CUTTING UNIT FOR A LABELING DEVICE, AND LABELING DEVICE HAVING SUCH A CUTTING UNIT

Abstract

A cutting unit comprising a cutting drum, a drum knife, a counterpart knife, and a double-joint controller that controls swiveling about a first joint, which swivels the counterpart knife between a cutting position and a waiting position, and swiveling about a second joint, which permits adjustment of a knife gap that forms between the counterpart knife and the drum knife in the cutting position. The drum knife is disposed on a circumference of the drum such that rotation of the drum guides the drum knife past the counterpart knife to cut a label when the counterpart knife is in the cutting position. In the waiting position, the counterpart knife is out of active engagement with the drum knife. The second joint permits adjustment of the knife gap such that the knife gap remains adjusted independently of swiveling about the first joint.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. An apparatus comprising a cutting unit, said cutting unit comprising a cutting drum, a drum knife, a counterpart knife, and a double-joint controller that controls swiveling about a first joint, which swivels said counterpart knife between a cutting position and a waiting position, and swiveling about a second joint, which permits adjustment of a knife gap that forms between said counterpart knife and said drum knife in said cutting position, wherein said drum knife is disposed on a circumference of said drum such that rotation of said drum guides said drum knife past said counterpart knife to cut a label when said counterpart knife is in said cutting position, wherein, in said waiting position, said counterpart knife is out of active engagement with said drum knife, and wherein said second joint permits adjustment of said knife gap such that said knife gap remains adjusted independently of swiveling about said first joint.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said double-joint controller is configured to swivel said first joint into said waiting position when a gap in container flow requires that no label be cut and to swivel said first joint into said cutting position when a label is to be cut.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a link that forms part of both said first and second joints.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first and second joints are connected to form a double joint.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a link, wherein said link and said first and second joints are formed from a single piece of material.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a link that forms part of said first and second joints to form a double joint, said link comprising parallel first and second side limbs and a base limb perpendicular to said side limbs and connecting said side limbs.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a link having first and second side limbs and a base limb extending therebetween, wherein said first joint is formed at a transition between said first limb and said base limb, wherein said second joint is formed at a transition between said second limb and said base limb, and wherein said link is elastically deformable at both said first and second joint.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first and second joints form a solid body joint that is configured as a single piece.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a housing for said cutting unit and a holding plate that secures double-joint controller to a fixed position on said housing.

26. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a switch and a link, wherein said link connects said first and second joints to form a double joint, wherein said double-joint controller comprises an L-shaped switching lever that comprises a first side that connects to said double joint and a second side that interacts with said switch and wherein movement of said switch causes movement of said switching lever to cause said counterpart knife to swivel between said cutting position and said waiting position.

27. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a stop and a lever, said lever being a switching lever and said stop being a mechanical stop, wherein movement of said lever causes a transition between said waiting and cutting positions, wherein said stop is disposed at a free end of said lever, and wherein said stop is adjustable to adjust extents to which said lever moves to attain said waiting and cutting positions.

28. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said double-joint controller comprises a lever, a knife holder, and a link, wherein said link comprises a side limb, wherein said knife holder holds said counterpart knife such that said counterpart knife swivels about said first joint to an extent that is proportional to deflection of said lever.

29. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said double-joint controller comprises a locking plate, a lever, a knife holder, and a link, wherein said link comprises a side limb, wherein said knife holder is at said side limb, and wherein said locking plate secures said side limb to said lever.

30. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said double-joint controller comprises a knife holder, a lever, and an adjustment device, wherein said knife holder holds said counterpart knife, wherein said adjustment device, which is at said knife holder, is configured to adjust said knife gap by swiveling about said second joint relative to said lever.

31. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising first and second counter-threads and a threaded spindle, said threaded spindle having first and second threaded sections that are threaded in the same direction with different pitches, wherein said first threaded section engages said first counter-thread and said second threaded section engages said second counter-thread, wherein said first counter-thread is on a knife holder and said second counter-thread is on a switching lever.

32. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a labeling machine for labeling containers with a roll-fed label, wherein said cutting unit is a constituent of said labeling machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The invention is explained in greater detail hereinafter on the basis of the figures and in relation to exemplary embodiments. The Figures show:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a labeling machine;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows part of a cutting unit from the labeling machine of FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 3 shows the switching-and-setting apparatus, or double-joint controller from the cutting unit of FIG. 2;

[0028] FIG. 4 shows the switching-and-setting apparatus of FIG. 3 from above; and

[0029] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the switching-and-setting apparatus of FIG. 3.

[0030] Identical reference numbers are used in the figures for elements which are the same or have the same effect. Moreover, for the sake of easier overview, only reference numbers are represented in the individual figures which are required for the description of the respective figure. The invention is also represented in the figures only as a schematic view in order to explain the mode of operation. In particular, the representations in the figures serve only to provide an explanation of the underlying principle of the invention. For reasons of easier overview, not all the constituent parts of the device have been represented in each case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a labeling machine 1 for labeling containers 2 with roll-fed labels 3 that are drawn from a supply roll 4 of an endless strip 3.1. A cutting unit 5 cuts portions of the strip 3.1 to form a length required for a label 3. A drum 6 transfers such a label 3 to a container 2 as a rotor 7 conveys it past the labeling machine 1. The rotor rotates in a first direction A and the drum 6 rotates in a second direction B.

[0032] Rollers 8, 9 draw the strip 3.1 off the supply roll 4. They do so in synchrony with the rotor's rotation. The rollers 8, 9 convey the strip 3.1 to the cutting unit 5.

[0033] Referring now to FIG. 2, the cutting unit 5 comprises a cutting drum 10 that rotates about its vertical drum axis TA in a third direction C that is opposite the second direction B.

[0034] A drum knife 11 on the drum's circumferential surface 10.1 is oriented with its blade extending along a direction that is parallel to the drum axis TA. As the drum 10 rotates, the drum knife 11 cooperates with a counterpart knife 12 to cut the strip 3.1 so as to form the label 3. The drum 10 holds the label at its circumferential surface 10.1, for example by a vacuum, and transfers it to the container 3. As a result, the cutting unit 5 can be said to have cut the label 3 by having the drum knife 11 be guided past the counterpart knife 12 that is held at a double-joint controller 13, which is shown in more detail in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, the double-joint controller 13 controls a first joint GA1 and a second joint GA2.

[0036] The first joint GA1 swivels the counterpart knife 12 between a cutting position SP and a waiting position WP. The cutting position SP causes the counterpart knife 12 to engage the rotating drum knife 11 to cut labels 3. The waiting position WP causes the counterpart knife 12 to be disengaged from the drum knife 11. As a result, no labels 3 are cut.

[0037] When the counterpart knife 12 is in the cutting position SP, a knife gap exists between the between the drum knife 11 and the counterpart knife 12. The second joint GA2 adjusts this knife gap. The second joint GA2 does so independently of the first joint's controlled swiveling motion.

[0038] The double-joint controller 13 swivels the first joint GA1 between the cutting position SP and the waiting position WP in a controlled manner in response to isolated gaps occurring in the container flow. This avoids cutting a label 3 when, as a result of such a gap, there will be nothing to label.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, a holding plate 15 holds the double-joint controller 13 next to a housing 21 of the cutting unit 5. In a preferred embodiment, the holding plate 15 is screwed into the housing 21 so that it can be detached therefrom. The holding plate 15 holds various components of the double-joint controller 13.

[0040] Among these components is a switch 19 that swivels the first joint GA1 between the cutting position SP and the waiting position WP. The switch 19 preferably relies on a pneumatic cylinder apparatus that provides movement along a movement direction D. This movement results in a swiveling motion.

[0041] As can be seen in FIG. 4, a link 14 forms part of both the first and second joints GA1, GA2, thus forming a double joint. In some embodiments, the double joint is formed from a single piece. Embodiments include those in which either the first joint GA1 or the second joint GA2 is formed by removal of material to create a taper or curve. In other embodiments, the link 14 is elastically deformable in the regions at which it forms part of the first and second joints GA1, GA2. In other embodiments, the link 14 has a U-shaped or C-shaped profile.

[0042] The particular embodiment shown in FIG. 4 has a U-shaped link 14 provided at the holding plate 15 at an end thereof that is distal from the switch 19. The link 14 has first and second side limbs 14.1, 14.2 and a base limb 14.3 that connects the side limbs 14.1, 14.2. The base limb 14.3 extends perpendicular to the parallel first and second side limbs 14.1, 14.2.

[0043] The first limb 14.1 connects the link 14 to the holding plate 15, for example by being screwed to it so as to be detachable. The first joint GA1 is formed at the link 14 in a transition region between the first side limb 14.1 and the base limb 14.3. The second joint GA2 is formed in a transition region between the second limb 14.2 and the base limb 14.3. The link 14 returns to its original form after being deformed at the first and second joints GA1, GA2. In some embodiments, the link 14 is formed from an elastic material. In other embodiments, the link 14 is made from a single piece of metal that includes the first and second side limbs 14.1, 14.2 and the base limb 14.3.

[0044] Referring back to FIG. 2, the double-joint controller 13 includes a switching lever 16 that initiates swiveling motion between the cutting and waiting positions SP, WP. As seen from above, the switching lever 16 has first and second sides 16.1, 16.2 that form an L-shaped structure, with the first side 16.1 being the shorter of the two sides.

[0045] The first side 16.1 connects to the base limb 14.3. The second side 16.2 connects to a receiver 23 that moves in response to actuation of the switch 19. This movement causes swiveling at the first joint GA1 in a swiveling direction E.

[0046] As shown in both FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the switching lever 16 comprises a stop 20. The stop 20, which is a mechanical stop located at a free end of the second side 16.2, permits adjustment of the extent to which the switching lever 16 can deflect. This provides a way to adjust the stroke between the waiting position WP and the cutting position SP.

[0047] In some embodiments, a threaded spindle 20.1 with first and second nuts 20.2, 20.3 at ends thereof forms the stop 20. The first nut 20.2, which is the furthest from the holding plate 15, controls the lever's maximum deflection. At this maximum deflection, the counterpart knife 12 is at its cutting position SP in which it engages the drum knife 11 to cut labels 3. The second nut 20.3 which is closest to the holding plate 15, controls the placement of the lever 16 at the waiting position WP. As a result, it is possible to adjust the position of the lever 16 at the waiting position WP and at the cutting position SP along a continuum of values by turning the first and second nuts 20.2, 20.3.

[0048] The second limb 14.2 connects to a knife holder 17 into which the counterpoint knife 12 can be inserted and from which the counterpoint knife 12 is removed for replacement. In a preferred embodiment, the knife holder 17 is arranged at the second side limb 14.2 in a detachable but secure manner, preferably screwed to an outer side of the second side limb 14.2 opposite the switching lever 16. A locking plate 22 screwed to the switching lever 16 and to the knife holder 17 by screws 25 provides a secure coupling so that motion of the switching lever 16 results in motion of the knife holder 17.

[0049] The counterpoint knife 12 extends almost parallel to the drum axis TA. In a preferred embodiment, the counterpoint knife 12 makes an angle of about 0.15° relative to the drum axis TA. The knife holder 17 and the counterpoint knife 12 that it holds, swivels about the first joint GA1 between the cutting position SP and the waiting position WP by an amount that depends on the deflection of the switching lever 16.

[0050] The second joint GA2 provides a way to control the knife gap formed in the cutting position SP independently of the controlled swiveling motion of the first joint GA1. This is achieved by an adjustment device 18 that enables the knife holder 17 to be swiveled about the second joint GA2, which is formed between the second side limb 14.2 and the base limb 14.3. This swiveling motion is independent of that about the first joint GA1.

[0051] The adjustment device 18 absorbs forces in both directions of the swiveling motion about the second joint GA2. As shown in FIG. 2, the adjustment device 18 comprises a spindle 18.1 with a differential thread. The spindle's shaft has first and second threaded sections W1, W2 with the same thread direction but different pitches. The first threaded section W1 engages a counter-thread 17.1 of the knife holder 17. The second threaded section W2 engages a counter-thread 16.3 of the switching lever 16.

[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, the first threaded section W1 has a greater thread pitch than that of the second threaded section W2. When tightening of the spindle 18.1, the first threaded section W1 of the spindle 18.1, which has the greater thread pitch, slides in the counter-thread 17.1 of the knife holder 17. At the same time, however, the second threaded section W2, with its smaller pitch, moves in the counter-thread 16.3 of the switching lever element 16. Since the same rotation of the threaded spindle 18.1 translates into different displacements, tension arises between the first and second threaded sections W1, W2.

[0053] Adjustment of the knife gap using the adjustment device 18 takes place with the locking plate 22 unscrewed. After adjustment of the knife gap, the locking plate 22 is screwed back into position onto the switching lever 16 to fix the knife holder 17 in position.

[0054] The invention has been described heretofore by way of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous modifications and derivations are possible without thereby departing from the underlying inventive concept.

[0055] The claims are deemed to be a constituent part of the description.