Device and method for labeling individual packages

Abstract

An apparatus for labeling a package (1) including an advancing device (2) for transporting the package in a transport direction (X) and an application device (3) for applying a dispensed label (4) to the package. The application device includes an oscillating punch (7) having a punch stem (5) and a punch foot (6) connected thereto. The dispensed label is picked up by the punch foot from a pickup position, moved to a deposit position, and applied by the punch foot to the package. The punch stem is movably mounted on a guide element (8), held in a direction of gravitational force (Y) by a holder (9), and mounted pivotably about a horizontal pivot axis (X1) that runs orthogonal to the direction of gravitational force. The guide element carries at least one component of the holder and is pivotable about the pivot axis. Also a labeling method that utilizes the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for labeling a package, the apparatus comprising: an advancing device for transporting the package in a transport direction, and an application device for applying a dispensed label to the package, wherein the application device has an oscillating punch having a punch stem and a punch foot connected to the punch stem, wherein the oscillating punch is configured to move the dispensed label from a pickup position, in which the dispensed label is picked up by the punch foot, to a deposit position, in which the dispensed label is applied by the punch foot to the package, wherein the application device further comprises a guide element on which the punch stem is mounted axially movably and which guides the punch stem during axial movements of the punch stem, wherein the application device further comprises a holder consisting of a unit formed of a plurality of components, and wherein the holder holds the punch stem in a direction of gravitational force in each position of the punch stem relative to the guide element, wherein one of the plurality of components of the holder is a first drive motor having a motor shaft that is at least configured to cause the axial movements of the punch stem, wherein the punch stem is mounted pivotably about a horizontal pivot axis running orthogonally with respect to the direction of gravitational force, wherein the guide element carries at least one of the plurality of components of the holder and is pivotable on a carrier to which the guide element is mounted about the horizontal pivot axis, and wherein the first drive motor is immovable relative to the carrier and/or relative to the advancing device.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide element and the at least one of the plurality of components of the holder carried by the guide unit form a unit which is movable only in a rotatory and not translatory manner relative to the carrier to which the guide element is mounted and/or relative to the advancing device.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first drive motor is connected to one of the plurality of components of the holder, said one of the plurality of components not being carried by the guide element, wherein the component is a drive wheel.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide element is coupled to a second drive motor.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second drive motor is coupled to a first connecting shaft, which is connected to the connecting element for rotation with the connecting element.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the punch foot is coupled to a third drive motor.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the third drive motor is coupled to a second connecting shaft, which is connected to the punch foot for rotation with the punch foot.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second connecting shaft) runs within the punch stem and is rotatable with respect to the punch stem.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the holder has a cable or a belt, which is connected with a first portion to an upper portion of the punch stem such that, in each position of the punch stem relative to the guide element, the first portion of the cable or belt is arranged vertically above the guide element and is connected with a second portion to a lower portion of the punch stem such that, in each position of the punch stem relative to the guide element, the second portion of the cable or belt is arranged vertically below the guide element.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the guide element carries at least two of the plurality of components of the holder, wherein said at least two of the plurality of components of the holder are two deflecting pulleys, wherein the cable or the belt, starting from the first portion or the second portion is deflected on one of the two deflecting pulleys, then guided circumferentially about the drive wheel driven by the first drive motor and, then is deflected on another of the two deflecting pulleys.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cable or the belt, in a region between the drive wheel driven by the first drive motor and the guide element is: deflected on a further deflecting pulley, which is not carried by the guide element, and/or guided by a first connecting shaft, which is connected to the connecting element, and which is configured as a hollow shaft.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein an axis of rotation of the first connecting shaft is orthogonal to axes of rotation of the two deflecting pulleys carried by the guide element.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one first and/or the second drive motor are/is immovable relative to the carrier to which the guide element is mounted and/or relative to the advancing device.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first drive motor is connected directly or indirectly to the guide element and is mounted immovably relative thereto.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the third drive motor is directly or indirectly connected to the punch stem and is mounted immovably relative thereto.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the holder has a belt, wherein the belt is a toothed belt, and wherein the drive wheel, which is driven by the first drive motor, and/or the two deflecting pulleys are each in a form of a gear wheel.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide element carries at least two of the plurality of components of the holder, wherein said at least two if the plurality of components carried by the guide element are in a form of two parallel multi-purpose shafts which are both connected rotatably to the guide element, wherein the holder further comprises a second first drive motor, and wherein each of the two multi-purpose shafts is separately driven by one of the two first drive motors.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein each of the multi-purpose shafts has a drive wheel connected thereto for rotation therewith, and wherein an upper deflecting pulley of two deflecting pulleys is arranged on an upper portion of the punch stem such that, in each position of the punch stem relative to the guide element, the upper deflecting pulley is arranged vertically above the guide element, and a lower deflecting pully of the two deflecting pulleys is arranged on a lower portion of the punch stem such that, in each position of the punch stem relative to the guide element, the lower deflecting pulley is arranged vertically below the guide element, wherein axes of rotation of the two drive wheels and of the two deflecting pulleys run parallel to one another and orthogonally with respect to an axial direction of the punch stem, and wherein an endless belt is guided via the two drive wheels and the two deflecting pulleys.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the upper and/or the lower deflecting pulley is coupled to a second connecting shaft, which is coupled to the punch foot for rotation therewith.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein an opposed rotational movement of the two drive wheels brings about translatory movement of the punch stem in the axial direction and a parallel rotational movement of the two drive wheels brings about rotational movement of the second connecting shaft and of the punch foot which is connected thereto for rotation therewith.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the two first drive motors are connected directly or indirectly to the guide element and are mounted immovably relative thereto, and/or the second drive motor is immovable relative to a carrier, relative to which the guide element is mounted and/or relative to the advancing device.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the endless belt is a toothed belt, and the drive wheels and the deflecting pulleys are each in a form of a gear wheel.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the punch stem is configured as a toothed rack.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first drive motor drives a gear wheel which is in engagement with the toothed rack.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the guide element carries at least one first connecting rod which is articulated thereon, and the second drive motor exerts an eccentric movement on a second connecting rod which is connected in an articulated manner to the first connecting rod.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first drive motor is immovable relative to a carrier, to which the guide element is mounted and/or relative to the advancing device and/or relative to the guide element.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the guide element and/or the punch stem is pivotable about a drive axis of the first drive motor.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a clutch is provided between the first drive motor and the punch stem.

29. A method for labeling a package using an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in order to apply the dispensed label, the punch foot is moved from the pickup position directly in a direction which runs at an angle to the transport direction, and after the dispensed label has been applied to the package in the deposit position, the punch foot is moved back to the pickup position, wherein, during the movement from the pickup position to the deposit position, the guide element together with the punch stem is pivoted about a pivot axis in a first pivoting direction, and the punch stem is moved relative to the guide element in a first movement direction, and, during the movement from the deposit position to the pickup position, the guide element together with the punch stem is pivoted about the pivot axis in a second pivoting direction and the punch stem is moved relative to the guide element counter to the first movement direction in such a manner that the punch foot, during its entire movement from the pickup position to the deposit position and back again to the pickup position, is guided along a revolving path which does not come into contact or cross itself at any point.

Description

(1) There is a multiplicity of possibilities for refining and developing the apparatus according to the invention and the method according to the invention. In this regard, reference should firstly be made to the patent claims following patent claim 1 and secondly to the description of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawing. In the drawing:

(2) FIGS. 1a) and b) show various views of an apparatus according to the invention with a cable drive,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a view of an apparatus according to the invention with a toothed belt drive,

(4) FIGS. 3a) to c) show various views of an apparatus according to the invention with parallel shafts and a toothed belt drive, and

(5) FIGS. 4a) and b) show various views of an apparatus according to the invention with a toothed rack drive.

(6) All of the apparatuses illustrated in FIGS. 1a) to 4b) are based on the same operating principle. All of the apparatuses here are, by way of example, what is referred to as a blowing oscillating punch, that is to say an apparatus which, as manipulator means for a label 4, has an oscillating punch 7 which, via a punch foot designed as a suction and blowing head, conveys the sucked-up label 4, by combining axial movements and pivoting movements, from a pickup position to a deposit position and, at the deposit position, transfers the label 4 to a package 1 by a blast of compressed air brought about by the blowing head (what is referred to as blowing off). In principle, however, it is also conceivable to transfer the label 4 with the apparatuses described here to the package 1 in a touching manner, wherein then there is no blast of compressed air, but rather the punch foot 6 comes directly into contact with the package 1.

(7) All of the apparatuses illustrated are apparatuses for labeling individual packages 1, with an advancing device 2 for transporting the respective package 1 in a transport direction X, with an application device 3 for applying a dispensed label 4 to the respective package 1, wherein the application device 3 has an oscillating punch 7, which has a punch stem 5 and a punch foot 6 connected thereto, for moving the dispensed label 4 from a pickup position, in which the label 4 is picked up by the punch foot 6, to a deposit position, in which the label 4 can be applied by the punch foot 6 to the respective package, wherein the application device 3 furthermore has a guide element 8, on which or in which the punch stem 5 is axially movable, and a holder 9, by which the punch stem 5 is held in the direction of gravitational force Y, and wherein the punch stem 5 is mounted pivotably about a horizontal pivot axis X.sub.1 running orthogonally with respect to the direction of gravitational force Y and transport direction X, wherein the guide element 8 carries at least one of a plurality of components of the holder 9 and is pivotable about the pivot axis X.sub.1.

(8) Four different exemplary embodiments of an apparatus according to the invention will now be described in detail below by way of example:

(9) The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1a) and b) has a cable drive, but basically can also have a belt drive, for example a toothed belt drive, instead of the cable drive. Furthermore, the apparatus has a punch stem 5 which is mounted in a guide element 8 and has a punch foot 6 at its lower end. The guide element 8 is designed here as a bearing plate, i.e. substantially in a plate-like manner. As the arrows at the punch foot 6 show, the punch foot 6 is rotatable about an axis of rotation X.sub.10. For this purpose, the punch foot 6 is connected to a connecting shaft 18 for rotation therewith, the latter being mounted in the punch stem 5 exclusively rotatably and not movable in a translatory manner. The punch stem 5 can be moved downward in the axial direction A and upward counter to the axial direction A, wherein said punch stem is then guided laterally in the guide element 8. The guide element 8 can be moved about a pivot axis X.sub.1 in a first pivoting direction S.sub.1 and in opposed manner thereto in a second pivoting direction S.sub.2, which results in an oscillating movement, wherein the punch stem 5 follows said oscillating movement by being guided laterally in the guide element 8.

(10) The punch stem 5 is also held or fixed in the guide element 8 in every position relative to the guide element 8, which is brought about with a multi-part holder 9. The holder 9 comprises a cable 19, one end of which is fixedly connected to the upper end of the punch stem 5 and the other end of which is fixedly connected to the lower end of the punch stem 5. In addition, the holder 9 has two deflecting pulleys 21 which are carried by the guide element 8, and also a first drive motor 10 with a motor shaft 11 and a drive wheel 12 arranged on the latter for rotation therewith, and furthermore a further deflecting pulley 23. The cable 19 is tautly tensioned and, starting from the upper end, is deflected with respect to the upper of the two deflecting pulleys 21 connected to the guide element 8 by 90° transversely with respect to the pivoting directions S.sub.1 and S.sub.2, is then guided over the further course around the drive wheel 12, is then deflected again at the further deflecting pulley 23 and finally is deflected once again at the second of the two deflecting pulleys 21, which are connected rotatably to the guide element 8. The deflecting pulleys 21 and 23 and the drive wheel 12 each have a circumferentially encircling groove 22 which laterally guides the cable 19.

(11) The cable 19 is guided in the region between the deflecting pulleys 21 and the drive wheel 12 by a first connecting shaft 15 which is a hollow shaft, wherein that portion of the cable 19 which leads from the upper of the two deflecting pulleys 21 to the drive wheel 12, and the portion which leads from the drive wheel 12 or the deflecting pulley 23 to the lower of the two deflecting pulleys 21, run parallel to each other in the connecting shaft 15.

(12) The connecting shaft 15 is connected to the guide element 8 for rotation therewith and is driven by a second drive motor 13 with a motor shaft 14.

(13) In addition, a third drive motor 16 with a motor shaft 17 is also provided, said third drive motor driving the second connecting shaft 18, which is connected to the punch foot 6 for rotation therewith.

(14) In order now to bring about a pivoting movement in the pivoting directions S.sub.1 and S.sub.2, the second drive motor 13 is activated and rotates the first connecting shaft 15 about its longitudinal center axis, which is at the same time the pivot axis X.sub.1. The rotational movement is transmitted to the guide element 8 which in turn transmits this movement to the punch stem 5.

(15) A movement of the punch stem 5 in and counter to the axial direction A is brought about by the first drive motor 10 which can move the cable 19 to and fro. The movements of the cable 19 are transmitted to the punch stem 5 via the connection of the cable 19 thereto.

(16) In this exemplary embodiment, the first drive motor 10 and the second drive motor 13 are not connected to the guide element 8 or to the punch stem 5, but rather are positionally fixed in a labeler (not illustrated for clarity reasons) and are immovable relative thereto.

(17) FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention with a toothed belt drive. The basic manner of operation is the same as in the case of the previously described exemplary embodiment, wherein use is made here instead of a cable 19 of a belt 20 in the form of a toothed belt. A drive wheel 12 of a first drive motor 10 and at least two deflecting pulleys 21 are also provided here, but the drive wheel 12 and the deflecting pulleys 21 here being designed as gear wheels.

(18) A further difference here is that, in comparison to the previously described exemplary embodiment, the positions of the first drive motor 10 and of the second drive motor 13 are swapped, that is to say, in this case, the first drive motor 10 lies between the second drive motor 13 and the punch stem 5. The first drive motor 10 is fastened here to the guide element 8 and follows the pivoting movements (the oscillating movement) of the guide element 8. Since, in comparison to the previous exemplary embodiment, the position between first drive motor 10 and second drive motor 13 has been swapped, the toothed belt in this case does not have to be guided by a hollow shaft between drive wheel 12 and deflecting pulleys 21.

(19) FIGS. 3a) to c) illustrate an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention with multi-purpose shafts (parallel shafts) and a toothed belt drive. Here too, the punch stem 5 is basically movable axially within the guide element 8, the guide element 8 is pivotable together with the punch stem 5 about a pivot axis X.sub.1, and the punch foot 6 is rotatable about an axis of rotation X.sub.10 by a second connecting shaft 18, which is guided in the interior of the punch stem 5.

(20) The pivoting movement in the pivoting directions S.sub.1 and S.sub.2 is also brought about here by a second drive motor 13 with a motor shaft 14 by the drive motor 13 driving a first connecting shaft 15, which is connected to the guide element 8 for rotation therewith.

(21) Running parallel to the first connecting shaft 15 are two multi-purpose shafts 24 which extend through the guide element 8 and are mounted rotatably therein. Each of the two multi-purpose shafts 24 is driven by a dedicated first drive motor 10 with a motor shaft 11. In this case, there is therefore not simply provision of an individual first drive motor, but rather of two first drive motors 10 which together form a drive, via which, as described below, not only is the axial movement of the punch stem 5 within the guide element 8 and relative to the advancing device 2 realized, but additionally also the rotational movement of the punch foot 6 or of the connecting shaft 18, which is connected thereto for rotation therewith and runs in the interior of the punch stem 5.

(22) On that side of the guide element 8 which faces away from the drive motors 10 and 13, the multi-purpose shafts 24 each have a drive wheel 25 which is connected to the respective end of the multi-purpose shaft 24 for rotation therewith. Furthermore, a deflecting pulley 26 is in each case arranged on an upper portion of the punch stem 5 that, in each position of the punch stem 5 relative to the guide element 8, is arranged vertically above the guide element 8, and on a lower portion of the punch stem 5 that, in each position of the punch stem 5 relative to the guide element 8, is arranged vertically below the guide element 8. The axes of rotation X.sub.5, X.sub.6, X.sub.7 and X.sub.8 of the two drive wheels 25 and of the two deflecting pulleys 26 run parallel to each other and orthogonally with respect to the axial direction A of the punch stem 5.

(23) An endless belt 27 is guided via the two drive wheels 25 and is thereby driven. The endless belt 27 is guided here via deflecting pulleys 30, which are carried by the guide element 8, and the deflecting pulleys 26, which are carried by the punch stem 5. The endless belt 27 here is a toothed belt, and the drive wheels 25 and the deflecting pulleys 26 and 30 are each formed here by a gear wheel.

(24) Of the deflecting pulleys 26, a deflecting pulley is connected rotatably at the upper end to the punch stem 5. Another of the deflecting pulleys 26 is connected rotatably to the punch stem 5 below the guide element 8, and therefore the guide element 8 runs between the two deflecting pulleys 26. The upper of the deflecting pulleys 26 is coupled here to the second connecting shaft 18 and drives the latter.

(25) The endless belt 27 connects the drive wheels 25 and the deflecting pulleys 26 and 30 to one another in such a manner that, when the two first drive motors 10 are operated in opposite directions such that the two motor shafts 11 rotate in an opposed manner with respect to each other, the punch stem 5 is thereby moved axially relative to the guide element 8. If, by contrast, the two first drive motors 10 and motor shafts 11 rotate in the same direction, the punch foot 6 is thereby set into rotation via the second connecting shaft 18. In this manner, the two first drive motors 10 form a drive which takes on the function of a first and third drive motor as previously described. A separate third drive motor for bringing about the rotation of the punch foot 6 is thereby not necessary.

(26) FIGS. 4a) and b) finally show an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention with a toothed rack drive.

(27) The punch stem 5 is designed here as a toothed rack on which a drive wheel 12 in the form of a gear wheel acts, said drive wheel being connected to the motor shaft 11 of a first drive motor 10 for rotation with said motor shaft. By actuation of the first drive motor 10, the toothed rack or the punch stem 5 is moved axially. As mentioned, said first drive motor 10 can alternatively also use the gear wheel 12 to drive a toothed belt 20 and, via the latter, the punch stem 5.

(28) A second drive motor 13 is designed as an eccentric drive and has a motor shaft 14 in the form of a crankshaft. The eccentric driving movement of the second drive motor 13 is transmitted via a second connecting rod 29 to a first connecting rod 28 and from the latter to the guide element 8. When the second drive motor 13 is actuated, the guide element 8 together with the punch stem 5 guided therein and the first drive motor 10 connected thereto is correspondingly pivoted to and fro about the motor shaft 11 or the center axis thereof.

(29) Finally, a third drive motor 16 is connected at the upper end to the punch stem 5. The punch stem 5 is also hollow here, and a second connecting shaft 18 is guided in its interior. The third drive motor 16 uses a motor shaft 17 to drive the second connecting shaft 18, which is connected to the punch foot 6 for rotation therewith. A rotational movement of the punch foot 6 is thereby then also possible.