Adsorption drum and labeling device

Abstract

To provide a suction drum that can accommodate containers of various sizes and shapes to reduce the cost of the device.SOLUTION: The suction drum rotates while holding labels by suction force from suction holes formed on the outer circumference and has a plurality of drum elements 31 with suction holes h on the outer circumference, and these drum elements 31 are detachable in the axial direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a label attaching apparatus for attaching a label to a container and a suction drum used in the apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] As a label attaching apparatus, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is an apparatus configured to intermittently convey a large number of containers and attach labels sucked and held by a suction drum to these containers.

[0003] The suction drum is cylindrical, and a plurality of suction holes are formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof. Then, while rotating the suction drum and the container, the outer circumferential surfaces thereof are brought into contact with each other, so that the label held on the outer circumferential surface of the suction drum is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the container.

[0004] However, containers have various sizes and shapes, and the height at which the label is attached on the outer circumferential surface of the container varies. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare suction drums of various height dimensions according to the attaching height, which leads to high cost.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a main object of the present invention is to reduce the cost of the apparatus by providing a suction drum that can accommodate containers of various sizes and shapes.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] In other words, the adsorption drum according to the present invention is an adsorption drum that rotates while adsorbing and holding a label by the suction force from adsorption holes formed on its outer circumferential surface, wherein the adsorption drum has a plurality of drum elements having the adsorption holes on their outer circumferential surface, and these drum elements are detachable in the axial direction.

[0008] With a suction drum configured in this way, since it has multiple drum elements that can be attached and detached in the axial direction, the height of the suction drum can be increased by increasing the number of drum elements, and the height of the suction drum can be decreased by decreasing the number of drum elements. As a result, the adsorption drum according to the present invention can be used with containers of various sizes and shapes, and the cost of the device can be reduced.

[0009] Preferably, the drum element comprises a base drum connected to a negative pressure generating means for generating negative pressure in the suction hole, and an upper drum detachably attached to the axial upper end of the base drum, wherein the base drum is a bottomed cylindrical shape and the upper drum is a cylindrical shape with openings at both axial ends. With this configuration, for example, by preparing several upper drums of different heights and replacing the upper drum attached to the base drum, the height of the suction drum can be changed according to the size and shape of the container. Furthermore, a common bass drum can be used for multiple upper drums, further reducing costs.

[0010] It is preferable that another upper drum can be attached to or detached from the upper end of the aforementioned upper drum. With this setup, you can prepare upper drums of the same height and upper drums of different heights, and then select and attach them as needed, thereby changing the height of the suction drum according to the size and shape of the container.

[0011] Preferably, a positioning mechanism is provided between a pair of drum elements adjacent to each other along the axial direction for positioning one drum element relative to the other drum element. This makes it easier to assemble multiple drum elements and prevents leakage from adjacent drum elements, for example.

[0012] One possible arrangement of the suction holes is a grid-like arrangement in which they are aligned along the circumferential direction (horizontal direction) and the height direction (vertical direction) in an unfolded view of the outer surface of the suction drum. However, in this configuration, for example, if the edge of the label is located between the grid lines, the adhesion of that edge becomes weak. Therefore, it is preferable that the drum element has the suction holes formed in a row along the axial direction, and that multiple rows of these row-shaped suction holes are provided along the circumferential direction, and that the height position along the axial direction of the suction holes in one row is different from the height position along the axial direction of the suction holes in the adjacent row. With this arrangement, the suction holes can be arranged in a staggered pattern in the unfolded diagram of the outer surface of the suction drum, making it easier to apply suction force to the edges of the label compared to a grid arrangement.

[0013] In the row of suction holes, it is preferable that the distance between two adjacent suction holes is different from the distance between two other adjacent suction holes. With this configuration, the degree of freedom in the position of the suction holes can be improved compared to machining the suction holes at equal intervals, allowing for machining of suction holes while avoiding difficult-to-machine areas such as the axial ends of the drum element.

[0014] Furthermore, the labeling device according to the present invention is characterized by being equipped with the above-described adsorption drum, and such a device can achieve the effects of the adsorption drum described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention configured as described above, by providing a suction drum compatible with containers of various sizes and shapes, cost reduction of the apparatus can be achieved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the label attaching apparatus of the present embodiment. [Figure 2] Schematic diagram showing the configuration of the label suction mechanism of the present embodiment. [Figure 3] Schematic diagram showing the configuration of the suction drum of the present embodiment. [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the suction drum of the present embodiment. [Figure 5] Schematic diagram showing the configuration of the base drum of the present embodiment. [Figure 6] Schematic diagram showing the arrangement of suction holes in the present embodiment. [Figure 7] Schematic diagram showing the arrangement of suction holes in another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0017] An embodiment of a label attaching apparatus 100 according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0018] <Apparatus Configuration> As shown in FIG. 1, the label attaching apparatus 100 of the present embodiment continuously attaches labels to a plurality of containers X (such as plastic bottles) while conveying the containers X, and includes a container conveying mechanism 10 that conveys the containers X, a label transfer mechanism 20 that transfers labels to the containers X, and a control device (not shown) that controls the operations of these mechanisms 10 and 20.

[0019] The container conveying mechanism 10 continuously conveys a plurality of containers X, and as shown in FIG. 1, includes a conveying chain B that conveys the containers X, and a guide member G that guides conveyance of the containers X while labels are being attached thereon.

[0020] The label transfer mechanism 20 transfers and attaches a seal-type label (so-called tack label) to a container X that has reached the label attachment position P. Specifically, it comprises a label supply mechanism 21 that supplies the label to a predetermined position Q, and a label adsorbent 22 that adsorbs and holds the label that has been transported to the predetermined position Q.

[0021] The label supply mechanism 21 transports the tack labels, for example, by a drum or conveyor chain, and supplies them to a predetermined position Q. In this example, two label supply mechanisms 21 are provided, but the number of label supply mechanisms 21 may be one or three or more.

[0022] This label adsorption mechanism 22 attaches the adsorbed label to the container X when it reaches the label attachment position P. Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, it comprises an adsorption drum 3 for adsorbing and holding the label, a drive mechanism 4 for rotating the adsorption drum 3, and a blower 5 for generating negative pressure on the adsorption drum 3.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the adsorption drum 3 is cylindrical in shape, with multiple adsorption holes h formed along the circumferential direction of its outer surface. It rotates while adsorbing and holding the label through the suction force from these adsorption holes h. In this embodiment, the suction drum 3 has some distinctive features, which will be described in detail later.

[0024] The drive mechanism 4 is a variable-speed electric motor, such as a servo motor, connected to the suction drum 3, and is controlled by the control device (not shown) described above. However, the drive mechanism 4 is not limited to a servo motor; it may also be an electric motor with a constant rotational speed, such as an AC motor, pulse motor, or stepping motor, or it may be a mechanical device that transmits power from various power sources to the suction drum 3 via gears or the like without using a motor.

[0025] The blower 5 is a negative pressure generating means that generates negative pressure on the upstream side by pressurizing and supplying air. Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, it is a blower installed in a flow path L that is connected upstream to the adsorption drum 3 and downstream to the atmosphere.

[0026] The flow path L, in which the blower 5 is installed, has an upstream opening connected to the aforementioned adsorption drum 3. As a result, when the blower 5 is operated, negative pressure is generated in the multiple adsorption holes h of the adsorption drum 3.

[0027] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the suction drum 3 of this embodiment has a plurality of drum elements 31 having suction holes h on their outer circumferential surfaces, and these drum elements 31 are configured to be detachable in the axial direction.

[0028] These drum elements 31 include a base drum 31A connected to a blower 5, which is a negative pressure generating means, via the aforementioned flow path L, and one or more upper drums 31B that can be attached to or detached from the axial upper end of the base drum 31A.

[0029] First, let me explain about the bass drum 31A. As shown in Figure 4, the base drum 31A is a bottomed cylindrical shape, and a groove 3g is formed at its bottom that communicates with the flow path L described above. As shown in Figure 5, this groove 3g extends radially, and multiple grooves 3g are formed radially in this case.

[0030] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, a slit SA is formed on the peripheral wall of the base drum 31A, which communicates with the groove 3g described above and extends along the axial direction.

[0031] Here, as shown in Figure 5, multiple slits SA are formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction and are provided around the entire circumference of the circumferential wall. However, the spacing between adjacent slits SA in the circumferential direction does not necessarily have to be equal; the spacing between two adjacent slits SA along the circumferential direction may differ from the spacing between two other adjacent slits SA along the circumferential direction.

[0032] Furthermore, the slit SA does not necessarily need to be provided around the entire circumference of the peripheral wall; it may be provided only in a portion of the area along the circumferential direction.

[0033] In this embodiment, if a single groove 3g were to be connected to a single slit SA, there is a risk that the rotation axis sides of adjacent grooves 3g may interfere with each other. Therefore, as shown in Figure 5, a common groove 3g is connected to two adjacent slits SA.

[0034] However, the width of the groove 3g may be narrowed so that a single groove 3g connects to one slit SA, or a common groove 3g may connect to three or more slit SAs.

[0035] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the outer surface of the base drum 31A has multiple adsorption holes hA that communicate with the slit SA described above.

[0036] More specifically, as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 5, the base drum 31A has adsorption holes hA formed along its entire circumference in the circumferential direction. In this case, the adsorption holes hA are formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction along the entire circumference, but some of the circumferential spacing of the adsorption holes hA may differ from the other circumferential spacing of the adsorption holes hA.

[0037] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the adsorption drum 3 has adsorption pores hA formed not only in the circumferential direction but also along the axial direction. In other words, multiple rows of adsorption pores hA formed along the axial direction are provided along the circumferential direction.

[0038] As can be seen from the unfolded view of the outer surface of the base drum 31A in this embodiment, the height position along the axial direction of the suction holes in a given row is different from the height position along the axial direction of the suction holes in the adjacent row.

[0039] In other words, as shown in Figure 6, the base drum 31A of this embodiment has multiple adsorption pores hA arranged in a staggered pattern. Here, each row contains an equal number of adsorption pores hA, but the number of adsorption pores hA is not limited to this; for example, the number of adsorption pores hA in one row may be different from the number of adsorption pores hA in the adjacent row.

[0040] The suction holes, which are formed in a row along the axial direction in this manner, are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the base drum 31A, extending from one end in the axial direction to the other end in the axial direction.

[0041] Focusing on the multiple adsorption pores hA contained in a single row, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, some of the spacing along the axial direction of the adsorption pores hA differs from the other spacing. In other words, among the adsorption pores formed in a row, the spacing between two adjacent adsorption pores is different from the spacing between two other adjacent adsorption pores.

[0042] Specifically, the spacing L1 between adjacent adsorption pores hA formed at one or both of the axial ends is shorter than the spacing L2 between adjacent adsorption pores hA located at other locations, such as the axial center. However, each of the adsorption pores hA in a given row may be formed at equal intervals along the axial direction.

[0043] Next, we will explain the upper drum 31B. The upper drum 31B is cylindrical with openings at both axial ends, and in this case, two upper drums 31B are provided. In other words, in this embodiment, a first upper drum 31B is detachably attached to the axial upper end of the base drum 31A described above, and another second upper drum 31B is detachably attached to the upper end of this first upper drum 31B.

[0044] These upper drums 31B are identical in structure to each other, sharing common features such as height and the arrangement of multiple suction holes hB.

[0045] However, the upper drum 31B constituting the suction drum 3 may be one or three or more.

[0046] Furthermore, the multiple upper drums 31B do not necessarily have to have the same structure; for example, they may have different heights, or different numbers and arrangements of suction holes hB.

[0047] As shown in Figure 4, the peripheral wall of the upper drum 31B has slits SB that extend along the axial direction, similar to the base drum 31A. Here, multiple slits SB are formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction and are provided around the entire circumference of the peripheral wall.

[0048] However, the spacing between adjacent slits SB in the circumferential direction does not necessarily have to be equal; the circumferential spacing between two adjacent slits SB may differ from the circumferential spacing between two other adjacent slits SB.

[0049] Furthermore, the slit SB does not necessarily have to be provided around the entire circumference of the peripheral wall; it may be provided only in a portion of the area along the circumferential direction.

[0050] As shown in Figure 4, these slits SB communicate with the slits SA formed in the base drum 31A described above. In other words, the number and circumferential arrangement of the slits SB formed in the upper drum 31B are equal to the number and circumferential arrangement of the slits SA formed in the base drum 31A.

[0051] Furthermore, multiple suction holes hB, which communicate with the aforementioned slit SB, are opened on the outer circumferential surface of the upper drum 31B.

[0052] More specifically, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the upper drum 31B has adsorption holes hB formed along its entire circumference in the circumferential direction. In this case, the adsorption holes hB are formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction along the entire circumference, but some of the circumferential spacing of the adsorption holes hB may differ from the other circumferential spacing of the adsorption holes hB.

[0053] Furthermore, the upper drum 31B has suction holes hB formed not only in the circumferential direction but also along the axial direction. In other words, multiple rows of suction holes hB, formed along the axial direction, are provided along the circumferential direction.

[0054] As can be seen from the unfolded view of the outer surface of the upper drum 31B in this embodiment, the height position along the axial direction of the suction holes in one row is different from the height position along the axial direction of the suction holes in the adjacent row.

[0055] In other words, as shown in Figure 6, the upper drum 31B of this embodiment has multiple adsorption pores hB arranged in a staggered pattern. Here, each row contains an equal number of adsorption pores hB, but the number of adsorption pores hB is not limited to this; for example, the number of adsorption pores hB in one row may be different from the number of adsorption pores hB in the adjacent row.

[0056] The suction holes, which are formed in a row along the axial direction in this manner, are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the upper drum 31B, extending from one end in the axial direction to the other end in the axial direction.

[0057] Focusing on the multiple adsorption pores hB contained in a single row, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, some of the spacing along the axial direction of the adsorption pores hB differs from the other spacing. In other words, among the adsorption pores formed in a row, the spacing between two adjacent adsorption pores is different from the spacing between two other adjacent adsorption pores.

[0058] Specifically, the spacing L3 between adjacent adsorption pores hB formed at one or both of the axial ends is shorter than the spacing L4 between adjacent adsorption pores hB located at other locations, such as the axial center. However, each of the adsorption pores hB in a given row may be formed at equal intervals along the axial direction.

[0059] In the configuration described above, the suction drum 3 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, further includes a positioning mechanism 32 interposed between a pair of drum elements 31 adjacent to each other along the axial direction to position one drum element 31 relative to the other drum element 31.

[0060] This positioning mechanism 32 is constructed using, for example, a positioning plate, and is used to determine the relative position of one drum element 31 with respect to the other drum element 31, more specifically, the relative position along the circumferential direction.

[0061] By attaching multiple drum elements 31 via this positioning mechanism 32, the slits SA and SB formed in one drum element 31 communicate with each other.

[0062] In this embodiment, a positioning mechanism 32 is interposed between the base drum 31A and the upper drum 31B attached to the base drum 31A, and another positioning mechanism 32 is interposed between this upper drum 31B and another upper drum 31B attached to this upper drum 31B.

[0063] With the configuration described above, by attaching each drum element 31 to each other, the slits SA and SB formed in each drum element 31 communicate with each other. As a result, by operating the blower described above, negative pressure is generated in the suction holes h that communicate with each slit SA and SB via the groove 3g and the slits SA and SB.

[0064] <Effects of this embodiment> With the label attachment device 100 configured in this way, since it has multiple drum elements 31 that can be attached and detached in the axial direction, the height of the suction drum 3 can be increased by increasing the number of drum elements 31, and the height of the suction drum 3 can be decreased by decreasing the number of drum elements 31. As a result, the adsorption drum 3 according to the present invention can be used with containers X of various sizes and shapes, and the cost of the device can be reduced.

[0065] Furthermore, since the base drum 31A is a bottomed cylindrical shape connected to the negative pressure generating means, and the upper drum 31B is a cylindrical shape with openings at both axial ends, for example, by preparing several upper drums 31B of different heights and replacing the upper drum 31B attached to the base drum 31A, the height of the suction drum 3 can be changed according to the size and shape of the container X. Furthermore, a common base drum 31A can be used for multiple upper drums 31B, further reducing costs.

[0066] Furthermore, since another upper drum 31B can be attached to the upper end of the upper drum 31B, the height of the suction drum 3 can be changed according to the size and shape of the container X by preparing upper drums 31B of the same height or upper drums 31B of different heights and attaching them as needed.

[0067] In addition, since a positioning mechanism 32 is interposed between a pair of drum elements 21 adjacent to each other along the axial direction, the assembly of multiple drum elements 21 is simplified, and leakage from slits S formed in adjacent drum elements 21 can be prevented.

[0068] Furthermore, the axial height position of the suction holes in one row differs from the axial height position of the suction holes in the adjacent row. In other words, in the unfolded view of the outer surface of the adsorption drum 3, the adsorption holes h are arranged in a staggered pattern. Compared to a configuration where the adsorption holes h are arranged in a grid pattern in the same unfolded view, it becomes easier to apply suction force to the edges of the labels, allowing for more reliable adsorption and retention of the labels.

[0069] Furthermore, since the spacing between two adjacent suction holes in the row of suction holes is different from the spacing between two other adjacent suction holes, the degree of freedom in the position of the suction holes can be improved compared to when the suction holes are machined at equal intervals. For example, it is possible to machine the suction holes while avoiding difficult-to-machine areas such as the axial ends of the suction drum 3.

[0070] In addition, since the suction holes are formed around the entire circumference of the outer surface of the adsorption drum 3, the labels can be more reliably adsorbed onto the adsorption drum 3 regardless of the amount of rotation of the adsorption drum 3 by the drive mechanism 4.

[0071] <Other modified embodiments> However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

[0072] For example, the multiple adsorption holes h may be arranged in a grid pattern in the unfolded view of the outer surface of the adsorption drum 3, as shown in Figure 7.

[0073] Furthermore, the adsorption pores h do not necessarily need to be provided around the entire circumference of the outer surface of the adsorption drum 3; it is acceptable for adsorption pores h to be absent in some areas along the circumferential direction.

[0074] Furthermore, the labels to which the present invention applies are not necessarily limited to self-adhesive labels, but may also be labels that are glued on during transport (so-called glue labels).

[0075] 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]

[0076] 100... Labeling device X...container 10. Container transport mechanism 20... Label transfer mechanism 22... Label adsorption mechanism 3. Adsorption drum h...Adsorption hole 31... Drum elements 31A...Bass Drum 3g...Groove SA ···Slit hA...Adsorption pore L1...interval L2...interval 31B... Upper drum SB ···Slit hB...Adsorption pore L3 ...interval L4 ...interval 32 ···Positioning mechanism 4. Drive mechanism 5 ···Blower

Claims

1. It rotates while adsorbing and holding the label by the suction force from the adsorption holes formed on the outer surface. A suction drum characterized by having the aforementioned suction holes on its outer circumferential surface and having a plurality of drum elements arranged along the axial direction, wherein these drum elements are detachable.

2. The drum element comprises a base drum connected to a negative pressure generating means for generating negative pressure in the suction hole, and an upper drum that is detachably attached to the axial upper end of the base drum. The suction drum according to claim 1, characterized in that the base drum is a bottomed cylindrical shape and the upper drum is a cylindrical shape with openings at both axial ends.

3. The suction drum according to claim 2, characterized in that another upper drum can be attached to the upper end of the upper drum.

4. The suction drum according to claim 1, characterized in that a positioning mechanism is provided interposed between a pair of drum elements adjacent to each other along the axial direction for positioning one drum element relative to the other drum element.

5. The drum element has the adsorption holes formed in a row along the axial direction, and multiple rows of these adsorption holes are provided along the circumferential direction. The adsorption drum according to claim 1, characterized in that the height position along the axial direction of the adsorption holes included in a certain row is different from the height position along the axial direction of the adsorption holes included in the adjacent row.

6. The adsorption drum according to claim 5, characterized in that, among the adsorption holes formed in a row, the distance between two adjacent adsorption holes is different from the distance between two other adjacent adsorption holes.

7. A labeling device characterized by comprising the suction drum described in claim 1.

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