Apparatus and method for labeling containers
AssigneeKrones AG
InventorVolker Kronseder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for applying labels to containers or packs, comprising the following steps: taking over a label from a label providing unit by means of a pallet such that a glue application surface of the label faces away from the pallet; conveying the label by means of the pallet past a glue application unit, where the glue application surface of the label has cold glue applied thereto, at least over part of its area; and, subsequently, directly transferring the glue-coated label to a container conveyed by a conveyer or to a pack conveyed by the conveyor.
Claims22
A method for applying labels to containers or packs, comprising the following steps:
- taking over a label from a label providing unit by means of a pallet which is adapted to be driven such that it circulates around an axis of rotation and which is pivotable in a controlled manner about a pivot axle at which the pallet is eccentrically supported and that is displaced relative to the axis of rotation, such that a glue application surface of the label faces away from the pallet;
- conveying the label by means of the pallet past a glue application unit, where the glue application surface of the label has glue, including cold glue, applied thereto, at least over part of an area of the label;
- and
- subsequently, directly transferring the glue-coated label to a container or to a pack, either conveyed by a conveyor,
- wherein the glue application surface of the label has printed thereon a variable glue image by applying the glue to the glue application surface of the label in the form of at least one of dots and lines, and
- wherein the variable glue image is printed onto the glue application surface of the label according to an ink-jet method.
A labeling device for applying labels to containers or packs, comprising:
- a conveyor for the containers or packs;
- a label providing unit for providing the labels;
- a glue application unit for applying cold glue to the labels;
- and
- a transfer device comprising at least one pallet for taking over a label from the label providing unit and for supplying the label to the conveyor;
- wherein the transfer device is arranged between the label providing unit and the conveyor such that the label is taken over from the label providing unit by the at least one pallet in such a way that a glue application surface of the label faces away from the at least one pallet, and that the label conveyed by the at least one pallet is transferred directly to a container or to a pack, either conveyed by the conveyor;
- wherein the glue application unit is configured and arranged relative to the transfer device such that the glue application surface of the label, which is moved past the glue application unit by the at least one pallet, has glue, including cold glue, applied thereto, at least over part of its area;
- wherein the transfer device comprises a pallet carousel with a plurality of pallets which are adapted to be driven such that they circulate around an axis of rotation and which are pivotable in a controlled manner about pivot axles at which the pallets are eccentrically supported and that are displaced relative to the axis of rotation,
- wherein the glue application unit comprises a plurality of glue nozzles, which is controllable, including individually controllable, and wherein by means of the plurality of glue nozzles a variable glue image is printed onto the glue application surface of the label by applying the glue to the glue application surface of the label in the form of at least one of dots and lines, and
- wherein the glue application unit is configured to print the variable glue image in accordance with an ink-jet principle by applying the glue in a jet with glue drops.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.