WO2007073725A1

WO2007073725A1 - Appartus for labelling cups formed on a packaging-material web

Info

Publication number: WO2007073725A1
Application number: PCT/DE2006/002290
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kay Loth
Original assignee: Hassia Verpackungsmaschinen Gmbh
Priority date: 2005-12-22
Filing date: 2006-12-20
Publication date: 2007-07-05
Also published as: DE102005061648B4; ATE425090T1; CN101374727B; DE102005061648A1; EP1937560B1; EP1937560A1; CN101374727A; DE502006003126D1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus by means of which heat-shrinkable label sleeves (S), which are produced in at least one production unit (1) assigned to the apparatus, are received, transported and transferred to the underside of a packaging-material web, which has cups (B) formed in transverse rows (R’) and is conveyed in a thermoforming packaging machine (100), in order for the cups to be labelled. The apparatus here comprises a transverse conveyor (3) which is arranged transversely to the packaging-material web (PB), is controlled in adaptation to the stepped timing of the packaging machine (100) and is intended for transferring the label sleeves to the cups of the packaging-material web at a transfer location (US). According to the invention, the transverse conveyor, for gripping at least one transverse row (R’) of cups in the packaging-material web, is formed from at least two separate endless strands (I, II) which are guided without slippage on deflecting pulleys (2), which can be driven with separate control. Furthermore, in each case at least one group (4, 4’) of receiving spikes (5) are arranged on the endless strands, each group containing a number of receiving spikes which corresponds to the number of cups in a transverse row of the packaging-material web. On the one hand, the groups can be moved beneath the production unit for the label sleeves at a speed adapted to the dispensing speed of the production unit and, on the other hand, the respectively other group can be brought to a standstill in alignment with the cups at the location (US) for transferring the label sleeves to the cups.

Description

Apparatus for labeling cups formed on a packaging material web

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The invention relates to a device for labeling cups formed on a packaging material web and relates in particular to a device for receiving, heat-shrinkable label sleeves produced in a production device to the underside of a cup-shaped packaging material web for labeling the cup according to Preamble of independent claim 1.

2. Description of the Related Art

For the relevant prior art, reference is made to DE-A-100 23 658 C1 and DE-A-10 2004 009 483 A1. In order to bring the label sleeves produced by corresponding devices for producing the label sleeves from below to the cup formed on the packaging material, cross conveyor devices of the type mentioned above are required, which extend from the said manufacturing equipment to below a thermoforming packaging machine continuous packaging material.

The known devices for producing the label sleeves put the label sleeves produced one by one onto the receiving mandrels of the transverse conveyor passing underneath, which conveys the attached label sleeves under the packaging material web, in each case in alignment with each cup of a row of booklets in the packaging material web. When the transverse conveyor is stationary, the label sleeves are lifted off the receiving mandrels with suitable lifting elements and pushed onto the cups from below. This is followed by a heat treatment of the label sleeves seated on the side walls of the cups to attach to the cups. During the transfer of the label sleeves of a group to a corresponding group of cups in a cup transverse row of the packaging material placement of a sequence of receiving mandrels of the cross conveyor with label sleeves is not possible because the assembly, due to the device for the sleeve production is carried out in the flow. The quasi-stepwise assembly of the receiving mandrels on the one hand and the transfer of the label sleeves to the cups en bloc can therefore take place only separated in time. In addition, for the same reason a loaded with label sleeves group of receiving mandrels of the cross conveyor can be driven only in the loading step cycle in the transfer position under the packaging material with their cups. The inherently high operating speed of the devices for producing the label sleeves is therefore not exploitable.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

Starting from the initially mentioned apparatus and the closest prior art, as regards their feeder for the Erikettenhülsen, the invention has the object to transform their feed device to the effect and improve that the available times for the placement of Aufsteckdorne, the promotion of Packing material and the transfer of the label sleeves to the cup are better usable, on the one hand high clock rates of the associated thermoforming machine can be maintained or this can be increased and that on the other hand, the also associated equipment for the production of the label sleeves enough time for the placement of Aufsteckdorne with the sleeves available stands.

This object is achieved with a device of the type mentioned according to the invention by the features cited in the characterizing part of the independent claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge after the dependent claims. In order to be able to introduce ready-packed items in groups in larger cardboard boxes, which has nothing to do with a labeling in the above sense, although a transport device is known according to EP-AO 695 703, which serves in the form of an endless conveyor to ensure in that the prepackaged packages conveyed to the device can be taken off in complete group size at the delivery point of the device and introduced into the appropriately dimensioned cardboard boxes. If detected irregularities occur in the delivery of a group of individual packs, but the further promotion and delivery of previously funded groups should not be interrupted, therefore, the endless conveyor according to this EP-A-0695703 is provided with two conveyor lines, which can be driven separately controlled. As a result, it is possible to put the irregular group of one conveyor line in order while the pre-run, perfect group of the other conveyor line can continue to run normally to the dispensing point. However, for the present, completely different purpose of the labeling of cups still connected to a packaging material web, the device according to EP-A-0695703 mentioned is not suitable.

On the other hand, what concerns the device according to the present invention is, for example, based on a packaging material web whose shaped cups form four longitudinal rows parallel in the conveying direction, whereby likewise parallel cup rows with four cups each on the packaging material web result. The corresponding molding tool of the associated thermoforming machine for the molding of the cups on the packaging material web then has, in this preferred case, eight so-called mold cavities, ie mold cavities. With the packaging material web, in order to stay by example, four, eight or possibly also sixteen cups reach the labeling station via the cross conveyor at each delivery cycle, from the receiving mandrels the label sleeves are applied to the cups from below. The cross conveyor has for this purpose at least two groups of receiving mandrels but arranged in at least one row, but in groups each attached to another strand pair, which will be explained in more detail. The pairs of strands are movable independently of each other. In this way, it is possible to apply from the under the packaging material web group of the mandrels at standstill of the associated strand pair the label sleeves to the cups above, while the other, belonging to the other strand pair group for equipping their pickup mandrels among the provided devices for Production of label sleeves passes by.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig.l in side view the cross conveyor with its arranged in groups elements for receiving the label sleeves and with the packaging material web located above it;

2 shows in plan view the transverse conveyor according to Fig.l with the packaging material web shown interrupted;

3 shows a section along line X-X in Figure 2;

4 shows a section along line Y-Y in Figure 2;

5 shows a section corresponding to Figure 4 in the form of a concrete embodiment;

6 shows a plan view of the transfer region of the device in the form of the concrete embodiment according to FIG

7 shows in plan view another embodiment of the device for the transfer of label sleeves to only one cup transverse row;

8 shows a schematic section along line Z-Z in Figure 7;

9A-E a summary of arrangement variants A to D of strands of the cross conveyor and

10 is a schematic plan view of a thermoforming packaging machine with the packaging material web expiring therefrom, this associated production device for the label sleeves and the transverse conveyor of interest here, in particular. _ c _

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 10, the device consists of a transverse conveyor 3 arranged transversely to the deep-drawn packaging machine 100 shown in broken line in FIG. 10 in the step cycle. The endless conveyor strands of the transverse conveyor 3 are driven by deflecting pulleys 2 Slip avoidance forced. The endless conveyor strands are further controlled with respect to their conveying movement in dependence on the cycle of the thermoforming packaging machine 100. In addition, the conveyor strands of the cross conveyor 3 are equipped with receiving mandrels 5 for the label sleeves S and indeed in groups 4 and 4 'summarized, which are spaced apart. The number of receiving mandrels 5 of one group corresponds to the number of cups B formed in a transverse row R 'of the packaging material web PB.

In all the embodiments described below, it is assumed for the sake of simplicity that there are transverse rows R ¹ (see FIG. 2) with four cups B each on the packaging material web PB, which form in the conveying direction P with four longitudinal rows R "(see FIG In addition, in FIG. 10, for the sake of completeness, 101 is a filling station, 102 a closing station, 103 the controllable drives of the deflection pulleys 2 of the conveying tracks of the transverse conveyor 3, and 104 the overall control, with which the production device 1 for the label sleeves S and the drives 103 of the transverse conveyor are connected in. The figure in FIG. 10 is only an example, ie the transverse conveyor 3 can also be arranged in front of the filling station 101 in order to accommodate the then label unfilled B cup.

For the device according to the invention is now essential that the cross conveyor 3 for detecting at least one Becherquerreihe R 'of the packaging material web PB from at least two separate endless strands I, II is formed, which are guided without slip on separately driven drivable deflection pulleys 2. To the - S-

Endlossträgen I, II, at least one group is arranged 4,4 'of receiving mandrels 5, wherein each group 4,4' (see Fig.l) includes the receiving mandrels 5 with a number corresponding to the number of cups B in a transverse row R ' the packaging material PB corresponds. The mandrels 5 both groups 4,4 'are on a common movement line BG (see Figure 7) movable and also the groups are 4,4' under the manufacturing apparatus 1 for the label sleeves S on the one hand with the output speed of the manufacturing device 1 adapted speed movable and On the other hand, while the other group at the transfer point US of the label sleeves S to the cup B in alignment with the cups B can be brought to a standstill. The lifting elements 6 arranged in the region of the transfer point US (see FIGS. 3 to 6) are arranged to be disengageable from the movement path of the strands I, II equipped with the groups 4, 4 '.

Essential in the whole is also that the drives 103 of the cross conveyor 3 (see Fig.10) and the associated production device 1 for the label sleeves S, as mentioned above, are connected to the overall control 104.

To expediently and preferably at the same time to equip two rows of cup rows R ¹ with label sleeves, the transverse conveyor 3 is provided with at least four separate strands I to IV for detecting two cup rows R '(see FIG. 2) in the packaging material web PB. Each non-adjacent strands I, III and II, IV are connected as strand pairs SP, SP 'by connecting elements or support pieces 7 firmly together. Each strand pair SP, SP 'is also forcibly guided on deflection plates 2, which are also driven in pairs separately controlled. The receiving mandrels 5 of the groups 4 and 4 'are respectively arranged on the associated strand connecting elements 7 on the one hand of the strand pair SP and on the other hand of the other strand pair SP ¹ . Each row of the receiving mandrels 5 (see Figure 2) is a device 1 (in Fig.l and 2 only indicated by dashed lines) for the production of heat-shrinkable label sleeves S assigned, which are loaded when passing through the receiving mandrels 5 with the sleeves 5 , In Fig.2 is this is the group of receiving mandrels 5 belonging to the strand pair SP 'or to the strands II, IV. The other two rows R of the receiving sleeves 5 equipped with label sleeves belong to the strand pair SP or to the strands I, III and are in a short rest position under the two transverse rows R ^{1 of} the cup B in the packaging material web PB. After transferring the label sleeves S to the cup B of this pair of strands SP moves out of its rest position, and the other strand pair SP 'with its stocked Aufnähmedornen 5 moves under the packaging material web PB. This continues in the cycle of the strand pairs SP, SP 'permanently and appropriately controlled.

As can be seen from Fig.l, the pairs of strands SP, SP 'can be advantageously equipped with two (as shown) or more groups 4, 4' of receiving mandrels 5. The one located at the bottom of the one strand pair group 4 'is silent conform to the transfer station located in the same and belonging to the same strand pair group 4'. The other also located at the bottom strand group 4, which is in communication with the other strand pair, moves in conformity with the top group 4, which is moved with their receiving mandrels 5 under the device 1 with loading speed to the generated label sleeves thorn for Pick up the thorn.

If the forming tool of a thermoforming machine 100 is designed to produce a cup group of a total of sixteen cups in the packaging material web, thus having sixteen so-called mold cavities, then this can also be achieved with the apparatus according to the invention simply by looking in the conveying direction P of the packaging material web PB , arranges in distance of a cycle step length TL of the packaging material web PB behind the cross conveyor 3, a further corresponding cross-conveyor 3. This is indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 10, for the sake of simplicity, however, for detecting only one cup transverse row R 'in each case. In the case of the labeling of a total of sixteen cups B, the first transverse conveyor 3 would equip the first eight cups of the entire group with label sleeves and the second transverse conveyor 3 would fill the remaining transverse cups 3. lent eight cups. Incidentally, it would also be possible with appropriate width design of the strands I to IV and the support pieces 7, the required twelve (see also Fig.9E) or sixteen receiving mandrels 5 on the support pieces 7 to arrange.

Concerning the supporting mandrels 5 bearing support pieces 7, they are with reference to Figure 3, 4 in the form of flat tabs, the dashed lines in plan view also indicated in Figure 2 with but otherwise only by simple lines in the Fig.2 and Also Fig.9A-9E are illustrated.

Since the seated on the mandrels 5 label sleeves S must be raised evenly up against the cup B, this requires the arrangement of lifting elements 6 and between the rows R each located in the transfer position under the packaging material PB group 4. These lifting elements 6 would thus be the Support pieces 7 when moving out of the group concerned from the transfer position in the way. For this reason, with reference to FIGS. 3-6, the lifting elements 6 are designed in the form of fingers 9 engaging below the lower edges of the label sleeves S and engaging in grooves 8 of the receiving mandrels 5, as shown for example in the concrete embodiment in FIGS. 6 is shown. The fingers 9 'facing the inner flanks 5' of the receiving mandrels 5 are arranged in the lowered position (see FIGS. 3 to 5) between the supporting pieces 7 and the strands II, III and can be moved during lifting movement between the supporting pieces 7 in standing strands II, III. and perpendicular to the plane of representation in Figure 6, in which the four existing strands I to IV are shown in cross hatching only for reasons of clarity in pairs.

A particularly simple embodiment of the device is shown in Figure 7, 8, in which the receiving mandrels 5 are arranged in only one row and in plan view in the middle over only two strands I, II and run independently controlled driven over deflecting pulleys 2 whose controlled Drives 103 are indicated only by dashed lines. The pickup mandrels 5 Both groups 4.4 ^V are movable on the same movement line BG. In grooves 8 of the mandrels 5 engaging Hubfinger 9 with suitable actuators 10 provide for the lifting of the seated on the mandrels 5 label sleeves S. After lifting and transferring the label sleeves S to the cup B the lifting fingers 9 are immediately returned to their lowered position. In order not to impede the horizontal conveying movement of the receiving mandrels 5 with their support pieces 30,30 ', there are various possibilities. In the embodiment of Figure 8, for example, the foot portion of the mandrels 5 is provided with grooves 8 ', in which the fingers 9 can intervene upon passage of the mandrels 5. But it is also possible to disengage the fingers 9 with their Betätigungsseiementen 10 to the side sufficiently far from the vertically extending grooves 8. Furthermore, it is possible to arrange the fingers 9 with their actuating elements 10 in the region of the gap 40 indicated in FIG. 8, in which case the grooves 8 of the receiving mandrels 5 must be aligned with the gap 40 on the receiving mandrels 5. Also in this simple embodiment, as explained for Fig. 1, advantageously provided in each case a plurality of groups of receiving mandrels 5 on the strands I, II.

9A to 9E, clearly summarized, possible combinations of inventive cross conveyor 3 forming strands and receiving mandrels 5 are shown, the groups, for example, each (seen in the conveying direction P 'of the cross conveyor) four receiving mandrels 5 in series. The support pieces 7 and 30, 30 'are illustrated only as dashes and the fortifications of the support pieces and the mandrels 5 as points.

The embodiments according to FIGS. 9A and 9D correspond to the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 7 explained in detail.

With the embodiments according to FIGS. 9A-9C, only one row of cups R 'on the packaging material web PB is always served with label sleeves S. The embodiment according to FIG. 9B represents only a further development of that according to FIG. 9A, whereby one group of receiving mandrels 5 is fastened on support pieces 7 and the lower group using, for example, leveling disks directly on the middle strand II. A further development with respect to the embodiment of Figure 9A is in that their strand I is divided into two sub-strands I ', I ", these together with each other Support pieces 7 are connected and extends between them, the strand II.

Seen in terms of strand numbers, the embodiments according to FIGS. 9C-9E correspond, but differ as can be seen by the number of associated receiving mandrels 5. FIG. 9E shows at the lower end of the illustration a further variant, in which FIG next to the strands I-IV, two more strands V, VI angeordnbet are. To connect with each other would be strands I, III, V and strands II, IV and VI. In this latter case, therefore, twenty cups B would simultaneously be detectable on a packaging material web PB.

Claims

claims:

1. A device for receiving, transporting and transferring in at least one of the device associated manufacturing device (1) generated by heat shrinkable label sleeves (S) to the bottom of a cups (B) in transverse rows (R ¹ ) formed in a thermoforming packaging machine (100) conveyed packaging material web (PB) for labeling the cups (B), consisting of a transversely to the packaging material (PB) arranged over deflection pulleys (2) forcibly guided, the step tact of the packaging machine (100) adapted controlled cross conveyor (3), which is provided with receiving mandrels (5) which conform to the label sleeves (S) and are arranged in series one after another and the arrangement of the cups (B) in the packaging material web (PB) correspondingly spaced groups (4, 4 '), and with lifting elements (6) for the transfer of label sleeves (S) at a transfer point (US) to the cup (B) of the packaging material web (PB), characterized in that the transverse conveyor (3) for Erfassu ng at least one cup transverse row (R ¹ ) of the packaging material web (PB) from at least two separate endless strands (I, II) is formed, which are guided without slip on separately driven drivable deflection pulleys (2) that at the endless supports (I, II) at least a group (4, 4 ') of receiving mandrels (5) is arranged, each group (4, 4') containing the receiving mandrels (5) with a number corresponding to the number of cups (B) in a transverse row (R ') the packing web (PB) corresponds to the picking mandrels (5) of both groups (4, 4 ') being movable on a common straight line (BG) and the groups (4, 4') under the manufacturing apparatus (1) for the label sleeves (S) on the one hand with the delivery speed of the manufacturing device (1) adapted speed are movable and on the other hand the other group at the transfer point (US) of the label sleeves (S) to the cup (B) in alignment with the cups (B) for Standstill is brought and that in the Berei the transfer point (US) arranged lifting Elements (6) from the movement path (BS) of the groups (4,4 ') equipped strands (I ₇ II) are arranged formed disengaged trained.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the drives (103) of the cross conveyor (3) and its associated production device (1) with a Gesamtsteuerung (104) of the packaging material web (PB) in the step-stroke promotional thermoforming machine (100) are interconnected.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the receiving mandrels (5) are arranged on the endless strands (I, II) supporting pieces (7).

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, seen in Förerrichtung (P) of the packaging material web (PB), in adaptation to the clock step promotion behind the cross conveyor (3) a suitably designed cross conveyor (3) is arranged.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the endless strands (I ₇ II) of the transfer point (US) of the label sleeves (S) to the cup (B) to the placement point (BS) of the at least one production device ( 1) for the label sleeves (S) are designed to be movable at a higher speed than the delivery speed of the production device (1).

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that one of the two endless strands is formed double-stranded divided and between the strand parts (I ', I ") of the other strand (II) is arranged, wherein the strand parts (IM") are connected to each other by support pieces (7).

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each of the two endless strands (I, II) is formed as a double strand and thus the transverse conveyor (3) has four separate endless strands (I-IV), wherein each non-adjacent Endless strands (I, III and II, IV) as separately driven drivable strand pairs (SP, SP ') by support pieces (7) are interconnected and on the support pieces (7) in each case at least one arbor (5) is arranged.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the lifting elements (6) in the form of the lower edges of the receiving mandrels (5) turned up label sleeves (S) under and engaging in grooves (8) of the receiving mandrels (5) engaging fingers (9 ) - are formed, wherein the grooves (8) of the mandrels (5) facing fingers (9 ') in the lowered position between the support pieces (7) and the strands (II, III) and arranged for lifting movement between the support pieces (7) in standing strands (II, III) arranged to be moved through and formed.

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the control of the drives (103) of the transverse conveyor (3) together with that of the production device (1) with the overall control (104) of the packaging machine (100) is connected.