Labelling machine and method for handling a web-like labelling material in an automated labelling process

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11524810-B2
Application number	US-201917290250-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2019
Priority date	Oct 30, 2018
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

The invention relates to a labelling machine for applying labels onto articles intended to contain a pourable product and comprising a conveyor and a transfer element. The labelling machine also comprises first detection means, arranged peripherally to the transfer element in a position downstream of an application station and upstream of a receiving station, relatively to an advancement direction. The first detection means is configured to detect the single labels still retained in use and to generate a presence signal correlated with the presence of the labels, by the lateral surface downstream of the application station. The labelling machine comprises second detection means arranged in a position downstream of the receiving station and upstream of the application station, relatively to the advancement direction, and configured to detect a positioning of each label onto the lateral surface and to generate a positioning signal correlated with the positioning of each label.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A labelling machine ( 1 , 1 ′) for applying labels ( 2 ) onto articles ( 3 ) intended to contain a pourable product; said labelling machine ( 1 , 1 ′) comprising:
a conveyor ( 5 ) configured to advance a plurality of said articles ( 3 ) along a transfer path (P); and
a transfer drum ( 8 ), arranged peripherally to said conveyor ( 5 ) and configured to receive a sequence of single labels ( 2 ) one after the other at a receiving station (R), to retain said labels ( 2 ) onto a lateral surface ( 10 ) thereof and to convey said labels ( 2 ), along an advancement direction, towards an application station (A), at which said labels ( 2 ) are, in use, released from said lateral surface ( 10 ) and are, in use, fed to said conveyor ( 5 ) to be applied onto said articles ( 3 );
said labelling machine ( 1 , 1 ′) further comprising first detection means ( 15 ), arranged peripherally to said transfer drum ( 8 ) in a position downstream of said application station (A) and upstream of said receiving station (R), relatively to said advancement direction, and configured to detect the single labels ( 2 ) still retained in use, by said lateral surface ( 10 ) downstream of said application station (A) and to generate a presence signal correlated with the presence of said labels ( 2 ) still retained in use, by said lateral surface ( 10 ) downstream of said application station (A);
further comprising;
a second detection means ( 17 ) arranged in a position downstream of said receiving station (R) and upstream of said application station (A), relatively to said advancement direction, and configured to detect a positioning of each label ( 2 ) onto said lateral surface ( 10 ) and to generate a positioning signal correlated with said positioning of said each label ( 2 );
third detection means ( 19 ′) arranged in a position downstream of said application station (A) and upstream said first detection means ( 15 ) and configured to generate a further presence signal when a label ( 2 ) is present onto said lateral surface ( 10 ) downstream of said application station (A) and upstream of said first detection means ( 15 );
extraction means ( 18 ′) for said labels ( 2 ), arranged peripherally to said transfer drum ( 8 ), in a position operatively downstream of said third detection means ( 19 ) and upstream of said first detection means ( 15 ), and defining a discard station (D′) for said labels ( 2 ); and
activation means ( 20 ′) configured to activate said extraction means ( 18 ′) in response of said further presence signal.

2. The labelling machine as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a control unit ( 16 ) configured to receive said positioning signal and to compare said positioning of said label ( 2 ) onto said lateral surface ( 10 ) with a predetermined nominal positioning of said label ( 2 ) onto said lateral surface ( 10 ).

3. The labelling machine as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said lateral surface ( 10 ) comprises at least one receiving portion ( 12 ) extending onto said lateral surface ( 10 ), advancing, in use, along said advancement direction and configured to receive one label ( 2 ) at a time at said receiving station (R);
said second detection means ( 17 ) being configured to detect said positioning of said label ( 2 ) onto said lateral surface ( 10 ) relatively to said receiving portion ( 12 ).

4. The labelling machine as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said transfer drum ( 8 ) comprises at least one pair of successive pads ( 13 ) spaced from one another along said lateral surface ( 10 ) and defining respective end portions of said receiving portion ( 12 ); said pads ( 13 ) being configured to retain corresponding end portions of said label ( 2 );
said second detection means ( 17 ) being configured to detect said positioning of said label ( 2 ) onto said lateral surface ( 10 ) relatively to said pads ( 13 ).

5. The labelling machine as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said control unit ( 16 ) is configured to compare said positioning of said label ( 2 ) onto said lateral surface ( 10 ) relatively to said receiving portion ( 12 ) with a predetermined nominal positioning of said label ( 2 ) onto said lateral surface ( 10 ) relatively to said receiving portion ( 12 ).

6. The labelling machine as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising gluing means ( 14 ) arranged peripherally with respect to said transfer drum ( 8 ) and defining a gluing station (G) located downstream of said receiving station (R) and upstream of said application station (A), relatively to said advancement direction; said gluing means ( 14 ) being configured to apply glue onto at least a portion of said label ( 2 );
wherein said second detection means ( 17 ) are arranged upstream of said gluing station (G) and are configured to detect said positioning of said label ( 2 ) onto said lateral surface ( 10 ) relatively to said receiving portion ( 12 ) when said label ( 2 ) is upstream of said gluing station (G).

7. The labelling machine as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said gluing means ( 14 ) are arranged in a position substantially tangent to said lateral surface ( 10 );
and wherein said control unit ( 16 ) is configured to control a movement of said gluing means ( 14 ) away from said lateral surface ( 10 ) when said positioning detected by said second detection means ( 17 ) differs, in use, from said nominal positioning.

8. The labelling machine as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising a feed roller ( 9 ) arranged peripherally to said transfer drum ( 8 ) and configured to feed each label ( 2 ) to said transfer drum ( 8 ) at said receiving station (R);
wherein said control unit ( 16 ) is configured to control an advancement of a given quantity (W) of said transfer drum ( 8 ) relatively to said feed roller ( 9 ), when said positioning detected by said second detection means ( 17 ) for at least one label ( 2 ) differs, in use, from said nominal positioning by said given quantity (W).

9. The labelling machine as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said second detection means ( 17 ) are configured to detect an offset, of said given quantity (W), of said label ( 2 ) with respect to said receiving portion ( 12 ).

10. The labelling machine as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said control unit ( 16 ) is configured to control a backward advancement, of said given quantity (W), of said transfer drum ( 8 ) relative to said feed roller ( 9 ), when said second detection means ( 17 ) detect a forward offset, of the same given quantity (W), of said label ( 2 ) with respect to said receiving portion ( 12 ), relatively to said advancement direction;
and wherein said control unit ( 16 ) is configured to control a forward advancement, of said given quantity (W), of said transfer drum ( 8 ) relative to said feed roller ( 9 ), when said second detection means ( 17 ) detect a backward offset, of the same given quantity (W), of said label ( 2 ) with respect to said receiving portion ( 12 ), relatively to said advancement direction.

11. The labelling machine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said transfer drum comprises a rotary transfer drum ( 8 ), rotatable around a first axis (X);
and wherein said positioning of said labels ( 2 ) detected by said second detection means ( 17 ) is an angular positioning of said labels ( 2 ), with respect to said first axis (X), onto said lateral surface ( 10 ), and said predetermined nominal positioning is a predetermined angular nominal positioning.

12. The labelling machine as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising:
a rotary transfer roller ( 9 ) arranged peripherally to said transfer drum ( 8 ) and configured to feed each label ( 2 ) to said transfer drum ( 8 ) at said receiving station (R), sai

Assignees

• Sidel Participations

Inventors

• Giuliani Mattia

Classifications

• B65C9/1819 Primary

  the suction means being a vacuum drum · CPC title

• B65C9/40

  Controls; Safety devices · CPC title

• B65C2009/404

  prior to labelling · CPC title

• B65C9/42 Primary

  Label feed control · CPC title