Method for determining an actual diameter and method and machine for labelling at least one container

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (10) for determining the current diameter of a tape (105) on a roller (101, 111) or spool for unwinding or winding, wherein the roller or spool is mounted on a shaft (109) of a rotary drive, a portion of the tape extends from the roller or spool via a movable tensioning device (103, 115) to a fixing device (110) for releasably fixing a tape section, wherein the tensioning device is movable between a first position and a second position arranged at a distance from it, comprising the following steps while a tape section is fixed by means of the fixing device: rotating the roller in a first direction of rotation to increase or decrease the tension of the tape until the tensioning device is in the first position; determining a first angular position of the shaft;Rotating the roller in a second direction of rotation, opposite to the first direction of rotation, until the clamping device is in the second position; determining a second angular position of the shaft; determining the diameter of the roller using the first and second angular positions and a change in the length of the strip determined from the distance. The invention thus provides a method for determining a current diameter, in which the rollers for winding or unwinding the strip are initially driven at the correct rotational speed corresponding to the current radius.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for determining a current diameter as well as a method and a machine for labeling at least one container.

[0002] In order to provide information on containers, the containers can be provided with labels. The labels can be transferred from a carrier tape to the containers, whereby the carrier tape can be wound on a roll. The containers are then transported in a row one after the other past a labeling station, which removes the labels from the carrier tape and transfers them to the containers. The section of the carrier tape from which the label was taken is fed to a take-up roll, onto which the empty carrier tape is wound. In order to transfer the label, the carrier tape must be taut. For this purpose, deflection reels can be used which press against the carrier tape using spring force, for example, to maintain tension in the carrier tape. The speeds of the reels used for winding and unwinding depend on the individual reels.The speeds used to unwind the carrier tape are regulated to transfer the labels to the containers at the specified speed and also to maintain tension on the carrier tape. The required speed depends on the current radius of the corresponding roll, which continuously changes as the tape is wound or unwound.

[0003] DE 10 2019 110 339 A1 discloses the ability to measure diameters directly using non-contact sensors, such as laser distance sensors, or by contact with probes. It further describes how the diameter of the carrier tape wound on the reels can be calculated from the relationship between the speed of the carrier tape set by a servo motor and the rotational speed of the first reel or the second reel. Furthermore, a comparison of the rotational speeds of the two reels can be used to determine the diameters.

[0004] Furthermore, DE 10 2006 043 260 A1 discloses using a predetermined speed as the initial rotation speed for label rolls, which corresponds to a fully loaded label roll. If the label roll is not fully loaded, i.e., has a smaller radius than a fully loaded label roll, a detection device can detect the loss of tension of a spring element during labeling. The spring element presses a deflection roller against the carrier tape to tension the carrier tape.

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a method for determining a current diameter as well as methods and machines for labeling at least one container, in which the rollers for winding or unwinding the tape are driven immediately at the start of labeling at the correct rotational speed corresponding to the current radius of the respective tape.

[0006] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description.

[0007] The invention relates to a method for determining a current diameter of a tape on a roll or spool for unwinding or winding a tape, in particular a carrier tape for labels, wherein the roll or spool is mounted on a shaft of a rotary drive, a portion of the tape is unwound from the roll or spool and extends from the roll or spool via at least one movably mounted tensioning device for tensioning the tape at least to at least one fixing device for releasably fixing a tape section, wherein the tensioning device is movably mounted at least between a first position and a second position arranged at a distance from the first position, comprising at least the following steps, while at least one tape section of the tape is fixed by means of the fixing device: rotating the roll in a first direction of rotation to increase or decrease a tension of the tape,until the tensioning device is arranged in the first position; determining a first angular position of the shaft; rotating the roller in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation until the tensioning device is arranged in the second position; determining a second angular position of the shaft; and determining the diameter of the roller using the first angular position, the second angular position, and a change in the length of the strip determined from the distance.

[0008] The invention thus provides a method in which an initial diameter of a roll or spool for unwinding or winding a tape can be determined with little effort. Sensors that can be used specifically to measure the radius of the rolls are not required. Instead, data that is already used for other methods can be used and their determination therefore does not require additional sensors. This can save costs. The method is carried out while the tape is being fixed by the fixing device. The tensioning device is arranged along the tape between the fixing device and the roll. The section of the tape arranged on the fixing device is thus fixed. A rotation of the shaft and thus of the roll that is mounted on the shaft causes the tape to be unwound or wound on, causing a change in the tension of the tape.The shaft can be rotated about an axis of rotation, whereby the roller mounted on the shaft is also rotated about this axis of rotation. By rotating the roller in a first direction of rotation, the tension of the belt can be increased or decreased. This causes the tensioning device, which is designed to maintain the tension of the belt, to move to the first position. When the first position has been reached, the angular position of the shaft of the rotary drive of the roller is determined. The roller is then rotated in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation. This causes the tension of the belt to change again. If the tension was increased with the first direction of rotation, the tension is decreased with the second direction of rotation and vice versa. The tensioning device is thereby moved to the second position. As soon as the tensioning device has reached the second position, the angular position of the shaft is determined again.The angle of rotation of the shaft can be determined from the difference between the two determined angular positions. The current radius or diameter of the roll can be determined from the change in the strip length between the first position and the second position, which is known in advance and corresponds to the length of the strip unwound or wound from the roll between the first and second positions, and the difference between the two determined angular positions. If the first and second positions are determined, the length of the strip that must be unwound or wound up to move the tensioning device between the first and second positions is also determined. The rotary drive can therefore be started up at a speed that corresponds to the current radius of the roll, meaning that the tensioning device does not have to make large compensating movements to tension the strip. This is particularly true at high speeds, where, for example, several tens of seconds are required.If 50,000, preferably more than 50,000, labels are transferred to containers per hour, the noise level of the corresponding labelling machine can be reduced, as the compensating movements for tensioning the tape are reduced, particularly when starting up the machine.

[0009] According to one example, it is conceivable that the first position can be achieved by increasing the tension of the band and the second position by decreasing the tension of the band.

[0010] By rotating in the first direction, the tape is wound onto the reel, and the unwound portion of the tape between the reel and the fixing device is shortened. This causes the tape to press against the tensioning device, causing the tensioning device to move to the first position. By rotating the reel in the second direction, the tape is lengthened accordingly between the reel and the fixing device. This causes the tensioning device to press against the tape to maintain the tape tension. This moves the tensioning device to the second position.

[0011] According to a further example, it is conceivable that the clamping device can be arranged on a pivotable lever and can be pivotable between the first and second position.

[0012] The tensioning device can be, for example, a pulley that is rotatably mounted, for example, at the end of the lever. When the tension of the belt changes, the angular position of the lever changes. A spring can preload the lever so that the pulley is pressed against the belt. The distance between the first position and the second position can be determined from the angular position between the two positions and the length of the lever arm to the position of the pulley.

[0013] If multiple pulleys are provided, especially according to the pulley principle, the change in belt length can result from changing all the distances between the pulleys from the first position to the second position. This also applies to other examples of tensioning devices.

[0014] According to one example, it is conceivable that the position of the clamping device can be determined by means of a first sensor, in particular an angle sensor.

[0015] In particular, if the clamping device has the pivoting lever with the deflection pulley described above, an angle sensor can be used. Alternatively, distance sensors can be used that can detect the distance between the first position and the second position to determine when the clamping device is in which position.

[0016] Furthermore, it is conceivable, for example, that the angular position of the shaft can be determined by means of a second sensor, which is preferably arranged on the rotary drive.

[0017] The rotary drive can, for example, be a servo motor with a sensor already integrated to determine the angular position of the shaft. This eliminates the need for an additional sensor.

[0018] In another example, it is conceivable that the fixing device can have a drive for conveying the belt.

[0019] The fixing device can, for example, be a motor that can drive a drive roller for the belt. The belt can be arranged between the drive roller and a pressure roller. The belt can be clamped between the drive roller and the pressure roller. Therefore, movement of the belt is only possible when the drive roller is driving the belt. If the drive roller is stopped, the belt is fixed to the fixing device.

[0020] According to one example, it is conceivable that the diameter is twice the quotient of the change in the length of the band and the difference in the angular positions given in radians.

[0021] The angular positions are thus specified in fractions of pi. The diameter can then be easily determined.

[0022] The invention further relates to a method for labeling at least one container, wherein a carrier tape with labels is unwound from a first roll or spool, fed via at least one first tensioning device to a label dispensing device and fed and wound up from a second roll or spool via at least one second tensioning device, wherein at least one fixing device for releasably fixing at least one tape section of the carrier tape is arranged between the first and second tensioning devices, wherein, while a tape section of the carrier tape is fixed by the fixing device, the method according to the preceding description is carried out on both rolls, preferably simultaneously, and thereafter, while the carrier tape is released by the fixing device, the containers are labeled.

[0023] Using the process for labeling at least one container, the diameters of both a tape unwind reel and a tape take-up reel can be determined. This allows both reels to operate at the optimal speed right from the start. Determining the diameters of both reels simultaneously can save further time, which in turn can lead to further cost savings.

[0024] Further advantages and effects, as well as refinements of the method for labeling containers, arise from the advantages and effects, as well as refinements of the method for determining a current diameter described above. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the previous description in this regard.

[0025] The invention further relates to a machine for labeling at least one container, comprising at least one transport path for containers, at least one labeling station for labeling containers that are transported along the transport path, and at least one control device for controlling at least the labeling station, wherein the labeling station has at least one rotary drive with a shaft for receiving a roll or spool for a carrier tape for labels, at least one movably mounted tensioning device for tensioning the tape and at least one fixing device for releasably fixing a tape section, wherein the tensioning device is movably mounted at least between a first position and a second position arranged at a distance from the first position,a part of the tape is unwound and extends from the roll or spool via the at least one movably mounted tensioning device at least as far as the at least one fixing device, wherein the machine has at least a first sensor for determining the position of the tensioning device and a second sensor for determining the angular position of the shaft, wherein according to the invention it is provided that the control device is designed to carry out the method for determining a current diameter according to the preceding description or the method for labeling according to the preceding description.

[0026] According to one example, it is conceivable that the rotary drive can be a servo motor.

[0027] According to a further example, it is conceivable that the clamping device can be arranged on a pivotable lever and can be pivotable between the first and second positions.

[0028] Furthermore, it is conceivable, for example, that the fixing device can have a drive for conveying the belt.

[0029] The device may further comprise, for example, a first roll or reel for unwinding a carrier tape with labels and a second roll or reel for winding a carrier tape, wherein the control device for carrying out the method for determining a current diameter according to the preceding description or the method for labeling according to the preceding description may be designed on the first roll and, preferably simultaneously, on the second roll.

[0030] Advantages and effects, as well as further developments of the machine, arise from the advantages and effects, as well as further developments of the processes described above. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the previous description in this regard.

[0031] The invention is described below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a labeling station; Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a labeling machine; Figure 3 shows a flowchart of a method for determining a diameter; and Figure 4 shows a flowchart of a labeling method.

[0032] First, the structure of a labeling station according to the invention will be explained in more detail. The labeling station is designed according to Figure 1 its entirety is designated in more detail by the reference number 100.

[0033] The labeling station 100 has a roll 101 or spool on which a tape 105 is wound. The roll 101 is arranged and mounted on a shaft 109 of a rotary drive. Rotation of the shaft 109 causes the roll 101 to rotate. This rotation allows the tape 105 to be wound or unwound.

[0034] The angular position of the shaft 109 can be determined by a sensor element 107.

[0035] The tape 105 can have labels and be designed as a carrier tape for the labels. In this case, the roll 101 can be designed as a supply roll. If the tape 105 has no labels because the labels have been removed, the roll 101 can be designed as a take-up roll.

[0036] The belt 105 extends over one or more fixed deflection pulleys 102 to a tensioning device 103. The tensioning device has at least one deflection pulley that can be moved translationally and is arranged on a free end piece of a lever 108. In this example, the tensioning device has two deflection pulleys on the free end piece of the lever 108. By extending the belt 105 over at least two fixed deflection pulleys 102, between which the belt runs around the movable deflection pulley, the belt 105 interacts with the at least one deflection pulley according to the pulley principle. This means that a change in the belt length causes a change in the position of the deflection pulley that is smaller than the changed belt length.

[0037] The opposite end of lever 108 can be pivotally mounted. A spring 106 can exert a force on lever 108, causing the deflection rollers arranged thereon to tension band 105. By shortening band 105, spring 106 can be further tensioned. By lengthening band 105, spring 106 can be released.

[0038] An angle sensor 104 can detect the deflection of the lever 108.

[0039] Furthermore, the clamping device 103 is pivotable between at least a first position and a second position. The lever 108 has a different angular position in the first position than in the second position.

[0040] According to Figure 2The labeling station 100 can further comprise a fixing device 110 with which a section of the belt 105 can be fixed. The fixing device 110 can, for example, be a drive for conveying the belt. When the drive is at a standstill, the belt section can be fixed to the fixing device 110. This prevents the belt 105 from being transported past the fixing device 110.

[0041] The tensioning device 103 is arranged between the roller 101 and the fixing device 110. When the fixing device 110 fixes the band section, the tension of the band 105 can be changed by rotating the roller 101. The position of the tensioning device 103 can thus be changed by rotating the roller 101.

[0042] The labeling station 100 can be part of a labeling machine 112. The labeling machine 112 can have another roll 111 onto which the tape 105 can be unwound or wound. If the roll 101 is designed to unwind the tape 105, the roll 111 can be designed to wind the tape 105, and vice versa.

[0043] The further roller 111 is assigned a further tensioning device 115, which tensions the band 105 when the roller 111 performs a rotation.

[0044] For example, labels from the belt 105 can be transferred from the belt 105 to containers arranged on turntables 114 near the fixing device 110.

[0045] Furthermore, the labeling machine 112 can have a control device 113 that can control the drives of the roller 101 and the further roller 111. The control device 113 can also determine the angular positions of the respective shafts 109. Furthermore, the control device 113 can detect the positions of the clamping devices 105, 115.

[0046] The control device 113 can be designed to carry out a method 10 for determining a current diameter of a roll 101, 111 or spool for unwinding or winding a tape.

[0047] The method 10 is performed while the fixing device 110 fixes the tape 105.

[0048] According to a first step 12, the shaft 109 is first rotated in a first direction to rotate the roller 101 accordingly. The roller 101 performs a rotation. In this example, the belt 105 is wound onto the roller 101 by the rotation in the first direction. This increases the tension of the belt 105.

[0049] By increasing the tension, the clamping device 103 is moved to the first position. In the example according to Figure 1 The clamping device 103 is pivoted to the left via the lever 108. The angle sensor 104 can then determine the angular position of the lever 108 to check whether the lever 108 is in an angular position corresponding to the first position.

[0050] As soon as the clamping device 103 is in the first position, the angular position of the shaft 109 is determined according to step 14. This angular position can be referred to as the first angular position. The angular position of the shaft 109 can be determined using the sensor element 107.

[0051] After that, after a further step 16, the shaft 109 is rotated in a second direction of rotation, which is opposite to the first direction of rotation. In the example according to Figure 1 the tension of the band 105 is reduced. As a result, the tensioning device 103 is actuated according to the example according to Figure 1 moved to the right by the spring force of spring 106.

[0052] The rotation of the shaft 109 continues until the clamping device 103 reaches the second position. This can be determined or checked via the angle sensor 104.

[0053] Once the second position is reached, the angular position of shaft 109 is determined again according to step 18. This angular position can be referred to as the second angular position.

[0054] The distance between the first position and the second position can be predefined and thus known. Furthermore, the distance can also be determined via the length of the lever 108 and the angular positions of the lever 108 in the first position and the second position. A change in the length of the belt between the roller and the fixing device 110 can be determined from the distance.

[0055] Since the first angular position and the second angular position of the shaft 109 are also known after performing the above steps, the diameter of the roller 101 can be determined according to step 20. In this case, twice the quotient of the change in the length of the strip and the difference in the angular positions can be calculated to determine the diameter. The difference in the angular positions can be specified in radians.

[0056] The method 10 may be part of a method 30 for labeling containers. For example, a machine 112 for labeling containers according to Figure 2 be used for procedure 30.

[0057] In a first step 22, the fixing device 110 can first fix the band section. The band 105 is thus fixed both with respect to the roller 101 and with respect to the additional roller 111. Rotation of the respective rollers 101, 111 causes a change in the tension of the band extending between the respective roller 101, 111 and the fixing device 110.

[0058] Method 10 for determining the current diameter can be performed simultaneously for roll 101 and the additional roll 111. The execution of method 10 for roll 111 is denoted by 10'.

[0059] After the diameter of both rollers 101, 111 has been determined, the belt 105 can be released by the fixing device 110 in a further step 24 to enable the containers to be labeled. With the diameter of both rollers 101, 111 known, the correct rotational speed for the shafts 109 of the rollers 101, 111 can be used immediately upon starting the labeling process.

[0060] The tension of the band 105 therefore only needs to be adjusted to a limited extent from the outset using the tensioning devices 103, 115 compared to the prior art. The tensioning devices 103, 105 therefore only move short distances, which in the example according to Figure 2 This means that the lever 108 only makes small movements. This improves the labeling start and reduces the noise level of the labeling machine 112.

[0061] The example described above does not limit the invention in any way. Rather, the invention can be modified in many ways. All of the features of the invention described above can be essential to the invention alone or in combination with one another. List of reference symbols

[0062] 100Labeling station 101Roll 102Deflection roller 103Clamping device 104Angle sensor 105Band 106Spring 107Sensor element 108Lever 109Shaft 110Fixing device 111Roll 112Labeling machine 113Control device 114Turntable 115Clamping device

Claims

1. A method (10) for determining a current diameter of a tape (105) on a roll (101, 111) or spool for unwinding or winding a tape (105), in particular a carrier tape for labels, wherein the roll (101, 111) or spool is mounted on a shaft (109) of a rotary drive, a portion of the tape (105) is unwound and extends from the roll (101, 111) or spool via at least one movably mounted tensioning device (103, 115) for tensioning the tape (105) at least to at least one fixing device (110) for releasably fixing a tape section, wherein the tensioning device (103, 115) is movably mounted at least between a first position and a second position arranged at a distance from the first position, comprising at least the following steps, while at least one tape section of the tape (105) is fixed by means of the fixing device (110): - Turning (12) the roller (101,111) in a first direction of rotation to increase or decrease the tension of the belt (105) until the tensioning device (103, 115) is arranged in the first position; - determining (14) a first angular position of the shaft (109); - rotating (16) the roller (101, 111) in a second direction of rotation, which is opposite to the first direction of rotation, until the tensioning device (103, 115) is arranged in the second position; - determining (18) a second angular position of the shaft (109); and - determining (20) the diameter of the roller (101, 111) by means of the first angular position, the second angular position, and a change in the length of the belt (105) determined from the distance.

2. Method (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first position is reached by increasing the tension of the band (105) and the second position is reached by decreasing the tension of the band (105).

3. Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims 1 or 2, characterized in thatthe clamping device (103, 115) is arranged on a pivotable lever (108) and is pivotable between the first and second positions.

4. Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position of the clamping device (103, 115) is determined by means of a first sensor (104), in particular an angle sensor.

5. Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angular position of the shaft (109) is determined by means of a second sensor (107), which is preferably arranged on the rotary drive.

6. Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing device (110) has a drive for conveying the belt (105).

7. Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diameter is twice the quotient of the change in the length of the band and the difference in the angular positions given in radians.

8. A method (30) for labeling containers, wherein a carrier tape with labels is unwound from a first roll (101, 111) or spool, fed to a label dispensing device via at least one first tensioning device (103, 115), and fed from a second roll (101, 111) or spool via at least one second tensioning device (103, 115) and wound up, wherein at least one fixing device (110) for releasably fixing at least one tape section of the carrier tape is arranged between the first and second tensioning devices (103, 115), wherein, while a tape section of the carrier tape is fixed by the fixing device (110), the method (10) according to one of the preceding claims is carried out on both rolls (101, 111), preferably simultaneously, and thereafter, while the carrier tape is released by the fixing device (110), the containers are labeled.

9. A machine (112) for labeling containers, comprising at least one transport path for containers, at least one labeling station (100) for labeling containers that are transported along the transport path, and at least one control device for controlling at least the labeling station (100), wherein the labeling station (100) has at least one rotary drive with a shaft (109) for receiving a roll (101, 111) or spool for a carrier tape for labels, at least one movably mounted tensioning device (103, 115) for tensioning the tape (105) and at least one fixing device (110) for releasably fixing a tape section, wherein the tensioning device (103, 115) is movably mounted at least between a first position and a second position arranged at a distance from the first position, a part of the tape (105) is unwound and extends from the roll (101,111) or coil extends over the at least one movably mounted clamping device (103, 115) at least as far as the at least one fixing device (110), wherein the machine (112) has at least a first sensor for determining the position of the clamping device (103, 115) and a second sensor for determining the angular position of the shaft (109), , characterized in that the control device is designed to carry out the method (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7 or the method (30) according to claim 8.

10. Machine (112) according to claim 9, characterized in that the rotary drive is a servo motor.

11. Machine (112) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the clamping device (103, 115) is arranged on a pivotable lever (108) and is pivotable between the first and second positions.

12. Machine (112) according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the fixing device (110) has a drive for conveying the belt (105).

13. Machine (112) according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the device has a first roll (101, 111) or reel for unwinding a carrier tape with labels and a second roll (101, 111) or reel for winding a carrier tape, wherein the control device for carrying out the method (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7 or the method according to claim 8 is designed on the first roll (101, 111) and, preferably simultaneously, on the second roll (101, 111).

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