Apparatus for changing paper rollers of a labelling machine and corresponding method for changing paper rolls

Abstract

An apparatus for changing paper rolls in a labelling machine that includes a first paper roll receptacle that includes a first roll carrier connected to a first end of a shaft, which can be moved along an axis between an unwinding position and a transfer position. The first roll carrier has at least one clamping device that is radially displaceable between a clamping position and a release position. The apparatus further includes a second paper roll receptacle that includes a second roll carrier that in a storage position is disposed coaxially with respect to the first roll carrier. In the transfer position, the first roll carrier together with the clamping device is disposed at least in sections in an interior of the second roll carrier. In the unwinding position, the first roll carrier together with the clamping device is disposed at least in sections outside the second roll carrier.

Claims

1. An apparatus for changing paper rolls in a labelling machine, the apparatus comprising: a first paper roll receptacle for a first paper roll; a second paper roll receptacle for a second paper roll; and a shaft which can be moved to and fro along an axis; wherein the first paper roll receptacle comprises a first roll carrier connected to a first end of the shaft, wherein the first roll carrier is movable to and fro along the axis between an unwinding position and a transfer position, wherein the first roll carrier has at least one clamping device which is radially displaceable between a clamping position and a release position, having a contact surface which in the clamping position lies radially further outwards than in the release position, wherein the second paper roll receptacle has a second roll carrier which in a storage position is disposed coaxially with respect to the first roll carrier, wherein in the unwinding position of the first roll carrier the first roll carrier together with the at least one clamping device is disposed at least in sections outside the second roll carrier disposed in the storage position, and wherein in the transfer position of the first roll carrier the first roll carrier together with the at least one clamping device is disposed at least in sections in an interior of the second roll carrier disposed in the storage position.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is configured as a spindle.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first roll carrier comprises at least two clamping devices which are radially displaceable between a clamping position and a release position, each including a contact surface which in the clamping position lies radially further outwards than in the release position.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first roll carrier is movable along the axis into an ejection position which is farther away from the transfer position than the unwinding position.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a scraper element which passes the first roll carrier when the first roll carrier is moved along the axis from the unwinding position into the ejection position.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least one clamping device is configured such that, alone or in cooperation with the shaft and the first roll carrier, the at least one clamping device is in the release position or can be brought into the release position when the first roll carrier is in the ejection position.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one clamping device is configured such that, alone or in cooperation with the shaft and the first roll carrier, the at least one clamping device is in the clamping position or can be brought into the clamping position when the first roll carrier is in the transfer position.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one clamping device is configured such that, alone or in cooperation with the shaft and the first roll carrier, the at least one clamping device is in the clamping position or in an intermediate position between the clamping position and the release position when the first roll carrier is in the unwinding position.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first roll carrier is connected to the shaft such that as a result of at least one of a rotational movement of the shaft about the axis and a translational movement of the shaft along the axis, radial displacement of the at least one clamping device between the clamping position and the release position is brought about.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a drive which moves the shaft translationally along the axis and moves the shaft rotationally about the axis, wherein the drive comprises a single motor or two separate motors.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second paper roll receptacle or the second roll carrier is movable between the storage position and an equipping position, and wherein in the equipping position the second roll carrier lies outside a movement range of the first roll carrier.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second roll carrier is formed by one or more pins or a sleeve disposed radially outside the transfer position of the first roll carrier when the second paper roll receptacle or the second roll carrier is located in the storage position.

13. A labelling machine provided with a labelling apparatus which includes a feed device for supplying a material strip of labels or carrier strip with detachable labels and a transfer device for transferring the labels from the material or carrier strip to an object to be labelled, wherein the feed device comprises an apparatus according to claim 1.

14. A method for changing paper rolls using an apparatus according to claim 1, the method comprising: equipping a first roll carrier of a first paper roll receptacle with a first paper roll in an unwinding position, by placing the first paper roll on the first roll carrier; unwinding the first paper roll in the unwinding position of the first roll carrier; equipping a second roll carrier of a second paper roll receptacle with a second paper roll; after the first paper roll has been removed from the first roll carrier, moving the first roll carrier together with at least one clamping device which is radially displaceable between a clamping position and a release position and has a contact surface which in the clamping position lies radially further outwards than in the release position, along an axis into the interior of the second roll carrier into a transfer position; during or after moving the first roll carrier into the interior of the second roll carrier, radially displacing the at least one clamping device of the first roll carrier into the clamping position and thereby clamping the second paper roll on the first roll carrier; and after clamping the second paper roll on the first roll carrier, moving the first roll carrier along the axis back into the unwinding position of the first roll carrier.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the first paper roll and the second paper roll has a separate core element, which touches and surrounds the first roll carrier or the second roll carrier that is equipped with the paper roll.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein for removal of the first paper roll or the core element of the first paper roll from the first roll carrier, the at least one clamping device of the first roll carrier is radially displaced into a release position in which the first paper roll rests loosely on the first roll carrier.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein for removal of the first paper roll or the core element of the first paper roll from the first roll carrier, the first roll carrier is moved along the axis past a scraper element into an ejection position, which is farther away from the transfer position than the unwinding position, and wherein during the movement of the first roll carrier from the unwinding position into the ejection position, the first roll carrier passes the scraper element and the first paper roll or the core element of the first paper roll is gripped by the scraper element and scraped from the first roll carrier.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein for equipping the second roll carrier with the second paper roll the second paper roll receptacle or the second roll carrier are moved from a storage position to an equipping position, and wherein in the equipping position the second roll carrier is disposed outside the movement range of the first roll carrier.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein before the first roll carrier is released from the first paper roll, the outer end of the second paper roll is connected to the inner end of the first paper roll.

Description

(1) There are now numerous possibilities for configuring and further developing the apparatus according to the invention for changing paper rolls, the labelling machine according to the invention and the method according to the invention for changing paper rolls. In this respect, reference is made on the one hand to the claims following claim 1, on the other hand to the description of an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus for changing paper rolls according to the present invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the apparatus from FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side view of the apparatus from FIG. 1 and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a front view of the apparatus from FIG. 1.

(6) The apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is part of a feed device 8 for feeding a carrier strip 2.2 with labels 2.3 which can be released from the carrier strip 2.2 and transferred (glued) onto the objects to be labelled. The apparatus 1 and feed device 8 is the subject of a labelling machine (not shown). The apparatus 1 according to the invention is used for changing paper rolls 2, 2 from a second paper roll receptacle 4 to a first paper roll receptacle 3. The paper rolls 2, 2 here for example comprise carrier strips 2.2 which in the present case are wound around a core element 2.1 made of board. Alternatively the carrier strip 2.2 can also be wound without a core element and form a paper roll 2 and 2, respectively. A paper roll can also mean a wound material strip of labels (linerless labels).

(7) The first paper roll receptacle 3 is used to receive a first paper roll 2 which can be unwound in this receptacle 3. The second paper roll receptacle 4 is used to receive a second paper roll 2 which is intermediately stored in the receptacle 4 until this is transferred by the subsequently described procedure into the first paper roll receptacle 3.

(8) The apparatus 1 further comprises a spindle-shaped shaft 5 which can be moved to and fro along an axis X, the first end of which (right end in the figure) is connected to a first roll carrier 3.1 (via a threaded connection). The roll carrier 3.1 is also movable to and fro along the axis X and specifically between an unwinding position I and a transfer position II. Furthermore, the first roll carrier 3.1 can also be brought into an ejection position III which is even further axially distant from the transfer position II than the unwinding position I.

(9) The first roll carrier 3.1 is an originally rotationally symmetrical body into which three grooves 3.13 running parallel to the axis of rotation are inserted on the outside, which are uniformly spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction. Lever-shaped clamping jaws 3.11 are pivotably mounted in these grooves 3.13. The clamping jaws 3.11 are articulated to the first roll carrier 3.1 via a pivot axis 3.12 which runs transversely to the grooves 3.13. The respectively front end (directed towards the second paper roll receptacle 4) of the clamping jaws 3.11 has a contact surface on the outside for inside contact with the core element 2.1 of a paper roll 2 and 2, respectively. The rearward end of the clamping jaws 3.11 is located on the other side of the suspension point (bearing) of the clamping jaw 3.11 and cooperates with the spindle 5 so that the spindle 5, when moved relative to the first roll carrier 3.1, either presses apart or releases the clamping jaws 3.11. The clamping jaws 3.11 are thus radially displaceable between a clamping position a and release position b, where the clamping position a lies further outside than the release position b.

(10) Lever-shaped clamping jaws 3.11 which are pivoted were described previously as an example. It is however also feasible that the clamping jaws are elements which extend both in the clamping position a and also the release position b parallel to the axis X. The clamping jaws are then displaced in the radial direction between clamping and release position without changing their angle with respect to the axis X. Compared with pivotable clamping jaws, the latter clamping jaws have the advantage of a more extensive contact in the paper roll core or in the paper roll.

(11) The second paper roll receptacle 4 further has a second roll carrier 4.1 which is formed by three pins 4.11 which run parallel to the axis X and in each case are so far removed from the axis X that the first roll carrier 3.1 can be moved into a position between the pins 4.11. This position is defined as transfer position II.

(12) In FIGS. 1 to 4, the second paper roll receptacle 4 and the second roll carrier 4.1 are disposed in storage position A which is located coaxially with respect to the first roll carrier 3.1. In the transfer position II of the first roll carrier 3.1 which lies between the pins 4.11, the first roll carrier 3.1 together with the clamping jaws 3.11 is located at least in sections in the interior of the second roll carrier 4.11 disposed in storage position A and can here receive a second paper roll 2 mounted in the second paper roll receptacle 4 by spreading the clamping jaws 3.11. The first roll carrier 3.1 can then be moved into the unwinding position I in which the first roll carrier 3.1 together with the clamping jaws 3.11 is located outside (the intervention region) of the second roller carrier 4.1 located in storage position A. In this position I a paper roll 2, as shown in FIG. 1, can be unwound.

(13) After the paper roll 2 has been unwound, the first roll carrier 3.1 can be moved along the axis X into the ejection position III, where the roll carrier 3.1 is thereby moved through one opening each in the walls 1.1 and 1.2 of the apparatus 1. The right wall 1.1 in the figures or the edge of the opening (not shown) provided in this wall 1.1 through which the first roll carrier 3.1 is moved from the unwinding position I into the ejection position III forms a scraper element 6 which passes the first roll carrier 3.1 when it is moved into the ejection position III. The scraper element serves to automatically scrape the core element 2.1 of the paper roll 2 after this is unwound.

(14) When the first roll carrier 3.1 is in the transfer position II, the clamping jaws 3.11 are located in the radially outer position, that is the clamping position a. As a result, a second paper roll 2 as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2, can be clamped on the first roll carrier 3.1. If the roll carrier 3.1 is moved back into the unwinding position I, the clamping position a is preserved in the present case, that is the paper roll remains clamped on the roll carrier 3.1 as before. Only when the paper roll is unwound and the roll carrier 3.1 is moved into the ejection position III, are the clamping jaws 3.11 moved into the release position b with the result that the core element 2.1 is released from the first roll carrier 3.1. In so doing, the clamping jaws 3.11 which are initially still in the clamping position a, during movement of the first roll carrier 3.1 from the unwinding position I into the ejection position III, also come into contact with the scraper element 6, that is the opening in the wall 1.1, and are thereby compressed so that they enter into the release position b.

(15) The pressing apart of the clamping jaws 3.11 in the transfer position II is accomplished, for example, whereby the first roll carrier 3.1 in transfer position II is pressed against the wall 4.2 of the second receptacle 4, the wall 4.2 thus forms a stop for the roll carrier 3.1 which prevents the roll carrier 3.1 from being able to move further to the right. The spindle 5 is mounted by means of a thread in the first roll carrier 3.1 so that when the roll carrier 3.1 can no longer move further to the right in the axial direction, said spindle can nevertheless move relative to the roll carrier 3.1 where this relative movement has the result that the rear ends (facing the spindle 5) of the clamping jaws 3.11 are contacted by the spindle end where the force exerted by the spindle 5 on the lever-shaped clamping jaws 3.11 presses apart the clamping jaw levers 3.11 and specifically into said clamping position a. A correspondingly reversed effect is achieved when the first roll carrier 3.1 is moved into the ejection position III and there comes in contact with the wall 1.3 of the device 1. In this case, the wall 1.3 forms a stop for the first roll carrier 3.1 in the ejection position III so that the roll carrier 3.1 can no longer move further to the left in the axial direction. However, the spindle 5 can move further relative to the first roll carrier 3.1 with the result that the force which the spindle 5 has previously exerted on the clamping jaws 3.11 is cancelled so that the clamping jaws 3.11 can again enter into the release position b.

(16) FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 show an electric drive 7 in part, which moves the spindle 5 both rotationally around the axis X (with a first motor) and also translationally along the axis X (with a second motor, not shown here). For reasons of clarity, no connection is shown between the toothed output-side shaft 7.1 of the drive 7 and the likewise toothed transmission element 5.2. The connection can consist of a toothed belt or a transmission. The externally toothed transmission element 5.2 is fixed axially on the housing of the apparatus 1, therefore cannot move along the axis X. Inside, the transmission element 5.2 has an internal thread which corresponds with the external thread of the spindle 5. The first roll carrier 3.1 has a correspondingly corresponding internal thread.

(17) As shown in FIG. 2, the second paper roll receptacle 4 has a pivot axis 4.2 which allows the second paper roll receptacle 4 and the second roll carrier 4.1 to move, that is to pivot, between the storage position A and an equipping position B. In the equipping position B the second roll carrier 4.1 lies outside the movement range of the first roll carrier 3.1, that is the first roll carrier 3.1 would not enter between the pins 4.11 of the second roll carrier 4.1 when it is located in the transfer position II and the second paper roll receptacle 4 is disposed in the equipping position B.

(18) A method for changing paper rolls 2, 2 is now described which can be performed by the apparatus 1. The method includes the following steps: equipping a first roll carrier 3.1 of a first paper roll receptacle 3 with a first paper roll 2 in an unwinding position I, by placing the first paper roll 2 on the first roll carrier 3.1, unwinding the first paper roll 2 in the unwinding position I of the first roll carrier 3.1, equipping a second roll carrier 4.1 of a second paper roll receptacle 4 with a second paper roll 2, after the first paper roll 2 has been removed from the first roll carrier 3.1, moving the first roll carrier 3.1 along an axis X into the interior (of the intervention region) of the second roll carrier 4.1 into a transfer position 2, during and/or after moving the first roll carrier 3.1 into the interior (of the intervention region) of the second roll carrier 4.1, radial displacement of at least one clamping device 3.11 of the first roll carrier 3.1 into a clamping position a and thereby clamping the second paper roll 2 on the first roll carrier 3.1, and after clamping the second paper roll 2 on the first roll carrier 3.1 moving the first roll carrier 3.1 along the axis X back into the unwinding position I of the first roll carrier 3.1.