Beverage bottle labeling apparatus configured to label beverage bottles in a beverage bottling plant

• US 20060037706A1
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Original Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Inventors: Putzer, Frank
• Application Number:
  US11/208,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20060037706A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/360
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/407 after labelling
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 3/26 Affixing labels to non-rigid containers, e.g. bottles made of polyethylene, boxes to be inflated by internal air pressure prior to labelling
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/06 Devices for presenting articles in predetermined attitude or position at labelling station
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/40 Controls; Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 7/0046 Infeed and outfeed devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1771 Turret or rotary drum-type conveyor

Abstract

A beverage bottle labeling apparatus configured to label beverage bottles in a beverage bottling plant. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Claims

1. A beverage bottle labeling arrangement configured to label beverage bottles in a beverage bottling plant, said beverage bottle labeling arrangement comprising:

a labeling machine being configured to label bottles;

an input arrangement being configured to transfer bottles to be labeled into said labeling machine;

an output arrangement being configured to transfer labeled bottles out of said labeling machine; and

said labeling machine comprising;

a base support structure comprising a coupling structure;

a rotor structure being mounted on said base support structure and being configured to be rotated about a vertical axis by a drive arrangement;

a plurality of support tables, each being mounted on the periphery of said rotor structure and being configured to be rotated about a vertical axis by a drive arrangement;

each of said support tables being configured to support and rotate a bottle disposed thereon;

a sensor unit being configured and disposed to sense a contour and/or dimensions of a bottle to be labeled;

a computer control device being configured and disposed to determine the deviation of the contour and/or dimensions of a bottle from at least one stored nominal dimension of each bottle corresponding to the bottle being sent;

said computer control device being configured and disposed to send a signal via a connection to adjust said at least one bottle carrier to compensate for the sensed position upon sensing a deviation of the contour and/or dimensions of a bottle;

said at least one beverage bottle labeling station being configured and disposed to apply at least one label on a bottle to compensate for the deviation of the contour and/or dimensions of a bottle, upon said computer control device sensing a deviation of the contour and/or dimensions of a bottle.

2. A method of labeling bottles in a labeling machine in a beverage bottling plant, said method comprising the steps of:

a) sensing at least one dimension of a bottle to be labeled;

b) determining at least one deviation, upon there being a deviation, of the at least one dimension of a bottle being sensed in Step a) from at least one stored dimension corresponding to the bottle being sensed;

c) adjusting the labeling machine to compensate for the at least one determined deviation from Step b), upon there being a deviation; and

d) applying at least one label to the bottle to be labeled.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein as a function of the respective measured value, there is a rotational adjustment of the respective container or of a container carrier that carries said container around a container axis.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, as a function of the measured value, the time of the transfer of the individual label to the individual container that is moving past a labeling unit and rotating around its container axis is adjusted.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein as a function of the measured value, there is a vertical adjustment of the respective container or of the container carrier relative to the labeling unit.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein as a function of the measured value, there is a vertical adjustment of the labeling unit relative to the respective container or to the container carrier.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein on the respective container, at least two labels are applied in areas that are spatially separated from each other, for example a neck, shoulder, body and/or back label.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the application of the at least two labels is done sequentially one after the other, and that at least after the application of a sequentially first label, the further transfer of one or more labels is controlled as a function of the measured-values signal.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the location and orientation of the labels on the containers is detected and/or analyzed by means of at least one second sensor unit.

11. The method according to claim 3, wherein the signals supplied by the at least one second sensor unit are used for the additional control of the label transfer to the containers.

12. The method according to claim 3, comprising the use of a first and/or second sensor unit with at least one opto-electrical sensor.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein:

at least one camera is used as the first and/or second sensor unit;

an image recognition system is used to generate control signals for the control of the label transfer; and

for the labeling, the containers are located on a turntable or rotor that is driven in rotation around a vertical machine axis.

14. A beverage bottle labeling arrangement configured to label beverage bottles in a beverage bottling plant, said beverage bottle labeling arrangement comprising:

a sensor being configured to sense at least one dimension and/or at least one contour of a bottle to be labeled;

a controller being configured to determine at least one deviation, upon there being a deviation, of the at least one dimension and/or at least one contour of a bottle being sensed from at least one stored dimension corresponding to the bottle being sensed;

an apparatus being configured to adjust the labeling machine to compensate for the at least one determined deviation; and

a labeling station being configured to apply at least one label to the bottle to be labeled.

15. The labeling arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the controller, as a function of the respective measured value, effects a rotational adjustment of the respective container or of a container carrier that carries the respective container or one of said containers around a container axis.

16. The labeling arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the controller, as a function of the measured value, effects a control of the time of the transfer of the respective label to the respective container that is moving past a labeling unit and is rotating around its container axis.

17. The labeling arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the controller, as a function of the measured value, effects a vertical adjustment of the individual container and/or of the container carrier relative to the labeling unit.

18. The labeling arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the control device, as a function of the measured value, effects a vertical adjustment of the labeling unit relative to the respective container and/or to the container carrier.

19. The labeling arrangement according to claim 18, wherein:

at least one second sensor unit is on the conveyor line to detect the location and orientation of the labels on the containers;

the control device uses the signals supplied by the at least one second sensor unit for the additional control of the transfer of the labels to the container; and

the first and/or second sensor unit has at least one opto-electrical sensor.

20. The labeling arrangement according to claim 17, wherein:

at least one camera is used as the first and/or second sensor unit;

an image recognition system is used for the generation of control signals for the control of the label transfer;

the conveyor line is a turntable or rotor that is driven in rotation around a vertical machine axis.