JP2021011274A - Label loading device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a label loading device capable of reliably loading a label into a label placement area of an egg carton.SOLUTION: A label loading device 10 is provided with a discharge unit 70 for coming into contact with a label L and sending out the label L to a downstream side, and a guide unit 91 arranged along a passage 92 through which the label L discharged from the discharge unit 70 passes. The guide unit 91 has a positive charge when guiding the positively charged label L, and has a negative charge when guiding the negatively charged label L.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a label loading device for loading labels into an egg carton.

As an example of a label loading device for loading a label into an egg pack, the one shown in Patent Document 1 is known. This label loading device drops labels one by one toward a label placement area formed between two rows of eggs in an egg carton. The label just before being dropped into the egg carton is housed in a substantially V-shaped space made up of paired guide plates. Then, when one of the guide plates is opened and the input passage is opened, the label falls downward along the guide plate due to the weight of the label, and the label enters the pack.

In this label insertion device, the egg carton is conveyed in the lateral direction as shown in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1 and the egg carton is conveyed in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. 8 of Patent Document 1. It is used in both cases. In either case, the label is usually loaded without stopping the transport of the egg carton.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-10102

The label inserted between the eggs in the egg carton is a relatively thin and small piece of paper. Therefore, although the above-mentioned label loading device guides the label toward the label arrangement area, the label is greatly affected by the state of the guide plate and the environment in the vicinity of the guide plate. Therefore, there has been a problem that the label cannot be inserted in a desired position in a desired posture. This problem tends to occur more often, especially when the egg carton is transported longitudinally.

The present invention focuses on such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a label loading device capable of reliably loading a label into a label placement area of an egg carton.

The label loading device of the present invention includes a discharging unit and a guide unit. The release unit contacts the label and sends the label downstream. The guide portion is arranged along the passage through which the label discharged from the discharge portion passes. The guide portion has a positive charge when guiding a positively charged label, and has a negative charge when guiding a negatively charged label.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a label loading device capable of reliably loading a label into a label placement area of an egg carton.

The above and other objectives, features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention as understood in connection with the accompanying drawings.

It is a side view which represented typically the label insertion apparatus which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which represented typically the label insertion apparatus seen from the A direction of FIG. It is a figure which represented typically the label insertion apparatus seen from the B direction of FIG. It is a side view which shows the state just before putting a label into an egg pack by the label putting device of the same embodiment. It is a side view which shows how the label loading device of the same embodiment puts a label into an egg pack. It is a figure which shows the state after the label is put into an egg pack by the label putting device of the same embodiment. It is a side view which shows the label loading system in which a plurality of label loading devices according to the modification of this invention are arranged.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the label loading device 10 of the present embodiment has labels L one by one toward the label arrangement region R formed between the eggs E arranged in two rows of the egg pack PE. It is something to put in. The label loading device 10 includes a transport mechanism 1, a holding mechanism 2, and a releasing mechanism 3. Specifically, the label loading device 10 is mainly composed of a label stocker 4 and a plurality of rollers 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of labels L are set in the label stocker 4. Each label L is taken out in order from the one on the innermost side in the upright state.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the roller 5 is rotatable about a rotation shaft 51, and utilizes friction between the surface of the roller 5 and the surface of the label L. The rollers 5 are provided in pairs. The roller 5 in contact with the back surface L2 side of the label L is a drive roller, and the roller 5 in contact with the front surface L1 side of the label L is a driven roller. A plurality of pairs of rollers 5 are arranged along the transport path 6 of the label L. The roller 5 serves as a transport mechanism 1 for feeding the label L to the downstream side. Further, the roller 5 serves as a holding mechanism 2 that sandwiches the label L from both sides of the front surface L1 and the back surface L2 and prevents the label L from falling downward. The transport path 6 of the present embodiment is formed in a straight line, and the angle of the label L is kept constant with respect to the transport direction of the egg pack PE. The transport path 6 is not limited to the one shown in the drawing. For example, a roller 5 or the like is arranged so that the label L can be bent in the thickness direction, and at least a part of the transport path 6 is formed in a curved shape. There may be.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, among the rollers 5, the roller 5a located at the farthest place from the label stocker 4, in other words, at the end of the transport path 6, serves as the transport mechanism 1 and the holding mechanism 2. In addition, it serves as a release mechanism 3 that releases the label L and passes the label L to the egg pack PE. The portion where the roller 5a is located is called a discharge port 7.

The roller 5a at the discharge port sandwiches and holds the base end portion L4 of the label La immediately before being charged into the egg pack PE. Further, the roller 5a at the discharge port holds the label La immediately before being charged into the egg pack PE by standing along the label arrangement area R. The roller 5 releases the label La immediately before being put into the egg pack PE in the same direction as the egg pack PE conveyed along the label arrangement region R. The label La has reached the discharge port 7 of the label L and has the same configuration as the label L.

As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, each roller 5 is arranged so that the rotation axis 51 is tilted from the vertical direction. The transport path 6 of the label loading device 10 is tilted with respect to the pack transport device 20 to which the egg pack PE is transported. In the label loading device 10, the height position of the discharge port 7 is set lower than the height position of the label stocker 4. The roller 5 holds the tip L3 of the label L so as to be located below the base end L4 of the label L.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the label loading device 10 of the present embodiment further includes a guide mechanism 9. Specifically, the guide mechanism 9 is a guide portion 91 provided on the downstream side of the roller 5. The guide portion 91 is along the passage 92 through which the label L discharged from the discharge portion 70 (in this embodiment, the roller 5a of the paired discharge port) that comes into contact with the label L and sends out the label L to the downstream side passes through. Is placed. The single label L released from the release unit 70 reaches the egg pack PE at once. The guide portion 91 is made of resin. The guide portions 91 are arranged so as to face each other with the passage 92 opened in the vertical direction interposed therebetween.

The guide unit 91 is set to have a positive charge when guiding the positively charged label L, and has a negative charge when guiding the negatively charged label L. Set. The guide portion 91 needs to be set according to the usage conditions (for example, material, thickness (or separation distance), sliding speed, etc.) of the discharge portion 70 and the label L. A triboelectric charging experiment with the label may be performed under the condition that the emission unit 70 is used, and it may be confirmed whether the label L is positively charged or the label L is negatively charged.

The discharge unit 70 and the guide unit 91 are composed of at least two types of materials having positive and negative charging tendencies, respectively, based on the material of the label L. In the present embodiment, the label L is made of paper, the discharging portion 70 is made of urethane and rubber, and the guide portion 91 is made of nylon. For example, the label L is positively charged by the friction between the discharging portion 70 and the label L. Here, if the surface facing the label L has a negative charge when the label L comes into contact with the guide portion 91, the label is caused by the static electricity attached to the label L when passing through the guide portion 91. An attractive force is generated between L and the guide portion 91, and the movement of the label L is braked. On the other hand, if the guide portion 91 is made of nylon, the surface facing the label L has a positive charge when the label L comes into contact with the guide portion 91. If the surface facing the label L has a positive charge when the label L comes into contact with the guide portion 91, the generation of the above-mentioned attractive force can be suppressed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the label loading device 10 is installed above the pack transport device 20. Specifically, the label loading device 10 is arranged so that the transport path 6 of the label loading device 10 follows the transport direction of the pack transport device 20.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the pack transfer device 20 is, for example, a belt conveyor and conveys the container P in the longitudinal direction. The pack transfer device 20 continuously conveys the container P, and a sensor (not shown) for detecting the arrival of the container P is provided on the upstream side. The signal detected by this sensor is output to the control unit 8 of the label insertion device 10. Reference numeral 20a is a guide portion that guides the packed egg PE in order to align the label arrangement region R of the packed egg PE with respect to the transport path 6 of the label feeding device 10.

The label insertion device 10 is controlled by the control unit 8. The control unit 8 is composed of a dedicated or general-purpose computer such as a CPU, an internal memory, an input / output interface, and an AD conversion unit. Then, the function as the control unit 8 is exhibited by the cooperation of the CPU and other peripheral devices according to the program stored in the internal memory.

Next, the label L and the egg pack PE used in the label loading device 10 will be described. The label L and the egg pack PE described here are examples, and can be changed in various ways.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the label L is, for example, a rectangular shape in a plan view made of relatively thin paper. The label L includes a front edge L5 and a trailing edge L6 corresponding to the short side, and a lower edge L7 and an upper edge L8 corresponding to the long side. Various information about eggs is printed on the surface L1 side of the label L. Information on eggs includes, for example, egg weight, name of person in charge of weighing, packaging location, expiration date, storage method, usage method, etc., but these are simplified or omitted in the figure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the egg pack PE is a so-called regular pack in which a plurality of eggs E are packed in a container P. The container P is a transparent container made of synthetic resin, and includes a main body portion P1 and a lid P2. The main body P1 includes, for example, 10 accommodating seats P4. Egg E is vertically placed on each storage seat P4, and the lower half is housed with the upper half of the egg E exposed. The main body P1 is provided with protrusions P5 for partitioning a plurality of accommodation seats P4 between the accommodation seats P4 arranged in two rows. The protrusion P5 supports the lower edge L7 of the label L, in addition to the purpose of preventing contact between the contained eggs E. For the protrusion P5, the label arrangement area R of the present embodiment is near the center of the container P including the protrusion P5. The lid P2 can be opened and closed via the connecting portion P3, and is integrally formed with the main body portion P1.

Next, the operation of the label loading device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, first, the egg pack PE containing 10 eggs E in the container P is transported by the pack transport device 20 with the lid P2 open. The container P is conveyed in the longitudinal direction of the container P, in other words, along the linear label arrangement region R.

As shown in FIG. 4, the label La to be charged into the container P next is held by the roller 5a at the discharge port. The base end portion L4 of the label La is sandwiched and held by the roller 5a of the discharge port, but the other portion is not supported anywhere. In other words, only the base end portion L4 of the label La is fixed. The plane of the label La is held so as to be orthogonal to the transport surface of the pack transport device 20.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the label La is held obliquely with respect to the pack transport device 20 in a side view. In other words, the label La is arranged so as to be inclined with respect to the transport direction of the pack transport device 20. The tip end L3 of the label La is located below the base end L4 of the label La. More specifically, the corner portion where the front edge L5 and the lower edge L7 of the label La intersect is located closer to the pack transfer device 20 than the corner portion where the trailing edge L6 and the lower edge L7 of the label La intersect. doing.

When the sensor detects the arrival of the container P from this state, the control unit 8 throws the label La from the discharge port 7 toward the container P when the container P comes under the discharge port 7. The roller 5a is controlled. The position of the discharge port 7 is defined relative to the pack transfer device 20 and the label loading device 10 so that the label placement area R passes directly below. Therefore, in addition to gravity, an inertial force in the direction along the label arrangement region R acts on the label La discharged from the discharge port 7 by the roller 5a. The tip L3 of the label La comes into contact with the egg pack PE first through the state shown in FIG. The label La is guided by the eggs E on both sides, after which the proximal end L4 contacts the egg pack PE. In this way, the label L is accommodated in the desired label arrangement region R.

As described above, the label loading device 10 of the present embodiment includes a releasing unit 70 and a guide unit 91, and one label L released from the releasing unit 70 reaches the egg pack PE at once. The discharge unit 70 comes into contact with the label L and sends the label L to the downstream side. The guide portion 91 is arranged along the passage 92 through which the label L discharged from the discharge portion 70 passes. The guide unit 91 has a positive charge when guiding the positively charged label L, and has a negative charge when guiding the negatively charged label L. In one embodiment, the surface facing the label L when the label L comes into contact with the guide portion 91 is formed of a resin having a positive charge, and guides the positively charged label L. Therefore, even if the label L comes into contact with the guide portion 91, the surface facing the label L when the label L comes into contact with the guide portion 91 is on the positive side of the label L, so that the effect of reducing the charge on the label L is reduced. Can be expected. Further, even if the guide portion 91 itself is charged, it is charged on the positive side, so that an effect of repelling the label L charged on the same positive side can be expected.

The guide portions 91 are arranged so as to face each other with the passage 92 opened in the vertical direction interposed therebetween. Therefore, the unstable label L in the upright state can be guided to a desired position. In particular, the paper label L arranged on the egg pack PE is often bundled with a rubber band or the like and stored, and the shape is easily maintained in a state of being bent in the thickness direction. However, by arranging such a guide portion 91, even the label L in a bent state can be put into a desired label arrangement region R.

In particular, the label loading device 10 of the present embodiment loads the labels L one by one toward the label arrangement region R formed between the eggs E arranged in two rows of the egg pack PE, and holds the label L. It includes a mechanism 2 and a release mechanism 3. The holding mechanism 2 sandwiches the base end portion L4 of the label La and holds the label La immediately before being put into the egg pack PE by standing along the label arrangement region R. The release mechanism 3 releases the label L held by the holding mechanism 2 in the same direction as the egg carton PE carried along the label arrangement region R. If it is such a thing, the label L can be surely put into the label arrangement area R of the egg pack PE.

Since the holding mechanism 2 holds the tip L3 of the label La so as to be located below the base end L4 of the label La, the label La immediately before loading can be kept as close to the egg pack PE as possible. The holding mechanism 2 may be such that the label La is held horizontally. Further, since the discharge mechanism 3 is a roller 5a that also serves as a holding mechanism 2, the configuration of the discharge port 7 can be simplified.

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

The label insertion device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is provided with a printing mechanism (not shown) for printing on the surface L1 of the label L and a printing confirmation mechanism (not shown) for confirming what has been printed. It is a possible type. Like the label insertion device 10 shown in FIG. 7, it may be of a type that does not have a printing mechanism and a printing confirmation mechanism. With such a case, the transport path 6 can be set relatively short. In FIG. 7, parts that are the same as or similar to those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of label loading devices 10 are also preferable when they are used side by side along the transport direction of the egg pack PE. Each label loading device 10 contains different types of labels L. Which egg pack PE is loaded with the label L of which label loading device 10 is controlled based on a command from the control unit 8. If the transport path 6 of the label loading device 10 is inclined with respect to the transport direction of the pack transport device 20 as in the present embodiment, the discharge port 7 of one label loading device 10 is adjacent to the label loading device 10. It does not interfere with the label stocker 4 of the device 10. The label loading devices 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 may be arranged in the same manner.

The holding mechanism 2 is not limited to the roller 5, and may be any one as long as it can hold the label L. The holding mechanism 2 does not have to be a pair of rollers 5, and may be composed of, for example, a fixed guide and a rotating roller that holds the label L in cooperation with the guide. Similarly, the release mechanism 3 is not limited to the roller 5, and may be any one as long as the label L can be released. The release mechanism 3 does not have to be a pair of rollers 5, and may be composed of, for example, a fixed guide and a rotating roller that discharges the label L in cooperation with the guide. The same applies to the release unit 70.

In the above-described embodiment, the pair of rollers 5 also have the role of the holding mechanism 2 and the role of the releasing mechanism 3, but the present invention is not limited to this, and separate members that play the respective roles may be provided.

The transport path 6 of the label loading device 10 may be the same as that of the prior document 1. The label loading device 10 may be arranged so that the transport path 6 is horizontal. The label loading device 10 is arranged so that the transport direction of the pack transport device 20 and the transport path 6 of the label loading device 10 are parallel to each other. In such a case, the tip L3 and the base L4 of the label L are held at the same height position, and the label L keeps the same posture as after entering the egg pack PE, and the discharge port 7 You can wait at.

The holding mechanism 2 may be any as long as the label L stands along the label arrangement area R. For example, the label L is not limited to a completely upright label, and may be slightly tilted in the thickness direction as long as it fits in the label arrangement area R.

The guide portions 91 may be arranged on only one side instead of a pair. The guide portion 91 particularly refers to a portion facing the label L, which is the surface of a member constituting the guide portion 91. The guide portion 91 is not limited to the one made of resin, and may have any shape. The guide portion 91 is not limited to one having a flat surface facing the label L, and may have irregularities on the surface facing the label L. If there is such a thing, since the contact portion between the label L and the guide portion 91 is small, when the guide portion 91 guides the label L which is positively charged, it has a negative charge and is negative. When the label L charged in is guided, the same effect as that described above can be obtained even if the label L has a positive charge. The guide portion 91 can be variously changed as long as it does not prevent the label L from falling freely.

Further, the guide unit 91 may be such that the electric charge is manipulated by the charging device to adjust the amount of electric charge.

The embodiments disclosed this time are examples and are not limited thereto. The present invention is shown by the scope of claims, not the scope described above, and is intended to include all modifications in the sense and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

The present invention can be used in a label loading device capable of loading a label into an egg pack.

10 ... Label insertion device 70 ... Discharge unit 91 ... Guide unit 92 ... Passage PE ... Egg pack L ... Label

Claims (4)

It is provided with a discharge unit that comes into contact with the label and sends the label to the downstream side, and a guide unit that is arranged along a passage through which the label released from the release unit passes.
The guide unit has a positive charge when guiding a positively charged label, and has a negative charge when guiding a negatively charged label. .. One of the emitting portion and the guide portion has a positive charging tendency on the surface facing the label when the label comes into contact, and the other has a negative surface facing the label when the label comes into contact with the label. The label insertion device according to claim 1, which has a tendency to be charged. The label loading device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide portions are arranged so as to face each other across the passage. It is provided with a discharge unit that comes into contact with the label and sends the label to the downstream side, and a guide unit in which the label released from the discharge unit is arranged along the passage.
The guide portion has irregularities on the surface facing the label, has a negative charge when guiding a positively charged label, and has a positive charge when guiding a negatively charged label. A label input device that has an electric charge.

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