Label Adhering Apparatus

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a label adhering apparatus in which a label having some requisite items printed thereon is issued and this label is automatically adhered to the corresponding adhered object.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In a conventional type of a label adhering device, there has been proposed such a system in which a label issued by a label printer is suctioned and held by vacuum, conveyed up to an adhering position, then air is blown onto the label to cause the label to be adhered to the object to be labeled under air pressure. However, this prior art system has some disadvantages in that the adhering operation is unpositively performed due to a flying of the label in the air even if it is temporarily held.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a positive movement of a label from a label issuing position to a label adhering position so as to make a stable adhering of the label.

It is another object of the present invention to enable a positive label adhering even if a size of the adhered object is varied and a label adhering position is varied.

It is still further object of the present invention to provide a uniform adhering force over an entire surface of the label as well as a stable adhering even if a plane at the label adhering position is somewhat inclined.

It is yet still further object of the present invention to provide a label adhering means which facilitates a holding of label and its releasing.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view for showing one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged side elevational view for showing an arm driving mechanism.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view with a part in section.

FIGS. 5 to 8 are a partial enlarged side elevational view for showing an operation starting from a suction of label to an adhering of it.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are a partial enlarged side elevational view for showing a condition where a shock absorber is arranged between a pivot axis and a labeller along with a label adhering operation.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view for showing a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged side elevational view for showing a mechanism for rotating an arm.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged horizontal section for showing a mechanism for rotating an arm.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged side elevational view for showing a substantial part.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged longitudinal front elevational view in section taken along line A--A of FIG. 15.

FIGS. 17 to 21 are a longitudinal side elevational view in section for showing a label adhering operation with a substantial part being enlarged.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged side elevational view for showing a final step of label adhering operation.

In reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, a first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. (1) indicates a label printer, wherein a scaling conveyor (2) and a label adhering conveyor (3) also acting as a mount block are arranged in front of the label printer (1) while both conveyors are connected to each other. Between the label printer (1) and the label adhering conveyor (3) is arranged a frame (5) for rotatably supporting a drive shaft (4). The drive shaft (4) is connected to a motor (9) through a pulley (6) having a large diameter, a belt (7) and a pulley (8) having a small diameter. To the frame (5) is fixedly screwed a fixing pulley (10) acting as a fixed pulley. There is provided an arm (12) having one end fixedly fitted to the drive shaft (4) and the other end rotatably holding a support shaft (11). To the support shaft (11) is fixedly fitted a rotary pulley (13) acting as a rotary wheel and an endless belt (14) is wound around the rotary pulley (13) and the fixed pulley (10). The arm (12) is divided into a plurality of divisional arm (15) and (16), and these divisional arms (15) and (16) are connected to each other by threadably engaging a plurality of screw (19) passed through lateral longitudinal holes (18) formed in a connector plate (17) acting as a connector with each of these divisional arms (15) and (16). Further, to the divisional arms (15) and (16) are mounted idler rollers (20) forcedly pressing against belt (14).

At a label issuing port (21) of said label printer (1) are arranged rollers (22) made of Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene) and a solenoid (24) having a projection part (23) which projects upwardly from between these rollers (22). To said pivot shaft (11) is fixed a label adhering means (25). At the lower surface of the label adhering means (25) is formed a suction surface (26) having a suction hole (not shown) connected to a source of negative pressure (not shown) through a flexible hose (27).

With such arrangement as above, the arm (12) is reciprocatably rotated between the label issuing port (21) and the label adhering conveyor (3) under a normal or reverse rotation of a motor (9) by a specified angle as shown in FIG. 1, In turn, the adhered object (28) is scaled on the scaling conveyor (2), a label (29) having its scaled value and price etc. printed thereon is issued from the label issuing port (21) as shown in FIG. 5 and then supported on the rollers (22). The label (29) has an adhering surface at its lower surface and no adhering of the label against the rollers (22) occurs due to their Teflon surfaces. As the label adhering means (25) is moved near the label issuing port (21), a passage between the source of negative pressure and the suction surface (26) is connected and as shown in FIG. 6 a solenoid (24) is energized to push up the label (29) with the projection part (23). Thus, the label (29) is positively suctioned against the suction surface (26) of the label adhering means (25). Then, the motor (9) is rotated in one direction to cause the arm (12) to be rotated as shown in FIG. 7 up to the label adhering conveyor (3) as shown in FIG. 8. At this time, since the fixed pulley (10) is not rotated, a rotating force is generated in the belt (14) to cause the rotary pulley (13) to be rotated by a specific angle. The fixed pulley (10) and the rotary pulley (13) have the same diameter as each other, so that the label adhering means (25) keeps the same attitude at every positions in a range of rotating movement of the arm (12), and if it is in the label issuing position, the suction surface (26) is faced downwardly to provide a positive suction of the label (29) and in turn if it is in the label adhering position, the label (29) is kept horizontal and then the label (29) is forcedly contacted against the adhered object transmitted on the label adhering conveyor (3). Therefore, the label (29) is adhered positively onto the object (28) without being flown in the air. After adhering of the label, the motor (9) is rotated in a reverse direction by a specified angle and the arm (12) repeates a rotating movement in which the arm is rotated up to the label issuing port (21).

The loosening of the belt (14) is prevented by the idler rollers (20) and when the loosening may not be adjusted by the idlers (20), the screws (19) are loosened, the divisional arms (15) and (16) are slid longitudinally and then fastened by the screws (19). As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, a shock absorbing material (30) such as a cushion member, coil spring etc. is fixed to the support shaft (11) and a label adhering means (25) is fixed to a lower end of the shock absorbing means (30), thereby a lower surface of the label adhering means (25) is properly adhered to the adhered object (28) even if the degree of tensioning of the belt (14) is varied, a slight displacement in the label adhering means (25) is found and an upper surface of the adhered object (28) is inclined, and therefore the label (29) may positively be adhered.

Further it is possible to move the arm (12) between the label issuing position and the label adhering position with a simple reciprocating operation of the arm in one direction as well as to simplify the structure of the system.

In reference to FIGS. 11 to 22, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. (31) indicates a label printer and in front of the label printer (31) are connected a scaling conveyor (32) and a label adhering conveyor (33) operated as a mount block. Between the label printer (31) and the label adhering conveyor (33) is arranged a frame (35) which rotatably holds the driving shaft (34). The driving shaft (34) is connected to the motor (39) through a pulley (36) having a large diameter and a pulley (38) having a small diameter. To the frame (35) is fixed a fixed pulley (40) by screws. There is provided an arm (42) having one end fixedly fitted to the driving shaft (34) and the other end rotatably held by the support shaft (41). To the support shaft (41) is fixedly fitted a rotary pulley (43) and a belt (44) is wound around the rotary pulley (43) and the fixed pulley (40). The arm (42) is divided into a plurality of divisional arms (45) and (46) at its intermediate part and these divisional arms (45) and (46) are connected to each other through a connection plate (47) in such a way arms (45) and (46) are arranged the idler rollers (48) which are resiliently contacted to the belt (48).

Thus, the frame (49) is connected to one end of said support shaft (41). That is, a block (51) is fixed to the upper part of the frame (49) with the shock absorbing hollow rubber member (50) being held therebetween and the block (51) is fixedly fitted to the support shaft (41). Fulcrum point shaft (52) is arranged at both sides of the frame (49). The fulcrum point shaft (52) also acts as a rotating fulcrum point for the rotary frame (53) and further rotatably holds the frame (62). To the rotary frame (53) is fitted a solenoid (55) of an electromagnetic driving part in such a way as its vertical position may be adjusted, and to both sides of the arm (58) connected to the movable iron core (56) of the solenoid (55) and moved vertically around the pin (57) are held label holding rollers (60) through the support shaft (59). Between the end of the arm (58) and the rotary frame (53) is arranged a spring (61) for biasing the movable iron core (56) of the solenoid (55) in its returning direction. And to the frame (49) is held slide frame (62) acting as an operative means in such a way as it may be moved vertically. At both sides of the slide frame (62) are formed longitudinal guide holes (63) fitted to said fulcrum point shaft (52) projecting outside of the frame (49), longitudinal guide holes (65) similarly fitted to the guide pins (64) projecting outside of the frame (49) and the lateral longitudinal engaging holes (67) fitted to the pins (66) projecting outside of the rotary frame (53). In FIG. 15, a spring (68) is arranged between both pins (66) and the slide frame (62), thereby the rotary frame (53) is biased in a counter-clockwise direction around the fulcrum point shaft (52) and the movement of the rotary frame (53) is prevented due to a limited movement of the pins (66) against the upper edges of the engaging holes (67). That is, the slide frame (62) is always biased downwardly under an arrangement of the springs (70) stronger than said springs (68) which are arranged between the pins (69) vertically projected at both sides of the slide frame and the fulcrum point shaft (52). At one side of the slide frame (62) is held a permanent magnet (71) and the frame (49) is provided with a reed switch (72) oppositely facing against the permanent magnet (71) when the slide frame (62) is lifted up.

With this arrangement as above, when the motor (39) is rotated in a normal or reverse direction by a specified angle, the arm (42) is reciprocatably rotated as shown in FIG. 11 between the label issuing port (73) formed in the label printer (31) and the label adhering conveyor (33). In turn, the adhered object (74) is scaled on the scaling conveyor (32) and the label (75) having the scaled value and the price etc. printed thereon is issued from the label issuing port (73) as shown in FIGS. 15 and 17. FIG. 17 shows the condition in which the frame (49) is at the label issuing port (73) and as shown in FIG. 18, the solenoid (55) is energized in a next step and the label pressing rollers (60) are contacted to the rollers (54) so as to press the label (75). Then, the motor (39) is rotated in one direction to cause the frame (49) to be moved onto the label adhering conveyor (33) along with the arm (42). During this movement, since the fixed pulley (40) is not rotated, a rotating force is produced in the belt (44) to cause the rotary pulley (43) to be rotated by a specified angle. Since the fixed pulley (40) and the rotary pulley (43) have the same diameter, the frame (49) is kept at its vertical attitude wherever the arm (42) occupies any position in its rotating range. The label (75) may not be flown in the air due to its holding between the rollers (54) and the label pressing rollers (60) during a descending of the frame (49). And as shown in FIG. 19, the frame (49) continues a descending operation even if the slide frame (62) is contacted to the adhered object (74), so that the slide frame (62) starts to ascend resiliently against the frame (49) in respect thereto. During this process, the pin (66) is pushed up by the engaging hole (67) and the rotary frame (53) is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction around the roller (54). The rotary frame (53) is biased by a spring (68) to perform a smooth rotation. With this operation, the label pressing roller (60) is displaced sidewardly from just below the roller (54), and the label (75) is inclined from its horizontal attitude downwardly and adhered to the adhered object (74) as the frame (49) is descended. As shown in FIG. 21, when the frame (49) is further descended down, the rollers (54) press the label (75) against the adhered object (74) to provide a positive adhering of the label (75). At this time, the slide frame (62) reaches up to the highest ascended position in respect to the frame (49), the permanent magnet (71) changes over the reed switch (72) to turn off the energization of the solenoid (55). Thereby, the label pressing rollers (60) are retracted toward the sides of the rollers (54). And then the label adhering operation is terminated, the motor (39) is rotated in a reverse direction and the arm (42) is rotated toward the label issuing port (73). As the frame (49) is moved away from the adhered object (74), the slide frame (62) is returned downwardly in respect to the frame (49) under a force of spring (70), the pin (66) is pushed downwardly with the engaging hole (67) in such a way as the label pressing rollers (60) are positioned just below the rollers (54) to cause the rotary frame (53) to be rotated in a clockwise direction.

Loosening of the belt (44) is prevented by the idler rollers (50). However, if it may not be adjusted by the idler rollers (50), the position of the divisional arms (45) and (46) may be adjusted longitudinally in respect to the connector plate (47). The frame (49) is descended with its vertical attitude and the slide frame (62) is properly contacted with the upper surface of the adhered object (74) under a flexing action of the shock absorbing rubber material (50) even if the frame is bent slightly in respect to a vertical line and the upper surface of the adhered object (74) is inclined as shown in FIG. 22.