Method and Device for Label Arrangement on a Crate, In Particular a Bottle Crate

Abstract

In a method for applying of IML films on crates, in particular bottle crates, a single, the entire crate circumference enclosing IML label is used, which is transferred via an insertion gripper after completion of cutting to the appropriate length in a tool for injection molding of the crate made of plastic and is inserted.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A method of applying labels on crates with a label arrangement tool integrated into a tool for plastic injection molding of the crate that comprises a plurality of tool jaws that correspond with portions of the crate circumference, the plurality of tool jaws movable from an open position into a closed position configured to receive molten plastic, comprising: forming label into a tube; applying an outer surface of the tube onto the plurality of tool jaws by insertion of a gripper within the tube, the gripper having a hose that is adjusted to maintain the tube to correspond to a predetermined contour of the crate; and closing the tool and injecting plastic into the tool to manufacture the crate.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the tube is applied to the plurality of tool jaws with vacuum suction.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the tube is applied to the plurality of tool jaws by bonding wherein the plurality of tool jaws are driven up to the hose at the insertion gripper when the plurality of jaws are moved to the closed position.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of tool jaws each comprise a molding jaw and a label plate are disposed over the crate circumference, wherein the label plates are configured to be applied against the label tube positioned on the gripper.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the length of the label corresponds at least to the length of the crate circumference.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein ends of the label are interconnected by adhesive bonding to define an overlapping region.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein ends of the label are interconnected by heat fusion

25. The method of claim 18, wherein ends of the label are interconnected with at least one connecting strip.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising cutting the labels from a roll of wound film.

27. The method of claim 18, further according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the label is provided with optically readable markers.

28. The method of claim 18, further wherein the hose is formed at a blank station, and further comprising storing the hose a magazine in tubular form and using the insertion gripper to remove the hose from the magazine.

29. The method of claim 18, further comprising using docking elements on the gripper, the tool jaws, or the label plates that are brought into an engagement with the hose.

30. The method of claim 18, wherein the insertion gripper for removing the injection-molded crate from the tool can be converted into a contour with reduced circumference.

31. An apparatus for applying labels on crates, in particular bottle crates, comprising: a cutting station in which a label blank with a length corresponding to at least to the length of the outer periphery of the crate is prepared, the cutting status having a centering station for a formation of a label tube configured to fit the crate circumference; a label positioning station provided with an insertion gripper configured to form the label into a tube, for receiving the tube, and its transfer into the open or closed tool; a plurality of tool jaws that correspond with portions of the crate circumference, the plurality of tool jaws movable from an open position into a closed position configured to receive molten plastic; a gripper configured for insertion into a tube, the gripper having a hose that is adjusted to maintain the tube to correspond to a predetermined contour of the crate; and wherein the apparatus having a closed configuration configured to receive injected plastic to manufacture the crate.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the centering station is provided as a magazine for the storage and/or receiving of the IML, labels formed each into a circumferential tube (4), which are preferably arranged next to the label positioning station formed preferably as an insertion gripper (8) in such a way that in each case a tube (4) can be removed from the magazine and can be inserted into the correct position in the tool (5).

33. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a length recognition system operating optically that is responsive to the detection of punch markers on the label.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a length measuring system for checking the length of the label for the hose formation in adaptation to the total circumference of the crate.

35. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a docking-elements for tube positioning.

36. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the insertion gripper is provided with movable construction elements that represents the outer contour of the crate in an arrangement region of the label in an extended position and in a retracted position corresponding to a contour of the insertion gripper.

37. A crate, comprising four circumferential side walls and a bottom which is formed of plastic by injection molding, a single label positioned over the a crate circumference such that the label is formed as an encircling hose.

Description

[0036] Subsequently, the invention will be described based on the drawings in a purely schematic manner. Therein shows:

[0037] FIG. 1 a crate with a circumferential advertising medium of an IML film;

[0038] FIG. 2 a purely exemplary illustration of a bottle crate without applied label;

[0039] FIG. 3 a view of the side wall of the crate according to FIG. 2 but with applied label;

[0040] FIGS. 4 to 9 schematic representations of different positions of the injection molding;

[0041] FIG. 10 a schematic representation of the length cutting of a label for the blank tube formation;

[0042] FIG. 11 an alternative embodiment to FIG. 10;

[0043] FIG. 12 a schematic representation of a receiving table for the label blank;

[0044] FIG. 13 a representation according to FIG. 12 but with the gripper in the functional position;

[0045] FIG. 14 an arrangement corresponding to the FIG. 13 and FIG. 15 having a joining station for forming a tube; and

[0046] FIG. 15 an endless IML film on a carrier element shown purely schematically as in all figures.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows exemplarily a bottle crate without any limitation. The crate 1 serves to receive bottles and has in the represented embodiment a substantially flat, that is rib-free outer surface except for the so-called stacking ribs usually provided which are present, for example, in the upper region of the crate. In the represented embodiment the corner portion is rounded and provided with a substantially pronounced rounding. In the usual way the bottle crate 1 is provided with display openings 2 at the side walls which is, however, absolutely not mandatory in any way, which serves, on the one hand, to form upper handle strips circumferentially around the crate, but also allows on the other hand a view of the bottles set in the crate and preferably of their label. In addition, the crate, here in the lower third, which is not limiting in any way, is provided with a circumferential label, which is preferably wave-like contoured here at the upper and lower edge of label. The label 3 as a whole is arranged around the entire circumference of the crate 1, i.e. it also extends over all four corner portions of the crate. Due to the circumferential configuration of the label in the manner of a hose 4 (FIG. 5), a gap-free application of the circumferential and preferably integral label is possible. This is very advantageous for visual reasons, so that in this way an optimal advertising nature is achievable.

[0048] FIG. 2 in turn shows by way of example another embodiment of a crate for a label arrangement, namely a circumferential label inclusion. In this case the crate 1 is provided at the top edge with four handle openings as well as with an arrangement region 3 below the handle openings arranged for the label arrangement or inclusion. This arrangement region 3 is disposed circumferentially about the crate, i.e. provided also in the corner regions, and is advantageously slightly set back to the inside relative to the rest of the outer surface of the crate. In this way a label received in the arrangement region is effectively protected against damage caused by scratching and the like. This measure is expedient in conjunction with the label arrangement.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows the crate represented in FIG. 2 in side view where the circumferential label hose 4 or the annular label is arranged circumferentially around the crate in the arrangement region 3.

[0050] FIGS. 4-9 show in a purely exemplary manner a suitable tool for carrying out the process without having to specify in this way the intended tool. FIG. 4 shows the injection mold tool 5 in closed position with four circumferentially arranged tool jaws 6 that delimit a mold cavity 7 covering the outer contour of the crate to be manufactured.

[0051] FIG. 5 shows the tool according to FIG. 4 in the open position in which the tool jaws 6 are moved away to the outside and, therefore, the tool is represented in the open position.

[0052] In the represented embodiment, however by no means limiting, the tool jaws are each advantageously constructed bipartide, namely each with a molding jaw 6 and provided with label plates 6 received therein and shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 4 and 5 which also map on the inside the outer contour of the crate in the closed position.

[0053] According to the invention, a one-piece IML label, to be circumferentially attached at the crate, is used or provided which is introduced as IML label in form of a tube label 4 into the tool and onto the tool jaws 6 and, in particular, is transferred here advantageously to the correspondingly contoured label plates 6. According to FIG. 5, the tool jaws 6 are in the retracted and therefore open position of the tool so that the label 3 is received via an insertion gripper 8, which is preferably circumferential on its outer contour, i.e. circumferential over the entire circumference of the crate. As part of the graphic representation, the insertion gripper 8 is represented purely exemplarily and schematically in order to simplify the description.

[0054] In any case, the IML label 3, circumferentially formed and present in the form of a tube, is introduced via the insertion gripper 8 into the open tool. As FIG. 5 shows, the tube 4 is formed and shaped here via the gripper 8 corresponding to the outer contour in the arrangement region of the later crate.

[0055] According to FIG. 6, the label plates 6, which are in the represented embodiment exemplarily integrated into the mold jaws, are driven inwardly in contact with the label hose 4 that is received by the gripper 8. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the inner contour of the label plates 6 is adapted to the outer contour of the circumferential label tube 4. In this position, the label plates 6 driven inwardly are in spaced-apart position from the molding jaws 6 of the tool jaws 6 and in abutment position or transfer position for receiving the IML tube 4.

[0056] It is understood that instead of such label plates the tool jaws 6 may be moved alternatively forward in place of the label plates to directly receive the IML label 4 themselves. In any case, from FIG. 6 results that the label plates 6 driven inwardly are close circumferentially to each other and take up the contour of the stretched hose label 4. In this position the transfer of the label tube 4 to the label plates is carried out or alternatively directly to the tool jaws 6 which can be achieved by applying a vacuum or also via a static charge or a corresponding secure bonding. In this case, the IML film may also be held as needed under applied vacuum at the gripper 8. After transfer of the IML tube 4, the gripper 8 is transferred in the removal position according to FIG. 7, so that the gripper 8 may be moved out by injection molding from the mold for the manufacture of the crate. As stated in the introduction, there are a number of suitable mechanisms for such grippers 8 in order to transfer these from a retracted position to an expanded position in which the label hose 4 is ready for handing over to the tool. In the embodiment represented according to FIG. 7, which is by no means limiting but purely given by way of example, the gripper 8 has corner jaws 9 in the four corners regions which correspondingly expand the hose contour-compliant in the extended position and make the circumference of the gripper 8 smaller in the retracted position so that a removal is possible. In the represented embodiment, the corner jaws 9 which are contour-compliant to match the corners of the crate to be manufactured, may be moved inwardly and outwardly diagonally.

[0057] As soon as the transfer of the label tube 4 to the label plates 6 takes place and the gripper 8 is driven out of the tool, according to FIG. 8, the molding jaws 6 of the jaws 6 are moved inwards in the closed position, in which these label plates 6 are including the IML film tube 4 so that the injection position is reached according to FIG. 9. In FIG. 9 the contour of the label plates 6 is again represented by dashed lines. In this position the plastic can be injected for the manufacture of the crate after retracting a mold core for shaping the inner contour of the bottle crate, in which case the composite of the label is achieved by back injection at the crate.

[0058] Not shown are, because known per se, in case of vacuum suction the corresponding vacuum openings to which the vacuum may be applied or released to acquire the label hose 4. Such vacuum openings may be correspondingly provided at the gripper, at the tool jaws, the mold jaws and/or the label plates. However, the acquisition may also be accomplished by other appropriate means, such as secure bonding due to static charge.

[0059] In this case, it is convenient and advantageous that the IML label is precisely tailored to the length of the outer circumference of the crate so that the label ends abut after application of the label on the injection-molded crate flush joint to joint. However, advantageously the cut is done with a certain excess length to overlap the tube ends where in the overlapping area an intimate and preferably non-detachable bond is ensured and achieved, respectively, between the tube ends to form a one-piece hose.

[0060] FIG. 10 shows a label blank 10 that is made of a length portion 10 sized and cut precisely to the periphery of the arrangement region for the label and an overlapping portion 10. In FIG. 10 the next cut is indicated on the right in dotted lines that is, however, not yet cut off from the endless roll. The label cutting 10 is suitably wound into a ring- or tube-like structure which can be done by the gripper, where the two ends of the label blank 10 overlap because of the overlapping region 10 as shown at the bottom right of the inscribed circle. In this overlapping area the composite of the label tube 4, shown on the left, can be achieved in an appropriate manner. Advantageously, the composite is achieved by welding or by gluing. Here, an adhesive strip activatable by pressure may be used in the overlapping area. For this purpose, it is expedient that these activatable adhesives are already provided in the overlapping sections on the endless belt of the IML roll. The overlapping region has a suitable width for a corresponding composite-compliant overlap. Practice-compliant widths are in a range of 2 to 15 mm, preferably 2 to 10 mm, preferably up to 8 mm.

[0061] In addition to FIG. 10, FIG. 11 also shows a suitable and advantageous tube formation in which case the label cutting 10 is tailored exactly to the required circumferential contour of the label arrangement which, therefore, is equal in length to the section 10 of FIG. 10. Here, the cut takes place at the position X as is indicated in FIG. 11 accordingly. The incoming sheet of the IML roll is again indicated by dashed lines on the right.

[0062] On the bottom right there results the arrangement of a connecting strip 11 bridging a joint between the two ends of the label blank and it is preferably matched in length, which may be either outside of the tube, inside of the tube and/or, if necessary, provided on both sides. By means of this connection strip a bridging of the ends of the label blank 10 joint to joint takes place flush against each other wherein the composite, as indicated by arrows, can be achieved by welding or by gluing at this position analogous to the embodiment according to FIG. 10 so that then the label tube 4 shown on the left is formed with a circumferentially shock-free arrangement and in one-piece configuration.

[0063] Finally, FIG. 12 shows a part of the apparatus for label preparation in form of a receiving table 14 which is suitably positioned, preferably near the injection-molding die, preferably next to it. The receiving table serves preferably to cut the label film unwound from an endless roll 15 for formation of the foil cut 10, wherein the cutting apparatus 16 is shown only schematically. On the right side of the receiving table there is an apparatus for length determination so that the cutting of the label blank 10 is done to appropriately fit either to the exact length plus projection or only to the exact length depending on the embodiment of FIG. 10 or FIG. 11.

[0064] FIG. 13 shows a preferred but not limiting embodiment of a receptacle of the label blank for formation of a hose 4 by the gripper 8 which is formed to be rotatable and rolls off thereon for receiving the label blank 10 so that the hose 4 is formed on the gripper. On the receiving table 14 in FIG. 13, the cutter 16 is located again to the left and the length measuring system is on the right. The unwinding of the gripper for the contour-adapted reception of the label tube 4 is indicated by dashed representation of the gripper 8. The gripper 8 is conveniently located in flared position for receiving the label blank 10 and for its formation to become the label hose 4.

[0065] Finally, from FIG. 14 a composite station, shown only as a block diagram, is conveniently arranged on the receiving table 14 which is not limiting, however. This composite station 17 may be appropriately formed as a welding station or as an adhesive station. This is used for the connection of the label blank in the overlapping region in the embodiment according to FIG. 10 or through a connecting strip in the joint region of both ends of the label blank.

[0066] Thus, in the region of the blank station, at which the blank of the IML label is done to the exact length via an IML film wound into a roll, a length measuring system 17 is also preferably integrated at the blank station so that the correct blank 10 is ensured in terms of length, respectively. This is essential for an accurate tube formation. After cutting the tube, which is brought expediently via a centering station, not shown here, preferably in form of an expandable gripper 8 into tube formation, i.e. into an open tube, placed in a magazine from which the tube is then taken by the gripper 8 and transferred into the tool. In this case, the gripper 8 takes on the hose and prepares it, if necessary, to the outer contour in the predetermined arrangement region of the IML label in the crate to be injection-molded. The film tube 4, flared corresponding to the outer contour of the crate, is thus introduced into the interior of the open tool by the insertion gripper 8, after which the tool jaws 6 are moved into closed position and therefore in contact with this IML film. Thereby, the IML label can be received by the tool. Since, as has been described using FIG. 7, the cross-section or the periphery of the robotic insertion gripper 8 is then quasi reduced in order to be able drive it out from the tool, the tubular label 4 is received by the tool and the back injection process may then take place.

[0067] FIG. 15 shows an endless IML film 3 having wave-like contoured outer edges that is preferably wound into a roll, wherein, if necessary, the label 3 can be applied on a support member 20 in accordance with FIG. 15, for example by adhesion or a light adhesive bond such that the wound carrier or foil tape 20 which is supplied to the blank station protects the label 3 against scratching and the like. In the blank station, not shown here in the drawing for simplicity, the supplied IML film is removed from the carrier element 20 or detached and cut to appropriate length where it is possible to use a suitable length measuring apparatus 17 for purposes of control.

[0068] In the blank station, the tube formation of the cut IML label 3 is already expediently done where there are two particularly advantageous possibilities. Firstly, the blank can be exactly matched to the length of the respective outer contour of the crate with the consequence that the hose ends on the insertion gripper and ultimately also in the tool are joint to joint and thus flush and the hose composite is accomplished by a shock-covering joining strip in the manner described. Therefore, a visible gap formation is avoided and, if appropriate, in the corner of the crate as well. Expediently, however, the cutting is done with a certain excess length so that the hose ends may overlap, as is evident from FIG. 10, where the hose 4 is represented with an overlapping region 10.

[0069] In addition to a length measuring system to control the exact length of the blank, a system may also be provided for optical length detection which may conveniently be coupled to the length measuring system or integrated therein. Conveniently, punching markers and the like are provided on the IML label that may be used accordingly. These punching markers for length detection are preferably optically readable labels which may be exemplarily and advantageously applied by printing.

[0070] Using the length measuring system, influence can be made on process-related length compensation in the process. Although not shown in the drawing, the cutting apparatus 16 or the cutting table 14 is conveniently disposed adjacent to or in the immediate vicinity of the label-positioning apparatus with the insertion gripper. In that regard, the hose 4 may be taken by the insertion gripper and placed into the open tool or, if necessary, into a magazine.

[0071] As it can be seen, the procedure is simple and can accomplish an optically perfect application of an IML advertising foil on a crate.

[0072] Moreover, it is within the scope of the invention to use a label strip already separately prepared to the exact length and therewith assembled instead of a label blank cut from a wound roll so that there is no cutting station needed.