Apparatus for labelling individual products

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for labelling individual products (2), in particular packages or goods, with a feed device (3) for transporting a respective product (2) along a transporting path, with a label application device (4) with a blower head (5) for applying a label (6) to the surface of the product (2), wherein the blower head (5) has holding means (7) for fixing the label (6) in a blow-off position (II) and blow-off means (8) for producing a blast of compressed air directed in a blow-off direction (A) from the blow-off position (II) to the feed device (3), and with a label dispensing device (9) for providing a label (6) in a dispensing position (I). In order to precisely transfer labels (6) to a surface of a product (2) to be labelled in the simplest way possible the invention proposes that the label application device (4) comprises a conveying unit (11) for transporting the respective label (6) from the dispensing position (I) to the blow-off position (II), wherein the conveying unit (11) has a transporting element (12) and pressing force generation means (14). The invention also relates to a method of labelling individual products (2).

Claims

1. A device for labelling individual products being transported along a transporting path comprising a label application device with a blower head for applying a label to a surface of a respective product, wherein the blower head has holding means for fixing the label in a blow-off position and blow-off means for producing a blast of compressed air directed in a blow-off direction from the blow-off position toward the product, wherein the label application device comprises a conveying unit for transporting the label from a dispensing position to the blow-off position, wherein the conveying unit comprises a transporting element and pressing force generation means, wherein the label application device comprises separate label adjusting means rotatable about an axis of rotation parallel to the blow-off direction, which has one or more suction openings which are in fluid connection with, or are configured to be brought into fluidic connection with, an under pressure generating unit, and wherein the transporting element leads past the suction openings.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transporting element comprises a label contact surface which passes through the dispensing position and the blow-off position or is configured to be brought into the dispensing position and the blow-off position, and wherein the pressing force generation means is configured in such a way that in the dispensing position the label adheres to the label contact surface.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein in at least a first section the transporting element extends in a direction that is at an angle to the blow-off direction, and wherein the first section of the transporting element extending at the angle to the blow-off direction extends from the dispensing position.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein at least in a second section the transporting element extends in a direction perpendicular to the blow-off direction, and wherein the second section extending perpendicular to the blow-off direction extends from the blow-off position to the section extending at the angle to the blow-off direction.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transporting element is movable.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the transporting element is a circulating transporting element that consists of a plurality of parallel continuous belts of which at least two belts are spaced apart a distance from one another.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the conveying unit comprises at least one plate, wherein the at least one plate includes a plurality of suction openings, wherein the suction openings provided in the at least one plate are in fluidic connection with the under pressure generating unit, and wherein the parallel belts lead past suction openings facing the transporting path.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the suction openings are provided along an entire extent of the transporting element between the dispensing position and the blow-off position.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein some of the suction openings form part of the holding means and blow-off means of the blower head, and wherein one or more blow nozzles is arranged within one or more of the suction openings.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the suction openings, which are part of the holding means and blow-off means of the blower head, are arranged in the plate of the conveying unit extending perpendicularly to the blow-off direction or a section of the plate of the conveying unit extending perpendicularly to the blow-off direction, and wherein the second section of the transporting element which extends perpendicular to the blow-off direction passes parallel to the plate extending perpendicular to the blow-off direction or the section of the plate extending perpendicular to the blow-off direction.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein a distance in a direction of transporting of the label between the dispensing position and the suction openings, which are part of the holding means and blow-off means of the blower head, is unchangeable.

12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the under pressure generating unit which is or is configured to be brought into fluidic connection with the suction openings of the rotatable label adjusting means is different from or identical to the under pressure generating unit which is or configured to be brought into fluidic connection with a majority of suction openings in the at least one plate of the conveying unit.

13. The device according to claim 9, wherein the rotatable label adjusting means and/or the axis of rotation of the label adjusting means is/are arranged centrally in an area with the suction openings and the blow nozzles which are part of the holding means and blow-off means of the blower head.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein on a side facing the transporting path the label adjusting means has a surface in which one of more suction openings of the label adjusting means are arranged.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable label adjusting means is axially movable along the axis of rotation and is movable between a retracted position in which the rotatable label adjusting means does not intersect a plane in which a label contact surface extends, and an extended position in which the rotatable label adjusting means intersect the plane, and wherein the rotatable label adjusting means is at least rotatable in the extended position.

16. A method of labelling individual products using a device according to claim 1, the method comprising: transporting a product along the transporting path,; moving the product on the transporting path past the blower head of the label application device; providing labels connected to a material strip; dispensing one of the labels in a dispensing position and detaching the one of the labels from the material strip; positioning the label dispensed from the dispensing position to the blower head into a blow-off position; transferring the label from the blow-off position to the product by a blast of compressed air directed in a blow-off direction from the blow-off position to the transporting path as soon as in the blow-off direction the product is in front of the blow-off position; conveying the label from the dispensing position to the blow-off position by the conveying unit; and rotating the label in the blow-off position about the axis of rotation parallel to the blow-off direction before it is transferred to the product, wherein during rotation of the label about the axis of rotation the label is sucked on and held by the separate label adjusting means bringing about the rotation.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein in the dispensing position, in the blow-off position and during transport from the dispensing position to the blow-off position the label is pressed by a suction air flow to a label contact surface of the transporting element of the conveying unit, and wherein the suction air flow is directed in a direction from the label to the label contact surface.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the suction air flow is produced at defined intervals, along an entire path of the label from the dispensing position to the blow-off position.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein an air flow is directed in the blow-off direction in an area around the label adjusting means onto the label at the same time as the suction air flow is directed in the direction from the label to the label contact surface.

Description

(1) There are a number of possibilities of designing and further developing the device as well as the method according to the invention. With regard to this reference is made on the one hand to the claims subordinate to claims 1 and 17, and on the other hand to the description of examples of embodiment in connection with the drawings. In the drawing:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a device for labelling individual products,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a part of the device in FIG. 1 in a first embodiment and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the part shown in FIG. 2 in an alternative embodiment.

(5) FIG. 1 shows a side view of one example of embodiment of a device 1 for labelling individual products 2 (here packages), wherein the device 1 comprises a feed device 3 for transporting the respective product 2 along a transporting path, a label application 4 for applying a label 6 to the upper side of the product 2 and finally a label dispensing device 9 which here also serves to print the respective labels 6.

(6) The feed device 3 transports a product 2 in a product conveying direction X wherein in this example of embodiment the feed device 3 is in the form of a conveyor belt. Fundamentally the feed device 3 can also be designed in a different manner. In the product conveying direction X the label dispensing device 9 lies before the label application device 4, wherein both the label dispensing device 9 and the label application device 4 are both arranged in sections in the direction of gravity G above the feed device 3. In this way the product 2 is conveyed in the product conveying direction X first under the label dispensing device 9 and then under the label application device 4. In doing so the product can be conveyed in a synchronized manner wherein continuous conveying is preferred.

(7) The label application device 4 is provided with a blower head 5 for applying a label 6 to the surface of the product 2. The blower head 5 has holding means 7 for fixing the label in a blow-off position II. The holding means 7 consist of suction openings 18 and in fluidic connection therewith an under pressure generating unit 19 for product a suction flow. The blow-off position II is position from which the label can by transferred by way of a blast of compressed air to the surface of the product 2. In the blow-off position II the blast of compressed air acts on at least one section of a label 6 and preferably the center of the entire label 6. In order to produce such a blast of compressed air the blower head 5 has blow-off means 8, in this case, for example, cylindrical sleeves (nozzle bodies) with blow openings 26 which are arranged concentrically to the suction openings 18, as well as an overpressure generating unit (not shown) which is then in fluidic connection with the cylindrical nozzle bodies or blow openings 26 through which the blast of compressed air can be directed in a blow-off direction A which extends from the blow-off position II to the feed device 3. Here the suction openings 18 are each formed by a gap into which the nozzle bodies project or with which the nozzle bodies and thus the blow openings 26 are flush. Through the gap a continuous suction air flow is produced to hold the label 6 in the blow-off position II through suction. For blowing off the label 6, without, in particular, interrupting the suction air flow through the suction openings 18, a blast of compressed air is produced through the nozzle bodies and blow openings 26 in the blow-off direction A.

(8) Here, the cross-section of the suction openings 18 is only as an example circular and the blow openings 26 are only circular as an example. The outer contour of the openings 18 and 26 can in principle be of any shape. In particular it can also be envisaged that one or more of the suction openings 18, which are part of the blower head 5, are each designed as a gap in which one or more of the separate blow openings 26 are arranged and/or with which one or more of the separate blow openings 26 are flush. Additionally or alternatively it can also be envisaged that one or more of the suction openings 18 which form part of the blower head 5 at least partially surround a single blow opening 26.

(9) The label dispensing device 9 is configured to provide a label which is partially detached from the material strip 10 in a dispensing position I. The dispensing position I is defined as a position in which said label 6 is partially detached from the material strip 10, i.e. still partially adheres thereto, and at the same time overlaps part of the label application device 4, namely a conveyor unit 11 still to be described in more detail below, and from this is sucked onto a label contact surface 13 of a transporting element 12. The label dispensing device 9 here has a label roll feed 21 for holding and unrolling a material strip 10 (also known as a label strip) containing a label 6 and a label detaching mechanism 22, here in the form of a dispensing edge for deflecting the material strip 10. It is pointed out that the labels 6 can be applied (adhered) to the material strip detachably or can themselves form the material strip 10 (carrier-less or liner-less labels).

(10) An essential feature of the present device 1 according to the present invention is the already mentioned conveyor unit 11 which is part of the label application device 4 and serves to transport the respective label 6 from the dispensing position I to the blow-off position II. The conveyor unit 11 has a transport element 12 and pressing force generation means 14 which both interact with each other so that a label 6 can be moved by the conveyor unit 11 from the dispensing position I to the blow-off position II. This permits the distance b in the label dispensing direction S between the dispensing position I and the part of the suction openings 18 that are part of the blow head 5 to be unchangeable. On the other hand the entire label application device 4 can be displaced in the direction perpendicular to the label dispensing direction A and the blow-off direction A.

(11) The label dispensing device 9 has a lateral ejection slit facing the label application device 4 from which a label 6 emerges in a label dispensing direction S. In the area of the ejection slit 23 the label dispensing device S is parallel to the product conveying direction X wherein, however, the label 6, when emerging from the ejection slit 23, is deflected in a direction B.sub.1 at an angle to the blow off direction A by a part of the label application device 4, namely said conveyor unit 11.

(12) In the present example of embodiment, as alternatively shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the transport element 12 comprises several parallel, circulating belts 16 which together form a continuous belt 15. According to the example of embodiment in FIG. 2 four belts 16 and according to the example of embodiment in FIG. 3 six belts 16 are arranged. The outer surface of the belts 16 or the continuous belt 15 forms a label contact surface 13 which passes through the dispensing position I and the blow-off position II. Here it only partially passes through the dispensing position I, but completely through the blow-off position II.

(13) As described above, the pressing force generation means 14 produce an under pressure so that during transportation from the dispensing position I to the blow-off position II the respective label 6 adheres to the label contact surface 13.

(14) As can be clearly seen in FIG. 1, in a first section 12a the transport element 12 designed as a continuous belt 15 extends in a direction B.sub.1 at an angle to the blow-off position A and in a second section in a direction perpendicular to the blow-off direction A. At an obtuse angle the angled section 12a becomes the angled section 12b perpendicular to the blow-off direction A. Through the angled section 12a the difference in height (in the blow-off direction A) between the election slit 12 and the blow-off position II can be bridged.

(15) As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the conveyor unit 11 has a plate 17 which forms part of the housing 24 of the label application device 4, in this case the underside. Here the plate 17 is bent and has two section which determine the course of the two sections 12a and 12b of the transporting element 12. Provided in the plate 17 are several suction openings 18 which are part of the pressing force generation means 14 and are in fluidic connection with the under pressure generating unit 19, which has a fan 25. The parallel belts 16 pass the suction openings 18 in such a way that the suction openings 18 can bring about a suction air flow perpendicular to the surface of the plate 17 in the direction of the interior of the blower head which presses the label 6 to the belts 17. In this way a label 6 can be conveyed from the dispensing position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to the blow-off position II.

(16) Some of the suction openings 18 are arranged in the area of the cylindrical sleeves 26 which, as described above, service to produce the blast of compressed air in the blow-off direction A. In FIGS. 2 and 3 the last part of the suction openings 18 is designed in the form of annular openings around the cylindrical sleeves 26. On the other hand the suction openings 18 in the area of the angled section 12a of the transporting element 12 are designed as holes (bore) in the respective section of the plate 17. Fundamentally, however, suction openings 18 are arranged along the entire extent of the transporting element 12 between the dispensing position I and the blow-off position II.

(17) Finally, in FIGS. 2 and 3 rotatable label adjusting means 20 are shown which allow a label 6 to be held by suction via suction openings 18 provided in the surface of the label adjusting means 20 facing the feed direction 3 and to be turned in the suction-held state about an axis of rotation. To produce the suction force, the suction openings of the label adjusting means 20 are for example in fluidic connection with a separate under pressure generating unit (not shown), but can alternatively also be connected with the previously described under pressure generating unit 19 which has a fan 25. In the example of embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the label adjusting means 20 can be extended downwards out of the housing 24 with a label 6 attached by suction, the label adjusting means 20 can then be rotated +/ 180 about the axis of rotation d, here in 1 steps for example, and finally the label adjusting means 20 can be retracted again so that the label 6 can be blown off onto the product 2 in the position now changed through rotation.

(18) In the example of embodiment in FIG. 3 some of the belts 12 extend in the blow-off direction A over the label adjusting means 20 so that in this case the label adjusting means 20 can only be used for suction, but not for turning a label 6.

(19) In order to now provide a label 6 on the upper side of the product, according to the invention the following processing steps are carried out:

(20) First of all a product 2 is transported on the feed device 3 along a transporting path, which here passes under the label dispensing device 9 and then under the label application device 4.

(21) In doing so the product is taken past a blower head 5 of the label application device 4.

(22) Prior to this a label 6 has already been dispensed by means of the label dispensing device 9 to the dispensing position I and detached from a material strip.

(23) The label 6 is conveyed from the dispensing position I to the blower head 5 to an blow-off position II wherein the label 6 from the label dispensing device 9 in the dispensing position I is initially transferred to the conveyor unit 11 and transferred by this from the dispensing position I to the blow-off position II. On its path the label 6 also passes through an intermediate position III in which the label 6 is neither connected to the label dispensing device 9 or the material strip 10, nor is arranged in the effective area of the blast of compressed air.

(24) It can optionally be envisaged that the label 6 is turned by means of label adjusting means 20 about an axis of rotation d running parallel to the blow-off direction A, for example in 1 to 1.5 steps over a range of +/ 180. For this the label adjusting means 20 are axially movable along the axis of rotation d between a retracted position, in which the label adjusting means 20 do not cross the plane E in which the label contact surface extents, and an extended position used for turning, in which the label adjusting means 20 pass through this plane E.

(25) Finally the label 6 is transferred to the product 2 from the blow-off position II by means of a blast of compressed air directed in the blow-off direction A as soon as in the blow-off direction A the product 2 is located under the blow-off position II.