AU2006203387A1 - Mobile applicator head labeller - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT MOBILE APPLICATOR HEAD LABELLER The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me: t: MOBILE APPLICATOR HEAD LABELLER 5 TECHNICAL FIELD

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r The present invention relates to label applicator machines such as are used 00 S for rapid, high volume automated labeling of articles.

BACKGROUND

OAny reference to prior art in the following description is not to be taken to imply that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Labels such as stickers are often applied to fruit and vegetables prior to sale.

The labels are printed with an identifier which corresponds to the type of fruit to which the label is applied. These labels are typically used to assist checkout operators with identifying the type of fruit during purchasing.

Figure 1 depicts a labeling machine previously invented by the present applicant, which is the subject of Australian Patent Application No.

2006202169 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The labeling machine includes a chassis 2 to which various components, including guide rollers 4, 6 and 8 are mounted. The guide rollers guide label tape 10 from a supply reel (not shown) about a peel plate 12 and ultimately onto a take up reel (not shown). A photovoltaic sensor 14 is situated in the path of the tape and generates a signal as each label passes it. Peel plate 12 pivots about pin 16, fast with chassis 2, and is biased by spring 18 so that its free end is forced towards a stop provided in the form of roller 20. The peel plate 12 assists in the detachment of label 38 and its delivery to application head 22.

Applicator head 22 is provided in the form of an assembly including a label eject air amplifier 24 and a label hold air amplifier 26, each oppositely orientated relative to the other as shown. From the air intake port of hold air Samplifier 26 an air inlet pipe 28 extends down to an air-porous web in the form

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C of a mesh 30. Mesh 30 is fitted across the lower extent of air amplifier 24,

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b being the air outlet port of said amplifier. Air inlet pipe 28 terminates in an air

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inlet 32 located on, or a little above, the mesh.

Articles to be labeled, such as punnet 2 are transported past applicator head 22 by means of an endless belt 34. A second photovoltaic sensor 36 00 n generates a signal to indicate the passage of each article.

10 The labeler of Figure 1 includes a complicated device such as a Omicroprocessor that processes signals from the labels various sensors and in turn opens the labelers' actuators such as the tape transport system.

A problem associated with the arrangement shown in Figure 1 is that when the label is driven off the tape and under applicator head 22 it stops immediately due to its low inertia and the friction created by the vacuum. As a consequence the resulting clearance between the trailing edge of the label and the end of the peel plate is minimal. Indeed, when the label is fired it may catch on the free edge of the peel plate so that the label is misdirected.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved labeling machine that addresses the above described problem, or which at least constitutes a useful alternative to presently available labeling machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a labeling apparatus including a means to vary the relative distance between a point at which a label is dispensed from a backing tape and point at which the label is ejected onto an object to be labeled thereby preventing interference with the label during ejection.

In one embodiment the means to vary the relative distance includes a linkage between a movable applicator head and a tape tensioning assembly Q) In another embodiment the means to vary the relative distance includes a tb movable applicator head coupled to a solenoid.

r- 5 The movable applicator head may be mounted on a parallelogram frame.

oO r- Alternatively the movable applicator head may pivot about a point.

00 c, Preferably the movable head is returned to a predetermined position by a ]O 10 biasing means.

The biasing means may be in the form of a spring though alternatively it could be provided as an electromechanical or pneumatic actuator.

Typically the point at which a label is dispensed from a backing tape corresponds to a position on a peel plate of the labeling apparatus.

Similarly, the point at which the label is ejected may correspond to a position on an ejection side of the applicator head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: In the following figures like indicators are used to refer to the like components of the various embodiments depicted.

Figure 1 depicts a prior art label applicator.

SFigure 2 depicts a label applicator according to a first embodiment of the

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Oinvention.

;Figure 3 depicts a label applicator according to a further embodiment of the 5 invention.

Figure 4 is a block diagram of the label applicator of Figure 3.

00 SDETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS o 10 The present inventor has conceived of an approach to overcoming the 0 problem described previously by increasing the clearance between the label and the peel plate subsequent to its detachment from the peel plate. This approach involves increasing the relative distance between the peel plate and the label. The relative distance may be increased, for example, by either moving the peel plate, or by moving the applicator head.

A first embodiment of an applicator according to the present invention will now be described with reference to Figure 2. The applicator of Figure 2 includes an applicator head 22 of the same type as that described with reference to Figure 1, i.e. including a hold air amplifier and an eject air amplifier however it will be realized that almost any other type of air jet labeling applicator head might also be used.

The labeling machine includes a chassis 2 to which various components, including guide rollers 3, 4, 6 and 8 are mounted as well as a tensioning roller that is mounted to tensioning arm 42. Tensioning arm 42 pivots about pin 44.

Tensioning roller 5 is mounted to pin 46 once end of which is received into an arc shaped slot 48 formed into chassis 2. The guide rollers guide label tape from a supply reel (not shown) about peel plate 12 and ultimately onto a take up reel (not shown). A photovoltaic sensor 14 is situated in the path of the tape and generates a signal as each label passes it. Peel plate 12 pivots about pin 16, fast with chassis 2, and is biased by spring 18 so that its free end is forced towards a stop provided in the form of roller IDIn the embodiment shown in Figure 2, applicator head 22 is mounted on a 0 Sparallelogram frame 50. The frame includes two pairs of members 52A, 52B which, at their lower end, pivot about pins 54A, 54B that extend from a ;support member 73. Support member 73 is in turn fixed fast with chassis 2.

5 The upper ends of members 52A, 52B are pivotally connected to the body of applicator head 22 with member 52B continuing up through the inside of the applicator head as one of a pair of pivotally interconnected linkages 61.

o00 M Parallelogram frame 50 affords the applicator head 22 lateral back and forth 0 mobility in the direction indicated by arrow 58.

IC SParallelogram frame 50 is attached by linkages 61 to tape tensioner arm 42.

As tape 10 is driven to propel the next label forward tape tensioner arm 42 lifts off its stop 62. As the tensioner arm lifts it moves the applicator head 22, by virtue of linkages 60 and parallelogram frame 50 towards peel plate 12. This motion reduces the distance between the applicator head and the peel plate 12 at the time that label 38 is delivered to the underside of applicator head 22.

Upon the drive motor coming to a stop, tensioner arm 42, under the bias of tensioner spring 64, moves back to rest against stop 62. As roller arm 42 returns to the stop it moves applicator head 22, and with it label 38 rightward and thus away from the peel plate. The label is then blown onto punnet 1 in the manner previously designed. Since the applicator head 22 and label 38 have previously been moved away from peel plate 22, the peel plate does not interfere with the edge of the label as it is ejected, thereby overcoming the problem previously described.

The embodiment of Figure 2 is limited in its speed of operation due to the time taken for the tensioner arm 42 to return to stop 62. The speed of operation is sufficient for punnet labeling but not for fruit labeling applications where the required labeling rate is much greater. In that case the movement of the applicator head could be activated by pneumatic or electromagnetic means under control of the labeler's microprocessor, rather than being reliant on return spring 64.

SFigure 3 depicts a further embodiment of the present invention where the Sapplicator head 22 is connected to an arm 60 which in turn pivots about pin 0 68. Arm 60 is actuated by an applicator head 22 motion actuator in the form of a solenoid 70 comprising a coil 72 about a rod 74. Energisation of coil 72 is 5 controlled by the labeler's microprocessor. Rod 74 is mechanically coupled to arm 60. Consequently, by energising coil 72 the microprocessor is able to pivot applicator head 22 about pin 68 so that it is brought towards peel plate 00oo M 19 to receive label 38 and then, due to return spring 76, away from the peel 0 plate for ejection of label 38 onto the object to be labeled, e.g. a piece of fruit

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~O 10 78.

Figure 4 is a block diagram depicting a number of functional blocks of the labeling machine of Figure 3. A controller in the form of microprocessor executes a software program stored in memory 82 in order to monitor and control the labeling machine's various peripheral actuators and sensors via suitable interface circuitry 84. In particular, microprocessor 80 is able to sense the passage of articles on conveyor 34 by means of photovoltaic sensor 36.

Similarly, microprocessor 80 is able to advance label tape 10 by means of tape transport system 88, which includes a drive motor and tensioning and guide rollers as previously mentioned, and sense the advance of a label past photovoltaic cell 14. In response to the advance of a label, microprocessor operates air supply 90 in order to drive air through pipe 94 into the control port of hold air amplifier 26 at approximately the same time CPU 80 operates head motion actuator 70, being solenoid coil 72 in the presently described embodiment. Consequently the applicator head 22 is pivoted leftward toward the peel plate 19.

Hold air amplifier 26 then causes a flow of air through pipe 28 to suck label 38 up against mesh 30 so that it is correctly located for subsequent ejection. The CPU then de-energises coil 72 so that the application head 22 swings rightwards under the bias of spring 76.

Upon processor 80 receiving a signal from photovoltaic sensor 36 indicating 0the correct positioning of fruit 78, the processor operates air supply 90 to turn

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b off hold air amplifier 26. As the hold air amplifier is turned off, air is directed

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through pipe 94 into the control port of eject air amplifier 24. Consequently a 5 blast of air is directed out of the eject air amplifier thereby projecting label 38 onto fruit 78 where it adheres.

o00 MIt will then be realised that in compliance with the statute, the invention has Obeen described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical C 10 features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific Ofeatures shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.

For example, the parallelogram frame arrangement of the embodiment of Figure 2, or the pivot arm of the embodiment of Figure 3, might be replaced with a simple track or linear bearing arrangement to facilitate lateral movement of the movable applicator head 22. Furthermore, while a return spring 76 has been used in the embodiment of Figure 3 it might be done away with. In that case a reverse current might be applied to coil 72 in order to bring the applicator head 22 from a position for receiving label 38, i.e. close to peel plate 12, to a position for ejecting label 38, that is away from peel plate 12 in order to avoid interference with the peel plate.

It is also to be understood that in the present specification and claims, the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims (9)

1. 3. A labeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means to vary the relative distance includes a movable applicator head coupled to a solenoid.
2. 4. A labeling apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the movable applicator head is mounted on a parallelogram frame. A labeling apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the movable applicator head pivots about a point.
3. 6. A labeling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable head is returned to a waiting position by a biasing means.
4. 7. A labeling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the biasing means comprises a spring.
5. 8. A labeling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the biasing means comprises an electromechanical or pneumatic actuator.
6. 9. A labeling apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the point at which a label is dispensed from a backing tape corresponds to a position on a peel plate of the labeling apparatus. NO NO A labeling apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the point at which the label is ejected corresponds to a position on an ejection side of the applicator head.
7. 11. A labeling apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 2.
8. 12. A labeling apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 3.
9. 13. A labeling apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 3 and to Figure 4. Dated this 7 th day of August 2006 DAVID BARTLETT by my attorneys Eagar Buck Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys