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(11) | EP 0 506 597 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
Reversible self-adhesive label applicator Umkehrbare Vorrichtung zum Anbringen von Selbstklebeetiketten Appareil réversible pour la pose d'étiquettes auto-adhésives |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] This invention refers to a reversible label applicator head for self-adhesive labels according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] Labelling heads are used in the bottling process for the attachment of an adhesibe label to each bottle leaving the plant. Some machines are for affixing a label as such and others for tagging or the attachment of so-called "counter labels" or tickets.
[0003] Bottles may be presented to the machine from various directions and the heads referred to may be left or right handed to deal with the direction in which the bottles are transferred in the machine. This occasions considerable difficulties in setting the machine in that it may require a re-assembly of the machine in the appropriate form with a consequent loss of time during the setting for production.
[0004] To tackle this problem DE-U 87 06 722 discloses a reversible label applicator head in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. According to this prior art label applicator head, the support means are formed by a plate which is symmetrical in respect to a centre line which goes through the motor, dividing the plate in two halves. The label carrier tape reel and the bare tape collector reel can be changed from one half to the other depending whether the end of the applicator arm where the labels are separated from the tape should be arranged on left or the right side of the plate. For changing the applicator arm from one side to the other still various manipulations are necessary, however. That is, besides the applicator arm, the label carrier tape reel, the bare tape collector reel, the driving roller and the applicator arm have to be changed from one side of the plate to the other, the sense of rotations of the motor has to be changed, too, and an adaptation of the driving means is necessary.
[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a reversible label applicator head which is set up with a very simple change over to the left or to the right side as maybe desired, thus reducing the costs in production with a decreased setting-up time.
[0007] Essentially, the label applicator head as disclosed herein consists of an assembly which includes the label carrier tape reel, rollers for withdrawing and for guiding the tape with the additional feature of having the applicator arm detachable from the support means for supporting the applicator arm, allowing it to be easily fitted with its end, where the labels are separated from the tape, to either the left or the right hand side of said support means.
[0008] The principles disclosed in this invention patent can be applied to both the "L" type machine heads and the straight or linear type of head. In the former the applicator arm lies at an angle of 90° to the label reel suspension arm while in the latter the suspension arm and the applicator arm form one single piece.
[0009] In both cases in order to alter the orientation from left to right or vice-versa it is simply a question of positioning the applicator arm relative to the guide rollers of the label carrier tape in accordance with this invention patent, the reversibilty being maintained whether the withdrawal or traction rollers are pulling from one side or the other.
[0010] To assist in the explanation drawings showing two preferred but non limititive embodiments of the device are attached to this specification.
[0011] Figures 1 and 2 show respectively a labelling head of the "L" type in both the left hand and the right hand configuration.
[0013] The labelling head comprises, in accordance with this patent a label reel or spool -1- from which the strip or label carrier tape -2- leaves tangentially, being guided by the first guide roller -3- then passing to an upper guide roller -4- which is located at the level of the centre of the label reel -1-along the length -5- of the tape which is then guided by a third roller -6- along the arm -7- which has at its extremity the plate -8- where the label is separated from its carrier tape. The tape -9- then passes without its labels down to an intermediate roller -10- then on to a further intermediate roller -11- and on to the bare tape collector reel -12-. Other devices on the head unit include among others a control device -12- and the driving motor -14-.
[0014] A characteristic of the labelling head, which is the object of this patent is that the tape withdrawal rollers -11- rotate in the same direction of rotation as shown by arrow A, independent whether in left hand or right hand operation, this making it an essential feature, the arrangement as shown with the first guide roller -3- in the plane of symmetry of the label carrier reel -1- and the position of the roller -4- at the level of the centre line of the reel -1- as well as the position of the guide roller -6-. Both the roller -4- and the roller -6- are duplicated as shown as roller -4′-and -6′- arranged symmetrically with respect to the rollers -4- and -6-.
[0015] Other fundamental characteristics of the labelling head object of this patent include the detachable applicator arm -7- such that it may be fitted either towards the right as in figure 1 or towards the left as in figure 2 without requiring functional modifications.
[0016] Figure 2 shows that with the left hand configuration the label carrier tape -2- also leaves the label reel -1 tangentially, passing by the same guide roller -3- then to the upper roller -4′- then on to the guide roller -6′-, symmetrical to roller -6- and on to the arm -7- which will have been fitted to the left.
[0017] Other than the alterations mentioned above no further modifications are required to the head in order to change from one side to the other as may be required at the time of setting up.
[0018] In the linear or straight version of the head as shown in figures 3 and 4 the reel -15- is carried on the arm -16- which is a prolongation of the applicator arm -17-. The first roller -18- is positioned in its own line of symmetry with rollers -19- and -19′- lying symmetrical with respect to the central plane so allowing the tape to be drawn to the left or right without altering other components.
[0019] From the above it can be seen that the labelling head can be used for either left or right hand feed with the minimum of setting time given the design of the head with its easily removable applicator arm or the components carried by the arm and which can be fitted either one side or the other.
1. A reversible label applicator head for self-adhesive labels which comprises a label
carrier tape reel (1, 15), a suspension arm (16) carrying the tape reel (1, 15) the
axis of the tape reel (1, 15) being perpendicular to the suspension arm, a plurality
of rollers (3, 4, 4', 6, 6', 18, 19, 19') for the tape (2), a traction or withdrawal
roller (11), a bare tape collector reel (12), an applicator arm (7, 17) having one
end where the labels are separated from the tape (2), and support means for supporting
the applicator arm (7, 17), the applicator arm (7, 17) being detachable so that it
can be fitted to the support means with said one end being on the left or the right
side of the support means, characterized in that the first roller (3, 18), which the
tape (2) is guided directly from the label carrier tape reel (1, 15), is positioned
in a plane of symmetry in which both the suspension arm (16) and the axis of the label
carrier tape reel (1, 15) extend, a plurality of rollers (4, 4', 6, 6', 19, 19') being
located symmetrically with respect to said plane of symmetry, and the applicator arm
(7, 17) extending either in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of
symmetry or in the plane of symmetry.
2. A reversible label applicator head as in claim 1, characterized in that one pair of
the rollers (4, 4', 19, 19') is positioned symmetrically with respect to said plane
of symmetry and is located substantially at the line through the centre of said label
carrier reel (1) perpendicular to said axis of said reel (1) and Perpendicular to
the direction in which said suspension arm (16) extends.
3. A reversible label applicator head as claimed in claim 1 and 2, characterized by having
a pair of rollers (6, 6') positioned symmetrically with respect to said plane of symmetry,
said rollers (6, 6') guiding the tape (2) directly towards the applicator arm (7).
1. Umkehrbarer Kopf zum Anbringen von Etiketten für Selbstklebeetiketten, welcher umfaßt:
ein Rad (1, 15) für das die Etiketten tragende Band, einen Hängearm (16), der das
Rad (1, 15) für das Band trägt, wobei die Achse des Rades (1, 15) für das Band zum
Hängearm senkrecht ist, eine Anzahl von Rollen (3, 4, 4', 6, 6', 18, 19, 19') für
das Band (2), eine Mitnehmer- oder Abzugsrolle (11), ein Rad (12) zum Aufnehmen des
leeren Bandes, einen Auftragsarm (7, 17) mit einem Ende an der Stelle, an der die
Etiketten vom Band (2) getrennt werden, und eine Halteeinrichtung zum Halten des Auftragsarmes
(7, 17), wobei der Auftragsarm (7, 17) lösbar ist, so daß er an der Halteeinrichtung
angebracht werden kann, wobei das eine Ende auf der linken oder rechten Seite der
Halteeinrichtung ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die erste Rolle (3, 18), durch die das Band (2) direkt vom Rad (1, 15) für das die Etiketten tragende Band geführt wird, in einer Symmetrieebene angeordnet ist, in der sich sowohl der Hängearm (16) als auch die Achse des Rades (1, 15) für das die Etiketten tragende Band erstrecken, eine Anzahl von Rollen (4, 4', 6, 6', 19, 19') zu dieser Symmetrieebene symmetrisch angeordnet ist, und sich der Auftragsarm (7, 17) entweder in einer Zu dieser Symmetrieebene im wesentlichen senkrechten Richtung oder in der Symmetrieebene erstreckt.
daß die erste Rolle (3, 18), durch die das Band (2) direkt vom Rad (1, 15) für das die Etiketten tragende Band geführt wird, in einer Symmetrieebene angeordnet ist, in der sich sowohl der Hängearm (16) als auch die Achse des Rades (1, 15) für das die Etiketten tragende Band erstrecken, eine Anzahl von Rollen (4, 4', 6, 6', 19, 19') zu dieser Symmetrieebene symmetrisch angeordnet ist, und sich der Auftragsarm (7, 17) entweder in einer Zu dieser Symmetrieebene im wesentlichen senkrechten Richtung oder in der Symmetrieebene erstreckt.
2. Umkehrbarer Kopf zum Anbringen von Etiketten nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein Paar Rollen (4, 4', 19, 19') bezüglich der Symmetrieebene symmetrisch angeordnet
ist und im wesentlichen an der Linie durch die Mitte des die Etiketten tragenden Rades
(1) senkrecht zur Achse des Rades (1) und senkrecht zur der Richtung angeordnet ist,
in der sich der Hängearm (16) erstreckt.
3. Umkehrbarer Kopf zum Anbringen von Etiketten nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, gekennzeichnet durch ein Paar Rollen (6, 6'), die bezüglich der Symmetrieebene symmetrisch angeordnet
sind, wobei diese Rollen (6, 6') das Band (2) direkt zum Auftragsarm (7) leiten.
1. Tête réversible d'application d'étiquettes destinée à des étiquettes auto-adhésives,
qui comprend une bobine (1, 15) de ruban porte-étiquettes, un bras de suspension (16)
portant la bobine de ruban (1, 15), l'axe de la bobine de ruban (1, 15) étant perpendiculaire
au bras de suspension, une pluralité de rouleaux (3, 4, 4', 6, 6', 18, 19, 19') destinés
au ruban (2), un rouleau de traction ou de retrait (11), une bobine (12) de récupération
de ruban vide, un bras applicateur (7, 17) ayant une extrémité où les étiquettes sont
séparées du ruban (2), et des moyens de support pour soutenir le bras applicateur
(7, 17), le bras applicateur (7, 17) étant détachable de sorte qu'il peut être fixé
auxdits moyens de support afin que ladite extrémité se trouve sur le côté droit ou
gauche desdits moyens de support,
caractérisé en ce que le premier rouleau (3, 18), par lequel la bande (2) est guidée directement depuis la bobine (1, 15) de ruban porte-étiquettes, est placé dans un plan de symétrie dans lequel se trouvent à la fois le bras de suspension (16) et l'axe de la bobine (1, 15) de ruban porte-étiquettes, plusieurs rouleaux (4, 4', 6, 6', 19, 19') étant situés de manière symétrique par rapport audit plan de symétrie et le bras applicateur (7, 17) s'étendant soit dans une direction sensiblement perpendiculaire au plan de symétrie, soit dans le plan de symétrie.
caractérisé en ce que le premier rouleau (3, 18), par lequel la bande (2) est guidée directement depuis la bobine (1, 15) de ruban porte-étiquettes, est placé dans un plan de symétrie dans lequel se trouvent à la fois le bras de suspension (16) et l'axe de la bobine (1, 15) de ruban porte-étiquettes, plusieurs rouleaux (4, 4', 6, 6', 19, 19') étant situés de manière symétrique par rapport audit plan de symétrie et le bras applicateur (7, 17) s'étendant soit dans une direction sensiblement perpendiculaire au plan de symétrie, soit dans le plan de symétrie.
2. Tête réversible d'application d'étiquettes selon la revendication 1, caractérisée
en ce qu'une paire de rouleaux (4, 4', 19, 19') est placée de manière symétrique par
rapport audit plan de symétrie et est placée sensiblement au niveau de la ligne passant
par le centre de ladite bobine (1) de ruban porte-étiquettes, perpendiculaire audit
axe de la bobine (1) et perpendiculaire à la direction dans laquelle s'étend ledit
bras de suspension (16).
3. Tête réversible d'application d'étiquettes selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisée
en ce qu'elle comprend une paire de rouleaux (6, 6') placés de manière symétrique
par rapport audit plan de symétrie, lesdits rouleaux (6, 6') guidant le ruban (2)
directement en direction du bras applicateur (7).