EP2185425B1 - Device and method for labelling articles, in particular liquid containers - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (10) for labelling articles (42), in particular liquid containers, with labels which are provided with a fixing side that can be activated by moistening, the device being configured with: - a label providing device (12) for providing individual labels (14), - a label receiving device (18) for receiving and transferring at least one of the labels (14) provided by the label providing device (12), - a transfer rotor (30), which receives the label from the label receiving device (18) and applies it to a surface of the article (42) to be labelled, - a conditioning unit (45, 47) for determining the current state of the surface of the article (42) to be labelled and - an activating unit (44) for moistening the label, wherein the activating unit activates the label received from the transfer rotor by moistening, the degree of moistening being adjustable in accordance with the state of the surface of the article (42) to be labelled that is determined at the time by the conditioning unit (45, 47).

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for labeling articles, in particular liquid containers.

Such devices are known from the prior art, for example from the document EP 0 135 935 B1 or off DE 10 2006 021 056 A1 , according to the preamble of claim 1.

Today, labeling machines are on the market in which a large number of labels are provided via a magazine. These labels are applied to individual pallets of a pallet carousel. For this purpose, a special glue is applied to the pallets in advance, so that the labels adhere to the pallets when they are taken out of the magazine solely by the adhesive effect of the glue applied to the pallets. The pallet carousel then rotates the respective pallet away from the magazine into a delivery position, in which the label is then mechanically taken over by a gripper cylinder via gripper fingers. In this case, the label is virtually inverted so that the fixing side provided with glue faces radially outward with respect to the gripper cylinder. The gripper cylinder then rolls the label with its fuser side over a passing article to be labeled, the label sticking to the article to be labeled due to the adhesive effect of the adhesive.

Although the labeling machine described briefly above has been widespread for quite some time and is still widely accepted due to its robustness, it has been found that in particular the application of glue to the pallets prior to picking up labels from the magazine leads to a relatively high glue consumption. This is particularly due to the fact that in each case a sufficient amount of glue must be applied to the pallets to ensure that the labels can be safely absorbed from the magazine by the adhesive effect of the glue. On the other hand, the application of such a relatively large amount of glue on the pallets means that a considerable proportion of the used glue is lost when applied to the pallets, for example by dripping. Thus, a complex cleaning of these machines is regularly required, especially when using such labeling machines in the food industry, for example in the beverage bottling. The ones used during the cleaning However, cleaning agents permanently attack individual machine components, such as seals. In addition, a considerable proportion of the glue also remains on the pallets and is not taken along by the label taken over by the gripper cylinder. This also significantly increases the glue consumption. The large glue consumption and the consequent considerable need for cleaning significantly affects the economic efficiency of these machines, especially at high throughput rates, such as in the beverage industry.

Furthermore, it is known from the prior art to remove individual labels from a magazine by means of a vacuum and to transfer them from the magazine to another location for further processing. Such a device is for example in the document DD 1601 06 described. However, this prior art provides that individual labels are removed via a removal unit from a magazine and then transferred to a transfer unit. From the transfer unit, the respective label is then in turn passed to a gripper cylinder. Overall, this prior art shows a mechanically relatively complex solution that is not suitable for high throughputs, especially in the beverage industry.

Moreover, it has already been considered in the prior art to use labels that need not be prepared by a glue application after removal from the magazine for application to the object to be labeled, but which are already provided with an activatable adhesive coating. For example, the document describes DE 102 43 704 A1 a labeling machine that uses labels with a thermally activated coating. By thermal irradiation, this coating is brought into an adhesive state, so that the label can be applied to the object to be labeled.

Also the document DE 299 24 839 U1 describes a comparable device, which also shows from this document that the activation can also be effected by moistening.

However, such labels have not yet prevailed because they are difficult to handle. This is because the labeling of bottles, for example, is increasingly demanding in the meantime. Labels must be positioned exactly on the bottle to make the bottle look appealing on the store shelf. Furthermore, the labels must also be sufficient adhere well to the labeled article, for example, if it is stored for a long time in ice water for cooling. All of these requirements have so far been more reliably met with conventional labels to be coated with wet glue. In addition, drinks are labeled with different surface temperature in drinks, so that it comes in particular in a cold filling to heavy condensation, which may affect the labeling quality.

Finally, the document describes DE 10 2006 021 056 A1 a device in which individual activatable labels are removed via a removal pallet from a label magazine, said removal plate is provided with an adhesive coating. This device has the disadvantage that the adhesive coating tends to fouling and therefore must be cleaned regularly to ensure reliable removal of labels from the magazine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and a method of the type defined in the opening paragraph which, while avoiding the above-described problems of the prior art with a relatively simple structure and low maintenance requirements, are suitable for high throughput labeling in the case of labels with activatable coating are.

• einer Etikettenbereitstellungseinrichtung zum Bereitstellen von einzelnen Etiketten,
• einer Etikettenaufnahmeeinrichtung zum Aufnehmen und Transferieren wenigstens eines von der Etikettenbereitstellungseinrichtung bereitgestellten Etiketts,
• einem Übergaberotor, der das Etikett von der Etikettenaufnahmeeinrichtung aufnimmt und auf eine Oberfläche des zu etikettierenden Gegenstands aufbringt,
• einer Konditioniereinheit zum Bestimmen des aktuellen Zustands der Oberfläche des zu etikettierenden Gegenstands und
• einer Aktivierungseinheit zum Befeuchten des Etiketts,

wobei die Aktivierungseinheit das vom Übergaberotor aufgenommene Etikett durch Befeuchten aktiviert, wobei der Grad der Befeuchtung nach Maßgabe des aktuell von der Konditioniereinheit bestimmten Zustands der Oberfläche des zu etikettierenden Gegenstands einstellbar ist.This object is achieved by a device for labeling objects, in particular liquid containers with labels, which are provided with an activatable by moistening Fixierseite, wherein the inventive device is designed with:

• a label providing device for providing individual labels,
• a label receiving device for receiving and transferring at least one label provided by the label providing device,
• a transfer rotor which receives the label from the label receiving means and applies it to a surface of the object to be labeled,
• a conditioning unit for determining the current state of the surface of the object to be labeled, and
• an activation unit for moistening the label,

wherein the activation unit activates the label picked up by the transfer rotor by moistening, wherein the degree of moistening is adjustable in accordance with the condition of the surface of the object to be labeled which is currently determined by the conditioning unit.

It has been shown that the current state of the item to be labeled has a significant impact on the quality of the labeling. This is especially true for applications in which - as provided according to the invention - labels are used with activatable fixation, that is, in which no glue application should take place after removal of the label from the label providing device. The invention aims to provide an alternative to active wet-glue application applications. Although the prior art discussed above already shows applications in which labels with heat-activating or moistening-activatable fixing sites are used, none of these applications has hitherto been successful in practice.

The Applicants have recognized that the activation of the labels - unlike the glue application - must be made taking into account the current surface condition of the object to be labeled. For example, the object to be labeled depending on the current humidity in the room in which the labeling is done, more or less fogged with condensation. Also due to the filling of liquids in the object to be labeled, the surface thereof may be more or less moistened. If these fluctuations in the surface state of the article to be labeled are not taken into account when applying activatable labels, the quality of the labeling suffers, which leads, for example, to the labels not adhering adequately to the labeled article, releasing itself from it in an undesirably fast manner or during labeling slip.

A refinement of the invention provides that the label receiving device has a base which rotates continuously in a predetermined direction of rotation during operation of the device, wherein the label receiving device has a plurality of vacuum grippers which are arranged on these associated vacuum gripper carriers, wherein the vacuum gripper carriers on the rotating base of the label receiving device are mounted in a carousel-like manner, each vacuum gripper can be brought into contact with the at least one provided by the label providing device label and this by vacuum for Receiving and transferring holds, wherein the vacuum grippers are oscillating about the vacuum gripper carrier relative to the base such that each vacuum gripper can be brought into a predetermined receiving position for receiving a provided by the label providing means label and in a predetermined delivery position for dispensing the label to the transfer motor, only such vacuum grippers are instantaneously connected to a source of negative pressure, which are in an angular range of rotational movement of the base, which lies between the receiving position and the discharge position.

With regard to the design of the negative pressure gripper can be provided that this is formed with a contact surface for surface contact with at least a portion of the provided label, wherein in the vacuum gripper open to the contact surface vacuum channel is provided. In this context, it can be provided that the vacuum channel has a linear course. Alternatively, an embodiment variant of the invention provides that the vacuum channel has curved, preferably s-shaped or multi-s-shaped or meandering, course.

As an alternative to a vacuum gripper with a vacuum channel, it may be provided that it is designed with a contact surface for surface contact with at least part of the provided label, wherein at least one elastic vacuum is provided in or on the vacuum gripper. Thus, a plurality of suckers may be provided on the contact surface, which grip the label selectively or in regions. The suckers may be formed of an elastomeric material in the form of suction cups.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the vacuum duct or the at least one vacuum cleaner can be connected to a vacuum source, preferably a vacuum pump, at at least one point of discharge.

Although the use of vacuum for receiving labels on the vacuum grippers already leads to success with relatively low technical means, the reliability with regard to the reception of labels from the magazine can be further improved by coating the contact surface with a plastic material, preferably an elastomer material is. As a result, a better sealing contact of the contact surface on the male label in the region of the vacuum channel or the nipple can be achieved.

Also with regard to the label receiving device, various embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. An embodiment of the invention provides that the label receiving device has a plurality of vacuum grippers which are arranged on these associated vacuum gripper carriers. Thus, several vacuum grippers can be arranged on a single vacuum gripper carrier. This can be useful, for example, when different labels have to be arranged one above the other at different heights on a bottle, for example a large label on a bottle belly and a smaller label on a bottle breast.

To supply each negative pressure gripper with negative pressure, an embodiment of the invention provides that each vacuum gripper carrier is provided with at least one vacuum supply line for supplying the respectively associated vacuum grippers.

In order to keep the technical effort in providing the negative pressure as low as possible, it is necessary to avoid negative pressure losses due to leaks or the like. In this context, it can be provided that in each operating state of the device according to the invention only those vacuum grippers are fluidly connected to the vacuum source, which are in an angular range of rotational movement of the base, which is located between the receiving position and the dispensing position. In other words, only those vacuum grippers are supplied with negative pressure, which just remove a label from the magazine or have already taken a label and transfer this for further processing as part of the labeling process. After a vacuum gripper has dispensed a label again, it is free of negative pressure, that is as long as no longer connected to the vacuum source until it returns to the angular range for receiving a label from the magazine. This supply of negative pressure, which is dependent on the respective angular range, can be achieved in a simple constructional manner, for example by providing a vacuum cam which is stationary relative to the base for supplying the vacuum gripper with negative pressure. Thus, the provided in the stationary cam vacuum supply curve ensures that a vacuum supply takes place only in the specific angular range. However, such an angle-dependent vacuum supply can also be achieved by a suitable controllable valve arrangement.

As an alternative to pivotable vacuum grippers which are attached to rotatable vacuum gripper carriers, one embodiment provides that the vacuum grippers are mounted displaceably on the rotating base in the radial direction. Although the vacuum grippers rotate with the base, they can, for example, be moved in the radial direction on guides arranged in a star shape. Also, this can achieve the desired radial positioning for picking and dispensing labels. In this embodiment, for example, be provided that the vacuum gripper are biased in a respect to the base radially retracted position and a position control device, preferably a cam plate relative to the base so radially outward displaced that the contact surface in a predetermined receiving position for receiving one of the label providing device provided label can be brought. The same can also be provided for dispensing the labels.

In principle, it is possible to form the vacuum grippers with a geometry that corresponds to the geometry of the applied label. However, since label geometries can vary depending on the labeling task, it is more advantageous to form standardized vacuum grippers. In this connection, it can be provided according to the invention that each vacuum gripper has a plurality of vacuum openings or suction cups, wherein the vacuum openings or suction cups can be supplied with negative pressure as required in accordance with the geometry of the label. In other words, a kind of grid with different vacuum openings or suction can be provided on the vacuum gripper, depending on the Etikettieraufgabe only certain vacuum openings or suckers are connected to the vacuum source, namely those that come into contact with the label. This can be done by selectively closing the unneeded openings or suckers by means of controllable valves or alternatively by self-closing in case of negative pressure valves, such as check valves.

For detecting the instantaneous surface state of the object to be labeled, a development of the invention provides that the conditioning unit is provided with a sensor which determines the current state, in particular the current moistening state and / or the current temperature, of the surface of the article to be labeled. The moistening of the labels is then adjusted in accordance with the current state detected in this way. In this context, it can be provided that the sensor as an ultrasonic sensor, infrared sensor or reflection sensor is formed.

Furthermore, according to the invention, in the control or regulation of the moistening of the labels, it may be provided that the degree of moistening is additionally adjustable in accordance with the adhesive of the label applied to the fixing side. It is thus possible to use different coatings on the fixing side, depending on the labeling task. Labels applied to disposable containers may be provided with a different type of adhesive on the activatable fuser side than labels applied to reusable containers. In addition, it is possible to use labels that are not provided on their fixing side over the entire surface with adhesive, but only partially, for example in transverse or longitudinal stripes. With regard to the activatable adhesive applied to the fixing side, reference is made to the document DE 10 2006 021 056 A1 as well as on the document EP 1 690 795 A1 directed. Therein, corresponding adhesive compositions are described in detail.

Furthermore, it can be provided according to the invention that the degree of humidification is additionally adjustable in accordance with the labeling cycle of the device. For example, if the device according to the invention runs more slowly, that is to say with a smaller clock, this may mean that the labels used must be moistened less strongly than in a case in which the clocking is shorter and the label application therefore takes place more quickly. In the latter case humidification must be more intensive.

In order to prevent once activated labels sticking to the transfer rotor as a result of their activation, a development of the invention provides that the transfer rotor is provided with at least one gripper finger for gripping the at least one label delivered by the label receiving device, the gripping finger having an adhesion-repellent coating is provided, in particular Teflon or silicone.

Furthermore, it has been shown that in certain cases the problem can occur in certain labeling tasks that, due to the fixing side provided with an activatable adhesive, a number of labels are unwantedly removed from the label supply device. In order to prevent this, a further development of the invention provides that the label supply device is provided with a label separation device, which is preferably pneumatic, provides individual labels. Thus, it can be provided in detail that the label providing device has at least one holding finger with at least one air nozzle, is blown through the compressed air behind the currently removed label so that it can be separated from the next label and removed individually.

According to the invention, it can further be provided that the activation unit comprises at least one spray nozzle, which can be supplied with a suitable amount of activation solution, in particular water, and / or its spray pattern and / or its angular position and its distance from the transfer rotor, depending on the required actual degree of moistening , As a result of this measure, according to the parameters described above, a moistening of the fixing side adapted to the current state of the surface to be labeled can be achieved. Furthermore, it can be provided that a plurality of spray nozzles are integrated next to one another in an arrangement for additional blowing of the labels located on the transfer rotor.

With regard to the humidification can also be provided that this takes place by means of steam or water mist. The water vapor or water mist can also be adjusted in terms of its temperature, the degree of control, the saturation, etc. in accordance with the parameters described above, in order to achieve optimum humidification depending on the current surface of the object to be labeled.

Although targeted moistening can be achieved with the above-described measures of adjusting the spray nozzles, according to the invention it can further be provided that the activation unit is encapsulated in an activation chamber through which the transfer rotor passes in sections. This allows the current humidification control even better. In particular, it is possible to exclude external influences through the activation chamber, which may impair optimal humidification and thus activation of the fixing side. In addition, external air disturbances caused by the activation are avoided, in particular in the case of very high labeling capacities. According to the invention, it can further be provided that the conditioning unit has a drying device for drying the surface of the object to be labeled. In this way, the object to be labeled is brought into a largely predetermined desired state and carried out in accordance with this desired state, the humidification. This allows the Control effort to moisten the activatable labels can be reduced.

• Bereitstellen von einzelnen Etiketten mittels einer Etikettenbereitstellungseinrichtung,
• Aufnehmen und Transferieren wenigstens eines von der Etikettenbereitstellungseinrichtung bereitgestellten Etiketts mittels einer Etikettenaufnahmeeinrichtung,
• Aufnehmen des Etiketts von der Etikettenaufnahmeeinrichtung und Aufbringen auf eine Oberfläche des zu etikettierenden Gegenstands mittels eines Übergaberotors,
• Bestimmen des aktuellen Zustands der Oberfläche des zu etikettierenden Gegenstands mittels einer Konditioniereinheit und
• Befeuchten des Etiketts mittels einer Aktivierungseinheit,

wobei der Grad der Befeuchtung nach Maßgabe des aktuell von der Konditioniereinheit bestimmten Zustands der Oberfläche des zu etikettierenden Gegenstands eingestellt wird.The above-described object is further achieved by a method for labeling objects, in particular liquid containers with labels provided with a moistening side which can be activated by moistening, in particular with a device of the type described above, the method comprising the following steps:

• Providing individual labels by means of a label providing device,
• Receiving and transferring at least one label provided by the label providing device by means of a label receiving device,
• Receiving the label from the label receiving device and applying it to a surface of the article to be labeled by means of a transfer motor,
• Determining the current state of the surface of the object to be labeled by means of a conditioning unit and
• Moistening the label by means of an activation unit,

wherein the degree of humidification is set in accordance with the state of the surface of the object to be labeled which is currently determined by the conditioning unit.

It can also be provided in this method that the degree of moistening is additionally set in accordance with the adhesive applied to the fixing side of the label. Furthermore, it can be provided in this method that the degree of humidification is additionally adjusted in accordance with the labeling cycle of the device. In addition, it can be provided in this method that the activation unit comprises at least one spray nozzle, which is supplied depending on the required current degree of moistening with a suitable amount of activation solution, in particular water, and / or adjusted in their spray pattern and / or in their position or adjusted to their distance from the transfer rotor.

A development of the method according to the invention provides that the object to be labeled is dried before being labeled.

Figur 1

eine schematische Übersichtsdarstellung einer ersten Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Karussells mit Unterdruckgreiferträgern und einem Unterdruckgreifer;

Figur 3

eine Explosionsansicht der Baugruppe gemäß Figur 2;

Figur 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Unterdruckgreifers;

Figur 5

eine Vorderansicht auf die Anlagefläche des Unterdruckgreifers aus Figur 4;

Figuren 6 und 7

schematische Übersichtsdarstellungen weiterer Ausführungsformen der Erfindung;

Figuren 8 bis 11

verschiedene Ansichten weiterer Ausführungsformen von Unterdruckgreifern;

Figuren 12 bis 15

verschiedene Darstellungen zur Erläuterung verschiedener Aktivierszenarien;

Figuren 16 bis 18

verschiedene Ansichten einer Etikettenbereitstellungseinrichtung gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

FIG. 1

a schematic overview of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2

a perspective view of a carousel with vacuum gripper carriers and a vacuum gripper;

FIG. 3

an exploded view of the assembly according to FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4

a perspective view of a vacuum gripper;

FIG. 5

a front view of the contact surface of the vacuum gripper FIG. 4 ;

FIGS. 6 and 7

schematic overview of further embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 8 to 11

different views of further embodiments of vacuum grippers;

FIGS. 12 to 15

different representations to explain different activation scenarios;

FIGS. 16 to 18

various views of a label providing device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1 is a schematic overview of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention shown in a plan view and generally designated 10. This comprises a magazine 12 which is filled with a plurality of labels 14. At a discharge end 16 of the magazine 12 individual labels 14 are delivered.

Near the magazine 12, a label receiving device 18 is provided. This is designed carousel-like. It comprises a base 20 which rotates about an axis of rotation 22 in the direction of rotation according to the arrow P. At the base are eight vacuum grippers 24 ₁ to 24 ₈ mounted on vacuum gripper carrier 26. The vacuum gripper carriers 26 are rod-shaped and extend orthogonal to the plane according to FIG. 1 , With them, the vacuum grippers 24 ₁ to 24 ₈ which are fixed to these rotate. Depending on the instantaneous angular position, the vacuum gripper carrier 26 and with it the vacuum grippers 24 ₁ to 24 ₈ rotate in certain predetermined directions of rotation, which is achieved by a suitable, known per se, transmission device. The respective angular position-dependent direction of rotation of the vacuum grippers 24 ₁ to 24 ₈ results from the small arrows 30 in FIG FIG. 1 can be seen further that the curved vacuum grippers 24 ₁ to 24 _{8 are arranged} at a distance a from the axis of rotation of the vacuum gripper carrier 26, so they perform an oscillating pivotal movement.

In detail one recognizes in FIG. 1 in that the vacuum gripper 24 _{1 is} located directly in a receiving position in front of the magazine 12. He is just recording a label 14. The vacuum grippers 24 ₂ to 24 ₈ hold just one label, the vacuum gripper 24 ₄ is in a dispensing position and the label held by him just gives. The vacuum grippers 24 ₅ to 24 ₈ currently carry no label.

In addition to the carousel-like label receiving device 18, a gripper cylinder 30 is provided. This has six receiving pads 33 which are fixedly disposed on a common base 32 and rotate with the base 32 about a rotation axis 34 in the direction of the arrow R. It is understood that the rotational speeds of the rotational movements according to the arrows P and R are synchronized with each other. Each receiving pad 33 is associated with at least one gripping finger 36 which is displaceable between a gripping position and a release position. It can be seen that, for example, the label 14 _{1 is held} on a receiving pad 33 via the gripping finger 36.

The gripper cylinder 30 serves to take over the labels from the label receiving device 18 and to convey according to the direction of rotation R to a likewise rotating according to the arrow S bottle table 40. On the bottle table 40 are at regular intervals guided bottles 42 on which the labels must be attached. These bottles come with a in Fig. 1 Monitored sensor with respect to their surface condition. In detail, it is checked how strongly the bottle surface is moistened.

In the device 10 according to FIG. 1 Labels are used, which are provided with an activatable fixation and sprayed only on the gripper cylinder 30 with water. For this purpose, a spray unit 44 is provided which sprayed at a certain point on the gripper cylinder 30 on a receiving pad 33 a held by the gripper finger 36 label on its back specifically with a small, but sufficient amount of water to fix the label on the bottle 42 , The amount of water is determined by the current surface condition of the bottles 42. This surface texture, in particular surface moisture is determined by a sensor 45, which may be formed as an infrared sensor, ultrasonic sensor, optical sensor or the like. This sensor 45 is connected to an electronic control unit 47, which controls the spray unit 44 in accordance with the detected surface condition of the bottles 42 via a control line so as to achieve optimum activation of the labels.

One aspect of the invention is that the labels are not removed from the magazine 12 by the fact that the contact surfaces of the vacuum grippers 24 ₁ to 24 ₈ coated with glue, such as pallets of a pallet carousel according to the prior art. Rather, the vacuum grippers 24 ₁ to 24 _8, if necessary, with a vacuum source (not shown) are connected to selectively remove individual labels from the magazine 12 via vacuum, these during the transfer from the magazine 12 to the gripper cylinder 30 due to the negative pressure at the Hold attachment surface and finally deliver it on a transfer on the gripper cylinder 30.

Specifically, it is provided that in a certain operating condition, only certain vacuum grippers are connected to the vacuum source, namely those vacuum grippers who are currently recording a label, submit or hold for transfer. In the shown FIG. 1 these are the vacuum grippers 24 ₁ to 24 ₄ . The vacuum grippers 24 ₅ to 24 ₈ , however, are not connected to the vacuum source. This is due to the fact that the economic design of the device 10 according to the invention, the vacuum provided by the vacuum source to be used as efficiently as possible, especially while avoiding losses.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a label receiving device 18, wherein only a vacuum gripper 24 attached to a vacuum gripper carrier 26 is. It can be seen in detail that the vacuum gripper 24 is mounted with a clamp 50 on the vacuum gripper carrier 26. Furthermore, it can be seen that in the outwardly facing contact surface of the vacuum gripper 24, a serpentine vacuum channel 52 is provided, in which via a supply line 54, a negative pressure can be established. FIG. 2 further shows the base 20, as well as the upper part of the rotation axis 22nd

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a label receiving device, wherein only a vacuum gripper 24 is shown. In this exploded view can be seen between two sealing plates 56 and 58, a control disk 60, in which a control cam 62 is incorporated. The control disk 60 is arranged rotationally fixed relative to the rotating base 20. It ensures via the control cam 62 that only a part of the vacuum grippers 24 arranged on the vacuum gripper carriers 24, namely in FIG FIG. 1 the negative pressure gripper 24 ₁ to 24 ₄ , are supplied with negative pressure, that is, are connected to the vacuum source. The control curve 62, which establishes the connection to the vacuum source, so to speak, reflects the angular range in which negative pressure grippers are located during the rotary movement according to arrow P, who are just picking up a label, delivering it or carrying it for transfer.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a single vacuum gripper 24 in detail view. It can be seen that a dimensionally stable base body 64 is attached to the clamp 50, which has a substantially circular curvature in plan view. This main body 64 is provided with a rubber layer 66, in which the previously mentioned serpentine vacuum channels 52 and 53 are incorporated. In the vacuum channels 52 and 53 open supply openings 68 and 70 which are connectable via supply ports 72 and 74 with the vacuum source.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show further embodiments of the invention, wherein for identical or similar components, the same reference numerals are used as in the preceding description of FIG. 1 , To avoid repetition and to simplify the description, only the differences from the first embodiment will be discussed.

The embodiment according to FIG. 6 differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 only in that the labels are not sprayed with water. Instead, a vapor deposition unit 80 and nozzles 82 is provided by Vapor the labels 14 activated so as to make a on the back - also called Fixierseite - adhesive or dry glue adhesive so that the labels can be glued to the bottles 42. The labels are already provided with the activatable adhesive or dry glue when they are in the magazine 12.

The embodiment according to FIG. 7 differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 in that between the magazine 12 and the gripper cylinder 30, a different type of label receiving device 86 is arranged. This comprises a continuously rotating base 20, with the vacuum grippers 24 ₁ and 24 ₂ rotate, which are mounted on guide tappets 90. The guide tappets 90 are displaceable relative to the base 20 in the radial direction together with the vacuum grippers 24 ₁ and 24 ₂ , as shown by the arrow T. They are biased radially inwardly. Upon rotation of the base 20 according to the arrow P, the radially inward ends of the plunger 90 follow the profile of a stationary cam 88. Accordingly, the plungers 90 move together with the vacuum grippers 24 ₁ and 24 ₂ radially inwardly and outwardly.

The vacuum gripper 24 ₁ is in its radially extended position and just picks up the foremost label 14 provided by the magazine 12 by sucking it with negative pressure. The vacuum gripper 24 ₂ just holds a label 14 ₂ and outputs this to the gripper cylinder 30 from. The labels on the gripper cylinder 30 are in turn sprayed by a spray unit 44 with a small but sufficient amount of adhesive or glue. Otherwise, the system works as with respect to FIG. 1 described.

FIGS. 8 to 11 show further embodiments of vacuum grippers 106 and 108. The embodiment according to FIGS. 8 and 9 show a vacuum gripper for a breast label, which is to be attached to a breast-shaped transition from the bottle belly to the bottleneck. The embodiment according to FIGS. 10 and 11 shows a vacuum gripper for a substantially rectangular label for attachment to a bottle belly. These vacuum grippers are characterized in that they are provided with suction pads 110 made of elastomeric rubber material. At their center, the suction cups 110 have an opening 68, which are connected via the supply ports 72 and 74 to a vacuum source. Unlike in the previous with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5 described case, the vacuum cleaner 106 and 108 so no vacuum channels but with vacuum supplied suction cups 110, which serve to hold the respective label. The elastomeric design of the suction cups 110 serves for sealing engagement with the label.

In one application, vacuum grippers 106 and 108 are attached to one and the same vacuum gripper carrier 26 (see FIG Figures 2 and 3 ) at different heights. As a result, two labels can be attached to the bottle at the same time for a particular labeling task, for example for labeling a bottle. For this labeling task, vacuum grippers 106 and 108 have geometry adapted to the label geometry. Incidentally, the vacuum grippers 106 and 108 function as described above.

The above-described embodiments of the invention show that, according to the invention, the labels can be removed from the magazine 12 by the application of negative pressure with a high throughput rate without having to previously provide pallets of a pallet carousel with wet glue. The high glue consumption generated by wet glue application in the prior art, which is due in particular to the fact that much glue is lost before the label is applied to a label the object, as well as the associated cleaning and maintenance can be avoided with the invention.

Rather, can be used with the invention, novel labels that are provided with an activatable coating on the fixing page. An essential advantage of the invention is also that the individual embodiments of the invention can be attached to existing systems. Thus, it is not necessary to constructively change the bottle table 40. Only the rotational speeds of the individual rotational movements of the components of the embodiments according to the invention must be matched to the rotational movement of the bottle table 40 and the passing bottles 42, that is to be synchronized with them. And

FIG. 12 now shows a schematic representation of a way to activate the held on the gripper cylinder 30 labels 14, which point with their activatable fixing side to the outside, by spray application. For this purpose, individual nozzles 120, 122, 124 are provided, which, as in Fig. 12 shown are rotatable. In the area of these nozzles, but at a different height, a guide tube 126 is provided with openings for Etikettenanblasung. The spray nozzles 120, 122, 124 can in their Relative position to the gripper cylinder 30 are pivoted by rotational movement. They can also be displaced relative to the center of the gripper cylinder 30 in their distance in the radial direction. Furthermore, the geometry of the spray cone 128 of the individual nozzles 120, 122 and 124 can be adjusted. Of course, the amount of water supplied to the individual spray nozzles 120, 122, 124 can also be set variably.

As already indicated above, depending on the nature of the surfaces of the bottles 42 to be labeled, a suitable selection of the aforementioned parameters (sprayed amount of water, position and spacing of the spray nozzles, etc.) is made to achieve optimum activation of the activatable fusing side of the labels 14 which are then applied to the bottles 42 after activation and adhere to them. Other parameters that affect the activation and that must be taken into account in the moistening via the nozzles 120, 122, 124, about the current ambient temperature, the rotational speed, that is, clock rate, the device. Further influence can be achieved by changing the intensity of the blowing over the guide tube 26. The blowing pressure used for this purpose can be in a range between 1 to 5 bar. This blowing effect can also be used to further atomize the sprayed water.

FIG. 13 shows a modification of the embodiment according to Fig. 12 , In this case, the spray nozzles 120, 122, 124 and further spray nozzles are integrated into the guide tube 126.

At the in FIG. 14 the embodiment shown is the in Fig. 13 shown integration formed such that no separate spray nozzles on the guide tube 126 are present, but this is completely integrally formed with spray orifices from which steam or water mist (see cone 128) emerges. However, the guide tube 126 also still has air openings for blowing the labels.

Finally shows FIG. 15 an arrangement similar to that according to Fig. 13 However, wherein the guide tube 126 are arranged with the attached spray nozzles 120, 122, 124 in an activation chamber 130. The transfer rotor runs through the activation chamber. This means that the activation can be done in isolation from the environment and its influences, such as temperature. In the activation chamber 130 can be set largely stable activation conditions, for example, in accordance with the surface condition of the bottles 42, so as to achieve optimal activation and thus adhesion of the labels on the bottles 42.

With the in FIGS. 12 to 15 shown arrangements, a targeted activation over a large area of the gripper cylinder can be achieved.

FIGS. 16 to 18 show individual parts of a label providing device 12, wherein Fig. 17 a sectional view along the section line AA Fig. 16 and Fig. 18 a side view from the right of the label providing device according to Fig. 16 is.

It can be seen that the labels are held by retaining fingers 140 in the label providing device 12. For clarity, in Figures 16 and 18 Label stack 14 indicated by dashed lines. The holding fingers 142, 144 are connected via compressed air lines 148 to a compressed air source, not shown. In the region facing the label stack 14, they each have small air outlet openings 150, from which compressed air can be blown out. It can thereby be achieved that the foremost label can be blown over with compressed air, so that it can be separated from the next label by forming an air cushion. This measure ensures that in each case only one label is removed from the label providing device 12.

Claims (15)

1. Device (10) for labelling articles (42), in particular liquid containers, with labels which are provided with a fixing side that can be activated by moistening, the device being configured with:

   - a label providing device (12) for providing individual labels (14),

   - a label receiving device (18) for receiving and transferring at least one of the labels (14) provided by the label providing device (12),

   - a transfer rotor (30), which receives the label from the label receiving device (18) and applies it to a surface of the article (42) to be labelled, and

   - an activating unit (44) for moistening the label,

   the device being characterized by

   - a conditioning unit (45, 47) for determining the current state of the surface of the article (42) to be labelled,

   wherein the activating unit (44) activating the label received from the transfer rotor by moistening, the degree of moistening being adjustable in accordance with the state of the surface of the article (42) to be labelled that is determined at the time by the conditioning unit (45, 47).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the label receiving device (18) comprises a continuously rotating base (20) in a predetermined rotational direction during operation of the device (10), the label receiving device (18) comprising a plurality of vacuum grippers (24₁ - 24₈), which are arranged on vacuum gripper supports (26) assigned thereto, the vacuum gripper supports (26) being attached in the manner of a carousel to the rotating base (20) of the label receiving device (18), each vacuum gripper (24₁- 24₈) being able to be brought into contact with the at least one label (14) provided by the label providing device (12), and holding said label by a vacuum for receiving and transferring said label, the vacuum grippers (24₁ - 24₈) being able to be pivoted in an oscillating manner via the vacuum gripper supports (26) relative to the base (20) such that each vacuum gripper (24₁ - 24₈) may be moved into a predetermined receiving position for receiving a label (14) provided by the label providing device (18) and into a predetermined dispensing position for dispensing the label to the transfer rotor (30), only those vacuum grippers (24₁ - 24₈) being currently attached to a vacuum source which are located in an angular range of the rotational movement of the base (20), which is located between the receiving position and the dispensing position.
3. Device (10) according to Claim 2, characterized in that each vacuum gripper support (26) is provided with at least one vacuum supply line (54) for supplying the vacuum grippers (24₁ - 24₈) respectively associated therewith, a cam disc (60) which is fixed relative to the base (20) being provided for supplying the vacuum grippers (24₁ - 24₈) with a vacuum.
4. Device (10) according to Claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the vacuum grippers (24₁ - 24₂) are mounted displaceably on the rotating base in the radial direction.
5. Device (10) according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterised in that each vacuum gripper (24) comprises a plurality of vacuum openings, the vacuum openings being able to be supplied as required with a vacuum according to the geometry of the label.
6. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the conditioning unit (45, 47) is provided with a sensor (45) which determines the current state, in particular the current moistened state or/and the current temperature, of the surface of the article to be labelled, wherein in particular the sensor (45) is configured as an ultrasound sensor, infrared sensor or reflection sensor.
7. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the degree of moistening may be additionally adjusted according to the adhesive agent of the label applied to the fixing side and/or may be additionally adjusted according to the labelling cycle of the device.
8. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transfer rotor is provided with at least one gripper finger for gripping the at least one label dispensed by the label receiving device, the gripper finger being provided with an adhesive repellent coating, in particular consisting of Teflon or silicone.
9. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the label providing device is provided with a label separating device, which preferably provides individual labels pneumatically.
10. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the activating unit comprises at least one spray nozzle which, according to the currently required degree of moistening, may be supplied with a suitable quantity of activating solution, in particular water, and/or may be adjusted in its spray pattern and/or in its distance from the transfer rotor, wherein preferably the moistening takes place by means of water vapour or water mist.
11. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the activating unit is enclosed in an activating chamber, through which the transfer rotor progressively passes.
12. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the conditioning unit comprises a drying device for drying the surface of the article to be labelled.
13. Method for labelling articles (42), in particular liquid containers, with labels which are provided with a fixing side that can be activated by moistening, in particular with a device according to one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the following steps:

    - providing individual labels (14) by means of a label providing device (12),

    - receiving and transferring at least one label (14) provided by the label providing device (12) by means of a label receiving device (18),

    - receiving the label from the label receiving device (18) and applying it onto a surface of the article (42) to be labelled by means of a transfer rotor (30),

    - determining the current state of the surface of the article (42) to be labelled by means of a conditioning unit and

    - moistening the label by means of an activating unit (44),

    the degree of moistening being adjusted in accordance with the state of the surface of the article (42) to be labelled that is determined at the time by the conditioning unit.
14. Method according to Claim 13, characterised in that the degree of moistening is additionally adjusted according to the adhesive agent of the label applied to the fixing side and/or according to the labelling cycle of the device.
15. Method according to one of Claims 13 or 14, characterised in that the activating unit comprises at least one spray nozzle which, depending on the currently required degree of moisture, is supplied with a suitable quantity of activating solution, in particular water, and/or is adjusted in its spray pattern, and/or adjusted in its distance from the transfer rotor.

Images