JP3589121B2 - Label sticking method and device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for attaching a label, and more particularly, to an application of a security label for preventing theft, and particularly to a method of attaching a security label together with a normal price label to a packed product in a supermarket or the like, and to implement the method. Related to the device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a system has been adopted in which a security label is affixed to a product in order to prevent theft, and a bell or the like is sounded when a product is taken out of a store without being settled.
Recently, security labels have been affixed to high-priced products and the like to prevent theft even in packed products such as supermarkets. In this case, it is suggested that a security label be attached below the price label in order not to impair the appearance of the product and to prevent the customer from knowing the attachment of the security label. Practical.
[0003]
As a method of attaching a security label below the price label, a label attaching device for the security label and a label attaching device for the price label are arranged along the transport path of the product, and the security label is attached to the product first. Then, a general method is to attach a price label so as to cover the security label.
However, the above-mentioned sticking method requires two label stickers and also has a problem that the product conveying path for sticking the label becomes longer and the apparatus becomes larger. In addition, if the label sticking position control is not accurate, the security label protrudes from the lower side of the price label, and not only does the appearance of the product deteriorate, but also the sticking of the security label is known.
[0004]
Therefore, after pasting a security label smaller than the price label on the pasting surface on the back side of the price label, the price label to which the security label has been pasted is pressed against the product so that the price label and the security label are pasted on the product. A method has been developed (US Pat. No. 5,897,741).
However, in the above-mentioned conventional method and apparatus, the security label issuing device is arranged above the price label issuing device, the price label is issued and held so that the pasting surface thereof is on the upper side, and the price label is pasted. This is a configuration in which a security label is issued and dropped from above on the surface, and the security label is attached to the glued surface of the price label.
{Circle around (1)} When sticking a price label on the upper surface of a product, it is necessary to rotate the label by 180 degrees, which complicates the label sticking mechanism.
{Circle around (2)} Since the security label issuing device is arranged above the price label issuing device, the entire device becomes high and it becomes difficult to perform label setting and print head maintenance work.
{Circle around (3)} Since the security label is dropped from the upper side and attached to the glued surface of the price label, the attached state and position of the security label are not stable.
{Circle around (4)} Since the next price label cannot be issued until after the security label is attached, the processing capacity is reduced.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and solves the disadvantages, simplifies a label attaching operation, stabilizes a security label attaching state and an attaching position, and improves a label attaching processing capability and an apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for attaching a label, which can avoid a large size, be compact and facilitate maintenance work.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Such a label affixing method of the present invention issues a price label of a product, issues a security label in a place different from the price label, sucks and holds the price label, and fixes the glued surface of the held label to the security. A security label is stuck and held on the back side of the price label by pressing against the upper surface of the label, and the price label and the security label are affixed to the product by pressing the price label against the product. 1).
Further, the label sticking apparatus of the present invention is provided with a price label issuing unit for performing the method, a security label issuing unit, a label holding unit, and a label sticking mechanism (claim 3).
[0007]
According to this label sticking apparatus, as shown in FIG. 13, the price label La issued by the price label issuing unit is suction-held by the label holding unit 51 (FIGS. 13A and 13B), and the label La The security label Lb is suction-held on the back surface of the price label La by pressing the glued surface on the back surface against the upper surface of the security label Lb issued by the security label issuing unit (FIGS. (B) and (c)).
Then, by actuating the label holding unit 51 with a label sticking mechanism, the price label La is pressed against the product G, thereby sticking both labels La and Lb to the product (FIGS. (C) and (d)). The label attaching method is performed.
[0008]
In order to minimize and simplify the label transfer operation of the label holding unit, it is preferable to transfer the labels issued by both label issuing units to the label holding unit at the same position. There is provided moving means for transferring the security label La to a position immediately below the price label sucked and held by the label holding section (claim 4).
As a specific configuration of the arrangement of the label issuing section and the label sticking mechanism, a price label issuing section and a security label issuing section are arranged side by side on one side of the product transport path along the transport direction, and both label issuing sections are provided. The label receiving surface of the price label issuing unit is formed as a label receiving unit, and the label receiving surface of the security label issuing unit is configured to be movable to the transferring unit (claim 5). In other words, both label issuing units are arranged using the side space of the product transport path, the label receiving surface of the price label issuing unit is used as the label transfer unit, and the label holding unit always holds the price label. Make the retention of the selection optional.
Further, the label sticking mechanism reciprocates the label holding unit between the label transfer unit and the label sticking position on the product transport path and enables the label holding unit to move vertically, and moves the suction unit of the label holding unit in a horizontal plane. It is configured to be rotatable (same item).
The reciprocating movement of the label holding unit is a label carrying (transporting) operation, the vertical movement is a label receiving and attaching operation, and the rotating operation in the horizontal plane is a price label issuing posture (orientation) and an attaching posture. Is different, the operation is to turn the label to the sticking posture.
[0009]
The security label Lb is attached and held on the back surface of the price label La, but it is necessary that the security label Lb does not protrude from the back surface of the price label La, and preferably fits in the center of the back surface of the price label La. For this purpose, the security label issuing unit slightly protrudes the dispenser onto the label receiving surface and forms the label receiving surface in an inclined shape rising toward the product transport path, and the label attaching mechanism includes the label holding unit. The lower limit of the lowering operation is defined as the position at which the suction part of the label approaching the inclined top of the label receiving surface.
As a result, the security label fits in the label receiving surface (dispenser tip position) in the label advancing direction in the label advancing reference edge (dispenser tip position) when the label receiving surface is a price label, that is, the security label fits in the back surface of the price label. Issued to the location. Further, the label holding unit stops when the label holding unit descends slightly above the dispenser, thereby preventing the label holding unit from colliding with the dispenser and giving an impact to the dispenser. For this reason, the end of the security label on the dispenser side is not completely adhered to the gluing surface of the price label, but after that, the label holding unit is moved in the direction of the product transport path and the label is attached. There is no hindrance to the movement to the position, and when the price label is attached to the product, the entire surface is attached to the back surface of the price label.
[0010]
Although the price label is attached to all products, there is a case where it is not necessary to attach a security label to products.
Therefore, it is determined whether or not a product is a product to which a security label is to be attached. If the product is a product to which a security label is to be attached, the security label is attached to the product together with the price label as described above (claims). 2) In the case of a product to which a security label is not attached, only a price label is attached to the product without issuing a security label, or even when issued, without passing the security label to a label holding unit (claims 7 and 8). ).
The determination as to whether or not to apply the security label is automatically made based on data or the like stored in advance for each product (claim 9). (Claim 10).
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 3 show an outline of a label sticking device assembled to a stretch packing machine. In the drawings, reference numeral A denotes a stretch packing machine, and B denotes a label sticking device.
The stretch wrapping machine A is used by being installed in a backyard or the like of a supermarket or a retail store, and wraps an article (packaged product) such as a product such as fresh food with a stretch film, and has a conventionally known structure. .
[0012]
In other words, in the stretch wrapping machine A, the commodity placing section 12 for placing the commodity G ′ to be packaged is disposed in front of the machine frame 15, and the commodity G ′ placed on the commodity placing section 12 is pushed by the pusher conveyor. 1 transports to the elevator 2 provided inside the machine frame. In addition, the case where the product G ′ is conveyed in a state of being stored in the tray G1 which is a container is illustrated, and the product placement unit 12 is configured as a weighing dish of the weighing unit 19.
A packaging unit 3 is provided above the elevator 2, and a film roll arrangement unit 4 and a film roll set in the film roll arrangement unit 4 are provided on the side of the packaging unit 3 (in a direction perpendicular to the pusher conveyor). 5 is provided with a film holding unit 6 for holding the leading end of the film 5 ′ fed from the film 5, and a film feed mechanism 7 for holding the leading end of the film 5 ′ held by the film holding unit 6 and transferring it to the drawer packaging unit 3. It is arranged close to the tip of the film holder 6.
[0013]
A cutter 8 is provided between the film holding unit 6 and the film feed mechanism 7 to cut the film 5 ′ held and pulled out by the film feed mechanism 7 into a predetermined length.
Further, above the film feed mechanism 7, left and right folding plates 9, 9 'for folding the end of the film 5' covering the upper surface of the product G 'to the bottom side of the product G', a rear folding plate 10, and a rear folding plate 10 A discharge pusher 11 for discharging packaged goods and a front folding roller 14 are disposed above the printer.
Further, in front of the front folding roller 14, a carry-out section 16 and a discharge conveyor 17 located in front of the carry-out section 16 are arranged, and the label sticking apparatus B of the present invention is installed on the machine frame 15.
In the drawing, reference numeral 20 denotes a display operation unit, reference numeral 21 denotes a product width detection sensor composed of a reflective optical sensor movable in the width direction of the product G ′, and reference numeral 22 denotes a product height detection sensor.
[0014]
In the stretch wrapping machine, the product G ′ conveyed onto the elevator 2 is pushed up against the film 5 ′ stretched over the wrapping unit 3 by the rise of the elevator 2, and the film 5 covering the upper surface of the product G ′. The end of 'is folded by the left and right folding plates 9 and 9' and the rear folding plate 10 to the bottom side of the product.
Next, while the product G ′ is horizontally pushed by the discharge pusher 11 toward the unloading section 16, the front end of the film 5 ′ is folded into the bottom surface of the product G ′ by the front folding roller 14, and the packaged product G is folded. Is obtained.
A predetermined label is stuck on the upper surface of the product G pushed to the unloading section 16 by the label sticking device B as described later, and thereafter, the product G is moved up and down by the action arm 16a provided at the unloading section 16. Is transferred to the discharge conveyor 17. The discharge conveyor 17 exemplifies a case in which a heater is provided inside the heater, and the product G is discharged to the product storage unit 18 while the film portion folded into the bottom by the conveyor 17 is heat-sealed.
[0015]
Next, details of the label sticking apparatus B will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 described above, the label attaching device B is disposed above the machine frame 15 of the stretch packaging machine A, and includes the label issuing unit 30, the issuing unit guide mechanism 40, and the label holding unit. It is constituted by a label sticking mechanism 50 having the above.
As shown in FIG. 4, the label issuing unit 30 has two issuing units, that is, a first issuing unit 30a and a second issuing unit 30b, which are arranged side by side on the upper surface of a base 41 of the issuing unit guide mechanism 40. The packaging unit 3 is installed so as to be movable along the product carrying direction.
The first issuing unit 30a is a label printer arranged at the back side for printing and issuing the price label La, and the second issuing unit 30b is an issuer arranged at the front side to issue the security label Lb.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, the first issuing unit 30a is set in advance based on data measured by the measuring unit 19 by mounting the product G on the product mounting unit 12 of the stretch packaging mechanism A. The product data such as the price of the product G calculated from the unit price or the price of the product G set in advance is printed on the label La.
The first issuing unit 30a includes a print head 31 that prints the data, a label roll unit 32 that stores a label roll on which a label La is removably adhered and wound on a mount, and a roll that winds the mount. It comprises a take-up part 33, a dispenser 34 for peeling off the label La from the backing paper, and a label receiving surface 35 on which solo-bang ball-shaped contacts 35a and 35b for holding the label La peeled off substantially horizontally are arranged. (See FIG. 8).
The contacts 35a and 35b of the label receiving surface 35 are arranged at intervals in the width direction so as to adhesively hold only the vicinity of both ends of the glued surface on the lower surface of the price label La to be issued. In order to change the receiving surface width, at least one of the contacts 35a or 35b is configured to be movable (see FIGS. 9 and 10).
[0017]
The second issuing unit 30b is a label issuing device that does not have a printing unit, that is, the print head 31 and its corresponding part, and the dispenser 36 inverts a label roll obtained by attaching and winding a security label Lb on a backing paper, thereby providing a security label. Lb is issued and held on the contacts 37a and 37b as the label receiving surface 37.
The fact that the contacts 37a and 37b are in the form of solovan balls arranged only near both ends of the glued surface on the lower surface of the label Lb and that at least one of the contacts is movable is the same as the first issuing unit 30a. . However, the dispenser 36 is arranged so as to protrude toward the label receiving surface 37 by a few millimeters (X) from the housing, and the label receiving surface 37 is formed as an inclined surface whose tip is upward from below the dispenser 36 ( (See FIG. 12).
[0018]
As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 8, the issuing unit guide mechanism 40 uses a base 41 fixed to the machine frame 15 and an issuing unit moving motor 42 composed of a stepping motor as a driving source in the unloading direction of the packaging unit 3. An endless belt 43 that moves and rotates along therewith, and a linear rail 44 disposed on the upper surface of the base 41 in a direction parallel to the endless belt 43.
The issuing section guide mechanism 40 is provided on a guide 45 slidably engaged with the linear rail 44, a stand 46 erected from the upper surface between the guides 45, and an endless belt 43 and a stand 46. And a stay 47.
Further, the issuing unit guide mechanism 40 is disposed on the center of the upper surface of the base 41 with an interval of the distance (inter-pitch distance) between the label receiving surfaces 35 and 37 of the two issuing units 30a and 30b arranged side by side. An issuer position sensor 48 composed of a photoelectric switch for detecting which issuer 30a, 30b has the label receiving surface 35, 37 located at the transferer P, and an issuer position sensor 48 vertically installed from the lower surface of the stand 46. And a dock 49 for blocking light and detecting the position of the issuing unit.
[0019]
The issuing unit guide mechanism 40 rotates the motor 42 to drive the endless belt 43, so that the two issuing units 30 a and 30 b guided by the linear rail 44 and supported by the stand 46 via the stay 47. Are selectively moved to the label transfer section P and stopped.
In the drawing, the label receiving surface 35 of the first issuing unit 30a in the initial setting is a label transfer unit P.
When it is determined that the product G does not require the application of the security label Lb, the issuing unit guide mechanism 40 does not start the motor 42 and activates the label receiving surface 35 of the first issuing unit 30a. Is maintained at the label transfer section P.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the label attaching mechanism 50 receives the labels La and Lb held on the label receiving surface 35 or 37 of the issuing unit 30a or 30b located at the label transfer unit P, and attaches the label at the attaching position. And carry out the sticking operation.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the label attaching mechanism 50 includes a label holding unit 51 that adsorbs the labels on the label receiving surfaces 35 and 37 and a drive mechanism 60 that moves the holding unit 51. .
The label holding unit 51 includes a suction unit 53 that suctions and holds a label, and a suction box unit 54 that is disposed above the suction unit 53 and generates a label suction force to the suction unit 53. This is a known structure in which a vent is opened at the lower end opening of the body 55, and it is preferable that a rectangular buffer plate 58 covered with a buffer member such as a sponge is attached to the label suction side surface (FIG. 7). reference). The cylinder 55 is elastically attached to the suction box 54, and is configured to absorb a shock when a label is attached to a product.
The suction box 54 is provided with a fan 57 driven and rotated by a motor on a peripheral wall of a cylindrical body 56 having an inner diameter into which the cylindrical body 55 is fitted. Is negative pressure, and a suction force is generated in the suction portion 53, so that the label is suction-held on the lower surface of the buffer plate 58.
[0021]
The drive mechanism 60 includes a first drive mechanism 61 for moving the label holding unit 51 in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the product G is carried out, specifically, in the width direction on the carry-out unit 16 of the packaging machine A, and the label holding unit. There is provided a second drive mechanism 62 for moving the label holder 51 in the vertical direction, and a third drive mechanism 63 for rotating the label holder 51 in a horizontal plane.
The first drive mechanism 61 includes two guide rods 64 fixed transversely to the position above the packaging unit 3 perpendicular to the unloading direction, a case 65 fitted to the guide rods 64 and slidable, An endless belt 66 is arranged in parallel along the guide rod 64, and a stepping motor 67 and a pulley 68 for moving the endless belt 66 in the forward and reverse directions. The case 65 is connected and fixed to the endless belt 66. The guide rod 64 is attached to the machine frame 15 via a bracket 69, and the case 65 is moved along the guide rod 64 by the operation of the motor 67.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 6, the label holding portion 51 is attached to the distal ends of a pair of upper and lower parallel arms 74, 74 'each having a proximal end attached to a case 65 moved along the guide rod 64. The pair of parallel arms is supported by the second drive mechanism 62 so as to move the label holding unit 51 in the vertical direction toward the product G.
The pair of parallel arms 74, 74 ′ are rotatably attached to two pins 75, 75 ′ whose base end sides are horizontally mounted at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction with respect to the case 65. The other end (front end side) of the upper parallel arm 74 is movably fitted to the arc groove 78 of the mounting cylinder 77 connected to the upper part of the label holding portion 51 so as to be movable. The other end (front end) of the lower parallel arm 74 ′ is connected to a pin 79, and is attached to a rotating shaft 80 that is positioned below the pin 79 and is rotatably mounted on the mounting cylinder 77. Has been. The second drive mechanism 62 is mounted on the base end side of the upper parallel arm 74, and the third drive mechanism 63 is mounted around the lower parallel arm 74 '.
[0023]
In the second drive mechanism 62, a gear 81 is fixed to a pin 75 that supports the base end of the upper parallel arm 74, and a gear 82 that meshes with the gear 81 and drives and rotates is mounted on the upper surface of the case 65. A support arm 85 that is fixed to the rotating shaft 83 ′ of the fixed motor 83 and that is in contact with the lower surface of the upper parallel arm 74 via the connecting piece 84 is connected and fixed to the pin 75. .
That is, when the motor 83 rotates, the second drive mechanism 62 rotates the pin 75 via the gear 82 and the gear 81, and the rotation of the pin 75 causes the support arm 85 to rotate in the vertical direction. The parallel arm 74 rotatably supported with respect to the support arm 85 is supported from below by the support arm 85, and is moved up and down in conjunction with the vertical rotation of the support arm 85. , And can be pivoted upward about the pin 75.
[0024]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the third drive mechanism 63 has a motor 91 in which a gear 91 is fixed to one end of a pin 75 ′ of the lower parallel arm 74 and the gear 91 is attached to the case 65. The support shaft 94 on the label holding portion 51 side is rotatable by an interlocking mechanism 93 including a sprocket 93a and a toothed belt 93b provided on the other end of the pin 75 ', while being driven and rotated by the pin 92. It was done.
The support shaft 94 is vertically rotatably disposed in the mounting cylinder 77 of the label holding unit 51, and its lower end is integrally connected to the suction unit 53, and the support shaft 94 is driven by the motor 92. The suction unit 53 is rotated via 94.
[0025]
The drive mechanism 60 causes the first drive mechanism 61 to move the label holding section 51 between the label transfer section P of the label issuing section and a predetermined position on the carry-out section 16 of the packaging machine A, that is, the label attaching position Q. Is reciprocated to convey the label La or La, Lb (see FIGS. 4 and 8), and the label holding unit 51 is moved up and down by the second driving mechanism 62 so that the label transfer unit P sends the label holding unit 51 to the suction unit 53. The label La or La, Lb is sucked and held, and the label La or La, Lb is attached to the product G at the label attaching position Q.
Further, the third drive mechanism 63 rotates the suction unit 53 holding the label La or La, Lb by 90 degrees in a horizontal plane while moving the suction unit 53 by the first drive mechanism 61, so that the label transfer unit P The label attitude and the label attitude at the label attaching position Q are changed.
[0026]
Next, FIG. 14 shows an electrical configuration diagram of the above-described stretch packaging machine A and label pasting apparatus B. Reference numeral 100 denotes a pasting control section for controlling the label pasting apparatus B, and reference numeral 200 denotes a packaging control section for controlling the stretch packaging mechanism A. Department.
The sticking control unit 100 includes a CPU 103 via a bus 102, a ROM 103, a RAM 104, a display operation unit 20, a weighing unit 19, a communication interface circuit (INF) 105, a first issuing unit (price label issuing unit) 30a, and a second An issuing unit (security label issuing unit) 30b, a sticking mechanism driving unit 106, a product detection sensor 107, a guide mechanism driving unit 108, and an issuing unit position sensor 109 are connected, and a ROM 103 stores various control programs executed by the CPU 101. It is remembered.
[0027]
The RAM 104 includes areas such as registers and flags used when the CPU 101 executes the control program of the ROM 103, a preset data area in which various data are stored in advance for each product, a result data area in which various result data are stored, and the like. I have.
In the preset data area, a product file (PLU file), for example, various data such as a product name and a unit price, a print format and other data for label printing corresponding to the product number of the product G are stored in advance, and the performance data is stored. In the area, a total file, for example, the number of processed products, the total value of the weight and the amount of money, or the total value of price labels, the number of issued security labels, and the like are stored in correspondence with the product number of the product G.
[0028]
The display operation unit 20 includes an operation unit including a keyboard and a touch panel, and a display unit including a dot-type liquid crystal display, and inputs various data and commands, or displays input data based on a command from the CPU 101, It displays preset data, displays weight and price, and displays various messages.
The weighing section 19 supplies a weighing signal of the commodity G placed on the commodity placing section 12 to the CPU 101.
The communication interface circuit (INF) 105 is a circuit for communicating various data and instructions with the packaging control unit 200.
The first issuing unit 30a issues a price label La on which a price is printed together with a product name, a unit price, an effective date, and the like, as described above, based on a command from the CPU 101, and the second issuing unit 30b issues a security label Lb. It is.
[0029]
The sticking mechanism driving unit 106 is for driving the motor for generating the vacuum of the label holding unit 51 and the motors 67, 83 and 92 of the driving mechanism 60, and their driving timing is based on a command from the CPU 101. It is done.
The commodity detection sensor 107 generates a timing signal for sticking a label, and supplies the fact to the CPU 101 when the commodity G is carried out to the carry-out section 16.
The guide mechanism driving unit 108 drives the moving motor 42 of the issuing unit guide mechanism 40 that moves the label issuing unit 30 including the first and second issuing units 30a and 30b. Whether or not to move to the delivery section P is determined based on a command from the CPU 101.
The issuing unit position sensor 109 detects which of the issuing units 30a and 30b has the label receiving surface 35 or 37 located at the transfer unit P, and supplies the detected information to the CPU 101.
[0030]
The guide mechanism driving unit 108 will be described in further detail. Whether or not the second issuing unit 30b is moved to the delivery unit P by the motor 42 is determined based on a determination unit for determining whether or not to affix the security label Lb to the product G. Is determined. For example, there is the following method as the determination means.
(1) The product file (PLU file) in the preset data area of the RAM 104 is used.
That is, as shown in FIG. 15, a product file (PLU file) is provided with an Lb data column 110 corresponding to each product, and identification data indicating whether or not the product has a security label attached to the data column 110. For example, "1" or "0" is stored in advance. The identification data “1” is a product to which the security label Lb is attached, and the data “0” is a product to which the security label La is not attached.
{Circle around (2)} When the unit price in the product file is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, a security label is attached.
{Circle around (3)} When the weight of the product measured by the weighing unit 19 is equal to or more than a predetermined value, a security label is attached.
{Circle around (4)} When the price calculated based on the weighed value is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, a security label is attached.
(5) When the product size detected by the product width detection sensor 21 and the product height detection sensor 22 is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, a security label is attached.
{Circle around (6)} When the identification data is “1” and falls under any of (2) to (5), a security label is attached.
[0031]
In the RAM 104, the total number of price labels La issued by the first issuing unit 30a and the total number of security labels Lb issued by the second issuing unit 30b are also stored in the tally file. To keep.
[0032]
The processing operation of the label sticking apparatus B will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
(start)
When the price label La and the security label Lb are attached, this processing starts in a state where the security label Lb has been issued to the second issuing unit 30b.
(Step 1)
The label holding unit 51 located at the reference position (origin) set above the label transfer unit P is lowered, and the price label La issued on the label receiving surface of the first issuing unit 30a is sucked by the suction unit 53. After that, the label holding unit 51 is moved up to the reference position (origin) (see FIGS. 11 and 13A and 13B).
(Step 2)
It is determined whether the security label Lb has been issued to the second issuing unit 30b. If the security label Lb has been issued, the process proceeds to step 3; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 5.
(Step 3)
By moving the second issuing unit 30b, the label receiving surface 37 on which the security label Lb is placed is positioned at the label transfer unit P.
[0033]
(Step 4)
The label holding unit 51 holding the price label La by suction is lowered again, and the glued surface on the back surface of the price label La is pressed against the upper surface of the security label Lb to stick and hold the security label Lb on the back surface. To return to the reference position (origin) (see FIGS. 12, 13B and 13C).
At this time, the suction unit 53 of the label holding unit 51 stops at a position slightly higher than the case where the price label La is suctioned in order to avoid collision with the dispenser 36 (see FIG. 12).
[0034]
(Step 5)
The label holding unit 51 holding the price label La (when the determination in step 2 is “NO”) or the label holding unit 51 holding the price label La and the security label Lb (when the determination in step 2 is “YES”) Then, it moves to the label sticking position above the carry-out section 16 and stands by. The label affixing position is determined based on the detection result of the product width detection sensor 21 described above. Further, when it is necessary to change the direction of the label, the suction unit 53 is rotated by 90 degrees, 180 degrees, and 270 degrees as needed during the movement to change the direction of the label (the direction in which the label is attached). Data is set in advance in the product file for each product.)
Thereafter, when the product detection sensor 107 detects that the packaged product G has reached a predetermined position on the unloading unit 16, the label holding unit 51 is moved down to place the price label La or La at the predetermined position on the product G upper surface. The price label La and the security label Lb are pressed and attached (see FIGS. 8 and 13D).
The details of the structure of the drive mechanism 60 for moving the label holding portion 51 and the position control at the time of attaching the label are described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-77034 filed by the applicant of the present invention.
[0035]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following configuration should be noted.
The stretch packaging machine A to which the label attaching device B of the present invention is assembled is a device for performing weighing, packaging, and pricing operations. Is also good.
[0036]
In the above-mentioned label sticking apparatus, the case where the first issuing unit 30a is constituted by one price label issuing unit has been described. May be issued.
Further, the mode has been described in which the security label is attached when the second issuing unit 30b issues the security label Lb, in other words, only when the security label Lb is attached, the security label is issued each time. Since all Lb are the same, the second issuing unit 30b may issue a security label in advance and issue the next security label every time the security label is attached.
The security label Lb can be used irrespective of the type as long as it can be attached to the glued surface of the price label and can be attached to the product.
[0037]
Further, the label issuing unit 30 has shown the aspect in which the first issuing unit 30a and the second issuing unit 30b are arranged side by side along the product unloading direction of the packaging unit 3, but are arranged side by side in the direction orthogonal to the product transport direction. Such a configuration, more specifically, may be arranged above the discharge conveyor 17 along the discharge direction.
In addition, the label issuing unit 30 is of a movable type so that one of the first issuing units 30a and 30b is selectively positioned at the label transfer unit. The label holding unit 51 may be moved between the first issuing unit 30a and the second issuing unit 30b.
[0038]
Further, the label sticking mechanism 50 is not limited to the driving mechanism 60 including the first driving mechanism 61 to the third driving mechanism 63. For example, when the label issuing unit 30 is of a stationary type, in addition to the reciprocating movement (X movement), the vertical movement (Z movement) and the rotating operation (R movement) by the driving mechanism 60, the first issuing unit 30a and the second Movement (Y movement) between the second issuer 30b is required. Alternatively, when the attitude of the price label La issued by the first issuing unit 30a matches the attitude of sticking to the product, it is not necessary to perform the rotation operation (R movement).
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first and third aspects of the present invention, a price label and a security label are issued in different places, but the price label is pressed onto the upper surface of the security label and the label is attached to the security label. The state and the sticking position are stable, and the label can be reliably stuck to the product in a state where the label is covered with the price label.
Then, since the labels are pressed against the product and attached, there is no need to cause the label attaching mechanism to rotate the label by 180 degrees, so that the label attaching operation can be simplified and a simple attaching mechanism can be adopted. Also, since the height of the security label issuing device can be kept low as compared with the case where the security label issuing device is arranged above the price label issuing device, it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of the device and to set the label and print head. Maintenance work becomes easy.
Furthermore, since the issued price label is first suctioned and held, after holding the label, the next price label can be issued and put on standby before the security label is stuck, and the label can be stuck accordingly. Ability is improved.
[0040]
According to the fourth and fifth aspects, the present invention can be easily implemented by using a sticking mechanism employed in a conventional twin labeler type label sticking apparatus (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-101444).
According to the sixth aspect, the security label can be stuck to the center of the glued surface of the price label without giving an impact to the peeling member of the security label.
[0041]
According to the second, seventh, and eighth aspects, it is possible to select only products that need to be attached with a security label to prevent theft, so that the intended effect can be obtained while sparing the use of expensive security labels.
According to the ninth aspect, the determination as to whether or not to issue a security label is automatically performed based on the preset data and the like, so that it is possible to selectively secure only necessary products without burdening the operator. Labels can be applied.
According to the tenth aspect, since the number of issued security labels is stored, inventory management and remaining amount management are possible and can be used as basic data when measuring the effect of attaching a security label. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an outline of a stretch packaging machine to which a label sticking apparatus of the present invention is assembled.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the same.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same.
FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the label pasting device in an enlarged manner.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing an issuing unit guide mechanism in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a side view showing the label sticking mechanism.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a rotation drive mechanism of the label holding unit.
FIG. 8 is a sectional front view of a first issuing unit (price label issuing unit).
FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a label issuing port in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a label receiving surface in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a front view illustrating a label suction operation in a first issuing unit.
FIG. 12 is a front view illustrating an operation of attaching a security label in a second issuing unit.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a label attaching operation by the label attaching device.
FIG. 14 is an electrical configuration diagram of a stretch packaging machine and a label attaching device.
FIG. 15 is an example of a product file (PLU file).
FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a label attaching operation.
[Explanation of symbols]
A: Stretch wrapping machine B: Label sticking device G: Product
30: label issuing unit 30a: first issuing unit 30b: second issuing unit
35: Label receiving surface 36: Dispenser 37: Label receiving surface
50: Label sticking mechanism 51: Label holding unit 53: Suction unit
La: Price label Lb: Security label
P: Label delivery part Q: Label sticking position

Claims (10)

In the method of attaching a price label and a security label to a product,
The price label issuance department issues the price label of the product,
Issue a security label from a security label issuing unit at a place different from the price label issuing unit ,
The label holding unit sucks and holds the price label issued by the price label issuing unit with the glued side down, and presses the sucked and held price label against the upper surface of the security label issued by the security label issuing unit. By attaching a security label to the back of the price label,
By moving the label holding unit with the security label attached to the glued surface of the price label and pressing the price label against the product , the security label is hidden under the price label and attached to the product. Do
A label attaching method characterized by the above-mentioned. In the method of attaching a price label and a security label to a product,
The price label issuance department issues the price label of the product,
Further, the apparatus automatically determines whether or not the target product to which the price label is to be attached is a product to which a security label is to be attached , based on data or the like stored in advance for each product ,
In the case of a product to which a security label is attached, a security label is issued from a security label issuing unit at a place different from the price label issuing unit ,
The label holding unit sucks and holds the price label issued by the price label issuing unit with the glued side down, and presses the sucked and held price label against the upper surface of the security label issued by the security label issuing unit. By attaching a security label to the back of the price label,
By moving the label holding unit with the security label attached to the glued surface of the price label and pressing the price label against the product , the security label is hidden under the price label and attached to the product. Do
A label attaching method characterized by the above-mentioned. In a label sticking device that sticks price labels and security labels to products,
A price label issuing unit that issues a price label for the product,
A security label issuing unit that issues a security label at a place different from the price label issuing unit ,
A label receiving surface provided in the both label issuing units and holding the issued label with the glued surface facing down,
A label holding unit that holds the price label held on the label receiving surface by suction with the glued surface facing down, a vertical direction in which the label holding unit comes into contact with and separates from the product, and a direction perpendicular to the product unloading direction. Direction, further comprising a label pasting mechanism constituted by a drive mechanism for rotating the label holding unit in a horizontal plane,
By the driving mechanism, the label holding unit is moved and the glued surface of the price label that is adsorbed and held by the label holding unit is moved to the label receiving surface of the security label issuing unit located at the label transfer unit. Push the security label on the back side of the price label by pressing it on the top surface, move the label holding part and press the price label on the product to hide the security label under the price label and stick it on the product A label sticking device characterized by performing. 4. The label sticking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein after the price label is sucked and held by the label holding unit, the label holding unit is raised by the drive mechanism, and the position immediately below the price label sucked and held by the label holding unit. And a moving means for shifting a security label issuing unit which has issued the security label . 5. The label sticking apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the price label issuing section and the security label issuing section are arranged side by side on one side of the product transport path along the transport direction, and the label is issued to both label issuing sections. A receiving surface is formed, the label receiving surface position of the price label issuing unit is configured as a label transferring unit, and the label receiving surface of the security label issuing unit is configured to be movable to the label transferring unit . The holding unit is reciprocated between the label transfer unit and the label affixing position on the product transport path and is movable vertically, and the suction unit of the label holding unit is configured to be rotatable in a horizontal plane. Labeling device. 6. The label sticking apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the security label issuing unit makes the dispenser slightly protrude above the label receiving surface and forms the label receiving surface in an inclined shape rising toward the product transport path side. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the lower limit of the lowering operation is a position where the suction part of the label holding part is close to the inclined top part of the label receiving surface. The label pasting device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, further comprising a determination unit configured to determine whether a product to which a price label is to be pasted is a product to which a security label is pasted, wherein the label pasting mechanism comprises: A label attaching device for attaching the price label held by the label holding section to a product without attaching a security label to its glued surface when the result of the determination by the determining means is “No”; . 8. The label sticking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the security label issuing unit does not issue a security label when the result of the determination by the determination unit is "No". 8. The label sticking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the judgment by the judging means is automatically performed based on data stored in advance for each product, weight, price, size of the product, or a combination thereof. 4. The label sticking apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a storage unit for storing the number of labels issued.

Images