APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING LABEL TAPES

Abstract

An apparatus for connecting label tapes, the apparatus comprising a feed-through area through which the label tapes can be passed along a transport direction, a clamping element for clamping an area of a first label tape, a cutting device upstream of the clamping element for cutting a first label end of the first label tape, an adhesive application device for applying adhesive material to an adhesive area of the first label end upstream of the clamping element, a connecting device for bringing a second label end of a second label tape to the first label end of the first label tape and for connecting the second label end to the first label end in the adhesive area.

Claims

1. An apparatus for connecting label tapes, the apparatus comprising a feed-through area through which the label tapes can be passed along a transport direction, a clamping element for clamping an area of a first label tape, a cutting device upstream of the clamping element for cutting a first label end of the first label tape, an adhesive application device for applying adhesive material to an adhesive area of the first label end upstream of the clamping element, a connecting device for bringing a second label end of a second label tape to the first label end of the first label tape and for connecting the second label end to the first label end in the adhesive area.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a fixing element for fixing the first label end during cutting and/or application.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixing element comprises two pressure elements spaced apart in the transport direction, which can fix the label end downstream of the cutting device and wherein optionally the adhesive application device can apply the adhesive material to the adhesive area between the pressure elements; or wherein the fixing element comprises a pressure element arranged in the transport direction downstream of the cutting device and downstream or upstream of the adhesive application device, which can fix the label end.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device comprises an entrainment unit for entraining the second label end during the approaching and connecting.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a counter-pressure surface and the connecting device can press the second label end and the first label end in the adhesive area against the counter-pressure surface for connecting.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive application device is configured to apply adhesive material to two opposite sides of the first label end.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device is configured to contact the second label end on two opposite sides of the second label end.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the connecting device is designed to pull the second label end apart in a direction perpendicular to a transport level of the second label tape and to guide it over the first label end in order to bring the second label end to the first label end.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a cutting counter-surface against which the cutting device can press the first label end to cut the label end.

10. A method for connecting label tapes with an apparatus for connecting label tapes, the apparatus comprising a feed-through area through which the label tapes can be guided along a transport direction, a clamping element for clamping an area of a first label tape, a cutting device upstream of the clamping element for cutting a first label end of the first label tape, an adhesive application device for applying adhesive material to an adhesive area of the label end upstream of the clamping element, a connecting device for bringing a second label end of a second label tape to the label end of the first label tape and for connecting the second label end to the first label end in the adhesive area, the method comprising clamping the area of the first label tape with the clamping element, then cutting the first label end with the cutting element and applying adhesive material to the adhesive area with the adhesive application device, bringing the second label end and connecting the second label end to the first label end.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the cutting, advancing and connecting is performed while the area of the first label tape is clamped by the clamping element; and/or wherein the application of adhesive material is performed after the cutting of the first label end; and/or wherein the advancing of the second label end is performed after the application of adhesive material.

12. The method according to claim 10, the first label end is cut by the cutting device and/or the adhesive material is applied to the adhesive area by the adhesive application device, while the first label end is fixed by a fixing element of the apparatus, wherein optionally the fixing element comprises two pressure elements spaced apart in the transport direction, which fix the label end downstream of the cutting device and wherein optionally the adhesive application device applies the adhesive material to the adhesive area between the pressure elements, or wherein optionally the fixing element comprises a pressure element arranged downstream of the cutting device in the transport direction and downstream or upstream of the adhesive application device, which fixes the label end.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus comprises a counter-pressure surface and the connecting device presses the second label end and the first label end in the adhesive area against the counter-pressure surface for connecting.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the adhesive application device applies the adhesive material to two opposite sides of the first label end; and/or wherein the connecting device contacts the second label end on two opposite sides of the second label end, wherein optionally the connecting device for bringing the second label end to the first label end pulls the second label end apart in a direction perpendicular to a transport level of the second label tape and guides it over the first label end and then connects the first label end to the part of the second label end that has been pulled apart.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the label is a wrap-around label or a sleeve label.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0047] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for providing labels with a supply of film and an apparatus according to the disclosure.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the apparatus according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a side view of an apparatus for wrap-around labels according to a further embodiment of the disclosure.

[0050] FIGS. 4-11 show a sequence of a method for connecting label ends.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for providing and connecting label tapes 190. This serves only as an example to illustrate the mode of operation of the apparatus 100 according to the disclosure for connecting label tapes, which is described in more detail starting with FIG. 2.

[0052] Apparatuses 190 are known in principle from the prior art. These comprise a plurality of label rolls 181 to 184, in which labels are kept rolled up in the form of tapes. As is known, the labels can be provided as wrap-around labels or sleeve labels, or labels on a container that extend only partially along its circumference. Wrap-around labels or sleeve labels are known, which can be pulled over a container and completely surround it in the circumferential direction. The labels are held on rolls, wherein in particular with sleeve labels, labels follow one after the other on the label tape with their openings into which the container can be inserted.

[0053] The apparatus 190 further comprises, for example, one or more cutting devices 192, for cutting an end of a label roll to be connected to the previous label roll. This label end 130 can then be transferred to an apparatus 100 for connecting label tapes according to the disclosure, wherein a connection between the label end of one label roll and the label end of the other label roll is ensured, so that a continuous label web 185 is obtained, which can be discharged from the apparatus, for example via a buffer system 194, and fed, for example, to a labeling machine for labeling containers (not shown here).

[0054] In order to enable the change of several label tapes or label rolls (for example, a change between the label rolls 181 to 184 in the magazine 191 that is as automated as possible), it can be provided that the apparatus 100 according to the disclosure is arranged movably on a guide 193 such that it can be moved along the arrow direction shown in order to be guided from a label roll that is just unrolling to a further label roll or label tape 182 to be connected to this label roll or label tape. As soon as the currently unrolling label tape reaches a minimum remaining distance, it can be provided that the apparatus 100 is moved along the guide 193 to the next label roll (here the roll 182) and the label end of the first label roll 181 is connected to the label end of the second label roll 182.

[0055] In this connection, according to the disclosure, the term label roll is used synonymously with the term label tape, since the label roll forms a rolled-up label tape.

[0056] Corresponding apparatuses in FIG. 1 are known in principle. Apparatuses 100 for connecting label ends are also known in principle. However, the problem usually arises that it is difficult to reliably connect the label ends of a first label tape and a second label tape following it, which can lead to incorrect transfer of labels or readjustment of the label tapes during subsequent operation.

[0057] In order to solve this problem, FIG. 2 shows an apparatus 200 according to the disclosure for connecting label tapes 231 and 232 at their corresponding label ends facing one another.

[0058] The apparatus 200 comprises a feed-through area 270 through which a first label tape 231 can be fed along a transport direction T. In principle, the first label tape 231 can be fed through the feed-through area 270 from the beginning of the unwinding of the label tape from the label roll to its end. However, this is not mandatory and it may also be provided that outside of a connecting of label ends of a first label tape 231 and a second label tape 232, the apparatus 200 is removed from the label tape and this runs freely or over corresponding transport elements.

[0059] Furthermore, the apparatus 200 comprises a clamping element 201 that can clamp an area 233 of the first label tape 231. For this purpose, it can be provided that a counter-pressure element 261 is arranged opposite the clamping element 201, which is basically arranged to be movable, against which the clamping element 201 can clamp the label tape 231 moved between these, at least in the area 233, so that movement of the first label tape 231 in the transport direction T or against this is optionally completely prevented.

[0060] Furthermore, the apparatus 200 comprises a cutting device 202 in the transport direction T upstream of the clamping element 201. The cutting device 202 is provided to cut the first label end 235 of the first label tape 231. This defines an end position of the first label tape in the transport direction T, which can have a well-defined distance with respect to the clamping element 201 (namely the distance of the point at which the cutting device cuts off the label end 235). This facilitates the subsequent connecting with a label end 236 of a second label tape 232 (here a label end of a sleeve label or tubular label).

[0061] In order to effect the cutting of the first label end 235 as reliably as possible, a counter-cutting element 263 can be provided, which is associated with the cutting device 202 and can be arranged on the opposite side of the first label tape 231. The cutting device 202 can be designed to guide the first label tape 231 or at least its first label end 235 in the direction of the counter-cutting element 263 and to effect cutting of the first label end 235 by a cutting edge of the cutting device.

[0062] Further, the apparatus 200 comprises an adhesive application device 203 for applying adhesive material to an adhesive area 234 of the first label tape 231. The adhesive area 234 is arranged between the cutting device 202 and the clamping element 204. In general, the adhesive area 234 is arranged upstream of the clamping element 201 in the transport direction T.

[0063] The adhesive application device 202 may be configured to apply adhesive material (for example, liquid adhesive) to the adhesive area of the label tape. This can be done by spraying, printing or rolling, for example. However, embodiments in which the adhesive material is unwound from a roll of adhesive material and transferred to the adhesive area 234 may be used. The adhesive material can particularly be a single adhesive layer without a substrate or a substrate with adhesive material or an adhesive layer applied on opposite sides. The latter can be understood as a double-sided adhesive tape, wherein one side of the double-sided adhesive tape is connected to the first label end or the adhesive area 234 of the first label end and the other side of the substrate is then connected to the second label end.

[0064] The roll of adhesive material can be rotated about an axis of rotation, which can be arranged parallel to the transport direction T, for example above the transport level of the label tape.

[0065] Furthermore, the apparatus 200 comprises a connecting device 205 which can bring a second label tape 232 and, in particular, a second label end 236 of this second label tape 232 to the first label end 235 and connect it to the first label end in the adhesive area.

[0066] For this purpose, it can be provided that the connecting device 205 comprises two connecting elements 264 and 265, which can be arranged on opposite sides of the label (particularly in the case of sleeve or wrap-around labels) and can grip the label tape from above and below (in the view shown here) and pull it in the direction of the first label end 235. In this case, when sleeve labels are used, it may be provided that the connecting elements can grip the sleeve label and pull it apart in a direction perpendicular to the transport level of the label tape so that they can be guided over the first label end 235. Thus, the first label end is inserted between the two surfaces of the second label tape or the second label end 236 and then the connecting elements 264 and 265 can bring the second label end 236 together again in order to effect a connection of the label ends in the adhesive area 234.

[0067] In the embodiments shown in FIG. 2, it is provided that the adhesive application device can optionally apply adhesive material to opposite sides of the label tape 231. For this purpose, it can comprise a corresponding adhesive application device 262 to the adhesive application device 203 just described, which together can be understood as a common adhesive application device, which can apply adhesive material to the adhesive area 234 from the opposite side.

[0068] Optionally, a fixing element 204 can also be provided, which can fix the first label end during cutting and/or application of the adhesive tape material. This fixing element 204 is arranged particularly upstream of the clamping element 201 and downstream of the cutting device 202. The fixing element 204 can be designed as a clamping jaw and, particularly in the embodiment of FIG. 2 for connecting label ends of sleeve labels, can be arranged symmetrically both above and below the transport level of the first label tape 231 in order to cause the label tape to be clamped both from above and from below.

[0069] In the embodiment shown here, the fixing element 204 can comprise spaced-apart pressure elements 241 and 242 on each side of the transport level. These are spaced apart from one another in the transport direction T and can optionally delimit the adhesive area 234 of the label tape. It may be that the adhesive application device 203 applies the adhesive material to the label tape between the spaced printing elements 241 and 242 both above and below the transport level. This can ensure that the adhesive area 234 of the label tape is as taut as possible during application of the adhesive material, so that adhesive material is applied to the entire surface of the adhesive area 234.

[0070] Optionally, the connecting device and/or each connecting element 264 and 265 can be provided with an entrainment unit 266 (for example a vacuum pump, which applies a negative pressure to an area of the connecting element or the connecting device coming into contact with the second label end (for example by means of a perforated strip) or a clamping device, which can clamp and entrain the label end or a device which can cause the label end to be picked up or entrained by electrostatic or other effects (such as a gecko effect)) in order to suck in and hold the respective label end. This ensures that the second label end can be transported safely, so that in the case of sleeve labels, it can be pulled apart and transported in the direction of the first label end. This increases the accuracy with which the first label end and the second label end are connected to one another.

[0071] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment to FIG. 1, which can be provided particularly for connecting label ends of single labels that are not in the form of a tube or sleeve.

[0072] In such cases, it is not necessary for the first label tape or the second label tape to be applied (in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction) and this is not even possible, as there are no layers of material that lie on top of each other and can be separated from one another. Compared to the embodiment in FIG. 2, the application of adhesive material is only necessary on one side of the label tape.

[0073] Accordingly, it may be provided that, in deviation from the embodiment of FIG. 2, instead of the adhesive application devices arranged on opposite sides, only one adhesive application device 303 is arranged on one side and a counter-pressure surface 382 is arranged at least in the adhesive area 334 or a counter-pressure surface 382 is arranged on one side of the first label tape 331. The fixing element 304 and/or the connecting device 305 can be designed to press the first label tape and/or the second label tape against this counter-pressure surface 382, either to fix the first label tape in the adhesive area 334 or to connect the label ends of the label tapes to one another.

[0074] The counter-pressure surface 382 can also be designed as a cutting counter-surface in this embodiment, so that a separate cutting counter-surface 263, as described in connection with FIG. 2, is not necessary.

[0075] Additionally or alternatively, a second counter-pressure surface 383 may be arranged upstream of the counter-pressure surface 382, against which the connecting device 305 may press the second label tape 332, for example to pick it up more reliably. To this end, the connecting device 305 can first be moved in the direction of the second counter-pressure element 383 with the second label tape 382 located therebetween, so that the connecting device 305 presses the label tape 332 against the second counter-pressure surface 383. Subsequently, the second label tape 332 (particularly the second label end 336) can be sucked in, for example by applying a negative pressure to a part of the connecting device 305 (for example the element 366) and thus lifted off the counter surface 383 again.

[0076] Analogous to FIG. 2, a counter-pressure surface 381 can also be provided, against which the first label tape 331 can be pressed by the clamping element 301 in the clamping area 333 in order to prevent it from moving in the transport direction T.

[0077] FIGS. 4 to 11 show schematically the process of connecting the second label ends of two label tapes using the example of the embodiment of the apparatus according to the disclosure shown in FIG. 2.

[0078] It is understood that the embodiments of FIGS. 4 to 11 can also be applied to the embodiment of the apparatus according to FIG. 3, insofar as this does not concern special process steps that are only carried out or can only be carried out for sleeve or wrap-around labels. Unless explicitly mentioned, all process steps and embodiments described in connection with FIGS. 4 to 11 are therefore intended in combination with the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0079] Furthermore, the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 are intended to be sequential in time, wherein, if process steps can be carried out together or at least simultaneously, this is explicitly mentioned.

[0080] In the situations shown in FIG. 4, after the end of the label tape has been reached (it is completely or almost completely unwound from the label roll), the first label tape 430 is first clamped in the clamping area by the clamping element 401, so that further transport in the transport direction T of the label tape 430 is no longer possible. This can be effected by moving the clamping element 401 down from its initial position 411 in the direction of the label tape 430.

[0081] To detect the end of the label, for example, it may be provided that a sensor not shown here detects a marking of the first label tape 430 (for example a bar code or other recognizable optical or other pattern), which is indicative of reaching the label end and of the need to provide a new label roll and connect it to the current label tape 430. A corresponding signal can be transmitted to a control unit 480 (for example, a computer with an associated memory), which then controls the clamping element 401 or a drive element associated with this clamping element (for example, a servomotor or an actuator) in order to move the clamping element to clamp the first label tape 430.

[0082] In this situation, the other devices of the apparatus 400, in particular the cutting element 402, the adhesive application device 403 and the connecting device 405, are optionally in an initial or rest position.

[0083] Subsequently or at the same time as the clamping element 401 is moved (see FIG. 5), the adhesive area 434 of the first label tape 430 is optionally fixed by the fixing element 404, if this fixing element is provided. This may follow before the label end is cut by the cutting device 402 and before the adhesive material is applied by the adhesive application device 403. Even in this situation, the connecting device 405 may still be in an initial position.

[0084] The cutting device 402 is then actuated (see FIG. 6) in order to cut the first label end 435. Actuating the cutting device 402 may comprise, for example, moving the cutting device 402 or a cutting blade of the cutting device 402 in the direction of the label tape 430 and corresponding embodiments of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, if provided, comprise moving a counter-cutting element in the direction of the cutting device. Actuation of the cutting device and/or the counter-cutting element can be effected analogously by the control unit 480.

[0085] The material of the first label tape 430, which may have been separated off, can be sucked off by a suction device, which is not shown here but is optionally provided, so that excess label tape material does not remain in the apparatus 400.

[0086] Subsequently, or together with the step described in FIG. 6, adhesive material 431 and 432 can be applied to opposite sides of the label tape in the adhesive area of the label tape 430 by the adhesive application device 403 as shown in FIG. 7. The application of adhesive material 431 and 432 to opposite sides of the first label tape 430 is provided when sleeve labels or wrap-around labels are to be connected to one another. If the intention is to connect single labels instead, the adhesive material can be applied to only one side of the label tape 430 as shown in FIG. 3. As already described, this can be achieved by spraying, printing or pressing on adhesive material or by unrolling adhesive material from a roll of adhesive material and applying it to the label end.

[0087] Before or together with the step described in FIG. 7, the adhesive and/or label material can be heated by a heating device that is not shown here but is optionally provided. For example, the heating device can cause heating of the adhesive material in the adhesive application device 403. This can take place alternately or permanently, so that adhesive material can either be heated immediately before being transferred to the label tape or the adhesive material held in the adhesive application device 403 is permanently heated to a desired temperature. Alternatively or additionally, the label material can be heated as a whole or only in the adhesive area, for example immediately before the adhesive material is applied in the adhesive area. Heating can be achieved, for example, by hot air, heat radiation and/or direct and/or indirect tempering of the contact surface of the label or the adhesive material. The target temperature can be in the area of approx. 30 to 60 C., for example.

[0088] Subsequently or parallel to the steps described in FIGS. 6 and 7, a second label tape 453 is fed to the apparatus 400 (see FIG. 8), which is picked up by the connecting device 405 or the connecting elements 451 and 452 (in the case of sleeve or wrap-around labels) at the corresponding ends 454 and 455 and optionally pulled apart. For this purpose, the connecting device or its connecting elements 451 and 452 contact the opposite surfaces of the wrap-around label 454 and 455 by first moving the connecting elements 451 and 452 towards the second label tape 453. Subsequently, for example by generating a negative pressure, the ends 454 and 455 are held and removed from one another by moving the connecting elements 451 and 452 away from the transport level of the second label tape 453.

[0089] Simultaneously or subsequently, the second label tape 453 can be moved in the direction of the first label tape 430 provided with adhesive material 431 and 432. In this situation, the cutting device 402, the adhesive application device 403 and (if provided) the fixing element may have been moved back to their initial position (see FIG. 8), so that the distance to the first label tape 430 in a direction perpendicular to the transport level of the first label tape 430 is large enough to allow the connecting device 405 to move through with the wound end of the second label tape 453.

[0090] If a simple label is provided here instead of a sleeve label or wrap-around label, the second end of the label tape is transferred in the same way as described in FIG. 3 with only one connecting device or a connecting device 405 with only one connecting element (for example, only the upper element 451 or only the lower element 452).

[0091] In the view shown in FIG. 9, the second label end 454 and 455 of the second label tape 453 have now been moved by the connecting elements 451 and 452 towards the adhesive area 431 and 432 of the first label tape 430 in such a manner that they overlap with the latter. In the case of sleeve labels, as shown here, the label end of the second label tape 453 thus surrounds the label end of the first label tape 430 with the adhesive area 431 and 432. In the case of single labels, the respective label ends are arranged one above the other in a direction perpendicular to the transport level of the first label tape 430, so that at least a part of the second label end is arranged above the first label end or below the first label end and faces the adhesive area of the first label tape 430.

[0092] Subsequently, in FIG. 10, the first label end of the first label tape is connected to the second label end of the second label tape 453. For this purpose, the second label end is moved towards the adhesive area 431 and 432 of the first label tape 430 and optionally pressed together with it. In the case of sleeve labels or wrap-around labels, this may include connecting elements 451 and 452, or generally connecting devices 405, pressing the two opposing label ends 454 and 455 of the second label tape 453 against one another with adhesive areas 431 and 432 therebetween. If single labels are provided, the label end of the second label tape is pressed against the adhesive area of the label end of the first label tape. This can be achieved, for example, with the aid of a counter-pressure surface as shown in FIG. 3.

[0093] The first label end is then connected to the second label end (see FIG. 11) and the clamping element 401 can be returned to its initial position, so that the connected label tapes can be conveyed further in the transport direction T. At this point, the connecting device 405 can also be moved back to its starting position according to the direction of the arrow shown in order to pick up the second label end of the second label tape when the label tape rolls need to be changed again or label ends need to be connected.