JP4769071B2 - Labeling device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a label affixing device that affixes a label attached with a so-called RFID tag having an IC chip for storing various information to an article.

In recent years, RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tags comprising an IC chip for storing various information and a communication antenna connected to the IC chip are attached to labels attached to various articles, and the RFID tag is attached to the RFID chip. A technique for using wireless and non-contact automatic identification is widely used.
FIG. 15 shows a label L to which an RFID tag T is attached. The label L includes a display layer U and an adhesive layer B, and the RFID tag T is attached to the back surface of the display layer U. It is temporarily attached to.
The RFID tag T is composed of an IC chip Ta and a communication antenna Tb, and is protected by a film layer P covering the whole.
As such a label sticking device for sticking the label L with the RFID tag T attached to an article, for example, one previously proposed by the applicant of the present application is known (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-104521). Published). This is because the label L is transported in a temporarily attached state on the mount D, and the label L peeled off from the mount D is sucked by a suction plate at a predetermined suction position, and the label L sucked by the suction plate is placed at a predetermined sticking position. It is affixed to an article.

JP-A-2005-104521

  By the way, in the label L stuck by such a conventional label sticking apparatus, although it changes also with frequencies, especially in the RFID tag T of UHF band, the material and contents of the article which sticks the label L inhibit electromagnetic waves. If the product contains a liquid such as metal or water, the electromagnetic wave is absorbed by the product due to the influence of the liquid such as metal or water of the product, or the electromagnetic wave is disturbed by irregular reflection, so that the information on the IC chip Ta There is a problem that reading / writing may not be possible with a reader / writer.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. A part of a label provided with an RFID tag is protruded and attached to an article in a mountain shape, and the RFID tag is separated from the article. It is an object of the present invention to provide a label sticking device that can reduce the influence from an article to which a tag is attached, and thus can ensure stable reading and writing of data.

  Therefore, the label sticking device of the present invention is a label sticking device for sticking a label, to which an RFID tag comprising an IC chip and a communication antenna is attached, to an article, including the tag attaching portion to which the RFID tag of the label is attached. A part of the label is folded in a chevron shape from the back side to the front side to form a bent portion having one side surface and the other side surface each having a bent portion formed at the top, and the bent portion. A bending sticking means for sticking a label formed with an article to the article, wherein the bending sticking means is adjacent to a part of the label, adsorbing one side part adjacent to the part of the label; An adsorbing plate that holds the surface side of the label by an other side that adsorbs the other side, and an intermediate that is provided between the one side and the other side and adsorbs a part of the label; and the adsorbing plate The intermediate of The suction surface of the one side body, the suction surface of the intermediate body, and the suction surface of the other side body are continuously arranged in a plane, and moved to two positions: a planar position where the label is attracted and a retreat position where the label is retracted. An intermediate body drive unit for causing the other side body of the suction plate to be at a planar position of the intermediate body and spaced apart from the one side body, and at a retracted position of the intermediate body. Another side body drive unit that moves the joint body to two positions adjacent to the one side body, and the other side body drive unit moves the other side body from the separated position to the joint position. The bent portion is formed on the label at the opposite end surfaces of the one side body and the other side body.

According to the above invention, when the suction plate sucks the label, the intermediate body drive unit moves the intermediate body from the planar position to the retracted position, and the other side body drive unit moves the other side body from the separated position to the joining position. Let Thereby, a space is formed between the other side body and the one side body, and the one side body and the other side body adsorb and hold the both ends of the label in the conveyance direction by moving the other side body to the joining position. However, the bent portion is formed by pressing the bent portion on the one side surface and the bent portion on the other side surface in the direction in which the back surfaces of the one side surface and the other side surface approach each other.
Thereafter, the label on which the bent portion is formed is stuck on the article by the bending sticking means. Therefore, a part of the label attached with the RFID tag can be projected in a mountain shape with respect to the article, and the RFID tag can be separated from the article, so that the material and contents of the article with the RFID tag attached can be changed. In the case of a liquid such as metal or water, the influence can be reduced, so that information can be reliably transmitted and received.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the intermediate body is moved from the planar position to the retracted position by the intermediate body drive unit, and the joining from the separated position of the other side body by the other side body drive unit. A drive control unit is provided for performing the movement to the position in synchronization.
As a result, the folding part is formed by moving the other side in close proximity to the intermediate body in reverse movement, so that the formation time of the bending part is extremely short, so the labeling time is reduced. It can be shortened and the application efficiency is improved. That is, when the intermediate body is not provided, when the suction plate sucks the label, the other side body is once separated from the one side body and protrudes from the back side to the front side between the one side body and the other side body. Form a space in which a part of the label can enter, and then move the other side body to the crocodile and press the curved part on one side and the curved part on the other side to form a folded part . In the absence of this intermediate, the other side body must be separated from the one side body once after the label is adsorbed, so that it takes time to move, so the folding time per cycle increases. Compared with this, in the present invention, the other side body does not have to be once separated from the one side body after the label is adsorbed. Therefore, the folding time is shortened and the sticking efficiency is improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the intermediate body and the other side body can move in synchronization with each other between adjacent end surfaces of the intermediate body at the planar position and the other side body at the separated position. The intermediate body and the other side body are inclined with respect to the adsorption surfaces.
This prevents the intermediate body and the other side body from interfering with each other when the intermediate body is moved backward and the other side body is moved in close proximity to the intermediate body. Can be made.

  According to invention of Claim 4, the said label is provided with the one side part adjacent to a part of said label, and the other side part adjacent to a part of said label, The length Fa of the said one side part and the said The relationship between the length Fb of the other side portion is Fa ≦ Fb, and the other side portion is set to various lengths and configured as a main display portion capable of performing main display. And a label transporting means for transporting the label with the other side being forward in the transport direction, and fixing the one side body to a length corresponding to the length Fa of the one side part. The other side body is provided on the base so as to be set to a length corresponding to the difference in the plurality of types of lengths Fb of the other side portion.

According to the above-described invention, the one side body is set to a length corresponding to the length Fa of the one side portion and fixed to the base, and the other side body is set to a difference between the plurality of types of lengths Fb of the other side portion. Since the length is set to be compatible and provided on the base, the length Fa on the one side is the same, but when attaching another type of label with a different length Fb on the other side, the previous label In the case of a label having a slightly shorter length, the other side body can be used as it is without any particular replacement. In this case, since the rear end in the transport direction of the label is located at the rear end in the transport direction of the one side body, the positional relationship of a part of the label to be bent with respect to the suction plate is not shifted. The label can be adsorbed and bent.
As a result, it is possible to easily apply a plurality of types of labels having different lengths using one model, that is, it is possible to easily cope with the label size, thereby facilitating design changes and device settings. And versatility can be greatly improved.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, a plurality of types of other side bodies having different lengths are prepared as the other side body, and the plurality of types of other side bodies can be replaced with the base.
According to this, when applying a label whose length is significantly shorter than the previous label, or when applying a label whose length is longer than the previous label, match this short label or long label. Replace with the other body prepared in advance. In this exchange, it is only necessary to exchange the other side body, and therefore, the operation is very easily performed as compared with the case where the setting of all the suction plates must be changed. And like the above, a label can be adsorbed and affixed.
As a result, it is possible to easily apply a plurality of types of labels having different lengths using one model, that is, it is possible to easily cope with the label size, thereby facilitating design changes and device settings. And versatility can be greatly improved.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the folding sticking means includes folding assisting means for assisting in folding a part of the label from the back side to the front side in a mountain shape. In this case, since the folding assisting means assists in folding a part of the label, the part of the label is surely folded into a chevron.

According to invention of Claim 7, the said label sticking apparatus drives the said bending sticking means, and the bending control means which controls whether a part of said label is folded in a mountain shape from the back surface side to the surface side. It is characterized by comprising. As a result, the shape of the label to which the RFID tag is attached (applied in a flat shape or folded in a chevron shape) can be changed according to the type of label to be attached and the information stored in the IC chip in the RFID tag. Can be used more widely.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the bending sticking means includes a moving means for moving the suction plate to two positions: a suction position where the suction plate sucks the label and a sticking position where the sucked label is stuck to the article. It is characterized by having.

According to the label sticking device of the present invention, the folding sticking means can stick a part of the label attached with the RFID tag so as to protrude in a mountain shape with respect to the article, and the RFID tag can be separated from the article. When the material or contents of the article to which the RFID tag is attached is a metal or liquid, the influence can be reduced, so that information can be transmitted and received reliably.
When the other side body is moved in close proximity to the intermediate body in reverse movement when the bent portion is bent, the time required for forming the bent portion is extremely short. Time can be shortened and sticking efficiency can be improved.

  In addition, the length of one side body is set to a length corresponding to the length Fa of one side portion and fixed to the base, and the other side body is a length that can correspond to the difference of the plurality of types of lengths Fb of the other side portion. When the base is provided and the base has the same length Fa on one side, it is easy to attach another type of label having a different length Fb on the other side. Multiple types of labels with different lengths can be easily affixed using a single model, that is, it can be easily adapted to the label size, so that design changes and device settings can be facilitated, The versatility can be greatly improved.

Hereinafter, based on an accompanying drawing, a label sticking device concerning an embodiment of the invention is explained in detail.
First, the target label in the label sticking apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 will be described. FIG. 4, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 show an example of a label L targeted by this label sticking apparatus.

  The tag attachment site 1 to which the RFID tag T of the label L shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 is attached has a predetermined lateral width Ha in the carrying direction R of the mount D and a direction orthogonal to the carrying direction R of the mount D. This is a rectangular area having a predetermined vertical width Hb extending between a pair of sides of the label L facing.

  The label L in a state of being affixed to the article W is such that a part 2 of the label L including the tag attaching portion 1 to which the RFID tag T of the label L is attached is from the back side (adhesive layer B side) to the front side (display). The bent portion M is bent to the side of the layer U, protruded in a mountain shape, and formed into a bent portion M having one side surface 3 and the other side surface 4 each having a bent portion 7 formed with the top portion 6 as a boundary. Moreover, the tag attachment site | part 1 comprises either the one side surface 3 and the other side surface 4 which are formed on the boundary of the top part 6 of the part 2 of the label L protruded in the mountain shape (one side surface 3 in the figure). . The other side surface 4 is a rectangular area having a size corresponding to the tag-attached portion 1, and is opposed to a predetermined lateral width Ha in the transport direction R of the mount D in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction R of the mount D. It has a predetermined vertical width Hb extending between a pair of sides of the label L. Reference numeral 8 in the figure denotes a sticking surface on which the label L projected in a mountain shape is stuck to the article W.

The label L shown in FIG. 13 has a part 2 of the label L including the tag attaching part 1 to which the RFID tag T is attached in the middle part, the one side part 3a adjacent to the part 2 of the label L, and the label L The other side portion 4a adjacent to the part 2 is provided, and the relationship between the length Fa of the one side portion 3a and the length Fb of the other side portion 4a is Fa ≦ Fb. It is configured as a main display section which is set to a length and can perform main display by printing or the like. That is, the other side portion 4a has different lengths depending on the amount of the display information, etc., and therefore, the one side portion has the same length Fa, but the other side portion 4a has a different length Fb. L exists.
Then, in a state where the part 2 of the label L is bent from the back side to the front side, protruded in a chevron shape and formed in the bent part M, the label L is attached to both sides of the part 2 of the label L. Surface 8 is formed.

  The label L shown in FIG. 14 is substantially the same as the label L shown in FIG. 13. However, in the part 2 of the label L projected in a chevron, the perforations 5 are formed in the top part 6 and the curved part 7 that are bent in the chevron. Is formed. Since the perforation 5 is formed, bending can be facilitated.

Although the RFID tag T of the label L shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 has been described using the one attached to the adhesive layer B, the present invention is not limited to this, and the RFID tag T is connected to the display layer U. It may be provided between the adhesive layers B or on the lower surface (mounting paper D side) of the adhesive layer B, and may also be provided on the surface of the display layer U (the surface opposite to the surface in contact with the adhesive layer B). There is an effect.
However, by covering the tag attachment site 1 with the display layer U and the adhesive layer B of the label L to form a double structure, the strength of this portion can be increased and the RFID tag T can be prevented from being easily damaged. It is desirable to attach the label L including the tag attachment site 1 to which the RFID tag T is attached to the inside (on the adhesive layer B side) of the one side surface 3 or the other side surface 4 of the part 2 of the label L.

1 to 3 and 5 show a label sticking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 4, 13 and 14, the label L targeted by the label sticking apparatus according to this embodiment is basically a part 2 of the label L including the tag attachment portion 1 is a label. It is formed in the middle part of L.
The label sticking apparatus 100 according to the embodiment sticks a label L to an article W that is transported along a predetermined transport direction by a conveyor C.
The label sticking device 100 includes a label transport means 10 and a bending sticking means 20.

The label conveying means 10 conveys the label L with the other side part 4a being forward in the conveying direction. As shown in FIG. 2A, the label conveying means 10 peels off the label L from the mount D, and the label L Is composed of a sensor 12 for detecting that the toner is conveyed to a predetermined position and a reader / writer 13 for rewriting data to the IC chip Ta of the RFID tag T, and a label L sent from a roll (not shown) is temporarily attached. The board D is conveyed and folded back by the peeling plate 11 to peel off the label L. The folded mount D is wound around a reel (not shown). Reference numeral 14 is an air nozzle for pressing the rear end of the label L in the conveying direction against the suction plate 21 to prevent the label L from falling. In a state where the label L is peeled off from the mount D, the position of the rear end in the transport direction of the label L is substantially uniquely positioned at a position corresponding to the rear end of the suction plate 21 described later.
As the label L is transported, the sensor 12 measures the timing for operating the bending sticking means 20 based on the detection of the label L, and the reader / writer 13 rewrites the data to the IC chip Ta of the RFID tag T. And verifying by writing and reading information.

  The bending sticking means 20 includes a suction plate 21, and the suction plate 21 includes a part 2 of the label L including the tag attachment site 1 to which the RFID tag T of the label L peeled off by the release plate 11 is attached. Adsorbs the front side of the label L so that it can protrude from the back side to the front side. The suction plate 21 is provided with a plurality of small holes 21a for sucking air for sucking the surface of the label L.

The suction plate 21 is provided on one side 22 adsorbing the one side 3 a adjacent to the part 2 of the label L, and one side adjacent to the part 2 of the label L so as to be able to move close to the one side 22. The other side body 23 which adsorb | sucks the part 4a, and the intermediate body 24 which is provided between the one side body 22 and the other side body 23 and adsorbs the part 2 of the label L are comprised.
The one side body 22 is fixed to the base 25 via a support member 26. The intermediate body 24 includes a planar position H where the suction surface of the one side body 22, the suction surface of the intermediate body 24, and the suction surface of the other side body 23 are continuously arranged in a planar shape, and a retreat retracted from the planar position H. It is provided on the base 25 so as to be movable in two positions with respect to the position J. The other side body 23 has a separation position V that is a planar position H of the intermediate body 24 and is separated from the one side body 22, and a retreat position J of the intermediate body 24 that is close to the one side body 22. The bent portion M is provided on the base 25 so as to be movable to two positions S, and the bent portion M is formed by the end surfaces 22a and 23a of the one side body 22 and the other side body 23 facing each other by the movement from the separation position V to the joining position S. To form.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the one side body 22 is set to a length Ga corresponding to the length Fa of the one side portion 3 a of the label L, and is fixed to the base 25 via the support member 26. Yes.
The other side body 23 is set to a length Gb that can correspond to a plurality of types of lengths Fb of the other side portion 4a of the label L, and can be moved to two positions of a separation position V and a joining position S. 27 is provided on the base 25 via That is, the relationship between the length Ga of the one side body 22 and the length Gb of the other side body 23 is Ga ≦ Gb. A roller 28 protrudes from a side portion of the other side body 23, and a guide hole 29 that guides the roller 28 so as to roll is formed in the support member 27. In the separated position V, a space e is formed between the one side body 22 and the other side body 23 in which a part 2 of the label L protruding from the back surface side to the front surface side can enter. The body 22 and the other side body 23 hold the both ends of the label L in the conveying direction R by suction.
In the embodiment, a plurality of types of other side bodies 23 having different lengths Gb are prepared as the other side body 23, and a support member 27 is prepared according to the other side body 23, and the other side body 23 and the support member are also prepared. 27 is attached to the base 25 in a replaceable manner with screws 25a.

  Further, the bending sticking means 20 includes an other side body drive unit 30 that moves the other side body 23. The other-side body drive unit 30 is composed of an air cylinder device 31 that is positioned at the joining position S when advanced and positioned at the separation position V when retracted. The air cylinder device 31 includes a double piston 33 attached to the attachment member 32 on the back surface of the other side body 23 and a cylinder 34 fixed to the base 25.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate body 24 is provided on the base 25 via the support member 27 so as to be movable to two positions of a planar position H and a retracted position J. A roller 28a protrudes from the side of the intermediate body 24, and a guide hole 29a is formed in the support member 27 so as to guide the roller 28a so that it can roll.

  Further, the bending sticking means 20 includes an intermediate body drive unit 36 that moves the intermediate body 24. The intermediate body drive unit 36 includes an air cylinder device 37, and the air cylinder device 37 includes a double piston 38 attached to the support member 27 of the other side body 23 and a cylinder 39 fixed to the base 25. Yes.

  In addition, the apparatus moves the intermediate body 24 from the planar position H to the retracted position J by the intermediate body driving unit 36 and moves the other side body 23 from the separation position V to the joining position S by the other side body driving unit 30. A drive control unit is provided for synchronizing the movement. The function of the drive control unit is realized by a function of a CPU 80 and the like which will be described later.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate body 24 and the other side body 23 move in synchronization with each other on the adjacent end surfaces 24 a and 23 a of the intermediate body 24 in the planar position H and the other side body 23 in the separated position V. The intermediate body 24 and the other side body 23 are formed so as to be inclined with respect to each other and are joined to each other.

Furthermore, the bending sticking means 20 moves the suction plate 21 to two positions: a suction position X for sucking the label L peeled by the peeling plate 11 and a sticking position Y for sticking the sucked label L to the article W. Moving means 40 is provided.
The moving means 40 includes an air cylinder device 43 including a piston 41 to which the base 25 is attached and a cylinder 42 on the machine base (not shown) side. Reference numeral 44 is a support plate provided at the tip of the piston 41, and reference numeral 45 is a plurality of coil springs provided between the support plate 44 and the base 25 to absorb the impact at the attaching position.

Further, the folding sticking means 20 includes folding assisting means 50 that assists the part 2 of the label L protruding from the back surface side to the front surface side between the one side body 22 and the other side body 23. .
The folding assisting means 50 blows air from the back side (adhesive layer B side) to the part 2 of the label L, and an air blowing nozzle 51 that folds the part 2 of the label L to the front side by this air blowing force. It has. A part 2 of the label L is bent by an air blowing nozzle 51 and an air cylinder device 31 (driving means), and a bent part having one side 3 and the other side 4 each having a bent part 7 formed with the top 6 as a boundary. Since M is formed, the bending is reliably performed.

FIG. 5 is a circuit configuration diagram of the label sticking device according to the embodiment.
The label affixing device 100 has a CPU 80 that controls the label affixing device 100, a non-volatile memory 81 such as a ROM or a flash memory that stores programs of various control units, and a rewritable and holds various settings of the label affixing device. EEPROM 82 (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), RAM 83 used as a work area of the CPU 80, an external interface 85 that communicates with an external device (host 84) in a wired or wireless manner, and a transport motor that transports the mount D 86 of the conveyance motor control part which controls 86, the operation control part 89 which sets the information regarding operation | movement of the label sticking apparatus 100, and controls the operation part 88 which consists of various buttons and a display panel, and the sensor 12 which detects the label L For the sensor control unit 90 that performs control and the IC chip Ta of the RFID tag T A reader writer control unit 91 for controlling the reader-writer 13 to rewrite over data, control labeling control unit 92 for controlling the folding sticking means 20 and a (folding control unit) via a system bus 93. A scanner 94 for reading a barcode attached to the article W is connected to the host 84.

In the EEPROM 82, an operation for determining whether or not the label sticking control unit 92 (bending control means) operates the air cylinder device 31 of the other body drive unit 30 and the air cylinder device 37 of the intermediate body drive unit 36. A flag area is provided. This operation flag area is set by setting from the operation unit 88 (A), setting by a command received by the external interface 85 (B), or a normal label or RFID tag T to which the reader / writer 13 does not attach the RFID tag T. This is performed by any one of the settings (C) performed by detecting the attached label L.
In the label sticking control unit 92, when ON (1) is set in the operation flag area of the EEPROM 82, the air cylinder devices 31 and 37 are operated during the sticking operation of the label L, and OFF (0) is set. If so, the air cylinder devices 31, 37 are controlled so as not to operate.

Therefore, when the label L is pasted by the label pasting apparatus 100 according to this embodiment, it is as follows.
Here, a case will be described in which the operation flag is set by setting (A) from the operation unit 88 in the operation flag area of the EEPROM 82. In the case of this setting, for example, an article W having the same content is continuously conveyed by the conveyor C. When the label L loaded in the label applying apparatus 100 at the change of the article W is a normal label, The operation flag is set to OFF (0), and when the label L attached with the RFID tag T is loaded, the operation flag is set to ON (1).

First, the operation of the label affixing device 100 when the operation flag in the operation flag area of the EEPROM 82 is set to ON (1) by the operation unit 88 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 6. To do.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the label L is conveyed by the label conveying means 10 (FIG. 6 (S10)), and the sensor 12 detects that the label affixing control unit 92 is based on the detection of the label L. Measure the timing to operate. Next, when the mount D is folded back by the peeling plate 11 and the label L is peeled off, the suction plate 21 sucks the label L at the suction position X (FIG. 6 (S11)).

Since ON (1) is set in the operation flag area of the EEPROM 82 (FIG. 6 (S12 ON)), the label sticking control unit 92 uses the air cylinder devices 31 and 37 and the bending assisting means during the label L sticking operation. 50 is operated (FIG. 6 (S13)).
As a result, as shown in FIG. 2B, the intermediate body 24 starts to move back from the planar position H toward the retracted position J, and the other side body 23 starts moving from the separated position V toward the joining position S. That is, it moves closer to the one side body 22. Further, at this time, the label sticking control unit 92 operates the air blowing nozzle 51, and the back side (adhesive layer B side) is attached to a part 2 of the label L including the tag attaching part 1 to which the RFID tag T of the label L is attached. Blow out air toward
In this case, the end surfaces 24a and 23a of the intermediate body 24 at the planar position H and the other side body 23 at the separated position V are adjacent to each other so that the intermediate body 24 and the other side body 23 can move synchronously. Since the inclined surface is formed with respect to the suction surface of the other side body 23, the interference between the intermediate body 24 and the other side body 23 is prevented, and the intermediate body 24 and the other side body 23 can be operated in synchronization with each other. it can.

As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, in the process in which the intermediate body 24 and the other side body 23 move in synchronization, a part 2 of the label L is pulled by the intermediate body 24. A space e is formed between the side body 23 and the one side body 22, and the movement of the other side body 23 to the joining position S causes the one side body 22 and the other side body 23 to move at both ends in the conveyance direction of the label L. While being held by suction, the bent portion M is formed by pressing the bent portion of the one side surface 3 and the bent portion of the other side surface 4 in the direction in which the back surfaces of the one side surface 3 and the other side surface 4 are close to each other.
In this case, since the part 2 of the label L is pushed to the surface side (display layer U side) by the air blowing force from the air blowing nozzle 51, the part 2 of the label L is surely bent into a mountain shape. Further, since the bent portion M is formed simply by operating the air cylinder devices 31 and 37, the formation time of the bent portion M is extremely short, so that the label sticking time can be shortened and the sticking efficiency is improved. Be made.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), the applicant of the present application previously proposed, and there is a way of bending without providing the intermediate body 24. Can do. Specifically, when the intermediate body 24 is not provided, when the suction plate 21 sucks the label L (FIG. 9B), the other side body 23 is once separated from the one side body 22 (FIG. 9C). A space e is formed between the one side body 22 and the other side body 23 so that a part 2 of the label L protruding from the back surface side to the front surface side can enter. Next, the other side body 23 is moved to the one side body. 22 is moved to the trap (FIG. 9D). As a result, the one side body 22 and the other side body 23 suck and hold both ends of the label L in the transport direction R, respectively, while the back surfaces of the one side surface 3 and the other side surface 4 of the label L are close to each other. 3 and the bent portion 7 on the other side surface 4 are pressed to form a bent portion M (FIG. 9E). In the case where the intermediate body 24 is not provided, the other side body 23 must be once separated from the one side body 22 after the label is adsorbed. However, in the present embodiment, since the other side body 23 does not have to be once separated from the one side body 22 after the label is adsorbed, the bending time is shortened accordingly, and the sticking efficiency is improved.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 3, the label sticking control unit 92 operates the air cylinder device 43 of the moving means 40 to move the suction plate 21 from the suction position X to the sticking position Y (S14 in FIG. 6). Thereby, the adsorbed label L is affixed to the article W. In this case, since the sticking surfaces 8 of the label L are formed on both sides of the bent portion M, which is the portion 2 of the label L that is protruded in a chevron shape, the article is formed by the one side body 22 and the other side body 23. Pressed by W, the label L is securely attached to the article W. After sticking the label, the suction plate 21 is returned to the suction position X. Further, the air cylinder device 31 of the other side body driving unit 30 is operated to return the other side body 23 from the joining position S to the separation position V, and the air cylinder device 37 of the intermediate body driving unit 36 is operated to operate the intermediate body 24. Is returned from the retracted position J to the planar position H.

Next, a description will be given of a case where a normal label without an RFID tag T is attached. In this case, in the operation unit 88, the operation flag in the operation flag area of the EEPROM 82 is set to OFF (0). Referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 2A, the label L is conveyed by the label conveying means 10 (FIG. 6 (S10)), and the sensor 12 is based on the detection of the label L. The label sticking control unit 92 measures the timing for operating the bending sticking means 20. Next, when the mount D is folded back by the peeling plate 11 and the label L is peeled off, the suction plate 21 sucks the label L at the suction position X (FIG. 6 (S11)).
Since OFF (0) is set in the operation flag area of the EEPROM 82 (FIG. 6 (S12 OFF)), the label sticking control unit 92 does not operate the air cylinder devices 31 and 37 and the folding assisting means 50. Then, the air cylinder device 43 of the moving means 40 is operated to move the suction plate 21 from the suction position X to the sticking position Y (FIG. 6 (S14)).
Thereby, the adsorbed normal label is stuck on the article W in a planar shape. As described above, according to the setting (A) from the operation unit 88, it is possible to easily introduce the system into a small system that performs simple sorting with few types of articles.

  Next, the case where the operation flag is set by the command received by the external interface 85 (B) will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. For example, when the label L to which the RFID tag T is attached is loaded in the label affixing device and the articles W having different contents are conveyed by the conveyor C in a mixed manner, this setting depends on the type of the article W. An article W is provided with a barcode on which an instruction is attached to the label L with the RFID tag T attached thereto in a flat shape (operation flag OFF) or bent into a chevron shape (operation flag ON). The label L is affixed according to the instructions of the code.

  As shown in FIG. 7, first, the barcode of the article W is read by the scanner 94 (S21), and the host 84 folds the label L into a mountain shape and pastes the label L read by the scanner 94 (operation flag ON). ) Or a label L attached to a flat surface (operation flag OFF) (S21), and one of these commands is transmitted (S22, S23). The label sticking apparatus 100 sets the operation flag in the operation flag area of the EEPROM 82 to ON (1) or OFF (0) according to the received command (S24).

  Then, the label L is transported by the label transport means 10 (S25), and when the mount D is folded back by the release plate 11 and the label L is peeled off, the suction plate 21 sucks the label L at the suction position X ( S26). Next, when the operation flag in the operation flag area of the EEPROM 82 is ON (1) (S27 ON), the label sticking control unit 92 operates the air cylinder devices 31, 37 and the bending assisting unit 50 (S28). Thereafter, the label sticking control unit 92 operates the moving means 40 (S29), and the label L is bent and stuck on the article W in a mountain shape.

On the other hand, when OFF (0) is set in the operation flag area of the EEPROM 82 (S27 OFF), the label sticking control unit 92 moves without operating the air cylinder devices 31, 37 and the bending assisting means 50. The air cylinder device 43 of the means 40 is operated to move the suction plate 21 from the suction position X to the sticking position Y (S29). Thereby, the adsorbed normal label is stuck on the article W in a planar shape.
According to the setting (B) by the command received by the external interface 85, the shape of the label L to which the RFID tag T to be affixed depending on the type and contents of the article W is affixed (in a flat shape or in a mountain shape). It is easy to change (bend and paste).

  In the above description, the barcode of the article W is read by the scanner 94, and the content of the barcode read by the scanner 94 is that the label L is bent and pasted into a mountain shape, or the label L is pasted in a flat shape. Although it has been described that one of these commands is transmitted and the scanner is an external device, the label attaching apparatus 100 receives the barcode data read by the scanner via the external interface 85, and the scanner The label sticking control unit 92 may be configured to operate the air cylinder devices 31 and 37 and the bending assisting unit 50 in accordance with the content of the barcode read in step S1.

  Next, using the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, the operation flag is set by detecting whether the reader / writer 13 is a normal label without the RFID tag T or a label L with the RFID tag T attached ( The case of C) will be described. In this setting, for example, the type of the label loaded in the label sticking apparatus 100 is discriminated at the time of conveyance by the reader / writer 13, and the operation flag is set to ON when an RFID label that needs to be bent in advance is detected. The operation flag is set to OFF when the label or the RFID label that does not need to be bent in advance is detected.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the label is conveyed (S30), the reader / writer 13 determines whether or not it is necessary to bend it into a chevron (S31), and when necessary (S31 YES), the operation flag is set to ON. If it is not necessary (S31 NO), the operation flag is set to OFF (S33). When the operation flag is ON (1) (S34 ON), the air cylinder devices 31, 37 and the bending assisting unit 50 operate (S35). Thereafter, the moving means 40 is activated (S36), and the label L is bent and attached to the article W in a mountain shape.
On the other hand, when the operation flag is OFF (0) (S34 OFF), the air cylinder devices 31, 37 and the bending assisting unit 50 are not operated, the moving unit 40 is operated (S36), and the label L is placed on the article W. Affixed flat.

  According to the setting (C) by the reader / writer 13, the reader / writer 13 determines whether the label is a normal label or an RFID tag T attached, and an operation flag is set. The operation efficiency of the air cylinder devices 31 and 37 and the folding assisting means 50 is automatically switched by simply loading two types of labels according to the application, and the working efficiency is good. Further, when setting the operation flag according to the type of the label L to which the RFID tag T is attached, the label to which the RFID tag T is attached according to the type of label to be attached or information stored in the IC chip in the RFID tag. The shape of L (applied in a flat shape or bent and attached in a chevron shape) can be changed, and the usage is expanded.

According to the above description, a part 2 of the label L to which the RFID tag T is attached is protruded and attached to the article in a mountain shape, and the RFID tag T is attached to the article by separating the RFID tag T from the article. Therefore, stable reading and writing of data can be ensured. Further, since the back surfaces of the one side surface 3 and the other side surface 4 of the bent portion M are joined by the bending means, the label L Since the display layer U and the adhesive layer B cover the tag attachment site 1 and have a double structure, the strength of this portion can be increased and the RFID tag T can be prevented from being easily damaged.
Further, by using the label L shown in FIG. 14 according to the usage, after the purpose of use of the article W is completed, the bent portion M projected in a mountain shape can be easily excised, and information leakage Can be prevented and separation and disposal can be easily performed.
Furthermore, according to the setting of the operation flag, whether the label L is applied to the article W in a flat shape or folded in a chevron can be switched according to the application and system, and the shape of the attached label L ( The contents and type of the article W can be easily visually recognized by attaching them in a flat shape or bending them in a mountain shape.

Next, a case where another type of label having the same length Fa on the one side portion 3a but different in the length Fb on the other side portion 4a will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 10, in the case of the label L (B) that is slightly shorter than the previous label L (A), the other side body 23 is used as it is without any particular replacement. In this case, the rear end in the transport direction of the label L (B) is located at the rear end in the transport direction of the one side body 22, and the length Fb is shorter than the length Fa of the other side portion 4a. Since the position 3a is located, the positional relationship of the part 2 of the label L (B) to be folded with respect to the suction plate 21 is not shifted. Therefore, as in the above, the label L (B) is sucked and bent. Can be affixed. At this time, since the other side body 23 is longer than the other side portion 4a of the label L (B), a small hole for sucking air is exposed, but since the exposure is slight, there is no problem in suction.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 12, the label L is transported with the one side portion 3a at the transport front position and the other side portion 4a at the transport rear position. When the side body 23 is created, even if it is applied as it is in the case of the label L (B) that is slightly shorter than the previous label L (A), it is applied to the rear end in the transport direction of the one side body 22. Since the rear end in the conveyance direction of the label L is located, the part 2 of the label L to be folded is not located at a regular part where the space e for folding is formed. Therefore, in this case, all of the setting changes such as the suction plate 21 and the moving means 40 have to be performed, and the structure is complicated and the work is complicated, which is troublesome. It is possible to easily cope with the size change of the label L.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, in the case of a label L (C) whose length is significantly shorter than the previous label L (A) (for example, when the other side portion 4a is shortened by about half), this short label L It replaces with the other side body 23 (C) and support member (not shown) prepared beforehand according to (C). At the time of this replacement, the screw 25a of the previous support member 27 is loosened and removed, and a new support member (not shown) is attached to the base 25 with a screw. In this case, it is only necessary to replace the other side body 23 (C) and the support member. As shown in FIG. 12, the work is performed in comparison with the case where all the settings such as the suction plate 21 and the moving means 40 must be changed. Is very easy to do. Then, similarly to the above, the label L (C) can be adsorbed and bent.
Further, in the case of a label L (not shown) having a length longer than that of the previous label L (A), another side body 23 (not shown) and a supporting member (not shown) prepared in advance in accordance with the label L Replace with.

  In the above-described embodiment, the folding assisting means 50 is configured to include the air blowing nozzle 51 that blows and bends the part 2 of the label L from the back surface side (adhesive layer B). However, when sucking the part 2 of the label L, it is not necessary to provide it.

  In the above embodiment, the description has been made so that the back surfaces of the one side surface 3 and the other side surface 4 which are the part 2 of the label L are bonded to each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The label L in a form in which a part 2 of the label L is bent into a chevron and protruded without bonding may be attached to the article. In this case, it can be easily realized by reducing the amount of movement of the air cylinder device 31. As a result, since the bent part 2 of the label L is maintained in a shape that is bent and projected into a chevron, the portable reader / writer is held over the IC chip Ta of the label L attached to the article W. When performing a reading operation, compared with the case where a flat label L is affixed to the article W, the communication angle is further widened, and the reading operation toward the label L can be efficiently performed.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the suction plate 21 was moved to the sticking position Y from the suction position X by the air cylinder apparatus 43, and the label L was pressed and stuck on the articles | goods W, it limited to this. Instead, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a label sticking apparatus (air jet method) in which air is ejected from the small holes 21a of the suction plate 21 and the label L is blown off toward the article W for sticking. In this case, the air cylinder device 31 can be easily realized simply by bending a part 2 of the label L into a chevron and then ejecting air from the small hole 21 a of the suction plate 21 by the label sticking control unit 92.

  Furthermore, in the label sticking apparatus of the above embodiment, printing having an ink jet or thermal type head that prints information about the article W and variable information such as a barcode on the surface side (display layer U side) of the label L. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a labeling apparatus provided with means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The label sticking apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is the principal part perspective view seen from the suction surface side of the suction plate, (b) is the principal part perspective view seen from the back side of the suction plate. It is a top view which shows the label sticking apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention with the effect | action. It is a top view which shows the label sticking apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention with the effect | action. It is a perspective view which shows the state of the label which the label sticking apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention stuck to the articles | goods. It is a circuit block diagram of the label sticking apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the label sticking apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows another operation | movement of the label sticking apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows another operation | movement of the label sticking apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another label sticking apparatus which is a comparison contrast with the effect | action, in order to demonstrate the advantage of the label sticking apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an effect | action when applying to the label from which length differs in the label sticking apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an effect | action when applying to the label from which length differs in the label sticking apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another label sticking apparatus which is a comparison contrast with the effect | action, in order to demonstrate the advantage of the label sticking apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the label which the label sticking apparatus of this invention makes object. It is a figure which shows an example of another label which the label sticking apparatus of this invention makes object. It is a figure which shows the general example of the label with which the RFID tag was attached.

Explanation of symbols

L Label T RFID tag U Display layer B Adhesive layer P Film layer D Mount Ta IC chip Tb Communication antenna Ha Horizontal width Hb Vertical width W Article R Transport direction 1 Tag attachment part 2 Part of label L 2
3 One side surface 3a One side portion 4 The other side surface 4a The other side portion 5 Perforation 6 Top portion 7 Bending portion 8 Attaching surface M Bending portion C Conveyor 10 Label conveying means 11 Peeling plate 12 Sensor 13 Reader / writer 20 Bending adhering means 21 Adsorption Board 21
21a Small hole 22 One side body 23 Other side body 24 Intermediate body 25 Base H Plane position J Retreat position 26 Support member 27 Support member 28 Roller 28a Roller 29 Guide hole 29a Guide hole 30 Other side body drive unit 31 Air cylinder device 36 Intermediate Body drive unit 37 Air cylinder device S Joining position V Separation position e Space 40 Moving means 43 Air cylinder device X Suction position Y Sticking position 50 Bending assist means 51 Air blowing nozzle 80 CPU
81 Nonvolatile memory 82 EEPROM
83 RAM
84 Host 85 External interface 86 Conveyance motor 87 Conveyance motor control section 88 Operation section 89 Operation control section 90 Sensor control section 91 Reader / writer control section 92 Label sticking control section (bending control means)
93 System Bus 94 Scanner 100 Labeling Device

Claims (8)

In a label sticking device for sticking a label attached with an RFID tag comprising an IC chip and a communication antenna to an article,
One side surface and the other side surface, each of which has a curved portion formed at the top portion, projecting a part of the label including the tag attachment portion to which the RFID tag of the label is attached from the back side to the front side. Forming a folded portion having a folding attachment means for attaching the label formed with the bent portion to an article,
The bending sticking means includes one side body that adsorbs one side part adjacent to a part of the label, another side body that adsorbs another side part adjacent to a part of the label, and the one side body and the other. An adsorption plate that is provided between the side bodies and holds the surface side of the label by an intermediate that adsorbs a part of the label;
The intermediate body of the suction plate is retreated from the planar position where the suction surface of the one side body, the suction surface of the intermediate body and the suction surface of the other side body are continuously planarized, and the label is sucked. An intermediate body drive unit that moves to two positions, a retreat position, and
The other side body of the suction plate is separated from the one side body at the planar position of the intermediate body, and the retracted position of the intermediate body from the one side body. And the other body drive unit that moves to two adjacent joint positions,
The other side body drive unit forms the bent portion on the label at the end surfaces of the one side body and the other side body facing each other by moving the other side body from the separated position to the joining position. A label affixing device characterized by being configured as described above.   The movement of the intermediate body from the planar position to the retracted position by the intermediate body driving unit and the movement of the other side body from the separated position to the joining position by the other side body driving unit are performed in synchronization. The label sticking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a drive control unit that is configured to be driven.   Adsorption of the intermediate body and the other side body so that the intermediate body and the other side body can move in synchronization with each other between adjacent end surfaces of the intermediate body in the planar position and the other side body in the separated position. The label sticking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the label sticking apparatus is inclined with respect to the surface. The label includes one side part adjacent to a part of the label and the other side part adjacent to a part of the label, and the relationship between the length Fa of the one side part and the length Fb of the other side part. Is configured such that Fa ≦ Fb and the other side portion is configured as a main display portion that can be set to various lengths and perform main display,
The label sticking device includes label transport means for transporting the label with the other side portion in the front of the transport direction,
The one side body is set to a length corresponding to the length Fa of the one side portion and fixed to the base, and the other side body can be adapted to the difference in the plurality of types of lengths Fb of the other side portion. The label sticking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the label sticking device is set to a length and provided on a base. The label sticking device according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of types of other side bodies having different lengths are prepared as the other side body, and the plurality of types of other side bodies can be replaced with the base.   The label affixing means according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fold affixing means includes a folding assisting means for assisting in folding a part of the label in a mountain shape from the back surface side to the front surface side. apparatus. The label affixing device includes a fold control unit that drives the fold affixing unit and controls whether or not a part of the label is folded in a mountain shape from the back side to the front side. The label sticking device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The bending bending means includes a moving means for moving the suction plate to two positions: a suction position where the suction plate sucks the label and a sticking position where the sucked label is stuck to the article. The label sticking device according to any one of 1 to 7.

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