Applicator apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11370574-B2
Application number	US-201917298532-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2019
Priority date	Nov 30, 2018
Publication date	Jun 28, 2022
Grant date	Jun 28, 2022

Abstract

An applicator apparatus including an applicator pad (10) and an actuator (180) for positioning the applicator pad (10) in a desired position, the applicator pad (10) being attached to the actuator (180) by an attachment member (40), wherein the attachment member (40) enables articulation between the applicator pad (10) and the actuator (180).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An applicator apparatus including an applicator pad and an actuator for positioning the applicator pad in a desired position, the applicator pad being attached to the actuator by an attachment member, wherein the attachment member enables articulation between the applicator pad and the actuator, and wherein the attachment member enables pneumatic coupling between the applicator pad and the actuator.

2. An applicator apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a part of the attachment member is arranged to slidably engage with a part of the applicator pad, and/or wherein the attachment member includes an engagement member which is arranged to engage with an engagement formation of the applicator pad in a dovetail arrangement, and/or wherein the attachment member and the applicator pad are configured to snap-fit with one another, and/or wherein the applicator apparatus includes a locking formation configured to receive a locking member to lock the applicator pad in attachment with the actuator.

3. An applicator apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the attachment member includes a universal joint.

4. An applicator apparatus according to claim 1 including an air flow generator and optionally wherein the air flow generator is carried by a part of the actuator or alternatively wherein the air flow generator is located on a stationary part of the applicator apparatus.

5. An applicator apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the air flow generator is configured to produce an air flow with an air pressure of up to approximately 1000 Pa.

6. An applicator apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, the applicator pad has a first, label receiving side and a second side, a label entrance edge and an opposite edge, a fluid inlet and a fluid conduit arrangement which is fluidly communicable with the fluid inlet to deliver fluid from the fluid inlet to a plurality of positions on the first label receiving side.

7. An applicator apparatus according to claim 6 , including an air flow generator and wherein the fluid inlet of the applicator pad is fluidly communicable with the air flow generator via the attachment member.

8. An applicator apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the fluid inlet is positioned adjacent the label entrance edge of the applicator pad and at least a part of the conduit arrangement extends away from the label entrance edge of the applicator pad towards the opposite edge of the applicator pad, and/or wherein the fluid conduit arrangement includes a plurality of conduits.

9. An applicator apparatus according to claim 8 wherein two or more of the plurality of conduits include respective portions which are substantially parallel with one another.

10. An applicator apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the cross-sectional area of the fluid inlet is approximately 25% to 75% of the area of the applicator pad, and is preferably approximately 50% of the area of the applicator pad, and/or wherein the label receiving side of the applicator pad includes a portion having a roughened surface, the portion covering at least a part of the first, label receiving side of the applicator pad, and optionally the roughened surface is provided by an additive manufacturing process and/or a moulding process.

11. An applicator apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the applicator pad includes one or more stiffening ribs.

12. An applicator apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the applicator pad includes one or more nozzles terminating adjacent the label receiving side of the applicator pad, the or each nozzle being fluidly communicable with a pressurised fluid source.

13. An applicator apparatus according to claim 12 including an air flow generator, wherein the pressurised fluid source is the air flow generator, and/or including a plurality of nozzles, at least some of the plurality of nozzles being fluidly communicable with the source of pressurised fluid via a distribution chamber, and/or including at least one opening in the label side of the applicator pad, the or each opening being associated with a corresponding nozzle and optionally wherein each opening surrounds the corresponding nozzle.

14. An applicator apparatus including an applicator pad for applying a label to an item, an air flow generator, an air guide configured to guide the air flow between the air flow generator and the applicator pad, and a label detector configured to detect the presence of a label adjacent the applicator pad, wherein the label detector includes a differential pressure sensor configured to measure air flow at a location between the air flow generator and the applicator pad.

15. An applicator apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the air guide includes an obstacle, and the differential pressure sensor measures air pressure on both sides of the obstacle.

16. An actuator for an applicator apparatus, the actuator being operable to position an applicator pad in a desired position relative to an item to which a label is to be applied, the actuator including one of an extruded or pultruded actuator body to which the applicator pad is connectable.

17. An actuator according to claim 16 including at least two telescopic bodies, and/or wherein the actuator body enables fluid communication between the applicator pad and a source of pressurised fluid and/or an air flow generator, and/or wherein the actuator includes at least one bearing member which is engageable with a part of a label printing apparatus to facilitate movement of at least a part of the actuator relative to the part of the label printing apparatus and optionally wherein the or each bearing member is a roller.

18. An applicator apparatus including an actuator according to claim 16 .

19. A method of controlling an applicator apparatus including an applicator pad for applying a label to an item, an actuator for positioning the applicator pad in a desired position relative to an item, and a control system for controlling movement of the actuator, the control system including at least one motor, the method including determining a desired position of the applicator pad, determining a required speed of the actuator to achieve the desired position of the applicator pad, taking into account at least one physical parameter of the actuator and/or the applicator pad, and calculating a motor torque required to achieve the desired position of the applicator pad, taking into account a current position of the applicator pad.

20. A method of controlling an applicator apparatus according to claim 19 including determining an impact of the applicator pad with the item by detecting one or more of an increase in motor current, a change in speed of movement of the actuator and an increase in a difference value between the desired position of the applicator pad and an actual position of the applicator pad.

21. A method according to claim 19 wherein an impact zone is determined, and the control system operates under different conditions when the actual position of the applicator pad is determined to be within the impact zone, and optionally when applying a label to each of a series of items, wherein the control system is operable to determine a respective impact zone associated with each item to which a label is to be applied, and optionally including reducing control stiffness, and/or operating the motor in an open-loop torque mode and/or utilising a model-based feed-forward algorithm to control the motor when the applicator pad is determined to be in the impact zone.

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Assignees

• Dover Europe Sarl

Inventors

• Eichenberger Jonas
• Bleiker Tobias
• Weidmer Simon

Classifications

• B05C11/00

  Component parts, details or accessories not specifically provided for in groups B05C1/00 - B05C9/00 (means for manipulating or holding work B05C13/00; enclosures for apparatus, booths B05C15/00; spray booths B05B16/00) · CPC title

• B05C13/02

  for particular articles · CPC title

• B65C9/26 Primary

  Devices for applying labels · CPC title

• B65C9/36 Primary

  Wipers; Pressers · CPC title

• B65C9/40

  Controls; Safety devices · CPC title