Container processing machine

Abstract

There is disclosed a container processing machine comprising a material handling surface for handling a sheet-like material through suction and a vacuum source in fluid connection with said material handling surface, the machine including means for detecting and transmitting a value of pressure of the gas being suctioned; a controllably operable flow valve; a control unit operatively connected with said detection and transmission means and with said flow valve; said detection and transmission means and said flow valve being arranged between said vacuum source and said material handling surface; said control unit being programmed to adjust the degree of opening of said flow valve in response to a signal which is a function of at least said value of pressure.

Claims

1. A container processing machine comprising: a material handling surface to handle a sheet-type material through suction; a vacuum source in fluid connection with said material handling surface; means for detecting and transmitting a value of pressure of the gas being suctioned; a controllably operable flow valve; a control unit operatively connected with said detection and transmission means and with said flow valve, wherein said detection and transmission means and said flow valve are arranged between said vacuum source and said material handling surface; and debris intercepting means arranged downstream from said material handling surface, said detecting and transmission means being located substantially at said debris interceptor with which they are fluidically connected by a sampling duct; said control unit being programmed to adjust the degree of opening of said flow valve in response to a signal which is a function of at least said value of pressure.

2. The container processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said flow valve is arranged between said vacuum source and said detection and transmission means.

3. The container processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said control unit comprises a processor and actuating means, the processor elaborating a command signal at least based on the value of pressure obtained from said detection and transmission means, said command signal being supplied to the actuating means to vary accordingly the degree of opening of said flow valve.

4. The container processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is operatively connected to a human-machine interface and is programmed to adjust the degree of opening of said flow valve in response to a signal which is also a function of information selectively provided by a user.

5. The container processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting and transmitting a value of pressure of the gas being suctioned include a transducer.

6. The container processing machine according to claim 5, wherein the transducer is a pressure transducer.

7. The container processing machine according to claim 1, comprising dust separator arranged downstream from said material handling surface, said transducer being located substantially at said debris interceptor with which they are fluidically connected by a sampling duct.

8. The container processing machine according to claim 7, wherein the dust separator includes a cyclone-type dust separator.

9. The container processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said control unit comprises a stepper motor, the processor elaborating a command signal at least based on the value of pressure obtained from said transducer, said command signal being supplied to the motor to vary accordingly the degree of opening of said flow valve.

10. A container processing machine comprising: a material handling surface to handle a sheet-type material through suction; a vacuum source in fluid connection with said material handling surface, a pressure transducer to detect and transmit a value of pressure of the gas being suctioned; a controllably operable flow valve; a control unit operatively connected with said transducer and with said flow valve, wherein said transducer and said flow valve are arranged between said vacuum source and said material handling surface; said control unit being programmed to adjust the degree of opening of said flow valve in response to a signal which is a function of at least said value of pressure.

11. The container processing machine according to claim 10, wherein the transducer is a pressure transducer.

12. The container processing machine according to claim 10, wherein said flow valve is arranged between said vacuum source and said transducer.

13. The container processing machine according to claim 10, comprising debris intercepting means arranged downstream from said material handling surface, said transducer being located substantially at said debris interceptor with which they are fluidically connected by a sampling duct.

14. The container processing machine according to claim 10, comprising dust separator arranged downstream from said material handling surface, said transducer being located substantially at said debris interceptor with which they are fluidically connected by a sampling duct.

15. The container processing machine according to claim 14, wherein the dust separator includes a cyclone-type dust separator.

16. The container processing machine according to claim 10, wherein said control unit comprises a processor and actuating means, the processor elaborating a command signal at least based on the value of pressure obtained from said transducer, said command signal being supplied to the actuating means to vary accordingly the degree of opening of said flow valve.

17. The container processing machine according to claim 10, wherein said control unit comprises a motor, the processor elaborating a command signal at least based on the value of pressure obtained from said transducer, said command signal being supplied to the motor to vary accordingly the degree of opening of said flow valve.

18. The container processing machine according to claim 17, wherein the motor includes a stepper motor.

19. The container processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is operatively connected to a human-machine interface and is programmed to adjust the degree of opening of said flow valve in response to a signal which is also a function of information selectively provided by a user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) In the following, a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a container-processing machine in accordance with the teachings of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) Number 1 in FIG. 1 indicates as a whole a container-processing machine. For the sake of convenience, particular reference shall be made, in the following description, to a labelling machine wherein a sheet-like label material is handled through suction, although this is in no way intended to limit the scope of protection as defined by the accompanying claims.

(4) The container-processing machine 1 comprises a vacuum source 2 which is fluidically connectable with a material handling surface 3. More specifically, the material handling surface 3 is defined by the lateral surface 4 of a vacuum drum 5 of the type commonly used in labelling machines.

(5) As depicted in broad outline in FIG. 1, a vacuum drum 5 typically comprises peripherally a lateral surface 4 for engaging with a label sheet-like material. To this purpose, the lateral surface 4 comprises at least a section having a plurality of through holes 6 in communication with at least an internal passage 7. This passage 7 can be connected to the vacuum source 2 by means of suitable orifices or manifolds, depending on the specific design of the vacuum drum 4. Generally speaking, when vacuum drum 5 reaches, upon rotation about an axis, one or more pre-determined positions where the internal passage 7 is in alignment with the orifices or manifolds, suction shall be applied on the lateral surface 4 of the first section, thereby enabling hold of the label sheet-like material thereat.

(6) In the case depicted in FIG. 1, the vacuum source 2 comprises a vacuum turbine having an inlet duct 8 and outlet duct 9. The inlet duct 8 is in communication with an air inlet 10 through which air is sucked in, whereas the outlet duct 9 is open to the environment for venting.

(7) Preferably, the air inlet 10 is equipped with a filter 11 for preventing particulate material to be sucked in and potentially foul or clog the blades and gears of the vacuum turbine and of the whole system.

(8) Furthermore, the vacuum supply apparatus 1 typically comprises a safety valve 12 arranged between the air inlet 10 and the inlet duct 8 of the vacuum turbine. The setting of the safety valve 12 basically sets the maximum degree of vacuum (the sub-atmospheric pressure) within the whole of the machine 1. The provision of safety valve 12 is mainly intended for protection of the vacuum source 2, hence said valve 12 is typically designed to open when a set pressure value is exceeded.

(9) For fluidic connection between the vacuum source 2 and the material handling surface 3, the container-processing machine 1 comprises a pipeline 13. Where a same vacuum source 2 is used for supplying suction to a plurality of material handling surfaces 3, corresponding pipelines 12 branch off a common manifold 14, as depicted in FIG. 1.

(10) Along the pipeline 12, the vacuum supply apparatus 1 further comprises, along the direction of fluidic flow, a debris interceptor 15 and a filter 16.

(11) In particular, the debris interceptor 15 may consist of a cyclone-type dust separator.

(12) Advantageously, the container-processing machine 1 comprises means 17 for detecting and transmitting a value of pressure of the air being suctioned at a position along the pipeline 13, between the material handling surface 3 and the vacuum source 2. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 the detection and transmission means 17 are located substantially at the debris interceptor 15 with which they are fluidically connected by a sampling duct 18, so that the value of pressure is detected as close as possible to the material handling surface 4 whilst preserving, at once, the means 17 from most potential interferences with particulate material, dust, debris and the like. These means 17 may comprise a pressure transducer.

(13) Advantageously, the container-processing machine 1 further comprises a controllably operable flow valve 19, which is preferably a throttle valve, arranged along the pipeline 13, upstream from the common manifold 14 (if present) and, however, upstream of both the vacuum source 2 and the safety valve 12.

(14) More preferably, the valve 19 is arranged slightly downstream from the filter.

(15) Furthermore, the container-processing machine 1 advantageously comprises a control unit 20 operatively connected with the detection and transmission means 16 and with the flow valve 19. Preferably, the control unit 20 is also operatively connected with a human-machine interface 21.

(16) The control unit 20 is programmed to manage operation of the vacuum supply apparatus 1 as shall be described in the following.

(17) In particular, the control unit 20 is programmed to receive the values of pressure measured by the means 17, and to conveniently adjust the degree of opening of the flow valve 19 in response to a signal which is a function of at least the values of pressure detected.

(18) Preferably, the control unit 20 adjusts the degree of opening of the flow valve 19 so that the pressure in the sampling duct 18 and, consequently, at the material handling surface 3 is maintained at a pre-determined value, which is chosen depending on the properties of the labelling material being handled (e.g. thickness, elastic properties, friction) as well as of the label format. Said pre-determined value shall typically be set by the user through the human-machine interface 21.

(19) As a further alternative, operation of the control unit may basically be timed with the operational speed of the container-processing machine 1 as a whole, so that the degree of vacuum supplied at the material handling unit 3 is always conveniently timed with the specific operation that the operational cycle prescribes.

(20) Depending on the type of pre-programming, the control unit 20 can ensure that the entity of suction provided at the material handling surface 3 is compatible with the operation being carried out thereat at all times. In particular, account may conveniently be taken of particularly delicate phases of a labelling process, such as the cut-and-transfer and pre-glue sections.

(21) It must be noted that, when a label has not yet been cut off the label material web, the material handling surface beneath the label moves at a relatively greater speed, hence the label is practically sliding. After being cut, instead, the label shall move on at the same speed as its supporting surface. As a consequence, the cut-and-transfer phase requires a very accurate calibration of the degree of vacuum supplied for proper handling of the labelling material.

(22) Even more particularly, the pre-determined pressure value which the control unit 20 is programmed to maintain at all times may advantageously be chosen with a view to ensuring consistent conditions for the very first and the very last labels going round the system, i.e. during the start-up and shut-down, which are the most critical operational phases for the vacuum source, since, at those times, a significant percentage of the holes 6 in the material handling surface 4 is not covered by any labelling material.

(23) For example, at start-up, fluidic connection between each section of the vacuum drum respectively handling a label and the vacuum source 2 is sequentially enabled (e.g. by opening corresponding valves) a fraction of a second prior to the arrival of the label at the corresponding section of the material handling surface 4. The control unit 20 is programmed to maintain the pressure (i.e. the degree of vacuum) at said predetermined value, and the corresponding correct suction is thus applied to each of the first labels going round the system. Thus, the vacuum source (turbine) 2 is conveniently required to supply just the most appropriate degree of vacuum only at the sections of material handling surface 4 actually engaging labelling material, hence there is virtually no waste of vacuum source (turbine) power.

(24) To this purpose, the unit control 20 may advantageously comprise a processor 22 and an actuator 23 (e.g. a stepper motor). Within processor 21 suitable elaboration of the pressure data obtained from the means 17 is carried out, so as to obtain a command signal. The unit control 20 supplies this command signal to the actuator 23, which directly varies, accordingly, the degree of opening of flow valve 19.

(25) In use, the control unit 20 shall receive from the detection and transmission means 17 values of pressure of the fluid being suctioned at a position representative of the degree of vacuum provided at the material handling surface 3 and, optionally, information regarding the operation currently being performed at the material handling surface 3 on the portion of sheet-like material being handled. Based on said values and on said information, the control unit 20 shall accordingly adjust the degree of opening of the valve 19, so that the pressure (i.e. the degree of vacuum) at the material handling surface 3 is maintained within a desired operational range.

(26) The advantages of the container-processing machine 1 according to the present subject matter will be apparent from the above description.

(27) In particular, the container-processing machine 1 may provide for selective and accurate control of the degree of vacuum provided at each and every vacuum drum of a plurality of vacuum drums in the machine 1. In particular, with the container-processing machine of the subject matter, constant and appropriate calibration of the degree of vacuum provided at each vacuum drum, in view of the current processing stage and of design parameters, is enabled.

(28) At the same time, as a result of the accurate vacuum control described above, it becomes possible to make use of a smaller and less energy-consuming vacuum source 2: since suction is exploited more sensibly and with constant reference to what operation is being performed at the material handling surface 3, i.e. to the degree of vacuum instantly and actually needed for operational purposes, wastage of vacuum may be reduced, hence the workload forced on the vacuum source may be correspondingly decreased.

(29) In this respect, the container-processing machine of the subject matter is particularly advantageous because it may help reducing both the expense for manufacture of the machine and prime costs, as far as the power consumed by the vacuum source is concerned.

(30) Finally, it shall appear that changes may be made to the container-processing machine as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of protection as defined in the accompanying claims.