Device, use of device and method for applying labels to wrapped products

Abstract

An apparatus that includes a support for one or more products. The one or more products have a wrapping thereabout, and a cutter is coupled to the support and moveable relative to the support for forming a window in the wrapping to allow access for placing one or more labels on the one or more products.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising: a support for one or more products, the one or more products having a wrapping, and a cutter coupled to the support and moveable relative to the support to form a window in the wrapping and to allow access for placing one or more labels on the one or more products, wherein the apparatus further comprises a rotatable shaft or other rotator configured to rotate the one or more products having the wrapping.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support is provided in the form of a trough, wherein at least two sides of the trough are configured to support the one or more products from at least two sides, and wherein at least one side of the trough is structured and arranged to allow the cutter to access to the wrapping.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutter comprises at least one blade that is: arranged to be moved into cutting relation with the wrapping to form a cut through the wrapping, and configured to be moved thereafter relative to the one or more products to extend the cut in the wrapping to form at least part of the window.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutter includes first and second blades to form opposed sides of the window, and wherein the first and second blades are arranged to be brought into cutting relation with the wrapping and to be moved in tandem relative to the one or more products to form opposed, cut lines, which cut lines form opposed sides of the window.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the opposed cut lines are parallel cut lines.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutter comprises a leading blade, wherein the leading blade is arranged to cut perpendicular to a movement direction of the cutter.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the leading blade is movable between a first position where the leading blade is not in contact with the wrapping and a second position where the leading blade is in contact with the wrapping.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein rotation of the one or more products having the wrapping thereabout allows the wrapping to be cut by the leading blade, when the leading blade is in the second position.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the cutter comprises a head upon which at least one blade is mounted, the head is moveable relative to the one or more products when arranged in the support in order to create at least part of the window, and the head comprises at least two blades to cut respective parts of the window as the head is moved relative to the products.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the head comprises three blades.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutter is arranged to be moveable into cutting relation with the wrapping to form the window and is moveable into an out-of-the-way position to provide access for applying labels to the one or more products.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a guide for guiding movement of the cutter in forming at least part of the window.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the guide comprises a rail along which the cutter is moveable.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the guide and the cutter are arranged such that the cutter is moveable relative to the guide to form at least three sides of the window.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to allow formation of only three sides of the window to form a flap that remains connected to the wrapping to allow the flap to be opened for application of one or more labels and reclosed thereafter.

16. A method of using the apparatus according to claim 1, the method comprising: moving the cutter relative to the support to form at least part of the window in the wrapping, and applying one or more labels to the underlying products through the window.

17. A method of using the apparatus according to claim 1, the method comprising: providing one or more products having a wrapping thereabout; forming a window in the wrapping; and applying one or more labels on the one or more products through the window.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the forming comprises forming a flap, and the method further comprises opening the flap relative to the wrapping to provide access for applying the one or more labels to the underlying one or more products.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein: the one or more products comprises a plurality of products, the wrapping holds together the plurality of products before the window is formed, and the wrapping continues to hold together the plurality of products while the window is formed.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the forming comprises cutting a strip of the wrapping to form the window in the wrapping.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising closing the window after the labels have been applied.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the forming the window comprises cutting the wrapping, and the method further comprises opening a cut portion of the wrapping to provide access for the applying the one or more labels.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising reclosing and attaching the cut portion of the wrapping to surrounding wrapping to reclose the window.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the forming the window comprises cutting a flap in the wrapping, and the method further comprises: opening the flap to provide access for the applying the labels, wherein the applying the labels is through the access; and reclosing the flap to cover the access.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein: the products are in the form of at least four items that are bundled together in the wrapping, the products are tinned or canned products, the products are stacked products held together in a stacked configuration by the wrapping, and the wrapping comprises a sleeve about the products.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the products are tobacco products.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the labels comprise tax labels.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the wrapping continues to hold together the plurality of products after the window is formed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a top view of an apparatus for forming a window in wrapping disposed about one or more products in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. The apparatus comprises a movable cutter that is able to cut three sides of the window to provide access for applying one or more labels on one or more underlying products.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in accordance with aspects of the disclosure, in which a support for holding the one or more products can be seen in addition to the moveable cutter that moves relative to the support and the one or more products for cutting the window.

(3) FIG. 3 shows plural products disposed within a wrapping in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. A window has been cut in the wrapping in such a way as to maintain the products held within the wrapping. The window has been cut to have three sides, with one side connected to the rest of the outer wrapping so as to provide the window in the form of a flap that is openable and re-closable relative to the rest of the wrapping and the underlying products.

(4) FIG. 4 shows an exemplary product that is disposable within the wrapping, and which has a label applied to it in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. In the example of FIG. 4, the label is a tax label comprising plural security features for preventing counterfeiting. The product is a tinned or canned tobacco product, where the tin or can is in puck form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

(5) Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a support 1 for holding a bundle of products 10. The bundle of products 10 comprises individual products 7 (see also FIG. 4) disposed within an outer wrapping 11 (FIG. 3). The support 1 is provided in the form of a trough having converging walls that tend to center the bundle of products 10 disposed therein. The bundle of products 10 has a longitudinal direction of extension going from left to right in FIGS. 1 to 3, which is also a direction in which the products 7 are stacked on top of one another. The bundle of products 10 also have a smaller lateral extension, which extends from top to bottom in FIGS. 1 to 3. A central longitudinal axis can be considered to extend through a center of each of the products 7 in the bundle of products 10.

(6) The apparatus of the present embodiment further comprises a cutter comprising a cutter head 2 and a plurality of blades 8a, 8b. The cutter head 2 is coupled to the support 1 by a guide rail 4. The cutter head 2 is movable along the longitudinal axis of the bundle of products 10, which is also a movement along a longitudinal direction of the trough-like support 1. The rail guide 4 not only couples the support 1 and the cutter head 2, but also guides translation of the cutter head 2 forward and backward along the longitudinal axis.

(7) The cutter head 2 comprises parallel blades 8a and a perpendicular blade 8b. The parallel blades 8a are disposed laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis so as to be able to create parallel cut lines, where these parallel cut lines extend along the longitudinal axis. The perpendicularly oriented blade 8b is provided for creating a laterally extending cut line that extends between the parallel extending cut lines created by the blades 8a. Thus, the blades 8a, 8b are each configured for cutting a respective side of a window in the wrapping 11 disposed about the one or more products 7. The blades 8a for creating the parallel cut lines project further in the direction of the bundle of products 10 than the blade 8b for creating the perpendicular cut line so that the cutter head 2 can be moved with respect to the bundle of products 10 to create the parallel cut lines without the blade 8b in contact with the wrapping 11. Pressure on the cutter head 2 can be adjusted by an operator to cause the blade 8b to extend further toward the bundle of products 10 in order to use the blade 8b to create the perpendicular cut line in the wrapping 11. In some embodiments, there may be a resilient bias provided by the cutter head 2 to bias the blades 8a, 8b away from engagement with the wrapping 11 when no downward pressure is applied to the cutter head 2. The cutter head 2 may tilt slightly when pressure is applied by an operator at the end of the cutter head 2 comprising the blade 8b to thereby allow adjustment of the projection of the blade 8b into contact with the wrapping 11 for creating a perpendicular cut line with respect to the parallel cut lines cut by the blades 8a. It may be the mounting of the cutter head 2 to the rail guide 4 that allows such tilting. Another envisaged mechanism is a slight flexibility in the material of the cutter head 2, for example.

(8) The apparatus, in this specific embodiment, also comprises a rotatable shaft 3a having a plate 3b fixed thereto. The plate 3b is longitudinally fixed to the support 1 during movement of the cutter head 2. The plate 3b provides a stop at one longitudinal end of the bundle of products 10. The cutter head 2 is movable from an out-of-the-way position disposed beyond the other end of the bundle of products 10 and is movable from the out-of-the-way position toward the plate 3b during the process of cutting the window 5 (FIG. 3) in the wrapping 11. The plate 3b provides a back stop against which the bundle of products 10 will tend to be urged during the cutting process.

(9) The plate 3b is able to grip or be rotatably coupled to the end of the bundle of products 10 so that rotation of the shaft 3a provides for rotation of the bundle of products 10. This allows control of the location of the window 5 with respect to a rotational position thereof about the longitudinal axis. Further, the blade 8b for cutting the perpendicular cut line of the window 5 is able to be engaged with the wrapping 11 whilst the shaft 3a is rotated to thereby control a rotational extent of the perpendicular cut line. The longitudinal extent of the parallel cut lines can be controlled by the extent of longitudinal movement of the cutter head 2 with the blades 8a engaged in the wrapping 11. More than one bundle of products 10 can therefore be held and cut with the same direction of movement of the cutter head 2, for example.

(10) Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a product 7 that is a tinned or canned tobacco product 7. In certain jurisdictions, tax labels 12 are to be applied to the outside of the tin or can. In the example shown, a tax label 12 has been applied. The tax label 12 comprises a number of anti-counterfeit security features, which may be overt and/or covert security features. The security features may be applied to the tax label 12 by printing. The tax label 12 is an adhesive label that has been adhered to the outside surface of the tin or can 7.

(11) The product 7 shown in FIG. 4 has a puck form, in that the tin or can has a smaller height dimension than a diameter dimension, and is thus puck shaped.

(12) A plurality of the products 7 shown in FIG. 4 are stacked on top of one another and formed into a bundle of products 10 that are held together by a wrapping 11 disposed thereabout. The apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 3 is usable so as to cut a window 5 in the wrapping 11 whilst maintaining the integrity of the wrapping in so far as the products 7 remain held together thereby. The window 5 is able to be opened in a flap-like manner so that the labels 12 can be applied through the window to each of the products 7 in the bundle of products 10.

(13) Referring to FIG. 3, the window 5 cut by the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 begins adjacent, but not at, one end of the bundle of products 10 and ends adjacent the opposed end of the bundle of products 10. By forming the window 5 in this manner, there exists at each end of the bundle of products 10 connecting portions (not shown) of the wrapping 11 bridging the window 5 to ensure that the bundle of products 10 remains held together in the circumferential direction. The connecting portion of the wrapping may be only a few millimeters in length, for example 2-3 mm. The window 5 is formed so as to be long enough to allow access to each of the products 7 in the bundle of products 10 and is wide enough so as to accommodate the width of the labels 12. Furthermore, the window 5 is formed by cutting a flap 6 that is connected to the rest of the wrapping at one end to allow the window 5 to be opened by pulling the flap 6 away from the bundle of products 10. The wrapping 11 can then be re-closed by covering the flap 6 back on to the part of the bundle of products 10 that had been exposed by the opened flap 6.

(14) A method of use of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described in the following, as well as a method of applying labels to products underlying an outer wrapping.

(15) The apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 is used by placing the bundle of products 10 in the support 1. A first end of the bundle of products 10 is disposed in abutting relation with the plate 3b. The cutter 2 is initially disposed in an out-of-the-way position longitudinally spaced from the other end of the bundle of products 10.

(16) The cutter head 2 is moved along the longitudinal axis towards the plate 3b while applying a slight downward pressure to the cutter 2 at the start of the wrapping 11 to pierce the wrapping 11 with the blades 8a adjacent the end of the bundle of products 10. The cutter 2 continues to be moved along the rail guide 4 with the downward pressure applied to cut parallel longitudinal cuts in the wrapping 11 to partly form the window 5. The apparatus is operated so that the parallel cut lines extend from a location adjacent one end of the bundle of products 10 to a location adjacent the other end of the bundle of products to allow later exposure of each of the individual underlying products 7. During operation of the blade 8a whilst the cutter head 2 is moving in the longitudinal direction, the blade 8b does not engage the wrapping 11.

(17) Once the parallel cut lines in the wrapping 11 are formed with sufficient length, i.e. when the cutter head 2 is positioned adjacent the plate 3b, the cutter head 2 is tilted so that the blade 8b pierces the wrapping 11. Tilting of the cutter head 2 such that the blade 8b pierces the wrapping 11 may also cause the blades 8a to be removed from engagement with the wrapping 11. Alternatively, removal of downward pressure from the location of the cutter head above the blades 8a may cause these blades 8a to be biased out of engagement from the wrapping 11. The rotatable shaft 3a is rotated to rotate the bundle of products 10 to extend the cut formed by the blade 8b in the rotational direction. In particular, the cut line formed by the blade 8b is extended so as to connect the two parallel cut lines formed by the blades 8a to thereby form a flap 6 as shown in FIG. 3.

(18) The cutter head 2 is then moved back to the out-of-the-way position shown in FIG. 1 along the rail guides 4 without applying downward pressure so that the blades 8a, 8b do not further cut the wrapping 11.

(19) The flap 6 is moved away from the bundle of products 10 to open the window 5 to expose each of the underlying individual products 7. A label 12 is applied through the open window 5 to each of the underlying products. The window 5 is repositioned to cover the exposed part of the bundle of products 10 to thereby close the window 5. The flap 6 is attached in the reclosed positioned by application of adhesive tape or other fixer.

(20) In the above, a window has been cut into the bundle of products 10 and labels applied through the window by using the apparatus of the FIGS. 1 and 2. The method of the present disclosure is more generally applicable than it being performed by using the specific apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2. A method may be provided that uses an apparatus other than that in FIGS. 1 and 2. The method aspects of the present disclosure are independently advantageous of the apparatus, in providing a way of applying labels to products underlying outer wrapping that maintains the wrapping and that is efficient to process. The concept of cutting a window in the wrapping and applying labels through the window to the underlying products is not, to Applicant's knowledge, known in the art.

(21) Accordingly, an embodiment of the method of the present disclosure includes moving a cutter head 2 relative to a bundle of products 10 to form a window 5 therein, as shown in FIG. 3. Two parallel cut lines that extend along a longitudinal axis of the bundle of products 10 are simultaneously formed with a single sweep of the cutter head 2. A circumferential cut line connecting the two parallel cut lines may be formed in a separate cutting step. The circumferential cut line may be formed by rotating the bundle of products 10 whilst the wrapping 11 is pierced with a cutting blade. Advantageously, only three sides of a window 5 are cut in the wrapping 11 so that a flap 6 is formed that remains connected to the rest of the wrapping 11 at one end. The flap 6 is pulled away from the bundle of products 10 to open the window 5. Labels are applied to each of the individual products 7 underlying the wrapping 11 through the open window 5. The flap 6 is re-closed and fixed in the re-closed position, perhaps by application of adhesive tape or other fixer.

(22) In the method, the window 5 is cut so that connecting portions exists at one or both ends of the bundle of products 10 at the location of the window 5 to provide material bridging the window 5 to maintain the function of the wrapping 11 in holding the products 7 together.

(23) Various alternatives for the disclosed embodiments could be provided. The support 1 is described as having a trough-like form. Other shapes or arrangements that allow the bundle of products 10 to be laterally restrained could also be provided. The trough-like form for the support 1 is advantageous in providing opposed converging walls for self-centering of the bundle of products 10 placed therein.

(24) Referring to FIG. 1, the blades 8a are shown as being parallel blades, in that they have a longitudinal extent that is parallel with one another. Likewise, the blade 8b is described as being a blade perpendicularly oriented with respect to the parallel blade 8a. Blades having such longitudinal and lateral extents are not, however, essential to implementing the present disclosure. The blade 8a and 8b could be provided in a much reduced form in terms of longitudinal/lateral extent. What is important is that these blades 8a, 8b are able to produce longitudinal and lateral cuts and this could be performed without necessarily requiring longitudinally and laterally oriented blades. For example, opposed blades 8a that are able to pierce the wrapping 11 could be provided with very little longitudinal extent, and the longitudinal extent of the parallel cut lines is provided by the longitudinal motion of the cutter head 2 relative to the support 1 and the bundle of products 10. Similarly, the blade 8b could have very little lateral extent and the lateral extent of the cutter and the wrapping 11 could be provided by the degree of rotation of the shaft 3a and the bundle of products 10.

(25) In the embodiment described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cutter head 2 is able to be tilted in order to allow the blade 8b to be brought into engagement with the wrapping 11 when required, but where this blade 8b does not cut the wrapping 11 when the parallel cut lines are being created using the blades 8a, and vice versa. An alternative implementation of this functionality could be provided by a blade that is movable between a retracted position and an extended position by moving it relative to the cutter head 2 so that the blade 8b can be selectively applied when required and moved into a retracted position when the parallel cut lines are being formed. A further implementation is that the blades 8a, 8b are biased away from the wrapping, and application of pressure in selected locations on the cutter head 2 is needed to bring these blades into engagement with the wrapping 11.

(26) An alternative embodiment is also envisaged in which the window 5 is die cut into the wrapping 11. Such an embodiment would involve the cutter head being moved into a position engaging and cutting the wrapping 11 to form the window 5 and being moved into an out-of-the-way position in order to apply the labels. Such a window 5 could be thus formed in a single moving step.

(27) In the apparatus described above, the distance between the blade 8a with respect to the cutter head 2 is described as being adjustable, while the circumferential extent of the perpendicular cut line is defined by selecting an amount of rotation of the rotatable shaft 3a. The distance between the blades 8a may also be adjustable, in order to form different widths of windows in the wrapping 11. This would increase the range of products the device could be used on. In less adjustable embodiments, for example in implementations where the length and diameter of the bundle of products 10 is fixed, the spacing between the blades 8a could also be fixed, while the blade 8b could be selected to have a circumferential extent fully spanning the blades 8a. In this embodiment, a rotational shaft 3a would not be necessary as the perpendicular cut line could be performed simply by engaging the blade 8b with the wrapping.

(28) The apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 is primarily designed for hand operation. That is, the cutter head 2 is moved along the guide rails 4 by hand and the rotation of the shaft 3a is similarly manually operated. Automated implementations of the present disclosure are, however, envisaged. Motion of the cutter head 2 could be performed by machine operation, as could rotation of the shaft 3a. Further, placement of the bundle of products 10 could also be performed by an automated machine. Accordingly, the claims of the present disclosure are not to be construed as being limited to manual implementations. For example, the above apparatus may be enhanced by the movement of cutter head 2 and the rotation shaft 3a or other rotator being performed automatically, for example, using a stepper motor.

(29) The present embodiments have been described with respect to a particular type of products, namely puck-formed tobacco products as shown in FIG. 4. Other shaped tins or cans could equally be used with the apparatus and method of the present disclosure. Furthermore, other types of packaging than tins or cans may also be subject to the concepts described herein. Still further, multiple bundles of products could be held and cut with one movement of the cutter head 2. In the implementation, a spring plate holder is envisaged to ensure the holding plate holds the bundle of pucks securely in place. The cutter head 2 could be manipulated so as to cut separate windows in each bundle. Accordingly, the present disclosure is applicable to more generally defined products that have a wrapping disposed thereabout, wherein a label is applied to each of the one or more products in the wrapping through the window.

(30) Furthermore, the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure make use of the formation of a flap since this allows for convenient and material efficient re-sealing of the wrapping 11. Other forms for the window can, however, be envisaged. For example the window could be formed by cutting out an entirely severed piece of material, with that piece of material either being replaced during the closing of the window or being replaced by an alternative piece of material such as adhesive tape.

(31) In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus comprises a stationary support and a moveable cutter. Relative movement between the bundle and the cutter head in order to cut the window could be implemented alternatively. For example, the support could comprise a conveyor for conveying the products to the cutter head, which is a stationary component. The a conveyor could still comprise converging walls to hold the bundle laterally stable (with the relative motion of the bundle and the cutter being longitudinal movement). A conveyor could be operative to then transport the bundle to a label application station, which could comprise an automated label applicator.

(32) An automated re-closer for reclosing the window could be provided. This could be an applicator for applying a cover over the window or an automated re-closer for reclosing the flap and sealing the flap by adhesive applicator.