JPH09257568A - Label detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reliably detect the existence and a position of a label by a single optical sensor by forming the optical sensor of a reflection type optical sensor, and arranging contrast identifiable by the optical sensor on a separable mount sheet and the label. SOLUTION: A reflection type photointerrupter 31 is used as an optical sensor. In a separable mount sheet 11 and a label 21, for example, the separable mount sheet 11 is formed of a black mount sheet so that the photointerrupter 31 can identifies it, and the label 21 is made semitransparent or opaque (for example, white). A bar code to show a zip code is attached to the label 21. When the separable mount sheet 11 is made to travel in the X direction, the photointerrupter 31 directly detects the label 21 by identifying contrast between the separable mount sheet 11 and the label 21. Therefore, since there is no need to apply a hole and a marking taking labor in work, a required process is only to use a black mount sheet. The existence of the label 21 can also detected only by the photointerrupter 31.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label detecting device provided with an optical sensor for detecting labels arranged on a release liner with a distance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a label detecting device having an optical sensor capable of detecting a label in a non-contact manner has been widely used.

FIG. 2 shows a conventional structure of such a label detecting device. In the figure, 11 is a release mount, 21 is a label,
31A is a transmission type optical sensor.

The release liner 11 is formed in a strip shape,
The vehicle is driven in a predetermined direction (for example, the arrow X direction) by a traveling drive means (not shown). A large number of labels 21 are affixed to the release liner sheet 11 while being separated by a predetermined distance. The release mount 11 has a hole 15 for label detection penetrating therethrough at a predetermined distance (L) upstream from the position where the label 21 is attached in the running direction (X direction).

In the above label detecting device, when the release liner 11 is moved in the X direction, the optical sensor 31A is provided with the holes 15a and 15b.
The label 21 is indirectly detected by detecting.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 3, instead of the holes 15, markings 16 are attached to the release liner 11 corresponding to the respective labels 21, and the markings 16 are detected by the reflective photo interrupter 31. There is also known a label detection device that indirectly detects each label 21 by means of.

[0007]

By the way, in any of the above label detecting devices, the holes 15 and the markings 16 must be accurately provided at predetermined positions on the release liner 11, which requires time and labor for processing. It has the drawback that

Further, since the label 21 is indirectly detected through the corresponding hole 15 and the marking 16 as described above, even if the label 21 is peeled off from the release liner 11 for some reason, it is not detected. It has a disadvantage that it is handled as if the label 21 is attached.

Therefore, in order to reliably detect the label, a sensor for detecting the presence / absence of the label must be provided in addition to the above-mentioned optical sensors (31A, 31), which has the drawback of further increasing the cost. There is.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a label detecting device capable of surely detecting the presence or absence and the position of a label with one optical sensor.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a label detecting apparatus including an optical sensor for detecting labels arranged on a release liner, the optical sensor being a reflection type optical sensor. The release liner and the label are provided with a contrast that can be discriminated by the optical sensor.

In the above invention, the reflective optical sensor directly detects the label by identifying the contrast between the release liner and the label. Therefore, for example, a black mount may be used as the release mount, and it is not necessary to provide a hole or a marking which is troublesome for processing unlike the conventional case. Also,
The presence or absence of the label can be detected by the above-mentioned optical sensor.

Therefore, the presence or absence and the position of the label can be reliably detected with one optical sensor.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a label detecting device provided with an optical sensor for detecting labels arranged separately on the release liner, the optical sensor is formed of an infrared detection sensor, and the release liner and An infrared absorbent is applied to either one of the labels.

In this invention, since the label and the part of the release liner to which the label is not attached can be discriminated by the infrared detection sensor, the presence or absence and the position of the label can be reliably detected by one optical sensor (infrared detection sensor). can do.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the present label detection apparatus has the same basic configuration as the conventional example (FIGS. 2 and 3), but the release mount 11 and the label 21 have an optical sensor (3).
1) is provided with a distinguishable contrast.

The same components as those of the conventional example (FIGS. 2 and 3) are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

The release mount 11 is made of, for example, a black mount. The label 21 is translucent or opaque (for example, white). Label 2
1, a bar code indicating postal information such as a postal code is attached. A reflection type photo interrupter 31 is used as the optical sensor. This photo interrupter 3
1 is popular and generally inexpensive.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the release liner 11 travels in the X direction, the reflective photo interrupter 31 identifies the contrast between the release liner 11 and the label 21 and directly detects the label 21.

In this embodiment, however, the photo interrupter 31 discriminates the contrast between the release liner 11 and the label 21 and directly detects the label 21.
The release liner 11 need only be black, for example, and there is no need to provide the release liner 11 with holes or markings 16 that would otherwise take time to process. Also, the presence or absence of the label 21 can be detected by the above-mentioned optical sensor. Therefore, the presence or absence and the position of the label 21 can be reliably detected by one optical sensor (31).

In the above embodiment, the release mount 11 and the label 21 are provided with a contrast that allows the reflection type photo interrupter 31 to be identified. However, the optical sensor is formed of an infrared detection sensor (not shown), and the separation is performed. An infrared absorbent may be applied to one of the template 11 and the label 21.

With this configuration, the infrared detection sensor can distinguish between the label 21 and the part of the release liner 11 on which the label 21 is not attached, so that the presence or absence of the label and the position of the label can be assured with one optical sensor. Can be detected.

[0023]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the optical sensor is formed of a reflection type optical sensor, and the release mount and the label are provided with a contrast that enables the optical sensor to identify.
The presence and position of the label can be reliably detected with one optical sensor.

According to the invention of claim 2, since the optical sensor is formed of an infrared detecting sensor and the infrared absorbent is applied to either one of the release liner and the label, the same as in the case of the invention of claim 1. Produce an effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining a conventional example of a label detecting device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining another conventional example of the label detecting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Release Mount 21 Label 31 Photointerrupter (Reflective Photointerrupter)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A label detection device comprising an optical sensor for detecting labels arranged separately on a release liner, wherein the optical sensor is formed of a reflection type optical sensor, and the release liner and the label are provided. A label detecting apparatus, characterized in that the optical sensor is provided with a distinguishable contrast. 2. A label detecting device provided with an optical sensor for detecting labels arranged separately on a release liner, wherein the optical sensor is formed of an infrared detection sensor, and either the release liner or the label is formed. A label detecting device, characterized in that one side is coated with an infrared absorbing agent.