EP1783055A1 - Device for attaching a hanging label to the neck of a bottle - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for the attaching of a hanging label on the neck of a bottle has a pair of spaced apart and parallel feeder arms (2,3) opening into the working area and which include a feed unit for the gripping of one side of the hanging label and for the feed of the label generally. The feeder arms have a space (6) in between them and are arranged so that a bottle reaching the working area protrudes by its neck into the space. The feed units are synchronously driven, whereby the drive (14) for the feed units is coordinated with the drive for the bottle feeder with regard to time points and speed.

Description

The invention relates to a device for applying a hanging label on a bottleneck.

In particular, it has recently become increasingly common for bottled beverage providers to present them, for example, in the supermarket with labels hung above the neck of the bottle. These labels are often used as advertising media for special promotions, for example, alcoholic beverages use hang tags printed with cocktail recipes or the like. The hang tags typically have a portion with a substantially circular opening for guiding them over the neck of the bottle. In another section is either an extended trailer, or there are now complicated folded "leaflets" attached to the provided with the opening section. This latter section then carries the information, such as the mentioned cocktail recipe.

For the application of simple hang tags on the bottlenecks already automated procedures to be performed or devices suitable therefor have been proposed, eg in the JP 2001253418 A or the DE 695 06 490 T2 ,

So far, however, there was no functioning possibility to automatically apply the last-mentioned hang tags with the folded brochures or other information carriers in an acceptable processing speed over the bottlenecks. Instead, such hang tags were hung by hand over the bottlenecks. This process is complicated and expensive.

There is therefore a great need to be able to apply such hang tags with multipage information sections in an automated process on bottlenecks.

The solution to this problem is the present invention, which is formed by a device for applying a hanging label on a bottle neck with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the device are specified in the dependent claims 2 to 7.

According to the invention, the device on the one hand contains a bottle conveying direction for feeding bottles into a working area. This can be, for example, a production line, a chain conveyor or the like. Furthermore, the device contains an application device, which constitutes the essential part of the invention. This application device is typically arranged above the bottle conveyor device and has a pair of substantially parallel, between a horizontal distance exhibiting, emanating in the work area boom. These booms preferably extend inclined from a higher position relative to the horizontal and open in a lower position, wherein the longitudinal extent of the boom are preferably arranged parallel to the bottle conveying direction in the work area. The two outriggers each contain a feed unit for detecting one side of the hanging label and for feeding the hanging label as a whole. In other words, each of the feeding units grasps one side of the hanging label, together, the feeding units guide the hanging label toward the free end of the jib. The arms leave between them an open space and are arranged so that a reaching into the work area bottle with its neck protrudes into the space. The hanging label is placed by the feed units in the area of the boom, in which the bottleneck protrudes into the space. The mechanical arrangement of bottle conveyor and application device is expediently oriented so that the delivered bottle with its bottleneck moves into the space between the arms in such a way that the bottleneck protrudes into the opening of the hanging label.

Since, in the processing of hang tags with a folded information section (eg, a "leaflet"), this section must be erected to release the opening in the hanging label and secondly that this information section conforms to and not from the neck of the bottle protrudes, the stop according to the invention is provided.

For an adaptation of the device to different bottle shapes and heights, only the position of the application device or adapted to the exact position of the boom.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention (claim 2), the stopper comprises a stop element and a guide element. Both elements work together to set up the information section.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the feed units are driven synchronously via a drive, wherein the drive of the feed units is tuned to a drive of the bottle conveyor with respect to a drive time and a drive speed (claim 3). The vote is made so that preferably first a hanging label is moved by the feed units in a larger conveying speed than the conveying speed of the bottle conveyor in a transfer position, then remains there. When a bottle which has been brought into the working area by the bottle conveyor then approaches, the drive of the feed units is controlled so that when the label is transferred, the drive moves with the conveying speed of the bottles, so that the bottleneck does not touch the opening of the hanging label. " pulls "so as to prevent tearing of the opening of the hanging label (these hang tags are mainly made of a relatively tear-sensitive paper material). Rather, the hang tags are "thrown over" with the speed of the bottles synchronized speed over the respective bottleneck. To support this synchronization, for example, a sensor, such as a light barrier, be provided, which reports the arrival of a bottle to be processed in the work area and accordingly the drive control for the feed units responds.

The feed units are formed according to an advantageous development (claim 4) preferably by two vertically opposed, driven, continuous endless belts. These endless belts are preferably arranged so that they rest on a delivery side to each other or maintain a distance from each other, which is at most as large as the material thickness of the hanging label to be transported. In this way, a hanging label is detected at its ends between the circulating endless belts and transported safely.

The stop is preferably arranged in the region of one of the feed units, specifically in such a way that a lower endless belt is shortened here (claim 5). In other words, in a region in which the endless cantilever continues to run under the endless belt.

In order to allow use of the device according to the invention on the application of "normal" hang tags, in which an erection of a part is not required, by simply switching, this can be configured as specified in claim 6.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides a magazine for the applied hanging labels before (claim 7).

Fig. 1

in dreidimensionaler Ansicht eine Applikationseinrichtung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 2

schematische Ansichten eines typischen Hängeetiketts in drei verschiedenen Positionen;

Fig. 3

eine vergrößerte Ansicht der Ausleger der in Fig. 1 gezeigten Applikationseinrichtung mit darin geförderten Hängeetiketten;

Fig. 4

eine Ansicht der in Fig. 3 dargestellten Situation von unten;

Fig. 5a und 5b

prinzipiell die Arbeitsweise der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung beim Aufbringen von Hängeetiketten auf Flaschenhälse in einer ersten Position;

Fig. 6a und 6b

in einer ähnlichen Weise wie in den Figuren 5a und 5b den Ablauf des Verfahrens in einem nächsten zeitlichen Schritt; und

Fig. 7

eine Fig. 3 vergleichbare vergrößerte Ansicht einer Anordnung von Auslegern in einer alternativen Ausgestaltung der Vorrichtung (ohne darin geförderte Hängeetiketten).

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Showing:

Fig. 1

in three-dimensional view, an application device of a device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

schematic views of a typical hanging label in three different positions;

Fig. 3

an enlarged view of the boom of the application device shown in Figure 1 with it promoted hanging labels.

Fig. 4

a view of the situation shown in Figure 3 from below.

Fig. 5a and 5b

in principle, the operation of the device according to the invention when applying hanging labels on bottle necks in a first position;

Fig. 6a and 6b

in a similar way as in Figures 5a and 5b, the procedure of the method in a next temporal step; and

Fig. 7

an enlarged view similar to Fig. 3 of an arrangement of cantilevers in an alternative embodiment of the device (without hanging tags conveyed therein).

In the figures, the same elements are provided with the same reference numerals. The figures represent schematic representations and are not necessarily to scale.

In Fig. 1, the heart of the device according to the invention, namely the application device 1 is first shown in a three-dimensional view in a first embodiment.

The applicator 1 includes a pair of cantilevers 2 and 3. These cantilevers 2, 3 are aligned parallel to each other. They are inclined to a horizontal and starting from a rear, arranged on a machine body 4 end to a front, free Looking down at the end of 5. Between the arms, a gap 6 is left in the region of the free end 5. Each of the arms 2, 3 contains a feed unit, which are each formed by an upper circumferential endless belt 7 or 8 and a lower, circulating endless belt 9 and 10, respectively. These revolving endless belts 7 and 9 or 8 and 10 touch each other on the surfaces facing each other. The lower endless belt 10 of the boom 3 shown in the figure on the right is shortened. For this purpose, a stop element 11 and a guide element 12 are arranged in the region below the upper endless belt 8, in which the lower endless belt 10 is already no longer running.

In a section facing the machine body 4, a guide plate 13 is positioned between the arms 2 and 3. On the machine body 4, a synchronizable drive 14 for driving the endless belts 7-10 is mounted. Finally, a magazine 15 for receiving hanging labels to be applied is arranged on the machine body, wherein a conveyor belt 16 establishes a connection between the magazine 15 and the arms 2, 3. The magazine 15 is limited with adjustable in their position sheets 17 and a stop rod 18.

FIG. 2 shows, in different positions, an example of a hanging label H to be applied to a bottle neck with the device according to the invention. The hanging label H has in one section an opening 0, with which it is hung over a bottleneck. Furthermore, in a second section, a foldable brochure P is arranged on the label.

In Fig. 3 is a detail of the application device 1 is shown in an enlarged view, showing the two arms 2, 3. This illustration shows how Hang tags H are fed along the boom into a work area or feed position. The hang tags H are for this purpose detected and guided at two opposite ends between the endless belts 7 and 9 or 8 and 10. The endless belts are driven synchronously by the drive 14. First, the hanging labels H are transported in a position A as shown in Fig. 2, in which they are folded flat. At the free end 5 of the boom, the brochure part P of a hanging label is erected by cooperation of the stop element 11 and the guide member 12 in the position B. For this purpose, the lower endless belt 10 of the boom 3 shown in the figure on the right is shortened, so that it no longer acts on the hanging label in an area in which the brochure part P of the hanging label H is erected. The hanging label H runs with the brochure part P against the stop element 11 and is transported by the endless belts 7 and 9 on. As a result, the brochure part P is forced up. The guide member 12 prevents folding of the leaflet part P. By raising the leaflet part P, the opening O is released in the hanging label, so that here a bottle can protrude with her neck.

In Fig. 4, the situation shown in Fig. 3 is shown again in a representation from below.

Finally, in FIGS. 5a and 5b or 6a and 6b, the sequence of suspending or attaching the hanging labels to necks of bottles F running through the application device 1 is shown schematically. FIGS. 5a and 5b and 6a and 6b respectively show a different stage of the processing from two different viewing angles.

On a bottle conveying device, not shown, bottles run in a conveying direction R between the arms 2, 3 extending essentially parallel to the conveying direction R. The drive of the endless belts of the boom 2, 3 and the drive of the bottle conveyor are coordinated so that first hang tags H at a speed that is faster than the speed of the bottle conveyor in a starting position at the end of the boom 2, 3 procedures. There, the hanging label is prepared by means of the stop element 11 and the guide member 12. When a bottle with its neck moves into the area of the opening 0 of the hanging label H, the drive of the endless belts will start at a speed which is equal to the speed of the conveyor of the bottles. This ensures that the hanging label H when leaving the boom 2, 3 safely slides over the neck of the bottle without the risk that the hanging label H tears in the region of the opening 0.

This synchronization can advantageously be assisted by sensors which indicate the approach of a bottle to a transfer point in which the hanging label H must be "dropped" and accordingly control the drive of the endless belts.

In Fig. 7, the jib unit of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention is shown. This is essentially the same as that described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6. It merely additionally contains a third endless belt 9a in a group of lower endless belts. The distance between the endless belt 9a and the endless belt 9 is identical to the distances between the endless belts 7 and 8 or 9 and 10th

The endless belt 9a is identical in dimensions as the endless belt 9. This third endless belt 9a in the lower group serves to make the device according to the invention more flexible. In the position shown in Fig. 7, the device with the stopper member 11 and the guide member 12 can be used as described above.

However, by displacing the upper group of endless belts 7, 8 along the rods 19, 20, a situation can be created in which the upper endless belts 7 and 8 are opposed to the lower endless belts 9a and 9, respectively. The shortened endless belt 10 with the stop element 11 and guide element 12 in its effective range is then free. In this situation, the device can then be used to apply "conventional" hang tags that do not require erecting.

The embodiments shown are not restrictive and are merely illustrative. In particular, other types of hanging labels can be applied, which have a different design and possibly require differently designed anchor devices.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

application device

2

boom

3

boom

4

machine body

5

free end

6

gap

7

endless belt

8th

endless belt

9

endless belt

10

endless belt

11

stop element

12

guide element

13

guide plate

14

drive

15

magazine

16

conveyor belt

17

sheet

18

stop rod

19

pole

20

pole

F

bottle

H

hang tag

O

opening

P

brochure

R

conveying direction

Claims (7)

Apparatus for applying a hanger label (H) provided with a multi-page information section (P) to a bottle neck with a bottle conveyor for feeding bottles (F) to a work area and to an applicator (1) having a pair of substantially parallel arranged therebetween a horizontally spaced, extending in the work area boom (2, 3), each containing a feed unit for detecting a side of the hanging label (H) and for feeding the hanging label (H) in total, wherein the boom (2, 3) between Leave an open space (6) and are arranged so that a reaching into the work area bottle (F) protrudes with its neck in the intermediate space (6), characterized in that they in the region of the feed units a stop (11, 12) for erecting the information section (P) of the hanging label (H). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the stop (11, 12) is composed of at least two elements, at least one stop element (11) and a guide element (12). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed units are driven synchronously via a drive (14), wherein the drive (14) of the feed units is tuned to a drive (14) of the bottle conveyor with respect to a drive time and a drive speed. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed units are each formed by two vertically opposed, driven, circulating endless belts (7, 9, 8, 10). Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the stop (11, 12) is arranged in the region of one of the feed units, wherein there a lower (10) of the endless belts (7, 9, 8, 10) opposite an upper endless belt (8) shortens is trained. Device according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that it comprises a first group of two upper (7, 8) and a second group of three lower endless belts (9, 9a, 10), the two groups of endless belts (7 , 8, 9, 9a, 10) are displaceable relative to one another in a substantially horizontal direction such that the two endless belts (7, 8) of the first group are each provided with two endless belts (9a, 9; 9, 10) of the second group Engage access to form two feed units, which is provided in any case in the region of an outer lower endless belt (10) of the stop. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application device (1) has a magazine (15) for applied hanging labels (H), from each of which a hanging label (H) isolated and the arms (2, 3) can be supplied.

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