Patent EA-002396-B1 (EA)
Title: Device for applying a decoration to a crate
Inventor: VAN GEIJSWIJK PETRUS JOHANNUS
IPC: B65C9/18
Filed: 1999-06-24
Abstract: 1. Device (1) for applying a decoration to containers (2), comprising: - a conveyor (3) for feeding containers in a transport direction (T), - a feed device (6,7,13) for feeding a carrier strip (5) to an application station (4), which carrier strip (5) is provided on an application side (10), which faces the conveyor (3), with an image transfer label (11) to be transferred to the containers, - an application station (4) for receiving the carrier strip (5), the carrier strip (5) making an acute angle with respect to the direction of transport (T), comprising a pressure element (12) for pressing the carrier strip (5) against the containers (2), characterised in that a heating device (15) facing the application side (10) is incorporated close to the pressure element (12) to dispense heat to the application side (10) of the carrier strip (5) in a preheating region of the carrier strip (5) located upstream of the pressure element ( 12). 2. Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the application station (4) comprises a guide (8) for supporting the carrier strip, the heating device (15) being positioned upstream of the guide (8), in the vicinity thereof. 3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the heating device (15) is equipped to heat the application side (10) of the carrier strip (5) without mechanical contact with the carrier strip. 4. Device according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the heating device (15) comprises a hot air blower (16,17,18,19) facing the pressure element (12). 5. Device according to Claim 4, characterised in that an outflow nozzle (16) of the hot air blower (16,17,18,19) is positioned between the carrier strip (5) and the conveyor (3). 6. Device according to Claim 5, characterised in that the hot air blower (16,17,18, 19) has a slit-shaped outflow nozzle (16), so that a relatively narrow stream of air which is at least equally as wide as the image transfer label (11) on the carrier strip (5) is formed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier strip (5). 7. Device according to Claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the pressure element (12) is movable to and fro, transversely to the direction of transport (T), between a retracted position and an application position located close to the conveyor (3) for the containers (2), characterised in that the hot air blower (16,17,18,19) dispenses the stream of air at an acute blowing angle (alpha.) with respect to the direction of transport (T) of the containers, which stream of air is directed at least partially along the carrier strip (5), without making contact therewith, when the pressure element (12) is in the retracted position and terminates in the gap between a relevant container (2) and the pressure element (12) when the pressure element (12) is in the application position. 8. Device according to Claim 7, characterised in that the blowing angle (alpha.) of the stream of air is between 15 degree  and 45 degree , preferably between 25 degree  and 30 degree . 9. Device according to Claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the blowing angle (.alpha.) of the stream of air is adjustable. 10. Device according to one of Claims 4 to 9, characterised in that the temperature of the stream of air dispensed by the hot air blower (16,17,18) is between 100 degree C and 350 degree C, preferably between 100 degree C and 200 degree C. 11. Device according to one of Claims 4 to 10, characterised in that the heating device (16,17,18) contains a fan (19) and a heating element (18) which are arranged outside the range of the carrier strip (5), as well as a flexible tube (21 ) which is connected to the fan (19) and terminates in the outflow nozzle (16). 12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the heating; device (18) is connected to a control unit (20) for switching off the heating; device (18) if the feed of the carrier strip (5) is interrupted. 13. Device according to one of the preceding; claims, characterised in that the pressure element (12) is heated.