Abstract:
A functional tag applicator permitting stable attachment of functional tags is offered. The applicator includes a tag support mechanism for supporting the peeled functional tag. The tag support mechanism has a sliding member and a pair of left and right functional tag support members. The sliding member slides in an up-and-down direction when a control handle is operated. The tag support members are opened and closed in response to vertical motion of the sliding member. The tag support members have, at their lower ends, support portions for supporting the tag. The tag peeled off from the tape by a peeling member is supplied to the support portions of the functional tag support members. Downward motion of the sliding member spreads apart the tag support members, releasing the tag. Pressure is applied on the upper surface of the tag, so that the tag is stuck.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a functional tag applicator of accepting multiple sheet-like labels or tags (hereafter referred to as functional tags), arranging the tags at regular intervals on tape, temporarily holding the tags, peeling the tags one by one while feeding out the tape incrementally, and sticking the tags as labels on products. 
         [0003]    Herein, the “functional tag” means a label or tags incorporating some function, which cannot be realized by a label or tag made only from papers. The functional tag includes, for example, an IC tag having an Integrated Circuit Semiconductor chip (IC) therein, which is capable of electronically storing information such as manufacturer of a product, place of production, quality, channel of distribution, and price; a robbery prevention label or tag, and the like. 
         [0004]    2. Prior Art 
         [0005]    Plural techniques in the form of hand labelers for causing labels on which price and other information are printed to be attached on products are well known in the art. For example, a “label applicator” disclosed in JP-A-2001-106215 has a feed-out mechanism activated by handle action for feeding out tape in a given direction, a pawl mounting member swingably disposed on the front-end side of the body of the applicator, a sensitive pawl swingably mounted to the front end of the pawl mounting member, coming into engagement with the front end of label bonded to a roll of tape when it is fed out, and angularly displacing the pawl mounting member, an adjust-and-stop lever interlocking with the angular displacement of the pawl mounting member, automatically adjusting the length of the portion of the tape fed out by the feed-out mechanism to the adhesion pitch of the label, and stopping motion of the feed-out mechanism, and a disengaging member for disengaging the sensitive pawl from the front end of the label interlockingly with the returning motion of the handle. The sensitive pawl is designed to be slidably displaced at least widthwise of the tape and/or label according to the shape and size of the used label. 
         [0006]    The sensitive pawl is slidably displaced at least widthwise of the tape and/or label according to the shape and size of the used label. Consequently, the pawl can be moved so as to be aligned to the widthwise-central position of the label whatever shape and size the label has. Hence, label can be fed out precisely and timely. The label can be stuck reliably. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, a “label applicator” disclosed in JP-A-2006-69664 comprises the fundamental structure disclosed in the above-cited JP-A-2001-106215 together with an adjusting mechanism including a limitation portion capable of controlling the amount of returning motion made either by a backing sheet-transporting member or by a manual lever. Where a continuous label stock in which no space is formed between adjacent labels is used, if the limitation portion of the adjusting mechanism is brought to a position located immediately behind the returning motion stop position of the backing sheet-transporting member or manual lever determined in response to arrival of the front end of the next label at the label sensor, and if the label sensor fails to detect the arrival of the front end of the next label, the amount of returning motion of the backing sheet-transporting member or manual lever is limited by the limitation portion of the adjusting mechanism. 
         [0008]    Because the amount of returning motion of the backing sheet-transporting member or manual lever is limited by the limitation portion of the adjusting mechanism, if the arrival of the front end of the label should not be detected, it is unlikely that plural labels are peeled off at a time. This prevents jamming of labels; otherwise, troubles would be produced. 
         [0009]    However, any of the above-described conventional hand labelers is merely designed so that thin, lightweight, and flexible labels on which prices and other information are printed are stuck on products. These hand labelers do not have capabilities of attaching sheet-like functional tags that are harder and thicker than labels. 
         [0010]    That is, a sheet-like functional tag is thicker and heavier than a label. Therefore, there is the problem that when the tag is peeled off from tape incrementally fed out by handle action, the tag will immediately drop from its front-end side by its own weight. Consequently, the tag will not be correctly stuck on the product at the predetermined position. 
         [0011]    Furthermore, prior art labels which are thin and lightweight do not come off even if products carrying the labels thereon are moved as long as the labels are placed at predetermined positions. Functional tags are thicker and heavier. If the tags are simply made to rest on products at predetermined positions, sufficient sticking force is not obtained. There is the problem that if the products are moved, the tags peel and come off from the products. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a functional tag applicator capable of causing sheet-like functional tags peeled off from tape incrementally fed out by handle action to be stuck at correct positions on products and of applying a some degree of pressing force on the stuck functional tags such that the tags can be stably stuck. 
         [0013]    A functional tag applicator according to the present invention has a body frame, a grip integrally formed with the body frame, a control handle mounted in an opposite relation to the grip, a feed-out mechanism for feeding out tape in response to an operation of the control handle, a sensitive pawl for sensing a front end of functional tag stuck and held on the tape, a peeling member for peeling off the functional tag from the tape, and a tag support mechanism for supporting the peeled functional tag. The tag support mechanism has a sliding member sliding in an up-and-down direction in response to an operation of the control handle and left and right functional tag support members of a pair that are opened and dosed in response to vertical motion of the sliding member. Each of the tag support members has a support portion at its lower end. The support portions of the tag support members act to support the functional tag. The functional tag peeled off by the peeling member from the tape fed out by operation of the control handle is supplied to the support portions of the functional tag support members. Downward motion of the sliding member spreads apart the functional tag support members to thereby release the supplied tag. Then, pressure is applied on the upper surface of the functional tag. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the support mechanism is surrounded by a box-like outer wall having at least a front-end wall and both sidewalls. The box-like outer wall has a rear end and a bottom end that are open. Upper and lower guide pins of a pair protrude from the inner side surface of the front-end wall. A slit-like guide groove extending in an up-and-down direction is formed in the sliding member. The guide pins are slidably fitted in the guide groove. 
         [0015]    Preferably, each of the functional tag support members has an intermediate portion pivotally mounted to a shaft protruding from the inner side surface of the front-end wall. Guide bosses protrude from around the upper ends of the tag support members toward the front-end wall. The sliding member is provided with cam grooves of a pair arranged symmetrically left and right with respect to the center of the sliding member. The grooves are spaced from each other by a space that increases in going downward. The guide bosses are slidably fitted in the cam grooves. 
         [0016]    Preferably, a shaft member is rotatably mounted between the sidewalls of the support mechanism. The control handle is connected to one end of the shaft member via a link member. Slit-like cutouts or recessed portions are formed in the arm members, which in turn integrally protrude from a free end of the shaft member. Bosses protrude from both side surfaces of the sliding member, and are engaged in the cutouts. The sliding member is moved up or down by rotating the shaft member through a given angle. At the same time, the functional tag support members are driven to be opened or closed via the guide bosses fitted in the cam grooves formed in the sliding member. 
         [0017]    The sliding member is always biased downward by coil springs. Preferably, a shock-absorbing member is mounted at the lower end of the sliding member. The support portions of the functional tag support members can have rectangular cutouts. 
         [0018]    The apparatus of the present invention has the sliding member moved up and down by handle action and the pair of functional tag support members that are opened or closed by vertical motion of the sliding member. The support portions are formed in the lower ends of the tag support members. Therefore, a functional tag peeled off from tape via the peeling member is supplied to the support portions of the functional tag support members, the tape being fed out by operation of the control handle. The sliding member is lowered to spread apart the tag support members, thus releasing the supplied tag. At the same time, the hard functional tag can be stuck on a product at a predetermined position by applying pressure on the upper surface of the tag. In this way, excellent advantages can be gained. 
         [0019]    The prior art hand labeler structure can be used unchanged in performing a sequence of works starting from feeding of tape and ending with peeling of a functional tag from tape. Consequently, the manufacturing cost can be suppressed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a functional tag applicator according to the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of main portions of the functional tag applicator, 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view taken from the rear side of a tag support mechanism that is a main portion of the functional tag applicator; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of the tag support mechanism, and in which the mechanism is not in operation; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the tag support mechanism, and in which the mechanism is in operation; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a schematic side elevation of a control system for the functional tag applicator; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a part of tape on which commercially available functional tags are stuck and held, the tape being capable of being used with the functional tag applicator. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a functional tag applicator  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention has a grip  3   a  and a control handle  3   b  at the rear end of a body frame  2 , in the same way as in the prior art hand labeler. A roll of tape  5  is rotatably disposed on a fixed shaft  4  protruding from a side surface near the midpoint of the body frame  2 . A stopper  6  is detachably mounted at the front end of the fixed shaft  4  to prevent the roll of tape  5  from coming off. The tape  5  can be fed out toward the front end by operating the control handle  3   b . The fed tape  5  is passed around the front end of a peeling member  7  and fed backwardly toward the rear end. Consequently, functional tags aligned on the tape  5  and stuck on it are peeled off successively, supplied to predetermined positions on products, and stuck there. The functional tag applicator  1  is constructed in this way. Furthermore, a functional tag support mechanism  8  is disposed on the front-end side. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the tag support mechanism  8  is surrounded by a box-like outer wall having open rear end and lower end. A sliding member  9  that slides in an up-and-down direction is disposed inside a front-end wall  8   a  of the outer wall. A slit-like guide groove  10  extending in the up-and-down direction is formed in the sliding member  9 . Guide pins  11   a  and  11   b  of a pair mounted to the front-end wall  8   a  are fitted in the guide groove  10 . The sliding member moves up and down vertically while guided by the guide pins. Note that the present invention is not limited to this structure if any members such as rail-like guide members that permit the sliding member to slide in the vertical direction are adopted. 
         [0029]    Pins  12   a  and  12   b  are mounted to top portions of both side surfaces of the sliding member  9 . Pins  13   a  and  13   b  are mounted to the front-end wall  8   a . The pins  12   a  and  13   a  are connected by a coil spring  14   a . Similarly, the pins  12   b  and  13   b  are connected by a coil spring  14   b . Thus, the sliding member  9  is always biased downward. Bosses  15   a  and  15   b  are located near the midpoints of the side surfaces, respectively, and protrude outwardly. 
         [0030]    The sliding member  9  is provided with cam grooves  16   a  and  16   b  arranged symmetrically left and right with respect to the center of the sliding member. The grooves  16   a  and  16   b  are spaced from each other by a space that increases in going downward. A shock-absorbing member  9   a  made of rubber or the like is mounted to the lower end of the sliding member. 
         [0031]    Shafts  18   a  and  18   b  protrude from the front-end wall  8   a  and are located on the outsides of the cam grooves  16   a  and  16   b , respectively. Functional tag support members,  17   a  and  17   b , of a pair are rotatably mounted and arranged symmetrically. The functional tag support members  17   a  and  17   b  are pivotally mounted to the shaft  18   a  and  18   b  at their intermediate points. Guide bosses  19   a  and  19   b  protrude from around the upper ends of the tag support members  17   a  and  17   b , respectively, and are engaged in the cam grooves  16   a  and  16   b , respectively, formed in the sliding member  9 . Cutouts  20   a  and  20   b  are formed in the lower ends of the support members to support a functional tag. As the sliding member  9  moves up or down, the guide bosses  19   a  and  19   b  move up or down along the cam grooves  16   a  and  16   b , thus opening or dosing the cutouts  20   a  and  20   b  in the lower ends. 
         [0032]    The sliding member  9  is driven to move up and down by a shaft member  21  held between the sidewalls  8   b  and  8   c  of the box-like outer wall. That is, arm members  22   a  and  22   b  of a pair integrally protrude from the shaft member  21 . Slit-like cutouts or recessed portions  22   c  and  22   d  are formed on the front-end sides of the arm members. The bosses  15   a  and  15   b  are engaged in the cutouts, respectively. The portion of the shaft member  21  on the side of the sidewall  8   c  protrudes toward the body frame  2 . A link member  23  is mounted to the protruding end. A boss  24  protrudes from the front end of the link member  23 . A member  25  in the form of a flat plate is disposed on the boss  24  such that the plate-like member  25  is brought into and out of engagement with the boss  24  by piston action. The above structure merely forms one example for moving the sliding member  9  up and down. The invention is not limited to this example. For example, a cam member that can be rotated by a belt, which in turn is driven by handle action, may be engaged to the sliding member. The cam member may be rotated to bring it into and out of engagement with the sliding member, thus moving the sliding member up and down. Furthermore, other structure may also be employed. In summary, any structure may be adopted as long as it can feed out tape in response to a handle action and the sliding member can be moved up and down. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the plate-like member  25  has a cutout or recessed portion  25   a  at its front-end side. The cutout  25   a  engages the boss  24 . A protrusion having a tilted portion  25   b  is formed at the lower end of the plate-like member. The rear end of the plate-like member is connected to an intermediate portion of a lever member  28  that is disposed swingably relative to the control handle  3   b  via transmission gears. The control handle  3   b  has a toothed portion  3   c  that is in mesh with a sectorial-toothed segment  27  via an intermediate gear  26 . The lever member  28  is integrally coupled to the toothed segment  27 . 
         [0034]    Because of this connection, when the control handle  3   b  is gripped and the apparatus is driven, the sectorial-toothed segment  27  is rotated via the intermediate gear  26 . The lever member  28  coupled to the toothed segment  27  is rotated in the direction of arrow “a”. As a result, the plate-like member  25  is drawn toward the rear end. A guide pin  29  protrudes from the wall surface of the body frame  2 . When the plate-like member  25  is pulled toward the rear end, the guide pin  29  comes into abutment with the tilted portion  25   b , pushing up the whole plate-like member. At the same time, the cutout  25   a  is disengaged from the boss  24 . A spring  30  is mounted to bias the plate-like member  25  downward at all times. 
         [0035]    A feed-out member  31  and a sensitive pawl  32  are mounted. When the control handle  3   b  is operated and the lever member  28  is rotated in the direction of the arrow “a”, the feed-out member  31  feeds out the tape  5  and the pawl  32  detects a functional tag. There is also provided a tape guide plate  33 . The operations of these members for feeding out the tape  5  and for detecting the position of the functional tag assumed before it is peeled off from the tape  5  and their functions are substantially identical with the operations and functions of the hand labeler which has been already described as the prior art and for which a patent has been filed by the present applicant and so their detailed description is omitted. In summary, the apparatus which can successively feed out the labels stuck on the tape when the handle is operated and which can peel off the labels one by one and stick them on products can be applied to the tape  5  on which functional tags  34  are stuck as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0036]    The operation of the functional tag applicator  1  according to the present invention is next described. 
         [0037]    When the functional tag applicator  1  is not in use, i.e., when no force is applied to the control handle  3   b , the sliding member  9  of the tag support mechanism  8  is pulled by the coil springs  14   a  and  14   b  and held at the lower end as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The lower ends of the functional tag support members  17   a  and  17   b  are urged outward and spread apart 
         [0038]    Under this condition, when the grip  3   a  and control handle  3   b  are gripped together and the handle  3   b  is pulled in while aligning the tag support mechanism  8  at the front-end side with a position on a product where the functional tag is attached, the control handle  3   b  rotates as shown in  FIG. 6 . The lever member  28  is rotated in the direction of the arrow “a”. The plate-like member  25  is drawn toward the rear end. Concomitantly, the link member  23  is also pulled in. As a result, the shaft member  21  rotates through a given angle. 
         [0039]    As the shaft member  21  rotates, the arm members  22   a  and  22   b  mounted to the shaft member  21  rotate upward. The sliding member  9  is raised to vertical (see  FIG. 5 ) via the bosses  15   a  and  15   b  in engagement with the front ends of the arm members. Then, the guide bosses  19   a  and  19   b  engaged in the cam grooves  16   a  and  16   b  are moved downward along the cam grooves  16   a  and  16   b  which are spread apart more widely in going downward. The functional tag support members  17   a  and  17   b  rotate about the shafts  18   a  and  18   b  and move in the direction to close their lower ends. 
         [0040]    In this state, the functional tag support members  17   a  and  17   b  are on standby. The control handle  3   b  continues to be gripped. The lever member  28  is rotated further in the direction of the arrow “a”. The feed-out member  31  is operated via a time-lag member  31   a  to feed out the tape  5 . The tape  5  is folded back at an acute angle around the front end of the peeling member  7  and fed backward. Consequently, one functional tag  34  stuck and held on the tape  5  is peeled off and protrudes ahead of the peeling member  7 . As indicated by the dotted line in  FIG. 5 , both ends of the functional tag  34  are supported in the cutouts  20   a  and  20   b  in the functional tag support members  17   a  and  17   b.    
         [0041]    The control handle  3   b  continues to be pulled in unchanged to rotate the lever member  28  for pulling the plate-like member  25  toward the rear end. The tilted member  25   b  of the plate-like member  25  comes into abutment with the guide pin  29  and becomes pushed up. The cutout  25   a  is inevitably moved upward out of engagement with the boss  24  of the link member  23 . Because the link member  23  disengages from the boss  24  and becomes free, the sliding member  9  pushed upward by the arm members  22   a  and  22   b  are forcibly pulled downward by the coil springs  14   a  and  14   b.    
         [0042]    Because of this downward pulling, the guide bosses  19   a  and  19   b  in engagement with the cam grooves  16   a  and  16   b  move along the grooves  16   a  and  16   b  in the inward, dosing direction in a manner contrary to the above-described case of raising.  5 . Consequently, the lower ends of the functional tag support members  17   a  and  17   b  are moved in the opening direction. The functional tag  34  supported in the cutouts  20   a  and  20   b  is released. The sliding member  9  descending simultaneously with the releasing strikes and pushes the upper surface of the tag  34 . After checking the striking operation, the gripping is loosened to return the control handle  3   b  to its original position, thus making preparations for the following operations. The pushing performed by striking operation is carried out via the shock-absorbing member  9   a  as made of rubber as described previously. Therefore, it is unlikely that the functional tag  34  and data recorded therein are damaged. 
         [0043]    The gripping of the control handle  3   b  is loosened to return it to its original position. Thus, the lever member  28  is rotated in the reverse direction, pushing the plate-like member  25  back toward the front end. Consequently, the boss  24  in the link member  23  is again fitted into the cutout  25   a . The plate-like member  25  and the shaft member  21  are interconnected via the link member  23 . That is, the tag support mechanism  8  assumes the state shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0044]    As mentioned above, the grip  3   a  and control handle  3   b  of the functional tag applicator  1  according to the present invention are gripped strongly and then released. During this one sequence of operations, the tape  5  is fed out from the standby tag support mechanism  8 . A new functional tag  34  is peeled off and supplied to the functional tag support members  17   a  and  17   b  that are on standby. The supplied functional tag  34  is placed into a position where the tag should be stuck. Then, the support members are pushed against the tag. Thus, a sequence of operations is done. 
         [0045]    As described so far, a functional tag support mechanism is provided to permit tape having a functional tag stuck thereon to be used by employing the function of the prior art hand labeler when the functional tag should be stuck on a product. If the size, thickness, or shape of the functional tag is varied, it is possible to accommodate the variation. Hence, the invention shows great utility.