Sticker application tool and sticker application device

Abstract

To provide a seal sticking tool which is constituted in a simple manner, and which can stick a seal on a corner part or a curve surface part of an object to be stuck with, in a state where the floating of a seal is suppressed.SOLUTION: A seal sticking tool 3 is constituted so as to curve and stick a seal S having predetermined rigidity to a corner part 13 or a curved surface part of an object 10 to be stuck with, and includes: an outside portion 31 which is arranged opposing to the object 10 to be stuck with, sandwiching at least part of the seal S, and is deformed so as to press the seal S against the object 10 to be stuck with, in a state of having a predetermined repulsive force by pressing, while curving, the seal S against the corner part 13 or the curved surface of the object 10 to be stuck with; and an inside portion 32 arranged on an opposite side to the seal S of the outside portion 31, and having a weaker repulsive force than the outside portion 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sticker applicator and a sticker applicator device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a sticker affixing device that affixes a sticker to a corner of an object (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The sticker affixing device described in Patent Document 1 affixes a sticker to the object from the top to the side by a pressure plate. The pressure plate has a first pressing surface that presses the sticker against the top surface of the object, and a second pressing surface that presses the sticker against the side of the object. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-38551 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the sticker application device described in Patent Document 1, when a sticker is applied to a corner of an object, the sticker may float at the corner of the object. In addition, the sticker application device described in Patent Document 1 has a complex structure. Therefore, there is a demand for a sticker application tool that can apply a sticker to a corner or curved surface of an object with a simple structure while suppressing sticker floatation.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a sticker applicator that is simply constructed and can affix a sticker to a corner or curved surface of an object while preventing the sticker from floating. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to a block-shaped sticker applicator configured to be able to attach a sticker having a predetermined rigidity to a corner or curved surface of an object while bending it, the sticker applicator comprising: an outer part positioned opposite the object to which the sticker is to be applied, sandwiching at least a part of the sticker, and which is deformed with a predetermined repulsive force by pressing the sticker against the corner or curved surface of the object while bending the sticker, thereby pressing the sticker against the object; and an inner part positioned on the opposite side of the outer part from the sticker, and which has a weaker repulsive force than the outer part.

[0007] It is also preferable that the object to be affixed has a first surface and a second surface arranged contiguous to the first surface, the first surface and the second surface are not arranged on the same plane, and the outer portion has a first block side pressing surface which presses the seal against the first surface, and a second block side pressing surface which is formed contiguous to the first block side pressing surface and which presses the seal against the second surface by being deformed while the outer portion has a repulsive force.

[0008] Moreover, it is preferable that the inner portion is formed in a columnar shape extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first surface and the second surface are aligned, on the side of the outer portion opposite to the seal.

[0009] Moreover, it is preferable that the inner portion has a first inner portion formed at a position corresponding to the first block side pressing surface on the opposite side of the outer portion to the seal.

[0010] Moreover, it is preferable that the inner portion has a second inner portion formed at a position a predetermined distance away from a position corresponding to the first block side pressing surface on the opposite side of the outer portion to the seal.

[0011] It is also preferable that the second block side pressing surfaces be provided in pair on both sides of the first block side pressing surface.

[0012] Moreover, it is preferable that both the first surface and the second surface are formed into a flat surface.

[0013] It is also preferable that the first block pressing surface and the second block pressing surface are disposed on the same plane when the outer portion is not pressing the seal against the object.

[0014] Moreover, the inner portion is preferably a hollow space.

[0015] The present invention relates to a sticker affixing device comprising the sticker affixing tool, and a pressing and moving mechanism for moving the sticker affixing tool so as to press the sticker temporarily affixed to the object against the object. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sticker applicator that is simply constructed and can affix a sticker to a corner or curved surface of an object while preventing the sticker from floating away. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a sticker affixing device of a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a sticker affixing device of a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a pressing operation in which a press-deformation block presses a sticker onto a corner portion of an object to which the sticker is to be attached in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a pressing operation in which the press-deformation block presses the sticker onto a corner portion of an object to which the sticker is to be attached in the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 4 is a front view showing a pressing operation of pressing a sticker against a side surface of an object in the sticker affixing device; FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a front view showing a pressing operation in which the press-deformation block presses the sticker onto a corner portion of an object in the second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a front view showing a pressing operation in which the press-deformation block presses the sticker onto the corner portion of the object in the third embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a front view showing a pressing operation in which the press-deformation block presses the sticker onto a corner portion of an object in the fourth embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a pressing operation in which a press-deformation block presses a sticker onto a corner portion of an object to which the sticker is to be attached in the fifth embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a front view showing a pressing operation in which the press-deformation block presses the sticker onto a corner portion of an object in the fifth embodiment. [Figure 11] 13(a) is a front view showing a sticker affixing device of a sixth embodiment, and (b) is a front view showing a sticker affixing device of a seventh embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] A sticker affixing device 1 including a press-deformation block 3 (sticker applicator) according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, in the following description and drawings, the direction in which the multiple inner parts 32 of the press-deformation block 3 are lined up or the horizontal radial direction of the inner parts 32 is referred to as the X direction. The axial direction in which the inner parts 32 of the press-deformation block extend is referred to as the Y direction. The up-down direction is referred to as the Z direction. The Z direction is perpendicular to the X and Y directions.

[0019] The pressure-deformable block 3 of this embodiment is a block-shaped seal applicator. The pressure-deformable block 3 is capable of attaching a seal S having a predetermined rigidity to a corner or curved surface of an object 10 while bending the seal S.

[0020] In this embodiment, the sticker S attached to the object 10 by the pressure deformation block 3 is, for example, a paper or plastic sheet having an adhesive part such as an adhesive on the back side. The sticker S includes, for example, a label sticker on which relevant information about an item is written, and a sealing sticker attached across a box body and a lid of a box having the box body and a lid.

[0021] In this embodiment, the attachment target 10 has an outer shape formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The attachment target 10 has an upper surface 11 (first surface) having a width of length Xa in the X direction and extending a length Ya in the Y direction, a pair of side surfaces 12 (second surfaces) extending downward from both ends of the upper surface 11 in the X direction by a length Za, a lower surface 14, and a pair of corner portions 13 formed by corner portions between the upper surface 11 and the side surfaces 12.

[0022] The top surface 11 is formed in a plane parallel to the X and Y directions. The top surface 11 is formed in a rectangular shape that is longer in the Y direction. The pair of side surfaces 12 are formed in a plane parallel to the Y and Z directions. The pair of side surfaces 12 are each formed in a plane extending from both ends of the top surface 11 in the X direction in the Z direction perpendicular to the top surface 11.

[0023] The side surface 12 is continuous with the upper surface 11 via an edge that is a boundary between the upper surface 11 and the side surface 12 at the corner portion 13. The upper surface 11 and the side surface 12 are not disposed on the same plane. The lower surface 14 is formed in a plane parallel to the X direction and the Y direction, and is disposed below the upper surface 11 and parallel to the upper surface 11. The upper surface 11, the pair of side surfaces 12, and the lower surface 14 are disposed side by side in the circumferential direction R when viewed in the Y direction, as shown in FIG. 2 .

[0024] Corner portion 13 is formed by an edge portion including a side that is the boundary between top surface 11 and side surface 12, a part of top surface 11 that is in contact with the side edge that is the boundary between top surface 11 and side surface 12, and a part of side surface 12 that is in contact with the side edge that is the boundary between top surface 11 and side surface 12. The pair of corner portions 13 are formed at corner portions on both ends in the X direction of object 10. Corner portion 13 extends in the Y direction.

[0025] In this embodiment, corner portion 13 does not mean only the edge that is the boundary between top surface 11 and side surface 12, but includes the edge that is the boundary between top surface 11 and side surface 12, a part of top surface 11 that contacts the edge that is the boundary between top surface 11 and side surface 12, and a part of side surface 12 that contacts the edge that is the boundary between top surface 11 and side surface 12. The sticker application device 1 of this embodiment can bend the sticker S at corner portion 13 of the object 10 and apply it across part of top surface 11 and part of side surface 12 of the object 10.

[0026] The sticker S is formed in a flat sheet shape before being attached to the object 10. In this embodiment, in the flat shape before being attached to the object 10, for example, the length Xs of the sticker S in the X direction is longer than the length Xa of the upper surface 11 of the object 10 in the X direction, and for example, the length Ys of the sticker S in the Y direction is shorter than the length Ya of the upper surface 11 in the Y direction.

[0027] The seal S has a predetermined rigidity (rigidity). An adhesive is provided on the back surface of the seal S. When the seal S is temporarily attached in a planar shape to the upper surface 11 of the object 10 and pressed against a pressure deformation block 3 (described later), the seal S is bent at a pair of corner portions 13 of the object 10 and attached to the corner portions 13 of the object 10.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the sticker application device 1 includes a transport section 2 that transports the object 10 to be affixed, a pressure deformation block 3 (sticker application tool), a block pressure drive section 4 (pressure movement mechanism), and a pair of side pressure drive mechanisms 5 that press the sticker S against the sides of the object 10 to be affixed.

[0029] The conveying section 2 conveys the attachment target 10 in a conveying direction P. The conveying section 2 is configured to include, for example, a moving belt 21 and a belt driving section (not shown) that drives the moving belt 21.

[0030] The conveying unit 2 conveys the object 10, on whose upper surface 11 (first surface) the sticker S is temporarily attached in a planar state, to a sticker attachment position. The conveying unit 2 stops the object 10 at the sticker attachment position, and after the sticker S is bent and attached to the object 10 by the pressure deformation block 3 and the side pressure drive mechanism 5, conveys the object 10 with the sticker S attached to it toward a position where the next process (e.g., an inspection process) is performed.

[0031] The block pressing drive unit 4 has a support plate 41 and a drive shaft unit 42 that moves the support plate 41 in the Z direction. The press deformation block 3 is fixed to the lower surface of the support plate 41 provided at the bottom of the block pressing drive unit 4. The block pressing drive unit 4 is configured to be movable in the Z direction, and moves the press deformation block 3 in a direction approaching the object 10 or in a direction away from the object 10 so that the press deformation block 3 presses the sticker S temporarily attached to the object 10 against the object 10.

[0032] The pressure-deformation block 3 attaches the sticker S to the corner portion 13 of the object 10. The pressure-deformation block 3 is formed in a block shape, and is deformed in a state of having a repulsive force by pressing the sticker S against the corner portion 13 of the object 10 while bending the sticker S.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the press-deformation block 3 has an outer portion 31 and three hollow portions 32 (inner portions).

[0034] The outer portion 31 is a portion of the pressure deformation block 3 on the seal S side. The outer portion 31 is disposed facing the object 10 with at least a portion of the seal S sandwiched between them. By pressing the seal S against the corner portion 13 of the object 10 while bending the seal S, the outer portion 31 is deformed with a predetermined repulsive force, and presses the seal S against the object 10.

[0035] The outer portion 31 has a first block side pressing surface 33, a pair of second block side pressing surfaces 34, and a pair of block side non-pressing surfaces 35 on the surface facing the object 10. The first block side pressing surface 33, the pair of second block side pressing surfaces 34, and the pair of block side non-pressing surfaces 35 are formed on the same plane on the surface of the outer portion 31 facing the object 10 when the outer portion 31 is not pressing the seal S against the object 10.

[0036] The first block pressing surface 33 is formed in the center in the X direction on the surface of the outer portion 31 facing the object 10. The first block pressing surface 33 presses the seal S against the upper surface 11 of the object 10.

[0037] The pair of second block side pressing surfaces 34 are formed on both sides in the X direction of the surface of the outer part 31 facing the object 10, sandwiching the first block side pressing surface 33. The pair of second block side pressing surfaces 34 are arranged next to and continuous with the first block side pressing surface 33. When the outer part 31 presses the top surface 11 of the object 10 at the first block side pressing surface 33, the outer part 31 is deformed in a state of having a repulsive force, so that the second block side pressing surface 34 wraps around to the side surface 12 of the object 10 and presses the seal S against the side surface 12 of the object 10.

[0038] The pair of block side non-pressing surfaces 35 are arranged on the surface of the outer portion 31 facing the object 10 on both sides in the X direction outside of a pair of second block side pressing surfaces 34 that are arranged on both sides in the X direction outside of the first block side pressing surface 33. The pair of block side non-pressing surfaces 35 are surfaces that do not press the seal S against the top surface 11 and side surface 12 of the object 10. The boundary position between the second block side pressing surface 34 and the block side non-pressing surface 35 is not constant and changes depending on the pressing force of the press-deformable block 3, the size and shape of the object 10, the size and shape of the seal S, etc.

[0039] The three hollow portions 32 are disposed inside the press-deformation block 3 on the opposite side of the outer portion 31 to the seal S. The three hollow portions 32 are disposed a predetermined distance from the surface of the press-deformation block 3 facing the object 10 toward the inside of the press-deformation block 3. The positions at which the three hollow portions 32 are formed are set so that, when the outer portion 31 presses the corner portion 13 of the object 10, the outer portion 31 is crushed and wraps around the side surface 12 of the object 10, pressing the seal S against the corner portion 13 of the object 10, thereby allowing the seal S to be satisfactorily attached to the corner portion 13 of the object 10.

[0040] The three hollow portions 32 each extend in the Y direction perpendicular to the direction in which the top surface 11 and the side surfaces 12 of the object 10 are aligned inside the press-deformation block 3 on the opposite side of the seal S of the outer portion 31. In this embodiment, the top surface 11, the pair of side surfaces 12, and the bottom surface 14 are aligned in the circumferential direction R when viewed in the Y direction, as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the top surface 11 and the side surfaces 12 of the object 10 are aligned is the Y direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction R. The Y direction in which the three hollow portions 32 extend coincides with the direction in which the corner portions 13 of the object 10 extend.

[0041] In this embodiment, the three hollow portions 32 are each formed by a cylindrical hollow space extending through the press-deformation block 3 in the Y direction. The three hollow portions 32 are formed to have a weaker repulsive force than the outer portion 31. The three hollow portions 32 are each composed of a first hollow portion 321 (first inner portion) and a pair of second hollow portions 322 (first inner portions).

[0042] The first hollow portion 321 is formed in the center of the press-deformation block 3 in the X direction inside the press-deformation block 3 on the opposite side to the seal S of the outer portion 31. The first hollow portion 321 is formed in the press-deformation block 3 on the opposite side to the seal S of the outer portion 31 at a position in the X direction corresponding to the first block side pressing surface 33.

[0043] The pair of second hollow portions 322 are disposed a predetermined distance apart on both sides in the X direction across the first hollow portion 321 inside the press-deformation block 3 on the opposite side to the seal S of the outer portion 31. The pair of second hollow portions 322 are each formed at a position in the X direction a predetermined distance away from a position corresponding to the first block-side pressing surface 33 inside the press-deformation block 3 on the opposite side to the seal S of the outer portion 31. The pair of second hollow portions 322 are each formed at a position in the X direction corresponding to the block-side non-pressing surface 35 inside the press-deformation block 3 on the opposite side to the seal S of the outer portion 31.

[0044] In this embodiment, the outer shape of the press-deformation block 3 is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a length Xbt in the X direction, a length Yb in the Y direction, and a length Zb in the Z direction.

[0045] The X-direction length Xbt of the press-deformation block 3 is formed, for example, longer than the X-direction length Xa of the object 10. The Y-direction length Yb of the press-deformation block 3 is formed, for example, longer than the Y-direction length Ys of the seal S and shorter than the Y-direction length Ya of the object 10. The Z-direction length Zb of the press-deformation block 3 is formed, for example, to be a length that allows the seal S to be pressed against the object 10 in a state in which the outer part 31 has a repulsive force with the inner part 32 provided inside the press-deformation block 3 on the opposite side of the outer part 31 to the seal S.

[0046] 2, the diameter of the first hollow portion 321 in the X direction is formed to be a length Xb1. The length Xb1 of the first hollow portion 321 in the X direction is formed to be, for example, the same length as the length Xa of the upper surface 11 of the object 10 in the X direction. Note that the length Xb1 of the first hollow portion 321 in the X direction may be different from the length Xa of the upper surface 11 of the object 10 in the X direction.

[0047] The pair of second hollow portions 322, 322 each have a diameter in the X direction of, for example, a length Xb2. In this embodiment, the length Xb1 in the X direction of the first hollow portion 321 and the length Xb2 in the X direction of the second hollow portions 322, 322 are, for example, the same length. Note that the length Xb1 in the X direction of the first hollow portion 321 and the length Xb2 in the X direction of the second hollow portions 322, 322 may be different lengths. In this embodiment, the first hollow portion 321 and the second hollow portion 322 are disposed apart from each other by a length Xb3 in the X direction.

[0048] In this embodiment, the entire pressure deformation block 3, including the outer portion 31, is made of, for example, sponge. The material of the sponge is not limited. For example, a sponge made of urethane material can be used. Furthermore, each of the three hollow portions 32 of the pressure deformation block 3 is made of, for example, a cylindrical hollow space.

[0049] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the pressure deformation block 3 configured as described above presses the sticker S temporarily attached to the object 10 against the corner portion 13 of the object 10 by the block pressure drive unit 4 moving the pressure deformation block 3 downward.

[0050] 3 and 4, in the press-deformation block 3, the first block pressing surface 33 of the outer portion 31 presses the seal S against the upper surface 11 of the object 10, so that the lower side of the first hollow portion 321, which has a weaker repulsive force than the outer portion 31, is crushed, and the first hollow portion 321 side of the second hollow portion 322, which is disposed outside the first hollow portion 321 in the X direction and has a weaker repulsive force than the outer portion 31, is crushed, and the second block pressing surface 34 deforms so as to wrap around to the side surface 12 of the object 10. Therefore, the press-deformation block 3 can favorably attach the seal S to the corner portion 13 of the object 10.

[0051] 1 and 2, the pair of side surface pressing drive mechanisms 5 are disposed on either side of the side surface of the object 10 being transported to the transport section 2. The pair of side surface pressing drive mechanisms 5 press the side surface portion of the sticker S attached to the corner portion 13 of the object 10 by the press deformation block 3 against the side surface 12 of the object 10. Each of the pair of side surface pressing drive mechanisms 5 has a pressing plate portion 51 and a drive portion 52.

[0052] The pressing plate portion 51 is formed in a plate shape having a thickness in the X direction, and extends in the Y direction and the Z direction. A material having a repulsive force, such as sponge or rubber, is provided on a surface 511 of the pressing plate portion 51. The driving portion 52 moves the pressing plate portion 51 in a direction approaching the side surface 12 of the object 10 and in a direction away from the side surface 12 of the object 10. By the driving portion 52 moving the pressing plate portion 51 in a direction approaching the side surface 12 of the object 10, the sticker S temporarily attached to the side surface 12 of the object 10 is attached to the side surface 12 of the object 10.

[0053] Next, the operation of the sticker affixing device 1 will be described. Figures 3 and 4 are diagrams showing the pressing operation of the sticker affixing device 1. Figures 3(a) and 4(a) are diagrams showing the state in which the press-deformation block 3 comes into contact with the sticker S arranged on the upper surface 11 of the object 10, Figures 3(b) and 4(b) are diagrams showing the initial state in which the press-deformation block 3 presses the sticker S against the object 10, and Figures 3(c) and 4(c) are diagrams showing the state in which the press-deformation block 3 further presses the sticker S against the object 10 from the initial state.

[0054] 1 and 2, with the sticker S temporarily attached in a planar shape to the top surface 11 of the object 10, the object 10 is moved in a conveying direction P by the conveying unit 2. Here, since the sticker S has a predetermined rigidity (rigidity), the sticker S is conveyed in a planar shape, horizontally arranged and temporarily attached to the top surface 11 of the object 10. Then, the conveying unit 2 stops the object 10 at the sticker attachment position where the sticker S is attached.

[0055] Next, at the sticker application position, the block pressure drive unit 4 moves the pressure deformation block 3 downward as shown in Figures 3(a) and 4(a), bringing the pressure deformation block 3 into contact with the sticker S temporarily applied to the upper surface 11 of the object 10, and then presses the sticker S against the object 10 as shown in Figures 3(b) and 4(b).

[0056] 3(b) and 4(b), when the pressure-deformable block 3 is pressed, the seal S having a predetermined rigidity is bent downward at the edge of the corner portion 13 while being attached to the top surface 11 of the object 10. As a result, the seal S is folded at the edge of the corner portion 13 and arranged along one side surface 12, the top surface 11, and the other side surface 12 of the object 10.

[0057] Thereafter, the first block side pressing surface 33 of the press-deformation block 3 presses the upper surface 11 of the object 10 to which the seal S is to be affixed, causing the lower side of the first hollow portion 321 to be crushed and the first hollow portion 321 side of the second hollow portion 322 to be crushed, so that the second block side pressing surface 34 on the outer side in the X direction of the first block side pressing surface 33 is deformed so as to wrap around to the side surface 12 of the object 10 to which the seal S is to be affixed.

[0058] 3(c) and 4(c), when the press-deformation block 3 is further pressed, the inside of the pair of second hollow portions 322 in the X direction is further crushed, and the second block side pressing surface 34 moves further around to the side surface 12 of the object 10, thereby pressing the sticker S against the corner portion 13 of the object 10. Therefore, the press-deformation block 3 can satisfactorily attach the sticker S to the object 10 while suppressing lifting of the sticker S at the corner portion 13 of the object 10.

[0059] 5, the block pressing drive unit 4 retracts the pressure deformation block 3 to the upper side of the object 10, and then drives the drive unit 52 of the side surface pressing drive mechanism 5. This allows the pressing plate units 51 of the pair of side surface pressing drive mechanisms 5 to press the sticker S arranged along the side surface 12 below the corner portion 13 of the object 10 to the side surface 12 of the object 10 to be affixed. Note that when driving the drive unit 52 of the side surface pressing drive mechanism 5, the drive unit 52 of the side surface pressing drive mechanism 5 may be driven without retracting the pressure deformation block 3 to the upper side of the object 10. In this case, the pressing plate units 51 of the pair of side surface pressing drive mechanisms 5 press the sticker S to the side surface 12 of the object 10 to be affixed, and then the block pressing drive unit 4 can retract the pressure deformation block 3 to the upper side of the object 10.

[0060] In this manner, the sticker S can be satisfactorily attached to the corner portion 13 of the object 10 while preventing the sticker S from floating.

[0061] According to the pressure-deformable block 3 of this embodiment, for example, the following effects are achieved.

[0062] The sticker applicator 3 of the present embodiment is configured so that a sticker S having a predetermined rigidity can be attached to a corner portion 13 of an object 10 while being bent, and comprises an outer portion 31 which is positioned opposite the object 10 across at least a portion of the sticker S and which is deformed with a predetermined repulsive force by pressing the sticker S against the corner portion 13 of the object 10 while bending the sticker S, thereby pressing the sticker S against the object 10, and an inner portion 32 which is positioned on the opposite side of the sticker S from the outer portion 31 and has a weaker repulsive force than the outer portion 31.

[0063] Therefore, by using the press-deformation block 3 having the outer portion 31 and the inner portion 32, when the press-deformation block 3 is pressed against the object 10, the inner portion 32 is in a crushed state and the seal S can be pressed against the corner portion 13 of the object 10 while being bent. This allows the seal S to be satisfactorily attached to the corner portion 13 of the object 10 with a simple configuration and while preventing the seal S from floating. Furthermore, when the press-deformation block 3 is pressed against the object 10, the object 10 can be stably held with the inner portion 32 in a crushed state, so the seal S can be stably attached to the object 10.

[0064] In addition, in this embodiment, the object 10 has an upper surface 11 and a side surface 12 arranged contiguous to the upper surface 11, the upper surface 11 and the side surface 12 are not arranged on the same plane, and the outer portion 31 has a first block side pressing surface 33 that presses the seal S against the upper surface 11, and a second block side pressing surface 34 that is formed contiguous to the first block side pressing surface 33 and presses the seal S against the side surface 12 as the outer portion 31 is deformed with a repulsive force.

[0065] Therefore, while the first block pressing surface 33 presses the seal S against the top surface 11 of the object 10, the second block pressing surface 34 presses the seal S against the side surface 12 of the object 10, thereby bending the seal S and attaching it to the object 10. As a result, the top surface 11 and the side surface 12 of the object 10 can be pressed by the first block pressing surface 33 and the second block pressing surface 34 of the press-deformation block 3, so that the seal S can be satisfactorily attached to the corner portion 13 of the object 10 with a simple configuration and while preventing the seal S from floating.

[0066] In this embodiment, the inner portion 32 is formed in a columnar shape extending in the Y direction perpendicular to the direction in which the top surface 11 and the side surface 12 of the object 10 are aligned, on the opposite side of the outer portion 31 from the sticker S. As a result, the inner portion 32 is crushed along the corner portion 13 of the object 10, so that the outer portion 31 is likely to wrap around to the side surface 12 of the corner portion 13. Therefore, the sticker S can be satisfactorily attached to the corner portion 13 of the object 10 while preventing the sticker S from lifting.

[0067] In this embodiment, the inner portion 32 is formed in a cylindrical shape. Therefore, when manufacturing the press-deformation block 3 by forming the inner portion 32 on the opposite side of the seal S of the outer portion 31, it is sufficient to form the inner portion 32 by using a cylindrical member and punching out a part of the outer portion 31 so as to penetrate it in a cylindrical shape along the Y direction, so that the inner portion 32 can be easily formed. Therefore, the press-deformation block 3 is easy to manufacture.

[0068] In this embodiment, the inner part 32 has a first inner part 321 formed on the opposite side of the seal S of the outer part 31 at the position where the first block side pressing surface 33 is formed. Therefore, when the top surface 11 of the object 10 is pressed on the first block side pressing surface 33, the first inner part 321 is easily deformed and crushed. As a result, when the top surface 11 of the object 10 is pressed on the first block side pressing surface 33, the first inner part 321 is easily deformed and crushed, making it easier to move the seal applicator 3 downward. Therefore, the outer part 31 is easily deformed to wrap around the side surface 12 of the corner part 13 of the object 10, so that the seal S can be satisfactorily attached to the corner part 13 of the object 10 while suppressing the lifting of the seal S.

[0069] In this embodiment, the inner portion 32 has a second inner portion 322 formed inside the press-deformation block 3 on the opposite side to the seal S of the outer portion 31 at the position where the block-side non-pressurized surface 35 is formed. This causes the outer portion 31 to deform so as to wrap around the side surface 12 of the corner portion 13 of the object 10. Therefore, since the outer portion 31 can easily wrap around the side surface 12 of the corner portion 13 of the object 10, the seal S can be satisfactorily attached to the corner portion 13 of the object 10 while preventing the seal S from lifting.

[0070] In this embodiment, a pair of second block pressing surfaces 34 are provided on both sides of the first block pressing surface 33. As a result, in a case where the side surface 12, the top surface 11, and the side surface 12 are formed in this order as in the case of the attachment object 10 of this embodiment, the seal S can be folded into a U-shape and satisfactorily attached to the corner portion 13 of the side surface 12, the top surface 11, and the side surface 12 while preventing the seal S from lifting.

[0071] In the present embodiment, the top surface 11 and the side surface 12 of the object 10 are both formed to be flat. This allows the sticker S to be satisfactorily attached across the flat top surface 11 and side surface 12 at the corner portion 13 of the object 10.

[0072] In this embodiment, the first block pressing surface 33 and the second block pressing surface 34 are arranged on the same plane when the outer portion 31 is not pressing the seal S against the object 10. This allows the surface of the outer portion 31 facing the top surface 11 of the object 10 to be formed flat, so that the outer portion 31 can be easily manufactured by forming a predetermined surface of the outer portion 31 flat, and the flat surface of the outer portion 31 presses the seal S against the object 10, allowing for stable pressing.

[0073] In the present embodiment, the inner portion 32 is a hollow space. Therefore, the hollow space can be formed by hollowing out the outer portion 31, and therefore the inner portion 32 can be easily provided in the press-deformation block 3. Therefore, the press-deformation block 3 can be easily manufactured.

[0074] The sticker application device 1 of this embodiment also includes a pressure deformation block 3, and a block pressure drive unit 4 that moves the pressure deformation block 3 so as to press the sticker S temporarily applied to the object 10 against the object 10. Therefore, by driving the block pressure drive unit 4, the sticker S can be pressed against the corner portion 13 of the object 10 while being bent, so that the sticker S can be easily applied to the object 10.

[0075] Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. The configuration of the second embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment mainly in the configurations of the pressure-deformable block 3A and the attachment target 10A. The explanation of the first embodiment can be applied to the points not explained in the second embodiment.

[0076] 6, the press-deformation block 3A of the second embodiment has an outer portion 31A and one hollow portion 32 (inner portion). The press-deformation block 3A does not have the pair of second hollow portions 322 of the first embodiment in the inner portion 32, but has a first hollow portion 321 similar to that of the first embodiment. Furthermore, the X-direction length Xaa of the upper surface 11 of the attachment target 10 of the second embodiment is shorter than the X-direction length Xb1 of the first hollow portion 321, whereas in the first embodiment, the X-direction length Xaa of the upper surface 11 of the attachment target 10 is the same as the X-direction length Xb1 of the first hollow portion 321.

[0077] When the press-deformation block 3A of the second embodiment is moved toward the object 10A to which the seal S has been temporarily affixed, as shown in Fig. 6(a), the press-deformation block 3A comes into contact with the upper surface of the seal S. When the press-deformation block 3A is further pressed from this state as shown in Fig. 6(b), the seal S is bent at the edge of the corner portion 13, and then the first block-side pressing surface 33 of the press-deformation block 3A presses the seal S against the upper surface 11 of the object 10A to crush the central portion in the X direction of the first hollow portion 321 more than the outer portions, and the second block-side pressing surface 34 on the outer side in the X direction is deformed so as to wrap around to the side surface 12 of the object 10A.

[0078] Then, when the pressure-deformation block 3A is further pressed, as shown in FIG. 6(c), the lower side of the first hollow portion 321 is further crushed, and the outer side in the X direction of the first hollow portion 321 is further crushed, so that the second block side pressing surface 34 can further wrap around to the side surface 12 of the object to be affixed 10A, and press the sticker S to the corner portion 13 of the object to be affixed 10. Here, since the length Xaa in the X direction of the upper surface 11 of the object to be affixed 10 is shorter than the length Xb1 in the X direction of the second hollow portion 322, the amount of wrapping around to the side surface 12 of the object to be affixed 10A is larger than when the length in the X direction of the upper surface 11 of the object to be affixed 10 and the length in the X direction of the second hollow portion 322 are the same. Therefore, the pressure-deformation block 3A can favorably affix the sticker S to the object to be affixed 10A in a state in which the lifting of the sticker S is suppressed at the corner portion 13 of the object to be affixed 10.

[0079] Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. The configuration of the third embodiment is different from that of the press-deformation block 3 of the first embodiment mainly in the configuration of the press-deformation block 3B. For points not described in the third embodiment, the description of the first embodiment can be applied.

[0080] 7, the press-deformation block 3B of the third embodiment has an outer portion 31B and two hollow portions 32 (inner portions). The press-deformation block 3B does not have the first hollow portion 321 of the first embodiment in the inner portion 32, but has a pair of second hollow portions 322, 322 similar to the first embodiment.

[0081] The pair of second hollow portions 322, 322 are formed inside the press-deformation block 3B on the opposite side of the seal S of the outer portion 31B at positions spaced a predetermined distance in the X direction from the position T corresponding to the first block-side pressing surface 33. The pair of second hollow portions 322, 322 are formed at positions in the X direction corresponding to the block-side non-pressing surface 35.

[0082] When the press-deformation block 3B of the third embodiment is moved toward the object 10 to which the seal S is temporarily attached, as shown in Fig. 7(a), the press-deformation block 3B comes into contact with the upper surface of the seal S. When the press-deformation block 3B is further pressed from this state as shown in Fig. 7(b), the seal S is bent at the edge of the corner portion 13, and then the first block side pressing surface 33 of the press-deformation block 3B presses the seal S against the upper surface 11 of the object 10, and the second block side pressing surface 34 on the outer side in the X direction deforms so as to wrap around to the side surface 12 of the object 10.

[0083] 7(c), when the press-deformation block 3B is further pressed, the inside of the pair of second hollow portions 322 in the X direction is further crushed, and the second block side pressing surface 34 moves further around to the side surface 12 of the object 10, thereby pressing the sticker S against the corner portion 13 of the object 10. Therefore, the press-deformation block 3B can satisfactorily attach the sticker S to the object 10 while suppressing lifting of the sticker S at the corner portion 13 of the object 10.

[0084] Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8. The configuration of the fourth embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment mainly in the configurations of the press-deformable block 3C and the object 10C. The explanation of the first embodiment can be applied to the points not explained in the fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the object 10C is formed longer in the X direction than in the first embodiment, and a sticker S is attached to one corner portion 13 of the object 10C.

[0085] 8, the press-deformation block 3C of the fourth embodiment has an outer portion 31C and two hollow portions 32 (inner portions). The press-deformation block 3C has, in the inner portion 32, the first hollow portion 321 of the first embodiment and one of the pair of second hollow portions 322 of the first embodiment. The length in the X direction of the attachment object 10C is longer than the length in the X direction of the attachment object 10 of the first embodiment.

[0086] When the press-deformation block 3C of the fourth embodiment is moved toward the object 10C to which the seal S is temporarily attached, as shown in Fig. 8(a), the press-deformation block 3C comes into contact with the upper surface of the seal S. When the press-deformation block 3C is further pressed from this state as shown in Fig. 8(b), the seal S is bent at the edge of the corner portion 13, and then the first block side pressing surface 33 of the press-deformation block 3C presses the seal S against the upper surface 11 of the object 10C to crush the lower side of the first hollow portion 321 and the first hollow portion 321 side of the second hollow portion 322, and the second block side pressing surface 34 on the outer side in the X direction is deformed so as to wrap around to the side surface 12 of the object 10C.

[0087] 8(c), when the press-deformation block 3C is further pressed, the lower side of the first hollow portion 321 is further crushed and the first hollow portion 321 side of the second hollow portion 322 is further crushed, so that the second block pressing surface 34 moves further around to the side surface 12 of the object 10C and presses the sticker S against the corner portion 13 of the object 10C. Therefore, the press-deformation block 3C can favorably attach the sticker S to the object 10C while suppressing the sticker S from floating at the corner portion 13 of the object 10C.

[0088] Next, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. The configuration of the fifth embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment mainly in the configuration of the press-deformation block 3D. The description of the first embodiment can be applied to the points not described in the fifth embodiment.

[0089] The press-deformable block 3D of the fifth embodiment is capable of attaching a sticker S to an object 10D that is U-shaped and open at the top when viewed from the front. The object 10D has two inner corners 13D each formed by an upper surface 11 and a side surface 12D formed on the inside in the X direction.

[0090] In the press-deformation block 3D of the fifth embodiment, two first hollow portions 321D facing the upper surface 11D side of the inner corner portion 13D are provided in the inner portion 32D arranged inside the press-deformation block 3D on the opposite side to the seal S of the outer portion 31D. In the press-deformation block 3D of the fifth embodiment, a seal S can be attached to each of the two inner corner portions 13D.

[0091] When the press-deformation block 3D of the fifth embodiment is moved toward the object 10D to which the seal S is temporarily attached, the press-deformation block 3D comes into contact with the upper surface of the seal S, as shown in Fig. 9(a) and Fig. 10(a). When the press-deformation block 3D is pressed further from this state, as shown in Fig. 9(b) and Fig. 10(b), the seal S is bent at the side of the inner corner portion 13D, and then the two first block side pressing surfaces 33 of the press-deformation block 3D press the seal S against the two upper surfaces 11D of the object 10D, respectively, so that the lower sides of the two first hollow portions 321D are crushed, and the two second block side pressing surfaces 34 on the inside in the X direction are deformed so as to wrap around the two side surfaces 12D of the object 10D, respectively.

[0092] 9(c) and 10(c), when the press-deformation block 3D is further pressed, the first hollow portion 321D is further crushed downward, and the second block pressing surface 34 moves around to the side surface 12D of the object 10D, and can press the sticker S against each of the two inner corners 13D of the object 10D. Therefore, the press-deformation block 3D can satisfactorily attach the sticker S to the object 10D while suppressing lifting of the sticker S at the inner corners 13D of the object 10D.

[0093] Next, other modified embodiments will be described. In the first embodiment, the inner portion 32 (the first hollow portion 321, the second hollow portion 322) is formed in a circular shape, but the shape of the inner portion is not limited to this. The inner portion (the first hollow portion 321, the second hollow portion 322) may be formed in, for example, a polygonal shape. For example, the inner portion (the first hollow portion 321, the second hollow portion 322) of the first embodiment may be formed in a cylindrical shape with a square cross section, as shown in FIG. 11(a).

[0094] 11(b), the surface of the portion of the object 10F to which the sticker S is to be attached may be curved. The portion of the object 10F to which the sticker S is to be attached has an upper curved surface 11F (first surface) and a side curved surface 12F (second surface) formed continuously with the upper curved surface 11F. The upper curved surface 11F and the side curved surface 12F are not disposed on the same plane.

[0095] Although the preferred embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be embodied in various forms.

[0096] For example, in the above embodiment, the outer portion 31 of the pressure deformation block 3 is made of sponge, but the material of the outer portion 31 is not limited to this. The outer portion 31 of the pressure deformation block 3 may be made of, for example, a rubber material.

[0097] In the above embodiment, the inner part 32 is formed of a hollow space, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the inner part 32 may be formed of another material having a repulsive force smaller than that of the outer part 31, instead of a hollow space. For example, the outer part 31 may be formed of a sponge, and the inner part 32 may be formed of another sponge having a repulsive force smaller than that of the outer part 31.

[0098] In the above embodiment, the outer portion 31 is made of sponge and the inner portion 32 is made of a hollow space, so that the repulsive forces of the outer portion and the inner portion are clearly different, but this is not limiting. The "outer portion" and the "inner portion" may be configured so that the repulsive forces change gradually.

[0099] In the above embodiment, the pair of side pressure drive mechanisms 5 are provided in the seal affixing device 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. If the length of the seal S is short so that the entire seal S can be affixed to the corner portion 13 of the object 10 by the pressure deformation block 3, the pair of side pressure drive mechanisms 5 may not be provided.

[0100] In the above embodiment, the pressure-deformation block 3 is moved downward by the block pressing drive unit 4 to press and attach the seal S to the object 10, but this is not limiting. The pressure-deformation block 3 may be held by hand and moved to press and attach the seal S to the object 10.

[0101] In the above embodiment, the angle of the corner portion 13 of the attachment target 10 is not limited to a right angle. The angle of the corner portion 13 of the attachment target 10 may be set between 30° and 179°, for example. The corner portion 13 of the attachment target 10 also includes a chamfered corner portion and a curved surface with a small radius of curvature R of, for example, 10 mm or less.

[0102] In the first embodiment, both the top surface 11 and the side surface 12 of the object 10 are formed flat. In a modified form shown in Fig. 11(b), the top curved surface 11F (first surface) of the object 10F is formed curved, and the side curved surface 12F (second surface) is formed curved. However, this is not limited to this. In the modified form shown in Fig. 11(b), for example, one may be formed curved and the other may be formed flat.

[0103] In the above embodiment, the pressure-deformation block 3 (seal applicator) is integrally formed from one member, but is not limited thereto. The pressure-deformation block 3 may be formed from an integral member combining two or more members. When the pressure-deformation block 3 is formed from an integral member combining two or more members, the two or more members may be formed from the same material or different materials.

[0104] In addition, in the above embodiment, the inner portion 32 is formed so as to penetrate the outer portion 31, but this is not limited thereto. The inner portion 32 may be formed so as not to penetrate the outer portion 31.

[0105] In the above embodiment, the first block pressing surface 33 and the second block pressing surface 34 are disposed on the same plane, but the present invention is not limited to this. The first block pressing surface 33 and the second block pressing surface 34 may be disposed, for example, in a stepped shape.

[0106] In the above embodiment, the conveying unit 2 stops the object 10 at the sticker attachment position, and the pressure deformation block 3 and the side pressure drive mechanism 5 bend the seal S and attach it to the object 10, but this is not limiting. The seal attachment device may attach a seal to a corner or curved surface of the object 10 while moving in the conveying direction P in which the object 10 moves. [Explanation of symbols]

[0107] 1. Sticker application device (sticker application device) 3. Pressurized deformation block (seal applicator) 4 Block pressing drive unit (pressing movement mechanism) 10. Attachment 11 Top surface (first surface) 12 Side (2nd side) 13 Corner section 31 Outer part 32 Inner part 33 First block side pressing surface 34 Second block side pressing surface 35 Block side non-pressure surface 321 1st inner part 322 Second inner part S Seal

Claims

1. A block-shaped sticker applicator configured to be able to apply a sticker having a predetermined rigidity to a corner or curved surface of an object while bending the sticker, an outer portion that is disposed opposite the object to which the seal is to be attached, sandwiching at least a portion of the seal therebetween, and that is deformed with a predetermined repulsive force by pressing the seal against a corner or curved surface of the object to which the seal is to be attached while bending the seal; and an inner portion disposed on the opposite side of the outer portion from the seal and having a weaker repulsive force than the outer portion; the object to be attached has a first surface and a second surface disposed continuously with the first surface, the first surface and the second surface being not disposed on the same plane, the outer portion has a first block side pressing surface which presses the seal against the first surface, and a second block side pressing surface which is formed continuously with the first block side pressing surface and which turns around to the second surface side and presses the seal against the second surface as the outer portion is deformed with a repulsive force, the inner portion has: a first inner portion formed at a position corresponding to the first block side pressing surface on the opposite side to the seal of the outer portion, at a position where a portion on the first surface side is crushed when the first block side pressing surface of the outer portion presses the seal against the first surface; and a second inner portion formed at a position away from the position corresponding to the first block side pressing surface on the opposite side to the seal of the outer portion, a predetermined distance toward the second block side pressing surface, at a position where a portion on the first inner portion side is crushed in a state where the second block side pressing surface turns around to the second surface side when the first block side pressing surface of the outer portion presses the seal against the first surface, a middle portion formed continuously with said outer portion and having the same repulsive force as said outer portion is disposed between said first inner portion and said second inner portion.

2. The sticker applicator according to claim 1 , wherein the inner portion is formed in a columnar shape extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first surface and the second surface are aligned, on a side of the outer portion opposite the sticker.

3. 3. The sticker applicator according to claim 1, wherein the second block side pressing surfaces are provided in a pair on both sides of the first block side pressing surface.

4. The sticker applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said first surface and said second surface are both formed into a flat surface.

5. 5. The seal applicator according to claim 1, wherein the first block side pressing surface and the second block side pressing surface are arranged on the same plane when the outer portion is not pressing the seal against the object.

6. The seal applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said inner portion is a hollow space.

7. A sticker applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a pressing and moving mechanism that moves the sticker applicator so as to press the sticker temporarily attached to the object against the object.

Images