In particular, the present invention refers to a device suitable for performing a pre-cut, i.e. an aid to breaking on a tubular tape from which sleeve labels may be obtained.

Therefore the present invention is in the field of labeling containers.

Today, machines for applying heat shrink sleeve labels are known.

Such traditional machines comprise a device for the step advancement of containers and a device for inserting the labels.

The labels are obtained from a continuous tubular tape, stored in spools, on which a continuous sequence of the graphic of the labels is printed.

For applying the labels, the tape is opened at an end, which is then inserted on a container separating from the end a section of tape having preset dimensions for forming the label.

The containers, having the section forming the label fitted over them, are then supplied to a thermo-necking station where, by means of the action of steam, the label is made to contract and adhere to the container adapting to the same.

Clearly, in order to correctly apply the labels, the tape has to be separated into sections put in precise places and the etching of the section has to be finished and put in a precise place in respect with the graphic of the label. Structurally, the device for inserting comprises a storage unit wherein a tape spool is housed, and there is also an applying unit which opens the end of the tubular tape, inserts it on an advancing container and shears from it the section to size.

In order to ease the separating the section from the rest of the tape and allowing a precise shearing both in the shape of the cut and in the position of the same alike, a pre-cutting device is provided, which is placed upstream of the device for inserting and aimed at creating an etching, which is discontinuous and transversal to the extension of the tape, where the dividing line between two labels next to each other on the tape is provided.

The action exerted by the pre-cutting device is evidently synchronized with the advancing of the tape for performing the etching in the right position. The pre-cutting device which is known today comprises a guillotine blade and an abutment.

The blade has a saw-toothing for forming on the tape a rectilinear sequence of etchings, so as to define a preferential tear line.

The tape is made advancing between the blade and the abutment.

The blade is operated in timed reciprocating motion by means of a pneumatic piston.

Moreover, such pre-cutting device comprises a guide member for guiding the tape, which comprises two side by side plates and defining an interspace through which the tape passes, being guided.

A drawback of this traditional device is the one of requiring a careful adjustment of the pressure of the pneumatic control of the pre-cutting device and of limiting productivity because of the limited cutting speed. The problem which lies behind the present invention is the one of increasing the productivity of an apparatus for applying heat shrink sleeve labels.

The main task of the present invention is to create a pre-cutting device for a machine for applying heat shrink sleeve labels and a machine comprising the same, which puts solution to this problem solving the drawbacks of the traditional machines which were described above.

As part of this task the aim of the present invention is propose a pre- cutting device for a machine for applying heat shrink sleeve labels and a machine comprising the same requiring less maintenance and a longer life in efficiency.

Another aim of the present invention is to create a pre-cutting device for a machine for applying heat shrink sleeve labels and a machine comprising the same that it is more simply adaptable to production requirements.

Another object of the invention is to propose a pre-cutting device for a machine for applying heat shrink sleeve labels and a machine comprising the same which is structurally simple and easy to create.

This task, and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a pre-cutting device for a machine for applying heat shrink sleeve labels and a machine comprising the same according to the attached independent claims.

Detailed features of a pre-cutting device for a machine for applying heat shrink sleeve labels and a machine comprising the same according to the invention appear in the corresponding dependent claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will result from the description of a preferred form of execution, but not exclusive of a pre- cutting device for a machine for applying heat shrink sleeve labels and a machine comprising the same according to the invention, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- the figure 1 shows a pre-cutting device for a machine for applying heat shrink sleeve labels schematically depicted in perspective view;

- the figure 2 shows a simplified scheme of a part of an apparatus for applying heat shrink sleeve labels equipped with the device of figure 1 ;

- the figure 3 shows a simplified scheme of a particular of the pre- cutting device for a machine for applying heat shrink sleeve labels, of figure 1 ;

- the figure 4 shows a section of stylized label, finished by means of a device according to the present invention.

With particular reference to the above figures, a pre-cutting device for a machine 100 for applying heat shrink sleeve labels is generally indicated with 10 and, according to the present invention, has a peculiarity in the fact of comprising:

- a first blade 11 configured to create a preferential rupture zone on a ribbon sleeve labels 200, rotatable about a first rotation axis A;

- a first abutment 12 for the first blade 1 1 , rotatable about a second rotation axis B parallel to the first rotation axis A;

- motor means 13 configured to connect reciprocally the first blade 1 1 and the first abutment 12, the latters having mutual orientation defined by the motor means 13 which are operable in order to move the first blade 1 1 and the first abutment 12 in a coordinated manner between a configuration of etching and at least one non operating configuration.

In the configuration of etching, a cutting edge 1 1 a of the first blade 11 interferes with an operative edge 12a of the first abutment 12 in order to create a first etching C on a labels tape 200 which is interposed between them.

In the non operating configuration, the first blade 1 1 and the first abutment 12 are apart, so as to allow the labels tape 200 passing between them. According to the present invention, thus, during use the first blade 1 1 and the first abutment 12 rotate about their respective rotation axis A and B cyclically meeting.

In this way, making a labels tape 200 passing between the first blade 11 and the first abutment 12 during the rotation of the latters, they realize on the labels tape 200 a plurality of preferential rupture zones having a pitch which is preset as a function of the speed of the labels tape 200 and function of the speed of rotation of the first blade 1 1 and of the first abutment 12, i. e. of the frequency with which these are in the configuration of etching.

The solution according to the present invention allows operating the first blade 11 and the first abutment 12 by means of a rotary motor, preferably electric, so as to skip the required adjustments for the pneumatic system of the known art and to allow realizing in a higher frequency preferential rupture zones on a labels tape 200, in respect with the traditional machines, achieving a higher productivity in respect with the latters, and a particular durability and efficiency by providing that the first abutment 12 has the operational edge 12a rubberized.

In order to obtain a higher precision and ease of cutting, the pre-cutting device advantageously comprises:

- a second blade 14 for creating a preferential rupture zone on the sleeve labels tape 200 and rotatable about one of the rotation axis A, B;

- a second abutment 15 rotatable about the other one of the rotation axis A, B;

where the second blade 14 and the second abutment 15 are configured and placed in respect with the rotation axis A, B so that, in the configuration of etching, a second cutting edge14a of the second blade 14 interferes with a contrasting edge 15a of the second abutment 15, in order to create a second etching D on a tape which is interposed between them. Preferably, in order to optimize the ease of separation between sections of labels tape 100 in correspondence of the etchings C and D, the second blade 14 and the second abutment 15 are configured to obtain that the second etching D is perpendicular to the first etching C, for example, but not limiting, as shown in figure 4.

It has been ascertained that the pre-cutting device 10 is particularly simple, from the structural point of view, and efficient in an embodiment in which it has:

- the first cutting edge 1 1 a of the first blade 11 extending in one rectilinear direction parallel to the first rotation axis A;

- the operative edge 12a of the first abutment 12 extends in a direction parallel to the second rotation axis B.

Such embodiment is particularly efficient by providing that:

- the second cutting edge 14a of the second blade 14 extends circumferentially to one of the rotation axis A, B; and

- the operative edge 12a of the first abutment 12 extends circumferentially to the second one of the rotation axis A, B.

Thus, for example, obtaining etchings C and D as in figure 4 is easy.

For simplicity and structural strength, the first blade 11 is integral with the second abutment 15 and the second blade 14 is integral with the first abutment 12.

In such way, the blades 1 1 and 14 are opposing each other, and this allows forming them in one piece avoiding alignment of sections of them which would be required in case, on the contrary, they were realized in more pieces in order to be rotable about the same rotation axis A, B.

In order to obtain an high durability of the pre-cutting device 10, the first cutting edge 11 a of the first blade 1 1 preferably has an interruption 1 1 b in correspondence with the second blade 14, in order to prevent the interference of the first cutting edge 1 1 a with the second cutting edge 14a of the second blade 14 in the configuration of etching.

In order to adapt the pre-cutting device 10 to the width of the labels tape 200, preferably the pre-cutting device 10 comprising a support 16 and a slide 17, which are reciprocally sliding along a sliding direction and parallel to said rotation axis A, B, said first blade 1 1 and said first abutment 12 being supported by said slide 17 in order to be shifted together along said sliding direction E.

The support 16 is fixable to the frame of the apparatus 100 so that, moving the slide 17 in respect with the support 16, adjusting the position of the blades 1 1 and 14 and of the abutments 12 and 15 in respect with the position occupied during use by the labels tape 100 is possible.

In one embodiment which has been ascertained being particularly simple from the structural point of view, the pre-cutting device 10 preferably comprises:

- a frame, which preferably is fixed to/integral with the slide 17;

- a first shaft 18 fixed to the frame so that it is rotatable about the first rotation axis A; the first blade 1 1 being fixed to the first shaft 18; - a second shaft 19 fixed to the frame so that it is rotatable about the second rotation axis B; the first abutment 12 being fixed to the second shaft 19.

Advantageously, the second blade 14 is fixed to the second shaft 19 and the second abutment 15 is fixed to the first shaft 18.

According to such embodiment, the motor means 13 comprise:

- a brushless electric motor equipped with a drive shaft, per se known and not illustrated in the attached figures;

- a mechanical transmission 20 connected to the drive shaft and to the shafts 18 and 19 in order to rotate them synchronously and in opposite directions.

Preferably, the mechanical transmission 20 consists of a gear train, in order to obtain a precise and controlled synchrony between the blades 1 1 and 14 and the abutments 12 and 15.

In order to obtain an high precision of execution of the etchings C and D on the labels tape 200, preferably the pre-cutting device 10 comprises a guiding assembly 21 configured for guiding, in respect with rotation axis A, B, a labels tape 200.

The guiding assembly 21 defines a feed direction F which is perpendicular to a plane in common with the rotation axis A, B and is equidistant from the latters.

The labels tape 200, during use, is guided by the guiding assembly 21 along the feed direction F.

A particular efficiency of operation and simplicity of execution is obtained by means of a guiding assembly 21 which preferably comprises:

- two guiding edges 22a, 22b extending parallel to the rotation axis A, B and, for simplicity of construction, realized by means of two parallel cylindrical bars;

- a guiding abutment 23 extending perpendicular to the guiding edges 22a, 22b, for guiding the side edge of a labels tape 200.

The guiding abutment 23, for simplicity of realization and management, is advantageously realized by means of a disk which is attachable to one of the abovementioned cylindrical bars so that it can be stored along this and fixed the loading position, in order to adapt the pre-cutting device 10 to tapes having different lengths.

Another object of the present invention is an apparatus 100 for applying heat shrink sleeve labels. According to the present invention, such apparatus 100 has a peculiarity of comprising:

- an opening station 101 suitable for opening a labels tape 200, which is tubular, and configured to fit an open end of the labels tape 200 on a container to be labeled 300;

- a pre-cutting device 10 realized as above described and placed upstream of the opening station 101 in respect with the feeding direction of the labels tape 200.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of protection of the appended claims.

Moreover, all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials employed, as well as the shapes and the dimensions, may be varied depending on the contingent requirements and state of the art.

Where the constructional characteristics and techniques, mentioned in the following claims, are followed by reference signs or numbers, such signs or reference numbers have been affixed with the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the same claims and, accordingly, they do not constitute any way limiting to the interpretation of each element identified by way of example only, by such signs or reference numbers.