KR20060103951A - Labeling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is directed to a labeling apparatus for dispensing and applying self-adhesive labels arranged on a carrier web (15) adapted to be fed step-by-step. By means of a lever mounted for pivotal movement on a housing of the labeling apparatus a feeding mechanism (19) for the carrier web is adapted to be driven. The feeding mechanism (19) includes a transport slide (40) with a transport pawl (46) and a table (45). On each pivoting cycle of the lever the carrier web (15) is adapted to be held clamped between a clamping member (52) of the transport pawl (46) and the table (45) for entrainment by the transport slide (40). The clamping member (52) includes several cutting edges (52a-52c) arranged adjacent to each other in the feed direction, hence enabling line contact to be established between the clamping member (52) and the carrier web (15) in a direction transverse to the feed direction of the carrier web. By virtue of the line contact between the clamping member (52) and the carrier web (15), service life, reliability and accuracy of the feeding mechanism (19) are improved.

Description

Labeling device {LABELING APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a labeling apparatus for the stepwise dispensing and pasting of self-adhesive labels arranged on a carrier web with a lever pivotally mounted on a housing driving a feeding mechanism for a carrier web. The supply mechanism includes a transport pawl and a transport slide with a table such that in each pivot cycle of the lever a carrier web is placed between the clamping member of the transport pawl and the mounting table by the transport slide. Clamped and held.

Labeling devices of this type are known in various designs as hand-held labelers. They are used for pricing in retail stores, especially in supermarkets and self-service stores.

An initial labeling device of that type is known from DE 43 09 441 A1. This known labeler is a tong-type hand-held device in which labels are separated one by one from a label feed roll, printed by a print mechanism, and then fed into and dispensed with each dispensing lip where each individual label is peeled off the carrier web. The carrier web is moved through the labeling device by a feeding mechanism, and the feeding mechanism and printing mechanism for printing the label are driven by a pivotally mounted lever. This lever is located opposite the handle, which is securely mounted in the housing. Using Leve's pivot movement as opposed to the spring force, the print mechanism moves relative to the platen for effective printing on a label placed on the platen. By pushing the lever by spring force, the carrier web is clamped between the clamping member of the transport pawl and the table of the transport slide and advanced by the transport slide by a distance corresponding to the label gap, the printed label being Off the carrier web at the dispensing lip and then fed and rolled over the object to be labeled by the pressing and rotating operation of the applicator roll.

Such known labelers with a feeding mechanism include a transport slide with a transport pawl provided on the clamping member, which is an important part. Conventionally, this clamping member has a small pad coated with corundum on the face in contact with the carrier web. In the simplest case, the clamping member is a piece of corundum paper or corundum tape used in grinding operations. In order to ensure that each label held on the carrier web can be moved to a very precise position directly below the print mechanism, the clamping mechanism is brought into contact with the carrier web as much as possible so that the carrier web is precisely positioned with each pivot cycle of the lever. Should be moved to the label interval. This is particularly important for preprinted labels, where additional prints made by the labeler must be placed exactly within and on the boundaries of the preprinted portion. However, if it is not defined in advance, there is a disadvantage in that the printing on the preprinted portion as well as the separation from the dispensing lip before the label is supplied to the object when printing on the label. This label becomes a "flyer" and does not roll properly on the object. It is also important that the clamping member has the maximum working life possible so that the labeler can be used as long as possible before it needs repair or maintenance. Proper operation of the labeler requires the clamping member to clamp the carrier web between the table so that no movement occurs between the carrier web and the clamping member during the feeding operation of the transport slider. Empirically, clamping members equipped with corundum pads do not meet the above mentioned requirements in terms of working life, stability and accuracy. When the corundum pad is pulled by the transport slide, the carrier web made of paper is turned off. As a result, corundum pads can be soiled by worn paper and lose their sticking force, resulting in poor stability and accuracy for the carrier web. In addition, the corundum pad has a relatively undefined contact zone because the corundum particles contact the carrier web only at the portions where a sufficient amount of the corundum particles protrude. Worn paper between corundum pads leads to even more undefined contact areas. Moreover, one of the drawbacks of using corundum pads as clamping members is that the forward stroke of the carrier web is not adjusted when labels of different adhesive forces are processed by the hand-held labeler. For example, labels used in strong freezing environments are provided with different adhesion levels than those used at room temperature, as different feed settings are required.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the service life, stability and accuracy of label feeding in the aforementioned initial type of labeling device.

According to the invention, a labeling device comprising the features recited in claim 1 is completed.

In the labeling device of the present invention, since the clamping member of the transport pawl is located between the clamping member and the carrier web and has a cutting-edge-type configuration in line contact in the direction crossing the feed direction of the carrier web, service life, It prevents any damage of the clamping member which can weaken stability and accuracy. The line contact, which consists of a cutting-edge-type configuration of the clamping member, allows for accurate contact between the clamping member and the carrier web so that each slide cycle of the lever allows the transport slide of the feeding mechanism to be spaced at a single label interval where the carrier web is precise. It proceeds and ensures that the labels to be printed and dispensed are constantly moving to the exact same position. The cutting-edge-type configuration of the clamping member of the present invention allows to avoid the further advantage of any excess progression, so that no "flyer" is made in which the dispensing lips come out too early. In addition, the cutting-edge-type clamping member ensures a defined pre-adjustable forward stroke regardless of the adhesive used for the label.

Advantageous embodiments of the labeling device of the present invention are included in the claims.

In one aspect of the labeling device of the present invention, the clamping member includes a plurality of cutting edges arranged adjacent to each other in the feeding direction, and there may be a plurality of line contacts between the clamping member and the carrier web so that the label Supply stability and accuracy are further improved.

In another aspect of the labeling device of the present invention, the cutting edges are arranged at increasing distances toward the carrier web in the feeding direction, and the rotational movement of the transport poles up to the final clamping position causes each cutting edge to contact the carrier web. Stable and accurate feed of labels without cutting edges. Since there is no cutting, the clamping member is not damaged.

In a further aspect of the labeling device of the invention, the clamping member consists of a plurality of blades and the transport pawl has a selectable number of line contacts between the clamping member and the carrier web which can be selected by the number of said blades. The clamping member can be provided in a fairly simple and convenient way.

In another aspect of the labeling device of the present invention, the blade is made of metal and can ensure a particularly long life of the clamping member.

In a further aspect of the labeling device of the invention, the blade protrudes from the transport pawl to the same extent toward the carrier web at the side of the transport pawl and on the transport pawl such that the blade is inclined relatively perpendicular to the carrier web at the clamping position. When fitted, the clamping member and the carrier web between the clamping member and the carrier web when the carrier web is attracted by the transport pawl due to the pivoting of the transport pawl, as well as the above-mentioned configuration, in which the distance of the blade from the carrier web increases gradually in the feed direction. Ensures progressively strong frictional contact, further improving the stability and accuracy of supply.

1 is a detailed bottom view of a transport slide of a carrier web feeding mechanism of the labeling device of the present invention;

2 is a cross sectional view of the transport slide taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

3 is a perspective view of the transport slide of FIG. 1 with the flap open;

4 is a detailed view of a transport pawl of the transport slide of FIG. 1;

5 is a vertical sectional view of the transport pawl of FIG. 4;

6 is a vertical sectional view of a hand-held labeling device known in the art. And

7A-7F are schematic views of a carrier web for explaining the schematic and feed mechanism operating modes of the transport slide of the labeling device of FIG. 6.

With reference to the accompanying drawings an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below.

The labeling device shown in FIG. 6 is of the same structure as the labeling device of the present invention apart from the supply mechanism 19. Thus, in order to avoid repeated explanation, only the transport slide 40 and its transport pawls, which are part of the supply mechanism 19 of the labeling device of the present invention, are shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the operation mode of the known labeling apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

The labeling device shown in FIG. 6 has a housing 11 integrally formed with the handle 12. On the upper surface of the housing there is a compartment 13 which houses the supply reel 14 for the carrier web 15 to which the self-adhesive label 16 is attached. The carrier web 15 exits the supply reel 14 of this compartment 13 via the protrusion 17 of the housing and moves towards the bottom left as seen in FIG. 6 and is turned in the dispensing lip 18 so that the carrier web ( 15) has a path through the feeding mechanism 19 to the rear end of the housing 11. At the end of the dispensing lip 18, an applicator roll 10 is mounted to the housing to rotate about the central axis 20. At the dispensing lip 18, the label 16 ′ is peeled off the carrier web 15. Preparation of the application in position may be attached to the object by the rolling of the applicator roll 10.

Under the handle 12, a lever 22 is mounted on the housing 11 for pivotal movement about the central axis 23. Between the handle 12 and the lever 22 is a spring 24 as shown in FIG. 6 to push the lever 22 to its usual position as shown in FIG. 6. The housing 11 has a print mechanism lever 25, which is also pivoted about the centerworm 23. The print mechanism lever 25 supports the print mechanism 26 to enable printing of the self-adhesive label 16 on the platen 27. The spring 29 between the arm 28 of the lever 22 and the print mechanism 25 serves to transfer the movement of the lever 22 toward the handle 12 towards the print mechanism 25. In the position as shown in FIG. 6, the print mechanism lever 25 is in the raised position by the lever 22.

For a brief description of the operating cycle of the labeling device described in FIG. 6, it is assumed that there is no self-adhesive label 16 ′ at the dispensing position below the applicator roll 10. To start the operating cycle, pulling the lever 22 against the handle 12 causes the print mechanism lever 25 to move against the central axis 23 due to the movement of the arm 28 and the spring 29. This results in a pivot in the clockwise direction, causing the print mechanism 26 to move down onto the platen 27. As the platen 27 is impacted, the print mechanism 26 prints on the self-adhesive label 16 'located on the platen 27 at that moment. Through the lever 30, which is mounted on the housing 11 for pivotal operation but driven by the print mechanism lever 25, the feeding mechanism 19 is directed toward the platen 27 on the length of the carrier web 15. And move simultaneously from the position described in FIG. 6. When the lever 22 is released, the spring 24 pivots the print mechanism 25 clockwise about the central axis 23 with the lever 22 by returning the lever 22 to the initial position described in FIG. 6. Let it rotate At the same time, the feeding mechanism 19 also returns to the initial position shown in FIG. As such, the frictional engagement with the carrier web 15 causes the carrier web to be pushed against the dispensing lip 18 by an interval corresponding to the width of the self-adhesive label. Thus, the self-adhesive label 16 leaves the carrier web 15 at the dispensing lip 18 and the self-adhesive label 16 goes to the bottom position of the applicator roll 10. The self-adhesive label 16 'will then adhere to the object as the applicator roll 10 rolls.

The feeding mechanism 19 has a transport slide 40 mounted for displacement under the housing 11, in which only the size necessary for understanding the invention is shown in the feeding mechanism described herein with reference to FIG. 6. . For a more clear understanding, reference numerals are also shown in FIG. 7A. The transport slide 40 has a housing 42 with a flap 44 carrying the table 45 outside and can be shaken downwards. On the flap 44 a carriage pole 46 is mounted on the housing 42 for pivotal movement about the central axis 48. 6 and 7a, the invisible helical spring both ends support the housing 42 and the conveying pole 46, respectively, and the conveying pole 46 is biased in a clockwise direction with respect to the central axis 48. ) Direction. At the end adjacent to the flap 44, the transport pole 46 has two skids 50 which allow the transport pole 46 to support the adjacent longitudinal side of the carrier web 15. do. The arrangement of the transport poles 46 on the transport slide 40 indicates that the transport poles 46 are in the up position when the transport slide 40 moves to the left in FIG. 6, while the transport slides to the right in FIG. During movement, the transport poles 46 can be directed downward to hold the carrier web 15 clamped between the clamping member 52 and the table 45 formed on the flap 44 so that the transport slide 40 The carrier web is dragged to the right in FIG. 6, which is also described below with reference to FIGS. 7A-7F.

In FIGS. 7A-7F, the individual labels 16 on the carrier web 15 are numbered consecutively from 1 to 5, with label numbers 1 and 3 being the transport slide 40 and the carrier web 15. Shows more detailed relative positions of The carrier web 15 has a wave-shaped edge in the longitudinal direction and carries the label in FIGS. 1 to 5. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals are used in the known labeling apparatus of FIGS. 6 and 7.

1 shows a detailed view of the transport slide 40 of the labeling device of the present invention, which differs from the conventional labeling device in that the configuration of the transport slide and the enhanced transport of the carrier web 15 are achieved by the transport slide. FIG. 1 shows the transport slide 40 viewed from below, ie from below, the labeling device shown in FIG. 6. 2 shows the transport slide 40 of FIG. 1, which is a sectional view along line 2-2 of FIG. 1. 3 shows the transport slide 40 of FIG. 1 with the flap 44 open. As shown in FIG. 1, the length of the carrier web 15 reaching approximately from one end of the slide to the other end is in the transport slide 40. FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the transport pawl 46 of the transport slide 40 of FIG. 1. 5 shows a vertical sectional view of the transport pawl 46.

As shown in FIGS. 2-5, the transport pawl 46 has a groove 54 extending with a constant width and receiving the clamping member 52. According to the invention, the clamping member 52 is of a cutting-edge type such that there can be a line contact between the clamping member 52 and the carrier web 15 in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the carrier web 15. . 1 to 5, the clamping member 52 has a plurality of cutting edges 52a, 52b, 52c disposed adjacent to each other in the feeding direction of the carrier web 15. The relative distance of the cutting edges 52a-52c to the carrier web 15 gradually increases in the feeding direction, as can be seen through FIG. 2, ie the cutting edge 52a is already in the carrier web 15. The cutting edge 52b is slightly away from the carrier web 15, and the cutting edge 52c is far more than the distance the cutting edge 52b is away from the carrier web 15. The cutting edges 52a-52c are provided on a single body forming the clamping member 52. In the embodiment shown and described herein, the clamping member 52 is composed of a plurality of blades 56a, 56b, 56c. The groove 54 is shaped such that the blades 56a to 56c are fixedly received therein. The housing 42 of the transport slide 40 is manufactured in an injection-molded manner, and the blades 56a-56c are placed in their molds prior to the molding operation to unmold the transport pawl 46 as shown in FIG. 4. Make the final form possible. In the arrangement inside the groove 54 there is a lip 55 supporting the blades 56a to 56c in the feeding direction and, as in " 54 ", the groove is gradually divided into several smaller grooves. The blades 56a to 56c are preferably made of a metal such as cutlery steel or the like. As can be clearly seen through FIG. 2, the blades 56a-56c protrude from the transport pawl 46 to the same extent on the side of the transport pawl 46 towards the carrier web 15, as shown in FIG. 2. It is fixed to the transport pawl 46 such that they are relatively perpendicular to the carrier web 15 in the clamping position. As the transport slide 40 moves to the right in FIG. 2, the blade 52a first starts line contact with the carrier web 15. As the transport slide 40 continues to move to the right in FIG. 2, the transport pawl 46 is gradually rotated clockwise about the central axis 48 such that the second cutting edge 52b is also in line contact. Finally, the transport slide 40 exerts a correspondingly strong pulling force on the carrier web 15 such that the cutting edge 52c is in line contact with the carrier web 15 such that the carrier web 15 is brought into the table 45. Should be clamped gradually.

Claims (6)

A labeling device for stepwise feeding and pasting of self-adhesive labels arranged on a carrier web with a lever pivotally mounted on a housing driving a feeding mechanism for a carrier web, the supply mechanism being a transport with a transport pole and a table. Wherein said carrier web is adapted to be retained clamped between the clamping member of said transport pawl and the table carried by said transport slide in each pivot cycle of said lever. The clamping member 52 of the transport pawl 46 is capable of line contact between the clamping member 52 and the carrier web 15 in a line perpendicular to the feed direction of the carrier web 15. A labeling device, characterized in that it is composed of an edge-type structure. The method according to claim 2, The clamping member 52 includes a plurality of cutting edges 52a to 52c arranged adjacent to each other in the feeding direction. The method according to claim 2, Labeling device, characterized in that the cutting edges (52a to 52c) are arranged at progressively increasing distances towards the carrier web (15) in the feed direction. The method according to claim 2 or 3, Labeling device, characterized in that the clamping member 52 consists of a plurality of blades (56a ~ 56c). The method according to claim 4, Labeling device, characterized in that the blade (56a ~ 56c) is made of metal. The method according to claim 4 or 5, The blades 56a-56c project on the side of the transport pole 46 toward the carrier web 15 to the same extent from the transport pole 46 and the blades 56a-56c are in the clamping position. Labeling device, characterized in that it is mounted on the transport pawl (46) so as to be relatively perpendicular to the carrier web (15).

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