JP2020164181A - Label sticking device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a downsized label sticking device and a program.SOLUTION: A label sticking device 100 allows sticking a label 80 to a cargo 90. The label sticking device 100 has a holding plate having a first plate face directed to the cargo 90, a second plate face being a rear face of the first plate face and a sucking hole opened from the first plate face to the second plate face, a fan 6 capable of sucking the label 80 on the first plate face via the sucking hole, and a slide rail 7 capable of moving the holding plate toward the cargo 90 with the first plate faced toward the cargo 90.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a labeling device and a program.

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for transporting packages between cities using courier services, parcel post, and the like. A label with the shipping address and recipient's name is affixed to the package. The carrier will carry the package in accordance with the instructions on this label. In the past, it was common to manually attach labels to packages. However, due to the increase in the number of packages due to the expansion of transportation demand, the work of manually attaching labels is becoming a time and economic burden.

Therefore, some devices capable of automatically attaching a label to an article have been put into practical use. As an example of this type of device, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. The label affixing device described in Patent Document 1 is used for affixing a label having a product name or the like on the top surface (wrap surface) of a tray containing food or the like.
In the labeling device described in Patent Document 1, the suction force of a fan provided on the upper part of the device is applied to the label through a deformable flexible cylinder. Move the label to the top of the tray in the sucked state, and stop the fan after the label is attached.
It is said that the label sticking device described in Patent Document 1 can change the label sticking direction according to the shape of the surface of the tray by deforming the flexible cylinder.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-246041

However, in the device described in Patent Document 1, since a flexible cylinder is interposed between the fan and the article, there is a problem that the size of the entire device becomes large.

An object of the present invention is to provide a labeling device and a program that solve any of the above-mentioned problems.

The label affixing device according to one aspect of the present invention is a label affixing device for affixing a label to a luggage, and has a first plate surface facing the luggage side and a second plate surface which is the back surface of the first plate surface. A holding plate having a suction hole that opens from the first plate surface to the second plate surface, and a label fixed to the second plate surface and provided on the first plate surface via the suction hole. It is provided with a fan capable of adsorbing the first plate and a slide rail capable of moving the holding plate in the first direction toward the luggage with the first plate surface facing the luggage side.

According to the above aspect, the labeling device can be miniaturized.

It is an overall side view which shows the structure of the label sticking apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of the label sticking apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged view of the main part of the label sticking apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of the holding plate which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation of the label sticking apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and is the figure which shows the state which the label is set on the holding plate. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation of the label sticking apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and is the figure which shows the state which the label is stuck to the baggage. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation of the label sticking apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and is the figure which shows the state after the label is stuck to the baggage. It is a flowchart which shows the processing of the program for driving the label sticking apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an overall side view which shows the label sticking apparatus which concerns on embodiment of the minimum structure of this invention.

<One Embodiment>
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.
The label sticking device 100 according to the present embodiment is a device for sticking a label 80 on the surface of a package 90 transported as, for example, a parcel delivery service or a postal parcel.
For example, the label affixing device 100 may be mounted in an automatic baggage acceptor or the like.
For example, various information such as the destination of the package 90 and the name of the recipient may be described in advance on the label 80.
For example, various information such as the destination of the package 90 and the name of the recipient may be printed on the label 80 on the label sticking device 100.

(Constitution)
As shown in FIG. 1 or 2, the label sticking device 100 includes a housing 1, a pedestal portion 2, a sticking device main body 10, and a transport portion C.
The housing 1 has a stocker 11 for accommodating the label 80 before sticking, and a control device 12 for controlling the operation of the sticking device main body 10. Although not shown in detail, the stocker 11 contains a plurality of labels 80, and it is possible to eject the labels 80 one by one by, for example, a roller or the like based on the instruction sent from the control device 12. ing. The discharged label 80 is set in the holding portion 5 of the sticking device main body 10 described later.

For example, the back surface (sticking surface) of the label 80 may be processed into an adhesive surface in advance, and the label 80 having an adhesive surface on the back surface (sticking surface) may be housed in the stocker 11.
For example, when a release paper or a release film is previously attached to the back surface (attachment surface) of the label 80, which is an adhesive surface, a release device for peeling off the release paper or the release film attached to the back surface of the label 80. However, the stocker 11 may be provided separately.
For example, when the back surface (sticking surface) of the label 80 is not processed into an adhesive surface in advance, a coating device for applying glue or an adhesive to the back surface (sticking surface) of the label 80 is separately provided on the stocker 11. You may.
For example, the label sticking device 100 may print various information such as the destination of the package 90 and the name of the recipient on the label 80 in the housing 1.

The housing 1 is supported from below by the pedestal portion 2. The pedestal portion 2 moves the top plate 21 on which the housing 1 is placed, a plurality of leg portions 22 that support the top plate 21 at positions separated upward from the floor surface, and the leg portions 22 on the floor surface. It has a substrate 23 that can support it, and a plurality of casters 24.
The top plate 21 has a plate shape that extends in a horizontal plane parallel to the floor surface. The housing 1 is fixed to the top plate 21.
The leg portion 22 has a rod shape extending in the vertical direction.
The length of the leg portion 22 is appropriately determined according to the height dimension of the luggage 90 that can be handled. That is, in order to make it possible to attach the label 80 to the larger luggage 90, the leg portion 22 may be made longer.

A sticking device main body 10 is provided in a region of the substrate 23 adjacent to the housing 1 (legs 22). The sticking device main body 10 has a holding portion 5, a fan 6, and a slide rail 7.
The holding portion 5 is provided to hold the label 80 discharged from the stocker 11 and carry it to the luggage 90.
As will be described in detail later, the holding portion 5 is provided with a fan 6. The label 80 is attracted and held by the holding portion 5 by blowing air upward by the fan 6.
The holding portion 5 is movably supported in the vertical direction by a slide rail 7 extending in the vertical direction (first direction). Below the holding portion 5 on the substrate 23, a sticking area 25 on which the luggage 90 is placed is formed. That is, the label 80 is attached to the surface of the luggage 90 placed in the attachment area 25 by moving the holding portion 5 in the state where the label 80 is attracted downward along the slide rail 7.

The transport unit C sends the package 90 in the state before the label 80 is affixed to the affixing device main body 10 configured as described above from the outside. As shown in FIG. 2, the transport unit C includes a belt conveyor B, a guide unit G, and a frame F that supports the belt conveyor B and the guide unit G. The belt conveyor B has a belt main body B1 on which the luggage 90 is placed, and a pair of rollers B2 that rotationally drive the belt main body B1 while supporting them at both ends. The guide portion G is provided to guide the luggage 90 on the belt main body B1 so that its position and posture can be kept uniform. The guide portion G has a rod-shaped guide rail GL that is supported by a pair of frames F and extends in the width direction of the belt main body B1, and a guide bar GB that advances and retreats along the guide rail GL. The guide bar GB extends in a direction intersecting (orthogonal) with the guide rail GL.
For example, when the luggage 90 is placed on one side of the belt conveyor B (the side opposite to the sticking device main body 10) in the posture shown by the broken line in FIG. 2, the luggage 90 is moved back and forth by the guide bar GB. Is pushed toward one side in the width direction of the belt conveyor B. By driving the belt conveyor B in this state, when the luggage 90 reaches the other side of the belt conveyor B, the luggage 90 faces the sticking device main body 10.
For example, the baggage 90 may be transported by the transport unit C so as to be located directly below the sticking device main body 10.
For example, the luggage 90 may be moved to one side in the width direction of the belt conveyor B by moving the guide bar GB forward and backward.

Next, a detailed configuration of the holding unit 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the holding portion 5 includes an arm 8, a first support member 81, a second support member 82, a holding plate 5A, a first elastic member S1, and a second elastic member S2. Have.
The arm 8 extends horizontally from the slide rail 7 and is movable in the vertical direction along the slide rail 7.

A first support member 81 is fixed to the tip of the arm 8.
The second support member 82 is provided on the lower surface side of the first support member 81 at intervals in the vertical direction.
The second support member 82 includes a plate-shaped second support member main body 82A extending in a plane parallel to the first support member 81, and a plurality of rod-shaped portions 82B extending upward from the second support member main body 82A. have.
The upper end of each rod-shaped portion 82B is connected to the first support member 81 via the first elastic member S1. Specifically, a coil spring is preferably used as the first elastic member S1. The first elastic member S1 urges the rod-shaped portion 82B downward with the first support member 81 as a reference. That is, when a force is applied to the second support member 82 from below, the coil spring as the first elastic member S1 is elastically deformed so as to contract, and the applied force is relaxed.
The label sticking device 100 may have a mechanism for preventing the overload of pressing the load 90 by the holding unit 5 including the overload sensor 71.
For example, as the overload sensor 71, a pressing sensor that detects the force applied to the first elastic member S1 may be provided. At that time, if the force detected by the pressing sensor is larger than a predetermined threshold value, it is determined that the pressing force of the holding unit 5 on the load 90 is excessive, and the control device 12 lowers the holding unit 5. To stop.
For example, a proximity sensor may be provided as the overload sensor 71. At that time, the proximity sensor may detect the proximity of the first support member 81 and the second support member 82, and the control device 12 may stop the lowering of the holding unit 5.

For example, the first support member 81 may have a plate shape having a plate surface extending in a horizontal plane.
For example, the second elastic member S2 may be provided at each of a plurality of locations on the lower surface of the first support member 81.
For example, when the first support member 81 has four corners in a plane extending in a horizontal plane, the first elastic member S1 may be provided at each corner of the first support member 81.

A holding plate 5A is provided below the second support member 82 (second support member main body 82A) at intervals in the vertical direction. The holding plate 5A has a plate shape having the same shape and area as the label 80 described above.
The downward facing surface of the holding plate 5A is the first plate surface 5a, and the upward facing surface is the second plate surface 5b.

For example, the holding plate 5A may have a rectangular shape that is long in one direction (a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a rectangular shape in which the first plate surface 5a has a long side and a short side) according to the shape of the label 80.
The holding plate 5A is formed with a plurality of holes (suction holes 51) extending from the first plate surface 5a side to the second plate surface 5b side. As shown in FIG. 4, these suction holes 51 are arranged in an annular shape at intervals when viewed from the vertical direction.

The above-mentioned fan 6 is closely fixed to the second plate surface 5b side so as to cover these suction holes 51 without leaving a gap. In this embodiment, two fans 6 are provided on the second plate surface 5b. That is, for each fan 6, eight suction holes 51 arranged in an annular shape so as to correspond to the shape of the intake surface of the fan 6 are formed.

The number of fans 6 is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more. A sensor 70 is provided between the two fans 6. The sensor 70 is, for example, an optical sensor, and detects whether or not the label 80 is held on the first plate surface 5a through a through hole (sensor hole 52) formed in the holding plate 5A separately from the suction hole 51. .. The detection result of the sensor 70 is sent as an electric signal to the control device 12 described above.

The holding plate 5A is connected to the second support member main body 82A by a plurality of second elastic members S2.
Specifically, a coil spring is preferably used as the second elastic member S2. The second elastic member S2 can be bent and deformed while exerting an elastic restoring force. That is, when a bending stress is applied to the second elastic member S2, it is possible to recover the initial shape again by the elastic restoring force after bending and deforming according to the stress. Therefore, for example, when the luggage 90 has an irregular shape (that is, when the shape of the surface to which the label 80 of the luggage 90 is attached is not flat or slanted), the holding plate 5A is pressed against the luggage 90. Then, the second elastic member S2 is elastically deformed so that the holding plate 5A swings so as to face the surface of the load 90.
The spring constant of the second elastic member S2 is smaller than the spring constant of the first elastic member S1.

For example, the second support member main body 82A may have a plate shape having a plate surface extending in a horizontal plane.
For example, the second elastic member S2 may be provided at each of a plurality of locations on the lower surface of the second support member main body 82A.
For example, when the second support member main body 82A has four corners in a plane extending in a horizontal plane, the second elastic member S2 may be provided at each corner of the second support member main body 82A.

(motion)
Subsequently, an example of the operation of the label sticking device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. As shown in FIG. 5, when the luggage 90 is placed in the sticking area 25, the label 80 discharged from the stocker 11 is set in the holding portion 5. Specifically, by driving the fan 6 described above, the label 80 is brought into a state of being attracted to the holding portion 5 (holding plate 5A) by a negative pressure. At this time, the sensor 70 detects whether or not the label 80 is normally adsorbed. If it is determined that the label 80 is not normally adsorbed, the label 80 is set again or a new label 80 is ejected from the stocker 11.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the holding portion 5 moves downward along the slide rail 7 while the label 80 is held by the holding portion 5. Here, since the back surface of the label 80 adheres to the luggage, when it comes into contact with the luggage 90, the label 80 is in a state of being attached. When the sticking is completed, as shown in FIG. 7, the label 80 is separated from the holding portion 5 by stopping the fan 6. After that, the holding portion 5 moves upward along the slide rail 7. As described above, the label 80 affixing work by the label affixing device 100 is completed.

Subsequently, the processing flow of the program executed by the control device 12 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, this program is a program for driving a label affixing device 100 for affixing a label 80 to a baggage 90. The program lowers the holding unit 5 with the suction holding step s1 for sucking and holding the label 80 by the holding unit 5, the moving step s2 for moving the held label 80 above the luggage 90 by the holding unit 5. The sticking step s3 for sticking the label 80 to the luggage 90 is included.
For example, the program executed by the control device 12 may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, read by a computer system such as a microcomputer, and executed.

(Action and effect)
According to the label affixing device 100 of the present embodiment, the fan 6 is provided on the second plate surface 5b of the holding plate 5A.
Therefore, the suction force of the fan 6 can be utilized more effectively, and the size and physique of the device can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where another mechanism is provided between the fan 6 and the holding plate 5A. it can.
Therefore, the label sticking device 100 of the present embodiment can be miniaturized.
As a result, the occupied area associated with the installation of the label sticking device 100 becomes smaller, so that the label sticking device 100 of the present embodiment can relax the restrictions on the installation location.

In the labeling device described in Patent Document 1, a fan is provided on the holding plate with a deformable flexible cylinder sandwiched between them.
Therefore, the positional relationship between the holding plate and the fan changes according to the height of the luggage and the inclination and shape of the surface to which the luggage label is attached.
Therefore, in the label affixing device described in Patent Document 1, the suction force by the fan in the holding plate changes between packages having different heights, inclinations and shapes of the surface to which the labels are affixed.
Further, in the label attaching device described in Patent Document 1, the holding plate is inclined with respect to the intake surface of the fan depending on the inclination and shape of the surface to which the label is attached.
Therefore, in the label affixing device described in Patent Document 1, the suction force in the plate surface of the holding plate becomes non-uniform.

On the other hand, in the label sticking device 100 of the present embodiment, the fan 6 is fixedly provided on the second plate surface 5b of the holding plate 5A.
Therefore, the positional relationship between the holding plate 5A and the fan 6 is unlikely to change regardless of the height of the luggage 90 or the inclination or shape of the surface to which the label 80 of the luggage 90 is attached.
Therefore, in the label affixing device 100 of the present embodiment, the suction force of the holding plate 5A by the fan 6 is unlikely to change, and the suction force of the holding plate 5A in the first plate surface 5a is unlikely to be non-uniform.

As a comparative example, when the label sticking device is a label sticking device that sucks and holds a label on a holding portion by exhausting air upward by an air compressor, the following points become problems.
-It is difficult to save space due to the space of the air compressor and exhaust pipe.
・ The noise increases due to the operating noise of the air compressor.
-An external power supply for the air compressor is required, and the number of external power supplies supplied increases.

On the other hand, in the label affixing device 100 according to the present embodiment, since an air compressor is not always required, space can be saved.
Further, since the label sticking device 100 according to the present embodiment does not necessarily require an air compressor, noise can be suppressed.
Further, since the label sticking device 100 according to the present embodiment does not necessarily require an air compressor, the number of external power supplies can be reduced.

For example, when the label affixing device 100 is mounted in an automatic baggage underwriting machine, the label affixing device 100 can be attached to various places such as a post office and a convenience store if space saving, noise suppression, and reduction in the number of external power supplies can be achieved. An automatic baggage acceptor including the device 100 can be easily installed.
For example, if the label affixing device 100 can be mounted in a self-propelled automatic baggage underwriting machine due to space saving, the automatic baggage underwriting machine including the label affixing device 100 can be installed in a post office, a convenience store, or the like. You can easily move to various places.
For example, if the label affixing device 100 can be mounted in a self-propelled automatic baggage underwriting machine due to space saving, the installation time of the automatic baggage underwriting machine including the label affixing device 100 at a post office, a convenience store, etc. It will be shortened.

Further, in the label affixing device 100 of the present embodiment, the holding portion 5 lowers the first support member 81 and the holding plate 5A with respect to the first support member 81 (in a direction away from the first support member 81). It has a first elastic member S1 that biases toward it. By elastically deforming the first elastic member S1, the impact when the holding plate 5A comes into contact with the load 90 can be alleviated. As a result, the label affixing device 100 can reduce the possibility of damaging the luggage 90 and suppress wear due to the impact directly transmitted to the slide rail 7 and the arm 8.

Further, in the label sticking device 100 of the present embodiment, a second elastic member S2 that swingably supports the holding plate 5A is provided below the first support member 81. The posture of the holding plate 5A can be flexibly changed by elastically deforming the second elastic member S2. That is, the holding plate 5A can be made to face the surface according to the state of the surface of the luggage 90. As a result, the label sticking device 100 of the present embodiment can appropriately stick the label 80 to the luggage 90.

Further, in the label sticking device 100 of the present embodiment, the spring constant of the second elastic member S2 is set to be smaller than the spring constant of the first elastic member S1. Therefore, the holding plate 5A can be swung by the second elastic member S2 prior to the relaxation of the impact by the first elastic member S1. That is, since the holding plate 5A can be easily swung, the label sticking device 100 of the present embodiment can stick the label 80 to the luggage 90 more accurately.

Further, in the label sticking device 100 of the present embodiment, the suction holes 51 are arranged in an annular shape corresponding to the intake surface of the fan 6. As a result, the suction force of the fan 6 can be utilized more effectively. As a result, the label affixing device 100 can stably adsorb the label 80 to the holding plate 5A.

Further, a plurality of fans 6 are provided on the second plate surface 5b at intervals from each other. Therefore, a larger label 80 can be handled as compared with the case where, for example, there is only one fan 6. As a result, the versatility of the label sticking device 100 can be enhanced.

(Modification example)
In the present embodiment, the label sticking device 100 moves the holding portion 5 downward along the slide rail 7 while the label 80 is held by the holding portion 5, and attaches the label 80 to the luggage 90. ..
As a modification, the label affixing device 100 recognizes the contour shape of the surface on which the label 80 of the luggage 90 is attached, and rotates the holding plate 5A in a horizontal plane according to the contour shape of the surface on which the label 80 of the luggage 90 is attached. You may change the sticking direction of the label 80.

The label sticking device 100 of the present embodiment includes the slide rail 7, but the slide rail 7 may be of any type.
As a modification, the slide rail 7 may be an electric slide rail capable of electrically driving the holding portion 5 up and down.
If the slide rail 7 is made electric, an air compressor and an air cylinder are not always required, so that space saving and noise suppression can be achieved.

In the present embodiment, the guide bar GB pushes the load 90 toward one side in the width direction of the belt conveyor B, but what if the load 90 can be moved to one side in the width direction of the belt conveyor B? It may be configured.
As a modification, a roller may be provided on the transport surface of the transport unit, and the load 90 on the roller may be moved toward one side in the width direction of the belt conveyor by driving the roller. For example, the load 90 may be moved to one side in the width direction of the belt conveyor by driving the rollers.

<Embodiment of minimum configuration>
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the minimum configuration of the label affixing device 100.
The labeling device 100 of the present embodiment includes a holding plate 5A, a fan 6, and a slide rail 7.
The holding plate 5A has a first plate surface 5a facing the luggage 90 side, a second plate surface 5b which is the back surface of the first plate surface 5a, and a suction hole 51 which opens from the first plate surface 5a to the second plate surface 5b. And have.
The fan 6 is fixedly provided on the second plate surface 5b, and the label 80 can be attracted to the first plate surface 5a via the suction holes 51.
The slide rail 7 can move the holding plate 5A toward the luggage 90 with the first plate surface 5a facing the luggage 90.
According to the label affixing device 100 of the present embodiment, since the fan 6 is provided on the second plate surface 5b of the holding plate 5A, the suction force of the fan 6 can be utilized more effectively and the fan 6 can be used more effectively. The size and physique of the device can be reduced as compared with the case where another mechanism is provided between the holding plate 5A and the holding plate 5A.
Therefore, the label sticking device 100 of the present embodiment can be miniaturized.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is shown as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention as well as in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

100 Labeling device 1 Housing 2 Pedestal part 5 Holding part 5a First plate surface 5b Second plate surface 5A Holding plate 6 Fan 7 Slide rail 8 Arm 10 Attaching device Main body 11 Stocker 12 Control device 21 Top plate 22 Leg 23 Substrate 24 Caster 25 Sticking area 51 Suction hole 52 Sensor hole 70 Sensor 71 Overload sensor 80 Label 81 First support member 82 Second support member 82A Second support member body 82B Rod-shaped part 90 Luggage B Belt conveyor B1 Belt body B2 Roller F frame G Guide part GB Guide bar GL Guide rail S1 First elastic member S2 Second elastic member

Claims (7)

It is a label sticking device that sticks labels on luggage.
A holding plate having a first plate surface facing the luggage side, a second plate surface which is the back surface of the first plate surface, and a suction hole which opens from the first plate surface to the second plate surface.
A fan fixed to the second plate surface and capable of adsorbing a label on the first plate surface through the suction holes.
A slide rail capable of moving the holding plate in the first direction toward the luggage with the first plate surface facing the luggage side, and
Labeling device. A first support member that is arranged on the second plate surface side of the holding plate at intervals in the first direction and can move in the first direction by being guided by the slide rail.
A first elastic member that urges the holding plate in a direction away from the first support member in the first direction.
The label affixing device according to claim 1, further comprising. The labeling device according to claim 2, further comprising a second elastic member that is supported by the first support member and swingably supports the holding plate. The labeling device according to claim 3, wherein the first elastic member and the second elastic member are coil springs, and the second elastic member has a spring constant smaller than that of the first elastic member. The labeling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of the suction holes are arranged in an annular shape corresponding to the intake surface of the fan when viewed from the first direction. The labeling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a plurality of the fans are provided on the second plate surface at intervals from each other. A program for driving the labeling device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
A suction holding step of sucking and holding the label, and
A moving step of moving the held label above the luggage,
A program that executes a sticking step of lowering the label and sticking it to the luggage.

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