JP2613631B2 - Label sticking device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label sticking apparatus for sticking a label, such as a barcode, on a label.

[Prior Art] For example, a label sticking apparatus is known as an apparatus for sticking a printed label such as a barcode to an article or the like conveyed via a conveying mechanism such as a belt conveyor. .

7 and 8 show an example of the structure of a label sticking apparatus conventionally used as this type of apparatus.

The label sticking apparatus shown in FIG. 7 separates the issued label 1 in which predetermined printing has been performed on the blank label from the label mount and once sucks the label 1 with the suction means 2 so that the object to be stuck reaches the predetermined position. The label 1 adsorbed when the sheet is transported is sprayed and attached.

Further, the label sticking apparatus shown in FIG. 8 absorbs the issued label 1 on the holding portion 4 provided at the tip of the air cylinder 3 and presses the compressed air so that the adhesive surface of the label 1 comes into contact with the adherend. The sticking is performed by moving the rod 5 of the air cylinder 3 in the above manner, and the next label is issued after the rod 5 returns to the initial position.

Further, in addition to the above-described apparatus, there is also an apparatus (not shown) for directly applying the label by moving it in parallel with the issued label-attached object and superimposing it.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-described conventional label pasting apparatus, the apparatus using the suction means 2 has an advantage that the label 1 can be pasted at high speed, but the label 1 is moved by the force of air.
When the label 1 is stuck to the object to be stuck, it is necessary to set a short distance between the label 1 adsorbed by the adsorbing means 2 and the object to be stuck due to the adsorption and sticking of the object. For this reason, it was not possible to cope with variations in the height of the object to be attached. Also, this type of device was expensive.

The device using the air cylinder 3 has an advantage that the label 1 can be securely attached to the object to be attached. However, once the label 1 has been attached to the object to be attached, the rod 5 is moved to the initial position. Since the next label cannot be issued until the process returns to the normal state, it takes a long time to process. In addition, a compressor is required to obtain compressed air, which causes a problem that initial costs and running costs increase.

Further, in an apparatus for directly attaching a label to an object to be attached, the distance between the label and the apparatus must be set sufficiently shorter than the apparatus shown in FIG. I couldn't do that.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and its object is to cope with variations in the height of an object to be attached and issue the next label even during label application, thereby reducing time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a label sticking apparatus capable of reliably performing high-speed label sticking.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, a label sticking apparatus according to the present invention issues a label for applying a predetermined printing to a label 1 sent at a constant speed and sticking the label 1 to an article 7 to be stuck. A label issuing unit 6, a label transporting unit 15 having a transport length of at least one label, receiving and transporting the label issued by the label issuing unit, and holding a label transported from the label transporting unit A movable table 24 having a label holding unit 22 and movably provided with respect to a frame 25; and a driving unit for driving the label transfer unit so that the label is transferred to a label holding position of the label holding unit. 19, a moving means 29 for reciprocating the movable table having the label holding portion holding the label between an application position of the object to be adhered, and whether the movable table is the object to be adhered. A position detection sensor for detecting whether or not the movable table is at an initial position separated by a predetermined height, and moving the movable table between the adherends based on a detection signal of the position detection sensor indicating that the movable table is at the initial position. Controlling the moving means so as to move to the middle position and stand by, and when the object to be stuck is positioned under the movable table, the movable table at the standby position applies the label to the object to be stuck. The moving means is controlled so as to stick and return to the initial position, and the label issued by the label issuing means is supplied to the label transporting means until the movable table returns to the initial position. And control means for controlling the driving means at a speed deviated from a moving speed of the label by the label issuing means when the label is issued.

[Operation] The label issuing means 6 issues a label 1 for applying a predetermined printing to the label 1 sent at a constant speed and attaching the label 1 to the article 7 to be attached. The label 1 is delivered and conveyed to the label holding position of the label holding unit 22 on the movable base 24 by the label conveying means 15, and the movable table 24
Is detected at the initial position, the movable table 24 is moved by the moving means 29 based on the control of the control means to a position halfway between the movable table 24 and the article 7 and stands by. Attached object 7 is movable table 24
When the movable table 24 is in the standby position, the movable table 29, which is under the control of the control means, attaches the label 1 to the article 7 by the moving means 29 and returns to the initial position. When the label 1 issued by the label issuing means 6 is supplied to the label transport means 15 before the movable table 24 returns to the initial position, the label transport means 15 is driven by the drive means 19 based on the control of the control means. The label 1 is conveyed at a speed higher than the moving speed of the label 1 by the label issuing means 6. Thus, while the label 1 is being attached to the object 7, the label 1 to be attached to the next object 7 can be issued, and time can be shortened and high-speed label attachment can be performed reliably.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a label sticking apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the same, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the same.

The label sticking apparatus according to this embodiment is, for example, incorporated in a line in combination with a packing machine, and is used to apply a label to a sticking object such as an article that is packed by the packing machine and conveyed through a conveying mechanism such as a belt conveyor. It is attached, and has a schematic configuration including a label issuing unit, a label conveying unit, a label suction unit, and a moving unit.

A label issuing device 6 as a label issuing device issues a label 1 to be attached to an article 7 to be sequentially conveyed.
Label roll 8 with blank labels attached at regular intervals
Are mounted on the label feed reel 9. The label roll 8 is wound around a label winding reel 11 via several relay rollers 10. A print sheet feed reel 12 is provided substantially in parallel with the label feed reel 9, and a roll-shaped print sheet 13 is mounted on the reel 12. This print sheet 13 is a blank label surface on which a bar code such as an article to be thermally transferred is printed, and is thermally transferred by polymerizing the label surface sent at a constant speed and the printed surface in a transfer unit. After issuing labels, print sheet take-up reel
It is designed to be wound on 14.

The label conveying means 15 conveys the label 1 issued by the label issuing device 6 to an adsorbing position in a label adsorbing means 20, which will be described in detail later. More specifically, the label transporting means 15 includes a pair of rollers provided at both ends of the side plate.
A belt 17 is attached to the belts 16 and 16. The label 1 is sandwiched and transported by the belt 17 and an edge roller 37 made of Teflon or the like as a non-adhesive member. The transfer motor 19 is interlocked and connected. For example, a stepping motor is used as the transport motor 19, which is normally controlled at the same speed as the label 1 issuance speed in the label issuing device 6, and the label 1 is transported to the label transport means 15 and Label adsorption means
When the label is conveyed to the suction position at 20, the conveyance speed is switched to be higher than the conveyance speed of the label 1 when the label issuing device 6 issues the label.

The label adsorbing means 20 is for adsorbing the label 1 sent from the label transporting means 15 and sticking the adsorbed label 1 to the object 7 in accordance with the movement control by the moving means 29 described later in detail. More specifically, this label suction means
Reference numeral 20 designates a label holding unit 22 for sucking and holding the label 1 by a built-in fan 21 attached to a movable table 24 via a rubber bellows 23 which is an elastic member. The frame 25 is attached to the guide shaft 26 and the auxiliary guide shaft 27 of the frame 25 so as to be vertically movable and positioned and held. The movable base 24 is attached to a belt 32 described later via an attachment member 37,
A spring 28 for urging the movable 24th in the anti-gravity direction is mounted between the 24 and the upper portion of the frame 25.

The moving means 29 reciprocates the movable table 24 on which the label 1 is sucked up and down along the frame 25. More specifically, the moving means 29 has a belt 32 attached to pulleys 30 and 31 provided above and below the frame 25, and one of the pulleys has a moving motor composed of a stepping motor like the conveying motor 19. 33 are interlocked. Rollers 34 are provided between the pulleys 30 and 31 to restrict the deflection of the belt 32 and to make the movement of the belt 32 accurate. Then, in the moving means 29, when the label suction means 20 sucks the label 1, the movable table 24 is moved at a high speed to a halfway position between the movable table 24 and the article 7 by controlling the drive of the moving motor 33. Thereafter, when the object 7 is positioned under the movable table 24, the moving speed of the movable table 24 is switched to a low speed, and the movable object 24 is moved, the label 1 is attached to the object 7, and then switched to a high speed again. The movable table 24 is returned to the initial position.

The movable base 24 of the label suction means 20 described above is provided with an attachment detection sensor 35 constituted by, for example, a proximity switch or the like, and detects whether or not the label 1 has been attached to the object 7. The moving motor 33 is driven so as to control the movable table 24 to rise at a high speed based on the detection signal.

Although not shown, the movable table 24 of the label suction means 20 is located at a predetermined position of the frame 25 at an initial position (top dead center).
Is provided.

Next, the operation of the label sticking apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to the operation diagrams shown in FIGS. 4 (a) to (d) and the timing chart shown in FIG. An example in which both are used will be described.

The operation of the apparatus described below consists of four cycles. The label is temporarily put on standby, and the next label is issued while the label is being attached to the object.

When the first object 7 (A) is put into the packaging machine, the object 7 (A) is introduced into the packaging machine and a predetermined packaging operation is performed. The packaged object 7 whose packaging has been completed (at this time, the next packaged object 7 (B) is put into the packaging machine).
(A) is transported to a position where the label 1 is to be attached (at this time, the next object to be pasted 7 (C) is put into the packaging machine, and the packaging operation is performed on the object to be pasted 7 (B). Is made).

On the other hand, in parallel with the above-described operation, the issuing device 6 issues a label that is printed at a predetermined speed (for example, 60 mm / s) in accordance with the first adherend 7 (A). I do. This issued label 1 is a transport motor 19
Label transport means 15 controlled at the same speed as when the label is issued
It is led to. When the label 1 is sent to the label transport means 15, the label 1 is transported to the suction position of the label suction means 20 by driving the transport motor 19 at a speed higher than the transport speed at the time of label issuance, and the fan 21 Is attracted to the label holding unit 22 by the floating pressure caused by the pressure. When the position detection sensor detects that the movable table 24 in the label suction means 20 is at the initial position, the movable table 24 is driven by the moving motor 33 to move to the intermediate position on the object 7 (A) at high speed. Move down. In this state, the movable table 24 is on standby, and when it is detected that the object 7 (A) has been transported to the hanging position of the movable table 24, the moving motor 33 is switched from a high-speed state to a low-speed state. By switching, the movable table 24 is lowered to a position where the label holding section 22 comes into contact with the adherend 7 (A), and the label 1 is attached. When the sticking of the label 1 is completed and the sticking detection sensor 35 detects this, the moving motor 33 is switched and driven again at a high speed to return the movable table 24 to the initial position. Hereinafter, the above-described operation is performed on the objects to be attached that are successively conveyed.

Therefore, in the above-mentioned label sticking position, it is necessary to issue the next label while the movable table 24 on which the label 1 is adsorbed is lowered and returned to the original position again, that is, while the sticking is being performed. Therefore, the time can be shortened and the processing speed can be increased. Further, in this apparatus, the fan 21 is used to adsorb the label 1, and the compressed air by the compressor is not required. Therefore, the initial cost and the running cost can be reduced, and the label of various sizes can be reduced. We can deal with sticking. Also, high quality processing is not required for the label to be adsorbed. Further, a stepping motor is used as a driving motor, and a label adsorbing means on which the label 1 is adsorbed.
Since the 20 is moved up and down with a certain height, the space between the part where the label 1 is adsorbed and the object 7 can be sufficiently secured, and it is possible to easily cope with variations in the height of the object. Can be.

By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the label transport unit 15,
Frame 25 provided with label suction means 20 and moving means 29
Is fixedly attached to the label issuing device 6, and the label adsorbing means 20 is moved up and down to attach the label 1 to the upper surface of the article 7 to be attached.
15, if the label adhering unit 36 and the moving unit 29 are integrated into a single unit to constitute the label sticking device 36 and can be attached to and detached from the label issuing device 6, FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (c). The label can be attached from all directions of the object to be attached as shown in FIG.

Here, FIG. 6 (a) is a device for sticking the label 1 issued by the label issuing device 6 on the upper surface of the object 7, and FIG. 6 (b) is sticking the label 1 on the side surface of the object 7. Device to do
FIG. 6 (c) shows an apparatus for attaching the label 1 to the bottom surface of the article 7 to be attached.

By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the label pasting apparatus is used in combination with the packaging machine is described as an example. In the timing chart, the first adherend is detected for the first time in cycle 3 and at the same time, Since the issued label is attached, the next label is not issued during this cycle. However, when the label attaching apparatus is used alone, the cycle 3 is excluded. It operates continuously.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the label sticking apparatus of the present invention, when it is detected that the movable table holding the label in the label holding unit is at the initial position, the movable table can be placed between the movable table and the object to be affixed. When the object to be pasted is positioned under the movable table, the movable table in the standby position attaches a label to the object and returns to the initial position. If the label issued by the label issuing means is supplied to the label transporting means before returning to the position, the label transporting means transports the label at a speed higher than the label moving speed by the label issuing means. In addition, it is possible to issue a label to be attached to the next object to be attached while the label is being attached to the object to be attached, so that it is possible to shorten the time and reliably perform high-speed label application. In addition, the movable base having the label holding unit moves to an intermediate position between the object and the object and waits, further moves from the standby position, applies the label to the object to be attached, and reciprocates to the initial position. Since it is a configuration, it reciprocates with the measured object with a certain height,
A sufficient distance can be provided between the label holding portion for holding the label and the object to be stuck, and it is possible to easily cope with variations in the height of the object to be stuck.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a label sticking apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus, FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus, and FIGS. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a series of operations by the device, FIG. 5 is a timing chart of each part of the device, FIGS. 6 (a) to (c) are diagrams showing another example of the configuration of the label sticking device according to the present invention, FIG. FIG. 8 and FIG. 8 are views showing an example of a conventional label sticking apparatus. 1 ... label, 6 ... label issuing device (label issuing means), 7 ... object to be attached, 19 ... transport motor (drive means), 22 ... label holder, 24 ... movable table, 25 ... ... frame, 29 ... moving means.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A label issuing means (6) for applying a predetermined printing to a label (1) fed at a constant speed and issuing a label to be attached to an article to be affixed (7); A label transport unit (15) having a transport length and receiving and transporting the label issued by the label issuing unit, and a label holding unit (22) for holding a label transported from the label transport unit; A movable table (24) movably provided with respect to a frame (25); and a driving unit (19) for driving the label conveying unit so that the label is conveyed to a label holding position of the label holding unit. Moving means (29) for reciprocally moving the movable table having the label holding portion holding the label to and from the position where the object to be pasted is attached; Is it in the initial position away A position detection sensor for detecting whether the movable table is at an initial position, and moving the movable table to an intermediate position between the objects to be stuck based on a detection signal of the position detection sensor indicating that the movable table is at an initial position. Control the moving means, and when the adhered object is positioned under the movable table, the movable table at the standby position affixes the label to the adhered object and returns to the initial position. Controlling the moving means as described above, when the label issued by the label issuing means is supplied to the label transporting means until the movable table returns to the initial position, the label issuing means Control means for controlling the driving means at a speed higher than the moving speed of the label.