GB2277074A

GB2277074A - Container labelling and/or dressing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2277074A
Application number: GB9407518A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erich Eder
Original assignee: Krones AG; Krones AG Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik
Current assignee: Krones AG
Priority date: 1993-04-17
Filing date: 1994-04-15
Publication date: 1994-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2014-04-15
Also published as: GB2277074B; GB9407518D0; DE4312605C2; DE4312605A1

Description

2277074 I CONTAINER LABELLING AND/OR DRESSING MACHINE The invention

relates to a machine for labelling and/or dressing (e.g. by applying foil wrappings) containers such as bottles.

Continuously operating labelling and dressing machines have been known for some considerable time in which, by virtue of the fact that the containers are passed through without stopping, are capable of attaining very high output rates. In machines of this kind, practically all operations involved in labelling and dressing, such as for example affixing and pressing on the labelling and dressing elements and the feed and removal of the containers themselves, are performed while the containers are in motion. In addition there exists various labelling and dressing machines in which the containers are conveyed intermittently; these mainly operate at low rates of output and are generally used only for simple labelling and dressing tasks.

According to the present invention, there is provided a machine for labelling and/or dressing containers, such as bottles, comprising container feed and discharge units, at least one transfer unit for affixing labelling and/or dressing elements to the containers, and a handling system arranged to be driven intermittently to convey the containers past the transfer unit, the transfer of said elements by the transfer unit being arranged to be effected while the handling system 11 2 is in a conveying phase.

By having an intermittent drive to the handling system, and hence the advance of the containers, the feed and removal of containers and the pressing of the labelling and dressing elements to the container surfaces can be accomplished by relatively simple means. The arrangement whereby labelling and dressing material is transferred to a container while the latter is in motion allows very high-precision transfer techniques, suitable for virtually any practical labelling and dressing needs, to be used.

Especially in cases where the containers are conveyed in a straight line through the machine, there is the advantage that only very few parts specific to the shape of the container are necessary in conjunction with the intermittent advance of the containers. This is particularly advantageous where containers of frequently changing shapes and sizes. have to be handled by a single machine, since only a small number of shape- or sizerelated parts need to be replaced upon change-over. This is especially useful when the batch size for each type of container is small, i.e. when the labelling and dressing machine has to be changed over at very frequent intervals.

In a preferred form of the invention, the transfer unit is arranged to be replaceable on the handling system, in particular, the transfer unit may be mounted on an interchangeable deck or carriage. Making 1 3 the transfer units exchangeable means that the time necessary for a change-over of the labelling and/or dressing machine can be further reduced. When there is a change of container type, the transfer unit which is no longer required can be merely disconnected from the container handling system and replaced immediately with a transfer unit which has already been prepared for the new container type. This means that the conversion or change-over of the disconnected transfer unit can be undertaken while the machine is in operation, thus avoiding loss of production time.

If the machine possesses a number of transfer units for affixing a series of labels to each container, it is possible to provide a line of drive shafts running from a prime mover to extend along the handling system, and having a number of coupling stations corresponding to the number of transfer units.

Good access to the labelling and/or dressing machine can be afforded, when the machine is provided with a number of transfer units, by arranging said units in a row along the conveying direction, preferably along one side of the handling system.

To enable labelling and dressing material to be affixed at any desired point on the circumference of a container, in one form of the invention the conveyor of the handling system carries rotatably mounted turntables to hold the containers, the turntables being arranged at equal intervals and being rotatable by individual control 1 4 devices during the forwards movement of the conveyor.

To allow the labelling and/or dressing machine to handle "shaped" bottles which may enter the machine in random positions, such containers must be orientated prior to the affixing of the labelling or dressing material. This is made possible by assigning an orientation element, e.g. a springloaded catch lever, to each turntable serving as a holder for the container, and by rotating the turntable through at least 360 degrees on its way to the first transfer unit. When for example a catch lever permanently resting on the surface of the container engages with a locating slot or protuberance on the container wall, further rotation of the container by the turntable is prevented, and the orientation action is stopped.

Because of the intermittent drive of the handling system which carries the containers past the transfer units, the feed and removal of containers can be performed by simple pushers which can be traversed forwards and back in a controlled manner across the conveying direction of the handling system. This affords the advantage that higher cost mechanisms such as divider wheels, worms, and quadrants, adapted to the shape of the container, hitherto employed for the feed and removal of containers are not necessary.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a labelling and/or dressing machine, viewed from above; and Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the handling system of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1.

To provide a feed of containers 1 for labelling and/or dressing, the machine has a feed conveyor 5, and to discharge the processed containers, it has a discharge conveyor 6. In the machine illustrated in Fig. I the feed and discharge conveyors are constituted by the same continuous-band conveyor. The handling system 3, essentially consisting of a band or chain conveyor with rotatable turntables 17, is arranged parallel to the feed and discharge conveyor. The conveyor constituting the handling system 3 runs over a drive pulley (not shown in the drawing) located in the region of the discharge conveyor 6, and over a return pulley (also not shown in the drawing) located in the region of the feed conveyor 5, with the level of the upper run (propellable in the conveying direction F) of the handling system 3 arranged so that the tops of the turntables 17 at the entry to and exit from the machine are essentially flush with the conveying plane of the feed conveyor 5 and discharge conveyor 6. This arrangement facilitates transfer of containers 1 onto the turntables 17 at the entry point, and return of containers from the turntables onto the discharge conveyor 6-at the exit point..

To perform this function the machine has a cycle controller 21 at the entry point and a discharge device 6 22 at the exit point. Each of these two devices comprises a pusher which can be traversed forwards and back in a controlled manner across the conveying direction F of the handling system 3. The pusher of the cycle controller 21 is arranged on the feed conveyor 5, and can be made to operate from that side of the feed conveyor 5 further from the handling system 3 towards a turntable 17, while the pusher of the discharge device 22 is located at the exit point on that side of the handling system 3 further from the discharge conveyor 5, and can be made to operate towards the discharge conveyor 6. Operation and control of both devices may, for example, be carried out by pneumatic means. To trigger the forwards and backwards movements of the pushers, trip is cams (not shown in the drawing) may be attached to the handling system 3 so as to be carried along with it and actuate switching devices positioned at appropriate points. To position and centre the containers 1 precisely during the transfer operations, the surfaces of the pushers facing the containers are formed concavely.

Assigned to each turntable 17 is an orientation element 19 for orientating the containers 1 before the start of the labelling and dressing process. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the orientating element 19 takes the form of a catch lever which is continuously urged towards the surface of the container. Alternatively, orientating elemehts incorporated in the turntable, e.g. for orientating spirits bottles with 7 recesses in the bottle bottom, may be used. To orientate a container 1, the turntable 17 which carries the container can be made to rotate by an individual control device 18 (Fig. 2). As soon as the orientation element 19 engages with a locating projection 2 or a recess in the surface of the container, further rotation of the container by the orientation element 19 is prevented.

The control device 18 for rotating the turntable 17 can be seen in Fig. 2. For simplicity's sake only the upper run (propellable in the conveying direction F) of the handling system 3 is shown. The lower run moves in the opposite direction underneath the upper run shown in the drawing. Each turntable 17 has a bearing journal 30 rotatably mounted in a cross-piece 23, and a disk cam 27 is mounted on the lower end of the journal 30, fixed to rotate with it. The two opposite ends of the crosspiece 23 are attached to two parallel endless roller chains 24. The roller chains 24 are power-driven and are supported and guided by chain saddles 25. Fixed trip-cams 26 are mounted at the lower edge of the chain saddle 25, level with the disk cam 27, and can engage with control slots 28 formed in the disk cam 27 when the turntable 17 moves forwards in the conveying direction F, causing the disk cam, and with it the turntable 17, to rotate. At its radially outer rim, the disk cam 27 has flat regions which, in conjunction with a matching face on the chain saddle 25 in specific regions in which rotation of the turntable 17 is not required, form a 8 rotation-proof guide arrangement. The turntable control device 18 which has been described operates essentially on the Geneva movement principle. As an alternative to the example described here, other control devices, e. g.

with cams with grooves or teeth or other intermittent movement mechanisms, may also be used.

As can also be seen from Fig. 2, extending at some distance above the handling system 3 and parallel with it is a holding-down band 40 on which locating and pressing-down elements 41 aligned with the turntables 17 on the handling system 3 are mounted so as to be freely rotatable. only the lower run (propellable in the conveying direction F) of the endless holding-down band 40 is shown in Fig. 2. This arrangement makes for a is precise axial gripping of containers 1 to be labelled and dressed. The gap between the band 40 and the handling system 3 can be adjusted to suit containers of varying heights.

The handling system 3 and its associated - holding-down band 40 are propelled by a prime mover 8, e.g. an electric motor, the continuous drive from the prime mover 8 being converted by a transmission 15 with non-uniform velocity ratio into a non-uniform velocity, i.e. intermittent, output drive (Fig. 1).

Branching from the prime mover 8 and extending along the length of the handling system 3 is a line of drive shafts 16 providing continuous drive to four transfer units 4a, b, c and d arranged in a row at equal 9 intervals in the conveying direction F on that side of the handling system 3 further from the feed and discharge conveyors. Each of these transfer units has a gluing surface 9, pivotable in a controlled manner about a pivot 10, which can be swept past a glue roller 13 to pick up adhesive; then past a stationary magazine 12 to remove a label or dressing element; and lastly past a transfer cylinder 11 which pulls the label etc. off the gluing surface and transfers it to a container. For this purpose the pivot 10 of the gluing surface 9 moves continuously in a circular orbit in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the transfer cylinder 11. Just downstream of each transfer cylinder 11 in the conveying direction F is a presser unit 14 for is pressing or brushing the labelling or.dressing material onto the surface of the container. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the presser unit 14 comprises a sponge pad, shaped to match the contour of the container, which can be traversed forwards and back across the conveying direction F. Like the cycle controller 21 and the discharge pusher 22, the presser units 14 may be operated pneumatically; or they may be operated by being coupled with the drive to the corresponding transfer unit 4, e.g.by a rotating disk cam.

The transfer units 4a to d can be quickly replaced on the handling system 3. For this purpose each transfer unit 4 is mounted on an individual chassis 7. The transmission line 16 has a coupling station (not shown in the drawing) for each transfer unit 4. A drive coupling element, which can be brought into engagement with a coupling station of the transmission shaft 16, is arranged at each of the transfer units 4a to d, and the cooperating coupling parts are designed so that a transfer unit 4 can be inserted and coupled automatically.

This is assisted by corresponding positioning and locking elements (not shown in the drawing) on the handling system 3 and the transfer unit 4 (or on the chassis parts carrying the units 3 and 4). Upon a change-over of the machine to another container type and/or to other labels etc., all that is required is to release the connection between the corresponding transfer unit 4 and the handling system 3. The transfer unit 4 no longer required can then be removed and very quickly replaced with another transfer unit 4 which has been prepared in advance for the new container type. Thus, for example, adjustments or replacements to the magazine 20 12, transfer cylinder 11 and sticking surface 9 do not involve any loss of production. The turntables 17 and pushers of the cycle controller 21 and discharge pusher 22 are also rapidly replaceable (or adjustable if necessary). 25 The mode of operation of the machine will now be explained in the case of a container 1 as it passes through the machine. The containers 1 to be labelled and/or dressed are fed by the continuously driven feed conveyor 5 to the cycle controller 21. During the standstill phase of the handling system 3, the container 1 at the head of the queue of containers on the feed conveyor 5 is transferred by-the pusher of the cycle controller 21, at right angles to the longitudinal extension of the handling system 3, on to a turntable 17. The pusher of the cycle controller 21 is withdrawn slightly to release the container 1, but still lies in the path of the containers on the feed conveyor 5 and functions as a stop or barrier for containers until the next working cycle. The handling system 3 is then moved-forwards by one division in the conveying direction F, causing the control device of the turntable 17 to-rotate the said turntable clockwise through 360 degrees before it reaches the transfer cylinder Ila of the first transfer unit 4a. The container 1 standing on the turntable 17 is able to follow the rotary motion of the turntable until the neb 2 on the outer wall of-the container hits the catch lever 19, which prevents further rotation of the container. A label or dressing is then transferred as the container passes the transfer cylinder Ila.

At the moment when the label etc. is transferred, the passing container and the continuously rotating transfer cylinder are moving at the same speed. In the ensuing standstill of the handling system 3, the label or dressing is pressed on to the container by the presser unit 14a, while at the same time the transfer 12 device 4a continues running and a label or dressing is removed from the magazine 12 by means of the controlled gluing surface 9 and transferred to the transfer cylinder 11a. After the retraction of the presser unit 14a, the handling system 3 is set in motion again, the container being rotated through 180 degrees by the turntable 17 before reaching the next transfer unit 4b, in order that a back label may be affixed for example. Then, during the-next standstill phase of the handling system 3, the new label is pressed against the container by the presser unit 14b.

The cycles which have been described are again repeated at the transfer units 4c and d. The rotations of the turntables 17 can be pre-programmed as desired, so that labels or similar can be affixed at practically any desired position on the surface of a container.

After completion of the labelling and/or dressing operations the finished container is transferred at the exit end of the machine by the discharge pusher 22 from the turntable 17 onto the discharge conveyor 6 during a standstill phase of the handling system 3.

Should the machine not be required in certain circumstances, the cycle controller 21 can be taken out of the conveyor path of the feed conveyor 5, allowing the containers to be led past the machine, directly to the discharge conveyor 6.

13

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Machine for labelling and/or dressing containers, such as bottles, comprising container feed and discharge units, at least one transfer unit for affixing labelling and/or dressing elements to the containers, and a handling system arranged to be driven intermittently to convey the containers past the transfer unit, the transfer of said elements by the transfer unit being arranged to be effected while the handling system is in a conveying phase.

is

2. machine according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit operates continuously and has a transfer member rotating at a speed essentially equal to that of a passing container at the moment of transfer of labelling and/or dressing elements.

3. Machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the transfer unit has gluing surface movable in a controlled manner about a pivot for removing labelling and/or dressing elements from a magazine, said movement being a continuous movement in a circular orbit positionally synchronized with the transfer cylinder.

4. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the machine has at least one presser unit for pressing or brushing the labelling or dressing 14 elements to the container surface during a standstill phase of the handling system.

5. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one presser unit is arranged downstream of a transfer unit and said unit can be traversed forwards and back in a controlled manner across the conveying direction of the handling system.

6. Machine according to claim 5, wherein the presser unit drive is linked with the drive to the transfer unit.

is

7. Machine according to any one of the claims 4 to 6, wherein the transfer unit and its associated pressure unit form a module on a common mount or chassis.

8. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the transfer unit is arranged to be 20 replaceable on the handling system.

9. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transfer unit is mounted on an interchangeable deck or carriage.

10. Machine according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the handling system and transfer unit are fitted with positioning and locking elements to locate the transfer is unit.

11. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handling system and transfer unit ar driven from a common prime mover.

12. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a gear for converting a continuous drive motion into an intermittent drive motion is arranged between a prime mover and the handling system.

13. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a line of drive shafts is provided, running from a prime mover to extend along the handling is system, and having a number of coupling stations corresponding to the number of transfer units.

14. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transfer unit has a drive coupling element which is in engagement with a coupling station on the handling system when the transfer unit is operative.

is. Machine according to claim 14, wherein the drive coupling element of the transfer unit is automatically engageable with the coupling station on the handling system upon insertion and positioning of the transfer unit.

16 16. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the machine has a number of transfer units arranged in a row along the conveying direction, preferably along one side of the handling system.

17. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handling system is constructed in the form of a through conveyor extending in a straight line, on which the containers can be conveyed in an upright 10 position.

18. Machine according to claim 17, wherein a holding-down band with synchronized drive is arranged above the conveyor and parallel with it.

is

19. Machine according to claim 17, wherein the conveyor of the handling system carries rotatably mounted turntables to hold the containers, the turntables being arranged at equal intervals and being rotatable by individual control devices during the forwards movement of the conveyor.

20. Machine according to claim 19, wherein the holding-down band is provided with rotatably mounted pressing-down and locating elements associated with respective turntables and aligned therewith.

21. Machine according to claim 19, wherein an i 1 17 wherein an orientation element travelling with the handling system conveyor is assigned to each turntable for orientation of a container thereon.

22. Machine according to claim 21, wherein each orientation element is movably attached to the conveyor and is constructed in the form of a spring-loaded catch lever.

23. Machine according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the turntables are arranged to be rotated through at least 360 degrees to orientate the containers while en route to the or the first transfer unit.

24. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims 17 to 23, wherein fixed control projections are arranged adjacent the handling system under the conveyor

25. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a cycle controller for the containers is arranged at an entry point of the handling system for controlling the transfer of containers to the handling system.

26. Machine according to claim 25, wherein the cycle controller is so constructed that during a standstill phase of the handling system a container is transferred from a feed conveyor onto the handling system, for 18 example onto a turntable.

27. Machine according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the cycle controller comprises a pusher which can be traversed forwards and back in a controlled manner across the conveying direction of the handling system.

28. Machine according to claim 27, wherein the surface of the pusher arranged to come into contact with the container is in the form of a trough.

29. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a discharge pusher which can be traversed forwards and back in a controlled manner across the is conveying direction is arranged at the exit point of the handling system to transfer the containers on to a discharge conveyor, the discharge pusher being operated during a standstill phase of the handling system.

30. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feed conveyor and discharge conveyor are parts of a through conveyor extending in a straight line which is driven independently of the prime mover of the labelling and dressing machine, so that the containers can by-pass the labelling and dressing machine if required.

31. Machine for labelling and/or dressing 19 containers, constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.