EP1332970A1 - Method and device for cutting tubular labels from a flat tubular label web - Google Patents

Abstract

The cutting process involves detecting the label packet (E) after the cutting unit (4) and taking it to one side on a belt conveyor (12a), continuously and uniformly transporting the labels away from the cutting unit, and using a periodically non-uniformly-driven conveyor (6) to transport the label packets to the other side.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for Cut label sleeves from a flat Label tube tape, unfolding and attaching the tubular label sleeves on objects according to the The preamble of claim 1 and claim 6.

Corresponding methods and devices are from the European patent EP 0 805 110 B1 and the Japanese Publication JP-A-9-77032 known.

When cutting label sleeves from a flat lying Label tube tape there is the problem that the in Edges lying on top of each other, conveying direction Often it is difficult to open a cut label sleeve to let. To unfold the cut label sleeves too facilitate is proposed in EP 0 805 110 B1, which lateral edges of the label sleeves through fixed, in the Turn the rotating plates projecting out of the conveying path so that the after the cutting edges are still attached to each other Loosen the leading end of a label sleeve.

JP-A-9-77032 is said to solve the problem by: the cut label sleeves on a non-linear, approximately an S-shaped transport route Unfolding device are supplied, the non-linear Conveying path the contiguous cutting edges of the Should loosen label sleeves.

The invention has for its object a method and to provide a device that is effective and reliable removal of the leading edge from Should allow label sleeves before unfolding.

On the procedural side, this task is performed by the identifying Features of claim 1 and device side by the characterizing features of claim 6 solved.

Due to the briefly non-uniform movement one side of the label sleeves still lying flat relative to the other uniformly moving side, the through the cutting process u. U. related Cutting edges can be separated from each other, causing the opening and fully unfolded into a tubular Label sleeve is advantageously significantly facilitated.

On the device side, this is done by a continuous drivable, on one side of the flat lying Label sleeve attacking belt conveyor and a second continuously periodically non-uniformly drivable at the other sponsoring sponsor who designed for example as a simple friction roller or belt can be. An embodiment in which of a label tube during the phase of non-uniform transport movement approximately over their entire length is detected by friction or friction. To a correspondingly long belt can be provided become. But it is also conceivable to use several friction rollers to be arranged one above the other.

if to produce the periodically non-uniform movement a separate electromotive servo drive is provided, are amplitude, period, phase position and mean Conveying speed very comfortable in connection with a programmable controller to different Label properties (length, diameter, material, etc.) adaptable, and the corresponding parameters can be adjusted at a Conversion can be retrieved from a memory.

Alternatively, mechanical solutions for production are also available the irregular movement possible, e.g. B. by a Crank loop gear, which is also adjustable can be trained.

Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of remaining subclaims.

Figur 1

eine Vorderansicht eines Aggregats zum Abschneiden von Etikettenhülsen von einem flachliegenden Etikettenschlauch und Auffalten der Etikettenhülsen,

Figur 2

den Geschwindigkeitsverlauf der die geschnittenen Etikettenhülsen von einer Schneidvorrichtung zu einer Auffaltvorrichtung transportierenden Förderer und

Figur 3

eine schematische Darstellung der Steuerung und Antriebe der Förderer.

A preferred exemplary embodiment is explained below with reference to the figures. It shows:

Figure 1

2 shows a front view of an assembly for cutting label sleeves from a flat label tube and unfolding the label sleeves,

Figure 2

the speed profile of the cut label sleeves from a cutting device to a unfolding conveyor and

Figure 3

a schematic representation of the control and drives of the conveyor.

The device 1 has a vertically aligned Frame plate 2, on the side of a dancer roll storage T is arranged. On the front of the frame plate 2 are - in order from top to bottom - two Deflection rollers 17, a pair of feed rollers 3, a cutting unit 4 - Consists of a fixed knife 4a and one rotating drivable knife roller 4b - including two arranged opposite and in the same direction cooperating belt conveyors 12a and 12b, at the lower A folding mandrel 20 also has two end regions Belt conveyors 27a placed opposite to its sides and 27b connects, stored. Below this belt conveyor 27a and 27b are located at the lower end of the unfolding mandrel 20 two acceleration rollers 28a and 28b.

The entire device 1 is just above the horizontal Circulation plane from on a closed track towards F revolving expanding jaw units 50 of a machine for Covering label sleeves E on objects such as bottles or the like. Positioned adjustable in height. A corresponding Machine is detailed in the international Patent application WO 00/66437 disclosed. A Spreading jaw unit 50 each has two vertically behind curved half-shells 54 pointing above, the curvature of which corresponds to the External shape of the object to be labeled, e.g. B. Beverage bottle, is adjusted. Each half-shell 54 is one externally radially controlled pressure body 55, z. B. elastic rubber buffer, assigned. The construction and the Function of these expanding jaws 50 is in detail in the previous WO 00/66437 mentioned.

The belt conveyor 12a essentially becomes vertical arranged vacuum box 13a and one vertically thereon slidably formed endless flat belt 11a. The Movement path of the perforated flat belt 11a is by several deflecting and tensioning rollers 10a, a drive wheel 9a and two deflection rollers 7a and 8a attached to the vacuum box 13a determined, the upper pulley 7a tight is located immediately below the fixed knife 4a, while the lower deflection roller 8a on the unfolding mandrel 20th zoom ranges. The diametrically the belt conveyor 12a opposite belt conveyor 12b also has a vertically arranged vacuum box 13b and one thereon vertically driven flat belts 11b, whose orbit by deflecting and tensioning rollers 10b, one Drive roller 9b and one rotatable on the vacuum box 13b mounted upper pulley 7b and a lower pulley 8b is fixed in the region of the unfolding mandrel 20. in the The difference between the belt conveyor 12a and the belt conveyor 12b however shortened, d. H. the upper pulley 7b is located some distance below the rotating one Knife roller 4b, i.e. lower than the upper deflection roller 7a of the belt conveyor 12a, while the lower deflection rollers 8a and 8b at approximately the same height next to each other at a distance are arranged. The vertical offset between the two upper pulleys 7a and 7b is a multiple of Length of a single label sleeve E.

In the space between the rotating knife roller 4b and the upper deflection roller 7b of the belt conveyor 12b is a arranged drivable friction element which at present embodiment in the form of a Deflection roller 5a and a drive roller 5b out Friction belt 6 is formed, the flat belt 11a-pointing strand lies parallel to it. This friction belt 6 preferably has an approximately the Corresponding length of a single label sleeve Longitudinal extension (center distance 5a to 5b). As from the Figure 1 can be seen, the two bottom have Deflection rollers 8a and 8b of the belt conveyor 12a, 12b one mutual horizontal distance and the bottom End regions of the vacuum boxes 13a, 13b have one of the vertical downward conveying direction of the Label sleeves E widen laterally outwards Contour course on one in the direction of the folding mandrel 20 gusset opening between the flat belts 11a and 11b results in the upper, wedge-shaped tapered end of the otherwise cylindrical unfolding mandrel 20 hineinerstreckt.

The two vacuum boxes 13a, 13b are each on their own horizontal guides adjustable so that you mutual distance and thus also that of the flat belt 11a and 11b continuously to adapt to the properties (Material thickness etc.) of the label sleeves is adjustable. By at least one of the deflection rollers 10a and 10b Tension of the flat belts 11a and 11b adjustable.

The vertically oriented unfolding mandrel 20 is free of two rotatably supported support rollers 22a and 22b in itself kept in a known manner. In the unfolding mandrel 20 are not shown, with the support rollers interacting bearing rollers that control the altitude of the Set up folding mandrel 20, but at the same time the implementation of label sleeves E by means of on opposite Allow side-engaging belt conveyor 27a and 27b. The Belt conveyor 27a has a flat belt 26a, which has a upper, arranged just below the deflection roller 8a Deflection roller 21a, a lower deflection roller 23a Drive roller 25a and deflection or tensioning rollers 24a on one closed path is guided vertically. In exactly that in the same way is the flat belt 26b of the belt conveyor 27b performed in a mirror image arrangement.

The lower end of the unfolding mandrel 20 projects above the lower ones Deflection rollers 23a and 23b vertically downwards, in this Area just below the pulleys 23a and 23b two Accelerating rollers 28a and 28b are positioned.

The feed rollers 3, the cutting unit 4, the belt conveyors 12a and 12b, the belt conveyors 27a and 27b, and the Acceleration rolls 28 have their own, in FIG. 1 Electromotive servo drives, not shown, which a common control 14 (FIG. 3) speed and position synchronous workflow of the allow mentioned facilities.

According to Figure 3, the controller 14 with one in the actual labeling machine arranged rotary encoder 19 in Connection, whereby the controller 15 for the servo drive Belt conveyor 12a, 12b and possibly also 27a, 27b and the Servo drive 16 for the periodically non-uniform friction belt 6 to be driven exactly in position movement serving as a reference variable Can control spreading jaw units 50 of the labeling machine.

The function of the device 1 is explained below:

A flat-lying hose band S is one Label tube roll R pulled off, over a Dancer roll memory T and pulleys 17 the gap of the touching feed rollers 3, which Hose band a the printed image or invisible Sensor 18 recognizes markings. The signals of the Sensors enable the electric servo drive of the Feed rollers 3 a corresponding to the print image positionally accurate supply of the label tube tape S to the Cutting device 4.

That between the fixed knife 4a and the rotating one Knife roller 4b inserted hose band S still comes forward the removal of a label sleeve E on one of their two flat lying sides in contact with the vacuum Flat belt 11a of the belt conveyor 12a. During this phase exists more quickly in relation to the hose band driven flat belt 11a slip, which the Hose band S advantageously until one is separated Label sleeve E is constantly pulled tight. Immediately after cutting the hose band S can now cut label sleeve E, still lying flat follow the speed of the flat belt 11a so that the Label sleeve E is accelerated vertically downwards and brought to the pitch of the labeling machine becomes. This pitch can be a multiple of the length of the Label sleeve E amount.

As soon as a label sleeve E in the area between the Flat belt 11a and the friction belt 6 located on the opposite flat side of the label sleeve E attacks frictionally, the electric servo drive 16th of the friction belt 6 from the by then speed synchronous synchronism to the servo drive 15 des Flat belt 11a deviatingly non-uniformly for a short time as shown in Figure 2 temporarily with increased and then reduced speed (or reversed) driven relative to the flat belt 11a, wherein a relative movement along the vertical conveying direction of the Label sleeve E between its two flat sides is brought about, with the result that the in Cutting edges leading the conveying direction Label sleeve E be detached from each other before the Label sleeve E in the gap between the two flat belts 11a and 11b arrives. The mean speed Vm of the periodically non-uniform movement Vu corresponds to that continuously constant speed Vg des Flat belt 11a so that the two lie on top of each other Cut edges of the label sleeve E after leaving the Friction belt 6 again in parallel to each other are located. The movement sequence described is repeated periodically with each newly cut label sleeve E.

In the further course, the two flat sides become one cut label sleeve E when passing through the parallel extending sections of the two vacuum boxes 13a and 13b through the perforation openings in the flat belts sucked on the flat belts 11a and 11b. During the subsequent downward movement of the label sleeve becomes this due to the V-shaped lower area of the opposite vacuum boxes 13a and 13b continuously opened so that the tip of the unfolding mandrel 20 Dip into the opening of the label sleeve E can. Through the lower pulleys 8a and 8b Label sleeve against the roof-shaped surfaces in the upper Section of the unfolding mandrel 20 pressed and in the longitudinal direction pushed vertically until the label sleeve is in the area the upper pulleys 21a and 21b from the following Belt conveyor 27a and 27b is detected and accepted.

This synchronized with the belt conveyors 12a located above and 12b driven belt conveyors 27a and 27b grasp the Label sleeve frictionally and push it continuously further vertically downwards into a cylindrical shape Transitional unfolding mandrel 20 into the area of underlying acceleration rollers 28a and 28b, the first speed synchronous to the flat belts 26a and 26b are driven until the trailing edge the label sleeve is out of engagement with the belt conveyors 27 a and 27b. It then becomes tubular unfolded label sleeve E by the electromotive Servo drive of the acceleration rollers vertically downwards accelerates to the fully opened label sleeve E at the same time under the stationary unfolding mandrel 20 horizontally passing, open expanding jaw unit 50 to be postponed in the shortest possible time. from Cut until fully unfolded Label sleeve E is this on a continuous promoted straight-line railway.

Claims (12)

Process for cutting label sleeves from a flat label tube tape, unfolding and attaching the tubular label sleeves to objects, characterized in that a flat label sleeve is captured on one side at the latest immediately after being cut off from the label tube tape, and is continuously transported uniformly by a cutting device, while on the opposite side also recorded, briefly non-uniformly transported in the same direction relative to the other side and subsequently opened by widening the side of the two flat-lying sides. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a label sleeve is transported on a linear, in particular vertical path after cutting from the label tube tape until it is completely unfolded. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one side of the label sleeve is first accelerated relative to the other side and then decelerated or vice versa continuously moved. Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that both sides of a flat-lying label sleeve have a leading cutting edge, which run parallel immediately after cutting, offset during the continuously non-uniform movement of one side of the label sleeve in the conveying direction and even before Unfold are aligned again in parallel. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the offset of the cut edges can be changed during the continuously non-uniform movement, in particular depending on the diameter and / or the length of the label sleeve. Device for cutting label sleeves (E) from a flat-lying label tube tape (S), unfolding and attaching the tubular label sleeves to objects, characterized in that a flat-lying label sleeve (E) initially in the area after a cutting unit (4) by a belt conveyor (12a) captured on one side, continuously transported away from the cutting unit (4) by this, while the other side is captured by a further conveyor (6) which can be driven periodically non-uniformly, transported in the same direction relative to the other side and subsequently by a lateral spacing expansion of the at least one Belt conveyor (12a, 12b) is opened. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the belt conveyor (12a) reaches right up to the cutting unit (4) and the periodically non-uniformly driven conveyor (6) is assigned opposite the belt conveyor (12a), in particular at a distance from the cutting unit (4) , Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the belt conveyor (12a) is designed as a vacuum conveyor and the conveyor (6) as a friction conveyor. Device according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the conveyor (6) has a length corresponding approximately to the length of a label sleeve (E). Device according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the conveyor (6) is designed as an approximately parallel gap to the belt conveyor (12a) aligned belt. Device according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that a second belt conveyor (12b) adjoins the downstream end of the conveyor (6), which first runs parallel to the first belt conveyor (12a) and subsequently with a lateral one increasing along the conveying direction Intermediate distance is formed. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the conveyor (6) can be driven periodically non-uniformly, periodically, in synchronism with the speed and position of a labeling machine, by an electromotive servo drive (16) with an associated program control (14).

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