WO2017102642A1

WO2017102642A1 - Labelling device having a transport and/or placement means

Info

Publication number: WO2017102642A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/080625
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rainer Simon
Original assignee: Gea Food Solutions Germany Gmbh
Priority date: 2015-12-16
Filing date: 2016-12-12
Publication date: 2017-06-22
Also published as: EP3390235A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a labelling device (30) comprising a pull-off means (21) which pulls off labels (20) from a strip, and a placement means (22) which attaches the pulled off labels on a packaging (28), the placement means comprising an adhesive (29). The present invention also relates to a packaging machine (1) for producing a packaging (28), said packaging machine comprising a sealing station (15) which seals a film (14) on a packaging trough (6) and which comprises a labelling device (30) for providing a label (20) on the packaging (28). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for providing a label (20) on a packaging (28).

Description

Labeler with a transport and / or settling agent

The present invention relates to a labeling. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a packaging machine, for producing a packaging, with a

Sealing station, which seals a film to a packaging tray and having a labeler, which provides a label on the packaging. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for providing a label on a package.

Labelers are known from the prior art, for example EP 2 679 505 A1. In these labelers each label is detached from a carrier tape and then transported to the package to be labeled and connected there with its adhesive side with the packaging.

It was therefore the object of the present invention to further improve the labelers of the prior art.

The object is achieved with a labeler with a peel that peels labels from a tape and a settling agent that attaches the peeled labels on a package, the settling agent has an adhesive.

The disclosure made on this subject of the present invention applies equally to the other objects of the present invention and vice versa.

The present invention relates to a labeler for labeling packages. The labels have a visual and an adhesive side, wherein they are provided with the adhesive side on a carrier tape. From this carrier tape, they are withdrawn from the carrier tape with a peel-off agent, for example with a so-called donor edge, and transferred to a depositing means, which affixes the respective label to the respective packaging, for example by pressing on the packaging.

According to the invention, the settling agent now has an adhesive, so that the label adheres to the settling agent. For example, the adhesive comprises a component or coating to which the label adheres due to van der Waals forces. In particular, the component or the coating has a nano- or microstructured surface.

The surface preferably has elevations and depressions in the range of <100 nm. Due to the adhesive force, the label adheres to the settling agent during transport from the stripping agent to the package. However, once the label has been attached to the package with its adhesive power, the adhesive force is higher than the adhesive force so that the settling agent can be released from the label. Preferably, the adhesive exists at least partially made of polyurethane and / or a urethane material. Particularly preferably, the surface of the adhesive has a nano- and / or microstructured surface.

The labeler preferably has a cleaning device for the settling agent, in particular for its adhesive. The cleaning device preferably has a liquid dispenser, a mechanical cleaning device and / or a dryer. The cleaning liquid is preferably water-based and can be a chemical

Have cleaning substance. It can be tempered. The adhesive pad is preferably brought into contact with the cleaning fluid for a certain time, for example 30 seconds, and then the softened and / or dissolved dirt particles and / or residues, for example with air and / or a cleaning agent, a brush and / or a fleece and / or a cleaning conveyor belt or the like. Incidentally, reference is also made to the disclosure below.

Another object of the present invention is a labeler having a peel-off means which peels labels from a tape, a transport means which places the peeled labels over a package and a settling means which fixes the labels to a package, wherein it comprises a cleaning device for comprising the means of transport.

Preferably, the conveyor belt has an adhesive surface on which the labels adhere to the package after peeling and prior to application. Preferably, this adhesion is based on van der Waals forces. In particular, the conveyor belt has a nano- or microstructured surface. The surface preferably has elevations and depressions in the range of <100 nm. Due to the adhesive force, the label adheres to the means of transport. Once the settling agent is in contact with the label, this adhesive force is overcome and the settling agent presses the label onto the package. Preferably, the label facing surface of the conveyor belt is at least partially made of polyurethane and / or a urethane material.

In the cleaning mode, a cleaning device is preferably brought into contact with the transport, preferably slightly pressed and preferably the transport means driven at least during contact. The resulting rotational or longitudinal movement of the transport means is for example continuous or according to a fixed or variable movement pattern following, for example, intermittently or the direction changing and / or alternating and / or oscillating provided. The contact between cleaning device and the transport is preferably carried out by moving the Conveyor belts towards the stationary cleaning device or by moving the portable cleaning device against the conveyor belt or by a combination of the two movements. The bring into contact is preferably carried out automatically, for example with pneumatic or electric motor drives, or manually.

The cleaning device contains, for example, a cleaning agent, for example a sponge, a brush, a rotary brush, a cleaning conveyor belt and / or a fleece. Preferably, the purification is carried out in the presence of water and / or an aqueous liquid. The cleaning agent is preferably pressed against the transport. Alternatively or additionally, the cleaning device, preferably with the cleaning agent, is moved relative to the conveyor belt, for example, in the longitudinal direction or oscillating or rotating or according to the known motion patterns of orbital sanders or eccentric grinders or according to a combination thereof, to generate, support or improve the cleaning effect.

The cleaning liquid, for example water, preferably contains additives adapted to the cleaning task, for example substances which remove grease or dirt, for example surfactants, or have a corresponding effect themselves. The agent and / or the cleaning agent are preferably tempered.

A water loss resulting from the cleaning or evaporation is preferably compensated for by tracking of cleaning liquid via a preferably controlled or regulated liquid connection.

After cleaning, the contact between cleaning device and transport is preferably dissolved again. The cleaning device itself is preferably cleaned at least cyclically and preferably parked in a parking station outside its operating times / cleaning mode. The parking station can be located inside the packaging machine, but also next to the packaging machine, wherein in the second case either at least parts of the labeler, at least the transport, preferably laterally swung out of the machine or the parking station is pivoted or a combination thereof is performed. When parking, the cleaning device is preferably self-cleaning and / or protected against contamination, for example with a cover, which preferably also acts against evaporation of the agent and / or drying of the cleaning agent. After cleaning, it may be necessary to remove residues from the means of transport with a post-cleaning device, if the residues would otherwise reduce the adhesive effect of the conveyor on the labels. For this purpose, a second or further cleaning devices is brought as Nachreinigungsvorrichtung with the transport in contact, the detergent and / or a cleaning liquid, which are not detrimental to the adhesive effect of the conveyor belt, such as water, especially without additives, or a fast volatile substance such as acetone , Alternatively or additionally, the post-cleaning device consists of one or more air nozzles with which the transport is completely or partially freed from residues.

After cleaning and subsequent cleaning, the transport is preferably dried with a drying station, that is completely or partially freed from the cleaning liquid, for example by one or more air nozzles and / or a drying fleece.

Coarse contamination, such as residues of labels or not removed labels are preferably already removed in a pre-cleaning station, which consists for example of a sharp edge or blade, which is preferably placed at a small distance to the surface of the transport, without the transport, such as a Damage conveyor belt. During the rotational or longitudinal movement of the conveyor belt, the coarse contaminants are removed from the pre-cleaning station, preferably peeled or repelled.

The cleaning is preferably carried out during the change of label roll or after the end of the shift or after a specified experience time.

Yet another object of the present invention is a packaging machine, for producing a packaging, with a sealing station, a film to a

Packaging tray seals and having the inventive labeling (30), which provides a label on the packaging.

The present invention relates to a packaging machine, which may be, for example, a so-called thermoformer, but also a traysealer. On such packaging machines usually plastic films are processed. In the packaging machine according to the invention, each packaging recess is intermittent transported a certain preference along the packaging machine and thereby produced a format of packages consisting of n rows and m columns, where n and m is an integer> 1. This can for example be done by a

Underfilm web, which is taken to the right and left of chains, intermittently transported along the packaging machine. However, this can also take place in that a gripper transports filled packaging trays into a sealing station and away from there. After each packaging tray with a packaged, in particular a

Food has been filled and possibly after a gas exchange, the respective packaging tray is closed with a film, the film with the packaging tray is materially, in particular by sealing, connected. The finished

Packaging is then provided with at least one label. As a rule, the label is glued to the packaging. For this purpose, the label is detached from a label tape, for example, at a dispensing edge and passed to a settling device, which attaches the respective label to the respective packaging. In general, will be

Packages of a column, i. the packages, which are arranged side by side transversely to the transport direction of the packages, at the same time each provided with a label. For these labels are successively detached from the label tape and taken from the settling device, which then goes to the column to be labeled and the labels deposited there. However, it is also possible to transport each label separately to the respective packaging. Labeling typically occurs between two transport cycles of the packaging troughs, i. while these are resting. Only when all packaging of a format are provided with a label, the format is transported on a preference. After labeling, the packaging is then separated.

Yet another object of the present invention is a method of providing a label on a package, the label being disposed on a label tape and optionally printed by a printer, and wherein the labels are separated from the label

Striped label tape, transported to the respective packaging and pressed by a settling means to the packaging, the labels are integrally connected to the settling means. The printing can of course be done during different process sections, for example while the label is still on the label tape or the label is already pressed onto the package.

Preferably, the adhesive of the settling agent is cleaned. Preferably, the adhesive is cleaned with water or a water-like substance. Most preferably, the adhesive is then dried.

Alternatively or additionally, the adhesive may be dry-cleaned, i. without the addition of a liquid or gel detergent.

Yet another object of the present invention is a method in which the

withdrawn labels with a means of transport, in particular with a conveyor belt, are transported to the respective packaging and that the means of transport is cleaned.

Preferably, the transport is cleaned with water or a water-like substance. Particularly preferably, the means of transport is then dried.

Alternatively or additionally, the means of transport may be dry-cleaned, i. without the addition of a liquid or gel detergent.

Alternatively or additionally, the transport means, in particular the conveyor belt, and / or the adhesive of the settling agent are cleaned by mechanical processing, for example by grinding, for example by the uppermost layer of

label-contacting surface is at least partially removed and thereby, for example, the nano- or microstructured surface exposed and / or recreated.

Preferably, the means of transport is cleaned regularly and / or automatically.

The inventions will be explained below with reference to the figures. These explanations are merely exemplary and do not limit the general inventive concept. The explanations apply equally to all articles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows the packaging machine according to the invention.

FIGS. 2 and 4 show a first embodiment of the labeler according to the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention

labeler FIG. 1 shows the packaging machine 1 according to the invention, which has a thermoforming station 2, a filling station 7 and a sealing station 15. A lower film web 8, here a plastic film web 8, is withdrawn from a supply roll and cyclically transported along the packaging machine according to the invention from right to left. At one stroke, the sub-web 8 is further transported by a preference, wherein it requires several advantages to produce a finished package. For that, the

Packaging machine two transport (not shown), in the present case in each case two endless chains, which are arranged on the right and left of the lower film web 8. Both at the beginning and at the end of the packaging machine at least one gear is provided for each chain in each case, around which the respective chain is deflected. At least one of these gears is driven. The gears in the input area and / or in the output area may be connected to each other, preferably by a rigid shaft. Each transport has a plurality of clamping means which grip the lower film web 8 in the inlet region 19 by clamping and the movement of the

Transport means transmitted to the lower film web 8. In the outlet area of the

Packaging machine, the clamping connection between the transport and the lower film web 8 is released again. Downstream of the inlet region 19, a heating means is provided which heats the film web 8, especially when it is stationary. In the thermoforming station 2, which has an upper tool 3 and a lower tool 4, which has the shape of the packaging tray to be produced, the packaging trays 6 are formed in the warmed film web 8. The lower tool 4 is arranged on a lifting table 5, which, as symbolized by the double arrow, is vertically adjustable. Before each film feed, the lower tool 4 is lowered and then raised again. In the further course of the packaging machine, the packaging trays are then filled in the filling station 7 with the packaged goods 16. In the adjoining

Sealing station 15, which also consists of an upper tool 12 and a vertically adjustable lower tool 1 1, a top film 14 is firmly bonded by sealing to the lower film web 8. Also in the sealing station, the upper tool and / or the lower tool are lowered or raised before and after each film transport. The upper film 14 may be guided in means of transport or be transported by transport chains, this transport then only from the sealing station and possibly

extend downstream. Otherwise, the statements that have been made to the means of transport of the lower film apply. The upper foil can also be warmed up with a heating medium and deep-drawn. For sealing purposes, a heatable sealing frame is provided as a lower tool 11, for example, which has an opening per packaging cavity into which the packaging cavity is sealed during sealing, i. in the upward movement of the

Sealing tool, dips. For sealing, the upper and the lower film web between the upper and the lower tool 12, 1 1 compressed and combine under the influence of heat and pressure. After sealing, the tools 1 1, 12 are moved apart vertically again. A dancer may be provided between the supply roll and the sealing tool, which compensates for the intermittent advance of the lower film 8 and thus the intermittent withdrawal of the upper film web 14. The dancer can be used as a film web memory and / or to generate a specific

Serve foil tension. The person skilled in the art understands that several top films may be present, for example in a multi-layered package or a package with several top films. Preferably, a dancer is then provided in the course of each top sheet. The person skilled in the art will further understand that a dancer can also be provided in the region of the lower film 8, preferably downstream of the supply roll. After the packaging has been completed, it is provided with a label 20 on which

For example, the date of manufacture, the contents of the package and / or the weight of the weight is noted. For this, the packaging machine according to the invention has a

Labeling device 30 which will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 2-4. In the further course of the packaging machine, the finished packages are separated, which in the present case with the cross cutter 18 and the

Slitter 17 takes place. The cross cutter 18 can also be raised or lowered in the present case with a lifting device 9.

The packaging machine according to the invention was based on a so-called

Thermoformer described, but can also be used for a so-called Traysealer. Figures 2 and 4 show a first embodiment of the invention

Labeler. This has a peel, here a peel edge 21, which replace the labels, which are provided with their adhesive side on a supply tape of this. The peel-off label is then brought into engagement with a settling means 22 which has at its lower end an adhesive 29, preferably an adhesive pad, to which the peel-off or detached label adheres. This preferably follows

Absetzmittel, here the punch 22, the movement of the label during the detachment.

Once the label is peeled off, it becomes the label by means of the stamp

Pack 28 brought and pressed there on the packaging and thereby stuck. The resulting adhesive force is greater than the adhesive force between the label and the adhesive so that the settling agent 22 can be released from the label. The person skilled in the art will understand that the settling means 22 can be provided so that it takes over several labels 20 at the same time.

The adhesive 29 preferably has a nanostructure, due to which and its chemical composition, the label is reversible by means of a van der Waals bond adheres to the adhesive. This adhesive 29 must be cleaned regularly, which is done with a cleaning fluid and / or a mechanical cleaning agent. After cleaning, the adhesive 29 is preferably dried before being reused to accept labels.

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a labeler. Again, the labels 20 are transported on a supply belt and released from the supply belt at a donation edge 21. The labels are then pressed, for example by means of an air nozzle 27 and / or a roller 26 to a conveyor belt which rotates in the present case counterclockwise and receives a plurality of labels as shown. The labels are preferably retained on the conveyor by van der Walls forces. Preferably, the conveyor belt is as described in EP 2 679 505 A1, executed. As soon as the labels have been placed over the respective packaging to be labeled, they are detached from the conveyor belt 23 by means of several stackers 22 and pressed onto the packages. According to the invention, the labeler has a

Cleaning device 25, with the conveyor belt, preferably a

Nanostruktur has, can be cleaned. As shown by the two double arrows, this cleaning agent can be moved from a parking, to a cleaning position, or preferably moved relative to the conveyor belt and / or pressed to improve the cleaning. The cleaning is preferably carried out in the presence of a liquid substance, in particular an aqueous substance, but a

Detergent, for example, a surfactant can be supplied. During cleaning, the conveyor belt preferably moves. Alternatively or additionally, a cleaning agent, such as a brush or a flap-like structure moves relative to the conveyor belt to improve the cleaning. After cleaning it will be

Transport belt preferably dried with a dryer 24. This may be, for example, an air nozzle. By cleaning, it is possible to expose the nanostructure essential for the adhesion of the label to the conveyor belt.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 packaging machine

2 forming station, thermoforming station

3 upper tool of the thermoforming station

4 lower tool of thermoforming station

5 lifting table, carrier of a tool of the sealing, thermoforming station and / or the cutting device

6 packaging tray

7 filling station

8 film web, bottom film web

9 lifting device

10 labeling device

1 1 lower tool of the sealing station

12 upper tool of the sealing station

13 label tape

14 top film web, lid film

15 sealing station

16 packaged goods

17 slitter

18 cross cutters

19 inlet area

20 etiquette

21 stripping agent, dispensing edge

22 settling agent, stamp

23 conveyor belt

24 desiccant, air nozzle

25 cleaning device

26 pressing means, roll

27 Pressing means, nozzle, air nozzle

28 packaging

29 adhesives

30 labellers LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 packaging machine

2 forming station, thermoforming station

3 upper tool of the thermoforming station

4 lower tool of thermoforming station

6 packaging tray

7 filling station

8 film web, bottom film web

9 lifting device

10 labeling device

1 1 lower tool of the sealing station

12 upper tool of the sealing station

13 label tape

14 top film web, lid film

15 sealing station

16 packaged goods

17 slitter

18 cross cutters

19 inlet area

20 etiquette

21 stripping agent, dispensing edge

22 settling agent, stamp

23 conveyor belt

24 desiccant, air nozzle

25 cleaning device

26 pressing means, roll

27 Pressing means, nozzle, air nozzle

28 packaging

29 adhesives

30 labellers

Claims

claims:

1 . Labeler (30) with a peeling means (21), the labels (20) from a tape

and a settling means (22) which fixes the withdrawn labels on a package (28), characterized in that settling means comprises an adhesive (29).

2. Labeler (30) according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a

Cleaning device (25) for the adhesive of the settling agent (22).

3. labeller (30) according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized

characterized in that it comprises a transport means (23) which places the withdrawn labels (20) each over a package and that it has a

Cleaning device (25) for the means of transport (23).

4. labeler (30) according to any one of the preceding claims or the preamble of claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the label-contacting surface of the adhesive (29) and / or the transport means at least partially made of polyurethane and / or a urethane material.

5. Packaging machine (1), for producing a packaging (28), with a

A sealing station (15) which seals a film (14) to a packaging tray (6) and which comprises a labeler (30) according to any one of the preceding claims which provides a label (20) on the package (28).

6. A method for providing a label (20) on a packaging, wherein the label is arranged on a label tape and optionally by a printer (21) is printed and wherein the labels (20) withdrawn from the label tape, transported to the respective packaging and be pressed by a settling means (22) to the packaging, characterized in that the labels (20) are materially connected to the settling means.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the settling agent comprises an adhesive (29) and that the adhesive (29) is cleaned.

8. The method according to the preamble of patent claim 6, characterized in that the withdrawn labels (20) with a transport means (23), in particular with a conveyor belt are transported to the respective packages and that the means of transport is cleaned.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the transport means (23) or the adhesive (29) is cleaned with water or a water-like substance.

10. The method according to claim 7 - 9, characterized in that the transport means (23) or the adhesive (29) is dried.

1 1. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the

Transport means (23) or the adhesive (29) is mechanically cleaned.

12. The method according to any one of claims 7 - 1 1, characterized in that the means of transport is cleaned regularly and / or automatically.