Labeling device and support unit

Abstract

To stably support a cylindrical container irrespective of its shape or length.SOLUTION: A labeling device comprises a support that supports a cylindrical container in its horizontally laid state and rotates the container supported by the support about an axis to stick a label to a peripheral surface of the container. The device further comprises a second support that supports the container at a support position different from that for supporting the container by the support, and a relative position changing mechanism for changing the relative positions of both the support positions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a labelling device and a support unit. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, when seasonings are sold in containers, labels containing product information are often attached to the containers, and there are label attachment devices that can automate this attachment process.

[0003] Some labeling devices can automate all of the operations, but when producing a wide variety of products in small lots, the cost is not justified, so devices that can automate only part of the operations are used.

[0004] Patent document 1 discloses this type of labeling device, which has a pair of support rollers that support a cylindrical container in a sideways position, and which can attach a label to the circumferential surface of the container while rotating the container supported by the pair of rollers.

[0005] However, for example, cylindrical containers used upright often have a larger diameter at the bottom than at the top, and the labeling device of Patent Document 1 cannot support such containers from both the top and bottom. As a result, the containers are unstable, and there is a risk that the labels may tilt during labeling, causing misalignment. Furthermore, containers too long to fit on the support rollers cannot be stably supported, resulting in the same problem. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4182487 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a device that can stably support a cylindrical container regardless of its shape or length. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The labeling device of the present invention is a labeling device that includes a support that supports a cylindrical container in a sideways position, and that can apply a label to the circumferential surface of the container while rotating the container supported by the support around its axis, and is characterized by further including a second support that supports the container at a support position different from the support position supported by the support, and a relative position change mechanism that changes the relative positions of the two support positions.

[0009] According to the present invention, the relative positional relationship between the support positions of the pair of supports that support the container can be adjusted, so that even if the container has partially different diameters, each of the different diameter portions can be supported. As a result, the container is stabilized and the label is less likely to slip when attached.

[0010] Here, a cylindrical container is not limited to one that is cylindrical in the entire axial direction, but also includes one that is partially cylindrical. Furthermore, a cylindrical container lying on its side includes not only a state in which the central axis of the container is horizontal, but also a state in which the central axis is tilted.

[0011] A specific embodiment of the two supports is one in which the two supports support the container at different support positions in the axial direction of the container.

[0012] When supporting containers having partially different diameters, it is preferable that the relative position changing mechanism changes both supporting positions in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the containers.

[0013] With this configuration, for example, the larger diameter portion can be supported by one support, and the smaller diameter portion can be supported by the other support, meaning that the container can be supported at two points and is stable.

[0014] When the overall length of the container is long, it is preferable that the relative position changing mechanism changes both of the support positions in the axial direction of the container.

[0015] With this configuration, even a long container that extends beyond one of the supports can be supported at two points and is stable.

[0016] In a specific embodiment of the support, at least one of the supports comprises a pair of rollers having parallel rotation axes, and supports the container therebetween.

[0017] With this configuration, the roller rotates in accordance with the rotation of the container, so the label attached to the container is less likely to be damaged.

[0018] In this case, the apparatus may further include a rotation mechanism that rotates the container around an axis, and the rotation mechanism may rotate the roller.

[0019] With this configuration, there is no need to provide a rotation mechanism separately from the support, and therefore the device can be made smaller.

[0020] Furthermore, the second support body and the relative position changing mechanism may form a support unit, and the support unit may be configured to be attached directly or indirectly to the support body.

[0021] With this configuration, for example, if the support is sufficient, the support unit can be removed and used, and as a result, the device can be easily customized to suit the installation location, shape of the container, etc.

[0022] In addition, the support unit of the present invention comprises a support body that supports a cylindrical container in a laid-on position, and is attached to a label application device that can apply a label to the circumferential surface of the container while rotating the container supported by the support body around its axis.The support unit is characterized by comprising a second support body that is attached directly or indirectly to the support body and supports the container at a support position different from the support position supported by the support body, and a relative position change mechanism that changes the relative positions of the two support positions.

[0023] The labeling device of Patent Document 1 has been used by many users. However, by combining the second support and the relative position changing mechanism into a unit as in the present invention, it can be retrofitted to a labeling device owned by a user. As a result, the functions of the present invention can be added without having to replace the labeling device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to the present invention configured as described above, cylindrical containers can be stably supported regardless of their shapes, and as a result, the label is less likely to slip off when attached. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a label application device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a front view schematically showing a label application device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the label application device of the present embodiment in a state where a support unit is omitted. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control unit of the present embodiment. [Figure 5] 5A and 5B are enlarged partial views for explaining the operation of the label sticking device of the present embodiment. [Figure 6] 5A and 5B are enlarged partial views for explaining the operation of the label sticking device of the present embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the support unit of the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a label application device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0027] 1 to 3, a labeling device 100 according to this embodiment includes a support 10 (hereinafter also referred to as a first support 10) that supports a container B in a laid-down state, and is capable of rotating the container B supported by the first support 10 about a central axis X while sticking a label L onto the peripheral surface of the container. Therefore, the device further includes a rotation mechanism (hereinafter also referred to as a container rotation mechanism, not shown) that rotates the container B.

[0028] Here, in this embodiment, the labels L are affixed continuously or intermittently along the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped sheet S. Then, the labels L are peeled off while this sheet S is automatically fed, and the peeled labels L are pressed against the circumferential surface of the container B to be affixed. Therefore, this embodiment further includes a label feeding mechanism 20, a label pressing mechanism 30, and a control unit C.

[0029] The configuration of this labeling device 100 will be described in detail below.

[0030] Specifically, the first support 10 includes a pair of first rollers 11, which support the container B. The pair of first rollers 11 are installed so that their rotation axes are parallel, and support the container B so that the central axis X of the container B is parallel to these rotation axes. The contact points between each first roller and the container B are located on the same horizontal plane. This ensures that the central axis X of the supported container B is horizontal.

[0031] In this embodiment, the device further includes a gap change mechanism 12 that changes the gap between the pair of first rollers 11. This gap change mechanism 12 includes, for example, a pair of blocks 12a that are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction and that respectively hold the first rollers 11, a bolt 12b that is inserted into one of the blocks 12a so as to rotate freely, and a threaded hole 12c that is formed in the other block 12a and into which a bolt 12c is inserted. In this case, the gap can be changed by changing the depth to which the bolt 12b is inserted into the threaded hole 12c.

[0032] The container rotation mechanism rotates the first roller 11, and indirectly rotates the container B via this first roller 11. Specifically, it is a motor mechanically connected to the first roller 11. This container rotation mechanism may also be configured to directly rotate the container B.

[0033] The label feed mechanism 20 partially peels off the label L while feeding out the sheet S. Specifically, the label feed mechanism 20 includes a support roller 21 on which the rolled sheet S is set, a turn plate 22 that makes a U-turn on the sheet S pulled out from the support roller 21, a label detector 23 that detects the label L peeled off during the U-turn, a winding roller 24 that winds up the sheet S after the U-turn, and a sheet rotation mechanism (not shown) that rotates the winding roller. When the winding roller 24 is rotated by the sheet rotation mechanism, the sheet S is pulled out from the support roller 21.

[0034] In this embodiment, a guide roller 25 is further provided between the support roller 21 and the winding roller 24 , and this guide roller 25 guides the sheet S along the turn plate 22 .

[0035] The turn plate 22 folds the sheet S, which has been pulled out from the support roller 21 in a direction approaching the first support 10, back in a direction away from the sheet S. The turn plate 22 is installed so as to face away from the container B. In this embodiment, the turn plate 22 is installed upward so that its lower surface faces the container B. Specifically, the turn plate 22 has a rectangular shape and is installed so that its leading edge 22a is parallel to the central axis X of the container B. The sheet S is folded back along the leading edge 22a, and the label L is peeled off during this folding.

[0036] More specifically, when the sheet S is folded back, the label L tries to maintain its shape, and the force of this maintenance overcomes the adhesive force to the sheet S, causing the label L to peel off. Meanwhile, as the sheet S is folded back, the peeled portion of the label L protrudes from the leading edge 22a of the turn plate 22. The adhesive surface of this protruding portion faces the container B.

[0037] The label detector 23 then detects the leading end of the protruding label L. More specifically, it detects that the leading end of the label L has reached a predetermined length from the leading edge of the turn plate 22.

[0038] The label pressing mechanism 30 presses the adhesive surface of the protruding label L against the container B so that the adhesive surface is in close contact with the container B, and is manually operated by an operator.

[0039] Specifically, the label pressing mechanism 30 includes a pressing roller 31 that is installed on the opposite side of the container B across the label L protruding from the turn plate 22, and an operating arm 32 that operates the pressing roller 31.

[0040] The pressure roller 31 has a rotation axis parallel to the central axis X of the container B, and is made of a flexible material such as sponge.

[0041] The operating arm 32 moves the pressure roller 31 attached to its tip end toward and away from the container B. Specifically, the base end is directly or indirectly axially fixed to the turn plate 22, and rotates vertically around that axis as a rotation axis. The worker operates the operating arm 22b to bring the pressure roller 31 into close contact with the container B.

[0042] This embodiment also includes an arm detector 33 that detects the position of the operating arm 32. The arm detector 33 detects when the operating arm 32 is lowered and reaches a close contact position where the pressure roller 31 is in close contact with the container B, and when the operating arm 32 is raised and reaches a separated position where it is separated a predetermined distance from the container B.

[0043] The control unit C is physically a general-purpose or dedicated computer equipped with a CPU, memory, etc., and functions as a sheet delivery control unit C1 and a container rotation control unit C2 by the CPU and its peripheral devices working together in accordance with the program stored in the memory.

[0044] The operation of the control unit C will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, while also explaining each unit.

[0045] The sheet feeding control unit C1 controls the feeding amount of the sheet S. Specifically, it receives signals from the operation switch, the label detector 23, and the arm detector, and controls the sheet rotation mechanism in accordance with the received signals.

[0046] More specifically, when the sheet feed control unit C1 receives an operation start signal from the operation switch, it rotates the sheet rotation mechanism and feeds out and stops the sheet S until the label L is detected by the label detector 23. Next, when it receives a signal from the arm detector indicating that it has reached the close contact position, it rotates the sheet rotation mechanism and feeds out and stops the sheet S until the label L is completely peeled off. Next, when it receives a signal from the arm detector indicating that it has reached the separated position, it rotates the sheet rotation mechanism and feeds out and stops the sheet S until the label L is detected by the label detector 23. Thereafter, this control is repeated every time it receives a signal from the arm detector.

[0047] The container rotation control unit C2 controls the rotation of the container B. Specifically, it receives a signal from the arm detector and controls a container rotation mechanism in accordance with the received signal.

[0048] More specifically, when the container rotation control unit C2 receives a signal from the arm detector indicating that the close contact position has been reached, it rotates the container rotation mechanism, rotates the container B until a predetermined time has elapsed, and then stops it.

[0049] As a result of the above control, when the operating arm 32 is lowered to the close contact position as shown in Fig. 5(b) with the label L protruding from the turn plate 22 as shown in Fig. 5(a), the sheet feed control unit C1 controls the sheet rotation mechanism and the container rotation control unit C2 controls the container rotation mechanism, and as shown in Figs. 6(a) and 6(b), the sheet S is fed in conjunction with the rotation of the container B and the label L is wrapped around and attached to the circumferential surface. Then, when the operating arm 32 is raised to the separated position, the sheet feed control unit C1 controls the sheet rotation mechanism as shown in Fig. 5(a), and the sheet S is fed until the label L is partially peeled off and protrudes a predetermined length from the turn plate 22. In other words, the sheet S feeding process, the adhesion process of adhering the label L to the container B, and the attachment process of wrapping the label L around and attaching it to the container B are performed in sequence, but of these, only the adhesion process is performed manually and the other processes are performed automatically.

[0050] In this embodiment, the device further includes a base 40 that supports the support 10 and the various mechanisms. Specifically, the base 40 includes a pair of substrates 41 that are arranged upright in parallel, and supports the support 10 and the various mechanisms therebetween.

[0051] Thus, the labeling device 100 of this embodiment further includes a second support 50 that supports the container B at a support position different from the support position supported by the first support 10, and a relative position changing mechanism 60 that changes the relative position between the two support positions. These support positions are spaced apart at least in the axial direction of the container B. In this embodiment, the relative position changing mechanism 60 changes the relative position between the first support 10 and the second support 50.

[0052] In this embodiment, the second support body 50 and the relative position change mechanism 60 constitute one support unit UT, and this support unit UT can be detachably attached to the base 40 later with screws or the like.

[0053] The second support 50 has the same configuration as the first support 10. That is, it includes a pair of second rollers 51 and a gap change mechanism 52 that changes the gap between them. The pair of second rollers 51 are also installed so that their rotation axes are parallel, and support the container B so that the central axis X of the container B is parallel to these rotation axes. The contact points between each second roller 51 and the container B are located on the same horizontal plane. This makes the central axis X of the supported container B horizontal. Here, both first rollers 11 and both second rollers 51 are arranged so that an imaginary line passing through the middle of their rotation axes overlaps on a straight line when viewed vertically.

[0054] The distance changing mechanism 52 has the same configuration as that of the first support 10, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0055] The relative position changing mechanism 60 changes the relative position of both support positions. Specifically, the relative position of both support positions is changed by changing the relative position between the first roller 11 and the second roller. The relative position changing mechanism 60 is capable of changing the relative positions of both first rollers 11 and both second rollers 51 so that the imaginary lines of these rollers are aligned in a straight line when viewed vertically.

[0056] The relative position changing mechanism 60 of this embodiment includes an axial direction changing mechanism 61 that changes the relative position of both support positions in the axial direction (the direction in which the central axis X extends), and an orthogonal direction changing mechanism 62 that changes the relative position in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction. These mechanisms are designed to be able to change their respective relative positions independently.

[0057] The axial direction changing mechanism 61 can be changed, for example, by changing the length of a connecting member 61a that connects the support unit 50 to the base 40. This connecting member 61 can be screwed to both the support unit 50 and the base 40. By removing these screws, the connecting member 61 can be changed to one of a different length.

[0058] Specifically, the orthogonal direction change mechanism 62 changes the relative position in the vertical direction (perpendicular direction). In this embodiment, the mechanism includes a pair of blocks 62a that are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, one fixed to the second roller 51 side and the other fixed to the base 40 side, a bolt 62b inserted into one block 62a so as to rotate freely, and a threaded hole 62c formed in the other block 62a and into which a bolt 62c is inserted. In this case, the relative position can be changed by changing the insertion depth of the bolt 62b into the threaded hole 62c.

[0059] According to this embodiment, the relative positional relationship between the support positions of the pair of supports that support the container can be adjusted, so that even if the container has partially different diameters, each of the different diameter portions can be supported. As a result, the container is stabilized and the label is less likely to slip when attached.

[0060] Specifically, even if the length of the container varies for each product, by changing the relative axial position of the two support positions using the relative position change mechanism, containers of a length that cannot be supported by the first support alone can be stably supported.

[0061] Furthermore, even if the container has a diameter that differs in parts, the container can be stably supported at two points, the first support and the second support, by changing the relative positions in the height direction of both support positions using the relative position changing mechanism.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second support and the relative position changing mechanism are integrated into a unit that can be attached to the base later, so it can be used with conventional label application devices. Also, the support unit can be attached or detached to suit the installation space.

[0063] Other Embodiments The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the relative position changing mechanism is configured as a mechanism for changing the relative position in the axial direction and a mechanism for changing the relative position in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction, but it may be configured as a single mechanism for changing the relative position.

[0064] Furthermore, although the relative position change mechanism in the above embodiment is equipped with a mechanism for changing the relative position in both the axial direction and the direction perpendicular to the axial direction, it may also be equipped with a mechanism for changing only one of the relative positions.

[0065] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the second support body and the relative position changing mechanism are configured as a unit, but they do not have to be configured as a unit.

[0066] In the above embodiment, a pair of rollers is used as the support, but the present invention is not limited to this and any support that can support the container so that it rotates around an axis by the container rotation mechanism may be used.

[0067] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 100 Label application device X...container L···Label 10...1st support 20. Rotation mechanism for container UT Support Unit 50...Second support 60. Relative position change mechanism

Claims

1. A labeling device that includes a support that supports a cylindrical container in a sideways position, and that can affix a label to the peripheral surface of the container while rotating the container supported by the support around an axis, A label application device characterized by further comprising a second support body that supports the container at a support position different from the support position supported by the support body, and a relative position change mechanism that changes the relative positions of the two support positions.

2. 2. A labeling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supports support said container at different support positions in the axial direction of said container.

3. 2. The label application device according to claim 1, wherein the relative position changing mechanism changes both of the support positions in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the container.

4. 2. The label application device according to claim 1, wherein said relative position changing mechanism changes both of said support positions in the axial direction of said container.

5. 2. The labeling apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said supports comprises a pair of rollers having parallel axes of rotation for supporting said container therebetween.

6. Further comprising a rotation mechanism for rotating the container around an axis, 6. The label application device according to claim 5, wherein the rotation mechanism rotates the roller.

7. the second support body and the relative position changing mechanism constitute a support unit, 2. The label application device according to claim 1, wherein the support unit is configured to be attached directly or indirectly to the support.

8. The labeling device is equipped with a support that supports a cylindrical container in a horizontally inclined position, and is used by attaching it to a labeling device that can affix a label to the peripheral surface of the container while rotating the container supported by the support around its axis. A support unit characterized by comprising: a second support attached directly or indirectly to the support and supporting the container at a support position different from the support position supported by the support; and a relative position change mechanism for changing the relative positions of the two support positions.

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