DE102018009507B4 - Device and method for labeling molded parts made of thermoplastic plastic film - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for the decoration of molded parts made of thermoplastic plastic film with labels in a thermoforming machine (1) with a control and a film transport unit as well as a molding tool or forming / punching tool, the device being a magazine for storing labels (12) in label stacks, a device for separating of labels (12) from the label stacks, devices for moving and transferring labels (12) and a transfer unit for transferring the labels (12) to a molding tool or molding / punching tool, characterized in that the labeling station (8) in the working direction the thermoforming machine (1) is arranged after the forming station (5) and that the transfer device for the labels (12) has a horizontal feed axis (15) which, in the opposite direction to the working direction of the thermoforming machine (1), the labels (12) on the forming tool or Forming / punching tool passes.

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for labeling molded parts made of thermoplastic plastic film.

State of the art

The document DE 42 32 963 C1 discloses a device for applying a printed label to the side walls of a plastic container. The device comprises magazines, a swivel unit with label mandrels and arms with vacuum suction cups. The label mandrels remove labels from the magazines and drive to label stamps that have an inner contour that depicts the inner contour of the molding tools. The label stamps have an outer contour that depicts the inner contour of the forming tools. If the label mandrels with the sucked-in labels now move into the label stamps, the label stamps bend the labels and the bent parts of the labels come to rest on the free sides of the label mandrels and are held there by negative pressure. The label mandrels then transfer the pre-formed labels to the molding tool, in which the molded parts are produced and the labels are simultaneously provided. After the molding and labeling process, the vacuum cups take the labels from the molding tool and stack the labeled molded parts.

The document DE 696 15 150 T2 discloses a method and apparatus for loading labels into a mold of a thermoforming machine. In addition to the actual molding tool for shaping the plastic molded parts, the device comprises a further molding tool for erecting the labels, which are erected in this second molding tool, sucked in by a molding die and introduced by the molding die in the erected form into the molding tool for shaping the plastic molded parts. After thermoforming with simultaneous labeling, the molding die removes the molded and labeled molded parts from the molding tool and forms stacks from the labeled molded parts. The document FR 243 2977 A1 discloses a device that applies labels to yogurt pots which have been thermoformed from a plastic film in a honeycomb shape. One mechanism delivers pairs of labels, separated by a central strip, along the division between two mold cavities. During thermoforming, these labels are pressed through the plastic film against the opposite sides of the partition and stuck to the walls of the pots made from the film. The pairs of labels can be stored in a stack or, alternatively, they can be a continuous strip. The document DE 299 11 272 U1 discloses a machine for row-wise deep drawing of cup-shaped containers. Known machines for row-wise deep-drawing of cup-shaped containers are connected to a filling and a closing machine for filling food as a structural unit. In the area of the thermoforming machine, banding devices are provided for two rows of cups to supply banderoles or labels, these being supplied in an opposite direction and only the two rows of cups located in the corresponding cavities of the thermoforming machine can be banded. The invention is concerned with the problem of creating a machine for row-wise deep-drawing of cup-shaped containers, the band feed of which enables several rows of cups to be loaded in one cycle with little space requirement and can also be integrated into existing machines with little technical effort. The document DK 172 143 B1 discloses a method and apparatus for applying a label to a plastic blank, for example a plastic cup. After a label has been punched out of a film web with a punching tool, the label is first held on the stamp by pins. In a transfer position, the label is released from the pins by a stripping plate and transferred to retractable pins in a transfer element which is displaceable in grooves in the shape of the movable female molded part. Attached to the retractable pins of the transfer member, the label is brought into the open form by the transfer member at a location outside the cavity of the female molding where the pins will be withdrawn and the label will be released. Then the mold is closed and the label is enclosed in the mold cavity. After opening the mold, the molded plastic blank with the label is ejected.

Task

The invention is based on the object of proposing a device and a method in which labels are transferred to a molding tool or a molding / punching tool of a thermoforming machine.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the measures specified in the characterizing part of claim 1 and in the independent claim 6. Further preferred embodiments of the invention result from the other features mentioned in the respective subclaims.

Embodiment

The proposed thermoforming machine has a labeling station that is designed for the labeling of molded parts in which the The pitch of the stack of labels in the magazine is identical to the pitch for the labels in the forming or forming / punching tool. Furthermore, the labeling station according to the invention has the advantage that the print side of the labels in the label stacks faces the operator. Likewise, the geometric arrangement in rows and lines in the labeling station is identical to the rows and lines in the forming or forming / and punching tool. This avoids refilling errors if different labels have to be placed in the magazines.

Another advantage of the labeling station is the change in the properties of the means for temporarily fixing labels during the separation, movement and transfer with regard to their lateral flexibility. The means are designed in such a way that labels are always released or taken over in such a way that there is always a pairing of the means at the contact point, in which one means is laterally flexible and the other means is laterally rigid. This guarantees a geometrically exact transfer.

• 1 zeigt die erfindungsgemäße Thermoformmaschine 1 in einer stark vereinfachten Darstellung in der Seitenansicht mit der Etikettierstation 8. Der Thermoformmaschine 1 ist eine Abwickeleinheit mit einer Rolle 2 mit Kunststofffolie 3 vorgeschaltet. Die Kunststofffolie 3 wird durch die Thermoformmaschine 1 transportiert. Dabei wird die Kunststofffolie 3 in der Heizung 4 auf Verformungstemperatur erwärmt und anschließend in der Formstation 5, die ein Formwerkzeug aufweist, zu etikettierten Formteilen verformt. In der Etikettierstation 8 werden dazu von der Vertikalachse 9 Etiketten 12 an die Etikettenaufnahme 10 übergeben. Die Etikettenaufnahme 10 wird von der Zuführachse 15 gegen die Arbeitsrichtung der Thermoformmaschine 1 in die Formstation 5 bewegt. Die Etikettenaufnahme 10 übergibt die Etiketten 12 an das Formwerkzeug in der Formstation 5. Der Vorgang des Etikettierens der Formteile wird in der Formstation 5 während des Formvorgangs durchgeführt. Die Formstation 5 kann auch als kombinierte Form-/ und Stanzstation ausgebildet sein und die Formteile weitgehend aus der Kunststofffolie 3 austrennen. In diesem Fall ist die Form-/ und Stanzstation entsprechend mit einem Form-/ und Stanzwerkzeug ausgerüstet. Die Kunststofffolie 3 mit den etikettierten Formteilen wird weiter transportiert und durchquert die Etikettierstation 8. In der Stanzstation 6 werden gegebenenfalls die etikettierten Formteile weitgehend aus der Kunststofffolie 3 ausgetrennt, sofern dies noch nicht in der Form-/ und Stanzstation durchgeführt wurde. Die etikettierten Formteile werden in der Stapelstation 7 aus der Kunststofffolie 3 ausgebrochen, gestapelt und als Formteilstapel aus der Thermoformmaschine 1 ausgebracht.
• 2 zeigt die Etikettierstation 8 in einer stark vereinfachten Seitenansicht. Magazine nehmen Etikettenstapel 13 auf. Von den Etikettenstapeln 13 werden Etiketten 12 von der Schwenkachse 11 abgezogen. Die Schwenkachse 11 ist mit flexiblen Saugern ausgerüstet zum Fixieren der Etiketten 12 während des Transports. Die Schwenkachse 11 fährt zunächst nach dem Ansaugen der Etiketten 12 axial rückwärts und schwenkt anschließend in die Vertikale. In dieser Position übergibt sie die Etiketten 12 an die Vertikalachse 9. Die Vertikalachse 9 ist mit einer Saugerplatte ausgerüstet, die eine Vielzahl von Bohrungen zum Fixieren der Etiketten 12 aufweist. Die Saugerplatte ist als Hohlkammer ausgerüstet, an die eine Vakuumpumpe angeschlossen ist. Die Vertikalachse 9 verfährt anschließend horizontal entlang der Linearachse 14, bis sie über der Etikettenaufnahme 10 steht. Daraufhin senkt sich die Vertikalachse 9 vertikal abwärts und übergibt die Etiketten 12 an die Etikettenaufnahme 10. Die Etikettenaufnahme 10 ist mit flexiblen Saugern ausgerüstet. Die Etikettenaufnahme 10 wird anschließend horizontal gegen die Arbeitsrichtung der Thermoformmaschine 1 oberhalb des Folientransports von der Zuführachse 15 in das geöffnete Formwerkzeug bzw. Form-/ und Stanzwerkzeug bewegt, übergibt die Etiketten 12 im Formwerkzeug bzw. Form-/ und Stanzwerkzeug an entsprechende Übernahmeeinrichtungen des Formwerkzeugs bzw. Form-/ und Stanzwerkzeugs und wird von der Zuführachse 15 zurück in die Ausgangslage in der Etikettierstation 8 bewegt. Die Arbeitsrichtung der Thermoformmaschine 1 ist so definiert, wie sich die Kunststofffolie 3 bewegt, nämlich von der Rolle 2 in Richtung der Stapelstation 7.

Further details of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the schematic drawings. Show it:

• 1 shows the thermoforming machine according to the invention 1 in a greatly simplified representation in the side view with the labeling station 8th . The thermoforming machine 1 is an unwinding unit with one roll 2 with plastic film 3 upstream. The plastic film 3 is made by the thermoforming machine 1 transported. This is where the plastic film 3 in the heater 4th heated to the forming temperature and then in the forming station 5 , which has a mold, deformed into labeled molded parts. In the labeling station 8th are for this purpose from the vertical axis 9 Labels 12 to the label holder 10 to hand over. The label recording 10 is from the feed axis 15th against the working direction of the thermoforming machine 1 in the forming station 5 emotional. The label recording 10 hands over the labels 12 to the molding tool in the molding station 5 . The process of labeling the molded parts takes place in the molding station 5 performed during the molding process. The forming station 5 can also be designed as a combined forming / and punching station and the molded parts are largely made of plastic film 3 cut out. In this case, the forming / and punching station is accordingly equipped with a forming / and punching tool. The plastic film 3 with the labeled molded parts is transported on and passes through the labeling station 8th . In the punching station 6th If necessary, the labeled molded parts are largely made of the plastic film 3 separated if this has not yet been done in the forming / punching station. The labeled molded parts are in the stacking station 7th from the plastic film 3 broken out, stacked and as a stack of molded parts from the thermoforming machine 1 applied.
• 2 shows the labeling station 8th in a greatly simplified side view. Magazines take stacks of labels 13th on. From the stacks of labels 13th become labels 12 from the pivot axis 11 deducted. The pivot axis 11 is equipped with flexible suction cups to fix the labels 12 during transportation. The pivot axis 11 first moves after the labels have been sucked in 12 axially backwards and then swivels into the vertical. In this position she hands over the labels 12 on the vertical axis 9 . The vertical axis 9 is equipped with a suction plate that has a large number of holes for fixing the labels 12 having. The suction plate is equipped as a hollow chamber to which a vacuum pump is connected. The vertical axis 9 then moves horizontally along the linear axis 14th until it is above the label holder 10 stands. The vertical axis then lowers 9 vertically downwards and passes the labels 12 to the label holder 10 . The label recording 10 is equipped with flexible suction cups. The label recording 10 is then horizontal against the working direction of the thermoforming machine 1 above the film transport from the feed axis 15th Moved into the open molding tool or molding / punching tool, transfers the labels 12 in the molding tool or molding / and punching tool to corresponding takeover devices of the molding tool or molding / and punching tool and is from the feed axis 15th back to the starting position in the labeling station 8th emotional. The working direction of the thermoforming machine 1 is defined as the plastic film 3 moved, namely from the role 2 towards the stacking station 7th .

According to the invention, the device for the decoration of molded parts made of thermoplastic plastic film with labels in a thermoforming machine is provided 1 with a control and a film transport unit as well as a molding tool or molding / punching tool, the device being a magazine for storing labels 12 in label stacks, a device for separating labels 12 from the label stacks, devices for moving and transferring labels 12 and a transfer unit for transferring the labels 1 to a molding tool or molding / punching tool to be designed so that the labeling station 8th in the working direction of the thermoforming machine 1 seen after the forming station 5 is arranged and that the transfer device for the labels 12 a horizontal feed axis 15th has that are opposite to the working direction of the thermoforming machine 1 the labels 12 passes to the forming tool or forming / punching tool.

The terms “working direction” and “to” refer to the direction in which the thermoplastic plastic film is transported.

The transfer device for the labels 12 is advantageously arranged above the film transport.

The labels 12 In the magazine, as a further development, the arrangement, storage geometry, orientation and position of the visible side as the labels are identical 12 in the forming tool or forming / punching tool. As a result of this measure, the labels are in the magazines as they are applied to the molded parts during labeling. In this way, incorrectly inserted labels when reloading are avoided.

The pitch of the labels 12 in the magazine for storing the stack of labels 13th should be identical to the pitch of the labels 12 in the forming tool or forming / punching tool. This eliminates the formatting movements of the labels from a first to a second pitch known from the prior art, which carry the risk of dimensional deviations.

The devices for separating, moving and transferring with means for temporarily fixing labels 12 are advantageously equipped so that means on the devices for separating, moving and transferring for temporary fixing of labels 12 are used so that a transfer of labels 12 always with a pair of devices for separating, moving and transferring for temporary fixing of labels 12 which are laterally compliant and which are laterally rigid. This avoids lateral displacements of the labels during the transfer steps and a geometrically exact transfer of the labels is made possible.

The invention also provides the method for operating a device for decorating in a thermoforming machine 1 made of thermoplastic plastic film 3 molded or molded and punched molded parts, the device consisting of a magazine for storing stacks of labels 13th Labels 12 from the stacks of labels 13th isolated and handed over to a facility that produces the labels 12 to a transfer unit that transfers the labels 12 passes to a forming tool or form / punching tool to form the labels 12 by means of the transfer unit acting as the feed axis 15th is designed against the working direction of the thermoforming machine 1 be moved above the film transport device to the molding tool or molding / punching tool.

List of reference symbols

1

Thermoforming machine

2

role

3

Plastic film

4th

heater

5

Forming station

6th

Punching station

7th

Stacking station

8th

Labeling station

9

Vertical axis

10

Label holder

11

Swivel axis

12

Labels

13

Label stack

14th

Linear axis

15th

Feed axis

Claims (6)

Device for the decoration of molded parts made of thermoplastic plastic film with labels in a thermoforming machine (1) with a control and a film transport unit as well as a molding tool or forming / punching tool, the device being a magazine for storing labels (12) in label stacks, a device for separating of labels (12) from the label stacks, devices for moving and transferring labels (12) and a transfer unit for transferring the labels (12) to a molding tool or molding / punching tool, characterized in that the labeling station (8) in the working direction the thermoforming machine (1) is arranged after the forming station (5) and that the transfer device for the labels (12) has a horizontal feed axis (15) which, in the opposite direction to the working direction of the thermoforming machine (1), the labels (12) on the forming tool or Forming / punching tool passes. Device for the decoration of molded parts made of thermoplastic plastic film with labels in a thermoforming machine (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the transfer device for the labels (12) is arranged above the film transport. Device for the decoration of molded parts made of thermoplastic plastic film with labels in a thermoforming machine (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the labels (12) in the magazine have the same arrangement, storage geometry, orientation and position of the visible side as the labels (12) in the molding tool or molding / punching tool. Device for the decoration of molded parts made of thermoplastic plastic film with labels in a thermoforming machine (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the pitch of the labels (12) in the magazine for storing the stack of labels (13) is identical to the pitch of the labels (12) in the molding tool or molding / punching tool. Device for the decoration of molded parts made of thermoplastic plastic film with labels in a thermoforming machine (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the devices for separating, moving and transferring are equipped with means for temporarily fixing labels (12) in such a way that means on the devices for separating, moving and transferring for temporarily fixing labels (12) are inserted so that a transfer of labels (12) is always carried out with a pair of devices for separating, moving and transferring for the temporary fixing of labels (12) which are laterally flexible and which are laterally rigid. A method for operating a device for decorating molded or molded and punched molded parts in a thermoforming machine (1) from thermoplastic plastic film (3), the device consisting of a magazine for storing label stacks (13) labels (12) from the label stacks (13) separated and transferred to a device which transfers the labels (12) to a transfer unit which transfers the labels (12) to a molding tool or a molding / punching tool, characterized in that the labels (12) by means of the transfer unit, which acts as a feed axis ( 15) is designed to be moved against the working direction of the thermoforming machine (1) above the film transport device to the molding tool or molding / punching tool.

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