FITTING DEVICE AND LABEL OPENER

• US 20130000263A1
• Filed: 03/19/2010
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji SEAL International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fuji SEAL International Incorporated
• Inventors: Ushidate, Toshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,359,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/585
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/14 Devices for distending tubes supplied in the flattened state
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 3/065 by placing tubular labels around the container applying preformed tubular sheathings of plastics in general B29C63/18; applying protective covers to closures B67B5/03

Abstract

An opener mechanism in which a label folded in a sheet shape is opened and fitted to a target body is provided with first suction rods which suck one side of a label, second suction rods which are arranged to oppose the first suction rods and suck the other side of the label, and a drive mechanism which induces movement of the first and second suction rods toward or away from each other. Suction hole arrays in which a plurality of suction holes which suck the label are aligned in a line are formed on the surfaces facing one another of the first suction rods and the second suction rods. The suction holes are arranged in such a manner that the suction hole arrays of the first suction rods and the suction hole arrays formed in the second suction rods opposing the first suction rods are at least partially nonparallel.

Claims

1. 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 comprising:

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.

2. The label opener according to claim 1, wherein

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.

3. The label opener according to claim 1, wherein

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.

4. The label opener according to claim 1, wherein

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.

5. The label opener according to claim 4, wherein

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.

6. 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 comprising:

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 comprises;

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.

7. The label fitting device according to claim 6, wherein

the drive mechanism further comprises:

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.

8. The label fitting device according to claim 7, wherein

the drive mechanism further comprises:

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 toward 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.