GB1565718A

GB1565718A - Labelling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB1565718A
Application number: GB2221277A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Jagenberg AG; Jagenberg Werke AG
Current assignee: Jagenberg AG; Jagenberg Werke AG
Priority date: 1976-05-28
Filing date: 1977-05-26
Publication date: 1980-04-23
Also published as: FR2352713B3; FR2352713A1; DE2623818A1; ES456869A1; DE2623818B2; DE2623818C3

Description

(54) LABELLING APPARATUS (71) We, JAGENBERG-WERKE A.G., a Joint Stock Company organised under the laws of Germany (Fed. Rep.) of Himmelgeister Strasse, 4 Diisseldorf, Germany (Fed. Rep.) do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to apparatus for use in labelling articles.

It has been previously proposed to provide a rotary table for a labelling machine with several receiving points for objects provided with a stick-on label, which objects, during the rotation of the table, can be rotated in their receiving points respectively by a camcontrolled drive into positions in which pressing members located along the path of movement of the objects can press the free ends of the labels onto the objects.

In a known rotary table of this type, a lever arm is associated with each receiving point as the drive, which arm is either connected directly or by way of transmission gearing, to the drive shaft of the receiving point and is guided in a cam path, which is located in a plane arranged parallel to the rotary table.

Without gearing, the receiving point can rotate through only 90" by means of this cam-controlled drive. For greater angles of rotation, transmission gearing must be incorporated. In the case of this rotary table, it is a disadvantage that a specific cam path must be provided for each angle of rotation.

If objects are to be processed on the rotary table, which are to be provided with labels of varying length or are to be placed at staggered points in the peripheral direction and which therefore require different angles of rotation, then the cam path must be exchanged for another cam path. It is also a disadvantage that transmission gearing is necessary for angles of rotation greater than 900.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in labelling articles, comprising a main turntable carrying a plurality of secondary turntables for receiving respective articles and drive means comprising for each secondary turntable a driven shaft and a drive member movable under the influence of a cam axially of the respective shaft so as to impart thereto a rotational movement.

Preferably, the drive member is a sleeve splined to the shaft and provided on its external surface with a coarse screw thread engaging a complementary threaded bore of an axially immobile member.

The axially immobile member may be journalled in the main turntable and is preferably capable of rotating in one direction only. Means may be provided for preventing rotation of the axially immobile member in a selected direction.

Each secondary turntable may be provided with an automatically engaging catch for arresting rotation thereof in a predetermined position.

Each axially immobile member may be in the form of a roller which is engaged by a common belt also engaging a central drive roller of the main turntable.

Preferably, the axially immobile members are spaced around the periphery of the main turntable and a belt guide roller is arranged between and radially inwardly of each pair of adjacent members.

Each axially immobile member may be in the form of a roller or pinion engaging with a common fixed ring for rotating the members during rotation of the main turntable.

The invention will be described hereafter in greater detail with reference to the drawings illustrating several embodiments: Figure 1 shows a rotary table diagrammatically and in plan view, Figure 2 shows the drive of a receiving point of the rotary table in axial section, Figure 3 shows a second drive of a receiving point in axial section, Figure 4 shows a third drive of a receiving point in axial section and Figure 5 shows a fourth drive of a receiving point in axial section.

The rotary table according to figures 1 and 2 consists of two coaxial circular discs 1, 2, which are non-rotatably interconnected, arranged at a distance apart and able to rotate in the direction of arrow P1, which discs support several smaller plates 3, distributed in the outer region and serving as receiving points for the objects. The smaller plates 3 rotate in the direction of arrow P2.

Bottles, to which labels are stuck, are deposited on these smaller plates 3 for example.

By rotation in the direction of arrow P2, these bottles are brought into a position in which the labels can be brushed on.

The receiving points 3 are driven by a toothed belt 4 located between the circular discs 1, 2, which belt passes around a roller 5 arranged in a non-rotary manner in the centre of the rotary table 1, 2, over the drive members 6 associated with the individual receiving points 3 and over guide rollers 7 arranged between the individual drive members 6 and offset radially inwards. Since the receiving points 3 are mounted in the rotary table 1, 2, in the case of uniform rotation of the rotary table 1, 2, in the direction of arrow P1, a uniform and synonymous rotary movement in the direction of the arrow P2 is imparted to the receiving points by the toothed belt 4.

As shown in figure 2, each receiving point 3 is mounted to rotate in the upper disc 1 by means of a bearing 8. The drive member 6 is constructed as a sleeve and is mounted to rotate in the lower disc 2 by way of a bearing 9. Both the receiving point 3 with its drive shaft 10 as well as the drive member 6 are retained by the bearings 8, 9 so that they cannot move axially in the rotary table 1, 2.

Provided inside the sleeve-like drive member 6 is a sleeve-like lifting member 11, which is provided with an external coarse thread 12. The drive member 6 comprises a corresponding internal coarse thread 13, which meshes with the external coarse thread 12 of the lifting member 11. The drive shaft 10 of the receiving point 3 projects into the lifting member 11 with a coaxial projection 14. This projection is provided with splines 15, which mesh with grooves 16 of the lifting member 11. Provided on the projection 14 between the drive shaft 10 and the end face of the lifting member 11 is a coil spring 17, which presses the lifting member 11 downwards in the direction of the stop 1 tea. The lower position is the initial position.

At its lower end, the lifting member 11 comprises a race 18 for a ball 19 serving as a support and feeler member. The ball 19 is supported on a stationary cam part 20 9- site the rotary table 1, 2. The cam part 20 is fixed in a stationary plate 21. A recess 23 is provided for this in the plate. The cam part 20 is supported by a holder 24 located below the plate 21, by which it is connected to the plate 21 by means of a screw 25, so that it is easily detachable. In this way, the cam part 20 can be replaced by another part without considerable dismantling work, if another rotary movement of the receiving point is required.

The operation of the rotary table according to the invention is as follows: After an object to be labelled, for example a bottle, has been placed on a receiving point, this object is moved past a labelling cylinder, which provides the object with a gummed label. This label is stuck to the object in its central region radially from outside. The object provided with a label in this way is then conveyed to a brushing station, which is intended to press the freely projecting ends of the label onto the object. In order that the objects are conveyed to the brushing station in the correct rotary position, a controlled rotary movement is imparted to the latter.

They receive the basic movement by way of the toothed belt 4. However, on passing the brushing station, in order that both the front end of the label as well as the rear end of the label is brushed on, a second rotary movement in the same direction and in the opposite direction is superimposed on this basic rotary movement. Provided that the lifting member 11 is not displaced axially, the rotary movement of the receiving point 3 is identical to that of the drive member 6.

However, as soon as the lifting member 11 is moved upwards or downwards by the cam 20, the rotary movement of the receiving point 3 is no longer identical to that of the drive member 6. Since a predetermined rotary movement is imparted to the drive member 6 from outside, but this drive member is connected to the lifting member 11 by way of the coarse thread 12, the lifting movement of the lifting member 11 results in an additional rotary movement of the receiving point 3 non-rotatably connected to the lifting member 11. The extent and direction of this additional rotary movement depends on the coarseness of the coarse thread 12 and on the direction of movement of the lifting member 11. It is therefore possible to produce an additional rotary movement such that the resulting rotary movement is in the opposite direction to the rotary movement imparted by the toothed belt 4, in the direction of arrow P2. All the necessary angles of rotation can be produced by means of the steepness of the coarse thread 12 and the stroke of the lifting member 11. In order to achieve varied angles of rotation with the rotary table according to the invention, it is solely necessary for the cam 20 of the lifting member 11 to have an appropriate shape.

It will be appreciated that a uniform drive of the drive members 6 may be achieved by alternative constructions, e.g. the drive members 6 may be replaced by planet wheels meshing with a sun wheel.

The construction of the drives according to embodiments 3-5 differs from that of figure 2 primarily in that the drive means 4, 5, 6, 7 imparting a synonymous and uniform rotary movement to the receiving point are missing and secondly in that the conversion of the lifting movement into a rotary movement takes place with modified means.

In the embodiment of figure 3, the member 6a corresponding to the drive member 6 is arranged in the disc 2 of the rotary table 1, 2 so that it cannot rotate and cannot move axially. Otherwise, this drive corresponds to that of figure 2. Owing to the fact that the member 6a is secured in the rotary table 1,2, raising of the lifting member 11 brings about rotation of the receiving point 3 in one direction P2 and lowering of the lifting member 12 brings about a return rotation of the receiving point, i.e. a rotation in the opposite direction to P2.

In the embodiment of figure 4, the member 6b corresponding to the drive member 6 of figure 2 is mounted in the rotary table 2 by means of a bearing 9b corresponding to the bearing 9 of figure 2, but constructed as a freewheel. The freewheel 9b has the effect that the member 6b can rotate freely in one direction, but is prevented from rotating in the other direction. When the lifting member 11 is raised, the freewheel 9b operates such that it has a locking action, so that the receiving member 3 is rotated. The initial rotary position and final rotary position of the receiving point 3 are thus determined by a ball 26 which is seated in a recess 27 in the upper circular disc 1 of the rotary table 1, 2 under spring pressure and associated with which is a corresponding recess 29 in an opposing disc 28 non-rotatably connected to the receiving point, in which it can engage.Now if the receiving point passes from its initial rotary position into its final rotary position due to the rotary movement brought about by the lifting movement, then the receiving point 3 is held in this rotary position even after removal of the support for the lifting member provided by the cam part. Nevertheless, the lifting member 11 can move axially, because the freewheel 9b does not prevent rotation of the member 6b.

The embodiment of figure 5 differs from that of figure 4 solely in that in place of the freewheel 9b, a bearing 9c is provided which allows rotation of the member 6c in both directions.

However, in order that the lifting member can impart a rotary movement to the receiving point 3, when it is raised, a pawl 30 supported by the lower disc 2 of the rotary table 1, 2 is provided, which is able to engage in end toothing 31 on the member 6c.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for use in labelling articles, comprising a main turntable carrying a plurality of secondary turntables for receiving respective articles and drive means comprising for each secondary turntable a driven shaft and a drive member movable under the influence of a cam axially of the respective shaft so as to impart thereto a rotational movement.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive member is a sleeve splined to the shaft and provided on its external surface with a coarse screw thread engaging a complementary threaded bore of an axially immobile member.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the axially immobile member is journalled in the main turntable.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the axially immobile member is capable of rotating in one direction only.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein means are provided for preventing rotation of the axially immobile member in a selected direction.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein each secondary turntable is provided with an automatically engaging catch for arresting rotation thereof in a predetermined position.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein each axially immobile member is in the form of a roller and is engaged by a common belt also engaging a central drive roller of the main turntable.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the axially immobile members are spaced around the periphery of the main turntable and a belt guide roller is arranged between and radially inwardly of each pair of adjacent members.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein each axially immobile member is in the form of a roller or pinion engaging with a common fixed ring for rotating the members during rotation of the main turntable.

10. Apparatus for use in labelling articles, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 or Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. solely necessary for the cam 20 of the lifting member 11 to have an appropriate shape. It will be appreciated that a uniform drive of the drive members 6 may be achieved by alternative constructions, e.g. the drive members 6 may be replaced by planet wheels meshing with a sun wheel. The construction of the drives according to embodiments 3-5 differs from that of figure 2 primarily in that the drive means 4, 5, 6, 7 imparting a synonymous and uniform rotary movement to the receiving point are missing and secondly in that the conversion of the lifting movement into a rotary movement takes place with modified means. In the embodiment of figure 3, the member 6a corresponding to the drive member 6 is arranged in the disc 2 of the rotary table 1, 2 so that it cannot rotate and cannot move axially. Otherwise, this drive corresponds to that of figure 2. Owing to the fact that the member 6a is secured in the rotary table 1,2, raising of the lifting member 11 brings about rotation of the receiving point 3 in one direction P2 and lowering of the lifting member 12 brings about a return rotation of the receiving point, i.e. a rotation in the opposite direction to P2. In the embodiment of figure 4, the member 6b corresponding to the drive member 6 of figure 2 is mounted in the rotary table 2 by means of a bearing 9b corresponding to the bearing 9 of figure 2, but constructed as a freewheel. The freewheel 9b has the effect that the member 6b can rotate freely in one direction, but is prevented from rotating in the other direction. When the lifting member 11 is raised, the freewheel 9b operates such that it has a locking action, so that the receiving member 3 is rotated. The initial rotary position and final rotary position of the receiving point 3 are thus determined by a ball 26 which is seated in a recess 27 in the upper circular disc 1 of the rotary table 1, 2 under spring pressure and associated with which is a corresponding recess 29 in an opposing disc 28 non-rotatably connected to the receiving point, in which it can engage.Now if the receiving point passes from its initial rotary position into its final rotary position due to the rotary movement brought about by the lifting movement, then the receiving point 3 is held in this rotary position even after removal of the support for the lifting member provided by the cam part. Nevertheless, the lifting member 11 can move axially, because the freewheel 9b does not prevent rotation of the member 6b. The embodiment of figure 5 differs from that of figure 4 solely in that in place of the freewheel 9b, a bearing 9c is provided which allows rotation of the member 6c in both directions. However, in order that the lifting member can impart a rotary movement to the receiving point 3, when it is raised, a pawl 30 supported by the lower disc 2 of the rotary table 1, 2 is provided, which is able to engage in end toothing 31 on the member 6c. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for use in labelling articles, comprising a main turntable carrying a plurality of secondary turntables for receiving respective articles and drive means comprising for each secondary turntable a driven shaft and a drive member movable under the influence of a cam axially of the respective shaft so as to impart thereto a rotational movement.