Embossing device and packaging machine comprising the device

• US 9,751,648 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2014
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Desai, Hemant M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Palmer, Lucas
• Application Number:
  US14/336,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20150027083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 493 59, 493 64, 493 66, 493 79, 493144, 493160
• 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, 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 a contrast between said reference and said web,

wherein said step of definition of the reference comprises a step of embossing said web using an embossing device,

said reference comprising at least an embossed first segment and an unembossed second 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 segment of the reference out of said first and second segments which has greatest reading contrast, said section being identified based on the segment having the greatest reading contrasts;

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,

wherein at least said first embossing roller comprises on its outer surface, an imprinting device for imprinting the reference on the web, the imprinting device comprising a first toothing having a first impression and at least a second toothing having a second impression different from the first impression, the second toothing comprising a zone without teeth; and

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

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said reference comprises at least an embossed third 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.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said reference comprises an unembossed fourth segment positioned on said web along a respective fourth strip parallel with said main line of extension, said reference comprising an embossed fifth 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 an embossed sixth 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.

4. The method according to claim 3, 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 segment of the reference, 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.

5. The method according to claim 3, 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 segment of the reference,

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.

6. The method according to claim 3, 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.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein said reference comprises an unembossed fourth segment positioned on said web along a respective fourth strip parallel with said main line of extension and 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 segment of the reference, 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 2, wherein said reference comprises an unembossed fourth segment positioned on said web along a respective fourth strip parallel with said main line of extension and 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 segment of the reference,

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 2, wherein said reference comprises an unembossed fourth segment positioned on said web along a respective fourth strip parallel with said main line of extension and 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. 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.

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

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said reference comprises an unembossed fourth segment positioned on said web along a respective fourth strip parallel with said main line of extension, said reference comprising an embossed fifth 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 an embossed sixth 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.