EP3044103B1 - Device for cleaning a glue roller of a labelling station - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a labeling unit according to the preamble of claim 1 and to the use of a cleaning unit of a labeling unit.

Labeling units for use in labeling machines are known in different designs, for example from DE 10 2008 023 265 A1 or the EP 2 610 192 A1 . The DE 10 2006 013 844 A1 discloses a labeling unit according to the preamble of claim 1.

These have at least one heatable glue roller, which can be driven in a rotating manner around its preferably vertical roller axis and thereby moves past a glue application element. The hot glue is applied to the heated surface of the glue roller via the glue application element, with the glue first being applied in excess to the heated surface of the glue roller. Using at least one so-called glue scraper element, a uniform glue application or film is created on the surface of the glue roller. The amount of glue located on the surface of the glue roller or the thickness of the layer of glue located on the glue roller is then doctored off to a small amount or small thickness, the so-called target amount. The roll surface is typically knurled. The glue remaining in the recesses of the knurled roller surface is then transferred to the labels to be glued, either directly or indirectly by gluing label pallets or other functional elements of the labeling unit with which the labels are removed from a label magazine.

Due to the heating of the glue roller, a small amount of glue and label residue hardens over time and clogs the recesses in the knurling of the surface of the glue roller. This particularly affects the thickness of the glue layer and thus significantly worsens the quality of the labeling. However, in order to be able to ensure adequate or good quality of the labeling in the long term, it is necessary to clean the surface of the label Glue roller, and in particular the recesses in the knurling of the glue roller, should be cleaned regularly.

What is particularly important here is that the glue roller can only be moved - for example around its roller axis - when it is close to the operating temperature, for example approx. 100 ° C, since movement below the operating temperature is due to the adhesive force of the glue roller located on and in it , very viscous glue is prevented at low temperatures. To manually clean the labeling unit, the operating personnel must therefore work on the hot glue roller, which creates a high risk of injury, in particular the risk of burns, for the operating personnel. Because of this, manual cleaning is extremely unpopular among operating personnel and therefore, in practice, cleaning is usually only carried out when the glue roller has reached such a degree of contamination that the result of labeling is no longer acceptable. Manual cleaning of the glue roller using mechanical aids such as brushes, knives, scribers, etc. can also result in damage to the surface of the glue roller.

For example, describes the EP 2 476 624 A1 a gluing unit provided in a labeling machine, in which a glue scraper can be removably attached to a coupling point, wherein after the glue scraper has been removed, a cleaning unit can instead be used at the coupling point to carry out cleaning purposes. A glue tank provided in the gluing unit can be uncoupled so that the gluing unit can be cleaned separately from the glue tank.

Furthermore, for example, from the DE 10 2006 013 844 A1 a gluing device with a vacuum drum is known, which is intended, for example, for use in labeling machines. In principle, the vacuum drums are intended to hold the labels in the direction of rotation or rotation of the vacuum drum and apply them to the respective container that moves past the vacuum drum, onto which the label is then completely applied, for example by rotating the container about its vertical container axis and removed from the vacuum drum. Before the label is applied, the glue is applied using the glue roller described above.

The disadvantage is that the cleaning of the glue rollers in such labeling units is carried out manually and is therefore time-consuming and costly. This also often results in machine downtimes, so it would be desirable to automate the cleaning of the glue rollers. This is where the present invention comes in and aims to provide a remedy and improvement.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a labeling unit with a and a cleaning unit for cleaning a glue roller of the labeling unit for applying labels to containers or bottles, which enables the glue roller to be cleaned mechanically and is designed to be user-friendly.

To solve this problem, a labeling unit for applying labels to containers or bottles is designed with a device for cleaning at least one glue roller of the labeling unit for applying labels to containers or bottles in accordance with claim 1.

The essential aspect of the labeling unit according to the invention can be seen in the fact that a cleaning unit designed as an insert module is provided for cleaning the glue roller, which can be inserted into the carrier unit instead of at least a part or segment of the vacuum drum. Particularly advantageously, according to the invention, a modular cleaning unit is provided which can be inserted into the existing carrier unit intended to hold the vacuum drum instead, ie at least parts or segments of the vacuum drum can be replaced by cleaning modules. This enables simple, quick and user-friendly cleaning of the glue roller without frequent machine downtimes. This also results in consistently good cleaning quality. It is also easy to clean the glue roller when it is hot. In addition, the risk of accidents for the operating personnel is reduced.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the labeling unit according to the invention, the cleaning unit has at least one cleaning tool which is designed to clean at least sections of the surface of the glue roller. Furthermore, the cleaning tool is advantageously designed to apply a liquid or a mechanical contact force to the surface of the glue roller. For example, the cleaning tool is implemented by at least one cleaning nozzle unit and/or by at least one brush element and/or by at least one scraper element. The cleaning unit can advantageously have one or more cleaning tools, which are also interchangeably accommodated in the cleaning unit. The The cleaning unit can therefore be individually adapted to the required cleaning tasks.

In an advantageous development, the cleaning unit and/or the cleaning tools can be heated. This makes it possible to release the glue from the surface of the glue roller particularly effectively, for example due to a heated scraper element, which is in direct contact with the surface of the glue roller during the cleaning process.

The cleaning unit can also have a suction device for suctioning off liquids and/or glue residues and/or label residues. This is preferably connected upstream and/or downstream of a cleaning tool, for example a cleaning nozzle unit, so that the liquids used for cleaning can largely be sucked off again and, if necessary, fed back into the cleaning process.

The cleaning unit further advantageously has a dispensing device, preferably comprising a feed pump for dispensing a liquid and/or cleaning agent and/or solvent to the cleaning tools. By means of the dispensing device integrated in the cleaning unit, for example, the cleaning liquid and/or cleaning agents and/or solvents are fed to the cleaning nozzle units, preferably under pressure.

In an embodiment variant of the invention, the cleaning unit designed as an insert module has a plurality of cleaning modules, with one cleaning module each being designed to carry out a cleaning step. These form separate modular units that can be inserted into the carrier unit independently of one another, i.e. depending on the cleaning task, one or more cleaning modules can be used.

Furthermore, the cleaning unit can advantageously have at least one receptacle for cleaning agents and/or solvents, in which the cleaning agents and/or solvents required for carrying out the cleaning steps are kept or temporarily stored. This makes them particularly advantageous Media required for cleaning the glue roller is accommodated in the cleaning unit, ie this forms a self-sufficient cleaning unit.

Finally, the cleaning unit can be designed to be stationary or to be pivotable about a longitudinal axis running parallel to the roller axis of the glue roller. The glue roller can preferably be driven around its roller axis and the carrier unit can be driven around a vertical axis, the roller axis and the vertical axis preferably running parallel to one another.

The carrier unit is preferably designed like a plate or circular disk. Furthermore, the carrier unit and/or the cleaning unit can be connected to a drive shaft provided for driving the vacuum drum. The modular cleaning unit can therefore easily be plugged onto the carrier unit or the drive shaft.

The invention also relates to the use of a cleaning unit of the labeling unit according to the invention. The terms “substantially” or “approximately” or “about” or “approximately.” In the sense of the invention, means deviations from the exact value by +/-10%, preferably by +/- 5% and/or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function.

Further developments, advantages and possible applications of the invention also emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Draufsicht auf ein erfindungsgemäßes Etikettieraggregat mit einer Vorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Ausführungsvariante einer auf einer Trägereinheit aufgesetzten Reinigungseinheit mit Leimwalze;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Draufsicht einer alternativen Ausführungsvariante einer auf einer Trägereinheit aufgesetzten Reinigungseinheit mit Leimwalze;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine Reinigungseinheit mit Leimwalze umfassend mehrere Reinigungsmodule und

Fig. 5

eine schematische Seitenansicht auf die zur Leimwalze gerichteten

The invention is explained in more detail below using the figures and exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic top view of a labeling unit according to the invention with a device;

Fig. 2

a schematic side view of an embodiment variant of a cleaning unit with a glue roller placed on a carrier unit;

Fig. 3

a schematic top view of an alternative embodiment variant of a cleaning unit with a glue roller placed on a carrier unit;

Fig. 4

a schematic top view of a cleaning unit with a glue roller comprising several cleaning modules and

Fig. 5

a schematic side view of those facing the glue roller

Exterior of a cleaning unit. In Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a labeling device 1 designed as a rotating machine, which is intended for applying labels, for example wrap-around labels, to containers or bottles 2. It goes without saying that the invention is in no way limited to labeling devices 1 for applying all-round labels, but can be used for a large number of other labeling devices 1.

For this purpose, the labeling device 1 consists in a known manner of a rotor 3 which rotates around a vertical machine axis in the direction of arrow A and has a large number of standing surfaces provided on the circumference of the rotor and formed by turntables 4, each for one bottle 2. The bottles 2 to be labeled are fed to the rotor 3 via a conveyor 5 at a bottle inlet in such a way that one bottle 2 is arranged standing upright on a turntable 4, ie with its bottle axis oriented in the vertical direction.

With the rotor 3, the bottles 2 are moved past a labeling unit 6, on which a label 3 glued to its back and held on the circumference of a vacuum drum 7 with a leading label end 3.1 is transferred to the bottle 2 moving past and then by winding it up while rotating the Bottle 2 and removal from the vacuum drum 7 onto the bottle 2 is applied there, for example as an all-round label. The labeled bottles 2 are handed over again to the transporter 5 for transport away at a container or bottle outlet.

The vacuum drum 7 is arranged on a carrier unit 8, which can be driven synchronously with the rotor 3 about a vertical axis VA. For this purpose, for example, a drive shaft 7 'is provided. The carrier unit 8 is designed, for example, like a plate or circular disk and is connected to the drive shaft.

The vacuum drum 7 is preferably designed in several parts and consists, for example, of several segments forming the circumferential or drum surface of the vacuum drum 7 and of a circular disk-shaped cover forming the top of the vacuum drum 7. The cover is preferably attached to the upper end of the drive shaft, for example by clamps. By means of the drive shaft 7 ', the vacuum drum can be driven about the vertical axis VA synchronously with the rotor 3, but in the opposite direction of rotation, i.e. in the direction of arrow B.

To hold the labels on the circular cylindrical peripheral surface of the vacuum drum 7, for example, vacuum holders (not shown in the figures), i.e. so-called vacuum pads, are provided. Furthermore, the vacuum drum 7 is assigned a heatable glue roller 9, which can be driven in a rotating manner around its roller axis WA, preferably by means of a drive shaft. The roller axis WA preferably runs parallel to the vertical axis VA of the vacuum drum 7 or carrier unit 8.

According to the invention, a cleaning unit 10 designed as an insert module is provided for cleaning the glue roller 9, which can be inserted into the carrier unit 8 instead of at least a part or segment of the vacuum drum 7. Preferably, the cleaning unit 10 can be connected to the drive shaft 7 ', in such a way that the cleaning unit 10 is arranged on the carrier unit 8 either stationary with respect to the glue roller 9 or pivotable about the vertical axis VA of the carrier unit 8. The cleaning unit 10 designed as an insert module can advantageously be inserted quickly and easily into the carrier unit 8 after at least partial removal of the vacuum drum 7 and automated cleaning of the glue roller 9 can be started. For this purpose, a corresponding control of the cleaning unit 10 and/or the drive shaft 7′ provided for driving the carrier unit 8 can be provided, for example, via a control unit (not shown).

The cleaning unit 10 has at least one cleaning tool 11, which is designed to clean at least sections of the surface of the glue roller 9. Preferably, the cleaning tool 11 is designed to apply a liquid and/or a mechanical contact force to the surface of the glue roller 9. For this purpose, the cleaning tool 11 is arranged on the outside of the cleaning unit 10 oriented towards the glue roller 9 and, depending on the cleaning step carried out by it, protrudes outwards from the outside in the direction of the glue roller 9. The cleaning tools 11 can also be designed to be interchangeable.

The cleaning tool 11 is formed, for example, by at least one cleaning nozzle unit 12 and/or by at least one brush element 13 and/or by at least one scraper element 14.

The cleaning nozzle unit 12 can comprise one or more cleaning nozzles, which are preferably arranged along the longitudinal axis LA of the cleaning unit 10 and to which cleaning liquid and/or cleaning and/or solvent are preferably supplied under pressure. The cleaning nozzles can also be accommodated in the cleaning unit 10 so that they can pivot or rotate about an axis that is preferably oriented perpendicular to the outside of the cleaning unit 10. The cleaning nozzles are controlled either mechanically, directly or indirectly via the drive shaft 7 'or via assigned and preferably individually controllable drive units, preferably hydraulically or electrically operated motors.

The cleaning unit 10 can have one or more brush elements 13, which are designed, for example, in the form of round brushes, which are accommodated in the cleaning unit 10 so as to be rotatable or pivotable about axes of rotation running parallel to the vertical axis VA. The brush elements 13 are driven either via the drive shaft 7 'or via assigned and preferably individually controllable drive units.

One or more scraper elements 14 can also be provided, which have a free scraping edge, which is brought into contact with the surface of the glue roller 9 for cleaning the glue roller 9 under application of a predetermined contact pressure. The scraper elements 14 can be connected upstream or downstream in the cleaning unit 10 of a cleaning nozzle unit 12 and/or a brush element 13, for example in the direction of rotation.

In Fig. 2 As an example, a schematic side view of a cleaning unit 10 accommodated on the carrier unit 8 and the glue roller 9 to be cleaned are shown. Here, the cleaning unit 10 has, for example, a cleaning tool 11 designed as a brush element 13.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic top view of a cleaning unit 10 accommodated on the carrier unit 8, which is in operative connection with the glue roller 9 to be cleaned. In this embodiment variant, the cleaning unit 10 has several cleaning tools 11, namely a cleaning nozzle unit 12, a brush element 13 and a scraper element 14. In addition, a suction device 15 is also provided.

In one embodiment variant, the cleaning unit 10 and/or the cleaning tools 11 are designed to be heatable. The cleaning unit can also have at least one suction device 15 for suctioning off liquids and/or glue residues and/or label residues, which is preferably arranged in the immediate vicinity of the cleaning tools 11.

Furthermore, in one embodiment variant, the cleaning unit 10 has a dispensing device (not shown in the figures), preferably comprising a feed pump for dispensing a liquid and/or cleaning agent and/or solvent to the cleaning tools 11, in particular the cleaning nozzle units 12. In the cleaning unit 10, at least a receptacle for cleaning agents and/or solvents, not shown in the figures, may be provided, which is in operative connection, for example, with the dispensing device.

The cleaning unit 10 designed as an insert module can also be designed in several parts and have several cleaning modules 10.1 to 10.4, with one cleaning module 10.1 to 10.4 being designed to carry out at least one cleaning step. The cleaning modules 10.1 to 10.4 can thus be designed to carry out different cleaning tasks. These are preferably inserted into the carrier unit 8 evenly distributed around the vertical axis VA and thus form a “cleaning star”.

In Figure 4 For example, a multi-part cleaning unit 10 comprising a first to fourth cleaning module 10.1 to 10.4 is shown, the first cleaning module 10.1 having a scraper element 14, the second cleaning module 10.2 having a brush element 13, the third cleaning module 10.3 having two brush elements 13 and the fourth cleaning module 10.4 having a cleaning nozzle unit 12 downstream suction device 15. The first and second cleaning modules 10.1 and 10.4 are mounted on the carrier unit 8 and rotate about the vertical axis VA, ie the glue roller 9 is successively subjected to the cleaning steps provided by the cleaning modules 10.1 and 10.4, preferably at an operating temperature of approximately 100 ° C

Reference symbol list

1

Labeling device

2

Bottle

3

rotor

4

Turntable

5

Transporter

6

Labeling unit

7

vacuum drum

7'

drive shaft

8th

Carrier unit

9

Glue roller

10

Cleaning unit

10.1

first cleaning module

10.2

second cleaning module

10.3

third cleaning module

10.4

fourth cleaning module

11

Cleaning tool

12

Cleaning nozzle unit

13

Brush element

14

scraper element

15

Suction device

A

Direction of rotation

b

Direction of rotation

VA

vertical axis

WA

shaft axis

Claims (14)

1. Labelling station (6) for applying labels to containers or bottles (2), wherein, at the labelling station (6), at least one carrier unit (8) is arranged spaced apart from a glue roller (9) of the labelling station (6), wherein the carrier unit (8) is configured for receiving a preferably multi-piece vacuum drum (7), and wherein the vacuum drum (7) is operatively connected to the glue roller (9), characterised by a device for cleaning at least the glue roller (9) of the labelling station (6), wherein the device comprises a cleaning unit (10) provided for cleaning the glue roller (9) and is configured as an insertable module, which can be inserted into the carrier unit (8) instead of at least one part or segment of the vacuum drum (7).
2. Labelling station (6) according to claim 1, characterised in that the cleaning unit (10) comprises at least one cleaning tool (11), which is configured for the cleaning at least section by section of the surface of the glue roller (9).
3. Labelling station (6) according to claim 2, characterised in that the cleaning tool (11) is configured for applying a fluid or a pressing force onto the surface of the glue roller (9).
4. Labelling station (6) according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the cleaning tool (11) is formed by at least one cleaning nozzle unit (12) and/or by at least one brush element (13) and/or by at least one scraper element (14).
5. Labelling station (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the cleaning unit (10) and/or the cleaning tool (11) can be heated.
6. Labelling station (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the cleaning unit (10) comprises a suction device (15) for suctioning up fluids and/or glue residues and/or label residues.
7. Labelling station (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the cleaning unit (10) comprises a dispensing device, preferably comprising a delivery pump for delivering a fluid and/or cleaning means and/or solvents to the cleaning tool (11).
8. Labelling station (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the cleaning unit (10), configured as an insertable module, comprises several cleaning modules (10.1-10.4), wherein in each case a cleaning module (10.1-10.4) is configured such as to carry out at least one cleaning step.
9. Labelling station (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the cleaning unit (10) comprises at least one receiving container for cleaning means and/or solvents.
10. Labelling station (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the glue roller (9) can be driven such as to rotate about its roller axis (WA) and/or the carrier unit (8) can be driven such as to rotate about a vertical axis (VA).
11. Labelling station (6) according to claim 10, characterised in that the cleaning unit (10) is arranged stationary in relation to the glue roller (9), or is configured such as to be capable of pivoting or rotating about the vertical axis (VA), running parallel to the roller axis (WA) of the glue roller (9).
12. Labelling station (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the carrier unit (8) is configured in the form of a plate or as a circular disk.
13. Labelling station (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the carrier unit (8) and/or the cleaning unit (10) can be connected to a drive shaft (7') which is provided in order to drive the vacuum drum (7).
14. Use of a cleaning unit (10) of a labelling station (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the cleaning unit (10) is inserted into the carrier unit (8) in order to clean the glue roller (9), as an insertable module instead of at least a part of the vacuum drum (7).

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