Label attaching device

Abstract

To suppress that a member around a conveyance path gets wet by steam leaking out of an inlet or an outlet of a steam tunnel while the conveyance path is shortened.SOLUTION: A label attaching device 100 comprises a steam tunnel 30 which an attached object X attached with a label L passes through, and heats the label L by steam supplied in the steam tunnel 30 to attach it to the attached object X. The label attaching device further comprises a blower mechanism 70 for sending air from a passage port being an inlet 30a or an outlet 30b of the steam tunnel 30 into the steam tunnel 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a label mounting device that heats a label such as a shrink label and mounts it on an object to be mounted.

Background Art

[0002] As this type of label mounting device, as shown in Patent Document 1, it is provided with a steam tunnel through which an object to be mounted covered with a label passes, and the label is heated and heat-shrunk by high-temperature steam discharged into the steam tunnel, thereby being mounted on the object to be mounted.

[0003] In such a label mounting device, the object to be mounted is conveyed by a conveyance path such as an endless belt, and sensors for counting the number of objects to be mounted, etc. may be provided around this conveyance path.

[0004] Also, in a configuration where the object to be mounted is transferred from one conveyance path to another conveyance path with a different conveyance speed, an auxiliary belt may be provided at the joint of these conveyance paths to prevent the object to be mounted from falling.

[0005] For a device in which peripheral members such as sensors and auxiliary belts are provided around the conveyance path, there may be a demand to shorten the conveyance path when there are restrictions on the installation space of the label mounting device.

[0006] However, when the conveyance path is shortened, the above-described peripheral members cannot be placed far from the steam tunnel, and depending on the required length of the conveyance path, the peripheral members have to be placed near the steam tunnel.

[0007] Then, the peripheral members get wet due to the steam leaking from the steam tunnel, causing various problems related to the peripheral members such as misdetection of the sensor and malfunction of the auxiliary belt.

[0008] In order to prevent the wetting of the peripheral members described above, the inventor of the present application considered a configuration in which the steam leaking from the steam tunnel is sucked up by a fan and exhausted. However, with this configuration, only a part of the steam can be sucked up, and actually, the above-described wetting problem cannot be solved.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0009]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0010] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems at once, and while shortening the conveyance path, its main problem is to suppress the members around the conveyance path from getting wet due to the steam leaking from the entrance or exit of the steam tunnel.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] That is, the label attaching device according to the present invention includes a steam tunnel through which an object to which a label is attached passes, and is a label attaching device that heats the label with the steam supplied into the steam tunnel and attaches it to the object to which the label is attached, and is characterized by including a blower mechanism that blows air into the steam tunnel from a passage opening that is an entrance or an exit of the steam tunnel.

[0012] With such a label attaching device, since the blower mechanism blows gas into the steam tunnel from the entrance or exit of the steam tunnel, it is possible to suppress the steam leaking from the entrance or exit of the steam tunnel. As a result, while shortening the conveyance path, it is possible to significantly suppress, as compared with the conventional case, the members around the conveyance path from getting wet due to the steam leaking from the entrance or exit of the steam tunnel.

[0013] As an embodiment for suppressing steam leakage, for example, a mode of sending air from a large fan installed beside the steam tunnel to the inlet or outlet can be considered, but it is not practical when the installation space of the label attaching device is limited. Therefore, it is desirable that the air blowing mechanism includes a fan provided at an upper portion on the passing port side of the steam tunnel. With such a configuration, since the fan is provided at the upper portion of the steam tunnel, an installation space for the fan is not required, and even in a limited installation space, the air from the fan can be reasonably sent to the inlet or outlet of the steam tunnel.

[0014] It is desirable that the air blowing mechanism further includes a wind guiding member that guides the air from the fan to the passing port. With such a configuration, the air from the fan can be guided to the inlet or outlet of the steam tunnel, and the steam leaking from the steam tunnel can be more reliably suppressed.

[0015] It is desirable that the fan blows air downward, and the wind guiding member has a wind guiding surface that approaches the passing port as it goes from the upstream side to the downstream side of the air from the fan. With such a configuration, the air from the fan can be reliably guided to the inlet or outlet of the steam tunnel without complicating the device configuration.

[0016] The wind guiding member includes a casing having a blowing space into which the air from the fan is sent, a first opening formed in a facing wall facing the passing port through which the object to be attached passes, and a second opening that overlaps the passing port and through which the object to be attached passes, and a flange portion provided on the second opening side, and it is desirable that the flange portion is attached to a wall surface on which the passing port of the steam tunnel is formed. With such a configuration, since the flange portion of the casing is attached to the wall surface on which the inlet or outlet of the steam tunnel is formed, the air from the fan does not leak from between them, and the air volume guided to the inlet or outlet of the steam tunnel can be ensured.

[0017] It is desirable that the blower mechanism be detachable from the steam tunnel. With such a configuration, it can be applied to an existing label attaching device, shortening the conveyance path of the label attaching device and preventing the members around the conveyance path from getting wet.

[0018] It is desirable that the apparatus further includes a conveyance path for conveying the object to be attached, and a sensor provided on one or both sides of the conveyance path for detecting the object to be attached. With such a configuration, the sensor can, for example, count the objects to be attached while preventing the sensor from getting wet.

[0019] It is desirable that the apparatus further includes a first conveyance path for conveying the object to be attached, a second conveyance path that receives the object to be attached from the first conveyance path and has a conveyance speed different from that of the first conveyance path, and an auxiliary belt provided on one or both sides of the connection between the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path for guiding the conveyance of the object to be attached. With such a configuration, the auxiliary belt can prevent the object to be attached from falling at the connection between the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path while preventing the auxiliary belt from getting wet.

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention configured as described above, it is possible to suppress the members around the conveyance path from getting wet due to the steam leaking from the entrance or exit of the steam tunnel while shortening the conveyance path.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a label attaching device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0023] <Device Configuration> As shown in FIG. 1, the label attaching device 100 of this embodiment is used to heat a shrink label L (hereinafter simply referred to as label L) in a state of being covered on an object X to be attached, and attach the label L to the object X to be attached. Note that the label L of this embodiment is a cylindrical film having heat shrinkability, such as made of resin. Further, the object X to be attached is, for example, a container made of resin, glass, or metal.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the label attaching device 100 includes a transport mechanism 10 for transporting the object X to be attached, a label covering mechanism 20 for covering the object X to be attached with the label L, and a steam tunnel 30 through which the object X to be attached covered with the label L passes.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transport mechanism 10 transports the object X to be attached into and out of at least the steam tunnel 30. Here, the transport mechanism 10 transports the object X to be attached to the label covering mechanism 20, and then transports the object X to be attached covered with the label L to the steam tunnel 30.

[0026] Specifically, this transport mechanism 10 includes a transport path 11, such as an endless belt, on which the object X to be attached is placed, and a drive unit 12, such as a motor, for moving the transport path 11.

[0027] The transport mechanism 10 of this embodiment has a first transport path 11a for transporting the object X to be worn and a second transport path 11b for receiving the object X to be worn from the first transport path 11a.

[0028] More specifically, the first transport path 11a transports the object X to be worn to the label covering mechanism 20, and then sends out the object X with the label L covered to the second transport path 11b.

[0029] On the other hand, the second transport path 11b transports the object X with the label L covered received from the first transport path 11a to the steam tunnel 30, and carries out the object X with the label L attached from the steam tunnel 30.

[0030] That is, the first transport path 11a and the second transport path 11b are arranged at a predetermined position between the label covering mechanism 20 and the steam tunnel 30 so as to transfer the object X to be worn from the first transport path 11a to the second transport path 11b.

[0031] In such a configuration, the first transport path 11a is set to a transport speed that matches the time interval at which the label covering mechanism 20 successively covers the object X with the label L, and the second transport path 11b is set to a transport speed such that the time for the object X to pass through the steam tunnel 30 becomes a desired passing time. As a result, the first transport path 11a and the second transport path 11b of this embodiment are set to different transport speeds.

[0032] As a result, there is a risk that the object X to be worn will fall when being transferred from the first transport path 11a to the second transport path 11b with a different transport speed.

[0033] Therefore, the transport mechanism 10 of this embodiment further includes an auxiliary belt 13 provided on one side or both sides of the joint C between the first transport path 11a and the second transport path 11b, which is an auxiliary member for guiding the transport of the object X to be worn.

[0034] In this embodiment, the auxiliary belt 13 is provided on each side of the joint C and sandwiches the object to be worn X from the radially outer side, and specifically, it is an endless belt.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, the label covering mechanism 20 feeds out a label material in which a large number of labels L are connected in a long strip shape by a plurality of rollers 21, and cuts one label L from the label material by a cutter 22. Then, while opening the cut cylindrical label L through a cylindrical body 23 called a mandrel, it is configured to drop and cover the object to be worn X conveyed below the mandrel 23.

[0036] However, the label attaching device 100 according to the present invention does not necessarily have to include this label covering mechanism 20. For example, an operator may manually cover the object to be worn X with the label L.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the steam tunnel 30 includes a preheating chamber 40 that preheats the label L to slightly shrink it or make it in a state where it is easy to shrink, and a main heating chamber 50 that further heats the preheated label L to adhere it to the object to be worn X. In FIGS. 1 and 2, a configuration with one preheating chamber 40 provided is shown, but two or more consecutive preheating chambers 40 may be provided, or the preheating chamber 40 may not be provided.

[0038] The preheating chamber 40 is a chamber that preheats the label L to slightly shrink it or make it in a state where it is easy to shrink. As shown in FIG. 3, it includes a first housing 41 whose interior is formed as a preheating space 4S, and a heating mechanism 42 for the preheating chamber that generates a high-temperature gas for heating the label L.

[0039] The first housing 41 is formed with an inlet and an outlet for loading and unloading the object to be worn X, and hot air is sent from the air vents 41h formed in the side wall into the preheating space 4S. More specifically, punching metal is provided, for example, on the inner wall surfaces of the left wall 413 and the right wall 414 that face each other in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction among the side walls of the first housing 41. As a result, a large number of air vents 41h are formed on the inner wall surfaces of the left wall 413 and the right wall 414, and hot air blows out from these air vents 41h.

[0040] The heating mechanism 42 for the preheating chamber heats the air supplied by, for example, a pressure feeding mechanism (not shown) to a high temperature, and specifically includes a heater 421 such as a finned cartridge heater. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a supply space 4P for supplying the pressured air is provided above the preheating space 4S in the first housing 41, and a plurality of heaters 421 are arranged in a staggered pattern, for example, in this supply space 4P (see FIG. 2).

[0041] This main heating chamber 50 is a chamber that heats the label L to a higher temperature than the preliminary heating chamber 40 to thermally contract it and attach it to the object to be worn X. As shown in FIG. 4, it includes a second housing 51 whose interior is formed as a heating space 5S, and a heating mechanism 52 for the heating chamber that generates a high-temperature gas for further heating the label L.

[0042] The second housing 51 is formed with an inlet and an outlet for loading and unloading the object to be worn X, and is sent into the heating space 5S from a plurality of ventilation openings 51h formed in the side wall. More specifically, each ventilation opening 51h has a slit shape extending along the height direction of the object to be worn X, and here it is formed from the lower end part to above the central part on the inner wall surfaces of the left wall 513 and the right wall 514 respectively.

[0043] The heating mechanism 52 for the heating chamber heats the air supplied, for example, by a pressure feeding mechanism (not shown) to a high temperature, and specifically includes a heater 521 such as a cartridge heater with fins. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a supply space 5P for the supplied air is provided above the heating space 5S in the second housing 51, and a plurality of heaters 521 are arranged in the supply space 5P, for example, in a staggered pattern (see FIG. 2).

[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, in the configuration where the steam tunnel 30 is composed of the preliminary heating chamber 40 and the main heating chamber 50, the inlet 30a of the steam tunnel 30 is the inlet of the preliminary heating chamber 40, and the outlet 30b of the steam tunnel 30 is the outlet of the main heating chamber 50.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, the label attaching device 100 of the present embodiment further includes a sensor 60 provided near the inlet 30a of the steam tunnel 30 for detecting the object X to be attached, and is configured to count the number of objects X carried into the steam tunnel 30.

[0046] This sensor 60 has, for example, a light emitter that emits detection light such as laser light and a light receiver that detects the detection light, and these light emitter and light receiver are arranged on one side or both sides of the conveyance path 11.

[0047] Here, a sensor 60 for detecting the upper part of the object X to be attached and a sensor 60 for detecting the lower part of the object X to be attached are provided, and a set of these sensors 60 can detect the overturning of the object X to be attached.

[0048] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the label attaching device 100 of the present embodiment further includes a blower mechanism 70 that sends air into the steam tunnel 30 from the inlet 30a of the steam tunnel 30.

[0049] This blower mechanism 70 includes a fan 71 provided on the inlet 30a side of the steam tunnel 30, and is configured to send the air from the fan 71 into the inlet 30a of the steam tunnel 30.

[0050] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the fan 71 is disposed above the inlet 30a of the steam tunnel 30 in a posture of blowing air downward. Here, a wind guiding member 72 for guiding the air from the fan 71 to the inlet 30a is provided.

[0051] The wind guiding member 72 is configured using a casing 73 having a blowing space 70s into which the air from the fan 71 is sent.

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, this casing 73 covers the inlet 30a of the steam tunnel 30 and is provided so as to cover the conveyance path 11. The above-described fan 71 is attached to the upper wall 731.

[0053] The casing 73 has a first opening h1 formed in the facing wall 732 facing the inlet and through which the object X to be covered passes, and a second opening h2 that overlaps the inlet and through which the object X to be covered passes. Further, at a position on the upper wall 731 of the casing 53 facing the fan 71, a blowing port 731h penetrating the upper wall 731 is formed.

[0054] A flange portion 74 is provided on the second opening h2 side of the casing 73, and the flange portion 74 is attached to the wall surface 30x where the inlet 30a of the steam tunnel 30 is formed.

[0055] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the flange portion 74 extends outward from at least the upper wall 731 and the pair of side walls 733 of the casing 73, and screw holes are provided at a plurality of locations thereof.

[0056] Thereby, the blower mechanism 70 of the present embodiment is detachably attached to the steam tunnel 30 via screws passed through the screw holes of the flange portion 74.

[0057] Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the above-described opposing wall 732 facing the inlet 30a has a wind guiding surface 75 that guides the wind from the fan 71 to the inlet 30a.

[0058] More specifically described, this opposing wall 732 has a hanging portion 734 extending vertically downward from the upper wall 731, and a bent portion 735 bent from the lower end of the hanging portion 734 toward the steam tunnel 30 side. The surface forming the air blowing space of this bent portion 735 is the above-described wind guiding surface 75.

[0059] This wind guiding surface 75 has a shape approaching the inlet 30a as it goes from the upstream side to the downstream side of the wind from the fan 71. In other words, as it goes from above to below, specifically, it is an inclined surface approaching the inlet 30a as it goes from above to below.

[0060] In the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG. 5, the bent portion 735 of the present embodiment is arranged so as to face the peripheral members arranged around the conveyance path 11, such as the above-described auxiliary belt 13 and sensor 60. That is, the surface on the opposite side of the wind guiding surface 75 of the bent portion 735 faces at least a part of one or a plurality of peripheral members.

[0061] <Function and Effect> According to the label attaching device 100 configured as described above, since the air blowing mechanism 70 sends gas from the inlet 30a of the steam tunnel 30 into the inside of the steam tunnel 30, it is possible to suppress the steam leaking from the inlet 30a of the steam tunnel 30. Thereby, while shortening the conveyance path 11, it is possible to significantly suppress, as compared with the prior art, the members around the conveyance path 11 from getting wet due to the steam leaking from the inlet 30a of the steam tunnel 30, and it is possible to prevent malfunction detection of the sensor 60 and malfunction of the auxiliary belt 13.

[0062] In addition, since the fan 71 that constitutes the air blowing mechanism 70 is provided at the upper part on the passing port side of the steam tunnel 30, no installation space for the fan 71 is required, and even in a limited installation space, the air from the fan 71 can be smoothly sent to the inlet 30a of the steam tunnel 30.

[0063] Furthermore, since the air blowing mechanism 70 includes a wind guiding member 72 that guides the air from the fan 71 to the inlet 30a, the steam leaking from the steam tunnel 30 can be more reliably suppressed.

[0064] Moreover, the fan 71 is attached in a posture of blowing air downward, and the air from the fan 71 is directed toward the inlet 30a by the air guiding surface 75, so that the air from the fan 71 can be reliably guided to the inlet 30a of the steam tunnel 30 without complicating the device configuration.

[0065] In addition, since the flange portion 74 of the casing 73 is attached to the wall surface 30x where the inlet 30a of the steam tunnel 30 is formed, the air from the fan 71 does not leak from between them, and the air volume guided to the inlet 30a of the steam tunnel 30 can be ensured.

[0066] Furthermore, since the air blowing mechanism 70 is detachable from the steam tunnel 30, it can be applied to an existing label attaching device, shortening the conveyance path 11 of the label attaching device and preventing the members around the conveyance path 11 from getting wet.

[0067] <Other Embodiments> Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0068] For example, as the air blowing mechanism 70, any device that sends air into the steam tunnel 30 from at least one of the passing ports that are the inlet 30a or the outlet 30b of the steam tunnel 30 may be used.

[0069] That is, the blower mechanism 70 sends air from the inlet 30a of the steam tunnel 30 into the steam tunnel 30 in the above-described embodiment, but it may also send air from the outlet 30b of the steam tunnel 30 into the steam tunnel 30.

[0070] Further, the label attaching device 100 may include a first blower mechanism 70 that sends air from the inlet 30a of the steam tunnel 30 into the steam tunnel 30 and a second blower mechanism 70 that sends air from the outlet 30b of the steam tunnel 30 into the steam tunnel 30.

[0071] Furthermore, the blower mechanism 70 may be a large fan installed beside the steam tunnel 30.

[0072] Also, the air guiding surface 75 may be a curved surface that approaches the inlet 30a while curving from the upstream side to the downstream side of the air from the fan 71.

[0073] The sensor 60 uses detection light in the above-described embodiment, but is not limited thereto, and various types may be used.

[0074] The auxiliary belt 13 was arranged on both sides of the conveyance path 11 in the above-described embodiment, but it may be arranged on only one side of the conveyance path 11.

[0075] Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0076] 100 ··· Label attaching device X ··· Object to which label is to be attached L ··· Label 10 ··· Conveyance mechanism 11 ··· Conveyance path 11a ··· First conveyance path 11b ··· Second conveyance path 13 ··· Auxiliary belt 30 ··· Steam tunnel 30a ··· Entrance 30b ··· Exit 60 ··· Sensor 70 ··· Blower mechanism 71 ··· Fan 72 ··· Air guide member 73 ··· Casing 74 ··· Flange portion 75 ··· Air guide surface

Claims

1. A label attaching device comprising a steam tunnel through which an object to which a label is attached passes, and heating the label with steam supplied into the steam tunnel to attach the label to the object, comprising a blower mechanism installed outside the steam tunnel and blowing air into the interior of the steam tunnel from a passage opening which is an inlet or an outlet of the steam tunnel, wherein the blower mechanism includes a fan provided above the passage opening and blowing air downward, and a wind guiding member for guiding the air from the fan to the passage opening, the label attaching device, wherein the wind guiding member has a wind guiding surface approaching the passage opening as it goes from the upstream side to the downstream side of the air from the fan.

2. The wind guiding member, comprises a casing having a blowing space into which the air from the fan is blown, a first opening formed in an opposing wall opposing the passage opening through which the object passes, and a second opening overlapping the passage opening through which the object passes, and a flange portion provided on the second opening side, the label attaching device according to claim 1, wherein the flange portion is attached to a wall surface on which the passage opening of the steam tunnel is formed.

3. The label attaching device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the blower mechanism is detachable from the steam tunnel.

4. further comprising a conveyance path for conveying the object, and a sensor provided on one or both sides of the conveyance path for detecting the object, the label attaching device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. a first conveyance path for conveying the object, a second conveyance path that receives the object from the first conveyance path and has a conveyance speed different from that of the first conveyance path, and an auxiliary belt provided on one or both sides of a connection point between the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path for guiding the conveyance of the object, the label attaching device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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