EP3854709A1 - Pallet for a pallet carousel of a labelling machine for containers, surface element for use in the pallet and method for adapting the format of the pallet - Google Patents

Abstract

A pallet (1) for a pallet carousel (22) of a container labeling machine (21), an associated surface element (3) with an elastic contact side (4) and a method for adapting the format of pallets of a container labeling machine are described. The pallet comprises a rigid support body (2) and a releasably attached surface element (3) with an elastic contact side (4) for labels (5, 5 ') and suction openings (6, 16) formed on the contact side for sucking up the labels. Because the contact side comprises at least one suction area (7, 17) in which the suction openings are grouped, and at least one passive area (8, 18) without suction openings, in order to move the suction area towards a suction contour that deviates from the overall contour of the contact side and is, in particular, format-specific the suction of ambient air through suction openings not covered by the labels can be reliably avoided. Furthermore, the surface element, as an exchangeable set part with different suction areas, enables the pallets to be quickly and inexpensively adapted to different label formats.

Description

The invention relates to a pallet according to the preamble of claim 1, an elastic surface element according to the preamble of claim 8 and a method for adapting the format of pallets of a container labeling machine.

A generic range is off DE 10 2017 209 164 A1 famous. The pallet comprises an exchangeable, elastic surface element for the vacuum-assisted removal of labels from a label magazine and for pressing the received labels onto containers. For this purpose, the elastic surface element has bores on its entire working surface which interact with corresponding pins which are formed on a rigid support body of the pallets. The bores enter into a form fit with the pins that also acts in the longitudinal direction, so that the elastic surface element can be pressed onto the carrier body of the pallets without tools and is consequently fastened for operation. If the elastic surface element is changed due to wear, it can be replaced by hand by a corresponding new surface element from the pallet mounted in the associated pallet carousel.

The pins protruding in the support body form vacuum connections for the individual bores in the surface element by means of channels running centrally therein. This means that each of the bores is assigned a corresponding vacuum connection of the carrier body, so that the bores form a suction area that is uniformly formed over the entire contour of the surface element in order to suck in labels when they are removed from the label magazine and to transport them to the container on the associated pallet carousel until they are transferred , and also to lead along a glue work.

However, it has been found that increasingly labels have to be processed, the contours of which do not match the overall contour of the surface element. This is the case, for example, with complex-shaped closure labels. Since the contours of such labels are generally smaller than the overall contour of the surface element, the label recorded does not cover all of the bores in the surface element. Ambient air is sucked in through the holes that are then inevitably not covered. In principle, this is undesirable because it reduces the suction capacity of the pallets and it is difficult to control both the pick-up of the labels on the label magazine and the onward transport on the pallet carousel, depending on the size and contour of the labels to be processed. This means that such processes cannot be carried out with the desired process stability and / or only with Carry out comparatively high suction capacities, which, for example, increase the design effort and operating costs in an undesirable manner.

There is therefore a need for devices and methods improved in this regard for the vacuum-assisted picking up and transporting of labels for containers.

The problem posed is achieved with a pallet according to claim 1. The pallet is suitable for a pallet carousel of a container labeling machine and comprises a rigid support body and a releasably attached surface element with an elastic contact side for labels and suction openings formed on the contact side for sucking up the labels.

According to the invention, the contact side of the surface element comprises at least one suction area in which the suction openings are grouped, and at least one passive area without suction openings in order to limit the suction area to a suction contour that deviates from the overall contour of the contact side and is in particular format-specific.

By suitably dimensioning and distributing the suction area and the passive area, the suction area can be adapted to the contour of a label to be picked up and transported in such a way that all the suction openings present are covered by the adjacent label. As a result, undesired suction of ambient air through uncovered suction openings can be avoided. This reduces the required suction power and enables comparatively easily controllable and reproducible process conditions for vacuum-assisted picking up and transport of the labels.

The surface element can be fastened to the rigid support body in a known manner by means of an elastic form fit, for example in that channels formed in the surface element form a form fit with corresponding, in particular peg-shaped vacuum connections on the rigid support body.

The surface element can be designed to be entirely elastic or also comprise a substantially rigid fastening side (rear side) facing away from the elastic contact side (front side), on which elastic fastening elements, such as spring-loaded catches or the like, are used to establish the form-fitting connection with the rigid support body available. Alternatively or in addition, such elastic fastening elements could also be present on the rigid support body.

An elastic contact side is to be understood as meaning that the contact side is designed to be elastically deformable, in particular for pressing labels onto containers.

In order to adapt to the contour of a certain label format, the surface element can thus be exchanged for a matching surface element quickly and without tools.

The passive area is to be understood here as an area that either lies outside the contour of the label to be picked up and / or on which the label to be transported is mechanically supported but not sucked in. This is conceivable, for example, in the case of labels which are only sucked in at two opposite lateral edge areas and in which an intermediate, central label area only rests on the passive area of the elastic surface element.

The contours described can each be understood as a development of corresponding curved surfaces. The smallest surface area of the passive area is preferably at least twice as large, in particular at least five times as large as the largest distance between the edges of adjacent suction openings within the suction area. An area of the passive area is to be understood as meaning, for example, the distance between opposing edges / boundary lines of the passive area. The passive area can, for example, be a frame surrounding the suction area, the smallest width of which then corresponds to the above-mentioned smallest surface area.

Preferably, the support body for fastening and vacuum supply of the surface element has a convexly curved fastening surface with a vacuum connection or several vacuum connections, the surface element being designed for internal vacuum distribution from the vacuum connection or from the vacuum connections to the suction openings. Consequently, the areal distribution of the vacuum connections on the fastening surface may differ from the distribution of the suction openings on the contact side of the surface element. Vacuum connections on the carrier body can, for example, be distributed over the fastening surface in the form of a uniform grid, in particular also essentially over the entire area. However, a single, in particular centrally arranged vacuum connection is also conceivable.

In contrast, the suction openings are preferably only formed in a partial area of the contact side that is covered by the associated label. The distribution of the overall vacuum present at the vacuum connections to the suction openings is then carried out by means of channels that run in a suitable manner in the elastic surface element and, if necessary, branch off. This enables the formation of suitably contoured suction areas in a passive way, that is to say without active valves or the like in the area of the vacuum connections.

Preferably, in the surface element, channels that are in particular individually assigned to the vacuum connections are formed, which are formed as through holes connecting the vacuum connections to the suction openings or as blind holes closed towards the passive area. The channels thus open towards the carrier body in a preferably uniform grid, the individual grid points / channels of which are either open or closed toward the contact side.

For example, those channels that lie within the contour of a properly fitting label are then designed as through holes and all the channels that are outside the contour as blind holes. This enables a particularly simple adaptation of the suction area, that is to say the area with through holes / suction openings, to a contour of a label to be processed.

The carrier body can then have a standardized grid with vacuum connections in the sense of a universal pallet body. Matching surface elements can optionally be attached as a format-specific set. Such sets are then provided on the connection side with an identical channel grid, but differ for each format in terms of which channels are designed as through holes or blind holes.

In a further favorable embodiment, channels assigned to the vacuum connections are formed in the surface element, which channels each connect the vacuum connection / the vacuum connections to a plurality of suction openings. The vacuum connections of the carrier body can then be understood as collective connections for a group of suction openings. It is also possible for only a single such collective connection to be formed on the carrier body. The channels have suitable branches in order to connect at least one collecting channel formed on the fastening surface of the carrier body by channel branching in the surface element with individual suction openings or a group of suction openings.

Vacuum connections / collective connections of this type can also be arranged in a standardized manner on the fastening surface of a universal pallet body in order to fasten / connect different format-specific surface elements with correspondingly different channel branches on the carrier body.

The carrier body preferably comprises separately switchable vacuum connections / collective connections for the selective vacuum supply of suction openings, which are assigned to different lateral edge areas of the labels, in particular start and end areas of the labels. As a result, especially when picking up the labels on a label magazine, the suction area assigned to the start area of the labels can be selectively supplied with vacuum, while other suction areas, in particular a suction area assigned to the end area of the labels, are / is not yet supplied with vacuum. This allows the label pick-up to be controlled in a targeted manner and a temporary sucking in of ambient air through suction openings not yet covered by the label can be prevented.

According to a preferred embodiment of the pallet / surface element, a rigid fastening side of the surface element is to be understood as meaning that the fastening side comprises a support structure that is dimensionally stable in relation to the elastic contact side for the contact side. The fastening side is used to fasten the surface element to the rigid support body of the pallet.

The contact side preferably comprises elastic suction cups with the suction openings and / or at least one elastic suction strip with the suction openings to form the at least one suction area, as well as at least one elastic support element to support the labels in order to form the passive area or one of the passive areas.

The surface element can consist of several components, for example a support element or base embodying the support structure, on which at least one elastic support element / pressure pad and the suction cups / suction strips are firmly mounted as embodiment of the elastic contact side.

The suction strips with the suction openings can for example consist of foams and / or comprise elastic bodies produced by 3D printing. The elastic support elements can also be foams and / or 3D printed bodies. Suction areas with elastic suction cups are particularly suitable for maximizing machine performance, since they enable particularly reliable and quick removal of labels from an associated magazine.

The surface element can have at least one area which is specially adapted to the respective transfer of the labels to the container, for example in the form of different hardness zones in the surface element, different materials, geometric structures and / or material sections in the contact side or the like.

Such support elements / support zones adapted to certain container formats / label formats can be flexibly combined as passive areas with the different embodiments of the suction areas of the surface element described above.

The described embodiments of the surface element enable a quick format change that is optimized with regard to the respective transferring and pressing of the labels onto the container by simply exchanging the surface elements. The object set is also achieved with a labeling machine for labeling containers, which includes a pallet carousel equipped with pallets according to at least one of the previous embodiments. The container labeling machine can then be adapted flexibly, quickly and with little effort to the labeling of different container formats and / or with different label formats.

The object set is also achieved with a surface element for use in a pallet and / or in a container labeling machine according to at least one of the embodiments described above. The surface element comprises an elastic contact side for labels, suction openings formed on the contact side for sucking in the labels and a fastening side facing away from the contact side for releasably fastening the surface element to a rigid carrier body of the pallets.

According to the invention, the contact side comprises at least one suction area in which the suction openings are grouped, and at least one passive area without suction openings in order to limit the suction area to a suction contour that deviates from the overall contour of the contact side and, in particular, to a suction contour that is specific to a label format. The advantages described with regard to the pallet according to claim 1 can thus be achieved.

The surface element preferably consists of a material which is generatively manufactured in layers. With so-called 3D printing, elastic materials can also be layered with complex channel courses, such as branches, within the surface element in a flexible manner and thus adapt to the most varied of contours of labels to be processed. In addition, recesses, such as slots, can be incorporated into the elastic surface element in order to enable suitable mechanical support of the labels and / or suitable deformability of the surface element, particularly when the labels are transferred to the container.

In particular, elastic surface elements with blind holes can also be produced flexibly and easily by milling corresponding semi-finished products or the like.

The surface element can comprise any features described in relation to the pallet as a whole.

The stated object is also achieved with a method according to claim 12. Accordingly, this is used to adapt the format of pallets of a labeling machine for containers, whereby first and second surface elements, each with an elastic contact side for labels and suction openings deviating from one another on the contact side for sucking in the labels, are detached from the rigid carrier bodies of the pallets and from them attached in exchange.

This changes the number and / or areal distribution of the suction openings present on the contact side. This enables a particularly simple, quick and inexpensive format change on the pallets.

By mutual exchange of the first and second surface elements of the suction openings, suction contours of the pallets defined in groups are preferably adapted to a contour of the labels to be processed subsequently. As a result, unwanted suction of ambient air through exposed suction openings can be avoided in a comparatively simple manner, in particular without dismantling the pallets.

By mutual exchange of the first and second surface elements, a suction contour defined by a group of suction openings is adapted to the contour and / or position of a lateral edge area of the labels, which is to be selectively sucked in when the labels are removed from a label magazine. As a result, the removal of the labels from a label magazine can be specifically and controllably adapted to the respective label format and thus carried out in a more controllable manner.

The surface elements are preferably changed when the carrier bodies are mounted on the labeling machine. This enables a particularly economical format changeover of the container labeling machine.

Vacuum connections distributed in a grid-like manner on the carrier bodies are preferably partially connected to the suction openings and partially closed by placing the first or second surface elements on them. By specifically blocking individual vacuum connections, the respective suction area can be adapted particularly easily to the contour of the labels.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a vacuum for sucking up the labels is distributed within the surface elements through channels branched therein to the individual suction openings or groups of suction openings starting from at least one vacuum connection formed in the carrier bodies, in particular from a plurality of vacuum connections.

This enables flexible adaptation of the suction area to the contour for the labels to be processed with a comparatively simple vacuum guidance in the area of the carrier body. In addition, with switching valves for the collective connections, it is possible to selectively connect / disconnect individual suction areas of a specific surface element.

Figur 1

eine Schrägansicht einer Palette gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform;

Figur 2

das zugehörige Oberflächenelement mit angesaugtem Etikett;

Figur 3

Ansichten des Oberflächenelements von vorne und von links;

Figur 4

einen Schnitt durch die Palette;

Figur 5

eine zweite Ausführungsform der Palette in einer Schrägansicht;

Figur 6

ein zugehöriges Oberflächenelement von vorne und oben gesehen;

Figur 7

eine schematische Darstellung einer Behälter-Etikettiermaschine;

Figur 8

eine dritte Ausführungsform der Palette; und

Figur 9

eine vierte Ausführungsform der Palette.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing. Show it:

Figure 1

an oblique view of a pallet according to a first embodiment;

Figure 2

the associated surface element with the label attached;

Figure 3

Views of the surface element from the front and from the left;

Figure 4

a section through the pallet;

Figure 5

a second embodiment of the pallet in an oblique view;

Figure 6

an associated surface element seen from the front and above;

Figure 7

a schematic representation of a container labeling machine;

Figure 8

a third embodiment of the pallet; and

Figure 9

a fourth embodiment of the pallet.

As the Figure 1 Can be seen, the pallet 1 in a first preferred embodiment comprises a rigid support body 2 and a releasably attached and generally elastic surface element 3 with a contact side 4 (front) for labels 5, one of which is exemplified in the Figure 2 is shown, and suction openings 6 formed on the contact side 4 for sucking up the labels 5.

The surface element 3 can be elastic overall or only its contact side 4 facing the labels 5.

The contact side 4 comprises at least one suction area 7, in which the suction openings 6 are grouped, and at least one passive area 8 adjoining and / or surrounding the suction area 7 and / or a passive area 18 separating several suction areas 7 from one another ( Figure 5 ) each without suction openings.

As the Figure 2 can be seen in a front view of the surface element 3, the contact side 4 has a preferably rectangular overall contour 9. In the example shown, the passive area 8 completely surrounds the label 5 and extends from there to the overall contour 9, i.e. to the edge of the contact side 4 but, for example, two passive areas 8 reaching up to the overall contour 9 are also conceivable, which would then be arranged above and below the suction area 7 or each to the side thereof.

The suction area 7 is covered by the label 5 and therefore in the Figure 2 not to see. The label 5 shown has a complex contour, as is customary for closure labels, for example. The surface element 3 would, however, depending on the arrangement of the suction openings 6, also be suitable for labels 5 'with other contours, which is indicated by dashed lines for a rectangular contour as an example.

As the Figure 3 As can be seen in a front view of the surface element 3, the suction region 7 has a suction contour 10 that deviates from the overall contour 9 and lies within it.

The suction contour 10 is defined, for example, by a boundary line which jointly connects the edges of the suction openings 6 grouped in the suction area 7 over the shortest possible path. By definition, the suction contour 10 delimits the suction area 7 that is effective for sucking up the labels 5.

As the Figure 3 can also be seen in a front view, the smallest surface area 11 of the passive area 8 is preferably at least twice as large, in particular at least five times as large as the largest distance between the edges of adjacent suction openings 6 within the respective suction area 7. The smallest area 11 is, for example the smallest distance between the suction contour 10 and the overall contour 9. This information also applies to the embodiments of the surface element 3 that are described below.

For example, there could also be a passive area 8 above and below the suction area 7. The suction area 7, like the labels to be processed therewith (variant not shown), can then extend up to at least one lateral edge of the contact side 4. A corresponding constellation tilted by 90 ° would be conceivable in the case of two passive areas 8 laterally enclosing the suction area 7.

As the Figure 3 can also be seen in a front view with hidden edges and in a side view of the surface element 3, this comprises a plurality of channels 13 formed therein, which open on a fastening side 14 (rear) of the surface element 3 facing away from the contact side 4 in the form of a preferably uniform grid. The channels 13 are formed from there to the suction area 7 as through holes 13a, but towards the passive area 8 as blind holes 13b.

As the Figure 4 can be seen in a section through the carrier body 2 and the surface element 3, the channels 13 establish a connection to vacuum connections 15 formed in a corresponding grid on the carrier body 2.

The vacuum connections 15 are preferably designed to be peg-shaped and positively engaging in the surface element 3, which is here generally elastic. For this purpose, the vacuum connections 15 can, for example, comprise suitable thickenings, barbs or the like on their outside in order to avoid an unintentional detachment of the elastic surface element 3 during operation. Such form-fitting vacuum connections between the vacuum connections 15 and the channels 13 are known in principle and are therefore not described in detail.

The vacuum connections 15 are arranged on a convexly curved fastening surface 2a of the carrier body 2 for the surface element 3. It is easy to see in the Figure 4 Furthermore, only the vacuum connections 15 located behind the suction area 7 are connected to the suction openings 6 through the through holes 13a, while those behind the Vacuum connections 15 lying in the passive area 8 are closed by the blind holes 13b in a vacuum-tight manner, so that no ambient air can be sucked in there during working operation.

Therefore, a vacuum can be applied to all vacuum connections 15 during operation, regardless of the respective suction contour 10, as long as it is adapted to the contour of the labels 5 as described and covered by these during operation.

The suction effect of the pallet 1 can thus be passively predetermined by the areal distribution of the channels 13 designed as through holes 13a or blind holes 13b. Active connection / disconnection of vacuum connections 15 on the pallet 1 is then in principle unnecessary, but still possible, for example in order to supply two mutually separate suction areas 7 separately with vacuum.

This also enables the suction area 7 to be easily adapted to the labels 5 to be processed by changing the surface element 3 with channels 13 designed as through holes 13a or blind holes 13b to match the respective label 5.

The blind holes 13b can be produced, for example, by milling the surface element 3 or by additive manufacturing of the surface element 3 in layers, that is, by 3D printing or the like.

In principle, any elastic polymers, elastomers, closed-cell foams or the like are suitable as the material for the elastic surface element 3 / the elastic contact side 4.

By suitable grouping of the suction openings 6, a large number of differently shaped suction areas 7 is possible on the contact side 4 (front), which is essentially only restricted by the grid of the channels 13 on the fastening side 14 (rear) of the surface element 3. For this purpose, the grid has, for example, a grid width of 4 to 8 mm. The described formation of at least one passive area 8 can then reliably avoid the undesired sucking in of ambient air in the case of differently shaped labels 5, the dimensions of which are significantly smaller than the overall contour 9 of the contact side 4.

the Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the pallet 1 and the associated, here again by way of example, an overall elastic surface element 3. Accordingly, the suction openings 6, 16 can be arranged in separate groups in order to create assigned separate suction areas 7, 17 on the contact side 4 of the surface element 3 to train. A first passive area 8 framing both suction areas 7, 17 is then supplemented by a second passive area 18 formed between the suction areas 7, 17.

The suction openings 6, 16 are then in turn connected (covered) via channels 13 running in the surface element 3 to vacuum connections 15 formed in the carrier body 2.

In the example of the Figure 5 the channels 13 are branched within the elastic surface element 3 in order to connect one of the vacuum connections 15 to a plurality of suction openings 6, 16. The channels 13 can thus each comprise branches 13c (shown by way of example). At least one switchable supply channel 19 is then present on the carrier body 2, and possibly also at least two separately switchable supply channels 19 (see also FIG Figure 4 ), which are assigned separately to the suction areas 7, 17 in order to supply the associated suction openings 6, 16 optionally or jointly with vacuum. Each supply channel 19 can be connected in a manner known in principle via a switching valve (not shown) separately to the vacuum connection 15 assigned to a respective suction area 7, 17.

It is then possible, for example, to assign a first suction area 7 to a lateral start area of the labels 5 'and a second suction area 17 to a lateral end area of the labels 5'.

The first and second suction areas 7, 17 then have at least one suction contour 20, possibly also different suction contours (not shown).

the Figure 6 shows the label 5 'sucked in on the contact side 4 in a schematic representation. Also shown are the channels 3 formed in the surface element 3 with the branches 13c, which each connect a collecting inlet 13d of the channels 13 to a group of suction openings 6, 16. Each collecting inlet 13d is then assigned to a separate suction area 7, 17 and is connected to a vacuum connection 15 with a switchable supply channel 19, which is arranged correspondingly on the carrier body 2.

The surface element 3 is thus designed for internal vacuum distribution from at least one vacuum connection 15, in particular from a plurality of separately connectable vacuum connections 15, to the suction openings 6, 16.

the Figure 7 shows schematically a labeling machine 21 with a pallet carousel 22 on which the pallets 1 with their carrier bodies 2 and surface elements 3 continuously circulate during operation. The labels 5 '(or 5) are held in a label magazine 23 and are removed from the pallets 1 with vacuum support.

To pick up the labels 5 'from the label magazine 23, for example, only the first suction area 7 assigned to the label beginning can be subjected to a vacuum first, in order to reliably suck the labels 5' out of the label magazine 23. Here, the pallet 1 with the elastic surface element 3 or the elastic contact side 4 is partially immersed in the known manner in the label stack held in the label magazine 23 and thereby pulls the label 5 'out.

Subsequently, the second suction area 17 assigned to the label end can also be subjected to a vacuum in order to suck the label 5 'as a whole on the pallet 1 for further transport. The passive areas 8, 18 only serve to support the label 5 ', as was similarly described for the first embodiment.

As the pallets 1 continue to circulate on the pallet carousel 22, the loaded pallets 1 pass a glue unit 24, which preferably works as a glue printer and sprays glue directly onto the labels 5, 5 'sucked in by the pallets 1.

It is also schematically indicated that the containers 25 to be labeled (only one of which is shown) revolve around a continuously rotating container table 26. The labels 5, 5 ′ can there be transferred from the pallets 1 to the containers 25 in a known manner.

During operation, for example, the labels 5 are sucked in, transported and transferred to the containers 25 by means of surface elements 3 adapted to them in a format-specific manner. If, on the other hand, labels 5 'with a different contour are to be attached to the containers 25 or a different type of container, work only has to be briefly interrupted in order to replace the surface elements 3 on the pallets 1 with those that have suction areas adapted to the labels 5' 7, 17 and passive area 8, 18.

Such format changes can be carried out comparatively quickly and with little outlay in terms of equipment when the support bodies 2 are mounted on the pallet carousel 22. Furthermore, the suction areas 7, 5 'adapted to the respective contour of the labels 5, 5' 17 prevent ambient air from being sucked in through the surface elements 3. Unreliable and / or inefficient suction of the labels 5, 5 'on the pallets 1 is avoided.

The surface elements 3, 3 'can be kept available as quickly exchangeable set parts for a wide variety of label formats, that is, different label sizes and / or label contours at the production site with comparatively little effort.

A format changeover is therefore possible with a minimum of effort while still having the greatest possible process reliability with regard to receiving and transporting different labels 5, 5 '.

This procedure is the same as in the Figures 8 and 9 Modifications of the pallet 1 and the associated surface element 3 shown in an exemplary manner are possible.

the Figures 8 and 9 each show the pallet 1 in an oblique view (below) and in a front view (above) as well as a section along the lines AA and BB in between.

Accordingly, the suction openings 6, 16 are preferably arranged thereon in groups that are separate from one another in order to provide associated separate suction areas 7, 17 for a label 5 '(in the Figures 8 and 9 not shown) on the elastic contact side 4 of the surface element 3.

• Die Anlageseite 4 (Vorderseite) des Oberflächenelements 3 umfasst elastische Saugnäpfe 31 und/oder Saugleisten 32 jeweils mit den Ansaugöffnungen 6, 16 und wenigstens ein elastisches Abstützelement 33 für das Etikett 5'.
• Die Befestigungsseite 14 (Rückseite) des Oberflächenelements 3 umfasst eine starre Tragstruktur 34 für die Anlageseite 4 in Form eines Sockels, mit dem das Oberflächenelement 3 auf der konvex gekrümmten Befestigungsfläche 2a des Trägerkörpers 2 befestigt ist.
• Die Gesamtkontur 9 der elastischen Anlageseite 4 ist kleiner als die Außenkontur 2b der Befestigungsfläche 2a des Trägerkörpers 2.
• Am Trägerkörper 2 ist nur ein einziger Vakuumanschluss 15 mit vorzugsweise schaltbarem Versorgungskanal 19 vorhanden, um die Ansaugöffnungen 6, 16 gemeinsam mit Vakuum zu versorgen.

The embodiments according to Figure 8 and 9 thus differ from that in the Figures 5 and 6th embodiment shown essentially only by the following features:

• The contact side 4 (front side) of the surface element 3 comprises elastic suction cups 31 and / or suction strips 32 each with the suction openings 6, 16 and at least one elastic support element 33 for the label 5 '.
• The fastening side 14 (rear side) of the surface element 3 comprises a rigid support structure 34 for the contact side 4 in the form of a base with which the surface element 3 is fastened to the convexly curved fastening surface 2a of the support body 2.
• The overall contour 9 of the elastic contact side 4 is smaller than the outer contour 2b of the fastening surface 2a of the carrier body 2.
• On the carrier body 2 there is only a single vacuum connection 15 with a preferably switchable supply channel 19 in order to jointly supply the suction openings 6, 16 with vacuum.

The supply channel 19 can comprise a switching valve (not shown) in a manner known in principle.

Also in the embodiments according to Figure 8 and 9 the channels 13 are branched within the surface element 3 in order to connect the vacuum connection 15 to a plurality of suction openings 6, 16. The channels 13 each include branches 13c (shown by way of example).

The surface element 3 is thus also designed here for internal vacuum distribution from the vacuum connection 15 to the suction openings 6, 16.

It is then possible, albeit without a separate switching function, to assign a first suction area 7 to a lateral start area of the labels 5 'and a second suction area 17 to a lateral end area of the labels 5'. However, several separately connectable vacuum connections 15 would also be possible.

The first and second suction areas 7, 17 then have a suction contour 20 running overall (tangentially) around the suction openings 6, 16 of the respective suction cups 31 or suction strips 32, possibly also different suction contours (not shown).

The channels 3 formed in the surface element 3 with the branches 13c, which connect a single collecting inlet 13d of the channels 13 to a group of suction openings 6, 16, are shown in each case. The collecting inlet 13d is assigned here, for example, to both suction areas 7, 17 and is connected to a vacuum connection 15 with a switchable supply channel 19, which is arranged correspondingly on the carrier body 2.

The channels 13 preferably run in the rigid support structure 34 / in the base up to the elastic suction cups 31 attached thereto.

The at least one elastic support element 33 is also arranged on the rigid support structure 34 / the base.

The elastic support element 33 can be made of a more elastic material than the rigid support structure 34, as exemplified in FIG Figure 9 is shown. The support element 33 is then preferably inseparably connected to the support structure 34 / the base, for example by gluing.

The support element 33 can, however, also be made of the same material as the rigid support structure 34 / the base, in particular in one piece with it, and one opposite it have elastic structure, as exemplified in the Figure 8 is shown. For example, the support element 33 can be designed as an elastically flexible plate 33a over a cavity 33b or the like.

Likewise, the support element 33 can comprise material weakenings 33c, for example slots, pores or the like, in order to produce a suitable resilience of the support element 33 when the labels 5 'are picked up and released. For example, the support element 33 would then be harder at the edge than in the middle, that is to say it would have different hardness zones.

As in the Figures 8 and 9 It can also be seen that the elastic contact side 4 of the surface element 3 can be interrupted by gaps 35 between the suction cups 31 or suction strips 32 and the support element 33.

The suction areas 7, 17 are essentially embodied by the suction cups 31 or suction strips 32, the passive area 18 lying between them by the elastic support element 33.

Another passive area 8 surrounding the suction areas 7, 17 would also be in the embodiments according to FIG Figure 8 and 9 in principle possible, but is dispensable due to the outer overall contour 9 of the elastic contact side 4 of the surface element 3, which is reduced here by way of example compared to the fastening surface 2a.

Rather, the outer contour of the surface element 3 as a whole is here at least approximately to the contour of the label 5 '(in Figure 8 and 9 not shown). Individual features of the described embodiments can also be sensibly combined with one another and / or replaced with one another.

For example, vacuum connections 15 (matching the carrier body 2) arranged in a format-unspecific manner, in particular grid-like, could be formed in the rigid support structure 34 of the surface element 3 and a matching format-specific grid of through holes 13a in an elastic contact side 4 fastened thereon, which is then based on the embodiment according to Figure 1 to 4 with suction openings 6, 16 would be formed.

Claims (17)

Pallet (1) for a pallet carousel (22) of a labeling machine (21) for containers (25), comprising a rigid support body (2) and a releasably attached surface element (3) with an elastic contact side (4) for labels (5, 5) ') and suction openings (6, 16) formed on the contact side for sucking up the labels, characterized in that the contact side comprises at least one suction area (7, 17) in which the suction openings are grouped, and at least one passive area (8, 18) without suction openings in order to limit the suction area to a suction contour (10, 20) that deviates from the overall contour (9) of the contact side and is in particular format-specific. Pallet according to Claim 1, the smallest surface area (11) of the passive area being at least twice as large as the largest distance (12) between the edges of respectively adjacent suction openings (6, 16) within the suction area. Pallet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the carrier body (2) for fastening and vacuum supply of the surface element (3) has a convexly curved fastening surface (2a) with at least one vacuum connection (15), and wherein the surface element for internal vacuum distribution from the vacuum connection to the suction openings (6, 16) is formed. Pallet according to claim 3, wherein in the surface element (3) the vacuum connections (15) in particular individually assigned channels (13) are formed, which connect the vacuum connections to the suction openings (6) and which connect to the passive area (8) as essentially vacuum-tight blind holes (13b) are formed. Pallet according to claim 3, wherein channels (13) associated with the vacuum connections (15) are formed in the surface element (3) and each connect the vacuum connections to a plurality of suction openings (16). Pallet according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier body (2) comprises separately switchable supply channels (19) for the selective vacuum supply of suction openings (16) which are assigned to different lateral edge areas of the labels (5 '), in particular start and end areas of the labels . Labeling machine (21) for containers (25), comprising a pallet carousel (22) with pallets (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims. Surface element (3) for use in a pallet (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6 and / or in a labeling machine (21) according to Claim 7, comprising an elastic contact side (4) for labels (5, 5 ') on which Suction openings (6, 16) formed on the contact side for sucking in the labels, and a fastening side (14) for detachable fastening to a rigid support body (2) of pallets (1), characterized in that the contact side has at least one suction area (7, 17) in which the suction openings are grouped and comprises at least one passive area (8, 18) without suction openings in order to limit the suction area to a suction contour (10, 20) which deviates from the overall contour (9) of the contact side and in particular to a suction contour (10, 20) specific to a label format . Surface element according to claim 8, wherein the contact side (4) is designed to be elastically deformable for pressing the labels (5, 5 ') onto containers (25) and the fastening side (14) of the surface element (3) is a dimensionally stable support structure (34) for the Investment side includes. Surface element according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the contact side (4) comprises elastic suction cups (31) and / or at least one elastic suction strip (32) with the suction openings (6, 16) for forming the at least one suction area (7, 17) and at least an elastic support element (33) for the labels (5, 5 ') to form the passive area (18). Elastic surface element according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the surface element (3) consists of a material which is generatively manufactured in layers. Method for adapting the format of pallets (1) of a labeling machine (21) for containers (25), wherein first and second surface elements (3) are designed with an elastic contact side (4) for labels (5, 5 ') and on the contact side different from one another Suction openings (6, 16) for sucking up the labels from rigid carrier bodies (2) of the pallets (1) are detached and attached to them in exchange, which changes the number and / or area distribution of the suction openings on the contact side. Method according to claim 12, wherein by mutual exchange of the first and second surface elements (3) of the suction openings group-wise defined suction contours (10, 20) of the pallets (1) are adapted to a contour of the labels (5, 5 ') to be processed subsequently . Method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the mutual exchange of the first and second surface elements (3) results in a suction contour (10, 20) defined by a group of suction openings (6, 16) on the contour and / or position of a lateral edge area of the labels (5, 5 '), which is to be selectively sucked in when the labels are removed from a label magazine (23). Method according to one of Claims 12 to 14, the surface elements (3) being exchanged when the carrier bodies (2) are mounted on the labeling machine (21). Method according to one of Claims 12 to 15, vacuum connections (15) distributed in a grid pattern on the carrier bodies (2) being partially connected to the suction openings (6, 16) and partially closed by placing the first and second surface elements (3) on top. Method according to one of claims 12 to 16, wherein a vacuum for sucking the labels (5, 5 ') starting from vacuum connections (15) formed in the carrier bodies (2) inside the surface elements (3) through channels (13) branched therein onto the Intake openings (6, 16) is distributed.

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