DE202007001964U1 - Labelling device for labelling bottles and containers has drive for vacuum cylinder and/or knife carrier constructed so that at moment of cutting, cutting knife and counter-knife which interacts with it, have same circumferential speed - Google Patents

Abstract

The labelling device for labelling bottles and containers (2), with a knife carrier (10) which together with a vacuum cylinder (9) forms a cutting gap (15), has the drive for the vacuum cylinder and/or the knife carrier constructed so that at the moment of cutting, the cutting knife (14) and the counter-knife (13) which interacts with it, or the cylindrical surface (9.1) of the vacuum cylinder which interacts with the cutting knife, have the same or similar circumferential speed. An independent claim is included for a labelling machine which has at least one labelling device according to the invention.

Description

The The invention relates to a labeling unit according to the preamble Claim 1 and to a labeling machine according to the preamble Claim 10.

A labeling machine is known for labeling containers, eg bottles with wrap-around labels with at least one labeling unit for processing a web-shaped label material (US Pat. DE 20 2005 002 793 U1 ), from which the individual labels are produced by cutting or separating. For this purpose, the labeling unit has inter alia a cutting device which consists essentially of a vacuum cylinder and a knife carrier. On the knife carrier two cutting blades are provided, which cooperate in the respective cutting situation or at the time of cutting with a counter knife on the vacuum cylinder. By means of drives, the vacuum cylinder can be driven in rotation about its cylinder axis and the knife carrier about its knife carrier axis, namely in opposite directions. It is proposed that the vacuum cylinder and the knife carrier at the time of cutting or separating a label are driven at the same speed. A perfect cutting or separating the labels from the label material is hereby not achievable in practice.

task The invention is to show a labeling, which for the Processing of web-shaped Label material is suitable and with which a flawless Cutting the label material or separating the individual labels from this material possible is. To the solution This task is a labeling according to the claim 1 formed. A labeling machine is the subject of the patent claim 8th.

deviant Of the generic art, the invention provides suggest that in the respective cutting situation, i. at the time of cutting the peripheral speeds of the counter knives having cylindrical surface the vacuum cylinder and the respective cutting blade are the same, i.e. the cutting elements cooperating at the time of cutting (Cutting blade and counter blade) the same or the same peripheral speed have. After the realization of the invention, it is not sufficient that the speeds, i. Same angular velocities are as proposed in the prior art.

By the training of the invention a relative movement of the cutting elements cooperating during cutting (Cutting knife and counter knife) in the feed direction of the label material and thus a deformation and / or wrinkling of the label material avoided, so that a flawless and visually appealing labeling the container is ensured.

further developments The invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention is in Explained in detail below with reference to the figures of an embodiment. It demonstrate:

1 a container formed as a bottle (eg PET bottle) and provided with an all-round label;

2 in a schematic partial view and in plan view of a labeling machine for labeling the container with wrap-around labels;

3 in a simplified representation and in plan view of a cutting station or device of the labeling of the 2 ;

4 in a schematic plan view of the vacuum roller of the cutting station of 3 ,

The in the 2 generally with 1 designated labeling machine of rotary type used for labeling designed as a bottle containers 2 with labels 3 in the illustrated embodiment with wrap-around labels.

The labeling machine 1 consists in the manner known to those skilled in, inter alia, of a rotatably driven about a vertical machine axis in the direction of arrow A rotor 4 , on its perimeter a variety of container carriers 5 in the form of turntables, on which during the labeling operation in each case a container 2 standing upright, that is oriented with its container axis in the vertical direction oriented parallel to the machine axis. The containers to be labeled 2 be the labeling machine 1 or the rotor 4 fed to a container inlet, not shown. The labeled containers 2 leave the labeling machine on a likewise not shown container outlet.

For labeling, the on the turntables 5 arranged container 2 with the rotor 4 on at least one labeling unit 6 passing by which is for processing one of at least one supply 7 (Label roll) withdrawn tape-shaped label material 3.1 is formed from the by separating or cutting the individual labels 3 be generated. The labeling unit 6 has, inter alia, a cutting device 8th essentially consisting of a vacuum cylinder 9 and a knife carrier 10 consists. The vacuum cylinder 9 is with its cylinder axis AV in the vertical direction, ie parallel to the machine axis of Ro tors 4 oriented and has at its the cylinder axis circular cylindrical surrounding peripheral surface 9.1 a variety of vacuum openings on in the 4 With 11 are indicated and during labeling over in Vakuumzylin the 9 trained distribution channels 12 and a rotary coupling, not shown, are in communication with a vacuum source. Furthermore, on the peripheral surface of the vacuum cylinder 9 several strip-like cutting elements or counter knife 13 provided, which are oriented with their longitudinal extent parallel or at least substantially parallel to the axis AV.

In the illustrated embodiment, a total of six counter-elements 13 at regular angular intervals, ie at an angular distance of 60 ° about the axis of the vacuum cylinder 9 provided offset.

The knife carrier 10 is for example at its periphery with two with the counter knives 13 cooperating and each oriented in the vertical direction or substantially in the vertical direction cutting blades 14 formed around the axis AM of the knife carrier 10 are provided offset by 180 ° from each other and each have the same radial distance from this axis.

The vacuum cylinder 9 and the knife carrier 10 form a cutting gap between them 15 through which the band-shaped labeling material 3.1 passed through. By appropriate drives is the vacuum cylinder 9 about its axis AV during labeling such drivable that the cylindrical surface 9.1 at a peripheral speed U1 in the direction of arrow B rotates. By a controllable servo drive is the knife carrier 10 can be driven about its axis AM in the direction of the arrow C, in the opposite direction to the vacuum cylinder 9 in the way that is in the area of the cutting gap 15 the counter-knife 13 and cutting knife 14 each move in the same direction. Through the interaction of the cutting blades 14 each with a counter knife 13 in the cutting situation or at the time of cutting is from the label material 3.1 the one for a label 3 required length controlled separated.

The thus obtained and first on the cylinder surface 9.1 of the vacuum cylinder 9 or at the vacuum openings 11 The label held on its printed front is then applied to the cylinder surface provided with a glue application 16.1 a gripper cylinder 16 passed during labeling around its vertical axis AG in the direction of arrow D in synchronism with the rotational movement of the rotor 4 and the rotary motion of the vacuum cylinder 9 is driven, against the direction of rotation A of the rotor 4 and against the direction of rotation B of the vacuum cylinder 9 , By gluing the cylindrical surface 16.1 For example, the labels on their backside receive the required size of glue so that each container passing the labeling unit passes by handing over and rolling on a label 3 is labeled.

The glue application on the peripheral surface 16.1 of the gripper cylinder 16 takes place through a gluing station 17 ,

To ensure proper separation of the labels 3 from the web-shaped label material 3.1 to ensure the label material 3.1 the cutting device 8th not only controlled by the supply spool 7 supplied, for example by means of sensors on the label material 3.1 provided markings are monitored or scanned, but in particular is the rotational speed of the knife carrier 10 controlled so that in the respective cutting situation, ie at the time of cutting, on which a cutting blade 14 with a counter knife 13 cooperates, the peripheral speed U2, with the with a counter knife 13 cooperating and thus located in the cutting position cutting blade 14 revolves around the axis AM, equal to the peripheral speed U1 of the cylinder surface 9.1 or with the cutting blade 14 cooperating counter knife 13 is.

However, this does not mean that the knife carrier 10 constantly revolves at a peripheral speed U2, which is equal to the peripheral speed U1. Rather, the knife carrier 10 preferably driven at its axis AM with a varying peripheral speed U2, but always in the form that in each cutting situation, ie whenever one of the cutting blades 14 in the with a counter knife 13 cooperating cutting position, the two peripheral velocities U1 and U2 are identical or identical or substantially equal or identical.

The peripheral speed U2 is therefore freely programmable. That is, within a work cycle, which a rotation angle of the knife carrier 10 of 360 ° or even a part of 360 °, the speed of the blade carrier is 10 and thus also the peripheral speed U2 of the cutting blades 14 for example, changed several times, so that the cutting blades 14 are positioned in the right place at the right time with the correct peripheral speed U2 to subsequently perform the cutting operation.

• – dass für kürzere Etiketten 3 die Schneidmesser 14 z.B. jeweils mit jedem zweiten Gegenmesser 13 an der Zylinderfläche 9.1 zusammenwirken, die von dem Etikettenmaterial 3.1 abgetrennten und bis zur Übergabe an den Greiferzylinder 16 am Vakuumzylinder 9 gehaltenen Etiketten 3 also eine Länge auf weisen, die einen Winkelbereich von 120° der Zylinderfläche 9.1 entsprechen, oder aber
• – dass für längere Etiketten die Schneidmesser 14 z.B. jeweils mit jedem dritten Gegenmesser 13 zusammenwirken, und zwar zur Erzeugung von Etiketten 3, deren Länge einen Winkelbereich von 180° der Zylinderfläche 9.1 entsprechen.

Through the use of multiple counter knives 13 there is also the possibility of the knife carrier 10 for example, to control

• - that for shorter labels 3 the cutting blades 14 eg with every second counter knife 13 on the cylinder surface 9.1 interact by the label material 3.1 separated and until the transfer to the gripper cylinder 16 on the vacuum cylinder 9 held labels 3 So have a length, which has an angular range of 120 ° of the cylinder surface 9.1 match, or else
• - that for longer labels the cutting blades 14 eg with every third counter knife 13 work together to produce labels 3 whose length is an angular range of 180 ° of the cylinder surface 9.1 correspond.

Furthermore, there is the distribution of the counter knife 13 on the cylinder surface 9.1 also the possibility of damage or wear of a counter knife 13 by changing the phase position of the rotary movement of the knife carrier 10 relative to rotary motion of the vacuum cylinder 9 the separation of the labels 3 from the label material 3.1 without the damaged or worn counter knife 13 so as to interrupt an ongoing labeling process for replacing a counter knife 13 is not necessary, but this exchange must be carried out only after completion of the labeling process.

The The invention has been described above with reference to an exemplary embodiment. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible, without thereby the inventive concept underlying the invention will leave.

Thus, the scope of the present invention also extends to those embodiments in which the actual cutting operation is not between a counter knife 13 and a cutting knife 14 takes place, but omitting a counter knife 13 , directly between cutting knife 14 and the surface or cylindrical surface 9.1 of the vacuum cylinder 9 ,

Likewise, the scope of the present invention extends to those embodiments in which in the knife carrier 10 more than two cutting blades 14 , For example, three or four, are arranged. Analogous to the explanations regarding the arrangement and number of counter-blades 13 inside the vacuum cylinder 9 , also arises with regard to the cutting blade 14 the advantage that when worn or broken by a simple change in the phase position of the rotary motion of the blade carrier 10 relative to the vacuum cylinder the unusable cutting blade 14 through an operational cutting knife 14 can be replaced, whereby unwanted production interruptions can be largely avoided.

1

labeling

2

container

3

label

3.1

web-shaped label material

4

rotor

5

turntable

6

labeling

7

supply spool or label tape roll

8th

cutter

9

vacuum cylinder

9.1

cylindrical surface

10

blade carrier

10.1

Knife support surface

11

vacuum port

12

distribution channel

13

against knife

14

cutting blade

15

cutting gap

16

gripper cylinder

16.1

Peripheral surface of the gripper cylinder

17

gluing station

A

Direction of rotation of the rotor 4

B

Direction of rotation of the vacuum cylinder 9

C

Direction of rotation of the knife carrier 10

D

Direction of rotation of the gripper cylinder 16

e

Conveying direction of the band-shaped label material 3.1

AV

Axis of the vacuum cylinder 9

AT THE

Axle of the knife carrier 10

AG

Axle of the gripper cylinder 16

Claims (10)

Labeling unit for use in a labeling machine ( 1 ) for labeling bottles or similar containers ( 2 ) with labels, with at least one cutting device ( 8th ) for separating the labels ( 3 ) of a tape-shaped label material ( 3.1 ) and with a transfer unit ( 16 ) for transferring the from the label material ( 3.1 ) separated labels ( 3 ) to the containers ( 2 ), wherein the cutting device ( 8th ) at least one about an axis (AV) circumferentially drivable vacuum cylinder ( 9 ) with several counter knives ( 13 ) and one around a blade carrier axis (AM) circumferentially drivable and with at least one cutting blade ( 14 ) provided knife carrier ( 10 ), which together with the vacuum cylinder ( 9 ) a cutting gap ( 15 ), in which of the label material passed through this gap ( 3.1 ) by interaction of a counter knife ( 13 ) and located in a cutting position at least one cutting blade ( 14 ) the respective label ( 3 ), characterized in that the drive for the vacuum cylinder ( 9 ) and / or the knife carrier ( 10 ) is designed so that at the time of cutting the cutting blade ( 14 ) and cooperating with this counter knife ( 13 ) or the with the cutting knife ( 14 ) cooperating cylindrical surface ( 9.1 ) of the vacuum cylinder ( 9 ) have the same or the same peripheral speed (U1, U2). Labeling unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum cylinder ( 9 ) synchronously with the movement (A) of a container ( 2 ) on the labeling unit ( 6 ) passing moving transport element, such as a rotor ( 4 ) of the labeling machine ( 1 ) is driven. Labeling unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the knife carrier ( 10 ) is driven at a peripheral speed (U2) varying between times of cutting. Labeling unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vacuum cylinder ( 9 ) and the knife carrier ( 10 ) are driven in opposite directions. Labeling machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the knife carrier about the knife carrier axis (MA) offset at least two cutting blades ( 14 ) are provided. Labeling unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the vacuum cylinder ( 9 ) at regular angular intervals about the axis (AV) of the vacuum cylinder ( 9 ) displaces at least six counter-knives ( 13 ) are provided. Labeling unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the counter-blades ( 13 ) on a cylindrical surface ( 9.1 ) of the vacuum cylinder ( 9 ) are provided. Labeling unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the counter-blades ( 13 ) by a change in the phase position of the rotational movement of the vacuum cylinder ( 9 ) relative to the rotational position of the knife carrier ( 10 ) are adjustable. Labeling unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting knives ( 14 ) by a change in the phase position of the rotary movement of the knife carrier ( 10 ) relative to the rotational position of the vacuum cylinder ( 9 ) are adjustable. Labeling machine, characterized by at least one labeling unit ( 6 ) according to any one of the preceding claims.