Patent Publication Number: US-11021290-B2

Title: Labeling machine

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a labeling machine. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Labeling machines are known for applying labels on containers. 
     In many cases labeling machines have a feeding unit which has at least one supporting device for respective spools of film of labels. 
     In particular, the labels can be provided directly by the film unwound from the spool, after a cutting operation, or it is possible for labels, for example of the self-adhesive type, to be peeled off a backing ribbon, which is also wound around a spool, and then applied to the container. 
     The label application device is fed by a device for unwinding the film from the spool, which is supported by a supporting device, known as a spool carrier, which is able to rotate with respect to the frame about an axis that coincides with the axis of the spool. 
     Generally, in use, the spool is supported by the spool carrier so that its axis is arranged substantially vertically. 
     Conventional spool carriers are constituted by a disk-like supporting body, which lies on a horizontal plane, from which rises an elongated body, also known as a spindle, which extends along a vertical direction and over which the spool is fitted. 
     Locking the spool in place on the spool carrier is ensured by having, in some cases, an upper clamping body intended to be screwed onto the top portion of the elongated body or by using an expandable spindle. 
     A drawback of the feeder assemblies currently on the market is linked to the difficulties operators have in performing the operations to load and remove the spools onto and from the respective spool carriers, especially if they are spools of a certain weight. 
     The operator in fact has to lift the spool to a height that is such as to be able to fit it, from above, onto the spindle. 
     SUMMARY 
     The aim of the present disclosure is to solve the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a labeling machine, and in particular a feeding unit for labeling machines, that makes the operations to load and remove the spools onto and from the respective spool carriers easier and more practical. 
     Within this aim, the disclosure provides a labeling machine that makes it possible to assist the operations to load and remove the spools onto and from the respective spool carriers, thus reducing the effort that the operators have to make during such operations. 
     This aim and these and other advantages which will become better apparent hereinafter are all achieved by providing a labeling machine comprising a device for applying labels to containers to be labeled, said device being fed by a feeding unit supported by a base frame and comprising at least one device for supporting a spool of a film of labels which is arranged around a hollow tubular body, wherein said supporting device comprises at least one base body supported by said base frame and an elongated body which can be associated removably with said base body by virtue of removable connecting means, said elongated body being insertable into said hollow tubular body of said spool when separated from said base body, locking means being further provided which are adapted to lock said elongated body in said tubular body with said elongated body separated from said base body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further characteristics and advantages of the disclosure will become better apparent from the description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a labeling machine according to the disclosure, which are illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a feeding unit; 
         FIG. 2  is a diametrical cross-sectional view of a feeding unit according to the disclosure; and 
         FIGS. 3-5  are cross-sectional views of a locking sequence of the elongated body to a spool of labels to be moved. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the embodiments illustrated below, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , the present disclosure relates to a labeling machine that comprises a device for applying labels to containers to be labeled. 
     The application device is fed by a feeding unit  1  supported by a base frame  2  and comprises at least one device  3  for supporting a spool  4  of a film  5  of labels which is arranged about a hollow tubular body  6 . 
     For example, the spool  4  can comprise a continuous film of plastic material or of paper to be cut in order to provide single labels or it can be of the type presenting a backing ribbon of self-adhesive labels. 
     According to the present disclosure, the supporting device  3  comprises at least one base body  11  supported by the base frame  2 , and an elongated body  12  which can be associated detachably with the base body  11  by way of removable connecting means  13 . 
     The elongated body  12  is insertable in the hollow tubular body  6  of the spool  4  when separated from the base body  11 . 
     The elongated body  12  is disconnectable from the hollow tubular body  6  of the spool  4  even when separated from the base body  11 . 
     Locking means  20  are further provided, which are adapted to lock the elongated body  12  in the tubular body  6  with the elongated body  12  separated from the base body  11 . 
     Obviously, the locking means  20  can immobilize the elongated body  12  in the tubular body  6  when the elongated body  12  is associated with the base body  11  as well. 
     Preferably, the elongated body  12  comprises at least one grip portion  30 . 
     In particular, the grip portion  30  is adapted to allow the movement of the spool  4  with respect to the feeding unit  1 . 
     Specifically, the grip portion makes it possible to move the spool  4 , which is stably locked to the elongated body  12  by virtue of the action of the locking means  20 , in order to load it onto or remove it from the feeding unit  1 . 
     Preferably, the grip portion  30  can be adapted to be coupled to movement devices. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the locking means  20  comprise at least one portion  21  of the outer surface of the elongated body  12 . 
     Such at least one portion  21  can expand in a radial direction in order to lock onto the inner surface of the respective tubular body  6 . 
     Conveniently, the locking means  20  comprise a plurality of expandable portions  21 , which are mutually angularly spaced apart from each other about the longitudinal axis  100  of the elongated body  12 . 
     Conveniently, the base body  11  comprises a supporting element for the spool  4 . 
     Preferably, the supporting element comprises a disk-like plate that lies, during use, on a substantially horizontal plane. 
     The removable connecting means  13  comprise at least one engagement body  13   a  defined on the base body  11  and an abutment body  13   b  arranged substantially at a first end of the elongated body  12 . 
     For the purposes of example, the base body  11  can support a plurality of engagement bodies  13   a  that have respective axial locking teeth, which are adapted to engage, when the elongated body  12  is associated with the base body  11 , in respective locking seats defined by the abutment body  13   b.    
     Such solution makes it possible to axially immobilize the elongated body  12  with respect to the base body  11 . 
     Obviously, the removable connecting means  13  can comprise a shape coupling between a portion of the elongated element  12  and a portion of the base element  11  which is adapted to render the elongated body  12  integral with the base body  11  in rotation about the longitudinal axis  100 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the locking means  20  can be driven by at least one actuation body  22  which is connected kinematically to the elongated body  12 . 
     Conveniently, the actuation body  22  can move with respect to a supporting body  23  for the expandable portions  21  along an actuation direction in order to produce the expansion of the portion or portions  21  in a radial direction. 
     Advantageously, the actuation body  22  is arranged at the end of the elongated body  12  that lies opposite the first end. 
     Preferably, the actuation direction extends substantially parallel to the axis  100  of the elongated body  12 . 
     Specifically, a movement of the actuation body  22  in the direction away from the first end produces the expansion of the expandable portion or portions  21  of the outer surface of the elongated body  12 . 
     Advantageously, between the supporting body  23  of the portion or portions  21  and the actuation body  22  there is a preloading element  25 , for example a spring element, which is adapted to apply a force between the supporting body  23  and the actuation body  22  that is aimed at expanding the portion or portions  21  so as to ensure a sufficient locking force between the elongated body  12  and the inner surface of the hollow tubular body  6 . 
     Means of retention of the actuation body  22  are provided in a closer position with respect to the first end of the elongated body  12 , which are adapted to contrast the effect of the preloading element  25  so as to keep the portions  21  in a non-expanded position in order to allow the insertion into and/or the withdrawal out of the hollow tubular body  6 . 
     In this regard, the locking means  20  can have respective inclined mating planes  26  and  27  which are integral, respectively, with the supporting body  23  of the portions  21  and with the actuation body  22 . 
     In this manner, the action of the preloading element  25  causes the expansion of the portions  21  and therefore the locking in place of the elongated element  12  in the hollow tubular body  6 . 
     During the movement operations, the weight of the spool  4 , which hangs from the elongated element  12  and, in particular, is integral with the portions  21 , tends to exert a downward force on the supporting body  23  which in turn is transferred, by virtue of the contact between the inclined mating planes  26  and  27 , to a thrust in the direction of expansion of the portions  21  that is capable of further increasing the locking in place of the elongated body  12  in the tubular element  6 . 
     The actuation body  22  defines, in particular, the grip portion  30 . 
     Operation of the labeling machine according to the disclosure is evident from the foregoing discussion. 
     When the necessity arises to load the spool  4  on the feeding unit  1 , the operator proceeds to insert the elongated element  12 , which was previously separated from the respective base body  11 , into the tubular element  6  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     Obviously, the insertion can occur if the portions  21  are in the non-expanded or retracted condition. 
     The operator then proceeds to activate the locking means  20 , by acting on the retention means so as to free the preloading element  25  with the consequent expansion of the portions  21 . 
     Once the elongated body  12  is immobilized in the hollow tubular element  6 , the operator proceeds to move the spool  4  by lifting, preferably with the aid of movement means, the grip portion  30  until the spool  4  is brought above the base body  11  in order to then subsequently connect it to the base body  11 . 
     Similarly, the operator can proceed to unload the spools  4  from the feeding unit  1 , for example if they are not completely unwound. 
     In this case, the operator intervenes on the removable connecting means  13 , for example by way of a control device, in order to separate the elongated body  12 , with which the spool  4  is integral, from the base body  11 . 
     By acting on the grip portion  30 , for example by way of movement means, the operator moves the elongated body  12  and the spool  4  which is integral therewith to the desired position. 
     In order to disengage the elongated body  12  from the hollow tubular body  6 , the operator intervenes on the actuation body  22 , contrasting the action of the preloading element  25  until the portions  21  are brought to the non-expanded or retracted condition. 
     By activating the retention means, the portions  21  are kept in the retracted condition and it is therefore possible as a consequence to disengage the elongated body  12  from the hollow tubular body  6 . 
     All the characteristics of the disclosure, indicated above as advantageous, convenient or similar, may also be missing or be substituted by equivalent characteristics. 
     The individual characteristics set out in reference to general teachings or to specific embodiments may all be present in other embodiments or may substitute characteristics in such embodiments. 
     In practice it has been found that in all the embodiments the disclosure is capable of fully achieving the set aim and advantages. 
     The disclosure, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations. 
     For the purposes of example, the supporting device described above can likewise be used, in addition to on feeder assemblies, on assemblies for recovering the film that is usually used as the backing for self-adhesive labels. 
     In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements. 
     Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements. 
     The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102015000067371 (UB2015A005345) from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.