Patent Publication Number: US-2023150708-A1

Title: Method for labelling reels

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to the formation and handling of reels, in particular reels of web material such as, for example, non-woven webs, paper webs, elastic laminates, and the like. 
     More specifically, the invention relates to a method for labelling reels. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     A reel of web material generally has a tubular core, e.g. of cardboard, around which the web material is wound. Reels of web material are formed on a winding apparatus situated at the end of a production machine. The winding apparatus has a winding shaft on which an empty tubular core may be placed. In the winding apparatus the web material is wound around the tubular core until the desired dimension of the reel is reached. When the formation of the reel is completed, a robot picks-up the reel from winding shaft and transfers the reel to a transport unit. 
     The finished reels are usually labelled with labels bearing information on the reel, e.g. code of the material, production date and time, customer brand, etc. 
     In many cases, it is necessary to apply a label both on an external surface of the reel and on the inner surface of the tubular core. As a matter of fact, when the reel is used on a converting machine, the outer label is removed with the outer turns of the reel and the inner label makes it easier to identify the reel, for example when there are issues with faulty materials. 
     EP 3 808 688 A1 discloses a method and a system for applying labels on the inner surface of reels of web material, wherein a robot arm is inserted into the central core of a reel to move the reel from a first position to a second position and to simultaneously attach an inner label on the inner surface of the central core. The inner label is placed on the robot arm before the robot arm is inserted into the central core and the robot arm is used both to attach the inner label to the central core and to move the reel. 
     OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide improved method and system for applying labels on inner surfaces of reels. 
     In accordance with the present invention, this object is achieved by a method having the features of claim  1 . 
     Optional features of the invention form the subject of the dependent claims. 
     The claims are an integral part of the disclosure submitted in relation to the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description, given purely as a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: 
         FIGS.  1  and  2    are schematic side views of a label printer in two operating positions, 
         FIGS.  3  and  4    are schematic plan views of the label printer of  FIGS.  1  and  2   , 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic cross-section of a reel, and 
         FIGS.  6  and  7    are schematic plan views showing a system for applying labels on a reel in two operating positions. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1 - 4   , the numeral reference  10  indicates a label printer for printing labels  12  intended to be applied on reels  14  ( FIG.  5   ). The labels  12  may be printed with specific data of the reels, for example code of the material, production date and time, customer brand, etc. 
     The printer  10  comprised a stationary housing  16  containing a printing mechanism  18  per se known. At the output of the printing mechanism  18  the printed labels  12  are wound on the outer surface of an application roller  20 . The printed label  12  may have an adhesive surface facing outwards of the application roller  20 . 
     The outer surface of the application roller  20  may be provided with holes connectable to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure to retain by suction a printed label  12 . 
     In a possible embodiment, the holes on the outer surface of the application roller  20  may be selectively connectable either to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure to retain the printed label  12  by suction or to a source of pressurized air to release the printed label  12  by blowing. 
     The application roller  20  is rotatable about its axis and may be movable between a retracted position shown in  FIG.  3    and an extracted position shown in  FIG.  4   . In the retracted position the application roller  20  receives a printed label  12  from the printing mechanism  18 . In the extracted position the application roller  20  transfers the printed label  12  to a reel  14  as it will be disclosed in the following. 
     With reference to  FIG.  5   , the reel  14  has a central hole  22  having a cylindrical inner surface  24  having first and second portions  24 ′,  24 ″ with respective first and second open ends  26 ,  28 . 
     The reel  14  may be formed by a continuous web material wound to form a cylindrical reel. The continuous web material may be a non-woven material, an elastic laminate, a paper web, or the like. The continuous web material may be wound around a tubular core, e.g. of cardboard. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  6  and  7   , the reel  14  is picked-up and moved by a robot  30  having a movable expansion shaft  32  rotatable around its axis. The movable expansion shaft  32  has radially movable engagement elements configured for engaging the cylindrical inner surface  24  of the reels  14 . 
     The robot  30  may comprise a base  34  and a movable arm  36 . The movable arm  36  may have an end effector  38  which carries the movable expansion shaft  32 . 
     The robot  30  and the printer  10  operate under the control of an electronic control unit  40 , which is programmed to implement a method for applying labels on the inner surface  24  of reels  14  as described in the following. 
     In a first step an adhesive label  12  is printed with data of a specific reel. The printed label  12  is wound on the outer surface of the application roller  20 , with the adhesive surface of the label  12  facing outwards of the application roller  20 . The printed label  12  is retained on the outer surface of the application roller  20  by suction. 
     Then, the application roller  20  with the printed label  12  applied thereon is moved to the extracted position shown in  FIG.  4   . In the extracted position the application roller  20  extends outside the perimeter of the housing  16  of the printer  10 . 
     In the meantime, the robot  30  picks up the reel  14  on which the printed label  12  is to be applied. The robot  30  may pick the reel  14  from a stack or from the winding shaft of a winding apparatus. 
     The movable expansion shaft  32  of the robot  30  is inserted into the central hole  22  of the reel  14  through the first open end  26  for a length less than the width of the reel  14 , such that the movable expansion shaft  32  engages only the first portion  24 ′ of the cylindrical inner surface  24  and the second portion  24 ″ of the cylindrical inner surface  24  is not engaged by the movable expansion shaft  32 , as shown in  FIG.  6   . 
     After having so engaged the reel  14 , the robot  30  moves the reel  14  towards the printer  10 . The robot  30  moves the reel  14  so that the application roller  20  is inserted into the central hole  22  of the reel  14  through the second open end  28  and engages the second portion  24 ″ of the cylindrical inner surface  24 , as shown in  FIG.  7   . 
     Then, the printed label  12  is attached by adhesive on second portion  24 ″ of the cylindrical inner surface  24 . 
     When the application roller  20  is engaged in the second portion  24 ″ of the cylindrical inner surface  24  the printed label  12  may be released from the application roller  20  by blowing air through the holes formed on the outer surface of the application roller  20 . 
     In a possible embodiment, the printed label  12  may be attached on the second portion  24 ″ of the cylindrical inner surface  24  by moving the reel  14  in a plane orthogonal to the axis of the application roller  20  after inserting the application roller  20  with a printed label  12  retained thereon in the second portion  24 ″ of the cylindrical inner surface  24 . 
     The same system may be used to attach a second label on the outer surface of the reel  14 . The second label is applied and retained on the outer surface of the application roller  20  as previously described. Then, the outer surface of the reel  14  is positioned in contact with the outer surface of the application roller  20 . Then, the reel  14  and the application roller  20  are driven in rotation about the respective axes of rotation and the second label is attached by adhesive on the outer surface of the reel  14 . 
     The method and system for labelling reels according to the present invention have the following advantages: 
     the labels are printed, picked-up and applied to the reels without unnecessary movements; therefore, the risk of losing the labels is minimized, since preparation and application of the labels takes place on a fixed and non-mobile station; 
     the label is applied to the reel directly by the application roller of the printer and is never touched by the expansion shaft that picks the reel, thus eliminating the risk of damaging the label; 
     the end effector of the robot is simple since it does not require the tool for the application of the labels and the related vacuum pipes; this has the consequence of a reduced weight of the end effector which allows the use of a smaller and less expensive robot; 
     the same system allows the application of labels both on inner and outer surfaces of the reels. 
     A possible embodiment relates to a system for labelling reels, comprising: 
     at least one reel ( 14 ) having a central hole ( 22 ) having a cylindrical inner surface ( 24 ) having first and second portions ( 24 ′,  24 ″) with respective first and second open ends ( 26 ,  28 ), 
     a robot ( 30 ) having a movable expansion shaft ( 32 ), 
     a label printer ( 10 ) having an application roller ( 20 ), and 
     an electronic control unit ( 40 ) comprising software with instructions to cause: 
     the robot to engage the first portion ( 24 ′) of the cylindrical inner surface ( 24 ) of the reel ( 14 ) by said movable expansion shaft ( 32 ) and to leave the second portion ( 24 ″) of the cylindrical inner surface ( 24 ) not engaged by the movable expansion shaft ( 32 ), 
     the label printer ( 10 ) to print a label ( 12 ) and to retain a printed label ( 12 ) on said application roller ( 20 ), 
     the robot ( 30 ) to move the reel ( 14 ) to engage the second portion ( 24 ″) of the cylindrical inner surface ( 24 ) by said application roller ( 20 ) with a printed label ( 12 ) retained thereon, and 
     to attach the printed label ( 12 ) on said second portion ( 24 ″) of the cylindrical inner surface ( 24 ) of the reel ( 14 ). 
     The application roller ( 20 ) may be provided on its outer surface with holes connectable to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure for retaining thereon a printed label ( 12 ) by suction. 
     Said holes of the application roller ( 20 ) may be selectively connectable to said source of sub-atmospheric pressure to retain by suction a printed label ( 12 ) and to a source of pressurized air to release the printed label ( 12 ) by blowing. 
     The application roller ( 20 ) may be movable between a retracted position for receiving a printed label ( 12 ) and an extracted position for releasing the printed label ( 12 ). 
     The software of the electronic control unit ( 40 ) may comprise instructions to cause the robot ( 30 ) to move the reel ( 14 ) in a plane orthogonal to the axis of the application roller ( 20 ) after inserting the application roller ( 20 ) with a printed label ( 12 ) retained thereon in the second portion ( 24 ″) of the cylindrical inner surface ( 24 ). 
     The software of the electronic control unit ( 40 ) may further comprise instructions to cause the robot ( 30 ) to position the outer surface of the reel ( 14 ) in contact with the outer surface of the application roller ( 20 ) with a printed label ( 12 ) retained thereon and to rotate the reel ( 14 ) and the application roller ( 20 ) about respective axes of rotation to attach a second label onto an outer surface of the reel ( 14 ). 
     A possible embodiment may relate to a computer program configured for implementing a method according to the present invention. 
     Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments can be varied, even significantly, with respect to those illustrated here without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.