JP2018002245A - Label loading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a label loading device which is compact and has a high degree-of-freedom of design.SOLUTION: A label loading device, which is located above a pack transport surface on which an egg pack is transported, comprises: a first transport part which transports a label in a first direction one by one; a second transport part which transports the label in a second direction different from the first direction so that a front side of the label faces the pack transport surface, and comprises an injection hole for loading the label into the egg pack one by one; and a turning part which is located between the first transport part and the second transport part, and guides the label while bending the label.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a label loading device for loading a label into an egg pack in order to accommodate a label visible from the outside inside the egg pack.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of label feeding apparatus, there is known a device that cuts continuous labels fed out from a raw fabric one by one and puts the labels into the gaps between adjacent eggs (for example, Patent Document 1). See). In this label loading apparatus, the label discharge port faces downward, and the label falls between eggs in a substantially vertical state by gravity. However, when the label is placed between the eggs, it is difficult to read the contents from the outside.

Therefore, the present applicant has proposed a label insertion device capable of arranging a label so that it can be easily visually recognized from the outside in the following Patent Document 2 (unpublished). This label loading device is arranged above the pack transport surface on which the egg pack is transported, and feeds the labels extracted from the holder at one end of the linear transport path one by one downstream. The label is fed from the discharge port on the other end toward the lid of the egg pack.

JP 2001-171636 A Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-205799

By the way, the label used for the egg pack has items that are difficult to print in advance, such as the expiration date, in addition to the display indicating the origin of the egg. For such items, it is preferable to print information immediately before inserting the label.

However, if a space for arranging the printing mechanism and the like is ensured, the conveyance path becomes long and the machine becomes large, and the above-mentioned surface is visible from the outside when the lid of the egg pack is closed. Therefore, it has been difficult to respond to a request to write information on the surface or to perform a check during transportation.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a label input device that is compact and has a high degree of design freedom.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention takes the following measures. That is, the label loading device according to claim 1 is disposed above the pack transport surface on which the egg pack is transported, and includes a first transport unit that transports labels one by one in the first direction; A second transport unit having a discharge port for transporting the label in a second direction different from the first direction so that the surface side of the label faces the pack transport surface and feeding the label into the egg pack one by one And a turning unit that is arranged between the first transport unit and the second transport unit and guides the label while curving it.

Here, “one by one” means that the labels are not connected directly or indirectly via a mount or the like. The “label surface” means a surface that is visible from the outside of the egg pack after the lid of the egg pack is closed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the label feeding apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein a printing mechanism for the first conveying unit to print on the surface of the label is arranged.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, at least one of the first transport unit and the second transport unit is inclined toward the downstream side.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a label feeding device that is compact and has a high degree of design freedom.

Schematic which shows typically the label injection apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the label used with the label insertion apparatus concerning the embodiment. Schematic for demonstrating the action | operation after the label injection concerning the embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The label input device 1 according to the present embodiment is disposed above the pack transport surface 11 on which the egg pack P is transported, and the label L is placed almost horizontally in the egg pack P passing under the label input device 1. It is put in the state. Specifically, the label feeding device 1 includes the first transport unit 2 that transports the labels L in the first direction one by one, and the first transport unit 11 so that the surface L1 side of the label L faces the pack transport surface 11. A second transport unit 4 having a discharge port 41 for transporting the label L in a second direction different from the one direction and feeding the label L into the egg pack P one by one; the first transport unit 2 and the second transport unit A turning unit 3 is provided between the transfer unit 4 and guides the label L while curving it. In other words, the label loading device 1 is arranged on the downstream side of the first transport unit 2 that transports the labels L one by one, and reverses the front-facing label L to the back side. The rotating part 3 which is an inversion part, and the 2nd conveyance part 4 provided with the discharge | emission port 41 which throws into the egg pack P the label L turned into the reverse state in this turning part 3 one by one are provided. .

The 1st conveyance part 2 conveys the surface L1 printed beforehand of the label L in the state which faced the upper side. Specifically, the first transport unit 2 is mainly configured by a driving roller 22 and a driven roller 23 disposed above and below the transport path 21 for the label L, and the transport path 21 for the label L faces the downstream side. Is inclined. In the present embodiment, since the labels L are not connected to each other, a holding plate 24 for suppressing the portion of the label L that is not supported by the driving roller 22 and the driven roller 23 from dripping from the conveyance path 21 is provided. ing. The holding plate 24 is disposed along the conveyance path 21 so as not to interfere with the driving roller 22 and the driven roller 23. In addition, on the upstream side of the first transport unit 2, an extraction mechanism 6 that feeds the labels L one by one from the holder 5 in which a plurality of labels L are set is provided. In the present embodiment, the label L is set in a state where a plurality of labels L are stacked on the holder 5 in the front direction.

In addition, the first transport unit 2 of the present embodiment is provided with an optional arrangement region 7 above it. In the present embodiment, a printing mechanism 8 for printing on the surface L1 of the label L is disposed in the region 7. The printing mechanism 8 uses, for example, an inkjet system for printing the expiration date on each label L. Various contents can be applied to the contents to be printed by the printing mechanism 8 and its printing method, and since the technology relating to the specific printing is known, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition to the printing mechanism 8, a well-known printing verification mechanism or the like may be arranged in the area 7, and a person checks from the outside whether the surface L 1 of the label L is in a desired state. You may make it provide the window for doing.

The turning unit 3 feeds the label L that has been conveyed one by one from the first conveying unit 2 to the second conveying unit 4 while curving it. Specifically, the rolling unit 3 is mainly configured by a driving roller 31 disposed inside the curve and a guide member 33 that forms a curved conveyance path 32 between the driving roller 31 and the driving roller 31. . The guide member 33 has a transport path forming position (FIG. 1) for forming the transport path 32 and a retracted position (not shown) separated from the drive roller 31 so that the recovery work can be easily performed when the label L is clogged. It is configured to be detachable between.

The 2nd conveyance part 4 is provided below the 1st conveyance part 2, and conveys it in the state which orient | assigned the surface L1 of the label L to the downward side. Specifically, the second transport unit 4 is mainly configured by a driving roller 43 and a driven roller 44 arranged above and below the transport path 42 for the label L, and the transport path 42 for the label L faces the downstream side. Is inclined. In the present embodiment, since the labels L are not connected to each other, a holding plate 45 is provided for suppressing a portion of the label L that is not supported by the driving roller 43 and the driven roller 44 from hanging down on the conveyance path 42. ing. The holding plate 45 is disposed along the conveyance path 42 so as not to interfere with the driving roller 43 and the driven roller 44. Further, on the downstream side of the second transport unit 4, a discharge port 41 through which the label L is introduced into the lid P <b> 1 of the egg pack P is provided.

The second transport unit 4 of the present embodiment is provided with a bending mechanism 9. Specifically, the bending mechanism 9 is an upright plate for making a straight crease L6 along the conveyance direction of the label L.

In the label feeding apparatus 1 described above, first, the label L held by the holder 5 is taken out onto the first transport unit 2 by the extraction mechanism 6, and the driving roller 22 and the driven roller of the first transport unit 2 are removed. 23 is conveyed downstream. In the middle of the first transport unit 2, the expiration date is printed by the printing mechanism 8 in the expiration date column on the surface L <b> 1 of the label L. Thereafter, the labels L that have entered one by one on the upper side of the turning unit 3 move to the lower side while being curved along the guide member 33, and are conveyed to the second conveying unit 4. Then, while being conveyed downstream by the driving roller 43 and the driven roller 44 of the second conveying unit 4, on the way, the folding mechanism 9 causes the region on the side wall of the label L not sandwiched between the rollers 43, 44. L4 is raised from the top wall side region L3. The label L with the crease L6 once is conveyed downstream while the bent state is maintained. Then, at the discharge port 41, the label L is released from the state where the top wall side region L3 is sandwiched between the rollers 43 and 44 that make a pair, and the label L is sent out into the egg pack P.

Next, the label L and the egg pack P used in the label loading apparatus 1 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the label L has a rectangular shape in plan view made of, for example, cardboard, and a top wall side region L3 positioned on the top wall P11 side of the lid P1 when stored in the container. And a side wall region L4 located on the side wall P12 side of the lid P1. The label L is printed with various information about the egg E on the surface L1 side. Examples of the information on the egg E include the egg weight, the name of the person in charge of weighing, the packaging place and the expiration date column, the storage method, the usage method, etc., but these may be simplified or omitted in the figure. ing.

The label L is flat when placed, but after being passed through the folding mechanism 9, it is folded into two with the back surface L2 side facing inward. In the present embodiment, the folding mechanism 9 creates a crease L6 at one boundary portion L5 between the top wall side region L3 and the side wall side region L4 of the label L. When the label L passes through the bending mechanism 9, the side wall side region L4 is bent so as to be substantially perpendicular to the top wall side region L3.

The egg pack P is a transparent product made of synthetic resin, and is integrally formed with a relatively rigid thickness. The egg pack P includes a container main body P2 in which a plurality of eggs E are accommodated, and an unfolded state (O) and a closed state (C) with a connecting portion P3 provided on one side edge of the container main body P2 as an axis. And a lid P1 that can be opened and closed. The lid P1 includes a flat ceiling wall P11 and four side walls P12 formed continuously around the periphery of the ceiling wall P11, and a portion surrounded by the ceiling wall P11 and the four side walls P12. A space having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape is formed.

The egg pack P mentioned above is conveyed by the conveying apparatus 10 provided with the pack conveyance surface 11 in the state which the cover body P1 opened. The transport device 10 is a conveyor that transports the egg pack P in the same direction as the transport direction of the second transport unit 4 of the label loading device 1, and transports the egg pack P in its longitudinal direction. This conveying apparatus 10 conveys the egg pack P continuously, and a sensor (not shown) for detecting the arrival of the egg pack P is provided on the upstream side. The signal detected by this sensor is output to the discharge means of the label loading device 1.

The label L put into the lid P1 in the unfolded state (O) of the egg pack P by the label feeding device 1 of the present embodiment was folded in two at the folding position as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. While maintaining the state, the top wall side region L3 is held in contact with the top wall P11, and the side wall side region L4 is held in contact with the side wall P12 on the connecting portion P3 side. From this state, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, when the lid P1 is rotated around the connecting portion P3 to be in the closed state (C), the label L is formed between the container body P2, the egg E and the lid P1. Located in the gap formed between them. Specifically, the side wall side region L4 of the label L is disposed on the side wall P12 side on the connection side of the egg pack P, and the top wall side region L3 of the label L is disposed on the top wall P11 side of the egg pack P. .

Thus, according to the label loading device 1 of the present embodiment, the label feeding device 1 is disposed above the pack transport surface 11 on which the egg pack P is transported, and transports the label L one by one in the first direction. 1 transport part 2 and label L are transported in a second direction different from the first direction so that the surface L1 side of label L faces pack transport surface 11, and each label L is transported in an egg pack P one by one. And a second transport unit 4 having a discharge port 41 to be inserted into the first transport unit, and a turning unit 3 disposed between the first transport unit 2 and the second transport unit 4 for guiding the label L while curving it.

In the present embodiment, since the turning unit 3 is provided, the first transport unit 2 can be disposed above the second transport unit 4 and its discharge port 41, and therefore, the label L from the holder 5 to the discharge port 41. The entire apparatus can be made compact while securing a transport distance of. Further, it is possible to secure a space for arranging the printing mechanism 8 and the printing collating mechanism as the conveyance distance is increased, and the degree of freedom in designing the label feeding device 1 is increased.

In particular, in the label feeding apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the drive roller 22 is disposed below the label L conveyance path 21 in the first conveyance unit 2, and the label L conveying path 42 is disposed above the label L conveyance path 42 in the second conveyance unit 4. The drive roller 43 is arranged on the front side. In other words, the drive rollers 22 and 42 are gathered in an acute angle side region (inner side region as viewed from the side) formed by the first transport unit 2 and the second transport unit 4. Therefore, a timing belt (not shown) arranged in association with the drive rollers 22, 43 can be compactly arranged in the space between the first conveyance unit 2 and the second conveyance unit 4, and the first The optional arrangement region 7 above the transport unit 2 and the structure below the second transport unit 4 (the portion facing the pack transport surface 11) can be made clear. Of course, the conveying unit of the present invention is not limited to the arrangement of the driving roller and the driven roller shown in the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the top wall side region L3 which is the main part of the label L is substantially parallel to the pack transport surface 11, and the surface L1 side of the top wall side region L3 faces the pack transport surface 11, so-called face-down. In this state, the label L is put into the lid P1 of the egg pack P. In such a label loading apparatus 1, in order to respond to a request for printing on the surface L1 of the label L, the label L is printed on the surface L1 of the label L above the first transport unit 2 transported face-up. The printing mechanism 8 can be arranged. As described above, if the label insertion device 1 is provided with a printing function, it becomes extremely easy to cope with a case where information that changes from day to day, such as the expiration date, needs to be printed.

Moreover, since the said 1st conveyance part 2 and the said 2nd conveyance part 4 of this embodiment each incline toward the downstream, make the width | variety of a conveyance direction compact while ensuring conveyance distance. Can do. In addition, since the angle formed by the transport surface of the first transport unit 2 and the transport surface of the second transport unit 4 is relatively large, the load on the label L bent by the turning unit 3 can be reduced.

The turning unit 3 of the present embodiment includes a detachable guide member 33 that can expose the curved conveyance path 32 to the outside. Therefore, when the label L is clogged, the guide member 33 is moved to the retracted position. Work.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

In the above-described embodiment, both the first conveyance unit and the second conveyance unit are inclined toward the downstream side, but the degree of the inclination may be any, and at least one of the first conveyance unit and the second conveyance unit is horizontal. A simple conveyance path may be provided, or the first conveyance unit may be provided with a vertical conveyance path. Further, the arrangement area for arranging options such as a printing mechanism is not limited to the upper side of the first conveyance unit described above, and can be variously changed within a range adjacent to the conveyance unit. The “option” in this specification means a configuration for adding functions or improving performance, which is not essential when automatically putting labels one by one into an egg pack, and has been described above. The folding mechanism of the embodiment is also an option.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the label put into the container is bent at one place. However, the label put into the container is previously bent at two or more places, or vice versa. In addition, it may be not bent when it is put into the container. For example, if the label is bent along the protrusion for supporting the egg or the label in accordance with the operation of closing the lid, the top wall side region of the label is placed on the ceiling. It can arrange | position so that it can be visually recognized from the outer side of a wall, and can arrange | position the side wall side area | region of a label so that it can be visually recognized from the outer side of a side wall. In particular, if the label is made of a relatively thick and rigid material, the label bent between the closed lid and the egg or supporting protrusion is flat. It can be pressed against the inside of the lid by the restoring force of the label itself to return to the state, and the information on the label in the container can be easily read from the outside.

In the above embodiment, printing is performed only on the front surface side of the label. However, printing may be performed on the back surface, and conversely, both surfaces may not be printed in advance. Of course.

The label may have any shape other than a square shape. Further, the size of the label and the arrangement in the egg pack are not limited to those described above. For example, it is conceivable to use a label smaller than that shown in the figure, to display the label only on the top wall side, or to display the label in a curved state over a part of the side wall on the connecting portion side and the top wall.

Any material may be used for the label, and the label may not have rigidity or restoring force. The label may be other than paper, for example, a seal with release paper. If such a sticker-type label contains information (characters, etc.) or information (application tickets, fortune tickets, sweepstakes, recipes using eggs, etc.) that improve consumers' willingness to purchase, the container containing the eggs is opened. After that, it can be easily separated from the container and used as a kind of giveaway.

The egg pack is not limited to the illustrated one, and the size, the shape of the container body and the lid, etc. may be anything.

The pack transport surface of the transport device may be anything as long as it can transport the egg pack with the lid open. The transport direction of the pack transport surface is not limited to those formed in parallel with the transport surfaces of the first and second transport units, and may be perpendicular to them. In addition, the transport device is not limited to the one that continuously transports the container, and when the arrival of the container is detected by a sensor provided on the upstream side, the container is transported intermittently, such as transporting the container to the downstream side by a certain distance. The container may be transported.

The embodiment disclosed this time is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the scope described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a label loading apparatus that loads a label into an egg pack.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Label feeding apparatus 2 ... 1st conveyance part 3 ... Turning part 4 ... 2nd conveyance part 41 ... Release port 8 ... Printing mechanism 11 ... Pack conveyance surface L ... Label L1 ... Surface P ... Egg pack

Claims (3)

It is arranged above the pack transport surface where the egg pack is transported,
A first transport unit that transports labels one by one in the first direction;
A second transport unit having a discharge port for transporting the label in a second direction different from the first direction so that the surface side of the label faces the pack transport surface and feeding the label into the egg pack one by one When,
A label loading device provided between the first transport unit and the second transport unit, and comprising a turning unit that guides the label while curving it. The label feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the first transport unit is provided with a printing mechanism for printing on the surface of the label. The label loading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first transport unit and the second transport unit is inclined toward the downstream side.

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