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A labelling machine comprising a supply spool support (12) adapted to receive a supply spool (28), a takeup spool support (14) adapted to form a takeup spool (32) of web (30) from which at least some labels (74) have been removed, a motor (40) arranged to turn the takeup spool, and a controller to c

A labelling machine comprising a supply spool support (12) adapted to receive a supply spool (28), a takeup spool support (14) adapted to form a takeup spool (32) of web (30) from which at least some labels (74) have been removed, a motor (40) arranged to turn the takeup spool, and a controller to control operation of the motor. A web path (16) is defined between the supply spool and the take-up spool, and the controller is arranged to control the motor to turn the take-up spool so as to cause controlled predetermined linear movement of a web along the web path and onto the take-up spool, furthermore comprising a sensor (50) operable to sense linear displacement of the web and/or displacement of the web in a direction other than the direction of the web, a printer (34) movable between a first position and a second position, and a separator surface (24) comprising a first portion inclined relative to the web path.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A labelling machine comprising: a supply spool support adapted to receive a supply spool of label web;a take-up spool support adapted to form a take-up spool of the web from which at least some labels have been removed;a motor arranged to turn the take-up spool;a controller to control operation o

1. A labelling machine comprising: a supply spool support adapted to receive a supply spool of label web;a take-up spool support adapted to form a take-up spool of the web from which at least some labels have been removed;a motor arranged to turn the take-up spool;a controller to control operation of the motor; anda linear displacement sensor operable to sense linear displacement of the web, and provide a signal indicative thereof;a second sensor configured to sense an edge of a label adhered to the web;wherein a web path is defined between the supply spool and the take-up spool, and the controller is configured:to receive the signal provided by the linear displacement sensor, to monitor linear distance moved by the web along the web path based upon the signal provided by the linear displacement sensor;to determine at least one property relating to the displacement of the web based on the signal provided by the linear displacement sensor, the at least one property being selected from the group consisting of magnitude, direction and rate of displacement of the web; andto control the motor to turn the take-up spool based upon the received signal so as to cause controlled predetermined linear movement of a web along the web path and onto the take-up spool. 2. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the web supports a plurality of spaced apart labels detachably attached thereto along the length thereof, the labelling machine further comprising: a label transfer device for removing labels from the web as the web is transferred from the supply spool to the take up spool. 3. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein the label transfer device is for transferring a label from a label carrying web travelling in a first direction along a first path to a substrate disposed adjacent to the labelling machine, the label transfer device comprising: a separator surface over which the label-carrying web passes in use, the separator surface comprising a first portion inclined relative to the web path and a second arcuate portion for redirecting the web to a second direction where it travels, in use, along a second path whereby a label is separated from the web and transferred to the substrate as it passes over the separator surface. 4. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the label transfer device has a first surface defining at least part of the first path, the first portion of the separator surface being inclined to said first surface, wherein the label transfer device has a second surface defining at least part of the second path, the separator surface being intermediate of said first and second surfaces. 5. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first and second surfaces are substantially parallel. 6. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first portion is inclined relative to the web path at an angle of between 10° and 20° and wherein the label transfer device is an elongate member having an end defining a separator surface. 7. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linear displacement sensor is a contactless sensor. 8. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the linear displacement sensor is also operable to sense displacement of the web in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the web path. 9. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linear displacement sensor comprises an optical sensor. 10. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor is a stepper motor. 11. A labelling machine according to claim 10, further comprising a controller arranged to: determine a linear distance through which a web should be moved;determine a number of steps through which the stepper motor should be driven to effect movement of the web through the linear distance; andcontrol the stepper motor to turn the determined number of steps. 12. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a printer, wherein the printer is moveable between a first position, in which it is operable to print onto labels on a web travelling along the web path, and a second position in which it is removed from the web path. 13. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 1, comprising a controller configured to: receive a signal from the second sensor indicating that an edge of a label has been sensed;based upon the received signal, determine a second linear distance through which the web should be moved so as to position an edge of a label adhered to the web in a predetermined position; andcontrol the motor to move the web through the second linear distance. 14. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the take-up spool support comprises: a spool support having a substantially cylindrical wall having an outer surface defining an opening for receipt of material to be wound onto the take-up spool support, the opening extending along at least part of its the length;an attachment member located radially inwards of the outer surface of the cylindrical wall and being moveable between a first position and in which the material is secured to the support and a second position in which the material can be removed from the take-up spool support; andwherein the material is trapped between the attachment member and the spool support when the attachment member is in the first position. 15. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 14 wherein the attachment member is moveable radially between said first and second positions. 16. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the take-up spool support further comprises an actuator member arranged to move said attachment member between said first and second positions. 17. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein movement of the actuator member in a first direction causes movement of the attachment member in a second non-parallel direction, wherein the first and second directions are substantially perpendicular. 18. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein the actuator member is moveable in a direction substantially parallel to that of the longitudinal axis of take-up spool support. 19. A labelling machine as claimed claim 1, wherein the motor (40) is a position controlled motor. 20. A labelling machine according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor is an optical sensor. 21. A labelling machine comprising: a supply spool support adapted to receive a supply spool of label web;a take-up spool support adapted to form a take-up spool of the web from which at least some labels have been removed;a motor arranged to turn the take-up spool;a controller to control operation of the motor;a label position sensor configured to sense a position of a label of the web, and provide a signal indicative thereof; anda linear displacement sensor configured to sense linear displacement of the web, and provide a signal indicative thereof;wherein a web path is defined between the supply spool and the take-up spool, and the controller is configured to:receive the signal provided by the linear displacement sensor and the signal provided by the label position sensor;determine at least one property relating to the displacement of the web based on the signal provided by the linear displacement sensor, the at least one property being selected from the group consisting of magnitude, direction and rate of displacement of the web, andcontrol the motor to turn the take-up spool based upon the received signals from both the label position sensor and linear displacement sensor so as to control deceleration of the web along the web path. 22. A print and apply labelling machine configured to remove labels from a label web and to apply the removed labels to respective objects, comprising: a supply spool support adapted to receive a supply spool of label web;a take-up spool support adapted to form a take-up spool of the web from which at least some labels have been removed;a motor arranged to turn the take-up spool;a controller to control operation of the motor;a linear displacement sensor operable to sense linear displacement of the web, and provide a signal indicative thereof; anda printer configured to print onto labels on the web;wherein a web path is defined between the supply spool and the take-up spool, and the controller is configured to:receive the signal provided by the linear displacement sensor, to monitor linear distance moved by the web along the web path based upon the signal provided by the linear displacement sensor;determine at least one property relating to the displacement of the web based on the signal provided by the linear displacement sensor, the at least one property being selected from the group consisting of magnitude, direction and rate of displacement of the web, andcontrol the motor to turn the take-up spool based upon the received signal so as to cause controlled predetermined linear movement of a web along the web path and onto the take-up spool to accurately position the labels at the printer, thereby ensuring that print is accurately positioned on the labels.