Packaging box blank manufacturing equipment

Abstract

To provide a packing carton blank manufacturing device capable of performing printing associated with a packaged article to a proper and desired position of a packing carton after assembly when manufacturing a packing carton blank for packaging the packaged article from a sheet material.SOLUTION: A corrugated board blank manufacturing device 100 comprises: a sheet transporting part 10 for transporting a sheet material; a packaged article transporting part 20 for transporting a packaged article; an information acquisition part 30 for acquiring packaged article information which is information for specifying the packaged article; a cutting part 40 for cutting the sheet material; a processing part 50 for cutting a blank; a printing part 60 for performing printing to a predetermined position of the blank; a control part 70 for controlling these parts; and a personal computer 90 connected communicably to the control part 70.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for manufacturing a packaging box blank for forming a packaging box for packaging an item to be packaged. [Background technology]

[0002] As sales of goods over the Internet increase, it is becoming increasingly important to deliver (transport) ordered goods to customers at low cost. Conventionally, goods of various sizes were packed in standard-sized packaging boxes (usually cardboard boxes) and delivered to the address specified by the customer by courier, but with the rise in transportation costs, there is an increasing demand for packaging that can accommodate the size and shape of various goods.

[0003] Cardboard boxes for packaging products are manufactured by cutting out the desired unfolded shape (hereafter referred to as cardboard blank) from a cardboard sheet as material, processing it by scoring and cutting grooves, and then gluing or stapling the seams in place.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus for manufacturing cardboard blanks of a size corresponding to the size of the packaged items. This apparatus includes a vertical cutting device and a horizontal cutting device equipped with cutting blades that make cuts in the lengthwise direction along the conveying direction of a long cardboard sheet and in the widthwise direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and a mechanism for moving the vertical cutting device and the horizontal cutting device, so that the cardboard sheet can be cut in the lengthwise direction and the widthwise direction at any interval.

[0005] Patent Document 2 proposes a device equipped with a size acquisition unit to create cardboard boxes with dimensions suited to the shape of a product. This device takes a picture of the product to be packed with a camera, calculates the optimal size of the cardboard sheet for the product size through image processing, and cuts out a cardboard blank. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-30310 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2019-93619 A [Patent Document 3] Special Publication No. 2018-538166 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] When an orderer receives a product delivered to a location by courier, he or she first opens the cardboard box that contains the product, takes out the product, and then looks at the outside and inside of the box. Conventionally, in many cases, the outside of a cardboard box is printed with information about the product seller, the provider of the platform where the product is sold, and / or the delivered product itself, but this information is not very meaningful to the orderer. Also, there is rarely any printing on the inside of a cardboard box.

[0008] Patent Document 3 proposes a device that manufactures cardboard boxes from long cardboard sheets and incorporates a printing unit that prints characters or images on one side of the cardboard sheets. However, this device cannot print anything related to the product to be packed in the cardboard box or print in an appropriate position according to the product to be packed.

[0009] The problem that this invention aims to solve is, when manufacturing a packaging box blank (packaging box blank) for packaging an item from sheet material, to perform printing or the like related to the item to be packaged in an appropriate desired position on the assembled packaging box. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The first aspect of the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, is An information acquisition means for acquiring packaged item information that can identify the packaged item; A determining unit that determines cutting lines, ruled lines, and printing positions of a sheet material based on the package information acquired by the information acquiring unit; a positioning means for positioning the sheet material at a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position; a cutting and scoring means for cutting and scoring the sheet material at the first predetermined position based on the cutting line and scoring line determined by the determining means; a printing means for performing a predetermined printing on the sheet material located at the second predetermined position based on the printing position determined by the determination means; The packaging box blank manufacturing device is characterized by comprising:

[0011] The packaged item information acquired by the information acquisition means includes information identifying the product, such as the size of the packaged item, the product name of the packaged item, the product category, and the name of the business that manufactures and sells the product, as well as purchaser information, such as the delivery address of the packaged item.

[0012] The information acquisition means may be, for example, a measuring device that measures the size of the packaged item and / or a scanner that reads the product identification code attached to the packaged item, or may be a program that reads necessary information from electronic data of a document (ledger) related to a product transaction, such as a product shipping list. As the measuring device that measures the size of the packaged item and / or the scanner that reads the product identification code attached to the packaged item, a device that uses laser light, a device that uses an image captured by a camera, or the like can be used.

[0013] According to this configuration, the cutting lines, ruled lines, and printing positions of the sheet material are determined based on the packaged item information acquired by the information acquisition means, and the packaging box blank is manufactured. Therefore, when the packaging box blank is assembled into a packaging box, printing is performed at the planned position of the box, and it is possible to effectively appeal to the person who receives the packaging box. In addition, it is possible to prevent the printed information from being chipped or being difficult to read due to folding at the ruled lines.

[0014] Furthermore, since printing is performed directly on the sheet material, there is no decrease in the production efficiency of packaging box blanks.

[0015] The sheet material may be any suitable sheet material, such as double-sided corrugated cardboard, single-sided corrugated cardboard, thick paper, or plastic sheet material. A fixed-shape sheet may be used as the sheet material, or a long sheet material cut to an appropriate length may be used as the sheet material. Examples of long sheet materials include long double-sided corrugated cardboard folded in an accordion-like shape and stacked, long single-sided corrugated cardboard wound into a roll, thick paper, and plastic sheet material.

[0016] In the case where a sheet material is cut out from a long sheet material, the packaging box blank manufacturing device according to the present invention preferably further comprises a cutting section for cutting out the sheet material from the long sheet material.

[0017] The first and second predetermined positions may be different or the same. When the placing means places the sheet material in the first predetermined position and then the second predetermined position, the printing means prints on the sheet material after it has been cut and lined by the cutting and crease means, i.e., the packaging box blank, at the printing position determined by the determining means. When the placing means places the sheet material in the second predetermined position and then the first predetermined position, the printing means prints on the sheet material at the printing position determined by the determining means. It is preferable that the printing position determined by the determining means is on the inside bottom surface, inside side surface, outer flap, and inside flap of the packaging box assembled from the packaging box blank, and is a position that avoids the cutting line and the crease. This configuration makes it easier for a product purchaser who opens the box in which the packaged item is packed to notice the printing.

[0018] The predetermined printing performed by the printing means may be printing of information unrelated to the packaged item, or may be printing of information (text, images, etc.) related to the packaged item. When printing information unrelated to the packaged item, the printing means can retain that information itself.

[0019] In addition, when the printing means prints information related to the packaged item, it is desirable that the packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus of the present invention further includes an external communication means for acquiring information stored in a network server on the network based on the packaged item information acquired by the information acquisition means.

[0020] The information related to the packaged item printed by the printing means includes advertising images of related products and / or related services, codes (one-dimensional codes, two-dimensional codes) created from URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information of websites of providers of related products and / or related services, character strings, etc. Such information related to the packaged item may be obtained from information sources (web pages) extracted by searching the web via a network using the external communication means, or may be obtained from records of a table stored in advance in a predetermined server device.

[0021] Since the printing position on the sheet material where the predetermined printing is performed is predetermined, the configuration of the printing means can be simplified. For example, when an inkjet print head is used for the printing means, even in single-pass printing, there is no need to provide a print head having inkjet nozzles across the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet material.

[0022] In addition, the second aspect of the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, is An information acquisition means for acquiring packaged item information that can identify the packaged item; a determining means for determining cutting lines, ruled lines and label attachment positions of the sheet material based on the package information acquired by the information acquiring means; a positioning means for positioning the sheet material at a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position; a cutting and scoring means for cutting and scoring the sheet material at the first predetermined position based on the cutting line and scoring line determined by the determining means; a label attaching means for attaching a predetermined label to the sheet material located at the second predetermined position based on the label attaching position determined by the determining means; The packaging box blank manufacturing device is characterized by comprising:

[0023] According to this embodiment, the cutting lines, ruling lines and label attachment positions of the sheet material are determined based on the information on the packaged item acquired by the information acquisition means, so that when the packaging box blank is assembled into a box, the label is attached to the planned position on the packaging box, making it possible to efficiently appeal to the person receiving the packaging box.

[0024] Predefined labels include labels pre-printed with information related to the packaged item.

[0025] Preferably, the packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus according to this embodiment comprises: The packaging box blank manufacturing device according to the first embodiment is provided with an external communication means similar to that of the packaging box blank manufacturing device according to the first embodiment.

[0026] In addition, in the case where the sheet material is cut out from a long sheet material, the packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus according to this embodiment preferably includes a cutting section similar to that of the packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

[0027] The affixing means affixes a predetermined label to a predetermined position on the sheet material of a predetermined length before being cut into blanks or on the packaging box blank. The label affixing position determined by the determining means is preferably a position on the inner bottom surface, inner side surface, outer flap, or inside of the inner flap of the packaging box assembled from the packaging box blank, avoiding cutting lines or ruled lines, and is preferably a position that is easily noticeable when a product purchaser opens the packaging box containing the packaged item. Effect of the Invention

[0028] According to this invention, when manufacturing a packing box blank that forms a packing box, the position for performing a specified printing or attaching a specified label is determined based on information that can identify the item to be packed, so that a packing box can be provided with a specified printing related to the item to be packed or a specified label affixed in an appropriate desired position. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of a main control system and a peripheral device communication system of the packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 4] 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing in a personal computer and a control unit. [Diagram 5] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the state of sealing a cardboard box with tape and the state when the box is opened. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the state of sealing a cardboard box with tape and the state when the box is opened. [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described below, and various aspects are included within the scope of the present invention.

[0031] First Embodiment <Device configuration> The configuration of the packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a diagram that shows a schematic configuration of the packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sheet conveying path 11 and the object conveying path 21. FIG. 3 is a diagram that explains the main control system and peripheral device communication system configuration of the packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus 100. In the following description, the direction parallel to the floor surface along the sheet conveying path 11 is the X direction, the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet conveying path 11 is the Y direction, and the direction perpendicular to the floor surface is the Z direction (see FIGS. 1 and 2). In addition, in FIG. 2, the conveying rollers 12 and 22 are omitted, and of the object conveying path 21 and the sheet conveying path 11 that are in a vertical relationship in the Z direction, (a) shows the object conveying path 21 as seen from above, and (b) shows the sheet conveying path 11 as seen from above with the object conveying path 21 removed.

[0032] The packaging box blank manufacturing device 100 is a cardboard blank manufacturing device that cuts a single long cardboard material M supplied from a paper feeder (not shown) into a cardboard sheet (sheet material) S of a predetermined length, and cuts out a cardboard blank BL of an appropriate length and shape from the cardboard sheet S for packaging an object to be packed. In this embodiment, a sheet material made of double-sided cardboard is used. The cardboard material M before being cut into the cardboard sheets S is a sheet-type double-sided cardboard sheet having a certain shape, or a long cardboard sheet that is folded in an accordion-like shape at creases at predetermined intervals and stacked up and down. The packaging box blank manufacturing device 100 receives the supply of the cardboard material M from a paper feeder according to the stock form of the cardboard material M.

[0033] The packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a sheet conveying section 10 that conveys the sheet material, a packaged object conveying section 20 that conveys the packaged object P, an information acquiring section 30 that acquires packaged object information, a cutting section 40 that cuts the sheet material, a processing section 50 that cuts out blanks, and a printing section 60. The packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus 100 also includes a control section 70 that controls each of these sections, and a personal computer 90 that is communicably connected to the control section 70.

[0034] <Sheet conveying unit 10> The sheet conveying section 10 conveys the cardboard material M supplied from the paper feeder along a sheet conveying path 11. The sheet conveying section 10 is a positioning means in this invention that places the sheet material at a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position.

[0035] The sheet conveying section 10 includes a plurality of conveying rollers 12 arranged in a row with a gap between them, and a drive section 13 (see FIG. 3) that rotates the plurality of conveying rollers 12 in a synchronized manner. Each conveying roller 12 is arranged in a horizontal position with its axial direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction. The axial length of each conveying roller 12 is slightly greater than the width of the cardboard material M. A pressing roller 14 is provided at the upstream end of the sheet conveying path 11 to press down the cardboard material M so that it does not rise above the top surface of the sheet conveying path 11 (the contact position with the plurality of conveying rollers 12).

[0036] In this configuration, the multiple transport rollers 12 contact the back surface of the cardboard material M (and the cardboard sheet S and cardboard blank BL cut out from it), and when the drive unit 13 rotates the multiple transport rollers 12 in response to a command from the control unit 70, the cardboard material M (and the cardboard sheet S and cardboard blank BL cut out from it) is transported. In other words, the multiple transport rollers 12 form a sheet transport path 11. The control unit 70 controls the operation of the drive unit 13 intermittently, taking into account the processing time at a predetermined position (first predetermined position) of the cutting unit 40 and the processing unit 50.

[0037] Here, the sheet conveying path 11 is provided at a predetermined height, so that a space is created below it. The space is used as a location for installing a chip storage unit 58 that collects and stores chips generated in the cutting unit 40 and the processing unit 50, which will be described later. The chips generated in the cutting unit 40 and the processing unit 50 fall into the chip storage unit 58 through gaps between the multiple conveying rollers 12.

[0038] <Package item conveying section 20> The packaged object conveying section 20 conveys the packaged object P inserted from a packaged object input section (not shown) along the packaged object conveying path 21 toward the junction 16 where the packaged object P and the cardboard blank BL conveyed along the sheet conveying path 11 join together. The packaged object conveying path 21 is provided at a higher position than the sheet conveying path 11.

[0039] The packaged item conveying section 20 includes a plurality of conveying rollers 22 arranged in a row with a predetermined height interval between them, a belt 24 wound around the plurality of conveying rollers 22, and a drive section 23 (see FIG. 3) that synchronously rotates the plurality of conveying rollers 22. Each conveying roller 22 is arranged in a horizontal position with its axial direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction.

[0040] In this configuration, when the drive unit 23 rotates the multiple conveyor rollers 22 in response to an instruction from the control unit 70, the object P transferred onto the belt 24 is conveyed by the movement of the belt 24. In this configuration, the upper surface of the belt 24 becomes the conveying path 21 for the object to be packed.

[0041] <Information acquisition unit 30> The information acquisition unit 30 is disposed in the packaged object conveying unit 20, and specifically includes a 3D measuring device 31 supported by a gate-shaped frame provided in the middle of the packaged object conveying path 21, and a code scanner 32. The 3D measuring device 31 acquires packaged object information, which is information that can identify the packaged object P, including the size and product information of the packaged object P conveyed on the packaged object conveying path 21. The 3D measuring device 31 is a so-called laser scanner that irradiates a laser from above the packaged object P passing through the gate-shaped frame and captures the reflected light with a sensor (laser receiving element) to measure the shape. The code scanner 32 reads the product identification code attached to the packaged object P. This code scanner 32 uses laser light like the 3D measuring device 31, and irradiates a laser toward the product identification code (for example, a one-dimensional code) and reads the code by capturing the reflected light with a sensor (laser receiving element). The configuration of the information acquisition means is not limited to the information acquisition unit 30, and the 3D measuring device 31 and the code scanner 32 do not have to be arranged in a common frame. The size of the packaged item P may be acquired by accepting an input of the size of the packaged item P from the user via a control panel 71 described later, and the product identification code may be read by the user operating a hand scanner. Acquisition of information that can identify the packaged item P is not limited to reading the product identification code, and may be, for example, by reading required information from electronic data of a document (document) related to the transaction of the product, such as a product shipping list, stored in the storage device 93 (see FIG. 3) of the personal computer 90.

[0042] <Cut section 40> The cutting section 40 is disposed midway along the sheet conveying path 11, and cuts the cardboard material M to a predetermined length to cut out the cardboard sheet S.

[0043] The cutting unit 40 includes a cutting blade 41 and a lifting mechanism 42 that raises and lowers the cutting blade 41. The cutting blade 41 is arranged with its blade direction aligned along the Y direction. The length of the cutting blade 41 in the Y direction is slightly longer than the width of the cardboard material M. The lifting mechanism 42 is electrically connected to the control unit 70, and raises and lowers the cutting blade 41 in response to a command from the control unit 70. The cutting unit 40 cuts the cardboard material M in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction.

[0044] The control unit 70 lowers the cutting blade 41 at a position corresponding to the length (length in the X direction) of the cardboard sheet S to be cut out, and cuts the cardboard material M. The sheet length, which is the length of the cardboard sheet S, may be a fixed value, or may be variable according to instructions from the control unit 70. For example, if the packaged items P are products with the same shape, the sheet length of the cardboard sheet S is a fixed value, and if the packaged items P are products with different shapes, the sheet length is changed each time to a value calculated from the measured values ​​of the shapes of the packaged items P obtained from the 3D measuring device 31.

[0045] <Processing section 50> The processing unit 50 is provided on the sheet transport path 11 downstream of the cutting unit 40, and performs creasing and grooving to cut out cardboard blanks BL from the cardboard sheets S transported on the sheet transport path 11. The processing unit 50 corresponds to the cutting and creasing means in this invention that cuts the sheet material and adds creasing lines.

[0046] The processing unit 50 includes a cutting blade 51 and a drive mechanism 52 for moving the cutting blade 51 (specifically, a rotation drive mechanism for rotating the cutting blade 51 around a vertical axis, a horizontal drive mechanism for moving the cutting blade 51 in the X direction, and an elevation drive mechanism for raising and lowering the cutting blade 51). The drive mechanism 52 is electrically connected to the control unit 70, and moves the cutting blade 51 according to commands from the control unit 70.

[0047] The processing unit 50 further includes a pressing blade 53 having a blade shape with a rounded tip (or a tip having a flat surface area), and a drive mechanism 54 for moving the pressing blade 53 (specifically, a rotation drive mechanism for rotating the pressing blade 53 around a vertical axis, a horizontal drive mechanism for moving the pressing blade 53 in the X direction, and an elevation drive mechanism for raising and lowering the pressing blade 53). The drive mechanism 54 is electrically connected to the control unit 70, and moves the pressing blade 53 according to a command from the control unit 70.

[0048] <Print section 60> The printing unit 60 is provided on the sheet transport path 11 downstream of the processing unit 50, and performs printing at a predetermined printing position on the cardboard blank BL placed at the second predetermined position. Specifically, the printing unit 60 includes a print head 61 equipped with a number of inkjet nozzles, and a print control unit that controls the ejection of the inkjet nozzles based on print data. The print control unit is realized by the control unit 70 and the personal computer 90. The print head 61 may be fixed to a frame above the sheet transport path 11, or may be configured to move back and forth in the Y direction by a moving mechanism. The printing means is not limited to the inkjet type. Other types of printing devices may be appropriately adopted depending on the material of the sheet material.

[0049] <Control unit 70> The control unit 70 includes a memory, a calculation unit, a storage device, and a communication unit, and controls the overall operation of the packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus 100. A control panel 71 consisting of a liquid crystal display device equipped with a touch panel is connected to the control unit 70, and accepts various inputs from a user.

[0050] <System configuration> 3, the control unit 70 is connected to a personal computer 90 capable of external communication. Through this personal computer 90, a peripheral device communication system is configured that links the packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus 100 with peripheral devices added thereto.

[0051] The personal computer 90 is installed with software that controls the manufacture of cardboard blanks, and various functions are realized by executing each program of the software. The personal computer 90 includes a memory 91 into which the program is loaded when the software is started and in which data and the like are temporarily stored, a communication unit 94 that transmits and receives data to and from the control unit 70 and network servers 202 and 203 on the Internet 201 using a predetermined communication protocol, a calculation device 92 such as a CPU for executing the program, and a storage device 93 that stores each program of the software. The memory 91, the communication unit 94, the calculation device 92, and the storage device 93 are mutually connected by an internal bus (not shown). The personal computer 90 is also connected to a display unit 97 and an input unit 98. The network servers 202 and 203 on the Internet 201 include a web server that stores web pages, a server that stores tables and the like including records in which products managed in a logistics warehouse are associated with information related to each product, and a server that stores POS (Point of Sales) data.

[0052] <Printing process> A case where a predetermined printing is performed at a desired position in the packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus 100 having such a configuration will be further described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6. Fig. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the processing in the personal computer 90 and the control unit 70. Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining the state of the tape sealing of the cardboard box Q and the state when the box is opened.

[0053] First, when the conveyance of the packaged object P starts, the information acquisition unit 30 acquires information capable of identifying the packaged object P conveyed along the packaged object conveying path 21 (step 301). In this embodiment, as information capable of identifying the packaged object P, shape information of the packaged object P is acquired from the 3D measuring device 31, and product information converted from a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code affixed to the packaged object P is acquired from the code scanner 32. Note that in this embodiment, since the information acquisition unit 30 is provided on the packaged object conveying path 21 along which the packaged object P is conveyed, packaged object information, which is information capable of identifying the packaged object P during its conveyance, can be acquired. This allows the time required to acquire information capable of identifying the packaged object P to be shortened.

[0054] When the shape information of the packaged item P is acquired by the 3D measuring device 31 (step 301), the information is sent from the information acquisition unit 30 to the control unit 70. Then, the control unit 70 calculates the values ​​of the three sides of the box suitable for the shape of the packaged item P, and determines the blank shape (step 302). Note that the blank shape, including the cutting lines and ruled lines of the sheet material, may be determined by executing a program in a personal computer 90 connected to the control unit 70.

[0055] When the product information of the packaged item P is acquired by the code scanner 32 (step 301), the information is sent to the personal computer 90 via the control unit 70. Then, in the personal computer 90, keywords for Internet search are extracted from the product information, and a search keyword is set from among them (step 303). For example, if the code scanned by the code scanner 32 of the information acquisition unit 30 is a JAN code (Japan Article Number code), information such as the business name and product name can be acquired as product information. The search keyword may be singular or multiple, and may be not only a keyword extracted from the product information, but also a keyword freely input by the user via the input unit 98 of the personal computer 90.

[0056] In the personal computer 90, when the arithmetic unit 92 executes a search execution command using, for example, the product name read from the JAN code as a keyword (step 304), the communication unit 94, which is an external communication means, connects to the Internet 201, and product-related information is extracted from web page information stored in a web server on the network. As a result, the personal computer 90 obtains URL information of a web page related to the product (step 305). Thereafter, the personal computer 90 loads a program into the memory 91, and the arithmetic unit 92 executes the program, thereby converting the URL information and generating a two-dimensional code (step 306). In this way, the personal computer 90 functions as a conversion means for converting the URL information of the web page into a two-dimensional code.

[0057] Here, the URL information of the web page searched for using the product name as a keyword is not limited to the URL information of the web page of the seller of the product. When performing a keyword search on the Internet 201, by using a search engine incorporating artificial intelligence (AI), it is possible to obtain information sources that are considered to be valuable to the product purchaser from among multiple information sources (web pages) extracted by the search, by ranking them at the top. For example, by using a data mining method such as association analysis that reads POS data and predicts products that will be purchased together with the product P to be packaged, as machine learning to make the AI ​​learn, it is possible to efficiently obtain URL information of an EC (Electronic Commerce) site of a product recommended to the product purchaser. In this way, by searching for information related to the product on the Internet and extracting it using a predetermined algorithm by AI, it is possible to efficiently introduce related products and guide the product purchaser to a site where the related products can be purchased.

[0058] The personal computer 90 loads a program for determining the printing position R into the memory 91, and the calculation device 92 executes the program to determine the position on the cardboard blank BL where the two-dimensional code is to be printed based on the shape of the cardboard blank BL (step 307). The personal computer 90 then generates print data in a format that enables the printing of the two-dimensional code in the printing unit 60 (step 308). The cardboard blank BL is conveyed to the second predetermined position by the sheet conveying unit 10, and the printing unit 60, which has received the print data from the personal computer 90, executes printing (step 309), thereby printing the two-dimensional code at the printing position R determined in step 307. The personal computer 90 executes the program with the calculation device 92 to function as a determination means for determining the cutting lines, ruled lines, and printing positions of the sheet material based on the packaged item information in this invention.

[0059] The printing position R may be determined by displaying a print layout screen on the display unit 97 of the personal computer 90 and having the user input, via the input unit 98, where on the cardboard blank BL the generated two-dimensional code should be placed. Also, the printing position R may be determined by specifying in advance the names of each part of the blank, such as the inside of the outer flap or the inside of the inner flap, relative to the sealing position with the tape T.

[0060] The cardboard blank BL on which the two-dimensional code is printed at a predetermined position by the printing unit 60 is conveyed to the junction 16 where the sheet conveying path 11 joins with the packaged object conveying path 21 of the packaged object conveying unit 20. At the junction 16, the packaged object P conveyed on the packaged object conveying path 21 is inserted into the cardboard blank BL. By conveying the cardboard sheet S and the cardboard blank BL by the sheet conveying unit 10 and conveying the packaged object P by the packaged object conveying unit 20 in parallel, it is possible to easily associate the packaged object P, the information of which is acquired from the information acquiring unit 30 provided on the packaged object conveying path 21, with the cardboard blank BL on which the predetermined printing is performed, and by merging the packaged object P with the cardboard blank BL, it is possible to reliably pack the packaged object P into a packing box to which the relevant information corresponding to each packaged object P is attached. Then, if a box making machine is connected downstream of the junction 16, the cardboard box Q is assembled by the box making machine and sealed with tape T.

[0061] In the above example, information related to the product P, which is the packaged item, is extracted from a web server on the Internet 201 using the product name as the search keyword, but this is not limited to this. The personal computer 90 may use the product category of the packaged item P as a search keyword, and make an inquiry via the communication unit 94 to a server on the network that stores a table consisting of a plurality of records that associate the product category with the URL information of a web page (steps 304 and 305), thereby acquiring the URL information of a specific web page (step 306). For example, if the product category of the product P, which is the packaged item, is sporting goods, the personal computer 90 may acquire the URL information of a web page of a business associated with the sporting goods from the records of the table stored in the network server. The record of the sporting goods may include, for example, the business name and URL information of a beverage manufacturer that manufactures and sells sports drinks, protein drinks, etc., or the business name and URL information of a service provider that rents sporting goods and provides exercise spaces.

[0062] In the above example, the printing unit 60 is disposed downstream of the processing unit 50, and the sheet conveying unit 10, which serves as a positioning means for placing the sheet material at a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position, places the sheet material at the first predetermined position and then the second predetermined position, but the printing unit 60 may be disposed upstream of the processing unit 50. When the printing unit 60 is disposed between the cutting unit 40 and the processing unit 50, the sheet conveying unit 10 places the sheet material at the second predetermined position and then the first predetermined position, and at this time the printing unit 60 executes printing at the predetermined position of the cardboard sheet S determined by the determination means.

[0063] The cardboard box Q shown in Fig. 5(a) is assembled from the cardboard blank BL shown in Fig. 2. In the case of this cardboard blank BL, there is one position to seal with tape T. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 5(b), if printing position R is determined on the inside of the folded surface that will become the lid of cardboard box Q, it is possible to present product-related information in the most visible position when a product purchaser opens cardboard box Q at the position of tape T.

[0064] In the example of FIG. 6, the packaged item P is put into the cardboard blank BL of (a), and two places are sealed with tape T as shown in (b) to make a cardboard box Q. In this example, the surfaces with tape T attached will be the surfaces that face each other when the cardboard box Q is made. In this case, the printing positions R are set to two places as shown in (c). This is because the printing positions R are set in consideration of the opening work of the cardboard box Q by the product purchaser. That is, by setting the printing positions R to the inside of the two outer flaps OF of the cardboard box Q, even if the product purchaser places one of the two sides of the box with tape T attached at the bottom and only removes the seal with tape T on the other side, the printed information can be seen by the product purchaser. The printing positions R may be one or more. In addition, when multiple printing positions R are set, the printed contents may be the same or different. For example, the printed contents may be different between the outer flap OF and the inner flap IF. By determining the printing position R in consideration of the situation in which the cardboard box Q is opened, the printed content can be information that can efficiently appeal to the person who receives the cardboard box Q. In addition, since the printing is done on the surface of the cardboard blank BL that will become the inside of the box, there is no need to provide a sheet material reversing mechanism for printing, and the packaged item P and the cardboard blank BL can be smoothly merged at the junction 16.

[0065] In the above example, the URL information is obtained from the Internet 201 via an external communication means to generate a two-dimensional code, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a table including records that associate a specific product with the URL information of a specific web page may be stored in the storage device 93 of the personal computer 90. In addition, such a table may be stored in a storage device in the control unit 70, and the packaging box blank manufacturing device 100 may hold it itself. Furthermore, the printing content printed by the printing unit 60 at the printing position R is not limited to a two-dimensional code converted from URL information. The printing content may be character information of the URL, a product image, a logo of a business associated with a product category, an advertising image associated with a business name, an image of a tourist spot associated with a business location, or the like. The printing content includes information on products and services that are considered to be useful information for the purchaser of the product P that is the packaged item.

[0066] <Second embodiment> Next, a packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus 400 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 7. In Fig. 7, the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0067] In the first embodiment described above, the printing unit 60 directly prints on the cardboard blank BL, but in the second embodiment, instead of the printing unit 60, a labeler 480 as a pasting means for pasting a predetermined label at a predetermined position on a sheet material, and a label printing unit 460 are provided. The labeler 480 is electrically connected to the control unit 70. The label printing unit 460, which supplies the printed label to the labeler 480, is connected to the control unit 70 via the personal computer 90, executes label printing based on the print data generated by the personal computer 90, and supplies the printed label to the labeler 480. The label pasting position on the cardboard blank BL is determined by the calculation device 92 of the personal computer 90 executing a program based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit 30, similar to the determination of the print position R in the first embodiment.

[0068] Label printing in the label printing unit 460 is performed in the same procedure as in the first embodiment described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. The label attachment position is determined in the same procedure as the procedure for determining the printing position R. The labeler 480 attaches a label to a determined label attachment position on a cardboard blank BL placed in a second predetermined position downstream of the processing unit 50 by the sheet conveying unit 10. The cardboard blank BL with the label attached is conveyed to the junction unit 16. As described with reference to Figures 5 and 6, the label attachment position is preferably a position that is easily noticeable by the recipient of the cardboard box Q when the cardboard box Q is opened.

[0069] In this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the second predetermined position may be upstream of the processing unit 50. That is, when the sheet conveying unit 10 places the sheet material in the second predetermined position and then the first predetermined position, the label is affixed to the label affixing position determined by the determination means of the cardboard sheet S. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 100, 400... Packaging box blank manufacturing equipment 10...Sheet transport section 11...Sheet transport path 12...Transport roller 13...Drive unit 16…Confluence 20...Packaged item transport section 21...Packaged goods transport path 22...Transport roller 23...Drive unit 30…Information acquisition department 31...3D measuring device 32…Scanner 40…cutting section 41...Cutting blade 42...Lifting mechanism 50…Processing department 51...Cutting blade 52...Drive mechanism 53...Pressing blade 54...Drive mechanism 58…Chip collection section 60…Printing department 61...Print head 70...Control unit 71…Control Panel 90…Personal computer 91…Memory 92...Arithmetic device 93…Storage device 94…Communications Department 97…Display section 98...Input section 201…Internet 202, 203...Network servers M: Cardboard material S: Corrugated cardboard sheet BL: Cardboard blank P…Item to be packaged Q: Cardboard box T…Tape

Claims

1. An information acquisition means for acquiring packaged item information that can identify the packaged item; An external communication means for acquiring URL information of a web page related to the packaged object from information of a web page stored in a network server on a network based on the packaged object information acquired by the information acquisition means; A determining unit that determines cutting lines, ruled lines, and printing positions of a sheet material based on the package information acquired by the information acquiring unit; a positioning means for positioning the sheet material at a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position; a cutting and scoring means for cutting and scoring the sheet material at the first predetermined position based on the cutting line and the scoring line determined by the determining means; a printing means for printing a code obtained by converting the URL information onto the sheet material located at the second predetermined position based on the printing position determined by the determination means; Equipped with A packaging box blank manufacturing device characterized in that the printing position is a position that avoids cutting lines and scores among positions that will become the inside of the packaging box when the sheet material is assembled into a packaging box after being cut and scored by the cutting and scoring means.

2. An information acquisition means for acquiring packaged item information that can identify the packaged item; An external communication means for acquiring URL information of a web page related to the packaged object from information of a web page stored in a network server on a network based on the packaged object information acquired by the information acquisition means; a determining means for determining cutting lines, ruled lines and label attachment positions of a sheet material based on the package information acquired by the information acquiring means; a positioning means for positioning the sheet material at a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position; a cutting and scoring means for cutting and scoring the sheet material at the first predetermined position based on the cutting line and the scoring line determined by the determining means; a label attaching means for attaching a label, on which a code obtained by converting the URL information is printed, to the sheet material located at the second predetermined position based on the label attaching position determined by the determining means; Equipped with A packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus characterized in that the label attachment position is a position that avoids cutting lines and scores among positions that will become the inside of the packaging box when the sheet material after being cut and scored by the cutting and scoring means is assembled into the packaging box.

3. The packaging box blank manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, A packaging box blank manufacturing device, wherein a position that avoids cutting lines and creases among the positions that will become the inside of the packaging box is a position that will become the inside of an outer flap or an inner flap of the packaging box.

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