EP0794143A2 - Method of and device for intermittently inserting web sections of a second material web into a first material web - Google Patents

Abstract

Sections (7) of a second continuous strip (4) are inserted intermittently into a first continuous strip (3) in a device with two work stations for the two strips (3,4). A controller stops the first strip (3) when a certain length has been reached, applies clamps (10a,10b) and cuts the strip (3) between the clamps, with the ends protruding beyond the clamps. A length (7) of the second strip (4) is fed forward at the second work station and cut off while held between clamps (11a,11b), with the ends protruding beyond the clamps. The clamps (11a,11b) of the second work station are moved into the plane of the first strip (3) so that the ends of the strips abut. The ends are then joined with adhesive.

Description

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for intermittently inserting web sections of a second material web into a first material web.

For the production of labels, several layers of materials are usually laminated to form a material web. The relatively wide material web is subsequently cut into individual strips of the desired label width, so that each strip carries the punched-out labels.

These labels are primarily used to convey price and / or product information to the customers in a department store about the goods to which they are attached. However, labels are increasingly fulfilling another function: they are used for electronic article surveillance. For this purpose - as described in EP 0 295 028 B1 - one of the laminated layers of the label tape consists of a soft magnetic material of high permeability and low coercive force. Often a layer (->"Thin Film Labels ") but also a soft magnetic strip material (->" strip labels ") used.

If a label prepared in this way is exposed to the alternating electromagnetic field of an electronic monitoring device, it is stimulated to emit a characteristic signal. This signal is detected by a receiving device of the monitoring device and interpreted by evaluation electronics in such a way that an article passes the monitoring zone in an unauthorized manner. The unauthorized passage is indicated to the operating personnel by means of an acoustic and / or visual alarm.

To prevent an alarm from being triggered when a customer has properly paid for an item, the electronic security tags can usually be deactivated. For this purpose, sections of a semi-hard or hard magnetic material are provided, which after proper payment of the goods are driven into saturation by a correspondingly high energy supply. The semi-hard or hard magnetic sections in the saturation subsequently prevent a reaction of the soft magnetic material in the alternating field emitted by the monitoring device.

The soft magnetic material and especially the semi-hard or hard magnetic material are expensive. Taking into account the high material costs, it is easy to understand why no continuous strip or closed surface is used as the deactivator material.

The labels are usually applied to the goods to be labeled using hand-held labeling devices. When the label roll carrying the label strip is inserted into the dispenser, there is a certain rejection of label material which is no longer available for the subsequent price labeling. Given the fact The fact that the materials for the manufacture of the labels, in particular the security labels, consist of expensive materials, is aimed at reducing the rejects to zero as far as possible. To achieve this goal, a section of inexpensive material that does not contain any securing elements is inserted into the laminated material web carrying the securing elements at certain intervals. The length of the inserted section corresponds to the reject that usually arises when a new label roll is inserted into a dispenser.

The invention is based on the object of proposing a device and a method which allow an automatic insertion of a web section of a second material web at predetermined intervals into a first material web.

The object is achieved with respect to the device in that the device has a first processing station for the first material web, a second processing station for the second material web and a control device. The control device stops the web advance in the first processing station when a predetermined length of the material web has been reached - this length corresponds to the length of a label roll provided for the dispenser - by the way; Furthermore, two clamping devices for clamping the first material web and a cutting device for severing the material web between the two clamping devices are provided, the ends of the material web preferably projecting over the clamping devices with their ends. The control device controls the web advance in the second processing station until a web section of a predetermined length is reached. At least two further clamping devices for clamping the web section and a cutting device for severing the second material web at the end of the web section are provided, the ends of the web section also here Have protrusions on the clamping devices. Furthermore, the clamping devices of the second processing station have guide elements which move the web section of the second material web into the plane of the first material web in such a way that the protrusions at the web ends of the first and second material web preferably abut one another. Furthermore, adhesive devices are provided which glue the ends of the two material webs to one another.

According to an advantageous development of the device according to the invention, it is provided that the first material web contains electronically detectable securing elements. As already mentioned above, the electronically detectable security elements are so-called "thin films" or "strip" labels. A laminate of two propylene layers is preferably used for the second material web, which represents an extremely inexpensive solution.

So that a desired length of a section of the second material web can be inserted into the first material web at predetermined intervals, according to an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention it is provided to arrange an angle encoder on the axis of a roller, the rotational speed of the roller being the same as the speed of advancing the material web is proportional. The angle encoder is preferably mounted on a measuring wheel which is placed on the material web. The angle encoder is a commercially available absolute or incremental encoder.

In order to obtain information as to whether the material web on one of the supply rolls is coming to an end or whether the material web on the take-up roll has the diameter sufficient for further processing, sensors are provided on the two supply rolls of the first and second processing stations and on the take-up roll are. According to a preferred embodiment, the sensor on the supply roll of the first processing station is a metal detector which responds to the metal layer of the magnetic securing elements. The sensor which is assigned to the supply roll of the second processing station is advantageously a reflection detector, while an ultrasound sensor is used to indicate that a predetermined diameter of the take-up roll has been reached.

According to an advantageous development of the device according to the invention, the cutting device for severing the first material web (3) is a punch-die cutting device. This device, whose function is similar to that of scissors, offers the advantage that the contamination of the knives by the adhesive of the laminated material web is relatively low. The time required for cleaning the cutting device can be considerably reduced by using such a cutting device.

To keep the web tension constant, a dancer roller is assigned to each of the two supply rolls and the take-up roll. This advantageous embodiment ensures that the finished material web provided with glue points does not tear apart at the glue point (weak points), particularly when the device is restarted.

According to an advantageous development of the device according to the invention, it is suggested to monitor the web run of the material webs in the first processing station as well as in the second processing station by means of a web edge control. This ensures that the inserted web sections can be inserted into the first material web without lateral offset.

The following configuration is considered to be particularly favorable: the adhesive devices are adhesive tape dispensing devices, wherein an adhesive tape is cut off in accordance with the web width of the material web and is applied on both sides to the ends of the first material web and the web section of the second material web.

With regard to the method for intermittent insertion of web sections of a second material web into a first material web, the object is achieved by the following method steps: in a first processing station, a web section of predetermined length of the first material web is unwound from a first supply roll and separated; the two web ends are then moved apart in the plane of the first material web. Preferably, a web section of a predetermined length of the second material web is unwound and separated from a second supply roll during the unwinding and severing process in the first processing station in a second processing station; the separated web section of the second material web is moved into the plane of the first material web and glued there to the web ends of the first material web. These steps are repeated until the first material web with the inserted sections of the second material web has reached a desired length.

According to an advantageous development of the method according to the invention, the web run in the first processing station and in the second processing station is monitored with regard to the web edge position and with regard to the web speed. It is expedient if the control device is informed of the end of the web of material on the supply rolls and of the desired diameter of the take-up roll.

According to a favorable embodiment of the method according to the invention, the elements in the two processing stations are controlled either pneumatically and / or by motor.

• Fig. 1. eine Seitenansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung,
• Fig. 2: eine Draufsicht auf die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung,
• Fig. 3: eine schematische Darstellung der einzelnen Positionen der Klemmvorrichtungen bei der Durchführung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens und
• Fig. 4: ein Flußdiagramm zur Ansteuerung der Steuereinrichtung.

The device according to the invention and the method according to the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the following drawings. It shows:

• 1 is a side view of the device according to the invention,
• 2: a plan view of the device according to the invention,
• 3: a schematic representation of the individual positions of the clamping devices when carrying out the method according to the invention and
• Fig. 4: a flow chart for controlling the control device.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the device according to the invention in side view, while Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1. The device consists of two processing stations 5, 6, which are coordinated with one another in such a way that web sections 7 of a certain length of a second material web 4 are inserted into a first material web 3 at predetermined intervals. The insertion of the web sections 7 takes place intermittently and is controlled by a control device 9. The control is preferably a CNC-2 control. The individual elements of the processing stations 3, 4 are moved either by motor or pneumatically.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the first material web 3 consists of a laminate that contains magnetic securing elements 29; in the second material web 4 there is no magnetic metal coating, rather it is preferably composed of two polypropylene layers glued together.

The first material web 3 is unwound in the first, upper processing station 5 from a supply roll 1 corresponding to a desired length. The speed of the web feed and the desired length of the web section 7 of the first material web 3 are determined by means of a rotation angle sensor 22 which e.g. is attached to the axis of a measuring wheel placed on the unwound material web 3. The web tension during the unwinding process, the stopping and the continuation of the material web 3 is kept constant via dancer rollers 16. The lateral web run is monitored by web edge sensors and corrected to the desired edge position by means of a web edge controller 31. A so-called rotating frame control is used for web edge control 31. These are two rollers mounted side by side, which are arranged in a swiveling frame.

As soon as the desired length of material web 3 is reached, the web feed is stopped in the first processing station 5. The material web 3 is clamped between the two clamping jaws of the two clamping devices 10a, 10b of the first processing station 5. This state of affairs is shown graphically in FIG. 3a and is referred to there as position I.1. Then the material web 3 between the two clamping devices 10a. 10b cut by means of a cutting device 12 moved into the plane of the web. The cut is made in such a way that the web ends have a certain projection with respect to the clamping devices 10a, 10b. In a next method step, one of the two clamping devices 10b is displaced in the running direction of the first material web 3 and the other clamping device 10a is moved against the running direction of the first material web 3 and positioned in predetermined positions. The position reached Clamping devices 10a, 10b is designated as position I.2 in FIG. 3a.

While the previously described work steps take place in the first processing station 5, a desired length of a web section 7 of the second material web 4 is unwound from a supply roll 2 in the second processing station 6. As in the processing station 5, the web tension is kept constant in the processing station 6 via a dancer roller 16.
In order to advance the length of the web section 7, the beginning of the material web 4 is passed between the clamping jaws of two clamping devices 11a, 11b positioned next to one another, which is shown in the drawing as position II.1 in FIG. 3b. To prevent the beginning of the web from kinking, air is directed against the material web from both sides during the web advance. For this purpose, air nozzles are provided in the clamping jaws of the first clamping device 11a. In order to prevent the web start from bumping against the edges of the clamping jaws, the clamping jaws of the second clamping device 11b are also bevelled on the side facing the web beginning of the material web 4.

The outer clamping device 11b positioned in the running direction of the material web 4 clamps the material web 4 between the clamping jaws as soon as it has reached a certain protrusion. Then the outer clamping device 11b is moved a certain distance in the running direction of the material web 4. The desired length of the web section 7 of the second material web 4 is then unwound from the supply roll 2 of the second processing station 6. As soon as this has happened, the material web 4 is clamped between two clamping devices 13, 11a positioned counter to the web running direction and cut in the intermediate area between the two clamping devices 13, 11a by means of a cutting device 14. The The position of the clamping devices 13, 11a, 11b is marked as position II.2 in FIG. 3b.

In contrast to the cutting device 12 of the first processing station 5, the cutting device 14 of the second processing station 6 is rigidly mounted. Here too, the cut is made in such a way that a certain protrusion of the cut web section 7 is achieved.

Both clamping devices 11a, 11b are now moved into the plane of the material web 3 of the first processing station 5 in their reached positions. After this process has ended, the two clamping devices 11a, 11b of the second processing station 6 are positioned in the immediate vicinity of the two clamping devices 10a, 10b of the first processing station 3. This can be seen in the drawing in FIG. 3c and marked there as position III.

The protrusions of the web ends of the first and second material webs 3, 4 preferably abut one another. In a subsequent process step, the ends are fastened by means of two adhesive devices 17, 18; 19, 20 glued together. Subsequently, the clamping jaws of the clamping devices 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b are opened, and the material web 3 of the first processing station 5 is moved further with the inserted web section 7 of the second material web 4 and wound up on the winding roll 8. The next cycle follows.

The adhesive devices 17, 18, 19, 20 are configured as follows: the dispensers for the adhesive tape are positioned on the side of the first material web 3, specifically in the vicinity of the positions of the clamping devices 10a, 10b of the first processing station 5, which are during the insertion of the web section 7 of the second material web 4.
The end of the adhesive tape is gripped by the clamping jaws of a further clamping device arranged on a carriage and transversely to the running direction of the material web 3 pulled over the joints of the two material webs 3, 4. As soon as the length of the adhesive tape corresponding to the web width is reached, the adhesive tapes are cut with the help of knives. The sections of the adhesive tapes are held by means of vacuum suction cups.
The clamping jaws, which are in contact with the adhesive side of the adhesive tape, are coated with sandpaper, which enables detachment from the clamping jaws and subsequent application and gluing of the web ends of the web sections of the first and second material web 3, 4. The adhesive tapes are applied to the desired adhesive locations as follows: The vacuum suction cups bring the adhesive tapes into the desired positions above and below the abutting ends of the two material webs 3, 4. The adhesive tapes are pressed onto the two abutting web ends of the first and the second material web 3, 4.

The clamping devices 11a, 11b moved from the first processing station 5 into the second processing station 6 are moved back to their starting position in the second processing station 6; the second clamping device 11b of the second processing station 6 is then positioned again in the immediate vicinity of the first clamping device 11a of the second processing station 6.

The cutting devices 12, 14 preferably perform a stamp-die cut, the punch being at an angle to the die as in the case of scissors. This design has the advantage that the knives are less quickly soiled by the adhesive that is located between the laminated material webs 3, 4.

The end of the material web 3 on the supply roll 1 of the first processing station 5 is determined by means of a metal detector 24. The end of the material web 4 in the second processing station 6 is determined by means of a reflection detector 25. To know when the winding roll 8 with the material web (3 + 4) produced by the previously described method has reached the desired diameter, an ultrasonic sensor 26 is provided on the winding roll 8. If necessary, the latter sends a signal to the control device 9 and the machine is stopped.

4 shows a flowchart for controlling the control device 9. The control device 9 is given the desired length LSOLL of the material web 3 and the desired length ISOLL of the web section 7 of the material web 4. After starting the program, the clamping devices 10a, 10b of the processing station 5 are moved to position I.1 under point 41. At 42 and 43, the material web 3 is advanced until the length LIST of the material web 3 corresponds to the predetermined length LSOLL. As soon as LSOLL is reached, the feed is stopped under point 44. The clamping devices 10a, 10b are then closed and the material web 3 is cut. Under program item 45, the clamping devices 10a, 10b are moved into position I.2.

At the same time, the following method steps take place in the processing station 6: according to program item 50, the clamping devices 11a, 11b are moved into position II.1; the clamping devices 11a, 11b are then brought into position II.2 under point 51. According to points 52 and 53, the material web 4 is moved forward until the length lIST of the web section 7 corresponds to the predetermined length lSOLL. At 54, the path feed is stopped and the clamping devices 11a, 11b are brought into position II.2 in accordance with program point 55. The clamping devices 11a, 11b of the processing station 6 are then moved into position III at 56.
The adhesive devices 17, 18, 19, 20 are activated under point 57. In a last method step, the preliminary run in the processing station 5 is started. Of the At point 58 the program jumps back to the start and the next cycle is started.

Reference list

1

Supply roll

2nd

Supply roll

3rd

first web of material

4th

second web of material

5

first processing station

6

second processing station

7

Track section

8th

Take-up reel

9

Control device

10a, b

Clamping device

11a, b

Clamping device

12th

Cutter

13

Clamping device

14

Cutter

15

Pull roller pair

16

Dancer roller

17th

Gluing device

18th

Gluing device

19th

Gluing device

20th

Gluing device

21

Protective cover

22

Angle encoder

23

Jaws

24th

Metal detector

25th

Reflection detector

26

Ultrasonic sensor

27

Angle encoder

28

Guide element

29

Securing element

30th

Deflection roller

31

Web edge control

32

Web edge control

Claims (13)

Device for the intermittent insertion of web sections (7) of a second material web (4) into a first material web (3) with a first processing station (5) for the first material web (3), a second processing station (6) for the second material web (4) and a control device (9), the control device (9) stopping the web advance in the first processing station (5) when a predetermined length of the material web (3) has been reached, wherein two clamping devices (10a, 10b) for clamping the first material web (3) and a cutting device (12) for severing the material web (3) between the two clamping devices (10a, 10b) are provided, the ends of the material web (3) being one Have a projection over the clamping devices (10a, 10b), wherein the control device (9) controls the web advance in the second processing station (6) until a web section (7) of a predetermined length is reached, At least two clamping devices (11a, 11b) for clamping the web section (7) and a cutting device (14) for cutting through the second material web (4) are provided at the end of the web section (7), the ends of the web section (7) also here Have protrusions beyond the clamping devices (11a, 11b), wherein the clamping devices (11a, 11b) of the second processing station (6) have guide elements (28) which move the web section (7) of the second material web (4) into the plane of the first material web (3) such that the protrusions at the web ends of the first material web (3) and the second material web (4) preferably abut, and adhesive devices (17, 18, 19, 20) are provided which glue the ends of the two material webs (3; 4) together. Device according to claim 1, the first material web (3) containing electronically detectable securing elements (29). Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein that the second material web (4) consists of two polypropylene layers. Device according to claim 1, an angle encoder (22) being attached to the axis of a roller, the rotational speed of which is proportional to the speed of the advance of the material web (3; 4). Device according to claim 1, Sensors (24, 25, 26) are provided on the two supply rolls (1, 2) of the first and second processing stations (4, 5) and on the take-up roll (8), which provide information about how much strip material (3, 4) is on the rollers (1, 2, 8). Device according to claim wherein the cutting device (12) for severing the first material web (3) is a punch-die cutting device. Device according to claim 5, each of the two supply rolls (1, 2) and the take-up roll (8) is assigned a dancer roll (16) for keeping the web tension constant. Device according to claim 1, wherein in the first processing station (5) and in the second processing station (6) the web run of the material webs (3, 4) is monitored by a web edge control (31, 32). Device according to claim 1, the adhesive devices (17, 18, 19, 20) and adhesive tape dispensing devices being used, an adhesive tape being cut off in accordance with the web width of the material web (3, 4) and applied to the ends of the first material web (3) and the web section (7) of the second material web (4) is applied. Method for intermittently inserting web sections (7) of a second material web (4) into a first material web (3), in a first processing station (5) a web section (7) of predetermined length of the first material web (3) is unwound from a first supply roll (1) and separated, and the two web ends are then moved apart in the plane of the first material web (3), wherein during the unwinding and severing process in the first processing station (5) in a second processing station (6) a web section (7) of a predetermined length of the second material web (4) is unwound and separated from a second supply roll (2), wherein the separated web section (7) of the second material web (4) moves into the plane of the first material web (3) and is glued there to the web ends of the first material web (3) and these steps being repeated until the first material web (3) with the inserted sections (7) of the second material web (4) has reached a desired length. A method according to claim 10, wherein the web run in the first processing station (5) and in the second processing station (6) are monitored with regard to the web position and with regard to the web speed. The method of claim 10 or 12, wherein the control device is signaled that a predetermined diameter of the supply rolls (1, 2) and the take-up roll (8) has been reached. A method according to claim 10, the elements in the two processing stations being controlled pneumatically and / or by motor.

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