EMBOSSING DEVICE AND PACKAGING MACHINE COMPRISING THE DEVICE

• US 20150027083A1
• Filed: 07/21/2014
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GD SPA (Is Company SRL)
• Original Assignee: GD SPA (Is Company SRL)
• Inventors: POLLONI, Roberto, GHINI, Marco, NEGRINI, Stefano
• Granted Patent: US 9,751,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/131.4
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 1/07 Embossing , i.e. producing impressions formed by locally deep-drawing, e.g. using rolls provided with complementary profilesB31F1/128 takes precedence; corrugating B31F1/20; embossing in combination with printing B41F19/02, B41M1/24; typewriters for embossing B41J3/38; stamping in combination with deforming B41K3/36
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 2201/0733 Pattern
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 2201/0779 Control
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 2201/0794 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 19/228 Preparing and feeding blanks
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 19/28 Control devices for cigarette or cigar packaging machines
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/02 responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/02 for perforating, scoring , slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging scoring ampoules B65B3/006
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/06 by cutting

Abstract

An embossing device comprises a first embossing roller and a second embossing roller forming a passage for a web of wrapping material to be embossed, which has a main line of extension and a direction of feed; the first embossing roller comprises on its outer surface toothings to make an imprint on the web; a first toothing having a first impression to imprint on said web a first segment of a reference for identifying a section of the web and a second toothing to imprint a decorative pattern on the web; the second toothing comprises a zone without teeth for defining on the web a second, unembossed segment of the reference; the first toothing and the zone without teeth are offset from each other along a directrix of the first roller.

Claims

1. A method for identification of a section of a continuous web having a main line of extension and movable in a direction of feed according to a predetermined path, said method comprising:

a step of definition on said web of a reference associated with said section,

a step of reading said reference to identify said section using the contrast between said reference and said web, said method being characterized in that said step of definition of a reference comprises a step of embossing said web using an embossing device,

said reference comprising at least a first embossed segment and a second unembossed segment, said first segment having a contrast compared with said web which is different to the contrast of said second segment compared with said web, said first and second segments being positioned on said web along respective strips parallel with said main line of extension,

said method comprising a step of reading the reference segment out of said first and second segments which has greatest reading contrast, said section being identified based on the segment having the greatest reading contrast.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said embossing device comprises a first embossing roller and a second embossing roller forming a passage for a web to be embossed, said first embossing roller and said second embossing roller being relatively positioned for embossing the web passing through the passage, at least said first embossing roller comprising on its outer surface means for imprinting a reference on the web, the imprinting means comprising a first toothing having a first impression and at least a second toothing having a second impression, the second toothing comprising a zone without teeth;

said embossing step comprising imprinting said first segment by means of said first toothing according to a first pattern, imprinting a decorative pattern by means of said second toothing and defining said second segment by means of the zone without teeth.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said reference comprises at least a third, embossed segment, obtained in said embossing step, said third segment having a contrast compared with said web which is different to the contrast of the first and second segments compared with said web, said first, second and third segments being positioned on the web respectively along a first, a second and a third strip each parallel with the main line of extension.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said reference comprises a fourth, unembossed segment positioned on said web along a respective fourth strip parallel with said main line of extension, said reference comprising a fifth, embossed segment aligned with said fourth segment according to said main line of extension and positioned downstream of said fourth segment according to said direction of feed, said reference comprising a sixth, embossed segment aligned with said fourth segment according to said main line of extension and positioned upstream of said fourth segment according to said direction of feed, said fifth and sixth segments being obtained in said embossing step.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least said first segment and said second segment are aligned according to a reference line orthogonal relative to said main line of extension.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said reference is defined on said web together with said decorative pattern.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of reading said reference comprises reading all of the segments of said reference using a sensor for reading each segment, the reading of said first segment generating a first reading signal, the reading of said second segment generating a second reading signal, the reading of said third segment generating a third reading signal, the reading of said fourth segment generating a fourth reading signal, each reading signal being generated depending on the reading contrast of the respective reference segment, said method comprising a step of selection from said first, second, third and fourth reading signals of the reading signal expressing the greatest reading contrast for identifying said section.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of embossing said web comprises imprinting on said web a code for identifying said embossing device, said step of reading said reference comprising reading of said identification code using an identification sensor and all of the segments of said reference using a reading sensor for each segment, the reading of said identification code generating an identification signal for said embossing device, the reading of said first segment generating a first reading signal, the reading of said second segment generating a second reading signal, the reading of said third segment generating a third reading signal, the reading of said fourth segment generating a fourth reading signal, each reading signal being generated depending on the reading contrast of the respective reference segment,

said method comprising a step of selection, to identify said section, of the first reading signal or of the second reading signal or of the third reading signal or of the fourth reading signal depending on said embossing device identification signal.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of reading said reference comprises selection of the segment amongst said first segment, said second segment, said third segment or said fourth segment of said reference having the greatest reading contrast compared with the web relative to the others, positioning a reading sensor for reading the selected segment, identifying said section based on the reading of the selected segment.

10. An embossing device comprising a first embossing roller and a second embossing roller which form a passage for a web of wrapping material to be embossed, said web having a main line of extension and a direction of feed, said first embossing roller and said second embossing roller being positioned relative to each other for embossing said web as it goes through the passage, at least said first embossing roller comprising on its outer surface means to imprint a reference on said web for identifying a section of said web, said device being characterized in that

said imprinting means comprise a first toothing having a first impression to imprint on said web a first segment of said reference according to a first pattern;

at least a second toothing having a second impression to imprint a decorative pattern on said web, said second toothing comprising a zone without teeth for defining on said web a second, unembossed segment of said reference, said first toothing lying on a first band of directrices of said first roller and said zone lying on a second band of directrices of said first roller.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said imprinting means comprise at least a third toothing having a third impression to imprint on said web a third segment of said reference according to a third pattern, said third toothing lying on a third band of directrices of said first roller.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein said imprinting means comprise

a fourth toothing having a fourth impression to imprint on said web a fifth, embossed segment;

a fifth toothing having a fifth impression to imprint on said web a sixth, embossed segment;

said fourth and fifth toothings being aligned according to a directrix of said first roller and delimiting a second zone without teeth along said directrix for defining on said web a fourth, unembossed segment of said reference,

said fourth and fifth toothings and said second zone without teeth lying on a fourth band of directrices of said first roller.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein said first toothing and/or said third toothing and/or said first zone without teeth and/or said second zone without teeth are aligned according to a generatrix of said first roller.

14. The embossing device according to claim 10, wherein said imprinting means comprise a sixth toothing to imprint an identification code for said embossing device on said web.

15. A packaging machine for making packets comprising smokers'"'"' articles, said packaging machine comprising means for forming a wrapper for said smokers'"'"' articles starting from a web of packaging material, said forming means comprising a system for unwinding the web, a system for cutting the web and an embossing device for said packaging material, said machine comprising a synchronization system at least for said unwinding system and said cutting system,

said packaging machine being characterized in that said embossing device is of the type according to claim 10, said synchronization system being designed to synchronize said unwinding system and said cutting system depending on the position of said section identified by means of said reference.

16. The packaging machine according to claim 15, wherein said synchronization system comprises at least a first and a second reading sensor respectively for reading said first segment of said reference and said second segment of said reference,

said first reading sensor being designed to generate a first reading signal depending on the reading contrast between said first segment of said reference and said web,

said second reading sensor being designed to generate a second reading signal depending on the reading contrast between said second segment of said reference and said web,

said synchronization system comprising a computerized control unit in communication with said first and second reading sensors and designed to receive said first and second reading signals,

said computerized control unit being designed to identify said section based on the first reading signal or on the second reading signal depending on the reading contrast between the respective segment of the reference and said web.

17. The machine according to claim 16, wherein said synchronization system comprises a sensor for identifying said embossing device in communication with said computerized control unit and designed to read said identification code, said identification sensor generating an identification signal for said embossing device,

said computerized control unit being designed to identify said section based on the first reading signal or on the second reading signal depending on said identification signal.

18. The packaging machine according to claim 15, wherein said synchronization system comprises at least a first and a second reading sensor respectively for reading said first segment of said reference and said second segment of said reference,

said first reading sensor being designed to generate a first reading signal depending on the reading contrast between said first segment of said reference and said web,

said second reading sensor being designed to generate a second reading signal depending on the reading contrast between said second segment of said reference and said web,

said synchronization system comprising a computerized control unit in communication with said first and second reading sensors and designed to receive said first and second reading signals,

said computerized control unit being designed to generate a difference signal between said first and second reading signals and to identify said section based on said difference signal.