GB1587768A

GB1587768A - Labelling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB1587768A
Application number: GB5309777A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Jagenberg Werke AG
Current assignee: Jagenberg Werke AG
Priority date: 1976-12-21
Filing date: 1977-12-20
Publication date: 1981-04-08
Also published as: DE2657862A1; ES465020A1; IT1091385B; BR7708448A; DE2657862C3; FR2375099A1; FR2375099B1; DE2657862B2

Description

(54) LABELLING APPARATUS (71) We, JAGENBERG-WERKE A.G., a Joint Stock Company organised under the laws of Germany (Fed. Rep.) of Postfach 1123, 4000 Düsseldorf 1, Germany (Fed.

Rep.), do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to labelling apparatus.

It has been previously proposed to provide labelling apparatus for labelling articles, for example bottles, comprising a rotatable support, on which at least one removal member with an outwardly curved pick-up surface for labels is eccentrically mounted for rotation, and a cam-controlled drive for each removal member, which consists of a stationary sun wheel and a planet wheel meshing with the sun wheel.

One requirement of troublefree labelling is that the removal member should roll with as little slip as possible on the front label of a pile of labels which is normally stationary, on a glueing roller and on a gripper cylinder, which transfers the labels to the article. This has been achieved in previously proposed labelling apparatus (German Offenlegungsschrift 2 325 244, German Offenlegungsschrift 2 436 003) due to the fact that the rotating removal member is accelerated and decelerated by means of a cam control. Since the surfaces on which the rolling takes place, have different curvatures, the axis of rotation of the removal member is located between the curved pick-up surface and its centre of curvature.

In the previously proposed labelling apparatus (German Offenlegungsschrift 2 325 244), the acceleration and deceleration of the rotary movement of the removal member is effected by cam-controlled differential gearing between the planet wheel and the drive shaft of the removal member. The differential gearing consists of a cam in the form of a coarse thread between the drive shaft and the pinion located thereon. The pinion is moved axially on the drive shaft by the cam control, so that with a constant speed of the support, the constant speed imparted to the planet wheel by rolling on the sun wheel results in an acceleration and deceleration of the speed of the removal member. A drive of this type has already proved succesful in practice.

An object of the present invention is to provide labelling apparatus in which the acceleration and deceleration necessary for non-slip rolling of the rotating removal member is achieved with simpler means than previously.

According to the present invention there is provided labelling apparatus for labelling articles, for example bottles, comprising a rotatable support, on which at least one removal member with an outwardly curved pick-up surface for labels is eccentrically mounted for rotation, and a drive for the or each removal member, which drive includes a common stationary sun wheel and a number of planet wheels corresponding to the number of removal members and meshing with the sun wheel, wherein the or each planet wheel meshes with a respective pinion on a drive shaft of the respective removal member and is pivotal about the drive shaft, and the sun wheel has a non-uniform radius so as to provide a cam for causing acceleration and deceleration in the rotary movement of the removal member at constant speed of the support.

The construction of the labelling apparatus according to the invention is simpler than the previously proposed labelling apparatus because the additional stationary cam with its control members and the second cam in the form of the coarse thread between the drive shaft and pinion seated thereon are replaced by the modified curvature of the sun wheel and the pivotal planet wheel. A computer can be used to determine without difficulty the shape of the sun wheel and the transmission ratio of the wheels to be selected for a predetermined rolling movement.

The labelling apparatus according to the invention facilitates the movement of the removal members not only on a circular path, but also on other closed paths. In any case, the necessary acceleration and deceleration in the rotary movement of the removal member can be achieved by the shape of the sun wheel.

Depending on the course of the curve of the sun wheel, it is possible that the reaction force produced when the sun wheel and planet wheel are in mesh, keeps the planet wheel in engagement with the sun wheel. If this is not ensured overall or at individual points, then the planet wheel can be kept in engagement with the sun wheel by a tension member; for example a spring, or even by cam sections or a closed cam.

The invention is described in detail hereafter with reference to the drawings illustrating one embodiment. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a labelling station of a labelling machine diagrammatically in plan view, Figure 2 shows a removal member with the drive in axial section on line 1-I of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows the support of a planet wheel of the drive of a removal member by a cam section and Figure 4 shows the support of a planet wheel of a removal member by a spring.

The labelling station shown in the drawing comprises a circular plate 1 as the support, in which drive shafts 2, 3, 4 for removal members 5, 6, 7 are mounted to rotate eccentrically. The drive shafts 2 to 4 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the cylindrically curved pick-up surfaces 8, 9, 10 and are located between the pick-up surfaces 8 to 10 and their centres of curvature.

Various stations are located tangentially with respect to the circumference 11 described by the pick-up surfaces 8 to 10 in the central position, namely a rotating glueing roller 12, a stationary pile of labels 13 with a flat front side and a rotating gripper cylinder 14.

Planetary gearing serves as the drive for the removal members 5 to 7, which gearing consists of a stationary sun wheel 15 and planet wheels 16, 17, 18 meshing therewith, which are respectively associated with a removal member 5 to 7. Each planet wheel 16 to 18 also meshes with a pinion 19, 20, 21 non-rotatably connected to the drive shaft 2 to 4 of each removal member 5 to 7.

The sun wheel 15 constructed as a gear has a curved shape varying from the normal circular shape. In order that the planet wheels 16 to 18 are able to mesh with the sun wheel 15 on the one hand and with the pinions 19 to 21 on the other hand, the planet wheels 16 to 18 are mounted on lever arms 22, 23 24 able to pivot about the drive shafts 2 to 4. In order that the pivotal planet wheels 16 to 18 are held in engagement with the sun wheel 15, they can be supported on their lever arms 22 to 24 on cam sections as shown in cutaway view in Figure 3 or by means of a tension spring which is attached to the central shaft 25 of the support, as shown in Figure 4.

When the support 1 rotates in the direction of arrow P1, the planet wheels 16 to 18 roll on the stationary sun wheel 15, so that they rotate in the direction of arrow P2. This rotary movement is converted into an opposed rotary movement in the direction of arrow P3 of the pinions 19 to 21 and thus of the removal members 5 to 7. Since the planet wheels 16 to 18 are pivoted depending on the shape of the sun wheel 15, the removal members 5 to 7 experience an acceleration and deceleration with a constant speed of the support 1, so that their pick-up surfaces 8 to 10 roll in a non-slip manner on the individual stations 12, 13, 14.Furthermore, since the removal members 5 to 7 are mounted eccentrically and in particular between the pick-up surfaces 8 to 10 and their centres of curvature, (Figure 2), it is achieved that the pickup surfaces 8 to 10 roll fully on the differently curved surfaces of the glueing roller 12, stack of labels 13 and gripper cylinder 14, with the front and rear edges of the pick-up surfaces 8 to 10 extending beyond the cir cumferenci: 11.

As already mentioned, the principle of the invention can be realised not only with removal members rotating on a circular path, but also with paths of different shape, with a corresponding shape of the sun wheel and transmission ratio of the gears transmitting the rotary movement as well as a corresponding radius of curvature of the pick-up surfaces and the corresponding position of the point of rotation of the removal members, in other words, depending on the geometry of the individual components. How these components are to be constructed geometrically individually, can be determined by means of a computer.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. Labelling apparatus for labelling articles, for example bottles, comprising a rotatable support, on which at least one removal member with an outwardly curved pick-up surface for labels is eccentrically mounted for rotation, and a drive for the or each removal member, which drive includes a common stationary sun wheel and a number of planet wheels corresponding to the number of removal members and meshing with the sun wheel, wherein the or each planet wheel meshes with a respective pinion on a drive shaft of the respective removal member and is pivotal about the drive shaft, and the sun wheel has a non-uniform radius so as to provide a cam for causing acceleration and deceleration in the rotary movement of the removal member at constant speed of the support.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each planet wheel is held in engagement with the sun wheel by a tension

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Claims

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member can be achieved by the shape of the sun wheel.

Depending on the course of the curve of the sun wheel, it is possible that the reaction force produced when the sun wheel and planet wheel are in mesh, keeps the planet wheel in engagement with the sun wheel. If this is not ensured overall or at individual points, then the planet wheel can be kept in engagement with the sun wheel by a tension member; for example a spring, or even by cam sections or a closed cam.

The invention is described in detail hereafter with reference to the drawings illustrating one embodiment. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a labelling station of a labelling machine diagrammatically in plan view, Figure 2 shows a removal member with the drive in axial section on line 1-I of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows the support of a planet wheel of the drive of a removal member by a cam section and Figure 4 shows the support of a planet wheel of a removal member by a spring.

The labelling station shown in the drawing comprises a circular plate 1 as the support, in which drive shafts 2, 3, 4 for removal members 5, 6, 7 are mounted to rotate eccentrically. The drive shafts 2 to 4 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the cylindrically curved pick-up surfaces 8, 9, 10 and are located between the pick-up surfaces 8 to 10 and their centres of curvature.

Various stations are located tangentially with respect to the circumference 11 described by the pick-up surfaces 8 to 10 in the central position, namely a rotating glueing roller 12, a stationary pile of labels 13 with a flat front side and a rotating gripper cylinder 14.

Planetary gearing serves as the drive for the removal members 5 to 7, which gearing consists of a stationary sun wheel 15 and planet wheels 16, 17, 18 meshing therewith, which are respectively associated with a removal member 5 to 7. Each planet wheel 16 to 18 also meshes with a pinion 19, 20, 21 non-rotatably connected to the drive shaft 2 to 4 of each removal member 5 to 7.

The sun wheel 15 constructed as a gear has a curved shape varying from the normal circular shape. In order that the planet wheels 16 to 18 are able to mesh with the sun wheel 15 on the one hand and with the pinions 19 to 21 on the other hand, the planet wheels 16 to 18 are mounted on lever arms 22, 23 24 able to pivot about the drive shafts 2 to 4. In order that the pivotal planet wheels 16 to 18 are held in engagement with the sun wheel 15, they can be supported on their lever arms 22 to 24 on cam sections as shown in cutaway view in Figure 3 or by means of a tension spring which is attached to the central shaft 25 of the support, as shown in Figure 4.

When the support 1 rotates in the direction of arrow P1, the planet wheels 16 to 18 roll on the stationary sun wheel 15, so that they rotate in the direction of arrow P2. This rotary movement is converted into an opposed rotary movement in the direction of arrow P3 of the pinions 19 to 21 and thus of the removal members 5 to 7. Since the planet wheels 16 to 18 are pivoted depending on the shape of the sun wheel 15, the removal members 5 to 7 experience an acceleration and deceleration with a constant speed of the support 1, so that their pick-up surfaces 8 to

10 roll in a non-slip manner on the individual stations 12, 13, 14.Furthermore, since the removal members 5 to 7 are mounted eccentrically and in particular between the pick-up surfaces 8 to 10 and their centres of curvature, (Figure 2), it is achieved that the pickup surfaces 8 to 10 roll fully on the differently curved surfaces of the glueing roller 12, stack of labels 13 and gripper cylinder 14, with the front and rear edges of the pick-up surfaces 8 to 10 extending beyond the cir cumferenci: 11.

As already mentioned, the principle of the invention can be realised not only with removal members rotating on a circular path, but also with paths of different shape, with a corresponding shape of the sun wheel and transmission ratio of the gears transmitting the rotary movement as well as a corresponding radius of curvature of the pick-up surfaces and the corresponding position of the point of rotation of the removal members, in other words, depending on the geometry of the individual components. How these components are to be constructed geometrically individually, can be determined by means of a computer.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. Labelling apparatus for labelling articles, for example bottles, comprising a rotatable support, on which at least one removal member with an outwardly curved pick-up surface for labels is eccentrically mounted for rotation, and a drive for the or each removal member, which drive includes a common stationary sun wheel and a number of planet wheels corresponding to the number of removal members and meshing with the sun wheel, wherein the or each planet wheel meshes with a respective pinion on a drive shaft of the respective removal member and is pivotal about the drive shaft, and the sun wheel has a non-uniform radius so as to provide a cam for causing acceleration and deceleration in the rotary movement of the removal member at constant speed of the support.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each planet wheel is held in engagement with the sun wheel by a tension

member, for example a spring, or by cam sections or a closed cam.
3. Labelling apparatus for labelling articles, for example bottles, substantially as herein described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.