EP2682346B1 - Cutting assembly with individual drives - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a labeling unit according to the preamble of claim 1 and a corresponding method for applying labels of different lengths to containers, in particular bottles.

background

Labeling units for applying labels are already known from the prior art.

This is how the utility model shows DE 20 2005 002 793 U1 an all-round labeling device for containers such as cans, PET bottles and glass bottles for labeling with wrap-around labels. In this case, the wrap-around labeling apparatus comprises, in addition to the label rolls and a label feed, a cutting device, a gripping cylinder and devices for applying glue. The cutting device consists of a rotating vacuum roller and a rotating separator having at least one cutting blade.

Also the DE 10 2007 009 484 A1 shows a labeling and a labeling for corresponding container, in which case the cutting device comprises a vacuum cylinder with a plurality of counter knives and a knife carrier with a cutting blade, wherein the vacuum cylinder and the knife carrier form a cutting gap.

The US 5 413 651 A1 further shows separately controllable counter cutting rollers, vacuum drums and label feeders. These can be driven by servomotors and the motion profile can be changed.

A labeling unit according to the preamble of claim 1 and a corresponding method for applying labels of different lengths to containers are known from the US 5,380,381 known.

task

The invention has for its object to provide a labeling unit for applying labels of different lengths to containers, especially bottles, with a reliable and flexible application of labels is guaranteed even with different label lengths.

solution

This object is achieved by the device according to claim 1 and the method according to claim 6.

The subclaims include expedient embodiments of the invention.

The invention is characterized in that distributed on the circumference of the vacuum cylinder surveys are provided and the control can be carried out by the control unit such that an overlap of handed over to the vacuum cylinder label at a front elevation is equal to the overlap at a rear elevation. Due to the independent control of the counter-cutting roller and the vacuum cylinder, an adaptation of the labeling, in particular the cutting of the labels and the transfer to the vacuum cylinder, depending on the label length can be achieved. Thus, a tailor-made transfer of cut labels despite different label length in each case possible and a good gluing result of the labels can be achieved.

In particular, the differences in length relate to tolerances of the label length, which are in the range of millimeters. These can occur in particular when changing from a used-up to a new label roll, which was printed slightly differently. In particular, tolerances also occur when roll material from different manufacturers is used.

In one embodiment, the two motors are servomotors. As servomotors can be known to be speed or position controlled, this embodiment, in conjunction with the control unit, allows for easy incorporation into previous labeling devices.

In one embodiment, another third motor is provided for the operation of the separator. The decoupling of the separating element from the counter-cutting roller enables a further increase in the flexibility of the labeling unit with respect to different label lengths.

In one embodiment, the control unit has an interface with which the label length can be specified. As a result, for example via an end user, when using new labels, by pressing a button, a correspondingly necessary modification of the Etikettieraggre gats so that the drive of the motors is controlled by the control unit so that a reliable forwarding of the labels takes place.

In another embodiment, sensors are predetermined, which determine the label length and can pass to the control unit. This eliminates input from a user and avoids a source of error. Furthermore, the labeling unit can be reliably and quickly adjusted to new label lengths even when using short batches of labels.

In particular, to be achieved by the independent drive of the counter-cutting roller and the vacuum cylinder, that a certain area of the leading edge of the label on which a glue application is to take place, is positioned exactly on a survey on the circumference of the vacuum cylinder. Due to the subsequent application of glue precisely in the desired range, the leading edge of the label can be optimally adhesively attached to the object to be labeled, so that a secure transfer of the label to the object to be labeled is ensured.

Using this device, for example, a method for applying labels of different lengths to containers, in particular bottles, can be realized, wherein the counter-cutting roller and the vacuum cylinder are driven by a respective motor and a control of the motors by a control unit independently, for example, depending on the Label length is done.

In a further embodiment, the method is characterized in that the separating element is driven by a third motor. This allows a more flexible use of the labeling device.

In one embodiment, the label length is specified via an interface of the control unit. This allows the end user to control the labeling process and transfer relevant data as the label lengths change to the device.

In another embodiment, the label length is automatically determined by sensors and transferred to the control unit. This allows, without the intervention of the end user, a fully automated and independent control of the labeling process, which is particularly advantageous when using frequently changing label lengths.

Brief description of the figures

Fig. 1

Top view of a schematic representation of a labeling unit according to the invention.

Fig. 2

Schematic representation of an oblique view of a device according to the invention.

Fig. 3

Schematic representation of the operation of the device.

Detailed description of the figures

Fig. 1 shows a possible embodiment of the inventive device for applying labels 100. In this case, the device 100 comprises at least one counter-cutting roller 101 and a separating element 103. These are, as known from the prior art, positioned so that by their movement cutting the labels predetermined places is made possible. Furthermore, the device 100 comprises a vacuum cylinder 102, which can take over the cut labels from the counter-cutting roller 101. In addition, the includes Device 100 optionally supply means 104, with which labels in uncut form, for example of label rolls, the system of separating element and counter-cutting roller can be supplied. Furthermore, the device comprises means 106 for applying glue and means 105 for the subsequent application of the label to a container to be labeled. In this case, this part of the device is preferably mounted so that the labels located on the vacuum cylinder can first be provided with glue and then applied to the container. In addition to these components, the device further comprises a control unit 140 and the motors 110, 120 and optionally 130. These can be controlled by the control unit 140 and allow independent control of the separating element 103 of the counter-cutting roller 101 and the vacuum cylinder 102. For compactification of the machine and In order to avoid long transitions, the control unit 140 and the motors 110, 120, 130 are preferably arranged in a small distance from the separating element 103, the counter-cutting roller 101 and the vacuum cylinder 102 as compared with the overall dimensions of the device.

The containers to be labeled are transported past the device 100 on a conveyor. The conveying means may be a linear conveyor belt or a turntable, in particular a continuous, rotating turntable, on the circumference of which a plurality of receptacles for the containers are provided at equal intervals. In particular, a receptacle comprises a turntable on which the container is positioned in particular standing and with which the container can be rotated about its axis, in particular when unwinding the label on it. In addition, a clamping of the container can be provided from above at each recording.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic oblique view of the counter-cutting roller 201 and the vacuum cylinder 202. As already in Fig. 1 indicated, the servomotors 210 and 220 and the control unit 240 are preferably in the immediate vicinity of the vacuum cylinder 202 and the counter-cutting roller 201. A cut label 280 on the counter-cutting roller 201 is here passed to the vacuum cylinder 202 at a suitable location. For this purpose, the vacuum cylinder 202 has vacuum elements 290. It is further provided that the vacuum cylinder 202 has elevations 295 at the beginning and end of the accepted label 281, which allow a better application of glue while passing the label 281 on a glue roller. The vacuum elements 290 are arranged to first remove a label 281 at least at the beginning and at the end of the label, preferably along the entire length of the label 281, from the counter-cutting roller 201 by applying a vacuum and then firmly holding the vacuum cylinder 202. In this case, the attachment of the label 281 takes place by the vacuum elements 290 according to the invention so that the label with respect to the elevations 295 is always arranged symmetrically. This means that the overlap of the cut label 281 on the vacuum cylinder 202 with the front and the rear elevations 295 is in each case the same size. The terms "front (first) survey" and "rear survey" refer to the time at which the transfer of the label takes place to the corresponding elevations and are thus associated with the direction of rotation of the vacuum cylinder 202. The latter was used here for the vacuum cylinder 202 set counterclockwise. Thus, the first bumps 295 is the one that passes the gripping cylinder 201 first while the machine is running.

Fig. 3 FIG. 11 shows an implementation of the control of the different servomotors of the counter cutting roller 301 and the vacuum cylinder 302 Fig. 3a the control of the vacuum cylinder 302 in a label 380, which has a shorter length than a normal label shown. A "normal label" means any standard label length specified by the end user.

When using a label 380 having a shorter length than this standard length, with the relative position of the vacuum cylinder 302 unchanged relative to the counter-cutting roller 301, the transfer of the label 380 to the vacuum cylinder 302 would take place such that the overlap of the beginning and the end of the label with the projections 395 '. is no longer symmetrical in its initial position. To compensate for this, the control unit 340 controls the servo motor 320 of the vacuum cylinder 302, and optionally also the servo motor 310 of the counter cutting roller 301, so that the transfer position on the vacuum cylinder 302 is changed. To simplify the description, it is assumed here that only one control of the servomotor 320 of the vacuum cylinder 302 is performed. This is not intended as a limitation of the invention, but merely serves to better understand the control process.

The control takes place by the control unit 340 so that the vacuum cylinder 302 is displaced in its standard position using a label of standard length as shown in the figure, counterclockwise, ie in the running direction. The dashed elevations 395 'represent the original arrangement. This means that when passing a shorter label 380 through the counter-cutting roller 302, the point of contact with the first elevations 395 now takes place so that the contact surface of the label 380 is less there than when using a standard label. Due to the reduced length of the label 380 in combination with the displacement of the rear elevations 395 relative to the Starting position 395 ', the overlap of the label 380 can be set with the rear elevations 395 of the control unit 340 so that the support surface exactly corresponds to the area on the first elevation 395, so it is also smaller than the support surface of a label with standard length.

In Fig. 3b For example, a control of the counter-cutter roller 301 and the vacuum cylinder 302 by the control unit 340 in the case of a label 380 having a length which is longer than the standard length of a label is shown. In order here to achieve a transfer to the vacuum cylinder 302 such that the bearing surfaces of the label 380 are symmetrical on the elevations 395 at the beginning and at the end of the label, the vacuum cylinder 302 is in this case clockwise, ie counter to its direction, moved , At this time, the control unit 340 controls the servomotor 320 such that the overlap of the label 380 having a length longer than the standard length at the first protrusions 395 is larger than that of a standard-length label. The greater length of the label in conjunction with the displacement of the rear elevations 395 relative to the starting position 395 'is controlled by the control unit 340 so that the overlap of the end of the label 380 with the rear elevations 395 takes place so that the support surface is equal to the support surface of the Label on the first elevations 395 is. As a result, a symmetrical bearing surface at the beginning of the label and at the end of the label on the vacuum cylinder 302 is achieved.

The thus performed control of the vacuum cylinder 302 may, as mentioned, also be applied to a control of the counter-cutting roller 301 and then optionally of the separating elements. So it is not necessary that only the vacuum cylinder 302 is adjusted, but it can be adjusted in combination with the counter-cutting roller 301. Likewise, since the motors 310 and 320 can be controlled completely independently of one another, the vacuum cylinder 302 may also remain undisturbed, whereas the relative position of the counter-cutter roller 301 with respect to the vacuum cylinder 302 is varied by the control unit 340. Any desired gradations of the control of the counter-cutting roller 301 and the vacuum cylinder 302 are conceivable. Likewise, the control of the positioning of these components of the device to each other by the control unit 340 with suitable use of sensors can be matched at any time directly to the length of each label. For this purpose, a sensor could be mounted in front of the separating element, which makes a length measurement for each label, for example by labels attached to the labels. The signal can be transmitted to the control unit 340, which in turn controls the counter-cutting roller 301 and the vacuum cylinder 302 and thus can ensure a tailor-made transfer for each label. In this case, the control by the control unit 140 in particular used for fine adjustment. This is especially important when labels from different manufacturers or different production batches are used, some of which differ only slightly in their length. According to the comments to Fig. 3 then one of the labels can be selected by the end user and its length can be set as a standard label and using a new batch with a different label length an adjustment of the vacuum cylinder 302 can be controlled by pressing a button for the entire batch. Should a fine adjustment be required on each label, as these differ slightly due to variations in production, the control of the vacuum cylinder 302 may also be repeated on each label as described above, in which case the standard length of a label preferably exceeds an expected label length can be defined, for example, is specified by the manufacturer.

Claims (9)

1. A labeling unit (100) for applying labels of.different length to containers, particularly bottles, which comprises a separating element (103), a counter cutting roller (101), a vacuum cylinder (102) and supply devices (104) for uncut labels, as well as means (105) for applying the cut labels to containers, wherein
   a first motor (110) is provided for driving the counter cutting roller (101),
   a second motor (120) is provided for driving the vacuum cylinder (102),
   a control unit (140) is provided that can control the motors independently of each other for instance according to the label length,
   characterized in that
   the vacuum cylinder (102) comprises elevations (295) distributed on its circumference,
   and that the motors are controlled by the control unit (140) such that an overlap of a label delivered to the vacuum cylinder (102) is on a front elevation equal to the overlap on a rear elevation.
2. The labeling unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the motors are servomotors.
3. The labeling unit according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a third motor (130) is provided for the separating element (103).
4. The labeling unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control unit (140) has an interface with which the label length can be predetermined.
5. The labeling unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that sensors are provided that can determine and transmit the label length to the control unit (140).
6. A method for applying labels of different length to containers, particularly bottles, with the help of a separating element (103), a counter cutting roller (101), a vacuum cylinder (102) which comprises elevations (295) distributed on its circumference, and supply devices (104) for uncut labels, as well as means (105) for applying the cut labels to containers, wherein the counter cutting roller (101) and the vacuum cylinder (102) are driven by a respective motor,
   the motors are controlled by a control unit (140) independently of each other for instance in response to the label length,
   and wherein the motors are controlled by the control unit (140) such that an overlap of a label delivered to the vacuum cylinder (102) is on a front elevation (295) equal to the overlap on a rear elevation (295).
7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the separating element (103) is driven by a third motor (130).
8. The method according to any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the label length is predetermined via an interface of the control unit (140).
9. The method according to any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the label length of the control unit (140) is automatically transmitted by sensors.

Images