Labeling Equipment

Abstract

To provide a label sticking apparatus that can stick labels to an article in various sticking modes including upper surface-sticking, upper surface-L-shape sticking and U-shape sticking, with a simple configuration, and a label sticking method.SOLUTION: A label sticking apparatus, which is configured to stick labels to an article, along a carrying direction of the article, comprises: a first carrying part that carries an article being placed thereon; second carrying parts arranged on two surfaces which are different from carrying surfaces defined by the first carrying part and are nearly opposing to each other; label supply parts that supply labels from upper sides of the second carrying parts; and label sticking parts that can have a sticking mode in which labels are stuck only on one surface of the article and a sticking mode in which labels are stuck over a plurality of surfaces of the article, where the first carrying part is also arranged in a region where the second carrying parts are arranged.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a labelling machine. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a device that attaches a printed label to a product (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-148408 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, typical labeling devices cannot accommodate various labeling methods, such as attaching a label to the top of a product, attaching a label to the top and sides of a product, or attaching a label to the top, sides and bottom of a product. For this reason, there is a demand for a labeling device that can accommodate various labeling methods. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The labeling device according to the present invention has at least the following configuration. A labeling device that affixes a label to an object along a conveying direction of the object, the labeling device comprising: a first conveying section that conveys the object in a placed state; a second conveying section that is disposed on two substantially opposing surfaces that are different from a conveying surface defined by the first conveying section; a label supplying section that supplies labels from above the second conveying section; and a labeling section that can adopt a labeling form in which a label is affixed to only one surface of the object and a labeling form in which a label is affixed across multiple surfaces of the object. a sensor for detecting an article being conveyed in a vertical direction; Equipped with the first transport unit includes an upstream horizontal conveyor having a gap in a transport direction with a width corresponding to the sensor, and a downstream horizontal conveyor having a gap in a transport direction with a width corresponding to the label supply unit, The first transport section is also disposed in the area in which the second transport section is disposed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of articles (products) to which labels are attached by the label attachment device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a diagram showing an example of top surface attachment (top surface), (b) is a diagram showing an example of top surface L-shaped attachment (top surface, side surfaces), (c) is a diagram showing an example of vertical U-shaped attachment (U-shaped attachment, top surface and both side surfaces), (d) is a diagram showing an example of horizontal U-shaped attachment (U-shaped attachment, top surface, one side surface, bottom surface), (e) is a diagram showing an example of full perimeter attachment (with gaps), and (f) is a diagram showing an example of full perimeter attachment. [Diagram 2] 1 is an overall perspective view showing an example of a label sticking device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a view of the label sticking device as seen from the upstream side in the article transport direction. [Figure 4] 1 is a view of the label conveying device as seen from a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an electrical functional block of the label attachment device. [Figure 6] 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a label sticking device, showing a label issuing section, a label supplying section, an upper pressing member, and an air jet section of the label sticking device, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view from above showing an example of the label issuing section, the label supplying section, etc. of the label sticking device. [Figure 7] 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a label issuing unit, a label supply unit, an upper pressing member, and an air jet unit of a label application device, as viewed from below. FIG. [Figure 8] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of a label supply unit that can be rotated upward. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a label application device, as viewed from above. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a plan view for explaining an example of a label sticking device, in which a part of a label issuing unit is removed. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a plan view for explaining an example of a label sticking device, and is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining an example of a label attachment device. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of a label attachment device. [Figure 14] 1A is a diagram for explaining an example of a lower pressing member that affixes a label to the downstream side or bottom surface of a relatively low packaged item (goods), and FIG. 1B is a diagram for explaining an example of a lower pressing member that affixes a label to the downstream side or bottom surface of a relatively high packaged item (goods). [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a manipulator of the labeling device. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the label attachment device. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a label is attached to the top surface of a packaged item (article). [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which labels are held by a label supply unit. [Figure 19] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of a state in which a label is attached to an upper surface and a downstream side surface of an article by an upper pressing member and an air jet unit. [Figure 20] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of a state in which a label is pressed onto an upper surface of an article by an upper pressing member. [Figure 21] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a label is pressed onto an upper surface of an article by a roller at the tip of a manipulator. FIG. [Figure 22] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a roller at the tip of a manipulator presses a label against a side surface on an upstream side in a conveying direction of an article. FIG. [Diagram 23] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a roller at the tip of a manipulator presses a label against a lower portion of a side surface on an upstream side in a conveying direction of an article. FIG. [Figure 24] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a label is pressed against the bottom surface of an article by a roller at the tip of a manipulator. FIG. [Diagram 25] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the mounting position of an optical sensor. [Figure 26]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen of the labeling device. [Figure 27] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen of the labeling device. [Figure 28] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen of the labeling device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] A labeling device according to an embodiment of the present invention applies a label to an object along a conveying direction of the object. The labeling device includes a conveying section, a label supplying section, and the like. The conveying section includes a first conveying section that conveys the object in a loaded state, and a second conveying section that is disposed on two substantially opposing surfaces different from the conveying surface defined by the first conveying section. The reason why such a special second conveying section is provided is due to a requirement to support the object while avoiding the labeling area of ​​the object, as will be explained below. The label supplying section transfers the label from above the conveying section toward the conveying direction. Then, the label is applied to the object while the object is conveyed in the conveying direction by the conveying section.

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment of the present invention includes the contents shown in the drawings, but is not limited thereto. In the following description of each drawing, parts common to parts already described will be given the same reference numerals and some duplicated description will be omitted.

[0009] (Variations in label attachment) Fig. 1(a) is a diagram showing an example of so-called top-surface pasting of an article, in which a label L with product information and the like printed thereon is pasted on the top surface of an article w such as a commodity. Fig. 1(b) is a diagram showing an example of top-L-shaped pasting (also called top and side pasting). Fig. 1(c) is a diagram showing an example of vertical U-shaped attachment (also called U-shaped attachment or top and both side attachment), and Fig. 1(d) is a diagram showing an example of horizontal U-shaped attachment (also called U-shaped attachment or top, one side and bottom attachment). Fig. 1(e) is a diagram showing an example of full-periphery pasting (with gaps), and Fig. 1(f) is a diagram showing an example of full-periphery pasting. The label application device according to the embodiment of the present invention can apply a label L to an article w such as a commodity in some application forms shown in Fig. 1(a), (b), and (d) among Fig. 1(a) to Fig. 1(f). Note that, as described later, if a manipulator is added to the device, the label application device can be adapted to all application forms shown in Fig. 1(a) to Fig. 1(f). The arrows shown in Figs. 1(a) to 1(f) indicate the conveying direction of an article w when a label is affixed to the label affixing device.

[0010] (Overall configuration of label attachment device) 2 to 4, a label application device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a U-shaped stand 101. A leg 102 is provided at one vertex on the front side of the U-shaped stand 101. A support 103 is provided at approximately the center of one side of the rear side of the stand 101. Furthermore, screws 105 for adjusting unevenness are provided at the four vertices of the stand 101. A transport section 104 for transporting an article is provided above the legs 102 and the support section 103 and is supported by the legs 102 and the support section 103 .

[0011] The conveying section 104 has an upstream horizontal conveyor 1040 (upstream horizontal conveyors 1040L, 1040R), a downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 (downstream horizontal conveyors 1041L, 1041R), and side conveyors 1042L, 1042R, etc. The upstream horizontal conveyor 1040 is disposed upstream in the article conveying direction, and the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 and the side conveyors 1042L, 1042R are provided downstream in the conveying direction. Here, the upstream horizontal conveyor 1040 and the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 correspond to a "first conveyor" that conveys the article in a placed state, and the side conveyors 1042L and 1042R correspond to a "second conveyor" that is disposed on two surfaces that are substantially opposite to the conveyor surface defined by the first conveyor. The side conveyors 1042L and 1042R can be considered to support the article while avoiding the label-attached area of ​​the article. Furthermore, the side conveyors 1042L and 1042R and the downstream horizontal conveyors 1041L and 1041R can be considered to be common in that they avoid the label-attached area of ​​the article and support the article in "a part other than the label-attached area of ​​the article". This is because the former supports the article on the side where the label is not attached, and the latter supports the article in the area of ​​the bottom surface of the article other than the label-attached area.

[0012] A label issuing unit 16 and a label supply unit 17 that conveys and holds the labels issued by the label issuing unit 16 to a position where the labels are affixed to articles are provided above the horizontal conveyor 1040 on the upstream side of the transport unit 104. The label issuing unit 16 is supported by the support unit 103 so as to be movable up and down, left and right, and back and forth. The label supply unit 17 is provided downstream of the issuing port of the label issuing unit 16 . In this embodiment, a display operation unit 107 (also called a console) is supported by the support unit 103. The label application device 100 shown in Figures 2 to 4 is capable of top surface application, top surface L-shaped application, and horizontal U-shaped application, but by adding a manipulator 21 (label application assistant unit) not shown in the figures downstream of the label supply unit 17, it can also be used for vertical U-shaped application and full-circumference application.

[0013] (Electrical function block of the labeling device) FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of electrical functional blocks of the label attachment apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. The label application device 100 includes a control unit 11 (CPU), a memory unit 12, a display unit 13, an operation input unit 14, a communication unit 15, a label issuing unit 16 (labeller), a label supply unit 17, an upstream horizontal conveyor 1040 (upstream horizontal conveyors 1040L and 1040R), a downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 (downstream horizontal conveyors 1041L and 1041R), an air jet unit 19, a manipulator 21 (label application assistant unit), side conveyors 1042L and 1042R (second article conveyor unit), a detection unit 30 (various sensors, back sensor, etc.), etc. The conveyor unit 104 includes, for example, the upstream horizontal conveyor 1040, the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041, and the side conveyors 1042L and 1042R. The display operation unit 107 (console) includes a display unit 13, an operation input unit 14, and the like. For example, the control unit 11 is electrically connected to a storage unit 12, a display unit 13, an operation input unit 14, and an interface 9 (I / F) via a communication line such as a bus. The interface 9 is electrically connected to the communication unit 15, label issuing unit 16, label supply unit 17, the upstream horizontal conveyor 1040 of the transport unit, the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041, the air jet unit 19, the manipulator 21, the side conveyors 1042L, 1042R, the detection unit 30, etc. The detection unit 30 has various sensors (such as an optical sensor and a sensor for detecting the number of rotations of a motor) and outputs the detection results to the control unit 11.

[0014] The control unit 11 comprehensively controls each component of the label application device 100 . The storage unit 12 is composed of, for example, a ROM, a RAM, an auxiliary storage unit, etc., and stores a control program that controls each component of the label application device 100, product information, data related to label application, and the like.

[0015] The display unit 13, under the control of the control unit 11, displays, for example, information relating to the operation of the label attachment device.

[0016] The operation input unit 14 is, for example, a touch panel, a keyboard, a switch, a button, etc., and outputs a signal according to an operation by an operator to the control unit. Note that the display unit 13 and the operation input unit 14 may be a touch panel display device.

[0017] The communication unit 15, under the control of the control unit 11, communicates with other computers (such as a higher-level management device) via a wired or wireless communication path.

[0018] (Configuration of label issuing unit and label supply unit) 6, the label issuing unit 16 (labeller) is provided with a roll holding unit 161 that holds a label roll R made of linerless label paper in a roll shape, a printing unit 162, a platen roller 163, and a cutting unit 164 (movable blade, fixed blade, etc.) in a housing 16B (main body) of the label issuing unit 16. An issuing port 165 is provided downstream of the cutting unit 164. Under the control of the control unit 11, the label issuing unit 16 prints product information, etc. on label paper RP pulled out from the label roll R, cuts the label paper RP to a length according to the product information, generates sheet-like labels L (backing-less labels), and outputs the labels L from the issuing port 165. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, a guide roller 179 is provided between the issuing port 165 and the label supply unit 17. The label output from the issuing port 165 is supported by the guide roller 179 and moves to the label supply unit 17 by passing over the top of the guide roller 179. The label application device has guide rollers 179, so that even if the issued label is relatively short, the label moved to the label supply unit 17 is supported and transported so as not to deviate from the specified position or angle. For example, if the issued label is relatively long, the label paper reaches the label supply unit 17 without being cut, is cut by the cutting unit 164 while being supported by the label supply unit 17, and the label can move to the label supply unit 17 while being supported at a specified position or angle. That is, whether the label is relatively long or relatively short in the transport direction, it is cut by the cutting unit 164 while being supported by the label supply unit 17 and the guide roller 179. When the label issued by the label issuing unit 16 is relatively short, the area supported by the label supply unit 17 is relatively small, so if no guide roller is provided (comparative example), the label supported only by the label supply unit 17 is likely to shift due to the impact when the label paper is cut by the cutting unit 164. On the other hand, the label application device according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with the guide roller 179, so that even if the label is relatively short, it is cut by the cutting unit 164 while being supported by the label supply unit 17 and the guide roller 179, and therefore it is possible to prevent the label from shifting from the specified position or angle when cut. In this embodiment, the guide roller 179 is provided on the main body of the label supply unit 17 so as to be rotatable.

[0019] Although the label issuing unit 16 described above issues linerless labels, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the label may be issued by printing on a label with a liner and peeling the label off the liner.

[0020] The label supply unit 17 pays out and holds the labels issued by the label issuing unit 16 in an inclined direction from above the conveying unit so that the downstream side in the conveying direction is lower. In detail, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the label supply unit 17 has multiple rollers 171, 172, 173 arranged a predetermined distance apart, and endless belts 176L, 176R arranged on a pulley 174 of a drive motor 175, and is configured so that the endless belts 176L, 176R can be rotated by the drive motor 175 (label conveying drive unit). In addition, the label supply unit 17 has an inclined label conveying surface of the endless belts 176L, 176R, and an intake fan 177 (intake unit) is arranged above the label conveying surface, so that the label can be moved downward by the endless belts 176L, 176R while negative pressure is applied to the endless belt side of the label being conveyed.

[0021] In addition, the label supply unit 17 has endless belts 176L, 176R arranged side by side at a predetermined interval, and one or more ventilation holes 178 are provided between the endless belts 176L, 176R, and the intake fan 177 can apply negative pressure to the labels through the ventilation holes 178. In this embodiment, the label L has an adhesive surface and a print surface on the opposite side to the adhesive surface. The print surface of the label abuts against the endless belts 176L, 176R, and is conveyed in a state where negative pressure is applied to the endless belts 176L, 176R.

[0022] (Label supply operation) We will explain how labels are supplied. 8, the upper end of the main body of the label supply unit 17 is supported by a rotation shaft 167 arranged horizontally in the housing 16B (main body) of the label printing unit 16. The label supply unit 17 is configured to be rotatable upward about the rotation shaft 167. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the label issuing unit 16 has a detection unit (not shown) that detects the state of the main body of the label supply unit 17, such as the position. For example, during maintenance, when the label supply unit 17 rotates upward as shown in Fig. 8, a detection unit (not shown) detects that the main body of the label supply unit 17 has rotated upward, and a light-emitting display unit (not shown) such as an LED lights up, and the control unit controls the label issuing unit 16, the conveying unit, etc. to be in an inoperative state. When maintenance is completed and the label supply unit 17 is rotated downward and the main body of the label supply unit 17 is set to a normal operable position as shown in Fig. 6, the light-emitting display unit (not shown) goes out, and the control unit controls the label issuing unit 16, the conveying unit, etc. to be in an operable state.

[0023] The label issuing unit 16 also has a light-emitting display unit (not shown) such as an LED. The light-emitting display unit (not shown) is configured to light up when the cutting unit 164 is removed from the main body of the label issuing unit, for example, during maintenance, and to turn off when the cutting unit 164 is attached. The label printing unit 16 also has an operation button (not shown). When the operation button (not shown) is operated, the label paper RP is moved in the label transport direction by the drive of a drive motor (not shown) that drives the platen roller 163 and the like.

[0024] 6 and 7, an upper pressing member 18 that presses a label onto the upper surface of an article transported by the transport unit is provided at the lower end of the label supply unit 17. The upper pressing member 18 is, for example, an elastic roller made of resin, rubber, or the like. The upper pressing member 18 may be a plate-like member made of an elastic material such as resin or rubber that protrudes downward, and may be configured to be capable of pressing a label onto the upper surface of an article transported by the transport unit.

[0025] In addition, near the lower end of the label supply unit 17, an air jet unit 19 (air pressing means) is provided. In detail, the air jet section 19 (air pressing means) is provided at the lower end of the label supply section 17, downstream of the upper pressing member 18, and is configured to be able to blow compressed air toward the downstream side of the article being transported by the conveying section 104 (side conveyors 1042L, 1042R, downstream horizontal conveyor 1041, etc.), so that the compressed air can press the label against the downstream side of the article and affix it.

[0026] (Configuration of the first conveying section (horizontal conveyor) and the second conveying section (side conveyor)) 9 and 10, the upstream horizontal conveyor 1040 as a part of the first transport section has a pair of upstream horizontal conveyors 1040L, 1040R spaced apart in the width direction in relation to an optical sensor 1040OP described later. In detail, the upstream horizontal conveyor 1040L has an endless belt stretched between rollers at the upstream and downstream ends arranged a predetermined distance apart, and a drive motor (not shown) that rotates and drives at least one of the upper and lower rollers. The upstream horizontal conveyor 1040 transports articles in the transport direction.

[0027] 9 and 10, the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 as a part of the first transport section has a pair of downstream horizontal conveyors 1041L, 1041R spaced apart in the width direction in order to support the parts of the articles other than the label-attaching area. The downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 has an endless belt stretched between upper and lower rollers spaced a predetermined distance apart, and a drive motor (not shown) that rotates at least one of the upper and lower rollers. The downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 transports articles in the transport direction. The width of the space 1041h between the downstream horizontal conveyors 1041L and 1041R is set so that articles can be transported without falling off and according to the size of the label application area. On the other hand, the side conveyors 1042L and 1042R support both side surfaces of the article in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and naturally function as a second conveying section that supports the part of the article other than the label application area. It is also possible to use only a pair of horizontal conveyors, provided that there is a widthwise gap therebetween that supports the entire length of the conveyors from the most upstream to the most downstream of the articles other than the label application area.

[0028] (Label attachment device configuration) The label application device 100 also has a lower pressing member 20 (see FIG. 14). The lower pressing member 20 is provided below the upper pressing member 18. The lower pressing member 20 is configured to be able to press against the downstream side surface or bottom surface of the article w transported by the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 that transports the article, and can press a label against the downstream side surface or bottom surface of the article w.

[0029] In detail, the lower pressing member 20 is, for example, a plate-like member that protrudes upward and is made of an elastic body such as resin or rubber. The lower pressing member 20 may be a roller or the like, and may be configured to be able to press a label against the downstream side, bottom surface, or corners of the article w transported by the transport unit.

[0030] In the example shown in Fig. 14(a), the lower pressing member 20 is configured so that the height of the contact part 20a that contacts the label can be adjusted. In detail, the lower pressing member 20 has a fixed part 20b fixed to the main body of the label sticking device, a movable piece 20d (movable part) rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 20c relative to the fixed part 20b, and the contact part 20a provided on the movable piece 20d and whose height is adjustable. The movable piece 20d is biased in the standing direction by a biasing means (not shown). In the example shown in FIG. 14(a), the height of the article w is relatively low, and the contact portion 20a is set at a relatively low position so as to contact the downstream side of the article w in the conveying direction. The example shown in FIG. 14(b) is a case where the height of the article w is relatively high, and the contact portion 20a is set at a relatively high position so as to contact the downstream side of the article w in the conveying direction. In addition, although not shown in the drawings, it is also possible to position the upper end of the contact portion 20a below the conveying surface of the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 so that the lower pressing member does not come into contact with the article at all. This is used when attaching the upper surface. In this way, the shape of the lower pressing member 20 is changeable so as to obtain an appropriate pressing force according to the height of the article and the manner in which the label is affixed. The contact portion 20a of the lower pressing member 20 may be equipped with a mechanism for varying the height by a driving unit (not shown) such as a motor depending on the height of the article w, or may be equipped with a mechanism for manually adjusting the height.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 9, 10, 2, 3 and 4, the label application apparatus 100 has side conveyors 1042L and 1042R as part of the second conveying section, and conveys an article in the conveying direction while supporting both side surfaces in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The side conveyors 1042L and 1042R are provided so as to be located downstream of the upstream end of the upstream horizontal conveyor 1040, as shown in FIG. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, at least a label supply unit 17 is provided above the side conveyors 1042L, 1042R as a part of the second transport unit. In addition to the label supply unit 17, a manipulator 21 may be provided downstream of the label supply unit 17. As shown in Fig. 11, a support member 106 is provided as a structure below the label supply unit 17. If a label is mistakenly supplied when no article is being transported, the label may stick to the support member 106. To address this issue, the surface of the support member 106 is coated with, for example, a silicone resin so that the label can be easily peeled off even if it sticks to the label.

[0032] The side conveyors 1042L and 1042R are configured to be able to adjust the interval (length in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction) between the side conveyors 1042L and 1042R according to the width (length in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction) of the article w, for example, by a width adjustment mechanism (not shown). The width adjustment mechanism (not shown) can adjust the interval manually by a manual operation unit, or automatically by a drive motor or the like according to a width detection unit that detects the width of the article. In addition, the side conveyors 1042L and 1042R can also be shifted as a whole in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction to convey the article in a state where it is offset from the center of the first conveying unit. When the side conveyors 1042L and 1042R are shifted as a whole, the label can be attached to a position intentionally shifted from the left-right center line in the conveying direction. When such an attachment operation is performed, the force acting on the article due to the attachment operation is offset from the center, resulting in a lack of balance. Therefore, as a means for obtaining a sufficient reaction force, the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 arranged in a part of the area where the side conveyors 1042L and 1042R are arranged plays an important role. The upstream horizontal conveyor 1040 and the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 may be spaced apart, and the downstream end of the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 may be located upstream of the downstream ends of the side conveyors 1042L and 1042R. Incidentally, if the specifications do not allow labels to be affixed to shifted positions, and as long as the side conveyor provides sufficient support for both sides of the article, it may be possible to omit the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041. However, when taking into consideration the fact that the applicator exerts a downward force regardless of the application form, and that the article may be deformed if the clamping force of the side conveyor is too strong, it is overwhelmingly more advantageous to have a horizontal conveyor even when affixing to the center without shifting left and right. In addition, to prevent the side conveyors 1042L, 1042R from colliding with each other even if they get too close to each other, and to prevent them from coming into contact with the applicator or the lower pressing member, a guide bar 10421 that guides the side conveyors 1042L, 1042R is provided with a guide member 10422, as shown in Figure 12. Each of the side conveyors 1042L and 1042R includes a pair of rollers arranged at a predetermined distance apart in the conveying direction, an endless belt stretched between the pair of rollers, a drive motor for driving the rollers, and the like.

[0033] (Configuration of label attachment assistant section) In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, a manipulator 21 can be additionally provided downstream of the label supply unit 17. This makes it possible to perform vertical U-shaped application and full-periphery application in addition to top surface application, top surface L-shaped application, and horizontal U-shaped application. Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing the manipulator 21 (label application assistant unit) provided downstream of the label supply unit 17. The manipulator 21 (label application assistant unit) has a bent arm 211, a roller 212 provided at the tip of the arm 211, a first drive mechanism 213 that moves the entire arm 211 in an arc, a second drive mechanism 214 that moves the roller 212 at the tip of the arm in an arc, and the like. In detail, the manipulator main body 215 is disposed on a support base 216, and legs 216L, 216R of the support base 216 are arranged to straddle the side conveyor and the article transport path, and the manipulator main body is disposed above the transport path. A horizontal rotation shaft 213R is disposed inside the manipulator main body 215 and is supported so as to be freely rotatable. An arm 211 is connected to this horizontal rotation shaft. A positioning lever 215L (operation lever) is provided on the upper part of the manipulator main body 215, and the position of the arm 211 in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the conveying direction) can be adjusted. The manipulator 21 is configured so that the arm 211 moves in an arc by rotating the horizontal rotation shaft 213R directly or indirectly by a drive motor (not shown). After the label is pressed onto the article, the control unit controls the drive motor (not shown) to return the arm 211 to its initial position.

[0034] The arm 211 is provided with a first bent portion 211a and a second bent portion 211b in the middle portion, and is bent at about 45° at the first bent portion 211a and at about 90° at the second bent portion 211b. The angle of the second bent portion 211b is variable so that the roller 212 at the tip of the arm presses the bottom surface of the article in the case of underlayment. That is, the roller 212 at the tip of the arm is moved in an arc by the second driving mechanism 214. In the example shown in FIG. 15, the second driving mechanism 214 is provided with an air cylinder driven by compressed air on the arm 211, and the air cylinder is operated under the control of the control unit to move the roller 212 at the tip of the arm in an arc, so that the roller 212 can be moved upward. The angle of the first bent portion 211a and the angle of the second bent portion 211b can be set appropriately depending on the shape and size of the article and the shape and size of the label.

[0035] (Label pasting operation) Next, an example of the operation of the label sticking device 100 and the manipulator 21 (label sticking assistant unit) will be described with reference to Figures 13, 16, 17, etc. In the example shown in Figures 13, 16, and 17, the label sticking device 100 performs a top surface sticking operation to stick a label L on the top surface of an article w.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 13, in the initial state (standby state), the posture of the manipulator 21 and the arm 211 is defined so that the roller 212 at the tip (lower end) of the arm 211 is higher than the upper end of the article w to be transported.

[0037] Driven by the drive motor of the article transport section, the upstream horizontal conveyor 1040, the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041, and the endless belts of the side conveyors 1042L, 1042R rotate, and the article w moves from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction. An article w is detected on the conveying path by an optical sensor 1040OP of the detection unit 30, and a detection signal is output from the detection unit 30 to the control unit 11. More specifically, the optical sensor 1040OP is configured to detect the downstream end of the article being conveyed.

[0038] The label issuing unit 16 outputs, from an issuing port 165, a label on which information about the item w (such as product information) is printed by a printing unit 162 (such as a print head). When a label is issued from the issuing port 165 of the label issuing unit 16, the label L is transported downward by the label supply unit 17 (see FIG. 16). In detail, when the printed surface of the label L is in contact with the endless belts 176L, 176R of the label supply unit 17, the label L is sucked in by the intake fan 177 (intake unit) of the label supply unit 17, the endless belts 176L, 176R rotate, and the label L moves downward.

[0039] In the example shown in Figures 16 and 17, the control unit 11 controls the transport of the label by the label supply unit 17 and the transport of the item w by the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 and the side conveyors 1042L and 1042R so that the label L is affixed to a predetermined position on the top surface of the item w. In detail, the control unit 11 controls the transport of labels by the label supply unit 17 and the transport of the item w by the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 and the side conveyors 1042L, 1042R, so that first, the lower end of the label L abuts against the downstream end of the upper surface of the item w or a position slightly upstream of that, and while transporting the item w, the label L is moved downward by the label supply unit 17, and the label L is affixed to the upper surface of the item w by the upper pressing member 18, as shown in Figure 17. The timing of movement of the label L and affixing the label L to the top surface of the article w is controlled by the control unit based on a signal from a detection unit that detects the position of the article w, the moving speed of the article w by the side conveyor and the downstream horizontal conveyor, a signal from a label detection unit that detects the position of the label L by the label supply unit 17, the label conveying speed by the label supply unit, etc. The relationship between the label affixing timing and the detection system that detects the position of the article w will be described later.

[0040] Next, an example of the full surface labeling or vertical U-shaped labeling operation of the labeling apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 18, in the initial state (standby state), the posture of the manipulator 21 and the arm 211 is defined so that the roller 212 at the tip (lower end) of the arm 211 is higher than the upper end of the article w to be transported. Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 18, the posture of the arm 211 is defined so that the long portion of the arm 211 is substantially horizontal. As shown in FIG. 18, the endless belt of the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 rotates when driven by the drive motor of the article transport section, and the article w moves from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction. An article w is detected on the conveying path by an optical sensor 1040OP of the detection unit 30, and a detection signal is output from the detection unit 30 to the control unit 11. More specifically, the optical sensor 1040OP is configured to detect the downstream end of the article being conveyed.

[0042] The label issuing unit 16 outputs, from an issuing port 165, a label on which information about the item w (such as product information) is printed by a printing unit 162 (such as a print head). When a label is issued from the issuing port 165 of the label issuing unit 16, the label L is transported downward by the label supply unit 17 (see FIG. 18). In detail, when the printed surface of the label L is in contact with the endless belts 176L, 176R of the label supply unit 17, the label L is sucked in by the intake fan 177 (intake unit) of the label supply unit 17, the endless belts 176L, 176R rotate, and the label L moves downward.

[0043] In the example shown in FIG. 18, the bottom end of the label L moves to a position lower than the bottom surface of the article w or the conveying surface of the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041, and the article w is conveyed in the conveying direction by the side conveyors 1042L and 1042R.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 19, the upper pressing member 18 and the air jet unit 19 press a part of the adhesive surface (rear surface) of the label L against the downstream side and upper surface of the article w in the conveying direction.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 20, when the article w is moved in the conveying direction by the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 and the side conveyors 1042L, 1042R, the lower pressing member 20 presses the portion of the label L that is lower than the bottom surface of the article w against the bottom surface of the article w, thereby attaching the label L to the bottom surface of the article w. Furthermore, the upper pressing member 18 presses the label L onto the upper surface of the article w. In the example shown in FIG. 20, the trailing end portion of the long label L is in contact with the endless belts 176L, 176R of the label supply unit 17 and is sucked and held by the intake fan 177 (intake unit).

[0046] As shown in FIG. 21, the roller 212 at the tip of the arm 211 of the manipulator 21 is pressed against the top surface of the article w while the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 and side conveyors 1042L, 1042R move the article w in the conveying direction, thereby pressing the label L against the top surface of the article w.

[0047] Next, as shown in Figures 22 and 23, the first driving mechanism 213 causes the arm 211 to move in an arc downward, thereby moving the roller 212 at the tip of the arm 211 below the article w while pressing the label L against the upstream side of the article w with the roller 212.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 24, the second driving mechanism 214 causes the tip of the arm 211 to move in an upward arc, and the roller 212 at the tip of the arm presses the label L against the bottom surface of the article w being conveyed. Then, the article w with the label L affixed thereto is conveyed in the conveying direction by the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 and the side conveyors 1042L and 1042R. In the manner in which the label is supplied in Fig. 18, the lower end of the label L moves to a position lower than the bottom surface of the article w or the conveying surface of the downstream horizontal conveyor 1041, and the length of the supplied label is long enough to be applied to the entire surface. However, when a label shorter than this length is supplied, the operation is a vertical U-shaped application, and each time a label of a shorter length is supplied, the operation is gradually switched to a horizontal U-shaped application or a top L-shaped application. If the vertical U-shaped application and the full circumference application are not required, and the required specifications are to be compatible with only the top application, the top L-shaped application, and the horizontal U-shaped application, the manipulator 21 (label application assistant) is not required. The label application device 100 shown in Figs. 2 and 4 shows this specification. Conversely, it is also possible to leave the manipulator 21 (label application assistant unit) and eliminate the configuration for feeding the label supply unit 17 in an inclined direction, the air jet unit 19, the lower pressing member 20, etc., in which case the label supply unit 17 does not need to have a special structure for feeding the label at an angle, but can have a simple structure that only feeds the label directly below. Therefore, it is understood that the present invention is not limited to the mode or idea of ​​feeding the label at an angle along the conveyance direction, but includes the invention that is broadly conceived as feeding the label from above.

[0049] (Timing of label attachment and item detection system) As already described, the labeling device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an optical sensor 1040OP for detecting the position of an article in order to provide a labeling timing, or more precisely, a label supply timing. Considering the timing lag between when a detection signal is given and when the sensor is operated, it is necessary to place the sensor sufficiently upstream, but the more upstream the sensor, the better. When an article is taken over from a conveyor belt placed in the preceding stage of the labeling device 100, the article inevitably flutters, so that stable detection cannot be performed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 25, in an area where the article is transported only by the upstream horizontal conveyor 1040, which is the first transport section, the optical sensor 1040OP is provided at a position after the article is supported (clamped) by the side conveyors 1042L, 1042R, which are the second transport sections, in addition to being transported by the upstream horizontal conveyor 1040, in consideration of the possibility that the article may flutter. That is, the optical sensor 1040OP is located downstream of the upstream ends of the side conveyors 1042L, 1042R. Also, the optical sensor 1040OP is adapted to sense the article from below through the gap provided between the pair of upstream horizontal conveyors 1040. Conventional labeling devices were configured to sense from the side, but the labeling device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is inevitably arranged in this way because it is equipped with the side conveyors 1042L, 1042R. Also, the downstream side surface of an article such as a tray is not straight when viewed from the side. In relation to this, in conventional labeling devices, the height at which the sensor is installed becomes an error factor in the presence / absence detection by sensing from the side, but the labeling device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention has an unexpected secondary effect of being able to reliably detect the most protruding part (the downstream end) by sensing in the vertical direction. In this way, by taking advantage of the fact that high-precision detection is possible with a focus on detection accuracy, the label application device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is capable of adjusting the start position in the conveying direction of label application. In addition, by shifting the above-mentioned side conveyors 1042L, 1042R as a whole, the position perpendicular to the label conveying direction can also be adjusted.

[0050] (Various setting functions for labeling device) As shown in FIG. 26, each element of the labeling device 100 can be set. By adjusting the positions marked "back of side conveyor" and "front of side conveyor", it is possible to change settings such as to accommodate products of various sizes and widths, and to shift the labeling position in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The item "bottom support plate length" corresponds to the height of the contact portion 20a of the lower pressing member 20 that contacts the label, as explained with reference to FIG. 14. It is possible to set an appropriate length for top surface pasting, top surface L-shaped pasting, horizontal U-shaped pasting, etc. Also, although not shown, it is possible to set the pasting start position triggered by the detection timing of the optical sensor 1040OP. The items adjusted and set in this manner can be set and stored for each product code, for example, as shown in FIG. Once the settings have been stored, the stored settings can be called up by entering the product code, as shown in FIG.

[0051] <Summary of the embodiment> [Technical field] The present invention relates to a label sticking device and a label sticking method. [Background technology] 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a device that attaches a printed label to a product (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art document] [Patent documents] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-148408 A [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be solved by the invention] However, typical labeling devices cannot accommodate various labeling methods, such as attaching a label to the top of a product, attaching a label to the top and sides of a product, or attaching a label to the top, sides and bottom of a product. For this reason, there is a demand for a labeling device that can accommodate various labeling methods. [Means for solving the problem] (1) As described above, one aspect of this embodiment is a label application device 100 that applies a label to an article along a transport direction of the article, and is characterized in that it includes a first transport section (upstream horizontal conveyor 1040, downstream horizontal conveyor 1041) that transports the article in a placed state, a second transport section (side conveyor 1042) that is arranged on two substantially opposing surfaces that are different from the transport surface defined by the first transport section, a label supply section 17 that supplies labels from above the second transport section, and a label application section (upper pressing member 18, lower pressing member 20, manipulator 21) that can adopt an application form in which a label is applied to only one surface of the article and an application form in which a label is applied across multiple surfaces of the article, and the first transport section is also arranged in the area in which the second transport section is arranged. According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a label sticking device that can handle various label sticking methods.

[0052] (2) One aspect of this embodiment is characterized in that in the label application apparatus 100 described in (1), the second transport section (side conveyor 1042) is provided with an adjustable interval. With this configuration, it is possible to provide a label application device that can accommodate articles of various width sizes.

[0053] (3) One aspect of this embodiment is characterized in that in the label application device 100 described in (2), the second conveying section (side conveyor 1042) is capable of conveying articles in a state offset from the center of the first conveying section (upstream horizontal conveyor 1040, downstream horizontal conveyor 1041) in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a label application device that can apply a label at a position intentionally shifted from the left-right center line in the conveying direction.

[0054] (4) One aspect of this embodiment is characterized in that the label application device 100 described in any one of (1) to (3) further includes a sensor (optical sensor 1040OP) that detects the transported article in the vertical direction, and the first transport section has an upstream horizontal conveyor 1040 having a gap in the transport direction with a width corresponding to the sensor, and a downstream horizontal conveyor 1041 having a gap in the transport direction with a width corresponding to the label supply section 17. With this configuration, it is possible to provide a label application device that is capable of detecting articles even in the presence of the side conveyor 1042.

[0055] (5) One aspect of this embodiment is characterized in that in the label application device described in (4), the sensor (optical sensor 1040OP) is positioned downstream of the upstream end of the second conveying section (side conveyor 1042). According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a label sticking device capable of detecting with high accuracy an article that triggers the timing of label sticking.

[0056] (6) One aspect of this embodiment is characterized in that, in the label application device described in (5), the sensor (optical sensor 1040OP) is configured to detect the downstream-most end of the article when viewed from above. According to this configuration, since the label sticking device can sufficiently accommodate the shape of the article, it is possible to provide a label sticking device that can detect the article that triggers the timing of label sticking with high accuracy.

[0057] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes design changes and the like that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. In addition, the embodiments shown in the above-mentioned drawings can be combined with each other as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in terms of purpose, configuration, and the like. Furthermore, the contents of each drawing may be independent embodiments, and the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to one embodiment obtained by combining the drawings.

[0058] In the above-described embodiment, a belt conveyor is used as the conveying section for conveying the articles, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and may be a roller conveyor or the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 11...Control section 16…Label issuing department 17…Label supply section 18...Upper pressing member 19...Air jet section (air pressure section) 20...Lower pressing member 21...Manipulator (auxiliary label attachment unit) 100...Label application device 104...Transportation section 162…Printing section 175...Drive motor 176L, 176R... endless belt 177…Intake fan 178…Ventilation hole 211…Arm 211a...first bend 211b...Second bend 212...Roller 213...First drive mechanism 214...Second driving mechanism 1040…Upstream horizontal conveyor 1040OP...Optical sensor 1041...Downstream horizontal conveyor 1042L, 1042R...Side conveyor L…Label w…Goods

Claims

1. A labeling device that applies a label to an object along a conveyance direction of the object, comprising: a first conveying unit that conveys the article in a placed state; A second conveying section is disposed on two surfaces that are different from a conveying surface defined by the first conveying section and are substantially opposed to each other; a label supply unit that supplies labels from above the second transport unit; a label sticking unit that can stick a label to only one surface of the article or to multiple surfaces of the article; A sensor that detects the conveyed article in the vertical direction; Equipped with the first transport unit includes an upstream horizontal conveyor having a gap in a transport direction with a width corresponding to the sensor, and a downstream horizontal conveyor having a gap in a transport direction with a width corresponding to the label supply unit, The first transport unit is also disposed in the region in which the second transport unit is disposed. A label application device comprising:

2. The sensor is disposed downstream of the upstream end of the second transport section.

2. The labelling device according to claim 1.

3. 3. The label application device of claim 2, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a downstream-most edge of the article in a top view.

Images