CN109466843B

CN109466843B - Labelling machine for containers

Info

Publication number: CN109466843B
Application number: CN201811036214.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 迪特尔·哈夫纳
Original assignee: Krones AG
Current assignee: Krones AG
Priority date: 2017-09-07
Filing date: 2018-09-06
Publication date: 2022-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-06
Also published as: EP3453630A1; EP3453630B1; DE102017215758A1; CN109466843A

Abstract

A labeling machine for containers, comprising a container carousel and at least two labeling units arranged in the periphery thereof, each having: a first roller frame for unwinding the loaded carrier tape; a supply arm having a supply edge for peeling the label from the carrier tape; a second roller frame for winding the emptied carrier tape; and a bracket for adjusting the position with respect to the undercarriage, a large number of machine variants with low equipment costs can be achieved, with improved accessibility to the roller frame, due to the arrangement of the bracket on different sides of the parting plane respectively defined between the first roller frame and the supply arm.

Description

Labelling machine for containers

Technical Field

The invention relates to a labeling machine for labeling containers with labels provided on a carrier tape.

Background

Such labeling machines comprise a container carousel and a labeling unit arranged on the periphery thereof, in which a label tape consisting of a carrier tape and labels is pulled off via a supply edge, where the labels are detached from the carrier tape and transferred with their adhesive side onto passing containers. The labels are then typically configured as self-adhesive labels.

Depending on the direction of rotation of the turntable, the supply edge is correspondingly inclined, so that the respective container side wall can reliably receive the label removed therefrom. The tape guide in the labeling unit is then likewise adapted to the direction of rotation and to the orientation of the supply edge. Thus, a plurality of reversing rollers are present on the labeling unit, which are selectively mounted at different positions of the labeling unit in order to achieve tape guidance for right-hand container tables or left-hand container tables.

An additional need is for such labeling units to be arranged flexibly in the region of the turntable, if necessary also in pairs on a common base frame. This makes it possible, for example, to switch smoothly between labeling units at the end of the strip and/or to label containers with different labels, for example body labels and shoulder labels, simultaneously.

Such labeling machines are known, for example, from DE 102014108083 a 1. Each labeling unit comprises a work table for receiving a supply roller, a storage roller, a drive for the work table, a reversing roller, and is mounted by a supply arm with a supply edge, and a chassis, which is designed, for example, as a carriage, on which the work tables can be positioned independently of one another. For this purpose, there are supports or the like which have the required degree of freedom for positioning the labeling units on the turntable.

The problem is on the one hand that a large number of components of the tape guide or even a separate machine type must be kept in order to adapt the labeling unit to different directions of rotation. Another problem is that access to the reserve drum and the storage drum by the brackets is limited depending on the installation site, but also by adjacent units, machine uprights or similar structures.

The regularly necessary replacement of the supply roller for the label tape and of the storage roller for the emptied carrier tape requires an operation beyond the labeling unit, in particular around the support. Thus, there is a need for improved ergonomics in many cases due to the extended and relatively high stent.

Disclosure of Invention

There is thus a need for an improved labelling machine in which at least one of the above problems is overcome or at least alleviated.

The problem posed is solved with a labeling machine as follows. The labeling machine is thus used for labeling containers with labels provided on a carrier tape and comprises a container carousel and at least two labeling units arranged at the periphery thereof, each labeling unit comprising: a first roller frame for unwinding the loaded carrier tape; a supply arm having a supply edge for peeling a label from the carrier tape; a second roller frame for winding the emptied carrier tape and a bracket for adjusting the position with respect to the base frame. According to the invention, the supports are arranged on different sides of the parting plane, which extends from the first roller frame to the supply arm, wherein the supports are designed for height adjustment, longitudinal adjustment and inclination adjustment of the respective labeling unit.

The parting plane is an imaginary vertical plane which divides the labeling unit ergonomically into two longitudinal halves. The labeling units can thus always be arranged one after the other in such a way that the person has unhindered access to all the first and second roller frames and does not have to pass around the support for gripping. These supports, which are usually higher than the first and second roller frames, can thus always be arranged on the side facing away from the respective personnel access of the labeling unit.

In particular, it is conceivable that an imaginary path between two roller frames of a labeling unit and two roller frames of an adjacent labeling unit can be formed without a support. In other words, the absence of a support is present in the space spanned by the four roller shafts of two adjacent labelling groups.

The vertical parting plane can be understood in plan view as any connecting line between the supply arm and the first roller frame, for example between a fixing point of the supply arm on the labeling unit table plate and the axis of rotation of the first roller frame. The vertical parting plane may extend, for example, obliquely or parallel to the longitudinal adjustment axis of the labeling unit.

The carrier tape and the labels are jointly applied as a label tape on a supply roll and unwound therefrom with the aid of a first roll stand. The emptied carrier tape is mechanically wound onto a storage drum with the aid of a second roller frame.

The labelling units may be supported individually or in pairs on the chassis. In both cases, the holders can be arranged on the side of the labeling machine set facing away from the passage area for the labeling machine set, for example, in a pair-wise arrangement, in a built-in arrangement.

At least one of the labeling units preferably has a right-hand arrangement of the support for the left-hand passenger access with respect to the vertical parting plane, and at least one other labeling unit accordingly has a left-hand arrangement of the support for the right-hand passenger access.

The supports, roller frames and supply arms are preferably arranged in mirror image about the parting plane. This facilitates a flexible arrangement of the components on the labeling unit depending on the desired lateral orientation and reduces the number of overall components required for this purpose.

Two of the labeling units are preferably fixed to a common base frame, and the supports are arranged on mutually facing sides of the labeling units. In addition, the second roller frame is preferably also arranged on the sides of the labeling unit facing away from each other. The roller change on the first and second roller frame or the like to the labeling unit is thus not hindered by the support.

Two of the labeling units are preferably fastened to different chassis, and the carriers are arranged on sides of the labeling units facing away from each other. The second roller frame is preferably also arranged on mutually facing sides of the labeling unit. The roller change on the first and second roller frames or the like to the labeling unit is thus not hindered by the carriage.

The labeling unit preferably comprises a table plate having fastening points for the second roller frame and the support, in particular arranged in mirror image of one another. This facilitates modular construction of the mirrored machine variant.

In accordance with one of the labelling machines described above, the work table is designed as a deflecting plate with two fastening points, in particular in the form of through holes, on both sides, for the arrangement of the roller frames with respect to the right and left sides of the support. All the described machine variants can thus be configured on a single type of work table.

There are then preferably at least six fixing points to which three reversing rollers for guiding the loaded carrier tape to the supply arm to the right or left can be selectively fixed. The different tape runs for the right-hand and left-hand guidance and for the right-hand and left-hand labeling machines are realized by simple changeover rollers for changing over the carrier tape.

The labeling machine preferably also comprises a loop buffer arranged between the first roller frame and the supply arm, for which there are four fixing points at which the two fixedly supported reversing rollers for guiding the loaded carrier tape to the right or left are selectively fixedly supported. In addition, a slot is formed in the work table for mounting a reversing roller which is movable and, in particular, pivotable underneath the work table.

The belt buffers for the right-hand and left-hand belt guides can thus be modified in a simple manner without changing the direction of rotation of the first roller frame and/or the direction of spring pretensioning for the movable reversing roller. This aspect is advantageous for label orientation independent of the respective variant of the tape guide. And on the other hand, the structure with the buffer memory part is simplified.

The labeling machine preferably also comprises a pull-off roller system and a loop buffer arranged between the pull-off roller system and the second roller carrier, for which there is a fastening point to which the fixedly mounted deflecting roller is selectively fastened while guiding the loaded carrier tape on the right and left and a slot for mounting the movable, in particular pivotable, deflecting roller below the table plate.

The tape buffers for the right-hand and left-hand tape guides can thus be modified in a simple manner. The direction of rotation of the second roller frame is not important in the case of an emptied carrier tape. The direction of rotation of the second roller frame can thus be easily adapted to the associated electric motor drive.

The labeling machine preferably also comprises a pull-off roller system for pulling the label tape or carrier tape via the supply edge, wherein the drive direction of the pull-off roller system is reversible for conveying the emptied carrier tape to the right or to the left. This allows the labeling unit to be easily adapted to a container carousel that is turned right or left.

The supply arm and the supply edge are preferably designed for two arrangements which are mirror images of one another with respect to the longitudinal axis of the supply arm.

The support is preferably designed for height adjustment, longitudinal adjustment and inclination adjustment of the respective labeling unit. An optimized positioning of the supply edge can thus be achieved and a flexible adaptation to different containers and labels is facilitated.

The labeling unit is preferably fixed to at least one movable chassis. Preferably, there is also a docking unit on the chassis for docking into the periphery of the container carousel. The chassis can carry a single labelling unit or two labelling units arranged, in particular, in mirror image in pairs. A flexible and ergonomic positioning of the entire labeling unit on the container carousel is thus provided.

Drawings

There is shown in the drawings a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the figure:

fig. 1 is a schematic top view of a labeling machine with three labeling units;

fig. 2 is a schematic top view of two labelling machines for right-turn labelling machines on a common chassis;

fig. 3 is a schematic top view of two respective labelling units for a left-hand labelling machine; and

fig. 4 is an oblique view of the labeling unit for the left-hand passenger access.

Detailed Description

As can be seen from fig. 1, labeling machine 1 includes, for example, a labeling unit 2 for left person aisle PL and two labeling units 3 for right person aisle PR. The labeling units 2, 3 supply the containers 4 with labels 6 provided on a carrier tape 5. Labelling machine 1 is shown schematically as a right turn with a direction of rotation 1a of container carousel 1 b.

Labeling units 2, 3 each comprise a work plate 7, which is preferably designed as a deflector, so that components and components can be fixed thereon on both sides, not only for the left-hand side but also for the right-hand side passenger conveyor PL, PR, using a substantially mirror-image system. However, a mirror-image table plate 7 for the left and right passenger paths PL, PR may also be present instead.

As can be seen in particular in fig. 2, each work platform plate 7 accommodates a first rotatable roller carrier 8 for a reserve roller 9, from which a label tape in the form of a carrier tape 5 loaded with labels 6 is unwound. Furthermore, a supply arm 10 having a supply edge 11 for detaching the labels 6 from the carrier tape 5 is fixed to each work plate 7. Furthermore, a rotatable second roller frame 12 for a storage roller 13 for winding the emptied carrier tape 5 is preferably supported approximately centrally between the first roller frame 8 and the supply arm 10.

The associated electric motor drives (not shown) for the first and second roller frames 8, 12 are then fastened to the underside of the table plate 7.

The table plate 7 is adjustably fixed at/on the support 14. The support 14 can, for example, enable a height adjustment, a length adjustment and an inclination adjustment of the work top 7 relative to the preferably movable base 15.

Fig. 2 shows an imaginary vertical parting plane 2a, 3a of the labeling units 2, 3 as a line in a top view. Thus, the vertical parting planes 2a, 3a extend from the supply arm 10 towards the associated first roller frame 8. The parting planes 2a, 3a serve as ergonomic reference lines defined by the position of the support 14 and the optional second roller frame 12.

The parting plane 2a divides the labeling unit 2 for the left passenger path PL ergonomically into a left side 2l and a right side 2 r. The parting plane 3a divides the labeling unit 3 for the right passenger conveyor PR into a left side 3l and a right side 3 r. Here, the side names are arbitrarily selected in the direction of the line of sight toward the labeling machine 1.

As shown in fig. 2, chassis 15 may carry labeling unit 2 for left people aisle PL and labeling unit 3 for right people aisle PR. The support 14 is arranged in-line on the sides 2r, 3l of the labeling units 2, 3 facing each other, for example symmetrically with respect to the central longitudinal axis 15a of the chassis 15.

The chassis 15 is preferably a trolley. Roller 15b and handle 15c are schematically shown, whereby labelling groups 2, 3 may travel to labelling machine 1 and dock, for example, to the periphery of container carousel 1 b. These operations are known in principle and will not be described further. The positioning and adjustment of the labeling units 2, 3 can also be carried out on a separately movable base, as shown in fig. 1.

Also fastened to table plate 7 is a pull-off roller system 16, which pulls carrier tape 5 via supply edge 11, so that transport of carrier tape 5 in labeling units 2, 3 is preferably carried out solely by tensile stress. In particular, no additional push roller system for the carrier tape 5 loaded with labels 6 is then required. This facilitates handling of label types of different thicknesses and materials.

The direction of rotation 16a of the drawing roller system 16 is preferably reversible in order to apply the labelling units 2, 3 to right-hand and left-hand labelling machines 1.

The labeling units 2, 3 also each comprise a first loop buffer 17 for the label tape/loaded carrier tape 5 and a second loop buffer 18 for the emptied carrier tape 5. Furthermore, there is a reversing roller 19 which is statically supported on the upper side of the table plate 7 for guiding the label tape/carrier tape 5.

As can be seen in fig. 3, the work top plate 7 comprises a large number of fixing points 20-31 for the reversing roller 19. The fastening points 20 to 31 are preferably formed on both sides and are in particular formed as through-holes in/on the table plate 7. Depending on the variant of the belt guide, the defined fastening points 20-31 are specifically equipped with a deflecting roller 19.

As can be seen from a comparison of fig. 2 and 3, in the right-hand labeling machine 1, the tape guide of the label tape or carrier tape 5 on the left-hand labeling unit 2 is mirrored with respect to the tape guide on the right-hand labeling unit 3 in the left-hand labeling machine 1. Accordingly, the tape guide on the right labeling unit 3 in the right-hand labeling machine 1 and the tape guide on the left labeling unit 2 in the left-hand labeling machine 1 are mirror images of one another.

In particular, with the two-sided design of the fastening points 20-31 and the resulting two-sided availability of the table plate 7 in the sense of a deflecting plate, for example, a deflecting roller 19 is respectively associated with the fastening points 20-26 in the right-hand labeling unit 1 on the right-hand labeling unit 3 and in the left-hand labeling unit 1 on the left-hand labeling unit 2. In contrast, in each case one stationary deflecting roller 19 is provided for each of the stationary points 26 to 31 in the right-hand labeling unit 3 of the left-hand labeling machine 1 and in the left-hand labeling unit 2 of the right-hand labeling machine 1.

The work plate 7 is thus suitable for labelling units 2, 3 with left and right hand lanes PL, PR and for left and right hand labelling machines 1, based on the fixing points 20-31 configured thereon.

In the case of the table plates 7 available on both sides, only a single plate type is therefore required for all the variants described. If only one side of the worktop plate 7 is available, only two worktop plates 7 with mirror-imaged fixing points 20-31 are required.

Also exemplarily shown are the fixing points 32, 33 for the first and second roller frames 8, 12, the fixing point 34 for the stand 14, the fixing point 35 for the supply arm 10 and the fixing point 36 for the pull roll system 16. As can be seen from fig. 2 and 3, these fixing points for the right-hand and left-hand passenger paths PL, PR are preferably arranged in mirror image and/or can be applied on both sides.

There may also be other fixing points on the table plate 7 for individual components and members, such as drive motors or the like, which are selectively adapted to allow application to the upper side and/or the lower side of the table plate 7.

As is shown in fig. 2 and 3 in an overview, a first slit 37 and a second slit 38 of a movably mounted deflecting roller 39 for the first loop buffer 17 and the second loop buffer 18 are also formed in the table plate 7. The movable deflecting rollers 39 are mounted on the underside of the table plate 7 on in each case one pivot arm 40, which is resiliently pretensioned, for example, away from the associated stationary deflecting roller 19 of the loop buffer 17, 18. The

slits

37, 38 preferably have a curved course. However, in principle, linearly movable deflecting rollers 39 for the looper buffer 17, 18 are also conceivable.

The first loop buffer 17 for the loaded carrier tape 5 is preferably designed such that the direction of rotation 8a of the first roller carrier 8 is the same for the determined direction of rotation 1a of the labeling machine 1 in the left and right labeling units 2, 3. This allows the same label strip to be processed on both sides. This is shown in fig. 2. However, as shown in fig. 3, in principle, an opposite direction of rotation of the roller frame 8 is also conceivable.

A large number of different belt guides can be realized here for the fastening points 20, 21, 27, 28 of the fastening deflection roller 19 of the first loop buffer 17.

As is apparent from fig. 2 and 3, the holders 14 are always arranged inside the paired labeling units 2, 3 on a common base frame 15, i.e. for example facing the central longitudinal axis 15a of the base frame 15. Thus, the reserve 9 and storage 13 cylinders on the roller frames 8, 12 are well accessible not only in the case of the left-hand but also in the case of the right-hand people paths PL, PR.

The labeling units 2, 3 on separate chassis can likewise be ergonomically integrated into the labeling machine 1. This is schematically illustrated in fig. 1, according to which the supports 14 respectively face the machine column 1c, i.e. the region of limited access to the periphery of the container carousel 1 b. Accordingly, the left and right passenger paths PL, PR are unobstructed.

The work platform 7 is suitable for all variants of the labeling machine 1. In particular, with uniform fastening points 20-36, work table 7 can also be equipped with uniform components, thereby reducing the number of components to be maintained for the various variants of labeling machine 1 as a whole.

The fixing points 20-36 may, for example, have an internal thread and/or additional anchoring, guiding or the like, for example milled and/or raised portions. The fixing is performed by bolts or the like.

As can be seen in fig. 4, the stand 14 with the

operating elements

14a, 14b, 14c for height adjustment, length adjustment or longitudinal adjustment and inclination adjustment of the table plate 7 projects upwards beyond the first and second roller frames 8, 12. The invention makes it possible to achieve an ergonomic arrangement of the carrier 14 on the sides 2r, 3l of the labeling units 2, 3 facing away from the left or right passenger paths PL, PR. In particular, in all variants of labeling machine 1, the replacement of reserve roller 9 and storage roller 13 is significantly simplified.

Fig. 4 also shows the base plate 41 and the protective hood 42 of the labeling unit 2 resting on the base frame 15. The support 14 then connects the base plate 41 to the work top plate 7 in such a way that the height position, the longitudinal position and the inclination of the work top plate 7 with the components and components fixed thereto, including the supply arm 10 and the supply edge 11, can be adjusted with respect to the container 2.

The supply arm 10 and the supply edge 11 are preferably designed in two mirror-image arrangements with respect to the longitudinal axis 10a of the supply arm 10 for fastening to the table plate 7. The supply arm 10 and the supply edge 11 can thus be used for right-hand and left-hand labelling machines 1.

The invention, however, makes it possible to achieve an improved lateral passenger path PL, PR for drum replacement, assembly work, maintenance work or the like in all of the described configurations. This is further simplified by the exemplary guide pattern 43 of the label or carrier tape 5, which is mounted on the table frame 42, being adapted to the respective person channels PL, PR and to the direction of rotation 1a of the labeling machine 1.

Thus, not only is the ergonomics of the work operation and assembly work improved, but also the economy of construction and assembly of the various variants of labeling machine 1 is improved by minimizing the overall required components and their modular combinability on the work table 7 and at the fastening points 20 to 36.

Claims

1. A labeling machine (1) for labeling containers (4) with labels (6) provided on a carrier tape (5), comprising a container carousel (1b) and at least two labeling units (2, 3) arranged on the periphery of the container carousel, each having: a first roller frame (8) for unwinding the loaded carrier tape (5); a supply arm (10) having a supply edge (11) for removing the labels (6) from the carrier tape (5); a second roller frame (12) for winding the emptied carrier tape (5); and a support (14) for adjusting the position with respect to the chassis (15), characterized in that the support (14) is arranged on different sides (2r, 3l) of a parting plane (2a, 3a) extending from the first roller frame (8) to the supply arm (10), respectively, wherein the support (14) is configured for height adjustment, longitudinal adjustment and inclination adjustment of the respective labeling unit (2, 3), wherein the labeling unit (2, 3) comprises a work platen (7) with fixing points for the first and second roller frames (8, 12), the support (14) and the supply arm (10) arranged in mirror image with respect to one another, wherein the work platen (7) is configured as a deflector with fixing points on both sides for the roller frames (8, 3), the fixing points on both sides of the work platen (7) being for the roller frames (8, 3, respectively, 12) In respect of the arrangement of the support (14) on the right and on the left, and wherein there are at least six fixing points at which three deflecting rollers (19) for guiding the loaded carrier tape (5) to the supply arm (10) on the right or on the left can be selectively fixed.

2. A labelling machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one labelling group (2) has a right-hand arrangement of carriages (14) for a left-hand personnel aisle (PL), and at least one further labelling group (3) has a left-hand arrangement of carriages (14) for a right-hand personnel aisle (PL).

3. A labelling machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said support (14) and said second roller frame (12) are arranged in mirror image with respect to said parting plane (2a, 3 a).

4. The labeling machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein two of the labeling units (2, 3) are fixed on a common base frame (15) and the support (14) is arranged on sides (2r, 3l) of the labeling units (2, 3) facing each other.

5. The labeling machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein two of the labeling units (2, 3) are fixed on different chassis and the carrier (14) is arranged on sides (2r, 3l) of the labeling units (2, 3) facing away from each other.

6. The labeling machine according to claim 1, further having a loop buffer (17) arranged between the first roller frame (8) and the supply arm (10), for which there are four fixing points and a slit (37) for supporting a movable reversing roller (39) below the work platen (7), the two reversing rollers (19) for right-hand or left-hand guiding the loaded carrier tape (5) being selectively statically supported at the four fixing points for the loop buffer.

7. The labeling machine according to claim 1, further having a pull-off roller system (16) and a loop buffer (18) arranged between the pull-off roller system and the second roller frame (12), for which there are fixing points and a slot (38) for supporting a movable reversing roller (39) below the work platen (7), the two reversing rollers (19) for right-hand or left-hand guidance of the loaded carrier tape (5) being statically supported at the fixing points for the loop buffer with right-hand and left-hand guidance of the loaded carrier tape (5).

8. The labeling machine according to claim 1 or 2, further having a pull-roller system (16) for pulling the carrier tape (5) via a supply edge (11), wherein a drive direction (16a) of the pull-roller system (16) is reversible for conveying an emptied carrier tape (5) from the right or left side of the supply arm (10).

9. The labeling machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supply arm (10) and the supply edge (11) are configured for two arrangements which are mirror images of one another with respect to a longitudinal axis (10a) of the supply arm (10).

10. The labelling machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the labelling units (2, 3) are fixed on at least one movable chassis (15).

11. The labeling machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the labeling groups (2, 3) are adjustable in height, length and inclination independently of one another by means of the carriage (14).

12. A labelling machine according to claim 4, wherein said second roller frame (12) is arranged on sides (2l, 3r) facing away from each other.

13. A labelling machine according to claim 5, wherein said second roller frame (12) is arranged on sides (2l, 3r) facing each other.

14. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing points of the two sides of the worktable (7) are fixing points in the form of through holes.