JP2012131537A - Labeling system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a labeling system which permits the productivity of an adherend member on which a label has been applied to be kept high.SOLUTION: The labeling system A includes an adherend member transfer means 1 for sequentially transferring a plurality of adherend members B to a label supply position α, and a label supply means 2 for supplying a label L for each of the adherend members B sequentially transferred to the label supply position α. The labeling system A has a defective label detection means 3 for detecting that the label L to be supplied to a specific adherend member B (n) is a defective label Lx, and a label supply control means 5 for making the label supply means 2 supply the defective label Lx without change and discharge the defective label Lx as an unmounted label during the period from the supply of the label L to the adherend member B (n-1) one preceding the specific adherend member B (n) in the order of transfer to the transfer of the specific adherend member B(n) to the label supply position α.

Description

  The present invention relates to a label mounting system for mounting labels on a plurality of containers such as bottles.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of a conventional label mounting system (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The label mounting system X shown in the figure includes a container transport unit 91, a label supply unit 92, and a defective container detection unit 93. The container transport means 91 sequentially transports a plurality of containers B before label mounting to the label supply position α on the transport path 910 with a predetermined interval. The container transport unit 91 sequentially transports the plurality of containers P that have passed the label supply position α and have the label L attached thereto to the next step along the transport path 910. The label supply means 92 is disposed at the label supply position α. The label supply unit 92 generates labels L one by one by cutting the folded film label base material Ls into a predetermined length. The label supply means 92 makes the label L open in a cylindrical shape by fitting the generated labels L one by one to the mandrel 920. The label supply means 92 supplies a label L opened in a cylindrical shape for each container B that is sequentially conveyed to the label supply position α. Thereby, the cylindrical label L is attached to the container B with a certain gap.

  At a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction of the label base material Ls, there is a seam where the films are laminated and bonded together. Moreover, printing defects etc. also exist in some label base materials Ls. A label L including this type of joint or printing failure is a defective label Lx. The defective label Lx is supplied to the container B by the label supply means 92 as it is. This kind of defective label Lx is detected by the defective container detection means 93. The defective container detection means 93 is disposed on the downstream side of the label supply position α on the transport path 910. The defective container detection means 93 detects the container B on which the defective label Lx has been attached as a defective product. The label-attached container B detected as a defective product is removed from the conveyance path 910 via a container removal unit (not shown).

  However, in the conventional label mounting system X, the defective label Lx is mounted even if it is a non-defective container B by itself. Therefore, the container B to which the defective label Lx is attached is handled as a defective product, and there is a problem that the non-defective product B is wasted.

JP-A-8-119234

  The present invention has been conceived under the circumstances described above, and provides a label mounting system capable of efficiently mounting a label without wasting a plurality of mounted members to be transported. That is the issue.

  The label mounting system provided by the present invention has been sequentially transported to the label supply position by the mounted member transport means for sequentially transporting a plurality of mounted members to the label supply position, and the mounted member transport means. A label supply system that supplies a label for each of the mounted members, and is to be supplied by the label supply unit to a specific mounted member among the plurality of mounted members. Defective label detection means for detecting before the supply that the label is a defective label, and after the label is supplied to the mounted member that is in the transport order immediately before the specific mounted member, Until the specific mounted member is conveyed to the label supply position, the defective label is supplied to the label supply means as it is, and the defective label is not attached to the label supply position. It is characterized in that it comprises a label feed control means for discharging the Le, the.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mounted member transporting unit transports the plurality of mounted members at a steady speed regardless of whether the defective label is supplied by the label supply unit. Yes.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mounted member transporting means transports the plurality of mounted members at a steady speed, while the plurality of mounted members are supplied when the defective label is supplied. Temporarily decelerate the transport speed.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mounted member transport means arranges the plurality of mounted members side by side and sequentially transports them to the label supply position, and passes through the label supply position and the label has been mounted. A transport path for sequentially transporting the plurality of mounted members to the next process, and the label supply position on the transport path, or an intermediate position downstream from the label supply position on the transport path Is provided with a defective label removing means for removing the defective label discharged by the label supply means from the conveying path.

  In the label mounting system according to the present invention, the defective label is discharged when the mounted member does not pass through the label supply position, and the defective label is not mounted on any mounted member being transported. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently mount a label without wasting a plurality of mounted members to be transported.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is an overall view showing an embodiment of a label mounting system according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a label mounting system. It is a flowchart which shows the control operation | movement of a label mounting system. It is a whole figure for demonstrating control operation of a label mounting system. It is a whole figure for demonstrating control operation of a label mounting system. It is a whole figure for demonstrating control operation of a label mounting system. It is a whole figure for demonstrating control operation of a label mounting system. It is a whole figure for demonstrating control operation of a label mounting system. It is a flowchart which shows the control operation by other embodiment of the label mounting system which concerns on this invention. It is a general view which shows other embodiment of the label mounting system which concerns on this invention. It is a general view of the conventional label mounting system.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 show an embodiment of a label mounting system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the label mounting system A is for mounting a film-shaped cylindrical label L on a plurality of bottles B that are sequentially conveyed as a mounted member, for example. The label mounting system A includes a bottle transport unit 1, a label supply unit 2, a defective label detector 3, a defective label removal device 4, and a programmable controller (hereinafter referred to as “PLC”) 5.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottle transport means 1 includes a transport path 10, a pair of transport screws 11 (only one is shown in FIG. 1), a transport screw drive motor 12, a belt conveyor 13, and a belt conveyor drive motor 14. And a bottle detector 15.

  The conveyance path 10 is composed of a long plate-like member that can be arranged in a predetermined conveyance direction with the plurality of bottles B standing upright. A label supply position α is set on the transport path 10. A pair of conveying screws 11 are installed on the upstream side of the conveying path 10, while a belt conveyor 13 is installed on the downstream side thereof. The label supply position α is set at a predetermined position on the carry-in side of the belt conveyor 13.

  The pair of transport screws 11 sequentially transport the plurality of bottles B in an upright posture. The pair of transport screws 11 are disposed on both shoulder sides of the transport path 10 in a posture in which the rotation axes are aligned with the transport direction. Each of the conveying screws 11 is formed with a spiral groove 111 that can come into contact with the side portions of the plurality of bottles B. The pair of conveying screws 11 rotate in conjunction with each other. The pair of conveying screws 11 rotate while sandwiching a plurality of bottles B between these spiral grooves 111. Thereby, a pair of conveyance screw 11 conveys the some bottle B, enlarging conveyance pitch gradually. These conveying screws 11 are rotated by a conveying screw drive motor 12.

  The belt conveyor 13 sequentially receives a plurality of bottles B from the transport screw 11 and sequentially transports these bottles B from the label supply position α on the transport path 10 further downstream. The belt conveyor 13 includes a pair of endless belts 130 and a plurality of belt pulleys 131. The pair of endless belts 130 are in contact with portions near the lower ends of the plurality of bottles B, and these bottles B are sandwiched from both shoulders of the conveyance path 10. Each of the endless belts 130 is wound around a plurality of belt pulleys 131 including a driving pulley. When the drive pulley rotates, the pair of endless belts 130 circulate between the belt pulleys 131. Thereby, the plurality of bottles B sandwiched between the pair of endless belts 130 are continuously conveyed along the conveyance path 10. The belt pulley 131 corresponding to the drive pulley is rotated by the belt conveyor drive motor 14. Such a belt conveyor 13 conveys a plurality of bottles B at a steady speed while maintaining a predetermined interval T.

  The bottle detector 15 includes a sensor that optically detects the bottle B on the transport path 10, for example. The bottle detector 15 is installed at an upstream position β where the conveying screw 11 sends the bottle B to the belt conveyor 13. The bottle detector 15 transmits a bottle detection signal to the PLC 5 every time the bottle B is detected.

  The label supply unit 2 includes a label base roll 20, a label base supply part 21, a label base cutting part 22, a label opening transfer part 23, and a label opening supply part 24. The label base material supply unit 21 includes a pair of label base material supply rollers 210 and a label base material supply motor 211. The label base material cutting unit 22 includes a rotary blade roller 220, a fixed blade 221, and a rotary blade motor 222. The label opening transfer unit 23 includes a belt transport mechanism 230, a plurality of suction devices 231, and a label transfer motor 232. The label opening supply unit 24 includes a belt conveyance mechanism 240, a mandrel 241, and a label supply motor 242.

  A folded long label substrate Ls is wound around the label substrate roll 20. The label base material Ls is made of a film and has been printed in advance. At a predetermined location in the longitudinal direction of the label base material Ls, there is a seam that becomes a portion where the films are laminated and bonded together. Further, there are printing defects and the like in the label base material Ls. The label base material Ls is drawn from the label base material roll 20 through the roller 200 to the label base material feeding portion 21.

  The label base material feeding unit 21 is for feeding the label base material Ls from the label base material roll 20 while pulling it out. The pair of label base material feeding rollers 210 feeds the label base material Ls downward while pressing both sides of the label base material Ls. The pair of label base material feeding rollers 210 rotate in conjunction with each other. The label base material supply roller 210 is rotated by a label base material supply motor 211.

  The label base material cutting part 22 is for cutting the label base material Ls. The label base material cutting part 22 is disposed below the label base material feeding part 21. The rotary blade roller 220 of the label base material cutting part 22 draws the label base material Ls between the fixed blade 221 by rotating. The rotary blade 220 is rotated by a rotary blade motor 222. The rotary blade roller 220 is provided with a rotary blade that faces the fixed blade 221 every rotation. When the rotary blade roller 220 rotates once, the label base material Ls sandwiched between the rotary blade and the fixed blade 221 is cut into a predetermined length. Thereby, in the label base-material cutting part 22, the label L of predetermined length is produced | generated in the state still folded, and this label L is sent out below.

  The label opening transfer unit 23 is for transferring the label L in a folded state to the label opening supply unit 24 while preliminarily opening the label L. The label opening transfer unit 23 is disposed below the label base material cutting unit 22. The belt conveyance mechanism 230 of the label opening transfer unit 23 includes a pair of endless belts 230A and a plurality of belt pulleys 230B. The pair of endless belts 230 </ b> A have portions that are in contact with each other on the upper side, and sandwich the label L that is folded at the upper portion. The pair of endless belts 230 </ b> A has a portion where the gap becomes larger toward the lower side, and the label L is gradually opened at the lower side portion. Each of the endless belts 230A is provided with an air intake hole (not shown). The endless belt 230A is wound around a plurality of belt pulleys 230B including a drive pulley. The belt pulley 230 </ b> B corresponding to the drive pulley is rotated by the label transfer motor 232. The plurality of suction devices 231 are disposed inside the endless belt 230A. The suction device 231 applies a negative pressure to the surface of the label L through the intake holes of the endless belt 230A. When the drive pulley rotates, the pair of endless belts 230A circulate between the plurality of belt pulleys 230B. At that time, the suction device 231 is operated, whereby the label L is sucked and held on the surface of the endless belt 230A. Thereby, the label L is sent out downward while the lower end is opened.

  The label opening supply unit 24 is for opening the label L sent from the label opening transfer unit 23 into a complete cylinder and supplying the label L to the bottle B on the transport path 10. The label opening supply unit 24 is disposed below the label opening transfer unit 23 and is installed above the label supply position α. The belt conveyance mechanism 240 of the label opening supply unit 24 includes a pair of endless belts 240A and a plurality of belt pulleys 240B. The mandrel 241 is a member having a wedge shape at the top and a cylindrical shape at the bottom. A part of the upper part of the mandrel 241 is located between the pair of endless belts 230 </ b> A in the label opening transfer unit 23. A pair of endless belts 240A are in sliding contact with the lower part of the mandrel 241 on both the left and right sides. The pair of endless belts 240A are wound around a plurality of belt pulleys 240B including a drive pulley. When the drive pulley rotates, the pair of endless belts 240 </ b> A circulates and moves between the belt pulleys 240 </ b> B while sandwiching a portion of the label L corresponding to the thickness of one film between the mandrel 241. The belt pulley 240 </ b> B corresponding to the drive pulley is rotated by the label supply motor 242. Thereby, the label opening supply part 24 discharge | releases the label L opened cylindrically from the lower part of the mandrel 241 below. Usually, when the label opening supply unit 24 supplies the label L at the moment when the bottle B passes through the label supply position α, the label L opened in a cylindrical shape is attached to the bottle B with a certain gap.

  The defective label detector 3 includes a sensor that optically detects a defective portion such as a joint of the label base material Ls or a printing defect. The defective label detector 3 is installed above the roller 200, for example. The defective label detector 3 transmits a defective label detection signal to the PLC 5 every time a defective portion is detected.

  The defective label removing device 4 is for removing defective labels including defective portions from the conveyance path 10. The defective label removing device 4 blows off the defective label by, for example, jetting compressed air. The defective label removing device 4 is installed at the label supply position α. The defective label removing device 4 is disposed outside the shoulder of the conveyance path 10 and is set, for example, in a direction in which the air ejection direction intersects the conveyance direction (for example, a direction from the back side to the front side in FIG. 1). Has been. For example, a collection box (not shown) for collecting defective labels is disposed outside the shoulder of the conveyance path 10 at a position facing the defective label removing device 4.

  The PLC 5 controls the operations of the bottle transport unit 1, the label supply unit 2, and the defective label removal device 4 and synchronizes them. The PLC 5 includes a conveying screw drive motor 12, a belt conveyor drive motor 14, a bottle detector 15, a label base material feeding motor 211, a rotary blade motor 222, a suction device 231, a label transfer motor 232, a label supply motor 242, and a defective label detection. A device 3 and a defective label removing device 4 are connected. The PLC 5 executes a label mounting process described later.

  Next, the control operation of the label mounting system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the overall views of FIGS.

  The PLC 5 interlocks the conveying screw drive motor 12 and the belt conveyor drive motor 14 as a predetermined rotation speed by executing a label mounting process. Thereby, the several bottle B on the conveyance path | route 10 is conveyed at a steady speed along a conveyance direction. During the conveyance of the bottle B, the PLC 5 receives a bottle detection signal from the bottle detector 15. Based on the transport speed of the bottle B and the reception timing of the bottle detection signal, the PLC 5 recognizes the timing at which the bottle B that has passed the upstream position β passes the label supply position α and the transport order thereof.

  Further, the PLC 5 performs a label mounting process to link the label base material feeding motor 211, the rotary blade motor 222, the suction device 231, the label transfer motor 232, and the label supply motor 242 as a predetermined rotation speed. Thereby, the label base material Ls is cut by the label base material cutting unit 22 every time the label base material Ls is fed through the label base material feeding unit 21 by a predetermined length, and the label L is sent to the label opening transfer unit 23 for each cutting. It is. In conjunction with this, the label L in the label opening transfer unit 23 is sent out to the label opening supply unit 24, and the label L in the label opening supply unit 24 is sent out from the lower end of the mandrel 241. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when one label L is just supplied from the label opening supply unit 24, the label L to be supplied next is located in the label opening supply unit 24, and then supplied next. The label L to be placed is located in the label opening transfer section 23. The PLC 5 normally controls the label supply motor 242 and the like so that the label L is supplied when the bottle B just passes the label supply position α.

  As shown in FIG. 3, during the execution of the label mounting process, the PLC 5 monitors a defective label detection signal transmitted from the defective label detector 3 (S1).

  When the defective label detection signal is not received from the defective label detector 3 (S1: NO), the PLC 5 conveys the bottles B at a steady speed while recognizing the conveying order of the plurality of bottles B as described above (S2). ).

  In that case, the label opening supply part 24 supplies the label L according to the timing at which the bottle B passes the label supply position α (S3). As a result, a normal label L having no defect is attached to each bottle B passing the label supply position α.

  When the operation for stopping the operation of the system is performed (S4: YES), the PLC 5 ends the label mounting process.

  In S4, when operation which stops operation of this system is not made (S4: NO), PLC5 returns to the step of S1 and continues execution of label mounting processing.

  In S1, when the defective label detection signal is received from the defective label detector 3 (S1: YES), the PLC 5 detects a predetermined length portion of the label base material Ls that is passing through the label base material feeding portion 21 at that time. Recognized as a defective label Lx. Based on the defective label detection signal and the bottle detection signal, the PLC 5 recognizes the conveyance order n of the specific bottle B to which the defective label Lx will be supplied at the normal label supply timing. Thereafter, the PLC 5 directly transports the plurality of bottles B at a steady speed (S5).

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 as an example, when the label L is just attached to the bottle B (n-3) in the transport order n-3, the bottle B (n− in the transport order n−1). 1) is detected at the upstream position β. At this time, it is assumed that the PLC 5 recognizes a predetermined length portion of the label base material Ls that is passing through the label base material feeding portion 21 as a defective label Lx. In this case, the PLC 5 recognizes that the defective label Lx is supplied to the specific bottle B (n) whose transport order is the nth.

  Thereafter, the PLC 5 controls the label opening supply unit 24 based on the normal label supply timing until the bottle B (n-1) in the conveyance order n-1 passes the label supply position α. Thereby, the label opening supply part 24 is based on a normal label supply timing until the bottle B (n-1) conveyed just before a specific bottle B (n) passes the label supply position (alpha). A normal label L is supplied (S6). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 as an example, after the label L is attached to the bottle B (n−2) in the transport order n−2, the transport order n is performed at the same label supply timing. The label L is attached to the bottle B (n-1) of -1.

  After the label L is mounted on the bottle B (n−1) in the conveyance order n−1, the PLC 5 changes the label supply timing by the label opening supply unit 24. Specifically, the PLC 5 speeds up the label supply timing so that it becomes approximately half of the normal cycle. In that case, operation | movement of the label opening transfer part 23, the label base material cutting part 22, and the label base material supply part 21 is also made faster than usual. On the other hand, the conveying speed by the conveying screw 11 and the belt conveyor 13 is not changed and is maintained at a steady speed as it is. As a result, the bottle B (n−1) in the transport order n−1 that has moved the label supply position α on the transport path 10 by about half of the transport pitch, and the specific bottle B (n) in the next transport order n. The defective label Lx is supplied as it is from the label opening supply unit 24. That is, the label opening supply unit 24 discharges the defective label Lx onto the transport path 10 at the moment when the section between the bottle B (n−1) and the specific bottle B (n) passes the label supply position α. (S7). As an example, as shown in FIG. 7, the defective label Lx discharged onto the transport path 10 is not attached to the bottles B (n−1) and B (n), but these bottles B (n−1). , B (n) temporarily enters the state.

  When discharging the defective label Lx, the PLC 5 operates the defective label removing device 4. As a result, the defective label Lx that has entered between the bottles B is blown off by the compressed air, and the defective label Lx is removed from the transport path 10 (S8). The defective label discharged to the label supply position α on the transport path 10 is put into a defective label collection box (not shown). Thereafter, the PLC 5 continues the label mounting process through, for example, S4: NO and S1: NO. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, normal labels L are mounted one by one from the bottle B (n) in the conveyance order n again at the normal label supply timing.

  Therefore, in the label mounting system A, since the defective label Lx is discharged when the bottle B does not pass through the label supply position α, the defective label Lx is not mounted on any bottle B being transported. Thereby, according to the label mounting system A, normal labels L can be mounted efficiently without wasting a plurality of bottles B to be transported.

  According to the label mounting system A, since it is only necessary to temporarily change the label supply timing without changing the conveyance speed of the bottle B, the productivity of the label-mounted bottle B can be increased.

  FIG. 9 shows a label mounting process according to another embodiment. The label mounting process shown in FIG. 9 is also applied to the label mounting system A. Steps S11 to 16 and S19 shown in FIG. 9 are the same as steps S1 to 6 and S8 shown in FIG. The steps of S17 and S18 shown in FIG. 9 are different from those by the label mounting process of FIG. Constituent elements and operations similar to those according to the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, after executing the step of S16, the PLC 5 passes the label supply position α after the bottle B (n-1) in the conveyance order n-1 further to the downstream side, approximately half of the conveyance pitch. When the distance is conveyed, the conveying operation is temporarily stopped (S17). Thereby, the section between the bottle B (n-1) in the transport order n-1 and the specific bottle B (n) in the transport order n is statically positioned at the label supply position α.

  Thereafter, the PLC 5 controls the label opening supply unit 24 to discharge the defective label Lx between the bottle B (n−1) and the specific bottle B (n) (S18).

  After discharging the defective label Lx, the PLC 5 operates the defective label removing device 4 to remove the defective label Lx from the transport path 10 (S19). Thereafter, the PLC 5 returns to the step of S4 and controls the bottle transport operation and the label supply operation in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment.

  Such a label mounting process is effective when the period of the label supply timing cannot be shortened so much with respect to the conveyance speed of the bottle B. Also by this label mounting process, it is possible to mount only normal labels L having no defective portions on all the bottles B transported along the transport path 10.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above. The specific configuration of the label mounting system according to the present invention can be varied in design in various ways.

  For example, the defective label removal apparatus may be disposed at a midway position downstream of the label supply position on the transport path. In that case, the defective label that has been discharged onto the transport path and entered between the bottles is transported as it is, and the defective label removing device is activated when the defective label passes a position facing the defective label removing device. Just do it.

  In the label mounting process shown in FIG. 9, the bottle transport operation is temporarily stopped in step S17, but the following method may be employed as an alternative control. For example, between the time when the bottle in the transport order n-1 passes through the label supply position and the time when the specific bottle in the next transport order n passes through the label supply position, the transport speed of the bottle is made lower. You may control.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the bottle conveying means 1 may include a belt conveyor 13 ′ that extends from the installation location of the conveying screw 11 on the conveying path 10 to the downstream side. This belt conveyor 13 'has an endless belt 130' and a pair of belt pulleys 131 '. The endless belt 130 'is wound around a belt pulley 131' that rotates about a horizontal axis. The belt pulley 131 'corresponding to the drive pulley is rotated by a belt conveyor drive motor. As a result, the endless belt 130 ′ circulates and moves between the belt pulleys 131 with a plurality of bottles B placed on the upper part thereof. The conveyance path 10 is formed by the upper part of the endless belt 130 '. Also with such a belt conveyor 13 ′, a plurality of bottles B can be continuously conveyed along the conveyance path 10.

A Label mounting system B Bottle (member to be mounted)
α Label supply position Ls Label substrate L Label Lx Defective label 1 Bottle conveying means (attached member conveying means)
2 Label supply means 3 Defective label detector (defective label detection means)
4 Defective label removal device (defective label removal means)
5 Programmable controller (label supply control means)
10 Transport route

Claims (3)

Mounted member transport means for sequentially transporting a plurality of mounted members to the label supply position;
A label supply system that supplies a label for each mounted member that has been sequentially transported to the label supply position by the mounted member transporting means,
Defective label detection means for detecting, before the supply, that the label to be supplied by the label supply means to the specific attached member among the plurality of attached members is a defective label;
The defect after the label is supplied to the mounted member that is in the transport order immediately before the specific mounted member until the specific mounted member is transported to the label supply position. Label supply control means for supplying the label as it is to the label supply means and discharging the defective label as an unattached label;
A label mounting system comprising:   The mounted member transport means transports the plurality of mounted members at a steady speed, and temporarily reduces the speed of transporting the mounted members when the defective label is supplied. The label mounting system according to claim 1.   The mounted member conveying means arranges the plurality of mounted members side by side and sequentially conveys the plurality of mounted members to the label supply position, and passes the label supply position through the plurality of mounted members that have been mounted with the label. It has a transport path for sequentially transporting to the next step, and the label supply position on the transport path, or an intermediate position downstream of the label supply position on the transport path, by the label supply means The label mounting system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a defective label removing means for removing the discharged defective label from the conveyance path is disposed.

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