JPH07187148A - Method and apparatus for shrinking label - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To securely and easily control temperature of respective zones to prevent a label from incorrectly shrinking by effectively preventing a heat flow between a first zone (preheating zone) and a second zone (shrinking zone) irrespective of an amount of transferred containers. CONSTITUTION:A cylindrical label 6 put over a container 5 to be transferred and having heat-shrinkability is heated in a preheating zone A to an approximate temperature where shrinkage starts, and further the heated label 6 is transferred into a shrinking zone B in a vapor atmosphere at a higher temperature than in the preheating zone A, thereby finishing the label. 6 by heating and shrinking.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label shrinking method and apparatus for heating a label fitted in a container to shrink the label.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a container such as a PET bottle filled with a soft drink or the like is generally equipped with a tubular heat-shrinkable label, and as a means for mounting this label. First, after opening a flat label, the label is fitted in a container and heat-shrinked by a shrink device (shrinking device).

In this shrink device, the label of the container transferred by the conveyor is kept at a relatively low temperature (60 ° C to 80 ° C).
First zone heated at ℃) and relatively high temperature (80 ℃ ~ 9
The shrinkage zone is further heated at 5 ° C.), and each zone is maintained at a predetermined temperature atmosphere by steam so that heat shrinkage of the label is efficiently performed.

[0004]

However, in the above apparatus, since the first zone and the second zone are always open, the first zone is controlled despite the temperature control of each zone. However, the high temperature steam and air on the second zone side flow into the low temperature side, and the temperature control in each zone cannot be performed reliably.

In particular, the flow of steam or air tends to largely depend on the amount of the container to be transferred. For example, when the transfer of the container is started, the ambient temperature in the first zone becomes higher than a predetermined temperature. As a result, the label in the initial stage of transfer abnormally contracts or contracts unevenly, causing defective products.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and the heat flow between the first zone (preheating zone) and the second zone (contraction zone) is irrespective of the amount of the container to be transferred. It is an object of the present invention to effectively prevent the temperature of each zone from being reliably and easily controlled, and to prevent a shrinkage defect of a label.

[0007]

The present invention has been made as a label shrinking method and apparatus in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. The feature of the label shrinking method is that the container 5 to be transferred is fitted. In addition, the tubular label 6 having heat shrinkability is heated in the preheating zone A up to the shrinkage start temperature,
Further, the heated label 6 is transferred into the shrinking zone B in the atmosphere of steam having a temperature higher than the temperature in the preheating zone A while preventing the steam from flowing into the preheating zone A side. 6 is to be heat-shrinked and finished.

Further, the features of the label shrinking device are as follows:
A pre-heating zone A capable of heating a cylindrical label 6 fitted in the container 5 transferred by the transfer device 3 and having heat shrinkability to a contraction start temperature and a label 6 heated in the pre-heating zone A. In a label shrinking device comprising a shrinking zone B for shrinking the sheet and bringing it into close contact with the container 5.
And the contraction zone B are provided in a vapor atmosphere state, and between the preheating zone A and the contraction zone B, a buffer zone C for preventing the inflow of steam and air between the zones A and B is provided. is there.

Further, in a label shrinking device having a heating zone S for heating and shrinking a cylindrical label 6 which is fitted into the container 5 transferred by the transfer device 3 and has heat shrinkability, the heating zone In order to maintain the inside of S at the specified temperature,
A circulation space 10 communicating with the heating zone S is provided, and circulation blowers 13 and 13a for circulating the supplied vapor and the vapor and air in the heating zone S through the circulation space 10 and the amount of the vapor supplied. And a control device 16 for adjusting the.

[0010]

In the present invention, when the container 5 is transferred into the preheating zone A, the preheating zone A is maintained at a predetermined temperature atmosphere by the heating means, so that the label 6 is heated to such an extent that it starts to shrink. It

Further, the container 5 passes through the buffer zone C and is transferred to the contraction zone B. When the container 5 is transferred, the buffer zone C is located between the preheating zone A and the contraction zone B. In order to prevent the flow of steam and air, for example, there is no risk that the steam and air in the shrinking zone B, which is the high temperature side, will flow into the preheating zone A, which is the low temperature side.

Therefore, the temperatures in the preheating zone A and the shrinking zone B are less likely to fluctuate due to the transfer of the container 5, and the temperature control can be easily performed independently in each zone.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a label shrinking device, which conveys a large number of containers 5 (for example, polyester bottles formed by blow molding) with intervals in the arrow direction by a belt conveyor 3 and The label 6 fitted on the container 5 is heated and shrunk.

The label 6 is formed by joining both ends of a synthetic resin film made of a heat-shrinkable film such as polyester into a tubular shape, and then wound into a roll, which is cut into a predetermined length while being unrolled. so,
The container 5 is opened and opened by an opening device (not shown).

The label shrinking device 1 has a preheating zone A, a buffer zone C and a shrinking zone B from the upstream side in the transfer direction of the container 5, and the preheating zone A and the shrinking zone B constitute a heating zone S. . Preheating zone A is container 5
A punching plate 8 having a large number of nozzle holes 7 so as to be located on both sides is detachably provided on the machine base 14.

On the back side of each punching plate 8, as shown in FIG. 3, a circulation space 10 communicating with the nozzle hole 7 of the punching plate 8 is provided. Reference numeral 11 is a steam pipe arranged above the container 5 and in the transfer direction thereof, and the jet nozzle 11b at the rear end thereof is directed to the blade 13a of the circulation blower 13 mounted on the upper surface of the machine base 14.

In the circulation blower 13, the steam ejected from the ejection nozzle 11b of the steam pipe 11 and the steam and air in the preheating zone A flow upward, and further descend both circulation spaces 10 to make nozzle holes in the punching plate 8. Preheating zone A through 7
It is designed to be circulated inside.

Reference numeral 15 is a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the preheating zone A, and the signal of the temperature sensor 15 is sent to the control device 16 which causes the preheating zone A to be in a vapor atmosphere state of a preset temperature. (Note that the steam atmosphere state means an atmosphere state in which steam and steam with dew condensation of steam are mixed.) The amount of steam constantly supplied from the steam pipe 11 via the main pipe 17 is adjusted. The temperature is controlled accordingly.

For example, when the heating temperature of the label 6 is 60 ° C., the control device 16 controls the steam flowing in the main pipe 17 to
The label 6 is heated from room temperature to about 60 ° C. by ejecting it from the steam pipe 8 together with the steam and air in the preheating zone A taken in by the circulation fan 13. When the temperature in the preheating zone A is lower than the set temperature, the amount of steam supplied is increased and the ambient temperature is adjusted.

The contraction zone B comprises a first contraction zone B1 and a second contraction zone B2 (hereinafter referred to as a finishing zone), and the first contraction zone B1 is similar to the preheating zone A in the circulation space 10 as a heating means. , Punching plate 8a
And a circulation fan 13a, etc., and the first contraction zone B1.
The ambient temperature of the label is controlled to about 80 ° C. by the control device 21 based on the signal of the temperature sensor 15a, and when the container 5 passes through this atmosphere, the entire label 6 is heated and contracted. be able to.

In the finishing zone B2, a plurality of stages of steam pipes 19 are provided in place of the punching plate 8 and the circulation space 10, and steam controlled by the controller 16 is jetted from the jet holes 19a of the steam pipes 19. It Therefore, if there is a portion with poor shrinkage in the first shrinkage zone B1, steam is intensively ejected to that portion, so that, for example, the label 6 that has been flatly folded before being fitted into the container 5 is used. Has creases on both sides, and it is difficult for the creases to shrink, but it is effective in completely contracting the creases in the finishing zone B2.

The buffer zone C is a zone which divides the preheating zone A and the contraction zone B, and is provided with a pair of blocking bodies 23a and 23b at a predetermined interval in the transfer direction of the container 5. is there. Each of the blocking bodies 23a and 23b is made of a flexible sheet body in which a plurality of vertical cuts 24 are formed from the lower end to substantially the upper portion as shown in FIG.
The upper part of each barrier 23 is attached to the machine base 14, and the lower end thereof is in contact with or close to the upper surface of the conveyor 3 to prevent the flow of steam and air between the preheating zone A and the shrinking zone B. .

The distance between the two blocking bodies 23 is larger than the diameter of the container 5 to be transferred, and when passing through one blocking body 23a, the other blocking body 23b blocks the preheating zone A and the contraction zone B. In this way, mutual steam and air flow are prevented. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 26 is an exhaust fan.

This embodiment is constructed as described above, and next, a case where the label 6 is attached to the container 5 using the apparatus will be described. First, the flat label 6 is opened and fitted into the container 5, and then the container 5 is transferred to the label shrinking device 1. In the preheating zone A, the label 6 is heated to a temperature immediately before contraction (for example, around 60 ° C.) (see FIG. 4).
(See (a)), the container 5 is further transferred, and one of the blocking bodies 23a is
4 (see FIG. 4B), the container 5 passes through the one blocking member 23a and enters the buffer zone C.

When the container 5 passes through the one blocking body 23a, the other blocking body 23b blocks the contraction zone B and the buffer zone C, so that the vapor and air in the contraction zone B are buffered. There is no possibility of flowing into the preheating zone A via the zone C.

Further, when the container 5 reaches the other blocking body 23b (see FIG. 4C), the one blocking body 23a blocks the preheating zone A from the shrinking zone B, and the preheating zone A and shrinking. The container 5 is transferred to the first contraction zone B1 of the contraction zone B without the vapor and air in the zone B flowing (see FIG. 4D).

When the distance between the containers 5 to be transferred is narrow, the containers 5 do not necessarily pass through the barriers 23a and 23b alternately but simultaneously pass through the respective barriers 23a and 23b. Since the barrier body 23 is curved only for the container 5, the steam and air on the side of the contraction zone B flow into the side of the preheating zone A as described above, or the air on the side of the preheating zone A together with the container 5 contracts the side of the contraction zone B. There is no possibility of flowing into the air, and the effect of blocking the flow of steam and air is sufficiently obtained.

The inside of the first shrinking zone B1 is controlled to have an ambient temperature sufficient to heat the label 6, and the label 6 preheated in the preheating zone A shrinks quickly and completely to the container 5. In close contact. Even if an incomplete uncontracted part remains around the label 6 with a crease, when the container 5 reaches the finishing zone B2, steam is ejected from the steam pipe 19 to the uncontracted part. Sure label 6
Can be contracted.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the label 6 fitted in the container 5 is preheated in the preheating zone A, and then the preheated label 6 is further heated in the shrinking zone B. Therefore, the temperature of the label 6 can be gently increased, and there is no heating unevenness, so that wrinkles or distortion of the label 6 are less likely to occur.

Moreover, since the preheating zone A and the contraction zone B are partitioned by the buffer zone C, the flow of steam and air between the zones A and B, especially the contraction, is always constant when the container 5 is transferred. The flow of steam and air from the zone B to the preheating zone A can be prevented, so that the temperature control in each zone can be performed easily and reliably.

Further, in this embodiment, a predetermined amount of steam is constantly supplied from the steam pipe 11 to the preheating zone A and the contraction zone B, and this new steam is supplied to both the zones A and B by the respective circulation fans 13. Since it is forcedly circulated together with steam and air, it is possible to maintain a state in which steam is constantly filled in each zone A, B, and a large heat capacity can be obtained, which enables easy and efficient stable temperature control, and heat quantity. The shrinkage failure due to the shortage does not occur, and the entire label 6 can be uniformly and reliably shrunk.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and the barrier body forming the buffer zone C is not limited to the flexible sheet body, and the shield plate 23 as shown in FIG.
Needless to say, the structure may be such that a and 23b are provided by a cylinder or the like so as to be movable in the up-down direction or the left-right direction, or may be an air curtain that ejects air downward.

Moreover, the buffer zone C is preferably composed of the pair of blocking members 23a and 23b as described above.
As long as it does not hinder the blocking property between the preheating zone A and the contraction zone B, it can be constituted by a single blocking body.

Further, in the above embodiment, the shrinkage zone B is set to the first zone.
The contraction zone B1 and the finishing zone B2 are provided.
When the label 6 can be completely contracted in the contraction zone B1, both zones are not necessarily provided, and the design of the other members can be arbitrarily changed.

[0035]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above,
The heat flow between the preheating zone and the shrinking zone can be effectively prevented regardless of the amount of the transferred container. As a result, there is an advantage that the temperature control of each zone can be performed reliably and easily, and the shrinkage defect of the label, which was caused by the uneven heating of the label as in the past, can be prevented.

Further, in order to maintain the preheating zone and the shrinking zone at predetermined temperatures, a circulation space communicating with each zone is provided, and the supplied steam and the vapor and air in each zone are circulated. If a circulation blower that circulates through it and a control device that adjusts the amount of supplied steam are provided, the heat in each zone is forcedly circulated to easily and efficiently stabilize the temperature control. Is possible.

Moreover, when the steam is constantly supplied to the circulation blower, new steam is constantly circulated along with the steam in the preheating zone and the contraction zone to maintain the steam filled in each zone. To increase the heat capacity,
There is an advantage that the entire label can be uniformly and surely contracted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional front view showing the entire apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the main part.

4A to 4D are front views showing a shrinking step of each label.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 ... Belt conveyor (transfer device), 5 ... Container, 6 ... Label, 8 ... Heating means, 20 ... Heating means, A ... Preheating zone, B
… Shrink zone, C… Buffer zone

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical label (6) which is fitted in a container (5) to be transferred and has a heat shrinkability is heated in a preheating zone (A) to a contraction start temperature and further heated. The label (6) is provided so that the steam does not flow into the preheating zone (A) side in the contraction zone (B) in an atmosphere of steam having a temperature higher than the temperature in the preheating zone (A). A label shrinking method, which comprises transporting and shrinking the label (6) by heating to finish. 2. A preheating zone (A) capable of heating a cylindrical label (6) fitted in a container (5) transferred by a transfer device (3) and having heat shrinkability up to a contraction start temperature. ) And a shrink zone (B) that shrinks the label (6) heated in the preheat zone (A) to bring it into close contact with the container (5), the preheat zone (A) and the shrink zone. (B) is provided in a vapor atmosphere state, and a buffer zone (between the preheating zone (A) and the contraction zone (B) for preventing inflow of vapor and air between the zones (A) and (B) ( C) is provided, and a label shrinking device. 3. A label provided with a heating zone (S) for heat-shrinking a cylindrical label (6) fitted in a container (5) transferred by a transfer device (3) and having heat shrinkability. In the contraction device, the circulation space (10) communicating with the heating zone (S) is provided in order to maintain the inside of the heating zone (S) at a predetermined temperature, and the supplied steam and the heating zone (C) are provided. Circulation blowers (13) and (13a) for circulating the steam and air in the interior through the circulation space (10) and a controller (16) for adjusting the amount of supplied steam. A label shrinking device. 4. The circulating steam blower (13), (13a)
4. The label shrinking device according to claim 3, further comprising a steam pipe provided so as to be supplied to the label shrinking device.