Labelling apparatus and method for applying labels to containers

Abstract

A labeling device and a method for applying labels to containers comprising an unwinding unit for receiving thereon at least one supply roll with a label tape; having an intermediate buffer unit for temporarily storing the label tape unwound from the supply roll, the intermediate buffer unit comprising at least one first movable roller unit; a drive unit arranged downstream of the intermediate buffer unit when seen in the conveying direction and used for driving the label tape in the conveying direction and processing unit for separating the label tape into the individual labels and for optionally coating the labels with glue and for transferring the labels to the containers wherein the intermediate buffer unit and the drive unit have arranged between them a separately configured, dynamic buffer unit comprising at least one second roller unit which is movable independently of the intermediate buffer unit.

Claims

1. A labeling device for applying labels to containers, comprising: an unwinding unit for receiving thereon at least one supply roll with a label tape; an intermediate buffer unit for temporarily storing the label tape unwound from the supply roll, the intermediate buffer unit comprising at least one first movable roller unit; a drive unit comprising at least one drive roller and an electromotor as a drive for providing a driving force for the drive roller, whereby the drive unit is arranged downstream of the intermediate buffer unit when seen in a conveying direction and used for driving the label tape in the conveying direction; and a processing unit for separating the label tape into the individual labels, wherein the intermediate buffer unit and the drive unit have arranged between them a separately configured, dynamic buffer unit comprising at least one second movable roller unit, which is movable independently of the intermediate buffer unit, and wherein the second movable roller unit comprises a movement mechanism for a deflection roller, the movement mechanism and the deflection roller being configured such that, when the labeling device is started within a container interval, a dynamic pulling force acting on the label tape will be limited to 50 N or less.

2. The labeling device according to claim 1, wherein the labeling device comprises deflection rollers for guiding the label tape having a diameter in a range of 0-25 mm.

3. The labeling device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the deflection rollers is arranged in the dynamic buffer unit.

4. The labeling device according to claim 1, wherein the dynamic buffer unit is arranged directly upstream of the drive unit, when seen in the conveying direction.

5. The labeling device according to claim 1, wherein the second movable roller unit has a lower mass than the first movable roller unit.

6. The labeling device according to claim 1, wherein the second movable roller unit comprises fewer deflection rollers than the first movable roller unit.

7. The labeling device according to claim 1, wherein the second movable roller unit is pretensioned with a second spring element and/or wherein the dynamic buffer unit comprises a damping element so as to dampen the movement of the second movable roller unit.

8. The labeling device according to claim 1, wherein the second movable roller unit comprises at least one pivotable or movable deflection roller.

9. The labeling device according to claim 8, wherein the second movable roller unit comprises as a movement mechanism a pivot lever, so as to pivot the deflection roller about an axis.

10. The labeling device of claim 9, wherein the pivot lever is a spring-tensioned pivot lever.

11. The labeling device according to claim 8, wherein the second movable roller unit comprises as a movement mechanism a movable and/or spring-tensioned carriage, so as to move the deflection roller along an optionally linear path.

12. The labeling device according to claim 1, wherein the unwinding unit and the intermediate buffer unit are configured as a separate unit with a carrier frame which is separate from the processing unit.

13. The labeling device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit coats the labels with glue and transfers the labels to the containers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Further features and advantages of the present invention will be explained hereinafter in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows, in a top view, an embodiment of a labeling device with deflection rollers having a diameter in a range of 0-25 mm;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a labeling device with a dynamic buffer unit, which comprises a pivot lever having a deflection roller arranged thereon;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a labeling device with a dynamic buffer unit, which comprises a movable carriage having a deflection roller arranged thereon; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows, in a top view, an embodiment for a system comprising a container manufacturing machine and a labeling machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows, in a top view, an embodiment of a labeling device 1 with deflection rollers U.sub.1, U.sub.2, .sub.U3, U.sub.4 having a diameter in a range of 0-25 mm. What can be seen is the labeling device 1 by means of which the label tape 5 is processed into individual labels 5a, which are then transferred to the containers 2. In addition, it can be seen that, during labeling, the containers 2 are accommodated in rotatable container holders 4 of the conveyor 3 and moved past the labeling device 1. The containers 2 can here be rotated during transfer of the labels 5a so that they can be labeled all around or over only part of their circumference.

(7) The labeling device 1 itself comprises an unwinding unit 20 for receiving thereon the two supply rolls 21 and 22. In FIG. 1, the label tape 5 is being unwound from the supply roll 21. When its end has been reached, it is connected to the beginning of the label tape of the supply roll 22 by means of the splicing unit 23. This will ensure interruption-free operation.

(8) In addition, the intermediate buffer unit 30 comprising the fixed roller unit 31 and the movable roller unit 32 can be seen. The roller units 31, 32 each comprise a plurality of deflection rollers of different sizes around which the label tape 5 is guided in several loops. In order to accommodate a larger amount of label tape 5 in the intermediate buffer unit 30, the movable roller unit 32 can be moved away from the fixed roller unit 31 by means of a spring element, which is not shown here. This will increase the loop length accordingly. In order to remove the label tape 5 from the intermediate buffer unit 30, the movement will take place the other way round, so that the loop length will be reduced. This has the effect that, when the label tapes 5 of the supply rolls 21, 22 are interconnected by means of the splicing unit 23, the time required for this process will be bridged.

(9) What can additionally be seen is the running control unit 60 for adjusting the exact position of the label tape 5 relative to the downstream drive unit 40 and the processing unit 50.

(10) For driving the label tape 5, the intermediate buffer unit 30 is followed by the drive unit 40, when seen in the conveying direction F. The latter comprises the drive rollers 41, 42, at least one of which is driven by a drive, which is not shown here, preferably by a servo motor. Between the two drive rollers 41, 42, the label tape 5 is fixed such that the driving force will be transmitted to the label tape 5. It follows that the label tape 5 is drawn by means of the drive unit 40, so that it will be drawn from the supply roll 21, through the splicing unit 23, through the intermediate buffer unit 30 across the running control unit 60 to the deflection roller U.sub.4.

(11) Subsequently, the label tape 5 is supplied to the processing unit 50. Here, it will first be separated into individual labels 5a by a cutting unit 51, the labels being then moved past the gluing station 52 by means of the vacuum cylinder 53 and coated with glue in the course of this process. Following this, the labels 5a are transferred to the containers 2 in the container holders 4.

(12) The deflection rollers U.sub.1, U.sub.2, U.sub.3, U.sub.4 have a diameter of 17 mm in the present example. However, also any other suitable diameter in a range of 0-25 mm is imaginable. Due to the low moment of inertia of the deflection rollers U.sub.1, U.sub.2, U.sub.3, U.sub.4 the resultant inertial forces applied to the label tape 5 will be particularly low, so that the label tape will be subjected to as little tension as possible during acceleration. As a result, the label tape 5 is subjected to less stress during high accelerations and is protected against damage in this way.

(13) FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a labeling device 1 with a dynamic buffer unit 70, which comprises a pivot lever 72 having a deflection roller U.sub.6 arranged thereon. The embodiment in FIG. 2 differs from that in FIG. 1 only insofar as the intermediate buffer unit 30 and the drive unit 40 have arranged between them the separately configured, dynamic buffer unit 70 with the independently movable roller unit 71. The features described above with respect to FIG. 1, apply to FIG. 2 accordingly.

(14) The dynamic buffer unit 70 comprises the two fixedly arranged deflection rollers U.sub.4, U.sub.5 as well as the movable roller unit 71 with the deflection roller U.sub.6. What can be seen is that the movable deflection roller U.sub.6 is arranged on the pivot lever 72 so that it can be pivoted about the axis A in the direction R.sub.1. By means of the deflection rollers U.sub.4, U.sub.5, U.sub.6, a loop of the label tape 5 is formed, which can be increased or reduced in size through a movement of the pivot lever 72. In addition, the pivot lever 72 is pretensioned by the spring element 73, so that the loop will be subjected to permanent tension. As a result, the dynamic buffer unit 70 operates passively in accordance with the belt length demanded by the drive unit 40.

(15) Due to the fact that the second movable roller unit 71 only comprises said one deflection roller U.sub.6, it also has a lower mass than the first movable roller unit 32 in the intermediate buffer unit 30. This allows the dynamic buffer unit 70 to work with a significantly lower mass inertia than the intermediate buffer unit 30, where the movable roller unit 32 comprises three deflection rollers. As a result, the dynamic buffer unit is particularly effective during especially high accelerations of the label tape 5 and buffers the resultant tensions particularly well.

(16) In addition, the damping element 75 can be seen, which dampens the movement of the pivot lever 72 and of the second movable roller unit 71, respectively. In this way, vibrations between the dynamic buffer unit 70 and the intermediate buffer unit 30 will be avoided, which may otherwise have a negative effect on the conveying behavior of the label tape 5.

(17) Furthermore, the dynamic buffer unit 70 and the intermediate buffer unit 30 are configured such that the first movable roller unit 32 is pretensioned by a first spring element, which is here not shown, and the second movable roller unit 71 is pretensioned by the second spring element 73.

(18) In addition, the deflection rollers U.sub.4, U.sub.5 of the dynamic buffer unit 70 have a diameter of 17 mm, but other suitable diameters in a range of 0-25 mm are imaginable as well. As a result, the inertial forces of the deflection rollers U.sub.4, U.sub.5 are particularly low.

(19) FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a labeling device 1 with a dynamic buffer unit 80, which comprises a movable carriage 82 having a deflection roller U.sub.6 arranged thereon. The embodiment in FIG. 3 differs from that in FIG. 2 only with respect to the movement mechanism used for the second roller unit 81 and configured here as a movable and spring-tensioned carriage 82. Hence, corresponding features of FIGS. 1 and 2 also apply to FIG. 3.

(20) What can be seen is that the fixed deflection rollers U.sub.4-5 are here arranged in a way similar to FIG. 2. However, the deflection roller U.sub.6 of the second movable roller unit 81 is arranged on a carriage 82, which is movable on guide rails along the direction R.sub.2 in a linear path. In this way, the label tape 5 can be buffered dynamically. In addition, the spring 83 can be seen, by means of which the carriage 82 is pulled away from the fixed deflection rollers U.sub.4, U.sub.5. Similar to FIG. 2, the loop of the label tape 5 around the deflection rollers U.sub.4, U.sub.5 is held under tension in this way, so that the label tape 5 will be guided reliably.

(21) What can be seen in addition is the damping element 85 for dampening the movement of the second movable roller unit 81. In this way, vibrations between the dynamic buffer unit 80 and the intermediate buffer unit 30 are dampened and/or suppressed.

(22) Due to the fact that, in the above embodiments of FIG. 1-3, the deflection rollers U.sub.1, U.sub.2, U.sub.3, U.sub.4, U.sub.5, U.sub.6 have a diameter of 17 mm and 0-25 mm, respectively, the stress on the label tape 5 caused by the occurring inertial forces of the rollers U.sub.1, U.sub.2, U.sub.3, U.sub.4, U.sub.5, U.sub.6 will be particularly low. In addition, the dynamic buffer units 70, 80 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will buffer high accelerations when the label tape 5 is driven. Since the dynamic buffer units 70, 80 are arranged directly upstream of the drive unit 40, when seen in the conveying direction F, the tensions occurring in the label tape 5 due to the inertial forces will be particularly low. It follows that the label tape 5 can be started and stopped in a particularly gentle manner by the labeling devices 1 of FIG. 1-3, without being damaged. In addition, the labeling devices 1 in FIG. 1-3 can be operated in a particularly dynamic manner, so that the label tape 5 can also be started and stopped between two containers 2 within an operating cycle.

(23) FIG. 4 shows, in a top view, an embodiment for a system 200 comprising a container manufacturing machine 210 and a labeling machine 220.

(24) What can be seen is that the container manufacturing machine 210 obtains the preforms 2a from the supply 230 and forms them into finished containers 2 by means of a stretch-blow molding process. In this process, the preforms 2a are, in a manner known per se, preheated in a continuous furnace and placed into stretch blow molds. There, they are formed into finished containers 2 by stretching by means of a stretching mandrel and by inflation by means of a blow pin.

(25) In addition, the container manufacturing machine 210 comprises at its outlet an inspection device 211, by means of which faulty containers 2s can be sorted out towards an ejection unit 212. As a result, the gap L is formed in the container flow, which remains empty during the subsequent labeling with the labeling machine 220, since intermediate container buffering does not take place.

(26) Since the stretch-blow molding process depends on the temperature of the preforms 2a, among other factors, and consequently on the time which the preforms 2a need for passing through the continuous furnace, the containers 2 can only be produced at a constant operating speed. Hence, the containers 2 leave the container manufacturing machine 210 at the constant operating speed and at the intervals T. This circumstance applies in a corresponding manner also when the container manufacturing machine 210 is started. It follows that, when the container manufacturing machine 210 is started, the container flow shown will immediately be generated at the constant operating speed and with the intervals T without any smooth speed transition. Therefore, a compensation of the gap L on the part of the container manufacturing machine 210 will not be possible.

(27) In addition, it can be seen that the containers 2 are transferred via the conveyor 240 and the infeed starwheel 250 to the conveyor 223 of the labeling machine 220. The conveyor 223 is here configured e.g. as a carousel rotating about the axis A and provided with circumferentially arranged container holders 224. Making use of the conveyor 223 of the labeling machine 220, the containers 2 are conveyed in the container holders 224 at fixed intervals T. The conveyor 223 is additionally synchronized with the container manufacturing machine 210, with the intervals T corresponding to one another. It follows that the containers 2 are processed by the labeling machine 220 with a cycle rate corresponding to that with which they are manufactured in the container manufacturing machine 210. Therefore, the gap L cannot be compensated for by the labeling machine 220 either.

(28) At the conveyor 223, the containers 2 are received in the container holders 224 and conveyed past the labeling devices 221. The labeling devices 221 correspond optionally to the labeling devices 1 described above with respect to FIG. 1-3, preferably according to the embodiments of FIG. 2 or 3.

(29) Making use of the labeling devices 221, the labels 5a are applied to the containers 2. Labeling can be seen exemplarily from the container holder 224.sub.E, where the label 5a is just being transferred to the container 2. Subsequently, the containers 2 are conveyed by means of the conveyor 223 to the discharge starwheel 260 and advanced so as to undergo further treatment steps.

(30) What can additionally be seen is that, due to a gap in the container flow, the container holder 224.sub.L is empty. In order to prevent a malfunction of the labeling machine 220, the labeling device 221 associated with this container holder 224.sub.L will interrupt the application of the labels 5a for a short period of time. During this period, the label tape 5 is stored temporarily in the dynamic buffer unit 70, 80 (corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 3) and then fed again at the subsequent container holder 224 for labeling the container 2 contained in the latter and for thus continuing labeling after the interruption.

(31) In addition, the label tape 5 is accelerated from a standstill to the labeling speed when the drive unit 40 is started and, in this process, it is removed at least partially from the dynamic buffer unit 70, 80. The dynamic buffer unit 70, 80 is here configured such that, during acceleration, the resultant pulling force in the label tape 5 is limited to less than 50 N.

(32) Since the inertial forces acting on the label tape 5 are particularly low due to the dynamic buffer unit 70, 80, the pulling force is limited accordingly. It follows that, due to processing by the labeling devices 221, the label tape 5 is guided and processed in a particularly reliable manner during starting and/or during an interruption of the labeling process.

(33) It goes without saying that features referred to in the above-mentioned embodiments are not limited to these special combinations and may also be used in any other combination.