JPH0236452B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field An autolabeler supports a large number of labels by temporarily adhering them to a release paper tape, and peels the labels from the rolled label tape and attaches them to the article. Are known. The present invention relates to a label cassette for easily attaching and detaching a roll of label tape to an auto-labeler.

Problems with the Prior Art A typical example of a conventional autolabeler includes a roll support means for supporting a roll of label tape, and a hairpin curve path for the label tape pulled out from the roll to peel the label from the release paper tape. The label tape basically includes a peeling means having a thin plate-like protruding tip to cause the label tape to move, and a driving means to drive the label tape.

In many cases, the peeled off label and
A sensor for aligning the position with the article to which the label is to be attached, and a control means for controlling the alignment using the sensor are provided.

Generally, it is desirable to display the product's lot number on the label attached to the product for product management purposes. Since the lot number is information given to each individual product produced, it cannot be printed on the label in advance. When displaying a lot number on a label, it is necessary to print the lot number after attaching the label to the article, or immediately before attaching the label to the article. Therefore, autolabelers incorporating printing devices are also in practical use.

Additionally, the used release paper tape after peeling off the label may be received in a container, but in order to reduce the bulk of the waste, a winding means for winding up the used release paper tape is often added. There is.

Although it is possible for the above-mentioned driving means to also serve as the winding means by utilizing the winding operation of the winding means, the continuous rotation speed or the intermittent rotation speed of the winding means is constant. in case of,
The amount of tape wound onto the winding means changes the winding radius and therefore the tape drive speed or intermittent drive distance. However, it is difficult to precisely change the continuous rotational speed or intermittent rotational speed of the winding means depending on the amount of tape to be wound. As mentioned above, in an autolabeler, accurate alignment between the label and the item to be affixed is desired, and in an autolabeler that has a printing device that prints additional information such as a rocket number on the label, In order to print at a predetermined position, it is often desirable to precisely control alignment between the label position and the print position.

For precise tape feeding, there is a method in which a sprocket hole is provided in the tape and the tape is driven by a sprocket wheel, but this method increases the cost of the label tape and is therefore difficult to adopt in an autolabeler. Therefore, in an autolabeler, a tape is generally sandwiched between a rotary drive wheel and a pressure drive wheel, and the tape is fed by friction. Generally, frictional driving of the tape is performed on the release paper tape after the label has been peeled off so as not to affect the position of the label on the release paper. When the peeling means is performed by using a flat peeling plate to give the label tape a hairpin curve, a large driving force is required.

When setting a label tape on such an autolabeler, a roll of label tape is mounted on a roll support means, and then the drawn label tape is passed through a printing device, a sensor, a peeling means, and a driving means to a winding means. One end of the tape must be fixed.

Such autolabelers are also used by food processors, and processed foods are required to display the date of manufacture and expiration date. These indications change for each product series depending on the type of product to which the label should be affixed, so
It is necessary to incorporate a printing device that prints variable data into the autolabeler. Food processors that supply multiple products must prepare different labels for each product and change the roll of label tape on the autolabeler each time the product changes. This problem can be solved by using a uniform label that does not display the product name and by displaying the product name using a printing device, but it is desirable that the product name is clearly displayed on the label, and it is desirable to have the product name clearly displayed on the label. Major customers such as Amazon often require the use of labels specified by the customer. Therefore, even when delivering only 10 types of products to only 10 delivery destinations, it is necessary to prepare 100 types of labels and use an autolabeler to replace the labels for each different delivery destination and for each different product. .
In the case of a food processing company that delivers a wide variety of products in small quantities to a large number of customers, the labels on the autolabeler must be replaced extremely frequently. However, for small-scale food processing companies, it is currently impossible to assign a full-time operator to the auto-labeler, and the auto-labeler is currently operated exclusively by part-time workers. For inexperienced part-timers, the task of replacing labels is more troublesome and operation errors are likely to occur.Therefore, a measure has been desired to simplify the task of replacing labels.

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in devices that handle tape-like materials, it is known that the tape is stored in a cassette to facilitate attachment and detachment of the tape. They have a reel for supplying the tape-like material, a reel for winding the tape-like material, and guide means for guiding the tape-like material close to the tape drive means and other related means on the apparatus side. For example, in a recording tape cassette, the capstan in the recording/playback device, the window that receives the stationary part that rotates in a fixed position, such as the drive shaft of the take-up reel, and the devices such as the pressure roll and magnetic head that press the tape against the capstan. It has a window on the side that receives the movable part.

Such conventional cassette structures are not readily applicable to autolabelers. This is because the label tape handled by autolabelers consists of a large number of labels temporarily adhered at regular intervals on a release paper tape.
This is because these labels easily peel off when the label tape is bent at a small radius or at a steep angle. Further, the auto-labeler is provided with a peeling means that utilizes the above-mentioned properties of the label tape to give the label tape a hairpin curve-shaped movement path with a sharply protruding thin plate-like tip. Therefore, when attaching or removing a cassette, it is necessary to support the label tape so that it does not come into contact with the protruding peeling means, and when operating the auto-labeler, it is necessary to engage the label tape with the sharply protruding tip of the peeling means. Further, it is necessary to generate a frictional driving force by the tape driving means to overcome the frictional engagement between the release paper tape and the tip in the peeling means. It is also necessary to replenish the cassette with label tape. Moreover, there are many difficulties in providing a label cassette that can be attached to existing auto-travelers without making basic design changes. Therefore, a label cassette suitable for use in an autolabeler having a peeling plate has not been put into practical use.

purpose of invention The objects of the present invention are as follows.

(1) To provide a label cassette suitable for use in an autolabeler having a peeling plate.

(2) To provide a label cassette that can be attached and detached without requiring any skill.

(3) To provide a label cassette that can be applied to existing autolabelers without making major modifications.

(4) The peeling means of the auto labeler is modified to be movable between the retracted position and the protruding position, and the movement of the peeling means between the two positions changes the label tape guide path in the cassette into the attachment/detachment guide path. To provide a label cassette having a movable guide which can be switched to an operation guide path.

Means for Solving the Problems In the present invention, the above-mentioned problems are solved and the above-mentioned objects are achieved by the following configuration.

The peeling means of an auto-labeler is modified to be movable between a retracted position included in a label cassette mounting area and a protruded position protruded from the retracted position.

When attaching or removing a label cassette, the peeling means is in the retracted position, and the label tape is moved so as to cross the movement path of the tip without touching the tip of the peeling means, and without touching the drive means with the label tape. , and an attachment/detachment guide path that guides the label tape in close proximity thereto, and a distal end of the peeling means located at a protruding position to contact the label tape along a hairpin curve-shaped path, and a driving means to attach the label tape to the label tape. A movable guide is provided that switches between the movable guide path and the movable guide path to be brought into contact.

Interlocking means is provided for interlocking the movable guide with movement of the movable peeling means.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for positioning and fixing the label cassette on the auto-traveller comprises a C-shaped member for receiving a protrusion provided on the auto-traveler, and an eccentric cam for tightening the protrusion to the C-shaped member. There is.

The roll support means, guide means, interlocking means,
The positioning and fixing means is temporarily supported by the support substrate of the label cassette.

Function It is relatively easy to modify the peeling means in an auto-labeler so that it can move between the retracted position and the extended position.

The label tape is guided within the label cassette by making the peeling means movable and guiding the label tape across the path of movement of the tip of the peeling means without contacting the tip of the peeling means in the retracted position. The path can be simplified and the label tape can be pulled out of the label cassette to give a hairpin curve when the peeling means is extended. Otherwise, it is necessary to provide a movable guide that supports the label tape at a distance from the tip of the peeling means during attachment and detachment, and brings the label tape into contact with the tip of the peeling means along a hairpin curve guide path when movable. .

By providing an interlocking means for interlocking the movable guide for switching between the attachment/detachment guide path and the operation guide path with the movement of the peeling means, label cassette replacement work can be easily performed without requiring any skill.

Embodiment FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic side views showing a state in which a label cassette 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to an auto-traveller, and FIG. 1 shows a state in which the label cassette is attached and detached. FIG. 2 shows the autolabeler in its movable state. In these figures, parts provided on the side of the autolabeler are shown with broken lines.

In the label cassette 10 of the present invention, an autolabeler temporarily adheres and supports a large number of labels on a release paper table in one side area thereof, and a tape is driven to unwind the label tape wound into a roll. drive means D, movable between a retracted position in the side area and an operating position pushed out from the side area; in the pushed out position, the label tape is given a hairpin curve path to release the label; It is assumed that a movable peeling means E having a projecting end E1 for peeling from the paper tape is included as an essential component, and a label sensor S and a printing device P are included as additional elements. The autolabeler is shown as having all of these. Therefore, first, we will outline the arrangement of related parts on the auto-traveler side.

The drive means D has at least a rotary drive wheel D1 that receives a rotary drive force from a power source (not shown) and is rotated in the direction of arrow a. The illustrated embodiment is shown as having a press-contact wheel D2 that rotates as a result of being press-contacted with the rotary drive wheel D1. The press ring D2 is rotatably supported on one end of an arm D4 supported by a support shaft D3, and the other end is constantly biased toward the rotary drive wheel D1 by, for example, a spring D5.
The arm D4 can rotate the pressure contact ring D2 in the opposite direction against the biasing force of the spring D5 by manually operating the lever D6. an inoperative position (FIG. 1) providing a tape-receiving gap between rotary drive wheel D1 and pressure drive wheel D2 by suitable locking means known in the art (not shown);
Rotation is made possible by the 2-position substitution with the operating position (Fig. 2) in which the label tape is sandwiched between them.

The peeling means E is movable between a retracted position (FIG. 1) within the mounting area of the auto-labeler and an extended position (FIG. 2) protruding to the left in FIG. With conventional autolabeler,
The peeling means E was fixed at the position shown in FIG. 2, but in order to simplify the structure of the label cassette according to the invention, the peeling means E was fixed in the retracted position shown in FIG. It has been modified so that it can be moved to and from the exit position. The peeling means E includes a thin plate-like tip E.
1, and the label tape is given a hairpin curve path with a steep angle from the upper side to the lower side of the tip end E1 at the protruding position shown in FIG. 2, whereby the release paper tape Peel off the label.

The printing device P may be of any type, but in the illustrated embodiment the printing element is indicated by the arrow b.
It is shown that printing is performed by acting in the direction of .

The label sensor S is shown as being provided above the peeling means E in the protruding position (FIG. 2). The label sensor may also be of any type, but it is capable of adjusting the position of the article to which the label is to be attached and the position of the label on the release paper tape, and the adjustment of the printing position between the printing device P and the label. Therefore, it is advantageous to arrange it close to the tip E1 of the peeling means E in order to obtain better operational precision.

The label cassette 10 has roll support means 20
, a guide means 50 (indicated as 51 to 55 in the figure) for switching the label tape between the attachment/detachment guide path and the operating guide path, and a guide means 50 (indicated as 51 to 55 in the figure) for switching the at least one movable guide between the retracted position and the approaching position of the peeling means E. A cassette casing 60 having at least an interlocking means for interlocking the movement between the label cassette 10 and the output position, a positioning and fixing means 40 for positioning and fixing the label cassette 10 to the auto-traveler, and a support substrate 61 for cantilever-supporting each of these means. have The illustrated embodiment also includes a winding means 30 for winding up the used release paper tape.

Roll support means 20 is shown in the illustrated embodiment as a simple rod cantilevered from support substrate 61. Various structures are known in mechanical technology for rotatably supporting the label tape roll 11, and any structure may be used.

The guide means 50 is shown in this example as having fixed guides 51, 52, 53 and movable guides 54, 55.

The fixed guide 51 is connected to the release paper tape winding means 3
The guide surface is shown as having a relatively gently curved guide surface around 0. When a label is temporarily attached to the outer surface of a roll of release paper in the label tape roll 11, it is guided to a fixed guide 51 through the guide path T1, and the label is temporarily attached to the inner surface of the release paper tape. If so, guide route T2
It is then guided to a fixed guide 51. Fixed guide 5
No. 1 guides the label tape along a relatively gently curved surface to prevent the label from peeling off from the release paper tape, no matter which of the two paths T1 and T2 the label tape takes. The fixed guide 51 is provided with a spring-biased label pressing means 51a to prevent the label tape from loosening and to prevent the label from peeling off from the tape.

The cylindrical fixed guide 52 is arranged slightly above and to the left (in FIG. 1) of the tip end E1 of the peeling means E in the retreated position. The fixed guide 52 includes
Depending on the width of the label tape to be used, at least one screw 52a is provided as an axially movable tape side edge guide means.

The fixed guide 53 is shown as a pin planted on the support substrate 61 at the lower left (in FIG. 1) of the distal end portion E1 of the peeling means in the retreated position.

In this embodiment, the fixed guides 51 and 52 prevent the label tape from coming into contact with the distal end E1 of the peeling means in the retracted position when the label cassette is attached or detached, and the label tape is placed in the movement path of the distal end of the peeling means. (guidance route T3). Incidentally, when the peeling means E is moved to the protruding position shown in FIG. 2, the label tape is pulled to the left (in FIG. 1) by the tip portion T1, and a hairpin curve is formed on the label tape. Guidance route T3'
let them take it.

In the illustrated embodiment, the movable guide 54 is
4d is shown with arm 54a pivotable. The arm 54a has a tip divided into two, and a pin 54 is attached to each tip.
b, 54c are shown as being fixed. The movable guide 54 is rotatable between the position shown in FIG. 1 and the position shown in FIG. 2, and allows the label tape to take a guide path T4 in the position shown in FIG. The label tape is guided to take a guide path T4' at the position shown in FIG. 2, and is guided so that it comes into contact with the cylindrical surface of the rotary drive wheel D1 with a large contact area.

The movable guide 55 is shown as a pin fixed to one end of an L-shaped arm 55a rotatably supported on the fixed guide 53. Arm 5
The other end 55b of 5a engages with a suitable portion on the peeling means E and rotates on the shaft 53. The position of the movable guide 55 shown in FIG. 1 is a non-operating position, and in the position shown in FIG.

In the illustrated embodiment, the interlocking means is shown as being constituted by a pin E2 provided on the peeling means E and a bifurcated arm 54a receiving the pin E2. When the peeling means E is moved from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2, the pin E2 rotates the arm 54a clockwise, thereby rotating the label tape. Pressed against the drive wheel D1, when the peeling means E is moved in the opposite direction, the pin E2 rotates the arm 54a counterclockwise, thereby separating the label tape from the drive means. Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment:
When the peeling means E moves between the retracted position and the extended position, the arm 55b is arranged so as to come into contact with an appropriate portion of the peeling means E, thereby forming a second interlocking means. By this,
When the peeling means E moves to the protruding position, the label tape is removed from the upper surface of the peeling means E by pulling out the label tape by the peeling means E and pressing the movable guide 55 against the upper surface of the peeling means E in the protruding position. The label tape is thereby accurately positioned with respect to the label sensor S.
Spring biasing means may be provided to guide the arm 54a into the two positions. Such structures are well known and are not shown.

In the illustrated embodiment, the positioning and fixing means 40 include:
It is shown as comprising a receiving member 41 having a C-shaped cross section and an eccentric cam 43. The receiving member 41 receives the protrusion 41 protruding from the auto-labeler, and the eccentric cam 43 tightens and fixes the protrusion 41 within the receiving member 41. Eccentric force 4
3 is operated by rotating a lever 44 provided behind the support substrate 61 (as viewed from the autolabeler side). It is clear that other known fixing means may also be used. In the illustrated embodiment, one surface of the receiving member 41 (the surface facing upper left in FIG. 1) is disposed between the fixed guides 51 and 52, and serves the function of the fixed guide and the printing means P. It also functions as a printing support surface when printing is performed.

Although not essential, the illustrated embodiment is provided with a winding means 30 for winding up the used release paper tape. The winding means 30 is shown as a rotating shaft 30, to which rotational force is transmitted by frictional engagement from a power source provided on the auto-traveler side.
Such rotational force friction transmission means include rotary wheels pressed against each other and various other known means, which are not shown in the drawings. The frictional torque transmission means compensates for changes in winding speed due to variations in the amount of tape wound onto the winding shaft.

Cassette casing 60 is shown in the illustrated embodiment as having a support substrate 61 and a cover 62. The support substrate 61 includes the roll support means 20, the winding means 30, and the positioning and fixing means 4.
0. The guide means 50 is supported in a cantilevered manner, making it easy to replenish the label tape to the label cassette. The support substrate 61 can be provided with a cover 62 having an appropriate shape.

The stripping means E must extend beyond the support substrate 61 of the label cassette 10, since it must be operated after the label cassette 10 has been installed in the autolabeler. In this example,
A slot 61a is shown provided in the support substrate 61 for receiving the head of the operating handle E3 of the peeling means E protruding from the auto-labeler and allowing movement between a retracted position and an extended position.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a label cassette 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the cassette casing 60 is connected to the roll support means 2.
0, a support substrate 61 that cantilever-supports each element of the winding means 30, positioning and fixing means 40, and guide means 50, 51 to 55; and a cover 62 supported by the support substrate 61 and covering a part of the above-mentioned elements. is shown as having

As can be seen from the above explanation, when attaching the label cassette 10 of the present invention to an autolabeler,
First, the peeling means E is positioned at the retracted position, and the driving means D is positioned at the inoperative position. Thereafter, the positioning and fixing means 40 is used to attach and fix the auto-labeler to a predetermined side surface area. Thereafter, when the peeling means E is moved to the protruding position, the label tape is pulled out from the label cassette by the tip E1 of the peeling means E, and is given a hairpin curve-shaped guide path T3', and the label tape is pulled out from the label cassette by the tip E1 of the peeling means E. 1 to the extended position, the interlocking means, that is, the engagement pin E2 engages the arm 54a, and a suitable portion of the peeling means E engages the arm 55b, causing the arm 54a to move as shown in FIG. The movable guide 55 is rotated clockwise to bring the label tape into contact with the rotary drive wheel D1, and the movable guide 55 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. Press them together. Finally, preparation for labeling is completed by pressing the pressure contact wheel D2 against the rotary drive wheel D1 using the lever D6. It is clear that the label cassette can be attached and detached by following the above-described operations in reverse.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above,
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, although the guide means 51 to 55 have been described as pins that guide the tape in a sliding manner, they may also be rotatable rollers. Further, the number and arrangement of fixed guides and movable guides can be changed as appropriate depending on the structure of the autolabeler.

The positioning and fixing means 40 has been described as being positioned and fixed at one location by the receiving member 41 having a C-shaped cross section and the eccentric cam 43.
A plurality of protrusions may be provided on the autolabeler side, and a plurality of receiving members may be provided on the label cassette side.

Effects of the Invention As explained above, in the present invention, on the premise that the peeling means E of the auto-labeler is movable between the protruding position and the retracted position, the path of the label tape when attaching and detaching the cassette is shortened. To provide a label cassette which is simplified and the outer shape of the cassette is simplified, thereby allowing the label cassette to be attached and detached without requiring skill. The label cassette can be attached and detached by simply operating the peeling means and the drive means door, and therefore the work efficiency of frequently changing labels can be greatly improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a label cassette 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the arrangement of various elements when the cassette is attached and detached, and FIG. 2 is a diagram similar to FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a cassette according to one embodiment of the invention, showing the elements in a state in which they are ready for a labeling operation. Explanation of symbols, 10: cassette, 11: roll of label tape, 20: roll support means, 30: winding means, 40: positioning and fixing means, 51-5
5: Guide means, 60: Cassette casing, 6
1: Support substrate, D1: Rotation drive wheel, D2: Pressure contact wheel, P: Printing device, S: Label sensor, E: Movable peeling means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In one side area of the autolabeler, a large number of labels are temporarily adhered and supported on a release paper tape, and a tape drive is used to unwind the label tape wound into a roll. means movable between a retracted position in the one side region and an activated position in which the label tape is extended from the side region, and in the extended position the label tape is given a hairpin curve path to release the label; a movable peeling means having a protruding end portion for peeling from the paper tape;
A label cassette suitable for use in an autolabeler including as an essential component and a label sensor and a printing device as additional components, characterized by: (a) a roll support for rotatably supporting a roll of label tape; (b) when a label cassette is attached to or removed from the autolabeler, the label tape is removed from the roll supported by the roll support means without coming into contact with the protruding end of the peeling means in the retracted position; at least one fixed guide for guiding the label tape across the movement path of the protruding end; an attachment/detachment guide path for guiding the label tape in close proximity to and without contacting the driving means; (c) at least one movable guide that switches between a movable guide path and a working guide path brought into pressure contact with the drive means; (c) when the peeling means is moved between a retracted position and an extended position, the movable guide interlocking means for interlocking the movable guide with the peeling means to guide the label tape along the operating guide path; (d) interlocking the label cassette to the one side area of the auto-traveller; (e) a cassette casing having at least a support substrate that cantilever-supports the roll support means, the guide means, the interlocking means, and the positioning and fixing means; 2. In the label cassette as set forth in claim 1, (a) the movable guide means is rotatable on the support substrate so as to be positioned close to the drive means when the label cassette is mounted on the autolabeler; (b) the interlocking means includes a first movable guide means constituted by a pivoting arm that is cantilever-supported on the peeling means, and a pin supported on the arm; A label cassette characterized by comprising an interlocking means constituted by a bifurcated structure of rotating arms arranged in between. 3. In the label cassette as set forth in claim 1 or 2, (a) the movable guide means is arranged at the protruding end of the peeling means in the retracted position when the label cassette is mounted on the autolabeler; an operating position which is arranged close to each other and presses the label tape against the movable peeling means when the peeling means is moved to the protruding position to accurately position the label tape with respect to the label sensor; and the peeling means; (b) the interlocking means includes a second movable guide means movable between a rest position and a rest position separated from the protruding path of the peeling means when the peeling means is retracted to the retracted position; When the peeling means is moved from the projecting position toward the retracted position, the second guide means is moved from the rest position to the operating position, and when the peeling means is moved from the projecting position toward the retracted position, the second guide means is moved from the rest position to the operating position. A label cassette comprising interlocking means for moving the second guide means from the operating position to the rest position. 4. The label cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the positioning and fixing means includes a receiving member having a C-shaped cross section, and a C-shaped cross section of the receiving member. An eccentric cam disposed close to the opening in the cross section is cantilevered on the label cassette, and the receiving member receives a guide protrusion provided on one side of the autotraveller to position the label cassette relative to the autotraveller. , the eccentric cam tightens and fixes the guide protrusion to the guide member;
A label cassette featuring: