CN101181940B

CN101181940B - Packet printing unit

Info

Publication number: CN101181940B
Application number: CN200710165622XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 斯特凡诺·博维纳; 西莫内·斯特拉扎里; 亚历山德罗·米纳雷利
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2006-10-23
Filing date: 2007-10-23
Publication date: 2011-04-13
Anticipated expiration: 2027-10-23
Also published as: ITBO20060726A1; EP1916188B2; EP1916188B1; CN101181940A; DE602007007270D1; EP1916188A1

Abstract

A printing unit (1) for packets (2), having: a printing conveyor (6) for feeding the packets (2) successively along a printing path (P), and having a number of pockets (12), each for housing a respective packet (2); an input station (7); an output station (8); and a printing station (16) located along the printing conveyor (6), between the input station (7) and the output station (8), and having a printing device (17) for printing a code on the outer surface of each packet (2) on the printing conveyor (6); the printing conveyor (6) has a belt (9) looped about at least two end pulleys (10) and supporting a number of gripping members (13), each extending perpendicularly to the belt (9) and defining a wall of a respective pocket (12) which is narrowest along straight portions (T2, T4) of the printing path (P), and widest along curved portions (T1, T3, T5) of the printing path (P).

Description

Packet printing unit

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of packet printing unit.

The present invention can be advantageously used in the alphanumeric coding of printing progression on the outside face of cigarette pack, is explained by by way of example fully below.

Background technology

Be used to produce the baling line of cigarette pack at some, the coding of all necessary printing of each cigarette pack or mark progression determines for example to pack time and/or the place that produces by the coding of progression.

Patent US6098533A1 has described the cigarette pack that is used for to leaving packaging machine and has carried out stable conveyer, and wherein each packing by two on the contrary towards belt conveyor supply with and through printing station, the belt conveyor partial engagement is gone up the smaller sides of respective opposite to packing along stabilizing path; Set up the laser printing unit to print the coding of progression with the part that is exposed by respective belts on a smaller sides of packing at printing station.

The print unit cost that US6098533A1 describes is low, be easy to processing and overall performance good, but since packing side by side before so the pinpoint machinery of packing is paused, can not guarantee actual exact location of printing on each packing.

Patent application US2001032932A1 has described laser printing progression coding on the outside face of cigarette pack.Cigarette pack advances on conveyer (being preferably vertical drying drum), and outside the part that conveyer has the anchor clamps that engage each packing and reserves packing was exposed to, the laser printer that is assembled to conveyer printed the progression coding on this part.

Print unit complexity and manufacturing cost costliness that patent application US2001032932A1 describes is characterized in that having the swing roller of a plurality of sockets, and socket is carried out the motion of various control cam.In addition, because described print unit is very big and heavy, along the output belt conveyer of packaging machine print unit is installed and is had great mechanical complexity.Therefore, can print unit be incorporated in the novel package machine, but can be that cost is installed in it in current packaging machine only with huge mechanical complexity at design phase.

Summary of the invention

The purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of packet printing unit that is designed in order to eliminate above-mentioned shortcoming, while low cost of manufacture and to be easy to make.

According to the present invention, a kind of print unit that is used to pack is provided, comprising:

Print conveyer, it is used for supplying with packing and comprising a plurality of sockets along the printing path adjoining land, and each socket is used to hold corresponding packing;

Input station, it limits the starting point of printing path and is that packing is supplied to the place that enters the socket on the printing conveyer;

Output station, it limits the terminal point of printing path and is to pack the place of shifting out from the socket of printing on the conveyer; And

Printing station, it is arranged between input station and the output station and comprises that printing device, printing device are used for printing coding on the outside face of printing each packing on the conveyer along printing conveyer;

Print unit is characterised in that:

Print conveyer comprise around at least two end belt wheels around and support the belt of a plurality of clamping components, each clamping component extends and limits the wall of respective socket perpendicular to belt, socket is the narrowest and the wideest along the sweep of printing path the time along first straight portion of printing path and second straight portion time;

Input station and output station are along the corresponding sweep setting of printing path; And

Printing station is along the first straight portion setting of printing path.

Description of drawings

In conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will the bright nonrestrictive embodiment of this law be described by by way of example, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows the schematic perspective view that is used to print the print unit of cigarette pack according to of the present invention, has for the sake of clarity removed some parts.

Fig. 2 shows the birds-eye view of the print unit that is used to print cigarette pack among Fig. 1, has for the sake of clarity removed some parts.

The specific embodiment

Label 1 among Fig. 1 has pointed out to be used for the integral body of the print unit of the coding (normally alphanumeric coding and/or bar code) of printing progression on the outside face of cigarette pack 2.

The packing 2 of cigarette supplies to print unit 1 by input belt conveyer 3, and input belt conveyer 3 receives from a succession of cigarette pack 2 packaging machine (not shown), that be arranged to a row; And cigarette pack 2 supplies to output belt conveyer 4 from print unit 1, and a succession of cigarette pack 2 that output belt conveyer 4 will be arranged to a row supplies to glass paper machine (not shown).

Print unit 1 comprises frame 5, frame 5 is shelved on the ground and is supported the level of supplying with cigarette pack 2 along path P and prints conveyer 6, and path P is in extension between the input station 7 of the output of input conveyor 3 and the output station 8 at the input end of output conveyer 4.

Print conveyer 6 comprise around two horizontal

end belt wheel

10a, 10b around 9, two horizontal end belt wheels of endless-

belt

10a, 10b be mounted to vertical centre rotational axis line 11 rotations around separately.Preferably, end belt wheel 10 passive trying hard to recommend are moved to rotate continuously around its center rotation axis 11, and another end belt wheel 10 is free gears simultaneously.Therefore path P comprises initial portion T1 bending, arc that extends around end belt wheel 10a; The straight centre portion T2 that between end belt wheel 10a and end belt wheel 10b, extends; Bending, semi-round centre portion T3 around end belt wheel 10b extension; The straight centre portion T4 that between end belt wheel 10b and end belt wheel 10a, extends; And dwell section T5 bending, arc that extends around end belt wheel 10a.

A plurality of sockets 12 limit along belt 9, and each socket is used to hold corresponding cigarette pack 2.More specifically, each socket 12 receives corresponding cigarette pack 2 from input conveyor 3 at input station 7, and at output station 8 corresponding cigarette pack 2 is discharged and to give output conveyer 4.Belt 9 supports a plurality of clamping components 13, and each clamping component extends and limit the wall of respective socket 12 perpendicular to belt 9.In other words, each socket 12 limits and constraint by two clamping components 13 in succession, side by side.

Because tangible geometric reasons, per two clamping components 13 in succession, side by side are parallel to each other along the straight portion T2 of printing path P and T4 the time, and along sweep T1, the T3 of printing path P and T5 the time be relative to each other bevelled (, centre rotational axis line 11 towards respective end belt wheel 10 is assembled), thus make each socket 12 the narrowest and the wideest along sweep T1, the T3 of printing path P and T5 the time along the straight portion T2 of printing path P and T4 the time.

In a preferred embodiment, print conveyer 6 and comprise load-carrying element 14, load-carrying element 14 is positioned to be printed the following of conveyer 6 and has horizontal top wall 15, and the cigarette pack 2 that promotes by the socket 12 of printing conveyer 6 slides on horizontal top wall 15.

Print unit 1 also comprises printing station 16, and printing station 16 is arranged between input station 7 and the output station 8 and specifically along the straight centre portion T2 setting of the printing path P between end belt wheel 10a and the end belt wheel 10b along printing conveyer 6.Printing station 16 comprises printing device 17, and printing device 17 is used for printing coding on the outside face of each cigarette pack 2 that utilizes printing conveyer 6 to advance, and described coding can for example limit by laser printing equipment.

Print unit 1 also comprises control station 18, and control station 18 is arranged on the downstream of printing station 16 and comprises the optical control apparatus 19 that is used to detect the coding of printing on each cigarette pack 2 along the straight portion T2 of printing path P.Control convenience 19 is connected to Central Processing Unit (CPU) 20, Central Processing Unit (CPU) 20 receives the signal that obtains by control convenience 19 and judge whether the coding of printing is up to specification on each cigarette pack 2, that is, whether the coding of printing on each cigarette pack 2 comprises any defective.

Should be understood that, input station 7 and output station 8 are arranged on sweep T1 and the T5 place of printing path P, the socket 12 of printing conveyer 6 is the wideest along sweep T1 and T5, therefore allows easily to insert or take out corresponding to each cigarette pack 2 of corresponding socket 12.In a preferred embodiment, input station 7 is provided with around identical end belt wheel 10a with output station 8.Under the situation that output station 8 is provided with around end belt wheel 10b significantly, it is short that printing path P can become.On the other hand, printing station 16 and control station 18 are provided with along the straight centre portion T2 of printing path P, and the socket 12 of printing conveyer 6 is the narrowest during along straight centre portion T2, thereby cigarette pack 2 can be remained on accurate desired location.

At last, print unit 1 comprises picking up stands 21, pick up the station 21 straight centre portion T4 along printing path P and be arranged on the downstream of control station 18 and comprise pick device 22, pick device 22 takes out cigarette packs 2 by Central Processing Unit (CPU) 20 operations with the socket 12 from printing conveyer 6.

In the course of normal operation of print unit 1, Central Processing Unit (CPU) 20 activates pick device 22 to take out any cigarette pack 2 that has the error print coding from the socket 12 of printing conveyer 6.When the operator required, Central Processing Unit (CPU) 20 can also activate pick device 22 to take out sample cigarette pack 2 from the socket 12 of printing conveyer 6.In other words, by means of control convenience (keyboard or similar devices), the operator can require Central Processing Unit (CPU) 20 to come to take out sample cigarette pack 2 to be used for random inspection from printed transfer device 6.

Pick device 22 comprises: curved surface 23, and curved surface 23 extends in described curved surface (23) top along the belt 9 that the straight centre portion T4 of printing path P was provided with and printed conveyer 6, with part curved belt 9 and socket 12 parts are broadened inwardly; And promotion member 24, promote member 24 (being generally compressed-air controlled or machinery) be arranged on curved surface 23 the pars intermedia office and by Central Processing Unit (CPU) 20 activate with cigarette pack 2 released corresponding sockets 12 and shift onto end at case 26 pick up path 25, case 26 can be divided into and be used for sample cigarette pack 2 and the different compartments that are used for defective cigarette pack 2.

In a preferred embodiment, input conveyor 3 and output conveyer 4 extend perpendicular to printing path P, therefore perpendicular to the belt 9 of printing conveyer 6, thereby can fast easily cigarette pack 2 be inserted socket 12/ and take out from socket 12.

In unshowned different embodiments, printing conveyer 6 comprises (no more than three or four usually) the end belt wheel 10 more than two.

Aforesaid print unit 1 has many advantages, and its characteristics are not for example cam or similarly complex mechanical equipment, so cost is low and be easy to processing.In fact, socket 12 only broadens circularly by moving of belt 9 and dwindles, and does not need other mechanical movement.

Because cigarette pack 2 is fed into printing station 16 and therefore is arranged in known desired location, space in socket 12, therefore aforesaid print unit 1 has also been guaranteed actual split-hair location of printing on each cigarette pack 2.

At last, extremely compact and lightweight above-mentioned print unit 1 can easily be installed along the output belt conveyer of packaging machine, and therefore is connected to the current packaging machine with low cost of installation.

Owing to its numerous advantages, above-mentioned print unit 1 can also advantageously be used in and print coding or similar pattern on the packing except cigarette pack 22, for example the cartoon of cigarette, box or food processing packing.

Claims

One kind be used for the packing (2) print unit (1), comprising:

Print conveyer (6), it is used for supplying with described packing (2) along printing path (P) adjoining land, and comprises a plurality of sockets (12), and each described socket (12) is used to hold corresponding packing (2);

Input station (7), it limits the starting point of described printing path (P), and in the described packing of described input station (2) is supplied to the described socket (12) that enters on the described printing conveyer (6);

Output station (8), it limits the terminal point of described printing path (P), and shifts out from the described socket (12) on the described printing conveyer (6) in the described packing of described output station (2); And

Printing station (16), it is arranged between described input station (7) and the described output station (8) and comprises that printing device (17), described printing device (17) are used on the outside face of each the described packing (2) on the described printing conveyer (6) printing coding along described printing conveyer (6);

Described print unit (1) is characterised in that:

Described printing conveyer (6) comprise around at least two end belt wheels (10) around and support the belt (9) of a plurality of clamping components (13), each described clamping component (13) extends and limits the wall of respective socket (12) perpendicular to described belt (9), described socket (12) is the narrowest and the wideest along the sweep (T1, T3, T5) of described printing path (P) time along first straight portion (T2) of described printing path (P) and second straight portion (T4) time;

Described input station (7) and described output station (8) are provided with along the corresponding sweep (T1, T3, T5) of described printing path (P); And

Described printing station (16) is provided with along first straight portion (T2) of described printing path (P).
2. print unit as claimed in claim 1 (1), wherein, described input station (7) and described output station (8) are set to around identical end belt wheel (10) and along the respective curved part (T1, T5) of described printing path (P).
3. print unit as claimed in claim 1 (1), also comprise control station (18), described control station (18) is arranged on the downstream of described printing station (16) and comprises the optical control apparatus (19) that is used for detecting the coding of upward printing in each described packing (2) along first straight portion (T2) of described printing path (P).
4. print unit as claimed in claim 3 (1), also comprise and pick up station (21), the described station (21) of picking up is arranged on the downstream of described control station (18) and comprises the pick device (22) that can work along second straight portion (T4) of described printing path (P), and the described socket (12) that described pick device (22) is used for from the described printing conveyer (6) takes out described packing (2).
5. print unit as claimed in claim 4 (1) also comprises Central Processing Unit (CPU) (20), and described Central Processing Unit (CPU) (20) makes described pick device (22) work take out sample packaging (2) with the described socket (12) from described printing conveyer (6).
6. print unit as claimed in claim 4 (1) also comprises:

Central Processing Unit (CPU) (20), described Central Processing Unit (CPU) (20) are connected to described control convenience (19) and make described pick device (22) work take out the packing (2) that has the error print coding with the described socket (12) from described printing conveyer (6).
7. print unit as claimed in claim 4 (1), wherein, described pick device (22) comprises curved surface (23), described curved surface (23) is provided with along second straight portion (T4) of described printing path (P), and the described belt (9) of described printing conveyer (6) extends in described curved surface (23) top, with the crooked inwardly described belt in part (9) and described socket (12) part is broadened.
8. print unit as claimed in claim 7 (1), wherein, described pick device (22) comprises promotion member (24), and described promotion member (24) is arranged on the pars intermedia office of described curved surface (23) and is activated to supply to described packing (2) release corresponding described socket (12) and with described packing (2) and picks up path (25).
9. print unit as claimed in claim 1 (1), wherein, described printing path (P) extends along horizontal plane, and described printing conveyer (6) comprises load-carrying element (14), described load-carrying element (14) is arranged on the following of described printing conveyer (6) and has horizontal top wall (15), is slided on described horizontal top wall (15) by the described packing (2) that the described socket (12) of described printing conveyer (6) promotes.
10. print unit as claimed in claim 1 (1) wherein, is located described packing (2) is supplied to the described socket (12) of described printing conveyer (6) at described input station (7) by the input conveyor (3) that extends perpendicular to described printing path (P).
11. print unit as claimed in claim 1 (1) wherein, is located the described socket (12) of described packing (2) from described printing conveyer (6) taken out at described output station (8) by the output conveyer (4) that extends perpendicular to described printing path (P).