Personalized label printing device

Abstract

The application relates to the toothpaste packaging technical field and discloses a personalized label printing device which comprises a truss and at least two label processing units, the truss is located above the label processing units, a printer is slidably arranged on the truss, the label processing unit is provided with a conveying position, a printing position and a pasting position, the printing position is arranged between the conveying position and the pasting position, the printer can be moved to the top of any printing position, and the pasting position is provided with a label pasting mechanism. The personalized label printing device can solve the problem of low processing efficiency of printing and pasting labels of personalized orders by using the existing batch printing and one-to-one pasting processing system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of toothpaste packaging technology, and more specifically to a personalized label printing device. Background Technology

[0002] Toothpaste production is a complex and meticulous process. From the precise proportioning of raw materials and the uniform mixing of the paste to the packaging and quality inspection of the product, every step must be strictly controlled to ensure the high quality of the final product. The packaging stage is particularly important because it directly affects the appearance of the product and the consumer's user experience.

[0003] The packaging process encompasses key steps such as filling, capping, and labeling. Among these, labeling, as a crucial step in identifying the product and conveying information, is particularly important. Traditional toothpaste labeling typically involves printing and affixing uniform labels to products on the same production line. This is because, in the past, product specifications and information were relatively fixed. Printing labels in batches and then labeling each product individually effectively improved processing efficiency.

[0004] However, with the evolution of the consumer market, consumers' demand for product personalization and customization is increasing. This has directly led to the diversification of toothpaste label information, no longer limited to a single template. Furthermore, these personalized orders also have specific quantity requirements for toothpaste, moving beyond traditional single-tube sales. In this context, if the traditional batch printing and one-by-one labeling system continues to be used for production, the multiple tubes of toothpaste in the same order can only be produced sequentially, extending the overall production cycle of the order and severely impacting delivery efficiency. Moreover, because the label information for multiple products in such personalized orders is unpredictable, the method of pre-printing and then individually affixing product labels is no longer feasible.

[0005] Therefore, a label printing device that can adapt to personalized order products is needed to achieve high-efficiency processing. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a personalized label printing device to solve the problem of low processing efficiency when printing and pasting labels for personalized orders using existing batch printing and one-to-one labeling processing systems.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a personalized label printing device, comprising a truss and at least two label processing units, the truss being located above the label processing units, and a printer being slidably mounted on the truss; the label processing units having a conveying position, a printing position, and an adhesive position, the printing position being located between the conveying position and the adhesive position; the printer being movable to be directly above any printing position; and the adhesive position having a label adhesive mechanism.

[0008] The principle and advantages of this solution are: by setting up at least two label processing units at the same time, it is possible to print and affix at least two toothpaste product labels in the same order simultaneously, so that product labels in the same order can be printed and affixed in the same batch, reducing the waiting time for products in the same order, shortening the production cycle, and improving overall production efficiency. Simultaneously, the printer slides on the truss and can move above different printing positions, enabling instant printing and affixing of labels for at least two products in the same order. This allows for immediate labeling after printing, compared to the traditional method of batch printing and then affixing labels one by one. Firstly, it eliminates the need for collecting and transferring printed labels, reducing processing steps and improving efficiency. Secondly, it allows for on-demand printing, eliminating the need for pre-printing large quantities of labels, reducing inventory pressure, and lowering warehousing and management costs. Furthermore, in this instant printing mode, printing can be stopped immediately if a label printing error is detected, avoiding resource waste caused by batch errors and reducing error handling costs. Moreover, upon discovering an error, the products in that order can be transferred without affecting the continued processing of labels for subsequent orders. Most importantly, it can simultaneously print at least two different labels, with the content varying each time, greatly improving the flexibility of label printing and adapting to personalized and customized production needs.

[0009] Preferably, as an improvement, the label pasting mechanism includes a positioning component located outside the printing position. The positioning component includes a swing roller and a pair of parallel and rotatably arranged rotating rollers. One of the rotating rollers is connected to a motor. A swing arm is rotatably arranged outside the pasting position. The swing roller is rotatably connected to the swing arm. The swing arm is also connected to a swing drive. Under the swing action of the swing arm, the swing roller can move to a first swing position above the rotating roller or a second swing position next to the rotating roller.

[0010] The above solution uses a positioning component to position the toothpaste tube to be labeled, facilitating the labeling process. Specifically, during labeling, the toothpaste tube is placed on the rotating rollers, and a swing roller moves it above the tube, pressing it down onto the rollers. The swing roller and the two rotating rollers are triangularly positioned outside the tube, creating three opposing forces to keep it relatively stable. A motor then drives one of the rotating rollers to rotate, causing the tube to rotate in place due to friction. Simultaneously, the printed label is fed through the gap between the tube and the swing roller onto the tube. The rotating tube rotates and wraps around the label, while the swing roller, under the friction of the tube, rotates and conveys and rolls the label, ensuring it is smoothly adhered to the tube surface and guaranteeing label adhesion quality.

[0011] Preferably, as an improvement, the swing drive is a cylinder, the tail end of the cylinder is rotatably located outside the bonding position, and the drive shaft of the cylinder is rotatably connected to the swing arm.

[0012] The above scheme allows the swing arm to swing by extending and retracting the cylinder-driven shaft, thereby changing the position of the swing shaft. The structure is simple and easy to maintain.

[0013] Preferably, as an improvement, the label pasting mechanism further includes a limiting component, which includes a limiting protrusion slidably disposed between the pair of rotating rollers, the upper end of the limiting protrusion extending upward toward the rotating roller and protruding beyond the upper end face of the rotating roller.

[0014] Through the above scheme, the limiting protrusion in the limiting component is used to limit the end of the toothpaste tube. On the one hand, it prevents the toothpaste tube from axially displacing between the rotating roller and the swing roller during the labeling process, which would affect the labeling quality. On the other hand, when processing toothpaste tubes with shorter lengths, the position of limiting the toothpaste tube can be changed by moving the limiting protrusion, thereby adapting to the labeling processing of toothpaste tubes of different lengths.

[0015] Preferably, as an improvement, the limiting component further includes a sliding drive module, which is used to drive the limiting protrusion to slide along the axial direction of the rotating roller. The sliding drive module includes a fixedly set guide rod, on which a sliding seat is slidably provided. The sliding seat is fixedly connected to the limiting protrusion, and a cylinder is fixedly connected to the sliding seat.

[0016] With the above solution, when the cylinder is working, it can drive the sliding seat to slide on the guide rod, thereby changing the position of the limiting protrusion to adapt to the position of the toothpaste tube end, thus ensuring the limiting effect on the toothpaste tube. The guide rod can guide the movement of the sliding seat and the limiting protrusion, allowing them to move and adjust in a fixed direction.

[0017] Preferably, as an improvement, the conveying position is provided with a flattening module, which is located in the width direction of the conveying position. The side of the flattening module facing the conveying position has an upwardly recessed groove, and there is a gap between the groove and the conveying position to form a flattening cavity. The flattening cavity is open at the middle of the conveying position and at both ends of the conveying position in the length direction.

[0018] The above solution uses a flattening module to flatten the labels. Since the labels are stored in rolls before printing, they are in an arched shape after being removed. This can easily lead to missing or skewed label information during printing. This solution flattens the labels before printing, ensuring a smooth surface and thus guaranteeing the printing quality of the label information. Specifically, when the label moves to the flattening module, the part of the label near the end enters the flattening cavity. The top of the flattening cavity presses down on the label surface, thus flattening the label.

[0019] Preferably, as an improvement, there are two flattening modules, which are located at opposite ends of the width direction of the transmission position.

[0020] The above solution uses two flattening modules to flatten both ends of the label simultaneously, thus ensuring the flattening effect of the label.

[0021] Preferably, as an improvement, the openings at both ends of the flattening cavity facing the length direction of the transmission position are flared.

[0022] The above solution guides the ends of the label, making it easier for the label to enter the flattening cavity for flattening. This avoids the label being squeezed by the ends of the flattening module and arching, which would affect the label's transport and flattening. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an embodiment of the present invention after the truss has been removed.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the label processing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A magnified view of part A in the middle.

[0027] Figure 5 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the label processing unit from another perspective.

[0028] Figure 6 and Figure 7 All are 3D structural diagrams of the flattened module.

[0029] Figure 8 A state diagram of the toothpaste tube being processed by the label processing unit.

[0030] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A magnified view of part B in the middle.

[0031] Figure 10 for Figure 8 Side view of the transfer, print, and paste positions. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The following detailed description provides further details on specific embodiments, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. Unless otherwise specified, the technical means used in the following embodiments are conventional means well known to those skilled in the art; the experimental methods used are all conventional methods; and the materials and reagents used are all commercially available.

[0033] The reference numerals in the accompanying drawings include: truss 1, label processing unit 2, conveying position 3, printing position 4, pasting position 5, swing roller 6, rotating roller 7, motor 8, swing arm 9, cylinder 10, flattening module 11, flattening cavity 12, opening 13, limiting protrusion 14, guide rod 15, sliding seat 16, toothpaste tube body 17, label 18.

[0034] Example 1

[0035] Implementation, for example Figure 1 As shown: The personalized label printing device 18 includes a truss 1 and at least two label processing units 2. In practical applications, the number of label processing units 2 is the same as the number of toothpastes fixed in the personalized order. For example, the personalized order contains four tubes of toothpaste with the same content. When consumers customize, they only need to customize the flavor of each tube of toothpaste to form a personalized order. In this embodiment, the corresponding number of label processing units 2 is four. The truss 1 is located above the label processing units 2, and a printer (not shown in the figure) is slidably mounted on the truss 1. The printer in this embodiment is existing technology and can be, for example, a laser printer. The specific method of sliding connection between the printer and the truss 1 is also common existing technology, and can be, for example, a slide rail for connection and installation, which will not be elaborated here. The printer can be moved directly above any printing position 4.

[0036] like Figure 2 As shown, the label processing unit 2 is provided with a conveying position 3, a printing position 4 and an adhesive position 5. The printing position 4 is located between the conveying position 3 and the adhesive position 5. In this embodiment, the conveying position 3 is formed and implemented by a conveyor belt, which is used for the conveying of the label 18.

[0037] Combination Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the label pasting position 5 is equipped with a label pasting mechanism 18. The label pasting mechanism 18 includes a positioning component located outside the printing position 4. The positioning component includes a swing roller 6 and a pair of parallel and rotatably mounted rollers 7 on a mounting frame. The rotatable connection between the rollers 7 and the mounting frame can be achieved, for example, through bearings, which will not be elaborated here. Simultaneously, a motor 8 is bolted to the mounting frame. The motor 8 is directly or indirectly fixedly connected to one of the rollers 7 through a reducer. A swing arm 9 is also rotatably mounted on the mounting frame outside the label pasting position 5 via positioning pins. The swing roller 6 is rotatably connected to the swing arm 9, and the specific rotatable connection can be achieved through a hole-shaft mating structure. The swing arm 9 is also connected to a swing drive component. In this embodiment, the swing drive component is a cylinder 10. The tail end of the cylinder 10 is rotatably mounted on the mounting frame outside the label pasting position 5 via a pin. The drive shaft of the cylinder 10 is also positioned and rotatably connected to the swing arm 9 via a pin. The cylinder 10 is used to drive the swing arm 9 to swing, so that the swing roller 6 can be moved to a first swing position above the rotating roller 7 or a second swing position next to the rotating roller under the swing action of the swing arm 9.

[0038] In this embodiment, the rolled labels 18 are installed on the side of the conveyor 3 away from the printing station 4, and release paper is attached to the back of each label 18. All the release papers of the labels 18 are integrally connected, and the labels 18 are connected by tear lines. During processing, the first label 18 of the rolled label 18 is pulled through the conveyor 3 and sent to the printing station 4 for information printing. Then, at the end of the printing station 4, the release paper of the first label 18 is manually separated from the label 18. The release paper is conveyed in the opposite direction below the conveyor belt and collected, while the label 18 is horizontally sent to the pasting station 5 for pasting. In subsequent label printing and pasting processes, the previous label 18 pulls the next label 18 horizontally, while the release paper is pulled in the opposite direction and collected, thus achieving automatic separation between the release paper and the label 18. It is understandable that in practical applications, the label 18 can be made of a relatively hard material, while the release paper can be made of a relatively soft material, which makes it easier for the two to separate. This is a commonly used existing technology, and I will not go into details.

[0039] When printing and affixing labels 18 to four toothpaste tubes 17 of the same order, such as Figure 8 , Figure 9 and Figure 10As shown, the toothpaste tube 17 is placed on two rotating rollers 7, which support the toothpaste tube 17. Then, the cylinder 10 operates and causes the swing arm 9 to rotate and swing. The swing arm 9 drives the swing roller 6 to move onto the toothpaste tube 17. At this time, the two rotating rollers 7 and the swing roller 6 limit the toothpaste tube 17 to prevent it from falling off. Then, the label 18 is sent to the conveyor position 3 and then to the printing position 4. At this time, the printer operates and prints the product information required for the order on the label 18. After the printer completes the printing of the first label 18, it moves along the truss 1 to print the second label. Labels 18 are printed on label processing unit 2, and this process is repeated for all four label processing units 2. The printed labels 18 are then conveyed between the swing roller 6 and the toothpaste tube 17. At this time, motor 8 operates and drives the connected rotating roller 7 to rotate. Under the action of friction, the rotating roller 7 drives the toothpaste tube 17 to rotate, causing the toothpaste tube 17 to wrap around the label 18. Simultaneously, the swing roller 6 also rotates under the action of friction, pressing the label 18 flatly onto the surface of the toothpaste tube 17, thus completing the label adhesion. With all four toothpaste tubes 17 having completed label printing and adhesion simultaneously, the four toothpaste tubes can be removed and packaged for shipment.

[0040] In practical applications, a sensor to detect the label position can be set at the printing position and driven by a servo motor on the conveyor belt. This ensures that the label is accurately delivered to the printing position for printing, thereby avoiding situations where the printed content exceeds the label or is uneven.

[0041] Example 2

[0042] This embodiment is based on embodiment 1, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the label 18 pasting mechanism also includes a limiting component, which includes a sliding drive module and a limiting protrusion 14 slidably disposed between the pair of rotating rollers 7. The upper end of the limiting protrusion 14 extends upward toward the rotating roller 7 and protrudes from the upper end surface of the rotating roller 7.

[0043] The sliding drive module is used to drive the limiting protrusion 14 to slide along the axis of the rotating roller 7. The sliding drive module includes a guide rod 15 fixedly installed on the mounting frame. A sliding seat 16 is provided on the guide rod 15 through a hole-shaft engagement. The sliding seat 16 is bolted or welded to the limiting protrusion 14. A cylinder 10 is also fixedly connected to the sliding seat 16. The cylinder 10 is fixedly installed on the mounting frame.

[0044] In specific implementation, this embodiment combines... Figure 8 , Figure 9 and Figure 10As shown, after the toothpaste tube 17 is placed on the rotating roller 7, the cylinder 10 drives the sliding seat 16 to move along the guide rod 15. The sliding seat 16 drives the limiting protrusion 14 to slide. The limiting protrusion 14 slides between the two rotating rollers 7 along the axial direction of the rotating rollers 7, thereby limiting the end of the toothpaste tube 17 and preventing the toothpaste tube 17 from moving axially during the labeling process and causing the label 18 to be misaligned. When the length of the toothpaste tube 17 changes, the position of the limiting protrusion 14 can also be adjusted through the above process to limit the toothpaste tube 17.

[0045] Example 3

[0046] This embodiment is based on the foregoing embodiments, such as... Figure 3 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the conveying position 3 is provided with two flattening modules 11, which are located at both ends of the width direction of the conveying position 3. The side of the flattening module 11 facing the conveying position 3 has an upwardly recessed groove, and there is a gap between the groove and the conveying position 3 to form a flattening cavity 12. The flattening cavity 12 has openings 13 at the middle of the conveying position 3 and at both ends of the length direction of the conveying position 3. Moreover, the openings 13 at both ends of the flattening cavity 12 facing the length direction of the conveying position 3 are all flared.

[0047] In this embodiment, when the label 18 moves and is conveyed on the conveying position 3, both ends of the label 18 enter the flattening cavity 12 through the opening 13. The flattening module 11 presses down on the surface of the label 18 to make the label 18 flat and not arched, thereby ensuring the printing quality of the label information.

[0048] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present invention, and common knowledge such as specific technical solutions and / or characteristics are not described in detail here. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the technical solutions of the present invention, and these should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention. These modifications and improvements will not affect the effectiveness of the implementation of the present invention or the practicality of the patent. The scope of protection claimed in this application should be determined by the content of its claims, and the specific embodiments described in the specification can be used to interpret the content of the claims.

Claims

1. A personalized label printing apparatus characterized by: The label processing system comprises a truss and at least two label processing units, the truss is located above the label processing units, and a printer is slidably arranged on the truss; the label processing unit is provided with a conveying position, a printing position and a pasting position, the printing position is arranged between the conveying position and the pasting position, the printer can be moved to the top of any printing position, the pasting position is provided with a label pasting mechanism, the conveying position is provided with a flattening module, the flattening module is located in the width direction of the conveying position, one side of the flattening module facing the conveying position is provided with a groove recessed upward, the gap between the groove and the conveying position forms a flattening cavity, the flattening cavity is open to the middle part of the conveying position and the parts at both ends of the conveying position in the length direction, and the conveying position adopts a conveying belt; during processing, the first label of a roll of labels is pulled through the conveying position and sent to the printing position for information printing, then the release paper of the first label is manually separated from the label at the end of the printing position, the release paper is reversely conveyed below the conveying belt and brought back for collection, and the label is horizontally sent to the pasting position for pasting.

2. The personalized label printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein: The label pasting mechanism comprises a positioning assembly arranged outside the printing position, the positioning assembly comprises a swing roller and a pair of parallel and rotatably arranged rotating rollers, one of the rotating rollers is connected with a motor, an oscillating arm is rotatably arranged outside the pasting position, the swing roller is rotatably connected to the oscillating arm, and the oscillating arm is further connected with an oscillating driving member; the swing roller can be moved to a first swing position above the rotating rollers or a second swing position beside the rotating rollers under the oscillating action of the oscillating arm.

3. The personalized label printing apparatus of claim 2, wherein: The oscillating driving member is a pneumatic cylinder, the tail end of the pneumatic cylinder is rotatably arranged outside the pasting position, and the driving shaft of the pneumatic cylinder is rotatably connected to the oscillating arm.

4. The personalized label printing apparatus of claim 3, wherein: The label pasting mechanism further comprises a limiting assembly, the limiting assembly comprises a limiting protrusion slidably arranged between the pair of rotating rollers, and the upper end of the limiting protrusion extends above the upper end face of the rotating rollers.

5. The personalized label printing apparatus of claim 4, wherein: The limiting assembly further comprises a sliding driving module, the sliding driving module is used for driving the limiting protrusion to slide along the axis direction of the rotating rollers, and the sliding driving module comprises a fixedly arranged guide rod, a sliding seat is slidably arranged on the guide rod, the sliding seat is fixedly connected with the limiting protrusion, and the sliding seat is fixedly connected with a pneumatic cylinder.

6. The personalized label printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein: The flattening module is provided with two, and the two flattening modules are respectively located at both ends of the width direction of the conveying position.

7. The personalized label printing apparatus of claim 6, wherein: The openings of the flattening cavities towards both ends of the conveying position in the length direction are in the shape of flared mouths.

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