JP2900143B2 - Label sticking device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label sticking apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for sticking a label to a product being transported.
On the upstream side, an inspection device for inspecting the quality of goods is provided.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a label affixing device (fixed amount or weighing device) and an inspection device for inspecting the quality of goods (for example, a metal detector for detecting whether or not metal is mixed in a product, And a weight checker that checks whether the weight of the product is within a predetermined weight range), and is configured as a non-defective product on the inspection line where the inspection device is located. The label was pasted by the label pasting device. Recently, a product in which an inspection device and a label attaching device (pricing machine) are integrated for the purpose of saving space has been developed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-48432).

[0003]

However, when this apparatus sorts commodities, a sorting machine is arranged downstream of an apparatus in which an inspection apparatus and a label attaching apparatus are integrated, and a defective product is inspected by the inspection apparatus. Products that are determined to be excluded are excluded. However, the above-described devices are merely combinations of those conventionally configured as separate devices, and it cannot be said that any special measures have been taken in terms of miniaturization of the devices.

On the other hand, when the labeling device is a price-setting machine, after printing a price label of a product, the label printed on the product is bonded. Until printing is completed, the label cannot be attached to the next product. Therefore, the longer the processing speed of the apparatus, the longer the length of the conveyor (sticking conveyor) on the upstream side of the label sticking apparatus. In addition, in the case of a flat-rate pricing device, after attaching a label,
The next label can be printed immediately, but in the case of a weighing device, the weighing unit and label attaching unit must be finished weighing the product before printing the next label. Need to be longer. However, conventionally,
When the pricing device was used alone, the conveyor portion on the upstream side of the labeling device could not be effectively used.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and makes it possible to reduce the size of the entire apparatus by actively utilizing parts (spaces) that have not been effectively utilized in the past. An object of the present invention is to provide a label sticking device with an inspection device.

[0006]

The technical means taken by the present invention to achieve the above object is to provide a label attaching device for printing a label and attaching a label to a product while the product is being transported. A product inspection unit for inspecting the quality of the product is located on the upstream side in the transport direction, a label of the product is printed on the product after the inspection on the downstream side of the product inspection unit, and the printed label is printed on the product. A label printing / attaching unit to be attached to the product inspection unit and a label printing / attaching unit are further provided between the product inspection unit and the label printing / attachment unit, wherein a sorting unit for eliminating defective products based on an inspection result of the product inspection unit is provided; It is characterized in that only non-defective products with the label attached are carried out downstream of the attaching section.

[0007] A transport device for transporting the product includes a carry-in conveyor that passes through a product inspection unit, a weighing conveyor that receives the product that has completed the product inspection, and measures the weight of the product.
Receiving the goods conveyed by the weighing conveyor, performing a label sticking operation on the goods, and is configured by connecting a plurality of conveyors such as a sticking conveyor that carries out the goods,
Each of these conveyors is configured to operate in conjunction. The product inspection unit includes a metal detector that detects whether metal is mixed in the product, a weight checker that checks whether the weight of the product is within a predetermined weight range, and a weight checker that further checks the product. Examples include an image scanner for detecting a shape, and these may be used alone or in combination. When a weight checker is used as the product inspection unit, it can also serve as a weighing unit that detects the weight of the product. The above-mentioned sorting section is a first sorting means comprising a pusher or the like which removes defective products in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the goods are transported, and a product which is eliminated by the first sorting means in addition to the first sorting means. Further, there may be mentioned a mode constituted by a second sorting means for sorting according to the presence or absence of metal contamination.

According to the above-mentioned means, defective products are sorted at the conveyor portion on the upstream side of the label printing / attaching section. Therefore, it is possible to sort defective products by utilizing a space necessary to secure label printing time. Become. This makes it possible to reduce the length of the entire apparatus including the sorting section.
In addition, since the sorting of defective products has already been completed for the products carried out downstream of the label printing / attaching section, the processing time for inspection, label affixing and sorting as a whole is reduced.

[0009]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing an external configuration of a label sticking apparatus (fixed price machine) A in which inspection, sorting, and labeling are integrated. In this figure, 1
Is a carrying device, which carries in the goods a and passes through a goods inspection unit described later, a weighing conveyor 3 which receives and weighs the goods a carried by the carrying-in conveyor 2, and which is carried by the weighing conveyor 3. It comprises a sticking conveyor 4 which receives the product a, performs a label sticking operation on the product a, and carries out the product a to which the label is stuck. The product inspection section B, the sorting section C, and the label printing / sticking section D are arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport device 1 configured as described above.

The goods inspection section B includes a metal detector 5 installed above the middle position in the transport direction of the carry-in conveyor 2 and a weighing conveyor 3 which detects the weight of goods arranged adjacent to the downstream side of the carry-in conveyor 2. It is composed of The supply of the goods to the carry-in conveyor 2 is performed as shown in FIG.
The introduction conveyor 6 may be installed on the upstream side, and the products may be continuously fed, or the operator may manually load the products on the carry-in conveyor 2.

The metal detector 5 of the product inspection section B detects whether metal such as a needle or a nail is mixed in the product conveyed by the carry-in conveyor 2 and straddles the carry path of the carry-in conveyor 2. It is formed like a portal. The weighing conveyor 3 constituting the product inspection unit B is provided with a weighing unit 3 'at the bottom, receives the goods transported by the carry-in conveyor 2, and measures the weight of the goods. Whether or not the weight is within the set predetermined weight range is determined by a weight check unit described later.

Labeler 7 Constituting Label Printing Attachment D
The console unit 10 is arranged on the downstream side of the central position in the conveying direction of the attaching conveyor 4 on the downstream side. The console unit 10 is for inputting data, displaying the result of weighing the goods by the weighing unit 3 ', controlling each unit of the apparatus, and the like. Therefore, after the labeler 7 prints the print data such as the product name and other product data transmitted from the console unit 10 on a label, the labeler 7 is blown downward by compressed air and placed on the upper surface of the attaching conveyor 4. It is configured to be affixed to a predetermined location of the product.

In addition, the above-mentioned product inspection section B is located upstream of the labeling / sticking section D of the sticking conveyor 4 from the position where the labeler 7 is installed, that is, near the conveyance path near the weighing conveyor 3.
A sorting unit C is disposed to exclude the products conveyed out of the conveyance path according to the presence or absence of metal contamination by the metal detector 5 and the inspection result of whether or not the weight is within a predetermined weight range by the weighing conveyor 3. . The sorting unit C includes a product a ′ determined to be mixed with metal by the metal detector 5 of the product inspection unit B, and a weighing conveyor 3 for the next weight detection.
A first sorting means C1 for excluding the goods a "determined to be out of the predetermined weight range by the weight check means out of the conveying path of the attaching conveyor 4,
The products a 'and a "which have been removed by the sorting means C1 outside the conveying path of the attaching conveyor 4 are classified into a product a' determined to further contain metal and a product a 'other than the above. And the sorting means C2.

[0014] The first sorting means C1 is a laminating conveyor 4
The pusher 11 is arranged on a column 8 disposed in the vicinity of the sticker 4 so as to be orthogonal to the sticking conveyor 4. The pusher 11 is driven by an air cylinder 11 ′, and conveys the goods on the sticking conveyor 4 which has received the removal instruction. Push out the road and eliminate. The operation of this pusher 11 is performed by the product inspection section B
Is controlled by a signal from the console unit 9 according to the inspection result of the metal detector 5 and the weighing conveyor 3. The second sorting means C2 removes the “goods a ′ containing metal” and “goods a” outside the predetermined weight ”which have been removed from the pasting conveyor 4 by the first sorting means C1. The product is classified into a product a ′ with a product and a product other than the product a (ie, a product a ″ having a weight outside the predetermined weight). As shown in FIGS. The first sorting conveyor 12 includes a conveyor 12 and a second sorting conveyor 13 disposed below the first sorting conveyor 12.
Transfer conveyors 14 and 15 are connected to the end of the second sorting conveyor 13 and the end of the second sorting conveyor 13, respectively. In addition, in the case of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the product a ″ outside the predetermined weight is eliminated as it is on the first sorting conveyor 12 to the transfer conveyor 14, and in the case of FIG. The first sorting conveyor 12 jumps upward and is pushed out of the second sorting conveyor 13 to be eliminated, and the second for guiding and discharging the product a ′ with metal contamination.
Items that are connected to the sorting conveyor 13 may not be sold because the sorted products cannot be sold, and may be directly stored in a container or a trash box without being transported by a conveyor as illustrated. Further, the method of sorting may of course be the reverse of that described above.

In addition, a sensor for detecting whether a product has been carried into each of the conveyors constituting the transfer device 1 or whether there is a product is provided near the transfer device 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the sensors include a sensor S1 for detecting the introduction of the product a to the weighing conveyor 3, a sensor S2 for detecting the removal of the product a from the weighing conveyor 3 to the attaching conveyor 4, and a label printing / attaching unit. And a sensor S3 for detecting whether or not a product exists immediately before D.
3 generates a timing signal for the labeler 7 to attach a label to the product a. Each of the above-mentioned sensors S1 to S3 is not limited to a transmission type or a reflection type including a light emitter and a light receiver, and may be other sensors.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the label sticking apparatus provided with the product inspection section B and the sorting section C shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. In FIG. The same reference numerals are given to the portions corresponding to the respective portions, and the description thereof will be omitted. Note that FIG. 5 omits the control relationship of the conveyors constituting the transfer device 1. The CPU 16 controls each unit of the apparatus, and is provided in the console unit 10.
U16 is provided with a ROM 17, a RAM 18, a display / operation unit (console unit) 10, a label printing / attaching unit 7, a sensor unit 19, a measuring unit 3 ', a pusher driving unit 20, and a metal detector interface circuit (INF) via a bus 16a. 21 and an interface circuit (INF) 22 of the second sorting means are connected, and the ROM 17 stores various control programs executed by the CPU 16. The RAM 18 has an area such as a register and a flag used when the CPU 16 executes the control program of the ROM 17, and a preset data area in which various data are stored in advance for each product. In the preset data area, a product name, a price or a unit price, other data for printing, data for attaching a label, and the like are stored corresponding to the product (product number). The display operation unit (console unit) 10 includes an operation unit including a keyboard and a touch panel, and a display unit including a liquid crystal display, and inputs various data and commands, or receives input data based on a command from the CPU 16. It performs display, display of preset data, and display of various messages. The label printing / sticking section (labeler) 7 prints and sticks a label on a product determined to be non-defective. The weighing unit 3 ′ measures the weight of the product conveyed onto the weighing conveyor 3, and determines whether the measured weight is within a predetermined weight range or outside the predetermined range by a weight check unit. Is determined. The pusher drive section 20 controls the opening and closing of the air cylinder 11 'which is the drive source of the pusher 11 constituting the first sorting means C1, and is driven by a signal from the CPU 16 described above.

Next, the outline of the processing of the above-described apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6 is performed by the CPU 16 executing a control program stored in the ROM 17. (Step 1) When the product a has passed through the metal detector 5,
It is detected whether metal is mixed in the product a. Then, the detection result is sent to the interface circuit 21 of the metal detector.
To the CPU 16, and the CPU 16 stores the flag in the RAM 18. As the metal detection flag, for example, “1” is present, and “0” is not present. (Step 2) ... Weight detection. The weight of the product a that has passed through the weighing conveyor 3 is measured. (Step 3) The CPU 16 determines whether or not the detected weight of the commodity is within a predetermined range. This criterion is preset for each product. Then, the processing is performed based on the upper limit weight and the lower limit weight that are called and set by inputting the product number. If the detected weight is out of the predetermined weight range (defective), the fact is stored in the weight flag of the RAM 18. As the flag, for example, “1” is defective and “0” is normal. (Step 4): It is determined whether or not the product has been transferred to the removal position on the attaching conveyor 4. (The sensor S2 detects when the unloading from the weighing conveyor 3 has been completed or when a predetermined time has elapsed since the unloading is completed.) I do. (Step 6) If the product is not defective, a label is printed and attached as in the conventional case. (Step 7) ... pusher 11 (first sorting means C1)
To remove the product from the transport path (sticking conveyor). The pusher 11 is driven by an air cylinder, reciprocates by supplying a drive signal, and returns to its original position. (Step 8)... It is determined whether or not the content of the defect is “metal mixed”. (Step 9) If it is not "with metal contamination" (only weight defect), the first sorting conveyor 12 of the second sorting means C2.
Send to (Reuse) (Step 10) In the case of "metal mixed", the first sorting conveyor 12 jumps up and is sent to the second sorting conveyor 13. (Disposal)

In the above-described embodiment, both "presence / absence of metal contamination" and "whether within a predetermined weight range" are checked as inspection items for product inspection, but only one of them may be used.
Further, another inspection item (for example, a shape using an image sensor or the like) may be added, or the inspection may be performed using only the other inspection item. Further, although the embodiment has been described with reference to a fixed price attaching apparatus, a weighing attaching apparatus may be used. In this case, if the weight detector for weight check is also used as the weight detector for pricing, further downsizing is possible. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the sorting section C is connected to the first sorting means C1 and the second sorting means C1.
Although this is performed in two stages of the sorting means C2, the first sorting means alone may of course be used. Further, the form of the sorting unit is not limited to the configuration shown in the drawing, for example, a pusher conveyor is wound perpendicularly to the outside of the pasting conveyor, and the drive direction of the pusher conveyor is changed left and right to place the product on the left and right sides. It may be a sort type or the like. Further, the installation of the first sorting means (the pusher) is not limited to the one shown in the embodiment. However, in order to prevent unnecessary vibration from being applied to the weighing conveyor (causing weighing errors), the illustrated embodiment (where a pusher is arranged on a column attached to the frame of the pasting conveyor that is not related to the weighing conveyor) is preferable. .

[0019]

According to the label sticking apparatus of the present invention, defective products are sorted by the conveyer portion upstream of the label printing sticking section according to the constitutions of claims 1 to 4 , so that the label printing time can be secured. Defective products can be sorted by effectively utilizing the space required for the product. This makes it possible to reduce the length of the entire apparatus including the sorting section. In addition, products that are transported to the downstream side of the label printing / pasting device have already been sorted out for defective products.
The overall processing time for labeling and sorting operations is reduced.
Further, according to the configuration of the fifth aspect , the rejection of defective products can be classified into “metal presence” and other defects (weight), so that discarded products can be reduced. That is, if the product is food, if the metal is mixed, the product cannot be reused, but if the weight is poor (overweight, underweight), the product can be reused by increasing or decreasing the product. In addition, the removal of metal contamination and other (weight) defects is first eliminated by the first sorting means outside the transport path, and then separated by the second sorting means. An independently configured sorting means can be used. For this reason, the configuration of the first sorting unit is simplified, and the first sorting unit can be disposed in the conveyor between the weight detection unit and the label printing / pasting unit that has not been effectively used in the past. This is almost the same as a conventional device that does not sort.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing an example of an embodiment of a label sticking apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the sorting unit, and shows a state where commodities are removed from a first sorting conveyor.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which goods are removed from a second sorting conveyor.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a control unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of a process of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Label sticking device B: Product inspection part C: Sorting part C1: First sorting means C2: Second sorting means D: Label printing sticking part 1: Conveying device 5 ... Metal detector 7 ... Labeler 11 ... Pusher

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI G01G 15/00 G01G 15/00 A (72) Inventor Morioka Machio 5-13-12 Kugahara, Ota-ku, Tokyo Teraoka Corporation Inside Seiko (72) Inventor Noboru Tanaka 5-10-27 Minamiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo Anritsu Corporation (72) Inventor Hideya Fujimoto 5-10-27 Minamiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo Anritsu Corporation (56) References JP-A-4-52521 (JP, A) JP-A-63-240978 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01G 23/42 B07C 5/16-5/344 G01G 11/00 G01G 15/00

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] Claims: 1. A label attaching apparatus for printing a label and attaching a label to an article while the article is being conveyed, receives the conveyed article, and measures the weight of the article.
The weight of the weighing conveyor and the goods weighed by the weighing conveyor is the specified weight
A weight check means for determining whether a range to receive the goods conveyed by the metering conveyor the
Perform labeling work on the product and ensure that the label is
Affixing conveyor for carrying out the product, and disposed downstream in the conveying direction of the affixing conveyor,
Measured by the weighing conveyor and judged good by the weight check means
Print the label of the printed product and attach the printed label to the product.
At the upstream side of the position where the label print sticking part to be stuck and the label print sticking part of the sticking conveyor
Provided based on the check result of the weight check means.
And a sorting unit for removing defective products, and only a non-defective product having a label attached is carried out downstream of the label printing / attaching unit. 2. The label sticking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sorting section is a pusher for removing a defective product in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the goods are transported. 3. A quotient conveyed upstream of the weighing conveyor.
Metal detector that detects whether metal is mixed in the product
Is arranged, and the sorting unit detects metal by the metal detector.
The weight is judged to be defective by the checked product and weight check means.
2. The label according to claim 1, wherein said product is excluded.
Device. 4. The weight check means detects the weight of the product.
In addition to serving as the measuring section,
The label to be printed is a label with a weighing value based on the weight.
The label sticking apparatus according to claim 1. 5. Receiving the conveyed goods, and receiving the goods
The weighing conveyor that measures the weight and the weight of the goods weighed by the weighing conveyor is the specified weight
Weight check means for judging whether or not it is within a range, and goods to be carried in which are arranged upstream of the weighing conveyor and are carried in.
Metal detecting whether Luke is mixed in the metal detector
When receiving the goods carried by the metering conveyor the
Perform labeling work on the product and ensure that the label is
Affixing conveyor for carrying out the product, and disposed downstream in the conveying direction of the affixing conveyor,
The metal detector determines that there is no metal in the product and
Measured by the weighing conveyor and judged good by weight check means.
Print the label of the rejected product, and print the label after printing.
The label printing part to be attached to the product and the label printing part on the pasting conveyor
A first sorting unit that removes, from the transport path of the product, a product that is determined to have metal in the product by the metal detector or that is determined by the weight check unit to be out of the predetermined weight range; And a second sorting means for sorting, among the products excluded by the first sorting means, those which are determined to have metal and those which are not.