Patent Publication Number: US-8113257-B2

Title: Method and device for the multi-lane application of labels

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method for the multi-lane and multi-row application of labels on articles such as packages or the like, as well as to a device for implementing the method. 
     The labeling of articles, such as thermoformed packages, with the help of transverse lane labeling systems, is well known. The articles are guided here in parallel lanes, while the labels are dispensed with the help of a label dispenser from a backing film, which is disposed at the side of the lanes. The labels are then taken up by a conveyor belt, which is passed transversely over the lanes. 
     The labels are transferred from the conveyor belt to the articles by a suitable transfer device. For example, German patent DE 26 47 556 discloses a method, which has long been known and for which in each case a row of labels, which are taken up from the conveyor belt and kept in readiness over the lanes, are pressed downward by a pusher onto the articles or the packing film. Newer labeling systems, such as those shown, for example, in DE 102 28 243 or in DE 299 18 313, comprise a suction box, which is disposed over the conveyor belt and aspirates the labels, taken up at its underside, through openings in the conveyor belt with the help of reduced pressure. 
     With this construction, a high labeling output for multi-row packaging formats can be achieved only owing to the fact that the labeling unit of conveyor belt, suction box and label dispenser, after a row of labels is transferred from the conveyor belt to the articles, approaches the remaining individual package rows separately. At the conclusion of the application, when all label rows of a feeding advance have been applied, the labeling unit can be returned to its starting point. In the meanwhile, the packaging lanes carry out the next format advance. The conveyor belt takes up a new row of labels from the dispenser and the transferring cycle commences once more. Because of the distance covered by the labeling unit over the packaging lanes, the length of such labeling machines is appreciable due to the safety distances that must be maintained. In addition, large masses must be moved at high speed. This is disadvantageous for mechanical reasons. In this connection, the laying of the electrical cables is a further problem and accessibility to the moving parts becomes more difficult. The high hygiene requirements, which must be fulfilled by labeling machines involved in packaging food, are a further difficulty. In this connection, the use of exhaust ventilators with a high air throughput is disadvantageous in every case. Moreover, an automated, rapid and thorough cleaning of the suction box is desirable, but not readily possible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a labeling method of the type mentioned above, as well as an appropriate device, which makes a high labeling output possible, while avoiding the problems named above, which arise with the known labelers. In particular, it is the intention to do without exhaust ventilators, which have a high throughput of air. Moreover, those difficulties are to be avoided, which occur when a labeling unit with multi-row article lanes is operated, such as large moving masses, limited accessibility and connecting problems, as well as the long length of the labeling machine. Finally, it shall basically be possible to clean the inventive labeling device largely automatically without any problems. 
     For the inventive device, the labels initially are transferred in consecutive rows from the conveyor belt to a section of a transfer belt, which extends from the conveyor belt over and beyond the article path. The rows of labels are placed consecutively onto this section, until a set with a specified number of rows is completed. During an advance of the lanes, the transfer belt is driven to dispense the set of label rows, already held thereon, onto the articles. 
     This method offers the advantage that, in one working cycle, in which the lanes are advanced, several of labels are transferred simultaneously from the transfer belt to the articles. A high labeling output becomes possible by these means without having to operate a labeling unit with large moving masses relative to the packing machine. Rather, the conveyor belt, the driving unit of the transfer belt and the label dispenser, which is disposed next to the lanes, remain stationary with respect to the running direction of the lanes. By these means, the desired advantages of a more compact construction, an improved accessibility as well as lower moving masses are achieved. All the connecting leads necessary can be installed without any problems. Maintenance and operational reliability are improved appreciably by doing without a vacuum suction unit. In particular, automatic cleaning in a simpler manner is also possible, so that use in areas where the hygienic requirements are higher is also not a problem. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred example of the invention is explained in greater detail in the following by means of an example. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a labeling device for carrying out the inventive method, 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed view of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  is a further perspective view of the labeling device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the labeling device of  FIGS. 1 to 3 , 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the labeling device of  FIGS. 1 to 4  and 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the labeling device of  FIGS. 1 to 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The labeling device  10 , shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , comprises a machine frame  12 , which rests on legs  14  and in which articles  16 , such as thermoformed packages or the like are transported in parallel lanes  18  in a longitudinal direction A of the machine frame  12 . Three lanes  18  of articles  16  can be identified in the Figures. The articles hang together due to the packing film mounted at their upper side to close them off, so that the articles  16  form a composite. The packing film  20  is applied by a unit  22 , which comprises a packing film dispensing roll  24 , guide rollers  26 , as well as further parts, which are not visible in the Figures and are intended for unwinding the film  20  from the dispensing roll  24  and welding it to the articles  16 . This unit  22 , as such, is known and not an object of the present invention. 
     A labeling unit  30  is disposed downstream from the unit  22  for applying and welding the packing film  20  and applies labels  32  on the free upper side of the articles  16 , which are provided with the packing film  20 . The labeling unit  30  comprises a label dispenser  34 , which is disposed at the side of the lanes  18 , with a supply roll  36  of labels, which is carried at an arm protruding laterally from the machine frame  12  and labeled generally with the reference number  40 . This arm  40  furthermore carries a number of guide rollers  42 , over which a backing film  44 , carrying the labels from the supply roll  36 , is passed, as well as a reel  46 , on which the empty backing film is wound after the labels have been dispensed from it. For reasons of clarity, the backing film  44  is not shown in greater detail in the Figures. The design of the label dispenser  34  is also known as such. 
     The label dispenser  34  dispenses the individual labels  32  consecutively from their backing film  44 . This is accomplished in a known manner owing to the fact that the backing film runs over a dispensing edge. The respective label  32  is detached from the backing film  44  here and taken up by a conveyor belt, which extends transversely over the lanes  18  at right angles to the advancing direction A. The conveyor belt  48  is an endless belt, which is passed over two rollers, which are mounted at the ends of a bridge  50  and spans the lanes  18  in the transverse direction. This bridge  50  furthermore contains means for driving at least one of the two rollers  52  for transporting the conveyor belt  48 . The axes of rotation of these two rollers  52  are horizontal and the conveyor belt  48  is aligned so that its carrying run is averted from the lanes  18  and, on its upper side, can take up the labels, which were dispensed by the label dispenser  34 . 
     The conveyor belt  48  is able to take up three labels  32  in a row next to one another on its carrying run  54  and moreover, in such a manner that, in each case, a free end of the label  32  protrudes over the longitudinal edge of the conveyor belt  48  that is downstream in the advancing direction A of the lanes  18 . A transfer device, which is generally labeled  56  and comprises a transfer belt  60 , which also is constructed as an endless belt, transfers the labels  32 , which are kept in readiness on the conveyor belt, to the articles  16 . In a region, which is upstream with respect to the advancing direction A of the lanes  18  and is in the vicinity of the bridge  50 , which carries the conveyor belt  48 , the transfer belt  60  is supported on a roller  62 , which is held on one side at an arm  64 , which is disposed at the side of the machine frame  12  next to the label dispenser  34 . This arm  64  holds the roller  62  at one of its ends at a distance above the lanes  18 . At a downstream end, the transfer belt  60  runs over a dispensing edge, the details of which are not shown and which is disposed directly above the upper side of the article  16 , which are to be labeled. 
     As is to be described in even greater detail in the following the labels  32 , which are made ready by the conveyor belt  48  in the manner described above, are applied in consecutive rows  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72  on the carrying run  74  of the transfer belt  60 . This carrying run  74 , which extends from the conveyor belt  48  over the lanes  18  in the transporting direction A of the latter up to the upper side of the lanes  18 , accordingly represents a section  74  of the transfer belt  60  for accommodating the labels  32 . This section  74  of the transfer belt is inclined slightly downwards in the feeding direction A starting out from the conveyor belt  48  and encloses an acute angle with the lanes  18 . 
     The mode of operation of the labeling device  10 , shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , is to be described in greater detail in the following. 
     For making available a row  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72  of labels  32 , the conveyor belt  48  is driven in such a manner, that its carrying run  54  moves away from the label dispenser  34  and, with that, the individual labels  32  are dispensed by the label dispenser consecutively at intervals on the conveyor belt  48 , until the row is completed. In the arrangement shown in the Figures, each row  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72  comprises three labels  32 , which correspond to the number of parallel lanes  18  of articles  16 . 
     Once the row of labels  32  has been deposited completely on the conveyor belt  48 , the latter is stopped and a pusher  76  pushes the ends of the labels, protruding laterally beyond the conveyor belt  48 , down onto the transfer belt  60 . As is known, for example from German patent 26 47 556, such a pusher  76  is formed by a cross bar  78 , which is held between two lever arms  80 , which start out from the bridge  50 , which carries the conveyor belt  48 . The cross bar  78  of the pusher  76  extends parallel to the downstream edge of the conveyor belt  48  in such a manner, that it takes hold of the free ends of the labels  32  adhering thereto as the lever arms  80  are depressed and can press these down. 
     If, after the free ends of the upper row  66  of the labels  32  are depressed, the transfer belt  60  is advanced by a specified amount in the advancing direction A of the lanes  18 , the transfer belt  60  pulls the pressed labels  32  in this direction, so that they are detached completely from the conveyor belt  48 . This transporting path corresponds to the distance between the pushing position, in which the uppermost row  66  is in the Figures, and the position of the next downstream row  68 . 
     After the label  32  is pulled off, the upper end of the carrying run  54  of the conveyor belt  48  is ready to accept a new row of three labels  32 . This row  66  is completed in the manner already described above, that is, by dispensing individual labels  32  consecutively from the label dispenser  34  and taking up these labels during an advance of the conveyor belt  48 . Accordingly, after it is made available, a row of labels is pulled off with the help of the pusher  76  and the cyclic driving mechanism of the transfer belt  60  and transported further, so that a new row can be made available. 
     Four rows  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72  of labels  32  are deposited consecutively on the carrying run  74  of the transfer belt  80  by this cyclic operation of the transfer belt  60 . These four rows  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72  form a set, which is dispensed on the articles  16  during a subsequent advance of the lanes  18 . For this purpose, the transfer belt  60  may be advanced synchronously with the lanes  18 . During this advance, the labels  32  on the transfer belt  60  traverse the dispenser edge, are peeled off from the surface of the transfer belt  60  and adhere to the upper side of the articles. This advancing motion of the lanes  18  and of the transfer belt  60  takes place until the set of four lanes  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72 , which is deposited on the carrying run  74  of the transfer belt  60  has been dispensed on the lanes  18 . 
     This mode of operation enables several consecutive rows  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72  of labels  32  to be dispensed during a single advancing cycle of the lanes  16 . The labeling device  10  can be operated in such a manner, that the lanes  18  are advanced intermittently and, during pauses in this advance, a set of label rows  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72  on the section  74  on the upper side of the transfer belt  60 , which is intended for this purpose, is completed in four working cycles. 
     The whole of the labeling unit  30  of label dispenser  34 , bridge  50  with conveyor belt  48  and arrangement for holding the transfer belt  60  remains stationary over the path, over which the lanes  18  run. In contrast to the prior art, a back and forth movement of the labeling unit  30  in the advancing direction A is not required. Therefore, no path has to be planned for this when designing the machine and the labeling device  10  can de configured more compactly. Further advantages arise owing to the fact that labeling device  10  can be handled, maintained and cleaned more easily. It can be operated without an exhaust ventilator, so that appreciable advantages arise from the point of view of hygiene. 
     The method described is also conceivable in an alternative embodiment for labeling the packaging lanes  18  from below. For this variation, the components of the labeling unit  30  described would be disposed correspondingly below the packaging lanes  18  in the machine frame  12  of the packaging machine.