EP2470430B1 - Device for two-sided or multi-sided labeling - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1 for attaching at least one self-adhesive label on a three-dimensional object having a projection defining a lower throat, in particular in the form of a web-shaped edge, with a transport carrying the article to be labeled - Or support surface, at least one applicator, by means of which the label is applied to the projection of the article, and with at least one pressing body or a compressed air nozzle having pressure device for nestling of the label to the throat of the article.

A generic device is from the JP 2002-154509 known.

In particular, foods are now often packed in plastic or aluminum trays, which have a circumferential, web-shaped edge or flange, which serves as an adhesive or joining surface for a thereto to be glued or welded closure film or the positive attachment of a lid. The plastic or aluminum shells used in this case often have a substantially rectangular shape with long sides and shorter transverse sides. Such substantially rectangular packaging trays allow for high space utilization when arranged with similar trays in containers such as a refrigerated compartment. But there are also other shaped packaging trays common, for example, circular, oval or triangular shells, which may also have a circumferential, web-shaped edge or flange for attaching a closure film or a lid.

Usually, such packaging, in particular food packages are labeled on two or more pages, wherein a single label is glued to the top closure film or the lid, the front wall, the bottom and possibly also on the rear wall of the packaging tray, so that the attached label on the outside projecting, ridge-shaped edge extends. Conventionally, the label thus applied is not contour-parallel to the packaging, but spans at a distance the existing between the outer edge of the web-shaped edge and the front wall of the shell throat (see. Fig. 9 ).

In practice, it has been found that two- or multi-sided labels are often on or torn in the throat of such packages. The label may be torn or severed particularly when assembling and / or transporting a plurality of such packages in outer packaging if the web-shaped edge of a package presses against the label stretched over the throat at a distance below the web-shaped edge of a corresponding adjacent packaging or beats. A torn or severed label not only gives the package an ugly appearance; Also sometimes a printed on the label barcode due to the damage of the label is no longer perfectly legible, so that the product in question by means of a scanner, for example, at a checkout, can not be reliably identified. In addition, two- or multi-sided labels often have a closure and warranty function. One speaks in this regard of closure, seal or warranty labels. If such a label is torn or severed, the customer will assume that the packaging has possibly already been opened and the quality and / or quantity of the content no longer corresponds to the target state.

From the US Pat. No. 6,155,322 a labeling device is known with which self-adhesive labels can be applied to packages having a lower throat and an upper throat defining flange. The device comprises two telescoping pressure rods which are arranged above and below a belt conveyor conveying the packages. At its free end, the respective push rod is provided with a pressure head, by means of which the respective label is nestled against the lower throat or the upper throat. The operation of the pressure rod conforming to the label to the lower throat requires longitudinal division of the belt conveyor into two separate belts spaced transversely to the transport direction so that the push rod can be moved between the belts.

The JP 2002 154509A discloses a device for adhering a label to a package having complex shape, eg an egg carton. The labeling apparatus comprises a conveyor belt, a first application device, by means of which a portion of a label is attached to one of the surfaces of the packaging, and a second application device following in the belt-line direction, by means of which the remaining section of the Label is attached to another surface of the packaging. The second applicator is disposed laterally of the conveyor belt and provided with a brush for pressing the remaining portion of the label against the package, the brush being moved substantially vertically along a side surface of the package.

The DE 29 01 702 A1 shows a device for closing a bowl-shaped container by means of a foil sheet, wherein the container has a flange defining a lower throat. The device comprises a frame-shaped plate whose opening is slightly larger than the circumference of the container flange. The frame-shaped plate is hinged to ends of four crank parts, the other ends of the crank parts being attached to shafts. The waves are rotated together by means of several drive means. The frame-shaped plate is provided with four angularly formed Andruckstangen, which are arranged below the plate at the four corners of the opening and can be moved diagonally inwards and outwards to press the foil sheet below the container flange to the throat. The pressure bars are individually or in pairs provided with an additional drive mechanism, with a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, an electric coil or a spring-loaded pivot lever mechanism comprising a roller whose shaft connects two pivot levers. The roller is associated with a stationary roller, which deflects it on its trajectory, so that the pivot lever mechanism is actuated.

The present invention has for its object to provide a device for two- or multi-sided labeling of objects, each having a lower throat defining ridge-shaped edge or the like, to provide the above-described problem of tearing or severing of the label in the area the throat eliminated, even in combination with conventional, ie not two-part conveyor belts is used, relatively easy to integrate into an existing labeling and run in a compact design and allows high labeling performance.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1.

The device according to the invention is characterized by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

The pressure device according to the invention ensures that the label, which is to be affixed across the projecting edge of the article on two or more sides, abuts the contour of the article essentially following the contour of the article at the throat. In particular, can be attached to the underside of the protruding edge with the pressure device according to the invention, the label. The applied by means of the pressure device according to the invention substantially contour parallel to the throat of the article label can no longer or hardly be damaged due to its dense system along the throat when it is there by impact or pressure applied. Damage to, for example, a barcode printed there is thus largely excluded. Likewise, thereby a closure or warranty function of the label is improved. In addition, the pressure device according to the invention allows an enlargement of the laterally applied label length, so that more information and / or larger and thus more readable letters, numbers and symbols can be arranged on the side of the object if necessary with the label. This is particularly advantageous in stacked packaging.

In addition, the device according to the invention can be implemented in combination with conventional conveyor belts. A longitudinal division of the conveyor belt, as it is from the US Pat. No. 6,155,322 bekante device is not required in the device according to the invention.

The attached to the transmission pressure body is moved simultaneously with the movement of the transmission from the starting position (rest position) in the label against the throat fitting operating position. An (additional) movement of the pressure body relative to the transmission is not required for the nestling of the label to the throat of the article to be labeled in the inventive device.

The pressure device of the device according to the invention can be relatively easily integrated into an existing labeling device, whereby a precise, tailored to the object to be labeled guidance of a pressure body or a compressed air nozzle can be ensured by the transmission. In particular, the pressure device can be relatively easily mounted close to a movement path along which the object to be labeled is moved, wherein the pressure device is removed in its initial or rest position from the movement path and engages in its operating position in the movement path.

According to the invention, the gear of the pressure device is designed as a multi-link linkage. Such a transmission can be carried out in a relatively compact design and allows rapid movement of the pressure device or a pressure body attached thereto from the starting position (rest position) in the operating position and vice versa, so that overall a relatively high labeling performance can be achieved.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the pressure body touches the object to be labeled during nestling of the label, wherein the transmission, the pressure body in the movement from the starting position (rest position) in the operating position and vice versa aligned parallel to a substantially planar, the to be labeled object carrying transport or bearing surface leads. In this embodiment, the pressure device can be made very compact. In addition, constructive and functional advantages with regard to a combination of the pressure device with an adjusting device, by means of which the height or position of the point of application of the pressure device relative to the object to be labeled can be adjusted in this embodiment. The adjustment of the height or location of the point of attack, the adaptation of the pressure device to different levels of packaging or different altitudes of the web-shaped edge is used in various packaging, can be relatively easily perform in the present parallel guidance of the pressure body, the respective result of the height or position adjustment is well predictable.

As an alternative to this parallel guidance, the pressure device can also be provided with a gear, which guides the pressure body in the movement from the home or rest position to the operating position and vice versa along an arcuate, in particular circular arc-shaped path. Such a transmission can sometimes be realized more cost-effective than the pressure body parallel leading gear.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the pressure device is equipped with different interchangeable Andruckkörpern of which the respective pressure body in the mounted state touches the object to be labeled during nestling of the label, and / or is equipped with different mutually interchangeable gear elements. By a replacement of the pressure body and / or one or more gear elements, the point of application of the pressure device can be adjusted and thus adapted to different positions and / or shapes of the projecting edge of the object to be labeled.

Alternatively or in addition to a pressure body, which touches the object to be labeled during nestling of the label, the pressure device may also be provided with at least one compressed air nozzle for contactless nestling of the label. The contactless nestling of the label to the throat of the article may be particularly advantageous for mechanically sensitive labels or products.

In order to achieve that the longitudinal axis of a rectangular or oblong label after its application runs parallel to the longitudinal or transverse sides of the labeled article and the latter thus has a perfect appearance, the device according to the invention preferably has at least one alignment device with at least one guide, which an elongate projection of the object to be labeled which defines the throat is aligned parallel to an elongate operative edge of the pressure body which presses the label against the throat. As a result of this guidance, the object to be labeled is aligned in a reliable manner parallel to the label to be applied and parallel to the pressure body which presses the label against the throat or to the effective area of the pressure device. Advantageously, the guide can be made of conveyors, preferably made of continuous conveyors, with provided at least one drive. The continuous conveyors may in particular be roller conveyors (roller conveyors) which have one or more driven rollers.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the height of the guide or the conveyor is adjustable relative to a transport or support surface carrying the object to be labeled. As a result, the guide or the conveyor can be adapted to differently high articles to be labeled, in particular to different high layers of circumferential ridge-shaped edges of the objects in a simple manner.

In order to be able to label differently wide objects of the type mentioned in the device according to the invention, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the alignment device has at least two belt conveyors or roller belts (roller conveyors) running parallel to one another, which delimit a transport path for the article to be labeled and are movable toward and away from each other.

Furthermore, it is provided that at least one of the belts or the rollers of at least one of the roller conveyors is / are multi-layered and has a transportation path facing, relatively thick entrainment of flexible foam or a material having elastic resilience / have. The soft, resilient cam layer ensures a sufficiently strong frictional engagement between the belt or rollers and the object to be labeled, so that the object is reliably held when the pressure device moves against the object to nestle the label. In addition, the soft, relatively thick entrainment of the respective belt or rollers allows custom dimensional tolerances of the items to be labeled, so that they are reliably guided to the pressure device despite their dimensional tolerances without an adjustment of the distance of the mutually parallel belt conveyor or roller conveyor. Alternatively or additionally, at least one of the straps or at least one of the roller belts may be mounted resiliently, so that without an adjustment of the distance between the belt conveyors or roller conveyors running parallel to one another an elastic widening of the is limited by the belts or roles limited transport within certain limits.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the pressure device can be deactivated, so that the attachment of self-adhesive labels by means of the applicator can be carried out without the action of the pressure device. The pressure device can thus be switched on or off as needed. When the pressure device is deactivated, by means of the device according to the invention it is also possible to label parallelepiped-shaped objects, in particular packages, which have no projecting edge and thus no throat. The device according to the invention can thus also be used flexibly for other labeling tasks in this embodiment.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the device according to the invention may also have a plurality of pressure devices of the type indicated, by means of which the label or more labels to the throat or more such throats of the object to be labeled can be fused / are. This embodiment allows, for example, the contour-parallel attachment of bands across a circumferential ridge-shaped edge of the article. The at least two pressure devices for nestling the label against the at least one throat of the article can attack on opposite sides of the article.

The nestling of the label to a lower throat of an article to be labeled can be controlled in various ways. An embodiment of the device according to the invention provides a control device, by means of which the pressure device moving drive and a conveyor for transporting the object to be labeled are controlled such that the object fixed by means of the conveyor in a Applizierposition and the pressure body for nestling of the label to the throat of the object is moved against the object. In this embodiment, the pressure body is moved against the stationary or fixed object.

According to another embodiment, the device according to the invention has a control device, by means of which a drive which moves the pressure device and a conveyor for transporting the object to be labeled are activatable such that the object is moved along an application region by means of the conveyor and the pressure body is moved against the object for nestling of the label against the throat of the object moved along the application region, so that nestling of the object Label is applied to the throat during the movement of the object and the movement of the pressure device.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the control device is provided with a data input device and / or a data interface, via which data regarding the dimensions and / or quality of the object to be labeled, in particular the position of the elongated projection, and / or data concerning the nature of the label to be attached can be entered in a data memory. The thus executed control device then controls, depending on the input data, the pressure device and / or the conveyor, in particular its / its drive and / or its / its adjusting device. This embodiment enables the setting and selection of various parameters. In particular, the position of the label can be selected and adjusted. In addition, the thickness of the label and / or the stability and the content of a packaging tray to be labeled can be taken into account by inputting corresponding data in the data memory associated with the control device. This embodiment of the device according to the invention allows automatic control and control of the position of the label and the strength of the pressure, which is advantageous, for example, in terms of soft and / or sensitive packaging. Alternatively, however, all adjustments to the invention can be carried out by hand.

Further preferred and advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention are specified in the subclaims. Advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention comprise, in particular, one or more elements which comprise the label on the top side and / or bottom side of the article to be labeled Press without wrinkles and / or blow on. These elements are preferably brushes, rollers and / or blowing nozzles.

Fig. 1

eine Längsseitenschnittansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht der Vorrichtung der Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine in der Vorrichtung gemäß den Fig. 1 und 2 montierte Andruckeinrichtung in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Fig. 4

eine Verpackung mit einem eine Kehle definierenden umlaufenden Rand und einem an die Kehle applizierten Etikett, in Längsschnittansicht;

Fig. 5

die Verpackung gemäß Fig. 4 mit einer zugeordneten Bürstenleiste zum oberseitigen Umlegen bzw. Applizieren eines abstehenden Etikettenabschnitts;

Fig. 6

eine weitere Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung mit einer Andruckeinrichtung zum kontaktlosen Anschmiegen eines Etiketts an eine Kehle einer Verpackungsschale, in Längsschnittansicht;

Fig. 7

die Verpackung gemäß den Figuren 4 bis 6 mit einem erfindungsgemäß angebrachten Etikett, in Längsschnittansicht;

Fig. 8

eine aus einer Schale und einem gewölbten Deckel bestehende Verpackung mit einem erfindungsgemäß angebrachten Etikett, in Seitenansicht; und

Fig. 9

eine Verpackung gemäß den Figuren 4 bis 7 mit einem in herkömmlicher Art angebrachten Etikett, in Längsschnittansicht.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing illustrating several embodiments. In a schematic representation:

Fig. 1

a longitudinal sectional side view of a device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a plan view of the device of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

one in the device according to the Fig. 1 and 2 mounted pressure device in perspective view;

Fig. 4

a package having a circumferential edge defining a throat and a label applied to the throat, in longitudinal section view;

Fig. 5

the packaging according to Fig. 4 with an associated brush strip for top-side flipping or applying a protruding label portion;

Fig. 6

a further embodiment of the device according to the invention with a pressure device for contactless nestling of a label to a throat of a packaging tray, in longitudinal sectional view;

Fig. 7

the packaging according to FIGS. 4 to 6 with a label attached according to the invention, in longitudinal section view;

Fig. 8

a consisting of a shell and a domed lid packaging with a label according to the invention mounted in side view; and

Fig. 9

a packaging according to the FIGS. 4 to 7 in a conventional manner attached label, in longitudinal section view.

In the FIGS. 1 and 2 a device for two- or multi-sided attachment of a self-adhesive label 1 on a three-dimensional object 2 is shown schematically. The article 2 to be labeled is a package, for example a package containing a food. The package 2 consists of a shell 2.1, which has an elongated projection 2.2 in the form of a web-shaped edge or flange, on the top side of a closure or cover sheet 2.3 is sealed or glued (see. FIGS. 4 to 7 ). Instead of a flat or flat film 2.3, a three-dimensionally shaped lid can also be connected to the edge 2.2 of the shell 2.1 in a form-locking or form-fitting manner (cf. Fig. 8 ). The shell 2.1 or its projecting edge 2.2 is substantially rectangular. The edge 2.2 has mutually parallel longitudinal sides 2.4 and to substantially perpendicular transverse sides 2.5. The projection or edge 2.2 of the shell 2.1 forms with its peripheral wall 2.6 a throat 2.7.

Furthermore, the includes in the FIGS. 1 and 2 Device shown an applicator by means of a label 1, preferably an elongated or ribbon-shaped label 1 can be applied to the packaging 2 on the edge 2.2 of the shell. The applied label 1 extends over the edge 2.2 and across it. The label 1 may be, for example, a paper, plastic or plastic transparent label. The label 1 may have an imprint, in particular color imprint, or optionally after its application to the package 2 to be printed. The Appliziereinrichtung is associated with a Etikettenzuführeinrichtung comprising in the illustrated embodiment, a holder for rotatably receiving a supply reel 3, on which a carrier tape 4 is wound with a plurality of adhering labels 1.

The label 1 to be applied can also originate from an adhesive-coated continuous paper which is cut to length with a paper-cutting device or from continuous paper cut to specific dimensions and provided with adhesive.

The carrier tape 4 is guided by the supply reel 3 via deflection rollers or deflecting axes and an intermediate dispensing edge 5 to a take-up reel 6, which is intermittently driven by a discontinuously activated motor, not shown becomes. Due to the relatively sharp deflection at the dispensing edge 5, the adhesive on the carrier tape 4 label 1 dissolves there. The label 1 is guided and positioned transversely to a predetermined trajectory of the package 2.

The packaging to be labeled 2 is transported by means of a conveyor 7, which is preferably designed as a belt conveyor. Above the conveyor 7, an alignment device 8 is arranged, by means of which the package 2 undergoes a coarse alignment, so that the substantially rectilinear longitudinal sides 2.4 of the shell edge 2.2 or - in transversely transported packages - the transverse sides 2.5 extending at right angles thereto parallel or nearly parallel to the conveying direction 9 or The longitudinal axis of the conveyor 7 are aligned. For this purpose, the alignment device 8 has two angled guide rails 8.1, 8.2, which delimit a conically narrowing inlet region. The horizontal distance of the guide rails 8.1, 8.2 to each other is variably adjustable.

In the conveying direction 9, a further guide 10 for the packaging 2 to be labeled is provided behind the guide rails 8.1, 8.2, which effects a fine alignment of the package 2, so that the front, substantially rectilinear edge 2.8 of the web-shaped edge 2.2 of the package 2 parallel to is aligned with the plane which defines the label 1 positioned in the path of movement of the package 2. The attached label 1 and the rectilinear front edge 2.8 of the package 2 are thus aligned parallel to each other. This ensures that the longitudinal or symmetrical axis of the applied label 1 runs parallel to the longitudinal side 2.4 or, in the case of transversely transported packages 2, parallel to the transverse side 2.5 of the packaging edge 2.2.

The guide 10 is formed by two mutually parallel belt conveyors 10.1, 10.2, which are each provided with its own drive (motor) 10.3. The drives 10.3 rotate in opposite directions, so that the mutually facing sections 10.4, 10.5 of the straps run in the same direction in the direction of the label 1 to be attached. The belt conveyors 10.1, 10.2 limit the transport path for the package to be labeled 2 and thus represent a driven side guide 10. The straps are preferably multi-layered and have on their outer side contacting the package 2 a cam layer 10.6, 10.7 of flexible foam or elastic reset Material on. For example, the carrier layer 10.6, 10.7 of a foamed rubber layer formed while the material-bonded inner layer 10.8, 10.9 of non-foamed, fabric-reinforced rubber or plastic.

In order to align and label different widths of packaging with the device, the belt conveyors 10.1, 10.2 can be moved towards and away from each other, which in Fig. 2 is indicated by the two double arrows 11, 12. The device can thus be used both for packaging 2 transported in the direction of its longitudinal axis and in the direction of its transverse axis. In the respectively set position, the belt conveyors 10.1, 10.2 are secured against unintentional movement. In addition, the position of the belt conveyors 10.1, 10.2 can also be adjusted vertically, so that the height of the side guide 10 defined by them relative to the packaging 2 carrying transport or support surface 13 is variably adjustable. The vertical adjustment is by the double arrow 30 in Fig. 1 indicated. The height of the belt conveyors 10.1, 10.2 relative to the transport or support surface 13 is set depending on the height of the package 2, in particular the height of the web-shaped projection 2.2.

Furthermore, the device has a the label 1 to the throat 2.7 of the package 2 fitting pressure device 14. The pressure device 14 comprises a gear 14.1 and a drive 14.2 coupled thereto. The gear 14.1 is designed as a multi-link linkage and provided with an electric stepper motor 14.2, as best in Fig. 3 can be seen. Instead of a stepping motor or electromotive drive 14.2, however, another suitable drive can also be used, in particular a pneumatic drive. The drive shaft 14.3 of the stepper motor 14.2, which is fixedly positioned by a motor base (not shown), is coupled to a shaft 14.4 which is rotatably supported in mutually parallel supports 14.5, 14.6, which in turn are rigidly connected to a base frame (not shown) of the device. At each of the two brackets 14.5, 14.6, two pivot bearings 15.1, 15.2, 16.1, 16.2 are formed, wherein the axis of rotation of a pivot bearing 15.1, 15.2 is aligned with the axis of rotation of the opposite pivot bearing 16.1, 16.2 on the other bracket 14.6. At the pivot bearings 15.1, 15.2, 16.1, 16.2 four articulated arms 17, 18, 19, 20 articulated, of which two (17, 19) are rotationally rigidly connected to the shaft 14.4. The articulated arms 17, 18, 19, 20 have at their ends 14.5, 14.6 facing away from pivot bearings 15.3, 15.4, 16.3, 16.4 on, wherein the axis of rotation of a pivot bearing 15.3, 15.4 in turn aligned with the axis of rotation of the opposite pivot bearing 16.3, 16.4. At the pivot bearings 15.3, 15.4, 16.3, 16.4 two strip-shaped holder 14.8, 14.9 articulated, which run parallel to each other and at its end facing away from the shaft 14.4 hold a C-shaped pressure body 14.10. The pressure body 14.10 is guided by the gear 14.1 parallel to the substantially flat, the package 2 carrying transport or support surface 13.

The middle portion 14.11 of the pressure body 14.10 is formed relative to the 14.8, 14.9 connected to the attachment ends 14.12, 14.13 relatively flat. The rectilinear effective edge 14.14 of the pressing body 14.10 is rounded and runs parallel to the plane in which the detached from the carrier tape 4 label 1 is arranged for application to the package 2.

The pressure device 14, in particular the strip-shaped pressure body 14.10 is moved by means of the gear 14.1 and the associated drive 14.2 from a home or rest position to an operating position, the package 2 is stationary or fixed by the belt conveyor 10.1, 10.2 and the label 1 through the movement of the pressure body 14.10 in the operating position to the throat 2.7 of the package 2 is nestled. As a result, the label 1 is applied to the throat 2.7, so that it rests tightly there. The pressing or clinging of the label 1 to the throat 2.7 by means of the pressure body 14.10 is in Fig. 4 shown schematically. Furthermore, it is also within the scope of the invention, the pressure device 14 and the conveyor 10.1, 10.2 to control so that the nestling of the label 1 to the throat 2.7 of the package 2 by movement of the pressure device 14 takes place while moving the package 2.

Subsequently, the pressure device 14 is moved back by the associated drive 14.2 in its home or rest position. The packaging 2 can then be moved further under the pressure device 14. In this case, the label 1 is folded over the web-shaped edge 2.2 by a brush strip 22 or the like and painted on the top of the lid sheet 2.3 or pressed (see. Fig. 5 ). The Brush bar 22 is preferably mounted on a mechanism by means of which it is lowered into an operating position and into a rest position, as in FIG Fig. 1 sketched, can be raised. Instead of a brush strip 22, it is also possible, for example, to use a roller or a blowing device in order to lay down the label 1 and to press it against the upper side of the cover film 2.3. The operating position of the brush strip 22 is in the illustrated embodiment the one in which the lower edge of the brush bar 22 is at the same level or below the upper edge of the article 2 to be labeled.

Below the pressure device 14, an inclined sliding surface 23 is arranged, via which the labeled package 2 is discharged or forwarded to a conveyor (not shown). Instead of the sliding surface 23 may be arranged below the pressure device 14, a belt conveyor or an inclined roller conveyor.

In Fig. 6 an embodiment is sketched in which the pressure device 14, the label 1 applied without contact to the throat 2.7 of the package 2. For this purpose, the transmission 14.1 of the pressure device 14 is provided with at least one compressed air line 24 with one or more nozzles 24.1. The nestling of the label 1 to the throat 2.7 takes place in this case by compressed air jets.

In Fig. 8 a package 2 is shown, which consists of a shell 2.1 and a three-dimensionally shaped lid 2.3, the lid 2.3 is material or form-fitting manner with the web-shaped edge (flange) 2.2 of the shell 2.1 is connected. The peripheral wall 2.6 of the shell 2.1 in turn forms with the web-shaped edge 2.2 a throat 2.7. Likewise, the lid 2.3 has a circumferential groove 2.7 'on. On the package 2, a single label 1 was applied by means of a device according to the invention in such a way that the attached to shell 2.1 and 2.3 cover label 1 to the throats 2.7, 2.7 'is nestled. For this purpose, the contact pressure body 14.10 of the device according to the invention preferably has a U-shaped or fork-shaped effective edge, which surrounds the web-shaped edge 2.2 of the packaging 2 when nestling the label 1 against the grooves 2.7, 2.7 '. Alternatively, the pressure body 14.10 may also be designed in two parts, so that it has a first part defining an upper effective edge and a second part defining a lower active edge. Furthermore, it is within the scope of the present invention, a single pressure body 14.10 according to Fig. 3 to use, by means of a suitable transmission and a special control the label 1 first at the lower throat 2.7 and then to the upper throat 2.7 'or vice versa - hugs.

The pressure device 14 according to the invention is preferably provided with at least one adjusting device (not shown), by means of which the point of contact of the pressure body 14.10 relative to the transport or support surface 13 carrying the package 2 and thus relative to the package 2 can be adjusted. For this purpose, the adjusting device advantageously has an electromotive, pneumatic, hydraulic and / or piezoelectric drive (not shown). Alternatively or additionally, this drive can also consist of a manual crank drive and / or gravity drive or be formed.

As mentioned, the device according to the invention has various drives for the label feed device, the conveyors 7, 10.1, 10.2, the pressure device 14 or for the adjustment devices for positioning the conveyors 10.1, 10.2 and / or the brush strip 22, and optionally for the pressure device 14 associated adjusting device on. For controlling the said drives, a control device 25 is provided. Sensors, preferably optical sensors for detecting the positions of the packaging 2, the label 1 to be applied, the pressure body 14.10 and / or the conveyors 10.1, 10.2 are connected to the control device 25. Furthermore, the control device 25 is provided with a data input device and / or a data interface, via which in a data memory data concerning the dimensions and / or condition of the packaging to be labeled 2, in particular the position of the web-shaped edge 2.2, and / or data concerning the nature the label to be attached 1 can be entered. Depending on the input data and the variables or positions detected via the sensors, the control device 25 controls the said drives. Thus, in particular the position of the label 1 and the strength of the pressure of the Andruckkörpers 14.10 can be controlled and controlled by an appropriate software, which is advantageous, for example, in terms of soft or sensitive packaging. Alternatively, all drives can be manually moved to the required positions.

The embodiment of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Thus, for example, the device can also be equipped with a label feed device which feeds the label 1 to be mounted in relation to the transport path of the article 1 to be labeled to the applicator device from above. The pressure device 14 according to the invention can therefore be used both for labels 1 dispensed from below and for dispensing from above.

Also, instead of the belt conveyors 10.1, 10.2, other continuous conveyors, in particular roller conveyors with driven rollers or chain conveyors with carriers for the respective type of pack, may be provided in the device according to the invention.

Furthermore, a plurality of pressure devices 14 of the described type can also be used to attach a single label 1, for example a banderole, or several labels to a throat 2.7 or more throats of the article to be labeled. The pressure devices can act in particular on opposite sides of the article 2 in order to adhere the at least one label 1 to a circumferential groove 2.7 of the article 2 to be labeled.

In principle, the device according to the invention is also suitable for two-sided or multi-sided labeling of packages which have a round, in particular circular, oval or triangular shell with a rim defining a throat.

Claims (17)

1. Device for two-sided or multi-sided application of at least one self-adhesive label (1) to a three-dimensional object (2), which has a protrusion (2.2) defining a lower fillet (2.7), in particular in the form of a web-shaped rim, comprising a transport or support surface (13) supporting the object (2) to be labelled, at least one applicator means, by means of which the label (1) can be applied to the protrusion (2.2) of the object (2), and at least one pressing means (14), comprising a pressing body (14.10) or a compressed air nozzle (24.1), for smoothing the label (1) onto the object (2), the pressing body (14.10) or the compressed air nozzle (24.1) can be moved back and forth from an initial position, which is vertically spaced from the transport or support surface (13) and located above the transport or support surface (13), to an operating position by means of a single drive (14.2), wherein, after the pressing means (14) is moved back to its initial position by the associated drive (14.2), the labelled object (2) is moved through beneath the pressing means (14), characterised in that the label (1) is smoothed onto the lower fillet (2.7) of the object (2); that the pressing body (14.10) or the compressed air nozzle (24.1) is mounted on a many-membered articulated transmission (14.1), which is coupled to the single drive (14.2); and that in the operating position the pressing body (14.10) or the compressed air nozzle (24.1) reaches under the protrusion (2.2) of the labelled object (2) defining the lower fillet (2.7) and is arranged at least in part below said protrusion (2.2).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the pressing body (14.10) contacts the object (2) to be labelled while the label (1) is smoothed on, the many-membered articulated transmission (14.1) guiding the pressing body (14.10) in the movement from the initial position to the operating position and back, orientated parallel to a substantially planar transport or support surface (13) which carries the object (2) to be labelled.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the pressing body (14.10) contacts the object (2) to be labelled while the label is smoothed on, the many-membered articulated transmission guiding the pressing body (14.10) along a curved, in particular arced path in the movement from the initial position to the operating position and back.
4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the pressing means (14) is provided with at least one adjustment means, with which the engagement point thereof on the object (2) to be labelled can be adjusted relative to said object and/or to the transport or support surface (13).
5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the pressing means (14) is equipped with various mutually exchangeable pressing bodies (14.10), of which the respective pressing body (14.10) in the mounted state contacts the object (2) to be labelled while the label (1) is smoothed on, and/or is provided with various mutually exchangeable transmission elements (17, 18, 19, 20, 14.8, 14.9).
6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised by at least one alignment means, comprising at least one guide (8, 10) which aligns the elongate protrusion (2.2), defining the fillet (2.7), of the object (2) to be labelled parallel to an elongate working edge (14.14) of the pressing body (14.10).
7. Device according to claim 6, characterised in that the guide is formed from conveyors (10.1,10.2), preferably continuous conveyors, which are provided with at least one drive (10.3).
8. Device according to either claim 6 or claim 7, characterised in that the height of the guide (10) or the conveyor (10.1, 10.2) is adjustable relative to the transport or support surface (13).
9. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the alignment means comprises at least two belt conveyors (10.1, 10.2), which extend mutually parallel, define a transport path for the object (2) to be labelled, and can be displaced towards and away from one another.
10. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that at least one of the belts is formed in a plurality of layers, and comprises an entrainment layer (10.6, 10.7), which is made of flexible foam or a material having resilient restoration properties and faces towards the transport path.
11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised by a label introduction means (3, 5, 6) which introduces the label (1) to the applicator means from above or below in relation to a transport path of the object (2) to be labelled.
12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the pressing means (14) can be deactivated, in such a way that it is also possible to apply self-adhesive labels (1) using the applicator means without the effect of the pressing means (14).
13. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised by a plurality of pressing means (14) of the specified type, with which the label (1) or a plurality of labels can be smoothed onto the fillet (2.7) or a plurality of these fillets of the object (2) to be labelled.
14. Device according to claim 13, characterised in that the pressing means for smoothing the at least one label (1) onto the at least one fillet (2.7) engage on opposite sides of the object (2).
15. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterised by a control means (25), by means of which the drive (14.2), which moves the pressing means (14), and a conveyor (10.1, 10.2) for transporting the object (2) to be labelled can be controlled in such a way that the conveyor (10.1, 10.2) fixes the object (2) in an application position and the pressing body (14.10) is moved against the object (2) to smooth the label (1) onto the fillet (2.7) of the object (2).
16. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterised by a control means (25), by means of which the drive (14.2), which moves the pressing means (14), and a conveyor (10.1, 10.2) for transporting the object (2) to be labelled can be controlled in such a way that the conveyor (10.1, 10.2) moves the object (2) along an application region and the pressing body (14.10) for smoothing the label (1) onto the fillet (2.7) of the object (2) moved along the application region is moved against the object (2), in such a way that the label (1) is smoothed onto the fillet (2.7) while the object (2) is moving and while the pressing means (14) is moving.
17. Device according to any one of claims 15 to 16, characterised in that the control means (25) is provided with a data input means and/or a data interface, via which data regarding the dimensions and/or constitution of the object (2) to be labelled, in particular the position of the protrusion (2.2), and/or data regarding the constitution of the label (1) to be applied can be inputted into a data storage unit, and in that the control means (25) controls the pressing means (14) and/or the conveyor (10.1, 10.2), in particular the drive (10.3, 14.2) thereof and/or the adjustment means thereof, as a function of the inputted data.

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