CN218142651U

CN218142651U - Linear actuator, labeling module and labeling machine

Info

Publication number: CN218142651U
Application number: CN202221275118.1U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 约翰内斯·韦斯; 弗兰兹·魏格尔
Original assignee: Krones AG
Current assignee: Krones AG
Priority date: 2021-05-26
Filing date: 2022-05-25
Publication date: 2022-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 2032-05-25
Also published as: DE202021102844U1

Abstract

The invention describes a linear regulator, a labeling module and a labeling machine. The linear regulator includes: in particular a carriage guided in a straight line on a stationary guide rail by means of a ball circulation unit, for accommodating the labeling device, wherein an adjustment region of the carriage extends from at least one operating position in the region of the transport path to a mounting position arranged at a safe distance from the operating position. The locking is achieved at any position between the operating position and the installation position by the linear locking of the carriage in the adjustment region by the provision of a pneumatic brake which is closed by spring pretension and opened by the application of compressed air.

Description

Linear actuator, labeling module and labeling machine

Technical Field

The invention relates to a linear actuator for moving and locking a labeling device relative to a transport path of containers to be labeled, and to a labeling module and a labeling machine having a labeling module equipped with the linear actuator.

Background

It is known, for example, from EP 2 778 082 A1 to adjust a labeling device for containers revolving on a carousel, by means of a linear actuator, relative to a chassis docked in the periphery of the carousel, from a running position for labeling the containers to a rest position/mounting position for maintenance/adjustment of the labeling device, so that a machine protection cover can be closed between the rotating/revolving part of the carousel and the labeling device. The labeling devices can then be serviced and/or dismantled using the required safety precautions even while the carousel (on which another labeling device can be docked, for example) is running.

It is also known from EP 2 157 021 A1 to return mechanically, by means of pneumatic cylinders, this labeling device from the operating position for labeling the containers to the retracted position when it is out of synchronism with the associated carousel, for example when the labeling device is started or closed. This retracted position differs from the previously described rest position in that the labeling device is also arranged in the machine protection area of the labeling machine. In the retracted position, only collisions between components of the labeling device and parts surrounding the turntable are to be avoided.

In such linear regulators, it has proven useful to support a linearly movable carriage for accommodating the labeling device on the guide rail by means of a ball circulation unit. This enables manual movement of the labeling apparatus within a relatively large adjustment range, with low effort and high guidance accuracy.

On the other hand, the good travel characteristics and the high quality of the movement of the ball circulation unit increase the risk of injury when the carriage/labeling device is moved into different operating, synchronizing and/or mounting positions. In principle, latching mechanisms for locking the carriage in at least one of the above-mentioned positions by means of a manually operated latching pin are known. However, with such mechanisms it is difficult to simultaneously achieve good operability, low-wear latching or a targeted approach to the neutral position.

Disclosure of Invention

Therefore, there is a need for a relatively better linear adjustment for the transport path of the labeling device relative to the containers.

This object is achieved by a linear actuator for moving and locking a labeling device relative to a transport path of containers to be labeled, comprising: a carriage guided in a straight line on a stationary guide rail for accommodating a labeling device, wherein an adjustment region of the carriage extends from at least one operating position in the region of the transport path to a mounting position arranged at a safe distance from the at least one operating position, characterized by a pneumatic brake which is closed by spring pretensioning and is opened by compressed air application for the linear locking of the carriage in the adjustment region. The linear actuator is therefore used to move and lock the labeling device, for example a cold glue labeling device, relative to the transport path of the containers to be labeled, for example bottles, and comprises a carriage guided in a linear manner on a stationary guide rail, in particular by means of a ball circulation unit, for accommodating the labeling device. The adjustment range of the carriage extends from at least one operating position/labeling position in the region of the transport path to a mounting position/removal position arranged at a safe distance therefrom.

According to the invention, the linear actuator furthermore comprises a pneumatic brake which is closed by means of a spring bias and is opened by the application of compressed air and which serves to lock the carriage in a linear manner in the adjustment region.

In principle, the pneumatic brake provides a linear locking at any intermediate position between the operating position and the installation position. In addition, the pneumatic brake effects a locking of the carriage/labeling unit in the respective locking position of the locking mechanism for the supply operation and installation.

The safety distance is used to position the carriage/labeling device for installation purposes outside the machine protection area associated with the transport path.

The safety distance is, for example, between 0.1m and 1m, and in particular between 0.2m and 0.5 m.

On the one hand, the pneumatic brake can be opened by automatic loading of compressed air by an associated electronic control unit, for example, when it is released from a certain operating state and/or when a certain position within the adjustment range is detected; in the operating region of the carriage/labeling device, on the other hand, the pneumatic brake can be opened ergonomically by means of a manually controllable pneumatic valve. The spring pretensioning makes possible a reliable and automatic carriage locking even in the event of failure of the electrically or pneumatically supplied components.

The ball circulation unit enables a particularly smooth and therefore precise linear guidance of the carriage. In principle, however, plain bearing guides or roller guides are also conceivable.

The guide rails may be oriented radially/orthogonally or obliquely to the transport path.

The object is also achieved by a labeling module comprising a linear actuator according to at least one of the embodiments described, and a chassis for docking a labeling device on a labeling machine and a labeling device mounted on the linear actuator.

The object is also achieved by a labeling machine comprising the labeling module and a container carousel which specifies a transport path for the containers to be labeled. However, other transport devices for the containers are also conceivable, for example a linear transport path and/or a long stator system with a shuttle for the containers.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in terms of advantageous functional aspects as exemplified by the illustrated embodiments.

Drawings

Preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. Wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of a linear actuator;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the linear adjuster and the pneumatic brake; and

fig. 3 shows a schematic top view of the labeling machine.

Detailed Description

As can be seen in fig. 1 and 3 in the combined illustration, the linear actuator 1 for displacing and locking the labeling device 31 relative to the transport path 32 of the containers 33 to be labeled, for example bottles, comprises a carriage 4 which is guided linearly and substantially horizontally on the guide rail 3 by the ball circulation unit 2 and which serves for the load-bearing securing of the labeling device 31. The transport path 32 is given, for example, by a continuously rotatable carousel 34 and processing positions 35 (only two of which are illustrated by way of example) for the individual containers 33 revolving thereon in a known manner.

The guide rail 3 is stationary during the working operation. Instead, the carriage 4 can be moved manually within the adjustment region 5 towards and away from the transport path 32. The adjustment region 5 extends from a first operating position 6 (labeling position) on the transport path 32 via a synchronization position 7 to a mounting position 8 (removal position) which is at a suitable safety distance of, for example, 0.2m to 0.5m from the first operating position 6.

The safety distance is dimensioned such that, in the installation position 8, all components of the labeling device 31 are outside the machine protection region 36 assigned to the region of the transport path 32, and the machine protection 37 surrounding this region can be closed.

However, in the synchronizing position 7, the components of the labeling device 31 are still within the machine protection area 36. At the synchronizing position 7, the rotating member of the labeling device 31 does not collide with the member travelling along the transport trajectory 32.

The adjustment region 5 is at least as large as the safety distance to be covered, which is given by the contour of the machine protection region 36 associated with the labeling device 31 around the transport path 32.

The linear actuator 1 comprises a pneumatic brake 9 for linearly locking the carriage 4, which can be automatically closed/closed by spring pretension and can be released by application of conventional compressed air. This means that the pneumatic brake 9 locks the carriage 4 continuously without being loaded with a suitable overpressure.

The pneumatic brake 9 comprises a piston rod 10 extending in the direction of the guide rail 3 and rigidly connected thereto (and therefore also stationary), and a pneumatic brake cylinder 11 running along the piston rod 10 and rigidly connected to the carriage 4 (and therefore also movable).

If a suitable overpressure is applied to brake cylinder 11, carriage 4 and brake cylinder 11 can be moved together in adjustment region 5. If, on the other hand, the brake cylinder 11 is not loaded with a suitable pressure, the brake cylinder 11 automatically locks the carriage 4 on the piston rod 10 by means of a spring bias.

The pneumatic brake 9 furthermore comprises a pneumatic valve 12 mounted on the carriage 4, which has a preferably automatically resetting actuating element 13 in the sense of a push button, which, when it is actively manually operated, causes a temporary pressure application and thus a release of the pneumatic brake 9.

As can be seen in fig. 1, the operating mechanism 13 is preferably located in the operating region of the handle 14, so that the handle 14 can manually move the carriage 4 along the guide rail 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle 14 is gripped while the operating element 13 is pulled up with the fingers, so that a one-handed joint operation of the handle 14 and the operating element 13 is possible.

This facilitates ergonomic displacement of the carriage 4 immediately after release of the pneumatic brake 9 and prevents uncontrolled movement of the carriage 4 after release of the handle 14, in particular in the case of automatic resetting.

The linear actuator 1 also comprises a spindle drive 15 with a position measuring tool 16, by means of which the first operating position 6 of the carriage 4/labeling device 31 and thus the end of the adjustment region 5 facing the transport path 32 can be adjusted as a function of the specification. The first operating position 6 is the labeling position of the carriage 4/labeling device 31 for labeling the containers 33 and is therefore the operating position with the greatest approach of the labeling device 31 to the transport path 32.

The linear regulator 1 preferably comprises a pneumatically driven retraction unit 17 for retracting the carriage 4/labeling device 31 from the first operating position 6 into the optional second operating position 18 and/or the synchronization position 7, in which the labeling device 31 can be operated without colliding with the revolving processing position 35 even when it is out of synchronization. This may be the case, for example, when the labeling device 31 is switched on or off, or if it is otherwise determined that the labeling device 31 is not synchronized.

For example, a relatively short retraction distance 19, for example a retraction distance of 5mm to 20mm, may be sufficient to avoid potentially harmful collisions between the labeling device 31 and the associated conveying device for the containers 33, i.e. for example the turntable 34, or the containers 33 themselves.

The pneumatic brake 9 is preferably coupled to an electronic control unit 20 (only schematically illustrated here), with which the pneumatic brake 9 can be automatically released if necessary.

As can be seen in fig. 2 in a side view, the linear actuator preferably also comprises (only schematically illustrated), for example, a capacitive protective sensor 21, by means of which it can be determined whether the carriage 4/labeling device 31 is in the first operating position or the second operating position 18, and a capacitive synchronization sensor 22, for example, for detecting the synchronization position 7.

The control unit 20 is then preferably coupled to both the protection sensor 21 and the synchronization sensor 7.

The pneumatic brake 9 can thus be automatically released for changing position by timely loading the brake cylinder 11 with a suitable overpressure.

For example, if the protective sensor 21 detects that the carriage 4/labeling device 31 has reached the second operating position 18, the control unit 20 can also, on the basis of this, again interrupt the compressed air supply to the brake cylinder 11, so that the brake cylinder automatically locks the carriage 4 in the second operating position 18 by means of spring pretensioning.

In the operating position 6, 18, for example, the protective sensor 21 provides a signal, from which the control unit of the upper labeling machine 41 recognizes that the labeling device 31 is in the operating position and that the machine protection 37 has been mechanically closed.

In synchronization position 7, both protective sensor 21 and synchronization sensor 22 provide a signal, on the basis of which the control unit of labeling machine 41 recognizes that labeling unit 31 is in synchronization position 7 and that the transport means of labeling machine 41 and labeling unit 31 are independent of one another and can therefore be moved without collision. Furthermore, the machine guard 37 has been mechanically closed.

Between the synchronization position 7 and the installation position 8, neither the protection sensor 21 nor the synchronization sensor 22 provides a signal. The machine guard 37 is not closed by the machine (by the device guard of the labelling machine). The labelling device cannot be disassembled, since a collision may occur.

In contrast to the synchronization sensor 22, the protection sensor 21 does not provide a signal in the installation position 8. The labeling device 31 is then removed, since it is retracted sufficiently that no collision can occur during removal.

For example, in the installation position 8, the carriage 4 and the labeling device 31 are located outside the machine protection region 36 to such an extent that the associated protective device, i.e. the machine protection 37, can be closed and maintenance measures or the like can be carried out on the labeling device 31, even if the carousel 34 is in motion.

The linear actuator 1 preferably also comprises a locking mechanism 23 for locking the carriage 4 at least in the operating positions 6, 18 and the mounting position 8.

The catch 23 comprises, for example, a catch pin 24, which is preferably mounted on the carriage 4 via a rubber damper (not shown) and can be pulled manually upward and locked in the opposite direction by spring pretension and/or gravity drive. The locking bolt 24 is assigned a locking body which is arranged stationary in the operating mode and has locking grooves 26-28, with which at least the operating positions 6, 18 and the installation position 8 and optionally the synchronization position 7 arranged therebetween are defined.

The position of the front latching recess 26 (closest to the transport path 32) for the operating positions 6, 18 can be set precisely manually with the spindle drive 15 and the position measuring tool 16.

The retraction from the first operating position 6 into the second operating position 18 takes place without actuating the locking mechanism 23 by means of the pneumatic retraction unit 17 alone. The foremost latching recesses 26 are therefore assigned to the first operating position 6 and the second operating position 18 in common.

The rearmost detent groove 28 (furthest from the transport path 32) is preferably arranged in a fixed position relative to the guide rail 3, for example directly in front of the spindle drive 15 and the position measuring tool 16.

The optional middle latch slot 27 is fixed in orientation, while the front latch slot 26 is adjustable with the spindle drive 15.

The guide rail 3 preferably has a circular cross section.

The ball circulation unit 2, the mode of operation of which is known in principle and therefore not described in detail, preferably comprises a scraper eye 29, which in each case surrounds the guide rail 3 in an annular manner, is preferably made of alloy steel and serves to scrape contaminants such as residual glue from the guide rail 3 without significantly impeding the advance of the ball circulation unit 2 in this case.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation in top view of a labeling machine 41 with a turntable 34, which essentially defines the transport path 32 of the containers 33 and which has a labeling module 51. The labeling module 51 comprises a base frame 38, which is schematically illustrated in fig. 2, a linear actuator 1 on the base frame, and a labeling device 31 on the linear actuator 1. The chassis 38 may be docked in a manner known in principle in the outer circumference of the turntable 34.

The aforementioned operating positions 6, 18 and mounting position 8 are defined correspondingly as a ready-to-operate chassis 38 for docking and a linear actuator 1 suitably mounted on the chassis 38.

The linear actuator 1 according to the invention on the one hand allows precise setting and locking of the operating positions 6, 18 in the docked state of the labeling module 51 or its labeling device 31 in the machine-protected region 36 of the labeling machine 41, and on the other hand allows access to the mounting position 8 outside the machine-protected region 36, in which the labeling device 31 allows maintenance measures such as adjustment work, replacement of worn parts, etc., optionally also independently of the operation of the turntable 34 and optionally independently of further labeling devices coupled to the turntable 34.

Furthermore, for collision-free synchronization of the labeling device 31 with the turntable 34, the synchronization position 7 can be approached in a targeted and sensor-monitored manner.

The pneumatic brake 9 in this case achieves an ergonomic and reliable positioning and locking of the carriage 4/labeling device 31, possibly also at any intermediate point between the runs 6, 18 and the mounting 8, and in cooperation with the latching mechanism 23 achieves a reliable locking and mechanical load release, for example, at the latching grooves 26, 27, 28.

Claims

1. Linear actuator (1) for moving and locking a labeling device (31) relative to a transport trajectory (32) of containers (33) to be labeled, comprising: a carriage (4) guided in a straight line on a stationary guide rail (3) for accommodating the labeling device, wherein an adjustment region (5) of the carriage extends from at least one operating position (6, 18) in the region of the transport path to a mounting position (8) arranged at a safe distance from the at least one operating position, characterized by a pneumatic brake (9) which is closed by spring pretensioning and is opened by compressed air application for the purpose of locking the carriage in a straight line in the adjustment region.

2. Linear regulator (1) according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a carriage (4) for housing the labeling means, guided linearly on a stationary guide rail (3) by means of a ball circulation unit (2).

3. Linear regulator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic brake (9) comprises a stationary piston rod (10) extending parallel to the guide rail (3) and a pneumatic brake cylinder (11) running along the piston rod and rigidly connected to the carriage (4).

4. A linear regulator (1) according to claim 3, wherein the pneumatic brake (9) comprises a pneumatic valve (12) mounted on the carriage, the pneumatic valve having an operating mechanism (13) for manually triggering the application of pressure to the brake cylinder (11).

5. Linear adjuster (1) according to claim 4, wherein the manoeuvring mechanism (13) is arranged in an operating area of a handle (14) for moving the carriage (4).

6. Linear actuator (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a spindle drive (15) for setting a first operating position (6) of a carriage (4)/labeling device (31) for labeling the containers (33).

7. Linear actuator (1) according to claim 6, wherein it further comprises a pneumatically driven retraction unit (17) for retracting the carriage (4)/labeling device (31) from the first operating position (6) into the second operating position (18) and/or into a synchronous position (7) for an asynchronous operation of the labeling device without collision with respect to the transport path (32).

8. Linear actuator (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein it further comprises a protection sensor (21) for identifying the positioning of the carriage (4) at the labeling/operating position (6, 18) and a synchronization sensor (22) for identifying the positioning of the carriage (4) at the synchronization position (7) for collision-free asynchronous operation.

9. The linear regulator (1) of claim 8, wherein the protection sensor (21) is a capacitive protection sensor.

10. The linear regulator (1) of claim 8, wherein the synchronization sensor (22) is a capacitive synchronization sensor.

11. The linear actuator (1) according to claim 8, wherein the protection sensor (21) and the synchronization sensor (22) are arranged along the guide rail (3) and are wired to one another such that from their signals it can be deduced whether the carriage (4) is positioned in a mounting position (8) outside a machine protection area (36) assigned to the transport path (32).

12. Linear actuator (1) according to claim 7, wherein it further has a control unit (20) for automatically releasing the pneumatic brake (9) for changing the position of the carriage (4).

13. The linear regulator (1) of claim 7, further having a control unit (20) for automatically releasing the pneumatic brake (9) to change the carriage (4) into the second operating position (18).

14. The linear actuator (1) of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one operating position (6, 18) is within a machine protection area (36) for protecting a machine component travelling along the transport trajectory (32) from an operator, and the safety distance is at least 100mm.

15. The linear regulator (1) of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one operating position (6, 18) is within a machine protection area (36) for protecting a machine component of an operator from travelling along the transport trajectory (32), and the safety distance is at least 200mm.

16. Linear adjuster (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the linear adjuster further has a latching mechanism (23), the latching mechanism (23) being used to latch the carriage (4) at least in the operating position (6, 18) and in the mounting position (8).

17. Linear actuator (1) according to claim 16, wherein the latch mechanism (23) is used to lock the carriage (4) in a synchronized position (7) between the operating position and the mounting position.

18. Linear actuator (1) according to claim 16, wherein the latching mechanism (23) comprises a latching pin (24) fixed on the carriage and at least one latching groove (26) corresponding to the latching pin and adjustable parallel to the guide rail (3) for the purpose of setting the operating position (6, 18).

19. Linear actuator (1) according to claim 16, wherein the latching mechanism (23) comprises a latching pin (24) which is fixed to the carriage by means of a rubber bearing and at least one latching groove (26) which corresponds to the latching pin and is adjustable parallel to the guide rail (3) for the purpose of setting the operating position (6, 18).

20. The linear regulator (1) of claim 2, wherein the ball circulation unit (2) comprises a scraping orifice (29) annularly surrounding the guide rail (3) for scraping glue from the guide rail.

21. A linear regulator (1) according to claim 20, wherein the scraping orifice (29) is made of stainless steel.

22. Labeling module (51), characterized in that it has a chassis (38) that can be docked to a container carousel (34), a linear regulator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 21 mounted on the chassis, and a labeling device (31) mounted on the linear regulator (1).

23. The labeling module (51) of claim 22, wherein the labeling module is for cold glue labeling of containers (33).

24. Labeling machine (41), characterized in that it has a carousel (34) for transporting containers (33) of a given transport trajectory (32) and a labeling module (51) according to claim 22 or 23.