Device and cleaning unit for cleaning a glue roller of a labeling station

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning a surface of a glue roller of a labeling station that applies labels to containers includes a modular cleaning unit that one can insert into the apparatus to displace at least one segment of a multi-segment vacuum drum.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning a surface of a glue roller of a labeling station that applies labels to containers, said apparatus comprising a cleaning unit and a carrier unit, wherein said cleaning unit is configured as a module that, when inserted into said apparatus, displaces at least one segment of a multi-segment vacuum drum, wherein, during operation of said apparatus, said carrier unit is disposed to be spaced from said surface, wherein said carrier unit is configured to receive at least a portion of said multi-segment vacuum drum that is operatively connected to said glue roller, and wherein said cleaning unit is configured to be inserted into said carrier unit to displace said at least one segment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said carrier unit is configured to rotate about a vertical axis thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said carrier unit comprises a plate.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said carrier unit comprises circular disk.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a drive shaft that drives said vacuum drum, wherein said carrier unit is connected to said drive shaft.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning unit is self-heating.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning unit comprises a cleaning tool configured for step-by-step cleaning of said surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said cleaning tool is configured to apply a pressure force against said surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said cleaning tool comprises a cleaning nozzle.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said cleaning tool comprises a brush.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said cleaning tool comprises a scraper.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said cleaning tool is self-heating.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said cleaning unit comprises a dispensing device for delivery of cleaning fluid to said cleaning tool.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said cleaning unit comprises a delivery pump for delivery of cleaning agent to said cleaning tool.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning unit comprises a suction device configured for sucking at least one of fluid, glue residue, and label residue.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning unit comprises a plurality of cleaning modules, each of which is configured to carry out a cleaning step.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning unit comprises an accommodation holder for holding a cleaning fluid.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said glue roller is configured to rotate about a roller axis thereof.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein, in operation, said cleaning unit is stationary.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning unit is configured to pivot about a vertical axis running parallel to a roller axis of said glue roller.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning unit is configured to rotate about a vertical axis running parallel to a roller axis of said glue roller.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning unit is connected to a drive shaft that drives said vacuum drum.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying figures, in which

(2) FIG. 1 shows a top view of a labeling station;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of a cleaning unit with a glue roller mounted on a carrier unit;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of a cleaning unit;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a top view of a cleaning unit with more than one cleaning module; and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a side view of a cleaning unit facing a glue roller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows a top view of a labeling device 1 formed as a rotating machine. The labeling device 1 applies labels, for example wrap-around labels, onto containers or bottles 2. It is understood that the invention is by no means restricted to labeling devices 1 for the application of wrap-around labels, but can be used for a plurality of labeling devices 1.

(8) The labeling device 1 includes a rotor 3 that rotates about a vertical machine axis in a rotation direction A. Along the periphery of the rotor 3 are rotating plates 4 on which bottles 2 to be labeled stand. A transporter 5 brings bottles 2 to a bottle inlet of the rotor 3 in such a way that bottles 2 stand upright on corresponding rotating plates 4 with their respective bottle axes oriented in the vertical direction.

(9) The rotor 3 moves the bottles 2 past a labeling station 6. Meanwhile, a drive shaft 7′ connected to the carrier unit 8 rotates a carrier unit 8 about its vertical axis VA in synchrony with the rotor 3. The carrier unit 8 is typically a plate or a circular disk.

(10) The carrier unit 8 carries a vacuum drum 7 having a lateral surface that holds labels. The vacuum drum 7 transfers a preceding label end of the label to a bottle 2 as the bottle 2 moves past it. These labels are all glued on their reverse sides. As the bottle 2 rotates, it draws the label off the vacuum drum 7 and winds it around itself with the reverse side of the label oriented to stick to the bottle 2. This results in a wrap-around label. The rotor 5 then carries the now-labeled bottles 2 back to the transporter 5 via a bottle outlet to be transported away.

(11) The vacuum drum 7 is preferably a multiple-piece having a plurality of segments and a circular disk-shaped cover. The segments collectively form the vacuum drum's lateral surface. The circular disk-shaped cover forms its upper surface. Clamps secure the cover to an upper end of the drive shaft 7′. As a result of being coupled to the drive shaft 7′, the vacuum drum rotates about the vertical axis VA in synchrony with the rotor 3 but in the opposite direction B.

(12) Vacuum holders or vacuum pads hold the labels against the lateral surface. The drum 7 also has a glue roller 9 that can be heated. Referring to FIG. 3, a drive shaft rotates the glue roller 9 about a roller axis WA thereof that runs parallel to the vertical axis VA.

(13) A cleaning unit 10 cleans the glue roller 9. The cleaning unit 10 is a module that can be inserted into the carrier unit 8 in place of a segment of the vacuum drum 7, thereby displacing that segment. Preferably, the cleaning unit 10 can be connected to the drive shaft 7′ in such a way that the cleaning unit 10 is either stationary in relation to the glue roller 9 or on the carrier unit 8 so as to pivot about the vertical axis VA of the carrier unit 8.

(14) The cleaning unit 10 can be inserted rapidly and easily into the carrier unit 8 after at least partially removing the vacuum drum 7 to begin automatically cleaning the glue roller 9. A control unit actuates the cleaning unit 10 and/or the drive shaft 7′ that drives the carrier unit 8.

(15) The cleaning unit 10 includes at least one cleaning tool 11 for at least sectional cleaning of glue roller's surface. In some embodiments, the cleaning tool 11 is exchangeable.

(16) Preferably, the cleaning tool 11 applies a pressure force on the surface of the glue roller 9. This pressure force originates either from fluid pressure or mechanical pressure. The cleaning tool 11 is arranged on an outer side of the cleaning unit 10 that is oriented towards to the glue roller 9. Depending on the cleaning step being carried out by the cleaning unit 10, the cleaning tool 11 leaves a gap between itself and an outer side in the direction of the glue roller 9.

(17) In some embodiments, the cleaning tool 11 has a nozzle 12. Preferably, the nozzle 12 extends along a longitudinal axis of the cleaning unit 10. In operation, the nozzle 12 conducts pressurized cleaning fluid towards the surface to be cleaned. In some embodiments, the nozzle 12 pivots or rotates about an axis in the cleaning unit 10, preferably oriented perpendicular towards the outer side of the cleaning unit 10. A drive shaft 7′ activates the nozzle 12 either directly or indirectly. Alternatively, individually actuatable drive units activate the nozzle 12. These drive units can be either hydraulically operated motors or electrically operated motors.

(18) In some embodiments, the cleaning tool 11 has a brush 13. A suitable brush 13 is a circular brush accommodated in the cleaning unit 10 so as to rotate or pivot about axes of rotation running parallel to the vertical axis VA. Either the drive shaft 7′ or individually allocated drive units drive the brush elements 13.

(19) In some embodiments, the cleaning tool 11 has a scraper 14 that forms a free scraping edge. When the scraper 13 presses against the glue roller 9 with a predetermined pressure force, it scrapes the glue roller 9 clean. The scraper 14 can be upstream or downstream of a cleaning nozzle unit 12 and/or a brush element 13.

(20) Represented by way of example in FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a cleaning unit 10 accommodated on the carrier unit 8 next to a glue roller 9 that is to be cleaned. In FIG. 2, the cleaning unit 10 the cleaning tool 11 has a brush element 13.

(21) FIG. 3 shows a top view of a cleaning unit 10 on a carrier unit 8 that operatively connects to a glue roller 9 that is to be cleaned. In this embodiment, the cleaning unit 10 has several cleaning tools 11, namely a cleaning nozzle 12, a brush 13, and a scraper 14.

(22) In some embodiments, the cleaning unit 10 is a self-heating cleaning tool 11 that can be heated to a temperature sufficient to substantially reduce the viscosity of the glue.

(23) Other embodiments feature a suction device 15 for sucking fluids, glue residues, and/or label residues. Preferably, the suction device 15 is in the immediate vicinity of the cleaning tools 11.

(24) In another embodiment, the cleaning unit 10 includes a dispensing device, such as a delivery pump, for providing cleaning fluid to the cleaning tools 11, and in particular, to the nozzle 12. The source of fluid can be outside the cleaning unit 10. However, it is also possible for the cleaning unit 10 to have a container for containing cleaning fluid.

(25) FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the cleaning unit 10 is a modular structure having more than one cleaning module. In the particular embodiment shown, there are four such cleaning modules: a first cleaning module 10.1, a second cleaning module 10.2, a third cleaning module 10.3, and a fourth cleaning module 10.4. However, embodiments include those with different numbers of cleaning modules.

(26) In the particular embodiment shown, the cleaning modules 10.1-10.4 are uniformly arranged about a vertical axis VA to form a cleaning star. Each of the cleaning modules 10.1-10.4 carries out at least one cleaning step. The cleaning modules 10.1-10.4 can therefore be arranged to carry out different cleaning tasks.

(27) In FIG. 4, the first cleaning module 10.1 includes a scraper 14, the second cleaning module 10.2 includes a brush 13, the third cleaning module 10.3 includes a pair of brushes 13, and the fourth cleaning module 10.4 includes a nozzle 12 with a downstream suction device 15. The cleaning modules 10.1-10.4 are mounted on the carrier unit 8 and rotated about the vertical axis VA. As the carrier unit 8 rotates, it subjects the glue roller 9 to the cleaning steps carried out by the cleaning modules 10.1-10.4. Preferably, the cleaning steps occur at an elevated temperature of approximately 100° C.

(28) The invention has been described by way of exemplary examples. It is understood that modifications or deviations are possible, without departing from the underlying idea of the invention. The invention is thus defined solely by the accompanying claims and not limited to the illustrated embodiments.