Device and method for applying a sleeve label

Abstract

A device for applying sleeve labels on objects which are moving continuously along a predetermined trajectory on a transport mechanism, having an ejection unit, a detection unit, a memory unit and a control unit. The ejection unit ejects sleeve labels, and the detection unit detects objects moving on the transport mechanism and issues a detection signal that specifies a position of the object at least one point in time. The control unit controls the ejection unit and triggers the ejection of a sleeve label depending on the detection signal and a control parameter stored in the memory unit, wherein a position at which the object is located at the start of the ejection process can be changed by changing the control parameter. A camera an image sequence, which shows the ejection of the sleeve label, at a first image rate, and a user interface replays the image sequence at a second image rate that is slower than the first image rate, and receives a user input which initiates a change of the control parameter stored in the memory unit.

1 . A device for applying sleeve labels on objects, which are moving continuously along a predetermined trajectory on a transport mechanism, comprising:
 an ejection unit which is configured for the purpose of ejecting a sleeve label,   a detection unit that detects an object ( 100 ) moving on the transport mechanism, and issues a detection signal that specifies a position of the object at least one point in time,   a memory unit for storing a control parameter,   a control unit that controls the ejection unit and the ejection of a sleeve label depending on the detection signal and the stored control parameter, wherein a position at which the object is located at the start of the ejection procedure can be changed by changing the control parameter,   a camera mechanism that records an image sequence at a first image rate that shows the ejection of the sleeve label ( 110 ), and a user interface that replays the image sequence at a second image rate that is slower than the first image rate, and receives a user input which initiates a change of the control parameter stored in the memory unit.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection unit comprises a proximity switch and the detection signal is a time signal which specifies a first point in time at which the object is moving past the detection unit. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein by changing the control parameter, a second point in time at which the sleeve label is ejected by the ejection unit, can be changed relative to the first point in time. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the user interface comprises a first input element that upon actuation by the user, changes the control parameter so that the first point in time is shifted earlier in time relative to the second point in time by a predetermined amount, and comprises a second input element that upon actuation by the user, changes the control parameter so that the first point in time is shifted later in time relative to the second point in time by a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection unit is a position detector, and wherein the detection signal is a position signal that specifies the position of the object at a specific point in time. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the control parameter specifies a target position, and the control unit the ejection of the sleeve label when the object has attained the target position. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the user interface comprises a first input element that is configured for the purpose of changing, upon actuation by the user, changes the control parameter so that the target position is shifted forward in the transport direction by a predetermined amount, and comprises a second input element that, upon actuation by the user, changes the control parameter so that the target position is shifted backward in the transport direction by a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claims 5 , wherein the detection unit detects a position and a speed of the object on the transport mechanism, and wherein the detection signal specifies the position and the speed of the object ( 100 ) at a specific point in time. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the memory unit is further configured for the purpose of storing a plurality of control parameter values in conjunction with a respective speed value,
 the control unit reads out a control parameter value from the memory unit depending on the detected speed, triggers the ejection of a sleeve label based on the detection signal and the read out control parameter value, changes the read out control parameter value based on the user input, and stores the changed control parameter value again in the memory unit.   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface replays the image sequence in the form of a repeating loop. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface updates the image sequence continuously, one of in pre-determined time intervals or after each change of the control parameter. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface replays in an alternating fashion a first image sequence, which was recorded before a change of the control parameter, and a second image sequence, which was recorded after a change of the control parameter. 
     
     
         13 . A method for applying sleeve labels on objects, which are moving continuously along a predetermined trajectory on a transport mechanism, comprising:
 detecting an object moving on the transport mechanism and generating a detection signal, which specifies a position of the object at least one point in time;   storing a control parameter;   controlling an ejection unit ( 200 ) which is configured for the purpose of ejecting a sleeve label ( 110 ), in order to trigger the ejection of a sleeve label ( 110 ) depending on the detection signal and the stored control parameter, wherein a position at which the object ( 100 ) is located at the start of the ejection process can be changed by changing the control parameter;   recording an image sequence at a first image rate which shows the ejection of the sleeve label;   replaying the image sequence at a second image rate that is slower than the first image rate; and   changing the control parameter stored in the memory unit as a result of an appropriate user input.   
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 1 , the user interface simultaneously replaying a first image sequence, which was recorded before a change of the control parameter, and a second image sequence, which was recorded after a change of the control parameters in two separate sections of a display region.