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TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a feeding system for a labeling machine configured to apply labels, in particular labels obtained from a web of labeling material, onto containers adapted to contain a pourable product, preferably a pourable food product.

BACKGROUND ART

Labeling machines are known commonly used to prepare, transport and apply labels onto containers, in particular bottles, small bottles, jars or similar, made of plastic or glass, adapted to contain, namely to be filled with, a pourable product, preferably a pourable food product.

Particularly widespread is the use of glued labels obtained from a web of labeling material initially wound on one or more reels.

In detail, this web is cut into portions of equal size onto which the glue is applied. The glue is applied through gluing means, for example rollers, spray systems, injection systems or similar. The labels thus obtained are then transferred and glued onto the outer lateral surface of the respective containers.

Another type of labeling, particularly widespread, envisages the production of tubular labels, known as "sleeve labels", produced from a web of heat-shrink film initially wound on one or more reels; these sleeve labels are applied onto the respective containers with a certain clearance and then heated in an oven to obtain shrinking thereof and perfect adhesion to the lateral surfaces of said containers. This type of labels does not require the use of glue.

A further type of labeling known as "PSL", envisages the production of self-adhesive labels initially arranged on a support tape from which the labels must then be separated to be directly glued on the respective containers.

In detail, by means of the passage of the support tape through a deflector plate which forces said tape to perform a very narrow angle, the various labels are separated from the support tape and attached directly onto the containers.

Regardless of the type of label used, a labeling machine typically comprises:

- a carousel rotatable about a vertical axis and configured to convey a succession of containers along a horizontal labeling path shaped as an arc of a circle;

- an inlet station, in which the containers to be labeled are fed to the carousel;

- an outlet station, in which the labeled containers exit the carousel; and

- one or more labeling modules arranged peripherally with respect to the carousel and configured to feed respective pluralities of labels to said carousel at an application station, in order to apply these labels to the respective containers.

Generally, the labeling module comprises:

- a feeding unit typically defined by a pair of rotatable shafts supporting corresponding reels of labeling material in the shape of a continuous web.

- a plurality of unwinding rollers which unwind, in use, the web from the respective reel and support and guide the web unwound from the reel along a feed path;

- a separation station at which the labels are sequentially separated from the web; and

- a label transfer device configured to receive, retain and feed each label previously separated and feed this label to the carousel at the application station.

In particular, in the case of glued labels, the labeling module comprises a cutting device (for example, a knife or a blade) configured to cut, at a cutting station defining the abovementioned separation station, a sequence of individual portions of labeling material defining the labels.

In the case of sleeve type labels, the labels are wound in a tube shape about respective forming mandrels fed by the carousel and carrying at the top the containers to be labeled; the labels are then sealed at the overlapping ends; at this point, the mandrels are retracted back inside the base of the carousel thus allowing the insertion of the containers with clearance in the respective sleeve labels; subsequently, the containers with the "loose" labels are sent to the heating oven to obtain heat-shrinking of the labels and perfect adhesion of the latter onto said containers.

Typically, the transfer device is defined by a vacuum drum configured to receive the previously cut labels, to retain them by suction and, after a rotation by a given angle about the axis thereof, to release these labels to the application station, so that they are applied onto the respective containers or on the forming mandrels.

In the case of labels that require the use of glue, the labeling module further comprises at least one gluing roller arranged substantially tangent to the vacuum drum to spread glue on at least the ends of each individual label.

On the other hand, in the case of PSL labeling, the separation station is defined by the abovementioned deflector plate, which also defines the transfer device, and the labeling module does not comprise any cutting or gluing device.

Regardless of the type of labels used, the need is known in the sector to automatically splice the end (or final) portion of a first web during unwinding from a first reel (reel in use) with the initial portion of a second web wound about a second reel (new reel), in order to avoid stopping the labeling machine each time a reel is empty.

In this regard, labeling machines of the known type comprise a well-known splicing device (or "splicer") operatively arranged between the feeding unit and the unwinding rollers and configured to splice the end portion of the first web with the initial portion of the second web.

In detail, the splicing device typically comprises a pair of splicing members or "flaps" or "blocks", each hinged to a fixed frame of the labeling module at a first portion thereof and movable in a pivotable manner between an opening position, in which it is spaced from the other block, and a closing position in which it is close to the other block and cooperates with it to splice the abovementioned two portions.

In greater detail, each block comprises a retaining device, typically a vacuum pad fluidically connected to a known vacuum source, for receiving and retaining (by suction) the initial portion of a respective web of labeling material unwound from the respective reel.

In addition, each pad supports the web during unwinding from the reel during the labeling process.

Therefore, in use, a pad interacts with the web during unwinding (first web) and the other pad interacts with the new web (second web). The two pads are configured to be moved from the closing position to the opening position and vice versa by the movement of the respective blocks.

In addition, each block comprises, at a second portion thereof spaced from (opposite to) the first portion, a support roller positioned between the relative reel (or the relative support shaft) and the relative pad, i.e., operatively arranged downstream of the feeding unit and operatively upstream of the relative pad. This support roller is configured to facilitate the positioning and/or sliding of the web being fed to the splicing device.

In use, before the above splicing becomes necessary and while the first web is unwinding from the first reel during the labeling process, the operator moves the second block from the closing position to the opening position and unwinds the initial portion of the second web from the second reel, causing it to slide over the support roller, until it is arranged on the respective retaining device (pad). A doublesided adhesive is applied to the initial portion of the second web.

The splicing device automatically detects the imminent depletion of the first web and, according to a manner known not described in detail, splices the end portion of the first web with the initial portion of the second web which is supported and held in position by the retaining device of the second block.

The first web and the second web are at this point spliced together, by means of the double-sided adhesive.

In light of what has been described above, a labeling module may comprise a feeding system including the feeding unit (rotatable support shafts and reels) and the splicing device.

Document DE102005006729 discloses a feeding system for a labelling machine comprising a splicing device which has two splicing members.

Although functionally valid, the Applicant has observed that the feeding systems described above is susceptible to further improvements.

In particular, the Applicant observed how the displacement of each block from the opening position to the closing position can cause uncontrolled and undesired movement of the web with respect to the relative pad or, in some cases, detachment from the pad, which would adversely affect the nominal splicing of the two webs of labeling material. More particularly, the Applicant has observed that this occurs due to the variation in the web tension generated by the dragging of the reel, having its own rotational inertia, and by the force exerted by the web integral with the support pad, during closing of the block.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to obtain a feeding system for a labeling machine which is of high reliability and limited cost, and allows to overcome the drawback specified above and connected with feeding systems for labeling machines of a known type.

According to the invention, this aim is achieved by a feeding system for a labeling machine as claimed in claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, some preferred non-limiting embodiments thereof are described below, purely by way of example and with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a schematic top view, with parts removed for clarity, of a labeling machine comprising a feeding system produced according to the present invention;

- Figures 2, 3 and 4 are perspective views, on an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity, of the feeding system according to the invention during respective distinct operating conditions;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity, of the feeding system according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

- Figures 6 and 7 are schematic top views, with parts removed for clarity, of the system of Figure 5 during two distinct operating conditions; and

- Figures 8 and 9 are schematic top views, with parts removed for clarity, of a further embodiment of the feeding system according to the present invention, during two distinct operating conditions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to figure 1, the reference numeral 1 indicates, as a whole, a labeling machine configured to apply labels 2 obtained from a web 3 of labeling material onto containers 4 adapted to contain a pourable product, preferably a pourable food product.

In particular, for simplicity, reference will be made in the following to a labeling machine 1 operating with glued labels 2 of the abovementioned type.

However,what is described and claimed below is equally applicable in the case of labels of the "sleeve" or "PSL" type described above.

The machine 1 comprises:

- a carousel 5 rotatable about a preferably vertical axis (not illustrated) and configured to convey a succession of containers 4 to be labeled along a preferably horizontal labeling path shaped as an arc of a circle;

- an inlet station (not shown), in which the containers to be labeled are fed to the carousel 5;

- an outlet station (not shown), in which the labeled containers exit the carousel 5; and

- a labeling module 6 arranged peripherally with respect to the carousel 5 and configured to prepare, transport and feed a plurality of labels 2 to said carousel 5 at an application station A, in order to apply these labels 2 to the respective containers 4.

In particular, the labeling module 6 comprises:

- a feeding system 7;

- a plurality of unwinding rollers 8 that unwind, in use, the web 3 from a respective winding 10 and support and guide the unwound web 3 along a feed path Q;

- a separation station 11, preferably comprising a cutting device, at which the labels 2 are sequentially separated from the web 3; and

- a transfer device 12 for the labels 2, configured to receive, retain and feed each label 2 previously separated and feed this label 2 to the carousel 5 at the application station A.

Preferably, the transfer device is defined by a vacuum drum 12 configured to receive the labels 2 previously cut, to retain them by suction and, after a rotation by a given angle about its own axis, release these labels 2 to the application station A, so that they are applied onto the respective containers 4.

In the case of labels 2 that require the use of glue, the labeling module 6 further comprises at least one gluing roller (not illustrated) arranged substantially tangent to the vacuum drum 12 to spread glue on at least the ends of each individual label 2.

The feeding system 7 comprises

- a feeding unit 13 configured to support at least two windings 10, in particular two reels 10 each formed by a web 3a, 3b of labeling material, and configured to selectively feed the webs 3a, 3b along the feed path Q; and

- a splicing device 14, known as a "splicer", operatively arranged downstream of the feeding unit 13 and configured to splice an end portion (or end portion) of one of said webs 3a, 3b with an initial portion (or initial portion) of the other of said webs 3a, 3b.

In fact, regardless of the type of labels 2 used, the need is known in the industry to automatically splice the end portion of a first web 3a during unwinding from a first reel 10a (reel in use) with the initial portion of a second web 3b wound on a second reel 10b (new reel), in order to avoid stopping the labeling machine 1 each time a reel 10a or 10b is used up. Conveniently, each reel 10a or 10b is supported in a rotatable manner by a respective support shaft 25 (Figure 1).

With reference to figures 2, 3 and 4, the splicing device 14 comprises a pair of splicing members or "blocks" 15, in particular a first block 15a and a second block 15b, each configured to receive and support a respective one of said webs 3a, 3b and each including a retaining device 16 configured to receive and retain the initial portion of the respective web 3a, 3b.

The pad 16 of the first block 15a is indicated in figures 3 and 5. The pad of the second block 15b is not indicated in the figures as it is not visible.

In particular, for each block, the respective pad receives and supports the respective web when the respective web comes from the new reel. In particular, for each block, when the respective web comes from the reel in use, the respective pad interacts with the respective web only at the moment of actual splicing between initial portion of a web and end portion of the other, and therefore at the moment in which the splicing members cooperate with one another to splice. Therefore, in the situation referred to in the figures, the pad 16 of the first block 15a is not yet interacting with the first web 3a, while the pad of the second block 15b is receiving and supporting the second web 3b. The situation will be reverted when, subsequently, the first web 3a will instead come from the new reel.

In particular, the retaining device is defined by a vacuum pad 16, which is provided at the outer surface thereof with a plurality of holes 16a.

According to a known manner, each pad 16 is fluidically connected to a vacuum source (not illustrated) to retain by suction the initial portion of the respective web 3a, 3b when the respective web 3a or 3b comes from a new reel.

In detail, in the situation referred to in the figures, the pad 16 of the first block 15a does not interact with the first web 3a, while the pad of the second block 15b is retaining the initial portion of the second web 3b.

According to a known manner not described in detail, which is typical of splicers, each block 15 is movable between an open position (Figures 2 and 3, in this case the second block 15b), and a closed position (Figure 4). In the open position (Figures 2 and 3), the respective pad 16 is spaced from the pad 16 of the other block 15 (in this case from the pad 16 of the first block 15a), so as to receive the initial portion of the respective web 3b. In the closed position (Figure 4), the relative pad 16 is brought closer to the pad 16 of the other block 15 (in this case to the pad 16 of the first block 15a), and can cooperate with the latter to splice this initial portion with the end portion of the other web 3a.

More precisely, each block 15 is hinged to a fixed frame 18 of the labeling module 6 at a first portion 19 thereof.

In this way, the new web 3b is spliced with the almost depleted web 3a to define the web 3 fed toward the vacuum drum 12, with no need to stop the machine 1.

Conveniently, the splicing device 14 comprises, for each block 15a or 15b, a respective support roller 17. Each support roller 17 is integral with the rotary motion of the respective block 15, and is operatively arranged between the feeding unit 13 and the relative pad 16. The support roller 17 is configured to support the relative web 3a, 3b, and/or facilitate sliding of the relative web 3a, 3b, configured to be received by the relative block 15.

Each support roller defines a longitudinal axis of the support roller. This longitudinal axis could be a rotation axis of the support roller 17 in order to facilitate sliding of the web.

In particular, each roller 17 could also be configured to stretch and keep the relative web 3a, 3b taut between the respective reel 10a or 10b and the relative pad 16.

More particularly, the first block 15a comprises a first support roller 17 and the second block 15b comprises a second support roller 17.

More precisely, each support roller 17 is arranged at a second portion 20 of the relative block 15 opposite the first portion 19 with respect to the feed direction of the webs 3a, 3b along the feed path Q.

Furthermore, each roller 17 has a central rotation axis.

In use, while the first web 3a is still unwinding from the first reel 10a during the labeling process, the operator moves the second block 15b from the closed position to the open position and unwinds the second web 3b from the second reel 10b, laying it on the relative support roller 17 and until the initial portion is arranged on the respective pad, which retains it by suction through the holes. It should be noted that the holes 16a of the pad 16 of the first block 15a are shown in figure 5. Similar holes 16a are to be considered present also on the pad of the second block 15b, which pad of the second block 15b is not visible in the figures.

At this point, in the known systems, the operator applies a double-sided adhesive to the initial portion of the second web 3b and arranges the second block 15b again in the closed position. Subsequently, the splicing device 14 splices the two webs 3a, 3b in a known manner.

However, due to the displacement of the second block 15b from the open position to the closed position, an uncontrolled and undesired movement of the web 3b with respect to the pad of the second block 15b may occur. This uncontrolled and undesired movement may occur during, and due to, the displacement of the respective block 15b from the open position to the closed position. Contact between the roller 17 and the web 3b may contribute to generating this uncontrolled movement.

This uncontrolled movement can cause, in certain cases, the detachment of the initial portion of the web 3b from the pad 16 of the second block 15b. According to the invention, the feeding system 7 comprises, for each block 15a or 15b, a respective presser 21. This respective presser 21 is associated with the respective support roller 17. The presser 21 is arrangeable in a first position (Figure 3), in which it presses the relative web 3a, 3b against the roller 17 to stop and/or impede a displacement of the web 3a, 3b along the feed path Q, and in a second position (Figure 4), in which it is spaced from the roller 17 and from the relative web 3a, 3b to allow the displacement of the web 3a, 3b along the feed path Q. In particular, taking into consideration the second block 15b, the presser 21 is configured to be arranged in the first position during the displacement of the second block 15b from the open position to the closed position, so as to stop the uncontrolled and unwanted displacement of the web 3b along the feed path Q. This uncontrolled and unwanted displacement may in fact otherwise be caused by the displacement of said second block 15b from the open position to the closed position. This configuration therefore avoids the abovementioned uncontrolled movement of the web 3b and, also, the operator having to manually stop, for example with a finger, the web 3b during the displacement of the second block 15b from the open position to the closed position. In this way, the risk of errors is minimized, and the splicing operation is simpler for the operator, thereby increasing the efficiency of the machine 1.

Advantageously, the presser 21 is automatically movable from the first position to the second position by means of the displacement of the second block 15b from the open position to the closed position.

In this way, the abovementioned risk of error is furthermore reduced, as the operator is prevented from forgetting to displace the presser 21 into the second position to unlock the web 3b once the closing of the second block 15b is completed.

In particular, the presser 21 is configured to automatically displace from the first position to the second position when the second block 15b is in a position proximal to its closed position and distal from its open position.

More precisely, with the term "proximal position" it is intended a position in which the second block 15b has almost completed the rotation about the relative hinge from the open position to the closed position, for example, the rotation is complete from 80% to 95%, preferably from 90% to 95%.

In this way, it is ensured that the presser 21 is "released" at the appropriate time and not before, thus avoiding the abovementioned uncontrolled movement of the web 3a, 3b in the last crucial closing moments of the relative block 15.

According to this preferred and non-limiting embodiment, the feeding system 7 comprises a cam 22 defining a cam surface 23 for controlling the displacement of the presser 21 from the first position to the second position. This displacement of the presser 21 could also be controlled by contact without the presence of a cam.

In greater detail, the presser 21 is configured to cooperate with the cam surface 23 during the displacement of the second block 15b from the abovementioned proximal position to the closed position.

For this purpose, the cam 22 is appropriately mounted on the frame 18 so as to cooperate in contact with the presser 21 when the second block 15b that carries the presser 21 has substantially arrived at its closed position, as illustrated in detail in figure 4.

In particular, the cam 22 is defined by a sort of wedge and the cam surface 23 defines an inclined lateral surface of this wedge. In use, a portion of the presser 21 slides on the cam surface 23, the inclination of which causes said presser 21 snap from the first position to the second position due to the movement of the second block 15b toward the closed position.

Therefore, the cam surface 23 extends from a first position corresponding to the abovementioned proximal position of the second block 15b up to a second position corresponding to the closed position of said second block 15b.

Thanks to this configuration, it is possible to automatically control the unlocking of the presser 21 in a very simple manner and without the addition of complicated actuation systems.

Advantageously, the presser 21 comprises a pressing element 21a movable between said first and second positions and a lever element 21b coupled to the pressing element 21a to actuate its movement between the first and second positions.

In particular, the lever element 21b is configured to cooperate with the cam surface 23 to determine the displacement of the pressing element 21a from the first position to the second position.

Thanks to this configuration, it is possible to achieve a secure and relatively rigid locking of the presser 21 in the first position, in order to avoid unwanted unlocking. At the same time, it is possible to control an unlocking from the first position to the second position with a force of lesser intensity, thanks to the presence of the lever element 21b.

According to an alternative embodiment not illustrated the feeding system 7 comprises an actuator, for example an electric motor, instead of the cam 22.

Conveniently, the movement of the presser 21, and in particular of the presser element 21a, between the first and second positions is a radial movement with respect to said rotation axis of the support roller 17.

This configuration allows avoiding an undesired release of the presser 21 by the operator or due to tensioning of the web 3a, 3b during movement of the relative block 15.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the presser 21 is movable from the first to the second position by applying tension onto the web 3b along the feed path Q.

In detail, the feeding unit 13 comprises an actuator (not shown) configured to influence the unwinding speed of the web 3b from the second reel 10b along the feed path Q. According to this aspect of the invention, the presser 21 is movable from the first position to the second position by activating the actuator.

In one embodiment, the actuator is defined by an unwinding motor (known per se and not illustrated) of the relative reel 10b, which controls in a known manner the rotation of the respective support shaft 25.

In use, as soon as the second block 15b is repositioned in the closed position, said motor enters into torque briefly rewinding the web 3b. This longitudinal displacement of the web 3b is sufficient to cause the presser 21 to "snap" from the first position into the second position.

In another embodiment, the actuator is defined by one of the unwinding rollers 8 of the labeling module 6, for example a motorized feeding roller 8a (Figure 1).

In the latter case, in use, as soon as the second block 15b is repositioned in the closed position and the webs 3a, 3b are spliced together, this feeding roller 8a applies tension onto the web 3 along the feed path Q. This longitudinal tension of the web 3 is sufficient to cause the presser 21 to "snap" from the first position into the second position.

In order to assist the displacement of the presser 21 from the first position to the second position in the manner described above, the presser 21 is provided with a surface 26 having a high friction coefficient, for example a surface made of elastomeric material. In detail, the surface 26 determines the friction necessary for the web 3a, 3b to drag the presser 21 from the first position to the second position.

Thanks to the above-described configuration, it is possible to achieve the above-mentioned advantages in an even simpler manner by using a smaller number of components. In addition, this configuration results in the displacement of the presser 21 from the first position to the second position at the appropriate time, thus further reducing any positioning errors of the web 3a, 3b.

Figures 5 to 7 show a second alternative embodiment of the feeding system 7 achieved according to the present invention. In particular, this feeding system 7 differs from the embodiment in that it comprises a presser 21' the movement of which is tangent to the rotation axis of the relative roller 17 between the first and second positions.

More particularly, the presser 21' is defined by a pressing element 21a' mounted in a slidable manner on a guide 24.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous in the case where the movement of the presser 21 is controlled by the tension applied onto the relative web 3a, 3b along the feed path Q, as described above.

In detail, in use, the second block 15b is arranged in the open position to receive the initial portion of the second web 3b on its pad 16; once received, the pressing element 21a' is displaced to the first position by sliding on the guide 24, tangentially to the rotation axis of the relative roller 17 (Figure 6); at this point, the second block 15b is displaced towards the closed position. As soon as the above actuator is actuated, the movement of the web 3b along the feed path Q, whether backwards toward the second reel 10b (case in which the actuator is defined by the reel motor) or forwards toward the vacuum drum 12 (case in which the actuator is defined by the feeding roller 8a), causes the tangential displacement of the pressing element 21a' into the second position (Figure 7). The automatic release is now complete.

The presser 21' produced in accordance with this embodiment is even simpler than the presser 21, as there is no need for any cam 22, nor any lever element 21b.

Figures 8 and 9 show a third alternative embodiment of the feeding system 7 produced according to the present invention. In particular, this feeding system 7 differs from the embodiment described above in that it comprises a presser 21'' having a rotation axis and defined by a cylindrical sector 21a'' eccentrically rotatable about the rotation axis between an abutment position against the relative support roller 17 (Figure 8) and defining the abovementioned first position, and an unlocking position spaced from the support roller 17 (Figure 9) and defining the abovementioned second position.

In an embodiment, the cylindrical sector 21a'' is driven in rotation about its rotation axis by an electric or electromagnetic actuator.

In an alternative embodiment, the cylindrical sector 21a'' is actuated by a dedicated cam (not illustrated).

According to an alternative embodiment not illustrated, the presser 21'' is defined by a roller having an eccentric portion, i.e., radially protruding, with respect to its outer surface. The operation in this case is similar to the one described above in relation to the cylindrical sector 21a ¹ '.

The configuration of the presser 21'' in accordance with the latter embodiment allows a more precise control of the displacement of the presser 21'' between the first and second positions, especially in the case where the cylindrical sector 21a'' is rotated by means of an electric actuator.

Furthermore, this conformation of the presser 21'' reduces the risk of local damages to the web 3a, 3b during displacement of said presser 21'' from the second position to the first position.

In an embodiment not shown, the presser could alternatively be a body that is movable between the first and second positions by rotating upon itself.

From an examination of the characteristics of the feeding system 7 according to the present invention, the advantages that it allows to obtain are evident.

In particular, the presence of the presser 21, 21', 21'' avoids an uncontrolled movement of the web 3a, 3b caused by the displacement of the relative block 15b from the open position to the closed position.

Furthermore, the manual stopping of the web 3a, 3b by the operator, for example with a finger, during the displacement of the block 15, is thus avoided. In this way, the risk of error is minimized, thereby increasing the efficiency of the machine 1.

It is clear that modifications and variations may be made to the feeding system 7 described and illustrated herein without thereby departing from the scope defined by the claims.

In particular, it should be specified that what is indicated above by "first block", "second block", "first web", "second web" is purely indicative. Any one of the two blocks can define the first block or the second block, just as any one of the two webs 3a, 3b can define the first web or the second web.