EP2072406A1 - Method and device for applying stickers - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a moveable frame (6) comprising magazine places (12) formed such that a label magazine (14) is accommodated at the magazine places. The magazine contains a set of labels, and a docking unit, by which the frame is dockable to a labeling device (2). The labeling device is arranged such that the labels of the selected magazine are individually applied on a label carrier i.e. bottle. A feeding device passes the selected magazine from the magazine places to a working position, at which the labels are picked by the labeling device and are individually applied on the carrier. An independent claim is also included for a method for applying labels on a label carrier.

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for applying labels to a label carrier. In particular, the invention relates to a corresponding device and a method for applying labels to bottles as label carriers.

In the prior art, various devices and procedures have been described for applying labels to a bottle, such as in the US Pat DE 30 02 250 , of the DE 2 202 525 and that of the applicant DE 2 303 547 ,

In the labeling of label carriers, such as food packaging, in particular beverage bottles, there is the problem that the process has to be continuous, but the labels to be applied regularly produced and prepared in the field of printing and first spent in packaging units from this label production area to a Etikettenaufbringungsbereich which is usually located in the filling area of a food packaging company, especially the bottling area of a bottler. Here, the summarized to packaging units labels are removed from the packaging unit and inserted into a magazine. This magazine is fed to the label unit, which removes the labels individually directly from the magazine or from a take-off place, which is fed by the label magazine.

For example, from the EP 1 097 872 a device for applying labels, in which the label magazine is formed by a label drum, which forms on its outer peripheral surface a plurality of extending in the axial direction label holders. This label magazine rotates relative to a label picking station. Individual label holders are each aligned with the label removal station, which is fed by one of the label holders of the label magazine, which extends in extension in the axial direction of the Label removal station is located. The label removal station has a buffer store, which can store a certain number of labels, so that when changing the label magazine, the process of labeling can pass through.

In the from the DE 2 202 525 known methods labels are supplied in transport containers by the manufacturer. The individual transport containers are placed by the machine operator to a transfer station, where the contents of the transport container is transferred to a buffer of the labeling, from where the labels are transferred individually to the label carrier and fixed there. Although in this known prior art, the complex process of unpacking the packaging units of the labels and stacking the labels in the label holder of the label magazine is eliminated. However, providing the labels on the label assembly requires significant manual labor, which is to be avoided in terms of near-complete automation of the packaging and labeling process.

The present invention aims to provide a device for applying labels to a label carrier, which provides an increased degree of automation compared to the prior art. In addition, the present invention intends to specify a corresponding method for applying labels.

To solve the device-related problem, the present invention provides an apparatus having the features of claim 1. This device for applying labels to a label carrier has a mobile frame which forms a plurality of magazine locations, each magazine location being designed such that a label magazine can be received thereon, which is adapted to receive a multiplicity of labels. The rack is then a warehouse for a variety of label magazines, the label magazines are each stored at a predetermined location within the frame. This frame according to the invention is a mobile frame which is mounted on rollers or wheels, which may be driven and / or steerable to move the frame in the manner of a car or trailer. The Frame further comprises a docking means, via which the frame is directly or indirectly dockable to a labeling, which is prepared so that with this the labels are individually applied to the label carrier. For this purpose, the label aggregate can have a temporary storage device which, when changing individual label magazines or the movable frame, provides a sufficient buffer of labels overall, so that labeling can continue to operate undisturbed during the change. The above-mentioned docking means of the frame, which usually interacts with a docking counterpart on the side of the labeling, is in particular a mechanical docking means which positions the movable frame in the docked position in a predetermined manner relative to the Etikettieraggregat and / or fixed.

In contrast to the prior art, not individually loaded label magazines are manually supplied to the labeling unit with the present invention. Rather, a movable frame is supplied to the labeling with a variety of held on the magazine slots label magazines, so that this can be automated by successive access to the appropriate magazine locations for a long time without manual intervention by a machine operator. In the device according to the invention, the labels are applied by a selected labeling magazine on the label carrier. For this purpose, usually a feeder is realized as part of the device for applying labels. However, the feeder is usually designed so that it can spend a selected label magazine from the magazine location within the frame to a working position at which the labels are gripped by the labeling and applied individually to one of the label carrier. It is not necessary that the labels are already removed individually from the label magazine. Rather, the labels can first be transferred in the block from the label magazine in said cache and from there individually applied by the labeling on the label carrier.

The aforementioned feeder may have various configurations. Thus, the feeder can be assigned to the frame. This preferably has signal and / or drive interfaces which can be coupled with aggregate-side signal and / or drive counter-interfaces if the frame is docked on the labeling unit. In other words, the control signals output by the labeling unit can be transmitted via the signal interface as well as mechanical or electrical energy via the drive interface from the labeling unit to the frame. The frame can accordingly be relatively simple and mobile. A data access and / or a data memory for controlling the feed device optionally via a central control device is not required in this preferred embodiment. As already mentioned, the drive interface can also directly introduce mechanical energy into the movable frame, and thus the drive interface can be formed by a shaft coupling or the like, which offers the possibility of dispensing with the realization of drives for operating the feed device on the side of the frame. As a result, the frame can be kept relatively light and mobile.

According to a preferred development of the present invention, the signal and / or drive interfaces and the aggregate-side signal and / or drive counterparts are designed and arranged such that, when docked to the labeling unit frame a signal and / or driving connection between the labeling and the frame inevitably caused by the interfaces. In other words, the respective interfaces are arranged so that, for example, in a mechanical coupling between the labeling and the frame for docking the frame on the labeling the mutual coupling elements of the interfaces are necessarily engaged to electrical and / or mechanical energy or control signals between the two parts of the device for applying labels.

In another embodiment, which specifies an alternative development of the feeder, this is assigned to the labeling and preferably arranged between the frame and the labeling. The feeding device furthermore has a handle with at least one handling element with which a selected label magazine can be moved from the magazine position within the frame to the working position. This development offers the possibility of making the frame quite simple and to provide the feeding device as a separate machine part between the movable frame and the labeling and, where appropriate, to leave it there at a loading of the mobile frame.

With regard to the best possible weight reduction on the part of the mobile frame is proposed according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handle to assign the labeling, d. H. firmly or detachably connected to the labeling, but in any case with respect to the labeling in the usual course of things provide fixed relative to the labeling. Accordingly, the handle preferably forms docking countermeans, via which the docking means of the frame are indirectly mechanically dockable with the labeling. The movable frame can be relatively easily designed in the manner of a trolley in this preferred embodiment, but it should be ensured that the magazine locations are formed at a predetermined location within the mobile frame, so that the individual arranged at the respective magazine locations label magazines due to their predetermined Lage gripped and the workstation can be supplied.

To reduce the installation and thus investment costs, it is proposed according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide the frame with a central passage which is bounded on both sides by over- and / or juxtaposed magazine locations. In this preferred embodiment, the handle has at least one handling element, which is insertable into the passage, so that with this a selected label magazine can be grasped by the associated magazine space within the frame and brought to the working position. In this preferred embodiment, the movable frame is a passive frame, which - apart from possibly provided drives for moving the frame - has no own driven parts.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a transfer station is arranged between the frame and the labeling. This is regularly associated with the labeling, more preferably attached to this. The transfer station has a work station, which forms the workplace at which the labels are transferred to the labeling. Furthermore, the transfer station has at least one transfer point. At this transfer station there is a label magazine when changing the magazine. Thus, a transfer station can be provided to hold ready a label magazine filled with labels, which is to replace the located in the emptying label magazine when a magazine change. Another transfer point can accommodate this when changing the magazine and delivering it from the workstation. The transfer stations are preferably accessible by the feeder. Also, the change of label magazines in the transfer station can be done by the corresponding feeder. However, the transfer station can also have separate drive means to effect the replacement and / or feeding of the new filled label magazine to the labeling. In view of a quick replacement, it is preferable to provide the respective transfer points immediately adjacent to the workplace, and in particular at the same height, so that the label magazines must be moved to exchange only in one plane.

In order to solve the procedural problem, the present invention provides a method for applying labels to a label carrier, in particular a bottle, in which the labels are printed and punched in a label production area and immediately placed in a label magazine. This label magazine is designed so that a plurality of labels can be received in the label magazine. The thus filled label magazine is then brought from the label production area to a label application area, where the labels are removed from the label magazine and individually on the Label carrier be attached. In the method according to the invention several filled label magazines are simultaneously and in a predetermined arrangement relative to each other spent from the label production area to a Etikettenaufbringungsbereich. The label production area is usually formed by or from a printing operation on which the labels are printed and punched. However, the labels produced in this label production area are already stored in label magazines, which are used in the area of the labeling unit. A time-consuming step of unpacking a packaging unit comprising a plurality of labels may be omitted.

The placement of a plurality of label magazines to the label application area, in which the labels are individually attached to the label carrier, takes place in a predetermined arrangement of the plurality of label magazines relative to each other. This arrangement can be effected by each of a label magazine is provided at a predetermined magazine location within a mobile frame for temporary storage of label magazines. However, it is particularly important for the predetermined order to provide the individual label magazines relative to one another so that a single label magazine can be gripped without any obstruction by other label magazines simultaneously conveyed to the label application area for removing labels from the respective label magazine and brought to said workstation ,

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht auf das Ausführungsbeispiel und

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf das Ausführungsbeispiel.

Further details and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. In this show:

Fig. 1

a side view of the embodiment and

Fig. 2

a plan view of the embodiment.

The Figures 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a device for applying labels. The illustrated embodiment is a part of a bottling and Labeling, in which the bottles to be treated are passed upright at different workstations. One of the workstations, namely the labeling station is in the operating state in the Figures 1 and 2 clarified. The upright bottles are fed via suitable conveying means of the labeling station.

The labeling station consists of a labeling unit 2, which is mounted on a movable frame for itself to deduct the labeling unit 2 from the conveyor for the bottles when performing cleaning or maintenance snd. On the details of the labeling unit 2 is not discussed. The labeling unit 2 can be a labeling unit known from the prior art.

Immediately adjacent to the labeling unit 2 is a transfer station 4, which is detachably connected to the labeling unit 2. On the side facing away from the labeling unit 2 side of the transfer station 4 is a frame 6 which is movable over rollers 8 and is equipped with a handle 10 in the manner of a trolley to handle the movable frame 6. The frame 6 forms a plurality of magazine locations 12, on each of which a label magazine 14 are provided. Overall, the frame 6 forms four superimposed rows, each comprising six label magazines 14, from. In the longitudinal direction of the frame 6, two rows of label magazines 16 are provided one behind the other. These two rows leave between a passage 16 free, which opens to the transfer station 4.

The transfer station 4 is approximately as wide as the frame 6 and forms in extension of the two consecutive rows of label magazines 16 each transfer points 18, 20 from. Between the transfer stations and at the front end of the passage 16, the transfer station 4 forms a workplace 22. At this workstation 22 is a selected label magazine 14.2 in its working position in which labels are removed from the corresponding label magazine 14.2. At the same height as this one in its working position Label magazine 14.2 there are more label magazines 14.1 and 14.2. The former label magazine 14.1 is a completely filled with labels magazine, which is located on the transfer station 18 to be exchanged for the label magazine 14.2 in the working position after all the labels have been removed from this label magazine 14.2.

In the embodiment shown, the movable frame at the transfer station 4 can be docked. For this purpose, for example, interlocking means and / or quick-release closures between the frame 6 and the transfer station 4 are provided, through which the frame 6 can be spatially fixed in the position shown in the drawing relative to the labeling unit 2. Furthermore, not shown interfaces for mechanical and / or electrical energy and possibly signal lines may be present in order to transmit control signals from the labeling unit 2 to the frame 6 or vice versa.

When operating in the Figures 1 and 2 shown device are removed by a non-detailed drive means the individual label magazines 14 successively from their respective magazine locations 12 from the frame 6 and moved to the transfer seat 18 to the workplace 22, spent after emptying to the transfer point 20 and from there finally back to any free Magazinplatz 12 returned. It has proven to be useful to use as label magazines trays, which have a U-shaped cross-section and in which the isolated labels are upright anyway included on three peripheral sides. These trays may have on their side facing away from the discharge opening a recess for a slide, which is provided for example driven at the transfer station 4. The transfer station 4 may further comprise electrical or pneumatic drives for the replacement of the emptied label magazine 14. As an example, in Fig. 2 an output 24 shown, which is formed by a pneumatic cylinder and which pushes the label magazine 14.1 when changing the label to the workplace 22 and there located label magazine 14.2 to the transfer station 20th

After all filled label magazines 14 have been removed from the frame 6 and emptied at the workplace 22, the movable frame 6 is moved as a whole and replaced by a frame, the label magazine are filled with labels. Accordingly, there is no interruption of the labeling process on the labeling unit 2. The rack 6, which is equipped with the empty label magazines, is brought to a label production area, for example a production site of a printing company, which may be provided remotely from the bottling plant. There, the individual label magazines 14 are removed from the frame 6 and immediately equipped with labels that are released from the production of the printing house. For this purpose, the label magazines may have mechanical interfaces, by means of which the individual magazines can be mechanically connected to the last processing station of the label production in order to deposit the individual labels in the label magazine 14 in an automated manner. After all label magazines are filled in this way with labels, the individual label magazines 14 are stored at their respective magazine locations 12. The fully equipped with filled label magazines 14 movable frame 6 is then returned to the bottling plant.

There, the movable frame 6 is manually moved to the transfer station 4 and connected to this. These few handles provide significant storage of labels to identify bottles in the bottling plant.

Claims (9)

Device for applying labels to a label carrier, in particular a bottle, with a mobile frame (6) which forms a plurality of magazine locations (12), each magazine location (12) being designed such that a label magazine (14) can be received thereon, which is adapted to receive a plurality of labels, and a docking means, via which the frame (6) to a labeling unit (2) can be docked, which is prepared so that with this the labels individually from a selected label magazine (14) the label carrier can be applied, and with a feeding device, by which a selected label magazine (14) from the magazine location (12) within the frame (6) can be moved to a working position at which the labels of the labeling unit (2) and individually gripped one of the label carriers are applied. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the feed device is associated with the frame (6) and that the frame (6) has a signal and / or a drive interface which can be coupled with aggregate-side signal and / or drive counter-interfaces when the frame (6) is docked to the labeling unit (2). Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the signal and / or the drive interface and the aggregate side signal and / or the drive counter-interfaces are designed and arranged such that when docked on the labeling unit (2) frame (6) a signal and / or driving connection between the labeling unit (2) and the docked frame (6) is inevitably effected via the interfaces. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed device between the frame (6) and the labeling unit (2) is arranged, having a handle with at least one handling element with which a selected label magazine (14) from the magazine location (12) within the frame (6) can be brought to the working position. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the handle is associated with the labeling and forms docking counter means, via which docking means of the frame (6) are mechanically docked to the labeling unit (2). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (6) has a central passage (16) which is bounded on both sides by superimposed and / or adjacent magazine locations (12), the handle has at least one handling element, which in the passage (16) is insertable and with which a selected label magazine (14) from the magazine location (12) within the frame (6) can be brought to the working position. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a transfer station (4) arranged between the frame (6) and the labeling unit (2), which has a workstation (22) which prescribes the working position and at least one transfer station provided immediately adjacent to the workstation (22) (18, 20) forms, at which a label magazine (14) for transfer to the workstation (22) and / or from the workstation (22) coming label magazine (14.1) when replacing a deflated label magazine (14.2) by a filled label magazine (14.1) Place. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the workstation (22) between two transfer stations (18, 20) is provided which are provided approximately at the same height to the workstation (22). Method for applying labels to a label carrier, in particular a bottle, in which the labels are printed and punched in a label production area and then immediately placed in a label magazine (14) in which a plurality of labels are received, and a plurality of filled label magazines (14) are then simultaneously moved in a predetermined arrangement relative to each other from the label production area to a Etikettenaufbringbereich where the labels from a selected label magazine (14.2) taken and individually to the label carrier be attached.

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