EP0711209B1 - Process and device for removing shrink-wraps and allround labels from receptacles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for removing shrink sleeves or all-round labels from Vessels according to the preamble of claim 1 and the Preamble of claim 10.

There are already procedures for removing vessels enveloping shrink sleeves or wrap-around labels known initially one essentially transverse to the circumferential direction of a Shrink sleeve or an all-round label Create dividing line. Then it tries to severed all-round label or the shrink sleeve through in essentially aligned radially to the outer wall of the vessel Blow off fluid jets (compressed air, water jets) (EP 0 587 358 A1) or by suction devices from Vacuum the outer wall of the vessel. It has been shown that especially the detachment of the labels or shrink sleeves causes difficulties after creating the dividing line.

Accordingly, the invention is based on the object Method and apparatus to specify the one improved detachment of the labels or shrink sleeves enables.

This task is concerned with the procedure by the characterizing features of claim 1 and the device regarding by the characterizing features of the claim 10 solved.

The creation of a dividing line in the equipment material (All-round label, shrink sleeve) can be known in itself Way e.g. by means of a cutting blade or High pressure water jet take place, for which the vessels preferably in an axial clamping between her Head and its bottom surface on a feed dog, in the Usually a continuously driven turntable become. After creating the dividing line, the vessels, e.g. Plastic beverage bottles (PET), for removal of the equipment material in the area near the Mouth kept bottom-free, so that the equipment material by obliquely from above, essentially axially to Fluid outer jets aligned with high Pressure preferably above the top of the Hit equipment material on the outer wall of the vessel, is replaced.

Due to the bottom-free suspension of the vessels there is one problem-free, trouble-free removal of the replaced Equipment material realizable.

The method and the device suitable for this are particularly advantageous in beverage filling lines for Reusable bottles, especially plastic bottles (PET), with a neck collar can be used below the mouth. Because of the Neck collar is good handling of the bottles during the removal of the equipment material possible.

The fluid jets can be compressed air and / or Pressurized water can be generated. When using water or another suitable liquid can be a closed Cycle generated by the washed away Equipment and the liquid below the Bottles collected, the equipment separated and fed, for example, to a press for compression and the liquid collected in a container by a Pump fed to the jet nozzles for reuse becomes. If necessary, a cleaning of the Liquid through filtration or other measures performed. You can also use the liquid Cleaning substances to be mixed in with the Removal of the equipment material already one Carry out pre-cleaning of the outside of the bottle.

According to a further embodiment, it is special advantageous if the bottles during loading its outside by the fluid jets around its vertical axis be rotated so that even when using stationary arranged jet nozzles substantially approximately the entire circumference of a bottle is acted upon by the fluid. It is advantageous to use several jet nozzles in a row to be arranged along both sides of the bottle movement path, preferably with decreasing height in the direction of transport seen. Furthermore, it can be beneficial to the individual Fluid jets at different angles on the Let the bottle wall hit, preferably the Adjustable jet nozzles.

Further advantageous training of the method and Device are specified in the subclaims.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine Maschine zum Entfernen von Ausstattungsmaterial,

Fig. 2

einen vertikalen Teilschnitt entlang der Schnittlinie II-II durch die in Fig. 1 dargestellte Maschine,

Fig. 3

einen vertikalen Schnitt entlang der Linie III-III durch die in Fig. 1 dargestellte Maschine,

Fig. 4

eine vergrößerte Schnittdarstellung der in Fig. 3 abgebildete Flaschenhaltevorrichtung und

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht auf die in den Fig. 3 und 4 abgebildete Halterung der Strahldüsen.

A preferred exemplary embodiment is explained below with reference to the figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

1 shows a schematic top view of a machine for removing equipment material,

Fig. 2

2 shows a vertical partial section along the section line II-II through the machine shown in FIG. 1,

Fig. 3

2 shows a vertical section along the line III-III through the machine shown in FIG. 1,

Fig. 4

an enlarged sectional view of the bottle holder shown in Fig. 3 and

Fig. 5

a plan view of the mounting of the jet nozzles shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The machine shown schematically in Fig. 1 for Removing equipment has a table top 1, on the continuously rotating drive a turntable 2 with an associated star wheel 7 and an Auslaufsternrad 9 is rotatably mounted. To feed the to Treating bottles 4 is the inlet star wheel 7 Infeed conveyor belt 5 assigned to a feed screw 6, which, like the feed belt 5, the infeed starwheel 7 and the outlet starwheel 9 synchronously with the position Rotary table 2 is driven. Between the star wheel 7 and the outlet star wheel 9 there is a guide bend 8. Two curved ones are stationary over the outlet star wheel 9 Guide rails 40 and 41 arranged together a Form a guide slot for the bottle heads, whose clear width is slightly larger than that Outside diameter of a bottle head. To the Guide rail 40 closes a straight, stationary held friction bar 42, which up to one Conveyor 50 with an associated conveyor screw 51 extends. At a distance from one another is over Sprockets 43 and 44 synchronized with the outlet star 9 drivable chain 45 arranged with a uniform Pitch spacing is freely rotatable in pairs Rolls 46 carries.

In the area between the outlet star wheel 9 and the Conveyor belt 50 are straight along both sides Conveyor path of the bottles 4 a plurality of jet nozzles 60 arranged one behind the other. In the area of the jet nozzles 60 below that between the outlet star wheel 9 and the Conveyor belt 50 bottles 4 hanging from the floor Collecting funnel 70 arranged (Fig. 3).

The turntable 2 (Fig. 2) carries with even Pitch a large number of bottle plates 3 on are arranged in a pitch circle. This bottle plate 3 can be rotatably mounted on the bottle table 2, wherein the rotational position by an associated drive 20 (Actuator, curve control or the like.) Can be manipulated. As can be seen from FIG. 2, it is at a distance above the turntable 2, one not shown in FIG. 1 Carrying disc 11 arranged in parallel, the same as that Rotary table 2- non-rotatable with a rotating driven Medium shaft 12 is connected. On the circumference of the support disk 11 can be lifted and lowered in alignment with the bottle plates 3 Centering cone or bells 19 arranged, each Centering cone 19 freely rotatable at the lower end of a Guide rod 17 is mounted, which can be raised and lowered on Scope of the support plate 11 is slidably mounted on it is equipped with a cam roller 18 at the upper end. This Cam roller 18 engages in a form-fitting manner by means of a Holding column 16 and a boom 15 held stationary Control curve 13 a.

Between the turntable 2 and the one above it Carrier 11 are radially within the orbit of the clamped axially between its mouth and bottom surface held bottle 4 two parallel to the cooking axis 23 of the Bottle 4 guide rods 21 aligned in a running manner attached. On these guide rods 21 is a support body 22 slidably mounted on its radially inward to the center shaft 12 facing one in a stationary held control curve 26 engaging positively Has cam roller 25. On its radially outward Bottle 4 facing side is the support body 22 with a Provide slot in which a horizontal bearing axis 27 is arranged on which a knife 31 is pivotally mounted is that by a compression spring 28 towards the outside The lateral surface of the bottle 4 is permanently applied. The Knife 31 has one of the lateral surface of the bottle 4 cutting edge pointing radially outwards 24. The arrangement of the Knife 31 is chosen so that the tip of the knife through the compression spring 28 is pressed against the lateral surface, the control cam 26 is designed so that the knife 31 with its tip over the top of the bottle 4 adhesive all-round labels or the shrink sleeve 30 attaches and then moved downwards in the cutting direction S. becomes. The knife tip penetrates during this downward movement between the outer surface of the bottle 4 and the back of the label 30. The label 30 is replaced by the cutting edge 24 directed from its rear to The front is severed. The generated axial dividing line in label 30 is essentially parallel to Vertical axis 23 of the bottle 4. Instead of the one shown Cam roller 25 and cam 26 can open and Movement of the knife 31 also by any other suitable Actuator, e.g. a controlled one Pneumatic cylinders can be generated.

Detaching the already transverse to the circumferential direction cut labels or shrink sleeves 30 takes place in that shown in Fig. 3 seen in the conveying direction Transfer station. The bottles 4 become radial at the top between the one with a longitudinal groove equipped stationary friction bar 42 and one opposite roller pair 46 held. The free rotatable rollers 46 have one over their entire circumference running groove that is used to accommodate the below the mouth the bottle 4 located neck collar 14 is used. This Neck collar 14 is also in from the aforementioned groove the friction strip 42 added. From the neck collar 14 downward is the entire lateral surface of the floor-hanging Bottle 4 for the jet nozzles 60 at an angle from above dispensed fluid jets 80 freely accessible. The Fluid jets 80 hit the at an acute angle Shell surface of the free-hanging bottle 4, preferably over the top of the severed label 30 so that at least part of the fluid between the outer wall of the vessel and the Back of the label can penetrate, causing the label 30 is replaced quickly and reliably. Are preferred as Fluid jets 80 pressurized water jets used.

The water flowing down from the outside of the bottle and the labels 30 detached from the bottle 4 become 30 by one arranged under the bottles 4, on his Bottom open collecting funnel 70 collected and on a label discharge device 71 arranged underneath submitted. The label discharge device 71 consists of one guided over two drivable rollers 72 and 73 Sieve belt 74 or the like., Which is permeable to water. Thereby can the water flowing out of the collecting funnel 70 unhindered in a standing under the sieve belt 74, above drain open collection container 76 while the deposited labels 30 laterally into the funnel one Label press 75 are dropped. That in container 76 collected water is taken out by a pump 77 and fed again to the jet nozzles 60.

The structure of the chain indicated only schematically in FIG. 1 45 for transferring the bottles 4 from the outlet star wheel 9 to Abförderer 50 is in detail from the vertical Sectional view in Fig. 4 recognizable. One more time curved, from the deflection sprocket 44 to Drive sprocket 43 (Fig. 1) is extending bracket 91 on several support columns 90 arranged one behind the other attached along one side of the bottle conveyor its top are several in a row Bottle mouth track with cross-bars across the distance 93 arranged for the fixed mounting of the Friction bar 42 and one arranged above it Slide bar 94 serve. This slide bar 94 is the same Opposite height on the carrier 91, a second, in Assigned longitudinally extending slide bar 94. At the roller chain 45 revolving in a horizontal plane with a uniform pitch U-shaped bracket 48 attached, the two free on their lower legs rotatable rollers 46 for receiving the neck collar 14 one Carry bottle 4 and its upper leg on the top the slide bar 94 slides. The lower leg has a recess, not shown, between the rollers 46 for the bottle head. So that one between a pair of roles 46 and the friction bar 42 rotatably clamped Bottle mouth is guided precisely and reliably are for the rollers 46 and the roller chain 45 a support bar 47 or 49 attached to the carrier 91.

To hold the jet nozzles 60 on the carrier 91 in Direction of transport offset several in a row vertical round bars 81 arranged in pairs next to one another rigidly attached (Fig. 5), with each of these pairs of rods 81 with the help of clamping pieces 85 each horizontally aligned crossbar 82 is adjustably attached. On these cross bars 82 are in turn by clamping pieces 86 in Conveying direction F longitudinal rods 83 (Fig. 5) attached to which the jet nozzles 60 with clamping pieces 87th are attached. The mentioned clamping pieces each have two aligned at right angles to each other offset planes intersecting mounting holes, whereby advantageously both the angle of the jet nozzles 60 to Bottle outer wall as well as the height position of the jet nozzles 60 is infinitely adjustable. In addition, through the Clamping pieces 86 the lateral distance between two opposite jet nozzles 60 continuously on the width the bottle can be adjusted appropriately. The setting of the Jet nozzles 60 can be made so that the emerging fluid jets 80 from one another arranged jet nozzles 60 - seen in the transport direction decreasing height and / or at different angles hit the outer wall of the bottle. 5 is in 4 also shows that in the elongated support 91 window-like openings 92 for Passage through the jet nozzles 60 are present.

The workflow is explained below using the example of a the machine running bottle explains:

One with an overlapping, partly on its outer wall bottle 4 fitted with an all-round label 30 transported from feed conveyor 5 to feed screw 6, from brought this to the machine division and into one Receiving pocket of the star wheel 7 introduced. The star wheel 7 transfers the bottle 4 in cooperation with the Guide sheet 8 on a bottle plate 3 of the turntable 2, at the same time by lowering the centering cone 19 the bottle 4 axially between its mouth and bottom surface is clamped. Then the sprung on the Outside of the bottle 4 adjacent knife 31 on the Bottle wall axially from the top edge of the label to the bottom Move the edge of the label, with the knife tip between the Bottle outside and the back of the label penetrates and the label 30 through from the outside of the bottle groundbreaking cutting edge 24 from the back of the label is severed. Then the knife 31 for the next cutting process back up into the moved back to the original starting position. As soon as the Bottle 4 with the cross cut to the circumferential direction Label 30 runs into the outlet star wheel 9 Centering cone 19 lifted from the bottle mouth, whereby the axial clamping is finished. By the Auslaufsternrad 9 is the head of the bottle 4 in the gap inserted between the guide rails 40 and 41, wherein the guide rails the neck collar 14 of the bottle reach under and the bottle during the forward movement in the Raise outlet star 9 slightly. With the help of Guide rails 40 and 41 is the neck collar 14 of the Bottle exactly in the groove of the friction strip 42 or Groove inserted into the rollers 46 while at the same time Pair of rollers 46 through the deflection wheel 44 at the end of Guide rail 41 over to the friction strip 42 is swung around. In this process, the neck collar 14 of the bottle 4 radially at three points around its circumference rotatably clamped. By moving chain 45 forward in the conveying direction F, the bottle 4 is against the Turning clockwise along the friction strip 42 unrolled.

Compressed air is injected from the first pair of jet nozzles 60 at an acute angle obliquely from above to the top of the blown all-round labels blown to one Gap between the label and the outer wall of the bottle bring about. Of the following in the conveying direction F Jet nozzles 60 becomes water under high pressure issued, which also obliquely from above on the Bottle wall meets and the label from the bottom of the Neck collar detaches from 14 hanging bottle. The detached Label 30 and the water draining from the bottle from the collecting funnel 70 or the one arranged below it Label discharge device 71 supplied and the water in the collection container 76 initiated (Fig. 3). The now Label-free bottle 4 is inserted in the chain 45 driven screw conveyor 51 inserted and by this secured against falling over while the neck collar 14 is released at the end of the friction bar 42. Below is now with its bottom surface on the conveyor belt 50th transported upright bottle, e.g. to a Bottle washer.

Claims (18)

1. A process for removing shrunk-on sleeves or all-round labels (30) from vessels (4), particularly bottles, glasses, cans or the like, wherein a parting line substantially transverse to the circumferential direction is first produced and the shrunk-on sleeve or the all-round label (30) is then removed by a fluid jet (80) directed on to the vessel (4), characterised in that during the removal of a cut-through shrunk-on sleeve or a cut-through all-round label (30) the vessels (4) are preferably held near their top region with their bases free, and at least one fluid jet (80) is directed obliquely from above on to the vessel, substantially axially in relation to the vessel outer wall, preferably above the top edge of the shrunk-on sleeve or of the all-round label (30).
2. A process according to claim 1, characterised in that water jets and/or compressed air jets are used as the fluid jets (80), wherein a vessel (4) is preferably impinged upon first by compressed air and subsequently by water.
3. A process according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the liquid used for spraying and which runs off the vessels (4) is captured, the labels (30) or shrunk-on sleeves are separated and the liquid is collected in a container (76).
4. A process according to claim 3, characterised in that the separated labels (30) or shrunk-on sleeves are pressed.
5. A process according to claim 3, characterised in that the collected liquid is re-used for spraying the vessels (4), preferably after processing and/or filtration.
6. A process according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vessels (4) are led past a plurality of fixed fluid jets (80) in a displaced arrangement, preferably continuously, and the fluid jets impinge in particular at different heights and/or at different angles on the vessel walls.
7. A process according to claim 6, characterised in that two rows of fluid jets (8) parallel to the direction of conveying (F) of the vessels (4) are directed from two sides on to the vessel outer walls, and two fluid jets from both sides preferably impinge substantially simultaneously on the vessels (4).
8. A process according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that during the impingement by fluid jets (80) the vessels (4) are rotated about their vertical axes (23).
9. A process according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that bottles (4) equipped with a neck collar (14), particularly plastic bottles, are held at their neck collar (14) with a positive fit during the impingement by the fluid jets (80).
10. An apparatus for removing shrunk-on sleeves or all-round labels (30) from vessels (4), particularly bottles, glasses, cans or the like, wherein a parting line running substantially transverse to the circumferential direction is first produced by means of a cutting device (31) and a shrunk-on sleeve or an all-round label (30) is subsequently removed by a fluid jet (80) directed on to the vessel (4), particularly for carrying out the process according to claim 1, characterised in that in order to remove a cutthrough shrunk-on sleeve or all-round label (30) the vessels (4) are held suspended with their bases free, preferably near their top regions, by a drivable holding device (45, 46), and at least one or more nozzles (60) discharge fluid jets (80) obliquely from above, aligned substantially predominantly axially in relation to the vessel outer walls, which fluid jets preferably impinge on the vessel outer wall above the top edge of the shrunk-on sleeve or of the all-round label (30).
11. An apparatus according to claim 10, characterised in that the holding device is formed from a continuously drivable traction mechanism (45) with carriers (46) fastened thereto, which holds a bottle (4) underneath and near its mouth, preferably at an existing neck collar (14).
12. An apparatus according to claim 11, characterised in that the carriers are each constructed as rollers (46) fastened freely rotatably in pairs to the traction mechanism (45), which rollers are preferably provided with a groove and which are associated with an opposing fixed friction rail (42) having a continuous channel and disposed with an intermediate spacing.
13. An apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterised in that a plurality of nozzles (6) is disposed displaced in succession along the holding device (42, 45) in the direction of conveying (F), and opposite each other transverse to the direction of conveying.
14. An apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterised in that a catchment device (70) is present in the region of the nozzles (60) for the liquid dripping off and for the detached labels (30), and the fluid and the detached labels (30) are fed to a label separation device (71), particularly a screen, preferably a drivable screen belt (74).
15. An apparatus according to claim 14, characterised in that the separated labels (30) are fed to a label press (75).
16. An apparatus according to claim 14, characterised in that the fluid is led into a collecting tank (76) for re-use.
17. An apparatus according to claim 17, characterised in that the fluid can be fed under high pressure from the collecting tank (76) to the nozzles (60) by means of a pump (77).
18. An apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims 10 to 17, characterised in that water is used as the fluid.

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