US 2024/0132301 A1 · Conveyor device for advancing articles and method for labelling articles

Abstract

A conveyor device for advancing articles adapted to contain a pourable product and having an input station, at which the articles are fed to the conveyor device; an output station, at which the articles exit the conveyor device; a fixed endless track defining an endless path passing through the input station and the output station; and at least one article-holding device movably coupled to the track and configured to receive and support one article at a time and to advance the article along the endless path from the input station to the output station. The endless path comprises a rotation branch arranged downstream of the input station and upstream of the output station, relative to the direction of advancement of the articles along the endless path. Each article is rotatable about its longitudinal axis along the rotation branch by magnetic-inductive interaction between the article-holding device and the track.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A conveyor device (5, 5′, 5″) for advancing articles (2) adapted to contain a pourable product, said conveyor device (5, 5′, 5″) comprising:

an input station (I), at which said articles (2) are fed to said conveyor device (5, 5′, 5″);
an output station (O), at which said articles (2) exit said conveyor device (5, 5′, 5″);
a fixed endless track (10) defining an endless path (P) passing through the input station (I) and the output station (0);
and
at least one article-holding device (11) movably coupled to said track (10) and configured to receive and support one article (2) at a time and to advance said article (2) along said endless path (P) from the input station (I) to the output station (0);
said endless path (P) comprising a rotation branch (R) arranged downstream of said input station (I) and upstream of said output station (O), relative to the direction of advancement of said articles (2) along the endless path (P);
wherein each article (2) is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis along said rotation branch (R) by magnetic-inductive interaction between said article-holding device (11) and said track (10).

4 more elements

A method for labelling articles (2) adapted to contain a pourable product, the method comprising:

i) advancing at least one label (3) along a label transfer path;
ii) providing a fixed endless track (10) having a plurality of individually-excitable solenoids (20) and defining an endless path (P);
iii) advancing at least one article-holding device (11) comprising at least one permanent magnet (22) along said endless path (P);
iv) advancing at least one article (2) by means of said article-holding device (11) along at least part of said endless path (P), from an input station (I) of the track (10) to an output station (O) of the track (10);
v) advancing said article (2) along a rotation branch (R) of said endless path (P) arranged downstream of said input station (I) and upstream of said output station (O) and arranged adjacent to said label transfer path;
vi) rotating said article (2) about its own longitudinal axis (A) along said rotating branch (R), thereby determining the application of one respective label (3) onto said article (2);
wherein the rotating comprises:
vii) magnetically coupling said individually-excitable solenoids (20) with said permanent magnet (22).

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Conveyor device for advancing articles and method for labelling articles

Life of this patent

Conveyor device for advancing articles and method for labelling articles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16