dispensers (2) for independently dispensing in real time printed and/or preprinted labels of different formats; a label application device (3) separate from the label dispenser (2); and transport means for transporting labels from each of said label dispensers (2) to said label application device (3); these transport devices include: a first transport module (4) to receive labels printed by the label dispenser (2) in each location; and a fixed second transport module (5) able to supply the label application device (3) with labels; the first transport module being positionable in opposition to the second transport module for transferring labels from the first transport module to the second transport module, the labelling machine being characterised in that the label dispensers (2) are located at different heights and arranged in columns and the first transport module is vertically movable between positions coinciding with those occupied by the label dispensers (2).

2. The labeling machine according to claim 1, wherein said first transport module is mounted to a guide or vertical drive provided with pulling means able to move said first transport module between a position opposite to said label dispenser (2) and to said fixed second transport module.

3. The labeling machine according to claim 1, wherein at the output of the fixed second transport module, the label application device (3) is mounted to the fixed second transport module (5).

4. The labeling machine according to claim 1, wherein said second transport module (5) and said label application device (3) are higher than said first transport module (4), said first transport module (4) being arrangeable opposite to said second transport module (5) at different heights thereof.

5. The labeling machine according to claim 1, wherein said first transport module (4) and said second transport module (5) are formed by a continuous rope or belt (12) movable longitudinally and positioned close and parallel to each other so as to define a flat transport surface inside which a vacuum system is arranged, able to press the labels (14) against said flat transport surface.

6. The labeling machine according to claim 1, wherein said second transport module (5) is mounted to a fixed support by means of a vertical oscillating shaft (9).