JP6707383B2 - Label loading device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a label mounting device that mounts a label provided with a line of weakening to be broken such as perforations on a neck portion of a container.

Conventionally, as a label mounting device, there is one described in Patent Document 1. This label transporting device is used to attach a neck hanging label having a hole that can penetrate the head of the container to the neck of the container. In this label transport device, a pair of upper and lower endless transport belts are provided on both sides in the width direction of the label. The pair of upper and lower endless conveyor belts is composed of an upper conveyor belt and a lower conveyor belt, and the lower surface of the upper conveyor belt and the upper surface of the lower conveyor belt are linearly slanted downward from the label receiving position toward the label mounting position. It extends in a shape.

The label has a plurality of slits extending radially from the neck hanging hole, and from the upper side in a state where both widthwise portions of the label are sandwiched between the lower surface of the upper conveyor belt and the upper surface of the lower conveyor belt. It is conveyed diagonally downward in a straight line. As a result, the label is adapted to hang on the neck of the containers continuously conveyed by the conveyor at the lower end of each conveyor belt.

JP-A-2002-53114

Since the label as described above is provided with a plurality of slits in the label surface, there is a risk that the label may be caught by the slits when the label is stored or transported, and the label is inconvenient to handle. In addition, at present, as a container, the shoulder line from the trunk to the neck slopes gently and the diameter of the shoulder gradually shrinks upward, and the shoulder-shaped container from the trunk to the neck is more horizontal. There is a shoulder-shaped container (so-called shoulder-covered container) that is close to.

Such a shoulder-tipped container has a shape in which the lower portion of the neck portion is stroked and swells in the horizontal direction as compared with a shoulder-shaped container. In the apparatus of Patent Document 1, since the label is sandwiched between the upper surface of the lower conveyor belt and the lower surface of the upper conveyor belt and conveyed, the lower conveyor belt is moved downward to lower the label to the label mounting position. When placed, the lower end of the lower conveyor belt will contact the shoulder of the container. Therefore, the device of Patent Document 1 has a problem that the neck hanging label cannot be attached to the shoulder tension container.

An object of the present invention is to provide a label loading device that can easily handle a label and that can satisfactorily attach the label to the neck of the container even if the container has a shape in which the shoulder line from the body to the neck is more horizontal. To provide.

The label loading device according to the present invention is a label loading device that transfers a label provided with a planned weakening line to be mounted on the neck of a container, and a label breaking device that breaks the planned weakening line of the label. A label carrying device for receiving the label having the broken intended weakening line and transferring the label from a label receiving position to a label loading position, wherein the label transporting device is provided with a label loading device from an upper label receiving position to a lower label loading position. A pair of endless belt members that have a lower surface that extends obliquely downward to a position and are spaced apart in the width direction of the label, and both sides in the width direction of the label on the lower surface of the pair of endless belt members. By moving the pair of endless belt members by a suction device that adsorbs the peripheral portion of the endless belt member and moving the label adsorbed on the lower surface of the endless belt member from the label receiving position to the label mounting position. And a belt driving device.

According to this configuration, since the label is adsorbed on the lower surface of the endless belt member, the lower conveyor belt that presses the lower surface of the label upward is not required in comparison with the conventional technique, and the lower conveyor belt can be omitted. .. Therefore, even if the container has a shape in which the shoulder line extending from the body to the neck swells in the horizontal direction, the label can be properly attached to the neck of the container without the label conveying device contacting the container shoulder.

Furthermore, since the label breaking device breaks the planned weakening line, the label is prevented from being caught during storage/transportation of the label, and the label is stuck to the lower surface of the endless belt member, and the label break opening is formed. It is easy to insert the head of the container.

Further, in the present invention, the label transporting device has a pair of belt facing members facing the lower surfaces of the pair of endless belt members at the label mounting position, and the label is the label at the label mounting position. Peripheral portions on both sides in the width direction may be sandwiched between the lower surfaces of the pair of endless belt members and the upper surfaces of the pair of belt facing members.

According to this configuration, since the peripheral portions on both sides in the width direction of the label are sandwiched between the lower surfaces of the pair of endless belt members and the upper surfaces of the pair of belt facing members at the label mounting position, the label is sucked at the label mounting position. Can be maintained. Therefore, the label can be reliably attached to the container from the endless belt member.

Further, in the present invention, a label pressing device for pressing the label attached to the neck portion of the container from above may be provided.

With this configuration, the label attached to the neck of the container can be pressed from above by the label pressing device. Therefore, even if the label is mounted at a position higher than the predetermined position in the container, the label can be moved to the label hanging position assumed in the container by the label pressing device. Therefore, the label can be reliably attached to the predetermined position of the container.

Further, in the present invention, the label breaking device may push the breaking weakening line of the label from below to break the label.

According to this structure, the label breaking device pushes the planned weakening line from the lower side to break it. Therefore, the engaging portion formed on the label as a result of the breaking line to be ruptured has a habit of standing up while being inclined upward, and the head of the container can be easily inserted into the rupture opening of the label.

According to the label attaching apparatus of the present invention, the label can be easily handled, and the label is attached to the neck of the container even in the case of a shoulder-shaped container in which the shoulder line extending from the body to the neck bulges in the horizontal direction. Can be installed well.

It is a figure which shows roughly the whole structure of the label mounting apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a top view of a neck hanging label used by this embodiment, and (b)-(e) is a top view showing another form of a neck hanging label. (A) is a perspective view showing a state in which a scheduled weakening line of the neck hanging label is broken, and (b) is a perspective view showing a state where the neck hanging label is attached to the container. It is a perspective view showing the important section of a label breaking device. It is a side view of a breaking roller which has a projection. (A)-(e) is a figure which shows a mode that a fracture|rupture scheduled weakening line of a necking label is fractured|ruptured by the fracture roller shown in FIG. It is a top view of a label conveyance device. It is a figure when a label conveyance device is seen from the lower side. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the label pressing device in FIG. 1. It is a figure of a label pressing device when it sees from the direction shown by the arrow N in FIG.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. When a plurality of embodiments and modifications are included in the following, it is assumed from the beginning that a new embodiment is constructed by appropriately combining the characteristic parts thereof. Further, although an example in which the planned weakening line to be broken formed on the label is a perforation will be described below, the present invention is not limited to this. The planned weakening line may be, for example, a line that is easily broken by connecting long cuts at at least one short connecting portion at an intermediate position, or the label may be thin. It may be a thin-walled wire that is easily broken at.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of a label mounting device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following, first, the outline of the operation of mounting the label L on the container B by the label mounting apparatus 10 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. In addition, in the following, a PET bottle is exemplified as the container B, but as the container B, a bottle type container such as a PET bottle, a container with a pump containing shampoo, a pharmaceutical container (ampoule, vial, etc.), and various other containers are used. Examples of the shaped container include various containers such as a synthetic resin container, a metal container, and a glass bottle.

As shown in FIG. 1, the label loading device 10 includes a label breaking device 60 and a label transport device 80. More specifically, the label mounting device 10 further includes a container transport device 12, a label feeding device 20, a label delivery device 70, and a label pressing device 110.

The container transport device 12 continuously transports a container B such as a PET bottle in the arrow X direction. The container transfer device 12 can be configured by a belt conveyor or the like that moves the container B in the container transfer direction indicated by arrow X (hereinafter, referred to as X direction) while placing the container B thereon. Further, the container transporting device 12 has a pair of bars 14a and 14b that are positioned at intervals in the Y direction orthogonal to the X direction and guide the container B from both sides. One pair of bars 14a is located at a distance from the other pair of bars 14b in the height direction indicated by arrow Z (hereinafter referred to as the Z direction). The pair of bars 14a and 14b are provided to prevent shaking of the container B in the Y direction (shaking in the left-right direction with respect to the transport direction). Note that the container transporting device 12 may have a configuration having only one pair of bars. Further, the container transport device 12 may include a plurality of pairs of positioning guides that move in synchronization with the belt conveyor. By sandwiching the container B by the pair of positioning guides, the pitch between the containers B to be conveyed can be maintained at a predetermined pitch, and the container B can be prevented from tipping over when the label is attached.

The label feeding device 20, the label breaking device 60, the label delivery device 70, and the label transfer device 80 are installed side by side in the X direction above the container transfer device 12. Further, the label pressing device 110 is installed downstream of the label conveying device 80 in the container conveying direction.

The label feeding device 20 has a function of feeding the labels L one by one from the stocker 22 in which the labels L are stored. The label breaking device 60 receives the labels L fed one by one from the label feeding device 20, and breaks the perforation line of the label L described later. Further, the label delivery device 70 receives the label L whose perforation has been broken from the label breaking device 60, and receives the label L in the label carrying device 80 at a timing at which the label L can be attached to the container B being carried in the X direction. hand over. The label transfer device 80 transfers the label L received from the label transfer device 70 at the label receiving position α to the label mounting position β. The label L is attached to the container B at the label attachment position β by the label transfer device 80. Further, when the label L is attached at a position higher than the predetermined attachment position of the container B at the label attachment position β, the label pressing device 110 presses the label L from above to attach the label L to the container B. Mount it in the specified mounting position. The label L is attached to the predetermined attachment position of the container B by such a procedure.

In this embodiment, the feeding direction of the label L by the label feeding device 20 coincides with the conveying direction of the container B. In the following, the downstream side is referred to as “front” and the upstream side is referred to as “rear” with respect to the label feeding direction along the container transport direction. Further, the direction orthogonal to the label feeding direction is referred to as "width direction".

Next, with reference to FIG. 2( a ), the label L before the planned breakage weakening line breakage used in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2A is a plan view of the label L before the planned weakening line breakage.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the label L is a neck hanging label attached to the neck of the container, and has a substantially rectangular shape with four corners formed in an arc shape. The label L is formed of, for example, a sheet material such as synthetic resin, paper, cardboard, synthetic paper, a laminated body of these, a laminated body of these and another sheet, or the like. Information such as characters, figures, and background color is printed on the front surface of the label L (that is, the surface facing the side opposite to the container shoulder when the container is attached) and/or the back surface of the label L, and information for consumers who purchase the product. Can be displayed.

In the center of the label L, for example, an oval (or track) through hole 2 is formed in advance. The arrow X shown in FIG. 2A corresponds to the label feeding direction by the label feeding device 20, and the arrow Y corresponds to the width direction. The length indicated by W1 in FIG. 2A is the length of the label L in the X direction. Short perforation lines 3a are formed on both sides of the through hole 2 in the label feeding direction, and these perforation lines 3a are connected to two perforation lines 3b extending in the width direction on both sides of the through hole 2 in the label feeding direction. ..

In the label L, the through hole 2 and the perforation line 3 are formed in the central region, and four peripheral portions 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b are formed surrounding the central region. More specifically, the four peripheral portions of the label L are composed of a front peripheral portion 6a, a rear peripheral portion 6b, and width-direction peripheral portions 7a and 7b. Below, perforation lines 3a and 3b are collectively referred to as perforation lines 3. When the central region of the label L is pushed in, the perforation line 3 is broken, and two cantilever tongue-shaped engaging portions 4 and a breaking opening are formed.

The label L that can be used in the label feeding device 20 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 2A, and various types of perforated line labels can be used. For example, as in the label L shown in FIG. 2B, a substantially rectangular through hole 2 is formed in the central portion, and the perforation lines 3c extend from the four corners in a direction inclined from the width direction. Good. Further, unlike the label L shown in FIG. 2C, the through hole may not be formed and only the H-shaped perforation lines 3a and 3b may be formed. Further, as in the label L shown in FIG. 2D, only the U-shaped perforation line 3d may be formed, and one engagement portion 4 may be formed by breaking the perforation line 3d. Here, reference numeral 5 in FIG. 2(d) is a bending line, and the label L is bent along this line so that the label L is mounted in a posture along the outer peripheral surface of the container. Good. Note that, for example, instead of the perforation lines 3a and 3b of the label L shown in FIG. 2C, a long cut 8 formed in a substantially H shape as shown in FIG. The two engagement portions 4 may be partitioned and formed by using the predetermined breaking weakening line (the same applies to the label L of other forms). Further, in FIG. 2, the label L has four corners formed in an arc shape, but the corners may be substantially right angles, or a part of the corner may be partially cut away. It is also possible to have various shapes. When such a label L is attached to the neck of the container B, the tongue-shaped engagement portion 4 of the label L is pressed against the container B, so that the attached state of the label L becomes stable. In this state, the engaging portion 4 is brought into contact with the periphery of the neck of the container B by the elastic restoring force (the force of the label 4 that is pushed to close due to the rigidity of the label) to engage with the engaging portion 4. Therefore, the label L after mounting is less likely to be displaced with respect to the container B, and is less likely to drop from the container B. In addition, these engaging portions 4 also function as a display portion by abutting against the neck portion of the container and standing up.

Next, the label feeding device 20, the label breaking device 60, the label delivery device 70, the label conveying device 80, and the label pressing device 110 will be described in detail in order from the device arranged on the upstream side. First, the label feeding device 20 arranged on the most upstream side will be described with reference to FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, the label feeding device 20 includes a stocker 22, a feeding roller 24, one or more support rollers 32, a support shaft 33, and a guide plate 44. A plurality of labels L are accommodated in the stocker 22 in a stacked state in the height direction. A delivery opening 28 is provided at the lower end of the stocker 22 so that the lower surface of the label L located at the bottom of the stocker 22 is exposed. As shown in FIG. 1, the lower end portion of the stocker 22 is formed so as to be bent forward so that the label L is accommodated in a state of being inclined toward the downstream side with respect to the Z direction. In this way, by making the stacking direction of the labels L in the lower end portion of the stocker 22 inclined with respect to the Z direction, the vertically adjacent labels L are displaced in the horizontal direction (X direction), so that the degree of adhesion between the labels L is high. Is reduced. As a result, it is possible to more reliably perform the operation of feeding out the labels L one by one.

The feeding roller 24, the support roller 32, and the support shaft 33 are all arranged in the feeding opening portion 28. The delivery roller 24 is a drive roller that is rotationally driven intermittently. The feeding roller 24 is made of, for example, a metal such as aluminum or a high friction material such as rubber. For example, the feeding roller 24 made of metal has a structure in which a large number of pyramid-shaped (quadrangular pyramid-shaped) protrusions are provided on the surface of a cylindrical roller. The feeding roller 24 pushes the lowermost label L in the rotation direction by hooking the back surface of the lowermost label L in the stocker 22 on the protrusion. In this way, the labels L are delivered one by one from the stocker 22. As shown in the present embodiment, since the label L in the stocker 22 is in a state before the scheduled weakening line is broken, the label L is not caught in the stocker 22 and the label L is favorably delivered from the stocker 22.

The support roller 32 and the support shaft 33 are rotatable by being supported by a side wall of the stocker 22 and the like via rolling bearings. By the support roller 32 and the support shaft 33 coming into contact with the lower surface of the lowermost label L, the label L in the stocker 22 is supported in the gravity direction and the lowermost label L is smoothly fed out. The labels L conveyed one by one from the stocker 22 are smoothly delivered to the label breaking device 60 by being guided by the guide plate 44.

The support shaft 33 has a smaller diameter than the support roller 32, and is arranged in a narrow gap between the support roller 32 and the feeding roller 24. Thereby, the front area of the label L can be more stably supported in the feeding opening portion 28. In this example, the case where the support shaft 33 is rotatable has been described, but the support shaft may be configured to be non-rotatable. Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the feeding roller 24 feeds the label L from the stocker 22 using the protrusion provided on the surface thereof has been described. However, the feeding roller may feed the label L from the stocker 22 with another configuration, and for example, by feeding the label L by suction through the suction port provided on the surface thereof, the label L is fed from the stocker. It may be. Further, a vibration device may be attached to the stocker 22 separately. By vibrating the labels in the stocker 22 by the vibrating device, air is prevented from entering between the labels and a plurality of labels L are simultaneously sent out from the stocker 22.

The labels L fed out one by one from the label feeding device 20 are delivered to the label breaking device 60. The label breaking device 60 breaks the perforation line of the label L while transferring the label L.

Next, the configuration and operation of the label breaking device 60 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3A and FIGS. 4 to 6 in addition to FIG. 1. FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a state in which the expected weakening line of the label L is broken. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a main part of the label breaking device 60. FIG. 5 is a side view of the breaking roller 64 having a protrusion.

As shown in FIG. 1, the label breaking device 60 is arranged adjacent to the downstream side of the guide plate 44 in the label feeding direction (X direction). As shown in FIG. 4, the label breaking device 60 includes a transfer roller 62 and a breaking roller 64. One of the transfer roller 62 and the breaking roller 64 is a drive roller that is connected to a motor (not shown) and is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow E or F. The other of the transfer roller 62 and the breaking roller 64 is connected to the drive roller by a gear and is driven. It can be configured as a driven roller that rotates.

The transfer roller 62 has a rotatable first shaft 63 and two nip rollers 66 fixed on the first shaft 63 at a predetermined interval. At least the outer peripheral surface of the nip roller 66 is preferably formed of a high-friction material such as rubber that is hard to slip on the label L.

On the other hand, the breaking roller 64 has a rotatable second shaft 65 arranged parallel to the first shaft 63 of the transfer roller 62, and a transfer breaking roller portion 68 fixed on the second shaft 65. Similar to the nip roller 66, at least the outer peripheral surface of the transfer break roller portion 68 is preferably formed of a high friction material such as rubber that is hard to slip on the label L.

The transfer break roller portion 68 is configured by integrally forming two transfer roller portions 68a located on both sides in the width direction and a protrusion 68b located between these transfer roller portions 68a. The two transfer roller portions 68a are pressed against the two nip rollers 66 of the transfer roller 62 to form a nip portion. The labels L fed out one by one from the label feeding device 20 have their respective rollers 62, 64 in the directions of arrows E, F while the peripheral portions 7a, 7b (see FIG. 2) on both sides in the width direction are sandwiched by the nip portion. The label L is transported toward the label delivery device 70 on the downstream side in the label feeding direction by rotating the label L.

The projecting portion 68b of the transfer break roller portion 68 is formed so as to project radially outward from the transfer roller portion 68a at a position corresponding to between the two nip rollers 66. The protrusion 68b pushes the central region of the label L, which is transferred between the transfer roller 62 and the breaking roller 64 as described above, from below.

The perforation line 3 is broken by pushing the label L from below the protrusion 68b. Then, as shown in FIG. 3( a ), two cantilever tongue-shaped engaging portions 4 that are inclined so as to stand upright and a breaking opening portion that is inserted into the container neck portion are labeled. It is formed in L. The length indicated by W in FIG. 3A corresponds to the length of the breaking opening of the label L in the X direction. In this embodiment, the case where the label L is pushed from the lower side to break the label L from the lower side will be described, but the label L may be pushed from the upper side to break the label L from the upper side.

As shown in FIG. 5, an outer peripheral surface of the transfer break roller portion 68 opposite to the protrusion 68b is formed to have the same diameter as the transfer roller portion 68a. When the transfer roller 62 and the breaking roller 64 rotate, the projection 68b protrudes so that the projection 68b can pass through the gap 67 formed between the first shaft 63 of the transfer roller 62 and the transfer breaking roller portion 68. The height t is set smaller than the radial dimension of the gap 67. This protrusion height t can be set to, for example, several mm to 10 mm.

As shown in FIG. 4, it is preferable that the width direction length W2 of the protrusion 68b is formed to be slightly shorter than the length of the perforation line 3b shown in FIG. This makes it possible to break only the perforation lines 3a, 3b when the central region of the label L is pushed in by the protrusion 68b, and prevent the label peripheral parts 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b from being broken.

Further, the outer peripheral surface of the tip of the protrusion 68b is preferably formed into a curved surface having an arc shape in which the amount of protrusion from the transfer roller portion 68a is substantially constant. As a result, when the breaking roller 64 rotates, the locus of the tip end surface of the protrusion 68b becomes an arc shape, and the pushing amount of the label L by the protrusion 68b becomes substantially constant. As a result, the pushing force for breaking the perforation line 3 of the label L is stabilized, and the breakage of the four peripheral portions 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b of the label L can be suppressed more reliably.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in the protrusion 68b, the continuous portions 70a and 70b of the side surface extending substantially tangentially from the transfer roller portion 68a and the arc-shaped tip outer peripheral surface have a smaller radius of curvature than the tip outer peripheral surface. It is preferable that the curved surface is an arc-shaped curved surface. By forming the continuous portions 70a and 70b in this way, it is possible to suppress the pressing force of the protrusion 68b with respect to the central region of the label L from locally concentrating, and as a result, the effect of suppressing the tearing of the label peripheral portion is suppressed. It can be made more reliable.

FIGS. 6A to 6E are views showing in stages how the perforation line 3 of the label L is broken by the breaking roller 64 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the breaking roller 64 has a standby position (that is, an angle of 0°) at a position where the protrusion 68b faces obliquely downward on the upstream side in the transport direction of the label L.

When a sensor (not shown) detects that the leading end of the label L fed by the label feeding device 20 approaches the label breaking device 60, the label breaking device 60 starts to be driven based on the detection result. As a result, the breaking roller 64 is rotationally driven in the arrow G direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6), and as shown in FIG. 6B, the side surface of the protrusion 68b is rotated about 40° from the standby position. Start pressing the center area of label L. At this time, the peripheral portions 7a and 7b on both sides in the width direction of the label L are sandwiched between the nip roller 66 of the transfer roller 62 and the transfer roller portion 68a of the breaking roller 64, and as the rollers 62 and 64 rotate. Be transferred.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, the protrusion 68b is oriented vertically upward at a position rotated about 120° from the standby position. At this time, the pushing amount of the protrusion 68b is maximized, and the perforation line 3 of the label L is reliably broken. As a result, the tongue-shaped engagement portion 4 is formed on the label L.

After that, as shown in FIGS. 6D and 6E, the breaking roller 64 continues to rotate and moves to the position where the protrusion 68b is not in contact with the label L. In the meantime, the label L is continuously transported and sent out from the label breaking device 60.

As described above, according to the label breaking device 60 of the present embodiment, the peripheral portions 7a and 7b on both sides in the width direction of the label L are provided between the two nip rollers 66 of the transfer roller 62 and the transfer roller portion 68a of the breaking roller 64. The protrusion 68b of the breaking roller 64 pushes the central region of the label L from the lower side during the transfer while nipping the paper, and the perforation line 3 is broken and the tongue-shaped engaging portion 4 is formed. It In this way, the label L can be transported and the perforation line 3 can be reliably broken with a simple configuration including the transfer roller 62 and the breaking roller 64. The label leading end portion of the label L whose perforation line 3 is broken is received by the label delivery device 70 before it comes out of the nip portion of the label breaking device 60.

In the above, the example in which the label L is transferred and the planned weakening line is pushed from below to break the label L is shown, but the label breaking device 60 is not limited to this. For example, the label breaking device 60 may break the planned breakage weakening line of the label L by a protruding member that linearly reciprocates in the Z direction with respect to the label L that is intermittently transferred. Alternatively, the planned weakening line may be broken by clamping the peripheral portions 7a and 7b on both sides in the width direction of the label L and pulling them in opposite directions. Further, the planned weakening line may be broken by blowing air while holding the label L.

Next, with reference to FIG. 1, the label delivery device 70 disposed on the downstream side of the label breaking device 60 will be described.

The label delivery device 70 includes, for example, a pair of upper and lower conveyor belts 71 and 72 each including an endless belt member that is rotationally driven while being in contact with each other, on both sides in the width direction of the label L. In FIG. 1, only the conveyor belts 71 and 72 on one side in the width direction are shown. The conveyor belts 71 and 72 rotate the label L in the direction of the arrow D while sandwiching the peripheral portions 7a and 7b on both sides of the label L in the width direction, and thereby the label L that has been broken from the perforation line received from the label breaking device 60 is It is moved toward the transport device 80. At this time, since the conveyor belts 71 and 72 sandwich the peripheral portions 7a and 7b on both sides of the label L in the width direction, the engaging portion 4 at the center portion of the label L in the width direction is pressed by the conveyor belts 71 and 72. Never. Therefore, the habit of standing upright while being inclined to the upper side of the engaging portion 4 is maintained.

The label delivery device 70 has first and second sensors (not shown). The first sensor detects the broken label L at a predetermined position and transmits a label detection signal to a control unit (not shown). The control unit that receives the label detection signal drives and controls the upper and lower conveyor belts 71 and 72 to move the label L to the downstream end portion and wait.

On the other hand, the second sensor detects the position of the container B at a predetermined position and sends a container detection signal to the control unit. The control unit that receives the container detection signal drives and controls the upper and lower conveyor belts 71 and 72, and transfers the label L, which is on standby at the downstream end, to the label conveyor 80 at a timing at which the container B can be attached to the container B. It is like this. With the first and second sensors, the label L can be attached to the container B even if the pitch between the conveyed containers B is not constant.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the label transport device 80 has a pair of endless belt members 81, a suction device 84, and a belt drive device 85. The pair of endless belt members 81 are spaced apart in the width direction, and each endless belt member 81 has a lower surface 83 extending obliquely downward from an upper label receiving position α to a lower label mounting position β. In FIG. 1, only the endless belt member 81 on one side in the width direction is shown. The suction device 84 sucks the peripheral portions of the label L on both sides in the width direction onto the lower surfaces 83 of the pair of endless belt members 81. Further, the belt driving device 85 circulates the pair of endless belt members 81 to move the broken label L adsorbed on the lower surface 83 of the endless belt member 81 from the label receiving position α to the label mounting position β. To move.

Next, the configurations of the suction device 84, the belt driving device 85, and the label transporting device 80 other than those, and the operation of the label transporting device 80 will be described in detail with reference mainly to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the label carrying device 80, and FIG. 8 is a view of the label carrying device 80 as viewed from below. Actually, the endless belt member 81 extends obliquely downward from the upper (upstream side) label receiving position α to the lower (downstream side) label mounting position β, but in FIG. The belt member 81 is shown in a horizontal state.

As shown in FIG. 8, the adsorption device 84 has low-pressure chambers 87 whose atmospheric pressure is lower than the outside, on both sides in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 7, each low pressure chamber 87 is defined by a pair of side walls 87s made of a material such as resin or metal, an upper wall 87t, a front wall 87f and a rear wall 87r. Each low-pressure chamber 87 extends obliquely downward from an upper label receiving position α to a lower label mounting position β. As shown in FIG. 8, the lower side of the low pressure chamber 87 is opened, and the lower side opening of the low pressure chamber 87 is closed by an endless belt member 81 that moves from the label receiving position α to the label mounting position β.

As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of mounting holes 88 are provided on the outer side wall 87 s of the low pressure chamber 87. The plurality of mounting holes 88 are arranged at intervals in the extending direction of the low pressure chamber 87. As shown in FIG. 8, a connection pipe 89 is attached to each attachment hole 88, and each connection pipe 89 is connected to the vacuum pump SP. The connection pipe 89 and the vacuum pump SP are included in the adsorption device 84.

As shown in FIG. 8, the endless belt member 81 is provided with a plurality of suction holes 81k at intervals in the belt moving direction. When the vacuum pump SP is operated, the air in the low pressure chamber 87 flows toward the vacuum pump SP via the connecting pipe 89, so that the atmospheric pressure of the low pressure chamber 87 becomes lower than the external pressure, and the periphery of the label L in the width direction on both sides in the width direction is broken. The portions 7a and 7b are suction-held by the suction holes 81k.

Next, the belt drive device 85 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the belt drive device 85 includes one drive pulley Pk, two first and second driven pulleys P1 and P4, two first and second guide pulleys P2 and P3, and power transmission. Two first and second gears H1 and H2 for The drive pulley Pk, the first and second guide pulleys P2 and P3, and the first and second gears H1 and H2 are arranged above the low pressure chamber 87. The first driven pulley P1 is arranged in front of the low pressure chamber 87, and the second driven pulley P4 is arranged behind the low pressure chamber 87.

The drive pulley Pk is driven in the arrow G direction by a motor (not shown). A power transmission belt 92 is wound around the drive pulley Pk and the first gear H1. Further, the first gear H1 meshes with the second gear H2. Further, the endless belt member 81 includes a front side portion (downstream side portion) of the first driven pulley P1, a lower side of the first guide pulley P2, an upper side of the second gear H2, a lower side of the second guide pulley P3, and a second side. The driven pulley P4 is looped over each of the pulleys P1 to P4 and the second gear H2 while passing through the rear side (upstream side) of the driven pulley P4. As a result, when the drive pulley Pk is driven, the power thereof is transmitted to the endless belt member 81 via the first and second gears H1 and H2, and the endless belt member 81 moves to the first driven pulley P1 and the second driven pulley P1. The first guide pulley P2, the second gear H2, the second guide pulley P3, the second driven pulley P4, and the first driven pulley P1 are cyclically moved in the direction indicated by arrow I.

The above is the configuration of the suction device 84 and the belt drive device 85. Next, the configuration of the label transporting device 80 other than the above will be described. 7 and 8, the label carrying device 80 has a pair of belt facing members 91 facing the lower surfaces 83 of the pair of endless belt members 81 at the label mounting position β. Each belt facing member 91 is made of metal, resin, or the like. The belt facing member 91 has a plate-shaped main body 98 arranged substantially parallel to the lower surface 83 of the endless belt member 81. The thickness of the main body 98 is preferably thin so as not to prevent the label L from being attached to the container, and is, for example, 0.5 to 2 mm. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the main body 98 of each belt facing member 91 opposes in the height direction in a region of the downstream side of the low pressure chamber 87, which is approximately half. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the main body 98 of each belt facing member 91 overlaps with the substantially entire region of the endless belt member 81 in the width direction at the label mounting position β in the height direction. The gap between the upper surface of the main body 98 of the belt facing member 91 and the lower surface 83 of the endless belt member 81 is larger than the thickness of the label L, and preferably slightly larger than the thickness of the label L.

In addition, in this example, the case where the main body 98 of the belt facing member 91 is arranged substantially parallel to the lower surface 83 of the endless belt member 81 has been described. It suffices that it is opposed to the lower surface in the height direction and does not have to be arranged substantially parallel to the lower surface of the endless belt member. Further, the case where the main body 98 of the belt facing member 91 overlaps with the substantially entire region of the endless belt member 81 in the width direction at the label mounting position β in the height direction has been described. The label mounting position β may overlap with a part of the endless belt member in the width direction.

As shown in FIG. 7, each belt facing member 91 is provided with a plate-shaped mounting portion 97 that is vertically bent from the outer surface 94 of the main body 98. The belt facing member 91 is fixed to the side wall 87s of the low pressure chamber 87 via the attachment plate 101 attached to the attachment portion 97.

As shown in FIG. 8, the label transport device 80 has a handle portion 105 that is bent at a substantially right angle. The handle portion 105 has a round rod portion 105a extending in the width direction and a grip portion 105b extending orthogonally from one end portion of the round rod portion 105a. The other end of the round bar 105a is fixed to the side wall 87s of the low pressure chamber 87 by welding or an adhesive, and has a male screw threaded to the female thread of the stationary portion 107 of the label transport device 80. When the user rotates the grip portion 105b, the round bar portion 105a moves in the width direction indicated by the arrow M with respect to the stationary portion 107, and one endless belt member 81 has a width relative to the other endless belt member 81. Move in the direction. As a result, the label carrying device 80 can be applied to the labels L having different sizes in the width direction.

In the above configuration, the label carrying device 80 operates as follows. That is, by driving the suction device 84, the broken label L is sucked into the suction hole 81k on the lower surface of the endless belt member 81 at the label receiving position α. In this state, the label L is conveyed from the label receiving position α to the label mounting position β by driving the pair of endless belt members 81 by the belt driving device 85. When the label L is conveyed to the label mounting position β, the pair of endless belt members 81 adsorb and hold the peripheral portions 7a and 7b on both sides of the label L in the width direction, and thus are in the center portion of the label L in the width direction. The engaging portion 4 does not receive a force from the endless belt member 81, and the habit of inclining to the upper side of the engaging portion 4 and standing upright is maintained.

By conveying the broken label L obliquely downward at the label mounting position β, the label L is transferred to the head (cap portion) C of the container B being conveyed in the X direction (see FIG. 1) in the height direction. Get closer. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, the breaking opening formed by breaking the perforation line 3 is inserted into the head C of the container B. As a result, the label L is attached to the periphery of the neck of the container B, which is located below the head C and is continuous with the container C.

When the label L is mounted on the container B at the label mounting position β and the engaging portion 4 of the broken label L is spread from below by the head C of the container B, the peripheral portion 7a in the width direction of the label L, Since 7b is curved inward, the label L is easily separated from the lower surface 83 of the endless belt member 81. In this situation, if the label L is separated from the lower surface 83 of the endless belt member 81, the label L may not be properly attached to the neck of the container B. In the label mounting apparatus of the present embodiment, the belt facing member 91 prevents the label L from being separated from the lower surface 83 of the endless belt member 81 before being mounted on the container B. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably maintain the state in which the label L is adsorbed until the label L is attached to the predetermined position of the container B at the label attachment position β.

Although the case where the main body 98 of the belt facing member 91 has a plate shape has been described, the main body of the belt facing member 91 may have a shape other than the plate shape, such as a round bar shape or a prismatic shape. Good. Further, the case where the number of the motor-driven pulleys Pk is one and the number of the motor-undriven pulleys P1 to P4 is four has been described. , But not limited to the example shown in FIG.

Further, the case where the belt facing member 91 faces the downstream half area of the low pressure chamber 87 in the height direction has been described, but the belt facing member may face at least a part of the downstream side of the low pressure chamber. .. Further, the case where the belt facing member 91 overlaps the substantially entire region in the width direction of the endless belt member 81 in the height direction at the label mounting position β has been described, but the belt facing member 91 is the endless belt at the label mounting position β. A part of the member in the width direction may not overlap in the height direction, and it may protrude between the pair of endless belt members 81 in the width direction.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the configuration and operation of the label pressing device 110 arranged on the downstream side of the label transport device 80 will be described in detail. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view around the label pressing device 110 in FIG. Further, FIG. 10 is a view of the label pressing device 110 when viewed from the direction shown by the arrow N in FIG. 9. 9 and 10, the illustration of the bars 14a and 14b is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 9, the label pressing device 110 includes a pressing member 111 and a support base 113 that supports the pressing member 111. The support base 113 supports the pressing member 111 around the label mounting position β. As shown in FIG. 10, the support base 113 has a mounting portion 115 and a hanging portion 117. The hanging portion 117 can adjust the hanging position in the height direction with respect to the mounting portion 115 by the rack and pinion mechanism 120. When the knob 125 on the side of the mounting portion 115 is rotated, the pinion 122 in the mounting portion 115 rotates in synchronization with the knob 125, and the rack 123 in the suspension portion 117 is indicated by the arrow K with respect to the pinion 122. Moves relative to the indicated height. As a result, the hanging portion 117 moves in the height direction relative to the mounting portion 115, and the holding member 111 integrally formed with the hanging portion 117 moves in the height direction relative to the mounting portion 115. It is like this.

As shown in FIG. 10, the pressing member 111 has a U-shaped cross section, and is open downward. The pressing member 111 has a pair of side wall portions 130 that are spaced apart in the width direction. The distance W3 between the pair of side wall portions 130 is longer than the diameter W4 of the head portion C of the container B and shorter than the diameter W5 of the cylindrical body portion of the container B. As shown in FIG. 9, a pressing portion 131 is provided below each side wall portion 130. The pressing portion 131 has a guide portion 131a extending obliquely downward from the upstream side to the downstream side, and a horizontal extending portion 131b extending substantially parallel to the X direction from the downstream end of the guide portion 131a. .. The upstream end of the lower surface of the guide portion 131a is located above the lower end position of the head C of the container B. Further, the lower surface of the horizontally extending portion 131b is disposed at substantially the same height as the lower end portion of the engaging portion 4 of the label L that has been broken and is attached to the container B at a predetermined position. With this configuration of the pressing portion 131, even if the label L is mounted at a position higher than the predetermined position of the container B, the engaging portion 4 of the label L (see FIG. 3A) is the horizontal extending portion 131b. Pressed in place. As a result, the label L is attached to the container B at a predetermined position.

As shown in FIG. 9, the attachment portion 115 includes a horizontal extension portion 135 extending substantially parallel to the X direction and a vertical extension portion 136, and the hanging portion 117 extends in the vertical direction. It is suspended in the section 136. The vertically extending portion 136 is movable in the direction indicated by an arrow J with respect to the horizontally extending portion 135 by a rack and pinion mechanism, fixing using a long hole and a fastening member, or the like. As a result, the arrangement position of the pressing portion 131 can be adjusted not only in the height direction but also in the X direction. As a result, the position of the pressing portion 131 can be adjusted appropriately and the predetermined position of the engaging portion 4 of the label L can be pressed down.

As described above, according to the label mounting apparatus of the present embodiment, the label L is attracted to the lower surface 83 of the endless belt member 81. There is no need for the lower conveyor belt to be pressed against, and the lower conveyor belt can be omitted. Therefore, even if the container B has a shape in which the shoulder line from the body to the neck bulges in the horizontal direction, the label conveying device 80 does not contact the container shoulder and the label L is well attached to the neck of the container B. Can be attached to.

Further, since the label breaking device 60 breaks the planned weakening line of the label L, the label is prevented from being caught when the label is stored and transported, and the label is easily handled. Further, only by adhering the label to the lower surface of the endless belt member, it becomes easy to insert the head of the container into the breaking opening of the label. In particular, when the protrusion 68b of the label breaking device 60 pushes the central region of the label L from below to break the planned weakening line of the label L, the breaking formed on the label L as a result of the breaking of the planned weakening line. The engaging portion 4 formed at the edge of the opening has a habit of inclining upward and standing up. As a result, it becomes easy to insert the head portion C of the container B into the break opening portion of the label L.

Further, the label transport device 80 has a pair of belt facing members 91 that face the lower surfaces 83 of the pair of endless belt members 81 at the label mounting position β, and the label L has a width direction of the label L at the label mounting position β. The peripheral portions on both sides are sandwiched between the lower surfaces 83 of the pair of endless belt members 81 and the upper surfaces of the pair of belt facing members 91. As a result, the state in which the label L is adsorbed at the label mounting position β can be maintained. As a result, the label L can be reliably attached to the container B from the endless belt member 81.

Further, even when the label L is mounted at a position higher than the predetermined position of the container B, the label L comes into contact with the pressing portion 131 of the label pressing device 110 to bring the label L to the predetermined position of the container B. Can be lowered. Therefore, the label L can be reliably attached to the predetermined position of the container B.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and its modifications, and it is needless to say that various improvements and changes can be made in the matters described in the claims of the present application and the equivalent scope thereof. Yes.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, when viewed from the side (in a cross section including the Z direction and the extending direction of the lower surface 83), the lower surface 83 of the endless belt member 81 has an upper label. It extends in a substantially straight line obliquely downward from the receiving position α to the label mounting position β below. However, the lower surface 83 of the endless belt member 81, for example, when viewed from the side, linearly extends obliquely downward from an upper label receiving position and then linearly extends in the horizontal direction (X direction). As a result, the label mounting position β below may be reached. In this configuration, for example, by applying a force to the endless belt member 81 with a rotatable roller, the extending direction of the lower surface 83 of the endless belt member 81 is changed from the extending direction extending obliquely downward to the horizontal direction. It can be realized by As described above, the lower surface 83 of the endless belt member 81 extends obliquely downward through any route from the upper label receiving position α to the label mounting position β located obliquely lower than the label receiving position α. May be present.

In addition, the lower surface 83 of the pair of endless belt members 81 has a cross-sectional shape in a cross section (hereinafter referred to as a lower surface orthogonal cross section) in which the extending direction of the lower surface 83 is the normal direction, from the label receiving position α to the label mounting position β. There may be two straight line shapes that are located on substantially the same straight line without changing. Alternatively, the lower surfaces 83 of the pair of endless belt members 81 may have a substantially C-shaped (eight-shaped) shape in a cross-section orthogonal to the lower surface from the label receiving position α to the label mounting position β. Good. Alternatively, the lower surface 83 of the pair of endless belt members 81 has a cross-sectional shape in a cross section orthogonal to the lower surfaces which is two linear shapes positioned on substantially the same straight line from the label receiving position α to the first position, and then, It may be deformed to have a substantially C-shape (eight-character shape) from the second position on the label mounting position β side of the first position to the label mounting position β. Alternatively, the lower surface 83 of the pair of endless belt members 81 has a cross-sectional shape in a cross section orthogonal to the lower surface from two linear shapes positioned on substantially the same straight line from the label receiving position α to the label mounting position β. The configuration may be such that it gradually changes to a V-shape (eight-shape).

In the cross section orthogonal to the lower surface, if the pair of width-direction peripheral portions 7a and 7b (see FIG. 3A) of the label L has a substantially C-shape (eight-shape), the pair of engaging portions 4 (see FIG. 3(a)) will stand up apart from each other. Therefore, the label L is easily attached to the container B. Therefore, it is preferable that the lower surfaces 83 of the pair of endless belt members 81 have a substantially C-shaped (eight-shaped) cross-sectional shape in a cross section orthogonal to the lower surfaces at least at the label mounting position β. In addition, in the label mounting position β, when the cross-sectional shape of the lower surfaces 83 of the pair of endless belt members 81 is substantially C-shaped (eight-shaped), the cross-sectional shape of the pair of opposing members 91 in a cross section orthogonal to the lower surfaces. Needless to say, however, it is preferable that the shape is substantially C-shaped (eight-shaped) corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the lower surfaces 83 of the pair of endless belt members 81.

Needless to say, the container to which the label is attached by the label attaching apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the container in which the shoulder line from the body to the neck is bulged in the horizontal direction. The container to which the label is attached by the device may be a container of any shape, for example, a shoulder-shaped container.

10 label loading device, 60 label breaking device, 62 transfer roller, 63 first shaft, 64 breaking roller, 65 second shaft, 66 nip roller, 80 label conveying device, 81 endless belt member, 83 lower surface of endless belt member, 84 suction device, 85 belt driving device, 91 belt facing member, 110 label pressing device, 111 pressing member, B container, L label, C head, α label receiving position, β label mounting position.

Claims (3)

A label mounting device for transferring a label provided with a line of weakening to be broken and mounting it on the neck of a container,
A label breaking device that breaks the planned breaking line of the label,
A label carrying device that receives the label in which the planned weakening line is broken and transfers the label from a label receiving position to a label mounting position,
The label transport device,
A pair of endless belt members having a lower surface that extends obliquely downward from an upper label receiving position to a lower label mounting position and located at intervals in the width direction of the label,
A suction device for sucking the peripheral portions on both sides in the width direction of the label on the lower surface of the pair of endless belt members,
A belt drive device that moves the label adsorbed on the lower surface of the endless belt member from the label receiving position to the label mounting position by circulatingly moving the pair of endless belt members,
A pair of belt facing members facing the lower surface of the pair of endless belt members at the label mounting position,
The label mounting device, wherein at the label mounting position, the peripheral portions on both sides in the width direction of the label are sandwiched between the lower surfaces of the pair of endless belt members and the upper surfaces of the pair of belt facing members. A label mounting device for transferring a label provided with a weakening line to be broken and mounting it on the neck of a container,
A label breaking device that breaks the planned breaking line of the label,
A label conveying device that receives the label in which the expected weakening line is broken and transfers the label from a label receiving position to a label mounting position,
A label pressing device for pressing the label attached to the neck of the container from above,
The label transport device,
A pair of endless belt members having a lower surface that extends obliquely downward from an upper label receiving position to a lower label mounting position and located at intervals in the width direction of the label;
A suction device for sucking the peripheral portions on both sides in the width direction of the label on the lower surface of the pair of endless belt members,
A label loading device including a belt drive device that moves the label adsorbed on the lower surface of the endless belt member from the label receiving position to the label loading position by circulatingly moving the pair of endless belt members. .. The label mounting device according to claim 1 or 2,
The label breaking device pushes the planned weakening line of the label from below to break the label.

Images