JPH1077017A - Information writing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an information write position from shifting, writing from occurring when there is no label at the write position and an unwritten label from being sent by providing, on a driving member, a target member moving integrally with a label holding member and a label position detecting member for detecting the target member and outputting a label position detection signal. SOLUTION: When information is to be written on a moving label, whether a label onto which the information is to be written is positioned at an information write position of an information write member 21 is detected by detecting, by a label position detecting member 25, a target member 24 which has been attached at a position distant from a label holding member on a driving member 11 moving the label holding member 12 so that it may be integrally moved with the label holding member 12. Therefore, erroneous detection of the label position due to the label position detecting member 25 with paste or a paper piece attached to the member 25 can be prevented, and a shift in position of the information written on the label can be effectively prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information writing device for writing information such as the date of manufacture on a label attached to a container or the like.

[0002]

In general, various information such as the date of manufacture and the number of lots is displayed on beverages, foods and other products which are mass-produced in a manufacturing stage.

[0003] Such display of various kinds of information is performed, for example, by writing on a label affixed to a product container in order to display contents or the like. This is performed immediately before the label is attached to the product container by laser light or ink jet.

As a conventional information writing apparatus for writing information on such a label, there is an apparatus as shown in FIG. Conventional information writing device A shown in FIG.
Is attached to the labeling machine B. The labeling machine B includes a plurality of pallets 2 rotatably mounted on an outer peripheral portion of a rotary table 1, a glue roller 3 for applying glue to the pallets 2, and one label R on the pallets 2. It has a label magazine 4 to be supplied and a gripper 5 for receiving the label R from the pallet 2 and affixing the label R to the bottle W conveyed by the belt conveyor V.

The writing device A has a laser emitting device 6 disposed at a position facing the pallet 2 of the labeling machine B, and the laser emitting device 6 outputs a laser beam Lw from the label The information is written by irradiating the thermosensitive coloring printing area of R.

[0006] A system controller 7 is connected to the writing device A, and a shot signal Ss and an oscillation miss signal Sm from the laser ejector 6 are input to the system controller 7.

As shown in FIG. 7, the laser emitting device 6 of the writing device A has a built-in laser oscillator 6A, and a cylindrical lens 6B, a mask 6C and a The laser light Lw is irradiated via the focusing lens 6D, and the irradiation of the laser light Lw causes the characters formed by etching on the mask 6C exchangeably mounted on the mask changer 6E to be written on the label R. Has become.

The position of the label R in the writing device A is detected by a reflection type position detection sensor 6F built in the laser emitting device 6. The reflection type position detection sensor 6F irradiates the label detection light Sl toward the pallet 2 of the label pasting machine B, and generates the thermosensitive color of the label holding surface of the pallet 2 colored dark and the label R colored light. Label detection light S reflected from the printing area
By detecting the difference between the reflectances of l, it is detected whether or not the thermosensitive coloring printing area of the label R is located at a predetermined writing position. When the thermosensitive coloring printing area of the label R is detected, a label detection signal Ld is output to the laser oscillator 6A to cause the laser oscillator 6A to emit laser light Lw.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, Sm is an oscillation miss signal, Ss is a shot signal, and the system controller 7 receives the oscillation miss signal Sm from the laser oscillator 6A or inputs the shot signal Ss. If not performed within a predetermined time from the input of the previous shot signal Ss, a reject signal Sr is output to a rejector 8 provided on the downstream side of the conveyor V, and a label R for writing failure is affixed to the rejector 8. The removed bottle W is removed.

The above information writing device has a response variation of about 0.5 ms when the absolute position of the rotary table 1 is detected by an absolute encoder and information is written on the label R by a laser oscillator. For this reason, the writing position of the information by the laser oscillator deviates from the normal writing position by several millimeters depending on the rotation speed of the rotary table 1, so that the information writing position of the information encoder caused by such a variation in the response of the absolute encoder. The laser beam Lw is emitted from the laser oscillator 6A by detecting whether or not the label R is located at the writing position by the reflection-type position detection sensor 6F of the writing device A. The label R is written due to label supply failure Or laser light Lw is emitted when not in position, in which the irradiation position of the laser light Lw is prevented from or deviates from thermal emission print area of the label R.

However, in the writing device A, since the detection distance of the reflection-type position detection sensor 6F is several tens of millimeters even if a lens or the like is used, glue for sticking the label R, chip chips, and the like are removed. Reflection type position detection sensor 6F
In some cases, a detection error may occur due to the attachment of the label detection light S1 to the exit of the label detection light S1. Therefore, it is not possible to completely solve the problem that the information writing position is shifted due to the malfunction of the laser oscillator 6A. .

In order to solve the above problem, it is conceivable to use another type of position detection sensor instead of the reflection type sensor. For example, when a transmission type sensor is used, FIG. It is necessary to attach the light receiving section of the transmission sensor to the turntable 1 side, and there is a possibility that a detection error may occur due to the vibration caused by the rotation of the turntable 1, so that the above problem cannot be solved.

When the position of the label R is to be detected using an ultrasonic sensor, a cleaning liquid such as hot water is used for cleaning the glue or the like in the label applicator. May cause a detection error, and the above problem cannot be solved.

The above problem also occurs when an ink jet printing machine is used in the writing device A instead of the laser emitting device 6. The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems in the conventional writing device.

That is, the present invention provides an information writing device which detects a label position by a position detection sensor and writes necessary information on the label without the possibility of shifting the information writing position. With the goal. In addition, the present invention provides an information writing apparatus which prevents misalignment of a write position of information and prevents a write operation from being performed when a label is not present at a write position and a label to which no write is performed from being sent out. The purpose is to provide.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, an information writing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention provides an information writing apparatus which supplies information from a label supply member to a label held by a label holding member which is moved by a driving member. In an information writing device that performs writing, an information writing member that writes information on a label held by the label holding member when the label holding member is moved to the information writing position, and a driving member that moves the label holding member Label position detection by detecting a target member attached to the label holding member so as to move integrally with the label holding member, and detecting the target member when the label holding member is located at the information writing position and opposed to the target member. A label position detection member that outputs a signal, and a label supply member that is attached to the label supply member An operation detection member that outputs a label supply signal when the operation is in the supply operation state, and is connected to the operation detection member, the label position detection member, and the information writing member, and receives a label supply signal from the operation detection member. A control member is provided which outputs a write command signal to the information writing member when the label position detection signal is input from the label position detection member to write information.

[0017] The information writing apparatus according to the first invention comprises:
The label is supplied from the label supply member to the label holding member moved by the drive member and held, and the label is attached to a labeling machine that pastes the product onto a product container such as a bottle container.

When the operation of the labeling machine is started and the operation of the label supply member is started, a label supply signal is output from the operation detection member to the control member. In this state,
When the label holding member supplied with the label from the label supply member is moved to the information writing position of the information writing member, the target member moved together with the label holding member is moved to a position facing the label position detecting member. The label position detecting member detects the lever position and outputs a label position detection signal to the control member.

In the control member, when the label supply signal indicating the operation of the label supply member is input from the operation detection member, the label held by the label holding member is positioned at the information writing position from the label position detection member. When a label position detection signal indicating the above is input, a write command signal is output to the information writing member to cause the information writing member to write information.

As described above, according to the first aspect,
When writing information on a moving label, detection of whether or not the label on which the information is to be written is located at the information writing position of the information writing member is performed by a driving member that moves the label holding member. Since the detection is performed by detecting the target member attached so as to move integrally with the member by the label position detection member, the label position detection member is disposed by disposing the target member at a position away from the label holding portion of the label holding member. To prevent the label position detection member from making a mistake in detecting the label position due to the adhesion of glue, paper pieces, etc. on the label, thereby effectively preventing the position of the information written on the label from being shifted. Can be.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information writing device, wherein the information writing member is a laser writing member for writing information by a laser beam. It is characterized by.

According to the information writing apparatus of the second aspect, the information writing area in which the label coloring ink layer is formed is irradiated with laser light from the information writing member, and the color writing ink layer in the information writing area is irradiated with the laser light. By coloring the required portion, desired information is written.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information writing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the information writing member is an ink jet writing member for writing information by ink jet. Features.

According to the information writing apparatus of the third aspect, an ink jet is jetted from the information writing member, which is an ink jet writing member, to the information writing area, and desired information is written to the information writing area by the ink jet. .

To achieve the above object, an information writing apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, wherein the label position detecting member irradiates the detection light and irradiates the detection light with the reflected light from the target member. It is a reflection type position detection sensor for detecting a label position.

The information writing device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention
Detection light such as infrared light is emitted from a label position detection member that is a reflection type position detection sensor, and the target member is positioned at the detection position of the label position detection member by the reflectance of the detection light reflected from the target member. That is, it is detected whether or not the label held and moved by the label holding member is positioned at the information writing position of the information writing member.
Thus, only when the moved label is located at the information writing position of the information writing member, the information writing member operates to write information.

In order to achieve the above object, an information writing apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, detects a moving distance of the label holding member and detects a moving distance detection signal representing the moving distance. And a label holding member represented by a moving distance detection signal input from the moving distance detecting member after the input of the label supply signal from the operation detecting member is started. Is shorter than the distance between the label supply position of the label holding member and the information writing position of the information writing member, the information writing member writes even if a label position detection signal is input from the label position detection member. It is characterized by not outputting a command signal.

The information writing device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention
The control member detects a moving distance of the label holding member to which the label is supplied by the moving distance detection signal input from the moving distance detecting member, and holds the first supplied label after the start of the label supply. When the label holding member has not moved the distance from the label supply position to the information writing position of the information writing member, the label holding member holds the label while the label supply signal is being input from the operation detection member by the operation of the label supply member. The other label holding member preceding the label holding member that has reached the information writing position, the target member provided corresponding to this label holding member is detected by the label position detecting member, and the label position detecting signal is output. Even if input, the write command signal is not output to the information writing member, and the operation of the information writing member is not performed.

As described above, according to the fifth aspect, when the label supply position of the label holding member and the information writing position of the information writing member are separated from each other, the label holding member to which the label has been supplied first is removed. Even if another preceding label holding member that does not hold a label before reaching the information writing position of the information writing member reaches the information writing position and is detected by the label position detecting member, the moving distance detecting member first detects the label holding member. Since the moving distance of the label holding member supplied with the label is detected, the information writing member is not operated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the label holding member that does not hold the label from being irradiated with the laser beam, thereby damaging the label holding member, or preventing the label holding member from being stained by ejecting the ink jet to the label holding member. . In order to achieve the above object, an information writing device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, detects a movement distance of the label holding member and outputs a movement distance detection signal indicating the movement distance to the control member. The movement of the label holding member represented by the movement distance detection signal input from the movement distance detection member after the input of the label supply signal from the operation detection member is stopped. If the distance is shorter than the distance between the label supply position of the label holding member and the information writing position of the information writing member, the information is written to the information writing member when a label position detection signal is input from the label position detection member. It is characterized by outputting a command signal.

The information writing device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention
The control member detects the moving distance of the label holding member to which the label is supplied by the moving distance detection signal input from the moving distance detecting member, and finally, after the supply of the label in the label supplying member is stopped, When the label holding member to which the label is supplied is not moved from the label supply position to reach the information writing position of the information writing member, even in a state where the label supply signal is not input from the operation detection member of the label supply member, When the label holding member reaches the information writing position and the target member provided corresponding to the label holding member is detected by the label position detection member and the label position detection signal is input,
A write command signal is output to the information writing member to cause the information writing member to write information.

As described above, according to the sixth aspect, when the label supply position of the label holding member and the information writing position of the information writing member are separated from each other, the operation of the label supply member is stopped, and finally, Until the label holding member to which the label has been supplied reaches the information writing position of the information writing member, the movement distance of the label holding member to which the label was last supplied is detected by the movement distance detection member, so that the operation is performed. Even when the operation detection signal is not input from the detection member, the information writing member is operated every time the label holding member reaches the information writing position, and the information is written. Therefore, since information is written on all the labels supplied from the label supply member to the label holding member, it is possible to prevent a label on which information has not been written from being attached to a container or the like and shipped. Can be done.

[0032]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example in which the present invention is applied to an information writing apparatus for writing information on a label by laser light. 1 and 2, a labeling machine 10 includes a rotary table 11, a pallet 12, a glue roller 13, a label magazine 14, and a gripper 15.
And has substantially the same structure as the conventional labeling machine of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the turntable 11 is composed of two parallel disks, an upper disk 11A and a lower disk 11B, and the upper disk 11A and the lower disk 11B.
In between, the pallet 12 is attached by the shaft 12A.

The writing device 20 moves the rotary table 1 from the pallet 12 at the label supply position of the label magazine 14.
The pallet 12 downstream by two in one rotation direction
A laser ejector 21 disposed at a position facing the laser ejector 21, a system controller 22 connected to the laser ejector 21 to output a print signal (trigger signal) Pa to the laser ejector 21, and attached to the label magazine 14. A label sending detector 23 that outputs a label supply signal Pb to the system controller 22 when a label R is sent from the label magazine 14 to the pallet 12, and a position corresponding to the pallet 12 on the upper disk 11A of the rotary table 11. A reflection type sensor 25 which is disposed at a position facing the dog 24 when the pallet 12 is positioned at the printing position and outputs a dog detection signal Pc to the system controller 22; Fine pulse P connected to the rotating shaft and corresponding to the rotation angle of the rotary table 11 The and an encoder 26 for output to the system controller 22.

The dog 24 is a stainless steel bolt pin whose surface is mirror-finished, and is fixed to the upper surface of the upper disk 11A of the rotary table 11 so as to protrude upward. Then, when each pallet 12 comes to the printing position of the laser emitting device 21, the corresponding dog 24 is positioned at the position detected by the reflection type sensor 25. The encoder 26 transmits the fine pulse Pd of 10 pulses to the system controller 22 until the pallet 12 is positioned at the label supply position of the label magazine 14 and the next pallet 12 is positioned at the label supply position by the rotation of the rotary table 11. Output.

Next, the operation of the information writing device will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the output timing of each signal, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing the supply state of the label R from the label magazine 14.

FIG. 4 shows a label R by the label magazine 14.
When the label magazine 14 is turned on from this state, the pallet 12 on which the glue is applied by the glue roller 13 rotates the pallet 12 with the label of the label magazine 14 as the rotary table 11 rotates. The labels R are sequentially supplied to the supply position, and the labels R are supplied to the pallet 12 from the label magazine 14 one by one and held. At this time, the label R is held in a state where its back surface is in close contact with the label holding surface of the pallet 12.

When the pallet 12 holding the label R in this way comes to the printing position of the laser ejector 21 downstream by two pallets in the rotation direction of the rotary table 11, the dog 24 is turned to the reflection type sensor 25. And the dog detection signal Pc is detected by the system controller 22.
Is output to

The system controller 22 having received the dog detection signal Pc outputs a print signal Pa to the laser emitting device 21 based on the dog detection signal Pc and the label supply signal Pb input from the label magazine 14. The laser emitting device 21 emits a laser beam toward the pallet 12 according to the input printing signal Pa, and the pallet 1
Various information such as the date of manufacture is written in the heat-sensitive luminescent printing area of the label R held in 2.

Immediately after the start of the label R in the label magazine 14, the two empty pallets 12 are moved to the print position of the laser ejector 21 until the pallet 12 holding the label R comes to the print position of the laser emitting device 21. Therefore, the pallet 12 may be damaged by the irradiation of the laser beam.

For this reason, the system controller 22
As shown in FIG. 3, the fine pulse Pd input from the encoder 26 is counted, and the count number of the fine pulse Pd after the label magazine 14 is turned on and the label supply signal Pb is input is less than 20 counts. , The dog detection signal P from the reflection type sensor 25
Even if c is input, the printing signal Pa is not output to the laser emitting device 21 and the count number of the fine pulse Pd is 20.
The print signal Pa is output only when the count is equal to or greater than the count.

Therefore, after the label magazine 14 is turned on, the dog 24 is detected by the reflection type sensor 25 until the leading pallet 12 holding the label R reaches the printing position of the laser ejector 21, for example. Even if the detection signal Pc is input to the system controller 22, the laser beam is not emitted from the laser emitting device 21, so that the pallet 12 is not damaged by the laser beam.

As shown in FIG. 5, even after the label magazine 14 is turned off, there are two pallets 12 holding the label R between the label supply position and the print position. When the input of the label supply signal Pb from the label magazine 14 is interrupted and the print signal Pa is no longer output to the laser ejector 21, printing is performed on the label R held on the two pallets 12. Will not be done.

For this reason, the system controller 22
As shown in FIG. 3, the label supply signal Pb is input from the label magazine 14 until the count number of the fine pulse Pd after the label magazine 14 is turned off exceeds 20 counts by the counting of the fine pulse Pd. However, the input of the dog detection signal Pc from the reflection type sensor 25 causes the print signal Pa
To output the print signal Pa after the count number of the fine pulse Pd exceeds 20 counts.

Therefore, there is no possibility that the label R without printing is directly attached to the product container and shipped. In the above embodiment, the count number of the fine pulse Pd until the printing by the laser emitting device 21 is started after the label magazine 14 is turned on, and until the printing by the laser emitting device 21 is stopped after the label magazine 14 is turned off. The setting of the count number of the fine pulse Pd is performed according to the interval between the label supply position and the print position in the labeling machine 10. The set value of each count number of the fine pulse Pd can reliably prevent so-called blank printing or generation of a non-printed label in consideration of the influence of external noise and the like. It can be adjusted as follows.

In the above embodiment, the encoder 2
6 and a rotary table 1
1 so that the encoder pulse is input to the system controller 22 from the encoder, and after the dog 24 is detected by the reflection type sensor 25, the pallet 12 is counted by counting the encoder pulse.
Can be double-checked whether or not is surely positioned at the printing position.

In the above description, the writing device 20 for performing printing on the label R by laser printing is shown.
The present invention can be similarly implemented in a writing device that performs printing using an ink jet printer instead of the laser emitting device 21.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing a mounting position of a dog in the same example.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing an output state of each signal in the same example.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state at the time of starting operation of the label magazine in the same example.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state when the operation of the label magazine in the example is stopped.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a laser ejector in the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Label pasting machine 11 ... Rotary table (drive member) 12 ... Pallet (label holding member) 14 ... Label magazine (label supply member) 20 ... Writing device (information writing device) 21 ... Laser ejector (information writing member) 22 ... System controller (control member) 23 ... Label sending detector (operation detecting member) 24 ... Dog (target member) 25 ... Reflective sensor (label position detecting member) 26 ... Encoder (moving distance detecting member) Pa ... Print signal (Write command signal) Pb: Label supply signal Pc: Dog detection signal (label position detection signal) Pd: Fine pulse (moving distance detection signal)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An information writing apparatus for writing information on a label held on a label holding member supplied from a label supply member and moved by a driving member, wherein the label holding member is moved to an information writing position. An information writing member for writing information on a label held by the label holding member, a target member attached to the driving member for moving the label holding member so as to move integrally with the label holding member, and a label holding member A label position detection member that is arranged at a position facing the target member when the member is located at the information writing position and outputs a label position detection signal by detecting the target member; and a label attached to the label supply member. An operation of outputting a label supply signal when the supply member is in an operation state of supplying a label to the label holding member. A sensing member connected to the operation detecting member, the label position detecting member, and the information writing member, and a label position detecting signal is input from the label position detecting member when a label supply signal is input from the operation detecting member; And a control member for outputting a write command signal to the information writing member to write information. 2. The information writing member is a laser writing member for writing information by a laser beam.
An information writing device according to item 1. 3. The information writing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information writing member is an ink jet writing member that writes information by ink jet. 4. The information writing device according to claim 1, wherein the label position detection member is a reflection type position detection sensor that irradiates a detection light and detects a label position by reflected light from the target member. 5. A moving distance detecting member for detecting a moving distance of the label holding member and outputting a moving distance detection signal indicating the moving distance to the control member, wherein the control member detects the moving distance of the label from the operation detecting member. After the input of the supply signal is started, the movement distance of the label holding member represented by the movement distance detection signal input from the movement distance detection member is between the label supply position of the label holding member and the information writing position of the information writing member. 2. The information writing device according to claim 1, wherein when the distance is shorter than the distance, a write command signal is not output to the information writing member even if a label position detection signal is input from the label position detection member. 6. A moving distance detecting member for detecting a moving distance of the label holding member and outputting a moving distance detection signal representing the moving distance to the control member, wherein the control member detects a moving distance from the operation detecting member. After the input of the label supply signal is stopped, the movement distance of the label holding member represented by the movement distance detection signal input from the movement distance detection member is the difference between the label supply position of the label holding member and the information writing position of the information writing member. 2. The information writing device according to claim 1, wherein when the distance is shorter than the distance, a write command signal is output to the information writing member when a label position detection signal is input from the label position detection member.