JP2011157094A - Label affixing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a label affixing apparatus that accurately adjusts the movement of a label affixing section to a target height by the use of an inexpensive component and a simple mechanism and that has a safety mechanism (bite prevention mechanism) at contact with an article in the adjustment of movement. <P>SOLUTION: The label affixing apparatus has a label printing and affixing section 5 vertically movable along a support post 3 erecting from a base. A movable frame 10 connected to the label printing and affixing section and having a female screw member 11 is attached to the support post so as to be vertically movable. A male screw member 13 is screwed into a female screw member of the movable frame. Furthermore, a drive shaft for driving and rotating the male screw member is provided at one end of the male screw member so as to be axially separable via a clutch. The male screw member is rotated by the drive shaft, thereby moving the label printing and affixing section. When the label printing and affixing section contacts with an article and the movement of the movable frame stops, the male screw member screwed in the female screw member of the movable frame is separated from the drive shaft, thus stopping the movement of the label printing and affixing section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a label sticking apparatus, and more particularly to a label sticking apparatus that can adjust the height position of a label sticking part for sticking a label to a moving article conveyed by a conveyor or the like in the vertical direction.

The label sticking device for sticking a label on the upper surface of an article conveyed by a conveying means such as a conveyor moves and adjusts the height position of the label attaching part for attaching a label in the vertical direction according to the height of the article. As a result, labels can be attached to articles having different heights.
As a mechanism for moving and adjusting the position of the label affixing portion up and down according to the height of the article, a screw shaft is used, and a nut member that is screwed to the screw shaft is moved up and down along the guide shaft. In general, the label sticking part is moved in conjunction with the vertical movement of the label so as to adjust the height position of the label sticking part (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, if the situation where the article is sandwiched between the upper surface of the conveyor and the label sticking portion when the label sticking portion is lowered, the operation may be stopped on the spot if the vertical movement of the label sticking portion is manual. However, when the screw shaft is rotated using a motor or the like, if there is no safety device, the driving force for moving the label affixing part is transmitted to the article as it is, which may damage the article or the label affixing part.

  In addition, there is a structure in which a buffering mechanism is provided in the label affixing part so that the label affixing part escapes when an article or the like is sandwiched, but the escape distance (stroke) by the buffering mechanism is limited and short. When the limit of the buffer distance is reached, the driving force for moving the label sticking is transmitted to the article as it is, which is not a reliable avoidance measure for preventing pinching.

JP 2009-179387 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and it is possible to accurately move and adjust the label affixing portion to a target height position by an inexpensive component and a simple mechanism, and an article at the time of movement adjustment. Another object of the present invention is to provide a labeling device provided with a safety mechanism (a pinching prevention mechanism) at the time of contact.

In order to achieve the above object, the label sticking device of the present invention is a label sticking device in which a label issuing sticking portion is provided so as to be movable up and down along a post standing up from a base. A moving frame having a female screw member connected to the male screw member is attached to be movable in the vertical direction, a male screw member is threadedly inserted into the female screw member of the moving frame, and the male screw member is inserted into one end of the male screw member. A drive shaft for driving and rotating the screw member is provided so as to be axially separable via a clutch, and the label issuing sticking portion is moved by rotating the male screw member by the driving shaft, and the label issuing sticking portion is brought into contact with the article. When the movement of the moving frame is stopped in contact with the male screw member, the male screw member screwed into the female screw member of the moving frame is separated from the drive shaft, and the movement of the label issuing sticking portion is stopped. Item 1).
As the female screw member provided in the moving frame, a nut member is generally cited. Moreover, as a male screw member screwed to the female screw member, a screw shaft is generally mentioned.
Further, the clutch has a concave and convex meshing portion arranged in the circumferential direction, can transmit rotation in either the forward or reverse direction, and has a certain distance (stroke) as an axial meshing margin of the concave and convex. For example, a dog clutch is mentioned.

  According to the above means, when the drive shaft is driven and rotated by the operation of the drive unit (for example, a motor), the rotation is transmitted to the male screw member via the clutch. Then, as the male screw member rotates, the moving frame including the female screw member screwed with the male screw member moves up and down along the support column. When the rotation direction of the drive shaft is a positive direction (clockwise direction), the moving frame is lowered along the support column by the rotation of the male screw member, and the label issuing sticking portion is also lowered at the same time. Then, if the label issue sticking part goes down too much and comes into contact with the article, the resistance of the article works against the label issue sticking part and the label issue sticking part stops being lowered. Thereby, the movement of the moving frame is also stopped. However, since the drive shaft continues to rotate, the male screw member moves in a screwing direction with respect to the female screw member of the moving frame that has stopped descending (moving). That is, the male screw member moves in the direction of disconnecting the clutch at the clutch portion that transmits the rotation from the drive shaft to the male screw member. Thereby, it can prevent that a label issue sticking part pinches and crushes an article, or a label issue sticking part is damaged by an article.

In the above configuration, when the label issuance sticking portion is in contact with and sandwiched with the article, the label issuance sticking portion stops moving at that position and does not descend further. You may make it raise in the direction which leaves | separates from an article | item, ie, separates from an article | item.
The configuration is such that a detecting means for detecting the movement of the male screw member is arranged at the other end of the male screw member, and the detecting means is configured such that the movement amount of the male screw member is engaged in the axial direction of the clutch. When within the range, the rotation direction of the drive unit that rotates the drive shaft is reversed.
Examples of the detecting means include a contact switch (auto return switch). Further, the operation of the detecting means may be either directly performed by a male screw member moving in the axial direction or indirect operation performed by operating another member (for example, an operation pin) by moving the male screw member.

  According to the above means, the label issuing sticking portion comes into contact with the article and the lowering operation is stopped, and thereby the male screw member moves in the screwing direction (upward direction) with respect to the moving frame that has stopped being lowered. When the detection means arranged within the range in which the male screw member moves is actuated by the movement of the male screw member, the rotation direction of the drive unit (for example, a motor) that drives the drive shaft is reversed (counterclockwise). Direction). When the rotation of the drive shaft in the reverse direction (counterclockwise direction) is transmitted to the male screw member via the clutch, the moving frame including the female screw member screwed with the male screw member is Due to the rotation in the opposite direction, it is moved upward along the column. That is, the moving frame moves upward, the label issuing sticking part is separated from the article, and the pinching is released.

  Further, the position at which the detection means (contact switch) is operated is within the range (stroke) of the axial engagement margin of the clutch that connects and disconnects the drive shaft and the male screw member, so that the drive shaft to the male screw member The rotation direction can be switched while maintaining the meshing state without continuously transmitting the rotation. Thereby, the vertical position adjustment of a label sticking part can be performed continuously.

The label sticking device according to the present invention has the structure according to claim 1, and the descending operation of the label issuing sticking unit is stopped when it comes into contact with the article. It is possible to prevent the part from being damaged by the article.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the label issuing and pasting portion that has been brought into contact with the article and stopped descending is moved in a direction away from the article by the reverse rotation of the male screw member. Therefore, since the label issue sticking portion comes into contact with the article and stops descending immediately after it is separated from the article, the article can be reliably prevented from being crushed.
In addition, the label issuing sticking unit can contact the article and stop moving, and then the operation of moving away from the article can be continuously performed. Thereby, the label sticking apparatus which can perform the position adjustment of a label sticking part smoothly can be provided.

An example of implementation of the label sticking apparatus which concerns on this invention is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view. The enlarged side view of the state before lowering a label issuing sticking part. The same expanded side view of the state which lowered | hung the label issuing sticking part and contact | abutted to the articles | goods. The expansion perspective view which shows a clutch part. The enlarged view which shows the state of a moving part when a label issuing sticking part descends. The same enlarged view which shows the state of a moving part when a label issuing sticking part contact | abuts to articles | goods and a fall stops. The same enlarged view which shows the state which a male screw member raises after a label issuing sticking part stops. The same enlarged view which shows the state of a moving part when a label issuing sticking part raises away from articles | goods.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a label sticking device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external view of a label sticking apparatus A. A transport table 2 ′ having a belt conveyor (transport means) 2 for transporting an article W is arranged on a base 1, and a side portion of the transport table 2 ′. The supporting column 4 is slidably supported on the side surface of the supporting column 3 so as to be slidable in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the belt conveyor 2, and can be moved up and down. A display operation unit 6 for controlling the operation of the label issue pasting unit 5 is arranged on the column 3, and the label issue pasting unit 5 is operated by an input operation from the display operation unit 6 to move on the transport table 2 ′. A label can be attached to a predetermined position on the upper surface of the article W to be conveyed.

The label issuing and pasting unit 5 includes a label issuing unit 5a and a label pasting unit 5b for pasting a label issued from the label issuing unit 5a to the article W.
The label issuing unit 5a sets the label roll on which the printed label is temporarily attached to the mount, sets the label supply reel, passes the mount pulled out from the label roll through the dispenser, peels and issues the label from the mount, and the mount is the mount This is a label printer that does not include a printing unit of a type that winds around a winding shaft. The label issuing unit 5a prints predetermined items on the label paper temporarily attached to the mount with a printing unit (print head), and after printing, the printed label is peeled off from the mount with the dispenser. A well-known label printer having a print unit for winding may be used.

The label affixing unit 5b that receives the label issued from the label issuing unit 5a and affixes the label to the article W moving on the transport table 2 ′ adsorbs the issued label by the negative pressure action of air. A structure in which the member that holds and holds the label is pressed against the moving article W and the label is attached to the article (see, for example, JP 2000-296822 A and JP 2003-165515 A). Thus, the label application position of the label applied by the label application unit 5b varies depending on the size (for example, tray size) and shape of the article W, and the initial position (conveyance table) of the label issue application unit 5 depends on the height of the article W. 2 ′ height from the surface) is different. For this purpose, the label issuing sticking unit 5 is supported so that the initial position can be changed according to the size (height) and shape of the article W to be conveyed, and the label sticking position can be changed. Specifically, the support part 4 is supported so as to be movable up and down along the support column 3, and the label issuing sticking part 5 is supported along the support part 4 so as to be slidable in the width direction of the transport table 2 ′. ing. The height (size) of the article W to be conveyed is stored in the RAM (not shown) of the label sticking device in the product information (for example, product code, product name, sales price, product size (width, depth, height). The total number of labels affixed) is stored, the product information is read and displayed on the display operation unit 6, and the height position (conveyance table 2 ′) of the label issue affixing unit 5 is read for each read article W. The height position from the surface may be positioned according to the value (height) set for each article W. In this case, when the total number of labels attached to the conveyed article W exceeds the total number of labels attached, the product information of the next article W is read, and the set value (height) of the product information of the read article W is read. Accordingly, the height position (the height position from the surface of the transport table 2 ′) of the label issuing sticking unit 5 is moved and adjusted. In addition, after the operator visually confirms the article W, the display operation unit 6 is operated according to the size of the article W, and the height position (the height from the surface of the transport table 2 ′) of the label issuing and pasting unit 5 for each article W. (Position) may be adjusted.
In addition, about the sliding mechanism in which the label issuing sticking part 5 moves along the support part 4, since it is not directly related to this case, description is abbreviate | omitted.

Hereinafter, the vertical movement mechanism of the support part 4 which hangs down the label issuing sticking part 5 is demonstrated based on FIG. 2 thru | or FIG.
A moving part 8 is formed on the lower surface of one side in the longitudinal direction of the support part 4 that supports the label issuing sticking part 5 in a hanging manner, and the moving part 8 is configured to move up and down by the rotation of the male screw member.
The moving part 8 includes two guide shafts 9 projecting in parallel downward from a lower surface on one side of the support part 4, and a moving frame 10 connecting the lower ends of the two guide shafts 9, respectively. It is comprised with the internal thread member (nut) 11 with which the inside of this moving frame 10 was mounted | worn.
The mounting position of the female screw member 11 with respect to the moving frame 10 is a substantially central position between the two guide shafts 9, and a male screw member that is screwed into the female screw member 11 passes above the female screw member 11. A hole is opened. The two guide shafts 9 and the moving frame 10 may be integrally formed as a single frame.

  The two guide shafts 9 of the moving unit 8 are inserted into two guide shaft guide frames 12 and 12 ′ that are fixed to the upper side surface of the support column 3 with a space in the vertical direction, and are supported so as to be vertically movable. ing.

  A male screw member (screw shaft) 13 for moving the moving portion 8 in the vertical direction is a screw shaft in which a screw is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft, and the male screw member 13 is connected to the female screw member 11 of the moving frame 10. A drive shaft 14 that rotates the male screw member 13 is connected to one end of the male screw member 13 that protrudes downward from the moving frame 10 via a clutch 15, and the drive shaft 14 is driven. The unit (motor) 16 is configured to be driven and rotated.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the clutch 15 that transmits the rotation of the drive shaft 14 to the male screw member 13 can be integrally rotated in the circumferential direction and separated in the axial direction by the engagement of the concavo-convex member. For example, a dog clutch is used. The clutch 15 is rotatably supported by a clutch support frame 21 fixed to the side surface of the support column 3 via a bearing (not shown). However, the clutch member 15 a connected to the lower end of the male screw member 13 is supported so as to be movable in a direction to disengage from the clutch member 15 b connected to the upper end of the drive shaft 14.

  The operation pin 17 slides up and down on the guide shaft guide frame 12 ′ that protrudes upward from the moving frame 10 of the male screw member 13 and is positioned on the axis of the male screw member 13. A detection means 18 (contact switch) for switching the rotation direction of the drive unit 16 is supported and arranged on the support column 3 within a sliding range of the operation pin 17. That is, when the male screw member 13 moves in the axial direction, the detecting means 18 (contact switch) is turned on via the operation pin 17 by the movement. The detection means 18 is not limited to a contact switch, and for example, a photo switch (photosensor) may be used.

  The operation pin 17 is a stepped pin whose shaft diameter changes from “large” to “small” at a middle position in the axial direction, and a detecting means 18 (contact switch) is provided near the position where the shaft diameter changes. Is arranged to support. Thereby, the operation pin 17 is pushed up by the movement (rise) of the male screw member 13, and the detection means 18 (contact switch) is operated by the large-diameter shaft portion.

  Further, an upper limit switch 19a for restricting the upper limit position of the vertical movement of the label issuing sticking part 5 (moving part 8) and a lower limit switch 19b for restricting the lower limit position are arranged on the side surface of the support column 3, while the moving part 8 The moving frame 10 is provided with an operating piece 20 for operating the upper limit switch 19a and the lower limit switch 19b.

Next, the vertical adjustment of the label issuing sticking unit 5 and the operation for preventing pinching when lowered will be described.
For example, in the state of FIG. 2, when the drive unit 16 is operated to drive and rotate the drive shaft 14, the rotation of the drive shaft 14 is transmitted to the male screw member 13 via the clutch 15. The moving frame 10 having the female screw member 11 to be screwed is supported around the guide shaft 9 by the guide shaft guide frames 12 and 12 'so as to be movable in the axial direction. It is lowered or raised depending on the direction of rotation. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the label issuing sticking portion 5 is lowered by the normal rotation (clockwise direction) of the male screw member 13 and is raised by the reverse rotation (counterclockwise direction) of the male screw member 13 (see FIG. 5). ).
Thereby, the initial position of the label issuing sticking unit 5 is adjusted up and down according to the height of the article W.

When adjusting the initial position of the label issue sticking part 5, if the label issue sticking part 5 is mistakenly lowered too much and the label issue sticking part 5 comes into contact with the article W as shown in FIG. Is stopped by the article W, and accordingly, the lowering of the moving unit 8 is also stopped (see FIG. 6).
As a result, the articles W sandwiched between the transport table 2 ′ and the label issue pasting unit 5 are prevented from being crushed because the descent of the label issue pasting unit 5 is stopped.

  When the label issuing sticking part 5 comes into contact with the article and the lowering is stopped, the male screw member 13 continues to rotate by the operation of the driving part 16. On the other hand, since the moving frame 10 having the female screw member 11 with which the male screw member 13 is screwed is stopped as described above, the male screw member 13 is connected to the drive shaft 14 in the clutch 15 portion. And move in the direction to be separated (upward) into the female screw member 11 (see FIG. 7).

  When the male screw member 13 moves in a direction (upward) to disconnect the clutch 15, the upper end of the male screw member 13 (the side opposite to the clutch member 15a) is an operation pin 17 attached to the guide shaft guide frame 12 ′. Push up. The pushed operation pin 17 is turned on by operating the detection means 18 (contact switch). When the detection means 18 (contact switch) is turned on, the rotation direction of the drive unit 16 is switched to the reverse direction (counterclockwise direction). The amount by which the male screw member 13 moves upward and pushes up the operating pin 17 is within the range (stroke) of the engagement margin of the clutch 15 so that power transmission from the drive shaft 14 to the male screw member 13 is maintained. To be done in a state. That is, the detection means 18 (contact switch) is turned on before the clutch 15 is completely separated.

  Due to the reverse rotation of the male screw member 13, the moving frame 10 provided with the female screw member 11 switches to an upward movement, whereby the label issuing sticking portion 5 that has been in contact with the article W is away from the article W (upward direction). Moved to. That is, the moving unit 8 is lifted and the sandwiching of the article W is released (see FIG. 8). Thereby, the operation is continuously performed, and when the label issuing sticking unit 5 comes into contact with the article W, the label issuing sticking unit 5 can be automatically moved away from the contacting article W, Smooth movement of the label issuing and pasting unit 5 becomes possible.

The label sticking device of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention.
(1) In the illustrated embodiment, an example is shown in which the ON operation of the detection means (contact switch) is performed by pushing up the operating pin by raising the male screw member and operating the operating pin by sliding up and down. Instead, it may be operated directly by raising the male screw member.
(2) In the illustrated embodiment, an example of a dog clutch is shown as the clutch. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any clutch may be used as long as the clutch members can be separated in the axial direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS A ... Label sticking apparatus W ... Goods 1 ... Base 3 ... Support | pillar 5 ... Label issuing sticking part 8 ... Moving part 9 ... Guide shaft 10 ... Moving frame 11 ... Female screw member 13 ... Male screw member 14 ... Drive shaft 15 ... Clutch 16 ... Drive unit 18 ... Detection means (contact switch)

Claims (2)

In the label sticking device in which the label issuance sticking part is provided so that it can move up and down along the column that stands up from the base,
A moving frame provided with a female screw member, which is connected to the label issuing sticking portion, is attached to the support column so as to be vertically movable, a male screw member is threadedly inserted into the female screw member of the moving frame, and the male screw is further inserted. A drive shaft for driving and rotating the male screw member is provided on one side end of the member so as to be axially separable via a clutch, and the label issuing sticking portion moves by rotating the male screw member by the drive shaft, When the label issuing sticking part comes into contact with the article and the movement of the moving frame stops, the male screw member screwed into the female screw member of the moving frame is separated from the drive shaft, and the movement of the label issuing sticking part stops. A label sticking device characterized by being made.   Detection means for detecting the movement of the male screw member is disposed at the other end of the male screw member, and the detection means has a movement amount of the male screw member within a range of an engagement margin in the axial direction of the clutch. The label sticking device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation direction of the drive unit that rotates the drive shaft is reversed when the drive shaft is in the state.

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