Vacuum Drum for a Labeling Unit, Labeling Unit Having Such a Vacuum Drum, and Method for Producing a Vacuum Drum

Abstract

A vacuum drum for a labelling unit of a labelling machine has the segments arranged next to each other to collectively form a circumferential surface of the vacuum drum. A typical segment has vacuum-holders that holds ends of the label. The holders are offset along the drum's circumferential surface. The segment also has a carrier plate and a label arc between the first and second vacuum holders. The first vacuum-holder comprises a first housing and the second vacuum holder comprises a second housing. At least one of the carrier plate, the housings, and the label arc is formed by additive manufacturing.

Claims

1-36. (canceled)

37. An apparatus comprising a vacuum drum for a labelling unit of a labelling machine that labels containers with a label having a first end and a second end, said vacuum drum being rotatable about a drum axis and comprising a plurality of segments, said segments being arranged next to each other along a circumferential direction of said vacuum drum so as to collectively form a circumferential surface of said vacuum drum, wherein said segments comprise a first segment that comprises a first vacuum-holder that holds said first end, a second vacuum-holder that holds said second end and that is offset from said first vacuum-holder along said circumferential surface of said vacuum drum, a carrier plate, and a label arc between said first and second vacuum holders, wherein said first vacuum-holder comprises a first housing and said second vacuum holder comprises a second housing, wherein at least one of said carrier plate, said housings, and said label arc is formed by additive manufacturing.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first segment further comprises a vacuum line that supports said first housing, said vacuum line having been produced by additive manufacturing.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said segment further comprises further comprises a vacuum line that holds said second housing in a fixed position on said carrier plate, wherein said vacuum line, said carrier plate, and said second housing are part of a monolithic structure made by additive manufacturing.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first segment further comprises further comprises a vacuum line that connects said label arc to said carrier plate, said vacuum line having been produced by additive manufacturing.

41. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first segment further comprises a vacuum line and a monolithic structure that comprises said vacuum line, said label arc, and said carrier plate, wherein said vacuum line fixes a position of said label arc relative to said carrier plate, wherein said vacuum line, label arc, and carrier plate were formed by an additive manufacturing process.

42. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first segment further comprises a vacuum line having a path between said carrier plate and said first housing, wherein all curved portions of said path form tangential transitions.

43. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first segment further comprises a vacuum line between said carrier plate and said label arc, wherein all curved portions of a path followed by said vacuum line form tangential transitions.

44. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first segment further comprises a first vacuum line and a plurality of vacuum lines, wherein said first vacuum line has a diameter that is selected such that said first vacuum line and each of said vacuum lines in said plurality of vacuum lines applies the same negative pressure at a corresponding opening that faces radially away from said drum.

45. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first segment comprises a strut extending between structures of said segment, said strut and at least one of said structures having been formed in an additive manufacturing process, wherein said structures are selected from the group consisting of vacuum channels, said carrier plate, and said label arc.

46. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first segment comprises a strut between said label arc and said carrier plate, wherein said strut is oriented vertically relative to a plane that spans said carrier plate, said strut comprising a vacuum channel integrated therein.

47. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first segment comprises a vertical fin having a vacuum channel integrated therein.

48. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first segment comprises vertically-extending struts and a horizontally-extending strut extending between said vertically-extending struts, said horizontally-extending strut being parallel to a plane that spans said carrier plate.

49. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first segment comprises a casing surface into which a vacuum channel is integrated, wherein said casing surface provides support for a structure of said segment.

50. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first segment comprises an adjuster on said label arc, wherein said first housing is adjustable relative to said drum axis by said adjuster.

51. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said label arc is a multi-part label arc that comprises first and second label-arc parts.

52. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first segment further comprises a looped shaft between first and second label-arc parts of said label arc, said looped shaft being configured to permit an effective length of said label arc to be changed.

53. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein each segment in said plurality of segments is identical to said first segment.

54. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first segment comprises a coding that codes a first label-type, wherein said first segment is configured to hold labels of said first label-type, wherein all segments in said plurality of segments that are configured to hold labels of said first label-type comprise the same code.

55. A method comprising producing a vacuum drum a vacuum drum for a labelling unit of a labelling machine that labels containers with a label having a first end and a second end, said vacuum drum being rotatable about a drum axis and comprising a plurality of segments, said segments being arranged next to each other along a circumferential direction of said vacuum drum so as to collectively form a circumferential surface of said vacuum drum, wherein said segments comprise a first segment that comprises a first vacuum-holder that holds said first end, a second vacuum-holder that holds said second end and that is offset from said first vacuum-holder along said circumferential surface of said vacuum drum, a carrier plate, and a label arc between said first and second vacuum holders, wherein said first vacuum-holder comprises a first housing and said second vacuum holder comprises a second housing, wherein producing said vacuum drum comprises carrying out an additive manufacturing process to manufacture at least one structure selected from the group consisting of said carrier plate, said first housing, and said label arc.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein said first segment comprises a vacuum line that supports said first housing on said carrier plate and wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises manufacturing said vacuum line using an additive manufacturing process.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein said first segment comprises a vacuum line that supports said first housing on said carrier plate and wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises manufacturing said vacuum line and said carrier plate in a common additive manufacturing process to produce a monolithic structure that comprises both said carrier plate and said vacuum line.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein said first segment comprises a vacuum line that transfers a weight of said label arc relative to said carrier plate and wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises manufacturing said vacuum line using an additive manufacturing process.

59. The method of claim 55, wherein said first segment comprises a vacuum line that holds said label arc at a fixed position relative to said carrier plate and wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises manufacturing said vacuum line, said carrier plate, and said label arc using an additive manufacturing process to produce a monolithic structure that comprises said vacuum line, said carrier plate, and said label arc.

60. The method of claim 55, wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises using an additive manufacturing process to produce a vacuum line between said carrier plate and said first holder, said vacuum line having a path that comprises a curve section, wherein said curve section forms a tangential transition.

61. The method of claim 55, wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises using an additive manufacturing process to produce a vacuum line between said carrier plate and said label arc, said vacuum line having a path that comprises a curve section, wherein said curve section forms a tangential transition.

62. The method of claim 55, wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises producing a first vacuum line having an inner diameter selected such that all vacuum lines that open radially outward apply the same negative pressure when connected to a common source of negative pressure.

63. The method of claim 55, wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises using an additive manufacturing process to produce a strut between two structures in said first segment, said structures selected from the group consisting of vacuum channels, said label arc, and said carrier plate.

64. The method of claim 55, wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises using an additive manufacturing process to produce a vertically-extending strut into which a vacuum channel is integrated, said strut extending between said carrier plate and said label arc.

65. The method of claim 55, wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises using an additive manufacturing process to produce a vertically-oriented fin having a vacuum channel integrated therein.

66. The method of claim 55, wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises forming several vertically-running struts and a horizontally-extending strut extending between said vertically-extending struts, said horizontally-extending strut being parallel to a plane that spans said carrier plate.

67. The method of claim 55, wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises forming a casing surface into which a vacuum channel is integrated, wherein said casing surface provides support for a structure of said segment.

68. The method of claim 55, wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises forming an adjuster on said label arc, wherein said first housing is adjustable relative to said drum axis by said adjuster.

69. The method of claim 55, wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises forming label arc such that said label arc comprises first and second label-arc parts.

70. The method of claim 55, wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises forming a looped shaft between first and second label-arc parts of said label arc, said looped shaft being configured to permit an effective length of said label arc to be changed.

71. The method of claim 55, wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises causing all segments of said drum to be identical to said first segment.

72. The method of claim 55, wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises causing said first segment to comprise a code that codes a first label-type, wherein said first segment is configured to hold labels of said first label-type, wherein all segments in said plurality of segments that are configured to hold labels of said first label-type comprise the same code.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The invention is explained hereinafter on the basis of the Figures in relation to exemplary embodiments. The figures show:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a labeling machine;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the drum from the labeling machine of FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a detached segment from a vacuum drum;

[0036] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a detached segment from a vacuum drum;

[0037] FIGS. 5a and 5b show perspective views of another embodiment of a detached segment from a vacuum drum;

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a detached segment from a vacuum drum;

[0039] FIG. 7 shows detached vacuum lines from a segment of a vacuum drum;

[0040] FIG. 8 shows a view from above a connection of a vacuum holder to a portion of a segment;

[0041] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a connection of a vacuum holder to a segment;

[0042] FIG. 10 is a lateral sectional view of an embodiment of a segment of a vacuum drum;

[0043] FIG. 11 is a plan view of an embodiment of a detached segment of a vacuum drum;

[0044] FIG. 12 is a plan view of another embodiment of a detached segment of a vacuum drum;

[0045] FIG. 13 is a plan view of another embodiment of a detached segment from a vacuum drum; and

[0046] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a detached segment from a vacuum drum.

[0047] Identical reference numbers have been used in the figures for elements of the invention that are the same or have the same effect. Furthermore, for the sake of easier overview, each figure shows only those reference numbers that are pertinent to the discussion of that figure. to understand the figure.

[0048] The invention is also only represented in the figures in schematic views to show the means of operation. In particular, the representations in the figures serve only to explain the basic principle of the invention. For reasons of easier overview, the representation of all the constituent parts of the device has been avoided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a labeling unit 1 for labeling containers 2 with roll-fed labels 3. The labels 3 are drawn from a storage roll 4 of an endless belt of label material 3a.

[0050] Conveyor rollers draw labelling material 3a from the storage roll 4 and bring it to a cutter 5 in a manner that is synchronized with the rotor's rotation. The cutter 5 cuts the labelling material 3a to the required length to form a label 3. The cutter 5 comprises a cutting drum 12 that, during labeling, rotates about its own vertical drum axis in a cutting-drum direction C.

[0051] The labeling unit is disposed next to a rotor 7 that rotates in a rotor direction A. The rotor 7 has plural turntables 8 on its circumference. Each such turntable 8 carries a container 2 standing upright thereon.

[0052] A vacuum drum 6 rotates in a vacuum drum direction B that is opposite the cutting-drum direction C. The vacuum drum 6 carries labels 3 that it obtains from the cutter 5 and brings them towards a rotor 7 of the labeling machine. As the rotor 7 rotates in a rotor direction A, it brings containers 2 to the labeling machine. As a container 2 travel past the labeling machine, it receives a label.

[0053] At the labeling unit 1, a label's leading end 3.1 is attached to the container 3. The turntable 8 then turns the container 2 so that the container winds the label around itself. The label, as a result of its rear face having had glue applied thereto, then sticks to the container 3.

[0054] Referring now to FIG. 3, the vacuum drum 6 comprises multiple parts, each of which is formed by a segment 17. These identical segments 17 are distributed around the drum's axis TA like slices of a pie. Each segment includes a vacuum-holder pair 9 having a leading vacuum-holder 9.1 and a trailing vacuum holder 9.2 for engaging the leading and trailing ends of a label.

[0055] The leading and trailing vacuum holders 9.1, 9.2 are offset along the drum's circumferential direction. Each of the leading and trailing vacuum holder 9.1, 9.2 includes a corresponding leading or trailing housing 36.1, 36.2. The circumferential surface of the drum between the first and second vacuum holders 9.1, 9.2 defines a label arc 19.

[0056] As can be seen in FIG. 2, each housing 36.1, 36.2 is also associated with a corresponding leading and trailing pads 35.1, 35.2 having openings 10 thereon. The leading pad 35.1 is at the leading vacuum holder 9.1 and hermetically sealed to the leading housing 36.1. The trailing pad 35.2 is at the trailing vacuum holder 9.2 and hermetically sealed to the trailing housing 36.2.

[0057] The openings 10 connect via a rotary coupling to a source of vacuum, which is then used to hold leading and trailing ends 3.1, 3.2 of the label 3. Upon receiving a label 3 from the cutter 5, a vacuum provided by the vacuum openings 10 holds the label so that it can be brought past a gluing station 11, which then applies glue to the label 3.

[0058] The label arc 19 also has suction openings 20 that connect to corresponding vacuum lines 22. The vacuum lines 22 connect via a rotating connection to a vacuum source. As a result, it is possible for a negative pressure to be produced both at the vacuum openings 10 of the vacuum pad 35.1, 35.2 and at the suction openings 20 of the label arc 19, for applying suction and therefore holding the labels 3.

[0059] Each segment 17 includes a lower carrier-plate 15 that is shaped like slice of pie, i.e., like a segment of a circle. The carrier plates 15 of the various segments 17 are arranged around a shaft 16 that coincides with the drum's axis TA.

[0060] The shaft 16 is guided through a base carrier 40 of the vacuum drum 6. As shown in FIG. 2, a drive 18 under the base carrier 40 rotates the shaft 16. A suitable drive 18 is an electric motor, and in particular, a servomotor. The base carrier 40 is fixed so as to be stationary with the segments 17 above it and the drive 18 below it. Vacuum lines 21.1, 21.2 extend from the carrier plate 15 to corresponding housings 36.1, 36.2.

[0061] One or more of the carrier plate 3, the vacuum-holder housings 36.1, 36.2, the vacuum lines 21.1, 21.2, and the label arc 19 of a segment 17 is produced by additive manufacturing.

[0062] As a result of having been manufactured by additive manufacturing, each vacuum line 21.1, 21.2 has sufficient mechanical strength to hold the vacuum-holder housing 36.1, 36.2 to which it connects in a fixed position on the carrier plate 15. In some embodiments, the vacuum-holder housing 36.1, 36.2, the carrier plate 15, and the vacuum lines 21.1, 21.2 form a single monolithic or unitary structure that cannot be taken apart. Such a monolithic structure is manufactured by using an additive manufacturing method.

[0063] The label arc 19 is likewise arranged on the carrier plate 15. In some embodiments, the label arc 19, the vacuum lines 22 connecting it to the carrier plate 15, and the carrier plate 15 define a single monolithic or unitary structure that cannot be taken apart. Such a monolithic structure is manufactured by using an additive manufacturing method. As a result of having been manufactured using an additive manufacturing method, the vacuum lines 22 have sufficient mechanical strength to hold the label arc 19 to the carrier plate 15 in a fixed position.

[0064] In some embodiments, the label arc 19, the carrier plate 15, the vacuum lines 22, 21.1, 21.2, and the vacuum-holder housings 36.1, 36.2 form a single monolithic structure manufactured using additive manufacturing.

[0065] By using additive manufacturing, it becomes possible to form different parts of a structure with different materials. In some embodiments, the carrier plate 15 comprises arcuate sections 15.1 that are made from a material that is more elastic than other portions of the carrier plate 15. As shown in FIG. 3, the arcuate sections 15.1 need not be coplanar with the remainder of the carrier plate 15 but can instead project in the axial direction above or below the carrier plate 15. These arcuate sections are useful for forming screwing or clamping surfaces to compensate for manufacturing tolerances.

[0066] To provide further support, it is useful to have one or more struts 23, as shown in FIG. 4. Such struts 23 extend between other components, such as between two vacuum channels 21.1, 21.2, 22, between the label arc 19 and the carrier plate 15, and/or between a vacuum channel 21.1, 21.2, 22 and the carrier plate 15. Such struts 23 can be made by additive manufacturing so as to form part of a monolithic unitary structure that includes the foregoing components. These struts 23 form a framework that promotes stability of the additively-manufactured structure by providing support between the various parts thereof.

[0067] Embodiments include those in which the struts 23 are transverse struts, such as those that extend between a segment surface portion 13 and the carrier plate 15 or between a section of the label arc 19 facing towards the leading housing 36.1 and a region of the carrier plate 15 essentially opposite the trailing housing 36.2, and vice-versa, i.e. transversely to the label arc 19 or transverse to a plane extending transversely through the carrier plate 15. In particular, the struts 23 are therefore configured as transverse struts running transversely between the leading and trailing vacuum housings 36.1, 36.2.

[0068] Embodiments also include those in which the connecting struts 23 stretch horizontally so as to be essentially parallel to a plane stretching extending through the carrier plate 15 between two adjacent vacuum channels 21.1, 21.2, 22. Among such embodiments are those in which plural struts 23 are arranged essentially parallel to one another as well as parallel to the plane extending through the carrier plate 15.

[0069] As can be seen from FIGS. 5a and 5b, as well as from the section from FIG. 10, embodiments include those that integrate the vacuum channels 22 into the struts 23. In some embodiments, a vacuum channel 22 is integrated into the struts 23 to provide a casing surface. The strut arrangement 23 provided as a casing surface advantageously extends in this situation along the label arc 19 between the leading and trailing holders 9.1, 9.2. In alternative embodiments, a vacuum channel 22 is integrated into a vertically-extending strut 23, as shown in FIG. 10 or 14.

[0070] FIG. 14 shows an embodiment in which vertically-aligned struts 23 form a fin that extends along the act length of a label arc 19. In some of these embodiments, there exist passages 23.1 through the resulting fin. The struts 23 extend between the carrier plate 15 and the label arc 19.

[0071] The presence of struts 23 running both horizontally and vertically is useful for providing a mechanically stable structure.

[0072] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, each vacuum line 21.1, 21.2, 22 features an inner line track in which curved portions are shaped avoid abrupt changes along vacuum lines 21.1, 21.2, 22. This improvise flow characteristics within the vacuum lines 21.1, 21.2, 22 and permits reduction in the capacity of a central suction device. This saves both operating costs and required space. A suitable form is inner line track includes a tangential transition section, which avoids any abrupt constriction in cross section, sudden changes in diameter, and undesirable angles, such as edged transition sections with angles of less than ninety degrees.

[0073] Preferably, the inner line tracks of the vacuum lines 21.1, 21.2, 22 is arranged such that the openings 10 at the leading and trailing vacuum holders 9.1, 9.2 and along the radially-outward surface of the segment 17 or the label arc 19 all apply the same negative pressure.

[0074] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, each housing 36.1, 36.2 features an adjuster 24 for adjusting the housings 26.1, 26.2 to the label arc 19 associated with that segment 17.

[0075] In a preferred embodiment, the adjuster 24, configured as an eccentric element, at the label arc 19 and in particular in its end region on the free end side, facing the respective vacuum holder housing 36.1, 36.2, provides an eccentric element receiver 25, integrated in which is a rotatably mounted control disk, with a receiver provided outside the mid-point for a securing means 26, forming the shaft of the eccentric element.

[0076] The securing means 26 secures the housing 36.1, 36.2 to the eccentric element receiver 25 in a secure but nevertheless detachable manner. It does so by using a vacuum housing holder 27 provided at the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the securing means 26 connects using a screw having a shaft. If the securing means 26 is now slightly released, its shaft can rotate the control disk that is rotatably arranged in the eccentric element receiver 25. In doing so, it adjusts the relative positioning of the vacuum holder housing 36.1, 36.2 to the drum axis TA and the label arc 19 respectively.

[0077] Referring now to FIG. 9, it is useful to have upper and lower adjusters 24.1, 24.2 to provide an additional degree of adjustability. The upper and lower adjusters 24.1, 24.2 are at the label arc 19 belonging to the segment 17. The upper and lower adjustment devices 24.1, 24.2 are spaced at a distance away from the respective end region on the free end side of the label arc 19 of a segment. Preferably, both the upper as well as the lower adjustment device 24.1, 24.2 are eccentric adjustment devices.

[0078] In another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 11-13, the label arc 19 is multi-part label arc 19. In the illustrated embodiment, the label arc 19 has first and second label-arc parts 19.1, 19.2, both of which are produced by additive manufacturing and both of which are part of a monolithic structure that includes the segment's carrier 15.

[0079] The embodiment of FIG. 12 shows a looped shaft 28 between the first and second label-arc parts 19.1, 19.2 by means of which the effective circular-arc length of the label arc 19, with which the label 3 is in contact, can be changed. The looped shaft 28 comprises a cambered portion 28.1, cambered radially inwards and extending between the first and second label-arc parts 19.1, 19.2. The camber is thus directed towards the drum axis TA. This camber causes the effective circular-arc segment length to be greater than what it would have been without the camber, i.e., the circular-arc segment length of the two label-arc parts 19.1, 19.2 lying on a common radius. In some embodiments, the looped shaft 28 is produced by an additive manufacturing method to form part of a monolithic structure, i.e., a one-piece structure, with the remaining label arc 19.

[0080] In some embodiments, the cambered portion 28.1 is made from a flexible material, such as an elastically deformable material. Such a structure, with two different materials, is easily created using an additive-manufacturing method.

[0081] A screw 29, best seen in FIG. 13, enables one to adjust the extent to which the cambered portion 28.1 is cambered, and therefore, the effective circular-arc segment length. The screw 29 pre-tensions the cambered portion 28.1, which is flexible, in the direction of the drum axis TA. If the screw 29 is rotated outwards, the flexible cambered portion 28.1, due to its elastic deformability, can again be directed away from the drum axis TA. This results in a simple way to adjust the effective circular-arc length can be achieved.

[0082] In preferred embodiments, there different segments that have been pre-configured to particular label lengths are coded, by color or some other feature, to make it easier for operating personnel to recognize the correct segment so as to quickly place the correct segments 17 on the labeling machine. The code can be incorporated into the segment 17 using the additive manufacturing process.

[0083] The invention has been described heretofore on the basis of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous modifications and derivations are possible without thereby departing from the inventive thinking underlying the invention. The claims are deemed to be a constituent part of the description.