DEVICE FOR APPLYING LABELS TO A WORKPIECE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for applying labels, in particular adhesive labels, to a workpiece, in particular an electrical and / or electronic component, wherein the device has a linearly movable stamp with which a picked-up label can be applied to the workpiece, and wherein the device has a positioning aid that supports correct positioning of the workpiece.

[0002] Electrical and / or electronic components are used in a wide variety of applications, such as control cabinets and other control systems. To simplify the wiring of such components, they are often labeled before installation to allow for identification and comparison with circuit diagrams and / or wiring diagrams.

[0003] For this purpose, label printers are known that prepare the corresponding labels and transfer them to an applicator, which applies the labels to the components. Such applicators have a linearly movable stamp, at the front, free end of which a receiving device, also called a transfer head, is arranged for the previously printed label. The workpiece, i.e., the electrical and / or electronic component, is positioned under the stamp, which then extends and affixes the received label at a designated location. The workpiece must be positioned correctly to ensure that the label is actually applied at the intended location.

[0004] When multiple identical components are labeled in this way, positioning aids in the form of mechanical stops on a worktable below the device are typically used. The component is positioned accordingly by aligning it with the stops before the stamp is lowered. When different components are being labeled, stops in the form of interchangeable templates can be used to achieve correct positioning for different types of components.

[0005] A wide variety of workpieces or components requiring labeling necessitates a correspondingly wide variety of stencils. Furthermore, the frequent manual stencil changes for different workpieces or components are time-consuming and prone to errors.

[0006] From publication AT 508 165 A, a label printer with an applicator is known that automatically applies a label to workpieces processed in a sawing device. The applicator is arranged on a sliding unit and has a position sensor for the workpiece in order to assume the correct position on the workpiece before the label is applied during the automated labeling process.

[0007] The use of light markings as a positioning aid for manual labeling is also known from publication CN 211 944 072 U. Stops are provided on a work surface against which a workpiece to be labeled is aligned. Several line lasers project light markings onto the workpiece, allowing a label to be manually affixed in the correct position.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for applying labels of the type mentioned at the outset, in which a workpiece can be positioned in a simple manner, even without corresponding stop surfaces or templates, so that a label is applied to a desired target surface.

[0009] This problem is solved by a device with the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are specified in dependent claims.

[0010] A device according to the invention of the type mentioned at the outset is characterized in that the positioning aid has at least two line lasers which are aligned and arranged such that they each emit a fan of light in a plane which runs parallel to a displacement direction of the stamp, wherein the fans of light intersect.

[0011] The described arrangement of the line lasers projects an angle onto the workpiece, serving as a positioning aid. The lateral position of the projected angle is independent of the workpiece's height. The alignment of the laser arrays allows for the generation of a cutting line between them, representing the displacement of a corner of the label, without requiring the laser itself to be positioned at that point – something that would otherwise be virtually impossible to achieve.

[0012] In In an advantageous embodiment of the device, the line lasers are arranged on a holder located within a transfer head. The transfer head is positioned at a free end of the punch and receives the label for application to the workpiece. The holder can be attached to the transfer head and move with it, or alternatively, it can be attached to a stationary part of the device. In particular, the line lasers can be positioned radially outside the transfer head, as viewed from the punch, i.e., in a position where sufficient free space is available and the lasers do not collide with other components of the transfer head.

[0013] In In a further advantageous embodiment, the device has four line lasers arranged and aligned such that their light beams run parallel to each other in pairs. The four line lasers preferably project lines onto a plane below that of the transfer head, following the positions of the label's edges as the stamp extends. This makes it possible to project the typically rectangular shape of labels onto the workpiece. In Alternatively, three line lasers can be used, each positioned at an angle of, for example, 60° to each other, projecting a triangle onto the workpiece – a shape often found on warning labels, for example.

[0014] In In a further advantageous embodiment, the device is configured for applying labels to electrical or electronic components, particularly for use in control cabinets. This allows components such as fuses, contactors, etc., which are regularly used pre-labeled in control cabinets, to be labeled in a wide variety of configurations, even without mechanical stops or application templates.

[0015] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment and a figure.

[0016] The figure shows: Figure 1 shows a schematic isometric view of a device for applying labels to a workpiece.

[0017] In Figur 1 A device 1 for applying labels 4 to a workpiece (not shown here) is shown in a schematic isometric representation. The device 1 is hereinafter also referred to as applicator 1. It is located downstream of, or integrated into, a label printer, which is only indicated here at the right edge of the figure.

[0018] The applicator 1 has a linearly movable, usually vertically arranged, and downward-extending punch 2. The applicator can also be used in other orientations in which the punch 2 moves not downwards, but in a different spatial direction. In In this sense, the direction indication "below" in this application refers to the direction in which stamp 2 extends.

[0019] A transfer head 3 is attached to a free end of the stamp 2, which picks up a printed label 4 and fixes it with its adhesive surface facing downwards, for example by means of a vacuum. In the Figur 1 Label 4 itself is not visible and is already positioned on the transfer head from below. The arrow emanating from reference mark 4 indicates its position.

[0020] To transfer the label 4 onto the workpiece, the workpiece is positioned below the movable stamp 2, and the stamp 2 is extended until it encounters resistance or reaches the end of its travel. This presses the adhesive side of the label onto the surface of the workpiece, where it remains even when the stamp 2 retracts.

[0021] The applicator 1 has a positioning aid according to the invention, which in this case comprises four line lasers 11. These are mounted on a quarter-circle holder 12, which is arranged around the transfer head 3. In the illustrated example, the holder 14 remains in the illustrated position even when the transfer head 3 is lowered on the punch 2. In an alternative embodiment, the holder can be mounted on the transfer head 3 so that it moves downwards with the transfer head 3.

[0022] Each of the line lasers 11 creates a laser fan 13 lying in a plane, the required opening angle of the laser fan depending on the travel distance of the stamp 2 and the size of the label 4. An opening angle of approximately 10-30° is usually sufficient.

[0023] The line lasers 11 are arranged in pairs on the holder 12, with two line lasers 11 mounted side by side. The pairs of line lasers 11 thus grouped are arranged on the holder 12 at a 90° angle to each other.

[0024] The line lasers 11 of one pair are each aligned such that their laser fields 13 lie in parallel planes to each other. The planes of the laser fields 13 of the other pair are intersected at an angle of (in this embodiment) 90°. In this way, a grid pattern consisting of a total of four lines 14 is projected onto a plane below the stamp 2, of which two lines 14 run parallel to each other and intersect the other two lines 14 at an angle of 90°. The plane onto which the pattern is projected, like the plane onto which the label is affixed, is generally a normal plane to the direction of movement of the stamp 2, i.e., a plane that is perpendicular to the direction of movement.

[0025] In In a section 15 of the lines 14, a rectangle is traced that is exactly the size of the label 4 to be applied and is located at its position. Both the size and position of the rectangle are independent of the distance of the plane to the rest position of the transfer head 3 or to the holder 14. This means that the correct position and size of the label 4 is projected onto a workpiece regardless of the workpiece's height, even though the line lasers 11 on the holder 14 are mounted significantly further apart radially than the edge of the label 4. To achieve this, the plane of each laser fan 13 is aligned parallel to the direction of movement of the punch 2.

[0026] The described arrangement of the line lasers 11 enables the cutting lines between the laser fans 13 to run precisely along the corners of the label, without the line laser 13 itself needing to be positioned at these points. If a laser beam, rather than a laser fan, were used, it would be difficult to position the laser so that the light beam would correctly follow the displacement path of a corner of the label 4 without resulting in a problematic arrangement of the laser in the transfer head 3.

[0027] The use of line lasers 11 according to the invention, which are positioned radially outside the label 4 and whose laser fields 13 lie in a plane that is aligned parallel to the displacement direction of the punch 2, enables a correct projection of the outline or contact edges onto the workpiece, which is independent of the distance of the workpiece from the line lasers 11. Therefore, the line lasers 11 can either be arranged in a fixed position on the applicator 1 or move with the punch 2.

[0028] By using four line lasers 11 in the present case, the entire perimeter of a rectangular label 4 can be projected onto the workpiece. InAlternatively, only two line lasers 11 can be used, arranged and aligned so that the planes of their laser fields 13 intersect, for example at an angle of 90°. In this way, an angle is projected onto the workpiece, which also provides a suitable positioning aid. Reference symbol list

[0029] 1Applicator 2Stamp 3Stamp head 4Label 10 Positioning aid 11 Line laser 12 Holder 13 Laser fan 14 Projected line 15 Cutting area

Claims

1. A device (1) for applying labels to a workpiece, comprising a linearly movable punch (2), by which a label (4) which has been taken up can be applied to a workpiece, and comprising a positioning aid (10), which assists correct positioning of the workpiece, characterized in that the positioning aid (10) has at least two line lasers (11) which are oriented and arranged such that each one emits a fan of light (13) in a plane which runs parallel to a displacement direction of the punch (2), and the two fans of light (13) intersect.

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, in which the line lasers (11) are arranged at a holder (12) that is situated in a region of a transfer head (3) which is arranged on a free end of the punch (2) and which takes up the label (4) for depositing onto the workpiece.

3. The device (1) according to claim 2, in which the holder (12) is affixed to the transfer head (13) and moves along with it.

4. The device (1) according to claim 2, in which the holder (12) is affixed to an unmoved part of the device (1).

5. The device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the line lasers (11), viewed starting from the punch (2) are positioned radially ouside of the transfer head (3).

6. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising four line lasers (11), which are arranged and oriented such that their fans of light (13) run parallel to one another in pairs.

7. The device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the four line lasers (11) project lines (14) onto a plane underneath that of the transfer head (3), these lines running along the positions of the edges of the label (4) while the punch (2) is moved out.

8. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, set up for depositing labels (4) onto electrical or electronic components, in particular for use in switch cabinets.