LABELING EQUIPMENT
DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY
This invention relates to a labeling apparatus for supplying and applying self-adhesive labels arranged in a conveyor network adapted to be fed step by step, with a lever mounted for pivotal movement on a cover to control a feeding mechanism for the conveyor network , said feeding mechanism including a conveyor belt with a transport pawl and a board so that, in each pivoting cycle of the lever, the conveyor network is adapted to be held between a securing member of the transport pawl and the board for the tow through the conveyor belt. Labeling devices of this type are known as portable labellers in a variety of designs. These are used to mark prices in retail stores, particularly in supermarkets and self-service establishments. A labeling apparatus alluded to initially is known from DE 43 09 441 A1. This known labeller is a portable clamp-type labeling apparatus wherein the labels leave a label supply roll one by one, are printed with a printing mechanism and are subsequently fed to a supply flange where each individual label is divided. in sheets from the conveyor network and is supplied. The conveyor network is moved through the labeling apparatus by the feeding mechanism, with the feeding mechanism and the printing mechanism for printing on the label being controlled by the pivoted lever. This lever is disposed opposite to a handle mounted rigidly on the cover. Using a pivotal movement of the lever in opposition to the force of a spring, the printing mechanism moves against a platen, in order to make the impression on a label resting on the platen. As the lever is caused to swing backward by the spring force, the conveyor network is held between the transport pawl holding member and the conveyor belt board and is advanced by the conveyor belt. through a distance corresponding to the label separation, in which process the printed label is divided into sheets from the conveyor network in the supply flange, subsequently applied and sliding on the article to be labeled by the pressure and rolling action of an applicator roller. In all known labelers where the feed mechanism includes said conveyor belt with a transport pawl provided in a holding member, the holding member is a critical part. Conventionally, this fastening member comprises a small bearing coated with corundum on the side which makes contact with the conveyor network. In the simplest case, the clamping member is a piece of corundum paper or corundum tape such as those used in crushing applications. In order to ensure that each label held in the conveyor network can move to a precisely defined position below the printing mechanism, it is important that the fastening member establishes a contact as defined as possible with the conveyor network so that, at each pivoting cycle of the lever, the conveyor network is to advance precisely a label separation. This is of particular importance with the pre-printed labels, so that the additional printing produced on the labeller is precisely within the borders of, and not on, the pre-printed section. However, an indefinite advance not only has the disadvantage that the pre-printed section receives an impression when printing on the label., but also that too large an advance, for example, causes the label to have to leave the supply flange before being applied to an object. The label becomes a "flyer" and can not be properly slid over the object. Additionally, it is important that the fastening member have a maximum possible service life to allow the labeler to also be used as long as possible before it requires repair or maintenance. The proper operation of the labeler requires that the fastening member reliably holds the conveyor network between it and the table, to avoid any relative movement occurring between the conveyor network and the fastening member during the feed movement of the conveyor. transportation band. Experience has shown that the clamping member equipped with a corundum bearing is not able to meet the above-mentioned requirements with respect to service life, reliability and accuracy. When the corundum bearing is dragged by the conveyor belt, it carries with it the conveyor network which is made of paper. As a result, the corundum bearing can be fouled by abrasion-impaired paper and lose its grip, whereby its reliability and accuracy with respect to the advance of the conveyor network are impaired. In addition, the corundum bearing has a relatively undefined contact area because it comes into contact with the conveyor network only when the corundum particles project a sufficient amount. The paper subjected to abrasion between the corundum particles produces an even more indefinite contact zone. Additionally, this often presents a disadvantage in that the use of a corundum bearing as a clamping member does not allow the forward movement of the conveyor network to be adjusted when the labels with a different adhesive must be processed by the portable labeller. . For example, the labels used in a deep freezing environment are supplied with a different adhesive than the labels used at room temperature thus requiring a different feeding scenario.
One purpose of the present invention is to improve the service life, reliability and accuracy of the label fed into a labeling apparatus of the type initially referred to. According to the present invention, this purpose is achieved with a labeling apparatus that incorporates the features indicated in claim 1. Since, in the labeling apparatus of the present invention, the fastening member of the transport ratchet is constructed in a cutting edge type configuration that allows the line contact between the holding member and the conveyor network to be established in a direction transverse to the feeding direction of the conveyor network, any fouling of the holding member capable of reducing its Service life, reliability and accuracy. The line contact obtained by the cutting edge type configuration of the clamping member allows an exactly defined contact between the clamping member and the conveyor network, by means of which it is ensured that, with each pivoting cycle of the lever, the conveyor belt of the feed mechanism advance the conveyor network precisely a label separation and that the label to be printed and supplied is invariably moved to precisely the same position. The cutting edge type configuration of the fastening member of the invention, allows the added advantage of avoiding any excess of advancement, so that no "flywheel" is produced that leaves the delivery flange prematurely. In addition, the cutting edge type clamping member ensures a pre-adjustable and defined advancing movement, independently of the adhesive used in the labels. Advantageous embodiments of the labeling apparatus of the invention are the subject of the sub-claims. When, in one aspect of the labeling apparatus of the invention, the clamping member includes neighborhoods cutting edges arranged adjacent to each other in the feed direction, multiple line contacts can be established between the clamping member and the conveyor network, by means of from which the reliability and accuracy of label feeding can be further improved. When, in another aspect of the labeling apparatus of the invention, the cutting edges are disposed at a progressively increasing distance from the conveyor network in the feed direction, a rotational movement of the transport pawl to its final clamping position, it causes the individual cutting edges to come into contact with the conveyor network successively, thus ensuring a reliable and accurate feeding of the labels without the cutting edges cutting into the conveyor network. Since no cut is made, the clamping member can not get dirty either. When, in yet another aspect of the labeling apparatus of the invention, the clamping member comprises several blades, the transport pawl can be equipped with the clamping member in a particularly simple and convenient manner, with the number of line contacts between the clamping member. clamping member and the conveyor network being selectable by the number of blades. When, in yet another aspect of the labeling apparatus of the invention, the blades are made of metal, a particularly long service life of the fastening member can be ensured. When, in another aspect of the labeling apparatus of the invention, the blades project from the transport pawl on the side of the transport pawl facing the conveyor network in equal amounts and, when the blades are mounted on the pawl transportation in such a way that in the fastening position they are inclined towards the conveyor network with respect to a perpendicular, not only the configuration described above is enabled in a simple manner, wherein the distance of the blades with respect to the conveyor network progressively increases in the feeding direction, but also an increasingly frictional frictional engagement between the fastening member and the conveyor network is ensured, when the network The conveyor is pulled along the conveyor belt due to the pivoting capacity of the transport pawl, by means of which the reliability and accuracy of the feed are further improved. The embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the attached figures 1 to 7f.
Figure 1 is a detailed bottom view of a conveyor belt of a feed mechanism of a conveyor network of a labeling apparatus of the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the conveyor belt taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the conveyor belt of Fig. 1 with the wing in open position . Figure 4 is a detailed view of a transport pawl of the conveyor belt of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the pawl of transportation of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of an apparatus; of portable labeling known in the art. And Figures 7a-7f are schematic views of the conveyor belt of the labeling apparatus of Figure 6 and of the conveyor network, to explain the mode of operation of the feeding mechanism. The labeling apparatus shown in Figure 6 is constructed in the same way as a labeling apparatus of the invention, independently of the construction of a feeding mechanism 19. Therefore, to avoid repetitions, only the conveyor belt 40 and , as a detail, its transport ratchet, which form part of the feeding mechanism 19 of the labeling apparatus of the invention, are illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5. Before describing FIGS. 1 to 5 in greater detail, the mode will be described of the known labeling apparatus with reference to Figures 6 and 7a through 7f. The labeling apparatus shown in Figure 6 has a cover 11 in which a handle 12 is integrally formed. Provided on the upper side of the cover, is a compartment 13 for accommodating a supply reel 14 for a conveyor network 15 to which the self-adhesive labels 16 adhere. The conveyor network 15 is deflected in the labeling apparatus from the supply reel 14 in the compartment 13 to the lower left part in the representation of figure 6 through a projection 17 on the cover, forward to a supply ledge 18 wherein the conveyor network 15 is tilted to be diverted through a feed mechanism generally designated 19, to a rearward end of the cover 11. Mounted on the cover 11 for the rotation about an axis 20 in front of the supply flange 18, there is an applicator roller 10 with which a label 16 'detached from the network In this case, in the supply flange 18, and in the position ready for application, can be adhered to an object by a sliding movement of the applicator roller 10. Provided below the handle 12, there is a lever 22 mounted on the cover 11 for pivotal movement about an axis 23. Seated between the handle 12 and the lever 22, there is a spring 24 indicated schematically in figure 6 and which attempts to urge the lever 22 towards the rest position shown in FIG. Figure 6. On the cover 11 there is a printing mechanism lever 25 which, likewise, is pivotal about the axis 23. The printing mechanism lever 25 supports a printing mechanism 26 that allows printing of a self-adhesive label 16 located on a platen 27. Seated between an arm 28 of the lever 22 and the printing mechanism lever 25, there is a spring 29 which serves to transmit a movement and the lever 22 directed against the handle 12 to the printing mechanism lever 25. In the rest position shown in FIG. 6, the printing mechanism lever 25 is held in an elevated position by the lever 22. For a brief Description of an operation cycle of the labeling apparatus illustrated in Figure 6, it is assumed that no self-adhesive label 16 'is still in the supply position below the applicator roller 10. To start an operation cycle, the lever 22 is pulled against the handle 12, as a result of which the printing mechanism lever 25 is pivoted, due to the action of the arm 28 and the spring 29, in a counterclockwise direction about the axis 23, causing the printing mechanism 26 to be lowered into the platen 27. When the platen 27 is struck, the printing mechanism 26 produces an impression on the self-adhesive label 16 located on the platen 27 at this particular time. Through a lever 30 mounted in the same way for the pivotal movement on the cover 11, but controlled by the printing mechanism lever 25, the feeding mechanism 19 has moved at the same time from the position illustrated in FIG. 6 in FIG. direction of the plate 27 longitudinally of the conveyor network 15. When the lever 22 is released, the spring 24 operates to return the lever 22 to the initial position illustrated in figure 6, with the lever 22 pivoting the lever printing mechanism 25 clockwise about the axis 23. At the same time, also the feeding mechanism 19 is returned to its initial position shown in figure 6. As this movement occurs, it is it finds, however, in frictional engagement with the conveyor network 15, thus causing the conveyor network to be pulled around the supply rim 18 at a distance corresponding to width of a self-adhesive label. As this occurs, a self-adhesive label 16 is divided into sheets from the conveyor network 15 in the supply rim 18, reaching the position of the self-adhesive label 16 'below the applicator roller 10. The self-adhesive label adhesive 16 'is then ready to adhere to an object by a sliding movement of the applicator roller 10. The feeding mechanism 19 includes a conveyor belt 40 mounted for displacement on the cover 11 below that site, said feeding mechanism described herein in detail with reference to Figure 6, only to the extent necessary to understand the invention. For clarity, reference is also made to figure 7a. The conveyor belt 40 has a cover 42 outside of which a wing 44 carrying the board 45 can be rotated outward in the downward direction. Above the wing 44 a transport pawl 46 is mounted on the cover 42 for pivotal movement about an axis 48. A coil spring not visible in Figures 6 and 7a has its ends held in the cover 42 and, respectively, the transport pawl 46, as well as inclines the transport pawl 46 clockwise about the axis 48, thus driving in the direction of the board 45. At its end adjacent the wing 44, the transportation pawl 46 has two ramps 50 which allow the transport pawl 46 to rest on adjacent longitudinal sides of the conveyor network 15. The arrangement of the transportation pawl 46 on the transportation band 40 is selected such that, when the transportation band 40 is moves to the left in Figure 6, the transport pawl 46 is in a raised position while, during a movement of the t-band ransportation to the right in Figure 6, the transport pawl 46 can be lowered to keep the conveyor network 15 clamped between a clamping member 52 and the board 45 formed in the wing 44, thereby allowing the conveyor belt 40 to pull the conveyer network to the right in Figure 6, as will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 7a-7f. In Figures 7a to 7f, the individual labels 16 in the conveyor network 15 are numbered consecutively from 1 to 5, with the label no. 1 and the label no. 3 being shaded to show the different relative positions of the transportation belt 40 and the conveyor network 15 in greater detail. The initial position of the transportation belt 40 shown in Figure 6 is also shown in Figure 7a. The conveyor network 15 has wave-shaped longitudinal edges and carries the labels termed wave-edge labels. The labels involved here are only imaginary, since the conveyor network 15 running through the conveyor belt 40 is empty. The labels were previously removed from the conveyor network 15 on the supply flange 15. The arrangement is selected such that each label 16 has two wave crests lying opposite each other and is combined with its two adjacent labels 16, to form a wave depression. Additionally, the arrangement is such that, in the initial position of Figure 7a, the transport pawl 46 rests with its two ramps 50 on the two wave peaks of the conveyor network 15 corresponding to the ridges of the imaginary label no. 2. Proceeding from the starting position of figure 7a, the conveyor belt 40 moves to the left, as indicated by an arrow facing left. As this occurs, the clamping member 52 rises out of the conveyor 15, so that the conveyor 15 is not driven by the conveyor 40. When the conveyor 40 moves to the left in a distance corresponding to half the width of a label, the ramps 50 according to the representation of figure 7b, reach two adjacent wave depressions in the conveyor network 15 between imaginary labels no. 2 and no. 3. As a result, the clamping member 52 moves downward, urging the conveyor network 15 against the board 45. With the conveyor belt 40 now continuing its movement to the left through a distance reaching the half the width of a label, according to figure 7c, the ramps 50 reach the two wave peaks of the conveyor network 15 corresponding to the imaginary label no. 3, causing the transport pawl 46 to be lifted back out of the conveyor network. The conveyor belt 40 now reverses its movement, moving to the right in accordance with figures 6 and 7c. When the ramps 50 in Figure 7d enter again the wave depressions of the conveyor network 15 between the imaginary label no. 2 and the imaginary label no. 3, the conveyor network 15 is held attached to the board 45 by the holding member 52 in the region of the imaginary label no. 3. From here on, the conveyor network 15 is dragged to the right, as indicated in Figure 7e with an arrow both on the conveyor belt 40 and on the conveyor network 15. According to Figure 7f, the band of transportation 40 causes the conveyor network 15 to follow its movement through a distance corresponding to the space of a label. Subsequently, the transport pawl 46 is lifted again out of the conveyor network 15 so that, with the next pivoting cycle of the lever 22, the same sequence of movements takes place, which starts again as shown in FIG. figure 7a. The present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to Figures 1 to 5. To the extent possible, the same reference numerals as those used for the known labeling apparatus of Figures 6 and 7a to 7f apply. Figure 1 shows in detail the conveyor belt 40 of a labeling apparatus of the invention which differs from the labeling apparatus known only in the construction of the conveyor belt and the improved dragging of the conveyor network 15 by the conveyor belt achieved from that way Figure 1 shows the conveyor belt 40 in a bottom view, that is, as seen from below in the labeling apparatus shown in Figure 6. Figure 2 shows the conveyor belt 40 of Figure 1 in a sectional view taken along the line II-II of figure 1. Figure 3 shows the conveyor belt 40 of figure 1 with the wing 44 open. In the representation of figure 1, a length of the conveyor network 15 that reaches approximately from one end of the belt to the other end, is on the transportation belt 40. Figure 4 shows in detail the transport pawl 46 of the transportation belt 40 of the figure 1. Figure 5 shows the transport pawl 46 in a vertical sectional view.
In accordance with the representations of Figures 2 to 5, the transport pawl 46 has a recess 54 which extends through its effective width and which receives the clamping member 52. According to the invention, the clamping member 52 it is manufactured with a cutting edge type configuration, so that line contact between the holding member 52 and the conveyor network 15 can occur in a transverse direction with respect to the feed direction of the conveyor network 15. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the clamping member 52 has several cutting edges 52a, 52b and 52c disposed adjacent to each other in the feed direction of the conveyor network 15. The relative distance of the cutting edges 52a-52c with respect to the Conveyor 15 is progressively increased in the feeding direction, as can be seen in Figure 2, where the cutting edge 52a is already seated on the conveyor network 15, while the cutting edge 52b is at a distance from the conveyor network 15 and the distance from the cutting edge 52c with respect to the conveyor network 15 is even greater. The cutting edges 52a-52c may be provided in a single body that forms the clamping member 52. In the embodiment shown and described herein, the clamping member 52 comprises several blades 56a, 56b and 56c. The recess 54 has a shape such that it receives the blades 56a-56c fixedly there. When the cover 42 of the conveyor belt 40 is manufactured as an injection molded part, the blades 56a-56c can be placed in the mold as an insert prior to molding so that, upon demolding, the transport ratchet 46 is available as a finished part, as shown in figure 4. Arranged in recess 54, there are ribs 55 which hold blades 56a-56c in the feeding direction and which divide the recess generally designated as 54 into several more recesses little ones. Preferably, the blades 56a-56c are made of metal, such as cutting steel. As evident from Figure 2, the blades 56a-56c project from the transport pawl 46 in equal amounts on the side of the transport pawl 46 facing the conveyor network 15, while the blades 56a-56c are they fix the transport ratchet 46 in such a way that, in the fastening position shown in figure 2, these are inclined towards the conveyor network 15 with respect to a perpendicular one. As the conveyor belt 40 moves to the right in Figure 2, first the blade 52a will come into line contact with the conveyor network 15. The continuous movement of the conveyor belt 40 to the right in Figure 2, the transport ratchet 46 progressively rotates clockwise about the axis 48, thus causing also the second cutting edge 52b and finally, with the conveyor belt 40 pulling correspondingly of the conveyor network 15, the cutting edge 52c comes into line contact with the conveyor network 15, in order to progressively grip the conveyor network 15 in the table 45.