DE102022122947A1 - Suction device for a labeling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a suction device (13) for a labeling station (1) for labeling containers (3), in particular beverage containers, with a suction space (15) and a vacuum device (14) for generating a negative pressure in the suction space (15), wherein an opening (16) of the suction chamber (15) directed outwards and intended for sucking in a label tape (4) is designed to be adjustable. According to the invention, at least one controllable servomotor (19) is provided for adjusting the opening (16).

Description

The invention relates to a suction device for a labeling machine for labeling containers, in particular beverage containers, with a suction space and a vacuum device for generating a negative pressure in the suction space, an outwardly directed opening of the suction space intended for sucking in a label tape being designed to be adjustable.

Suction devices of the type described at the beginning are basically known from the prior art and are used in particular in labeling stations for self-adhesive labels to compensate for a drop in the web tension of a label tape for certain periods of time when the labeling station is in cycled operation or to stabilize the label tape.

In particular, the invention relates to suction devices for labeling stations, which are used for labeling beverage containers in the beverage industry. Accordingly, the beverage containers are beverage bottles, which can be made of glass or plastic. In the case of plastic beverage bottles, it is a thermoplastic, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET), so that the containers can be easily formed in a stretch blow molding process.

The suction device has a suction space which is intended to accommodate sections of a label tape, the suction space correspondingly facing the label tape via the outwardly directed opening and the size of the opening being based on the size of the label tape, essentially the label height is crucial.

It should be noted here that the negative pressure is generated via a vacuum device, with the negative pressure generated being able to act particularly effectively on the label tape when the opening is essentially covered by the label tape in an operating state of the labeling station. When the web tension drops, the negative pressure can act over the entire height of the label tape and thereby quickly and effectively absorb the excess material from the label tape. This prevents the label tape from falling downwards.

A suction device can therefore be particularly crucial if no containers are supplied for a certain period of time and labeling is therefore not necessary. In this case, the label drive of the labeling station stops for a short moment, causing the web tension to drop and a loop to form in the label tape due to excess material. When restarted, this excess material can cause unrest in the label tape. If the label tape is made of a plastic film, this can lead to undesirable elongation and incorrect positioning of the labels. In the case of paper, the label tape can even tear.

With the help of an appropriate suction device, the excess material can be picked up, with relatively small forces being required due to the negative pressure to suck in the excess material. At the same time, only a small amount of force is required to remove the material from the suction chamber when it is resumed.

What is crucial, however, is that the negative pressure acts on the label tape in an effective manner, so that the opening must be specifically adjusted to the size or height of the label tape.

Up until now, this has usually been done by a manual changeover in the course of a format change, with a format change meaning the changeover of the labeling station or the labeling machine having the labeling station to different containers, which differ from one another in particular in terms of their size.

In principle, when changing formats, there is sufficient time available to convert the individual system components to the new containers, with the labeling station usually being part of a larger filling system, which includes, for example, a blow molding machine and a filling machine. The containers can then be labeled immediately, with all components having to be converted to the new bottle format if the format is changed.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a suction device which is characterized by a simple type of adjustment when changing formats.

The object and solution of this invention is a suction device according to claim 1. According to the invention, at least one controllable servomotor is provided to adjust the opening.

The servomotor is preferably connected to a control unit which controls the servomotor. This can be, for example, a own control unit of the labeling station. Alternatively, the control unit can be a control unit of the labeling machine, in particular its machine control.

When a format is changed, the opening is automatically adjusted by input in the control unit, and at the same time the other system components can also be adjusted with just one input.

The opening is essentially defined in terms of its height by a lower and an upper edge, the lower edge preferably not having to be adjusted when changing formats, since the position of the label tape within the labeling station does not change. In this respect, only an initial setup of the lower edge is required when the labeling station is put into operation for the first time. Of course, it can also be expedient to make an adjustment during operation, although this depends in particular on the type of labeling station. In particular, the size of the intake space can be adjusted through the upper edge of the opening.

In particular, it is then provided that the upper edge can be adjusted via the servomotor to adjust the size of the opening. A manual adjustment option is sufficient for the lower edge. Particularly preferred in this context is an embodiment in which the suction device has at least one position sensor for detecting the position of the upper and/or lower edge. Accordingly, the positions of the edges and accordingly also the size of the opening can be monitored continuously or once after the format change to ensure the correct position and, if there is a deviation from a target value, an adjustment can be made via the servomotor. The servomotor therefore not only serves to change the opening during a format change, but also to correct it during operation.

The servomotor is preferably an electric spindle motor. Here, an electric motor acts on a rotatable spindle, the spindle having an external thread which interacts with a spindle holder. The spindle holder is connected to the upper edge or to a wall forming the upper edge, with the wall and thus also the upper edge being displaced in the vertical direction by rotating the spindle. The setting position is then preferably always approached from the same direction so that the thread play between the spindle and spindle holder has no influence on the adjustment.

The invention furthermore relates to a labeling station for a labeling machine for labeling containers with an application carousel for applying labels to the containers and with a feed device for feeding the labels into the application carousel, a label tape containing the labels being movable within the feed device along a feed path . The feed device has a suction device according to the invention, with the suction space extending along a section of the feed path.

The application carousel is preferably designed as a rotatably mounted vacuum drum. Accordingly, the labels are held on the application carousel by negative pressure.

The labeling station is designed in particular as a roll-fed labeling station. In this case, the feed device has at least one cutting device for separating individual labels from a label tape and a possibly required gluing device for applying a pressure-sensitive adhesive to the labels. The labels are therefore in the form of a continuous label strip, from which individual labels must first be separated. Optionally, the labels can also be glued within the labeling machine. The gluing device is preferably designed as a rotatably mounted glue roller.

The feed device preferably has a label drive, the label drive being arranged along the feed path behind the suction device. If the labeling machine is designed as a roll-fed labeling machine, the label tape is in wound form as a supply roll, which is arranged on a corresponding supply roll holder of the labeling station. By unrolling this supply roll on the one hand and by the label drive, the label tape is introduced into the application carousel by the feed device, with the label drive stopping when an unoccupied container receptacle is detected in the transport carousel for the containers. Accordingly, the largest accumulation of material on the label tape is present shortly before this label drive, so that the corresponding suction device can be used particularly effectively at this position.

In this context, it should be noted that the terms “before” and “behind” refer to the operational feeding of the label tape.

A preferred embodiment of the labeling station provides that the feed device at least one supply roll holder for receiving the label tape wound into a supply roll and a web tensioning device arranged behind the supply roll holder. This web tensioning device is usually designed in the form of a pulley, with the label tape being guided over several guide rollers which are spaced apart from one another. By changing this distance, the web tension can be corrected and adjusted, in particular the previously mentioned short-term shutdowns of the label drive being too short for the web tensioning device to have an appropriate influence. Typically these are time periods in the range of a few milliseconds.

The invention furthermore relates to a labeling machine with a transport carousel for moving the containers along a transport route and at least one labeling station according to the invention, the transport carousel directly adjoining the application carousel of the labeling station.

The transport carousel then has a large number of container receptacles, these container receptacles can be designed to rotate. Accordingly, the containers are not only guided along a transport route by rotating the transport carousel, but also rotate around their own container axis. This allows the application and application of the labels to be significantly improved.

In addition, a container filling system is the subject of the invention, comprising a blow molding machine for blowing, in particular for stretch blow molding, containers made of plastic preforms, a labeling machine according to the invention blocked with the blow molding machine for labeling the containers and a filling machine blocked with the labeling machine for filling the containers with a liquid filling product, especially a drink. The container filling system has a central control which is set up to control said servomotor of the suction device and at least one controllable format adjustment device of the filling machine and/or the blow molding machine in a time-coordinated manner.

In the context of the invention, blocking means that no transport devices are provided between the individual machines that can form a container buffer. Instead, the machines are preferably connected to one another via transport stars, in particular exclusively via transport stars.

A format adjustment device in the sense of the invention is a device for adapting at least one component of the respective machine to a predetermined container format. The adjustment can include, for example, exchanging a format part and/or adjusting an adjustable format part. For example, the format adjustment device can be a device for exchanging blow molds of the blow molding machine or a device for changing the height of the filling elements of the filling machine.

The central control can control the respective machine or its components directly or, for the purpose of indirect control, send control commands to control units of the machines, which are processed by the control units of the machines.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment.

• 1 eine erfindungsgemäße Etikettierstation in einer Draufsicht,
• 2 die Ansaugvorrichtung in einer isometrischen Darstellung,
• 3 die Ansaugvorrichtung gemäß 2 mit einem dargestellten Etikettenband.

Show it:

• 1 a labeling station according to the invention in a top view,
• 2 the suction device in an isometric view,
• 3 the suction device according to 2 with a label tape shown.

The 1 shows a labeling machine with a labeling station 1, which is directly connected to a transport carousel 2, shown only schematically, for transporting containers 3. Labels are applied to the containers 3 via the labeling station 1, with the labels initially being provided in the form of a label tape 4, which are stored in supply roll holders 5 in the form of wound supply rolls 6. By rotating the supply roll holders 5, the label tape 4 is unwound and at the same time fed to a web tensioning device 7, which causes uniform web tension within the label tape 4 by moving the guide rollers towards one another.

In addition to the rotation of the supply roll holders 5, a label drive 8 also causes the label tape 4 to move through a feed device 9 of the labeling station 1, the label tape 4 being cut into individual labels in a cutting device 10, provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive via a possibly existing gluing device 11 and over an application carousel 12 can be applied to the containers 3. For this purpose, the containers 3 roll around their own container axis within the transport carousel 2, whereby the Labels can be applied particularly advantageously to the outer surface of the container 3.

If individual container holders of the transport carousel 2 are not occupied, an occupancy sensor (not shown) detects the empty container holder and reports this to a control unit, also not shown. The label drive 8 is then stopped to prevent a label from being fed to the empty container holder.

However, this then leads to material from the label tape 4 being able to build up, particularly immediately in front of the label drive 8, which falls down due to its own weight when it comes to a standstill due to the lack of web tension. When resuming, the web tension is increased again, and the short time intervals can adversely affect the label tape 4 in several respects. In addition, due to the inertia of the system, the web tensioning device 7 is not sufficient to prevent the accumulation of the excess material of the label tape 4. Against this background, a suction device 13 is provided, which is in the 2 to 4 is shown in more detail.

The 2 shows the suction device 13 in a rear view, with a vacuum device 14 formed from three fans generating a negative pressure in a suction chamber 15. This intake space is particularly visible in the sectional view 4 refer to.

The suction device 13 also has an opening 16, with the label tape 4 running past the opening 15 in an operating state. This is particularly evident from the 3 clearly visible.

The opening 16 and thus also the suction space 15 extend over a section of the feed path Z, so that in the event of a standstill of the drive device 8, the label material 4 can engage in sections with the excess material in the suction space 16, this being due to the negative pressure in the suction space 15 is effected. The forces for sucking the label tape 4 are comparatively low due to the lightness of the material, so that the label tape 4 can be easily guided out of the suction space 15 even when operation is resumed.

In addition, according to the 3 It can be seen that the height of the opening 16 is adapted to the height of the label tape 4. Accordingly, a lower edge 17 and an upper edge 18 are provided, which can be adjusted separately from one another.

A manual adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting the lower edge 17, since usually no or only rarely adjustment of the lower edge 17 is necessary after initial commissioning. The setting is chosen so that the label tape 4 can rest on a lower surface of the suction chamber 15, which also forms the lower edge 17, in the event of a standstill of the label drive 8 without being lowered significantly.

The height of the opening 16 is then largely adjusted via the upper edge 18, with a servomotor 19 being provided for adjusting the upper edge 18. This servomotor 19 is connected to the previously mentioned control unit, whereby in the event of a format change, the upper edge 18 and thus also the opening 16 can be adjusted automatically.

The actuator 19 is preferably formed from a spindle drive driven by an electric motor, with an electric motor driving a spindle, which causes a movement in the vertical direction V.

Reference symbol list

1

Labeling station

2

Transport carousel

3

container

4

label tape

5

Supply roll holder

6

supply rolls

7

Web tensioning device

8th

Label drive

9

Feeding device

10

Cutting device

11

Gluing device

12

Application carousel

13

Suction device

14

Vacuum device

15

Intake chamber

16

opening

17

lower edge

18

upper edge

19

Servomotor

v

Movement in vertical direction

Z

feed path

Claims (11)

Suction device (13) for a labeling station (1) for labeling containers (3), in particular beverage containers, with a suction space (15) and a vacuum device (14) for generating a negative pressure in the suction space (15), one towards the outside directed opening (16) of the suction chamber (15) intended for sucking in a label tape (4) is designed to be adjustable, characterized in that at least one controllable servomotor (19) is provided for adjusting the opening (16). Suction device (13). Claim 1 , characterized in that a lower edge (17) and/or an upper edge (18) of the opening (16) of the suction chamber (15) is adjustable. Suction device (13). Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that to adjust the size of the opening (16), the upper edge (18) can be adjusted via the servomotor (19). Suction device (13). Claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that the suction device (13) has at least one position sensor for detecting the position of the upper and / or the lower edge (18, 17). Suction device (13) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the servomotor (19) is an electric spindle drive. Labeling station (1) for a labeling machine for labeling containers (3), in particular beverage containers, with an application carousel (12) for applying labels to the containers (3) and with a feed device (9) for feeding the labels to the application carousel ( 12), wherein a label tape (4) containing the labels can be moved within the feed device (9) along a feed path (Z), characterized in that the feed device (9) has a suction device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the suction chamber (1) extends along a section of the feed path (Z). Labeling station (1). Claim 6 , wherein the feed device (9) has at least one cutting device (10) for separating individual labels from the label tape (4) and optionally a gluing device (11) for applying a pressure-sensitive adhesive to the labels. Labeling station (1). Claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that the feed device (9) has a label drive (8), the label drive (8) being arranged along the feed path (Z) behind the suction device (13). Labeling station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed device (9) has at least one supply roll holder (5) for receiving the label tape (4) wound into a supply roll (6) and a web tensioning device arranged behind the supply roll holder (5) ( 7). Labeling machine with a transport carousel (2) for moving the containers (3) along a transport route and at least one labeling station (1) according to one of the Claims 6 until 9 , wherein the transport carousel (2) directly adjoins the application carousel (12) of the labeling station (1). Container filling system, comprising a blow molding machine for blowing, in particular for stretch blow molding, containers (3) made of plastic preforms, a labeling machine blocked with the blow molding machine for labeling the containers (3). Claim 10 and a filling machine blocked with the labeling machine for filling the containers (3) with a liquid filling product, in particular a drink, characterized in that the container filling system has a central control which is set up to control said servomotor (19) of the suction device (13) and to control at least one controllable format adjustment device of the filling machine and / or the blow molding machine in a time-coordinated manner.

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