EP1607335A1 - Apparatus for labelling containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The bottle labelling machine includes a contact pressure device (11) with pressure element to press and smooth the label against the bottle. The contact pressure element (13) of an inactive labelling station (4,6) moves from its work position into a rest position at least slightly outside of the motion plane of the bottle. The non-active labelling station can be brought together with the pressure device from the work position to the rest and/or maintenance position.

Description

The invention relates to a device for labeling of vessels such as bottles, cans and other containers and containers with a container conveyor and on the periphery thereof alternately laboriously positioned labeling stations with a label transfer and Dispensing device for labels adhering to a carrier tape according to claim 1.

In the context of the present application, the term "vessel" all for the inclusion of any products such. As drinks, foods, medicines, etc. suitable Containers such. As bottles, cans, glasses with and without screw etc., too understand. In the following, for the sake of simplicity, only vessels will be discussed.

The invention is based on a continuously operating labeling device the vessels with a superimposed self-rotation on a transport path and on a Carrier web attached labels are moved by just this carrier web.

During the transfer of the labels on the vessels, vessels and labels touch each other at the transfer point, and move at the same speed. The initial attachment The labels on the vessels are due to their self-adhesive power. The following Attachment of the remaining label is carried out under the action of Andrück- Painting elements, these elements should help to make the labels smooth and to fix on the vessels without any errors.

The invention further relates to a corresponding device, which consists of a drivable endless or circular transport path with evenly spaced and rotating receiving means for the vessels, of a drivable endless carrier web with evenly spaced labels and one formed as a transmission location Contact area between the transport path or moving on this transport path Vessels and the carrier web, wherein in the area of the transmission medium are arranged, which for error-free attachment of the labels on the vessels Exert pressure and / or tensile forces on the labels.

These agents may be e.g. around brush elements, foam cushions, plastic cushions or something similar.

Such devices are u.a. in the food and beverage industry for decoration and furnishing containers made of paper, plastic, glass or metal.

In a known device of this type, which is widely used in container labeling machines will sit, the existing of a sponge rubber pillow Andrucker at the end levers which at their other end to the lifting direction of the vessels spanning Centering parallel axes are pivotally mounted. Be using a cam the levers after attaching a label to the inclined or vertical neck of the bottle swung on the bottle, with the presser the label during brushing holds the label ends.

For the above purpose, d. H. for additional fixing of labels to vertical or slightly inclined with respect to the vessel central axis surfaces, the well-known Device quite suitable. However, it is unfavorable that due to the geometric conditions during the application of the presser to the vessels, in particular inclined Surfaces, uncontrolled sliding movements occur in the labeling level. These sliding movements are the stronger, the greater the inclination of the vessel surface acted upon and the stronger the pressing of the presser is. They lead to an undesirable Moving the labels and creating a uneven, unsightly look labeled vessels. In addition, changes in the known device in case of deviations in the vessel height, as they are unavoidable in practice, the attack surface of the Andruckers on the vessel, which also occur a displacement of the labels or an insufficient pressure can occur. For a sole and sustainable pressing from labels on vessel surfaces, the known device is therefore not suitable.

From DE-OS-7540 566 it is known that each centering a movable on the upper table arranged bracket is associated with the centering bell in drive connection is and can be raised and lowered together with this, wherein at each holder by means of a Straight guide a presser is arranged displaceable perpendicular to its working surface, and the linear guide is inclined relative to the horizontal, such that the presser at least with the central region of its working surface perpendicular to the inclined vessel surface occurs.

In this known device, the presser as a result of the drive connection with the centering bells automatically adjusted to the correct height, so that each the desired vessel area is acted upon. It can therefore z. B. in wells the vessels arranged labels are reliably pressed. In addition, as by the special linear guidance of the presser does not cause uncontrolled pressure even under high pressure Sliding movements occur, a precise and firm label seat is guaranteed. The disadvantage, however, is that each centering bell has its own presser, which is at Today's high-performance machines with a variety of vessel receiving places a considerable Cost, maintenance and maintenance costs means and economic Reasons is no longer justifiable.

From the German Utility Model 94 11 443 is also a labeling machine with a Carrier web for attaching the labels to objects, in particular cans, bottles and the like, has become known, in which for detaching a label, the carrier web pulled over a dispensing edge and the label with its adhesive surface to the outer surface one between a pressure roller and two of these opposing back-up rollers rotatably held vessel is discharged and wound on this, the vessels can be continuously fed past the stationary dispensing edge and the at least one Pressure roller and the oppositely associated support rollers of the dispensing edge and at least a short distance, each with a vessel in the conveying direction entrained and then returned to the starting position near the dispensing edge.

Furthermore, from EP-patent 0 501 105 a further labeling device with a conically shaped vacuum cylinder is known. This device should also be processed centrally and therefore space-saving on a tape label blanks. As unsatisfactory the undefined label transfer of self-adhesive labels on the conical vacuum cylinder in the dispensing area is felt because the label blanks should have a certain orientation of their leading edge with respect to the generatrices of the vessel at the latest when applied to the conical shoulder surface of the vessel to be labeled, thus a exact, correct position transfer is ensured on the lateral surface.
Solutions have also become known in which instead of a dispensing device with dispensing edge or a vacuum drum, purely mechanically operating transfer drums are used. However, a corresponding pressing of the transferred label is required in such cases.

The aim of the invention is to provide labels quality under high performance conditions at different vessel diameters and at different jacket areas on rotating and preferably on a rotating vessel table or in line moving vessels by a simple and reliable device, which also without interrupting the labeling alternately with several redundant working label transfer devices should be ensured.
This object of the invention is achieved by the indicated in the claims 1 to 4 and the dependent claims and the following description features.

The arrangement of two or more alternately, ie working without interruption self-adhesive labeling stations a continuous labeling of the vessels to be processed is ensured.
However, this very advantageous procedure requires when switching from a first labeling station to a second labeling station also the immediate change of leadership and Andrückelemente, which means that the elements that are assigned to the no longer used labeling station, immediately from the path of the contact points between elements and vessels must be moved, whereas the elements of the labeling station now used must be brought into this path.

Required is the immediate change of the guiding and pressing elements, as by a Force effect of not required for the attachment of the labels elements on the vessels could have undesirable effects. To these effects can e.g. the change The orientation of a vessel between two labeling operations, which is wrong positioned labels, which in particular in the case of shaped or contoured containers clearly visible to the consumer.

This rapid change of the guiding and pressing elements is achieved by an inventive Design ensured.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and the drawing. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features form for themselves or in any combination, the subject matter of the invention, independently of its Summary in the claims or their dependency. At the same time the content of the claims has become part of the description.

Fig. 1

eine beispielsweise einsetzbare Etikettiermaschine in vereinfachter Darstellung und wie sie aus dem Stand der Technik bekannt ist,

Fig. 2

eine Darstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Ausgestaltung mit beispielsweise je zwei hintereinander geschalteten Selbstklebe- Etikettierstationen,

Fig. 3

einen Querschnitt durch eine Anordnung von Andrückelementen und

Fig. 4

eine Vorderansicht zu Figur 3.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments illustrated in the drawings. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1

an example applicable labeling machine in a simplified representation and as it is known from the prior art,

Fig. 2

an illustration of the embodiment of the invention with, for example, two successively connected self-adhesive labeling stations,

Fig. 3

a cross section through an array of pressing elements and

Fig. 4

a front view of Figure 3.

According to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, such a labeling machine For example, from the actual machine base 1, the drive and Control directions and other required units and the not shown Standturned equipped turntable 1 'receives. On or on the machine base 1 are in the range of the turntable 1 'and its periphery one or more adapter points 2 provided with a standard interface 3, where same and / or different Labeling stations A-C are dockable. The adapter points 2 expediently have mechanical and standard electrical interfaces 3, wherein also coupling elements for driving the labeling stations, unless they are automatically driven by servomotors be, can be provided.

In addition, the adapter points on the circumference of the labeling machine in different Adjustable positions attachable, creating more variation options in particular are given to align the labeling stations to certain equipment variants.

The labeling stations A-C can be arranged, for example, on a transport device be, which are approachable and dockable to the different adapter points. Of the Turntable 1's as well as its base plate and also the labeling stations can have their own Driving devices, such as servomotors, be equipped. For the arrangement the adapter points there are various possibilities, so that the labeling stations for example, in the horizontal plane or frontally to the labeling machine approachable and dockable.

In Figure 2, such a known machine with on the rotation circumference of the turntable 1 'arranged self-adhesive labeling stations 4, 5, 6 and 7, wherein the stations 4, 5 and 6, 7 work together in a redundant or alternating sequence. By doing illustrated embodiment, such as the stations 4, 5 for a neck or Rückenetikettierung and 6, 7 are optionally provided for breast or body labeling be. The stations are designed for the processing of self-adhesive labels 8, the on a carrier tape, not shown, to the label transfer and dispensing device 9 introduced and by means of a donor edge for transfer to the vessel shell 10th be released. Instead of such a dispensing device 9, other transmission devices such as vacuum drums or purely mechanical transfer drums be used.

Immediately adjacent to the area of the label transfer and dispensing device 9 is the actual Pressing device 11, whose task is an immediately before on the vessel shell 10 attached label 8 completely in a smooth condition. Such Pressing device 11 consists according to the embodiment in Figure 3, for example, two Distance apart in a receptacle 12 held Andrückelementen 13, which by means of a Quick change device 14 are mounted interchangeable and in this way a allow rapid conversion to other types of vessels.

Instead of spaced apart in a unit formed pressing elements 13th These may also be individually held on a pressing device 11. The pressing elements 13 have a holder 15 with slots 16 for optimum adjustment of the pressure level 17 in relation to the types of vessels to be processed. In addition, one more Fine adjustment should be provided.

As shown in Figure 2, the pressing elements 13 with their holders 15 on a Coupling mechanism 18 preferably in the horizontal plane and swung in the Pressing device 11 stored. For quick swinging in and out of the pressure elements 13 serves a directly or indirectly on the coupling gear 18 attacking drive element 20th This drive element 20 may be e.g. to an electric servomotor, pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder or even linear actuators act.

The proposed adjustment in the horizontal plane, depending on the design of storage also take place at other levels. It is also conceivable, each pressing element 13 its own assigned in terms of height accordingly pressing device 11. The pressing elements 13 are adapted in their contour of the respective corresponding vessel surface. But such pressing elements 13 can also be made of any variable and be formed on the directly adaptable to the processing vessel surface level. Further For example, the plane of the pressing elements 13 can be divided into a plurality of individual sub-levels be in their position to the resulting vessel surface by means of automatically controllable Adjusting elements of such a pressing device can be adjusted and adjusted. Especially in a variety of different types of vessels and larger adjustment paths can also be a multi-axis positioning for the respective pressing devices or Also be provided a correspondingly controllable rotating device.

As further seen in Figure 2, are the labeling stations 5 and 7 with their associated Pressing devices 11 in working position and labeling stations 4 and 6 in Resting or charging or loading position. For example, there are two labels per label Label dispensers 4,5 and 6,7 are arranged on the labeling machine turntable 1 '. Once at the active label stations 5.7 the label stock is processed, the automatic Change to the now re-equipped stations 4 and 6 with appropriate switching the respectively associated pressing devices 11 made so that the Vessels continue to be labeled seamlessly. In this way and procedure will be the otherwise unavoidable downtime and conversion work avoided. The labeling stations 4-7 can as in Figure 1 as docking stations A-C or in conventional Can be swiveled or moved and adjusted directly with the machine substructure 1 connected and powered.

Claims (17)

Apparatus for labeling containers, such as bottles, cans and other containers and containers, with a container conveyor and labeling units (4-7) alternately positioned at the periphery thereof with a label transfer and dispensing device (9) for labels applied to a carrier tape and adhering thereto ( 8), which are adhesively applied by means of the dispensing device in the transfer region to the superimposed self-rotating vessel shell (10) and with a pressing device (11) with pressure element (13) for pressing and / or smoothing the labels delivered to the vessels, characterized that the pressing element (11) of an inactive labeling station (4,6) from its working position into a rest position outside the plane of movement vessel can be brought at least slightly. Device for labeling according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the non-active labeling station (4,6) with the pressing device (11) can be brought together from a working position in a rest placement and / or maintenance position. Device for labeling according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the pressing element (13) in a rest position and the labeling station (5-7) is movable into a loading or maintenance position. Device for labeling according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the pressing device (11) is part of the labeling station (5-7) and with this or independently of this from the working position and vice versa can be brought. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure element (13) on a coupling gear (18) on and is pivotally mounted. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivoting of the pressing element (13) and / or the pressing device (11) takes place in a vertical plane. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivoting of the pressing element (13) and / or the pressing device (11) takes place in a horizontal plane. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing device (11) has a plurality of spaced apart and separately adjustable on the vessels to be labeled pressure elements. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure elements (13) and / or the vessel-side surface of elastically deformable material is formed. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing elements (13) are fixed to a movable holding element (15), which is under a restoring force. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing elements (13) or their holding parts are mounted exchangeably in a simple manner by means of a quick-change device (14). Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing elements (13) are mounted at least approximately radially movable back and forth. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing elements (13) are mounted in an approximately circular manner movable back and forth. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure elements (13) are formed in their contour corresponding to the course of the corresponding rotating vessel surface. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing elements (13) are formed from an arbitrarily changeable plane (17) which can be adapted to the vessel surface to be processed. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the plane of the pressing elements (13) is divided into a plurality of sub-levels corresponding to the preferably to be processed vessel and label material and these sub-levels in their position to be processed vessel surface by means of automatically controllable adjusting elements of the pressing device ( 11) are customizable. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing elements (13) can be positioned by means of a multi-axis positioning unit and / or correspondingly assigned rotating devices.

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