EP0683101A2 - Device for automatically filling the main magazine of a labelling machine and magazine for use in such a device - Google Patents

Abstract

The feed magazine is fitted to a labelling machine. It can swivel from a standby position (W) into an insertion position (E) in which its exit opening lies adjacent to the entry opening. The supply holders are suspended in their standby position, and with horizontal orientation of the master magazine (2), the feed magazine is oriented in its standby position vertically. Several similar feed magazines are retained by the arms of one magazine carrier which is formed as a carousel. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a device for automatically filling the main magazine of a labeling machine with a label stack consisting of a plurality of individual labels, which can be inserted from a storage magazine by means of a feed device into the main magazine via its insertion opening. In addition, the invention also relates to a storage magazine which can be used in such devices.

Devices and storage magazines of the aforementioned type make it possible to operate labeling machines without interruption over a long period of time without the need for an operator to refill the main magazine with new labels.

A device of the type mentioned is known for example from German patent DE 35 36 294 C2. In the known device, the storage magazines are arranged parallel to one another on a table-shaped slideway, via which they are conveyed behind the main magazine of the associated labeling machine by means of a feed device. The end faces of the stack of labels contained in the storage magazines lie against a guide rail during the advancement of the storage magazines, which prevent the labels from falling out during the movement. This rail is withdrawn when the respective storage magazine has reached the filling position behind the main magazine.

In order to prevent individual labels of the label stack from falling out in the storage magazine, it is known from German patent DE 36 30 925 C2 to provide releasable adhesive strips by means of which the end face of the respective first label of the stack of labels contained in the storage magazine is connected to the walls of the storage magazine are. These adhesive strips are removed immediately before the stack of labels is inserted into the main magazine. The use of adhesive strips complicates the handling of the known storage magazines when inserting the stack of labels into the main magazine.

The advantage of the known device is that because of the table-shaped arrangement of the storage magazines and the associated low overall height, it is possible to arrange several refill devices one above the other, as is often required for multiple labeling of bottles. For this purpose, however, a large space requirement for the sliding surface must be accepted, which increases the more storage magazines are to be stored on the sliding surface. Another disadvantage of the known device is that the large sliding surface makes access to the feed mechanism arranged below it difficult. In addition, it has been shown in the practical testing of the known device that malfunctions frequently occur during the insertion of a new stack of labels into the main magazine.

In order to prevent individual labels of the label stack from falling out in the storage magazine, it is known from German patent DE 36 30 925 C2 to provide detachable adhesive strips, by means of which the end face of the first label of the label stack contained in the storage magazine with the walls of the Storage magazine are connected. These adhesive strips are removed immediately before the stack of labels is inserted into the main magazine. The use of adhesive strips complicates the handling of the known storage magazines when inserting the stack of labels into the main magazine.

The object of the invention is to reduce the space required for a device of the type mentioned, to simplify the automatic refilling of the main magazine and at the same time to reduce the risk of a malfunction of the insertion process.

This object is achieved in that the storage magazine can be pivoted from a waiting position into an insertion position, in which its extension opening lies against the insertion opening of the main magazine. According to the invention, the supply magazines are in a waiting position, as long as the main magazine is still sufficiently filled, from which they are pivoted into the filling position to fill the main magazine with new labels. The pivotability of the storage magazines enables them to be held in a waiting position angled relative to the conveying surface of the main magazine. In this way, the footprint required for the refill device can be reduced. This applies in particular if the storage magazines are arranged hanging in their waiting position. In this case, individual labels are prevented from falling out of the storage container by their own weight. This applies in particular if the supply magazine is oriented vertically in its waiting position when the main magazine is aligned horizontally. The pivotability of the storage magazines also enables the storage magazines to be directly at the insertion opening of the main magazine swivel in so that the new stack of labels can be transferred smoothly into the main magazine and is always guided during its transfer into the main magazine. This reduces the risk of the insertion process being disrupted by slipping individual labels.

Good operability with a simultaneously further reduced space requirement for the device according to the invention can be achieved in that several storage magazines of the same type are held by the arms of a magazine carrier, by means of which they can be conveyed into their pivoted position. This makes it possible, for example, to arrange the storage magazines on a carousel-shaped magazine carrier on which they can be loaded and monitored without any problems. Other arrangements of the storage magazines on the magazine carrier, in particular a linear arrangement of the magazines next to one another, are conceivable. The magazine carrier conveys the storage magazines to their swivel position in the area of the main magazine, where they are swiveled from the waiting position to the insertion position. A particularly simple mechanism for pivoting the storage magazines can be used when the storage magazines hang on the arms of the magazine carrier.

A further improvement in the smooth transition of the label stack from the respective storage magazine into the main magazine can be achieved in that the storage magazines have projections in the region of their ejection opening at least on the surface on which the labels are supported during insertion into the main magazine engage in corresponding recesses in the main magazine in the inserted position.

An unwanted exit of the labels from the label stack during the pivoting of the respective storage magazine or during insertion can be prevented by holding elements in the waiting position and at least over part of the distance covered during insertion of the label stack into the main magazine Prevent stack of labels from the storage magazine and that the holding elements then automatically release the stack of labels. When such holding elements are used, both the maintenance of the supply magazines and during their pivoting and in the critical phase at the start of the insertion of the stack of labels into the main magazine, secure holding of the stack of labels and thus trouble-free pivoting and insertion are guaranteed at all times.

According to an alternative solution to the problem, the cohesion of the label stack, which favors a trouble-free insertion of the label stack into the main magazine, with reduced space requirement during the insertion phase, can also be achieved by a storage magazine for a device for automatically filling a main magazine of a labeling machine with one consisting of a large number of individual labels Label stack, the storage magazine being equipped with holding means which prevent the label stack from falling apart before it is pushed into the main magazine, thereby ensuring that the holding means can be pushed into the main magazine together with the respective label stack so that the holding elements during the insertion of the label stack in the main magazine on the front of the label stack a holding force opposite to the insertion force on the Exercise stack of labels and that the holding elements automatically swing away from the end face of the stack of labels immediately before reaching the end of the insertion path. In this way, the stack of labels is prevented from falling apart until it reaches the end of its insertion path and forms an easily controllable unit during insertion. When using such storage magazines, not only is the insertion of the stack of labels favored, but also space is saved which is required in the known devices for additional securing elements, by means of which a malfunction by, for example, slipping individual labels is to be prevented, at least when the storage container is being brought up to the main magazine.

If, in a storage magazine according to the invention, the holding elements are designed in the manner of leaf springs, which are arranged axially parallel to and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the label stack and can be bent in the transverse direction to the longitudinal axis of the label stack, they can simultaneously serve for lateral guidance of the label stack.

In addition, due to the flexibility of the leaf spring-like holding elements in the transverse direction of their longitudinal axis, the automatic pivoting away of the holding elements from the end face of the stack of labels can be accomplished in a simple manner. For example, the holding elements can be pivoted away from the end face of the stack of labels by a guide element arranged at the end of the insertion path of the holding elements.

In order to facilitate the interaction of the guide elements and the holding elements, the holding elements should be assigned to the end face of the stack of labels Tip have at least one protruding from the label stack, in particular funnel-shaped rounded section, which causes the holding element to pivot away from the end face of the label stack when it hits the guide element, wherein the guide element can consist of a roller carried by a pin.

Finally, it is expedient if the holding elements can be retracted into their starting position by means of tension springs, one end of each of which is fastened to one of the walls of the storage magazine. On the one hand, these springs can exert the force necessary for holding the stack of labels together during their insertion into the main magazine via the holding elements. In addition, the springs ensure that the holding elements are automatically retracted into their starting position after they have been pivoted away from the end face of the stack of labels, so that the respective storage magazine can be swiveled back into the waiting division without problems after the insertion is completed and filled again.

It is particularly advantageous to use the storage magazines explained above in a device of the type also explained above.

• Fig. 1, eine Vorrichtung zum automatischen Befüllen des Hauptmagazins einer Etikettiermaschine in Aufsicht;
• Fig. 2, eine seitliche Ansicht der Vorrichtung nach Fig. 1;
• Fig. 2a, einen Ausschnitt C der Fig. 2 in vergrößerter Ansicht;
• Fig. 3, eine alternative Ausführung einer Vorrichtung zum automatischen Befüllen des Hauptmagazins einer Etikettiermaschine in Aufsicht;
• Fig. 4a, einen Ausschnitt A der Vorrichtungen nach Fig. 1 oder 3 in vergrößerter Aufsicht in einer ersten Stellung der Vorrichtung während des Einschiebens eines neuen Etikettenstapels;
• Fig. 4b, einen Ausschnitt B der Fig. 4a in einer weiter vergrößerten Aufsicht;
• Fig. 5a, den Ausschnitt A der Vorrichtungen nach Fig. 1 oder 3 in einer zweiten Stellung der Vorrichtung während des Einschiebens eines neuen Etikettenstapels;
• Fig. 5b, einen Ausschnitt B der Fig. 5a in einer weiter vergrößerten Aufsicht;
• Fig. 6a, den Ausschnitt A der Vorrichtungen nach Fig. 1 oder 3 in einer dritten Stellung der Vorrichtung während des Einschiebens eines neuen Etikettenstapels;
• Fig. 6b, einen Ausschnitt B der Fig. 6a in einer weiter vergrößerten Aufsicht;
• Fig. 7a, den Ausschnitt A der Vorrichtungen nach Fig. 1 oder 3 in einer vierten Stellung der Vorrichtung während des Einschiebens eines neuen Etikettenstapels;
• Fig. 7b, einen Ausschnitt B der Fig. 7a in einer weiter vergrößerten Aufsicht;
• Fig. 8, ein in einer der Vorrichtungen nach Fig. 1 oder 3 eingesetztes Vorratsmagazin in Aufsicht.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing showing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Show it:

• Figure 1, a device for automatically filling the main magazine of a labeling machine in supervision.
• Fig. 2, a side view of the device of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 2a, a section C of Figure 2 in an enlarged view.
• 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a device for automatically filling the main magazine of a labeling machine in supervision;
• 4a shows a detail A of the devices according to FIG. 1 or 3 in an enlarged top view in a first position of the device during the insertion of a new stack of labels;
• 4b, a section B of FIG. 4a in a further enlarged plan view;
• Fig. 5a, the section A of the devices of Figure 1 or 3 in a second position of the device while inserting a new stack of labels.
• 5b, a section B of FIG. 5a in a further enlarged plan view;
• Fig. 6a, the detail A of the devices of Figure 1 or 3 in a third position of the device while inserting a new stack of labels.
• 6b, a section B of FIG. 6a in a further enlarged plan view;
• 7a, the detail A of the devices according to FIG. 1 or 3 in a fourth position of the device during the insertion of a new label stack;
• 7b, a section B of FIG. 7a in a further enlarged plan view;
• Fig. 8, a storage magazine used in one of the devices according to Fig. 1 or 3 in supervision.

The device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for automatically filling a main magazine 2 of a labeling machine 3 has a carousel-shaped, rotatable magazine carrier 4, on which holding arms 5 are arranged in a circle and at regular intervals from one another.

The device shown in FIG. 3 differs from the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the magazine carrier 6 is rectangular and the holding arms 5 are arranged linearly next to one another at regular intervals, the magazine carrier 6 being transverse to the longitudinal axis 7 of the main magazine 2 is movable.

The holding arms 5 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 each have a cranked upper section 5a, at the tip of which a swiveling device 8 is arranged. A storage magazine 9 is fastened to this swiveling device 8 in each case by means of a joint element arranged on its bottom surface 10 and assigned to the ejection opening 11 of the storage magazine 9. The storage magazine 9 can be pivoted from its vertically oriented, hanging waiting position W into a horizontally oriented insertion position E by means of the pivoting device 8. The corresponding pivoting movement is indicated by arrows P in FIGS. 2.2a, the supply magazine 9 being shown in dashed lines in its hanging waiting position W and in solid lines in its insertion position E in FIG. 2a.

Above the holding arms 5 is a, carried by the frame 12 of the device 1, pneumatically in the direction of Main magazine 2 arranged from a waiting position insert plunger 13, the longitudinal axis of which is aligned with the longitudinal axis 7 of the main magazine 2. Its length is dimensioned in its waiting division in such a way that sufficient space remains for the pivoting of the storage magazines 9 in their insertion position E between the insertion plunger 13 and the main magazine 2.

Each of the storage magazines 9 is box-shaped and has 10 side walls 14 in addition to the bottom surface. In addition, 10 slide rails 15 are arranged on the bottom surface, which protrude beyond the opening 11 and the front edge of the bottom surface 10. The section of the slide rails 15 protruding beyond the front edge of the bottom surface 10 engages in corresponding recesses in the main magazine 2 in the insertion position E of the storage magazines 9.

Furthermore, each storage magazine 9 has a rear wall 16 and a plate 17 which is sprung against the rear wall 16 and via which a stack of labels 18 filled in the respective storage magazine is resiliently supported in the waiting position W of the storage container 9. This arrangement of the plate 17 enables the stack of labels 18 of different lengths to be filled into the storage container 9, since the spring-loaded support always ensures that the end face 18a of the stack of labels 18 is arranged at a predetermined point in the discharge opening 11 of the storage container 9.

In addition, each storage container 9 is equipped with holding elements 19 which each extend inside the storage container 9 on both sides along a stack of labels 18 filled with a plurality of individual labels and filled into the storage container 9. On the Holding elements 19 exert tension springs 20 spring forces. The tension springs 20 each extend along the holding elements 19 and are attached at one end to the end 19a of the holding elements 19 assigned to the ejection opening 11 and at the other end to a rear section of the side walls 14.

The holding elements 19 are designed in the manner of leaf springs and can be resiliently bent at least in the region of their end 19a in the transverse direction to their longitudinal axis. At their end 19a, the holding elements 19 each have projections 21 protruding toward the inside of the storage container 9, which protrude from the end face 18a of the label stack 18 and prevent unwanted escape of individual labels of the label stack 18 from the storage container 9. In addition, at the end 19a of the holding elements 19, a section 22 is formed in a funnel-shaped curve facing outward from the label stack 18.

The main magazine 2 has a guideway 23 for a label stack 24 inserted into the main magazine 2. In the area of the insertion opening 2a of the main magazine 2 adjacent to the two sides of the guideway 23, a guiding element 26 designed as a roller 25 carried by a pin is arranged.

Within the main magazine 2, the inserted label stack 24 is conveyed by conveyor elements 27 in the direction of glue segments 28 of the labeling machine 3. For this purpose, the conveying elements 27 are pivotally attached to a conveying device 29 and are each held by a torsion spring 30 in contact with the inserted stack of labels 24.

The main magazine 2 is also equipped with consumption sensors, not shown, which monitor the consumption of the labels of the label stack 24 inserted into the main magazine 2. The consumption sensors report the need to refill the main magazine 2 with a new label stack 18 so early that there is always a sufficient amount of labels in the main magazine 2 to operate the labeling machine 3 without interruption, taking into account the refilling process.

The device explained above works as follows:
As soon as the consumption sensors of the main magazine 2 report that a refilling of the main magazine 2 is necessary, one of the storage containers 9 is conveyed into its pivoting position by means of the magazine carrier 4, in which it is arranged directly in front of the main magazine 2 of the labeling machine 3. The respective holding arm 9 is arranged below the main magazine 2 in a space-saving manner.

The respective storage container 9 is then pivoted into its insertion position E (FIG. 2a), in which it is aligned horizontally with the main magazine 2. The ejection opening 11 of the storage container 9 now lies flush with the insertion opening of the main magazine 2, the sections of the slide rails 15 projecting into the main magazine 2 ensuring that the new stack of labels 18 can be pushed into the main magazine 2 without jolts.

Then the slide-in ram 13 moves into the storage magazine 9 and pushes the stack of labels 18 in the direction of the main magazine 2. The holding elements 19 are carried along by their projections 21 and exert a force generated by the tension springs 20 on the label stack 18 until the end of the used label stack 24 already in the main magazine 2 is approximately reached. In this position, the funnel-shaped sections 22 of the holding elements 19 meet the roller 25 of the respective guide element 26 (FIGS. 4a, b).

The further insertion of the label stack 18 into the main magazine 2 has the effect that the funnel-shaped section 22 of the holding elements 19 is guided away from the label stack 18 by the guide element 26 while the holding element 19 is bent in the direction transverse to its longitudinal axis. This bending is accompanied by a pivoting away of the projections 21 of the holding elements 19 from the end face 18a of the label stack 18 (FIGS. 5a, b).

As soon as the projections 21 are completely moved away from the end face 18a of the stack of labels 18 so that this is free from the force load by the holding elements 19, the holding elements 19 are pulled back into their starting position by the tension springs 20. The end face 18a of the newly inserted label stack 18 now lies against the conveyor elements 27 (FIGS. 6a, 6b).

Finally, the conveying elements 27 are pulled out between the stacks of labels 18, 24 in a pivoting movement triggered by the conveying device 29. The conveyor device 29 then moves with the conveyor elements 27 to the end of the newly inserted label stack 18, where they pivot behind the label stack 18. The label stack 18 can now be conveyed in the main magazine 2 in the direction of the glue segments 28 of the labeling machine 3 (FIGS. 7a, b).

Claims (15)

Device for automatically filling the main magazine (2) of a labeling machine (3) with a label stack (18) consisting of a large number of individual labels, which is made up of a storage magazine (9) by means of a feed device (13) into the main magazine (2) via its insertion opening ( 2a) can be inserted, characterized in that the storage magazine (9) can be pivoted from a waiting position (W) into an insertion position (E) in which its extension opening (11) bears against the insertion opening (2a) of the main magazine (2). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage containers are arranged hanging in their waiting position (W). Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that when the main magazine (2) is aligned horizontally, the supply magazine (9) is oriented vertically in its waiting position (W). Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that several storage magazines (9) of the same type are held by arms (5) of a magazine carrier (4, 6). Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the magazine carrier (4) is carousel-shaped. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage magazines (9) at least on the surface (14) on which the stack of labels (18) are supported during insertion into the main magazine (2), each have projections in the region of their ejection opening (11) which engage in corresponding recesses in the main magazine (2) in the insertion position (E). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that holding elements (19) in the waiting position and at least over part of the distance covered during the insertion of the label stack (18) into the main magazine, an unwanted exit of the labels of the label stack (18) from the storage magazine (9) prevent and that the holding elements (19) then automatically release the stack of labels (18). Storage magazine for a device for automatically filling a main magazine (2) of a labeling machine (3) with a label stack (18) consisting of a large number of individual labels, the storage magazine being equipped with holding means (19) which prevent the label stack (18) from falling apart prevent it from being pushed into the main magazine (2), characterized in that - That the holding means (19) can be inserted together with the respective stack of labels (18) in the main magazine (2), - That the holding elements (19) during part of the distance covered when inserting the label stack (18) into the main magazine (2) over the end face (18a) of the label stack (18) exert an insertion force opposite the insertion force on the label stack (18) and - That the holding elements (18) automatically swing away from the end face (18a) of the stack of labels (18) when they reach the end of their insertion path. Storage magazine according to claim 8, characterized in that the holding elements (19) are designed in the manner of leaf springs which are arranged axially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the label stack (18) and laterally thereof and can be bent in the transverse direction to the longitudinal axis of the label stack (18) . Storage magazine according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the holding elements (19) can be pivoted away from the end face (18a) of the stack of labels (18) by a guide element (26) arranged at the end of their insertion path . Storage magazine according to Claim 9, characterized in that the holding elements (19) on their tip assigned to the end face (18a) of the label stack (18) have at least one section (22) which projects from the label stack (18) and which cooperates with the guide element (26) assigned to it ) exhibit. Storage magazine according to claim 10, characterized in that the section (22) is rounded outwards in a funnel shape. Storage magazine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding elements (19) can be retracted into their starting position by means of tension springs (20). Storage magazine according to claim 12, characterized in that the tension springs (20) generate the holding force exerted by the holding elements on the stack of labels (18). Use of a storage magazine according to one of claims 8-14 in a device according to one of claims 1-7.

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