JPH0613343B2 - Labeling device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a label sticking device, and more specifically, it is housed in a container surface such as a paper box or a container arranged at predetermined intervals in vertical and horizontal directions. The present invention relates to a device for automatically attaching labels such as price tags to products.

(Prior Art and Its Problems) Conventionally, when a product, such as a canned product, a boxed product, or a bottled product, which has been housed in a container, is labeled with a label for each product, it is automatically stored in the container. It was not possible to attach the product, and one product in the container was manually taken out and sent to the automatic labeler to have the label attached, and the product that had been attached was again manually packed in the container.

However, in the conventional work, in order to attach a label, it is necessary to take out and pack the product, which causes a decrease in workability.

On the other hand, as an apparatus for automating label attachment, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
-13633 and JP-A-56-64931.

The former device is one in which a label applicator that adsorbs glued labels sequentially applies a label to each of the above-mentioned product surfaces while moving vertically by the product height, for a plurality of vertically stacked products. In the latter device, the product is placed on a cradle provided at a fixed interval on the rail and is moved intermittently in sequence, and a label is attached to the product stopped at the label attaching unit. , The label sticking position shift that occurs relatively depending on the size of the product is input in advance, and the label sticking machine is moved in the XY direction based on the product size data, so that the label is always sold on the product. It will be installed in a fixed position. Thus, both of the above-mentioned devices have a function of automatically attaching a label to a plurality of products in sequence and a function of moving the label attaching machine in the XY direction, but a plurality of rows and columns are arranged on the accommodation surface in the container. Corresponding to the arrangement of the products arranged while being accommodated in the product, there is no function to automatically attach labels in the vertical or horizontal direction according to a preset order, and the products are arranged in the container as described above. As described above, attaching the label to the product requires the manual operation of putting the product in and out.

Further, conventionally, there is a method of manually attaching a label to the product while a large number of products are stored in a container by a worker manually, but when handling a large number of products, the degree of fatigue of the worker Is high and workability is poor.

(Object of the Invention) In view of the above conventional circumstances, the present invention is a device for automatically attaching a label to each product sequentially in a predetermined order while accommodating products arranged in a plurality of rows and columns on an accommodation surface in a container. The purpose is to provide.

(Structure of the Invention) In such a label sticking apparatus of the present invention, a work table is movably installed in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction on a base, and is positioned on the table by a container positioning means, and a large number of products are provided. In the label sticking device, in which the containers accommodated are arranged in a plurality of rows at predetermined intervals in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively, and the label printer supported by the supporting member is disposed above the work table. The label printer has a printing means for printing and issuing the required data on the label and a sticking means for spraying the issued label downward, and the working table is provided with the table from the mechanical origin position to the corner of the container. While the first product is moved to the base point position under the label sticking port of the label printer, the base point alignment means and the work table at the base point position are moved while the table is being moved. Pitch feed means that sequentially moves each product arranged in the container from the first product to the bottom of the label sticking port in a preset order, and the work table from the end position where the final product in the container is located below the label sticking mouth. A drive control unit having a returning means for moving the work table to the origin position, and moving the work table so that the reference point matching means and the pitch feed means are positioned so that the product in the container on the work table is located under the label sticking port. By doing so, the amount of movement to the base position and the pitch between products are detected and set, and the set data is stored in association with the product code, and the printing means and sticking means of the label printer and the drive control are performed. It is characterized in that the issuing label is attached on each product reaching the label attachment mouth in cooperation with the department.

The work table is moved continuously at a low speed, an intermittent movement method that pauses each time the product reaches below the label sticking mouth during pitch feed, and decelerates as the product approaches the label sticking mouth during pitch feed. Any of a variable speed moving method or a method of fast-forwarding the moving section from the origin position to the base point position and the section returning from the end point position to the origin position may be adopted.

The linkage between the printing means and the pasting means of the label printer and the drive control unit of the work table is such that when the work table is moved continuously, the drive control unit detects the movement amount of the table, such as an encoder. Is detected, the sticking means is activated at each predetermined moving point, and after the label is stuck by the starting of the sticking means, the printing means is activated while the table reaches the next moving point to print the label. Issue.

When the work table is moved by the intermittent movement method, the drive control unit activates the sticking unit each time the table is temporarily stopped and the pitch feed unit of the drive control unit is activated each time the sticking unit finishes the sticking operation. Then, the printing means is operated in the table moving section at the time of pitch feeding.

Then, the movement operation data of the work table is input to the computer in advance, and the drive control unit is controlled based on the operation data.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIGS. 1 and 2, (1) is a base on which a work table (A) is installed, and on this base (1) An inverted L-shaped column (2) is erected on the rear edge, and its upper rod (2 ') is projected onto the base (1), and the label printer (B) is attached to the upper rod (2').
Should be installed.

The work table (A) is composed of an X table (a ₁ ) and a Y table (a ₂ ) placed on the table,
The X table (a ₁ ) is movably installed in the X-axis direction (front-back direction) on the base (1) by the screw shaft (3) that rotates in the forward and reverse directions by the motor (M ₁ ), and the Y table (a 1)
₂ ) is installed movably in the Y-axis direction (horizontal direction) on the X-table (a ₁ ) by the motor (M ₂ ) and the screw shaft (4).

In the table (A), the container (N) is placed on the Y table (a ₂ ).

The container (N) is a paper box or a container in which a large number of products (n ₁ ) (n ₂ ) ... (n ₁₂ ) are arranged in parallel and arranged in a plurality of rows (Fig. 3), and the container ( When N) is a paper box with a lid, the lid is opened and placed on the Y table (a ₂ ).

Vessel (N) is Y table (a ₂₎ should always be placed at a predetermined position on the positioning clamp (5) for guiding the position of the vessel (N) in the order Y table (a ₂₎ It is provided (Figs. 4 and 5).

Label printer (B) is installed in one suspended on the screw shaft (6) to hanging the upper rod (2 '), the label printer by causing the screw shaft (6) is forward and reverse rotation by the motor (M ₃₎ ( B) is moved in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction).

The label printer (B) may rotate the screw shaft (6) manually not by the motor (M ₃ ) but by a manual handle. Further, the label printer may be provided with a tilting mechanism so as to be tiltably fixed (in the embodiment, the tilting is possible in one direction but may be tilted in the other direction).

The label printer (B) has a label attaching port (b) on the bottom surface thereof.
The label (L) printed and printed by the printing means is adsorbed and held on the sticking port (b), and when there is a sticking command signal, the label (L) is pushed from the sticking port (b) by air pressure. Spray downwards.

In addition, a console unit (C) is installed on the front surface of the upper rod (2 '), and the control units of the work table (A) and the label printer (B) are built in the console unit (C) and the surface is mounted on the surface. A display unit (11) for the work table (A), an operation unit (12), a display unit (13) for the label printer (B), and an operation unit (14) are provided.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral (7) is an extendable and retractable protective cover.

The functional units of the work table (A) and the label printer (B) will be described with reference to FIG.

The functional unit of the work table (A) has the display unit (11) and the operation unit (12) and also has a memory (ROM, RA).
M), and further includes a drive controller (15).

The drive control unit (15) uses the motors (M ₁ ) (M ₂ )
(M ₃ ) and the rotary encoders (3a) (4a) (6a) for detecting the rotation amounts of the screw shafts (3) (4) (6).

The control unit (15) controls the movement amount and timing of the work table (A) and the movement amount of the label printer (B). The control unit (15) has a base point adjusting means (16), a pitch feeding means (17) and a returning means (18). ) And height adjusting means (19).

In the base point alignment means (16), the product (for example, n ₁ ) located in the corner of the container (N) from the mechanical origin (O) of the table (A) is placed under the sticking port (b) of the label printer (B). The rotation amount of the moving screw shafts (3) and (4) is set.

The product (n ₁ ) and the label sticking port (b) are aligned with each other at the center of the label sticking position of the product (for example, the center of the top surface of the product).
And the center of the label sticking port (b).

The pitch feed means (17) is a screw shaft at which the center of each of the products (n ₂ ) (n ₃ ) ... (n ₁₂ ) moves from the starting position, that is, from the first product (n ₁ ) to the bottom of the sticking port (b). (3)
The rotation amount of (4) is set.

In this feeding means (17), the products (n ₁ ) in the same row ...
A screw shaft (4) that moves in the Y-axis direction when moving between (n ₄ ), (n ₅ )-(n ₈ ), and (n ₉ )-(n ₁₂ ).
Only the normal rotation or the reverse rotation occurs, and the movement between columns (n ₄ → n ₅ ), (n
_{When 8} → n ₉ ), only the screw shaft (3) that moves in the X-axis direction rotates.

In the embodiment, the pitch feed means (17) is of intermittent movement type, and the table (A) is temporarily stopped when each product reaches the bottom of the sticking port (b).

The movement diagram of the table (A) by the pitch feeding means (17) (indicated by an arrow in a state where the attaching port is moved for ease of illustration) is as shown in FIG. 7 or FIG.

The returning means (18) returns the table (A) to the origin position (0) after the final product (n ₁₂ ) reaches the bottom of the sticking port (b) and the label sticking is completed, and the screw shaft (3).
Set the rotation amount of (4), that is, encoder (3a) (4
The screw shafts (3) and (4) are rotated so that a) becomes zero.

The method of inputting the set values in the base point adjusting means (16) and the pitch feeding means (17) is as follows: the work table is actually moved with the container (N) placed by the key operation of the operation section (12), and the base point is set. The amount of movement to the position and the pitch (P _X ) (P _Y ) are obtained, and the number of products and the number of rows are input by the operation unit (12) to calculate a set value, which is stored in the memory.

According to this method, the movement amount from the origin position (O) to the first product position (base point position) and the pitch between products (P _X )
(P _Y ) can be accurately measured, and accurate labeling can be performed.

When handling the same type of product, the preset value obtained as described above is stored in the preset memory, and then the preset value is output.

Further, when handling a plurality of different types of products, setting values corresponding to the plurality of products are stored and held in the preset memory, and the corresponding setting values from the preset memory are input by the operation unit (12) to input the product code. To call.

The height adjusting means (19) drives the motor (M ₃ ) to move the label printer (B) up and down by the key operation of the operation section (12), and the distance between the upper surface of the product and the sticking port (b) is substantially reduced. It adjusts so that it becomes constant.

When handling a plurality of different types of products as described above, it is advisable to store the set amount of the height adjusting means (19) together in the preset memory.

The functional unit of the label printer (B) has the display unit (13) and the operation unit (14) and also has a memory (ROM, RA).
M), and further comprises a printing means (20) and a label sticking means (21), and the printing means (20) prints required data such as the price of the product on the label (L) and the sticking opening (b).
The label (L) is issued below and the label (L) below the attachment port (b) is sprayed downward by the attachment means (21).

The work table (A) and the functional portion of the label printer (B) are electrically connected to each other through the communication interfaces (22) and (23) so that the two (A) and (B) can work together. .

That is, the work table (A) starts moving from the origin position and at the same time, the printing means (20) of the label printer (B).
Is started, the operation of printing and issuing the label (L) is completed by the time the table (A) reaches the base point position, and the table (A) is attached in cooperation with the operation of temporarily reaching the base point position and temporarily stopping. Activate the means (21).

When the attaching means (21) is activated, the label (L) is attached on the first product (n ₁ ).

The first label (L) may be printed after the table (A) is temporarily stopped at the base point position and then the pasting means (21) is activated.

Next, the work table (A) is pitch-fed and moved by the pitch feeding means (17), and the motor (M ₁ ) or (M ₂ ) is started by the sticking operation completion signal of the sticking means (21), and the motor ( M ₁ ) or or (M ₂ ) is started at the same time when the printing means (20) of the label printer (B) is started, and the motor (M ₁ ) or (M ₂ ) is stopped.
That is, the sticking means (21) of the label printer (B) is linked so as to be activated at the same time when the table (A) is temporarily stopped.

As a result, the work table (A) enters the pitch feed operation, and the work table (A) is temporarily stopped, that is, the products (n ₂ ) (n ₃ ) ... (n
Each time ₁₂ ) reaches below the sticking port (b) of the label printer (B), the label (L) is sprayed and stuck onto the product through the sticking port (b), and the product is ordered in the order shown in FIG. 7 or 8. (N ₂ )
Labels are sequentially attached to (n ₃ ) ... (n ₁₂ ).

Further, the table (A) reaches the end point of the pitch feed operation, and the returning means (18) of the work table (A) is activated by the sticking operation completion signal of the sticking means (21) of the label printer (B) so that they are linked. As a result, the motor (M ₁ ) or (M ₂ ) is activated and the work table (A) is returned to the origin position.

When the container (N) is positioned and placed on the work table (A) by the clamp (5) and the apparatus is started, the products (n ₁ ) (n ₂ ) ... (n) in the container (N) are placed. ₁₂ ) sequentially moves to the bottom of the sticking port (B) of the label printer (B) to stick the label (L) under the sticking port, and then the work table (A) returns to the origin position. The work is done automatically.

When attaching a label to the inclined surface of the adherend, the label printer can be tilted freely.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, it is possible to mechanically and automatically affix a product arranged in a plurality of rows and columns in a container in an efficient order in which a label is set for each product. Can
Therefore, unlike the conventional work, it is not necessary to take out and pack the products, and the work can be saved, and the fatigue of the worker is reduced as compared with the case of using the handler labeler, and the workability of the label sticking work is improved. be able to.

Further, since the movement amount of the work table and the pitch between the products from the origin position to the first product position (base point position) are detected by actually moving the work table, they can be accurately measured, and therefore, By merely placing the container along the container positioning guide, the movement amount is calculated by the calculation means from the input data, so that the label can be accurately attached to each product when the label is automatically attached.

Furthermore, because these measured data are stored in correspondence with the product code, accurate data can be held for the product, so even if the product changes, simply enter the product code and quickly attach the label to the correct position. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of the device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of which a part is cut away, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a work table, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of a work table showing a mounted state of a container. FIG. 5 is a front view thereof, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a work table and a functional portion of a label printer, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are plan views showing a label attaching order, respectively. In the figure, (1) is a base, (N) is a container, (n ₁ ) ...
(N ₁₂ ) is a product, (A) is a work table, (B) is a label printer, (b) is a label sticking port, (L) is a label,
(5) is a container positioning guide, (15) is a drive controller,
(16) is a base point alignment means, (17) is a pitch feed means, (1
8) is a restoring means, (20) is a printing means, (21) is a pasting means, and (22) and (23) are communication interfaces.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A work table is mounted on a base in the X-axis direction and Y.
Installed movably in the axial direction, positioned by container positioning means on the table, and placing a container in which a large number of products are arranged in a plurality of rows at predetermined intervals in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively, and In a label sticking apparatus in which a label printer supported by a supporting member is arranged above a work table, the label printer prints and prints required data on a label, and a sticking means for blowing the issued label downward. The work table has a base point alignment means for moving the table from its mechanical origin position to a base position where the first product in the corner of the container is located under the label sticking port of the label printer, and is at the base position. While moving the work table, the products arranged in the container on the table are sequentially ordered from the first product to the bottom of the label sticking order in a preset order. A drive control unit having a pitch feeding means for moving the final product in the container and a returning means for moving the work table from the end point position under the label sticking port to the origin position is provided, and the base point aligning means and the pitch feeding means are provided. Is set by detecting the amount of movement to the base point position and the pitch between products by moving the work table so that the product in the container on the work table is located below the label sticking port. The data is stored in association with the product code, and the printing means and the sticking means of the label printer are linked with the drive control section to put an issuing label on each product that has reached the label sticking mouth. .