JP2002254599A - Printing apparatus for inclined pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To apply printing to the outer periphery of an inclined pipe such as a vacuum blood collection pipe, a urine collection pipe or the like. SOLUTION: The inclined pipe 1 has such a taper shape that the diameter of the opening part thereof is made large and the diameter of the bottom thereof is made small. In one of one set of support parts 14 opposed to each other of each support wheel 13, the interval between a pair of rollers 19 is appropriately set narrower than the diameter of the opening part of the inclined pipe 1, and the opening part of the inclined pipe 1 is deeply received between the respective rollers 19 to be supported. In the other one of one set of the support parts 14, the interval between a pair of the rollers is appropriately set narrower than the diameter of the bottom of the inclined pipe 1, and the bottom of the inclined pipe 1 is shallowly received between the rollers 19 to be supported. By this constitution, the outer peripheral side surface of the inclined pipe 1 becomes parallel to the axis of a support rotary body 4 in the outer direction of the support rotary body 4 and also becomes parallel to the outer peripheral surface of a transfer roll. A character or a mark can be well printed on the outer peripheral surface of the inclined pipe 1 by bringing the outer peripheral side surface of the inclined pipe 1 into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roll.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inclined tube printing apparatus for performing printing on the outer periphery of a vacuum blood collection tube or a urine collection tube.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, printing on a tubular body is performed using a dedicated printing device. For example, JP-A-52-14831
The printer described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4 is for printing characters and marks on the outer periphery of a steel pipe or a fume pipe. The characters and marks are printed on the plate by rolling the pipe on the plate. It is transferred to the outer circumference of the tube.

The printing method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 53-4610 is for printing characters and marks on the surface of a thin plastic tube. The tube is passed between the printing roller and the presser adjusting roller, whereby the tube is pressed against the printing roller to transfer characters and marks from the printing roller to the surface of the tube.

[0004]

The inclined tubes such as the vacuum blood collection tube and the urine collection tube are not only formed in a tubular shape, but also in a tapered shape in which the diameter of the opening and the diameter of the bottom are different from each other. Therefore, even with the above-described conventional printer and printing method, characters, marks, and the like cannot be printed on the outer periphery thereof.

In the case of the former printer, it is difficult to print at a predetermined position on the inclined tube because the inclined tube does not roll straight but rolls while bending. In addition, if each of the inclined tubes is rolled at short intervals in order to perform printing on a large number of inclined tubes, the inconvenience of collision of the inclined tubes is caused.

In the case of the latter printing method, since the material of the vacuum blood collection tube, the urine collection tube, and the like is inflexible glass, printing cannot be performed on these materials.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its object to provide an inclined tube printing apparatus for performing printing on the outer periphery of a vacuum blood collection tube, a urine collection tube, or the like. .

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a printing apparatus for an inclined tube according to the present invention is provided with two wheels having a common axis and an outer periphery of each wheel. And a plurality of support portions that support the vicinity of both ends of the inclined tube bridged over, each support portion has a pair of rollers that receive the vicinity of the end of the inclined tube and rotatably support, Printing is performed on the outer circumference of the inclined tube while rotating the inclined tube supported by the support portion of each wheel.

According to the present invention having such a configuration, both ends of the inclined tube are rotatably supported by the pair of rollers. Here, by appropriately setting the distance between the rollers, the end of the inclined tube can be received deeply between the rollers or can be received shallowly between the rollers. Therefore,
Both ends of the inclined tube can be received at appropriate depths, whereby the outer peripheral side surface of the inclined tube can be set parallel to the plane of the plate. In this state, if printing is performed on the outer periphery of the inclined tube while rotating the inclined tube, it is possible to perform printing on the entire periphery of the inclined tube in a favorable manner. In addition, both ends of the plurality of inclined tubes are supported by being bridged over the outer periphery of each wheel, and printing on each inclined tube can be performed continuously, so that printing efficiency can be improved.

[0010] Instead of adjusting the distance between the rollers of the support portion, the rollers receiving the end of the inclined tube are moved in the radial direction of the wheel, and the position of the end of the inclined tube is appropriately set. Thereby, the outer peripheral side surface of the inclined tube may be set parallel to the plane of the plate.

In the present invention, each of the rollers is supported so that the distance between the pair of rollers of the supporting portion can be changed.

In this case, according to the diameter of the end of the inclined tube,
By changing the distance between the rollers and adjusting the depth of receiving the end of the inclined tube, the outer periphery of the inclined tube can be made parallel to the plane of the plate.

Further, in the present invention, the pair of rollers of the supporting portion are supported so as to be movable in the radial direction of the wheel.

In this case, according to the diameter of the end of the inclined tube,
By moving each roller in the radial direction of the wheel and adjusting the position of the end of the inclined tube, the outer circumference of the inclined tube can be made parallel to the plane of the plate.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an inclined tube printing apparatus according to the present invention.
It is a figure showing an embodiment. In the printing apparatus of the present embodiment, the inclined pipe 1 is transported by the conveyor belt 2, the inclined pipe 1 is picked up from the conveyor belt 2 by the loading rotator 3, and the inclined pipe 1 is moved from the loading rotator 3 to the supporting rotator 4. The transfer is performed, and the inclined tube 1 is moved to the upper transfer roll 5 by the support rotator 4. Then, the outer peripheral surface of the inclined tube 1 is pressed against the surface of the transfer roll 5, and characters and marks represented by ink are transferred from the surface of the transfer roll 5 to the outer peripheral surface of the inclined tube 1 while rotating the inclined tube 1. I do. Furthermore, the inclined tube 1
Is moved to the lower unloading rotator 6 by the supporting rotator 4, and the inclined tube 1 is arranged on the conveyor belt 2 by the unloading rotator 6.

The driving gear 3a of the loading rotator 3, the driving gear 4a of the supporting rotator 4, and the driving gear 6a of the unloading rotator 6
Transmit their rotations through the respective gears 7 and rotate synchronously with each other. Further, in this printing apparatus, the conveyor belt 2, the carry-in rotator 3, the support rotator 4, the transfer roll 5, the carry-out rotator 6, the plate roll 8, and the ink roll 9 are driven synchronously.

Next, the configuration and operation of the printing apparatus according to this embodiment will be described in more detail.

The conveyor belt 2 positions the inclined tubes 1 at equal intervals and positions them, and conveys the inclined tubes 1 in the direction of arrow A. The loading rotator 3 includes two loading wheels 1 facing each other.
1 and receives both ends of the inclined tube 1 in the concave portions 11 a on the outer periphery of each carry-in wheel 11 while rotating in the direction of arrow B. Two guide members 12 are provided along the outer circumference of each carry-in wheel 11, and the inclined tube 1 is held in a state where both ends of the inclined tube 1 are sandwiched between the concave portion 11 a of each carry-in wheel 11 and each guide member 12. To the supporting rotator 4. The support rotator 4 has two opposing support wheels 13, and receives both ends of the inclined tube 1 on support portions 14 on the outer periphery of each support wheel 13 while rotating in the direction of arrow C. Two guide members 15 are provided along the outer circumference of each support wheel 13, and the inclined pipe 1 is held in a state where both ends of the inclined pipe 1 are sandwiched between the support section 14 of each support wheel 13 and each guide member 15. 1 is moved to the upper transfer roll 5.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the supporting rotary member 4. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional structure of the supporting rotator 4. As is clear from FIGS. 2 and 3, in the support rotating body 4, each support wheel 13 is connected to each of the drums 16 and 17.
It is fixed to. The protrusion 16a of one drum 16 is fitted into the recess 17a of the other drum 17, and the lock pin 18
The drums 16 and 17 are positioned relative to each other.
On the outer periphery of each support wheel 13, a plurality of support portions 14 are arranged at equal intervals, and each support portion 14 of one support wheel 13 and each support portion 14 of the other support wheel 13 are opposed to each other, The two opposing support parts 14 are set as one set.
One set of supports 14 receives and supports both ends of the inclined tube 1.

Each support section 14 is formed by attaching a pair of rollers 19 to the support wheel 13 at an appropriate interval. Between both rollers 19 of one set of support sections 14, both ends of the inclined tube 1 are connected. Receive and support rotatably. As a material of each roller 19, a synthetic resin or the like which does not easily damage the inclined tube 1 is preferable.

The inclined tube 1 has a tapered shape as shown in FIG. 4, and has a larger diameter at the opening and a smaller diameter at the bottom. Here, each of the support wheels 13 faces each other.
One of the sets of support portions 14 is set so that the interval between the pair of rollers 19 is appropriately smaller than the diameter of the opening of the inclined tube 1,
The opening of the inclined tube 1 is received and supported deeply between the rollers 19. Further, the other support portion 14 is set so that the interval between the pair of rollers 19 is appropriately smaller than the diameter of the bottom portion of the inclined tube 1,
The bottom of the inclined pipe 1 is supported between the rollers 19 by being received shallowly. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the outer peripheral side surface of the inclined tube 1 is parallel to the axis of the support rotary member 4 and also parallel to the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roll 5 in the outward direction of the support rotary member 4.

On the other hand, the ink in the ink tank 21 is attached to the surface of the ink roll 9 and the ink is supplied from the ink roll 9 to the plate roll 8. The plate roll 8 is an intaglio plate and stores ink in concave portions representing characters, marks, and the like. Excess ink on the surface of the plate roll 8 is scraped off by a scraper (not shown). The transfer roll 5 rotates in the direction of arrow D, and contacts the plate roll 8. As the plate roll 8 and the transfer roll 5 rotate, the ink in the concave portions of the plate roll 8 moves to the surface of the transfer roll 5.

Further, the surface of the transfer roll 5 is
While pressing the outer peripheral surface of the inclined tube 1 and rotating the inclined tube 1 together with the transfer roll 5, characters and marks represented by ink are transferred from the surface of the transfer roll 5 to the outer peripheral surface of the inclined tube 1. At this time, as described above, the support rotating body 4
Because the outer peripheral surface of the inclined tube 1 is made parallel to the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roll 5 by one set of the support portions 14, the outer peripheral surface of the inclined tube 1 is always in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roll 5, And marks and the like are printed satisfactorily on the entire circumference of the inclined tube 1.

Thereafter, the inclined pipe 1 is moved to the lower unloading rotary member 6 while both ends of the inclined pipe 1 are sandwiched between the support portion 14 of each support wheel 13 and each guide member 15.
The unloading rotator 6 has two unloading wheels 22 facing each other, and receives both ends of the inclined tube 1 in the concave portions 22 a on the outer periphery of each unloading wheel 22 while rotating in the direction of the arrow E. Along the outer periphery of each unloading wheel 22, two guide members 2
3 are provided, and both ends of the inclined tube 1
The inclined tube 1 is arranged and positioned on the conveyor belt 2 while being sandwiched between the second concave portion 22a and each guide member 23.

As described above, in the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, both ends of the inclined tube 1 are rotatably supported by the set of support portions 14 of the supporting rotary member 4 and the outer peripheral side surface of the inclined tube 1 is transferred to the transfer roll. Since the outer peripheral surface of the inclined tube 1 is parallel to the outer peripheral surface of the transfer tube 5, characters, marks, and the like can be printed satisfactorily on the entire periphery of the inclined tube 1. In addition, printing on a large number of inclined tubes 1 can be performed continuously, and printing efficiency can be improved.

It is to be noted that a plurality of types of support wheels 13 in which the intervals between the rollers 19 of the support portion 14 are set in accordance with the diameters of the ends of the plurality of types of inclined tubes are prepared, and the diameters of the ends of the inclined tubes are prepared. By mounting the support wheel 13 corresponding to the above to the support rotating body 4, it is possible to cope with each kind of inclined tube.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a supporting rotary member in a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
2 shows a cross-sectional structure of the supporting rotating body in the printing apparatus of the present embodiment.

The support rotator 31 of this embodiment is used by being mounted instead of the support rotator 4 in the printing apparatus of FIG. In this support rotator 31, a plurality of support portions 33 are arranged at equal intervals on the outer periphery of each support wheel 32, and each support portion 33 of one support wheel 32 and each support portion 33 of the other support wheel 32 are provided. Are opposed to each other, and two opposed support portions 33 are set as one set. One set of supports 33 receives and supports both ends of the inclined tube 1.

Each of the support portions 33 includes a support plate 34 having a pair of elongated holes 34a extending in a C-shape.
And a shaft 3 of a pair of rollers 35 is inserted into each of the elongated holes 34a.
5a, each roller 35 is movably supported along each elongated hole 34a, and a coil spring 36 is bridged between the shafts 35a of each roller 35, and each roller 35 is brought close to each other. Is urged by a coil spring 36. Further, an adjustment plate 37 for adjusting the closest distance of the shaft 35a of each roller 35 is arranged between the shafts 35a.

When the supporting rotary body 31 having such a configuration is applied, the end of the inclined tube 1 is received shallowly between the rollers 34. In this state, both ends of the inclined tube 1 are
The inclined tube 1 is moved to the upper transfer roll 5, and the outer peripheral side surface of the inclined tube 1 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roll 5. At this time, the inclined pipe 1
Irrespective of the diameter of the both ends, the both ends of the inclined tube 1 press down the respective rollers 34 of the respective support portions 33 and sink to an appropriate depth, and the outer peripheral side surface of the inclined tube 1 is parallel to the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roll 5. And the outer peripheral side surface of the inclined tube 1 is the transfer roll 5
In close contact with the outer peripheral surface. Therefore, regardless of the diameter of both ends of the inclined tube 1, characters, marks, and the like are printed satisfactorily on the entire circumference of the inclined tube 1. Further, there is no need to replace parts or the like according to the diameter of the end of the inclined tube 1.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a supporting rotary member in a printing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional structure of the supporting rotating body in the printing apparatus of the present embodiment.

The support rotator 41 of this embodiment is used by being mounted instead of the support rotator 4 in the printing apparatus of FIG. In the support rotator 41, a plurality of support portions 43 are arranged at equal intervals on the outer periphery of each support wheel 42, and each support portion 43 of one support wheel 42 and each support portion 43 of the other support wheel 42. Are opposed to each other, and both ends of the inclined tube 1 are received and supported by a set of support portions 43.

Each of the support portions 43 has three coil springs 45 projecting from an annular body 44 of a support wheel 42, a plate 46 is supported by each coil spring 45, and a pair of rollers 47 is supported by the plate 46. Things.

When the supporting rotating body 41 having such a configuration is applied, each roller 47 of the supporting portion 43 is positioned in the radial direction of the supporting rotating body 41 by each coil spring 45. In this state, when the outer peripheral side surface of the inclined tube 1 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roll 5, the stress acts on both coil springs 45 from both ends of the inclined tube 1 through the respective support portions 43, and the respective coil springs 45 Shrink. Thereby, regardless of the diameters of both ends of the inclined tube 1, both ends of the inclined tube 1 sink to an appropriate depth, respectively, and the outer peripheral side surface of the inclined tube 1 becomes parallel to the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roll 5. As a result, the outer peripheral side surface of the inclined tube 1 comes into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roll 5, and characters, marks, and the like are printed satisfactorily on the entire periphery of the inclined tube 1. Further, there is no need to replace parts and the like according to the diameter of the end of the inclined tube 1.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can be variously modified. For example, although a coil spring is used to bias and position a pair of rollers, other types of springs or elastic members may be used instead.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, by appropriately setting the distance between the rollers, the end of the inclined tube can be received deeply between the rollers or shallowly received between the rollers. Can be. Therefore, both ends of the inclined tube can be received at appropriate depths, whereby the outer peripheral side surface of the inclined tube can be set parallel to the plane of the plate. In this state, if printing is performed on the outer periphery of the inclined tube while rotating the inclined tube, it is possible to perform printing on the entire periphery of the inclined tube in a favorable manner. In addition, both ends of the plurality of inclined tubes are supported by being bridged over the outer periphery of each wheel, and printing on each inclined tube can be performed continuously, so that printing efficiency can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, the outer circumference of the inclined tube is adjusted by changing the interval between the rollers according to the diameter of the end of the inclined tube and adjusting the depth of receiving the end of the inclined tube. It can be parallel to the plane of the plate.

Further, according to the present invention, each roller is moved in the radial direction of the wheel according to the diameter of the end of the inclined tube, and the position of the end of the inclined tube is adjusted, whereby the outer periphery of the inclined tube is adjusted. Can be parallel to the plane of the plate.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of an inclined tube printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a supporting rotating body in the printing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of the support rotating body of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an inclined tube.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a supporting rotating body in a second embodiment of the printing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a cross-sectional structure of the support rotating body of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a supporting rotating body in a third embodiment of the printing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a cross-sectional structure of the support rotating body of FIG. 7;

[Description of Signs] 1 Inclined tube 2 Conveyor belt 3 Carry-in rotator 4 Support rotator 5 Transfer roll 6 Carry-out rotator 8 Plate roll 9 Ink crawl 13 Support wheel 14 Support section 19 Roller

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. two wheels having a common axis;
A plurality of support portions disposed on the outer periphery of each wheel and supporting the vicinity of both ends of the inclined tube bridged over the outer periphery of each wheel; each support portion is rotatable by receiving near the end portion of the inclined tube A printing apparatus for printing on the outer circumference of the inclined tube while rotating the inclined tube supported by the support portion of each wheel. 2. The inclined tube printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each roller is supported such that a distance between a pair of rollers of the support portion can be changed. 3. The inclined tube printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pair of rollers of a supporting portion are supported so as to be movable in a radial direction of the wheel.