JP2020121545A - Printing method of optical code of resin coated metal pipe, printer and resin coated metal pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a printing method capable of surely printing an optical code on a desired position (a flat part in a side circumference surface of a resin coated metal pipe) of an exterior surface of the resin coated metal pipe, a printer and the resin coated metal pipe on which the optical code is printed by the printing method or the printer.SOLUTION: A printing method includes: transportation means for transporting a resin coated metal pipe to a printing position; direction control means for aligning a flat part on a side circumference surface of the resin coated metal pipe transported to the printing position by the transportation means; and printing means for printing the optical code on the flat part, in which the resin coated metal pipe is formed of a cylindrical pipe material, rows of projections are many formed intermittently along a longitudinal direction of the side circumference surface of the pipe material are provided with a plurality of rows juxtaposed, and the direction control means aligns the surface flat part between the rows of adjacent projections in a predetermined direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention is a resin-coated metal pipe, the surface of the resin-coated metal pipe used for agricultural materials, horticultural materials and stanchion fences, etc., the one-dimensional bar code or two-dimensional code such as The present invention relates to a printing method for printing an optical code. The present invention also relates to a printing apparatus used in the above printing method, and a resin-coated metal pipe on which an optical code is printed by the above printing method.

Conventionally, a long resin-coated metal pipe made by coating the outer peripheral surface of a metal pipe with resin has been widely distributed, and for example, it is often used as a pillar for agricultural materials, horticultural materials, and animal damage fences. There is. Such resin-coated metal pipes are widely sold at home improvement stores and other mass retailers, and in many cases, bar codes are attached for product identification in sales/inventory management and cash register settlement. The bar code is often attached by sticking a bar code printed on normal paper with a tape or sticking a bar code printed on a sticker.

However, sticking a tape or seal, etc., on which a barcode is printed onto a resin-coated metal pipe in this way requires a lot of work, which lengthens the manufacturing process or increases labor costs. Therefore, it becomes a factor that causes an increase in cost. Further, a user who purchases this resin-coated metal pipe is required to peel off the attached barcode when using the pipe, which is a troublesome work.

With respect to such a problem, the present applicant has proposed a resin-coated metal pipe in which a laser beam is applied to the outer surface of the coating layer of the resin-coated metal pipe to form a barcode (Patent Document 1). 1).

JP, 2010-124718, A

However, many resin-coated metal pipes used for agricultural and horticultural stanchions and the like are provided with protrusions on their outer surfaces. More specifically, a plurality of rows of protrusions, which are intermittently formed along the longitudinal direction of the pipe material, are provided in parallel, and a bar code is attached to the flat portion between the rows of adjacent protrusions. Is desirable. However, in the production line of a resin-coated metal pipe, when attaching a bar code to a large number of resin-coated metal pipes within a predetermined time, it is difficult to control the position where the bar code is attached.

The present invention is for overcoming the above-mentioned problems, in a printing method of printing an optical code such as a bar code on the outer surface of a resin-coated metal pipe, the printing position is controlled to control the outer surface of the resin-coated metal pipe. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing method capable of attaching an optical code at a desired position. Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing method capable of reliably attaching an optical code such as a bar code to a flat portion between rows of adjacent protrusions formed on a resin-coated metal pipe. To do. A further object of the present invention is to provide a resin-coated metal pipe provided with a bar code or other optical code by the printing method. Further, the present invention is a printing apparatus for printing an optical code such as a bar code on the outer surface of a resin-coated metal pipe, wherein the printing position is controlled so that the optical code is placed at a desired position on the outer surface of the resin-coated metal pipe. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that can be attached. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer for surely attaching a bar code or other optical code to a flat portion between rows of adjacent protrusions formed on a resin-coated metal pipe.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a printing method for printing an optical code on the surface of a resin-coated metal pipe according to the present invention is a printing method for printing an optical code on the surface of a resin-coated metal pipe obtained by coating a metal pipe with a resin, A step of transporting the coated metal pipe to a printing position, a step of aligning a flat portion on a side peripheral surface of the resin-coated metal pipe in a predetermined direction, and a step of printing an optical code on the flat portion. To do.

According to the printing method of printing the optical code on the surface of the resin-coated metal pipe according to the present invention, the step of transporting the resin-coated metal pipe to the printing position and the predetermined flat portion on the side peripheral surface of the resin-coated metal pipe are defined. Since the step of aligning in the direction and the step of printing the optical code on the flat portion are provided, the optical code is provided at a desired position on the outer surface of the resin-coated metal pipe (flat portion on the side peripheral surface of the resin-coated metal pipe). Can be attached.

Further, in the printing method of printing an optical code on the surface of a resin-coated metal pipe according to the present invention, the resin-coated metal pipe is a cylindrical pipe material, and the side peripheral surface of the pipe material extends along the longitudinal direction. A plurality of rows of protrusions formed intermittently are provided in parallel, and an optical code is attached to a flat surface portion between the rows of adjacent protrusions. In this way, the suitably readable optical code can be surely printed at the desired position.

Furthermore, in the printing method of printing an optical code on the surface of the resin-coated metal pipe according to the present invention, the step of aligning the flat portion of the resin-coated metal pipe in a predetermined direction is the outer diameter excluding the protrusion of the resin-coated metal pipe. It is characterized in that the resin-coated metal pipe is clamped in the voids by a pinching means having voids having substantially the same size as the above, so as to be aligned in a predetermined direction. With this configuration, the resin-coated metal pipe is sandwiched in the void having substantially the same size as the outer diameter of the resin-coated metal pipe excluding the protrusion. Therefore, the resin-coated metal pipe is clamped in the void of the clamping means at a predetermined angle in the week direction of the cylindrical shape, and rotation in the circumferential direction is restricted, so that the optical code can be more reliably placed at the predetermined position. It becomes possible to print.

Further, in the printing method of printing an optical code on the surface of a resin-coated metal pipe according to the present invention, the step of aligning the flat portion of the resin-coated metal pipe in a predetermined direction has a suction surface formed in a flat surface shape. The flat surface is provided with a pipe suction means, and after the resin-coated metal pipe is sucked onto the flat surface-shaped suction surface, the flat surface is held by a sandwiching means having a void having substantially the same size as the outer diameter of the resin-coated metal pipe excluding the protrusions. A resin-coated metal pipe is sandwiched in the gap from a direction perpendicular to the above, and flat portions of the resin-coated metal pipe are aligned in a predetermined direction. By doing so, first, the resin-coated metal pipe is adsorbed to the flat adsorption surface of the pipe adsorption means, so that the flat portion on which the optical code is to be printed comes into contact with the flat adsorption surface in a predetermined manner. Thus, the optical code can be printed more reliably at a predetermined position.

Further, the resin-coated metal pipe according to the present invention is characterized in that the optical code is attached by any one of the above-mentioned printing methods. According to the resin-coated metal pipe of the present invention, since the optical code is directly printed on the outer surface of the resin-coated metal pipe, it is not necessary to attach a tape or a seal on which the optical code is printed.

Further, a printing device for printing an optical code on a surface of a resin-coated metal pipe, which is obtained by coating a metal pipe with a resin according to the present invention, comprises a carrying means for carrying the resin-coated metal pipe to a printing position, and the carrying means. It is characterized in that it is provided with a direction control means for aligning a flat portion on a side peripheral surface of the resin-coated metal pipe conveyed to the printing position in a predetermined direction, and a printing means for printing an optical code on the flat portion.

According to the printing device for printing the optical code on the surface of the resin-coated metal pipe according to the present invention, since the direction control means for aligning the flat portion on the side peripheral surface of the resin-coated metal pipe in a predetermined direction is provided, the resin coating The optical code can be attached to a desired position on the outer surface of the metal pipe (a flat portion on the side peripheral surface of the resin-coated metal pipe).

Further, in a printing device for printing an optical code on a surface of a resin-coated metal pipe obtained by coating a metal pipe according to the present invention, the resin-coated metal pipe is made of a cylindrical pipe material, and the side of the pipe material is provided. A plurality of rows of projections formed intermittently along the longitudinal direction of the circumferential surface are provided in parallel in a plurality of rows, and the direction control means defines a surface flat portion between the rows of adjacent projections by a predetermined distance. The feature is that they are aligned in the direction. According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, a suitably readable optical code can be surely printed at a desired position.

Further, in a printing device for printing an optical code on the surface of a resin-coated metal pipe formed by resin-coating a metal pipe according to the present invention, a direction control means for aligning a flat portion of the resin-coated metal pipe in a predetermined direction, It is characterized in that it is provided with a sandwiching means having a void having substantially the same size as the outer diameter of the resin-coated metal pipe excluding the protrusion, and the resin-coated metal pipe is sandwiched in the void and aligned in a predetermined direction. According to the present invention, since it is desired to provide a holding means having a void having substantially the same size as the outer diameter of the resin-coated metal pipe excluding the protrusions, the outer diameter of the resin-coated metal pipe provided in the holding means excluding the protrusions. The resin-coated metal pipe is sandwiched between the voids having substantially the same size as. Therefore, the resin-coated metal pipe is clamped in the void of the clamping means at a predetermined angle in the week direction of the cylindrical shape, and rotation in the circumferential direction is restricted, so that the optical code can be more reliably placed at the predetermined position. It becomes possible to print.

Further, in the printing device for printing the optical code on the surface of the resin-coated metal pipe according to the present invention, the direction control means for aligning the flat portion of the resin-coated metal pipe in a predetermined direction is a suction means for sucking the resin-coated metal pipe. And a sandwiching means having a void having substantially the same size as the outer diameter of the resin-coated metal pipe excluding the projections, and the resin-coated metal pipe is attracted to the attraction surface formed into a flat surface by the attraction means. After that, the resin-coated metal pipe is clamped in the space from the direction perpendicular to the adsorption surface by a sandwiching means having a space having substantially the same size as the outer diameter of the resin-coated metal pipe excluding the protrusions, and a flat portion of the resin-coated metal pipe. Are arranged in a predetermined direction. By doing so, first, the resin-coated metal pipe is adsorbed to the flat adsorption surface of the pipe adsorption means, so that the flat portion on which the optical code is to be printed comes into contact with the flat adsorption surface in a predetermined manner. Thus, the optical code can be printed more reliably at a predetermined position.

According to the printing method of printing the optical code on the surface of the resin-coated metal pipe according to the present invention, the step of transporting the resin-coated metal pipe to the printing position and the predetermined flat portion on the side peripheral surface of the resin-coated metal pipe are defined. Since the step of aligning in the direction and the step of printing the optical code on the flat portion are provided, the optical code is provided at a desired position on the outer surface of the resin-coated metal pipe (flat portion on the side peripheral surface of the resin-coated metal pipe). Can be attached.

It is a schematic diagram showing the important section of one embodiment of the printing device which prints the optical code on the surface of the resin coating metal pipe concerning the present invention. In the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, an explanatory view showing a state in which a resin-coated metal pipe is clamped in a gap of the clamping means at a predetermined angle in the week direction of the cylindrical shape, and is prevented from rotating in the circumferential direction. Is. It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the resin coating metal pipe which concerns on this invention, and is a partially expanded view which shows the state in which the optical code (bar code) was attached. 1 shows an embodiment of a printing method and a printing apparatus for printing an optical code on the surface of a resin-coated metal pipe according to the present invention, wherein the printing apparatus directs the resin-coated metal pipe in a predetermined direction to form an optical code. It is explanatory drawing which showed the step which prints.

Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show an embodiment of a printing apparatus for printing an optical code on the surface of a resin-coated metal pipe according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows an optical code (bar code) by the printing apparatus. 3] is a partially enlarged view in which a part of the resin-coated metal pipe 1 printed on the outer surface is enlarged. Further, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing each step (step) of attaching an optical code (bar code) 7 to the surface of the resin-coated metal pipe 1 using the printing apparatus W shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

3 is a partially enlarged view of a portion surrounded by α in FIG. 1, and shows the resin-coated metal pipe 1 on which the optical code (bar code) 7 is printed. As shown in FIG. 3, on the side peripheral surface of the resin-coated metal pipe 1, a bar code is printed on the flat portion 15 between the rows of the projections 11 (11a, 11b) formed intermittently. The "flat portion" 15 here means between the rows of the projections 11 formed on the outer surface of the resin-coated metal pipe 1 (that is, between the row of the projections 11a and the row of the projections 11b in FIG. 2). It means a surface without large unevenness formed in (between). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the outer peripheral surface shape of the cylindrical resin-coated metal pipe main body 10, that is, a surface that draws a circular arc shape in the circumferential direction as a circumferential shape, and includes 11a rows and 11b rows. It does not mean that it is a completely horizontal surface (flat surface), but is not limited to this.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing device W for printing an optical code on the surface of the resin-coated metal pipe 1 according to the present embodiment includes a transport unit that transports the resin-coated metal pipe 1 to a printing position (see FIG. (Not shown), the guide means 2 for restricting the movement of the resin-coated metal pipe 1 at the printing position, the pipe suction means 3 for attracting the resin-coated metal pipe 1 by magnetic force, and the resin-coated metal pipe 1 at the printing position. It is provided with a sandwiching means 4 for sandwiching and fixing at a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction, and a printing means 5 for performing optical code printing on the outer surface of the resin-coated metal pipe 1.

The resin-coated metal pipe 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed by forming a resin coating layer of synthetic resin on the outer surface of a metal pipe material having an appropriate length. As the metal pipe material, any metal material can be used as long as it is a steel material containing iron, nickel or the like that is attracted to a magnet, but generally, a steel pipe having high strength and low cost is preferably used. The cross-sectional shape of the metal pipe material is not limited to a circular shape, and may be, for example, an elliptical shape, but a perfect circular shape is preferably used.

The thickness of the resin coating layer is about 0.5 mm, but it can be adjusted appropriately. The synthetic resin of the resin coating layer, polyethylene, polypropylene, may be used in the polymer of α- olefins such as polybutene, may be used such as a copolymer of ethylene α- olefin, ethylene, acetic acid It may be copolymerized with vinyl, methacrylic acid or its ester, acrylic acid or its ester, etc., and synthetic resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, ABS resin, AAS resin, urethane resin, polyamide resin and phenol resin are used. Alternatively, these resins may be appropriately combined and used.

On the outer surface of the resin-coated metal pipe body 10, a plurality of rows of projections 11 which are intermittently formed along the longitudinal direction of the side peripheral surface of the resin-coated metal pipe 1 are formed in parallel. In this embodiment, four rows are intermittently formed in parallel at intervals of about 90° in the circumferential direction. By thus forming the protrusions 31 on the outer surface of the coating layer, even when the resin-coated metal pipe 1 is bound with a string at the position of the protrusion 11 or when the plant vine is spirally wound, a cord or a vine is used. It is preferable that there is no deviation. The number and size of the projections 11 are not particularly limited and may be appropriately formed depending on the diameter and length of the resin-coated metal pipe 1.

A plug 12 having a conical shape tapering toward the tip is provided at one end of the resin-coated metal pipe 1. As a result, it becomes easy to insert the resin-coated metal pipe 1 into the soil and stand it. As the synthetic resin forming the plug 12, a polymer of α-olefin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene may be used similarly to the above resin coating layer, and one obtained by copolymerizing ethylene with α-olefin may be used. It may be used, or may be one obtained by copolymerizing ethylene with vinyl acetate, methacrylic acid or its ester, acrylic acid or its ester, etc., polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, ABS resin, AAS resin, urethane resin, polyamide resin. A synthetic resin such as a phenol resin may be used, and these resins may be used in an appropriate combination.

Next, a printing apparatus W and a printing method for printing an optical code on the surface of the resin-coated metal pipe 1 according to the present embodiment will be described based on FIGS. 1, 2, and 4.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a main part of a printing apparatus W in the present embodiment, in which the resin-coated metal pipe 1 is moved from a preparation position (1a) to a printing position (1b) by a conveying means such as a conveyor (not shown). ) Is carried (arrow P). In the embodiment shown here, the three pipes 1 are simultaneously conveyed so that the optical code is printed, but a smaller or larger number of pipes may be simultaneously conveyed and printing may be performed thereon. ..

The resin-coated metal pipe 1 conveyed to the printing position is adsorbed by the pipe adsorbing means 3 (arrow Q in FIG. 1, arrow A in FIG. 4). An electromagnet is used here as the pipe adsorbing means 3, and the magnetic force of the electromagnet 3 causes the resin-coated metal pipe 1 to be lifted and adsorbed in the direction of arrow Q. The bottom surface portion 31 of the pipe adsorbing means 3 is flat as shown in FIG. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when the resin-coated metal pipe 1 is adsorbed, the protrusions 11 do not come into contact with the bottom surface portion 31 at the points and the circumferential direction (X direction in the drawing or By rotating in the Y direction), the flat portion 15 faces the upper surface and comes into contact with the bottom portion 31 of the pipe suction means 3 at the flat portion 15.

In the printing apparatus W of the present embodiment, guide means 2 for restricting the movement of the resin-coated metal pipe 1 at the printing position is provided. In this embodiment, a valley-shaped portion 22 is formed in the lower portion of the plate-shaped member fixed to the printing apparatus main body at the upper portion, and the interval is narrowed upward in the direction of arrow Z in FIG. The resin-coated metal pipe 1 is fitted between them. As a result, the resin-coated metal pipe 1 is prevented from being displaced or twisted in the carrying direction, and the optical code 7 can be fixed so that the desired position can be printed. Although only one guide means 2 is provided in the present embodiment, a plurality of guide means 2 may be provided. Further, the form and shape of the guide means 2 are not limited to the form and shape shown here, and the movement of the resin-coated metal pipe 1 can be restricted so that it can be preferably held at the printing position. As long as it has any shape and shape.

As described above, as shown in FIG. 4B, the three resin-coated metal pipes 1 are adsorbed to the bottom surface portion 31 of the pipe adsorbing means 3 with the flat portions 15 thereof facing the upper surface, and the pipe adsorbing means 3 It is preferably held in the printing position by 3 and the guide means 2.

In the present embodiment, subsequently, as shown by the arrow B in FIG. 4B, the holding means 4 is lifted and moved upward. The holding means 4 comprises a holding means body 4a and a plurality of holding pieces 41 extending upward from the holding means body 4a. The sandwiching pieces 41 are provided in a pair of left and right so as to sandwich the pipe 1 from each side with respect to each resin-coated metal pipe 1. A space 43 is provided between the left and right holding pieces 41, and the space of the space 43 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the resin-coated metal pipe 1 excluding the projection 11. In this respect, the space between the voids 43 is set to be smaller than the maximum outer diameter including at least the protrusion 11, and when the protrusion 11 is located on the upper surface, the resin-coated metal pipe is interposed between the left and right holding pieces 41. It is necessary to set the size so that 1 is not pinched.

The left and right holding pieces may be integrally formed with the holding means main body 4a, or may be formed as separate members. Further, the left and right holding pieces 41 are formed of an elastic member and can be pressed by the pipe 1 so that the gap 43 is slightly expanded. Alternatively, a spring member or the like may be used to similarly expand the gap 43. By doing so, even if there is a slight dimensional difference between the individual resin-coated metal pipes 1, the pipe 1 can be suitably held between the holding pieces 41 on the left and right.

Further, at the upper end portions of the left and right holding pieces 41, which are opposed to each other, inner side surfaces are formed with tapered portions 42 that are notched upward (toward the tip end) and are tapered. As a result, the holding means 4 moves upward, and when holding the pipe 1 by the left and right holding pieces 41, the pipe 1 slides appropriately or rolls so as to rotate in the circumferential direction. It is clamped in the space 43 of

The holding means 4 stops at the position shown in FIG. 4(d) after going through FIGS. 4(b) to 4(c). As a result, the resin-coated metal pipe 1 is securely held at the printing position with the flat portion 15 facing the upper surface. In this respect, by providing the configuration and operation procedure of the pipe adsorbing means 3 and the sandwiching means 4 as described above, the projection 11 of the resin-coated metal pipe 1 does not appear on the upper surface, and the flat portion 15 is surely directed to the upper surface. It is possible to retain the existing state.

Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 4E to 4F, the printing unit 5 moves downward (arrow D). In this embodiment, pad printing is used as a printing method, and a pattern or number of a predetermined optical code 7 is provided on a tip end portion of a pad portion 51 which is provided on the lower surface of the printing means 5 and is formed of silicon or the like. The ink 511 is attached in the same shape, and the pad portion 51 is pressed against the flat upper surface portion 15 of the resin-coated metal pipe 1. In this way, the ink 511 is transferred, and the optical code 7 is printed on the upper flat portion 15 of the resin-coated metal pipe 1.

In this way, after the optical code 7 is applied to the flat upper surface portion 15 of the resin-coated metal pipe 1, the printing means 5 is raised again (arrow E) as shown in FIG. As shown in (h), the holding means 4 descends (arrow F), the electromagnet 3 is turned off, and the resin-coated metal pipe 1 returns to the original transport position. Then, as shown in FIG. 4(i), the resin-coated metal pipe 1 provided with the optical code 7 is carried out in the direction of the arrow G by the carrying means (not shown), and next, the optical code is carried out. The resin-coated metal pipe 1 to which 7 is attached is transferred to the transfer position.

Although the pad printing is adopted as the printing unit 5 in this embodiment, the printing unit 5 is not limited to this, and the printing unit applicable to the printing apparatus and the printing method is appropriately selected and adopted. It is something. For example, inkjet printing may be used, or laser marking or the like is preferably used.

Although the optical code printing method for a resin-coated metal pipe, the printing apparatus, and the resin-coated metal pipe according to the present invention have been described above based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various modifications that occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention are also included in the scope of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the bottom surface portion 31 of the pipe adsorbing means 3 has a planar shape as shown in FIG. 4, but this planar shape means that the resin-coated metal pipe 1 to be adsorbed has a bottom surface portion at the protrusion 11. It suffices that the shape is such that it does not come into contact with 31 at the point but at the flat portion 15, and it can have a suitable shape depending on the shape of the pipe 1, the outer diameter dimension and the like. Therefore, such modified examples are also included in the scope of the present invention.

According to the present invention, a printing method, a printing apparatus, and a printing method capable of reliably attaching an optical code to a desired position on an outer surface of a resin-coated metal pipe (a flat portion on a side peripheral surface of the resin-coated metal pipe). Alternatively, it becomes possible to provide a resin-coated metal pipe with an optical code by a printing device.

W Printing Device 1 Resin-Coated Metal Pipe 10 Resin-Coated Metal Pipe Main Body 11 Projection 2 Guide Means 21 Projection 22 Protrusion 22 Valley Adhesion 3 Pipe Adsorption Means 31 Bottom Part 4 Clamping Means 41 Clamping Pieces 42 Taper 5 Printing Means 51 Pads 7 Optical code (bar code)

Claims (9)

A printing method for printing an optical code on the surface of a resin-coated metal pipe obtained by coating a metal pipe with a resin,
Conveying the resin-coated metal pipe to the printing position,
Aligning the flat portion on the side peripheral surface of the resin-coated metal pipe in a predetermined direction,
Printing an optical code on the flat portion.
A printing method for printing an optical code on the surface of a resin-coated metal pipe. The resin-coated metal pipe is a cylindrical pipe material, and a plurality of rows of projections formed intermittently along the longitudinal direction of the side peripheral surface of the pipe material are provided in parallel in a plurality of rows. The printing method for printing an optical code on the surface of a resin-coated metal pipe according to claim 1, wherein the optical code is attached to a flat surface portion between the rows of the protrusions that match each other. The step of aligning the flat portion of the resin-coated metal pipe in a predetermined direction is performed by holding the resin-coated metal pipe in the void by a holding means having a void having substantially the same size as the outer diameter of the resin-coated metal pipe excluding the protrusion. The printing method for printing an optical code on the surface of the resin-coated metal pipe according to claim 2, wherein the optical code is arranged in a predetermined direction. The step of aligning the flat portion of the resin-coated metal pipe in a predetermined direction includes pipe suction means having a suction surface formed into a flat surface, and the resin-coated metal pipe is sucked onto the flat suction surface. After that, the resin-coated metal pipe is clamped in the space from the direction perpendicular to the flat surface by a sandwiching means having a space having substantially the same size as the outer diameter of the resin-coated metal pipe excluding the projections, and a flat portion of the resin-coated metal pipe. The printing method for printing an optical code on the surface of a resin-coated metal pipe according to claim 2, wherein the optical codes are arranged in a predetermined direction. A resin-coated metal pipe provided with an optical code by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A printing device for printing an optical code on a surface of a resin-coated metal pipe, which is obtained by coating a metal pipe with a resin,
Conveying means for conveying the resin-coated metal pipe to the printing position,
Direction control means for aligning a flat portion on the side peripheral surface of the resin-coated metal pipe transported to the printing position by the transport means in a predetermined direction,
A printing device comprising: a printing unit that prints an optical code on the flat portion. The resin-coated metal pipe is made of a cylindrical pipe material, and a plurality of rows of projections formed intermittently along the longitudinal direction of the side peripheral surface of the pipe material are provided in parallel in a plurality of rows. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit aligns the flat surface portion between the rows of the adjacent protrusions in a predetermined direction. The direction control means for aligning the flat portion of the resin-coated metal pipe in a predetermined direction includes a sandwiching means having a void having substantially the same size as the outer diameter of the resin-coated metal pipe excluding the protrusions, and the resin-coated metal pipe is provided in the void. The printing device according to claim 7, wherein the printing device is sandwiched and aligned in a predetermined direction. The direction control means for aligning the flat portion of the resin-coated metal pipe in a predetermined direction includes a suction means for sucking the resin-coated metal pipe and a nipping having a void having substantially the same size as the outer diameter of the resin-coated metal pipe excluding the protrusions. Means for adsorbing the resin-coated metal pipe on the adsorption surface formed into a flat surface by the adsorption means, and then sandwiching the resin-coated metal pipe with a void having substantially the same size as the outer diameter excluding the protrusion. 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the means causes a resin-coated metal pipe to be sandwiched in the gap from a direction perpendicular to the suction surface so that flat portions of the resin-coated metal pipe are aligned in a predetermined direction. ..

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