WO2007110738A1

WO2007110738A1 - Apparatus and method for obtaining labels

Info

Publication number: WO2007110738A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/000749
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ireneo Orlandi; Maurizio Pedercini; Matteo Grioni
Original assignee: Sacmi Labelling S.P.A.
Priority date: 2006-03-24
Filing date: 2007-03-23
Publication date: 2007-10-04
Also published as: ITMO20060096A1

Abstract

An apparatus comprises moving means (2) for moving a film of plastics (3) to carousel means in order for labelling containers, cutting means (10) arranged for obtaining from said film of plastics (3) label precursor portions (13) , said cutting means comprising laser means (10) ; a method comprises advancing a film of plastics (3) to carousel means for labelling containers, cutting said film of plastics (3) to obtain label precursor portions (13) , said cutting comprising cutting by means of a continuous or pulsed laser beam.

Description

Apparatus and method for obtaining labels

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for obtaining labels for containers, which may be of the traditional type or of the sleeve type or ^λΛshrink sleeve" type made of PET, PVC, polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), or other materials suitable for being heat-shrunk. Apparatuses are known for labelling containers, comprising a moving device that is used to make a film of plastics advance along an advancing direction that is unwound from a reel, and a take-up drum, which is rotatable around a rotation axis and is provided with a side surface on which the film is received. On the side surface holes are obtained through which air is sucked by means of a pneumatic device in such a way that the film can be retained by the take-up drum.

A cutting device is provided that is used to cut the film transversely to the advancing direction in such a way as to obtain portions of film that are precursors of labels. The cutting device comprises a blade fixed to the side surface of the take-up drum and extending substantially in a longitudinal direction to the latter. The blade is shaped in such a way as to protrude radially from the side surface by a certain amount . The cutting device further comprises an abutment fixed- to a frame of the apparatus, near the take-up drum and extending parallel to the rotation axis of the latter. The abutment is positioned in such a way that it can interact with the blade when the take-up drum assumes a certain angular cutting position. In the angular cutting position, the blade and the abutment are separated by a distance that is less than the thickness of the film and are slightly mutually tilted so as to generate a cutting effect on the film.

Downstream of the take-up drum, and in a position that is adjacent to the latter there is provided a transferring drum arranged for transferring the portions of film generated after cutting to a rotatable carousel that is suitable for supporting containers to be labelled. The transferring drum is rotatable around an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the take-up drum and in a rotation direction opposite the rotation direction of the latter. The transferring drum, similarly to the take-up drum, comprises a further side surface provided with further holes. Through the further holes air is sucked that enables the portions of film to remain attached to the transferring drum. In the case of glue labelling near the transferring drum there can be provided a device comprising a glue distributing roller that is rotatable in an opposite direction to that of the transferring drum. The distributing roller cooperates with the transferring drum to distribute a certain amount of glue on an end zone of the portions of film that extends transversely to the advancing direction. The rotatable carousel supports peripherally and rotatably a plurality of plates spaced from one another. These plates are shaped in such a way as to be able to support containers. These containers receive from the transferring drum the portions of film by means of glue distributed by the aforesaid distributing roller.

Alternatively, the rotatable carousel supports peripherally and rotatably a plurality of spindles spaced from one another. The spindles are shaped for supporting containers to be labelled and for receiving from the transferring drum the portions of film that have to be associated with the containers. Each spindle is provided with air suction holes that enable a portion of film to be attracted, separating it from the transferring drum. The opposite flaps of said portion are superimposed to form a sleeve and the welding thereof can be performed alternatively by means of glue distributed previously or subsequently on the spindle by means of welding means. During operation, the film is unwound progressively from the reel by the moving device, and is made to advance to the take-up drum where in the angular cutting position the cutting device acts on the film.

In particular, during cutting, portions of the blade interact sequentially with respective further portions of the abutment in such a way as to generate a cut transversely to the film that initially affects a first edge zone of the film and subsequently gradually extends until it affects a second edge zone opposite the first edge zone. The portions of film 'are then transferred by the take-up drum to the transferring drum, which makes the portions of film interact with a possible distributing roller from which they receive the glue. Lastly, each portion of film is wound directly on the container or on a spindle in such a way that opposite flaps thereof mutually overlap. In the case of a transfer to the spindle and subsequent welding of the flaps with glue or using different welding means, the formed sleeve is placed on a container and is subjected to heat treatment that forces it to shrink to adhere to the side surface of the bottle. A drawback of the known apparatuses is that they do not enable the film to be cut in a satisfactorily precise manner. In particular, during cutting, before the latter is completed, the portion of film that is not entirely cut may be instable, as it has zones that, once they are separated from the film, are free and tend to flap. This is the more evident the greater the height of the film and the less the thickness thereof and may compromise the correct positioning of the portions of film during advancing to the carousel. Further, owing to the wear to which the blade is subjected after a certain number of work cycles, it is not possible to obtain precise and effective cuts, especially when the thickness of the film is very slight. For this reason, frequent maintenance is required. Another drawback is that the cutting device, when it is driven, generates vibrations that adversely affect the positioning of the film. A further drawback of known apparatuses is that they are not very versatile, inasmuch as they do not enable the length of the labels to be varied in a direction that is longitudinal to the film, without the structure of the apparatus having to be modified. In fact, for a preset take-up drum, a certain number of rotating blades has to be provided in function of the length of the label that it is desired to obtain. Further, the greater the length of the label that has to be cut the less is the productivity that can be provided by the apparatus .

An object of the invention is to improve known apparatuses for labelling containers. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for labelling containers that is able to cut with great efficacy and precision even films of very great height and very reduced thicknesses.

A further object is to obtain an apparatus that requires little maintenance and is able to provide great productivity even if it is desired to obtain labels of a great height.

A still further object is to provide a very versatile apparatus for labelling containers that is able to generate labels having extents in a longitudinal direction to the film that may be varied without having to modify the structure of the apparatus.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising moving means for moving a film of plastics to carousel means for labelling containers, cutting means arranged for obtaining from said film of plastics label precursor portions, characterised in that said cutting means comprises laser means.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method comprising advancing a film of plastics to carousel means for labelling containers, cutting said film of plastics to obtain label precursor portions, characterised D

in that said cutting comprises cutting by means of a continuous or pulsed laser beam.

Owing to the invention it is possible to obtain an apparatus for labelling containers that is able to cut effectively and precisely even films having a great height and very limited thicknesses .

It is further possible to obtain an apparatus that requires limited maintenance and is able to provide great productivity even if it is desired to obtain labels of great height.

Owing to the invention it is possible to obtain a very versatile apparatus that enables labels to be obtained having an extent, measured longitudinally to the film, that can be set at will in a simple and fast manner. The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached Figures, which show some embodiments by way of non-limiting examples, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a portion of an apparatus for labelling containers; Figure 2 schematically shows a first operating mode of the laser means;

Figure 3 schematically shows a second operating mode of the laser means; Figure 4 schematically shows a third operating mode of the laser means.

Figure 1 shows an apparatus 1 for labelling containers, comprising a moving device 2, arranged for advancing along an advancing direction a film 3 of plastics that is unwound from a reel 4. A regulating device 5 is provided that is used to maintain the film 3 at a correct height as it advances. Downstream of the regulating device 5 there is provided a take-up drum 8 that is rotatable around a rotation axis R, and provided with a side surface 9 on which the film 3 is received. On the side surface 9 holes are obtained through which air is sucked by means of a pneumatic device, in such a way that the film 3 can be retained by the take-up drum 8. Between the take-up drum 8 and the regulating device 5 there is interposed a traction roller 6 and an abutment element 7, cooperating together in such a way that the film 3 can advance correctly along the advancing direction to the take- up drum 8.

The apparatus 1 comprises a laser cutting device 10 arranged near the take-up drum 8 for cooperating with the latter. The laser cutting device 10 is able to emit a continuous or pulsed laser beam 11, which is directed to the take-up drum 8 in such a way as to cut the film 3 suitably and in ways that will be disclosed below in detail.

The laser cutting device 10 is able to follow the take-up drum 8 whilst it rotates. In this way the laser beam 11 can act to cut the film 3 in a direction that is longitudinal to the take-up drum 8, moving from an initial cutting configuration to a final cutting configuration. In particular, cutting is performed by the laser cutting device 10 due to the help of an optical scanner and an industrial computer that takes account of the movement of the take-up drum, and therefore of the film 3 wound thereupon, to enable the laser beam 11 to be directed appropriately. The movement motion of the laser beam 11 during operation has a first speed component parallel to the rotation axis R, and a second speed component transverse to the rotation axis R, in accordance with the rotation direction of the take-up drum 8 and substantially equal to the tangential speed with which the film 3 is moved. It is possible to provide for the laser cutting device 10 working in various operating modes, i.e. various movement motions, depending on the speed at which cutting takes place .

In Figure 2 there is shown a first operating mode of the laser cutting device 10, in which the laser beam 11 discloses a first path and a second path in an alternating manner. In particular, the laser beam 11 is directed from a first zone A, near an upper edge zone of the film 3, to a second zone B, near a lower edge zone of the film 3, travelling along a first portion 17, in the direction indicated by a first arrow P. In this way a cutting line 18 is generated. The cutting line 18 is then made on a diagonal of a rectangle having a height equal to that of the label that it is desired to obtain, and having a base calculated in function of the rotation speed of the take-up drum 8. Subsequently, the laser cutting device 10 interrupts the laser emission and is arranged in such a way as to reach a third zone C, arranged at the same height as the second edge zone B, but which affects a further portion of film that in the meantime, owing to the rotation of the take-up drum 8, is positioned in such a way as to be able to be cut. In order to reach the third zone C, the laser cutting device 10 follows, in the direction indicated by a second arrow Q, a second portion 19 that is shorter than the first portion 17. The laser cutting device 10 is at this point ready for a new cutting cycle that affects the further portion of film. A laser beam 11 is emitted that travels along a third portion 20 in the direction indicated by a third arrow R, advancing from the third zone C to a fourth zone D, arranged in an upper zone of the film 3, thus generating a further cutting line on the latter. Lastly, the laser cutting device 10, interrupts once again the laser emission and is arranged in such a way as to reach the first zone A, defining a fourth portion 21 parallel to a second portion 19, in the direction indicated by a fourth arrow S. At this point the laser cutting device 10 is ready to generate a still further cutting line, according to already disclosed ways.

Figure 3 shows a second operating mode of the laser cutting device 10. In this case, the laser cutting device 10 initially acts in a similar way to what has been disclosed with reference to Figure 2. In particular, a laser beam 11 is emitted that moves from the first zone A to the second zone B, travelling along a fifth portion 22 in the direction indicated by a fifth arrow T, generating a cutting line 18. The laser cutting device 10, after generating the cutting line 18 interrupts the emission of the laser beam 11 and is again arranged in such a way as to be able to perform a new cut on the film 3 and thus generate a new portion of film 13. In order to reach the first zone A again, the laser cutting device 10 defines a sixth portion 23, parallel to the fifth portion 22, moving in a direction indicated by the sixth arrow ϋ, opposite the fifth arrow T.

With reference to Figure 4, it is possible to provide for the laser cutting device 10, to generate a cutting line 18, operating in such a way that the laser beam 11 moves from an initial zone V, near a lower end of the take-up drum 8, to a final zone Z, near an upper zone of the take-up drum 8, running along a seventh portion 24 in the direction indicated by a seventh arrow X. The laser cutting device 10, then again reaches the initial zone V to prepare a new cutting cycle, following an eighth portion 25 in the direction indicated by an eighth arrow Y, opposite the seventh arrow X.

It is possible to adjust the laser cutting device 10 in such a way that it can generate portions of film 13 having a length, i.e. an extent measured longitudinally to the film 3, that can be chosen at will or varied according to the type of label that it is desired to obtain. In this way it is possible to increase significantly productivity if it is desired to obtain labels having a reduced length. In this case, during operation, on the take-up drum 8 a greater number of portions of film 13 per unit of time can be generated.

With reference to Figure 1, downstream of the take-up drum 8 and in a position adjacent to the latter, there is provided a transferring drum 12 that is rotatable around an axis parallel to the rotation axis R and in a direction opposite the rotation direction of the take-up drum 8. On a further side surface 15 of the transferring drum 12 there are provided further holes through which air is sucked that enables the portions of film 13 to be kept attached to the transferring drum 12. The transferring drum 12 is used to transfer portions of film 13 that are generated when the film 3 is cut on the take-up drum 8, to a rotatable carousel (not shown) that is suitable for supporting containers that have to be labelled. A distributing device 14 cooperating with the transferring drum 12 can be provided. The distributing device 14 comprises a glue distributing roller 16 that is rotatable in a direction opposite that of the transferring drum 12. The distributing roller interacts with the transferring drum 12 to distribute a certain amount of glue on the portions of film 13.

The rotatable carousel supports peripherally and rotatably a plurality of plates with containers or spindles spaced from one another, each of which interacts one at a time with the transferring drum 12 to receive from the latter a portion of film 13. In the case of spindles, the latter support containers and complete labelling of the latter. During operation, the film 3 is unwound from the reel 4 by means of the moving device 2, and is advanced to the take-up drum 8. The film 3, after being wound on the take-up drum 8 owing to the help of the air sucked through the holes of the side surface 9, is ready to be cut transversely to the advancing direction. The laser cutting device 10 acts according to the ways that have been disclosed above with reference to Figures 2 to 4, generating portions of film 13 that are subsequently given to the transferring drum 12. In a first case, the transferring drum 12 advances each portion of film 13 to the distributing roller 16 to receive a quantity of glue that is necessary for labelling a container. The transferring drum 12 then transfers each portion of film 13 to the container supported by the plate. In a second case, the transferring drum 12 transfers each portion of film 13 directly to a spindle of the carousel, in such a way that the flaps can be welded by welding means and labelling of a container can be completed.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising moving means (2) for moving a film of plastics (3) to carousel means for labelling containers, cutting means (10) arranged for obtaining from said film of plastics (3) label precursor portions (13) , characterised in that said cutting means comprises laser means (10) .

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said laser means (10) is shaped for directing a continuous or pulsed laser beam (11) from a first edge zone (A; V) of said film (3) to a second edge zone (B; Z) of said film (3) opposite said first edge zone (A; V) , so as to generate a cutting line (18).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said laser means comprises a laser cutting device (10) cooperating with a take-up drum element (8) that is rotatable around a rotation axis (R) , on which there is wound said film (3) to generate said label precursor portions (13) .

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said laser cutting device (10) is shaped for moving said laser beam (11) at a speed having a first speed component longitudinal to said take-up drum element (8) and a second speed component equal to a peripheral speed at which said film (3) is moved.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said take- up drum element (8) comprises a side surface (9), provided with holes for sucking air, so as to retain said film (3) on said take-up drum element (8) .

6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, and further comprising a transferring drum element (12) that is rotatable around a rotation axis parallel to said rotation axis (R) and arranged for receiving from said take-up drum element (8) said label precursor portions (13) .

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said transferring drum element (12) comprises a further side surface (15) , provided with further holes for sucking air, so as to retain said label precursor portions (13) on said transferring drum element (12) .

8. Apparatus according to claim β or 7, and further comprising a roller element (16) cooperating with said transferring drum element (12) to distribute a certain amount of glue to said label precursor portions (13).

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8, and further comprising spindle means rotatably supported on said carousel means, arranged for receiving said label precursor portions (13) from said transferring drum element (12) so as to label said containers.

10.Apparatus according to any preceding claim, and further comprising a regulating device (5) for guiding said film (3) during advancing, interposed between said take-up drum element (8) and a reel (4) from which said film (3) is unwound.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, and further comprising a traction roller (6) and an abutment element (7), arranged between said regulating device (5) and said take-up drum element (8) and cooperating together to advance said film (3) at a given speed.

12. Method comprising advancing a film of plastics (3) to carousel means for labelling containers, cutting said film of plastics (3) to obtain label precursor portions (13), characterised in that said cutting comprises cutting by means of a continuous or pulsed laser beam.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein said cutting comprises directing said laser beam (11) from a first zone (A; V) , wherein said laser beam (11) acts on a first edge portion of said film (3), to a second zone (B; Z), wherein said laser beam (11) acts on a second edge portion of said film (3), opposite said first edge portion, so as to generate a cutting line (18) .

14. Method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein before said cutting there is provided winding part of said film (3) on a take-up drum element (8) that is rotable, on which said label precursor portions (13) are generated.

15. Method according to claim 14, as appended to claim 13, wherein said directing comprises moving said laser beam (11) from said first zone (A; V) to said second zone (B; Z) , at a speed having a first speed component longitudinal to said take-up drum element (8), and a second speed component equal to a peripheral speed at which said film (3) is moved during said advancing.

16. Method according to claim 15, wherein after said moving there is provided repositioning said laser beam (11) from said second zone (B; Z) to said first zone (A; V) in such a way as to act on a further edge portion of said film (3) .

17. Method according to claim 15, wherein after said moving there is provided positioning said laser beam (11) from said second zone (B) to a third zone (C) , opposite said first zone (A) , in such a way as to act on a further first edge portion of said film (3) .

18. Method according to claim 17, wherein after said positioning there is provided further moving said laser beam (11) from said third zone (C) to a fourth zone (D), wherein said laser beam (11) acts on a further second edge portion of said film (3) opposite said further first edge portion.

19. Method according to claim 18, wherein after said further moving there is provided further positioning said laser beam (11) from said fourth zone (D) to said first zone (A) , in such a way as to act on a still further first edge portion of said film (3) .

20.Method according to any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein after said cutting there is provided distributing a certain quantity of glue on said label precursor portions (13) .

21. Method according to claim 20, wherein after said distributing there is provided transferring said label precursor portions (13) to spindle means of said carousel means in order for labelling said containers.

22. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 21, wherein said advancing comprises unwinding said film (3) from a reel (4) .