JP2001151214A - Label transfer device and label transfer method for label pasting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a cutting state of an end portion or an arbitrary portion in a width direction of a label continuous body such as a label without a backing sheet 21 by a label cutting means 23, and to cut the label continuous body 21 from a band-shaped label continuous body 21. To provide a label transfer device and a label transfer method of a label sticking machine which can smoothly transfer single leaf pieces 22 as labels. Focusing on controlling the transfer of a label piece (22) in synchronization with the transfer of an article (M) by an article transfer means (4), the first transfer speed of the label transfer means (24) is the same as the printing speed of the label printing means (2). The second transfer speed by the label transfer unit 24 is set to be the same as the transfer speed by the article transfer unit 4, and after the cutting by the label cutting unit 23 is completed, the label piece 22 is transferred to the label attaching unit 11 and made to stand by,
When the article M is conveyed to the label sticking section 11 by the article conveying means 4, the label transfer means 24 is controlled so as to be driven again at the second transfer speed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label transfer apparatus and a label transfer method for a label sticking machine, and more particularly to cutting a continuous strip of label such as a label without a backing sheet into a predetermined pitch to form a label piece and transporting the label piece. The present invention relates to a label transfer device and a label transfer method for a label sticking machine for sticking this label piece to incoming commodities and other articles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional labeling machine 1 will be outlined with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a main part of the label pasting machine 1. The label pasting machine 1 includes a label printing unit 2, a label peeling unit 3, and an article conveying unit 4.

[0003] The label printing means 2 is for printing on a strip-shaped label continuous body 5. The label continuous body 5 is composed of a strip-shaped mount 6 and a plurality of label pieces 7 temporarily attached on the mount 6.
Having. The label printing means 2 has, for example, a thermal head 8 and a platen roller 9, transports the label continuous body 5 therebetween, and prints a predetermined content on the label piece 7.

The label peeling means 3 has a peeling plate 10,
Only the backing paper 6 is turned at the part of the peeling plate 10 and
Is sent out in the direction of the label sticking section 11 in the article conveying means 4.

[0005] The article conveying means 4 comprises a first conveyor belt 1.
2 and a rear conveyor belt 13 on which the articles M can be conveyed. The front conveyor belt 12 hangs it on a pair of front rollers 14 and 15, and the rear conveyor belt 13 hangs it on a pair of rear rollers 16 and 17. The label affixing portion 11 is formed with an interval enough to allow the label pieces 7 to pass through.

In the label pasting machine 1 having such a configuration,
The label piece 7 printed by the label printing means 2 and peeled by the label peeling means 3 is attached to the label attaching section 1
1 and the article attaching means 11
The label piece 7 can be attached to the bottom surface of the article M transported to the portion.

However, when the pitch of the label pieces 7 is different for each label continuum 5, the relative position of the label pieces 7 facing the label affixing section 11, and further the attitude or attitude thereof changes, so that the label printing means is not used. 2 and the label peeling means 3 need to be moved relative to the label attaching section 11. In order to solve such a problem, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-49127
Labeling means 3 and a label sticking part 11
And a label pasting machine separately provided with a label transfer means (not shown).

However, as the label continuum, in addition to the label continuum 5 shown in FIG. Alternatively, there is also a label continuous body (commonly referred to as “mounting-less label”) in which only the label pieces 7 are continuously formed in a belt shape. Alternatively, even in the case of a two-layer structure such as the label continuum 5, in the case where the label pieces are continuous without being formed as a plurality of label pieces 7, in order to form the label pieces 7 with a predetermined pitch, Requires label cutting means. Therefore, a label transferring means for transferring a label continuous body, such as a label without a backing sheet, which is printed by the label printing means, toward the label attaching section, and transferring the label pieces cut by the label cutting means to the label attaching section. In the case of the label pasting machine having the following, there are the following problems.

That is, for example, in a label pasting machine using a label without a backing and provided with a label cutting means,
The printing speed of the label printing means 2 for performing label printing is 125 mm / sec (7.5 m / min) at the highest. On the other hand, when the article M is placed on the article conveying means 4 and the label piece 7 is stuck to the article M while being continuously conveyed, the conveying speed of the article conveying means 4 for conveying the article M (that is, the sticking speed) is 18 To 25 m / min, which is relatively high with respect to the printing speed in many cases. That is, the label transfer means can hold the printed label piece 7 in order to eliminate the gap between the label printing speed of the label printing means 2 and the conveying speed of the article M by the article conveying means 4. There is a problem that it is necessary to have a function like a buffer. The label transfer means can receive the label continuum during the printing operation, hold the label piece 7 after printing, transfer the label piece 7 in the direction of the label sticking section 11, and prepare for sticking the article M.

For example, when a label transfer means having the same transfer speed as the transfer speed of the article M is provided, the label continuous body 5 to be printed is moved from the leading end of the label continuous body 5 during the printing operation. However, due to the difference between the printing speed and the transfer speed (conveyance speed), the label is pulled toward the label transfer means, and the label cutting means cuts the label continuous body 5 at the same time in the width direction. In practice, most configurations are practically difficult,
That is, a structure in which the label continuous body 5 is gradually cut from one end to one end (rotary cutter method) or a structure in which the label continuous body 5 is cut inward from both ends (flat blade method) is generally used. When cutting the label continuum 5 in which a difference has occurred, the last cut portion is torn off, and there is a problem that the appearance of the label piece 7 is impaired.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is suitable for attaching a label piece to an article after cutting a continuous label body by a label cutting means. An object of the present invention is to provide a label transfer device and a label transfer method for a machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a label transfer device and a label transfer method of a label sticking machine which are suitable particularly when a label without a backing paper is used.

The present invention also provides a label transfer apparatus and a label transfer method for a label sticking machine capable of improving the printing state of a label piece and the cutting state of an end portion or an arbitrary portion in a width direction when the label piece is cut. The task is to provide

Further, the present invention provides a label transfer apparatus and a label transfer method for a label sticking machine which can smoothly transfer a single label piece from a continuous label strip regardless of the configuration of the label cutting means. The task is to provide

[0015]

That is, the present invention provides a method of controlling the transfer of a label piece in synchronization with the transport of an article by an article transport means, and the method of printing on a continuous label by the label printing means. The label transfer means transfers the continuous label at the same transfer speed (first transfer speed) as the printing speed, and the transfer of the label pieces after cutting is performed at the same transfer speed (second transfer speed) as the transfer speed (sticking speed) of the label transfer means. The present invention focuses on transferring a label continuum at a transfer speed of 2). Label cutting means for cutting into pieces,
An article transporting means for transporting the article to which the label piece which has been cut and transferred to the label attaching section is attached to the label attaching section, and a control means for controlling the article transporting section, the label cutting section and the label printing section. And a label transfer device of a label pasting machine having, while transferring the continuous label printed by the label printing means toward the label pasting portion at a first transfer speed,
Label transfer means for transferring the label pieces cut by the label cutting means at a second transfer speed, wherein the control means sets the first transfer speed of the label continuum by the label transfer means, With the same printing speed to the label continuum by the label printing means, the second transfer speed of the label pieces by the label transfer means, the same as the transport speed by the article transport means,
When the cutting of the label continuum by the label cutting means is completed, the label pieces are transferred to the label sticking section by the label transferring means and made to stand by, and further, the article is transferred to the label sticking section by the article conveying means. Is controlled to re-drive the label transfer means at the second transfer speed when is transported.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a label printing means for printing on a continuous label strip, a label cutting means for cutting the printed label continuous piece into label pieces having a predetermined pitch, A label applicator having an article conveying means for conveying an article to which the transferred label piece is adhered to the label attaching section, and a control means for controlling the article conveying means, the label cutting means and the label printing means. The label transferring method, wherein the label continuum printed by the label printing means is transferred at a first transfer speed toward the label sticking section, and the label piece cut by the label cutting means is removed. Providing a label transfer means for transferring the label at the second transfer speed to the label affixing part, and adjusting the printing speed to the label continuous body by the label printing means; At the first transfer speed, the label transfer means transfers the label continuum by a predetermined pitch, and the label cutting means cuts the label continuum to produce the label piece. By the label transfer means, the label is transferred to the label sticking section and made to stand by.When the article is transferred to the label sticking section by the article transfer means, the label piece which is waiting is transferred to the label transfer section by the label transfer means. A label transfer method for a label sticking machine, wherein the label is transferred from the label sticking section toward the article at the second transfer speed, which is the same as the transfer speed of the article transfer means.

The label transfer means includes a first transfer roller provided downstream of the label cutting means, a second transfer roller provided upstream of the label sticking section, A label transfer belt that can be hung between the second transfer roller and the label piece to be transferred to the label attaching section.

The label transfer means may include a label detection sensor capable of detecting the cut label piece.

The first transfer speed can be set smaller than the second transfer speed.

After the label continuum is cut by the label cutting means, the transfer speed for transferring the label pieces to the label affixing section by the label transfer means and waiting there is as follows.
Either the first transfer speed or the second transfer speed may be used.

In the label transferring apparatus and the label transferring method of the label sticking machine according to the present invention, the label transferring means and the label sticking section can be interposed by the label transferring means, and the label transferring means can be used for printing on the continuous label body. 1
At the transfer speed, when transferring the label pieces after cutting, the transfer speed is controlled to be variable so as to transfer each at the second transfer speed, so that the cutting of the label continuum is performed appropriately and smoothly. This makes it possible to improve the appearance and printing state of the cut end portion when the label piece is formed. The label pieces transferred to the label affixing section by the label transfer means are temporarily retained here,
By detecting the flow of the article in the article transporting means by the article detection sensor or the like, the label transporting means is driven again at the second transporting speed which is the same as the transporting speed, and the merging with the article is achieved, and the label is adhered to this. be able to.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a label sticking machine equipped with a label transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. However, the same parts as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 1 is a side view of a main part of a label pasting machine 20. The label pasting machine 20 cuts a band-shaped label 21 without a backing sheet (continuous label body) and cuts a single leaf label piece 22.
A label printing unit 2, a label cutting unit 23, a label transfer unit 24,
It has the article conveying means 4 and a control means 25.

The label cutting means 23 has a flat blade type cutter main body 28 having a fixed blade 26 and a movable blade 27, and a cutting motor 29. The label 21 without a mount is passed between the fixed blade 26 and the movable blade 27 by a predetermined length, and the movable blade 27 is operated to make the label 21 without the mount a label piece 22. The label cutting means 23 may be a rotary type other than the flat blade type.

The label transfer means 24 includes the transfer motor 3
0, a first transfer roller 31 provided on the downstream side of the label cutting means 23, a second transfer roller 32 provided on the upstream side of the label sticking section 11, and the first transfer roller 31 and the second transfer roller 31. A label transfer belt 33 capable of hanging the label piece 22 to the label affixing section 11 while being hung between the transfer rollers 32 and a holding plate spring 34 capable of holding and guiding the label piece 22 along the label transfer belt 33. And a label detection sensor 35 capable of detecting the label piece 22 (the leading end and the trailing end). The label transfer belt 33 employs silicon rubber or the like as its material, and has a configuration in which the label pieces 22 can be temporarily attached and can be peeled off.

Since the transfer motor 30 needs to change the transfer speed instantaneously, a stepping motor or the like having good controllability is preferable. The label detection sensor 35 determines the fixed position of the label piece 22 on the label sticking section 11 by the label transfer means 24.
Note that the distance from the position of the cutter body 28 to the label detection sensor 35 is desirably equal to or larger than the maximum size of the label piece 22 formed by the label 21 without the backing paper loaded on the label pasting machine 20.

The label transfer means 24 has a first transfer speed of a certain constant speed which is the same as the printing speed of the label printing means 2 and a certain constant speed which is the same as the transfer speed (sticking speed) of the article M by the article transfer means 4. The label piece 22 is transferred from the standby position to the label attaching section 11 at the second transfer speed of the speed. The first transfer speed is lower than the second transfer speed, and the same speed as the print speed means a speed in a range in which the print speed is equal to or higher than the print speed and up to about 1.2 times as high. . By maintaining this increased speed, the label 21 without a mount slips in the label transfer means 24, and the label 21 without the mount flexes between the platen roller 9 of the label printing means 2 and the entrance portion of the label transfer means 24. It is possible to prevent the cutting position from shifting. The first transfer speed is, for example, 50 mm / sec, 75 mm / sec, 1
Switching to 00 mm / sec, 125 mm / sec, or the like can be made possible.

The article conveying means 4 is provided with the first conveyor belt 1.
2 is provided with an article detection sensor 36 for detecting an article M conveyed on the upper side. The transport speed is 21m / m
It can be switchable between two or more speeds, such as in and 25 m / min.

The control means 25 includes the label printing means 2 (the thermal head 8 and the platen motor 37 of the platen roller 9), the label cutting means 23 (the cutting motor 2).
9) and label transfer means 24 (transfer motor 3
0), and control the article conveying means 4 and the like. That is, the control means 25 controls the label-less label 21 by the label printing means 2.
The transfer speed of the label transfer means 24 at the time of printing on is set to the first transfer speed of a low speed. The cutting time of the label 21 without the mount by the label cutting means 23 is as short as about 0.15 seconds, and there is no trouble in printing and transfer even while the label 21 without the mount is being transferred. Due to the progress of printing, the leading end of the label 21 without a mount enters between the label transfer belt 33 and the holding plate spring 34 of the label transfer means 24 and is transferred while being held by this. In this case, the transfer speed of the label transfer means 24 is set to the second transfer speed of a high speed, the label pieces 22 are transferred to the label sticking section 11 and stay or stay there, and the label transfer section 4 is moved by the article transfer means 4. When the article M is transported to
The label transfer means 24 is controlled so as to be driven again at the second transfer speed. When the cutting is completed, the transfer speed of the label transfer means 24 may be kept at the low first transfer speed.

By the label transfer means 24 and the control means 25 as described above, the label transfer device 3 of the present invention is used.
8.

In the label pasting machine 20 and the label transfer device 38 having such a configuration, printing, cutting, transfer and pasting are performed as shown in the flowchart of the operation shown in FIG.
First, initial setting is performed in step S1 in FIG. 2, and it is determined in step S2 whether print data has been input. If input has been completed, printing is started in the label printing means 2 (step S3).

With the start of printing on the label continuous body 21,
The rotation of the label transfer belt 33 in the label transfer means 24 is turned on (step S4), and the leading end of the label 21 without the backing paper is guided between the label transfer belt 33 and the holding plate spring 34 to transfer the label. It can be held on the belt 33. The label transfer belt 33 rotates at a first transfer speed, which is the same low speed as the printing speed of the label printing means 2, and during this printing operation, the label continuity 21
Moves on the label transfer belt 33 in the direction of the label attaching section 11.

After the printing is completed (step S5), the label cutting means 23 starts the cutting operation of the label 21 without the mount (step S6). The cutting operation time is about 0.15 seconds. Since the label 21 without the backing paper that is being transferred at a low printing speed is cut in a very short time, the label 21 without the backing paper is torn off or the printing state is poor. Will not be. This cutting operation time is determined by the control means 25.
After the time is up, the transfer speed of the label transfer belt 33 in the label transfer means 24 is changed to the second transfer speed of high speed in step S7, and the label piece 22 is transferred to the label. Is transported at a high speed toward the label attaching section 11 on the use belt 33. When the label detection sensor 35 detects the leading end of the label piece 22 (step S8), the label transfer belt 33 is stopped and the label piece 22 is made to stand by at this position (step S8).
9).

When the article detection sensor 36 of the article conveying means 4 is turned on and the conveyance of the articles M on the preceding conveyor belt 12 reaches a predetermined position (step S10), the sticking start signal from the control means 25 is used. By driving the label transfer belt 33 again (step S11), the label piece 22 can be made to protrude from the label attaching section 11, and the label piece 22 can be attached to the back surface of the article M.

When the label detection sensor 35 is turned off to detect the passage of the rear end of the label piece 22 (step S12), the flow returns to step S2 to determine whether or not print data has been input. If so, label printing means 2
Starts printing the label 21 without the backing sheet (step S
3) Repeat the above-described cycle. Step S1
If the label detection sensor 35 cannot detect the passage of the rear end of the label piece 22 in 2, the process proceeds to a warning, the end of the pasting, or another subroutine.

The label transfer device according to the present invention includes the label printing means 2, the label cutting means 23 and the label transfer means 24 as well as the case where the label piece 22 is attached to the bottom surface of the article M as described above. By providing it on the upper side of 4, it can be applied to the case where it is attached to the upper surface of the article M.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, the transfer speed of the continuous label body by the label transfer means is variably controlled to the printing speed by the label printing means and the article transfer speed by the article transfer means. Therefore, the appearance as a label piece and the printing state are not impaired.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a label transfer device 38 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a principal part side view of the label sticking machine 20 equipped with.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the same operation.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a main part of a conventional label pasting machine 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Label sticking machine (FIG. 3) 2 Label printing means 3 Label peeling means 4 Article conveyance means 5 Strip-shaped label continuous body 6 Strip-shaped mount 7 Plural label pieces 8 Thermal head 9 Platen roller 10 Peeling plate 11 Label sticking part 12 Front Conveyor Belt 13 Rear Conveyor Belt 14 Front Side Roller 15 Front Side Roller 16 Rear Side Roller 17 Rear Side Roller 20 Label Pasting Machine (Fig. 1) 21 Label without Mount (Continuous Label in Strip) 22 Single Label Piece 23 Label Cutting Means 24 Label transfer means 25 Control means 26 Fixed blade of cutter main body 28 27 Movable blade of cutter main body 28 Cutter main body 29 Cutting motor 30 Transfer motor 31 First transfer roller 32 Second transfer roller 33 Label transfer belt 34 Holding leaf spring 35 Label Label transfer device (embodiment 1) of the detection sensor 36 the article detecting sensor 37 platen motor 38 labeling machine 20 M article

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A label printing means for printing on a continuous band of labels, a label cutting means for cutting the printed continuous label into label pieces of a predetermined pitch, and a label cutting means which is cut and transferred to a label attaching section. A label transfer device for a label sticking machine, comprising: article transfer means for transferring an article to which a label piece is stuck to the label sticking unit; and control means for controlling the article transfer means, the label cutting means and the label printing means. Wherein the label continuum printed by the label printing means is transferred at a first transfer speed toward the label attaching section, and the label pieces cut by the label cutting means are transferred by a second transfer. A label transfer means for transferring at a speed, the control means comprising:
And the second transfer speed of the label pieces by the label transfer unit is the same as the transfer speed by the article transfer unit. When the cutting of the label continuum by the label cutting means is completed, the label transfer means transfers the label pieces to the label sticking section and waits, and further, the article transport means attaches the label piece to the label sticking section. When the article is conveyed, the label transfer means is moved to the second
A label transfer device for a label sticking machine, wherein the label transfer device is controlled so as to be re-driven at a transfer speed. 2. The label transfer unit includes: a first transfer roller provided downstream of the label cutting unit; a second transfer roller provided upstream of the label sticking unit; The label transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising: a label transfer belt that is hung between a roller and a second transfer roller and is capable of transferring the label piece to the label applying portion. . 3. The label transfer device for a label sticking machine according to claim 1, wherein said label transfer means has a label detection sensor capable of detecting the cut label piece. 4. The label transfer device for a label sticking machine according to claim 1, wherein the first transfer speed is set smaller than the second transfer speed. 5. A label printing means for printing on a continuous band of labels, a label cutting means for cutting the printed continuous label into label pieces of a predetermined pitch, and a label cutting means which has been cut and transferred to a label attaching section. A label transfer method of a label sticking machine, comprising: article transfer means for transferring an article to which a label piece is stuck to the label sticking section; and control means for controlling the article transfer means, the label cutting means and the label printing means. Wherein the label continuum printed by the label printing means is transferred at a first transfer speed toward the label attaching section, and the label pieces cut by the label cutting means are transferred by a second transfer. A label transfer means for transferring the label at a first transfer speed which is the same as a printing speed on the label continuous body by the label printing means. The label continuous body is transported by a predetermined pitch by a transport means, and the label continuous body is cut by the label cutting means to produce the label piece. The cut label piece is transferred to the label attaching section by the label transport means. When the article is conveyed to the label sticking section by the article conveying means, the waiting label piece is moved from the label sticking section toward the article by the label transferring means. A label transfer method for a label pasting machine, wherein the transfer is performed at the same second transfer speed as the transfer speed of the article transfer means.