Abstract:
An object of the invention of the present application is to provide a label holder which reliably attaches a label on a required position of a material to which the label will be attached, without wrinkles; in order to achieve the object, the present invention provide a label attaching apparatus for attaching a label on the material, comprising a label holder provided with a label sucking face for sucking and holding the label wherein said label holder comprises at least one air blowout chamber for supplying air supplied from an air source into a plurality of air blowout pipes having openings formed at the label sucking face and at least one air suction chamber for dividing negative pressure due to the air suction source into a plurality of air suction pipes having openings formed at the label sucking face.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a label attaching apparatus for attaching a label displaying printed information associated with a material, such as a box, a product, etc. wherein the label is attached on the material transferred by a transfer device. 
     This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 11-142443, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A label attaching apparatus, wherein a label displaying information associated with a material, such as a mail, a product, etc. (abbreviated as “material” below) which the label will be attached, for example, using a bar code, is automatically attached on the material, has been used. 
     The conventional label attaching apparatus comprises a material transfer mechanism for carrying the material, such as conveyor, a label transfer mechanism for carrying a label printed information associated with the material, a label holder for receiving the label from the label transfer mechanism and transferring the label to the material, and a label attaching member for pressing the label to the material, in order to attach the label on the material. 
     This type of label attaching apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Applications, First Publication Nos. Hei 10-264915 and 10-101044, and Second Publication (Kokai) No. Hei 07-084215. Most of this type of label attaching apparatus comprises a label holder that holds the label by air suction. The label attaching apparatus comprising the air suction type label holder has the effects of simplifying and miniaturizing the device. Moreover, when the label is transferred from the label holder to the material, the label holder blows air and the air presses the label against the material in the label attaching apparatus. Therefore, this type of label attaching apparatus needs no special member for attaching the label on the material, other than the label attaching member. From this point of view, the label attaching apparatus can be more simple. 
     However, it is difficult for the air blow type label attaching apparatus to maintain the position of the label when the label is transferred to the material. Therefore, the label is easily kinked or bent and the attached label is wrinkled or crumpled. In addition, the problem that the dislocation of the position where the label should be attached easily occurs arises. When the distance between the label holder and the material while the label is being transferred from the label holder to the material is large, these problems are more significant. When the label is attached on several kinds of material having different sizes and shapes, the distance between the label holder and the material sometimes cannot be sufficiently reduced. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a label attaching apparatus in which when the distance between the label holder and the surface to which the label will be attached is variable, an inversion or a dislocation of the position at which the label will be attached does not arise, and the label can stably be attached at the required position, and which has an improved the attaching speed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a label attaching apparatus for attaching a label on the material, comprising a label holder provided with a label sucking face for sucking and holding the label thereon wherein 
     the label holder comprises at least one air blowout chamber for supplying air supplied from an air source into a plurality of air blowout pipes having openings formed at the label sucking face, and at least one air suction chamber for dividing negative pressure due to the air suction source into a plurality of air suction pipes having openings formed at the label sucking face. 
     According to the label attaching apparatus, the plurality of air blowout pipes are connected to the common air blowout chamber; therefore, the air blowout pipes can blow air uniformly and approximately in an instant. Moreover, the plurality of air suction pipes is also connected to the common air suction chamber; therefore, the air suction pipes can suck air uniformly and approximately in an instant. Consequently, it is possible to change between air suction and air blow in an instant, and reliably transfer the label to the material. 
     According to the second aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a label attaching apparatus, wherein the label sucking surface comprises at least one recess perpendicularly formed to the longitudinal direction of the label sucking face, of which the bottom is provided with the openings of the air blowout pipes and the air suction pipes. 
     According to the label attaching apparatus, when the label is sucked at the label sucking face, the pressure inside of the recess is negative. Therefore, the label is sucked at the openings of the recesses, and is held reliably by the label holder. When the label is released from the label sucking face, air is blown out from all of the openings of the air blowout pipes positioned at the bottom of the recesses. Therefore, it is possible to transfer the label toward the material while the position of the label is reliably maintained. 
     According to the third aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a label attaching apparatus, wherein said label holder moves to a label receiving position A where the label holder receives the label from the label transfer mechanism by sucking the label with the label sucking face, a label releasing position B where the label holder releases and transfer the label toward the material, and a waiting position C between the label receiving position A and the releasing position B in a movement of the label holder, and further comprises a label transfer mechanism for transferring the label to the label receiving position A along a label transfer direction, a drive mechanism for the label holder which transfers the label holder from the initial position to the label receiving position A, and from the label receiving position A to the waiting position C in a parallel manner, and a rotation mechanism for the label holder which moves the label holder from the waiting position C to the label releasing position B by rotating the label holder positioned at the waiting position C so that the label sucking face of the label holder faces the surface of the material. 
     According to the label attaching apparatus, the label transfer mechanism transfers the label to the label receiving position A. When the label holder moves from the initial position to the label receiving position A by the operation of the drive mechanism, the label holder starts air suction. Then, the label at the label receiving position A is sucked by the label sucking face, and held by the label holder. The label holder holding the label moves to the waiting position C by operation of the drive mechanism. When the material is transferred to the label releasing position B, the label holder moves from the waiting position C to the label releasing position B by operation of the rotation mechanism. 
     According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a label attaching apparatus, wherein the label holder comprises a positioning member for the label formed at the label sucking face. 
     According to the label attaching apparatus, the label can be always held at a fixed position of the label sucking face. Therefore, it is possible to attach exactly the label to the required position of the surface of the material. 
     According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a label attaching apparatus, wherein the openings of the air blowout pipes which are positioned at least one part of the edges of the label are closed. 
     A resistance of air (abbreviated as “open air” below) other than air blowing from the air blowout pipes applied to the center part of the label is larger than that of the open air applied to the edge parts of the label. Therefore, when the label which is easily bent, such as thin label and the soft label is transferred toward the material by air blow, the label is bent due to the air resistance of open air. Then, the edges of the label reaches at the surface of the material faster than the center part of the label. This phenomenon causes wrinkles of the attached label. 
     According to the label attaching apparatus, the openings of the air blowout pipes which are positioned at least one part of the edges of the label are closed. Thereby, at least one part of the edges of the label, where is applied a most small air resistance, is not received air. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the bend of the label, and to reach the edges and the center part of the label approximately at the same time. 
     Moreover, it is preferable that the openings of the air blowout pipes which are positioned at the entire edges of the label are closed, depending on the shape of the label. 
     According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a label attaching, wherein further comprises a material. transfer mechanism for transferring the material in a transferring direction, and the diameter of the openings of the air blowout pipes which are positioned at the downstream side in the transferring direction of the material are larger than that of the openings of the air blowout pipes which are positioned at the upstream side. 
     According to the label attaching apparatus, an amount of air blown from the opening of the air blowout pipes positioned at the downstream side is larger than that of air blown from the opening of the air blowout pipes positioned at the upstream side. Therefore, the end of the label at the downstream side reaches to the material faster than the other end at the upstream side. Moreover, the label is attached on the material being transferred. Therefore, the material, to which only one end of the label is attached reliably and the other end of the label is not attached or weakly attached, is transferred in a transfer direction. As the material is transferred in the transfer direction, that is, as the label is transferred from the upstream side to the downstream side, the label is pushed toward the material with a larger air force. Thereby, the part of the label which is not attached or weakly attached on the material is attached reliably on the material in sequence. Consequently, wrinkles are not hardly formed in the attached label. 
     According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a label attaching apparatus, wherein further comprises a blower for attaching the label. 
     According to the label attaching apparatus, after the label is transferred and attached to the material by the label holder, the blower blows air with high power to the label transferred to the material so that the label is reliably attached on the material. Therefore, it is possible to attach more reliably the label on the material. 
     According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a label attaching apparatus, wherein a plurality of recesses are formed at the label sucking face of the label holder so as to remove the side surface of the label holder, at where the opening is formed. 
     According to the label attaching apparatus, the label is transferred by the label transfer mechanism to the label receiving position A, entered into the inside of the label positioning member, and held at a required position at the label sucking face. Moreover, the grooves are formed at the label sucking face so as to removes the side surface of the label holder, at where the opening is formed. The grooves having a such structure are formed at the label holder, and air suction starts, negative pressure inside of the grooves is not sufficient directly to suck the label. Therefore, the label can be transferred to the required position where the label contacts the inner wall of the positioning member by utilizing the time lag. 
     According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a label attaching apparatus, wherein the label holder comprises a label receiver for receiving an unnecessary label, which moves between a position in which the label receiver faces the label sucking face and a position which is far from the label sucking face. 
     According to the label attaching apparatus, when the label holder holds an unnecessary label such as a label of which the conditions before attachment are not good, the unnecessary label can be recovered and disposed by moving the label receiver to the position where the label receiver faces the label sucking face and stopping an air suction, thereby the unnecessary label is transferred from the label sucking face to the label receiver. Therefore, it is possible to recover and dispose the unnecessary label. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the label holder having a partial broken-out section, which comprises a first embodiment of the label attaching apparatus according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a planar view showing the label holder shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic view for explaining a drive mechanism for moving the label holder from a label receiving position to a label releasing position and rotating the label holder. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the label holder comprising a second embodiment of the label attaching apparatus according to the present invention. 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B are views for explaining the form of a wrinkle of the attached label. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the label holder which can improve the generation of the wrinkle shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, which comprises a third embodiment of the label attaching apparatus according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a planar view showing the label holder comprising a fourth embodiment of the label attaching apparatus according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic view for explaining a function of the label holder shown in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic view for explaining a function of the label holder shown in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic view for explaining a fifth embodiment of the label attaching apparatus according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the label holder comprising a sixth embodiment of the label attaching apparatus according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the label holder comprising a seventh embodiment of the label attaching apparatus according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the label attaching apparatus according to the present invention will be explained referring to the figures. Moreover, a label in a rectangle shape having long and short sides is used in the following embodiments. However, the shape of the label is not limited to a rectangle shape. The label attaching apparatus of the present invention can use labels having absolutely any shape such as triangle, square, polygon, cycle, ellipse, and undefined shape. 
     First Embodiment 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a label holder  101  comprises two air blowout chambers  111  and  112  and an air suction chamber  110  which is arranged between the two air blowout chambers  111  and  112  and the level of which is different to that of the air blowout chambers  111  and  112 . In addition, two air connection pipes  113  and  114  are provided with the two air blowout chambers  111  and  112  so as to divide the two air blowout chambers  111  and  112  into three equal parts in a longitudinal direction. The air connection pipes  113  and  114  connect the air blowout chambers  111  and  112 . The label holder  101  is provided in a label holding device (not shown in FIG.  1 ). 
     Moreover, the air suction chamber  110  and the air blowout chambers  111  and  112  shown in FIG. 1 are in a cylindrical shape. However, as far as air supplied from an air source (not shown in the figures) can be divided equally into a plurality of blowout air pipes  131  and  132  explained below, or negative pressure generated by an air suction member (not shown in the figures) can be divided equally into air suction pipes  133  explained below, the shape of the air suction chamber  110  and the air blowout chambers  111  and  112  is not limited to a cylindrical shape. 
     The label holder  101  comprises a label sucking face  121 . A label is sucked by the label sucking face  121 . Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the label is sucked by a label sucking area  125  at the label sucking face  121 . A plurality of recesses  134  are formed in the label sucking area  125  so as to cross a longitudinal direction of the label sucking area  125  and be positioned at regular intervals. Moreover, ten recesses  134  are formed in the label sucking area  125  in this embodiment. It is preferably to change the number and the position of the recess  134  depending on a shape and a size of the label sucked at the label sucking area  125 . 
     A plurality of air blowout pipes  131  and  132  and air suction pipes  133  which extend to the label sucking face  121  are provided respectively in the air blowout chambers  111  and  112  and the air suction chamber  110 . The air blowout pipes  131  and  132  and the air suction pipes  133  are positioned in a longitudinal direction of the label sucking area  125  so as to maintain a regular interval equal to that of the recesses  134 . That is, the openings of the air blowout pipes  131  and  132  and air suction pipes  133  reach to the bottom of the recesses  134 . The openings are air blowout openings and air suction openings. 
     In general, a label is remarkably light; therefore, only small amount of air is sufficient to suck the label at the label sucking surface  121 . However, in order to separate the label from the label sucking face  121  and transfer it reliably and speedily to the material, it is necessary to blowout a sufficient amount of air from the air blowout pipes  131  and  132 . Therefore, it is preferably to design the diameter of the openings of the air blowout pipes  131  and  132  larger than that of the openings of the air suction pipes  133 . 
     For example, the label holder  101  can be provided in a driving mechanism  200  shown in FIG.  3 . The constitution of the driving mechanism  200  will be explained below with reference to FIG.  3 . 
     A support member  230  is provided with a body  1  of the label attaching apparatus. Two cylinders  210  and  220  which respectively operate as a moving member by orders from a control part (not shown in the figures) are provided with the support member  230 . The cylinders  210  and  220  comprise respectively bases  210   a  and  220   a  and piston rods  210   b  and  220   b . The piston rod  210   b  of the cylinder  210  is connected to a slider  201  explained below. A piston rod  220   b  of the other cylinder  220  is connected to the support member  230 . 
     The bases  210   a  and  220   a  of the cylinders  210  and  220  are provided with a guide  202  extending toward a material transfer mechanism  400  for a material  10 . The slider  201  is provided so as to move along the guide  202  in the front and rear direction. The label holder  101  is provided with the slider  201 . Furthermore, a label transfer mechanism  301  for transferring a label  12  in the direction indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 3 is provided under the guide  202 . The label  12  is transferred from the label transfer mechanism  301  to the label holder  101  at a label receiving position A on the label transfer mechanism  301 . 
     The material transfer mechanism  400  maintains the position of the material  10  so as to stand obliquely as shown in FIG.  3 . The label  12  is released from the label holder  101  toward the material  10  at a label releasing position B. The label holder  101  is provided with the slider  201  so as to rotate freely between the label receiving position A and the label releasing position B by a rotation mechanism  203 . 
     When the label holder  101  which receives and releases the label  12  by rotating between the label receiving position A and the label releasing position B is compared with a label holder which receives and releases the label  12  by parallel moving between the label receiving position A and the label releasing position B, a moving distance for receiving and releasing the label  12  of the label holder  101  which rotates is shorter than that of the label holder which moves in a parallel manner. Therefore, the label attaching apparatus comprising the label holder  101  which rotates can be compact. 
     As far as the label holder  101  can rotate between the label receiving position A and the label releasing position B, any known rotation mechanism can be used as the rotation mechanism  203  of the label holder  101 . In this embodiment, an edge of an arm  203   a  which extends upwardly from the label holder  101  toward the material transfer mechanism  400  always contacts the guide  202 . In addition, a recess  202   a  is formed at the edge near the material transfer mechanism  400  of the guide  202 . When the edge of the arm  203   a  falls into the recess  202   a  formed in the guide  202  by moving the slider  201  and contacts the inner wall near the material transfer mechanism  400  of the recess  202   a , the label holder  101  cannot move parallel to the guide  202  together with the slider  201 . However, the slider  201  further moves toward the material transfer mechanism  400  along the guide  202 . Then, the arm  203   a  rotates clockwise in a direction indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 3 while the edge of the arm  203   a  is used as a rotation center of the arm  203   a . Thereby, the label holder  101  also rotates clockwise. The rotation mechanism  203  is remarkably simple, and can rotate the label holder  101  quickly at a required angle. 
     The label sucking face  121  comes as close as possible toward a label carrying surface of the label transfer mechanism  301  at the label receiving position A. Therefore, the label  12  on the label carrying surface is sucked at the label sucking surface  121  by sucking a small amount of air from the air suction pipes  133 . 
     Moreover, it is preferably to adjust the distance between the surface of the material to which the label  12  will be attached and the label sucking face  121  at the label releasing position B so as to be smallest, with taking account of a variation of the thickness of the material  10  carried by the material transfer mechanism  400 . That is, it is preferably to adjust the distance between the surface of the material  10  having the greatest thickness and the label sucking face  121  so that it is smallest. 
     Below, actions of the label attaching apparatus will be explained. 
     In the initial condition, the piston rods  210   b  and  220   b  of the cylinders  210  and  220  are fit into the bases  210   a  and  220   a . Thereby, the label holder  101  is positioned at the label receiving position A while the label sucking face  121  faces the label transfer mechanism  301 . When the label  12  is transferred to the label receiving position A by the label transfer mechanism  301 , air in the air suction chamber  110  is sucked by a sucking member (not shown in the figures) provided outside of the label holder  101 . Then, air is sucked from a plurality of air suction pipes  133  of which the openings are formed at the label sucking face  121 , and the label  12  is sucked by the label sucking face  121 , specifically, at the openings of the recesses  134 . 
     In this embodiment, the openings of the air suction pipes  133  are formed at the bottoms of the recesses  134  having a width narrower than that of the label  12 . Therefore, the label  12  is sucked at the label sucking face  121  by contacting the label  12  with the top surface of the space in the recess  134 . Consequently, the label  12  is reliably held by the label holder  101 . 
     When the label sucking face  121  of the label holder  101  sucks the label  12 , the cylinder  210  is driven by an order from the control part (not shown in the figures). The piston rod  210   b  is extended, and pushes the label holder  101  toward the material transfer mechanism  400  together with the slider  201 . The label holder  101  rotates at the edge of the guide  202  by the rotation mechanism  203  as explained above, and the label sucking face  121  faces toward the label releasing position B. 
     When the material  10  is carried to the label releasing position B by the material transfer mechanism  400 , the cylinder  220  is driven and the piston rod  220   b  is extended. Thereby, the guide  202  moves toward the material transfer mechanism  400 . Then, the label  12  sucked at the label sucking face  121  is positioned at the label releasing position B. 
     The control part stops the operation of an air suction member, such as vacuum pump which sucks air inside of the air suction chambers  110 , and starts the operation of an air blowout member, such as a blower which supplies air to the air blowout chambers  111  and  112 . Thereby, air blowouts from a plurality of the air blowout pipes  131  and  132  approximately at the same time, and sends the label  12  to the material  10 . 
     Moreover, the components shown in FIGS. 4 to  12  which are the same as the components shown in FIGS. 1 to  3  have the same reference numerals as shown in FIGS. 1 to  3 . Thereby, an explanation for those same components is omitted in the following embodiments. 
     Second Embodiment 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the label holder  102  comprising a second embodiment of the label attaching apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a positioning member  122  in a square sided C-shape, which opens so that the label  12  can enter in a direction indicated by the X arrow, is provided with the label sucking face  121  of the label holder  102 . 
     Moreover, in order to adjust for small dislocations of the label  12  carried in the X direction by the label transfer mechanism  301 , it is preferable to form the edges of the positioning member  122  forming the opening  122   a  in a taper or an arc. 
     The label holder  102  of this embodiment can also be provided with the drive mechanism  200  of the first embodiment, shown in FIG.  3 . That is, the label holder  102  is provided with the slider  201  so that the opening  122   a  of the positioning member  122  faces to the upstream side in the label carrying direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3, which is formed by moving the label transfer mechanism  301 . The label  12  carried by the label transfer mechanism  301  enters into the positioning member  122  from the opening  122   a , contacts the inner wall of the positioning member  122 , and is positioned. 
     According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the irregularity of the suction position of the label  12  at the label suction face  121 . Therefore, the label attaching apparatus of this embodiment can reliably attach the label  12  at the position specified in advance of the material  10 . 
     Third Embodiment 
     In the first and second embodiments, it is preferable that the same amount of air is blown from each air blowout pipe  131  and  132 . However, in fact, the amount of air blown from each blowout air pipe  131  and  132  is varied depending on the size of the air blowout chambers  111  and  112  with respect to a size of the air blowout pipes  131  and  132 , the number and the position of the air blowout pipes  131  and  132 . It is difficult to make the amount of air blown from each blowout air pipes  131  and  132  uniform. 
     To the extent that the label  12  is thin and the area with respect to the thickness of the label  12  is large, problems due to the ununiformity of the amount of air blowing from each air blowout pipe  131  and  132  is significant. That is, when the label  12  is attached on the material, wrinkle L shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is easily formed. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the label holder  103  which can improve the generation of the wrinkle shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. When the thin label  12  is transferred to the material  10 , the entire label  12  receives uniform air force from the label holder  101  and  102 , the air resistance of open air applied to the center part of the label  12  is larger than that of the open air applied to the edge parts of the label  12 . Therefore, the center part of the label  12  expands, and the label  12  bends. Then, the edge parts of the label  12  reach the material  10  faster than the center part of the label  12 . Therefore, it is believed that one or more wrinkles are formed along the width direction of the label  12 , as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. 
     In order to solve the problem, the openings of the air blowout pipes  131  and  132  which are positioned on at least one part of the edges of the label  12  are closed. Specifically, the openings of the air blowout pipes  131  and  132  which are positioned at both ends in a longitudinal direction of the label suction area  125  are closed, as shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment. Thereby, both ends of the label  12  in the longitudinal direction of the label  12  do not receive air from the label holder  103 . According to the label attaching apparatus comprising the label holder  103  in this embodiment, the air force due to the label holder  103  to the label  12  with respect to the resistance of the open air can be adjusted, that is, the entire label  12  is pushed uniformly toward the material  10 . Therefore, the generation of the wrinkles in the attached label  12  can be prevented. 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     FIG. 7 is a planar view showing the label holder  104  comprising a fourth embodiment of the label attaching apparatus according to the present invention. 
     Openings of the air blowout pipes  131  and  132  at both ends in a longitudinal direction of the label sucking face  121  are closed in the label holder  104 , similar to the label holder  103  in the third embodiment. In addition, the diameter of the openings of the air blowout pipes  141  and  142  arranged at one side in a longitudinal direction of the label sucking face  121  is larger than that of the openings of the air blowout pipes  131  and  132  arranged at the other side. The width of the recesses  144  for the openings of the air blowout pipes  141  and  142  enlarges. 
     According to the label attaching apparatus comprising the label holder  104  in this embodiment, an amount of air blowing from the air blowout pipes  141  and  142  having a large diameter is larger than that of the air blowing from the air blowout pipes  131  and  132  having a small diameter. Therefore, it is possible to press the label  12  with a large air force toward the material  10  at one side in a longitudinal direction of the label sucking face  121 . 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 are a schematic view for explaining a function of the label holder  10   104  shown in FIG.  7 . As explained above, the openings of the air blowout pipes  131 ,  132 ,  141 , and  142  are provided at the label sucking face  121  of the label holder  104 . That is, the openings of the air blowout pipes  141  and  142  positioned at the downstream side, in a transfer direction indicated by the arrow Y, that is, at an area G, is larger than those of the air blowout pipes  131  and  132  positioned at the upstream side, that is, at an area H. Thereby, when air is blown from the label holder  104 , the area G blows air with an air force larger than that of the area H. Therefore, the end of the label  12  at the downstream side in the transfer direction reaches the surface of the material  10  faster than the other end of the label  12 . Moreover, the label  12  is attached on the material  10  being transferred by the material transfer mechanism  400 . Therefore, the material  10 , to which only one end of the label  12  in a longitudinal direction of the label  12  is attached and the other end of the label  12  is not attached or weakly attached, is transferred in a transfer direction. Moreover, while the material  10  is transferred in the transfer direction, air is blown out from the air blowout pipes  131 ,  132 ,  141 , and  142  so as to push the label  12  toward the material  10 . Therefore, as the material  10  is transferred in the transfer direction Y, that is, as the label  12  is transferred from the area H to the area G of the label holder  104 , the label  12  is pushed toward the material  10  with a larger air force. Thereby, the part of the label  12  which is not attached or weakly attached on the material  10  is attached reliably on the material  10  in sequence. Consequently, wrinkles are not hardly formed in the attached label  12 . 
     Fifth Embodiment 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic view for explaining a fifth embodiment of the label attaching apparatus according to the present invention. 
     In the first to the fourth embodiments, the label  12  is pushed toward and attached on the material  10  by air blowing from the label holder  101  to  104 . However, after the label  12  is transferred to the material  10  by the label holder  105 , a blower  109  blows air with high power to the label  12  transferred to the material  10  so that the label  12  is reliably attached on the material  10  in this embodiment. According to the label attaching apparatus in this embodiment, the label  12  is more reliably attached on the material  10 . 
     Sixth Embodiment 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the label holder  106  comprising a sixth embodiment of the label attaching apparatus according to the present invention. The label holder  106  is provided with the positioning member  122  explained in the second embodiment. 
     In order to shorten the period for attaching the label  12  on the material  10 , it is preferable to start air suction as quickly as possible. However, when air suction starts before the label  12  enters from the opening  122   a  in the positioning member  122  and contacts the inner wall of the positioning member  122 , the position of the label  12  at the label holder  106  is indefinite. Therefore, it is difficult to attach reliably the label  12  at the required position of the material  10 . 
     In order to solve the problem, grooves  154  are formed at the label sucking face  121  of the label holder  106  so as to removes the side surface of the label holder  106 , at where the opening  122   a  is formed. That is, the grooves  154  removes the side surface of the label holder  106  where the label  12  enters. Moreover, the openings  131 ,  132 ,  141 , and  142  of the air blowout pipes are formed at the bottom of the grooves  154 . 
     When the grooves  154 , having such a structure, are formed at the label holder  106 , and air suction starts, negative pressure inside of the grooves  154  is not sufficient directly to suck the label  12 . Therefore, the label  12  can be transferred to the position where the label  12  contacts the inner wall of the positioning member  121  by utilizing the time lag. 
     Moreover, the grooves  154  may be directly formed in the label holder  106 . However, the grooves  154  may be formed at the label sucking face  121  which can be freely put on and taken off the label holder  106 . 
     Seventh Embodiment 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the label holder  107  comprising a seventh embodiment of the label attaching apparatus according to the present invention. 
     In some cases, an attachment of the label  12  is not necessary depending on the kind of the material  10 . In addition, in some cases, a trial run for adjusting each part comprising the label attaching apparatus is carried out using a label having printed no printed information, before a real run is carried out. Furthermore, in some cases, a label check member (not shown in the figures) judges whether the label conditions before attachment is good. In order to recover and dispose of these unnecessary labels  12 , a label recovery member  180  is provided with the label attaching apparatus in this embodiment. 
     The label recovery member  180  comprises a label receiver  181  for receiving unnecessary label  12 , a supporter  182  for supporting the label receiver  181  so that it can rotate freely, and a rotation driver (not shown in FIG. 12) for rotating the supporter  182  and thereby rotating the label receiver  181  between the position where the label receiver  181  faces the label sucking face  121  and the position where the label receiver  181  is far from the label sucking face  121  and which is indicated by a two-dot chain line. The label receiver  181  comprises preferably a net body or a porous body, in order to be able to pass through air blowing from the label holder  107  when the unnecessary label  12  is released from the label holder  107 . 
     When the label holder  107  receives the unnecessary label  12  from the label transfer mechanism  301 , the label holder  107  moves to a waiting position C by cylinder  210 , as shown in FIG.  3 . The label receiver  181  rotates from the position where is far from the label sucking face  121  to the position in where the label receiver  181  faces the label sucking face  121  at the waiting position C by the rotation driver. Maintaining the position of the label receiver  181 , air suction for sucking the label  12  is stopped. Then, the unnecessary label  12  is transferred to the label receiver  181  by blowing air. The label receiver  181  receiving the unnecessary label  12  rotates to the position where the label receiver  181  is far from the label sucking face  121 . For example, the unnecessary label  12  is dropped from the label receiver  181  by rotating the label holder  107  using the rotation mechanism  203 , and is disposed. 
     The preferred embodiments of the label attaching apparatuss according to the present invention are explained above. However, the label attaching apparatus of the present invention is not specifically limited to these embodiments. 
     For example, in order to solve the problem that a resistance of open air applied to the center part of the label  12  in a rectangle is larger than that of open air applied to the edge parts of the label  12  in a rectangle, and the label  12  bends, the openings of the air blowout pipes  131 ,  132 ,  141 , and  142  at both ends in a longitudinal direction of the label suction area  125  are closed in the third and fourth embodiments. However, it is preferable that the openings of the air blowout pipes  131 ,  132 ,  141 , and  142  are arranged while considering that the value of the air resistance and the position where the wrinkles are generated depends on the shape and the size of the label  12 . 
     Moreover, the label holder  101  to  107  is provided with two air blowout chambers  111  and  112  in the first to seventh embodiments. However, only one air blowout chamber or three or more air blowout chambers may be provided with the label holder  101  to  107 . 
     Furthermore, the label receiver  181  can rotate freely in the seventh embodiment. However, as far as the label receiver  181  can move between the position where the label receiver  181  faces to the label sucking face  121  and the position where the label receiver  181  is far from the label sucking face  121 , the label receiver  181  may move in a parallel manner.