WO2008135079A1

WO2008135079A1 - Device and method for labeling packages of goods

Info

Publication number: WO2008135079A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/054286
Authority: WO
Inventors: Manfred Korthäuer
Original assignee: Espera-Werke Gmbh
Priority date: 2007-05-03
Filing date: 2007-05-03
Publication date: 2008-11-13

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and method for labeling packages of goods (1), particularly food packages, comprising a transport belt (2) along which the package of goods (1) can be displaced, a feed device (5) for feeding a label (E) printed with at least one piece of information associated with the package of goods (1), and having an applicator device (7) for applying the printed label (E) fed by the feed device (5) to the package of goods (1). In order to improve the method, according to the invention at least one further feed device (8) is provided for feeding an electronic identification element (9), wherein the further feed device (8) has a detection means (10) for capturing the function of the identification element (9) and sorting means (11), such that a non-functional identification element (9) is sorted in the course of the further feeding thereof. This results in only functional identification elements (9) reaching the package of goods (1).

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LABELING

GOODS PACKAGES

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for labeling packages of goods, in particular of food packages with a transport path along which the package is movable, a feeder for supplying a printed with at least one of the goods package information label, and with an Appliziervorrichtung for attaching the fed to the feeder printed label on the goods package.

A device of this type is known from WO 2004/018216 Al. In this known device, the product package, in particular the food package, is moved along a substantially horizontal transport path and in the course of transport, the weight of the package is determined by means of a weighing device in the transport path and passed to a printing device which the currently determined weight of the pack a label imprinted. The label is conveyed from the outside of the device, for example as an adhesive label on a carrier tape, stripped from this carrier tape and attached by means of a suitable Appliziervorrichtung on the package or on the package. As a result, packages of different content can be distinguished by the labels containing the relevant information. In addition to information about the weight of the pack, a label may include additional imprints and is increasingly considered to be of high quality designed printed label. Such labels are an integral part in particular for the presentation of the goods.

From DE 10 2004 024 109 A1 a method for weighing a product is known in which the product is conveyed along a measuring section and the weight value for the product is determined. According to this known solution, the product is provided with a transponder which contains the corresponding data stored in electronic form. The product to be weighed already contains a so-called "RFID tag" containing the transponder when it arrives on the weighing system RFID is a method for the automatic identification of objects and products In addition to contactless identification and the location of objects, RFID also stands for the Automatic capture and storage of data This known solution has the advantage that no readable paper label is more necessary, but all the information can be contained in the RFID tag with the transponder.

This is related to the fact that the RFID transponder is known to consist of an antenna (wire winding or a printed conductive plastic or an antenna of conductive material), an analogue circuit for receiving and transmitting (transceiver), as well as a digital circuit and a permanent memory , All these components are very susceptible to mechanical stress, especially pressure and bending loads.

A disadvantage of such a transponder using labeling of packages of goods is therefore that in the case of a defect or a malfunction the transponder the entire package of goods can no longer be used. Although in the production of transponders high value is placed on functionality and a complex quality control is performed, defects or inoperability of the transponder may occur in the course of its handling. This is due to the fact that the known from an electronic chip with attached ends of a coil consisting of a wire winding transponder element prone to mechanical stress, in particular pressure loads, is.

Therefore, the present invention has the object, further develop a device or a method of the type mentioned in that in case of failure of the

Identification element a total loss of the associated product package is avoided.

This object is achieved in that at least one further feeding device for supplying an electronic identification element is provided, wherein the further supply unit comprises a detector means for detecting the function of the identification element and separating means such that a non-functional

Identification element is discarded in the course of its further supply.

In a method of the type mentioned, the solution according to the invention is characterized in that at least one electronic identification element of the product package is supplied and applied to this, wherein the identification before its attachment to the product package tested for its function and in the case of its inability to function in the course of its further supply is discarded.

By examining the transponder on its functionality at the shortest possible time before attaching the same on the goods on the one hand ensures that errors in the previously expired process are taken into account and on the other by the removal of the defective transponder in one place, so that every commodity a readable transponder and, if provided, a label. This has the particular advantage that it saves time for the plant user, a productivity gain and a cost saving. This solution consistently has the advantage that an identified as defective transponder (possibly in combination with the label) is not applied to the goods package but instead another, functional transponder is provided.

The central teaching of the solution according to the invention is that the identification element provided for the labeling of the packaging is subjected to a functional test after it has been fed, but immediately before it is applied to the product package, and when the functional test reveals that it is inoperable, the associated one Identification element is discarded from the further feeder and thus does not get on the goods package. Thus, it is thus prevented that a package of goods is awarded a non-functional identification element, whereby the reading out of the data of this package, for example, at the cash register of a grocery, excluded or more difficult. For the purposes of the invention, "information associated with the product package" is, for example but not limited to, its weight or its description of content.

Preferred embodiment of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims:

In particular, it is advantageous if the

Identification element is an RFID element containing a transponder. Such elements have become industrially and inexpensively in recent years and are used in many areas for the individual marking of objects use.

In the context of the invention, the identification element at any point, so basically on all six sides of a product packaging can be applied .As a detector means preferably a communicating with the identification element reader is used, so such an element which is in contactless exchange, as in the signal communication is common with transponders. Based on the recorded by the reader transponder signal can be concluded in a simple manner on its functioning.

The transponder elements of the further feed device are preferably conveyed on a carrier tape in an adhesive manner. This has the advantage that as in the delivery of the labels adhering to one of these labels associated carrier tape already present a separation of the transponder elements and these are then stripped off in a suitable manner from the carrier tape for further processing. In this case, acting as a separating means stripping for the

Identification element / transponder element from the carrier tape in a preferred embodiment of the invention controllable in such a way that when the identification was recognized as functionally inoperable by the detector / reader, a release from the carrier tape is omitted and the defective transponder discarded together with the carrier tape and later fed to disposal can be. On the other hand, functional identification elements are detached from the stripper and further promoted towards the goods package.

A first variant of a preferred embodiment of a labeling device according to the invention provides that the further supply unit for the

Identification element and the feed device for the printed label are assigned to a common Appliziervorrichtung. In this case, the applicator is preferably designed as an endless belt with which both label and

Identification / transponder element are transported together and applied to the goods package, in particular on its underside. The design of the Appliziervorrichtung in the form of the endless belt has the particular effect that transponder and label transported either spaced from each other and thus spaced from each other are applied or, alternatively, already jointly supported one above the other and thus can be applied together to the goods package. The latter design has the advantage that, for example, the unit of transponder and label already prefabricated can be processed and subsequently processed together. The unit of label and transponder has a special functionality when the label completely or partially covers the transponder on the goods package, so that on the one hand the transponder is protected and on the other hand the decorative character of the label is completely preserved.

According to another variant of the device according to the invention, the supply units for the label on the one hand and for the identification element on the other hand formed as separate units and therefore basically designed so that the application of both elements can be done independently.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the further subclaims.

As an applicator next to an endless belt in question, for example, a device by means of which label and identification element are adhesively supported, or even such an endless belt, in which the labels and identification elements are held with negative pressure, as well as drum-shaped

Applicators and so-called pick and place systems, where the donation is made directly to the packaging.

As labels come within the scope of the invention, not only those in question, which are arranged on a carrier tape, but also so-called "linerless" labels, ie those without carrier tape, the queued fed directly to each other or possibly pre-assembled. In the context of the invention, both devices are included which have a weighing device arranged along the transport path in order to determine the particular package weight to be printed, as well as those without a separate weighing device; the latter serve for the award of fixed weight or fixed price.

Also, the presence of a printhead within the meaning of the invention is optional. For completely pre-printed labels, eliminating the need for a printer.

The transport direction of the goods package is preferably horizontal. In the context of the invention, however, other transport directions, e.g. vertically, includes.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. It shows

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a device according to the invention for labeling packages of goods;

FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for labeling packages of goods,

FIG. 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention for labeling packages of goods;

FIG. 4 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for labeling packages of goods, Figure 5 shows a fifth embodiment of an inventive device for labeling packages of goods.

Figure 6 shows a sixth embodiment of an inventive device for labeling packages of goods.

The illustrated in Figure 1 first embodiment of the device according to the invention shows a transport device 2 in the form of a conveyor belt on which a product package 1 is substantially horizontally movable. Along the transport device 2, a weighing device 3 is arranged, which serves to determine the weight of the product package 1. Below the transport device 2, an applicator 7 in the form of an endless belt is arranged, at the periphery of which a first supply unit 5 for labels E and a second supply unit 8 for identification elements in the form of transponders 9 are located. Both feeders 5, 8 are arranged offset on the circumference of the endless belt of the Appliziervorrichtung 7.

The label feeder 5 is formed so that the labels E are mounted on a tape strip as a carrier at substantially the same distance from each other. The tape strip is unwound from a supply roll and fed to a printing unit. The printing unit consists of a print head 12 in the form of a direct thermal and thermal transfer print head and an abutment over which slides the back of the tape strip at its feed. The print head 12 is strip-shaped and extends transversely to the feed direction of the tape strip substantially about its width or the width of the labels. In the strip running direction behind the printing unit 12, a relatively sharp deflection in the form of a dispensing edge 4 is provided, at which the printed labels peeled off E in a conventional manner from Tragerbandstreifen and removed through an opening in the housing of the device and applied to the acting as Appliziervorrichtung endless belt 7 can be.

The further supply device 8 essentially comprises a mechanism for feeding in further strip strips on which transponders T are adhesively attached at substantially the same distance from one another. On their way in the direction of the applicator 7, the transponders are guided past a reader 10 which acts as a detector device and which is in electromagnetic communication with the transponders in each case. In the direction of tape travel behind the reader 10, a further dispensing edge is provided, at which the tested as functional transponder detached from their Tragerbandstreifen and on the

Applicator 7 are applied. In the area of the dispensing edge, a sorting means 11 is provided, which activates the dispensing process such that in the event that a functionuntuntuchtiger transponder is detected by the detector device 10 / Reader, a Ablosen the transponder is prevented by its carrier band and this deflected instead and on the Tragerband remaining is requested. The rejection means 11 consists of an edge or a roller whose radius is variable, for example pneumatically. In the case of a small radius, the transponders are stripped off while remaining on the carrier belt with a sufficiently large radius. The detected as functional transponder are transferred to the Appliziervorrichtung 7 after the successful detachment. One embodiment provides that a detachment of a recognized as functionally inoperable transponder is initially also prevented, but at a later stage, the defective transponder and the carrier tape are disposed of separately, since the defective transponder as electronic waste, the carrier tape, however, as special waste consider. Alternatively, the recognized as defective transponder can be tapped at the wiping edge to prevent the application.

The mode of operation of the device described now provides that the label E and transponder 9 / T are dispensed at a distance from one another onto the endless belt 7 and are applied to the underside of the product package 1 in the region of the endless belt 7 which is located below the product package. The distance is defined by the distance on the endless belt 7.

The variant of FIG. 1 shown in FIG. 2 differs from FIG. 1 in that the two feed devices 5 and 8 are interchanged and arranged at the periphery of the endless belt 7. In this way, the order of transponder and label and their application to the bottom of the goods package, based on the respective packaging, be reversed. Again, transponder and label are successively applied in the distance on the endless belt 7, by being applied later on the package. Both designs according to Figures 1 and 2 allow the possibility that transponder and label can be applied as a unit on the goods package 1. By the Corresponding suitable choice of the application times on the endless belt 7 can be achieved that a transponder is located exactly above the already located on the endless belt 7 label E and then subsequently applied in this manner to the goods package. However, it is also possible, which is the preferred variant, that initially a transponder is applied to the endless belt 7 and then, as the transponder passes by the dispensing station of the supply device 5 for the label, it is transferred to the transponder 9 in such a way that both overlap, that is, the label is attached to the outside of the product package on the later visible side.

The further embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3 has only one supply device, with which the already prefabricated unit of label and transponder are transferred together to the endless belt 7 acting as the application device. The printing of the label E is carried out prior to transfer to the endless belt 7 in the region of the print head 12 and the review of the transponder on its functionality is carried out at the goods package 1 near the end of the endless belt on the reader 10. If a Funktionsunteucht the transponder out, is about the removal unit 11 ensures that the entire unit of transponder and label remains on the endless belt 7 and is not applied to the goods package.

Otherwise, the variant shown in Figure does not differ from those in Figures 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention: As in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3, the goods package 1 moves along a transport path 2, below which are the feeders 5 for the label and 8 for the transponder. However, the two feeders are now completely independent of each other below the transport path 2, in which both feeders 5, 8 are mutually offset in the transport path of the pack.

The feeding device 5 for the label corresponds to that which has been described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3. The supply device 8 for the transponder is similar in construction to that described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3, but the transponder is now donated directly to the underside of the product package, which is connected to the reject unit 11. Non-functional transponders are - as described - not solved by the controllable Aussondereinheit from the carrier tape and disposed of with the expiring carrier tape. Operational transponders which have been mounted on the underside of the goods package 1 are described by a reader / writer 10 located in the further transport path of the goods with the corresponding data which, at the point in time at which the product package is located at this location, is removed from the Weighing device to be supplied.

Subsequently, the label is applied directly to the desired location of the product package 1 via the feeder 5 in a known manner, without the need for a further applicator. The fifth embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 5 also includes separate feeders 5 for the label and 8 for the transponder, which are associated with a Appliziervorrichtung in the form of a movable punch. Label and transponder are transmitted either together or as separate elements on the Appliziervorrichtung and applied from there in a known manner to the goods package 1.

The sixth exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6 provides that the applicator 7 receives the label from the one feed device 5 and the transponder from the further feed device 8. After printing the label in the downstream printer 12 label and / or transponder are transferred to the underside of serving as a further applicator punch, which carries out the application to the goods packaging. In this variant, it is advantageous to use the different cassettes of a multi-cassette printer known per se. Thus, a cassette could be used to check the transponder, alternatively already to describe, to dispose of defective and deliver it to a transport medium. Others of the cassettes then serve to place the label over the transponder before that combination is fed to the common printer 12.

Claims

1. Device for labeling packages of goods (1), in particular of food packages, with

a transport path (2) along which the goods package (1) is movable,

a supply device (5) for supplying a label (E) printed with information associated with at least one of the goods packages (1),

and with an application device (7) for attaching the printed label (E) supplied by the supply device (5) to the product package (1),

characterized in that at least one further, supply means (8) for supplying an electronic identification element (9) is provided, wherein the further supply unit (8) comprises a detector means (10) for detecting the function of the identification element (9) and separating means (11) such that a dubious identification element (9) is discarded in the course of its further supply.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the identification element (9) is an RFID element, in particular a transponder (9).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the detector means is a communicating with the identification element (9) reader (10).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a plurality of identification elements (9) of the further feed device (8) are arranged on a carrier tape adhering to zugefördert.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rejection means (11) has a controllable stripping means for detaching the identification element (9) from the carrier tape.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the stripping device (12) is controllable such that functional identification elements are detached from the carrier tape in a first operating state and remain in a second operating state unserviceable identification elements on the carrier tape.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the further feed unit (8) for the identification element (9) and the feed device (5) for the printed

Label (E) of a common Appliziervorrichtung (7) are assigned.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the Appliziervorrichtung (7) an endless belt (13) is about which label (E) and

Identification element (9) on the goods package (1), in particular on the underside, are attachable.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the label (E) and identification element (9) spaced from each other by the Appliziervorrichtung

(7) and on the underside of the goods package

(1) are applied.

10. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the label (E) and identification element (9) connected to each other by the Appliziervorrichtung (7) conveyed on the underside of the goods package (1) are applied.

11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the label (E) on the goods package (1), the identification element is arranged at least partially overlapping.

12. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the label (E) and the identification element (9) as a prefabricated unit of the Appliziervorrichtung (7) are conveyed.

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the feed unit (5) for the label and the further feed unit (8) for the identification element (9) are designed as separate units and are each assigned to separate Appliziervorrichtungen.

14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the feed unit (5) for the label and the further feed unit (8) for the identification element (9) are designed as a common structural unit.

15. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the Zuführweg of the transponder for packing goods a reader / writer is arranged downstream, via which data, in particular the goods package (1) associated data, are writable to the transponder.

16. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the Appliziervorrichtung is a dispensing device for label and / or transponder, by means of which the application to the goods package (1) via a stamp.

17. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the goods package (1) is movable substantially horizontally along the transport path (2).

18. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that along the transport path (2) a weighing device (3) for determining the weight of the product packaging (1) is provided.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the weight of the product packaging (1) associated information by means of a printing device (12) can be imprinted on the label.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that the printing device (12) is part of the feed device (5).

21. The device according to claim 19, characterized in that the printing device (12) is arranged outside of the labeling device.

22. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the feed device

(5) Labels (E) in the form of a roll consisting of a carrier tape and releasably attached thereto labels are fed.

23. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the feed device

(5) Labels (E) in linerless form, consisting of labels connected without carrier tape, can be fed.

24. A method for labeling packages of goods (1), in particular of food packages, which are moved along a transport path in which at least one of the goods package (1) associated information on a conveyed label (E) is printed and the printed label (E) on the Goods package (1) is applied, characterized in that at least one electronic identification element

(9) of the product package (1) supplied and applied thereto, wherein the identification element (9) is checked before its attachment to the goods package (1) for its function and is discarded in the case of its inoperability in the course of its further supply.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that when adhering to a carrier strip identification element a discarded because of its inoperability identification element (9) remains on the carrier strip and is disposed of together with this.