Labeling device

Abstract

To dramatically make an apparatus compact compared to a conventional apparatus.SOLUTION: A label mounting apparatus 100 includes a steam tunnel 20 for passing an object X to be mounted coated with a label L, and heats the label L by steam supplied into the steam tunnel 20 and mounts the label L onto the object X to be mounted, wherein the steam tunnel 20 has a plurality of steam discharge pipes 20 for discharging steam, and the steam discharge pipes 20 have a plurality of micropores h formed in a circumferential direction or one or a plurality of fine slits h2 formed in the circumferential direction, in a plurality of parts separated from each other in a pipe axial direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

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, there is one that conveys a container covered with a label into a steam tunnel and supplies high-temperature steam to this steam tunnel to thermally shrink the label and mount it on the container.

[0003] More specifically, this steam tunnel is designed to fill the inside of the tunnel with steam and thermally shrink the label in that atmosphere. In order to gain time for exposing the container to that atmosphere, the steam discharge pipe is provided so as to extend along the conveyance direction of the object to be mounted.

[0004] However, with such a configuration, for example, there is a limit to shortening the time required to mount the label, in other words, shortening the length of the steam tunnel, and it is difficult to make the device more compact.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems at once, and its main problem is to make the device significantly more compact than conventional ones.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In other words, the labeling apparatus according to the present invention comprises a steam tunnel through which an object to be covered with a label passes, and heats the label with steam supplied into the steam tunnel to attach it to the object, wherein the steam tunnel has a plurality of steam discharge pipes that discharge steam, and the steam discharge pipes have a plurality of micro-holes formed along the circumferential direction at a plurality of locations spaced apart in the axial direction of the pipes, or one or more micro-slits formed along the circumferential direction.

[0008] With the labeling device configured in this way, since the steam discharge pipe has multiple micro-holes or one or more micro-slits formed along the circumferential direction, the steam can be discharged while diffusing, and the object to be labeled can be completely enveloped in steam at each of the multiple locations spaced apart in the axial direction of the pipe. This allows labels to be attached to objects in a shorter time, and enables the steam tunnel to be made more compact.

[0009] It is preferable that the multiple micropores are located at different height positions along the height direction of the object to be attached. This method allows the object to be attached to be enveloped in steam from bottom to top.

[0010] Preferably, the plurality of micropores penetrate the steam discharge pipe, and the directions in which these micropores penetrate intersect each other. With this method, the steam is discharged while spreading vertically, allowing the entire object to be attached to be more reliably enveloped in steam.

[0011] Preferably, the steam discharge pipe has an attachment that is fitted into the mounting holes formed at the plurality of locations, and the attachment has the plurality of micro-holes or the one or more micro-slits. With this approach, by preparing various attachments with different sizes and numbers of micropores or fine slits, for example, the way the steam diffuses can be changed, making it a more versatile device.

[0012] It is preferable that the attachment is rotatably mounted with respect to the mounting hole. With this design, the direction of steam diffusion can be changed by rotating the attachment, making it applicable to various shapes of objects, such as asymmetrical shapes.

[0013] Preferably, the steam supply path that supplies steam to the steam tunnel is further provided with pressurizing means for pressurizing the steam. With this configuration, the steam temperature can be increased by pressurizing the steam using a pressurizing mechanism, without needing to install heating means such as heaters in the steam supply path. This allows for more reliable label application while using a compact steam tunnel, without increasing the cost or size of the equipment.

[0014] Preferably, multiple steam discharge pipes are arranged around the object to be attached, which has been transported to a predetermined position within the steam tunnel, and extend along the height direction of the covering member at that predetermined position. In this context, "extending along the height direction" includes not only extending parallel to the height direction, but also extending at a slight angle to the height direction.

[0015] With this configuration, the steam is discharged towards the object being attached, allowing the label to be heated more directly. As a result, the label is attached to the container as before, and the steam discharge pipe extends along the height direction of the object to be attached, making the device significantly more compact compared to when the steam discharge pipe extends along the conveying direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention configured as described above, the device can be made dramatically more compact than conventional devices.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the label applicator of the present embodiment. [Figure 2] Schematic diagram of the label applicator of the present embodiment viewed from above. [Figure 3] Schematic diagram showing the configuration of the attachment of the present embodiment. [Figure 4] Schematic diagram showing the tip surface of the attachment of the present embodiment. [Figure 5] Schematic diagram showing the configuration of the pressure tank of the present embodiment. [Figure 6] Schematic diagram showing the configuration of the pressure tank of the present embodiment. [Figure 7] Schematic diagram showing the configuration of the steam discharge pipe of other embodiments. [Figure 8] Schematic diagram showing the configuration of the fine slit of other embodiments. [Figure 9] Schematic diagram showing the configuration of the label applicator of other embodiments. [Figure 10] Schematic diagram showing the configuration of the label applicator of other embodiments.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a label applicator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] <Device Configuration> As shown in FIG. 1, the label applicator 100 of the present 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 to be attached X, and attach the label L to the object to be attached X. The label L of the present embodiment is, for example, a cylindrical film having heat shrinkability such as made of resin. The object to be attached X is, for example, a container made of resin, glass, or metal.

[0020] As shown in Figure 1, the label application device 100 comprises a transport mechanism 10 for transporting the object to be applied X, a steam tunnel 20 through which the object to be applied X covered with the label L passes, and a steam supply passage 30 for supplying steam to the steam tunnel 20.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the transport mechanism 10 transports the object to be loaded X into and out of the steam tunnel 20. Specifically, it comprises a transport path 11, such as an endless belt, on which the object to be loaded X is placed, and a drive unit 12, such as a motor, for moving the transport path 11.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the steam tunnel 20 heats the label L with steam to cause thermal shrinkage, and the label mounting device 100 of this embodiment is equipped with only one steam tunnel 20. This steam tunnel 20 does not use superheated steam, but rather steam at, for example, 150°C or lower, more preferably 120°C or lower.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the steam tunnel 20 has a housing 21 in which an inlet 21a and an outlet 21b for the object to be installed X are formed, and a plurality of steam discharge pipes 22 provided inside the housing 21.

[0024] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, multiple steam discharge pipes 22 are arranged in multiple vertical stages at each of the positions that sandwich the transport path 11 described above from the width direction.

[0025] The steam discharge pipe 22 receives steam from an upstream opening and discharges the steam from multiple locations spaced apart in the axial direction of the pipe. In this embodiment, the steam is diffused from attachments A provided at each of the multiple locations spaced apart in the axial direction of the pipe.

[0026] Each steam discharge pipe 22 may be provided with a switching mechanism (not shown), such as an on-off valve, for switching between a supply state in which steam is supplied and a stop state in which the supply is stopped.

[0027] The steam discharge pipe 22 in this embodiment is elongated and extends along the transport direction of the object X to be attached, in other words, along the horizontal direction, and mounting holes Ah (see Figure 3) for attaching the aforementioned attachment A are formed along the longitudinal direction, for example, at equal intervals.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3, this attachment discharges steam so that it diffuses at least in the height direction (up and down) of the object to be processed X, and specifically has a plurality of micropores h formed at least along the circumferential direction of the steam discharge pipe 22. That is, these micropores h are located at different height positions along the height direction of the object to be attached X.

[0029] More specifically, the tip surface A1 of attachment A is a curved surface such as a sphere, and the aforementioned micropores h are formed so as to penetrate this tip surface A1.

[0030] Each of these micropores h penetrates perpendicularly through the curved tip surface A1 of attachment A; in other words, the penetration directions hd of the micropores h are different from each other.

[0031] Here, the penetration directions hd of each micropore h are set to intersect with each other; specifically, the penetration directions hd of each micropore h are set to pass through a common point B.

[0032] With this configuration, the steam passing through the micropores h is discharged in various directions, resulting in the steam being discharged in a way that diffuses radially, for example.

[0033] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, multiple micropores h are arranged in one or more ring-shaped structures on the tip surface A1 of attachment A, so that the steam is discharged in a way that diffuses, for example, in a cone shape. However, the arrangement of the micropores h is not limited to this and may be changed as appropriate.

[0034] In this embodiment, attachment A is rotatably mounted in the mounting hole Ah. That is, it is rotatable about a predetermined axis AL, and specifically, it is rotatable about an axis AL that passes perpendicular to the center of the tip surface A1.

[0035] The steam supply passage 30 is connected upstream to a steam generating device G, such as an electric boiler, that generates steam, and downstream to the steam discharge pipe 22 described above, and guides the steam generated by the steam generating device G to the steam discharge pipe 22.

[0036] The raw steam generated by the steam generator G is, for example, 100°C steam; in other words, 100°C steam flows into the steam supply passage 30. Note that this steam supply passage 30 is not equipped with any heating means, such as heaters, to heat the steam by applying heat.

[0037] In this embodiment, the steam supply passage 30 is interposed between the steam generator G and the steam discharge pipe 22, and is formed as the internal space of one or more piping members or pipe fittings that connect them.

[0038] More specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the steam supply passage 30 is equipped with a dust removal section 31 to remove dust and other particles contained in the steam, and one or more pressure regulating valves 32 to adjust the steam pressure, after which the regulated steam is led to the main pipe 33. Note that the dust removal section 31 and pressure regulating valves 32 are not essential components and may be used as needed.

[0039] Furthermore, the main pipe 33 is provided with outlet ports 33p corresponding to the steam discharge pipes 22 described above, and these outlet ports 33p and the inlet ports 22p of the corresponding steam discharge pipes 22 are connected by a flexible connecting pipe 34, such as a flexible hose.

[0040] The main pipe 33 and connecting pipes 34 such as flexible hoses mentioned above constitute the steam supply passage 30 in this embodiment.

[0041] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the labeling device 100 of this embodiment is provided in the steam supply passage 30 described above and further includes a pressurizing means 40 for pressurizing the steam.

[0042] This pressurizing means 40 pressurizes the steam pressure to, for example, 0.4 MPa or more, more preferably 0.7 MPa or more and 1.0 MPa or less. Specifically, as shown in Figure 5, it has a tubular member 41 with a larger flow path cross-sectional area than the pipe T that constitutes the steam supply passage 30 described above, and a resistance member 42 housed in the tubular member 41 that provides resistance to the steam flow.

[0043] The tubular member 41 is, for example, a circular pipe with an inlet 41a and an outlet 41b formed therein, and has an inlet region 41x through which steam is introduced via the inlet 41a, a pressurizing region 41y that pressurizes the steam that has passed through the inlet region 41x, and an outlet region 41z that guides the steam that has passed through the pressurizing region 41y to the outlet 41b.

[0044] The resistance member 42 is provided in the pressurized region 41y described above, and is specifically a wall member 42 upon which the steam collides. Here, multiple wall members 42 are provided in the pressurized region 41y, and these wall members 42 have the function of further atomizing the minute mist contained in the steam. The mist adhering to the wall members 42 is configured to be discharged from a drainage port (not shown) located below the pressurized region 41y.

[0045] To describe the wall members 42 in more detail, as shown in Figure 6, multiple wall members 42 (seven in this case) are provided extending from the upstream to the downstream of the pressurized region 41y, and these wall members 42 are arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the tubular member 41.

[0046] The upstream side wall member 42a, located upstream of the pressurized region 41y, and the downstream side wall member 42b, located downstream, are, for example, disc-shaped and have numerous small holes 42h formed on them. Each of the small holes 42h has a diameter of several millimeters, and in this case, the small holes 42h formed on the downstream side wall member 42b are smaller than the small holes 42h formed on the upstream side wall member 42a. For example, the former has a circular shape with a diameter of about 6 mm, and the latter has a circular shape with a diameter of about 3 mm.

[0047] On the other hand, the inner wall member 42c positioned between the upstream side wall member 42a and the downstream side wall member 42b is, for example, shaped like a disc with a portion cut out, and this cutout Z becomes a steam passage. Here, multiple inner wall members 42c are provided from upstream to downstream, and the cutouts Z of adjacent inner wall members 42c are arranged so as to straddle the pipe axis when viewed from the direction of the pipe axis of the tubular member 41. In other words, the multiple inner wall members 42c are provided so that the cutouts Z are arranged in a staggered pattern from upstream to downstream, allowing steam to flow through the heated area.

[0048] In this embodiment, the multiple inner wall members 42c are the same shape and size as the others, but some or all of the inner wall members 42c may be of different shapes or sizes.

[0049] Similarly, in this embodiment, the notches Z of the inner wall members 42c are the same shape and size, but some or all of the inner wall members 42c may be of different shapes or sizes.

[0050] <Effects and Effects> With the labeling device 100 configured in this way, since the steam discharge pipe 22 has a plurality of micropores h formed along the circumferential direction, the steam can be discharged while diffusing, and the object to be attached X can be completely enveloped in steam at each of the plurality of points spaced apart in the direction of the pipe axis. This makes it possible to attach the label L to the object X in a shorter amount of time, and to make the steam tunnel 20 more compact.

[0051] Furthermore, since the multiple micropores h are located at different heights along the height direction of the object X to be attached, the object X can be enveloped in steam from bottom to top.

[0052] Furthermore, since the penetration directions of each of the multiple micropores h intersect with each other, the steam is discharged while expanding in the vertical direction, allowing the entire object X to be more reliably enveloped in steam.

[0053] In addition, since attachment A has multiple micropores, by preparing various attachments A with different sizes and numbers of micropores h, for example, the way steam diffuses can be changed, making it more versatile.

[0054] Furthermore, since attachment A is rotatably mounted in the mounting hole Ah, the direction of vapor diffusion can be changed by rotating attachment A, making it applicable to various shapes of mounting objects X, such as asymmetrical shapes.

[0055] Furthermore, since the pressurizing means 40 pressurizes the steam, the steam temperature can be raised by this pressurizing means 40 without providing a heating means such as a heater in the steam supply passage 30. This makes it possible to increase the temperature of the steam supplied to the steam tunnel 20 without increasing the cost or size of the equipment, and consequently, to make the steam tunnel 20 more compact.

[0056] Since the pressurizing means 40 is constructed using a tubular member 41 with a larger flow path cross-sectional area than the piping that constitutes the steam supply passage 30, the internal space of this tubular member 41 can absorb pulsations caused by the boiler, which is the steam generating device G, and a stable supply of steam can be provided to the steam tunnel 20.

[0057] <Other Embodiments> However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

[0058] For example, in the above embodiment, multiple micropores h were formed in attachment A, but as shown in Figure 7, multiple micropores h may be formed in the steam discharge pipe 22 itself, in which case attachment A can be made unnecessary. In this case, a specific embodiment is one in which a group of micropores h3 consisting of multiple micropores h is formed at multiple locations spaced apart in the axial direction of the steam discharge pipe 22, and the penetrating direction hd of each micropore h can be, for example, through the axial direction C of the steam discharge pipe 22.

[0059] Furthermore, attachment A or the steam discharge pipe 22 does not necessarily need to have multiple micropores h; as shown in Figure 8, it may also have microslits h2. These microslits h2 extend along the height direction of the object X to be attached. Here, only one microslit h2 is shown, but a group of slits consisting of multiple parallel microslits h2 may be formed at multiple locations spaced apart in the axial direction of the steam discharge pipe 22.

[0060] Furthermore, the labeling device 100 may be equipped with a position adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position, orientation, or posture of the steam discharge pipe 22. Specifically, this position adjustment mechanism allows for independent adjustment of the position of each steam discharge pipe 22. For example, it can adjust the position of the steam discharge pipe 22 along the direction of advancement or retraction relative to the object X, or along the height direction of the object X. Furthermore, examples of position adjustment mechanisms include those that allow adjustment of the orientation of attachments A provided at multiple locations spaced apart in the axial direction of the steam discharge pipe 22, and those that allow adjustment such as tilting the axial direction of the steam discharge pipe 22 with respect to the horizontal direction.

[0061] In addition, although the steam discharge pipe 22 in the above embodiment extended along the transport direction of the object to be mounted X, as shown in Figure 9, it may discharge steam to the object to be mounted X at a predetermined position P in the steam tunnel 20, and may extend along the height direction of the object to be mounted at that predetermined position P. With this configuration, the device can be made even more compact compared to the case where the steam discharge pipe 22 extends along the conveying direction.

[0062] As a specific embodiment in this case, as shown in Figure 10, there is an embodiment in which a pair of upstream steam discharge pipes 22a are provided that sandwich the transport path 11 of the object to be mounted X from the width direction and are located upstream in the transport direction of the object to be mounted X at a predetermined position P in the steam tunnel 20, and a pair of downstream steam discharge pipes 22b are provided that sandwich the transport path 11 of the object to be mounted X from the width direction and are located downstream in the transport direction of the object to be mounted X at a predetermined position P.

[0063] Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from its spirit. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0064] 100... Labeling device X...Object to be attached L... Label 10 ··· Conveying mechanism 20... Steam tunnel 22... Steam discharge pipe h...Micropore h2 ···Fine slit 30 ···Steam supply line G ··· Steam Generator 40... Pressurization methods 41. Tubular member 42 ···Resistor component

Claims

1. A labeling apparatus comprising a steam tunnel through which an object to be covered with a label is transported and passed, and which heats the label with steam supplied into the steam tunnel to attach it to the object to be covered, The steam tunnel has a plurality of steam discharge pipes that discharge steam, which are provided in a position that sandwiches the transport path of the object to be attached from the width direction. The aforementioned multiple steam discharge pipes extend along the conveying direction, A labeling device characterized in that the steam discharge pipe has multiple micro-holes formed along the circumferential direction at multiple locations spaced apart in the axial direction of the pipe, or one or more micro-slits formed along the circumferential direction.

2. The label attachment device according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of micropores are located at different height positions along the height direction of the object to be attached.

3. The label attachment device according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of micropores penetrate the steam discharge pipe and the directions in which the micropores penetrate intersect each other.

4. The steam discharge pipe has attachments that are fitted into the mounting holes formed at the multiple locations, The label attachment device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment has the plurality of micropores or the one or more microslits.

5. The label mounting device according to claim 4, wherein the attachment is rotatably mounted with respect to the mounting hole.

6. The label attachment device according to claim 1, further comprising a pressurizing means for pressurizing steam, provided in a steam supply path that supplies steam to the steam tunnel.

7. A labeling device comprising a steam tunnel through which an object to be covered with a label is transported and passed, wherein the label is heated by steam supplied into the steam tunnel and attached to the object to be covered, The steam tunnel has a plurality of steam discharge pipes that discharge steam at positions that sandwich the transport path of the object to be attached from the width direction, The plurality of steam discharge pipes are arranged around the object to be attached that has been transported to a predetermined position in the transport path, and extend along the height direction of the object to be attached at that predetermined position. A labeling device characterized in that the steam discharge pipe has multiple micro-holes formed along the circumferential direction at multiple locations spaced apart in the axial direction of the pipe, or one or more micro-slits formed along the circumferential direction.

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