Vacuum Drum for a Labeling Unit, Labeling Unit Having Such a Vacuum Drum, and Method for Producing a Vacuum Drum

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022073228-A1
Application number	US-202017417271-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 16, 2020
Priority date	Jan 18, 2019
Publication date	Mar 10, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vacuum drum for a labelling unit of a labelling machine has the segments arranged next to each other to collectively form a circumferential surface of the vacuum drum. A typical segment has vacuum-holders that holds ends of the label. The holders are offset along the drum's circumferential surface. The segment also has a carrier plate and a label arc between the first and second vacuum holders. The first vacuum-holder comprises a first housing and the second vacuum holder comprises a second housing. At least one of the carrier plate, the housings, and the label arc is formed by additive manufacturing.

First claim

1 - 36 . (canceled)

37 . An apparatus comprising a vacuum drum for a labelling unit of a labelling machine that labels containers with a label having a first end and a second end, said vacuum drum being rotatable about a drum axis and comprising a plurality of segments, said segments being arranged next to each other along a circumferential direction of said vacuum drum so as to collectively form a circumferential surface of said vacuum drum, wherein said segments comprise a first segment that comprises a first vacuum-holder that holds said first end, a second vacuum-holder that holds said second end and that is offset from said first vacuum-holder along said circumferential surface of said vacuum drum, a carrier plate, and a label arc between said first and second vacuum holders, wherein said first vacuum-holder comprises a first housing and said second vacuum holder comprises a second housing, wherein at least one of said carrier plate, said housings, and said label arc is formed by additive manufacturing.

38 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said first segment further comprises a vacuum line that supports said first housing, said vacuum line having been produced by additive manufacturing.

39 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said segment further comprises further comprises a vacuum line that holds said second housing in a fixed position on said carrier plate, wherein said vacuum line, said carrier plate, and said second housing are part of a monolithic structure made by additive manufacturing.

40 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said first segment further comprises further comprises a vacuum line that connects said label arc to said carrier plate, said vacuum line having been produced by additive manufacturing.

41 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said first segment further comprises a vacuum line and a monolithic structure that comprises said vacuum line, said label arc, and said carrier plate, wherein said vacuum line fixes a position of said label arc relative to said carrier plate, wherein said vacuum line, label arc, and carrier plate were formed by an additive manufacturing process.

42 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said first segment further comprises a vacuum line having a path between said carrier plate and said first housing, wherein all curved portions of said path form tangential transitions.

43 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said first segment further comprises a vacuum line between said carrier plate and said label arc, wherein all curved portions of a path followed by said vacuum line form tangential transitions.

44 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said first segment further comprises a first vacuum line and a plurality of vacuum lines, wherein said first vacuum line has a diameter that is selected such that said first vacuum line and each of said vacuum lines in said plurality of vacuum lines applies the same negative pressure at a corresponding opening that faces radially away from said drum.

45 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said first segment comprises a strut extending between structures of said segment, said strut and at least one of said structures having been formed in an additive manufacturing process, wherein said structures are selected from the group consisting of vacuum channels, said carrier plate, and said label arc.

46 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said first segment comprises a strut between said label arc and said carrier plate, wherein said strut is oriented vertically relative to a plane that spans said carrier plate, said strut comprising a vacuum channel integrated therein.

47 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said first segment comprises a vertical fin having a vacuum channel integrated therein.

48 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said first segment comprises vertically-extending struts and a horizontally-extending strut extending between said vertically-extending struts, said horizontally-extending strut being parallel to a plane that spans said carrier plate.

49 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said first segment comprises a casing surface into which a vacuum channel is integrated, wherein said casing surface provides support for a structure of said segment.

50 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said first segment comprises an adjuster on said label arc, wherein said first housing is adjustable relative to said drum axis by said adjuster.

51 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said label arc is a multi-part label arc that comprises first and second label-arc parts.

52 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said first segment further comprises a looped shaft between first and second label-arc parts of said label arc, said looped shaft being configured to permit an effective length of said label arc to be changed.

53 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein each segment in said plurality of segments is identical to said first segment.

54 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said first segment comprises a coding that codes a first label-type, wherein said first segment is configured to hold labels of said first label-type, wherein all segments in said plurality of segments that are configured to hold labels of said first label-type comprise the same code.

55 . A method comprising producing a vacuum drum a vacuum drum for a labelling unit of a labelling machine that labels containers with a label having a first end and a second end, said vacuum drum being rotatable about a drum axis and comprising a plurality of segments, said segments being arranged next to each other along a circumferential direction of said vacuum drum so as to collectively form a circumferential surface of said vacuum drum, wherein said segments comprise a first segment that comprises a first vacuum-holder that holds said first end, a second vacuum-holder that holds said second end and that is offset from said first vacuum-holder along said circumferential surface of said vacuum drum, a carrier plate, and a label arc between said first and second vacuum holders, wherein said first vacuum-holder comprises a first housing and said second vacuum holder comprises a second housing, wherein producing said vacuum drum comprises carrying out an additive manufacturing process to manufacture at least one structure selected from the group consisting of said carrier plate, said first housing, and said label arc.

56 . The method of claim 55 , wherein said first segment comprises a vacuum line that supports said first housing on said carrier plate and wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises manufacturing said vacuum line using an additive manufacturing process.

57 . The method of claim 55 , wherein said first segment comprises a vacuum line that supports said first housing on said carrier plate and wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises manufacturing said vacuum line and said carrier plate in a common additive manufacturing process to produce a monolithic structure that comprises both said carrier plate and said vacuum line.

58 . The method of claim 55 , wherein said first segment comprises a vacuum line that transfers a weight of said label arc relative to said carrier plate and wherein producing said vacuum drum further comprises manufacturing said vacuum line using an additive manufacturing process.

59 . The method of claim 55 , wherein said first segment comprises a vacuum line that holds said label arc at a fixed position relative to said

Assignees

• Khs Gmbh

Inventors

• Essing Jens
• Kraemer Klaus

Classifications

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B29C64/10

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B22F10/20

  Direct sintering or melting · CPC title

• B22F5/10

  of articles with cavities or holes, not otherwise provided for in the preceding subgroups · CPC title

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title