Packaging machine and labelling device

Abstract

A packaging machine for packaging food products comprises a transport device for moving a material web along a longitudinal direction and a labelling device for applying labels to the material web, wherein the labelling device has a label dispenser and an application device, which is movable along the longitudinal direction, for applying the labels to the material web, wherein the label dispenser is designed to transfer labels that are to be applied to the application device. The labelling device also has a drive which is designed to move the application device along the longitudinal direction, wherein the drive comprises a motor and is designed to move the application device relative to the motor along the longitudinal direction.

Description

[0001] Packaging machine and labeling device

[0002] The invention relates to a packaging machine for packaging food products, in particular food portions comprising one or more slices separated from a food product, wherein the packaging machine comprises a transport device designed to move a material web along a longitudinal direction for producing packaging.

[0003] Such packaging machines can be used, in particular, to mechanically package food products transferred to the packaging machine in order to produce ready-to-sell packaging. For this purpose, packaging machines can, for example, form part of a processing line in which the food products are first sliced ​​by a slicing device, in particular a so-called high-speed slicer, and the separated slices can be used to form food portions, which are then transferred to the packaging machine and packaged by it.

[0004] In order to package the food products, and in particular such food portions, and to produce corresponding packaging, the packaging machine can move a material web along a longitudinal direction and have one or more work stations at which the material web is processed to successively produce the packaging. In particular, the packaging machine can provide packaging stations formed on or in the material web at a transfer station, onto or into which the food products to be packaged can be placed. For this purpose, the packaging machine can be designed, for example, as a thermoforming packaging machine and have a forming station upstream of the transfer station, which is designed to draw troughs or depressions into the material web so that the food products can be inserted into the provided troughs at the transfer station and packaged therein.The cavities can then be sealed at a sealing station by an upper material web fed from above to produce closed packages. Furthermore, packages produced in the material web can be separated at a separation station downstream of the sealing station. Furthermore, it is also possible, for example, to place food products in defined locations on a flat material web; in this case, closed packages can also be produced by sealing an upper material web fed from above using the packaging machine.

[0005] In addition to the workstations already mentioned, packaging machines can also have a labeling station for applying labels to the finished packaging and informing consumers, for example, about the product type, weight, best-before date, or other information relating to the packaging or the packaged food product. Typically, a label is applied to both the top and bottom of a package. This is usually done by connecting a labeling device to a suitable location on the packaging machine, for example, by attaching it to the side of the packaging machine.

[0006] However, connecting such an external unit—specific and complex with respect to the other functions of a packaging machine—to the packaging machine makes it fundamentally difficult to coordinate the operation of the labeling device and the operation of the packaging machine, so that the use of labeling devices can lead to operational malfunctions or interruptions. Furthermore, connecting a labeling device to a packaging machine is generally also structurally complex, since connecting external units usually requires an unreasonably large amount of space, and the labeling devices can extend laterally into a space next to the packaging machine, which is often required as a passageway for personnel operating the packaging machine.In particular, in the case of a labelling device, the external attachment of movable elements of the labelling device to the packaging machine may result in inadequate access protection, which may in turn lead to operational disruptions and the risk of injuries due to crushing.

[0007] Furthermore, the above-mentioned difficulties with regard to labelling devices arise in particular because frequently both a labelling device for applying labels to an upper side of packages and a further labelling device for applying labels to an underside of the packages are provided, wherein the labelling devices are usually mounted on opposite sides of the packaging machine.Personnel operating the packaging machine must therefore constantly switch between the sides of the packaging machine in order to be able to make adjustments to a particular labelling device, so that such adjustments are time-consuming and inadequate integration or faulty operation of labelling devices can lead to significant interruptions in the operation of a packaging machine or a processing line comprising a packaging machine and thus in the product throughput to be achieved.

[0008] Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide packaging machines and labeling devices which enable reliable operation with the highest possible integration of the labeling devices into the packaging machine and / or into a processing line comprising the packaging machine.

[0009] This object is firstly achieved by a packaging machine having the features of claim 1.

[0010] The packaging machine comprises a labeling device for applying labels to the material web, which device comprises a label dispenser and an application device movable along the longitudinal direction for applying the labels to the material web. The label dispenser is designed to transfer labels to be applied to the application device. Furthermore, the labeling device comprises a drive designed to move the application device along the longitudinal direction. The drive comprises a motor and is designed to move the application device relative to the motor along the longitudinal direction.

[0011] By including the labeling device in the packaging machine, the labeling device thus forms a component of the packaging machine and does not need to be attached to the packaging machine as an additional, optional external component. Rather, it is, in a sense, firmly integrated into the packaging machine. This integration enables improved coordination between the operation of the labeling device and the operation of the other components of the packaging machine. Furthermore, the labeling device can be controlled, in particular, by a control device of the packaging machine and / or a higher-level line control system of a processing line, which also controls the other components of the packaging machine.In particular, such a common control system can avoid complex communication between different control devices, so that, for example, cycle times of the packaging machine specified by the central control device can also directly apply to the labeling device. Furthermore, the integration of the labeling device into the packaging machine, and in particular its control system, also enables the simplest possible transmission of data relating to the packaging and / or the food products packaged therein to the labeling device. This allows information specifically tailored to a food product, such as a product weight, to be transmitted to a printer of the labeling device and printed on a corresponding label.In particular, the labeling device can have a printer which is designed to print labels provided by the label dispenser before they are transferred to the application device.

[0012] For example, the label dispenser can have a label storage device into which a label carrier tape wound into a roll can be inserted, onto which the labels, in particular unprinted, are provided and / or adhered. The label carrier tape can be guided, in particular via several deflection and / or dancer rollers, to a printer of the labeling device so that the labels provided on the label carrier tape can be printed. The labels can then be transferred to the application device, for which purpose the labels can be guided, for example, over a transfer edge, at which the label carrier tape forms a bend and the labels can be detached from the label carrier tape.

[0013] The application device can, for example, have a housing in the interior of which a vacuum can be generated by a vacuum device in order to be able to take over the labels detached from the label carrier strip. In addition, the application device can, for example, have a plurality of circulating and drivable belts in order to be able to move the taken over labels transversely to the longitudinal direction of the packaging machine and bring them into a predetermined position which is assigned to a package to be labeled. In order to be able to apply the labels to the material web, the application device can, for example, have a plurality of application elements which can be moved perpendicular to an extension surface of the labels, in particular movable pins, by means of which the labels can be detached from the belt and brought into contact with the material web. The labels can be applied to the material web in particular by gluing.

[0014] In this respect, the application device can generally be designed to receive labels from the label dispenser and align them transversely to the longitudinal direction in order to be able to apply the labels at a predetermined location on the material web, in particular in a transverse direction extending transversely to the longitudinal direction. However, the labeling device also has a drive by means of which the application device can be moved along the longitudinal direction, so that a label to be applied can also be aligned longitudinally and applied precisely to the material web at a position defined in two dimensions.Furthermore, the packaging machine can be configured, in particular, for cyclically advancing the material web and for providing several rows of packages spaced apart in the longitudinal direction during a cycle, wherein the labeling device can be configured to label the packages of all rows by applying labels during a cycle pause. Therefore, the drive of the labeling device can also serve, for example, to move the application device from row to row during such label application and during the cycle pause in which the material web is stationary, in order to be able to label the rows of packages one after the other.

[0015] In particular, the packaging machine can be designed to provide a format of packaging, wherein the format can be formed by a matrix of packages arranged in m rows along the longitudinal direction and in n tracks of packages lying next to one another in the longitudinal direction. The application device can be designed to label packages in the n tracks simultaneously by taking a corresponding number of labels from the label dispenser and placing them in a corresponding position and / or track on the application device transversely to the longitudinal direction. During a cycle pause, the m rows of packaging can therefore be approached one after the other, and the packages in a respective row can be labeled simultaneously. The parameters n and m can in particular be natural numbers greater than or equal to 1.

[0016] The drive for moving the applicator in the longitudinal direction thus makes it possible to place the labels in the specified positions and, for example, to move to different rows of packaging. Furthermore, the design of the drive for moving the applicator relative to the motor enables improved, safer, and faster operation, also because less mass needs to be moved compared to conventional solutions with external labeling devices. This advantage can again be achieved primarily through the direct integration of the labeling device into the packaging machine.

[0017] Due to the external attachment of labeling devices to packaging machines in the prior art, drive concepts are usually pursued in which the motor for moving the application device itself is moved together with the application device, i.e., the application device cannot be moved relative to the motor along the longitudinal direction. In the packaging machine or its labeling device disclosed here, however, the motor can remain stationary during the movement of the application device, so that the weight to be moved can be reduced compared to conventional solutions. This can, for example, enable faster and more flexible movement of the application device in the longitudinal direction and thus potentially reduce cycle times. In addition, the reduced weight to be moved can reduce any vibrations during the movement of the application device and achieve more precise movements.Furthermore, the movement of the attachment device is less sluggish with less weight, which allows for more flexible control of the attachment device and, for example, braking in the travel path of the attachment device in order to avoid injuries due to crushing or damage to the attachment device.

[0018] In principle, it can be provided that the labeling device is designed to apply labels to packages provided by the packaging machine, which are formed in the material web. Therefore, the labeling device can be arranged in particular downstream of a transfer station of the packaging machine and / or downstream of a sealing station of the packaging machine in order to label the sealed packages. Furthermore, the labeling device can be designed to label the packages on an upper side and / or on a lower side. The mentioned material web can therefore be in particular an upper material web fed from above, which closes the packages, and / or a lower material web fed from below, on which the food products rest. The material web can be designed, for example, as a film web, paper web or material web made of organic material.

[0019] Further embodiments are explained in the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

[0020] In some embodiments, the motor may be designed as a servo motor.

[0021] A servo motor for moving the attachment device can comprise an electric motor of any design with a rotor, for example, a DC motor, an asynchronous motor, or a synchronous motor, and in particular comprises a measuring device that allows the precise position and / or rotational position and / or rotational angle of the rotor to be determined at any time. This position measurement can be performed, for example, via a rotary encoder, for which a resolver, an incremental rotary encoder, or an attribute rotary encoder can be provided.

[0022] Furthermore, the servomotor can, in particular, be a component of a servo drive for moving the application device, as the aforementioned drive can thus be designed. The servo drive can, in particular, comprise the servomotor and the servo converter with power electronics and control. Such a servomotor can therefore enable precise movement of the application device and positioning of the labels in the longitudinal direction, wherein the servomotor can, in particular, be position-controlled, torque-controlled, and / or speed-controlled.

[0023] In some embodiments, the motor can also extend along the longitudinal direction. The motor can therefore be designed to be narrow, particularly transversely to the longitudinal direction, in order to be able to be attached laterally to a frame of the packaging machine (for example with a flange-mounted angular gear), without this being accompanied by a restriction of access to the housing in the area of ​​workstations or a widening of the packaging machine. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the motor can extend in the vertical direction and be designed to drive a motor shaft about a vertical motor axis. This can also enable a narrow design of the motor in the transverse direction, wherein a motor shaft rotating about a vertical motor axis can also enable simple driving of a belt rotating in a horizontal plane for driving the attachment device, as explained below.

[0024] In some embodiments, the motor may be fixed to a frame of the packaging machine.

[0025] In particular, the packaging machine can have a frame over which the respective work stations of the packaging machine, for example, a forming station, a sealing station, and / or a separating station, are supported on the floor. Since the motor can be fixedly mounted on the frame of the packaging machine, the mounting device can thus be movable relative to the motor support on the frame. In particular, the motor can be mounted laterally on the frame of the packaging machine.

[0026] In some embodiments, the application device can be guided along the longitudinal direction by a guide device, wherein the guide device can be arranged on the frame of the packaging machine.

[0027] In particular, the guide device can also be supported on the frame, so that the application device and / or the labeling device can also be supported on the frame of the packaging machine via the guide device. The guide device can be designed to guide the application device along the frame of the packaging machine, so that the application device can be moved precisely along the extension direction of the packaging machine and its frame—i.e., in the longitudinal direction—without the need for a time-consuming alignment of the labeling device along this longitudinal direction during the installation of an external labeling device.

[0028] In some embodiments, the guide device may comprise a longitudinally extending guide rod, on which a carriage, movable by the motor and connected to the attachment device, may be guided. Again, such a guide rod with a carriage allows the movement of the attachment device to be easily aligned with the longitudinal direction of the packaging machine.

[0029] In some embodiments, the guide rod may be arranged on a longitudinally extending lateral beam of the frame of the packaging machine.

[0030] The frame beam can, in particular, be arranged laterally on the outside of the packaging machine and extend longitudinally as a longitudinal beam for supporting components of the packaging machine. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the beam can have a covering and / or a covering of the packaging machine, for example made of sheet metal, can be supported on the beam. In particular, an interior space defined by the covering can be formed on the beam, through which, for example, cables for supplying components of the packaging machine with electrical energy can be routed and protected from access or damage.In the context of the present disclosure, the part of a casing of the packaging machine, in particular a side casing, which is supported on the beam or a longitudinal member of the frame of the packaging machine is understood as part of the beam, so that in particular an interior space delimited by a casing, which extends in the longitudinal direction in the region of a longitudinal member of a frame of a packaging machine and / or is delimited in the direction of the material web by the longitudinal member or beam, can also be referred to as the interior space of the beam in the present disclosure.

[0031] Because the guide rod can be arranged on the beam of the frame of the packaging machine, the guide rod can initially be reliably supported on the frame of the packaging machine in order to also be able to support the attachment device on the frame. In addition, the guide rod can thereby be arranged laterally spaced from the material web, but by being attached to the frame of the packaging machine, in the immediate vicinity of the material web. This can enable compact integration of the labeling device and in particular the attachment device into the packaging machine. In some embodiments, the beam can have a recess on its upper side in which the guide rod is arranged. In particular, the recess can be formed on an upper side of the aforementioned casing of the packaging machine or of the beam.

[0032] Since the beam can have such a clearance for arranging the guide rod, the carriage guided along the guide rod can be accessible at the top of the beam, in particular to support the attachment device. Furthermore, the beam and / or the cover on the top side—particularly in the working area of ​​the labeling device—can be essentially closed apart from this clearance, for example to provide access protection for additional components and / or cables routed in an interior space enclosed by the cover and / or the beam.

[0033] In some embodiments, the attachment device may be connected to the carriage above the clearance.

[0034] For example, the application device can be arranged vertically in alignment with the material web in order to apply labels to the provided packaging. To enable such an arrangement, a connecting element, such as a connecting strut, can be supported on the upper side of the carriage, which is guided in particular on the lateral frame on the guide rod. This connecting element can bridge the distance between the application device and the frame of the packaging machine in the transverse direction and can be used to support the application device on the carriage.

[0035] In particular, such a connection of the application device can be provided in a labeling device which is designed to label provided packaging on an upper side and in which the application device is positioned above the material web. However, such an attachment of the application device can also be provided in labeling devices which are designed to label provided packaging on an underside and in which the application device is positioned below the material web. In such labeling devices, the application device positioned below the material web can be connected to the carriage on the upper side in particular by a connecting element which, starting from the application device, is guided laterally outside past the bar and guided back to the carriage on the upper side.In some embodiments, the motor can be arranged in an interior space of the beam. In particular, the motor can be arranged in an interior space formed and / or delimited by a panel arranged on the beam. In particular, the motor can be at least substantially circumferentially surrounded by the beam and / or the panel in order to be reliably protected from access. Alternatively, for example, it can also be provided to integrate the motor into a vertical strut of a frame of the packaging machine, in particular with a vertical orientation of the motor.

[0036] In some embodiments, the motor can be connected to the carriage by a coupling element, in particular a belt, and can be configured to move the carriage by driving the coupling element. Such a coupling element, in particular a belt and / or toothed belt, can thus enable the drive power generated by the motor to be transmitted to the carriage and the carriage to be moved relative to the stationary motor, in order to also be able to move the attachment device longitudinally relative to the motor.

[0037] In some embodiments, the coupling element can be designed as a continuous belt. In particular, the belt can be interrupted, and respective ends of the belt can be attached, in particular clamped, to the carriage, so that the carriage can, to a certain extent, bridge the interruption in the belt.

[0038] Furthermore, the belt can be designed, in particular, as a toothed belt, and / or the coupling element can rotate along the longitudinal direction of the packaging machine. In particular, the coupling element can be guided over two deflection pulleys rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the motor can be connected to the coupling element and / or a deflection pulley via a toothed pulley in order to drive the coupling element and, via it, the carriage and the attachment device. This can also enable a narrow design of the drive for the attachment device, in order to integrate the drive into the packaging machine as simply as possible.

[0039] In some embodiments, the coupling element can be guided in an interior space of the beam. In particular, the coupling element can be guided in an interior space formed by a panel arranged on the beam. In this respect, the coupling element and in particular a circulating belt can be protected against external access and can be fully and compactly integrated into the packaging machine without, for example, having to be placed externally on the packaging machine. In some embodiments, the guide rod can be arranged on a drive side of the labeling device on the packaging machine, wherein the guide device in such embodiments can have a further guide rod which extends along the longitudinal direction and is arranged on a support side on the packaging machine opposite the drive side.In addition, the attachment device can be supported on the support side by means of an additional carriage that can be moved along the additional guide rod.

[0040] The guide rod and the further guide rod can thus be spaced apart from one another transversely to the longitudinal direction in order to enable support of the application device bridging the material web on both sides via respective carriages. In particular, a force developed by the motor of the drive for moving the application device can first be transmitted to the carriage arranged on the guide rod and from there to the application device, which in turn can transmit the force to the carriage arranged on the further guide rod, which can therefore only be passively movable and can therefore guide the application device, but not necessarily drive it. However, it is also possible for the labeling device to have a further motor for driving the carriage arranged on the further guide rod.

[0041] In some embodiments, the motor can be arranged on the drive side. Therefore, in some embodiments, the active components of the drive, in particular the motor, a coupling element, and the carriage guided on the guide rod, can be arranged on the drive side.

[0042] In some embodiments, the additional guide rod can be supported on the frame of the packaging machine. In this respect, the attachment device can also be supported on both sides of the frame of the packaging machine, and the weight of the attachment device can be transferred to the frame of the packaging machine.

[0043] In some embodiments, the frame of the packaging machine can have a respective outer beam extending along the longitudinal direction on the drive side and on the support side, and the packaging machine can include a chain guide for moving the material web. Furthermore, the guide rod can be arranged on the beam arranged on the drive side, and the further guide rod can be arranged between the chain guide and the beam arranged on the support side. The chain guide can, in particular, be part of the transport device of the packaging machine and be provided to move the material web along the longitudinal direction.

[0044] Such an arrangement allows the beam arranged on the support side of the labeling device to be kept free, for example, to support a guide device of another labeling device, whose further guide rod can in turn be attached on the opposite side between the chain guide and the beam arranged there. In this respect, the two labeling devices can be supported on the frame of the packaging machine in a mirrored manner, so to speak. In particular, this can make it possible to arrange a first labeling device for applying labels to an upper side of the provided packaging and a second labeling device for applying labels to an underside of the provided packaging on the packaging machine or to integrate them into the packaging machine.

[0045] In some embodiments, the additional guide rod can be arranged above the guide rod. In other embodiments, the additional guide rod can be arranged below the guide rod.

[0046] In particular, in a labeling device for applying labels to the top side of provided packaging, it can be provided that the additional guide rod is arranged above the guide rod. Such an arrangement of the additional guide rod also allows the application device to be positioned above the material web.

[0047] In the case of labelling devices which are intended to apply labels to an underside of the provided packaging, the further guide rod can, however, be arranged in particular below the guide rod, whereby the application device can also be positioned below the material web.

[0048] In some embodiments, the drive can be arranged at least substantially below a plane in which the material web is guided.

[0049] In particular, the motor and a coupling element, via which the motor is connected to a carriage for moving the attachment device, can be arranged entirely below said level. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the aforementioned guide rod can also be arranged below this level. A carriage connected to the attachment device can also be arranged below said level in some embodiments, although in other embodiments, in which the drive is arranged at least substantially below this level, the carriage can also protrude slightly above the level. In particular, however, a large part of the movable elements of the drive can be arranged below an upper edge level of a casing of the packaging machine, in particular a casing arranged on the aforementioned beam, and / or can be covered by a section of a casing of the packaging machine and / or the beam.Again, this can be used in particular to protect access and thus avoid injuries or interruptions to operations.

[0050] In some embodiments, the label dispenser can be moved along the longitudinal direction by the drive together with the application device. In particular, in some embodiments, the entire labeling device can be moved along the longitudinal direction by the drive. Such joint movement of the label dispenser and the application device can, in particular, enable a consistently consistent transfer of the labels to the application device, regardless of their position in the longitudinal direction.

[0051] In some embodiments, the application device can be arranged above the material web and configured to apply labels to the upper side of the material web. A labeling device with such an application device can therefore also be referred to as a top-web applicator and / or can be configured to apply labels to the upper side of provided packaging.

[0052] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the application device can be arranged below the material web and configured to apply labels to the underside of the material web. A labeling device with such an application device can also be referred to as a bottom-web applicator and / or can be configured, in particular, to apply labels to the underside of provided packaging.

[0053] In some embodiments, the packaging machine can be designed to move the material web in cycles and, in each cycle, to provide a format of several packages formed in the material web for a cycle break, wherein the format can comprise a matrix of n tracks arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction and m rows arranged transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction. In such embodiments, the application device can be designed to simultaneously label n packages arranged transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction, wherein the drive can be designed to move the application device successively to the m rows during the cycle break for labeling the respective n packages.In such embodiments, the application device can therefore be designed, in particular, to receive n labels together in order to be able to apply them simultaneously to the n packages arranged in a respective row. In this respect, the application device can therefore be designed to label a row of packages simultaneously. After labeling one row, the drive can be used to move the application device to the next row of packages, wherein, during or after the process, further labels can be transferred from the label dispenser to the application device, which can then apply the application device to the approached row.

[0054] The variables m and n can in particular be natural numbers greater than or equal to 1. For example, the packaging machine can be designed to provide a format consisting of three rows and three tracks and / or a format consisting of three rows and four tracks and / or a format consisting of four rows and three tracks during one cycle. In principle, other formats are also possible, whereby the formats can, for example, depend on the particular food product to be packaged. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the packaging machine can be converted in order to be able to provide different formats, whereby the integration of the labeling device into the packaging machine also allows the operation of the labeling device to be easily adapted to such a format change, for example by making a corresponding setting on a common control device.

[0055] In some embodiments, the packaging machine may comprise a first labeling device and a second labeling device, wherein the application device of the first labeling device may be arranged above the material web and configured to apply labels to an upper side of the material web, in particular an upper side of an upper material web, wherein the application device of the second labeling device may be arranged below the material web and configured to apply labels to an underside of the material web, in particular an underside of a lower material web.

[0056] In particular, in such embodiments, the packaging machine can be configured to move a lower material web, onto which the food products can be applied, and an upper material web, by means of which packages comprising the food products can be closed, along the longitudinal direction. The application device of the first labeling device can be configured to apply labels to the upper material web, and the application device of the second labeling device can be configured to apply labels to the lower material web.

[0057] With such a packaging machine, the provided packages can therefore be labeled both on the top and bottom sides in order to provide information about the packaged food product on both sides. As already explained, the first labeling device and the second labeling device can, in particular, be arranged in a mirrored manner on the packaging machine, and both the first labeling device and the second labeling device can have one or more of the features of the labeling device explained above.

[0058] In some embodiments, the first labeling device and the second labeling device can have a respective drive with a motor for moving the respective application device, wherein the motor of the drive of the first labeling device can be held stationary on a frame of the packaging machine on a first side of the packaging machine and wherein the motor of the drive of the second labeling device can be held stationary on the frame on a second side of the packaging machine opposite the first side of the packaging machine.

[0059] In particular, the two labeling devices can thus be arranged opposite one another and / or to a certain extent mirrored to one another, so that, for example, the drive side of the first labeling device mentioned above can form the support side of the second labeling device, and vice versa.

[0060] The invention also relates to a labeling device for applying labels to a material web, which is moved along a longitudinal direction by a packaging machine for producing packaging for food products, in particular a labeling device of a packaging machine of the type described above. The labeling device comprises a label dispenser and an application device movable along the longitudinal direction for applying the labels to the material web, wherein the label dispenser is designed to transfer labels to be applied to the application device. Furthermore, the labeling device has a drive which is designed to move the application device along the longitudinal direction, wherein the drive comprises a motor and is designed to move the application device relative to the motor along the longitudinal direction.As already explained, the design of the labeling device with such a drive enables, in particular, the application device to be moved without having to move the motor. As explained, this can enable simpler, faster, and better-controlled movement of the application device due to the reduced weight to be moved, as well as improved integration of the labeling device into the packaging machine, for example, by supporting the motor on a frame of the packaging machine and / or arranging it in the interior of a side member of the frame.

[0061] The described labeling device can, in particular, have one or more of the further features explained above in connection with the labeling device integrated into a packaging machine. In particular, the motor can therefore be designed as a servomotor and / or the drive can have a belt driven by the motor and connected to a carriage on which the application device is supported. The labeling device can also be designed with guide rods and / or additional guide rods, which can be inserted, for example, into a casing and / or a spar of a packaging machine.

[0062] The invention further relates to a labeling device for applying labels to a material web, which is moved along a longitudinal direction by a packaging machine for producing packaging for food products, in particular to a labeling device according to one of the embodiments disclosed above. The labeling device has a label dispenser for providing the labels and an application device for applying the labels to the material web, and the label dispenser is designed to transfer labels to be applied to the application device. Furthermore, the label dispenser has a label storage device into which a label carrier tape rolled up into a roll can be inserted, on which the labels to be transferred to the application device are provided.The label storage device is movable into a first position and into a second position different from the first position and is designed to transfer the labels to the application device both when the label storage device is positioned in the first position and when the label storage device is positioned in the second position.

[0063] The labeling device according to this aspect thus comprises a label storage for a roll, which has two operating positions - the first position and the second position. Such mobility of the label storage can also be provided in principle in conventional labeling devices, for example to enable a roll change in a more accessible position if, for example, a label carrier strip has been used up or different types of labels are required. However, with such labeling devices, it has previously always been necessary to first move the label storage from such a change position back to a different working position, since labels could only be transferred to the application device in the working position.

[0064] However, the need to move the label storage unit to change the roll or to transfer labels to the application device can lead to unwanted malfunctions and interruptions in the operation of the packaging machine, for example, if the label storage unit is forgotten to be moved into the working position after a roll change. This problem can be further exacerbated by the fact that, in packaging machines that have a labeling device for labeling provided packages on the top side and another labeling device for labeling the packages on the bottom side, the respective label dispensers are usually arranged on opposite sides of the packaging machine, so that to operate a respective labeling device, it is necessary to switch between the sides of the packaging machine.Correcting a fault in one of the labeling devices—such as incorrect positioning of the label buffer or changing printer consumables—may therefore require changing the side of the packaging machine, which results in an undesirably high loss of time. Therefore, the aim should always be to make handling of the labeling devices as simple and error-proof as possible.

[0065] However, this problem can be addressed by designing the label dispenser of the labeling device explained above to transfer the labels to the application device in both the first position and the second position of the label storage. With regard to the operation of the labeling device, the first position and the second position can thus be understood as equivalent, and the labeling device can be operated independently of the position of the label storage. This allows, for example, a roll change to take place in a position of the label storage that is as comfortable as possible for a person operating the labeling device and to remain unchanged, for example, throughout a shift, without the label storage having to be moved to operate the labeling device and / or for a subsequent roll change.

[0066] For example, the label storage device can have a mandrel onto which the roll can be attached. In some embodiments, the roll can be replaced with a new roll of rolled-up label carrier tape in both the first position of the label dispenser and the second position of the label dispenser. In this respect, the first position and the second position in such embodiments can be completely equivalent, with the full functionality of the label dispenser being available in each of the two positions.

[0067] In some embodiments, the label dispenser can be positioned higher in the first position than in the second position. In particular, the first position can therefore make it possible to position the label dispenser as far away as possible from a lateral area of ​​a packaging machine in which the labeling device or persons operating the packaging machine must move. Furthermore, the first position can enable comfortable roll changing for relatively tall people.

[0068] In some embodiments, the first position and the second position may represent respective end positions with respect to a mobility of the label dispenser, which may be movable between the first position and the second position.

[0069] Furthermore, in some of these embodiments, the label dispenser can be configured to transfer the labels to the application device in any position of the label storage between the first position and the second position. In such embodiments, a person operating the labeling device can thus select a position of the label storage between the first position and the second position that is suitable for that person, for example, to conveniently change rolls without having to change the position during operation.

[0070] In some embodiments, steps may also be provided between the first position and the second position, defining respective intermediate positions in which the labels can be transferred to the application device. For example, the label storage device may lock into such intermediate positions.

[0071] In some embodiments, the label storage device can be located further away from the application device in the horizontal direction in the second position than in the first position. In particular, the label storage device can therefore extend further into a space to the side of the labeling device or a packaging machine in the second position.

[0072] In principle, the second position can therefore enable convenient roll changing, as this change can take place at a distance from the packaging machine and / or in a lower position compared to the first position. Depending on the specific circumstances—for example, if there is sufficient space on the side of the packaging machine—it may not be necessary to move the label storage out of this convenient change position in order not to disrupt the operation of the packaging machine. In such a situation, the labeling device therefore allows the label storage to be left in the conveniently accessible second position while the labeling device is operating to apply labels.

[0073] In some embodiments, the label storage device can be pivotable between the first position and the second position, in particular about a horizontal pivot axis.

[0074] In some embodiments, the label dispenser may include a pivotable support arm, wherein the label dispenser may be movable between the first position and the second position by pivoting the support arm. In particular, the label dispenser may be arranged at one end of the support arm. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the support arm may include a handle for moving the label storage unit.

[0075] In some embodiments, the label carrier tape can be guided to the application device via a plurality of deflection and / or dancer rollers. In particular, guiding the label carrier tape via such deflection and / or dancer rollers can make it possible to compensate for differences in the tape guidance when positioning the label storage device in the first position or when positioning the label storage device in the second position, in order to achieve a controlled transfer to the application device in each of the positions.In addition, in some embodiments, the labeling device can have a printer for printing labels provided on the label carrier tape, wherein the guidance via deflection and / or dancer rollers can ensure, for example, correct positioning of the labels guided on the label carrier tape and / or correct tensioning of the label carrier tape in the area of ​​the printer, independently of the position of the label storage.

[0076] The invention further relates to a packaging machine for packaging food products, in particular food portions comprising one or more slices separated from a food product, which comprises a transport device designed to move a material web for producing packaging along a longitudinal direction, and which has a labeling device in which a label storage, as disclosed above, is movable between a first position and a different second position and is designed to transfer labels to an application device in both positions. The application device of the labeling device of the packaging machine can also be movable, in particular, along the longitudinal direction.

[0077] The invention also relates to a labelling device for applying labels to a material web which is moved along a longitudinal direction by a packaging machine for producing packaging for food products, wherein this labelling device can be in particular a labelling device of the type disclosed above which has a drive for moving an application device relative to a motor of the drive, and / or a labelling device of the type disclosed above in which a label storage device can be arranged in two positions and labels can be transferred to the application device in both positions.The labeling device according to this aspect further comprises a label dispenser for providing labels and an application device for applying the labels to the material web, wherein the label dispenser is designed to provide the labels on a label carrier tape and to transfer the provided labels to the application device. The application device has a vacuum device designed to generate a vacuum in an interior of the application device for sucking the provided labels onto a working side of the application device, wherein the vacuum device is additionally designed to vary the strength of the vacuum generated in the interior spatially and / or temporally.

[0078] As already explained at the beginning, a labeling device can be provided with labels on a label carrier tape and guided by the label dispenser over a transfer edge in order to release the labels from the label carrier tape and transfer them to the application device. To ensure that the labels released from the label carrier tape can be safely received by the application device, a vacuum can be created in an interior space of the application device, which can be defined, in particular, by a housing, so that the labels can be sucked onto the application device and, in particular, its working side, and thus stabilized.The labels can then be brought into a respective position, for example by means of the application device transversely to the longitudinal direction along which the packaging machine moves the material web, from which position the labels can be applied to the material web and in particular to the provided packaging. In particular with an application device which is designed to apply the labels to the material web from above, the labels can thus be moved overhead by this suction, so to speak, to a respective position, from which the labels are then lowered and applied to the material web. With an application device which labels the provided packaging from below, stable positioning and stable transport of the received labels can also be achieved through the generated negative pressure.

[0079] Conventionally, in such mounting devices, a constant negative pressure is generated by a blower or a suction device on an outer wall of a housing in order to be able to provide the functions mentioned.

[0080] However, since the negative pressure device of the labeling device described here is designed to vary the strength of the negative pressure generated in the interior space spatially and / or temporally, the negative pressure generated can be specifically adapted to specific operating situations, to specific sections of the application device or to a particular type of label in order to achieve a more flexible and improved use of the labeling device.

[0081] For example, the vacuum device can comprise one or more fans to generate the negative pressure in the interior space. Furthermore, the labeling device can comprise a control device for the vacuum device, which can be configured to vary the strength of the air flows generated by the fans and thus the negative pressure prevailing in the interior space. This can, for example, make it possible to increase the negative pressure when receiving labels and to selectively decrease it when dispensing the labels or applying them to the material web in order to facilitate this application.Furthermore, it may be provided to arrange a larger number of blowers or suction devices and / or more powerful blowers or suction devices in a receiving section of the application device, in which the labels are received from the label dispenser, in order to ensure reliable transfer of the labels and / or to assist in the removal of the labels from the label carrier strip. Furthermore, a variation in the strength of the generated negative pressure, in particular a spatial variation, can be achieved by guide elements positioned in the interior for directing an air flow generated by the negative pressure device, as explained in more detail below.

[0082] In some embodiments, the label dispenser can be configured to guide the label carrier strip over a transfer edge for transferring the labels to the application device, wherein the labels can be detached from the label carrier strip by guiding the label carrier strip over the transfer edge. In particular, the label carrier strip can be guided over a sharp bend at the transfer edge, so that the labels can be detached from the label carrier strip due to their rigidity. The application device can, in particular, be directly connected to the transfer edge in order to be able to accept the detached labels.

[0083] In some embodiments, the vacuum device can comprise at least one fan, the suction side of which is located in the interior of the attachment device and the pressure side of which is located outside the interior of the attachment device. Such a fan can therefore act as a suction device with respect to the interior of the attachment device. Furthermore, the fan can, in particular, comprise a fan on an outer wall of a housing of the attachment device, which fan is designed to generate an air flow directed out of the housing. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the vacuum device can comprise several such fans, for example, two fans.

[0084] In some embodiments, at least one guide element for the targeted guidance of an air flow generated by the fan in the interior space can be arranged in the interior space of the attachment device and / or in a region of the suction side of the fan.

[0085] In particular, such a guiding of the air flow can be used to locally and specifically increase the negative pressure generated in the interior of the application device, for example by directing the air flow generated by a fan specifically into a specific section of the application device and in particular the aforementioned transfer section for transferring the labels from the label dispenser. Furthermore, such a guiding element can, for example, ensure that an air flow within the interior on the working side of the application device is oriented at least substantially perpendicular to a plane of extension of the working side in order to suck in the labels perpendicular to the working side and thus guide them stably along the application device.

[0086] The guide element and / or at least a part thereof may be movable in some embodiments.

[0087] For example, such a movable guide element can be designed as a flap, a pivotable intake nozzle and / or hose, or a secondary air opening that can be opened or closed as desired. Such a movable guide element can, in particular, be at least presettable and / or adjustable in order to be able to determine the direction of the air flow generated by the fan before the start of operation. In some embodiments, however, it is also possible to adjust the at least one guide element during operation in order to be able to achieve both a spatial and a temporal variation of the negative pressure by moving the guide element, in particular depending on and / or accompanying a respective current operating state of the labeling device and / or the application device. For example, a control device of the labeling device can be designed to move the at least one guide element.

[0088] In some embodiments, the guide element can be arranged to deflect an air flow generated by the fan such that the air flow on the working side of the application device is oriented substantially perpendicular to an extension surface of the labels. As already explained, such a deflection of the air flow can enable the labels to be held securely on the working side of the application device by a force oriented perpendicular to their extension surface.

[0089] In some embodiments, the interior space can be divided into at least two chambers by the guide element, wherein the strength of the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure device in the chambers can vary. In particular, the interior space of the attachment device can be divided into chambers or zones by such a guide element, wherein the respective negative pressure in the chambers or zones can differ, for example, depending on fan positions on the housing of the attachment device and / or depending on the respective size of the chambers. In particular, such chambers can also be referred to as shafts.

[0090] For example, in some embodiments, the vacuum device can have two fans arranged on an outer side of a housing of the attachment device, wherein the guide element can divide the interior of the attachment device into a relatively larger and a relatively smaller chamber, wherein each of the chambers can be assigned to a respective fan. This can ensure that, when the fans are operated at the same strength, a greater negative pressure is generated in the relatively smaller chamber than in the relatively larger chamber, since in the relatively smaller chamber only a smaller area on the working side needs to be acted upon by the fan. To enable such a division into chambers, the guide element can be designed, for example, as a wall element or separating element.Furthermore, in some embodiments, several such guide elements can be provided and / or the interior of the attachment element can be divided into more than two chambers. Furthermore, the guide element can be designed, for example, as a diaphragm, for example, as a perforated diaphragm and / or as a perforated plate, in order to influence an air flow generated by the fan and, for example, to provide local resistance to it. In some embodiments, the labeling device can have a control device configured to control the vacuum device to vary the strength of the generated vacuum.

[0091] In particular, such a control device can make it possible to vary the negative pressure over time, for example, by increasing the strength of the negative pressure during the transfer of labels from the label dispenser and subsequently reducing it during the application of the labels to the material web. Such temporal control can, for example, achieve improvements in the precise application of the labels to the packaging.

[0092] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the control device can be configured to control the vacuum device depending on the type and / or size of the labels. For example, it can be provided to control the vacuum device to generate a stronger vacuum when relatively large and therefore heavy labels are to be applied to the material web and are therefore provided by the label dispenser, whereas the strength of the generated vacuum can be reduced, for example, when relatively light labels are to be applied.

[0093] In some embodiments, the vacuum device can have a plurality of fans for generating the negative pressure, and the control device can be designed to control the fans individually to vary an air flow generated by the respective fan. Such control can also vary the negative pressure prevailing in the interior space spatially and / or temporally. The described control of the respective fans can in particular also be effected by switching the fans on and off, so that in such embodiments the fans are not necessarily designed to generate variable air flows, but can at least be designed to switch on and off variably. In other embodiments, however, a variable adjustment of the fans with regard to the respective strength of the air flow generated can also be provided.

[0094] In some embodiments, the control device can be configured to control the vacuum device to increase the strength of the vacuum when labels are received and / or to decrease the strength of the vacuum when the labels are applied to the material web. As already explained, this can be achieved, for example, by switching on a fan when the labels are received and / or switching off the fan during or after the labels are applied to the material web. In some embodiments, the vacuum device can be configured to generate increased vacuum in a receiving section of the application device facing the transfer edge.In particular, the vacuum device can be configured to generate an air flow directed locally at the transfer section and extending across the full label width, label carrier strip width, and / or transfer edge width, in order to create an increased negative pressure at the transfer section. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the vacuum device can comprise a blower arranged directly at the transfer section for generating a negative pressure in order to achieve reliable transfer of the labels from the label dispenser by suction as close as possible to the labels to be transferred and / or the labels that have just been transferred.

[0095] In some embodiments, the vacuum device can therefore comprise at least one blower arranged in the transfer section for generating the increased vacuum. In particular, in some embodiments, two such blowers can be arranged in the transfer section in order to generate a suction flow for sucking in the labels close to the transferred labels and across the entire label width, label carrier belt width, or transfer edge width.

[0096] In some embodiments, a separating element can be arranged in the interior of the application device, which prevents an exchange of air between the receiving section and an attachment section of the application device adjoining the receiving section. In this respect, the interior of the application device can be divided into two chambers or pressure zones in such embodiments in order to be able to specifically generate a respective negative pressure in the receiving section and in the attachment section. The fan arranged in the receiving section can furthermore be arranged in particular directly above the labels to be received and / or on an underside of a housing of the application device, whereas fans arranged in the attachment section can in particular be arranged on an outer wall and / or a roof section of a housing of the application device.

[0097] In some embodiments, at least one additional fan for generating a negative pressure can be arranged in the application section. In particular, this fan can be understood as the main fan, which can be provided to generate an air flow for generating a negative pressure over a large area and / or relatively far away from the labels. For example, such a fan can be arranged on a roof section of a housing of the application device. Conventional embodiments of labeling devices can therefore exclusively have such fans on an outer side of a housing of the application device.

[0098] In some embodiments, the application device may comprise a plurality of application elements that can be moved substantially perpendicularly to an extension surface of the received labels, wherein the received labels can be applied to the material web by moving the application elements, and wherein the application elements can be arranged in the interior of the application device.

[0099] In particular, such attachment elements can be configured as pins or metal sheets, which can be substantially vertically movable, and / or can be arranged, in particular, on the aforementioned attachment section. The attachment elements can also be designed to be resilient, for example, to allow them to yield when the labels are pressed onto the material web and to limit the pressure exerted on the material web during the pressing. For this purpose, the attachment elements can, for example, be designed to be spring-loaded, be spring-mounted, and / or be supported via springs on a drive for moving the attachment elements.

[0100] In some embodiments, the application device can comprise a plurality of belts movable transversely to the longitudinal direction for moving the received labels. The application elements can be configured to extend between adjacent, spaced-apart belts for applying the labels to the material web. In particular, the belts can thus be movable transversely to the longitudinal direction along which the packaging machine moves the material web in order to position the labels transversely to this longitudinal direction.

[0101] In some embodiments, it can also be provided that the vacuum device has at least one fan, the suction side of which lies within the interior of the attachment device and the pressure side of which lies outside the interior of the attachment device, wherein the pressure side of the fan can be connected to a section of the interior in order to influence the negative pressure generated by the vacuum device in this section. For example, it can be provided that the air flow generated by the fan and leading out of the interior is guided in a targeted manner along an outer side of a housing of the attachment device and past a housing opening. This can make it possible to suck air out of the interior through the Venturi effect and thereby locally increase the negative pressure.In particular, such a connection can be provided from the pressure side of a blower to a housing opening in the area of ​​the aforementioned transfer section in order to be able to specifically increase the negative pressure in the area of ​​the transfer section. By also using the pressure side of the blower to generate a negative pressure, the efficiency of the vacuum device can be increased. The connection between the pressure side and the housing opening can be established, for example, by a hose.

[0102] The invention also relates to a packaging machine for packaging food products, in particular food portions comprising one or more slices separated from a food product, which comprises a transport device designed to move a material web for producing packages along a longitudinal direction, and which has a labeling device of the type disclosed above with a vacuum device for generating a variable vacuum in an interior space of an application device.

[0103] The invention also relates to a labeling device for applying labels to a material web, which is moved along a longitudinal direction by a packaging machine for producing packaging for food products. The labeling device can be designed in particular according to one of the embodiments explained above, for example, with a fixed motor of a drive for moving an application device, with a label storage device movable into two positions while maintaining full functionality of the labeling device regardless of the position of the label storage device, and / or with a vacuum device for generating a variable vacuum in the interior of an application device.

[0104] The labeling device comprises a label dispenser for providing labels and an application device for applying the labels to the material web. The label dispenser is configured to transfer labels to be applied to the application device. The application device comprises a plurality of application elements arranged in a housing, which can be moved substantially perpendicular to an extension surface of the labels transferred from the label dispenser. The labels can be detached from the application device and applied to the material web by moving the application elements. Furthermore, the application device comprises a drive for moving the application elements, wherein this drive comprises a servo motor.

[0105] In particular, the movement of the application elements can be vertical, enabling the labels to be released from the application device and applied to the application elements. By using a servo motor to move the application elements, precise movement of the application elements can be achieved and, for example, position control or torque control can be implemented to vary the force with which the application elements press the labels onto the material web, thus enabling flexible response to different label and / or material web types.

[0106] In some embodiments, the servomotor can be arranged on an outer side of the housing of the attachment device. In this respect, the servomotor can be arranged outside the housing so as not to require any installation space in the interior of the housing in which the attachment elements are arranged. However, the servomotor can be connected to the attachment elements via a coupling element leading into the housing, and / or a motor shaft of the servomotor can extend into the housing in order to be able to drive the attachment elements arranged in the interior.

[0107] In some embodiments, the attachment elements may be arranged on a carriage, wherein the carriage may be guided on at least one guide rod arranged in the housing and may be driven by the servo motor.

[0108] In particular, two guide rods can be arranged in the housing to stably guide the carriage and, above it, the application elements during the movement for applying the labels. As already explained, the movement of the application elements can, in particular, be a vertical movement, so that the guide rods can also extend in a vertical direction.

[0109] In some embodiments, the motor arranged on the outside of the housing can be connected to the carriage via a gear mechanism. This gear mechanism can, in particular, comprise a belt and / or toothed belt that can be driven by the motor. The belt can, in particular, be arranged inside the housing or outside the housing, which delimits the interior of the attachment device. Furthermore, the belt can, in particular, be driven by a motor shaft of the servo motor extending into the housing and / or a toothed pulley connected to the motor shaft.

[0110] In some embodiments, the application device can have a plurality of belts movable transversely to the longitudinal direction for moving the labels, wherein the application elements can be designed to engage between adjacent, offset belts. In addition, the application elements can be arranged on a plurality of metal sheets offset parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction and connected to them by a respective latching connection, wherein, to form the latching connection, in particular a respective contour in the region of the end faces of the metal sheets facing the application elements can be assigned to a respective contour of the application elements, which is arranged on a section of the respective application element facing the metal sheets. The metal sheets can also be fastened to the carriage and movable thereby.In addition, the sheets can be arranged such that respective attachment elements attached to the sheets can reach between respective adjacent belts. In such embodiments, a plurality of attachment elements offset from one another in the transverse direction can also be arranged on each of the sheets in order to be able to simultaneously apply labels offset from one another transversely to the longitudinal direction of the packaging machine to the material web.

[0111] The invention further relates to a labeling device for applying labels to a material web, which is moved along a longitudinal direction by a packaging machine for producing packaging for food products. This labeling device can also be designed in particular according to one of the embodiments disclosed above, i.e., for example, it can have a fixed motor for moving an application device in the longitudinal direction, a label storage device positionable in two equivalent positions, a vacuum device for generating a variable vacuum in an interior of an application device, and / or an application device with a servo motor attached to the outside of a housing for moving application elements.

[0112] The labeling device has a label dispenser for providing the

[0113] Labels and an application device for applying the labels to the material web, wherein the label storage is configured to transfer labels to be applied to the application device. The application device has a plurality of belts movable transversely to the longitudinal direction for moving the labels and a drive for moving the belts, wherein the drive comprises a servo motor.

[0114] Again, the design of the drive with a servo motor allows the belts for moving the labels to be precisely controlled and / or regulated in order to enable precise positioning of the labels.

[0115] In some embodiments, the servo motor can be arranged in a housing of the application device. In particular, the drive can be arranged in a housing of the application device, in which the aforementioned application elements for applying the labels to the material web can also be located.

[0116] In some embodiments, the servomotor can be arranged at an end section of the housing opposite a transfer section of the application device, at which the labels provided by the label dispenser can be transferred to the application device. In this respect, the servomotor for driving the belts can be arranged in the housing in such a way that the servomotor does not take up any installation space in the area of ​​the transfer section. Rather, this installation space remains free of the servomotor and / or the drive and can therefore be used, for example, to attach additional fans to generate a targeted increase in negative pressure at the transfer section.

[0117] In some embodiments, the servomotor can be connected to a shaft driving the belt via a toothed belt. This allows the servomotor to be positioned at a distance from the shaft, allowing for flexible positioning within the interior of the attachment device or its housing, taking into account the available space.

[0118] In some embodiments, the servo motor can be oriented in the longitudinal direction. As explained, the longitudinal direction in the context of the present disclosure generally refers to the packaging machine and denotes the direction along which the material web is moved by the packaging machine. With respect to the attachment device itself, the longitudinal direction mentioned here can therefore correspond to a transverse direction of the attachment device, since the attachment device can optionally have a greatest extension transverse to the longitudinal direction of the packaging machine in order to be able to bridge the packaging machine and, in particular, the material web in the transverse direction (relative to the packaging machine).Such an arrangement of the servo motor makes it possible to arrange the servo motor with a small space requirement in the transverse direction (relative to the packaging machine) in order to achieve a narrow design of the attachment device and to prevent the attachment device from projecting laterally, in particular far, beyond a frame of the packaging machine.

[0119] In some embodiments, the shaft for driving the belts can be aligned parallel to the servo motor and / or a motor shaft of the servo motor. The servo motor can be designed to drive the toothed belt via a toothed pulley and / or the toothed belt can be connected to the shaft for driving the belts at one end. Such a drive can be implemented in a simple manner. In some embodiments, a plurality of application elements can also be arranged in the housing, which can be moved essentially perpendicular to an extension surface of the labels delivered by the label dispenser, wherein the labels can be detached from the application device and applied to the material web by moving the application elements, in particular vertically.

[0120] The invention further relates to a packaging machine for packaging food products, in particular food portions comprising one or more slices separated from a food product, which has a transport device configured to move a material web along a longitudinal direction to produce packaging. Furthermore, the packaging machine comprises a labeling device of the type described above, in which a servomotor is provided for moving application elements of an application device and / or a servomotor for moving belts of the application device to move the labels.

[0121] Furthermore, the invention relates to a packaging machine for packaging food products, in particular food portions, which comprises one or more slices separated from a food product, which has a transport device designed to move a material web for producing packaging along a longitudinal direction, and which has a labeling device for applying labels to the material web.The labeling device can be designed in particular according to one of the embodiments disclosed above, that is to say, for example, it can have a fixed motor for driving an application device, a label storage device that can be positioned in two equivalent positions, a vacuum device for generating a variable vacuum in an interior of the application device and / or an application device with a servo motor for moving application elements and / or belts that move the labels.

[0122] The labeling device further comprises a label dispenser and an application device for applying labels located in a working area of ​​the application device to the material web. The label dispenser is designed to transfer labels to be applied to the application device. The application device is designed to selectively apply labels received from the label dispenser to the material web or to a sorting element. For example, the application device can be designed to selectively apply the received labels to the material web or to the sorting element, and thus to apply, in particular to adhere, either to the material web or to the sorting element.In particular, it can be provided that the application device is designed to apply faulty labels, also referred to as incorrect labels, to the sorting element or to transfer them to the sorting element, so that such faulty labels are not applied to the packaging.

[0123] In conventional packaging machines, all labels transferred from the label dispenser to the application device are applied to the material web and, in particular, to the respective packaging. Consequently, incorrectly labeled packaging must be completely sorted out after the labels have been identified as faulty, for example, during a final inspection. However, this is clearly associated with undesirably high material consumption and product waste. Furthermore, misprints can only be removed manually by the operator at the application device with a short feed pulse.

[0124] However, since the application device according to the labeling device explained here is designed to selectively apply labels to a sorting element or transfer them to the sorting element, such faulty labels can be avoided from being applied to a package at all, but rather can be sorted out beforehand. This can reduce the material consumption of the packaging machine and, in particular, the waste of otherwise saleable packaging.

[0125] In some embodiments, the sorting element can be arranged stationary on the packaging machine, particularly bridging the material web transversely to the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, in such embodiments, the attachment device can be movable toward the sorting element.

[0126] In particular, this movement of the application device can be effected by a drive by means of which the application device can be moved in the longitudinal direction. Such a method can make it possible to arrange the application device optionally in alignment with the material web or in alignment with the sorting element in order to be able to apply the labels optionally to the material web or the sorting element and thereby, in particular, to sort out faulty labels. In such embodiments, the sorting element can also extend in particular flat and / or at a short distance from the material web, so that the application of the labels to the material web on the one hand or the sorting element on the other hand can take place in a virtually identical manner and by a virtually identical movement of the application elements for applying the labels.As already explained, the application elements can also be spring-loaded and / or resiliently supported, in particular, to compensate for slight differences in the distances to be covered for the respective label application when the labels are applied to the material web or the sorting element. Furthermore, a sorting element mounted directly above the material web can easily be moved over in the longitudinal direction by components of the packaging machine without the component having to be raised or lowered.

[0127] In some embodiments, the sorting element can also be supported on the packaging machine and can be optionally moved into the working area of ​​the application device. Such a sorting element can be designed, for example, as a slider or as a pivotable plate.

[0128] In some embodiments, the sorting element can also be arranged on an outer side of the packaging machine, extending in the longitudinal direction. In this respect, the sorting element can be arranged, so to speak, at an edge of the working area of ​​the application device on the packaging machine, wherein the position at the edge of the working area of ​​the application device can only be approached for transferring labels to the sorting element. Therefore, for example, faulty labels can be moved from the application device to the outermost area of ​​the working area of ​​the application device, which can in particular be opposite a transfer section for transferring the labels, in order to be able to transfer such faulty labels to the sorting element.

[0129] In some embodiments, the sorting element can also comprise a windable sorting web, in particular a film, supported on the packaging machine. In particular, such a sorting web and / or film can run between the material web in which the packaging is produced and the application device and / or on a base or support surface as a counterpressure element in order to enable labels to be selectively applied to such a sorting element. For example, the sorting web can be successively pulled off or rolled up after labels have been applied in order to always provide a free surface for applying labels, in particular incorrect labels.

[0130] In some embodiments, the sorting element can be supported on the application device and can be selectively moved into the working area of ​​the application device. In such embodiments, the sorting element can, in particular, be movable along with the application device, so that the application device does not have to be moved to the sorting element in order to transfer labels to the sorting element. Rather, the carried sorting element can be selectively moved into the working area of ​​the application device.

[0131] In some embodiments, the sorting element can be pushed, folded, and / or pivoted into the work area. For example, the sorting element can be pneumatically driven so that it can be selectively guided into the work area of ​​the attachment device.

[0132] In some embodiments, the sorting element can be designed in a slat-like manner, wherein the sorting element can be moved, in particular, from an arrangement on an outer side of a housing of the attachment device into the working area; and / or wherein the sorting element can be moved, in particular, from a vertical orientation on an outer side of the attachment device into a horizontal orientation when arranged in the working area.

[0133] In order to be able to move such a slat-like sorting element into the work area, rails for guiding the slats can be arranged on the attachment device and in particular its housing. These rails can extend, for example, on an outer side and an underside (in particular in the case of an upper rail) or an upper side of the attachment device (in particular in the case of a lower rail), so that the slat-like sorting element can be moved from a passive position on the outside of the attachment device to an active position in the work area.

[0134] In some embodiments, the packaging machine can have a monitoring device for checking the labels transferred to the application device and a control device, wherein the control device can be designed to control the application device depending on a signal from the monitoring device to apply the labels to the material web or to transfer the labels to the sorting element. The monitoring device can, for example, be designed to detect incorrect labels, whereupon the control device can be designed to transfer such incorrect labels to the sorting element. For this purpose, the monitoring device can, for example, be designed to check the labels before being transferred to the application device and / or after being transferred to the application device, but before being applied to the material web.

[0135] In particular, the control device can be configured to control the application device for applying the labels to the provided packaging or to initially align the application device with the sorting element, for example, a sorting element fixedly mounted on the packaging machine, in order to transfer the labels to the sorting element. Furthermore, it can be provided that the control device is configured to selectively move a sorting element mounted on the application device into the working area of ​​the application device in order to thereby transfer a label, in particular a defective label, to the sorting element.

[0136] The control device can furthermore be, in particular, a component of a control device of the packaging machine and / or a control device of an entire processing line, which can, in particular, comprise a slicing device for slicing food products and the packaging machine. In this respect, the control device can, in particular, not be a separate control device of the labeling device, but rather the control device of the labeling device can be integrated into the control system of the packaging machine and / or a processing line. In principle, however, it is also possible to provide such a control device as a separate control device of the labeling device. The control device can, for example, comprise a CPU and / or a microprocessor as well as suitable software in order to be able to generate and transmit commands for controlling components of the packaging machine.Furthermore, the control device can have an operating device for receiving commands and / or for displaying information, for example a touchscreen.

[0137] In some embodiments, the monitoring device can comprise at least one camera and an image evaluation device. The camera can be configured to capture inspection images of labels prior to application to the material web, and the image evaluation device can be configured to identify faulty labels based on the inspection images. The control device can be configured to control the application device to apply the faulty labels to the sorting element.

[0138] For example, it may be provided to provide the image evaluation device with reference images or comparison images of correct labels, for example in a readable, non-volatile memory, so that the image evaluation device can be designed to identify faulty labels by comparing the verification images with the reference images. For example, faulty labels may have a crease that makes printed information illegible. Furthermore, faulty labels may, for example, have poorly legible printing, such as smeared or incomplete printing. Such a monitoring device can thus automatically detect faulty labels and, by appropriately controlling the application device, pass them on to the sorting element in order to prevent faulty labels from being applied to the material web or provided packaging.

[0139] In some embodiments, the control device may be configured to prevent and / or delay the transfer of faulty labels to the application device.

[0140] For example, the control device can be configured to transfer labels from a label stream provided by the label dispenser to the application device until a faulty label is the next label to be transferred. The control device can then stop the transfer of labels to the application device in order to control the application device to apply the labels already transferred to associated, provided packaging. After the labels have been applied, the control device can be configured to transfer the faulty label to the application device and to control the application device to transfer this faulty label to the sorting element. Subsequently, correct labels can in turn be transferred from the label stream provided by the label dispenser to the application device until the next faulty label is detected.

[0141] In particular, the application device can be designed to simultaneously label a plurality of packages provided in parallel tracks or in a row. In such a case, the control device can be designed to control the label dispenser, after sorting out a faulty label, to transfer only a number of correct labels to the application device, which corresponds to a number of packages previously unlabeled in the provided row. The application device can be designed to apply the received labels to the as yet unlabeled packages in the row, in particular in response to a corresponding command from the control device. Correct labels can then be transferred to the application device in a number corresponding to the number of tracks, in order to be able to label a complete row of packages simultaneously.This makes it possible to avoid incorrect labelling of packaging with the need to sort out such packaging, with only a minimal loss of time, whereby only the incorrect label needs to be sorted out.

[0142] In other embodiments, however, it may be provided that, upon detection of a faulty label, the faulty label is transferred directly to the application device, and all labels located on the application device up to that point are transferred to the sorting element. Furthermore, it may be provided that a number of labels corresponding to the number of packages in a row is always transferred to the application device, and that an entire row of labels is transferred to the sorting element if one of the received labels is faulty. Even with such embodiments, incorrect labeling of packages can be avoided.

[0143] In some embodiments, the camera can be attached to the attachment device and / or movable together with the attachment device. In some embodiments, the monitoring device can therefore be part of the labeling device and / or the attachment device. The aforementioned image evaluation device can, in particular, be part of the control device and / or a software component of the control device.

[0144] The invention further relates to a labeling device for applying labels to a material web, which is moved along a longitudinal direction by a packaging machine for producing packaging for food products. The labeling device can be designed in particular according to one of the embodiments explained above and, for example, comprise a stationary motor for moving an application device, a label storage device positionable in two equivalent positions, a vacuum device for generating a variable vacuum in an interior of the application device, and / or a labeling device with a servo motor for driving application elements and / or belts of an application device.

[0145] The labeling device comprises a label dispenser for providing the labels and an application device for applying labels located in a working area of ​​the application device to the material web. The label dispenser is configured to transfer labels to be applied to the application device. The application device is further configured to apply labels received from the label dispenser selectively to the material web or to a sorting element.

[0146] In some embodiments, the sorting element can be supported on the application device and can be optionally moved into the working area of ​​the application device. In this respect, the sorting element can be part of the labeling device and / or the application device.

[0147] In some embodiments, the sorting element can be pushed, folded and / or pivoted into the working area, whereby in such embodiments the sorting element can be driven pneumatically, for example.

[0148] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the sorting element can be designed in a slat-like manner. In such embodiments, the sorting element can be movable, in particular, from an arrangement on an outer side of a housing of the attachment device into the work area, and / or the sorting element can be movable, in particular, from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation when arranged in the work area. Furthermore, in such embodiments, the attachment device can have rails for guiding slats of the slat-like sorting element.

[0149] In some embodiments, the labeling device may comprise a monitoring device for checking the labels transferred to the application device and / or to be transferred. In particular, the monitoring device may be configured to check the labels before being transferred to the application device or after being transferred to the application device, but before the labels are applied to the material web. Furthermore, the monitoring device may be configured to detect faulty labels.

[0150] The monitoring device can have at least one camera and an image evaluation device, wherein the camera can be designed to record inspection images of the labels before they are applied to the material web, wherein the image evaluation device can be designed to identify faulty labels based on the inspection images. In particular, the camera can be arranged on the application device and / or movable together with the application device. The image evaluation device can in particular be a component of a control device of the labeling device and / or of a packaging machine into which the labeling device is integrated. As already explained, the image evaluation device can in particular be designed to compare the inspection images with previously created reference images or comparison images of correct labels in order to be able to identify faulty labels.

[0151] In some embodiments, the control device can be configured to generate a fault message upon detection of a sequence of faulty labels. In this respect, the control device can be configured to generate a signal perceptible to a person operating the labeling device upon detection of a sequence of faulty labels, for example, an acoustically or visually perceptible signal. A sequence of faulty labels can, in particular, indicate that the labels provided on the label carrier tape are fundamentally faulty, so that the label carrier tape should be replaced and, for example, a new roll of label carrier tape inserted into a label storage device of the label dispenser.In addition, a sequence of faulty labels can, for example, indicate a malfunction in a printer printing the labels, so that the printer settings should be checked or the printer accessories replaced. In some embodiments, the signal can also include information regarding a component of the labeling device that needs to be checked and / or an instruction for action, which can be displayed, for example, on the control device.

[0152] Such a control device, which is designed to generate a fault message when a sequence of faulty labels is detected, can also be provided in particular in embodiments of the packaging machine explained above.

[0153] The invention further relates to a method for operating a packaging machine, in particular a packaging machine with a labeling device whose application device is designed to selectively apply labels to a material web or a sorting element. In the method, a material web is moved by the packaging machine along a longitudinal direction, and packages are produced from the material web. In addition, in the method, labels to be applied to the packages are transferred to an application device of a labeling device, and the labels are applied to the packages by the application device. Furthermore, defective labels are transferred from the labeling device to a sorting element. In particular, defective labels are thus not applied to the packages. As already explained above, defective labels can be applied, in particular, to the sorting element.This can prevent packaging from being incorrectly labelled and therefore having to be completely sorted out.

[0154] In particular, the method can provide for food products and / or food portions with one or more slices separated from a food product to be placed into the packaging and packaged. For example, the packaging can be produced by the packaging machine drawing troughs into a lower material web, which are then - after the introduction of a food portion or food product - closed by an upper material web fed from above. In addition, the packaging can be labeled on a top and / or bottom side. As an alternative to packaging in troughs, it can also be provided for the food products of the food portions to be placed on a flat lower material web in order to then cover the deposited food products with an upper material web fed from above and to produce closed packages.Furthermore, it may be provided that the packages are separated after labelling in order to obtain individual packages ready for sale.

[0155] In some embodiments, the labels to be applied can be checked by a monitoring device. In particular, faulty labels can be automatically detected by this check, and the transfer of the faulty labels to the sorting element can be automatically controlled.

[0156] In some embodiments, a plurality of packages lying next to one another transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction can be labelled simultaneously by applying a respective label by means of the application device of the labelling device, wherein after transferring a faulty label, the labels transferred to the application device can be applied to the sorting element and / or transferred to the sorting element.

[0157] For example, it may be provided that all labels transferred to the application device are transferred to the sorting element and, in particular, that they are applied to the sorting element as soon as a faulty label has been transferred to the application device. Furthermore, it may be provided that a number of labels corresponding to the number of packages lying next to one another transversely to the longitudinal direction is always transferred to the application device—i.e., even after a faulty label has been transferred—and that such a complete number of labels is transferred to the sorting element upon transfer of a faulty label.However, it may also be provided to stop the transfer of labels before a faulty label is transferred and to apply the labels transferred to the application device up to that point to the packaging, in order to then transfer the faulty label to the application device and transfer it to the sorting element, whereupon labels can be applied to previously unlabelled packaging in the provided row of adjacent packaging.

[0158] In some embodiments, several packages lying next to each other transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction can be labeled simultaneously by applying a respective label by means of the application device of the labeling device. In such embodiments, when a faulty label is detected in a label stream provided by a label dispenser, the following method can be carried out: the label to be transferred to the application device before the faulty label can be transferred to the application device, the transfer of the labels to the application device can be stopped, the labels transferred to the application device can be applied to associated packages, the faulty label can be transferred to the application device and transferred to the sorting element, in particular applied to the sorting element, one of the number of the plurality of packages,on which no label has yet been applied, a corresponding number of labels and / or a number of labels up to a next faulty label in the label stream can be transferred to the application device, and the transferred labels can be applied to the not yet labelled packages of the plurality of packages.

[0159] In such embodiments, the label flow can be interrupted briefly in order to be able to sort out only the faulty label and to avoid applying this faulty label to a package in order to then label the packages remaining in a row of packages.

[0160] In such embodiments, the packaging machine can be configured to simultaneously provide a plurality of packages lying adjacent to one another transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction, and in particular during a cycle break. In particular, the packaging machine can be configured to provide one format of packages for a cycle break. In some embodiments, the application device can be moved to the sorting element to transfer the faulty label to the sorting element, or the sorting element can be moved into a working area of ​​the application device to receive the faulty label. For example, the sorting element can therefore be supported on the packaging machine or on the application device.

[0161] Furthermore, in some embodiments, an error message may be generated upon detection of multiple consecutive faulty labels.

[0162] The invention further relates to a labeling device for applying labels to a material web, which is moved along a longitudinal direction by a packaging machine for producing packaging for food products. The labeling device can be designed in particular according to one of the embodiments explained above and, for example, can have a stationary motor for moving an application device, a label storage device positionable in two equivalent positions, a vacuum device for generating a variable vacuum in an interior of an application device, and / or a servo motor for driving application elements and / or belts of an application device. Furthermore, the labeling device can in particular have an application device which is designed to apply labels received from a label dispenser selectively to the material web or to a sorting element.

[0163] According to this aspect, the labeling device comprises a label dispenser for providing labels and an application device for applying the labels to the material web. The label dispenser is designed to transfer labels to be applied to the application device. However, the labeling device also comprises an ejection device designed to selectively prevent the transfer of a label to be ejected to the application device.

[0164] In this respect, the labeling device according to this aspect of the invention can - alternatively or in addition to the possibility of transferring a faulty label to a sorting element - in particular be provided so that labels to be ejected are not even transferred to the application device, but rather are ejected beforehand by means of the ejection device. In particular, labels to be ejected can be left on a label carrier tape on which the labels are provided and not detached from the label carrier tape, as explained in more detail below. Labels to be ejected can in particular be faulty labels (also referred to as incorrect labels), which may, for example, have faulty or poorly legible printing or a crease.By being able to reject such faulty labels, it is possible to efficiently prevent incorrectly labeled packaging and, consequently, the need to sort out entire packages. Rather, the use of the reject device ensures that only correct labels are transferred to the application device as labels to be applied to the material web. This also reduces the material waste during operation of the labeling device, particularly to the label carrier strip and any faulty labels remaining on it, without having to reject entire packages, especially filled ones, or without having to provide a sorting area – which may also subsequently require disposal.

[0165] As already explained, the labeling device and / or a packaging machine comprising the labeling device can, in particular, have a monitoring device to identify faulty labels and / or labels to be rejected. For example, such a monitoring device can monitor a label stream of labels provided on a label carrier belt in order to identify the respective label as the label to be rejected upon detection of a faulty label and to prevent the label from being transferred to the application device. Such detection can, in particular, be carried out, as already explained above, by means of a camera that images the labels in the label stream and provides the generated images to an image evaluation device as inspection images.The image evaluation device can then compare the inspection images, in particular, with reference images or comparison images of correct labels and / or labels to be applied in order to be able to detect faulty labels that must therefore be rejected.

[0166] In some embodiments, the ejection device can be movable between a passive position and an ejection position, wherein the labels to be applied can be transferred to the application device in the passive position of the ejection device and wherein the transfer of the label to be ejected can be prevented by moving the ejection device into the ejection position.

[0167] In particular, the labels can therefore be transferred to the application device with the ejection device positioned in the passive position, virtually unaffected and / or without interaction with the ejection device. This transfer can take place, with the ejection device positioned in the passive position, in particular as with conventional labeling devices, by guiding a label carrier strip over a transfer edge, thereby releasing the labels from the label carrier strip. By moving the ejection device into the ejection position, however, the transfer of the label to be ejected, or possibly also a sequence of labels to be ejected, to the application device can be prevented, so that the ejected and, for example, faulty label from being applied to the material web can also be prevented.In particular, this can be achieved by preventing the label to be ejected from detaching from the label carrier tape.

[0168] In particular, in order to prevent the transfer of a label to be ejected to the application device, the ejection device can act on, deflect and guide a front edge of the label to be ejected in order to fix the front edge of the label in the area of ​​the transfer edge or a deflection at the transfer edge as closely as possible to a carrier material on which the label is provided.

[0169] In some embodiments, the discharge device can be pivoted, folded, and / or translated from the passive position to the discharge position. In this respect, in some embodiments, the spatial positioning of the discharge device can be changed in particular to enable the discharge device to be moved between the passive position and the discharge position.

[0170] Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, a shape of the ejection device can also be changed to move the ejection device from the passive position to the ejection position. For example, an ejection device that is spaced apart from the label to be ejected and / or a label carrier strip on which the label to be ejected is attached in the passive position can be brought into contact with the label to be ejected and / or the label carrier strip by changing a shape of the ejection device.This can be achieved, for example, by designing the ejection device as an inflatable ejection device in order to bridge a distance between the ejection device and the label to be ejected and / or the label carrier strip by inflating the ejection device or an ejection element of the ejection device, and to bring the ejection device into contact with the label to be ejected and / or the label carrier strip. In this respect, a deformable ejection device can, in particular, have a greater distance from the label to be ejected in the passive position than in the ejection position, without, however, the position of a center of gravity of the ejection device necessarily having to change when the ejection device is moved between the passive position and the ejection position.

[0171] In addition, in some embodiments, the ejection device can be brought from the passive position into the ejection position by a combination of the movements explained above (pivoting, folding, shifting), for example by firstly shifting the ejection device in a translational manner from the passive position in order to then be pivoted or folded into the final ejection position.

[0172] In general, in some embodiments, the ejection device can be brought into operative contact, in particular into direct mechanical contact, with the label to be ejected and / or a label carrier strip by moving it into the ejection position in order to prevent the transfer of the label to be ejected to the application device.

[0173] In order to be able to move the ejection device between the passive position and the ejection position, the labeling device can, for example, comprise a drive, wherein such a drive can, for example, comprise an electric motor and / or servo motor or a pneumatic drive. In addition, it can, for example, be provided that the ejection device is pretensioned in the direction of the ejection position, for example by a spring, in order to be able to reach the ejection position directly upon release for movement into the ejection position. In such embodiments, the labeling device can, in particular, have a drive, for example with an electric motor and / or servo motor or a pneumatic drive, in order to be able to urge the ejection device into the passive position against the pretension and to enable the transfer of the labels to be applied to the application device.

[0174] To change the shape of the ejection device, the labeling device can, for example, have a compressed air device in order to inflate the ejection device and / or an ejection element and, in particular, to bring it into contact with the label to be ejected. In general, however, changing the shape of the ejection device to transfer the ejection device into the ejection position can, in particular, comprise expanding the ejection device. Such expansion can, for example, be effected by the aforementioned compressed air device, but also by suitable drives designed to drive sections of the ejection device and thereby move them relative to one another. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the ejection device can enclose a larger volume in the ejection position than in the passive position.

[0175] In some embodiments, the label dispenser may have a label storage device into which a label carrier tape rolled up into a roll can be inserted, on which the labels to be transferred to the application device (as well as the label to be ultimately ejected) are provided. The label dispenser may be configured to guide the label carrier tape over a transfer edge for transferring the labels to the application device, thereby releasing it from the label carrier tape. In such embodiments, the ejection device may be configured to prevent the label to be ejected from detaching from the label carrier tape in the ejection position.

[0176] In particular, in such embodiments, the ejection device can be designed to interact with the transfer edge to prevent the label to be ejected from being transferred to the application device. Therefore, with the ejection device positioned in the ejection position, the label to be ejected can be guided on the label carrier strip, for example, along the transfer edge and in particular around the transfer edge, without detaching from the label carrier strip. Thus, in such embodiments, the label to be ejected can still be arranged on the label carrier strip, in particular even after passing the transfer edge, provided the ejection device was positioned in the ejection position when passing the transfer edge.

[0177] As already mentioned, the detachment of the label to be ejected from the label carrier tape can be prevented in particular by the ejection device being designed to fix a front edge of a label to be ejected to the label carrier tape in the ejection position.

[0178] In general, in particular, front edges of the labels to be applied can initially detach from the label carrier tape as free label ends tangentially to a label carrier tape guided around the transfer edge, whereupon parts of the label adjoining the front edge can join the already detached front edge when moving over the transfer edge and can detach from the label carrier tape. If, on the other hand, the front edge is fixed in the area of ​​the transfer edge so that the front edge of the label is still on the label carrier tape even after passing the transfer edge, a part of the label adjoining the front edge cannot be detached from the label carrier tape by guiding it around the transfer edge, since no free label end pointing in the direction of the transfer edge is moved over the transfer edge.Rather, in this case, the label is always held by the label carrier strip at a section that has already been guided around the transfer edge during its further movement around the transfer edge. Therefore, it may be sufficient to fix the label to be ejected at the leading edge. During operation, the ejection device can be returned to the passive position as soon as the leading edge of the label (and possibly a specified further portion of the label to be ejected, but not necessarily the entire label) has passed the transfer edge.

[0179] In some embodiments, the passive position may correspond to an upper position, and the ejection device may be movable from above the transfer edge into the ejection position. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the passive position may correspond to a lower position, and the ejection device may be movable from below the transfer edge into the ejection position.

[0180] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the ejection device can be positioned laterally spaced from the transfer edge in the passive position, both starting from a passive position as the upper position and starting from a passive position as the lower position, and can be moved into the ejection position by a lateral movement toward the transfer edge, in particular in combination with a downward or upward movement. Furthermore, the passive position can also correspond exclusively to a lateral position of the ejection device, and in some embodiments, the ejection device can be transferred into the ejection position by a lateral, in particular horizontal, movement toward the transfer edge.

[0181] In some embodiments, the ejection device can have a deflection contour designed to hold the label to be ejected at the transfer edge on the label carrier strip. In particular, the deflection contour can be designed to hold the label at the transfer edge on the label carrier strip in such a way that the label can be guided on the label carrier strip around the transfer edge. Furthermore, the deflection contour can be designed in particular to hold the label to be ejected at the transfer edge on the label carrier strip when the ejection device is in the ejection position. In contrast, in the passive position of the ejection device, the deflection contour can be arranged in particular at a distance from the label to be ejected and / or the transfer edge in order to enable the labels to be applied to be transferred to the application device.Such a deflection contour can also be referred to, in particular, as a guide gate, by means of which the label to be ejected can be guided around the transfer edge, so that the label to be ejected remains on the label carrier strip even after passing the transfer edge, and detachment of the label to be ejected from the label carrier strip can be prevented. For example, the deflection contour can have a contour corresponding to a path of the label carrier strip around the transfer edge, so that the label to be ejected is confined on both sides at the transfer edge by the label carrier strip on the one hand and the deflection contour on the other, and can be blocked by the deflection contour against detachment from the label carrier strip - in particular against movement perpendicular or tangential to the path of the label carrier strip.

[0182] In particular, in some embodiments, the deflection contour can be effective in the region of the transfer edge, whereas the label to be ejected can be guided further exclusively by the label carrier strip after passing the transfer edge. A web of the label carrier strip can, in particular, only form a sufficiently sharp kink at the transfer edge that the labels can detach from the label carrier strip. Apart from the transfer edge, however, the label carrier strip can always be guided with a web curvature that is sufficient to ensure that labels adhered to the label carrier strip do not detach from the label carrier strip due to the curvature of the web of the label carrier strip, so that supporting the labels to be ejected, in particular at a label leading edge, in the region of the transfer edge can be sufficient.

[0183] In some embodiments, the deflection contour can be brought into contact with the label carrier strip moving around the transfer edge and / or with the label to be ejected, which is moved around the transfer edge, by moving the ejection device into the ejection position. As already explained, such contact, in particular direct mechanical contact, can prevent the label to be ejected from detaching from the label carrier strip, since movement of the label to be ejected away from the label carrier strip can be blocked by the deflection contour contacting the label.

[0184] In some embodiments, the ejection device can be configured to exert pressure on the element to be ejected at the transfer edge in order to prevent the label to be ejected from detaching from the label carrier strip. In particular, such pressure can be exerted by bringing the ejection device into contact with the label to be ejected, which is moved around the transfer edge, when the ejection device is moved into the ejection position.

[0185] In some embodiments, the ejection device may comprise a pressure element and, in particular, a pressure roller for applying the pressure. The pressure element may, in particular, be pneumatically deflectable and / or preloaded toward the transfer edge. Furthermore, the pressure element may, for example, be elastically deformable in order to exert pressure on the label to be ejected, while still allowing for certain tolerances.

[0186] For example, the ejection device can have a pressure element that can be extended directly toward the transfer edge in order to press the element to be ejected against the label carrier strip at the transfer edge and thus prevent the label to be ejected from detaching from the label carrier strip. However, such a pressure element can also be provided, for example, in combination with the aforementioned deflection contour, wherein the pressure element can, for example, be designed to exert pressure on the label to be ejected directly at the transfer edge. Alternatively, the pressure element can, for example, be arranged to exert pressure on the label to be ejected downstream of the transfer edge in order to stabilize the label to be ejected as it moves around the transfer edge.In particular, the pressure element can be arranged such that the pressure element can exert pressure on a downstream portion of a label to be ejected, while an upstream portion of the label to be ejected has not yet passed the transfer edge.

[0187] In particular, in some embodiments, the deflection contour mentioned can therefore comprise an additional pressure element, which can be spring-loaded and / or movable by a drive, for example, in order to be able to exert pressure on the label to be ejected.

[0188] Furthermore, designing the pressure element as a pressure roller can, in particular, allow unhindered movement of the label carrier strip along the intended path, but prevent movement of the label to be ejected perpendicularly or tangentially to this path for detaching it from the label carrier strip. In particular, the pressure roller can therefore be rotatable relative to the label carrier strip when the pressure roller is in contact with the label carrier strip. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the ejection device can comprise a compressed air device for exerting the pressure, which is designed to generate a compressed air stream directed at the label to be ejected.In particular, the compressed air flow can be controllable in order to be able to generate a compressed air flow only when a label to be ejected is guided around the transfer edge, but otherwise to enable a transfer of labels to the application device and not to generate a compressed air flow that impairs the release of the labels from the label carrier tape.

[0189] In some embodiments, the ejection device can be designed to change a path of the label carrier strip around the transfer edge in order to prevent the transfer of the label to be ejected, in particular to reduce a curvature of the path at the transfer edge.

[0190] When the ejection device is positioned in the passive position, the label carrier strip can be guided, in particular, around a sharp edge at the transfer edge, so that the path of the label carrier strip can generally have a sharp bend or a strong web curvature at the transfer edge. In particular, due to such a path guidance around a bend, labels provided on the label carrier strip can detach from the label carrier strip and then be received by the application device.

[0191] However, since the ejection device in some embodiments can be designed to change the path of the label carrier strip in the region of the transfer edge, a guidance of the label carrier strip around such a sharp bend can be prevented and, in particular, a curvature of the path of the label carrier strip in the region of the transfer edge can be reduced in order to thereby, to a certain extent, override a necessary condition for releasing a label - the strong curvature of the path at the transfer edge.

[0192] For example, the ejection device can comprise a downstream deflection for the label carrier strip, viewed from the transfer edge, and can be configured to shift the downstream deflection in such a way that a curvature of the path of the label carrier strip at the transfer edge is reduced. In particular, the ejection device can be configured to shift such a downstream deflection along a direction along which the label carrier strip is movable before reaching the transfer edge, in order to thereby mitigate or make more continuous a change in direction that the label carrier strip experiences at the transfer edge.

[0193] Furthermore, it can be provided, for example, that the discharge device is designed to enlarge a deflection over which the label carrier tape can be guided at the transfer edge, in order to thereby increase a radius of the path of the label carrier tape at the transfer edge or to reduce the curvature of the path at the transfer edge.

[0194] In some embodiments, the ejection device may comprise an inflatable ejection element, wherein the path of the label carrier strip can be changed by inflating the inflatable ejection element, and the label carrier strip can be moved along the inflated ejection element. In particular, in such embodiments, the ejection device can be moved from the passive position to the ejection position by inflating the ejection element.

[0195] The inflatable discharge element can, in particular, be brought into contact with the label carrier strip by inflation, in order to guide the label carrier strip in sections when inflated and thus to be able to influence the path of the label carrier strip. Furthermore, it can be provided that the label carrier strip is already guided over the discharge element even when the discharge element is not inflated, whereby, however, the path of the label carrier strip can be changed by expanding the discharge element as a result of inflation.

[0196] In some embodiments, the inflatable ejection element may be arranged downstream of the transfer edge with respect to the path of the label carrier web. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the inflatable ejection element may be integrated into the transfer edge.

[0197] For example, the inflatable ejection element can function as a deflection of the label carrier strip at the transfer edge, so that a dimension of the ejection element can directly determine a path of the label carrier strip at the deflection edge. By inflating such an ejection element, for example, a radius of the deflection around which the label carrier strip is guided at the transfer edge can be increased, thereby reducing the curvature of the label carrier strip's path at the transfer edge and preventing the label to be ejected from detaching from the label carrier strip.Furthermore, a discharge element arranged downstream of the transfer edge can change the relative alignment between a downstream deflection of the label carrier strip relative to the transfer edge and the transfer edge in order to reduce curvature of the path of the label carrier strip along the transfer edge and prevent the label to be discharged from becoming detached. For this purpose, the downstream deflection can be displaceable and / or expandable, for example, by inflating the discharge element, whereby the discharge element can also form the downstream deflection.

[0198] In some embodiments, the discharge device may comprise a deflection element, in particular a deflection roller, that can be selectively brought into contact with the label carrier strip to change the path. For example, such a deflection element may be displaceable by a drive in order to be able to bring it into contact with the label carrier strip.

[0199] In some embodiments, the label dispenser can have at least one compensating element, in particular a rocker, a pressure roller, and / or a dancer roller, which is designed to adapt a path of the label carrier strip downstream of the transfer edge to the change in the path of the label carrier strip around the transfer edge. In particular, such a compensating element can form a deflection for the label carrier strip downstream of the transfer edge and be passively mounted in order to allow a change in the path of the label carrier strip by moving the ejection device from the passive position to the ejection position and to be able to compensate for any tension in the label carrier strip resulting from the path change.However, if the discharge device subsequently moves to the passive position, the compensating element can also return to its original position to restore the original web path. For this purpose, the compensating element can be pre-tensioned to this initial position.

[0200] In some embodiments, the ejection device can be arranged on the application device. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the label dispenser can comprise the ejection device. An ejection device arranged on the application device can, in particular, be movable together with the application device.

[0201] In some embodiments, the labeling device can comprise a monitoring device for monitoring the labels to be transferred to the application device and a control device, wherein the monitoring device can be configured to identify the label to be ejected. Furthermore, in such embodiments, the control device can be configured to control the ejection device in response to a signal from the monitoring device to prevent the transfer of the label to be ejected. In particular, the monitoring device can be configured to identify incorrect labels as labels to be ejected and to emit a corresponding signal, wherein the control device can, in response to such a signal, control the ejection device to prevent the transfer of the label to be ejected, in particular by moving the ejection device into the ejection position.

[0202] The monitoring device can be designed, in particular, as already explained above in connection with a labeling device with a sorting element and, for example, can comprise at least one camera and an image evaluation device. The camera can be designed to capture inspection images of the labels before they are applied to the material web. The image evaluation device, in turn, can be designed to identify faulty labels based on the inspection images, and the ejection device can be designed to eject the faulty labels as labels to be ejected.

[0203] Furthermore, the camera can be arranged in particular on the mounting device and / or can be moved together with the mounting device.

[0204] In some embodiments, the control device can also be designed to generate an error message when a sequence of faulty labels and / or labels to be rejected is detected.

[0205] The invention also relates to a packaging machine for packaging food products, in particular food portions comprising one or more slices separated from a food product. The packaging machine comprises a transport device configured to move a material web along a longitudinal direction for producing packaging. Furthermore, the packaging machine comprises a labeling device of the type described above with an ejection device for ejecting labels to be ejected.

[0206] The invention also relates to a method for operating a packaging machine, in particular the above-mentioned packaging machine with a labelling device which has a discharge device, wherein in the method: a material web is moved by the packaging machine along a longitudinal direction, packaging is produced from the material web, labels to be applied to the packaging are transferred to an application device of a labelling device and the labels are applied to the packaging by the application device, wherein, however, a transfer of faulty labels to the application device is prevented by an discharge device of the labelling device.

[0207] In this respect, the method can prevent faulty labels from being passed on to the application device, so that the faulty labels are not applied to the material web, but can be disposed of, for example, together with a used-up label carrier tape on which the faulty labels may still be found.

[0208] In some embodiments of this method, it can be provided that the labels to be applied are checked by a monitoring device. In particular, the monitoring device can be designed to detect the faulty labels, and a control device of the packaging machine can be designed to control the ejection device in response to a signal from the monitoring device to eject the faulty labels or to prevent the faulty labels from being transferred to the application device.

[0209] In some embodiments, the ejection device can be reset from the ejection position to the passive position so that the next label can be transferred to the application device for application. This can occur immediately after a label to be ejected has passed the transfer edge. To achieve high operating speeds, the reset can even occur while a label to be ejected is deflected at the transfer edge, i.e., while part of the label to be ejected is still at the transfer edge. Preferably, the reset can occur as soon as the label to be ejected has at least halfway and / or largely passed the transfer edge, because then detachment of the trailing end of the label from the carrier web is no longer possible or at least no longer detrimental to the ejection of this label.

[0210] In general, in some embodiments, the ejection device can therefore be moved back into the passive position after the label to be ejected has been ejected. In particular, however, the ejection device can already be moved into the passive position while a portion of the label to be ejected is still in the area of ​​a transfer edge, provided that a leading edge of the label to be ejected has already passed the transfer edge.

[0211] In principle, all of the embodiments of a labeling device disclosed here can be provided with a printer for printing the labels. Furthermore, the labels can be adhered, in particular, to the material web. Furthermore, each of the disclosed labeling devices can generally be a top-web applicator or a bottom-web applicator, i.e., a labeling device designed for labeling packages on an upper side or for labeling packages on an underside.

[0212] The packaging machines disclosed here can be designed, in particular, as thermoforming packaging machines. Furthermore, the packaging machine can be designed, in particular, to move a lower material web and an upper material web along the longitudinal direction, wherein the labeling devices can be designed to apply labels to the upper material web and / or the lower material web. The material web moved by the packaging machine can, in particular, be a film, a paper web, or a material web made of organic materials.

[0213] The invention is explained below purely by way of example using embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0214] They show:

[0215] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a packaging machine for packaging food products,

[0216] Fig. 2A and 2B are a respective schematic representation of a labeling device of the packaging machine, wherein the labeling device shown in Fig. 2A is designed for applying labels to an upper side of a material web moved on a packaging machine and wherein the labeling device shown in Fig. 2B is designed for applying labels to an underside of a material web moved by the packaging machine, Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the packaging machine and the

[0217] Labeling device,

[0218] Fig. 4A to 4C show a perspective view and two front views of a section of the packaging machine in which two labelling devices are arranged for applying labels to a material web moved by the packaging machine,

[0219] Fig. 5A and 5B are respective perspective side views of the packaging machine to illustrate a drive for moving a respective application device of the labeling devices along a longitudinal direction of the packaging machine,

[0220] Fig. 6A and 6B are respective perspective views of the longitudinally movable application device of the labeling device for applying labels to the upper side of the material web and of the labeling device for applying labels to the underside of the material web,

[0221] Fig. 7 a perspective front view of the attachment device with the housing shown transparent,

[0222] Fig. 8A and 8B are respective schematic representations of an application device of a labeling device with a vacuum device designed to generate a variable negative pressure in an interior of the application device,

[0223] Fig. 9A and 9B show a perspective side view and a perspective rear view of the application device with a transparent housing to illustrate a drive of application elements for applying labels to the material web,

[0224] Fig. 10 is a perspective front view of the application device with a transparent housing to illustrate a drive for driving several belts, by means of which labels can be moved transversely to the longitudinal direction, Fig. 11 is a schematic plan view of a packaging machine with a

[0225] Labelling device, the application device of which is designed for the selective transfer of labels to a sorting element,

[0226] Fig. 12A and 12B are schematic views of an application device of a labeling device with an integrated sorting element,

[0227] Fig. 13A to 13C are schematic representations of the application device to illustrate a method in which a faulty label is transferred to a sorting element of the application device and correct labels are applied to packages provided by the packaging machine,

[0228] Fig. 14A and 14B are respective schematic representations of a labeling device with a discharge device which is designed to selectively prevent the transfer of labels to be discharged to an application device of the labeling device, wherein the discharge device is shown in a passive position and in a discharge position, respectively,

[0229] Fig. 15A and 15B are schematic representations of a further embodiment of a labeling device with a discharge device with the discharge device positioned in the passive position and with the discharge device positioned in the discharge position, respectively.

[0230] Fig. 16A and 16B are respective schematic representations of a further embodiment of a labeling device with a discharge device, which has an inflatable discharge element, by means of which a path of a label carrier tape can be changed,

[0231] Fig. 17A and 17B are a respective schematic representation of a further embodiment of a labeling device with a discharge device which has a movable deflection element by means of which a path of a label carrier strip can be changed, and

[0232] Fig. 18A and 18B are respective schematic representations of a further embodiment of a labeling device with a discharge device with the discharge device positioned in the passive position and with the discharge device positioned in the discharge position, wherein the discharge device has a compressed air device for generating a compressed air flow.

[0233] Fig. 1 schematically shows a packaging machine M operating in a longitudinal direction L, which comprises a machine frame 247. A transport chain 227, shown only schematically here at the upstream end of the machine, is guided on a left side frame and a right side frame of the machine frame 247. The two transport chains 227 together form a transport device 227 for a lower material web 223 drawn from a supply roll 223a, so that the transport device 227 is designed to move the lower material web 223 along the longitudinal direction L.

[0234] The packaging machine M comprises a plurality of work stations following one another in the longitudinal direction L, namely a forming station 211, also referred to as a deep-drawer or thermoformer, an insertion station 213 for food products 210 to be packaged, a feed station 214 for an upper material web 225 drawn from a supply roll 25a, a labeling station 216, a transverse cutting station 217 and a longitudinal cutting station 219.

[0235] In the illustrated embodiment, the food products 210 to be packaged are, in particular, food portions, each comprising several slices that were previously separated from a loaf- or bar-shaped food product, such as sausage, cheese, ham, or meat, by means of a slicing device (not shown). The slicer and the packaging machine M can form a continuous processing line.

[0236] The operation of the packaging machine M, including the aforementioned workstations, is controlled by a central control device 241. This can also control the slicer or be connected to a control device of the slicer. Furthermore, the packaging machine M is provided with an operating device 245, which includes, for example, a touchscreen, on which all necessary information can be displayed to an operator and the operator can make all necessary settings before and during operation of the packaging machine M.

[0237] The structure and functioning of the aforementioned workstations are generally known to those skilled in the art, so they will not be discussed in detail here. However, it should be noted that, for example, the forming station 211 has an upper tool 211a and a lower tool 211b, by means of which depressions 229, also referred to as troughs, are formed in the lower material web 223 during a deep-drawing process. The aforementioned portions 210 are inserted into these depressions 229 at the insertion station 213. The insertion station 213 here comprises a so-called inserter, of which two endless conveyor belts 213a, 213b are shown. Alternatively or additionally, the insertion station 213 can comprise a robot 250, also shown schematically here, e.g., in the form of a so-called "picker," which can be designed as a delta robot with a gripper comprising two scoops, each of which jointly holds a portion 210.Such robots and their use in handling food, in particular in placing portions in recesses 229 of packaging, are generally known to the person skilled in the art, which is why further explanations are not necessary here.

[0238] Subsequently, the lower material web 223, provided with the filled recesses 229, and the upper material web 225 are fed to the sealing station 215, which comprises an upper tool 215a and a lower tool 215b. These tools 215a, 215b join the material webs 223 and 225 together. This seals the recesses 229 and thus the packages 221 formed by the material webs. Sealing points 243, also referred to as sealing seams, extending transversely to the longitudinal direction L, are schematically indicated in Fig. 1.

[0239] Following the sealing station 215, the packages 221 are still connected and therefore still need to be separated. In the embodiment shown here, the packages 221 are labeled at the labeling station 216 before being separated.

[0240] Downstream of the separation stations 217, 219, further conveyor belts and / or work stations may be provided, for example a scale for checking the weight of the packages 21.

[0241] Applications can differ from one another, for example, with regard to the type of products 210 to be packaged, the size / shape of the recesses 229 in the longitudinal and / or transverse direction, or with regard to a format set. Thus, for example, per work cycle of the packaging machine, a format or format set of 3 x 4 (3 in the transverse direction and 4 in the longitudinal direction) recesses 229 or other types of product receptacles can be formed in the forming station 211, at the insertion station 213, a format set of 3 x 4 correspondingly arranged products 210 can be introduced into a respective format set of recesses 221, and at the sealing station 215, a respective format set of 3 x 4 recesses filled with products 210

[0242] 229. The same applies to the labeling station 216 (see also Fig. 3).

[0243] In principle, an arbitrarily dimensioned nxm format set can be formed, in particular with n >= 2 and m >= 1 .

[0244] Fig. 2A illustrates the basic principle of a first labeling device 11 of the labeling station 216 of the packaging machine M, which is designed to apply labels 13 to an upper side O of the packages 221 provided by the packaging machine M or to the upper side O of the upper material web 225.

[0245] The labeling device 11 comprises a label dispenser 19, which is designed to provide labels 13 and transfer them to an application device 23, which in turn is designed to apply received labels 13 to the packaging 221 or the upper material web 225. For this purpose, the label dispenser 19 has a label storage 69, into which a roll 91 of wound label carrier tape 71 is inserted, wherein a plurality of labels 13 are applied and in particular glued to the label carrier tape 71. The label carrier tape 71 is pulled off the roll 91 and guided via a plurality of deflection and / or dancer rollers 75 to a printer 21 of the labeling device 11, by which the labels 13 can be printed, for example, to be able to apply information to the labels 13 relating to a food product 210 packaged in the packaging 221 to be labeled.

[0246] After the labels 13 have been printed by the printer 21, the label carrier tape 71 is guided over a transfer edge 89 so that the label carrier tape 71 is folded and the labels 13 can be detached from the label carrier tape 71. By detaching the labels 13 from the label carrier tape 71, the labels 13 are transferred to the application device 23, which has a plurality of belts 117 circulating along a direction R in order to be able to move the received labels 13 along a transverse direction Q oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction L and to position them over the respective packages 17 to be labeled (see also Figs. 9A to 10 and Figs. 13A to 13C).

[0247] In order to be able to receive the labels 13 from the label dispenser 19 and hold them against gravity, the application device 23 has a vacuum device 77, which is designed to generate a negative pressure in an interior space 87 of the application device 23 and in particular a housing 129 of the application device 23, whereby the received labels 13 can be sucked onto a working side 103 of the application device 23. To generate the negative pressure in the interior space 87, the vacuum device 77 comprises two fans 79, the respective suction side 83 of which is located in the interior space 87 of the application device 73, whereas the respective pressure side 85 of the fans 79 is located outside the housing 129 and the interior space 87.

[0248] By rotating the belts 117 along the direction R, the received labels 13 can be moved, in particular, into a working area 149 of the application device 23. In the working area 149, a plurality of application elements 115 are arranged, which can be moved in the vertical direction C and can reach between adjacent, spaced-apart belts 117 in order to detach the labels 13 from the belts 117 and to be able to apply them to an upper side O of a provided packaging 221 or 17 (see also Figs. 9A to 10 and Figs. 13A to 13C). In order to be able to move the application elements 115, which can be designed, in particular, as pins, the application elements 115 are held together on a carriage 131 which can be moved in the vertical direction C.By moving the carriage 131 downwards, all labels 13 located in the working area 149 of the application device 23 can therefore be applied to a material web 15 or 225 provided by the packaging machine M.

[0249] Fig. 2B shows a schematic representation of a second labeling device 11' of the packaging machine M or its labeling station 216, which is designed to apply labels 13 to an underside U of a provided material web 15, in particular the lower material web 223, and / or the underside U of the packages 221 or 17. The second labeling device 11' is basically designed according to the same principle as the labeling device 11 illustrated in Fig. 2A, although the application of the labels 13 to the underside U requires a somewhat mirrored arrangement. Therefore, the label storage 69 of the labeling device 11 is arranged on a first side 65 of the packaging machine M, whereas the label storage 69 of the second labeling device 11' is arranged on a second side 67 of the packaging machine M opposite the first side 65. In addition, Fig.2B schematically illustrates that the label carrier tape 71 can be wound up into a discharge roll 93 after the transfer of the labels 13 at the transfer edge 89.

[0250] In the labeling device 11', the labels 13 are thus also guided over a transfer edge 89 and transferred to an application device 23, in the interior 87 of which two blowers 79 of a vacuum device 77 generate a vacuum to stabilize the labels 13 moved in the transverse direction Q into a working area 149 of the application device 23 by means of several mutually offset belts 117. In particular, the two labeling devices 11 and 11' can be arranged at the labeling station 216 of the packaging machine M in order to be able to provide the provided packages 221 with a respective label 13 on both the top side O and the bottom side U.In the labeling device 11' provided for applying labels 13 to the underside U, the application elements 115 can be detached from the application device 23, in particular by an upward movement of the carriage 131 in the vertical direction C, and can be applied to the underside U on the provided packaging 221 or the lower material web 223.

[0251] Fig. 3 further illustrates, in a schematic plan view of the packaging machine M, that the packaging machine M, as already mentioned in connection with Fig. 1, can be designed to operate in cycles and to provide a format 59 of packages 17 in a respective cycle, wherein the format here comprises, by way of example, packages 17 arranged in three tracks 63 aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction L and in four rows 61 aligned in the transverse direction Q. By way of example, it is thus shown that the packaging machine M provides twelve packages 17 in each cycle, which are arranged in a 3 (tracks 63) x 4 (rows 61) matrix that determines the format 59.

[0252] Furthermore, the labeling devices 11 and 11' can be designed to completely label the packages 17 provided in the format 59 by applying respective labels 13 to the packages 17 during a cycle pause, i.e., when the material web 15 is stationary. For this purpose, it can initially be provided that the label dispenser 19 is designed to transfer a number of labels 13 corresponding to the number of tracks 63 to the application device 23, which can then be moved in the transverse direction Q by driving the belts 117 into respective positions assigned to the packages 17. Thereafter, by moving the application elements 115, a complete row 61 of packages 17 can be provided with a respective label 13.

[0253] After a row of packages 17 has been labeled, the application device 23 can be moved by a drive 25 in the longitudinal direction L to the next row 61 of packages 17, wherein during this process or after the process, further labels 13 can be transferred from the label dispenser 19 to the application device 23, which can then, after reaching the next row 61, be applied to the packages 17 arranged in this row 61. In this way, all rows 61 can be approached during the cycle pause and the respective packages 17 can be labeled, whereupon the packaging machine M can move the material web 15 in a next cycle and bring a subsequent format 59 to the labeling station 216.Traditionally, labeling devices on packaging machines are docked onto the packaging machine as additional devices, which are considered external to the packaging machine, and operated as separate units that must be coordinated with the operation of the packaging machine. However, this coordination is often difficult, and the installation of the labeling devices is complex. Inadequate coordination between the packaging machine and the labeling device can lead, in particular, to undesirably frequent operational interruptions.

[0254] 4A to 6B therefore illustrate an embodiment of a packaging machine M in which the labeling devices 11 and 11', i.e. a labeling device 11 for applying labels 13 on the upper side O and a labeling device 11' for applying labels 13 on the underside U of a material web 15 moved by the packaging machine M, are an integral part of the packaging machine M and in which in particular a drive 25 or 25' for moving the respective applying device 23 or 23' in the longitudinal direction L is structurally integrated into a frame 29 of the packaging machine M.

[0255] In Figs. 4A to 4C, the labeling device 11 designed for applying labels 13 to the top side O is shown on the left side, whereas the second labeling device 11' provided for applying labels 13 to the bottom side U is shown on the right side. The left side in the figures therefore corresponds to the first side 65 of the packaging machine M, and the right side in the figures corresponds to the second side 67 of the packaging machine M.

[0256] The labeling devices 11 and 11' of this embodiment are fundamentally based on the principle explained above with reference to Figs. 2A and 2B and have a respective label dispenser 19 or 19', which is designed to provide labels 13 and transfer them to a respective application device 23 or 23'. In addition, both labeling devices 11 and 11' have a respective printer 21 or 21'. The label carrier strip 71, not shown in Figs. 4A to 4C, is also guided in this embodiment via a plurality of deflection and / or dancer rollers 75 from a label storage 69 or a roller 91 to the application device 23 or 23'.

[0257] In order to be able to move the application device 23 in the longitudinal direction L, as explained above in connection with Fig. 3, the labeling device 11 has a drive 25 with a motor 27. As can be seen, for example, from Figs. 5A and in particular 6A, the motor 27 is held stationary on the frame 29 of the packaging machine M and the drive 25 is designed to move the application device 23 relative to the motor 27. In particular, the motor 27 is held externally on the frame 29 on an outer bar 37 of the frame 29. In addition, the motor 27 is arranged in an interior space of the bar 37 or a panel 43 arranged on the bar 37 and is thus protected from access (see also Figs. 4A to 4C; in Figs. 5A to 6B the side panel is hidden to better illustrate the arrangement of the motor 27).

[0258] In particular, the motor 27 is designed as a servomotor and arranged in a vertical orientation on the beam 37 in order to drive, via a toothed pulley 53, a coupling element 47, which is also arranged in the interior 45 of the casing 43 and is designed in particular as a toothed belt 49. The coupling element 47 is interrupted, and respective ends of the coupling element 47 are connected via clamping elements 51 to a carriage 35, on which the attachment device 23 is supported via a connecting element 41. By setting the toothed belt 49 into a circular motion, the carriage 35 and, therewith, the attachment device 23 can be moved in the longitudinal direction L.

[0259] Furthermore, the carriage 35 is guided on a guide rod 33 of a guide device 31 of the labeling device 11, which extends in the longitudinal direction L and is also supported on the frame 29 of the packaging machine M. In particular, the casing 43 or the beam 37 has a recess 39 on the upper side O, in which the guide rod 33 is arranged, so that the connecting element 41 can be attached to the carriage 35 from above in order to connect the carriage 35 to the attachment device 23. Furthermore, the guide rod 33 can thus be integrated directly into the casing 43 or the frame 29 of the packaging machine M.

[0260] In order to further achieve reliable and stable support of the attachment device 23, the guide device 31 has a further guide rod 55 on a side of the packaging machine M opposite the guide rod 23 in the transverse direction Q, the second side 67, on which the attachment device 23 is supported via a further carriage 56 movable along the further guide rod 55. The carriage 56 arranged on the further guide rod 55 serves merely to support the attachment device 23 and is ultimately carried along by the attachment device 23 during a movement. As can be seen from Fig.4A and 4B, the further guide rod 55 is also supported on the frame 29 of the packaging machine M, although the further guide rod 55 is arranged between a chain guide 57 for moving the material web 15 and a beam 37' of the frame 29 arranged on the second side 67, whereas the guide rod 33 is arranged on the first side 65 of the packaging machine M directly on the beam 37 or the casing 43. This enables, as will be explained in more detail below, a somewhat mirrored arrangement of the second labeling device 11' or its application device 23 in order to also be able to apply labels 13 to the underside U of the provided material web 15.

[0261] The guide device 31 of the labeling device 11 thus has a drive side A, on which the motor 27 for driving the carriage 31 is arranged, and a support side S, on which the further guide rod 55 is arranged. The drive side A of the first labeling device 11 therefore corresponds to the first side 65 of the packaging machine M, and the support side S of the first labeling device 11 corresponds to the second side 67 of the packaging machine M.

[0262] The second labeling device 11' also has a drive 25' for moving the application device 23' along the longitudinal direction L, which is likewise integrated into the frame 29 of the packaging machine M. This is particularly evident from Figs. 5B and 6B.

[0263] As shown in particular in Fig. 6B, the drive 25' for moving the application device 23' of the second labeling device 11' also has a motor 27', which is supported on the beam 37' and arranged in an interior space 45 of the beam 37' or a panel 43 assigned to this beam 37'. The motor 27', which can also be designed as a servomotor, again drives a coupling element 47' or a toothed belt 49' via a toothed pulley 53' in order to be able to move a carriage 35' thereover. The carriage 35' is in turn guided on a guide rod 33' of a guide device 31', which extends in the longitudinal direction L and is arranged in a clearance 39 on the upper side O of the beam 37' or the panel 43.A connecting element 41' also engages the labeling device 11' from the top side O on the carriage 35' accessible from there, in order to connect the application device 23' guided below the material web 15 and in particular below the carriage 35' to the carriage 35' and thus to be able to move the application device 23' together with the carriage 35'. For this purpose, the connecting element 41' of the second labeling device 11' extends laterally outwards from the carriage 35' to beyond the edge of the frame 29 and from there downwards to extend below the beam 37' to the application device 23' of the second labeling device 11'. Again, the attachment device 23' is supported on a side of the packaging machine M opposite the guide rod 31' by a further guide rod 55', on which a carriage 56' is guided that can be moved together with the attachment device 23'.The labeling device 11' also has a drive side A', on which the motor 27' is arranged, and a support side S', on which the further guide rod 55' is arranged. However, as can be seen from Figs. 4A to 4C, for example, when the labeling devices 11 and 11' are attached to the packaging machine M, the drive side A' and the support side S' are, so to speak, swapped with the drive side A and the support side S of the labeling device 11, so that the drive side A' of the second labeling device 11' is arranged on the second side 67 of the packaging machine M and the support side S' of the second labeling device 11' is arranged on the first side 65 of the packaging machine M. As can also be seen in particular from Fig.4B, in the second labeling device 11', the guide rod 33' is also arranged directly on the bar 37', whereas the further guide rod 55' is arranged between the bar 37 and the chain guide 57, so that a somewhat mirrored arrangement of the drives 25 and 25' for the application devices 23 and 23' results.

[0264] Since the application device 23 and 23' of the labeling device 11 and 11' is thus movable relative to the respective motor 27 or 27', the respective motor 27 or 27' does not have to be moved when the application devices 23 and 23' are moved, which enables faster movement of the application devices 23 and 23'. The integration of the drives 27 and 27' into the frame 29 of the packaging machine M also enables access protection and a fixed arrangement of the labeling device 11 and 11' within the packaging machine M. Furthermore, it can be seen from Figs. 4A and 4B that the movable components of the drives 27 and 27' are essentially covered by the casing 43 and are thus protected from access. In addition, the drives 27 and 27' of the labeling device 11 and 11' are arranged substantially below a plane E in which the material web 15 is guided by the chain guide 57.

[0265] Furthermore, in addition to the application devices 23 and 23', the respective label dispensers 19 and 19' of the labeling devices 11 and 11' are also connected to the respective carriage 35 or 35' via the respective connecting element 41 or 41', so that the drives 27 and 27' of the labeling devices 11 and 11' are designed to move the respective label dispensers 19 in the longitudinal direction L and in particular relative to the respective motor 27 or 27'. This can in particular enable an orderly transfer of labels 13 to the application device 23 or 23' in any position of the application device 23 or 23' with respect to the longitudinal direction L.

[0266] Furthermore, Fig. 4C illustrates that the respective label storage 69 of the label dispensers 19 or 19' of the labeling devices 11 and 11', into which the roller 91 is inserted, is movable between a first position P1 and a second position P2. For this purpose, the roller 91 is held on a holding arm 73, which is pivotable via a handle 74 to move the label storage 69 between the first position P1 and the second position P2.

[0267] In particular, the label storage 69 is arranged higher in the position P1 than in the second position P2, whereas the label storage 69 in the second position P2 is spaced further apart in the horizontal direction from the application device 23 and the frame 29 of the packaging machine M and projects further laterally into the space in the horizontal direction.

[0268] In principle, the second position P2 can be provided to change the roll 91 as conveniently as possible, whereas by moving the label storage 69 to the first position P1, the space to the side of the packaging machine M can be kept as free as possible. Conventionally, it is necessary to always move the label storage 69 to the first position P1 in order to transfer labels 13 to the application device 23 or 23' and to be able to operate the labeling devices 11 and 11'.

[0269] In embodiments of the labeling devices 11 and 11' disclosed herein, however, it is provided that the label dispenser 19 or 19' is designed to transfer labels 13 to the application device 23 or 23' both in the first position P1 and in the second position P2, wherein for this purpose, in particular, compensation for the changed guidance of the label carrier strip 71 by the deflection and / or dancer rollers 75 can be carried out. In particular, this allows flexible handling of the labeling devices 11 and 11' to be achieved, since a person operating the labeling devices 11 and 11' does not have to switch between the positions P1 and P2 in order to be able to perform certain tasks, but can select a respective preferred position P1 or P2 in which the labeling device 11 or 11' is operated.In addition, in some embodiments, it can also be provided that the label dispenser 19 or 19' is designed to transfer labels 13 to the application device 23 when the label storage 69 is arranged in any position between the first position P1 and the second position P2, which can in particular represent respective end positions with regard to the mobility of the label storage 69.

[0270] Fig. 7 further shows a perspective view of the attachment device 23 of the first labeling device 11, wherein a housing 129 of the attachment device 23 is shown transparent. The attachment device 23' is fundamentally identical in construction, so that the following explanations apply equally to the attachment device 23' of the second labeling device 11'.

[0271] As shown in Fig. 7, the application device 23 comprises a plurality of mutually offset belts 117 for transporting labels 13 in the transverse direction Q, which can then be applied to the material web by means of application elements 115 extending through adjacent, spaced-apart belts 117. The application elements are arranged by respective snap-in connections 121 on plates 119 that are offset from one another in the longitudinal direction L of the packaging machine M, which plates can be moved together in the vertical direction C by a carriage 131 guided by guide rods 133.

[0272] In addition, the attachment device 23 has the aforementioned vacuum device 77, wherein the vacuum device 77 comprises, in particular, two fans 79, which are arranged on an outer side 127 of the housing 129 and are designed to generate a vacuum U in an attachment section 113 of the attachment element 123, in which the attachment elements 115 are arranged. In particular, the fans 79 are provided to generate a vacuum over a relatively large area on the attachment section 113 and are therefore arranged on a roof section of the housing 127, relatively far from the belts 117 and the labels 13 transported there.

[0273] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the vacuum device 77 has two further fans 81, which are arranged directly near the belts 117 in a receiving section 111 of the application device 23, in which the labels 13 are received from the label dispenser 19. The receiving section 111 is separated from the application section 113 by a separating element 99, which extends into the interior 87 of the housing 129, so that any air flow between the receiving section 111 and the application section 113 is prevented. In this respect, the separating element 99 divides the housing 129 into two chambers 105 and 107, with the chamber 105 comprising the receiving section 111 and the chamber 107 comprising the application section 113.

[0274] By having separate fans 81 for the transfer section 111, the vacuum device 77 is designed to spatially vary the strength of the negative pressure generated in the interior 87 of the application device 23 and, in particular, to increase it in the region of the transfer section 111 in order to ensure reliable transfer of the labels from the label dispenser 19. In the application section 113, however, the fans 79 can generate a large-area negative pressure, but one that is less intense than the negative pressure in the transfer section 111. In addition, a control device 109 not shown in Fig. 7 can, for example, be designed to control the fans 79 and / or 81 individually in order to influence an air flow developed by the respective fan 79 or 81 and thereby the negative pressure generated by the respective fan 79 or 81 (see also Figs. 8A and 8B).The control device 109 can in particular be a component of the control device 241 of the packaging machine M.

[0275] 8A and 8B illustrate further embodiments of an attachment device 23 with a vacuum device 77, which is designed to generate a variable vacuum in the interior 87 of the attachment device 23.

[0276] In the embodiment according to Fig. 8A, a guide element 95 acting as a separating element 99 is provided, which divides the interior 87 of the attachment device 23 or its housing 129 into two chambers 105 and 107. The attachment device 23 has only the two fans 79 on the outer side 127 of the housing 129, but due to the different sizes of the chambers 105 and 107, a stronger negative pressure can be generated in the transfer section 111 assigned to the chamber 105 than in the attachment section 113 assigned to the chamber 107. Furthermore, it can also be provided that the guide element 95 is movable, in particular by the control device 109, in order to be able to further vary the negative pressure.

[0277] In the embodiment according to Fig. 8B, respective intake nozzles 97 acting as guide elements 95 are connected to the fans 79, which can also be movable in particular. By means of these intake nozzles 97, an air flow developed by the fans 79 can be directed, in particular in the center of the interior 87 of the application device 23, such that the air flow B is oriented perpendicular to an extension surface 101 along which the applied labels 13 extend. In particular, stable suction can be achieved in this way. For example, the intake nozzles 97 can be set and / or adjusted before the start of operation, wherein alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the intake nozzles 97, thus the guide elements 95 of the embodiment shown, are movable by the control device 109 during operation.

[0278] In principle, the control device 109 can also be designed to control the blowers 79 individually, for example to increase the negative pressure when taking over labels 13 and to reduce it when applying labels 13 to the material web 15. This can be achieved, for example, by specifically adjusting the strength of the air streams generated by the blowers 79 and / or 81 as well as by switching the

[0279] Blower 79 and / or 81.

[0280] 9A and 9B further illustrate a drive 123 for moving the attachment elements 115 along the vertical direction C. As Fig. 9A shows, this drive 123 has a servomotor 125 supported on an outer side 127 of the housing 129, wherein Fig. 9B illustrates that this servomotor 125 drives a belt 135 arranged in the interior 87 of the housing 129, for which purpose a motor shaft of the servomotor 125 extends into the interior 87. By means of the belt 135, the carriage 131 arranged in the interior 87, on which the attachment elements 115 are supported, can in turn be moved in the vertical direction C. Thus, the attachment elements 115 can be moved without having to provide installation space in the interior 87 for the servomotor 127.

[0281] Fig. 10 further illustrates a drive 135 for driving the belts 117 of the application device 23, by means of which received labels 13 can be transported in the transverse direction Q. This drive 135 also has a servomotor 137, although the servomotor 137 is arranged in the interior 87 of the housing 129 of the application device 23. The servomotor 137 extends along the longitudinal direction L, along which the packaging machine M moves the material web 15, so that a narrow design and arrangement of the servomotor 137 with respect to the transverse direction Q can be achieved. The servomotor 137 drives a toothed belt 141 via a toothed pulley 145, which in turn is connected to a shaft 143 for driving the belts 117.In this respect, a compact and simple design of the drive 135 can be achieved, wherein both the servo motor 125 and the servo motor 137 enable precise control and / or regulation of the movements of the attachment elements 115 and / or the belts 117.

[0282] Fig. 11 again illustrates, in a schematic plan view, an embodiment of a packaging machine M and a labeling device 11, the applying device 23 of which is designed to optionally apply labels 13 received from a label dispenser 19 to a material web 15 or to transfer them to a sorting element 147. In the embodiment shown, the sorting element 147 is supported on the frame 29 of the packaging machine M, bridging the material web 15, wherein the applying device 23 can be optionally moved into the area of ​​the sorting element 147 by the drive 25 in order to be able to apply labels 13 to the sorting element 147.In particular, the sorting element 147 can be flat and can be attached in the immediate vicinity of the material web 15, so that the application of the labels 13 on the sorting element 147 can be carried out almost identically to the application of the labels 13 on the material web 15 and slight differences in the distance to be covered by the application elements 115 can be compensated by a yielding, in particular resilient, attachment of the application elements 115 to the carriage 131 or the sheets 119.

[0283] For example, it may be provided to apply any faulty labels 157 (cf. Figs. 13A to 13C) to the sorting element 147 in order to avoid the application of faulty labels 157 to packaging 17, which would inevitably lead to rejection of the packaging 17. Therefore, if it is determined that a faulty label 157 has been transferred to the application device 23, the application device 23 can be moved in the longitudinal direction L to the sorting element 147. In particular, the packaging machine M and / or the labeling device 11 can have a monitoring device 115 for this purpose, which is designed to detect faulty labels 157, as will be explained below. Here, too, such sorting of incorrect labels can be provided in essentially the same implementation both in the labeling device 11 and in the labeling device 11'.

[0284] 12A and 12B illustrate an embodiment of a labeling device 11 having an application device 23 with an integrated sorting element 147. As shown in FIG. 12A, the sorting element 147 can generally be arranged outside the working area 149 of the application device 23, so that the application device 23 can apply received labels 13 to the material web 15. However, if a label 13 is to be transferred to the sorting element 147, the sorting element 147 can be moved into the working area 149 of the application device 23, as shown in FIG. 12B, so that a label 13 can be applied to the sorting element 147 by the application device 23. For this purpose, the sorting element 147 can be designed to be foldable, pivotable, sliding or slat-like and rollable, for example, wherein the sorting element 147 can be actuated, for example, pneumatically and / or by an electric motor provided for this purpose.In particular, the sorting element 147 can be controlled by a control device 109 of the labeling device 11 and / or the packaging machine M.

[0285] Figs. 13A to 13C further illustrate a possible method that can be performed upon detection of a faulty label 157. For this purpose, the illustrated embodiment of the labeling device 11 initially comprises the aforementioned monitoring device 151, which comprises a camera 153 mounted on the application device 23 and movable together with the application device 23. Furthermore, the monitoring device 51 comprises an image evaluation device 155 as part of the control device 109, which is designed to evaluate images of the labels 13 to be transferred, generated by the camera 153.The camera 153 can be designed to record labels 13 moved from the label dispenser 19 to the application device 23 and to generate monitoring images, wherein the image evaluation device 155 can be designed to compare the generated monitoring images with reference images or comparison images of correct labels 13, which can be stored in the image evaluation device 155, in order to be able to identify a faulty label 157 by this comparison.

[0286] As illustrated in Fig. 13A, labels 13 from a label stream 159 generated by the label dispenser 19 can be transferred to the applicator 23 until the missing label 157 is to be transferred to the applicator 23. Thereafter, the transfer of the missing label 157 can be delayed, and the applicator can move the labels 13 in the transverse direction Q to respective packages 17 provided in a row 61 and apply them to the packages 17 (see also Fig. 13B).

[0287] After the received labels 13 have been applied to the packaging 17, the defective label 157 can be transferred to the application device 23. Furthermore, the sorting element 147 can be brought into the working area 149 of the application device 23, whereupon the application device 23 can transfer the defective label 157 to the sorting element 147 by moving the application elements 115 and, in particular, apply it to the sorting element 147. Alternatively, the application device 23 can, for example in corresponding embodiments, for example the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 11, also be moved to a sorting element 147 supported on the packaging machine M in order to transfer the defective label 157 there.

[0288] After the incorrect label 157 has been transferred, the sorting element 147 can be moved out of the work area 149 again, and two additional labels 13 can be transferred to the application device 23 so that they can then be applied to the remaining two packages 17 in the row 61. After the incorrect label 157 has been sorted out in this way and the row 61 has been completely labeled, a number of labels 13 corresponding to the number of packages 17 per row 61 can again be transferred to the application device 23 until the next incorrect label 157 is detected and the procedure explained above can be repeated. In this way, individual incorrect labels 157 can be sorted out with only a minimal loss of time, and the application of incorrect labels 157 to packages 17 can be avoided.

[0289] 14A and 14B illustrate a further embodiment of a labeling device 11, which can be used, for example, in a packaging machine M according to one of the embodiments explained above or can form part of such a packaging machine M. As Fig. 14A shows, this embodiment of the labeling device 11 also includes a label dispenser 19, which has a label storage 69 in which a label carrier tape 71 wound into a roll 91 is arranged. Labels 13 are applied to the label carrier tape 71, and the label dispenser 19 is designed to transfer the labels 13 to an application device 23. The application device 23 is designed, as also already explained above, to apply the labels 13 received from the label dispenser 19 to the provided material web (not shown in Fig. 14A).For this purpose, a plurality of attachment elements 115 which are movable in the vertical direction C are again provided on the attachment device 23 and which reach between belts 117 for moving the labels 13 in order to be able to detach the labels 13 from the belts 117 and apply them to the material web.

[0290] In contrast to the embodiments explained above, the labeling device 11 illustrated with reference to Figs. 14A and 14B further comprises an ejection device 161 which is designed to selectively prevent the transfer of a label 158 to be ejected to the application device 23.

[0291] According to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 14A and 14B, the ejection device 161 has a deflection contour 163, which is connected to the application device 23 by a drive arm 181, so that the application device 23 comprises the ejection device 161 in the embodiment shown. In Fig. 14A, the ejection device 161 is shown in a passive position Y, in which the ejection device 161 is not in operative contact with the label carrier strip 71, so that labels 13 in the form explained above can be detached from the label carrier strip 71 by being guided over a transfer edge 89 and transferred to the application device 23 to then be applied to the material web.

[0292] However, as Fig. 14B shows, the ejection device 161 or the deflection contour 163 is movable into an ejection position Y', in which the deflection contour 163 comes into contact with a label 158 to be ejected in the region of the transfer edge 89, at which the labels 13 to be applied to the material web are released from the label carrier strip 71. Due to this contact, the label 158 to be ejected is, as it were, caught between the label carrier strip 71 and the deflection contour 163, so that detachment of the label 158 from the label carrier strip 71 is prevented and the label 158 to be ejected cannot be transferred to the application device 23, but can be ejected.For this purpose, the label 158 to be ejected can be guided around the deflection edge 89, in particular on the label carrier belt 71, and can therefore still be located on the label carrier belt 71 downstream of the transfer edge 89, in order to be able to be disposed of together with the label carrier belt 71, for example, after the label carrier belt 71 has been used up.

[0293] In particular, it can be provided to identify the aforementioned defective labels 157 as labels 158 to be ejected and therefore not to transfer them to the application device 23, so that the defective labels 157 can in particular form labels 148 to be ejected. Therefore, in the embodiments explained with reference to Figs. 14A and 14B and in the following with reference to Figs. 15A to 18B, a monitoring device 151, not shown in these figures but explained in particular above in connection with Figs. 13A and 13C, with a camera 153 and an image evaluation device 155 can be provided in order to detect defective labels 157 or labels 158 to be ejected. Furthermore, a control device 109 of the embodiment explained with reference to Fig.The labeling devices 11 illustrated in Figures 14A to 18B can also be designed to control the ejection device 161 in response to a signal from the monitoring device 151 and, in particular, to move it from the passive position Y into the ejection position Y' in order to prevent the transfer of incorrect labels 157 or labels 158 to be ejected to the application device 23 (see also, with regard to the control device 109, in particular Figures 13A to 13C).

[0294] As can be seen from the combined view of Figs. 14A and 14B, in the embodiment illustrated there, the attachment device 161 can be moved from above the transfer edge 89 from the passive position Y into the discharge position Y'. In particular, the discharge device 161 can be transferred into the discharge position Y' by a combined pivoting and extending movement of the drive arm 181.

[0295] In a further embodiment according to Fig. 15A, however, it is provided that the passive position Y is a lower position, so that, as Fig. 14B illustrates, the ejection device 161 with the deflection contour 163 can be moved from below the transfer edge 89 from the passive position Y into the ejection position Y'. In the embodiment shown there, a pressure element 165 is also provided, which is pretensioned by a spring 167 in the direction of the label carrier strip 71 and is designed to exert pressure on the label 158 to be ejected in the ejection position Y', as Fig. 15B shows. In particular, the pressure element 165 is arranged such that the pressure element 165 exerts pressure on a downstream part of the label 158 to be ejected, while the label 158 to be ejected is still partially located upstream of the transfer edge 89.Furthermore, the pressure element 165 can be designed in particular as a pressure roller.

[0296] As an alternative to such a pre-tensioned pressure element 165, according to the embodiment illustrated with reference to Figs. 18A and 18B, it can also be provided that the ejection device 161 and in particular the deflection contour 163 has a compressed air device 169 which is designed to generate a compressed air flow onto the label 158 to be ejected in the ejection position Y' in order to thereby press the label 158 to be ejected onto the label carrier tape 71 and to prevent the label 158 to be ejected from becoming detached from the label carrier tape 71. The person skilled in the art will understand that such a pressure element 165 or a compressed air device 169 can also be provided in a discharge device 161 positioned in the passive position Y above the transfer edge 89 or in conjunction with deflection contours 163 of discharge devices 161 arranged in such a way.

[0297] 16A and 16B illustrate a further embodiment of a labeling device 11 with a discharge device 161, wherein this discharge device 161 is designed to change a path 173 along which the label carrier strip 71 can be guided in order to prevent a transfer of a label 158 to be discharged. As can be seen from FIGS. 16A and 16B, the discharge device 161 comprises an inflatable discharge element 175, which forms a deflection for the label carrier strip 71 at the transfer edge 89. By inflating the inflatable element 175, a curvature K of the path 173 of the label carrier strip 71 at the transfer edge 89 can be reduced ora radius of the path 173 at the deflection edge 89 can be increased, so that the label carrier strip 71 at the transfer edge 89 in the discharge position Y' is guided over a less sharp edge, so to speak, and the label 158 to be discharged therefore does not detach from the label carrier strip 71. To enable the change in the path 173, a compensating element 179 is also provided, which can be designed, for example, as a dancer roller.

[0298] In the embodiment according to Fig. 17A, the ejection device 161 comprises a deflection element 177 and is designed to change a path 173 of the label carrier strip 71 by moving the deflection element 177. Such a movement of the deflection element 177 can also reduce a curvature K of the path 173 in the region of the transfer edge 89, in order to thereby prevent the label 158 to be ejected from becoming detached from the label carrier strip 71. In principle, all of the illustrated ejection devices 161 can be provided with the respective ejection device 161 being movable into the ejection position Y' and / or into the passive position Y by a pneumatic drive and / or an electric motor.In addition, it can be provided, for example, that the ejection device 161 is pre-tensioned into the ejection position Y' and can be moved by a drive against the pre-tension optionally into the passive position Y and held there in order to enable the labels 13 to be transferred to the application device 23.

[0299] List of reference symbols

[0300] 11 first labeling device

[0301] 11 ' second labeling device

[0302] 13 Label

[0303] 15 Material web

[0304] 17 Packaging

[0305] 19 Label dispensers 19' Label dispensers 21 Printers

[0306] 23 Attachment device

[0307] 23' attachment device

[0308] 25 Drive for the attachment device

[0309] 25' drive for the attachment device

[0310] 27 engine 27' engine 29 frame

[0311] 31 Guide device

[0312] 31 ' Guide device

[0313] 33 Guide rod

[0314] 33' guide rod

[0315] 35 sleds

[0316] 35' sled

[0317] 37 Holm

[0318] 37' Holm

[0319] 39 Exemption

[0320] 41 Connecting element

[0321] 41 ' connecting element

[0322] 43 Cladding

[0323] 45 Interior of the panel

[0324] 47 coupling element 47' coupling element 49 belt

[0325] 49' belt

[0326] 51 clamping element

[0327] 51 ' clamping element

[0328] 53 Toothed washer

[0329] 53' toothed pulley

[0330] 55 additional guide rod 55' additional guide rod 56 carriage

[0331] 56' sled

[0332] 57 Chain guide

[0333] 59 formats

[0334] 61 row

[0335] 63 track

[0336] 65 first page

[0337] 67 second page

[0338] 69 label memory

[0339] 71 Label carrier tape

[0340] 73 Holding arm

[0341] 74 Handle

[0342] 75 Deflection and / or dancer roller

[0343] 77 Vacuum device 79 Blower 81 Blower 83 Suction side

[0344] 85 printed pages

[0345] 87 Interior of the attachment device

[0346] 89 Transfer edge

[0347] 91 roll

[0348] 93 discharge roller

[0349] 95 Guide element

[0350] 97 intake manifold

[0351] 99 Separator

[0352] 101 Extension area

[0353] 103 Working page

[0354] 105 Chamber

[0355] 107 Chamber

[0356] 109 Control device

[0357] 111 Transfer section

[0358] 113 Attachment section

[0359] 115 Attachment element

[0360] 117 Belts for moving the labels

[0361] 119 sheet metal

[0362] 121 Snap connection

[0363] 123 Drive for the attachment elements

[0364] 125 servo motor

[0365] 127 Outside

[0366] 129 housings

[0367] 131 sleds

[0368] 133 Guide rod

[0369] 135 belts

[0370] 135 Drive for the belts of the attachment device

[0371] 137 Servo motor

[0372] 139 final section

[0373] 141 Timing belt

[0374] 143 Wave

[0375] 145 toothed washer

[0376] 147 Sorting element

[0377] 149 Workspace

[0378] 151 Monitoring device

[0379] 153 Camera

[0380] 155 Image evaluation device

[0381] 157 missing label

[0382] 158 label to be ejected

[0383] 159 Label stream

[0384] 161 Discharge device

[0385] 163 Deflection contour

[0386] 165 pressure element

[0387] 167 spring

[0388] 169 Compressed air device

[0389] 171 Compressed air flow

[0390] 173 track

[0391] 175 Discharge element

[0392] 177 Deflection element

[0393] 179 Compensating element

[0394] 181 Drive arm

[0395] 210 Food product

[0396] 211 Forming station

[0397] 211a Upper tool of the forming station

[0398] 211b Lower tool of the forming station 213 Insertion station

[0399] 213A Conveyor belt

[0400] 213B Conveyor belt

[0401] 214 Feed station

[0402] 215 Sealing Station

[0403] 215a Upper part of the sealing station

[0404] 215b Lower part of the sealing station

[0405] 216 Labeling station

[0406] 217 Separation station (transverse direction)

[0407] 219 Separation station (longitudinal direction)

[0408] 221 Packaging

[0409] 223 lower material web

[0410] 223A supply roll

[0411] 225 upper material web

[0412] 225a supply roll

[0413] 227 Transport device (transport chain for lower material web)

[0414] 229 Deepening

[0415] 241 Control device

[0416] 243 Sealing seam

[0417] 245 Control unit

[0418] 247 Machine frame

[0419] 250 robots

[0420] A drive side

[0421] A' drive side

[0422] B Airflow

[0423] C vertical direction

[0424] E Level of the material web

[0425] K Curvature

[0426] L longitudinal direction

[0427] M packaging machine

[0428] O Top

[0429] P1 first position

[0430] P2 second position

[0431] Q transverse direction

[0432] R direction

[0433] S support side

[0434] S' support side

[0435] U bottom

[0436] Y passive position

[0437] Y' discharge position

Claims

Claims 1. Packaging machine (M) for packaging food products (210), in particular food portions comprising one or more slices separated from a food product (210), comprising a transport device (227) which is designed to move a material web (15, 223, 225) for producing packages (17, 121) along a longitudinal direction (L), and a labeling device (11, 11') for applying labels (13) to the material web (15, 223, 225), wherein the labeling device (11, 11') has a label dispenser (19) and an application device (23) movable along the longitudinal direction (L) for applying the labels (13) to the material web (15, 223, 225), wherein the label dispenser (19) is designed to to the application device (23), wherein the labeling device (11, 11') further comprises a drive (25) which is designed toto move the attachment device (23) along the longitudinal direction (L), wherein the drive (25) comprises a motor (27) and is designed to move the attachment device (23) relative to the motor (27) along the longitudinal direction (L).

2. Packaging machine (M) according to claim 1, wherein the motor (27) is designed as a servo motor.

3. Packaging machine (M) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the motor (27) is held stationary on a frame (29) of the packaging machine (M).

4. Packaging machine (M) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment device (23) is guided for movement along the longitudinal direction (L) by a guide device (31, 31'), wherein the guide device (31, 31') is arranged on the frame (29) of the packaging machine (M).

5. Packaging machine (M) according to claim 4, wherein the guide device (31, 31') has a guide rod (33, 33') extending in the longitudinal direction (L), on which a movable by the motor (27) Carriage (35, 35') is guided, wherein the attachment device (23) is connected to the carriage (35, 35').

6. Packaging machine (M) according to claim 5, wherein the guide rod (33, 33') is arranged on a lateral beam (37, 37') of the frame (29) of the packaging machine (M) extending in the longitudinal direction (L).

7. Packaging machine (M) according to claim 6, wherein the spar (37, 37') has on an upper side (O) a clearance (39) in which the guide rod (33, 33') is arranged.

8. Packaging machine (M) according to claim 7, wherein the attachment device (23) is connected to the carriage (35, 35') above the clearance (39).

9. Packaging machine (M) according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the motor is arranged in an interior space (45) of the spar (37, 37').

10. Packaging machine (M) according to one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the motor is connected to the carriage (35, 35') by a coupling element (47), in particular a belt (49), and is designed to move the carriage (35, 35') by driving the coupling element (47). 1 1. Packaging machine (M) according to claim 10, wherein the coupling element (47) is designed as a circulating belt (49), in particular wherein the belt (49) is interrupted and respective ends of the belt (49) are fastened, in particular clamped, to the carriage (35, 35').

12. Packaging machine (M) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the coupling element (47) is guided in an interior space (45) of a lateral beam (37, 37') of the packaging machine (M).

13. Packaging machine (M) according to one of claims 5 to 12, wherein the guide rod (33, 33') is arranged on a drive side (A, A') of the labeling device (11, 11') on the packaging machine (M) and wherein the guide device (31, 31') has a further guide rod (55, 55') which is extends along the longitudinal direction (L) and is arranged on a support side (S, S') opposite the drive side (A, A') on the packaging machine (M), wherein the attachment device (23) is supported on the support side (S, S') via a further carriage (56, 56') movable along the further guide rod (55, 55').

14. Packaging machine (M) according to claim 13, wherein the motor (27) is arranged on the drive side (A, A').

15. Packaging machine (M) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the further guide rod (55, 55') is supported on the frame (29) of the packaging machine (M).

16. Packaging machine (M) according to one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the frame (29) of the packaging machine (M) has on the drive side (A, A') and on the support side (S, S') a respective outer bar (37, 37') extending along the longitudinal direction (L), and wherein the packaging machine (M) comprises a chain guide (57) for moving the material web (15, 223, 225), wherein the guide rod (33, 33') is arranged on the bar (37, 37') arranged on the drive side (A, A') and wherein the further guide rod (55, 55') (33, 33') is arranged between the chain guide (57) and the bar (37, 37') arranged on the support side (S, S').

17. Packaging machine (M) according to one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the further guide rod (55, 55') (33, 33') is arranged above the guide rod (33, 33'), or wherein the further guide rod (55, 55') (33, 33') is arranged below the guide rod (33, 33').

18. Packaging machine (M) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive (25) is arranged at least substantially below a plane (E) in which the material web (15, 223, 225) is guided.

19. Packaging machine (M) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the label dispenser (19) is movable by the drive (25) together with the application device (23) along the longitudinal direction (L).

20. Packaging machine (M) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the application device (23) is arranged above the material web (15, 225) and is designed to apply labels (13) to an upper side (O) of the material web (15, 223, 225) on the material web (15, 223, 225); or wherein the application device (23) is arranged below the material web (15, 223, 225) and is designed to apply labels (13) to an underside (U) of the material web (15, 223, 225) on the material web (223). 21 . Packaging machine (M) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging machine (M) is designed to move the material web (15, 223, 225) in cycles and to provide, in each cycle, a format (59) of a plurality of packages (17, 121) (17) formed in the material web (15, 223, 225) for a cycle break, wherein the format (59) comprises a matrix of n tracks (63) arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction (L) and m rows (61) arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction (L), wherein the application device (23) is designed to simultaneously label n packages (17, 121) (17) arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction (L), and wherein the drive (25) is designed to move the application device (23) during the cycle break successively to the m rows (61) for labeling the respective n To move packaging (17, 121 ) (17).

22. Packaging machine (M) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging machine (M) has a first labeling device (11) and a second labeling device (11'), wherein the application device (23) of the first labeling device (11) is arranged above the material web (15, 223, 225) and is designed to apply labels (13) to an upper side (O) of the material web (15, 225), in particular an upper side (O) of an upper material web (225), and wherein the application device (23) of the second labeling device (11') is arranged below the material web (15, 223, 225) and is designed to apply labels (13) to an underside (U) of the material web (223), in particular an underside (U) of a lower material web (223).

23. Packaging machine (M) according to claim 22, wherein the first labelling device (11) and the second labelling device (11') have a respective drive (25) with a motor (27) for moving the respective application device (23), wherein the motor (27) of the drive (25) of the first labelling device (11) is held stationary on a frame (29) of the packaging machine (M) on a first side (65) of the packaging machine (M) and wherein the motor (27) of the drive (25) of the second labelling device (11') is held on one of the first sides (65) of the packaging machine (M) opposite the second side (67) of the packaging machine (M) is held stationary on the frame (29).

24. Labeling device (11, 11') for applying labels (13) to a material web (15, 223, 225) which is moved along a longitudinal direction (L) by a packaging machine (M) for producing packaging (17, 121) (17, 221) for food products (210), in particular a labeling device (11, 11') of a packaging machine (M) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the labeling device (11, 11') has a label dispenser (19) and an application device (23) movable along the longitudinal direction (L) for applying the labels (13) to the material web (15, 223, 225), wherein the label dispenser (19) is designed to transfer labels (13) to be applied to the application device (23), wherein the Labeling device (11, 11') further comprises a drive (25) which is designed to move the application device (23) along the longitudinal direction (L),wherein the drive (25) comprises a motor (27) and is designed to move the attachment device (23) relative to the motor (27) along the longitudinal direction (L).

25. Labeling device (11, 11') for applying labels (13) to a material web (15, 223, 225) which is moved along a longitudinal direction (L) by a packaging machine (M) for producing packaging (17, 121) for food products (210), in particular according to claim 24, wherein the labeling device (11, 11') has a label dispenser (19) for providing the labels (13) and an application device (23) for applying the labels (13) to the material web (15, 223, 225), wherein the label dispenser (19) is designed to transfer labels (13) to be applied to the application device (23), wherein the label dispenser (19) has a label storage (69) in which a label carrier tape (71) rolled up into a roll (91) ) on which the labels (13) to be transferred to the application device (23) are provided,wherein the label storage (69) is movable into a first position (P1) and into a second position (P2) different from the first position (P1), wherein the label dispenser (19) is designed to transfer the labels (13) to the application device (23) both when the label storage (69) is positioned in the first position (P1) and when the label storage (69) is positioned in the second position (P2).

26. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 25, wherein the roll (91) is interchangeable with a new roll (91) of rolled-up label carrier tape (71) both in the first position (P1) of the label storage (69) and in the second position (P2) of the label storage (69).

27. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the label storage (69) is arranged higher in the first position (P1) than in the second position (P2).

28. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the first position (P1) and the second position (P2) represent respective end positions with respect to a mobility of the label storage (69), which is movable between the first position (P1) and the second position (P2), wherein the label dispenser (19) is designed to transfer the labels (13) to the application device (23) in each position of the label storage (69) between the first position (P1) and the second position (P2).

29. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 25 to 28, wherein the label storage (69) is further away from the application device (23) in the horizontal direction in the second position (P2) than in the first position (P1).

30. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 25 to 29, wherein the label storage (69) is pivotable between the first position (P1) and the second position (P2), in particular about a horizontal pivot axis; and / or wherein the label dispenser (19) has a pivotable holding arm (73), wherein the label storage (69) is movable by pivoting the holding arm (73) between the first position (P1) and the second position (P2).

31. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 25 to 30, wherein the label carrier strip (71) can be guided to the application device (23) via a plurality of deflection and / or dancer rollers (75).

32. Packaging machine (M) for packaging food products (210), in particular food portions comprising one or more slices separated from a food product (210), comprising a transport device (227) which is designed to move a material web (15, 223, 225) for producing packaging (17, 121) along a longitudinal direction (L), and a labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 25 to 31.

33. Labeling device (11, 11') for applying labels (13) to a material web (15, 223, 225) which is moved along a longitudinal direction (L) by a packaging machine (M) for producing packaging (17, 121) for food products (210), in particular according to claim 24, and / or in particular according to one of claims 25 to 31, wherein the labeling device (11, 11') has a label dispenser (19) for providing the labels (13) and an application device (23) for applying the labels (13) to the material web (15, 223, 225), wherein the label dispenser (19) is designed to provide the labels (13) on a label carrier tape (71) and to transfer the provided labels (13) to the application device (23), wherein the Attachment device (23) has a vacuum device (77) which is designed toto generate a negative pressure in an interior space (87) of the application device (23) for sucking (97) the provided labels (13) onto a working side (103) of the application device (23), wherein the negative pressure device (77) is designed to vary a strength of the negative pressure generated in the interior space (87) spatially and / or temporally.

34. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 33, wherein the label dispenser (19) is designed to guide the label carrier tape (71) over a transfer edge (89) for transferring the labels (13) to the application device (23), wherein the labels (13) can be detached from the label carrier tape (71) by guiding the label carrier tape (71) over the transfer edge (89).

35. Labeling device (1 1 , 1 1 ') according to claim 33 or 34, wherein the vacuum device (77) has at least one blower (79, 81 ) whose suction side (83) lies in the interior (87) of the application device (23) and whose pressure side (85) lies outside the interior (87) of the application device (23).

36. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 35, wherein in the interior space (87) of the attachment device (23) and / or in a region of the suction side (83) of the blower (79) at least one guide element (95) is arranged for the targeted guidance of an air flow (B) generated by the blower (79) in the interior space (87).

37. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 36, wherein the guide element (95) or at least a part thereof is movable.

38. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 36 or 37, wherein the guide element (95) is arranged to deflect an air flow (B) generated by the fan (79) such that the air flow (B) on the working side (103) of the application device (23) is aligned substantially perpendicular to an extension surface (101) of the labels (13).

39. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 36 to 38, wherein the interior is divided into at least two chambers (105, 107) by the guide element (95), wherein the strength of the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure device (77) in the chambers (105, 107) differs.

40. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 33 to 39, wherein the labeling device (11, 11') has a control device (109), wherein the control device (109) is designed to control the vacuum device (77) to change the strength of the generated vacuum.

41. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 40, wherein the vacuum device (77) has a plurality of fans (79) for generating the vacuum, wherein the control device (109) is designed to control the fans (79) individually to change an air flow (B) generated by the respective fan (79).

42. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 40 or 41, wherein the control device (109) is designed to control the vacuum device (77) to increase the strength of the vacuum when labels (13) are taken over and / or to reduce the strength of the vacuum when the labels (13) are applied to the material web (15, 223, 225).

43. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 33 to 42, wherein the vacuum device (77) is designed to generate an increased vacuum in a receiving section (111) of the application device (23) facing the transfer edge (89).

44. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 43, wherein a separating element (99) is arranged in the interior space (87) of the application device (23), which separating element prevents an exchange of air between the transfer section (111) and an application section (113) of the application device (23) adjoining the transfer section (111).

45. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 43 or 44, wherein the vacuum device (77) has at least one blower (81) arranged in the transfer section (111) for generating the increased vacuum.

46. ​​Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 45, wherein at least one further blower (79) for generating a negative pressure is arranged in the attachment section (113).

47. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 33 to 46, wherein the application device (23) has a plurality of application elements (115) which can be moved substantially perpendicular to an extension surface (101) of the received labels (13), wherein the received labels (13) can be applied to the material web (15, 223, 225) by moving the application elements (115), and wherein the application elements (115) are arranged in the interior space (87) of the application device (23).

48. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 47, wherein the application device (23) has a plurality of belts (117) movable transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) for moving the received labels (13), wherein the application elements (115) are designed to reach through between adjacent, spaced-apart belts (117) for applying the labels (13) to the material web (15, 223, 225).

49. Packaging machine (M) for packaging food products (210), in particular food portions comprising one or more slices separated from a food product (210), comprising a transport device (227) which is designed to move a material web (15, 223, 225) for producing packaging (17, 121) along a longitudinal direction (L), and a labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 33 to 48.

50. Labeling device (11, 11') for applying labels (13) to a material web (15, 223, 225) which is moved along a longitudinal direction (L) by a packaging machine (M) for producing packaging (17, 121) for food products (210), in particular according to claim 24, and / or in particular according to one of claims 25 to 31, and / or in particular according to one of claims 33 to 48, wherein the labeling device (11, 11') comprises a label dispenser (19) for providing the Labels (13) and an application device (23) for applying the labels (13) to the material web (15, 223, 225), wherein the label dispenser (19) is designed to transfer labels (13) to be applied to the application device (23), wherein the application device (23) has a plurality of application elements (115) arranged in a housing (129), which are movable substantially perpendicular to an extension surface (101) of the labels (13) transferred from the label dispenser (19), wherein the labels (13) can be detached from the application device (23) by moving the application elements (115) and can be applied to the material web (15, 223, 225), wherein the application device (23) has a drive (123) for moving the application elements (115), wherein the drive (123) comprises a servo motor (125).

51. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 50, wherein the servo motor (125) is arranged on an outer side (127) of the housing (129) of the application device (23).

52. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 50 or 51, wherein the attachment elements (115) are arranged on a carriage (131), wherein the carriage (131) is guided on at least one guide rod (133) arranged in the housing (129), wherein the carriage (131) is drivable by the servo motor (125).

53. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 50 to 52, wherein the application device (23) has a plurality of belts (117) movable transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) for moving the labels (13), wherein the application elements (115) are designed to reach through between adjacent, mutually offset belts (117).

54. Labeling device (11, 11') for applying labels (13) to a material web (15, 223, 225) which is moved along a longitudinal direction (L) by a packaging machine (M) for producing packaging (17, 121) for food products (210), in particular according to claim 24, and / or in particular according to one of claims 25 to 31, and / or in particular according to one of claims 33 to 48, and / or in particular according to one of claims 50 to 53, wherein the labeling device (11, 11') comprises a label dispenser (19) for providing the Labels (13) and an application device (23) for applying the labels (13) to the material web (15, 223, 225), wherein the label dispenser (19) is designed to transfer labels (13) to be applied to the application device (23), wherein the application device (23) has a plurality of belts (117) movable transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) for moving the labels (13) and a drive (135) for moving the belts (117), wherein the drive comprises a servo motor (137).

55. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 54, wherein the servo motor (137) is arranged in a housing (129) of the application device (23).

56. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 54 or 55, wherein the servo motor (137) is arranged at an end portion (139) of the housing (129) which is opposite a transfer portion (111) of the application device (23), at which the labels (13) provided by the label dispenser (19) can be transferred to the application device (23).

57. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 54 to 56, wherein the servo motor (137) is connected via a toothed belt (141) to a shaft (143) driving the belts (117).

58. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 54 to 57, wherein the servo motor (137) is aligned in the longitudinal direction (L).

59. Packaging machine (M) for packaging food products (210), in particular food portions comprising one or more slices separated from a food product (210), comprising a transport device (227) which is designed to move a material web (15, 223, 225) for producing packages (17, 121) along a longitudinal direction (L), and a labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 54 to 58.

60. Packaging machine (M) for packaging food products (210), in particular food portions comprising one or more slices separated from a food product (210), comprising a transport device (227) which is designed to move a material web (15, 223, 225) for producing packages (17, 121) along a longitudinal direction (L), and a labeling device (11, 11') for applying labels (13) to the material web (15, 223, 225), in particular a labeling device (11, 11T) according to claim 24, and / or in particular a labeling device (11, 11T) according to one of claims 25 to 31, and / or in particular a labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 33 to 48, and / or in particular a labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 50 to 58, wherein the labeling device (11,1 T) has a label dispenser (19) and an application device (23) for applying labels (13) located in a working area (149) of the application device (23) to the material web (15, 223, 225), wherein the label dispenser (19) is designed to transfer labels (13) to be applied to the application device (23), and, wherein the application device (23) is designed to apply labels (13) received from the label dispenser (19) selectively to the material web (15, 223, 225) or to transfer them to a sorting element (147).

61. Packaging machine (M) according to claim 60, wherein the sorting element (147) is arranged stationary on the packaging machine (M), in particular bridging the material web (15, 223, 225) transversely to the longitudinal direction (L), wherein the attachment device (23) is movable to the sorting element (147).

62. Packaging machine (M) according to claim 60 or 61, wherein the sorting element (147) is supported on the packaging machine (M) and is selectively movable into the working area (149) of the application device (23).

63. Packaging machine (M) according to one of claims 60 to 62, wherein the sorting element (147) comprises a windable sorting web, in particular a film, supported on the packaging machine (M).

64. Packaging machine (M) according to one of claims 60, wherein the sorting element (147) is supported on the attachment device (23) and is selectively movable into the working area (149) of the attachment device (23).

65. Packaging machine (M) according to one of claims 64, wherein the sorting element (147) is slidable, foldable and / or pivotable into the working area (149).

66. Packaging machine (M) according to one of claims 64 or 65, wherein the sorting element (147) is designed in the manner of a slat, in particular wherein the sorting element (147) is movable from an arrangement on an outer side (127) of a housing (129) of the attachment device (23) into the working area (149) and / or in particular wherein the sorting element (147) is movable from a vertical orientation on an outer side (127) of the attachment device (23) into a horizontal orientation when arranged in the working area (149).

67. Packaging machine (M) according to one of claims 60 to 66, wherein the packaging machine (M) has a monitoring device (151) for checking the labels (13) transferred to the application device (23) and a control device (109), wherein the control device (109) is designed to control the application device (23) in dependence on a signal from the monitoring device (151) for applying the labels (13) on the material web (15, 223, 225) or on the sorting element (147).

68. Packaging machine (M) according to one of claims 67, wherein the monitoring device (151) has at least one camera (153) and an image evaluation device (155), wherein the camera (153) is designed to record inspection images of the labels (13) before application to the material web (15, 223, 225), wherein the image evaluation device (155) is designed to identify faulty labels (157) on the basis of the inspection images, and wherein the control device (109) is designed to control the application device (23) to transfer the faulty labels (157) to the sorting element (147).

69. Packaging machine (M) according to claim 68, wherein the camera (153) is attached to the attachment device (23) and / or is movable together with the attachment device (23).

70. Packaging machine (M) according to one of claims 67 to 69, wherein the control device (109) is designed to prevent and / or delay the transfer of faulty labels (157) to the application device (23).

71. Packaging machine (M) according to one of claims 67 to 70, wherein the control device (109) is designed to generate a fault message upon detection of a sequence of faulty labels (157).

72. Labeling device (11, 11') for applying labels (13) to a material web (15, 223, 225) which is moved along a longitudinal direction (L) by a packaging machine (M) for producing packaging (17, 121) for food products (210), in particular according to claim 24, and / or in particular according to one of claims 25 to 31, and / or in particular according to one of claims 33 to 48, and / or in particular according to one of claims 50 to 58, wherein the labeling device (11, 11') comprises a label dispenser (19) for providing the Labels (13) and an application device (23) for applying labels (13) located in a working area (149) of the application device (23) to the material web (15, 223, 225), wherein the label dispenser (19) is designed to transfer labels (13) to be applied to the application device (23), and wherein the application device (23) is designed to apply labels (13) received from the label dispenser (19) selectively to the material web (15, 223, 225) or to a sorting element (147).

73. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 72, wherein the sorting element (147) is supported on the application device (23) and is selectively movable into the working area (149) of the application device (23).

74. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 72 or 73, wherein the sorting element (147) is slidable, foldable and / or pivotable into the working area (149).

75. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 72 to 74, wherein the sorting element (147) is designed in a slat-like manner, in particular wherein the sorting element (147) is movable from an arrangement on an outer side (127) of a housing (129) of the application device (23) into the working area (149); and / or in particular wherein the sorting element (147) is movable from a vertical orientation into a horizontal orientation when arranged in the working area (149).

76. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 72 to 75, wherein the labeling device (11, 11') has a monitoring device (151) for checking the labels (13) transferred to the application device (23) and a control device (109), wherein the control device (109) is designed to control the application device (23) in dependence on a signal from the monitoring device (151) for applying the labels (13) to the material web (15, 223, 225) or to the sorting element (147).

77. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 76, wherein the monitoring device (151) has at least one camera (153) and an image evaluation device (155), wherein the camera (153) is designed to To record inspection images of the labels (13) before application to the material web (15, 223, 225), wherein the image evaluation device (155) is designed to identify faulty labels (157) on the basis of the inspection images, in particular wherein the camera (153) is arranged on the application device (23) and / or is movable together with the application device (23).

78. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 76 or 77, wherein the control device (109) is designed to generate a fault message upon detection of a sequence of faulty labels (157).

79. Method for operating a packaging machine (M), in particular a packaging machine (M) according to one of claims 60 to 71, in which: a material web (15, 223, 225) is moved by the packaging machine (M) along a longitudinal direction (L), packages (17, 121) are produced from the material web (15, 223, 225), labels (13) to be applied to the packages (17, 121) are transferred to an application device (23) of a labeling device (11, 11'), and the labels (13) are applied to the packages (17, 121) by the application device (23), faulty labels (157) being transferred from the labeling device (11, 11') to a sorting element (147).

80. Method according to claim 79, wherein the labels (13) to be applied are checked by a monitoring device (151).

81. Method according to claim 79 or 80, wherein a plurality of packages (17, 121) lying next to one another transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) are labelled simultaneously by applying a respective label by means of the application device (23) of the labelling device (11, 11'), wherein after transfer of a faulty label (157) the labels (13, 157) transferred to the application device (23) are transferred to the sorting element (147).

82. Method according to one of claims 79 to 81, wherein a plurality of packages (17, 121) lying next to one another transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) are labeled simultaneously by applying a respective label by means of the application device (23) of the labeling device (11, 11'), wherein upon detection of a faulty label (157) in a label stream (159) provided by a label dispenser (19): the label (13) to be transferred to the application device (23) before the faulty label (157) is transferred to the application device (23), the transfer of the labels (13) to the application device (23) is stopped, the labels (13) transferred to the application device (23) are applied to associated packages (17, 121), the faulty label (157) is transferred to the Attaching device (23) and transferred to the sorting element (147), one of the number of packages on which no label (13) has yet been applied,corresponding number of labels (13) and / or a number of labels (13) up to a next faulty label (157) in the label stream (159) is transferred to the application device (23), and the transferred labels (13) are applied to the not yet labelled packages (17, 121) of the plurality of packages (17, 121).

83. Method according to one of claims 79 to 82, wherein the application device (23) is moved to the sorting element (147) for transferring the faulty label (157) to the sorting element (147), or wherein the sorting element (147) is moved into a working area (149) of the application device (23) for receiving the faulty label (157).

84. Method according to one of claims 79 to 83, wherein an error message is generated upon detection of several consecutive faulty labels (157).

85. Labeling device (11, 11') for applying labels (13) to a material web (15, 223, 225) which is moved along a longitudinal direction (L) by a packaging machine (M) for producing packaging (17, 121) for food products (210), in particular according to claim 24, and / or in particular according to one of claims 25 to 31, and / or in particular according to one of claims 33 to 48, and / or in particular according to one of claims 50 to 58, and / or in particular according to one of claims 72 to 78, wherein the labeling device (11, 11') has a label dispenser (19) for providing the labels (13) and an application device (23) for applying the labels (13) to the material web (15, 223, 225), wherein the label dispenser (19) is designed to transfer labels (13) to be applied to the application device (23), and wherein the labeling device (11, 11') has an ejection device (161) which is designed to selectively prevent the transfer of a label (158) to be ejected to the application device (23).

86. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 85, wherein the ejection device (161) is movable between a passive position (Y) and an ejection position (Y'), wherein the labels (13) to be applied can be transferred to the application device (23) in the passive position (Y) of the ejection device (161), and wherein the transfer of the label (158) to be ejected can be prevented by moving the ejection device (161) into the ejection position (Y').

87. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 86, wherein the ejection device (161) is pivotable, foldable, and / or translationally displaceable from the passive position (Y) into the ejection position (Y'); and / or wherein a shape of the ejection device (161) is changeable for moving the ejection device (161) from the passive position (Y) into the ejection position (Y').

88. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 86 or 87, wherein the label dispenser (19) has a label storage (69) into which a label carrier tape (71) rolled up into a roll (91) can be inserted, on which the labels (13) to be transferred to the application device (23) are provided, and wherein the label dispenser (19) is designed to guide the label carrier tape (71) over a transfer edge (89) for transferring the labels (13) to the application device (23) and thereby to detach them from the label carrier tape (71), wherein the ejection device (161) is designed to prevent the label (158) to be ejected from becoming detached from the label carrier tape (71) in the ejection position (161).

89. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 88, wherein the passive position (Y) corresponds to an upper position and wherein the ejection device (161) is movable from above the transfer edge (89) into the ejection position (Y'); or wherein the passive position (Y) corresponds to a lower position and wherein the ejection device (161) is movable from below the transfer edge (89) into the ejection position (Y'); and / or wherein the ejection device (161) is positioned laterally spaced from the transfer edge (89) in the passive position (Y) and is movable into the ejection position (Y') by a lateral movement towards the transfer edge (89).

90. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 88 or 89, wherein the ejection device (161) has a deflection contour (163) which is designed to hold the label (158) to be ejected at the transfer edge (89) on the label carrier tape (71).

91. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 90, wherein the deflection contour (163) can be brought into contact with the label carrier strip (71) moved around the transfer edge (89) and / or with the label (158) to be ejected, moved around the transfer edge (89), by moving the ejection device (161) into the ejection position (Y').

92. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 88 to 91, wherein the ejection device (163) is designed to exert pressure on the label (158) to be ejected at the transfer edge (89) in order to prevent the label (158) to be ejected from becoming detached from the label carrier tape (71).

93. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 92, wherein the ejection device (161) for developing the pressure comprises a pressure element (165), in particular a pressure roller, which is in particular pneumatically deflectable and / or spring-biased in the direction of the transfer edge (89), and / or wherein the ejection device (161) for developing the pressure has a compressed air device (169) which is designed to generate a compressed air flow (171) directed towards the label (158) to be ejected.

94. Labelling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 88 to 93, wherein the ejection device (161) is designed to prevent the transfer of the label (158) to be ejected from a path (173) of the label carrier bands (71) around the transfer edge (89), in particular to reduce a curvature (K) of the web (173) at the transfer edge (89).

95. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 94, wherein the ejection device (161) comprises an inflatable ejection element (175), wherein the path (173) of the label carrier tape (71) is variable by inflating the inflatable ejection element (175), and wherein the label carrier tape (71) is movable along the inflated ejection element (175).

96. Labeling device (11, 11') according to claim 95, wherein the inflatable discharge element (175) is arranged downstream of the transfer edge (89) with respect to the path (173) of the label carrier strip (71), or wherein the inflatable discharge element (175) is integrated into the transfer edge (89), in particular forming a deflection of the label carrier strip (71) at the transfer edge (89).

97. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 94 to 96, wherein the discharge device (161) for changing the path (173) has a deflection element (177), in particular a deflection roller, which can be brought into contact with the label carrier strip (71) as desired.

98. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 94 to 97, further comprising at least one compensating element (179), in particular a rocker, a pressure roller and / or a dancer roller, which is designed to adapt a path (173) of the label carrier strip (71) downstream of the transfer edge (89) to the change in the path (173) of the label carrier strip (71) around the transfer edge (89).

99. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 85 to 98, wherein the ejection device (161) is arranged on the application device (23); or wherein the label dispenser (19) comprises the ejection device (161).

100. Labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 85 to 99, wherein the labeling device (11, 11') has a monitoring device (151) for checking the labels (13) transferred to the application device (23) and a control device (109), wherein the monitoring device is designed to identify the label (158) to be ejected, and wherein the control device device (109) is designed to control the ejection device (161) in dependence on a signal from the monitoring device (151) to prevent the transfer of the label (158) to be ejected.

101. A packaging machine (M) for packaging food products (210), in particular food portions comprising one or more slices separated from a food product (210), comprising a transport device (227) designed to move a material web (15, 223, 225) for producing packages (17, 121) along a longitudinal direction (L), and a labeling device (11, 11') according to one of claims 85 to 100.

102. Method for operating a packaging machine (M), in particular a packaging machine (M) according to claim 101, in which: a material web (15, 223, 225) is moved by the packaging machine (M) along a longitudinal direction (L), packages (17, 121) are produced from the material web (15, 223, 225), labels (13) to be applied to the packages (17, 121) are transferred to an application device (23) of a labeling device (11, 11'), and the labels (13) are applied to the packages (17, 121) by the application device (23), wherein a transfer of faulty labels (157) to the application device (23) is prevented by an ejection device (161) of the labeling device (11).

Images