JP4755350B2 - Label printing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a label printing / applying device for a label on which information related to a product is printed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 6A, the label printing sticking device sticks the label L to a predetermined position of the product M. The label L is preferably attached to the end of the product M so that the entire product can be seen.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even if the product M has the same size, the label L may protrude from the product M depending on the shape of the end of the product M, for example, as shown in FIG.
Similarly, depending on the shape of the label, such as an elliptical label and a rectangular label, the label may protrude from the product.
[0004]
Therefore, the objective of this invention provides the label printing sticking apparatus which can stick a label, without protruding from a goods irrespective of the shape of goods or a label.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a label printing sticking device for sticking a label printed with information on a product to a predetermined position of the product by a sticking machine, and an image of the product and a label attached to the product. Display means for displaying an image, setting means for setting the label application position in a state in which both images are displayed on the display means, and based on the set application position, Control means for controlling the operation and image pickup means for picking up an image of the product and / or label are provided, and the picked-up image of the product and / or label is displayed on the display means .
[0006]
The “product image” and / or “label image” displayed on the display means displays, for example, an image picked up by the image pickup means. However, as described later, it is not always necessary to be a picked up image. .
Preferably, the display means displays an overlapping state when a label is applied to the application position based on an application position of one or more labels stored in advance. When the operator manually changes the label application position, the label image displayed on the display unit moves when the label application position is input by the setting unit. Thereby, the sticking position of the label can be set so that the label does not protrude from the product.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a weighing / packaging device, which has a pasting function for pasting a label after packaging in addition to the function of a stretch film packaging machine for packaging a product M together with a tray T (package). In the following description, the product M is transported on the tray T. The “product M” includes the contents in the tray T, the contents, the tray T, and the film F. Sometimes it is used in the concept. Further, the product does not necessarily have to be placed on the tray T.
[0009]
Basic structure and operation:
First, the basic structure and operation of this packaging sticking system will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the present packaging sticking system is a front discharge type packaging sticking system that carries a product M from the front side 2a and discharges it to the front side 2a. 20 is provided.
[0010]
In FIG. 2, when the product M is placed on the supply device 20, the supply device 20 supplies the product M onto the lifter 201. Each post 210 of the lifter 201 is arranged immediately below the packaging station S of the packaging mechanism 200 and can be moved up and down by an elevating means (elevator mechanism) 208. When the product M is supplied from the supply device 20, the lifter 201 rises and lifts the product M to the packaging station S.
Here, a centering mechanism (positioning mechanism) 21 is provided in front of the lifter 201. As shown in FIG. 1B, the centering mechanism 21 includes a stopper 22 and pushers 23, 23 that move up and retract at a predetermined timing. After the product M conveyed by the supply device 20 comes into contact with the stopper 22 in the raised state and stops, the product M is centered, for example, in the center by a pair of pushers 23, 23 and is orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the product M. The left and right positions are corrected. After the correction, the stopper 22 is lowered to the retracted position at a predetermined timing, and the product M is supplied onto the lifter 201.
[0011]
On the other hand, prior to the packaging operation, the stretched film F is supplied to the packaging station S by the transfer mechanisms 202 and 202. The film F is in close contact with the upper surface of the product M when the product M is pushed up. In this state, the film folding mechanism 203 has a pair of left and right folding plates 204, 204, a rear folding plate 205, a round bar-shaped front folding member 206, and a discharge pusher 207 (Fig. 2). The product M is packaged by folding the front, rear, left and right side edges to the bottom side of the tray T, and the packaged product M is conveyed onto the heat welding conveyor 211 of FIG. The heat welding conveyor 211 welds the films F folded on the bottom surface to each other, and then the product M is discharged onto the discharge table 209.
[0012]
On the other hand, above the packaging station S, a label printer 12 for issuing a label L corresponding to the content of the product and a label sticking machine 13 are arranged. The label applicator 13 applies the label L issued from the label printer 12 to the upper surface of the product M until the product M is discharged onto the discharge table 209.
[0013]
System configuration:
As shown in FIG. 4, the supply device 20 includes a weighing conveyor 100. The weight of the product M placed on the weighing conveyor 100 is detected by the weight detector 101 and output to the weighing means 106. A CCD camera (imaging means) 2 is provided above the weighing conveyor 100. The CCD camera 2 images the tray T placed on the supply device 20 and outputs imaging information (luminance information) to the microcomputer 3.
[0014]
In addition to the CCD camera 2 and the weighing unit 106, the microcomputer 3 includes a touch screen 10, a stroke key unit (input operation unit) 11, a label printer 12, a pasting machine control unit 14, and a local control through an interface (not shown). A device 15 or the like is connected. A label applicator 13 is connected to the applicator control means 14, and the applicator control means 14 controls the operation of the label applicator 13.
[0015]
The microcomputer 3 includes a CPU (calculation means) 4 and a memory 7. The CPU 4 includes an image processing unit 40, a determination unit 41 and a changing unit 42 which will be described later.
The image processing means 40 detects the position of the planar edge Te of the tray T based on the imaging information input from the CCD camera 2, and further calculates the width and depth of the tray T from the position of the edge Te. To do.
As a method for calculating the width and depth dimension of the tray T, for example, there are known methods disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 11-94535, 11-337315, and 11-245906.
[0016]
The memory 7 includes a product information storage unit 70, a tray information storage unit 71, a label information storage unit 72, and an image RAM 73 described later.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the merchandise information storage unit 70 stores the merchandise processing conditions including the merchandise name, the unit price, and the tray number for each merchandise call number.
As shown in FIG. 5C, in the label information storage unit 72, the label depth, width, label image data (image), and the like are stored in advance in association with each other for each label number. The image data of the label is composed of data based on imaging information previously captured by the CCD camera 2, for example.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 5B, the tray information storage unit 71 stores, for each tray number, the tray number including the depth Ty, width Tx and height of the tray, the label number, the rear end distance Ry. And the right end distance Rx are stored in association with each other. As shown in FIG. 6, the rear end distance Ry is a distance from the rear end of the tray T to the label L, and the right end distance Rx is a distance from the right end of the tray T to the label L. The rear end distance Ry and the right end distance Rx are information for specifying the attaching position of the tray T, and the label L is attached to the tray by the label attaching machine 13 according to the attaching position of the tray T.
[0018]
The touch screen 10 constitutes display means for displaying the pasting position display screen shown in FIG. 6 and various information, menus, etc. on a display screen such as a liquid crystal screen, and a part of the display is displayed. An input operation means for inputting and setting by touching is configured.
[0019]
On the pasting position display screen, an image of the tray T picked up by the CCD camera 2 is displayed, and an image of the label L is displayed in a state of being superimposed on the image of the tray T. This image is displayed as follows:
The image (imaging information) of the tray T imaged by the CCD camera 2 and the image data (imaging information) of the label L read out from the label information storage unit 72 are doted on the image RAM 73 having a predetermined coordinate system. And displayed at the display position of the touch screen 10 corresponding to the coordinate system. The ratio of the size of the image of the label L to the image of the tray T is set to be substantially the same as the ratio of the actual size of the tray T and the label L. The image of the label L is It is displayed at the pasting position corresponding to the rear end distance Ry and the right end distance Rx based on the ratio. Therefore, the relative position between the tray T and the label L displayed on the pasting position display screen represents the pasting position of the label L actually pasted on the tray T.
On the pasting position display screen, the dimensions of the width Tx and depth Ty of the tray T, the dimensions of the right end distance Rx and the rear end distance Ry of the label L, and the like are displayed together with the image.
[0020]
The discriminating means 41 shown in FIG. 4 discriminates the overlapping state of the label L with respect to the tray T displayed on the pasting position display screen. The discriminating means 41 discriminates the overlapping state of the tray T and the label L by comparing the coordinates of the dots constituting the image of the tray T and the label L.
When the discriminating means 41 discriminates that the label L sticking position protrudes from the tray T, the changing means 42 moves the label L sticking position with respect to the tray T as will be described later.
[0021]
The CPU 4 includes an automatic setting mode in which the CPU 4 corrects and sets the label L sticking position when registering a product, and a manual setting mode in which an operator adjusts and sets the label L sticking position. Therefore, any setting mode can be selected and executed.
On the other hand, the CPU 4 has a normal operation mode in which a label is applied based on the application position during product processing, and a correction operation mode in which the application position of the label L is corrected for each product. It is possible to select and execute the operation mode.
[0022]
Operation of this device:
Prior to product processing, the operator performs product registration, and sets and stores product information and tray information in the product information storage unit 70 and the tray information storage unit 71. At the time of such product registration, either the automatic setting mode or the manual setting mode is executed, and the label pasting position is set. First, the automatic setting mode is based on the flowchart shown in FIG. explain.
[0023]
Automatic setting mode:
After the automatic setting mode is started, when the operator places the tray T on the supply device 20 shown in FIG. 4, the process proceeds to step S1.
In step S1, based on the imaging information of the tray T from the CCD camera 2, an image (image) of the tray T is displayed on the pasting position display screen of the touch screen 10 shown in FIG. On the other hand, the CPU 4 reads the image data of the label L corresponding to the label No. from the label information storage unit 72 (FIG. 4), and displays it on the image of the tray T. Here, a predetermined value (initial value) set in advance is read as the rear end distance Ry and the right end distance Rx, and the image data of the label L is displayed at a display position corresponding to the distances Rx, Ry. Then, the process proceeds to step S2.
[0024]
In step S2, the determination means 41 determines the overlapping state of the tray T and the label L. As shown in FIG. 6B, when it is determined that the label L protrudes from the tray T, the process proceeds to step S3. On the other hand, if it is determined that it does not protrude, the process proceeds to step S4.
[0025]
In step S3, the changing means 42 adds a predetermined correction value to the distances Rx and Ry to calculate a new pasting position, and the CPU 4 moves the image of the label L to the display position corresponding to the new pasting position. Let As a method for moving the label L attachment position, for example, a predetermined correction value is added to both the right end distance Rx and the rear end distance Ry, thereby moving the label L by a predetermined distance in the upper left diagonal direction. After this movement, the process returns to step S2 again, and the label is moved to a position where it does not protrude.
In step S4, the CPU 4 overwrites and stores the pasting position (distance Rx, Ry) in each distance column corresponding to the tray number in the tray information storage unit 71 shown in FIG. The setting mode ends. Note that steps S2 to S4 of this flowchart constitute the computing means of the present invention.
[0026]
As described above, since the discriminating means 41 for discriminating the overlapping state of the tray T and the label L and the changing means 42 for changing the label L attaching position are provided, the shape of the tray T is set in the automatic setting mode. Regardless of the case, the label L sticking position can be automatically corrected and set so that the label L does not protrude from the tray T.
[0027]
Note that it is not always necessary to display an image indicating the overlapping state of the tray T and the label L on the touch screen 10.
[0028]
Manual setting mode:
By the way, when the operator manually sets the label L attachment position, the CPU 4 is set to the manual setting mode.
After the manual setting mode is started, when the operator places the tray T on the supply device 20 shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 4 attaches the image of the tray T on the touch screen 10 based on the imaging information from the CCD camera 2. Display on the display screen. On the other hand, the CPU 4 displays the image of the label L read from the label information storage unit 72 at a predetermined pasting position based on the initial position.
[0029]
The operator looks at the overlapping state of the tray T and the label L displayed on the pasting position display screen shown in FIG. 6 (b), performs a predetermined operation, and inputs new values of the right end distance Rx and the rear end distance Ry. Then, the image of the label L is moved and displayed at the display position corresponding to the distances Rx and Ry. The operator moves the image of the label L to a position where the label L does not protrude, and then performs a predetermined operation, and sets the new distances Rx and Ry in the tray information storage unit 71 shown in FIG. Overwrite and memorize each distance column corresponding to No ..
[0030]
As described above, in the manual setting mode, when the label attachment position is input, the image of the label L displayed on the touch screen 10 moves, so that the user can intuitively view the image displayed on the touch screen 10 while viewing the image. The sticking position of the label L can be adjusted and set.
[0031]
As a method for moving the label L, the label L on the screen is moved in real time by pressing an arrow key corresponding to four directions or a numeric keypad corresponding to the arrow key in addition to the numeric input. May be displayed.
[0032]
Normal operation mode:
After the product registration, the operator performs a predetermined operation to perform product processing. The label printing and sticking apparatus can select and execute either the normal operation mode or the correction operation mode during the product processing. First, the normal operation mode will be described.
When the CPU 4 is set to the normal operation mode and the product M is placed on the supply device 20 shown in FIG. 2, the weight of the product M is measured and detected by the CCD camera 2 shown in FIG. The tray number is specified based on the captured image information, and the processing conditions for the product corresponding to the tray number are read from the product information storage unit 70. The CPU 4 causes the local control device 15 to package the product M based on the processing conditions. On the other hand, the CPU 4 causes the label printer 12 to print and issue a label L based on the stored contents of the product information storage unit 70 and the measured value of the product M. The CPU 4 reads the right end distance Rx and the rear end distance Ry from the tray information storage unit 71, and the pasting machine control means 14 sticks the label L to the label pasting position of the tray T having the distances Rx and Ry on the label pasting machine 13. Let
[0033]
Corrected operation mode:
By the way, for example, when a label is affixed to an indeterminate product having a different shape or size, such as vegetables that are not placed on a tray, the CPU 4 is set to the correction operation mode.
When the correction operation mode is started, the label affixing position described below is calculated for each product.
[0034]
When the product M is placed on the supply device 20 in the correction operation mode, the CPU 4 superimposes the image of the label L on the image of the product M captured by the CCD camera 2, and the determination unit 41 determines the overlap state. I do. When the discriminating means 41 discriminates that the tray T and the label L do not overlap, the label L is affixed at the affixing position.
On the other hand, if it is determined that the tray T and the label L overlap, as described above, the changing means 42 adds a predetermined value to the rear end distance Ry and the right end distance Rx, and sets the pasting position to a predetermined position. After moving the distance, the process returns to the determination of the overlapping state by the determination means 41.
[0035]
As described above, in the correction operation mode, each time the product M is placed on the supply device 20, the label L sticking position is calculated, so that the shape and size of each product are different. Even the regular product M can be attached without protruding the label L.
[0036]
In the embodiment, the determination unit 41 determines the overlapping state based on the set of dots of the image of the tray T and the label L. However, the determination of the overlapping state is performed using an expression or a vector representing the outer shape of the image. May be performed.
[0037]
Further, the image of the tray T displayed on the touch screen 10 does not necessarily need to be displayed on the entire tray T. For example, only the portion overlapping the label L may be enlarged and displayed. Further, as the image of the tray, text data composed of numerical values such as the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the tray and the corners (corner corners) may be input, and the text data may be converted into a graphic by the CPU and displayed.
[0038]
By the way, the actual sticking position of the label is shifted from the set position. Accordingly, it is preferable to set the pasting position in consideration of this deviation amount. In step S2 in FIG. 7 described above, in consideration of a slight margin and a safety factor, whether or not the label L may protrude from the tray. It may be determined. As this determination method, as shown in FIG. 8, overlap determination may be performed by adding deviation amounts ΔX and ΔY around the label L.
As described in the above embodiment, if the centering mechanism 21 is provided in front of the lifter 201, the left and right positions of the product M are positioned for each product and then supplied onto the lifter 201. The gap between the label L sticking position and the actual sticking position can be reduced.
[0039]
Furthermore, as a method for moving the label L sticking position, only the vertical or horizontal direction may be moved. In addition, for each tray, the method of moving the pasting position may be selected, and for example, in the case of a horizontally long product exceeding a predetermined aspect ratio, the pasting position is moved sideways. The movement method may be automatically selected and changed according to the size or shape.
[0040]
In the above-described embodiment, the label attaching position is set for each tray by associating the label attaching position with the tray information. However, by associating the label attaching position with the product information, the same type of tray is set. Even for a product using T, the type of label and the pasting position may be set for each product.
[0041]
As described above, the preferred embodiments have been described with reference to the drawings. However, those skilled in the art will readily understand various changes and modifications within the obvious scope by looking at the present specification.
For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the label printing application device having the function of a stretch film packaging machine has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to any system that has at least a label printing and application function. it can.
Accordingly, such changes and modifications are to be construed as within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
According to the onset bright As described above, since it is possible to see on the display means an image of the product and the label, knowing both the overlapping degree at the corner (Corner), so that the label does not protrude from the article It can be set to a proper pasting position.
[0043]
Further, if the overlapping state of the label is displayed on the display means, it is possible to immediately know whether or not the label protrudes from the product, so there is no possibility that the setting of the pasting position is erroneous.
Furthermore, if the label sticking position can be input to move the label image, the sticking position can be easily adjusted.
In addition, if a labeling mechanism is provided and the label is pasted after correcting the position in the direction orthogonal to the product conveyance direction, the deviation between the set label pasting position and the actual pasting position can be significantly reduced. Can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a weighing package pricing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the apparatus and a plan view showing a positioning mechanism.
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a packaging method.
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a chart showing storage contents of a storage unit.
FIG. 6 is a front view showing display contents on a display screen.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an automatic setting mode of a CPU.
FIG. 8 is a front view showing display contents on a display screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
2: CCD camera (imaging means)
10: Touch screen (display means, setting means, input operation means)
11: Stroke key part (setting means, input means)
13: Label sticking machine 14: Sticking machine control means 41: Discriminating means 42: Changing means L: Label M: Product

Claims (6)

In the label printing sticking device that sticks a label printed with information about the product to a predetermined position of the product by a sticking machine
Display means for displaying an image of the product and an image of a label affixed to the product;
In a state where both images are displayed on the display means, setting means for setting the label attachment position;
Control means for controlling the operation of the pasting machine based on the set pasting position ;
Image pickup means for picking up an image of the product and / or label,
A label printing / applying device configured to display an image of the imaged product and / or label on the display means. In claim 1,
One or more label pasting positions for the product are stored in advance,
A label printing sticking device that displays on the display means the overlapping state when a label is stuck at the sticking position. In claim 1 or 2,
The label printing sticking apparatus, wherein the setting means is constituted by an input operation means for setting and inputting a label sticking position. In claim 3,
A label printing and pasting device set such that when a label pasting position is input by the input operation unit, an image of the label displayed on the display unit is moved. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4 ,
A discriminating means for discriminating an overlapping state of labels for the products displayed on the display means;
A change means for changing a label sticking position to the product so that the label does not stick out of the product when it is determined that the label may stick out of the product when the label is attached to the sticking position of the product; A label printing and pasting apparatus comprising: In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 5 ,
Conveying means for conveying the product and a positioning mechanism provided on the upstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the labeling machine, the position in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction being corrected by the positioning mechanism A label printing and sticking apparatus, wherein the label sticking machine sticks a label.

Images