"SELECTOR DEVICE TO ENABLE THE APPLICATION OF LABELS OR THE LIKE"

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention concerns a selector device designed to enable the application of self-adhesive labels or prevent their detachment from their respective reel of backing tape.

More specifically, this invention refers to a selector device designed to enable or prevent the application of self-adhesive labels, which can be fitted to labelling machines, label dispensers, packaging machines and the like.

The distinguishing feature of the invention lies in the fact that a labelling machine, designed to dispense and apply labels, can be fitted with a device, according to the invention, which makes it possible to selectively control the application of the labels, enabling or preventing their detachment from their respective reel of tape in order to apply them to the support surface as required.

This invention can be applied in the industrial sector of applied mechanics to automatic machines for the dispensing and application of adhesive labels, such as labelling machines and dispensers and the like.

BACKGROUND ART

As is known, numerous labelling machines and label dispensers for the application of labels on a wide variety of supports are available on the market. These make it possible to apply the labels in an almost completely automatic way, since they can detach the label from its backing tape reel and apply it where required.

The labelling machines normally consist of a

structure that can be equipped with a conveyor system of one or more continuous reels holding the labels.

The conveyor system is generally equipped with adjustable power-driven guides, sometimes controlled by electronic inverters .

To ensure a high level of labelling precision during application on the relative support surface, the conveyor system can be equipped with stabilizer devices designed to maintain both the stability of the products, especially for lightweight items, during the transfer from the first to the second conveyor belt, and the stability of the reels holding the labels, kept stretched at predetermined levels .

The labels must be positioned on a continuous tape wound around a spool which allows the tape to be wound to form a reel, taking into account the predetermined distance between the labels and the distance between the lower edge of the support tape and the lower edge of the label . In order to detach the labels from the support tape, the tape is normally infed over a plate, generally horizontal, which has a sharp edge positioned in the tape exit zone. The tape passes over the plate with the label and, on reaching the sharp edge, moves downwards. The angle of the tape as it passes over the sharp edge causes detachment of the label which moves forward raised up from the tape since the tape surface is made from oiled paper.

The problem that has been encountered concerns the fact that not all the labels always have to be applied and it may be necessary, for various reasons, to leave one or more labels on the support tape, without them

being detached and, above all, without the tape stopping. To date, no device on the market is able to carry- out this function and, if traditional equipment is used, it is therefore necessary to resort to expedients which halt the production of the system, for example by stopping the machine or the tape infeed, which makes it impossible to maintain infeed synchronization between the labelling process and the support tape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention proposes to provide a selector device designed to enable the application of self-adhesive labels or prevent their detachment from their respective reel of backing tape, which can overcome the drawbacks mentioned above.

This is achieved by means of a selector device designed to enable the application of self-adhesive labels or prevent their detachment from their respective reel of backing tape, the features of which are described in the main claim.

The dependent claims of the solution in question describe advantageous embodiments of the invention.

The main advantages of this solution, in addition to those deriving from the construction simplicity, concern first of all the fact that with the proposed solution the reel of labels does not stop if the labels are not detached but continues to be infed.

The device according to the invention therefore substantially foresees the combination between a pair of mobile surfaces positioned in the label dispensing area, that is to say a first mobile surface with a sharp edge, this mobile surface being connected to and synchronized with the second mobile surface with a rounded edge.

The first sharp-edged mobile surface and the second round-edged mobile surface are selectively positioned one or the other by special control, movement and synchronization means, so that one edge or the other can be positioned along the dispensing line, enabling or preventing the detachment of the labels and their application or not on the final surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the invention will become clearer on reading the description below of one embodiment of the invention, given as a non-binding example, with the help of the accompanying drawings in which: - figure 1 shows a schematic cross-section view on a vertical plane of the overall selector device according to the invention; figure 2 shows a schematic and prospective view of the selector device according to the invention; - figure 3 is a schematic view of the selector device in a first working phase; figure 4- is a schematic view of the same selector device in the second working position, in which detachment of the labels is prevented.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION With reference to the accompanying drawings, the number 10 indicates overall a selector device to control label dispensing according to the invention, which basically consists of a substantially four-sided body 11, in the upper part of which slides a first surface 12 and in the lower part a second surface 13.

The upper surface 12 ends with a sharp edge 14,

while the lower surface 13 ends with a rounded edge 15.

From a construction point of view, the rounded edge at the end of the lower surface can consist of a round bar fitted on the end of the lower surface by means of brackets 16.

The two surfaces 12 and 13 move horizontally along two reciprocally opposite directions, with the result that the upper surface 12 moves back while the lower surface 13 moves forward and vice versa. This is achieved, according to a first embodiment, by means of rack movement systems 17 and 18, the first being positioned below the upper surface 12 and the second above the lower surface 13, which remain reciprocally and kinematically connected by a horizontal axis central gear 19.

One of the two surfaces, in this case the upper one, is moved horizontally by the extraction 20 of a piston 21, fitted to the bracket 22 positioned below the upper surface . In operative terms, since the two surfaces 12 and 13 move horizontally along two reciprocally opposite directions, with the result that the upper surface 12 moves back while the lower surface 13 moves forward and vice versa, two situations are possible: • a first situation in which the upper surface is further forward than the lower one so that the reel 23 holding the labels dispenses the labels since, as can be seen in figure 3, they are detached from the reel due to the sharpness of the edge 14; • a second situation in which the lower surface is further forward than the upper one, so that, as can be seen in figure 4, the reel 23 encounters a rounded surface consisting of the edge 15.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 3 and 4, the sharp edge 14 of the surface 12 is bevelled downwards, whereas the round edge 15 has an upper horizontal bevelled surface. In this situation, when the two surfaces are aligned, the two edges 14 and 15 which are matched together form a continuous rounded edge, causing even and continuous sliding of the reel, preventing the label from being lifted up and detached. To operate the selector device, it is therefore sufficient to move either the upper or the lower surface forward depending on whether the labels are to be dispensed or not, by simply moving the piston 21 according to the working requirements . It is obvious that the rack movement system can be replaced by any other similar device with the same function, for example using synchronized pistons, connecting rod assemblies or other kinematic systems designed for the same purpose. The invention is described above with reference to a preferred embodiment. It is nevertheless clear that the invention is susceptible to numerous variations within the scope of its disclosure, in the framework of technical equivalents.