DEVICE FOR IMPRINTING OR LABELLING CONTAINERS

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for imprinting or labelling containers (12). The device (10) comprises a planar drive system (14) having a base element (16), a first movement device (18) and a second movement device (20). The first movement device (18) has a container holder (22) for holding a container (12). The second movement device (20) has a fitting device (24) for imprinting or labelling the container (12). The device (10) can improve a flexibility and a working quality during the imprinting and labelling of the containers (12).

Claims

1. A device for imprinting or labelling containers, comprising: a planar drive system comprising a base element, a first movement device and a second movement device, wherein the first movement device and the second movement device are movable independently of one another with respect to the base element using magnetic interaction with the base element, wherein: the first movement device comprises a container holder for holding a container; and the second movement device comprises an equipping unit for imprinting or labelling the container.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the planar drive system is configured such that while the equipping unit of the second movement device imprints or labels the container held by the first movement device: the first movement device at least temporarily moves and the second movement device is substantially at a standstill, or the second movement device at least temporarily moves and the first movement device is substantially at a standstill; or the first movement device at least temporarily moves and the second movement device at least temporarily moves.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the planar drive system is configured such that while the equipping unit of the second movement device imprints or labels the container held by the first movement device: the first movement device and/or the second movement device is inclined with respect to the base element; and/or the first movement device rotates about its own center axis and/or the second movement device rotates about its own center axis; and/or the first movement device and/or the second movement device performs a stroke movement with respect to the base element.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the planar drive system is configured such that while the equipping unit of the second movement device imprints or labels the container held by the first movement device: the first movement device at least partially bypasses the second movement device; or the second movement device at least partially bypasses the first movement device.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the planar drive system is configured in order, while the equipping unit of the second movement device imprints or labels the container held by the first movement device, to carry out a relative movement, which is configured to the respectively held container on an individual container basis, between the first movement device and the second movement device.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein: the relative movement is configured in such a manner that the container is guided past the equipping at a predetermined distance and/or at a predetermined surface speed.

7. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein: the relative movement is configured depending on an individual shape of the container and/or on an individual size of the container.

8. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein: the relative movement has an individually, on a container basis, determined movement path of the first movement device and/or of the second movement device, in which the container held by the first movement device is guided past the equipping unit at a substantially constant surface speed of the container and/or at a substantially constant distance that is to be equipped.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the equipping unit is a labelling unit which is designed to label the container held by the second movement device, or the equipping unit is a printing unit which is designed to imprint the container held by the second movement device.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a plurality of first movement devices are included.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the planar drive system further comprises a further movement device with a measuring unit which is designed to measure the container held by the first movement device.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the planar drive system further comprises a further different movement device with a fixing unit which is designed to fix an imprint or a label on the container held by the first movement device.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein: the fixing unit is a curing unit which is designed to cure the imprint of the container held by the first movement device; or the fixing unit is a brush-on or roll-on sponge unit which is designed to brush on or to roll on the label of the container held by the first movement device.

14. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein: the planar drive system is configured in order, while the fixing unit of the further different movement device fixes the imprint or the label of the container ) held by the first movement device, to carry out a relative movement, which is configured to the respectively held container on an individual basis, between the first movement device and the further different movement device.

15. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein: the planar drive system is configured to adapt a speed of the first movement device to the equipping undertaken by the equipping unit during the movement from the second movement device to the further different movement device.

16. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the planar drive system is configured such that while the equipping unit of the second movement device imprints or labels the container held by the first movement device: the first movement device at least partially bypasses and circles around the second movement device; or the second movement device at least partially bypasses and circles around the first movement device.

17. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the planar drive system is configured in order, while the equipping unit of the second movement device imprints or labels the container held by the first movement device, to carry out a relative movement, which is configured to the respectively held container on an individual container basis, between the first movement device and the second movement device, and the relative movement is configured to an individual shape of a container surface of the container in a region of the container surface that is to be equipped.

18. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the relative movement is configured depending on a previously detected individual shape of the container and/or on a previously detected individual size of the container.

19. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein: the relative movement has an individually, on a container basis, determined movement path of the first movement device and/or of the second movement device, in which the container held by the first movement device is guided past the equipping unit at a substantially constant surface speed of a region of the container that is to be equipped, and/or at a substantially constant distance with respect to a region of the container that is to be equipped.

20. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a plurality of first movement devices are included, wherein the plurality of first movement devices move in succession to the second movement device.

21. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the planar drive system further comprises a further movement device with a measuring unit which is designed to measure the container held by the first movement device with respect to an individual shape and/or an individual size of the container.

22. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein: the fixing unit is a curing unit which is designed to cure the imprint of the container held by the first movement device using UV light; or the fixing unit is a brush-on or roll-on sponge unit which is designed to brush on or to roll on the label of the container held by the first movement device.

23. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein: the planar drive system is configured to adapt a speed of the first movement device to the equipping undertaken by the equipping unit during the movement from the second movement device to the further different movement device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0041] Further details and advantages of the invention are described below with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a perspective schematic illustration of a device for imprinting or labelling a container according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of a device for imprinting or labeling a container according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, with the movement path of the container being depicted.

[0044] The embodiments shown in the figures are at least partially identical, and therefore similar or identical parts are provided with the same reference signs, and reference is also made, for their explanation, to the description of the other embodiments or figures in order to avoid repetition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a device 10 for imprinting or labelling containers 12, e.g. bottles (glass bottles, PET bottles, etc.), cans, etc. The device 10 has a planar drive system 14.

[0046] The planar drive system 14 has a base element 16 and a plurality of movement devices (movers or runners) 18, 20. The movement devices 18, 20 can be moved freely and independently of one another over the base element 16 by means of magnetic interaction with the base element 16. The movement devices 18, 20 can also be rotated with respect to the base element 16 (e.g. swiveling) by means of magnetic interaction with the base element 16. The movement devices 18, 20 can also be inclined with respect to the base element 16 (e.g. pitching and/or rolling) by means of magnetic interaction with the base element 16. The movement devices 18, 20 can likewise perform a stroke movement upward or downward relative to the base element 16 by means of magnetic interaction with the base element 16. A number of the movement devices 18, 20 can be freely selectable, depending on the application.

[0047] The base element 16 forms a stator of the planar drive system 14. The movement devices 18, 20 form runners of the planar drive system 14. The movement devices 18, 20 are supported contactlessly by the base element 16, preferably on an upper side of the base element 16. The base element 16 can have, for example, a plurality of electromagnets arranged in a distributed manner, e.g. electric coils. The movement devices 18, 20 can have permanent magnets. The electromagnets are preferably arranged in a matrix which extends in a plane of the base element 16 (here preferably a horizontal plane). A control unit (not illustrated) of the planar drive system 14 can control a power supply to the electromagnets of the base element 16 in order to build up electromagnetic fields with a desired field strength at a desired position of the base element 16. Forward propulsion, rotation, inclination and/or a stroke of the movement devices 18, 20 can be brought about by corresponding electromagnetic fields of the electromagnets of the base element 16. The base element 16 is preferably oriented in a horizontal plane. However, other orientations are also conceivable, e.g. a vertical orientation.

[0048] The plurality of movement devices 18, 20 comprise at least a first movement device 18 and a second movement device 20.

[0049] The first movement device 18 supports a container holder 22 (merely indicated schematically in FIG. 1). The container holder 22 is designed to hold the container 12 (or else a plurality of containers 12). For example, the container holder 22 can be embodied as a gripper, a clamping holder, a suction holder or in some other way (with or without an actuator system). The first movement device 18 can therefore move the container 12 held by means of the container holder 22 freely over a surface of the base element.

[0050] The second movement device 20 supports an equipping unit 24 for imprinting or labelling the container 12. Depending on design, the equipping unit 24 can be, for example, a labelling unit or a printing unit.

[0051] The labelling unit can label the container 12 held by the first movement device 18. For example, cold glue labels, hot glue labels, self-adhesive labels or sleeve labels can be applied by the labelling unit.

[0052] The printing unit can imprint the container 12 held by the first movement device 18. For example, the printing unit can use a direct printing method. The ink used by the printing unit may be curable by means of UV radiation, for example.

[0053] Preferably, the first movement device 18 and the second movement device 20 move at least temporarily relative to each other while the equipping unit 24 equips the container 12 with an imprint or a label. For example, the two movement devices 18, 20 or only one of the movement devices 18 or 20 can move in the process. The movement of the movement device 18 and/or 20 can comprise, for example, an inclination with respect to the base element 16, rotation about its own center axis and/or a stroke movement with respect to the base element 16. Alternatively or additionally, the movement of the movement device 18 or 20 can comprise bypassing, preferably circling around, the respectively other movement device 20 or 18.

[0054] In order to improve the equipping, that is to say the labelling or the imprinting, of the container 12, the relative movement between the movement devices 18 and 20 during the equipping operation can be adapted to the respective container 12 on an individual basis. Before the equipping operation, the container 12 can be measured individually with respect to shape and/or size, in particular with respect to the region that is to be equipped of the container 12. In the process, for example, precise measurements of the container 12 within the manufacturing tolerances thereof can also be detected. The relative movement between the movement devices 18, 20 can be adapted to the individual shape and/or size (of containers) in such a manner that the container 12 is guided at a predetermined distance and/or at a predetermined surface speed past the equipping unit for labelling or imprinting the container 12. Preferably, for the relative movement, a movement path of the first movement device 18 and/or of the second movement device 20 can be determined, preferably calculated, on an individual (container) basis. Said movement path is determined in such a manner that the container 12 is guided past the equipping unit 24 at a substantially constant surface speed of the container 12, in particular with respect to the region that is to be equipped and/or at a substantially constant distance. As a result, a printed image or labelling of the container 12 can be significantly improved.

[0055] It is possible for the planar drive system 14 to have further movement devices with application apparatuses for processing or checking the container 12 held by the first movement device 18. The further movement devices can otherwise be constructed in the same way as the first and second movement devices 18, 20. A relative movement between the further movement device and the first movement device 18 can be controlled especially by the planar drive system 14, in particular on an individual (container) basis, in the same way as the relative movement between the first and second movement devices 18, 20.

[0056] The application apparatuses of the further movement devices can preferably have a measuring unit, a fixing unit and/or a further equipping unit.

[0057] The measuring unit can measure the container 12 held by the first movement device 18. For example, a size, a surface shape, a diameter, a width and/or a height of the container 12 can be measured by means of the measuring unit. The measuring unit preferably operates with a contactless measuring principle, e.g. optically with a camera, a laser scanner or an LED scanner, or acoustically by means of sound, preferably ultrasound. It is also possible for the measuring unit to use another or additional measuring principle, e.g. a tactile measurement by means of a measuring probe which is moved over a surface of the container.

[0058] The fixing unit can be designed as an imprint fixing unit (curing unit or pinning unit). The curing unit can cure or pin an imprint on the container 12 held by the first movement device 18. For this purpose, the curing unit can have, for example, a UV lamp with which the ink of the imprint can be cured.

[0059] The fixing unit can alternatively be designed as a label fixing unit with a brush or a roll-on sponge. The label fixing unit can fix and smooth a label on the container 12 held by the first movement device 18 by brushing or rolling it on.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows a planar drive system 14 in which a first movement device 18 (for better clarity only illustrated once at the outset) moves the container 12 to a plurality of movement devices 20, 26, 28, 30.

[0061] The second movement device 20 has the equipping unit 24 which is designed as an imprinting unit. The movement device 26 has the measuring unit 32. The movement device 28 has the fixing unit 34 which is designed as a curing unit. The movement device 30 has a further equipping unit 36 which is likewise designed as an imprinting unit.

[0062] The first movement device 18 with the container 12 moves along a trajectory 38 (illustrated in exaggerated form) in succession to the movement device 26 with the measuring unit 32, to the second movement device 20 with the equipping unit 24, to the movement device 28 with the fixing unit 34 and to the movement device 30 with the equipping unit 36. A relative movement is in each case performed between the first movement device 18, on the one hand, and the measuring unit 32, the equipping unit 24, the fixing unit 34 and the equipping unit 36.

[0063] The measuring unit 32 measures the container 12 individually with respect to shape, in particular surface shape, and size while the container 12 is being moved along the measuring unit 32. The measuring unit 32 measures in particular a portion of the container 12 that is subsequently equipped (=“region that is to be equipped”) by the equipping unit 24. On the basis of the measurement of the measuring unit 32, a movement path 38A is determined, preferably calculated, for the first movement device 18 in such a manner that the container 12 during movement past the equipping unit 24 is moved at the constant distance, which is preferably as small as possible, and at the constant surface speed of that portion of the container 12 that is to be equipped is moved along the equipment unit 36.

[0064] As already mentioned, the movement path 38A could alternatively or additionally also be determined for the second movement device 20. It goes without saying that the movement path 38A which is illustrated is purely by way of example and, for example, may also be designed differently, for example as an oscillating movement or as a rotating movement in front of each equipping unit about the container axis in the case of cylindrical containers.

[0065] The planar drive system 14 then moves the first movement device 18 along the equipping unit 24 in accordance with the individually (on a container basis) determined movement path 38A while the equipping unit 24 imprints the container 12. After the imprinting, the first movement device 18 is moved further to the movement device 28 with the fixing unit 34. During the movement of the first movement device 18 to the fixing unit 34, a speed of the first movement device 18 can be adapted in order to ensure that a predetermined period of time elapses between the printing and the curing. Preferably, the speed of the first movement device 18 is adapted here individually to the imprint of the container 12 performed by means of the equipping unit 24. The first movement device 18 is moved in accordance with a movement path 38B along the movement device 28 or the fixing unit 34 during the curing/pinning of the imprint of the container 12. The movement path 38B can correspond to the movement path 38A or can be determined in a similar way with additional dependency on a configuration of the fixing unit 34.

[0066] After the fixing, the first movement device 18 can optionally also be moved to the movement device 30 with the equipping unit 36 in order to further imprint the container 12 (for example for a multi-colored imprint). During the equipping operation, the first movement device 18 can move along the movement path 38C which corresponds to the movement path 38A or can be determined in a similar manner with additional dependency on a configuration of the equipping unit 36.

[0067] By means of the possibility of inclining the movement devices 18, 20 and/or 30 with respect to the base element 16, oblique surfaces of the container 12 can also be imprinted by means of the equipping unit 24 and/or 36. By adaptation of the stroke of the movement devices 18, 20 and/or 30, an orientation at the height of the print heads of the equipping units 24, 36 is possible so that, for example, the droplets ejected by the print heads can be correctly placed from color to color. In principle, different primers and colors can be applied to the container 12 by different printing units approaching it.

[0068] The use example described with respect to FIG. 2 can also be used analogously for the labelling of containers 12. In this case, the movement path which is determined can be, for example, rotation of the first movement device 18 for all-round labelling or an oscillating movement for (cold) glue labelling by means of the equipping unit 24 designed as a labelling unit.

[0069] The invention is not restricted to the preferred exemplary embodiments described above. On the contrary, a large number of variants and modifications is possible which likewise make use of the concept of the invention and therefore fall within the scope of protection.

[0070] In particular, the invention also claims protection for the subject matter and the features of the dependent claims independently of the claims referred to. In particular, the individual features of independent claim 1 are each disclosed independently of one another. In addition, the features of the dependent claims are also disclosed independently of all of the features of independent claim 1 and, for example, independently of the features relating to the presence and/or configuration of the planar drive system, the first movement device and/or of the second movement device of independent claim 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0071] 10 Device for imprinting or labelling containers [0072] 12 Container [0073] 14 Planar drive system [0074] 16 Base element [0075] 18 First movement device [0076] 20 Second movement device [0077] 22 Container holder [0078] 24 Equipping unit [0079] 26 Movement device [0080] 28 Movement device [0081] 30 Movement device [0082] 32 Measuring unit [0083] 34 Fixing unit [0084] 36 Equipping unit [0085] 38 Trajectory [0086] 38A Adapted movement path [0087] 38b Adapted movement path [0088] 38C Adapted movement path