Device for cyclical winding of label strips

The invention relates to a device for the winding of label strips (17), comprising a rotary driven transport means (1), which cyclically transports the label strip (17) away after removal of the labels and a winding means (2) for the cyclical winding of the label strip transported away.

This application claims the benefit of the earlier filed International Application No. PCT/EP02/12465, International Filing Date, 8 Nov. 2002, which designated the United States of America, and which international application was published under PCT Article 21(2) as WO Publication No. WO 03/042045 A1 and which claims priority from German Application No. DE 101 55 758.2, filed 14 Nov. 2001.

The present invention relates to a device for the winding of label strips comprising:a rotary driven transport means, which cyclically transports the label strip away after the removal of the labels anda winding means for the cyclical winding of the label strip that has been transported away.

In addition, the present invention relates to a labelling machine, a packaging machine and a method for the cyclical winding of label strips.

Nowadays, packaging generally bears adhesive labels. These labels are transported on so-called label strips to the packaging, removed from the label strip and stuck on the packaging. The empty label strip has to be wound up after the removal of the labels. Generically, this is performed with a means for transporting the label strip and with a take-up reel onto which the label strips are wound. Since the diameter of the material being wound up continuously increases, the drive has to be variable. However, the result of this is that as the diameter of the material being wound up increases, its mass inertia is so great that the winding of the label strips takes place too slowly for high-speed packaging machines. This results in the formation of a loop and subsequently possibly to the failure of the labeller.

Therefore, it was the object of the present invention to provide a device for the winding of label strips in which, despite the changing diameter and mass inertia of the being wound up, no looping occurs.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by a device for the winding of label strips with:a rotary driven transport means, which cyclically transports the label strip away after the removal of the labels anda winding means for the cyclical winding of the label strip that has been transported away,
whereby the transport means cyclically drives the means for unwinding the label strip that has been transported away by means of a slip gear and an auxiliary gear.

The auxiliary gear transfers the torque of the transport means directly onto the winding means until the latter has achieved a certain rotational speed.

The slip gear transfers the torque of the transport means to the winding means by means of a slip clutch.

Preferably, the auxiliary gear comprises a first and a second means for the transmission of rotary movements from the transport means to the winding means, whereby the first means is arranged on a shaft in the transport means and the second means is arranged on a shaft in the winding means and the second means has a free wheel.

Also preferably, the slip gear comprises a first and a second means for the transmission of rotary movements from the transport means to the winding means, whereby the first means is arranged on a shaft in the transport means and the second means is connected to a shaft in the winding means by means of a slip clutch.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transmission ratios of the means for the transmission of rotary movements from the auxiliary gear and the slip gear are different. Preferably, the first and the second means in the auxiliary gear are dimensioned so that a step-down occurs. Also preferably, the first and the second means in the slip gear are dimensioned so that a step-up occurs.

A person skilled in the art will use known components as means for the transmission of rotary movement. However, preferably these means are toothed wheels, which are advantageously connected to each other by means of toothed belts.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first means in the slip gear has a free wheel. This embodiment has the advantage that the label strip between the transport means and the winding means is always tightly tensioned.

The slip clutch is advantageously equipped with friction disks with a static friction:sliding friction ratio of at least 1, preferably at least 3.

Surprisingly, it is possible with the present invention to wind the label strips cyclically without looping occurring between the material being wound up and the transport means, even though the diameter and inertia of the material being wound up are constantly changing. The present invention is based solely on a drive and the simplest of components so that it is simple and easy to produce.

A further aspect of the present invention is a labelling machine comprising the device according to the invention.

Another aspect of the present invention is a packaging machine comprising the labelling machine according to the invention.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method for the cyclical unwinding of label strips with a slip gear and an auxiliary gear in the means for the winding of the label strip that has been transported away, whereby the auxiliary gear supports the slip gear until the winding means achieves a specific minimum rotational speed.

This aspect of the present invention has the advantage that no loops capable of impeding the function of the labelling machine form between the material being wound up and the transport means.

FIGS. 1 and 2show the device according to the invention. The label strip17us transported away cyclically with the transport roller1and wound on with the schematically illustrated take-up reel2. The transport roller1is driven directly by means of the motor18and the toothed belt19. The roller20is used to change the tension of the toothed belt19. The transport roller1has a shaft3on which the toothed wheels25,4and5are arranged. The take-up reel2also has a shaft6on which the toothed wheels7and8are arranged. The toothed wheels7and4are connected to each other by means of the toothed belt21and the toothed wheels8and5are connected to each other by means of the toothed belt22. The toothed wheels7and4and the toothed belt21represent the auxiliary gear and the toothed wheels8and5and the toothed belt22represent the slip gear. The toothed wheel7has a free wheel9and the toothed wheel8has a slip clutch10. In addition, the toothed wheel5optionally has a free wheel23. A person skilled in the art will recognize that this free wheel is not absolutely necessary for the functioning of the device according to the invention.

The drive for the transport roller and/or the take-up reel functions as follows:

The motor18drives the shaft3of the transport roller directly by means of the toothed wheel24and the toothed belt19and the toothed wheel25. This causes the roller1itself and the toothed wheels4and5to effect a rotary movement. The rotary movement of the toothed wheel4is transferred directly to the toothed wheel7and the shaft6and hence the take-up reel2is forcibly accelerated until it reaches a rotational speed resulting from the speed of the motor18and the ratio of the toothed wheels24,25,4and7. Following this, the shaft6and hence the take-up reel2are further accelerated by the toothed wheel8driven by the toothed wheel5by means of the toothed belt22. The free wheel9ensures that the toothed wheel7does not brake the further acceleration. The shaft6is accelerated until it reaches its final speed and/or until the motor is switched off. When the motor is switched off, the free wheel23causes the shaft6to continue to run until the label strip between the transport roller and take-up reel is tightly tensioned. As soon as the engine is switched back on, the label strip starts to be wound on as described above. The cycle frequency of the motor is determined by the cycle frequency of the labelling machine. The device according to the invention has the advantage that the label strip never sags between the transport roller1and the take-up reel and hence is never able to thread itself between the transport roller and the pressure roller26.