Patent Grant
9359098
The present invention relates to a fitting device that opens a cylindrical label supplied in a folded sheet-like state and fits the label onto a columnar target body (which will be hereinafter referred to simply as a “target body”), and a label opener.
Conventionally, fitting devices for fitting a cylindrical label made of a resin film onto a columnar target body such as plastic bottles have been known (refer to Patent Literatures 1 to 5 listed below, for example). In these fitting devices, the cylindrical label is generally supplied in a state in which the label is folded into a sheet shape. The fitting device includes a unit called a label opener that opens the label folded in a sheet-shape into a cylindrical shape.
Many label openers are configured to open the label by holding both sides of the label, which is folded, by suction by means of one or more pairs of suction members provided opposite to each other, and thereafter moving the pair of suction members away from each other.
More specifically, Patent Literature 1 discloses a label opener as illustrated in
In this label opener 90, pairs of grip arms 94, among the plural pairs of grip arms 94, that are conducive to label suction can be changed, as appropriate, in accordance with the length in the height direction of the label F which is actually to be opened, such that the label F can be gripped by suction in the vicinity of the upper end and the vicinity of the lower end, even if the length of the label in the height direction varies. In other words, according to this prior art, a total of four portions of the label, including a portion in the vicinity of the upper end of one side, a portion in the vicinity of the lower end of one side, a portion in the vicinity of the upper end of the other side, and a portion in the vicinity of the lower end of the other side, are gripped by suction.
Further, in another conventional art label opener which is disclosed in Patent Literature 2 or the like, two pairs of adsorption members, that are capable of holding both sides of the label by adsorption and are also expandable, are provided in the width direction of the label. Accordingly, with this label opener, the label is held by adsorption at four locations that are spaced apart in the width direction.
As such, in the conventional label openers, the number of locations where the label is adsorbed is limited. Therefore, in order to secure a sufficient adsorption force, it is likely that the adsorption hole will have a large diameter. Here, when the adsorption hole has a large diameter, there is a case in which a portion of the label is sucked into the adsorption hole, leading to a problem that the shape of an opening is not stable and that, due to a gap (leak) formed between the hole and the label, a sufficient suction force cannot be obtained. There may arise another problem that, when opening the label with the label opener, portions of the label that are not adsorbed are difficult to open due to the influence of a vacuum inside the label. These problems occur particularly noticeably in a limp thin label having a small thickness.
It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a label opener (an opener mechanism) that is capable of opening a label in a more stable manner, and a fitting device including the label opener mounted therein.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a label opener that is mounted in a fitting device that opens a cylindrical label which is supplied in a folded sheet-like state and fits the label onto a columnar target body, the label opener including one or more first suction rods that extend in a direction of a height of the label for sucking one side of the label which is supplied; one or more second suction rods that extend in a direction of a height of the label and are disposed opposing the first suction rods for sucking the other side of the label which is supplied; and a drive mechanism that causes the first suction rods and the second suction rods to move close to each other and sandwich the label which is folded, and thereafter causes the first suction rods and the second suction rods to move away from each other and open the label which is folded, wherein both the first suction rods and the second suction rods include, on surfaces thereof that oppose surfaces of the opposing suction rods, suction hole arrays formed by a plurality of suction holes for sucking the label that are arranged in a line.
In accordance with a preferred aspect, the plurality of suction holes are arranged such that when the first suction rod and the second suction rod come close and become opposite to each other, the suction hole array formed on the first suction rod and the suction hole array formed on the second suction rod are at least partially nonparallel. In accordance with another preferred aspect, the plurality of suction holes are arranged such that when the first suction rod and the second suction rod come close and become opposite to each other, the suction hole array formed on the first suction rod and the suction hole array formed on the second suction rod are shifted from each other in the height direction.
In accordance with a further preferred aspect, each of the first suction rod and the second suction rod includes, on two or more side surfaces thereof, the suction hole arrays having different array lengths, and the array length of the suction hole arrays that are conducive to suction of the label is changed by rotating the first suction rod and the second suction rod about major axes thereof to change the opposing surfaces. In this case, it is desirable that each of the first suction rod and the second suction rod is divided in the height direction and each of the divided sections can rotate about the major axis thereof independently.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a label fitting device that opens a cylindrical label which is supplied in a folded sheet-like state and fits the label onto a columnar target body, the label fitting device including a plurality of mounting bases for each moving along a predetermined transport path in a state in which the target body is placed thereon to thereby transport the target body; and opener mechanisms that are respectively provided for the mounting bases on a one-to-one basis, each opener mechanism moving along the transport path in synchronization with the mounting base and opening the label which is folded into a sheet shape and fitting the label onto the target body placed on the mounting base, wherein each opener mechanism includes two first suction rods that extend in a direction of a height of the label and that are disposed at an interval in a width direction of the label to suck one side of the label that is supplied; one or more second suction rods that extend in a direction of a height of the label to oppose the first suction rods and that are disposed at an interval in a width direction of the label to suck the other side of the label that is supplied; a drive mechanism that causes the first suction rod and the second suction rod opposing each other to move close to each other and sandwich the label which is folded and thereafter causes the first suction rod and the second suction rod to move away from each other and open the label which is folded, and wherein both the first suction rod and the second suction rod include, on surfaces thereof that oppose surfaces of the opposing suction rods, suction hole arrays formed by a plurality of suction holes for sucking the label that are arranged in a line.
In accordance with a preferred aspect, the drive mechanism further includes an arm for holding each suction rod; a rotational shaft for holding the arm in a rotatable manner; an advance/retreat member that advances or retreats in accordance with a contact relationship with a cam plate; and a transmission member that converts a linear movement transmitted to the advance/retreat member into a rotation movement and transmits the rotation movement to the rotational shaft, the first suction rods and the second suction rod moving close to or away from each other in accordance with an upward or downward movement of the cam plate. In this case, it is desirable that the drive mechanism further includes a cam block that is coupled to the cam plate; and a cam member having a cam slot formed therein into which the cam block is fitted, wherein the cam slot has a shape that allows the cam block to move upward and downward when the opener mechanism moves along the transport path, and the cam member is shared by a plurality of opener mechanisms, and movements of the suction rods towards or away from each other by the plurality of opener mechanisms are collectively changed by changing an initial height of the cam member relative to the advance/retreat member.
According to the present invention, as the label is held by suction in a substantially linear shape by suction hole arrays formed on the first suction rods and the second suction rods, it is possible to hold the label in a stable manner so that the label can be opened in a more stable manner.
A label fitting system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Overall Configuration]
First, an overall configuration of the label fitting system 1 will be schematically described.
The label fitting system 1 is roughly divided into a target body supply device 2 for supplying a target body to which a label has not yet been fitted, a label fitting device 4 for fitting a label to the target body B which is supplied, and a target body discharge device 5 for transporting the target body B after the label has been fitted thereto to the outside of the system.
The target body supply device 2 includes a screw 2a, a belt conveyor 2b, a star wheel 2c, or the like, such that the target body supply device 2 can supply the target bodies B before the labels are fitted thereto to the label fitting device 4 at appropriate intervals. The target body discharge device 5 similarly includes a star wheel 5a, a conveyor 5b, or the like, for discharging the target bodies B after the labels are fitted thereto that are output from the label fitting device 4 to the outside of the system. Here, because the target body supply device 2 and the target body discharge device 5 can be configured by using known technology, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.
The label fitting device 4 is a device for fitting a label to the target body B which is supplied, and is roughly divided into a transport unit 7 for transporting the target bodies B, a fitting head 6 for fitting a label to the target bodies B, and a label supply unit 3 for supplying a label to the fitting head 6.
The transport unit 7 includes a turntable 7a that is rotatable about a rotational shaft O1, and a plurality of mounting bases 31 arranged in an annular shape on the turntable 7a. With the rotation of the turntable 7a in a state in which the target body B is placed on each mounting base 31, the target bodies B are transported from a target body supply position S7 to a target body discharge position S6.
The fitting head 6 is a unit that fits the label to the target body B during this transporting process. Each fitting head 6 corresponds to a single mounting base 31, so that the fitting heads 6 move along an annular transport path in synchronization with the mounting bases 31. This fitting head 6 is roughly divided into a take-up mechanism 40 for receiving a label from the label supply unit 3 and an opener mechanism 50 for opening the label that is received and fitting the label onto the target body B. The take-up mechanism 40, when the fitting head 6 passes the label supply position S1, receives the label folded into a sheet shape from the label supply unit 3. The opener mechanism 50 receives the sheet-shape label from this take-up mechanism 40 and opens the label. Thereafter, the opener mechanism 50 fits the label thus opened to the target body B at the label fitting position S3.
The label supply unit 3 is a unit that supplies a label folded into a sheet shape to the fitting head 6, and is disposed above the fitting head 6 at the label supply position S1. The label supply unit 3 cuts a label base material folded into a sheet shape at a predetermined pitch to form the label, and further feeds the label downward and supplies it to the fitting head 6. As described above, the fitting head 6 receives the label folded into a sheet shape and fits the label to the target body B. The target body B to which the label has been fitted is discharged to the target body discharge device 5 at the target body discharge position S6.
The schematic structure of the label fitting system 1 is as described above. In this label fitting system 1, each section of the label fitting device 4 will be described in detail below.
[Label Supply Unit]
First, the label supply unit 3 will be described in detail.
The level supply unit 3 includes a base material feed roller pair 11, a cutting device 12, an upper side feed mechanism 13, a lower side feed mechanism 16, a label detection sensor 18, a guide member 14, and so on. The base material feed roller pair 11 is a roller pair for feeding a label base material M supplied from the upstream side sequentially downward, and is composed of a drive roller 11a and a slave roller 11b which is disposed opposite the drive roller 11a. Here, the label base material M refers to a member obtained by forming an elongated heat-shrinkable film into a tubular shape and thereafter folding the film into a sheet shape. The label base material M is cut at each predetermined pitch to thereby form the label L.
The cutting device 12 is provided below the base member feed roller pair 11. The cutting device 12 cuts the label base material M which is fed, at each predetermined pitch to thereby form a label, and includes a rotary blade 12b and a fixed blade 12a.
The sheet-shape label L which is formed by cutting with the cutting device 12 is fed further downward by the upper side feed mechanism 13. The upper side feed mechanism 13 is a mechanism that feeds the sheet-shape label L while holding the label L by suction. The upper side feed mechanism 13 includes two upper side feed belts 13c disposed at an interval in the width direction of the label, and these two upper side feed belts 13c are used to hold both ends of the label L in the width direction by suction. A plurality of suction holes 13e are formed on the surface of the upper feed belt 13c at fixed intervals for holding the label by suction, and a suction device 13d for enabling such suction holding is disposed on the back side of the upper feed belt 13c. Each upper side feed belt 13c is provided to travel over a drive pulley 13b and a guide pulley 13a and is configured to move in a circulatory fashion with the rotation of the drive pulley 13b. With such a circulation movement of the upper side feed belts 13c, the label L held by the upper side feed belts 13c by suction is fed downward. Further, an auxiliary belt 15 is also provided opposite the upper side feed belt 13c. The auxiliary belt 15c presses the surface of the label L which is held on the upper side feed belt 13c to thereby prevent dropping of the label L.
The lower side feed mechanism 16 is a mechanism that receives the label L fed to the lower end of the upper side feed mechanism 13 and transfers the label L to a take-up member 43 of a take-up mechanism of the fitting head 6. The lower side feed mechanism 16 has substantially the same configuration as that of the upper side feed mechanism 13, and includes two lower side feed belts 16c, a suction device 16d, a guide roller 16a, a drive roller 16b, and so on. The lower side feed mechanism 16, however, does not include the auxiliary belt 15c that presses the surface of the label L, contrary to the upper side feed mechanism 13. Further, the two lower side feed belts 16c are disposed between the two upper side feed belts 13c, and the distance between the two lower side feed belts 16c is smaller than the distance between the two upper side feed belts 13c.
A pair of guide members 14 are provided on the right and left sides of the pair of lower side feed belts 16c. The guide members 14 guide the take-up member 43 to a predetermined path, and also exert an effect of preventing bending of the label L at the end portion in the width direction.
The label detection sensor 18 detects whether or not the label L fed to the lower side feed mechanism 16 has reached a predetermined stop position (height). If the label detection sensor 18 detects the label L reaching the predetermined stop position, a control unit, which is not illustrated, instructs the lower side feed mechanism 16 to temporarily stop feeding of the label L. At this time, the control unit also performs synchronization control such that the fitting head 6 which is to receive the label L next passes the label supply position S1 (i.e. the position immediately below the label supply unit 3). Then, as illustrated in
[Transport Unit]
Next, the transport unit 7 will be described in detail with reference to
A suction port 31a is provided in substantially the center of each mounting base 31 for holding the bottom portion of the target body B by suction. This suction port 31a is coupled to a suction pump which is not illustrated. By allowing the target body B to be sucked via this suction port 31a, dropping of the target body B from the mounting base 31, misalignment of the target body B on the mounting base 31, and so on can be prevented. As will be described in detail below, according to the present embodiment, a first suction rod 60a and a second suction rod 60b (which will be hereinafter collectively referred to as a “suction rod 60” when they need not be particularly discriminated from each other) provided in the opener mechanism 50 are moved downward to the vicinity of the bottom of the target body B. In order to prevent the suction rods 60 from interfering with the mounting base 31 at this time, the mounting base 31 is configured to have a diameter which is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than that of the target body B.
[Take-Up Mechanism of Fitting Head]
The fitting head 6 will be described in detail. As described above, the fitting head 6 is a unit that is provided for each mounting base 31 based on one-to-one correspondence, and moves along the annular transport path with the mounting base 31. The fitting head 6 includes the opener mechanism 50 and the take-up mechanism 40. First, the take-up mechanism 40 will be described with reference to
The take-up elevator mechanism includes a cam slot 46b (see
The take-up member 43 is a member that receives a label L folded into a sheet shape from the label supply unit 3. The take-up member 43 has a substantially fork shape including three suction sections 44b having suction holes 44a formed on the surface thereof and a coupling section 44c for coupling base ends of these suction sections. The take-up member 43 has a hollow interior and is coupled to a suction pump which is not illustrated. The take-up member 43 is configured to allow suction holding of the sheet-shape label L on the surface thereof in accordance with driving of the suction pump. Here, the take-up member 43 may be configured such that the suction holes used for suction of the label are changed in accordance with the height (the length in the vertical direction) of the label L which is to be actually held by suction.
The three suction sections 44b are arranged spaced apart in the width direction of the label. The spacing of these three suction sections 44b is determined such that the three suction sections 44b can pass through the spaces between the two lower side feed belts 16c provided in the label supply unit 3. Specifically, as illustrated in
Further, the sheet-shape label L that is suction held by the take-up member 43 is then transferred to the opener mechanism 50. Such transfer of the label L to the opener mechanism 50 is performed as illustrated in
As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, the label L is not moved in the width direction thereof at the time of transfer of the label L. Accordingly, a positional shift of the label L in the width direction or the like can be prevented, contrary to the conventional art.
The above advantage of the present embodiment will be described in detail in comparison with conventional technology.
However, with such a rotational take-up unit 100, if the time for transferring the label L (the time at which the take-up member 102 and the opener member 92 come close to each other) does not match between the take-up member 102 and the opener member 92, the position of the label L in the width direction thereof with respect to the opener member 92 shifts, as illustrated by the chain double-dashed line in
According to the present embodiment, on the other hand, the take-up mechanism 40 is incorporated in the fitting head 6 to thereby enable transfer of the label without moving the label in the width direction. Consequently, even if the time for transferring the label from the label supply unit 3 to the take-up mechanism 40 and the time for transferring the label from the take-up mechanism 40 to the opener mechanism 50 shift slightly from each other, a positional shift of the label in the width direction is unlikely to occur, and it is possible to transfer the label L to the opener mechanism 50 at an optimal position on all occasions.
Further, with the conventional rotational take-up unit 100, due to the structural restrictions thereof, there was no choice but to form the opener member 92 and the take-up member 102 in a substantially comb-teeth shape in which the teeth protrude in the horizontal direction, i.e. in an asymmetrical shape. In this case, the force for holding the label L was also asymmetrical, making it difficult to hold the label L in a stable manner. As a result, there were cases in which a part of the label L was folded. On the other hand, as the take-up member 43 according to the present embodiment has a symmetrical shape in which the three suction sections 44b are arranged in the width direction of the label, it is possible to hold the label L evenly. As a result, folding of the label L or the like can be efficiently prevented.
Referring back to
More specifically, as illustrated in the right end portion of
Specifically, as described above, each target body B is placed on the mounting base 31 and the suction port 31a for holding the bottom portion of the target body B by suction is provided in the mounting base 31. If the bottom portion of the target body B is flat, the target body B is held by such a suction port 31a in a stable state. However, if the bottom portion of the target body B is not flat, it is difficult to hold the target body B in a stable state with only the suction port 31a.
As another method for holding the non-flat target body B in a stable manner, it can be considered, for example, to form the mounting base 31 having an upper surface with a diameter that is larger than that of the target body B, and further form a recess portion on the upper surface into which the bottom portion of the target body B is fitted. Further, another method in which a support member that supports the barrel portion of the target body B placed on the mounting base 31a is provided may be considered. However, as will be described in detail below, in the present embodiment, as a thin label is handled, it is necessary to move the suction rods provided in the opener mechanism 50 down below the lower end of the target body B. In this case, if the mounting base 31 has a large diameter or the support member for supporting the barrel portion of the target body B is provided, the mounting body 31 interferes with the suction rods 60. Accordingly, in the present embodiment in which it is necessary to move the suction rods 60 down below the lower end of the target body B, it is not possible to provide such a recess portion or a support member. In order to address this problem, in the present embodiment, the head holding member 47 is provided in the take-up member 43, thereby holding the head portion of the target body B with this head holding member 47. As a result, it is possible to efficiently prevent the misalignment or the like of the target body B while preventing interference between the suction rods 60 and other members.
Here, as described above, the head holding member 47 is fixed to the take-up member 43 and moves downward with the downward movement of the take-up member 43. This downward operation of the take-up member 43 is essential for transferring the label L to the opener mechanism 50. In other words, according to the present embodiment, the operation which is essential for the label transfer is utilized to realize holding of the target body B by means of the head holding member 47, without adding any special operations for holding the target body B. Consequently, the driving control can be simplified. Here, while the length of the head holding member 47 may be fixed, it may be changed as appropriate in accordance with the height of the target body B. As a method of changing, the head holding member 47 may be configured such that it is slidable in the upward and downward direction, or the head holding member 47 may be selectively changed.
[Opener Mechanism of Fitting Head]
Next, the opener mechanism 50 will be described in detail. First, referring to
The two pairs of (i.e. four) suction rods 60 are roughly divided into two first suction rods 60a that hold one side of the label L by suction, and two second suction rods 60b that hold the other side of the label L by suction. The two first suction rods 60a are arranged in the width direction of the label L with an interval therebetween. Further, the two second suction rods 60b are arranged in the width direction of the label L with an interval therebetween at locations opposite to the first suction rods 60a. Each suction rod 60 is rotatable about a predetermined rotation center and is configured to move close to or away from the opposing suction rod 60 with the rotation thereof.
When opening or expanding the label L folded into a sheet shape, after holding both sides of the label L in a sheet shape by suction by the first suction rods 60a and the second suction rods 60b, the first suction rod 60a and the second suction rod 60b that are opposed to each other are moved away from each other. With this movement of the first suction rod 60a and the second suction rod 60b, the label L which is folded into a sheet shape is opened into a cylindrical shape. Then, when fitting the label onto the target body B, the four suction rods 60 are moved downward to the vicinity of the bottom of the target body B with the label L being opened into a cylindrical shape. Further, when receiving the label L from the take-up mechanism 40, one side of the label L which is held by the take-up member 43 by suction is held, by suction, by the first suction rods 60a.
These four suction rods 60 are moved upward or downward by the rod elevator mechanism in accordance with the situation of fitting processing (more accurately, the target position the fitting head 6 which rotationally moves will reach). The rod elevator mechanism includes a cam slot 83b (see
Further, the suction rods that are opposed to each other are moved toward or away from each other by the rod driving mechanism in accordance with the situation of the fitting processing (more accurately, the target position the fitting head 6 which rotationally moves will reach). The rod driving mechanism is composed of support arms 58a and 58b that rotatably support each suction rod 60, a cam slot 81b (see
The schematic overall structure of the opener mechanism 50 is as described above. Each section of the opener mechanism 50 will be described in detail below.
First, the suction rods will be described with reference to
As described above, the four suction rods 60 are elongated members that hold one side or the other side of the label L by suction. All four of the suction rods 60 have substantially the same configuration. More specifically, each suction rod includes an outer pipe 64 which is a hollow pipe having a substantially square cross section, and an inner pipe 61 inserted and fitted within the outer pipe 64.
The inner pipe 61 is a closed hollow pipe which is in communication with a suction pump which is not illustrated. In a portion of this inner pipe 61 which is opposite to other suction rods 60, a slit 61a extending in the major axis direction is formed. The suction holes 62 formed in the outer pipe 64 are in communication with the hollow portion of the inner pipe 61, and more particularly, with the suction pump, through this slit 61a.
The outer pipe 64 includes a through hole formed in the center thereof having a diameter which is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the inner pipe 61, and the inner pipe 61 is inserted and fitted into the through hole. On at least a surface of the outer pipe 64 that is opposite to another suction rod 60, a plurality of suction holes 62 are formed as so to be arranged in a line. The label L is held by the suction rods 60 by suction via these plural suction holes 62. Hereinafter, the array of these plural suction holes 62 will be referred to as “a suction hole array”. In particular, the suction hole array formed in the first suction rod 60a will be referred to as “the first suction hole array” and the suction hole array formed in the second suction rod 60b will be referred to as “the second suction hole array”.
The suction hole array is configured such that the suction hole array, when opposite to the opposing suction rod 60 in the vicinity thereof, is at least partially non-parallel to the suction hole array formed in this opposing suction rod 60. More specifically, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in
Further, the outer pipe 64 according to the present embodiment is divided into a first pipe 64k, a second pipe 64m, and a third pipe 64n, sequentially from the top. The suction hole arrays are formed on three side surfaces of the first pipe 64k and on four side surfaces of the second pipe 64m. The suction hole arrays formed on the three side surfaces of the first pipe 64k have mutually different array lengths, and the suction hole arrays formed on the four side surfaces of the second pipe 64m also have mutually different array lengths. The first pipe 64k and the second pipe 64m are independently rotatable in the major axis direction, such that the surface opposite to the opposing suction rod 60, or, by extension, the suction hole array in communication with the hollow portion of the inner pipe 61 and the suction pump, can be changed. In other words, in the present embodiment, the length of the suction hole array that is conducive to label suction can be selectively changed.
As is clear from the above description, in the present embodiment, the label L is held by suction by the arrays of a plurality of suction holes 62 arranged in the vertical direction. In other words, in the present embodiment, the label is held in a substantially linear shape by the suction holes 62 arranged in arrays. With this configuration, it is possible to hold the label in a more stable manner. This advantage will be described below in comparison with the conventional art.
In this label opener 90, among the plurality of pairs of grip arms 94, pairs of grip arms 94 that are conducive to suction of the label can be switched as appropriate in accordance with the length of the label F which is actually to be opened in the height direction thereof, such that the label F can be gripped by suction in the vicinity of the upper end and the vicinity of the lower end, even if the length of the label in the height direction varies. In other words, according to this prior art, a total of four portions of the label, including a portion in the vicinity of the upper end of one side, a portion in the vicinity of the lower end of one side, a portion in the vicinity of the upper end of the other side, a portion in the vicinity of the lower end of the other side, are gripped by suction.
Further, in another conventional art label opener which is disclosed in Patent Literature 4 or the like, two pairs of adsorption members, that are capable of holding both sides of the label by adsorption and are also expandable, are provided in the width direction of the label. Accordingly, with this label opener, the label is held by adsorption at four locations that are spaced in the width direction.
As such, in the conventional label openers, the number of locations where the label is adsorbed is limited. Therefore, in order to secure a sufficient adsorption force, it is likely that the adsorption hole will have a large diameter. Here, when the adsorption hole has a large diameter, there is a case in which a portion of the label is sucked into the adsorption hole, leading to a problem that the shape of an opening is not stable and that, due to a gap (leak) formed between the hole and the label, a sufficient suction force cannot be obtained. Another problem may arise that when opening the label with the label opener, portions of the label that are not adsorbed are difficult to open due to the influence of a vacuum inside the label. These problems occur particularly noticeably in a limp thin label having a small thickness.
On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, as described above, the label L is held by suction with a plurality of suction holes 62 arranged in the vertical direction. As the label L is held by a plurality of suction holes 62 by suction, a sufficient holding force can be obtained even if each of the suction holes 62 is small. As a result, sucking of the label L into the suction holes 62 can be effectively prevented. Further, as both ends of the label L in the width direction are sucked by a plurality of suction holes 62 in a substantially linear manner, the problem in which portions of the label that are not adsorbed are difficult to open due to the influence of a vacuum inside the label can be effectively prevented.
Also, in the present embodiment, the positions of the suction holes 62 formed in the suction rods 60 that are opposite to each other are slightly shifted. According to an experiment performed by the applicant, with such a configuration, two overlapping films forming the folded label L can be separated from each other more easily, so that the sheet-shape label L can be opened more appropriately.
While precise reasons why such an advantage can be achieved are not known, it can be assumed that by slightly shifting the positions of the suction holes 62, a force in the plane direction of the film acts on the film. This will be described with reference to
As described above, the label L, before being opened, is folded into a sheet shape. At this time, two films forming the label L are overlapped in a closely adhered state. As illustrated in
On the other hand, when the positions of the suction holes 62 for sucking the both films are shifted from each other as illustrated in
As such, by shifting the positions of the suction holes 62 formed in the opposing suction rods 60 from each other as in the present embodiment, it is possible to open the sheet-like label L more appropriately. Here, while in the present embodiment the first suction hole array and the second suction hole array are formed in a substantially X shape, other arrangements may be adopted as long as the first suction hole array and the second suction hole array are at least partially nonparallel with each other.
While in the above example the suction holes 62 are arranged such that the first hole array line and the second hole array line are straight lines intersecting each other, the suction holes 62 may be arranged such that the first hole array line has a substantially “>” shape and the second hole array line has a substantially “<” shape which is symmetrical with respect to the first hole array line, as illustrated in
As is well known, the lengths of labels L in the height direction thereof that are currently being handled are not uniform, and labels L with different lengths are known in accordance with the type of corresponding articles. It is therefore necessary to switch the length of the suction hole arrays conducive to suction, in accordance with such a difference in the length of the label L in the height direction, in order to prevent a deficiency in holding the label L or a leak during the suction of the label L. Specifically, if the suction hole array that is conducive to suction is short although the length of the label L2 in the height direction thereof is long, as illustrated in
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the suction hole array that is conducive to suction of the label can be changed by forming the suction hole arrays having different array lengths on two or more side surfaces of each suction rod 60 and rotating the suction rod 60 about the major axis thereof to thereby switch the opposing surfaces. This structure makes it possible to correspond to labels L having different lengths in the height direction thereof. Further, in the present embodiment, each suction rod 60 is divided into a plurality of (three in the present embodiment) sections in the height direction thereof that can rotate about the major axis independently. With this structure, the total length of the suction hole array that is conducive to suction can be changed in more stages so as to correspond a greater variety of labels.
While in the present embodiment the outer pipe 64 has a cross section having a substantially square shape, the shape of the cross section may be formed as a polygon having more surfaces (such as pentagon and hexagon) so that the total length of the suction hole array that is conducive to suction can be changed in more stages. Further, while in the present embodiment the third pipe 64n is non-rotational, the third pipe can also be configured to be rotatable and can have suction hole arrays having different lengths formed on each side surface thereof.
Next, the rod elevator mechanism will be described with reference to
Next, the rod driving mechanism will be described with reference to
This forward and backward movement of the rack 70 is transmitted, via four pinions 71, 73, 75, and 59 and coupling shafts 72 and 74, to the two support arms 58a as a rotational movement. Specifically, the first pinion 71 and the second pinion 73 are engaged with the rack 70. The rotation of the first pinion 71, of these pinions, is transmitted to one support arm 58a on the left side in the figure via the coupling shaft 72. On the other hand, the rotation of the second pinion 73 is transmitted to the third pinion 75 via the rotational shaft 74. The rotation transmitted to the third pinion 75 is converted into a rotation in the reverse direction by a fourth pinion 59 engaging the third pinion 75, and is then transmitted to the support arm 58a on the right side of the figure. With such a configuration, when the cam plate 77 moves downward to move the rack 70 in the left direction in
As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, by changing the contact relationship between the cam plate 77 and the cam follower 76, the amount of movement of the suction rods 60 is changed. The contact relationship between the cam plate 77 and the cam follower 76 can be changed in accordance with the relative height of the upper side cam columnar member 39u (and the cam slot 81b, by extension) with respect to the lower side cam columnar member 39d. In other words, in the present embodiment, the amount of movement of the suction rods 60 can be changed simply by moving the upper side cam columnar member 39u, or the cam slot 81b by extension, upward or downward relative to the lower side cam columnar member 39d.
The above mechanism will be described with reference to
While the cam follower 76 is in contact with the straight portion 77b, the suction rod 60 is close to the opposing suction rod 60 and is in a closed state. On the other hand, when, with the lowering of the cam plate 77, the cam follower 76 comes in contact with the tapered portion 77a and moves toward the left side in the figure, the suction rod 60 moves away from the opposing suction rod 60 and is placed in an opened state.
Here, effects of the variation of the initial height of the cam plate 77 with respect to the cam follower 76 (or the initial height of the upper cam columnar member 39u with respect to the lower cam columnar member 39d, by extension) on the amount of movement of the cam follower 76, or on the amount of movement of the suction rods 60, will be described. As illustrated in
As such, according to the present embodiment, the amount of movement (the amount of opening) of the suction rods 60 can be changed by changing the initial height of the cam plate 77. The initial height of the cam plate 77 can be changed by moving the upper cam columnar member 39u upward with respect to the lower cam columnar member 39d. Here, as the upper side cam columnar member 39u is shared by a plurality of fitting heads 6, the amount of movement of the suction rods 60 in the plurality of fitting heads 6 can be collectively changed simply by moving a single upper cam columnar member 39u upward or downward. It is therefore possible to process labels with different diameters (the length in the width direction) easily.
More specifically, as has been known, the diameters of the labels L being currently dealt with are not uniform, and labels with various diameters are known in accordance with the type of article to which the label L is to be fitted. In order to open the label L appropriately, it is necessary vary the amount of movement of the suction rods 60 in accordance with the diameter of the label L. For example, in order to open the label L having a rather small diameter as illustrated in
The mechanism for moving the upper side columnar member 39u upward and downward with respect to the lower side cam columnar member 39d will be briefly described with reference to
Further, the upper side cam columnar member 39u is coupled to the support member 84 via an elevator member 85, and by moving the elevator member 85 upward and downward with respect to the support member 84, it is possible to move the upper side cam columnar member 39u upward and downward relative to the lower side cam columnar member 39d. The elevator member 85 is configured to move upward and downward by moving a belt 88 in a circulatory fashion in accordance with driving of a motor (not shown). More specifically, with the circulating movement of the belt 88, screws 85a over which the belt 88 is mounted rotate. The screw 85a is screwed into a nut 87b fixed to the support member 84 and moves upward and downward with the rotation thereof. Then, the upper side cam columnar member 39u moves upward and downward with respect to the lower side cam columnar member 39d with the upward and downward movement of the screw 85a. As a result, the amount of movement of the suction rods 60 can be changed. Here, the elevator mechanism described above is only an example, and other structures may also be adopted as long as it is possible to move the upper side cam columnar member 39u upward and downward relative to the lower side cam columnar member 39d.
[Flow of Label Fitting Processing]
Finally, with reference to
As illustrated in
Thereafter, as illustrated in
Then, when the label L is completely opened, the four suction rods 60 move downward toward the target body B placed on the mounting base 31, and finally carry the label L to a height at which the fitting operation can be regarded as having been completed. With this downward movement, the cylindrical label which is held by the four suction rods 60 by suction is disposed around the target body B and is placed in a fitted state.
As described above, by transporting the label L to the fitting height while holding the label L with the four suction rods 60, it is possible to perform the fitting processing properly even if the label L is thin. More specifically, many of the conventional label fitting devices are configured such that the label is moved downward by an opener, mandrel, or the like, to the middle of the target body, and thereafter the upper edge of the label is pressed by some pressing member to thereby press the label down to the fitting height. However, if such a press down method is adopted when the label is thin and limp, the label is bent or curled at the time of pressing down, leading to a problem that the label fitting cannot be performed properly. According to the present embodiment, on the other hand, because the label L is transported to the predetermined fitting height while holding the label L with the four suction rods 60, a problem of bending or curling of the label, even if the label is thin, is unlikely to arise. As a result, the fitting processing can be performed properly even for a thin label L.
In this case, however, there arises a problem that as a recess portion or the like for housing the target body B cannot be provided on the upper surface of the mounting base 31 in order to prevent interference with the suction rod 60 which is moving down, misalignment of the target body B is likely to occur. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, when moving the suction rods 60 downward, the take-up member 43 and also the head holding member 47 coupled to the take-up member 43 are also moved downward. With this downward movement, the head holding member 47 comes in contact with the head portion of the target body B, thereby pressing the target body B onto the mounting base 31. Thus, the misalignment or dropping of the target body, and so on, can be effectively prevented.
When fitting of the label L is completed, the suction rods 60 stop the sucking operation to thereby release holding of the label L. Then, as illustrated in
Thereafter, as illustrated in
When the label L is held by the first suction rods 60a by suction, the take-up member 43 releases the suction holding of the label L and then moves upward above the suction rods 60, as illustrated in
With this upward movement of the take-up member 43, the head holding member 47 holding the head portion of the target body B also moves upward. At this time, as the fitting head 6 and the mounting base 31 has reached the target body discharge position S6, the target body B on which the label has been fitted is discharged to the target body discharge device 5. Thereafter, when the fitting head 6 and the mounting base 31 reach the target body supply position S7, a new target body B on which a label has not yet been fitted is supplied and placed on the mounting base 31.
On the other hand, at this time, the second suction rods 60b move in the close direction and also start the suction operation to hold the other side of the label L by suction. Thereafter, the process returns to the state as illustrated in
As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, when the label L is transferred from the lower side feed belt 16c to the take-up member 43 and from the take-up member 43 to the opener mechanism 50, the movement of the label L in the width direction thereof does not occur. As a result, a shift of the label L in the width direction with respect to the opener mechanism 50 can be effectively prevented.
Further, by holding the label L by suction in a linear manner by using the four suction rods 60 having a plurality of suction holes 62 formed thereon in arrays, it is possible to open the label L in a stable manner. Further, by slightly shifting the positions of these suction holes 62 between the opposing suction rods 60, it is possible to separate the overlapping two films more properly to thereby open the label L in a more stable manner. It should be noted that the structure described above is only an example, and any modifications may be made as long as the label L is held by suction in a linear shape by four suction rods 60 on which a plurality of suction holes 62 are formed in arrays.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2010/054864 | 3/19/2010 | WO | 00 | 9/11/2012 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2011/114524 | 9/22/2011 | WO | A |
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| 20130000263 A1 | Jan 2013 | US |
