Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for attaching advertising media to bottles. In a first step, caps or sealing parts for bottles are continuously transported into predetermined designated positions. The labels that constitute the advertising media are subsequently attached to the caps or sealing parts. The caps or sealing parts with their attached labels are then sterilized.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to a method for applying media carriers to bottles.  
         [0002]     Such bottles can in particular constitute mineral water, fruit juice, beer, or lemonade bottles.  
         [0003]     In principle, the bottles can comprise glass or plastic, in particular PET. Labels are applied to the bodies of the bottles in a known manner for identifying the bottle contents. These labels also act in particular as advertising media, the name and logo of the manufacturing firm and any additional advertising information being added thereto.  
         [0004]     In the case of reusable beverage bottles, the labels are removed from the bodies of the empty bottles during a sterilizing process, whereupon the bottles are refilled and then provided with new labels.  
         [0005]     Known labels of this type are glued to the bodies of the bottles by means of an adhesive while the bottles are being processed in a bottle filling system. In order to ensure that the labels have the required adhesion to the bottles, the labels are affixed to the bottles such that the labels cannot be removed from the bottles manually without being destroyed.  
         [0006]     This limits the utility of such labels as advertising media in an undesired manner.  
         [0007]     Known from DE 102 28 292 A1 is a method for applying advertising media to bottles in which in a first method step caps or sealing parts for bottles are sorted for their continuous conveyance to pre-specified target positions. There the labels constituting advertising media are applied to the caps or sealing parts. Finally, the completely finished caps that have been provided with the advertising media are collected in supply containers, whereupon the caps stored in the supply containers can be fed non-continuously to a bottle filling system.  
         [0008]     Using this method, caps of bottles can be used as carriers for advertising media, whereby the bottles in general can be embodied as mineral water, fruit juice, beer, or lemonade bottles.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     Starting from this prior art, the object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for applying advertising media to bottles, which method can be performed in a rational manner in terms of production engineering and still complies with the applicable regulations regarding processing of foods. The inventive method applies advertising media to bottles and encompasses the following method steps. In a first method step, caps or sealing parts for bottles are continuously transported to pre-specified target positions. There the labels constituting advertising media are applied to the caps or sealing parts. Then the caps or sealing parts with the applied labels are sterilized.  
         [0010]     Production of sterilized units comprising the advertising media and caps is attained in a simple and rational manner by sterilizing the caps or sealing parts after applying the labels. These sterilized units can be used as they are without additional complexity in the production processes in the individual bottle filling systems, it being particularly advantageous that these production processes do not have to be modified or adapted thereto.  
         [0011]     In accordance with a first variant of the invention, the caps can be applied to the bottles before the advertising media are applied to the caps. The labeling machine provided for this and any downstream disinfecting units for sterilizing the top sides of the caps that are provided with labels can be simply integrated into conventional bottle filling systems as modular units.  
         [0012]     In one particularly advantageous second variant of the invention, which will be referenced in the following, caps or sealing parts are fed to labeling machines individually as separate units via conveying means in order to then apply to them the labels as advertising media.  
         [0013]     Downstream of each labeling machine, then, is a disinfecting unit in which the caps or sealing parts are conveyed in a continuous process and exposed to UV radiation or sprayed with disinfectants in order to sterilize these units preferably on all sides.  
         [0014]     This apparatus is preferably situated in a cleanroom in order to ensure germ-free processing.  
         [0015]     Attached to the outputs of the disinfecting units are supply containers that are coupled to the disinfecting units via air-tight connectors. In particular plastic bags can be provided as supply containers. In each case, the sterilized caps or sealing parts are added directly to the supply containers via the air-tight connectors and are stored there sterile without coming into contact with the exterior air.  
         [0016]     If sterilization is performed with liquid disinfectants, such as peracetic acid or hydrogen peroxide, the thus sterilized caps or sealing parts are dried with purified air before being added to the supply containers.  
         [0017]     Such post-treatment is not necessary when sterilization is by means of UV radiation.  
         [0018]     The caps or sealing parts thus packed can be inserted into the production process in bottle filling systems in a simple manner, whereby the sterility of these units is assured at all times.  
         [0019]     The caps form a flexible carrier for advertising media. The advertising media can in particular be attached to the top sides of the caps so that they are immediately visible on the exterior of the bottle to any purchaser. It is particularly advantageous that nearly the entire surface of the caps can be used to receive the advertising media.  
         [0020]     Since manufacturing companies and operators of bottle filling systems alone use the labels applied to the bodies of the bottles as information surfaces, the surfaces on the caps are available in their entirety for receiving advertising media of third-party companies.  
         [0021]     The caps themselves and also the advertising media applied thereto are extremely convenient and easy to manage. They are thus also in particular suitable as collectibles.  
         [0022]     The caps comprise metal or plastic and can be embodied as one piece.  
         [0023]     In particular in the case of caps comprising metal, the sterility of such units represents a significant problem in production processes in bottle filling systems.  
         [0024]     In one particularly advantageous embodiment, the caps are embodied in two pieces, whereby a cap comprises a cap body part and a separate cover that is mechanically joined to the cap body part. The advertising media are then applied to the cover of the caps prior to their final assembly. Particularly advantageous, the covers are detachably applied to the cap body parts so that the covers with the advertising media can be manually detached and thus can be used as collectibles.  
         [0025]     This embodiment is particularly suitable for caps that comprise plastic, in particular PET (polyethylene) and that are embodied as screw-on caps.  
         [0026]     In general the caps can be embodied as rolled-on closures, crown seals, tube caps, or the like.  
         [0027]     The advertising media themselves are embodied in the form of labels that are applied to the caps by machine.  
         [0028]     Advertisements of all types, in particular advertisements from third-party companies, can be applied using printed material. In particular letterpress printing, offset printing, screen printing processes, printing methods, and combinations thereof are used for this.  
         [0029]     The printed images on the labels contain in particular logos and advertising slogans of third-party companies. The labels can furthermore be used as collectibles and/or gaming items.  
         [0030]     When used as collectibles, the labels are preferably removed from the caps. Alternatively, in the case of caps embodied in a plurality of parts, the caps with the labels applied thereto can be collectibles.  
         [0031]     When used as gaming items, the advertising media can for instance be used for applying lottery numbers for raffle-type contests.  
         [0032]     In such applications, the labels as advertising media have in particular appropriately selected coatings in order to achieve further advertising aims.  
         [0033]     One example of this is applying temperature-sensitive coatings to the labels. The temperature-sensitive layers can for instance be embodied such that the color of a label changes as the temperature changes. Furthermore, the coatings can be embodied such that patterns or printed images on a label do not become visible until a certain limiting temperature is attained.  
         [0034]     In one advantageous embodiment, the labels can be coated with diffusion film. Using light-scattering effects, so-called lenticular images are generated, different images or print motifs on the advertising media become visible depending on the viewing angle.  
         [0035]     In another embodiment, the labels can be coated with reflective films. The highly light-reflecting advertising media thus embodied can be used as signal marks in the leisure time field. In particular these can be attached to bicycles, bicycle helmets, roller blades, roller skates, ice-skates, or even articles of clothing.  
         [0036]     In another variant, fluorescing films can also be applied to the labels. Using the luminescence of such advertising media, they can be used as signal marks in dark rooms or generally in an unilluminated environment. For instance, the advertising media thus embodied can be used in unilluminated hallways in buildings to signal escape routes, to mark light switches, or the like.  
         [0037]     In another preferred embodiment, rub-off surfaces can be applied to the labels as coatings. The labels then preferably have a stable intermediate coating that mechanically protects the printed material on a label. Then a top layer that forms the rub-off surface and that completely covers this printed material is attached. When the top layer is removed, the printed material situated thereunder becomes visible. Such advertising media are preferably used for collectibles or gaming items.  
         [0038]     These labels can be punched or embossed, enhancing the overall esthetic effect of the labels. Suitable processing methods are in particular film embossing, hologram methods, in particular embossed holograms, relief embossing, and blind blocking. The embossing methods can be combined with punches, in particular front and back side punches in the labels. Additional suitable processing methods are laminating methods. In addition, the labels can be siliconized. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0039]     Accompanying the specification are figures which assist in illustrating the embodiments of the invention, in which:  
         [0040]      FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  illustrate two exemplary embodiments of caps for beverage bottles;  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  is a flow-diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for applying advertising media to caps for beverage bottles;  
         [0042]      FIG. 3  is a schematic depiction of a first segment of the apparatus in accordance with  FIG. 2  with conveying means for transporting caps;  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  is a schematic depiction of a first embodiment of a disinfecting unit for the apparatus in accordance with  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a detailed depiction of the disinfecting unit in accordance with  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  is a detailed depiction of a second embodiment of a disinfecting unit for the apparatus in accordance with  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0046]      FIG. 7   a  is a detailed depiction of a longitudinal section of the disinfecting unit in accordance with  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0047]      FIG. 7   b  is a detailed depiction of a cross-section of the disinfecting unit in accordance with  FIG. 6 ; and  
         [0048]      FIG. 8  is a schematic depiction of a second embodiment of an apparatus for applying advertising media to caps of beverage bottles. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0049]      FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  illustrate two exemplary embodiments of caps  1  of bottles, in particular beverage bottles. The caps  1  depicted in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  comprise plastic, in particular PET, and each is used as a screw-on cap. Such caps  1  are used in particular for beverage bottles comprising plastic, in particular PET bottles.  
         [0050]     While the cap  1  depicted in  FIG. 1   a  is embodied in one piece, the cap  1  in accordance with  FIG. 1   b  comprises two separate parts, specifically a cap body part  2  and a sealing part in the form of a cover  3 . The cap body part  2  is embodied largely as a hollow cylinder and has on its interior wall a thread  4  for screwing onto a bottle. The cap part is embodied as a circular disk-shaped cover  3  that can be inserted into the opening on the top side of the cap body part  2 . In the present case the cover  3  can be snapped onto the cap body part  2 . The edge on the top side of the cap body part  2  that limits the opening can be easily bent up in order to insert the cover  3  into the opening. A locking means is provided at the top end of the opening for fixing the cover  3 . It comprises a reinforcing ring  5  that runs in the circumferential direction on the interior side of the cap body part  2  and that is embodied in one piece with the wall of the cap body part  2 .  
         [0051]     In general provided on the cap body part  2  is a seat on which the cap  3  can be fixed as a cap part, whereby the cover  3  can in particular be pushed onto and/or locked onto the cap body part  2 . The cover  3  can also be detachably joined to the cap body part  2 .  
         [0052]     In other embodiments, the caps  1  can also be embodied as rolled-on closures, crown seats, tube caps, and the like and can comprise metal and/or plastic.  
         [0053]      FIG. 2  illustrates one exemplary embodiment of an apparatus  6  for applying advertising media to caps  1  in accordance with  FIG. 1   a.  The apparatus  6  has a roller transport belt  7  on which the caps  1  are fed unsorted to a separating unit. In the present instance the latter is embodied as a centrifugal sorter  8 .  
         [0054]     The caps  1  are sorted in the centrifugal sorter  8  such that they are output individually, one after the other and with cover surfaces on top, on a conveyor segment  9  constituting conveying means. On its lateral edges this conveyor segment  9  has guides (not shown in detail) that ensure lateral positioning of the caps  1 . Thus the caps  1  are transported positioned precisely one after the other on the conveyor segment  9 .  
         [0055]     The conveyor segment  9  has a switch  10  by means of which the caps  1  that are conveyed one after the other are separated into two parallel segments  11 ,  11 ′. The switch  10  preferably has diverting means (not shown) by means of which the supplied caps  1  are fed to the two segments  11 ,  11 ′ in an alternating manner. The caps  1  transported on each segment  11 ,  11 ′ are fed to a labeling machine  12 ,  12 ′. The segments  11 ,  11 ′ are identical and the labeling machines  12 ,  12 ′ are identical. Labels  13  that constitute the advertising media are applied to the cover surfaces of the caps  1  in the labeling machines  12 ,  12 ′. The labels  13  are preferably embodied as self-stick labels and preferably comprise paper and/or plastic. The labels  13  can be embodied in one or a plurality of layers onto which printed material, coatings, punches, embossing, or the like has/have been applied.  
         [0056]     The labels  13  are applied in a known manner to belt-like carriers  14 . These carriers  14  are conducted via appropriate conveying systems to the caps  1 , upon which the labels  13  are then glued to the cover surfaces of the caps  1  by means of known techniques.  
         [0057]     Since the caps  1  are fed in parallel to two labeling machines  12 ,  12 ′, the throughput of the apparatus  6  is substantially improved compared to a single-track process.  
         [0058]     The labels  13  as advertising media can be applied using sensor signals so that the labels  13  are applied precisely and centered on the cover surfaces of the caps  1 . The sensor signals are generated by means of appropriate sensors that detect whether a cap  1  is situated in a pre-determined target position in which the label is to be applied.  
         [0059]      FIG. 3  illustrates a largely mechanical arrangement for introducing the caps  1  into the target positions.  
         [0060]     The caps  1  are conveyed individually one after the other in the area of the labeling machine  12 ,  12 ′ on a conveyor belt  15  in the transport direction indicated with the arrow. In the simplest case, the conveyor belts  15  are embodied as extensions of the segments  11 ,  11 ′ of the conveyor segment  9 .  
         [0061]     Although caps  1  are conveyed laterally on the conveyor belt  15 , the distances between successive caps  1  can vary.  
         [0062]     In order to attain equidistant transport of caps  1  to the target positions, the mechanical means for guided transport of the caps  1  are allocated to the conveyor belt  15 . These means largely comprise a motor-driven continuous conveyor  16 . The continuous conveyor  16  has identical gripping arms  17  that circle in one plane and that are arranged successively in the conveying direction.  
         [0063]     The plane of the gripping arms  17  runs in the transport plane of the gripping arms  17 . The direction of rotation of the gripping arms  17  is matched to the direction of transport of the caps  1  such that the gripping arms  17  are moved to the caps  1  at the beginning of the side of the continuous conveyor  16  that faces the conveyor belt  15  and finally engage laterally in the intermediate spaces between two successive caps  1 .  
         [0064]     Thus guided transport of the caps  1  occurs along the longitudinal side of the continuous conveyor  16  such that two successive caps  1  are separated from one another by one gripping arm  17 . The shapes of the gripping arms  17  are adapted to the shapes of the caps  1  so that the latter are borne between two gripping arms  17  with no play.  
         [0065]     This guided transport and coordination of the movements of the conveyor belt  15  and the continuous conveyor  16  ensure that the caps  1  are fed to a processing head  18  precisely positioned for applying a label  13  in a target position.  
         [0066]     The apparatus  6  in accordance with  FIG. 2  is furthermore also suitable for applying advertising media to the caps  1  that are embodied in two parts in accordance with  FIG. 1   a.    
         [0067]     In a first embodiment, the covers  3  of the caps  1  can be applied to the cap body parts  2  before the latter are fed to the apparatus  6  in accordance with  FIG. 2 . In this case the labels  13  are applied to the completely finished caps  1 .  
         [0068]     In one alternative embodiment, the covers  3  alone are fed to the apparatus  6 , the advertising media then being applied to the covers  3  as individual parts. In this case, the individual components of the apparatus  6 , in particular the sorting and separating unit as well as the conveyor segment  9 , are appropriately modified and adapted for individually processing the covers  3 . The caps  1  are then finally assembled downstream of the labeling processes in the labeling machines  12 ,  12 ′.  
         [0069]     As can be seen from  FIG. 2 , after the labels  13  have been applied the caps  1  are transported via additional conveyor belts  19 ,  19 ′ to a disinfecting unit  20 ,  20 ′ in which the caps  1  with the applied labels  13  are sterilized.  
         [0070]     This processing is preferably performed under cleanroom conditions in order to prevent contamination of the caps  1  during processing of the caps  1 , in particular while they are being sterilized.  
         [0071]     The sterilized caps  1  are conducted via air-tight connectors  21 ,  21 ′ at the outputs of the disinfecting units  20 ,  20 ′ into supply containers  22 ,  22 ′ and stored sterile therein.  
         [0072]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate a first embodiment of such a disinfecting unit of  20 . As can be seen from  FIG. 4 , the caps  1 , to which the labels  13  have been applied by means of the labeling machine  12 , are fed to the disinfecting unit  20 , the conveyor belt  19  that runs on an upward incline being provided for this purpose.  
         [0073]     The disinfecting unit  20  is illustrated in detail in  FIG. 5 . The walls of the disinfecting unit  20  that limit the closed interior space are provided with UV (ultraviolet) radiation sources  23  that emit UV radiation.  
         [0074]     The UV radiation sources  23  are in the form of large-area radiators, each of which comprises an array of UV lamps, in particular also semiconductor UV sources. The individual radiation sources are controlled by a control unit (not shown) that is formed by a microprocessor or the like. The UV radiation sources  23  can be operated both in pulse operations and in continuous operation. The radiant intensity of the UV radiation sources  23  can in particular be adjusted using the control unit.  
         [0075]     The caps  1  provided with the labels  13  are transported on the conveyor belt  19  through an input opening  24  into the disinfecting unit  20 . There the caps  1  are transported along a pre-determined path by means of a conveyor  25 . In principle the path can run on one plane. In the present case, the caps  1  are transported along a three-dimensional path by means of the conveyor  25  before the path travels out of the disinfecting unit  20  via an output opening  26 .  
         [0076]     The path runs such that the entire surface of the caps  1  are transported at pre-determined intervals to the UV radiation sources  23  so that the caps  1  are uniformly subjected to UV radiation on all sides for a pre-determined radiation period at pre-determined radiant intensities. Thus uniform sterilization is assured on all of the surfaces of the caps  1 .  
         [0077]     The conveyor  25  can preferably comprise UV-transparent materials so that the components of the conveyor  25  do not shade the UV radiation. Alternatively or in addition, rotating, tilting, pivoting, and/or lifting mechanisms, for instance, can be provided on the conveyor  25 , by means of which mechanisms the caps  1  are positioned inside the disinfecting unit  20  such that their surfaces are uniformly subjected to UV radiation.  
         [0078]     An air-tight connector  21  with a flange  27  is located at the output opening  26  of the disinfecting unit  20 . The sterilized caps  1  are introduced from the disinfecting unit  20  into the supply container  22  directly and without contact with the external atmosphere via the air-tight connector  21 .  
         [0079]     As can be seen from  FIG. 4 , the supply container  22  comprises a sterile treated plastic bag  28  that is stored in an octabin  29  that stands on a europalette  30 .  
         [0080]     In these plastic bags  28  the sterilized caps  1  that have been provided with the advertising media are fed to the bottle filling systems. There the caps  1  are applied to beverage bottles.  
         [0081]     The plastic bag  28  has a pre-determined breaking point  31  at its lower end for removing the caps  1  therefrom. By opening the plastic bag  28 , the caps  1  can be removed therefrom and conducted out of the supply container  22  via a discharge opening  32  in the octabin  29 .  
         [0082]      FIGS. 6 and 7   a,    7   b  illustrate a second embodiment of a disinfecting unit  20 . The input-side coupling from the disinfecting unit  20  to the labeling machines  12  via the conveyor belt  19  and the output-side coupling to the supply container  22  correspond to the embodiment in accordance with  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The same applies to the design of the supply container  22  as a plastic bag  28 .  
         [0083]     Like the disclosed embodiment, the disinfecting unit  20  illustrated in detail in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  has an input opening  24  via which the caps  1  are fed to a conveyor  25  in the interior of the disinfecting unit  20 . In addition, an output opening  26  for discharging the sterilized caps  1  is provided here, as well.  
         [0084]     In the present case, provided in the disinfecting unit  20  are spray units  33  comprising two-dimensional multiple arrangements with nozzles by means of which liquid disinfectants such as for instance peracetic acid or hydrogen peroxide are sprayed on the caps  1  to sterilize them.  
         [0085]     Alternatively, the caps  1  transported on the conveyor  25  can be dipped into a bath with disinfectant.  
         [0086]     The arrangement of the spray units  33  on the one hand and the design of the conveyor  25  are again designed such that the disinfectant acts on the caps  1  uniformly and on all sides.  
         [0087]     The disinfectant is conducted at a pre-determined pressure via the nozzles of the spray units  33  and thus directed against the caps  1 .  
         [0088]     As can be seen from  FIG. 7   b,  in the present case the path of the conveyor  25  is in a spiral shape in one plane. In general wandering paths are also possible in the three-dimensional space.  
         [0089]     The caps  1  sterilized in the disinfecting unit  20  are fed to a compressed air unit  20   a  via the output opening  26  using an air-tight sealed line  34 . There the sterilized caps  1  are dried. The compressed air unit  20   a  is a component of the disinfecting unit  20 .  
         [0090]     Located at the output of the compressed air unit  20   a  is the flange  27  to which the plastic bag  28  is attached. The drive and sterilized caps  1  are collected therein as in the embodiment in accordance with  FIGS. 4 and 5 .  
         [0091]     In the embodiments in accordance with  FIGS. 2-6 , the caps  1  are fed to the bottle filling systems in a non-continuous process. What is essential is that the application of the advertising media to the caps  1  occurs completely independently of and de-coupled from the processes occurring in the bottle filling system. The work steps that occur in the bottle filling systems are thus completely unaffected by the inventive application of the advertising media.  
         [0092]      FIG. 8  illustrates one alternative embodiment of the inventive apparatus  6 . In this case, the caps  1  are not fed as separate units to a labeling machine  12 , but rather are already applied to the bottles. The bottles are labeled F in  FIG. 8 . Like the exemplary embodiment in accordance with  FIG. 2 , the bottles with the caps  1  travel on a conveyor belt  35 . Again, allocated thereto are positioning means by means of which the bottles are positioned in the pre-determined target positions.  
         [0093]     The labels  13  as advertising media are applied to the caps  1  in these target positions.  
         [0094]     Preferably downstream of the labeling machines  12  illustrated in  FIG. 8  is a disinfecting unit  20  by means of which the top sides of the caps  1  are sterilized. Preferably the top sides of the caps  1  are subjected to UV radiation.  
         [0095]     The apparatus  6  thus embodied in accordance with  FIG. 8  can be integrated as a modular unit simply and without great adaptation complexity.  
         [0096]     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not as restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims and their combination in whole or in part rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.