METHOD AND MACHINE FOR LABELLING AND A LABEL SUITABLE FOR USE IN THIS CONNECTION

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a machine for labelling as well as a label (21) intended for use in this connection for application of a label (21) to a stack of goods (1) provided with an encircling tying band (4). Initially, a label (21) is provided with a print, and subsequently it is given a fold (21a) in which the band (4) may be accommodated, and finally the fold (21a) and the rest of the label (21) are attached to each other in that the label (21) is first positioned in alignment with the band (4) so that the part of the label intended for folding protrudes above the band (4), that, at the point where the label (21) is to be applied, the band (4) is then moved a distance out of the stack of goods (1) corresponding to the protrusion of the label (21), and that the label (21) and the band (4) are held against each other, following which the label (21) is folded around the upper edge of the band. This results in an extremely reliable labelling of stacks of goods which are arranged on pallets for shipment or the like. By also using a label (21) exclusively provided with self-adhesive on the upper part (21a) intended for folding and the adjoining part, said first-mentioned part being folded inwards against or subareas of these two parts, automatic attachment of the label (21) is achieved both around and to the band (4).

Description: METHOD AND MACHINE FOR LABELLING AND A LABEL SUITABLE FOR USE IN THIS CONNECTION The present invention relates to a method of applying a label to a stack of goods provided with an encircling tying band, wherein a label is initially provided with a print and is subsequently given a fold m which the band may be accommodated, and finally the fold and the rest of label are attached to each other. The invention also relates to a labelling machine for providing a stack of goods comprising an encircling tying band with a printed label attached to the band m that the label is folded around the band and the folded part attached to the label, and comprising a printing unit for printing the label, means for feeding and folding the label, and means for applying the label to the band, as well as to a label intended for use in this method and m this labelling machine . When palletizing goods it is expedient m many respects to provide the stack of goods with an identification label which may contain information on the type of the goods, the number of products on the pallet, the produc- tion time, etc. in order to ensure that the stack of goods is handled and transported correctly m the further process. Of course, it is also expedient in this connection that this label is placed at a readily visible place on the stack of goods. A labelling system for providing a stack of goods with a label is known e.g. from the patent specification EP-B1-0 551 558, in which a label consisting of ordinary A4 paper is provided with a print, following which it is folded and fed up m front of a rope, said bent paper label being then hung on the rope and attached around it, follow- ing which the rope is tied around the stack of goods and an associated pallet. In this labelling system the label is applied to the rope before the rope is placed around the stack of goods, which makes it difficult to tie the stack of goods, as special demands are made on the rope handling of the tying machine to prevent the label from being damaged or displaced on the rope. Furthermore, it may be extremely cumbersome to position the label in a desired readily visible position with respect to the stack of goods, as it must be taken into consideration already at the appli ¬ cation of the label to the rope how the rope is positioned with respect to the sides of the stack of goods in the tying process, and that the rope may be strained in the tying operation, Also, a label in the labelling system of EP-B1-0 551 558 is not weather-resistant, which is very inexpedient when storing and transporting the palletized stack of goods. The patent specification US-A-4 770 729 discloses a label which, after having been provided with a print, is folded and welded by ultrasound around a rope. This label is made of a heat-shrinkable material. This type of label, like in the application in EP-B1-0 551 558, is applied to a substantially free rope after the initial printing and folding. In addition to the above-mentioned drawbacks, the known labelling systems are considered to be bulky, and the individual process elements, in particular the devices for feeding, positioning and attaching the labels, have to be arranged extremely accurately with respect to each other to ensure reliable labelling. It is realized in connection with the invention that said problems of good positioning of the label on the stack of goods may be solved by placing the label on the rope or the band only after the rope or the band has been tied around the stack of goods. It is also realized that the label must both be easy to see and easy to remove, without leaving visible tracks on the goods in the stack, and, accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for reliable and secure application of labels to a band or a rope which has already been tied around a stack of goods, as well as a labelling machine and a label suitable therefor. The invention comprises a method of the type stated in the opening paragraph, which is characterized in that the label is positioned in alignment with the band so that the part of the label intended for folding protrudes above the band, that, at the point where the label is to be applied, the band is moved a distance out of the stack of goods corresponding to the protrusion of the label, and that the label and the band are held against each other, following which the label is folded around the upper edge of the band. The invention also comprises an associated labelling machine of the type stated in the opening paragraph, which is characterized in that the feeding means are constructed to grip the printed label from the printing unit as the label leaves it and move the label past the band to a position in which the part of the label intended for folding protrudes past a side edge of the band, that means are provided for holding the label in this position, that it comprises gripping means constructed to grip the band and to pull a part of the band out of the stack of goods so that the band and the label engage each other, that means are provided for folding the label around the band edge and attaching the folded label parts to each other. The invention moreover comprises a label which is suitable for use in the performance of a method and a labelling machine according to the invention. A labelling method according to the invention avoids the drawbacks associated with the labels which may previously have occurred in connection with the tying, as the invention provides a method and a labelling machine for providing a band already tied around a stack of goods with labels. The invention thus utilizes the circumstance that the bands encircling the stack of goods have a certain elasticity, which allows the band to be stretched suffi- ciently for the folding to take place. The label may hereby be fed and positioned in a flat non-folded state, which facilitates the handling in connection with the feeding. Reliable application of the label is obtained by gripping the band, pulling it inwards toward the label and folding the label around the upper edge of the band, as both the label and the band are held in a well-defined position in the labelling machine during the entire application operation. Furthermore, a method and a labelling machine according to the invention allow self-adhesive labels to be used, as, during the handling in the labelling machine, a label may be held and fed by handling on just one side, viz. the side of the label which is not provided with adhe- sive, but may preferably be provided with a print. In a preferred embodiment, the means for feeding, holding and folding the label and the gripping means are arranged in an applicator unit which is suspended at the end of an extensible arm, which is secured at the other end to the frame of the labelling machine. The labelling machine may hereby be adjusted with respect to the current position of a stack of goods in the labelling station on the transport path on which the preferably palletized stacks of goods are fed for labelling. The applicator unit may moreover be rotatably connected with this suspension arm, thereby allowing a stack of goods to be provided with labels on several sides in the same labelling machine. In a preferred embodiment, the feeding means comprise gripping belts arranged in a support plate, which is provided with a plurality of openings behind which a vacuum box is arranged for holding the label against the grip- ping belts. Lateral guides for laterally guiding the fed label may moreover be provided in connection with the support plate. In a preferred embodiment, the lateral guides may be formed with recesses for receiving the band which the gripping means pull out of the stack of goods. Folding means are provided in the area immediately above the feeding means, comprising a folding plate which is pivotable from a receiving position in which the folding plate is in a position flush with the support plate on the feeding means, to a discharge position in which the folding has been completed in that the folded part engages the remaining part of the label. The folding means may be provided with vacuum means, such as suction cups, at said folding plate for fixing the upper label part during the folding process. A label, which is exclusively provided with adhesive, preferably a self-adhesive on the entire upper part or portions thereof intended for bending and the adjoining part against which the bent part is folded, is particu ¬ larly suitable for use in the labelling method according to the invention and a labelling machine according to the invention, as a machine attaching function can hereby be omitted completely. A self-adhesive moreover provides immediate attachment without additional aids and also ensures that the label does not work loose because of wet adhesive . When the label is provided with adhesive on the entire upper part or subareas extending in the entire height thereof, the label also sticks to the band, thereby en ¬ suring that the label cannot move along the band. It moreover means that the label is exclusively provided with self-adhesive on the parts which are connected in the bending, and that the label does not stick to the actual stack of goods and is thus not difficult to remove, thereby obviating clear tracks in a later unpacking. The surface material of the labels may be all types of paper or plastics types, such as PE or PPE, which are extremely resistant to temperature and moisture impacts. For purposes of identification the label itself is pro- vided with a machine-readable bar code EAN 28. If the label is torn to pieces or is otherwise damaged during the transport and storage of the pallet so that the code becomes unreadable, the pallet loses its identity. This problem is solved according to the invention by also pro- viding the folding area with the same code, so even if the label is torn off, then the code is present on the bent label part on the tying band. Tying with a flat band ensures that the code can readily be read, e.g. by a manual scanner, as the label part is stretched on the flat band. When the label is provided with a tear-off perforation in the area outside the folding area, the label itself or part thereof may be torn off and be enclosed with goods receipts, if any, at the delivery of the pallet or be used for other documentation. Expediently, the perforation is placed where the bent label edge ends, which re ¬ sults in a secure tearing at the double-adhered layer thickness. The perforation also serves as a safeguard against physical damage to the bent label edge, as the perforation will break first. The invention will be described more fully below with reference to the drawing, in which fig. 1 is a lateral view of a labelling station with a labelling machine according to the inven ¬ tion, fig. 2 is a top view of the same, fig. 3 is a view of a labelling machine according to the invention, fig. 4 is a view of the applicator unit in a labelling machine according to the invention, figs. 5-7 are top views of the applicator unit in vari ¬ ous possible positions for application of a label to a stack of goods, figs. 8-15 are views of the various steps in the operation of applying a label to a stack of goods according to a method and a labelling machine according to the invention, and fig. 16 is a view of a label according to the invention. Figs. 1 and 2 show a labelling station in which a stack of goods 1 has been fed to a labelling machine 2 on a transport path 3. The stack of goods 1 is tied with a band 4 for fixing the individual goods in the stack. The labelling machine 2 comprises a printing unit 5 which is stationarily placed in the labelling machine 2 in the embodiment shown and an applicator unit 6 which is suspended from an applicator arm 7 so that the applicator unit 6 is movable from a retracted position, as shown in fig. 1, for reception of a label from the printing unit 5 to an advanced application position, as shown in fig. 2, in which the label is applied to the stack of goods 1. In the retracted position, the applicator unit 6 is positioned immediately above the printing unit 5, as is shown in fig. 3. In the printing unit 5, the label is provided with a print with information, such as product type, num- ber of goods on the stack, a possible bar code, etc. The label may be fed for the printing from a supply of prepared labels, such as a stack of sheets, or from a roll, in which case a cutter device for cutting the individual labels is arranged in connection with the printing unit 5. Further, an applicator unit for supplying the labels with adhesive may be associated with the printing unit 5, if the prepared labels have not been provided with adhesive beforehand. As will appear from the following, it is preferred to apply the print on the side of the label which is not provided with adhesive. When the label has been printed in the printing unit 5, the label is fed from the printing unit 5 to the applicator unit 6, as shown by the arrow P in fig. 3. In addition to gripping means 6, as appears particularly from figs. 8-14, the applicator unit 6 comprises a feeding device 8 and a folding device 9, see fig. 4. The feeding device 8 comprises a vacuum box 10 whose front plate 11 is formed with a plurality of openings, so that the label is held against a plurality of juxtaposed gripping belts 12, which move the label to the application position, by the suction from the vacuum box 10. Lateral guides 13 are provided at each side of this sup- port plate 11. Each of these lateral guides 13 is formed with a recess in alignment with the uppermost part of the gripping belts 12 immediately below the upper pull rollers 14 of the belts to receive the band 4 on the stack of goods 1 pulled out by the gripping means 16. The folding device 9 is rotatably arranged above the gripping belts 12 so that the folding device 9 may be rotated preferably about the same axis as the upper pull rollers 14 for the gripping belts 12. Application of the label to a stack of goods 1 may be performed with a labelling machine according to the invention in various positions, as appears from figures 5- 7. The stack of goods 1 may thus be provided with a label on its front side (fig. 5), its side facing the labelling machine (fig. 6) and/or its rear side, seen in the transport direction of the stack of goods 1. This possibility is provided in that the applicator unit 6 is rotatably suspended from the applicator arm 7 in that e.g. pneumatically or hydraulically activatable cylinders (not shown) are arranged in connection with the suspension point, said cylinders being capable of rotating the applicator unit 6 about its suspension point in the applicator arm 7. The applicator unit 8 may thus be oriented in various directions, as the suspension allows a rota- tion of preferably up to 180°, so that up to three of the four sides on a box-shaped stack of goods 1 may be provided with a label. Moreover, the application position of the label on the sides may be determined, as the extension of the applicator arm may be regulated with respect to the desired position of the label. This also makes it possible to apply more than one label to each of the sides. If the position of the stack of goods on the transport path 3 with respect to the labelling station can also be adjusted, the positioning of the label or labels on the side of the stack of goods 1 facing the labelling machine 2 can likewise be regulated. The ad ¬ justable extension of the applicator arm may moreover be used for compensating for a lateral variation in the position of the stacks of goods on the transport path 3. For the positioning of the stack of goods 1 with respect to the labelling station as well as the positioning of the applicator unit 6 with respect to the stack of goods 1, position sensors (not shown), adapted therefor, are arranged in connection with the mentioned positioning elements . As mentioned above, the applicator unit 6 comprises gripping means 16 for gripping an encircling band 4 on the stack of goods 1. As appears from e.g. fig. 8, these gripping means 16 comprise two gripping arms 16a and 16b which are pivotably arranged symmetrically on each side of the feeding means 8 and the folding means 9, with an axis of rotation 17 which is arranged on the rear side of the feeding means 8. The gripping arms 16a and 16b, which are moved synchronously, consist of a substantially tri- angular arm element 18 in whose one corner, preferably the one facing upwards, the gripping arm 16 is mounted about the axis of rotation 17. In the corner of the arm element 18 protruding toward the feeding unit 8, the arm 16 is provided with a hook element for gripping the band 4. At the rearwardly facing corner of the arm element 18, the arm 16 is connected with a preferably pneumatic or hydraulic, longitudinally positionable cylinder 23, allowing the gripping arm 16a, 16b to be pivoted about the pivot 17. The shaft of rotation 17 and the cylinder 23 are mounted on a translatorily movable gripping guide (not shown) . The cylinder 23 is suspended from this gripping guide via a mounting bracket 22. It is shown in figs. 8 to 15 how the application process for the application of a label 21 proceeds. In fig. 8 the applicator unit 6 is aligned with the band 4, and then the position of the unit with respect to the stack of goods is precision adjusted and/or detected by feeding a bracket with the applicator units 8, 9 and a positioning slide 20 until this slide 20 hits the stack of goods, see fig. 9. When the gripping means 16 have thus been oriented with respect to the actual position of the stack of goods, the gripping guide, with the gripping arms 16 mounted thereon as mentioned before, is moved forwards to a gripping po ¬ sition, as shown in fig. 10. The gripping arm 16 is then pivoted upwards and catches the band 4 on the stack of goods with its hook 19, as shown in fig. 11, following which the gripping guide is pulled a distance backwards to a holding position, as is shown in fig. 12. The band 4 is hereby pulled a distance out from the stack of goods and into the recess 15 in the lateral guides 13 in the feeding device. The distance which the gripping means is retracted and thereby the distance which the band 4 is pulled out from the stack of goods 1 is adapted to the portion of the label which is to be bent, said label being held in the feeding device 8 and the folding device 9. When the band 4 is thus held between the hook 19 in the gripping arm 16 and the feeding device 8 and is posi- tioned in the recess 15 in the lateral guides 13, the folding device 9 is pivoted inwards toward the stack of goods and around the band 4, as is shown in fig. 13. It is shown in greater detail in figs. 14 a) to d) how the folding process proceeds. Fig. 14 a) shows the label 21 which is positioned in the applicator unit ready for application on the band 4 which is positioned in the recess 15. Particularly in the folding device 9, the label is also fixed to the folding unit 9 with one or more suc- tion devices, such as suction cups 24, arranged in the folding unit 9. The front of the folding device 9 is flush with the support plate 11 in the feeding device 8. Folding is initiated in that the folding unit 9 is pivoted about a pivot axis which is in parallel with and at a level immediately above the extent of the band, preferably corresponding to the axis of rotation for the upper pull roller 14 of the gripping belts 12. The folding unit 9 thus maintains the part of the label 21 which protrudes above the band 4, and then this folding part 21a is folded around the band 4, said folding unit 9 being pivoted down between the band 4 and the stack of goods, as shown in figs. 14 b) and c) . Fig. 14 d) shows the situation where the folding has been com- pleted, in that the folding unit 9 has performed a rotation of 180° and has thereby joined the folding part 21a of the label 21 with the rest of the label 21. As the label 21 is provided with self-adhesive at least on a part of the folding part 21a and preferably also on the corresponding part 21b of the label 21, attachment of the label 21 automatically takes place both between the bent part 21a and the remaining label part and between the label 21 and the band 4, when the folding unit 9 reaches the position shown in fig. 14 d) . Then the suction on both the folding unit 9 and the vacuum box in the feeding unit is released, and the units revert to the starting position. When the application has been completed and the label 21 is thus stuck firmly to the band 4 on the stack of goods, the gripping arms 16 are pivoted back to the starting position, and the gripping guide and the bracket with the feeding and folding units are then also moved back to the starting position to receive a new label for application, as appears from fig. 15. Fig. 16 of the drawing shows a preferred embodiment of the label 21 according to the invention applied to the band 4 and with a tear-off perforation 25 for tearing off the label part 26 outside the folding area 21a, 21b. The perforation 25 is positioned against the edge 27 of the fold so that it serves as a tear-off edge. The label part 26, which is used as documentation in the delivery of the pallet, has an EAN 28 bar code 28, and the same code 28 is applied to the visible part of the folding area 21a. Although the label part 26 is torn off, the pallet can be identified by the code on the bent label part on the band. The label is here applied horizontally with respect to its extent, but may also be applied vertically of course. The information is inverted correspondingly. The example refers to a horizontally positioned band, but the invention is not restricted to such a position of the band. Another possible position of the band is in a ver- tical plane.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS : 1. A method of applying a label (21) to a stack of goods (1) provided with an encircling tying band (4), wherein a label (21) is initially provided with a print and is subsequently given a fold (21a) in which the band (4) may be accommodated, and finally the fold (21) and the rest of the label (21) are attached to each other, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the label (21) is positioned in alignment with the band (4) so that the part of the label intended for folding protrudes above the band (4), that, at the point where the label (21) is to be attached, the band (4) is moved a distance out of the stack of goods (1) corresponding to the protrusion of the label (21), and that the label (21) and the band (4) are held against each other, following which the label (21) is folded around the upper edge of the band. 2. A method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that the label (21) is handled from the same side in connection with the positioning with respect to and the folding around the band (4), said side being preferably the side of the label (21) on which a print has been applied. 3. A labelling machine for providing a stack of goods (1) comprising an encircling tying band (4) with a printed label (21) attached to the band (4) in that the label (21) is folded around the band (4) and the folded part (21a) attached to the label (21), and comprising a printing unit (5) for printing the label (21), means for feeding and folding the label (21) and means for applying the label (21) on the band (4), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the feeding means (8) are constructed to grip the printed label (21) from the printing unit (5) as the label (21) leaves it and move the label (21) past the band (4) to a position in which the part of the label (21) intended for folding protrudes past a side edge of the band (4), that means are provided for holding the label (21) in this position, that it comprises gripping means (16) constructed to grip the band (4) and to pull a part of the band (4) out of the stack of goods (1), so that the band (4) and the label (21) engage each other, that means (9) are provided for folding the part (21a) of the label protruding above the band (4) around the edge of the band and attaching the folded label parts to each other . 4. A labelling machine according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the means for feeding, holding and folding the label (21) and the gripping means (16) are provided in an applicator unit (6) which is suspended from a preferably movable arm (7) . 5. A labelling machine according to claim 4, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that the applicator unit (6) is rotatably connected with the arm (7) . 6. A labelling machine according to any one of claims 3- 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the feeding means (8) comprise gripping belts (12) for feeding the label (21), said gripping belts (12) being arranged in a guide plate (11) which is provided with a vacuum box (10) for holding the fed label (21) against the belts (12). 7. A labelling machine according to any one of claims 3- 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the feeding means (8) comprise lateral guides (13) for lateral positioning of the fed label (21), each of said lateral guides (13) being provided with a recess (15) for receiving the band (4). 8. A labelling machine according to any one of claims 3- 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the folding means (9) are provided as a folding device arranged immediately above the feeding means (8) which are pivotable from a receiving position to a discharge position for folding the label (21) over the side edge of the band. 9. A labelling machine according to claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the folding device (9) is pro- vided with vacuum means (24), such as suction cups, for fixing the upper label part (21a) . 10. A label intended for use in the performance of a method according to claims 1 and 2 and for use in the ma- chine according to claims 3-9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the label (21) is exclusively provided with adhesive, preferably self-adhesive on the upper part (21a) intended for bending and/or the adjoining part (21b), said first-mentioned part being folded inwards toward or subareas of these two parts. 11. A label according to claim 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the adhesive is limited to the area/areas which are below the tying band after the ap- plication of the label. 12. A label according to claim 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the label (21) is made of a weather-resistant material which is also suitable for receiving a weather-resistant print. 13. A label according to claim 10 or 12 provided with a code, preferably a bar code, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the code is applied to the label both on and out- side the folding area. 14. A label according to any one of claims 10-13, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the label is provided with a tear-off perforation (25) in the area outside the folding area (21a, 21b) for tearing-off of a part (26) of the label as documentation.

Inventors: HOLLAND-BAK ANTON, HOLLAND-BAK, ANTON
Applicants: AVERY DENNISON CORP, HOLLAND BAK ANTON, AVERY DENNISON CORPORATION, HOLLAND-BAK, ANTON
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B65C3
IPC codes: B65C3, B65C7