CA2271141C

CA2271141C - Roll-fed labelling apparatus

Info

Publication number: CA2271141C
Application number: CA 2271141
Authority: CA
Inventors: Rick Gonzalo
Original assignee: Carmichael Scotland Ltd
Current assignee: Carmichael Scotland Ltd
Priority date: 1996-11-07
Filing date: 1997-11-06
Publication date: 2007-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 2017-11-06
Also published as: EP0944528B1; EP0944528A1; CN1244164A; US6431241B1; JP4178424B2; AU730964B2; DE69727496T2; US20020029856A1; ES2217399T3; PL333134A1; WO1998019916A1; DE69727496D1; MXPA99004864A; JP2001503714A; CN1084699C; AU4873797A; CA2271141A1; BR9712915A

Abstract

Roll-fed labelling apparatus includes a rotary cutting drum (7) which incorporates a plurality of cutting assemblies (9) to cut a label web (4) before delivering individual labels to respective containers or bottles (14).
The apparatus provides for the label web (4) to be delivered to the cutting drum (7) at a negligible tension, mitigating label stretch.

Description

4 This invention relates particularly to roll-fed labelling S apparatus as may be used for applying labels taken from a 6 label web to a variety of articles. Such articles are 7 often containers found in production, packaging and 8 bottling of drinks, foods, household products, 9 toiletries, oils, paints and the like and manufacture of plastic, glass, metal and other containers.

12 In conventional roll-fed labelling apparatus a label web 13 is taken from a label roll stand and delivered via label 14 feed and tensioning apparatus to a cutter drum. In order to maintain the tension in the label web, the cutter drum 16 rotates at a faster velocity at its circumference than 17 the supplied web, requiring an immediate acceleration of 18 the web. In practice, unless there is an appropriate 19 degree of slippage of the label on the drum, the label will stretch undesirably or even tear. However, the 21 requirement of catering for such slippage is itself 22 problematic, imposing demanding specifications on the 23 coefficients of friction of the drum surface, and in 1 respect of the registration and glue application 2 processes. Typically, after the web is cut into 3 individual labels, the labels are passed on to an 4 adjacent vacuum drum. The vacuum drum also rotates at a S faster velocity than the cutter drum, and thus the 6 aforementioned requirements relating to slippage also 7 apply at this stage.

9 The labels may then be coated on their back face with an adhesive, typically at their leading and trailing edges 11 and then passed from the vacuum drum to respective 12 containers or articles brought into juxtaposition with 13 the label on the vacuum drum by a turret or other 14 conveyor.
16 The apparatus for applying the adhesive to the label 17 generally includes a further wheel or roller having a 18 knurled or shaped surface and glue wires which are 19 positioned to prevent labels from dislodging from the vacuum drum and falling into the gluing apparatus or 21 other equipment, causing breakage, inefficiencies and 22 down time. These glue wires, however, have been found to 23 be unreliable themselves, breaking from time to time and 24 giving rise to the above problems.

2 Thus it may be seen that labelling machines 3 conventionally have used a series of rotating drums for 4 the transport of labels through a series of stages. The labels are transferred from the surface of one drum to 6 the surface of the next drum, and the labels are 7 generally held on the surface of the drum by a vacuum.

9 The relative speeds of the drums are critical and even a slight error in the speed of one of the drums can lead to 11 substantial problems or inefficiencies. Such errors may 12 be hard to avoid in view of unpredictable and 13 inconsistent levels of slippage and label stretch, 14 causing labels to be wrinkled or creased as they are transferred from one drum to the next.

17 An object of the present invention is to reduce the risk 18 of such wrinkling or creasing by simplifying the process 19 required to register and cut the label web, and thereafter apply adhesive to the labels. In one aspect, 21 the invention enables this by enabling more of these 22 processes to be undertaken while the label is on a single 23 drum, thereby also reducing the requirement of 24 transferring labels from one drum to another.
26 US Patent Number 4,632,721 Hoffmann goes some way in 27 attempting to meet the aforementioned objective. Hoffman 28 teaches the use of a knife carried directly on a vacuum 29 drum in an attempt to negate the requirement of a separate cutter drum. However, Hoffman teaches the need 31 for an interaction between the vacuum drum and stationary 32 blades which together sever or shear each label from a 33 continuous web. Glue applying rollers are also 34 positioned in close proximity to the vacuum drum.

1 However, a disadvantage of the art taught by Hoffmann is 2 that it the gripping pads, which act to hold the label to 3 the vacuum transport drum, require to retract and 4 protrude at appropriate and exact times during the rotation of the drum in order to avoid interference with 6 the stationary blades in one case and to cause the label 7 to press against the glue rollers in another case. Thus, 8 Hoffmann does not entirely overcome the need to provide 9 for precise relative speeds of one mechanism in relation to another. It is also noted in the present invention 11 that the act of shearing or severing label web between a 12 moving blade and a stationary blade is not entirely 13 satisfactory. Thus, an object of the present invention 14 is to mitigate these disadvantages in the art.
IS
16 Further objects of the present invention will become 17 apparent from the following statements and description.

19 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a roll-fed labelling apparatus 21 comprising delivery means for delivering a label web to a 22 rotary cutting drum, and one or more cutting means 23 associated with the cutting drum for cutting the label 24 web into individual labels while held by a relative negative pressure on the circumferential surface of the 26 drum, the apparatus being associated with a container 27 delivery means whereby containers are delivered into 28 juxtaposition with separated labels located on the rotary 29 cutting drum to enable transfer of the said separated labels to respective containers.

32 Preferably the cutting means are provided on or near the 33 circumferential surface of the drum.

1 Preferably the cutting means comprises a sharp edged or 2 pointed device or instrument. The cutting means may be a 3 blade. Alternatively said cutting means may be a heated 4 device or appliance, a water, ultrasonic or laser cutting S device, or any device for cutting the web into individual 6 labels.

8 Where there are a plurality of cutting blades, at each 9 blade there may be provided a slot in the outer circumferential surface of the rotary cutting drum and 11 preferably at least part of the cutting edge of each 12 blade protrudes through the slot allowing contact of the 13 blade with the label web on the cutting drum. The blade 14 may be connected to a piston located within a cylinder wherein movement of the piston and blade is provided by a 16 relative change in air pressure across the piston.
17 Preferably, the means for providing a relative negative 18 pressure at the outer circumferential surface of the 19 rotary cutting drum is also used, when required, to provide the relative pressure change across the piston in 21 the cylinder. Other devices such as mechanical, electro-22 mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic devices may be used in 23 place of the piston.

According to a second aspect of the present invention the 26 aforesaid delivery means is such that the label web is 27 delivered to the rotary cutting drum under a low or 28 negligible tension. The delivery means may comprise a 29 free loop mechanism for this purpose.
31 An advantage of this is that minimal, negligible or even 32 zero slippage may occur in respect of the label web or 33 individual labels on the rotary cutting drum.
34 Furthermore, as the label web is supplied at a relatively 1 low or negligible tension, the label web is not caused to 2 stretch or tear and materials of low tensile strength may 3 be used.

According to a third aspect of the present invention the 6 roll-fed labelling apparatus further comprises an 7 adhesive applicator provided in close proximity to the 8 rotary cutting drum to enable labels to receive adhesive 9 prior to their transfer to their respective containers.
11 Preferably the adhesive applicator comprises means for 12 spraying adhesive onto the back faces of the labels.
13 Preferably, the adhesive applicator has means for pulsing 14 the spray such that the adhesive is ejected onto the leading and trailing edges of the labels.

17 Alternatively, the adhesive applicator may be arranged to 18 spray the adhesive in a pattern such that the leading and 19 trailing edges of adjacent labels are applied with adhesive in a single action. The rotary cutting drum may 21 be provided with an angular profile at each slot and the 22 adhesive applicator may also be positioned at an angle to 23 the radius of the cutting drum so that contamination of 24 the slot during supply of the adhesive may be reduced or minimised.

27 An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by 28 way of example only, with reference to the accompanying 29 drawings, in which:
31 Figure 1 is a schematic view of roll-fed labelling 32 apparatus in accordance with the invention, 1 Figure 2 is a front elevation of the area marked C on the 2 rotary cutting drum shown in Figure 1, 4 Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of example container S delivery means used in association with the invention, 7 Figures 4a and 4b show respectively, a perspective and 8 sectional elevation of a cutter drum assembly, and, Figure 5 shows a cutter assembly used on the rotary 11 cutting drum for cutting a label web into individual 12 labels .

14 Referring firstly to Figure 1 and Figure 2, a label web 4 is stored on the label roll stand 2. An optional second 16 roll stand 2a may also be provided to enable quick 17 changeover of label web supply when one roll is 18 diminished.

From the label roll stand 2 the label web 4 is fed via 21 delivery means to a rotating cutting drum 7. The 22 delivery means includes a series of roller guides 30, a 23 tension control arm 31, a label feed roller 32 and pinch 24 roller 33, and a tension negating roller 34. The tension control arm 31 is biased in the direction of arrow B so 26 as to provide tension to the label web 4 ensuring that it 27 is pulled off the label roll 2. The tension control arm 28 31 is pivotal about the fulcrum 35 such that constant and 29 safe tension may be maintained on the label web 4 at this stage of the delivery.

32 However, after the label web 4 has passed between the 33 label feed roller 32 and pinch roller 33 it is guided 34 around a tension negating roller 34. The roller 34 is 1 movable in the directions of D and E, there being a bias 2 imposed on the roller 34 in the direction of D, although 3 this bias is far less than the bias on the tension 4 controller 31, such that at this location a negligible tension is applied to the label web 4, that is the label 6 web 4 travels through a free loop after it passes the 7 roller 34.

9 Accordingly, the label web 4 is delivered to the rotary cutting drum 7 at a negligible tension and such that the 11 face of the labels are in contact with the external 12 circumferential surface of the rotary cutting drum 7, the 13 backface of the labels being exposed outwardly.

Registration means 8 is associated with the rotary 16 cutting drum 7 and adapted to register the position of 17 the leading and trailing edges of the individual labels, 18 ensuring that such are aligned with respective cutters 9 19 on the cutting drum 7.
21 In use, the rotary cutting drum 7 rotates in a clockwise 22 direction and transports the label web 4 to the area C at 23 which the cutter is activated by a change in relative air 24 pressure across a piston, the details of which are described below with reference to Figure 4. To ensure a 26 clean cutting action the relative negative air pressure 27 is increased on the outer circumferential surface of the 28 rotary cutting drum 7 in the vicinity of the label web 4 29 at the location of the cut (c). This may be seen from Figure 2 which shows the elevation of the outer 31 circumferential surface of the rotary cutting drum 7 in 32 the area marked C in Figure 1. The holes 50 are the 33 outlets of conduits for sucking air or otherwise reducing 34 air pressure in the area of the holes 50 upon the surface 1 of the rotary cutting drum 7. As the tension in the 2 label web is negligible, zero or negligible slippage of 3 the labels occur after they have been cut and thus 4 negligible spacing appears between adjacent labels after the cutting action takes place. This means that (as 6 shown in Figure 2) the leading edge of a label 51 abuts 7 the trailing edge of an adjacent label 52 at the cut line 8 53.

With the labels positioned in such abutment they are 11 transported by the rotary cutting drum 7 in a further 12 clockwise rotation to a glue station at which is located 13 a glue or adhesive applicator 11. The applicator 11 is 14 an extrusion die and eliminates the need for guide wires.
Hot melt adhesive may be applied to the front and 16 trailing edges of each cut label, the applicator 11 17 spraying the adhesive in a pulse like manner, the timing 18 of which may be synchronised by the registration of 19 equipment 8. In one embodiment, the adhesive may be applied to the leading and trailing edges of adjacent 21 labels simultaneously because the cutter drum 7 is 22 designed to cut labels without creating any substantial 23 gap between the separated labels. The adhesive 24 applicator can be left on at all times for complete coverage without the need for on/off timing. A typical 26 arrangement of the adhesive applicator 11 is described 27 below with reference to Figure 5. It should be noted 28 that the present invention is not limited by the type of 29 applicator or adhesive used. Indeed, the use of a glue applicator is not itself essential and other methods may 31 be employed for attaching labels to respective 32 containers. Moreover, if an adhesive is to be used, the 33 adhesive may be applied to all of the backside of the 1 label, or only part thereof, such as the front and 2 trailing edges as hereinbefore mentioned.

4 As shown in Figure 3, the apparatus further includes a S container delivery means which typically comprises a 6 conveyer 13 which delivers containers 14 onto a star 7 wheel 15 via an infeed star 16. An infeed scroll (not 8 shown) may be used in place of or in combination with the 9 infeed star 16. The infeed star 16 ensures that the 10 containers are positioned on the star wheel 15 with 11 correct positioning such that they are appropriately 12 spaced apart for correspondence with delivery of the cut 13 and glued individual labels being transferred from the 14 rotary cutting drum 7 at a point where the star wheel 15 and rum 7 come into contact or near contact.

17 The labels are wrapped around their respective containers 18 via a fixed or moving roll down pad and guide 17, after 19 which they are returned to a conveyor 18 by the discharge star 19. It is recognised in the present invention that 21 there are various methods used for delivering containers 22 14 to roll fed labelling apparatus and the present 23 invention is not limited to the embodiment described 24 herein. For example, it is envisaged that a rotary turret in which containers 14 are clamped in upper and 26 lower chucks may be used in place of the star wheel 15, 27 the containers being rotated by means of a drive belt 28 before coming in contact with a roll down pad and guide .
29 As mentioned above an infeed scroll may be used in place of or in combination with the infeed star 16.

32 Turning now to Figure 4, a cutter drum assembly is 33 illustrated having six cutter assemblies, also referred 34 to as separating means herein. A side view of a cutter 1 assembly 9 in the rotary cutting drum 7 is illustrated in 2 Figure 5.

4 The cutter assembly 9 in the example embodiment comprises a cylinder 22 mounted on a frame 42 which drives a link 6 41 connected to a pivotal arm 44. The arm 44 pivots 7 about the pin 40 and provides a connection means 25 for a 8 blade holder 43 with cutting blade 26. The connection 9 means allows for the adjustment or replacement of the blade holder 43. Similarly, the cutting assembly may be 11 designed to allow for the efficient replacement of the 12 blade 26. In use the blade 26 protrudes through a 13 respective slot 53 in the cutter drum 7 to enable a 14 cutting or separating action to take place.
16 The piston 22 may be electro-mechanical, pneumatic or of 17 any other suitable type.

19 It should be noted that the invention extends to any method of separating, parting, severing or cutting the 21 label web whilst on the cutting drum. For example, apart 22 from the cutting blade arrangements described above, any 23 sharp edged or pointed devices or instruments, heated 24 devices or appliances, water, ultrasonic or laser cutting devices, or devices for perforating and tearing the 26 labels may be used. In addition, the piston described 27 above may be replaced by any other mechanical, electro-28 mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic device.

It will be realised that a significant advantage of the 31 invention is that it negates the requirement of a 32 separate cutter drum. It is found that not only does 33 this reduce the complexity of the apparatus in order to 34 achieve the required function, but also diminishes the 1 possibility of adverse effects resulting from inexact 2 speed correspondence of a plurality rotating drums and of 3 the unsuccessful transfer of labels from one drum to 4 another.

6 Additionally, no label slippage or tensioning is 7 required. Further modifications and improvements be may 8 incorporated without departing from the scope of the 9 invention herein intended.

Claims

1. Roll-fed labelling apparatus comprising delivery means for delivering a label web to a rotary cutting drum, and one or more cutting assemblies located on the cutting drum providing cutting means for cutting with a slicing action the label web into individual labels while the label web is held by a relatively negative pressure on the circumferential surface of the drum, wherein each cutting assembly comprises a piston arranged to move the cutting means along a slot on the cutting drum to enable the slicing action to take place, and wherein the slicing action is not dependent upon a surface auxiliary to the cutting means.

2. Roll-fed labelling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting means comprises a sharp edge or pointed device.

3. Roll-fed labelling apparatus as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, comprising a plurality of cutting assemblies spaced apart circumferentially around the drum by a distance approximately equal to the label length.

4. Roll-fed labelling apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the delivery means, in use, delivers the label web to the cutting station under a low or negligible tension.

5. Roll-fed labelling apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an adhesive applicator provided in close proximity to the rotary cutting drum to enable labels to receive adhesive prior to their transfer to their respective containers.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the adhesive applicator comprises means for spraying adhesive onto the back faces of the labels.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the adhesive applicator has means for pulsing the spray such that the adhesive is ejected only onto the leading and trailing edges of the labels.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the adhesive applicator is arranged to spray the adhesive in a pattern such that the leading and trailing edges of adjacent labels are applied with adhesive in a single action.

9. Roll-fed labelling apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each cutting means is a heated device.

10. Roll-fed labelling apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each cutting means is a laser-cutting device.

11. Roll-fed labelling apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each cutting means is an ultrasonic device.

12. Roll-fed labelling apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cutting means comprises a cutting blade that moves with a net relative velocity in relation to the label web during the cutting action.

13. Roll-fed labelling apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an adhesive applicator having means for spraying adhesive on to the back faces of the labels while said labels remain on the circumferential surface of the drum.

14. Roll-fed labelling apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cutting means comprises a cutting force that moves with a net relative velocity in relation to the label web during the cutting action.

15. Roll-fed labelling apparatus comprising delivery means for delivering a label web to a rotary cutting drum, and one or more cutting means located on the cutting drum for cutting with a slicing action the label web into individual labels while the label web is held by a relative negative pressure on the circumferential surface of the drum, wherein the cutting means passes from a first edge of the label web to a second edge during the slicing action, with the cutting means making point contact with the label web at any one point in time during said slicing action, and wherein the cutting action is not dependent upon a surface auxiliary to the cutting means, and further comprising an adhesive applicator provided in close proximity to the rotary cutting drum to enable labels to receive adhesive prior to their transfer to their respective containers, and wherein the adhesive applicator comprises means for spraying adhesive onto the back faces of the labels, and wherein the adhesive applicator is arranged to spray the adhesive in a pattern such that the leading and trailing edges of adjacent labels are applied with adhesive in a single action.

16. Roll-fed labelling apparatus comprising delivery means for delivering a label web to a rotary cutting drum, and one or more cutting means located on the cutting drum for cutting the label web along a corresponding longitudinal slot being in the outer circumferential surface of the rotary cutting drum into individual labels while the label web is held by a relative negative pressure on the circumferential surface of the drum, wherein the cutting action is not dependent upon a surface, edge or blade auxiliary to the cutting means, the apparatus being associated with the container delivery means whereby containers are delivered into juxtaposition with separated labels located on the rotary cutting drum to enable transfer of the said separated labels to respective containers;
characterised in that the cutting means consists of a cutting blade and means for passing the cutting blade from a first edge of the label web to a second edge during a slicing action, with the cutting blade making point contact with the label web at any one point in time during said slicing action.