Labelling unit and method for applying labels to containers
A labeling unit and a method for applying labels to containers are described. According thereto, the labeling unit comprises an unwinding device for unwinding a label-backing tape from at least one supply reel, a processing device for separating the label-backing tape into the individual labels and for transferring the labels onto the containers, and, arranged in-between, a loop buffer which is variable in size and is intended for temporarily storing the label-backing tape. Owing to the fact that the loop buffer comprises at least two, pivotably-mounted for changing the size, deflecting pulleys for the label-backing tape, and is designed and arranged to provide the sole, temporary storage between the supply reel and the separation unit, the label-backing tape can be temporarily stored with comparatively high storage dynamics and sufficiently high storage capacity for changing the label-backing tape, and also with a low outlay on an apparatus.
1 . A labeling unit for applying labels to containers, comprising:
an unwinding device for unwinding a label-backing tape from at least one supply reel;
a separation unit for separating the label-backing tape into the labels and for transferring them onto the containers; and
a loop buffer, arranged in-between the unwinding device and the separation unit,
wherein the loop buffer is variable in size and is for temporarily storing the label-backing tape,
wherein the loop buffer comprises deflecting pulleys for the label-backing tape, wherein the deflecting pulleys comprise at least two pivotably-mounted deflecting pulleys for changing the size of the loop buffer and stationarily-mounted deflecting pulleys working together with the at least two pivotably-mounted deflecting pulleys to form strands/loops of the label-backing tape, and
wherein the loop buffer is designed and arranged to provide the sole, temporary storage between the supply reel and the separation unit.
2 . The labeling unit of claim 1 , wherein the at least two deflecting pulleys are mounted on at least one, shared, pivoting lever.
3 . The labeling unit of claim 2 , wherein the at least two deflecting pulleys have a diameter of, at most, 20 mm.
4 . The labeling unit of claim 3 , wherein the at least one pivoting lever is adjustably preloaded by means of at least one spring.
5 . The labeling unit of claim 4 , wherein the at least one spring is coupled to a ratchet for stepped, increasing preloading of the loop buffer.
6 . The labeling unit of claim 4 , wherein the loop buffer is designed to set a strip tension applied therein per strand of the label-backing tape in a range of 1 to 5 N.
7 . The labeling unit of claim 6 , wherein the loop buffer comprises a position encoder for determining a rotational position of the at least one pivoting lever and thus a current storage size.
8 . The labeling unit of claim 1 , wherein the loop buffer has a storage capacity for a label-backing tape length of at least 1 m.
9 . A labeling machine for labeling containers, and in particular bottles, having a container carousel and the labeling unit of claim 1 .
10 . A machine block having the labeling machine of claim 9 and having at least one container-production or container-processing machine upstream or downstream thereof, without intermediate buffering.
11 . A method for applying labels to containers in a labeling unit, the method comprising:
unwinding a label-backing tape from a supply reel temporarily stored in a variable loop buffer;
separating the label-backing tape into the labels using a separation unit; and
transferring the labels to the containers,
wherein the label-backing tape is guided in the variable loop buffer by at least two pivotably-mounted deflecting pulleys which are mounted so as to be pivotable for changing a size of the variable loop buffer, wherein strands/loops of the label-backing tape are formed in the variable loop buffer between the at least two pivotably-mounted deflecting pulleys and stationarily-mounted deflecting pulleys, and wherein a length of the label-backing tape guided between the supply reel and the separation unit is changed exclusively in the variable loop buffer.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising setting a strip tension per strand of the label-backing tape to a value between 1 and 5 N in the variable loop buffer by a preload of at least one spring.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the length of the label-backing tape conveyed for separation is kept exclusively in the variable loop buffer.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method is performed in a machine block, and wherein the containers to be labeled are transported from an upstream container-production or container-processing machine, and/or the labeled containers are transported to a downstream container-processing machine, without temporary storage.
15 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the length of the label-backing tape conveyed for separation is kept exclusively in the variable loop buffer.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the size of the variable loop buffer is changed by jointly pivoting the at least two deflecting pulleys.
17 . The labeling unit of claim 4 , wherein the at least one spring includes a spiral spring.
18 . The labeling unit of claim 6 , wherein the loop buffer is designed to set the strip tension applied therein per strand of the label-backing tape in a range of 2 to 4 N.
19 . The labeling unit of claim 2 , wherein the loop buffer comprises a position encoder for determining a rotational position of the at least one pivoting lever and thus a current storage size.
20 . The labeling unit of claim 2 , wherein the at least one pivoting lever is adjustably preloaded by means of at least one spring.