JP4426809B2 - Label feeder - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention sends a continuous mount on which a plurality of labels are affixed at regular intervals, peels each label sequentially from the continuous mount and affixes it to an article flowing through another line, and continuously removes the labels. The present invention relates to a label supply apparatus that winds and collects a mount.

  If a defective printing label is detected, the label supply device that does not send the defective label to the sticking process (that is, does not peel the defective label from the continuous mount) and collects and collects the continuous label as it is is patented. It is disclosed in Document 1.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the turning bar 5 disposed on the downstream side of the thermal head 3 that prints on the label 2 has a blade shape on one side and is rounded on the opposite side, 180 degrees. Although it can be rotated, since the blade-shaped side normally contacts the back surface of the continuous mount 1 as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the continuous mount 1 is extremely small when passing through the turning bar 5. While the label 2 is turned with a radius of curvature, the label 2 cannot follow the continuous mount 1 due to its own rigidity, but is separated from the continuous mount 1 to advance onto the release table 6 facing the turning bar 5. On the other hand, when a defective printing label is detected by the sensor 4, the turning bar 5 rotates 180 °, and the rounded side as shown in FIG. 2 is a continuous mount 1 that is turned with a large radius of curvature. Slave to a structure to be taken up by the take-up roll 7 with continuous base sheet 1.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-92336

  However, when the conventional label supply apparatus is returned from the state shown in FIG. 4B to the state shown in FIG. 4B, the turning bar 5 rotates against the feed of the continuous mount 1, so that the continuous mount 1 There is a risk that the back surface of the paper will be rubbed by the cutting edge of the turning bar 5 and locally damaged, and the continuous mount 1 may be cut depending on the degree of damage. When the continuous mount 1 is cut, the operation must be stopped for the sake of recovery, which becomes an impediment to productivity improvement.

  Further, as the turning bar 5 rotates, the continuous mount 1 receives resistance from the blade-like tip of the turning bar 5, and this causes a flutter in the continuous mount 1, which may cause the continuous mount 1 to meander. . If the continuous mount 1 meanders, problems such as the label 2 being attached to the article in an inclined state and the misalignment of the label 2 attachment position occur.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when the continuous mount is turned to peel the label from the continuous mount, the continuous mount is not damaged, and the running stability of the continuous mount. It is an object to provide an excellent label supply apparatus.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the label supply apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a transport unit that feeds a continuous mount on which a plurality of labels are attached at regular intervals, a detection unit that detects a defective label, In a label supply apparatus comprising a turning means for turning a mount, a heating means for heating the detected defective label so as to weaken the rigidity of the label is provided upstream of the turning means. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the label supply device according to the present invention , further comprising fluid ejecting means for ejecting fluid toward the surface side of the detected defective label in the vicinity of the turning means .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the label supply apparatus according to the present invention , further comprising a path blocking means that is movable in and out of the label traveling path and advances with respect to the detected defective label in the vicinity of the turning means. And

According to the label supply apparatus of the present invention having the above-described configuration, when a defective label is detected, the label is heated to a predetermined temperature before reaching the turning point. If it is a normal label, it will be peeled off from the continuous mount at the turning point due to its own rigidity, but since the heated defective label will be weakened by heating, it will remain as it is without being peeled off from the continuous mount. Is not sent to the sticking process, and therefore, a defective label is not stuck on the article.

According to the label supply apparatus of the present invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, when a defective label is detected, fluid is ejected to the surface side of the label. If it is a normal label, it will be peeled off from the continuous mount at the turning point due to its own rigidity, but the defective label on which the fluid is ejected is continuously applied because an external force against the rigidity is applied by the fluid ejection. Without being peeled from the mount, it does not follow the continuous mount as it is and is not sent to the sticking process, and therefore, a defective label is not attached to the article.

According to the label supply apparatus of the present invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, when a defective label is detected, the path of the label in the peeling direction is blocked. If it is a normal label, it will be peeled off from the continuous mount at the turning point due to its own rigidity, but the defective label whose path in the peel direction is blocked will be peeled off by the cut off, so it will be peeled off from the continuous mount As it is, it does not follow the continuous mount as it is and is not sent to the sticking process, and therefore a defective label is not stuck on the article.

As described above, the label supply device according to the present invention has a configuration in which the turning point is not displaced and is always fixed, so that the regular label and defective label sorting control is simplified.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the label supply device according to the present invention will be described. However, the embodiments of the transport unit, the printing unit, and the detection unit are appropriate design matters, and the outline is the same as the conventional label supply device. In the following, only the features of the present invention will be described.

<First embodiment>
1st embodiment is one Embodiment of the 1st label supply apparatus which concerns on this invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the turning means includes a movable plate 3 (first turning member), a base plate 4 (second turning member) that houses the movable plate 3 so as to be retractable, and a movable plate 3. And a cylinder 5 (driving means) for performing the withdrawing / withdrawing operation. The base plate 4 is of a two-divided type and has a space for accommodating the movable plate 3, and a slit 4 b that allows the distal end portion 3 a of the movable plate 3 to be retracted is formed in the distal end portion 4 a of the base plate 4. Has been.

  A slit 4c is formed at the side end of the base plate 4 so that the side piece 3b of the movable plate 3 formed in an approximately L shape protrudes. By forming the slit 4c to a predetermined length, the movable plate 3 can be moved out and out without interfering with the base plate 4. Further, the rod 3 of the cylinder 5 is connected to the side piece 3b of the movable plate 3 via the guide rail 6. When the rod of the cylinder 5 moves forward, the movable plate 3 advances through the slit 4b, When the rod of the cylinder 5 is retracted, the movable plate 3 is retracted into the base plate 4 through the slit 4b.

  The distal end portion 3a of the movable plate 3 is a substantially semicircular arc surface having a curvature radius of 0.25 to 0.75 mm, and the distal end portion 4a of the base plate 4 has a curvature radius of 2.5 to 3.0 mm. It is a substantially semicircular arc surface. Therefore, in the state where the tip 3a of the movable plate 3 is in contact with the back surface of the continuous mount 1, the continuous mount 1 is turned with a curvature radius (first curvature radius) of 0.25 to 0.75 mm. In the state where the tip 4a of the base plate 4 is in contact with the back surface of the continuous mount 1, the continuous mount 1 has a curvature radius (second curvature radius) of 2.5 to 3.0 mm larger than the first curvature radius. Turned around.

  The configuration of the turning means is as described above. According to this turning means, the tip portion 3a of the movable plate 3 is normally in contact with the back surface of the continuous mount 1 as shown in FIG. When passing through 3a, the continuous mount 1 is turned with an extremely small radius of curvature, while the label 2 cannot follow the continuous mount 1 due to its rigidity, but peels off the continuous mount 1 and goes straight. On the other hand, when a defective printing label is detected, the movable plate 3 is retracted, and the leading end 4a of the base plate 4 comes into contact with the back surface of the continuous mount 1 as shown in FIG. Follows the continuous mount 1 that is turned with a large radius of curvature, and is taken up by a take-up roll (not shown) together with the continuous mount 1.

  Moreover, since the turning means moves the movable plate 3 from the direction substantially orthogonal to the back surface of the continuous mount 1 when returning from the state of FIG. 3a does not rub the back surface of the continuous mount 1, so that the problem of the conventional turning means that the back surface of the continuous mount 1 is locally damaged is solved. Therefore, the problem of the conventional turning means such that the continuous mount 1 flutters and the continuous mount 1 meanders and the label 2 cannot be attached to the correct position of the article is solved.

  By the way, as for the label supply apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment, the turning location of the continuous mount 1 is displaced when the movable plate 3 moves in and out. Therefore, it is necessary to perform the advancing operation or the retracting operation of the movable plate 3 in consideration of the displacement amount and the time required for the displacement. If the operation timing is wrong, the proper label is properly separated from the normal label and taken into the continuous mount 1 without being peeled off, or the defective label is peeled off and sent to the sticking process. This is because things that are not performed in the same way can occur. In view of this, the label supply apparatus described below is always fixed without displacing the turning portion, and the sorting control of the regular label and the defective label can be easily performed without considering the displacement amount and the time required for the displacement of the turning portion. The method to become is adopted.

<Second embodiment>
The second embodiment is an embodiment of the second label supply apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3 (a), instead of using a fixed turning member 7 that is well known as a turning means, a dryer 8 that heats the detected defective printing label 2 'to weaken the rigidity of the label (heating) It is a feature that the means) is arranged on the upstream side of the turning member 7.

  Although the continuous mount 1 is intermittently fed, hot air is blown from the dryer 8 in a state where the detected defective label 2 ′ is positioned immediately before the dryer 8, so that the defective label 2 ′ is about 40˜ Heat to 50 ° C. The dryer 8 is preferably provided with a hood that surrounds the defective label 2 'so that hot air does not hit the adjacent regular label 2.

  The heated defective label 2 ′ becomes less rigid due to heating and approaches the rigidity of the continuous mount 1. Therefore, if it is a normal label, it is peeled off from the continuous mount 1 by the turning member 7 due to its own rigidity, but the heated defective label 2 ′ is turned in the same manner as the continuous mount 1, and the continuous mount 1 Without being peeled off, it follows the continuous mount 1 as it is and is wound around the continuous mount 1 on a winding roll (not shown).

<Third embodiment>
The third embodiment is an embodiment of a third label supply apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3 (b), instead of using a fixed turning member 7 known as turning means, an air nozzle 9 (injecting means) for injecting air to the surface side of the detected defective printing label 2 ′. ) Is arranged in the vicinity of the turning member 7.

  Even if it is a defective label 2 ′, it tends to be peeled off from the continuous mount 1 by the turning member 7 due to its own rigidity, but on the surface side of the defective label 2 ′ so as to resist the elastic force based on its own rigidity. High-pressure air is jetted from the air nozzle 9, and the peeling of the defective label 2 'is regulated. Therefore, if it is a normal label, it is peeled off from the continuous mount 1 by the turning member 7 due to its own rigidity, but the defective label 2 ′ in which high-pressure air is jetted along the continuous mount 1 is forced Thus, without being peeled off from the continuous mount 1, it follows the continuous mount 1 as it is and is taken up by a take-up roll (not shown) together with the continuous mount 1.

<Fourth embodiment>
The fourth embodiment is an embodiment of a fourth label supply apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3C, instead of using a fixed turning member 7 that is well known as a turning means, a printing failure that can be moved back and forth on the traveling path of the label 2 at the turning position of the continuous mount 1 and detected. It is characterized in that a shielding plate 10 (route blocking means) that advances with respect to the label 2 ′ is arranged in the vicinity of the turning member 7.

  The shielding plate 10 is connected to the rod of the cylinder 11, and when the cylinder 11 is actuated, the shield plate 10 is moved to a position where the label 2 advances on the traveling path of the label 2 at a turning position of the continuous mount 1 and a position where the shield plate 10 retreats from the position. However, since the label 2 is normally maintained at the retracted position, the label 2 is peeled off from the continuous mount 1 by the turning member 7 due to its own rigidity. However, when the defective label 2 ′ is detected, the shielding plate 10 switches to a position where the shielding plate 10 advances on the traveling path of the label 2 at the turning position of the continuous mount 1, and the shielding plate 10 regulates the peeling of the defective label 2 ′. .

  In addition, the shielding plate 10 is curved along the direction of turning of the continuous mount 1 and has the effect of causing the defective label 2 ′ to follow the turned continuous mount 1. Therefore, in the case of a normal label, the turning member 7 peels off the continuous mount 1 due to its own rigidity, but the path is blocked by the shielding plate 10 and is guided along the continuous mount 1. The label 2 ′ is forcibly turned and follows the continuous mount 1 as it is without being peeled off from the continuous mount 1, and is taken up by a winding roll (not shown) together with the continuous mount 1.

It is a side view of the turning means of the label supply apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment, Comprising: (a) is a normal state, (b) shows the state which removes the label of a printing defect before sticking articles | goods. The perspective view of the turning means which concerns on the same embodiment is shown. (A) is a schematic side view of a label supply device according to the second embodiment, (B) is a schematic side view of a label supply device according to the third embodiment, and (C) is a label supply device according to the fourth embodiment. A schematic side view is shown. It is a schematic side view of the conventional label supply apparatus, (A) is a normal state, (B) shows the state which removes the label of defective printing before sticking an article.

Explanation of symbols

1 continuous mount 2 label 2 'defective label 3 movable plate (first turning member)
3a Tip 4 Base plate (second turning member)
4a tip 4b slit 5 cylinder (driving means)
7 Turning member 8 Dryer (heating means)
9 Air nozzle (fluid injection means)
10 Shielding plate (route blocking means, guide means)

Claims (3)

In a label supply apparatus comprising a conveying means for sending a continuous mount on which a plurality of labels are affixed at regular intervals, a detecting means for detecting a defective label, and a turning means for turning the continuous mount,
A label supply apparatus comprising heating means for heating a detected defective label so as to weaken the rigidity of the label on the upstream side of the turning means. The label supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a fluid ejecting unit that ejects fluid toward the surface of the detected defective label in the vicinity of the turning unit . The label supply device according to claim 1, further comprising: a path blocking unit that is movable in and out of a traveling path of the label and that moves forward with respect to the detected defective label in the vicinity of the turning unit .