Label placement device and production method of packed egg

Abstract

To place a label into a chicken egg package provided with a label restriction part automatically.SOLUTION: A label placement device 10 places a label L into a lid body 4 of a chicken egg package 100 in an open state. The lid body 4 has: a label display part 42 formed at a side surface part 4a located adjacent to a hinge part 3; and label restriction parts 43 which prevent the label L from contacting with center projection parts 41 which are provided facing the label display part 42. The label placement device places the label L into a label arrangement area R between the label display part 42 and the label restriction parts 43.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a label inserting device and a method for producing packed eggs.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, a label inserting device that inserts a label between eggs housed in a chicken egg pack has been considered.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] On the other hand, in recent chicken egg packs, some have a label display portion formed on the side surface portion adjacent to the hinge portion in the lid body. In this chicken egg pack, a label is pre-arranged on the open lid body, and in this state, the lid body is closed, so that the label is arranged on the label display portion of the lid body.

[0005] By the way, in the above chicken egg pack, as shown in FIG. 9, when the label is inclined and arranged on the side opposite to the hinge portion in the open lid body, the label may be arranged at an incorrect position (for example, on the egg) when the lid body is closed.

[0006] Therefore, the inventor of the present application is considering providing a label restricting portion on the central protrusion of the lid body so that the label can be stably arranged at a desired position in the state where the lid body is closed. Thereby, the label can be stably arranged at a desired position in the state where the lid body is closed.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to automatically insert a label into a chicken egg pack provided with a label regulating portion in order to stably arrange the label at a desired position.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] That is, the label inserting device according to the present invention is a label inserting device for inserting a label into a lid of an open chicken egg pack, wherein the lid has a label display portion formed on a side surface portion adjacent to a hinge portion, and a label regulating portion provided opposite to the label display portion so that the label does not hit a central protrusion portion, and the label is inserted into a label arrangement region between the label display portion and the label regulating portion.

[0009] With this label inserting device, a label can be automatically inserted into a chicken egg pack provided with a label regulating portion. As a result, packed eggs using a chicken egg pack provided with a label regulating portion can be automatically produced.

[0010] Preferably, a label discharging portion for discharging the label toward the label arrangement region is provided in the same direction as the chicken egg pack conveyed along the label arrangement region. With this configuration, the label can be surely inserted into the label arrangement region between the label display portion and the label regulating portion.

[0011] In addition, the method for producing packed eggs according to the present invention is a method for producing packed eggs using an egg pack having a lid body connected to a container body, wherein the lid body has a label display portion formed on a side surface portion adjacent to a hinge portion, and a label regulating portion for preventing the label from hitting a central protrusion portion provided opposite to the label display portion. The method includes the steps of accommodating eggs in the egg pack, inserting the label into a label placement area between the label regulating portion and the label display portion, closing the lid body into which the label has been inserted, and sealing the lid body and the container body.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention configured as described above, the label can be automatically inserted into the egg pack provided with the label regulating portion, and the packed eggs using the egg pack provided with the label regulating portion can be automatically produced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiment for Carrying out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a label input device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that, for the sake of clarity, all the figures shown below are schematically drawn with appropriate omissions or exaggerations. The same reference numerals are given to the same components, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0015] The label input device 10 of the present embodiment inputs a label L to the lid 4 of the chicken egg pack 100. Hereinafter, before explaining the details of the label input device 10, the details of the chicken egg pack 100 will be explained.

[0016] <Configuration of Chicken Egg Pack 100> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the chicken egg pack 100 of the present embodiment has a container body 2 in which two rows of accommodating portions 2R for accommodating chicken eggs E are formed, and a lid 4 connected to one side portion of the container body 2 along the row of accommodating portions 2R via a hinge portion 3. The chicken egg pack 100 of the present embodiment is integrally formed of, for example, plastic (transparent resin).

[0017] The container body 2 has two rows of accommodating portions 2R in which a plurality of accommodating portions 21 are arranged in a line. In the present embodiment, one row of accommodating portions 2R is formed by five accommodating portions 21.

[0018] The lid 4 is configured to cover the entire container body 2 in a closed state with respect to the container body 2 (see FIG. 3). Specifically, the lid 4 has a central protrusion 41 disposed between the two rows of accommodating portions 2R, a label display portion 42 that makes the accommodated label L visible from the outside, and a label regulating portion 43 that prevents the label L from hitting the central protrusion 41.

[0019] The central protrusion 41 is disposed between the two rows of accommodating portions 2R when the lid body 4 is in a closed state with respect to the container body 2. This central protrusion 41 is disposed between the two rows of accommodating portions 2R and is also disposed between the chicken eggs E accommodated in each row of accommodating portions 2R. In the present embodiment, four central protrusions 41 are formed. Further, each central protrusion 41 is to be disposed between four mutually adjacent chicken eggs E arranged in a square configuration.

[0020] The label display portion 42 is formed on the side surface portion 4a adjacent to the hinge portion 3 in the lid body 4. This label display portion 42 can have an uneven shape different from the uneven shape of the lid body 4 around the label display portion 42. For example, the uneven shape around the label display portion 42 may be a shallow shape, a shape with a small number of unevennesses, or a flat surface. The shape or dimensions of this label display portion 42 may be such that the information displayed on the accommodated label L is easily visible from the outside, and is appropriately set according to the outer shape such as the length dimension and height dimension of the label L.

[0021] The label regulating portion 43 is to prevent the label L accommodated on the hinge portion 3 side from hitting the central protrusion 41 of the lid body 4 when the lid body 4 is open with respect to the container body 2.

[0022] Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4(a), when the label L is inclined toward the central protrusion 41 in a state where the lower end portion contacts the hinge-side corner portion 4x of the lid body 4, the label L is in a state of being separated without contacting the central protrusion 41.

[0023] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4(a), when the label L is inclined toward the central protrusion 41 in a state where the lower end portion contacts the hinge-side corner portion 4x of the lid body 4, it contacts a portion other than the upper end portion of the label L (the middle portion in the width direction of the label L). Thereby, the upper end portion of the label L is in a state of being separated without contacting the central protrusion 41.

[0024] By providing this label regulating portion 43, as shown in Fig. 4(a), when the label L is inclined toward the central protrusion portion 41 with the lower end in contact with the hinge-side corner portion 4x of the lid body 4, the inclination angle θ is larger than the case where the label regulating portion 43 is not provided (see Fig. 4(b)), and the center of gravity position of the label L becomes higher. This label regulating portion 43 also narrows the width where the lower end of the label L is disposed between the hinge-side corner portion 4x and the base end portion of the central protrusion portion 41.

[0025] Further, as shown in Fig. 3, the label regulating portion 43 is disposed between the eggs E accommodated in the accommodation portion row 2R on the hinge portion 3 side when the lid body 4 is closed with respect to the container body 2. The label regulating portion 43 of the present embodiment is formed by extending the base end portion of the central protrusion portion 41 toward the hinge portion 3 as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4(a). Moreover, the label regulating portion 43 is provided at the base end portion of each of the plurality of central protrusion portions 41 facing the label display portion 42 (see Fig. 1). That is, the label regulating portion 43 of the present embodiment prevents the label L from hitting the central protrusion portion 41 facing the label display portion 42. This can also be said to be a configuration in which the central protrusion portion 41 facing the label display portion 42 has a protruding portion protruding toward the label display portion 42 side. Moreover, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the label regulating portion 43 has a plurality of ribs 43a in the direction along the accommodation portion row 2R.

[0026] In such an egg pack 100, as shown in Fig. 5, when the label L is inclined and disposed on the central protrusion portion 41 side (opposite to the hinge portion 3) of the lid body 4, when closing the lid body 4, the label regulating portion 43 causes the label L to fall toward the hinge portion 3 side. Then, the movement of the lower end portion of the label L toward the central protrusion portion 41 is restricted, and it becomes difficult for the label L to move with respect to the lid body 4. As a result, the label L can be stably disposed at a desired position (here, the label display portion 42) in the state where the lid body 4 is closed.

[0027] <Label input device 10> The label L is input into the lid body 4 of the egg pack 100 described above by the label input device 10.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the label inserting device 10 inserts a label L into the lid 4 of the egg pack 100 with the lid 4 open, and is provided above the conveying unit 20 that conveys the egg pack 100.

[0029] The conveying unit 20 is configured using, for example, a conveyor, and conveys the egg pack 100 with the lid 4 open along the longitudinal direction of the label placement area R between the label display unit 42 and the label regulating unit 43. As shown in FIG. 7, this conveying unit 20 is provided with a posture holding member 30 for holding the posture of the lid 4 of the egg pack 100 being conveyed. Thereby, the posture of the lid 4 of the egg pack 100 being conveyed becomes constant, and the label L can be stably inserted into a desired position (the label placement area R described later) by the label inserting device 10.

[0030] Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the conveying unit 20 may be provided with a guide member 40 for making the position in the width direction of the egg pack 100 (and the lid 4) constant facing the conveying direction. Thereby, the position in the width direction of the egg pack 100 (and the lid 4) being conveyed becomes constant, and the label L can be stably inserted into a desired position (the label placement area R described later) by the label inserting device 10.

[0031] Specifically, the label inserting device 10 inserts the labels L one by one into the label placement area R between the label display unit 42 and the label regulating unit 43.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 6, this label inserting device 10 includes a label stocker 11 that stores a plurality of labels L in a stacked state, a label taking-out unit 12 that takes out the labels L one by one from the label stocker 11, and a label discharging unit 13 that discharges the label L taken out by the label taking-out unit 12 toward the label placement area R.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 8, the label releasing unit 13 releases the label L using a plurality of rollers 13a, and releases the label L toward the label placement area R in the same direction as the chicken egg pack 100 conveyed by the conveying unit 20 (that is, along the conveying direction). In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the label L is released from the label releasing unit 13 directly above the passing range of the label placement area R when viewed from the conveying direction.

[0034] The label releasing unit 13 of the present embodiment feeds the label L obliquely upward from above toward the label placement area R along the conveying direction (see FIG. 6 and the like). Thereby, the label L introduced into the label placement area R lands on the lower surface of the label placement area R from the lower corner portion in the forward direction of the traveling direction and is arranged in the label placement area R. Note that protrusions (not shown) protruding inward may be formed at both ends of the label display portion 42 on the side surface portion 4a of the lid body 4 to regulate the position of the label L introduced by the protrusions.

[0035] <Method for producing packed eggs> Next, a method for producing packed eggs using the label inserting device 10 of the present embodiment will be described.

[0036] First, a sorting and housing device (not shown) houses the chicken eggs E in the chicken egg pack 100. Then, the chicken egg pack 100 containing the chicken eggs E is conveyed by the conveying unit 20. The label L is inserted into the label placement area R of the lid body 4 of the chicken egg pack 100 conveyed by the conveying unit 20 by the label inserting device 10.

[0037] Here, the posture of the lid body 4 of the chicken egg pack 100 being conveyed is constantly maintained by the posture holding member 30, and the position in the width direction is constantly guided by the guide member 40. Therefore, the label L can be stably inserted into the label placement area R by the label inserting device 10.

[0038] Next, in the chicken egg pack 100 being conveyed by the conveying unit 20, the lid 4 into which the label L has been inserted is closed. After closing the lid 4, the lid 4 and the container body 2 are sealed. Thereby, packed eggs are produced.

[0039] <Effects of the present embodiment> According to the chicken egg pack 100 of the present embodiment, the label L can be automatically inserted into the chicken egg pack 100 provided with the label regulation unit 43. As a result, packed eggs using the chicken egg pack 100 provided with the label regulation unit 43 can be automatically produced.

[0040] Also, since the label regulation unit 43 is provided in the chicken egg pack 100, even when the label L is inclined and arranged on the hinge part 3 side, or even when the label L is inclined and arranged on the central protrusion part 41 side (opposite side to the hinge part 3) of the lid 4, the label L can be stably arranged at a desired position (for example, the label display part 42) in the state where the lid 4 is closed.

[0041] <Modified embodiment of the present invention> Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0042] For example, in addition to the configuration in which the label inserting device 10 discharges the label L toward the label arrangement area R along the conveying direction, it may be configured to discharge the label L from above to below the label arrangement area R.

[0043] Also, the label inserting device 10 may be configured to discharge the label L in a state where the main surface of the label L is perpendicular to the conveying surface (upper surface of the conveyor) of the conveying unit 20, or may be configured to discharge the label L in a state where the main surface of the label L is inclined with respect to the conveying surface of the conveying unit 20.

[0044] Furthermore, the label inserting device 10 may be configured to have a guide part that guides the label L discharged from the label discharging part 13 to the label arrangement area R.

[0045] Furthermore, although the label regulation unit 43 of the above-described embodiment has ribs 43a along the horizontal direction, it may have ribs along the vertical direction or may not have the ribs 43a.

[0046] Moreover, the label regulation unit 43 is formed continuously with the base end portion of the central protrusion 41, but it may be formed separately from the central protrusion 41.

[0047] Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0048] 100 ··· Chicken egg pack E ··· Chicken egg L ··· Label 2 ··· Container body 3 ··· Hinge portion 4 ··· Lid 4a ··· Side surface portion 41 ··· Central protrusion 42 ··· Label display portion 43 ··· Label regulation unit R ··· Label placement area 10 ··· Label insertion device 13 ··· Label discharge portion

Claims

1. A label inserting device for inserting a label into a lid of an open chicken egg pack, wherein the lid has a label display portion formed on a side surface portion adjacent to the hinge portion, and a label regulating portion provided opposite to the label display portion so that the label does not hit a central protrusion portion, and the label inserting device inserts the label into a label placement area between the label display portion and the label regulating portion.

2. The label inserting device according to claim 1, further comprising a label discharging portion that discharges the label toward the label placement area in the same direction as the chicken egg pack conveyed along the label placement area.

3. A method for producing packed eggs using a chicken egg pack having a lid connected to a container body, wherein the lid has a label display portion formed on a side surface portion adjacent to the hinge portion, and a label regulating portion provided opposite to the label display portion so that the label does not hit a central protrusion portion, the method comprising: accommodating chicken eggs in the chicken egg pack; inserting the label into a label placement area between the label regulating portion and the label display portion; closing the lid into which the label has been inserted; and sealing the lid and the container body.

Images