PRINTING AND LABELLING MACHINE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to printing and labelling of containers used for winding and storing the yam produced at spinning and winding machines. Particularly, the present invention relates to printing the identification marks and printing & pasting of identification labels on the containers required for spinning, winding and twisting machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The yam produced in spinning machines are converted as a large finished package with predetermined length or weight in the winding machines and supplied for further processes. The yam from the spinning bobbins are usually wound on the containers like paper cones or cheeses. The containers are mounted on the holding means and frictionally driven by the winding drums at predetermined speed. The faults in the supply yam is removed before winding and wound on the containers. Once the predetermined length is reached, the package is indicated as full and the particular package is replaced by an empty container. The winding machines contain usually 60 drums and the package changing process is done either by manually or with the aid of Robots. The robot travels along the entire width of the machine and replace the full packages with empty containers (herein after“paper cones”) and this process is called as“Doffing”. The doffed full packages are collected manually and packed as finished goods. This process is almost similar for other spinning and winding machines like, open-end spinning machine, two-for one twisting and precision winding machines.

An automatic winding machine produces 200 to 3000 kilograms of yarn per day and therefore it requires 200 to 3000 paper cones in a day. The paper cones with different identification at tip and base part are used to identify yarn with different fineness. The identification varies depending on the fineness of yarn and raw material used for manufacturing the yarn. Also identification labels which contain the information like fineness, material, name of the factory and type of yarn etc. are pasted inside the paper cones.

Presently, the identification printing is done by the paper cone manufacturers and labelling is done at mills by manually and stored in a particular place. Those empty paper cones are collected and stored in the winding machines by the operators. The paper cones are either stored at the collection area of machines or placed over the individual working units of the machines. Major disadvantage of this system is, high man power requirement for colour dipping, labelling and transportation.

European patent EP1728750 discloses a label sticking device in automatic winding machines. Before the take up tube has been installed in a winding unit, the label sticking device sticks the label on which the predetermined information is recorded, to the inside of the take up tube. This system collects the information from the control unit and prints on the label. The main disadvantage of this device is, there is no provision made to print the identification colours on the surface of paper tubes. Also this device is required for each winding machines which are very expensive.

W02006134783 discloses an apparatus and method to print the labels in the form of Barcode and pasting into the paper tubes. The Barcode sticker is buried into the paper tube in winding machines. This method is also having the disadvantages as mentioned above.

In a spinning and winding mill, paper cones with various types of identifications are required for identifying different types of yarn produced at same time and for the future requirements. The residual paper cones with particular identification after a bulk usage cannot be used for other counts and those empty paper cones are kept as non-movable items which may increase the inventory cost. Also, the cost of printed paper cones are higher than the plain paper cones.

To overcome the disadvantages present in the existing art, the present invention provides a cone printing and labelling machine.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages present in the existing system and methods for printing the identification marks on the surface of containers such as paper cones.

Other object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for printing the identification marks on the surface of paper cones.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for printing the required data on the labels.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for pasting the identification labels in the paper cones.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic cone printing and label pasting machine.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

According to main aspect of the present invention, the printing and labelling machine, said machine comprises of a feeding unit, printing and labelling unit, a control unit and a deliver unit and said printing and labelling unit consists a printing apparatus and a labelling apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the feeding unit comprises of a feeding conveyor unit, conveyor, convey grid, feeding rack, plurality of feeding rack supports a, feeding rack motor, piston and a pusher plate.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus comprises of a hub, cone holders , electric motor, dial plate, fulcrum, dial belt, motor primary pulley, motor secondary pulley a, printer- motor, cartridge, roller, printer, roller pulley, roller belt a, secondary junction belt, roller drive pulley and roller driven pulley. The hub is pivotably mounted on the support member of the printing and labelling unit and said hub has at least three hub arms structured angularly for about degree between each other wherein each hub arms have cone holders disposed contiguously to each hub arms. The printer motor disposed particularly nearer the cone holder whereas the printer is disposed between the printer motor and the cone holder b, and the printer gets its required ink from the cartridge.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the labelling apparatus comprises of labelling motor, piston, motor pushing plate, labeler, label roll, labeler motor, actuator motor, label, labelling rack and an actuator. The cone is disposed in a location such that the actuator presses the label on the inner part of the said printed cone by oscillating motion and said actuator is driven by the actuator motor. According to still further aspect of the present invention, the delivery unit comprises of delivery rack, plurality of delivery rack supports, delivery table, table supports, delivery rollers, stopper plates and cone counter. The delivery rack is supported by the plurality of delivery rack supports and a cone counting sensor is fixed on the delivery rack.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 & 1 a depicts the diagrammatic representation of the printing and labelling machine in accordance with present invention.

Figure 2 depicts the feeding unit of the printing and labelling machine in accordance with present invention.

Figure 3 depicts the printing and labelling unit of said machine in accordance with present invention.

Figure 4a, 4b & 4c depicts the printing unit of said printing and labelling machine hine in accordance with present invention.

Figure 5a & 5b depicts the labelling unit of said printing and labelling machine in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 6 depicts the delivery unit of the said machine in accordance with present invention. Figure 7-depicts the control unit of the said machine in accordance with present invention.

Figure 8 represents the paper cone produced in accordance with the present invention.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings . is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of. the other embodiments

Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.

Figure 1 & 1a represents the pictorial representation of the printing and labelling machine (1 ) according to the present invention. The printing and labelling machine (1 ) comprises of a feedina unit M 1 ), printing and labelling unit (21), control unit (71) and delivery unit (81). The feeding unit (11) is a feeding conveyer in which plurality 'of raw paper cones (2) are stored for feeding to the machine (1). The printing and labelling of the said cones takes places in the printing and labelling unit (21 ). The paper cones (3) printed and labeled in the machine are collected in the delivery unit (81) of machine (1).

The control unit (71 ) monitors and performs the overall operations of the machine (1 ). The parameters including colour code, patterns, feeding data and the like are fed to the machine (1) through the control unit (71 ). The printing and labelling unit (21 ) consists a printing apparatus (31) and labelling apparatus (51). The printing of desired colour in the nose and base areas of paper cones takes places in the printing apparatus (31) and the labelling of the printed paper cone takes places in the labelling apparatus (51).

Figure 2 describes the paper cone feeding unit (1 1 ) of the printing and labelling machine according to the present invention. The feeding unit (1 1 ) comprises of a feeding conveyor unit (12), conveyor (13), convey grid (12), feeding rack (15), plurality of feeding rack supports (19a), feeding rack motor (16), piston (17) and a pusher plate (18). Initially the plurality of raw paper cones (2) are arranged in the conveyor (13) of the feeding conveyor unit (12). The power supply is given to the machine (1 ) particularly to the feeding unit (11). The conveyor (13) of the feeding conveyor unit (12) starts to operate by an electric motor (not shown), the rotational motion of the electric motor drives the conveyor (13) such that the said raw paper cones (2) are in motion with the conveyor (13). A plurality of conveyor grids (12) are arranged orderly in about a separated distance in the said conveyor (13) wherein the said raw cones (2) are disposed between the conveyor grids (12).

As the conveyor (13) are disposed on a slanted position in the feeding unit (11), the said raw cones (2) are moved and made to fall on the feeding rack (15). The feeding rack (15) is positioned nearby to the feeding unit (11 ) whereas it is disposed angularly and guides to the printing and labelling unit (21) as shown in figure 1 a. The feeding rack (15) is supported by the plurality of feeding rack support rods (19a). The said raw cones (2) are slidably move towards the printing and labelling unit (21 ) and reach the end of the feeding rack (15).

The feeding rack motor (16) shall either be a pneumatic piston or an electric motor disposed contiguously at the end of the feeding rack (15). The pusher plate (18) attached to the feeding rack motor (16) collects the raw cones (2). Due to the reciprocating motion of the feeding rack motor (16), the said raw cone (2) is pushed by the pusher plate (18) and feeds the said raw cone (2) to the printing and labelling unit (21 ). The availability of feed paper cones in the feed rack (15) is monitored by sensing means (not shown) and feed conveyor (13) is operated if the feed rack is empty.

Figure 3 describes the printing and labelling unit (21 ) according to the present invention. The printing and labelling unit (21 ) comprises of main support frame

(22), supporting member (23), door covers (21 ), delivery support plate (25), feeding support plate (26), indication light (27), printing apparatus (31 ) and labelling apparatus (51 ) The delivery support plate (25) and feeding support plate (26) is disposed on the frame (22). The printing apparatus (31) is disposed on the support member (23). The labelling apparatus (51) is partially mounted on the delivery support plate (25). The doors (24) are fixed on main support frame (22).

The indication lights (27) are disposed in the top portion of the printing and labelling unit (21 ) and the indication operations are controlled by the control unit (71 ). The indication lights (27) consists of red (27a), green (27b) and yellow lights (27c). The green light (27b) indicates the processing of the machine (1 ), the yellow light (27c) indicates error factors of emergency including jamming of cone, insufficient ink in cartridges, disarrangement of cone and the like. The red light (27a) indicates that the machine is stopped. Figure 4a, 4b and 4c represents the printing apparatus (31 ) according to the present invention. The embodiments of the printing apparatus (31 ) comprises of a hub (32), cone holders (33a, 33b & 33c), electric motor (34), dial plate (35), fulcrum (36), dial belt (37), motor primary pulley (38), motor secondary pulley (38a), printer motor (39), cartridge (40), roller (41 ), printer (42), roller pulley (43), roller belt (43a), secondary junction belt (44), roller drive pulley (45) and roller driven pulley (45a).

The hub (32) is pivotably mounted on the support member (23) of the printing and labelling unit (21 ). The said hub (32) has at least three hub arms (32a, 32b & 32c) structured angularly for about 120 degree between each other. Each hub arms (32a, 32b & 32c) have cone holders (33a, 33b & 33c) disposed contiguously to each hub arms (32a, 32b & 32c) respectively. The hub (32) is rotated by the fulcrum (36), the fulcrum (36) is guided by the dial plate (35) whereas the dial plate (35) and fulcrum (36) are contiguous. The dial plate (35) is operated by the electric motor (34) through the motor primary pulley (38) whereas the driving power is transferred through the dial belt (35). The electric motor (34), dial plate (35) and the fulcrum (36) are disposed on the support member (23) of the printing and labelling unit (21 ).

The raw paper cone (2) from the feeding unit (1 1 ) is disposed on the said cone holder (33a) position. Each and every motion of the machine (1 ) is controlled by the control unit (71 ). The power supply is given to the electric motor (34) whereas the driving power is applied on the dial plate (35) through the motor primary pulley (38) and the dial belt (35). Since the dial plate (35) is contiguous to the fulcrum (36), the fulcrum (36) pivotably rotates the hub (32) for about 120 degree. The cone holder (33) now is disposed on the position (33b). The printer motor (39) disposed particularly nearer the cone holder (33b) whereas the printer (42) is disposed between the printer motor (39) and the cone holder (33b). The printer motor (39) is an electric motor or a pneumatic cylinder. The control unit (71 ) drives the printer motor (39) and the printer (42). The printer (42) prints the pre-set pattern and colour to the raw cone (2) particularly on the portion of the cone (2a).

Referring more specific to Figure 4b and 4c, the printer (42) gets its required ink from the cartridge (40). The roller (41) is also operated by the said electric motor (34) through the roller pulley (43). The roller pulley (43) is driven by the roller drive pulley (45) whereas it is driven by the roller driven pulley (45a). The roller driven pulley is gets the driven motion from the motor secondary pulley (38a) whereas they are interlinked by the secondary junction belt (44). During this printing process, the roller (41) also prints the pattern with the said colour on the cone (2) particularly on the cone (2b) portion. Similarly, printing process is done for ail raw cones (2) feed to the machines (1 ).

Figure 5a and 5b describes the labelling apparatus (51) of the printing and labelling unit (21) according to the present invention. The labelling apparatus (51) embodiments comprises of labelling motor (52), piston (53), motor pushing plate (54), labeler (55), label roll (56), labeler motor (57), actuator motor (58), label (59), labelling rack (60), actuator (61). After printing heretofore on the printing apparatus (31 ). The fulcrum (36) is again pivotably rotated by the dial plate (35) for about 120 degree by the control unit (71). The hub (32) again rotates due to the fulcrum (36) motion. The cone holder (33b) moves to the cone holder (33c) to get labelled in the labelling apparatus (51 )

The labelling motor (52) pushes the printed cone (2) with the motor pushing plate (54) by the action of piston (53). During this process, the labeler (55) provides necessary label (59) to the printed cone (3). The required label roll (56) is placed on the labeler (55) and it is operated by the label motor (57). After the cone is disposed in a location such that the actuator (61) presses the label (59) on the inner part of the said printed cone (3) by oscillating motion. The actuator (61 ) is driven by the actuator motor (58) whereas the actuator (61) presses the label (59) on the inner portion of the printed cone (3) by oscillatory motion. The printed and labelled cone (3) is then sent to the delivery unit (81 ) of the machine (1). Similarly, labelling process is done for all printed cones fed in to the machine (1).

Figure 6 describes the delivery unit (81) of the machine (1 ) according to the present invention. The delivery unit (81) of the present invention comprises of delivery rack (82), plurality of delivery rack supports (83a, 83b & 83c), delivery table (84), table supports (85a, 85b, 85c, 85d), delivery rollers (86),· stopper plates (87) and cone counter (88). The plurality of finished paper cones (3) from the printing and labelling unit (21 ) are arranged on the delivery rack (82) of the delivery unit (81 ). The delivery rack (82) is disposed in such a way that the cone (3) slidably falls on the delivery table (84) as shown in figure 1a. The delivery rack (82) is supported by the plurality of delivery rack supports (83a, 83b & 83c). Before the plurality of cones displaces, the cone counter (88) fixed rigidly on the delivery rack (82) counts the passing plurality of cones (3) and sends the count data to the control unit (71 ).

When the delivery rack (82) is filled the plurality of cones (3) falls on the delivery rollers (86) and gets collected on the delivery table (84). The delivery table has stopper plates (87) surrounding the edges of the delivery table (84) to support the collected cones (3). The delivery table (84) is supported by the plurality of table supports (85a, 85b, 85c & 85d). Similarly, all the printed and labeled cones (3) are collected and stocked in the delivery table (84).

Figure 7 describes the Control unit (71) mounted in the cone printing and labelling machine according to another embodiment of the present invention. The control unit (71 ) enables to feed all the desired data such as colour on ink to be fed for printing on the surface of paper cones, content to be printed in the label, colour of the label etc,. The image of screen (72) is described as a preferred example of the working module. The number cones required shall be entered in the respective box. Then the colour of printing required shall be entered. The label details shall also be entered as shown in the screen. The data fed in the screen are considered as input value and the machine (1 ) works to deliver the desired amount of paper cones.

Figure 8 describes the pictorial representation of the raw cone (2) and the printed and labelled cone (3). The paper cone normally have two outer portions such as Nose and Base. The raw paper cone (2) has a plain surface in the nose (2a) portion and base (2b) portion. The finished paper cone (3) has printed surface in the nose (3a) portion and base (3b) portion. The inner portion of the finished paper cone (3) consists a label (3c) which is printed and pasted by the machine (1 ) in accordance with the main aspect of the present invention.

The printing and labelling machine (1 ) according to the present invention is preferably but not limited only for usage of paper cones. The yarn containers in any form for example Cheese or Bobbins which are used in any spinning and winding machines like, open-end spinning machine, two-for one twisting and precision winding machines shall be produced using this machine (t).

The cone printing and labelling machine (1) as described in various embodiments of. the present invention has various advantages. The factory need not purchase and stock printed paper cones in large quantity. This helps to reduce the inventory cost. The desired colour with desired quantity can be produced using this compact printing and labelling machine. The cost per paper cone can be reduced by using this machine. The labour requirement shall be reduced up to 25%.

The Modifications and variations would present themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. Any modifications and variations coming within the meaning and range of equivalency are considered within the scope.