JP4493768B2 - Label transfer device and label transfer method for label sticking machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a label transfer device and a label transfer method of a label applicator, and in particular, a strip-like continuous body such as a label without a mount is cut at a predetermined pitch to form a label piece, which is used for goods and other articles being conveyed. The present invention relates to a label transfer device and a label transfer method of a label applicator for attaching the label pieces.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The conventional label sticking machine 1 will be outlined with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a main part of the label applicator 1, and the label applicator 1 includes a label printing unit 2, a label peeling unit 3, and an article conveying unit 4.
[0003]
The label printing means 2 prints on a strip-shaped continuous label body 5, and the label continuous body 5 has a strip-shaped mount 6 and a plurality of label pieces 7 temporarily attached on the mount 6. The label printing means 2 has, for example, a thermal head 8 and a platen roller 9 and transfers the label continuum 5 between them and prints a predetermined content on the label piece 7.
[0004]
The label peeling means 3 has a peeling plate 10, turns only the mount 6 at the part of the peeling plate 10, and feeds the label piece 7 toward the label applying portion 11 in the article transport means 4.
[0005]
The article conveying means 4 has a front conveyor belt 12 and a rear conveyor belt 13 on which an article M can be conveyed. The front conveyor belt 12 is hung on a pair of front rollers 14 and 15, and the rear conveyor belt 13 is hung on a pair of rear rollers 16 and 17, and between them (between the front rollers 15 and the rear rollers 16). The label sticking portion 11 is formed with an interval that allows the label piece 7 to pass therethrough.
[0006]
In the label sticking machine 1 having such a configuration, the label piece 7 printed by the printing by the label printing means 2 and the peeling by the label peeling means 3 is positioned in the label sticking section 11 and is transported to the label sticking section 11 by the article transporting means 4. The label piece 7 can be affixed to the bottom surface of the article M that has been provided.
[0007]
However, when the pitch of the label pieces 7 differs depending on the respective label continuums 5, the relative position and further the attitude or posture of the label pieces 7 facing the label attaching portion 11 change. There is a problem in that it is necessary to move the peeling means 3 relative to the label attaching portion 11.
In order to solve such a problem, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-49127, a label affixing means in which a label transfer means (not shown) is separately provided between the label peeling means 3 and the label affixing part 11 There is a machine.
[0008]
Therefore, as the label continuous body, a plurality of label pieces 7 are prepared in advance as in the label continuous body 5 shown in FIG. There is also a label continuum (commonly known as “no-mounting label”) in which only the label pieces 7 are continuously formed in a band shape. Alternatively, in the case of a continuous structure without being formed as a plurality of label pieces 7 even though it is a two-layer structure like the label continuous body 5, in order to form the label pieces 7 of a predetermined pitch, Requires label cutting means. Accordingly, a label transfer means for transferring a label continuous body, such as a label without a mount, which is printed by the label printing means, toward the label applying portion, and for transferring a label piece cut by the label cutting means to the label applying portion. In the case of a label affixing machine having, there are the following problems.
[0009]
That is, for example, in a label applicator using a label without a mount and provided with a label cutting means, the printing speed of the label printing means 2 for performing label printing is 125 mm / sec (7.5 m / min) even if it is fast. . On the other hand, the conveyance speed (that is, the pasting speed) of the article conveyance means 4 that conveys the article M when the label M is stuck on the article M while the article M is placed on the article conveyance means 4 and continuously conveyed is 18. Most of them are ˜25 m / min, which is relatively high with respect to the printing speed.
That is, the label transfer means can hold the printed label piece 7 in order to eliminate the gap between the label printing speed by the label printing means 2 and the conveyance speed of the article M by the article conveying means 4. There is a problem that it is necessary to have a buffer function.
This label transfer means receives the label continuum during the printing operation and can hold the label piece 7 after the printing is completed, and transfers it in the direction of the label sticking portion 11 to prepare for the sticking of the article M.
[0010]
For example, when a label transfer means having the same transfer speed as the transfer speed of the article M is provided, the printed label continuous body 5 enters the inside of the label transfer means from the tip of the label continuous body 5 during the printing operation. However, due to the difference between the printing speed and the transport speed (conveyance speed), the label is transported to the label transport means side. In particular, the label cutting means is not capable of cutting simultaneously in the width direction of the label continuous body 5 at the same time. In practice, most of the configurations are difficult, that is, a structure in which the label continuous body 5 is gradually cut from one end to the other end (rotary cutter method), or a structure in which both ends are cut inward (flat blade method). Therefore, when cutting the continuous label body 5 in which a large speed difference is generated in the portion of the label cutting means, the portion to be cut last is torn off. Ri, there is a problem that detract from the appearance of the label piece 7.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been considered in view of the above problems, and a label transfer device and a label transfer method of a label applicator suitable for attaching a label piece to an article after cutting a continuous label by a label cutting means. It is an issue to provide.
[0012]
Moreover, this invention makes it a subject to provide the label transfer apparatus and label transfer method of a label sticking machine suitable especially when using a label without mount.
[0013]
In addition, the present invention provides a label transfer device and a label transfer method for a label sticking machine that can improve the printing state on a label piece and the cutting state of an end portion or an arbitrary portion in the width direction at the time of cutting. This is the issue.
[0014]
The present invention also provides a label transfer device and a label transfer method for a label applicator that can smoothly transfer a strip-like continuous label as a single-leaf label piece regardless of the configuration of the label cutting means. This is the issue.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, the present invention controls the transfer of the label pieces in synchronization with the conveyance of the article by the article conveyance means, and stops the transfer of the label continuous body by the label transfer means when the label continuous body is cut by the label cutting means. The first invention is a label printing means for printing on a continuous strip of label, a label cutting means for cutting a printed label continuous body into label pieces of a predetermined pitch, and a label attached by being cut. A label having an article conveying means for conveying an article to which the label piece transferred to the section is stuck to the label attaching section, and a control means for controlling the article conveying means, the label cutting means, and the label printing means. A label transfer device of a sticking machine, wherein the label continuous body printed by the label printing means is transported toward the label sticking portion. Moni, has a label transfer means for transferring the label pieces cut by the label cutting means to said label sticking section, wherein, during the printing operation on the label strip by said printing means, said label The label transfer means is operated so as to slide the continuum, and when the label continuous body is cut by the label cutting means, the transfer of the label continuous body by the label transfer means is stopped. The label is transferred to the label applying part to be waited by re-driving the means, and when the article is conveyed to the label attaching part by the article conveying means, the label transferring means is driven again. The label transfer device of the label applicator is characterized by being controlled as described above.
[0016]
The second invention is a label printing means for printing on a belt-like label continuous body, a label cutting means for cutting the printed label continuous body into label pieces of a predetermined pitch, and the sheet is cut and transferred to a label applying portion. Label transport of a label applicator having an article transporting means for transporting an article to which the label piece is pasted to the label sticking unit, and a control means for controlling the article transporting means, the label cutting means and the label printing means In the method, the label continuous body printed by the label printing means is transported so as to slide the label continuous body toward the label attaching portion, and the label pieces cut by the label cutting means are A label transfer means for transferring the label to the label affixing section is provided, and this label transfer is performed as the label printing means prints on the label continuous body. When the label continuous body is transferred by a predetermined pitch by means, the transfer is stopped, and the label continuous body is cut by the label cutting means to create the label piece, and the cut label piece is transferred to the label When the article has been transported to the label sticking part by the article transport means, the label sticking part is placed on the label sticking part by the label transport means. It is a label transfer method of the label sticking machine characterized by transporting toward the said goods from.
[0017]
The label transfer means includes a first transfer roller provided on the downstream side of the label cutting means, a second transfer roller provided on the upstream side of the label sticking unit, the first transfer roller and the second transfer roller. And a label transfer belt which is hung between transfer rollers and capable of transferring the label pieces to the label attaching portion.
[0018]
The label transfer means may have a label detection sensor capable of detecting the cut label piece.
[0019]
The label transfer means can transfer the label pieces toward the label applying portion at the same transfer speed as the article transfer speed (sticking speed) by the article transfer means.
[0020]
In the label transfer device and the label transfer method of the label applicator according to the present invention, the label transfer means can mediate between the label printing means and the label attaching portion, and the label is cut when the label continuous body is cut by the label cutting means. Since the transfer of the label continuum by the transfer means is stopped, it is possible to cut the label continuum appropriately and smoothly, and the appearance and print state of the cut end when it is used as a label piece are good. It can be.
The label piece transferred to the label affixing section by the label transfer means is temporarily retained here, and the label transfer means is driven again by detecting the flow of the article in the article transport means by an article detection sensor or the like. Then, it can merge with the article and affix to it.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, a label applicator equipped with a label transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 together with the label transfer method. However, the same parts as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 1 is a side view of the main part of a label applicator 20, which cuts a strip-like non-mounting label 21 (label continuous body) and applies it to an article M as a single-leaf label piece 22. FIG. The label printing unit 2, the label cutting unit 23, the label transfer unit 24, the article transport unit 4, and the control unit 25.
[0022]
The label cutting means 23 includes a flat blade type cutter body 28 having a fixed blade 26 and a movable blade 27, and a cutting motor 29. The mountless label 21 is passed through the fixed blade 26 and the movable blade 27 by a predetermined length, and the movable blade 27 is operated to make the mountless label 21 a label piece 22. The label cutting means 23 may be a rotary type other than the flat blade type.
[0023]
The label transfer unit 24 includes a transfer motor 30, a first transfer roller 31 provided on the downstream side of the label cutting unit 23, a second transfer roller 32 provided on the upstream side of the label attaching unit 11, and these A label transfer belt 33 that can be hung between the first transfer roller 31 and the second transfer roller 32 and can transfer the label piece 22 to the label applying portion 11, and the label piece 22 along the label transfer belt 33. A holding plate spring 34 that can be held and guided, and a label detection sensor 35 that can detect the label piece 22 (the front end portion and the rear end portion thereof).
The label transfer belt 33 is made of silicon rubber or the like as a material thereof, and is configured such that the label piece 22 can be temporarily attached and can be peeled off.
[0024]
Since the transfer motor 30 needs to stop the transfer instantly, a transfer motor 30 having good control performance such as a stepping motor is preferable.
The label detection sensor 35 determines the fixed position of the label piece 22 to the label sticking part 11 by the label transfer means 24.
The distance from the position of the cutter main body 28 to the label detection sensor 35 is preferably equal to or larger than the maximum size of the label piece 22 by the non-mounting label 21 loaded in the label applicator 20.
[0025]
The label transfer unit 24 transfers the label piece 22 toward the label applying unit 11 at a certain transfer rate that is the same as the transfer rate (attachment rate) of the article M by the article transfer unit 4. This transfer speed can be switched between two or more speeds such as 21 m / min and 25 m / min according to the transport speed.
[0026]
The article conveying means 4 includes an article detection sensor 36 that detects the article M conveyed on the preceding conveyor belt 12.
[0027]
The control means 25 includes label printing means 2 (thermal head 8, platen roller 9 platen motor 37), label cutting means 23 (cutting motor 29), label transfer means 24 (transfer motor 30), and article conveying means. 4 etc. are controlled.
That is, the control unit 25 stops the transfer of the non-mounting label 21 by the label transfer unit 24 when the label cutting unit 23 cuts the label 21 without the mount, and re-drives the label transfer unit 24 when the cutting is finished to apply the label. The label piece 22 is transported to the part 11 and stays or waits there, and when the article M is transported to the label applying part 11 by the article transporting means 4, the label transporting means 24 is controlled to be driven again.
[0028]
The label transfer device 38 and the control means 25 as described above constitute a label transfer device 38 according to the present invention.
[0029]
In the label sticking machine 20 and the label transfer device 38 having such a configuration, printing, cutting, transfer and sticking are performed as shown in the flowchart of the operation shown in FIG.
First, in step S1 in FIG. 2, initial setting is performed. In step S2, it is determined whether or not print data has been input. If input has been completed, printing is started in the label printing means 2 (step S3).
[0030]
Simultaneously with the start of printing on the label continuum 21, the rotation of the label transfer belt 33 in the label transfer means 24 is turned “on” (step S 4). To be held on the label transfer belt 33. Since the label transfer belt 33 rotates at the same transfer speed as the transfer speed (sticking speed) in the article transfer means 4, the label continuous body 21 slides on the label transfer belt 33 during this printing operation. Proceed in the direction of part 11.
[0031]
After the printing is completed (step S5), the rotation of the label transfer belt 33 by the label transfer means 24 is set to “off” and the transfer is stopped (step S6).
With the transfer of the non-mounting label 21 stopped, the cutting operation of the non-mounting label 21 by the label cutting means 23 is started (step S7).
This transfer stop time is the same as the cut operation time (about 0.15 seconds).
This cutting operation time is regulated by a timer (not shown) of the control means 25. After the time is up, the label transfer belt 33 is driven again in step S8, and the label piece 22 is affixed on the label transfer belt 33. It moves toward the part 11 direction. When the label detection sensor 35 detects the leading end of the label piece 22 (step S9), the label transfer belt 33 is stopped and the label piece 22 is put on standby at this position (step S10).
[0032]
When the article detection sensor 36 of the article conveying means 4 is turned “ON” and the article M on the preceding conveyor belt 12 has been conveyed to a predetermined position (step S11), the label is transferred by the sticking start signal from the control means 25. The belt 33 is driven again (step S12), the label piece 22 is protruded from the label attaching portion 11, and the label piece 22 can be attached to the back surface of the article M.
[0033]
When the label detection sensor 35 is turned “OFF” and the passage of the rear end of the label piece 22 is detected (step S13), the process returns to step S2 to determine whether or not the print data has been input. Then, the label printing unit 2 starts printing the label 21 without mount (step S3), and repeats the above-described cycle.
If the label detection sensor 35 cannot detect the passage of the rear end portion of the label piece 22 in step S13, the process proceeds to a warning or a pasting other subroutine.
[0034]
The label transfer device according to the present invention is not limited to the case where the label piece 22 is attached to the bottom surface of the article M as described above, but the label printing means 2, the label cutting means 23, the label transfer means 24, etc. By being provided on the side, the present invention can also be applied when pasting on the upper surface of the article M.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the label continuous body is temporarily stopped by the label transfer means during the cutting operation of the label continuous body by the label cutting means, and the transfer is started again after the end of the cut. The appearance and the printed state are not impaired.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of an essential part of a label applicator 20 equipped with a label transfer device 38 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a main part of a conventional label applicator 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Labeling machine (Fig. 3)
2 Label printing means 3 Label peeling means 4 Article conveying means 5 Strip-shaped label continuous body 6 Strip-shaped backing sheet 7 Multiple label pieces 8 Thermal head 9 Platen roller 10 Release plate 11 Label attaching section 12 Pre-stage conveyor belt 13 Post-stage conveyor belt 14 Pre-stage roller 15 Pre-stage roller 16 Sub-stage roller 17 Sub-stage roller 20 Labeling machine (FIG. 1)
21 Label without mount (continuous strip of labels)
22 Single-leaf label piece 23 Label cutting means 24 Label transfer means 25 Control means 26 Fixed blade 27 of cutter body 28 Movable blade 28 of cutter body 28 Cutter body 29 Cutting motor 30 Transfer motor 31 First transfer roller 32 Second Transfer roller 33 Label transfer belt 34 Presser leaf spring 35 Label detection sensor 36 Article detection sensor 37 Platen motor 38 Label transfer device of label sticking machine 20 (embodiment, FIG. 1)
M goods

Claims (5)

Label printing means for printing on a continuous strip of label,
Label cutting means for cutting the printed label continuous body into label pieces of a predetermined pitch;
Article conveying means for conveying an article to which the label piece, which has been cut and transferred to the label affixing part, is affixed to the label affixing part,
A label transfer device of a label applicator having the article conveying means, the label cutting means and the control means for controlling the label printing means,
The label continuum printed by the label printing means is transferred toward the label sticking portion, and has a label transfer means for transferring the label piece cut by the label cutting means to the label sticking portion,
The control means includes
During the printing operation on the label continuum by the printing means, the label transfer means is operated to slide the label continuum,
When the label continuous body is cut by the label cutting means, the transfer of the label continuous body by the label transfer means is stopped, and when the cutting is completed, the label transfer means is re-driven to the label applying portion. The label sticker is controlled so as to be driven again when the article is transported to the label sticking section by the article transporting means. Transfer device.   The label transfer means includes a first transfer roller provided on the downstream side of the label cutting means, a second transfer roller provided on the upstream side of the label sticking unit, the first transfer roller and the second transfer roller. The label transfer device for a label applicator according to claim 1, further comprising a label transfer belt that is hung between a transfer roller and capable of transferring the label piece to the label applicator.   The label transfer device of a label applicator according to claim 1, wherein the label transfer means includes a label detection sensor capable of detecting the cut label piece.   2. The label transfer of a label applicator according to claim 1, wherein the label transfer means transfers the label pieces toward the label applying section at the same transfer speed as the article transfer speed by the article transfer means. apparatus. Label printing means for printing on a continuous strip of label,
Label cutting means for cutting the printed label continuous body into label pieces of a predetermined pitch;
Article conveying means for conveying an article to be affixed with the label piece cut and transferred to the label affixing unit to the label affixing unit;
A label transfer method for a label applicator having the article conveying means, the label cutting means and the control means for controlling the label printing means,
The label continuous body printed by the label printing means is transferred so as to slide the label continuous body toward the label applying portion, and the label piece cut by the label cutting means is transferred to the label applying portion. Providing a label transfer means,
When the label continuum is transferred by a predetermined pitch by the label transfer means along with printing on the label continuum by the label printing means, the transfer is stopped and the label continuum is cut by the label cutting means. Create the label piece,
The cut label piece is transferred to the label applying part by the label transfer means and waited,
When the article has been transported to the label attaching part by the article transporting means, the waiting label piece is transferred from the label attaching part to the article by the label transporting means. Label transfer method for label applicator.

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