Patent Application
20230278744
The present invention relates to bottling, and in particular to an improved label holder.
Conveyor systems have been developed for quickly filling and capping a multitude of containers (e.g., bottles) in a very short period of time. The conveyor systems move empty containers (and uncapped if bottles) along a line and/or along a periphery of a wheel and fill the containers (with, for example, water, soda or any other liquid), close or cap the containers while the containers continuously move, and apply labels to the containers.
In the prior art, the vacuum-grip cylinder 26 included various cylinders that were capable of holding the individual labels 14 via vacuum, allowing the glue to be applied to the rear side of the individual labels 14 suctioned to the vacuum-grip cylinder 26, and allowing the individual labels 14 to be applied to a cylindrical surface of the containers 18. An example of such a vacuum-grip cylinder 26 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,408,267 entitled VACUUM CYLINDER FOR A LABELING APPARATUS, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. The vacuum-grip cylinder 26 of U.S. Pat. No. 8,408,267 is illustrated in
In
The individual supporting elements 38 or the upper end sections 38b thereof are connected to one another by a fixing ring 52. The upper support 40 likewise has a receiving opening 54 for receiving the shaft. A hub 56 of the upper support 40 is fixed to a fixing ring 58 by a plurality of screws 60.
The fixing of the supporting elements 38 to the bottom support 32 and the upper support 40 takes place via a plurality of screw connections 62. Suction strips 64a, 64b hold the start of an individual label 14 and the end of the individual label 14 to the vacuum-grip cylinder 26 by suction. In the embodiment shown in
A quick-clamping ring 84 has a protrusion 86, through the displacement of which allows for release of the individual suction strips 64a, 64b for movement thereof. More specifically, once the quick-clamping ring 84 has been opened, the individual suction strips 64a, 64b can be removed from the vacuum-grip cylinder 26 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the figure. The suction strips 64a, 64b in each case have an angled surface 88 which points in the direction of the segments 66. The individual angled surfaces 88 also protrude slightly beyond the circumference of the vacuum-grip cylinder 26 or the two supports 32 and 40 and also the segments 66, which allows for sucking up the individual labels 14 and prevents corrugations of the individual labels 14. The supporting elements 38 in each case have receiving grooves 90 for receiving the suction strips 64a, 64b.
The quick-clamping ring 84 allows for the lock between the suction strips 64a, 64b and the supporting element 38 to be opened and in this way the suction strips 64a, 64b can easily be removed. The supporting element 38 has a rear wall 96, in which two openings are provided for the insertion of the first vacuum lines 78. The first vacuum lines 78 are connected to the rear wall 96 via the connecting pieces 98. In the embodiment shown here, the suction strips 64a, 64b are supplied by two first vacuum lines 78, while the vacuum chambers 74 behind the segments 66 are supplied by a second vacuum line 99. However, the number of these first vacuum lines 78 and second vacuum lines 99 can also be varied.
When using the container filling and labeling system 10 of the prior art having the container labeling area 12, the positioning of the suction strips 64a, 64b relative to the rest of the vacuum-grip cylinder 26 is very important. As outlined above, the suction strips 64a, 64b can be moved slightly relative to the bottom support 32 and also the upper support 40 in the direction R and in the direction opposite thereto. The suction strips 64a, 64b need to be positioned close enough to the hotmelt gluing unit 28 as the suction strips 64a, 64b are rotated past the hotmelt gluing unit 28 to be able to apply a sufficient amount of hotmelt glue to the rear side of the individual labels 14 suctioned to the vacuum-grip cylinder 26 without abutting the hotmelt gluing unit 28 as the suction strips 64a, 64b pass by the hotmelt gluing unit 28. As the size and location of the hotmelt gluing unit 28 and the containers 18 can vary, a system for properly positioning the suction strips 64a, 64b before use of the container filling and labeling system 10 is needed.
As illustrated in
The illustrated rear peripheral rim 106 extends rearwardly from the rectangular rearwardly extending wall 104 and forms a pad support step 122 on a rearward surface of the rectangular rearwardly extending wall 104 and inward of the rear peripheral rim 106. The rear peripheral rim 106 includes a top rim section 115 and a bottom rim section 117 as viewed from a position when the suction strip 64 is positioned within the vacuum-grip cylinder 26. The top rim section 115 and the bottom rim section 117 have an outer periphery coplanar with the periphery of the rectangular rearwardly extending wall 104. Side rim sections 119 of the rear peripheral rim 106 extend between the top rim section 115 and the bottom rim section 117. The side rim sections 119 have an inner surface coplanar with an inner periphery of the rectangular rearwardly extending wall 104. The side rim sections 119 extend outboard of the rectangular rearwardly extending wall 104 to form a pair of opposite and parallel slide ledges 130. The pair of opposite and parallel slide ledges 130 are for sliding within corresponding slots in the vacuum-grip cylinder 26 to connect the suction strip 64 to the vacuum-grip cylinder 26.
In the illustrated example, the pad 94 (
When the suction strip 64 is slid into the vacuum-grip cylinder 26, the pad 94 is compressed and maintains the suction strip 64 within the vacuum-grip cylinder 26. Such compression helps to seal the suction area 120. During use of the prior art suction strips 64, the pads 94 can sometimes lose their structural integrity and be suctioned into the suction area 120, thereby substantially reducing the amount of suction force within the suction area 120. The reduction of the amount of suction force within the suction area 120 can cause the labels 14 to not be properly suctioned to the vacuum-grip cylinder 26, causing misplacement of the labels 14 on the containers 18. In this situation, the container filling and labeling system 10 needs to be shut down until a new pad 94 and/or entire suction strip 64 can be replaced. Since the container filling and labeling system 10 works continuously, any shutdown of the container filling and labeling system 10 can prevent thousands of containers from being ready for shipping, costing the factories large amounts of money. Therefore, there is a desire to prevent and/or lessen the shutdown time of the container filling and labeling system 10.
The present invention, according to one aspect, is directed to a labeling apparatus comprising a label vacuum-grip cylinder having a plurality of slots, with the label vacuum-grip cylinder being configured to supply a vacuum force to the slots, and at least one suction strip configured to be inserted into one of the slots of the label vacuum-grip cylinder for suctioning a label against a face of the at least one suction strip. The at least one suction strip comprises a slide plate and a pad at least partially received within the slide plate. When the at least one suction strip is inserted into the one of the slots of the label vacuum-grip cylinder, the one of the slots compresses the pad into a depression in the slide plate. The slide plate comprises a panel, a rearwardly extending wall extending rearwardly from the panel and a rear peripheral rim extending rearwardly from the rearwardly extending wall. The panel and the rearwardly extending wall define a suction area within the rearwardly extending wall. The depression is on a step defined by a surface of the rearwardly extending wall and within the rear peripheral rim. The suction strip includes at least one means for retaining the pad within the depression.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a labeling apparatus comprising a label vacuum-grip cylinder having a plurality of slots, with the label vacuum-grip cylinder being configured to supply a vacuum force to the slots, and at least one suction strip configured to be inserted into one of the slots of the label vacuum-grip cylinder for suctioning a label against a face of the at least one suction strip. The at least one suction strip comprises a slide plate and a pad at least partially received within the slide plate. When the at least one suction strip is inserted into the one of the slots of the label vacuum-grip cylinder, the one of the slots compresses the pad into a depression in the slide plate. The slide plate comprises a panel, a rearwardly extending wall extending rearwardly from the panel and a rear peripheral rim extending rearwardly from the rearwardly extending wall. The panel and the rearwardly extending wall define a suction area within the rearwardly extending wall. The depression is on a step defined by a surface of the rearwardly extending wall and within the rear peripheral rim. The slide plate includes at least one pin extending from the step for retaining the pad within the depression.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a labeling part comprising a suction strip configured to be inserted into a slot of a label vacuum-grip cylinder to have a vacuum force supplied to the suction strip for suctioning a label against a face of the suction strip. The suction strip comprises a slide plate and a pad at least partially received within the slide plate, wherein when the suction strip is configured to be inserted into the slot of the label vacuum-grip cylinder such that the slot compresses the pad into a depression in the slide plate. The slide plate comprises a panel, a rearwardly extending wall extending rearwardly from the panel and a rear peripheral rim extending rearwardly from the rearwardly extending wall. The panel and the rearwardly extending wall define a suction area within the rearwardly extending wall. The depression is on a step defined by a surface of the rearwardly extending wall and within the rear peripheral rim. The slide plate including at least one pin extending from the step for retaining the pad within the depression.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a labeling apparatus comprising a label vacuum-grip cylinder having a plurality of slots, with the label vacuum-grip cylinder being configured to supply a vacuum force to the slots. The labeling apparatus further comprises a plurality of suction strips. Each of the suction strips has a face. Each of the suction strips is configured to be inserted into one of the slots of the label vacuum-grip cylinder for suctioning a label against each face of each of the suction strips. Each of the suction strips comprises a slide plate and a pad at least partially received within the slide plate. When the suction strips are inserted into the one of the slots of the label vacuum-grip cylinder, the one of the slots compresses the pad into a depression in the slide plate. Each of the slide plates comprises a panel, a rearwardly extending wall extending rearwardly from the panel and a rear peripheral rim extending rearwardly from the rearwardly extending wall. The panel and the rearwardly extending wall define a suction area within the rearwardly extending wall. The depression is on a step defined by a surface of the rearwardly extending wall and within the rear peripheral rim. Each of the slide plates has a different character formed in the face of each of the suction strips.
One or more embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example and should not be construed as being limited to the specific embodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements.
The specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting.
For purposes of description herein, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
The reference number 200 (
In the illustrated example, the suction strip 200 of the present invention comprises the slide plate 100a of the present invention and the pad 94a of the present invention inserted therein. The slide plate 100a (
As illustrated in
The illustrated panel 102a and the rectangular rearwardly extending wall 104a of the slide plate 100a define the smaller suction area 210. The suction channels 110a open into the smaller suction area 210. The rear peripheral rim 106a extends rearwardly from the rectangular rearwardly extending wall 104a and forms a pad support step 122a on a rearward surface of the rectangular rearwardly extending wall 104a and inward of the rear peripheral rim 106a. As illustrated in
The rear peripheral rim 106a includes a top rim section 115a and a bottom rim section 117a as viewed from a position when the suction strip 200 is positioned within the vacuum-grip cylinder 26. The top rim section 115a and the bottom rim section 117a have an outer periphery coplanar with the periphery of the rectangular rearwardly extending wall 104a. Side rim sections 119a of the rear peripheral rim 106a extend between the top rim section 115a and the bottom rim section 117a. The side rim sections 119a have an inner surface coplanar with an inner periphery of the rectangular rearwardly extending wall 104a. The side rim sections 119a extend outboard of the rectangular rearwardly extending wall 104a to form a pair of opposite and parallel slide ledges 130a. The pair of opposite and parallel slide ledges 130a are for sliding within corresponding slots in the vacuum-grip cylinder 26 to connect the suction strip 200 to the vacuum-grip cylinder 26.
In the illustrated example, the pad 94a (
The illustrated pad 94a and the slide plate 100a include features for maintaining the pad 94 in position in the depression 92a. As set forth above, the slide plate 100a includes pad retaining features 212. In the illustrated example, the pad retaining features 212 comprises pins 218 extending upwardly from the pad support step 122a at each corner thereof. It is contemplated that the slide plate 100a could include any number of pad retaining features 212 at any location thereon for maintaining the pad 94 in position in the depression 92a. For example, the slide plate 100a could include any number of pins 218 at any location on the pad support step 122a (e.g., only two pins 218 or more than four pins 218). The pad retaining features 212 could also include spikes or hooks to hold the pad in position in the depression 92a.
In the illustrated example, the pad 94 includes retention features 214 configured to interact with the pad retaining features 212 to further help in maintaining the pad 94 in position in the depression 92a. In the illustrated example, the retention features 214 comprises holes 216 extending through the pad 94a adjacent each corner thereof. The holes 216 are configured to receive the pins 218. It is contemplated that the pad 94a could include any number of retention features 214 at any location thereon for maintaining the pad 94a in position in the depression 92a. For example, the pad 94a could include any number of holes 216 at any location on the pad 94a (e.g., only two holes 216 or more than four holes 216). It is contemplated that the pad 94a includes the same number of holes 216 as the number of pins 218 and in corresponding locations.
When the suction strip 200 of the present invention is slid into the vacuum-grip cylinder 26, the pad 94a is compressed and maintains the suction strip 200 within the vacuum-grip cylinder 26. Such compression helps to seal the smaller suction area 210. In the illustrated example, any one of the smaller suction area 210 (and corresponding larger pad support step 122a), the pad retaining features 212 and/or the retention features 214 help to assist in maintaining the pad 94 in position in the depression 92a and preventing failure of the suction strips 200. However, a combination of all three of the smaller suction area 210, the pad retaining features 212 and the retention features 214 maximize the amount of assistance in maintaining the pad 94 in position in the depression 92a and preventing failure of the suction strips 200.
As outlined above, the vacuum-grip cylinder 26 includes a plurality of suctions strips 64, 200 thereon. When one of the suction strips 64, 200 fails, it can be difficult to determine which suction strip 64, 200 is failing.
It is contemplated that the character 502 can be formed in the suction strip 500 in any manner. For example, the character 502 can be etched into the suction strip 500. In such an example, the slide plate 100, 100a is formed from 7075 aluminium alloy with a black hardcoat anodizing finish. High velocity oxygenated fuel is then employed to spray 420 stainless steel onto the angled surfaces 88b. A laser then etches the character 502 into the angled surfaces 88b.
Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.
