Rollers For A Labelling Machine

Abstract

A carousel for a canister labelling machine comprising a plurality of roller shafts (7) circumferentially located around the carousel. Each roller shaft (7) has one end (8) adapted to be coupled to said carousel and a second end (13) adapted to receive a label roller (9) and further comprising a releasable fitting on a distal end thereof. The roller assembly consists of the outer roller shaft with two supporting bearings.

Claims

1. A carousel for a canister labelling machine, said carousel comprising a roller and a plurality of roller shafts circumferentially located around the carousel, each roller shaft comprising: a first end adapted to be coupled to said carousel; and a second opposing end adapted to receive a roller and further comprising a releasable fitting on a distal end thereof adapted to secure the roller onto said roller shaft, wherein the roller includes a pair of bearings, each bearing being located at opposing ends of said roller and arranged to allow said roller to rotate with respect to the roller shaft.

2. A carousel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each roller shaft comprises an abutment against which a bearing closest to the carousel is arranged to abut.

3. A carousel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the abutment is in the form of a portion of the length of the roller shaft having a larger diameter than the remainder of the length of the roller shaft.

4. A carousel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each roller comprises a centrally located hole having a diameter larger than the roller shaft to allow the roller to be positioned on and coaxially with the roller shaft.

5. A carousel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each bearing is located within a countersunk hole formed in an end of said roller.

6. A carousel as claimed in claim 5, wherein a depth of the countersunk hole extending into the roller corresponds substantially to a width of the bearing housing.

7. A carousel as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inner race of each bearing is coupled to the roller shaft by means of an interference fit.

8. A carousel as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer race of each bearing is coupled to the roller by means of a push fit.

9. A carousel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roller has an outer diameter of between 15 mm and 75 mm.

10. A carousel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roller has an outer diameter of 20 mm.

11. A carousel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end of each roller shaft is adapted to be coupled to said carousel by means of a thread and nut.

12. A carousel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the releasable fitting on the distal end of each roller shaft is provided by use of a circlip.

13. A carousel as claimed in claim 12, wherein a washer is located between the releasable fitting and the bearing.

14. A carousel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each bearing is a sealed bearing and the seal is adapted to retain a lubricant within the bearing.

15. A carousel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end of each roller shaft is located in an elevated position with respect to the second opposing end of the roller shaft.

16. A carousel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roller shafts are arranged in pairs to receive in use a canister therebetween.

17. A carousel as claimed in claim 16, wherein the roller shafts are arranged in pairs to receive a metered dose inhaler canister therebetween.

18. A carousel as claimed in claim 16, wherein the circumferential spacing of roller shaft pairs is every 35 mm.

19. A carousel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the roller is made of Black Nylon.

20. A canister labelling machine comprising a carousel as claimed in claim 1.

21. A canister labelling machine as claimed in claim 20, comprising 36 roller shafts.

22. A canister labelling machine carousel, said carousel comprising a plurality of roller assemblies circumferentially located around the carousel, each roller assembly comprising a shaft and a label application roller rotatably mounted thereto, wherein a first end of said shaft is coupled to said carousel and a second end of said shaft comprises a releasable fastener permitting the label application roller to be selectively removed from said second end of said shaft.

23. A carousel as claimed in claim 22, wherein the label application roller is rotatably mounted to the shaft by a pair of bearings, each bearing being located at opposing ends of said label application roller.

24. A canister labelling machine carousel, said carousel comprising a plurality of roller shafts circumferentially located around the carousel, each roller shaft having a label application roller mounted thereon, wherein the label application roller comprises a central passage arranged to receive the roller shaft and two countersunk portions located at opposing ends of the label application roller, wherein each countersunk portion is dimensioned to receive a bearing.

25. A carousel as claimed in claim 24, wherein each roller shaft comprises a first end adapted to be coupled to said carousel; and a second opposing end adapted to secure the label application roller onto said roller shaft.

26. A carousel as claimed in claim 24, wherein the label application roller is rotatably mounted to the roller shaft by a pair of bearings, each bearing being located in a countersunk portion of the label application roller.

27. A method of applying a label to a metered dose inhaler canister with a labelling apparatus comprising a carousel according to claim 1.

28-29. (cancele

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

[0043] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a conventional labelling machine label assembly;

[0045] FIG. 2 is a cross section through a conventional roller;

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a disassembled label assembly according to the present invention;

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through a roller according to the present invention;

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a carousel according to the present invention;

[0049] FIG. 6 illustrates the sequence of building the roller assembly onto the carousel; and

[0050] FIG. 7 illustrates the flow of canisters into and around the carousel and a canister disposed between two adjacent roller assemblies.

[0051] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments are shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description of the specific embodiments are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, the invention is cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a conventionally roller assembly for a labelling carousel.

[0053] The term ‘carousel’ is the term used in the art to describe the generally circular conveyor that collects canisters from a supply line (typically a conveyor belt or the like) and carries the canister past a labelling head (which applies the label to the outer surface of the canister) and to another output conveyor.

[0054] The carousel rotates about its central axis, collects canisters between adjacent rollers, passes the canister past a printing or label head and on to an output line (again typically a conveyor or belt). The circular nature of the carousel conveniently allows for high speed of movement of the canisters past the label head.

[0055] Returning to FIG. 1, a conventional assembly comprises a steel shaft 1 with a flanged lower end 2. The upper end of the shaft 1 is provided with a thread 3 which allows the shaft to be screwed into the carousel (not shown).

[0056] The conventional assembly is provided with a rubber roller 4 having a smooth outer surface for contact with a canister. Four open roller bearings 5a-5d are positioned onto the shaft 1 at equal intervals along its length and the roller is then passed over the top and abuts with the flange 2.

[0057] A washer arrangement 6 may be optionally used at either end of the roller.

[0058] Once the roller and bearing are in place over the shaft the roller assembly is ready to be secured to the carousel. This is done by screwing the thread 3 into a corresponding thread on the carousel. This is repeated all around the carousel until all the roller assemblies are secured and the carousel is then ready for mounting on the labelling machine and its rotatory drive which causes the carousel to rotate.

[0059] FIG. 2 is a cross section through the roller of a conventional labeller which the equal spacing of the 4 bearings 5a-5d is shown schematically. The hatching represents the side wall of the roller 4.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows the components of a roller assembly according to the present invention.

[0061] It will be immediately clear that the assembly is few in sub-components and is simpler in construction than the conventional arrangement. Counterintuitively the inventors have established that such a simplified and modified arrangement improves maintenance access as well as numerous other advantages including those discussed above.

[0062] The assembly comprises a roller shaft 7 having two opposing ends, each with a different fastener i.e. one end has a fastening that can be removed more quickly and conveniently than the other. The upper fastener 8 is a threaded portion which may be coupled to the carousel, for example, by screwing the thread into a corresponding threaded recess or by using a locking nut. This upper fastener 8 firmly couples the shaft to the carousel.

[0063] The assembly also comprises a label roller and importantly only two sealed bearings 10, 11.

[0064] Returning to the roller shaft 8, the shaft further comprises a shoulder or projection approximately ⅓rd of the way down the roller shaft (the precise location depending on the specific carousel).

[0065] The shoulder 12 is formed integrally with the shaft and specifically is a short length of the shaft with a diameter greater than the diameter of the rest of the length of the shaft. The function of the shoulder is explained below.

[0066] The lower end of the shaft incorporates a releasable fastener 13 is the form of a circumferentially extending groove or slot into which a spring loaded clip (a circlip) 14 can be selectively attached and removed. A circlip requires a particular tool to apply and remove from the circumferential groove but advantageously allows the fastener to be rapidly attached and removed from the shaft.

[0067] A conventional washer, such as a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) washer 15, is also part of the assembly and will be described further below.

[0068] FIG. 4 is a cross-section through a roller according to the present invention.

[0069] As shown in cross-section (the hatched section indicating the roller wall). The roller 9 comprises an ‘I’ in cross-section i.e. a central passage 10 arranged to receive the roller shaft and two opposing countersunk portions 17, 18. Each countersunk portion 17, 18 is dimensioned to receive a bearing (not shown).

[0070] The steps of assembling the roller will now be described, first with reference to FIG. 5 which shows a complete carousel incorporating roller assemblies according to the present invention.

[0071] The carousel 19 is shown in FIG. 5 comprising a plurality of roller assemblies 20 arranged around the circumference of the carousel. As can be seen the roller assemblies are arranged in pairs so as to make contact with opposing side surfaces of a canister which (in use) is located between them.

[0072] Referring back to FIG. 3 the upper threaded portion 8 of the roller shaft 7 can be seen in FIG. 5 with a corresponding locking nut 21 firmly connecting the shaft 7 to the carousel 19.

[0073] The stages of assembly will now be described with reference to FIG. 6.

Stage 1—Roller Shaft/Carousel Assembly

[0074] The first step of assembling the roller assembly according to the invention is to attach the plurality of roller shafts to the carousel.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 6, the upper threaded portion 8 of the roller shaft 7 is inserted into the carousel body 19. The upper part of the shaft containing the thread protrudes from the upper surface of the body and a locking nut 20 is tightened to securely and firmly couple the shaft to the carousel body. According to the invention this upper locking nut fastening is, in effect, a semi-permanent fastening i.e. in principle it can be removed but in practice it is intended to remain connected to the carousel.

[0076] This is repeated around the 36 roller assemblies shown in FIG. 5.

[0077] In one arrangement the shafts could be integrated into the carousel body meaning that stage 1 may not be required where the carousel incorporates roller shafts.

Stage 2—Roller/Roller Bearing Assembly

[0078] Stage 2 involves mounting the pair of bearings 10, 11 into the countersunk recesses 17, 18 on each end of the roller 9. The bearings and holes are selected so that a press fit can be used to locate the bearings into each end of the roller. The bearings are pre-sealed and contain a lubricant.

Stage 3—Mounting Roller onto Lower Shaft End

[0079] Stage 3 involves sliding the roller/roller bearing sub-assembly onto the lower end of the shaft and over the circumferential recess 3. The shoulder 12 is already in abutment with the lower surface of the carousel body 19 and the roller is pushed on to the lower end of the shaft until the upper bearing 10 abuts with the lower surface of the abutment 12. The bearing and abutment engage to locate the roller onto the shaft and to prevent any further upwards movement.

Stage 4—Securing the Roller

[0080] Finally the roller is secured onto the shaft using a PTFE washer 15 and circlip 14. The roller is then secured to the shaft. The shoulder 12 prevents vertical movement in the upwards direction and the circlip 14 prevents vertical movement in the downwards direction. Thus, the roller is firmly secured to the shaft and the assembly is complete.

[0081] The roller assembly can be very conveniently maintained using the releasable fastening on the lower part of the assembly to replace the bearings or invert the roller.

[0082] FIG. 7 illustrates the general movement of canisters through the labelling machine. As shown, canisters are delivered to the generally circular carousel at the top right of FIG. 7 via a delivery channel. This may be a simple channel where canisters abut one another in a line. Alternatively the end of the channel proximate the carousel may further comprise a worm gear having a pitch sized to accommodate a canister. Thus, as the worm drive rotates it can feed the canisters forwards and into the carousel.

[0083] The carousel rotates and transports each canister past the labelling head at the bottom of FIG. 7 where the label is applied. The labelled canisters then leave the labelling machine via a second channel shown at the lower left of FIG. 7.

[0084] It will be recognised that the aspects and features of the invention may be used in any suitable combination and that the application and invention is not limited just to the embodiments described herein.