Abstract:
A label affixing system with which a signal can be supplied to a label affixing machine from an image capturing unit which detects a conveyed object to be labeled. The label affixing system includes a plurality of conveyance lines, a CCD for capturing an image of the conveyed object, and a label affixing machine that includes a plurality of printing formats and affixes a printed label to the conveyed object. The system measures a distance to the conveyed object subjected to image capture by the CCD; selects one printing format from the plurality of printing formats on the basis of the measured distance to the conveyed object; prints the label on the basis of the selected printing format; and affixes the printed label to the conveyed object.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is a 35 U.S.C. §§371 national phase conversion of PCT/JP2009/053343, filed Feb. 25, 2009, which claims priority of Japanese Application No. 2008-050353, filed Feb. 29, 2008, incorporated by reference herein. The PCT International Application was published in the Japanese language. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a label affixing system for affixing a label on which predetermined content is printed, onto a conveyed object conveyed by a conveyance device. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A conventional label affixing system will be described on the basis of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0006]    The label affixing system is provided with a conveyance line, detectors  63 ,  64 , a computer  65 , and a label affixing machine  66 . 
         [0007]    The conveyance line is comprised of two lines, namely a first conveyance line  61  and a second conveyance line  62 , such that a different type of packaging box (conveyed object)  60   a ,  60   b  can be conveyed along each line. 
         [0008]    The detector  63  for detecting the packaging box  60   a  is provided to the side of the first conveyance line  61 . 
         [0009]    The detector  64  for detecting the packaging box  60   b  is provided to the side of the second conveyance line  62 . 
         [0010]    The detectors  63 ,  64  are electrically connected to the computer  65 , to be described below. 
         [0011]    The detector  63  is capable of supplying a detection signal to the computer  65  upon detection of the conveyed packaging box  60   a.    
         [0012]    The detector  64  is capable of supplying a detection signal to the computer  65  upon detection of the conveyed packaging box*  60   b.    
         [0013]    The computer  65  includes a control unit having various programs, a work area, and so on, a storage unit, and so on (not shown in the drawings). 
         [0014]    The storage unit stores a plurality of printing formats, printing data such as alphabetic characters and graphics, and so on. 
         [0015]    The printing format and printing data can be supplied to the label affixing machine  66 , to be described below, as a printing pattern. 
         [0016]    The computer  65  is electrically connected to the label affixing machine  66 . 
         [0017]    For example, when a detection signal is supplied to the computer  65  from the detector  63 , the computer  65  determines that the first conveyance line  61  is operative, and can therefore call up a first printing format corresponding to the packaging box  60   a  and first printing data corresponding to the first printing format from the storage unit. 
         [0018]    The first printing format and first printing data called up from the storage unit can then be transmitted to the label affixing machine  66  from the computer  65  as a first printing pattern. 
         [0019]    Further, when a signal is supplied to the computer  65  from the detector  64 , the computer  65  determines that the second conveyance line  62  is operative, and can therefore call up a second printing format corresponding to the packaging box  60   b  and second printing data corresponding to the second printing format from the storage unit. 
         [0020]    The second printing format and second printing data called up from the storage unit can then be transmitted to the label affixing machine  66  from the computer  65  as a second printing pattern. 
         [0021]    Upon reception of the first printing pattern, the label affixing device  66  can print a label L in accordance with the first printing pattern on the basis of the printing pattern transmitted from the computer  65 . 
         [0022]    The printed label can then be affixed to the packaging box  60   a  conveyed by the first conveyance line  61 . 
         [0023]    Upon reception of the second printing pattern, the label affixing device  66  can print the label L in accordance with the second printing pattern on the basis of the printing pattern transmitted from the computer  65 . 
         [0024]    The printed label L can then be affixed to the packaging box  60   b  conveyed by the second conveyance line  62 . 
         [0025]    However, the need to record a plurality of printing formats and printing data in the computer leads to an increase in the scale of the system and an increase in the amount of space that needs to be secured. 
         [0026]    Moreover, the computer must receive a signal from one of the detectors and transmit printing information to the label affixing machine, and therefore cables connecting the computer, the detectors, and the label affixing machine to each other must be laid, leading to an increase in cable length and the generation of noise, static electricity, and so on during laying of the cable. 
         [0027]    Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication H2-109893 discloses a system in which a labeling robot, a camera, a conveyor, and so on are electrically connected to a computer, and two conveyors are arranged side by side. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    The present invention has been designed in consideration of the problems described above, and an object thereof is to provide a label affixing system with which a signal can be supplied to a label affixing machine from a detector for detecting a conveyed object. 
         [0029]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a label affixing system with which an increase in the scale of the system can be prevented and a space-saving can be achieved. 
         [0030]    The present invention focuses on an image data signal, comprising in one aspect a label affixing system including a conveyance line for conveying a conveyed object, image capturing means for capturing an image of the conveyed object, and a label affixing machine that includes a plurality of printing formats and affixes a printed label to the conveyed object, the label affixing system comprising: a measuring step of measuring a distance to the conveyed object using data relating to the image captured by the image capturing means; a selecting step of selecting one printing format from the plurality of printing formats on the basis of the measured distance to the conveyed object; a printing step of printing the label on the basis of the selected printing format; and an affixing step of affixing the printed label to the conveyed object. 
         [0031]    In a second aspect of a label affixing system, the conveyance line comprises a first conveyance line and a second conveyance line. The label affixing system further comprises: a specifying step of specifying the first conveyance line or the second conveyance line by specifying the distance to the conveyed object on the basis of the data relating to the image captured by the image capturing means; and a conveyance halting step of halting driving of the second conveyance line after determining that the conveyed object is being conveyed by the first conveyance line. 
         [0032]    In a further aspect, the label affixing machine comprises storage means for storing the plurality of printing formats and printing data. 
         [0033]    The label affixing system of the present invention is capable of measuring the distance to a conveyed object using an image capturing unit for detecting the conveyed object, and printing a label in accordance with a predetermined printing format on the basis of the distance to the conveyed object. 
         [0034]    Further, information relating to the conveyed object can be supplied to a label affixing machine from the image capturing unit, thereby eliminating the need for a computer such that the scale of the system does not increase. 
         [0035]    Further, a plurality of printing formats, alphabetic character data, and so on can be stored in the label affixing machine, thereby eliminating the need for a computer such that space-saving can be realized. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  is an overall schematic constitutional diagram showing an example of a label affixing system according to the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 2  is a schematic constitutional diagram showing an example of a label affixing machine; 
           [0038]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a printing control unit of the label affixing machine; 
           [0039]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing an example of a control box; 
           [0040]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the label affixing system; and 
           [0041]      FIG. 6  shows a conventional label affixing system. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0042]    An embodiment of the present invention will be described below on the basis of  FIGS. 1 to 5 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 1  is an overall schematic constitutional diagram showing an example of a label affixing system according to the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a schematic constitutional diagram showing an example of a label affixing machine.  FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a printing control unit of the label affixing machine.  FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing an example of a control box.  FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the label affixing system. 
         [0044]    A label affixing system  1  mainly includes a conveyance line  2 , a confluence line  3 , an integrated line  4 , an image capturing unit  5 , and a label affixing machine  6 . 
         [0045]    On the conveyance line  2 , a first conveyor (No. 1)  7  and a second conveyor (No. 2)  10  are arranged side by side. 
         [0046]    A plurality of rollers  8  . . .  8  are arranged in parallel on the first conveyor  7 , and when the rollers  8  . . .  8  are driven by driving a motor M 1 , they are capable of conveying a packaging box (conveyed object) P 1  from an upstream side to the confluence line  3  to be described below. 
         [0047]    A plurality of rollers  11  . . .  11  are arranged in parallel on the second conveyor  10 , and when the rollers  11  . . .  11  are driven by driving a motor M 2 , they are capable of conveying a packaging box (conveyed object) P 2  from the upstream side to the confluence line  3  to be described below. 
         [0048]    The first conveyor  7  and second conveyor  10 * are provided with separate motors M 1 , M 2  so that they can be driven and stopped independently. 
         [0049]    The confluence line  3  mainly includes a confluence conveyor  13 , guide plates*  14   a ,  14   b , and the image capturing unit  5 . 
         [0050]    A plurality of rollers  15  . . .  15  are arranged in parallel on the confluence conveyor  13 , and when a motor M 3  is driven, the rollers  15  . . .  15  can convey the packaging box P 1  or the packaging box P 2  conveyed by the first conveyor  7  or the second conveyor  11 . 
         [0051]    The guide plate  14   a  may be provided on the confluence conveyor  13  to guide the packaging box P 1  toward the integrated line  4 , to be described below. Further, the guide plate  14   b  may be provided to guide the packaging box P 2  toward the integrated line  4 , to be described below. 
         [0052]    The guide plate  14   a  may be provided on one roller support portion  9  for supporting the plurality of rollers  15  . . .  15 , and the guide plate  14   b  may be provided on another roller support portion  12  for supporting the plurality of rollers  15  . . .  15 . 
         [0053]    The guide plate  14   a  and the guide plate  14   b  are disposed in a substantially V-shaped form to guide the packaging boxes P 1 , P 2  toward the integrated line  4 . 
         [0054]    The image capturing device (image capturing unit)  5  is provided on an upstream side end portion of the guide plate  14   a  in a conveyance direction of the packaging box P 1 . 
         [0055]    The image capturing device  5  may be provided with a CCD (Charge Coupled Device)  16  that includes a control box  55  and captures a diagonally frontward image of the packaging boxes P 1 , P 2  as the packaging boxes P 1 , P 2  are conveyed in parallel. 
         [0056]    The CCD  16  is provided at an angle of 30° to 45° relative to the conveyance direction of the packaging boxes P 1 , P 2 . 
         [0057]    Further, a distance measurement unit  57  for measuring a distance to the respective packaging boxes P 1 , P 2  on the basis of data relating to the image of the conveyed packaging box P 1  or the conveyed packaging box P 2  captured by the CCD  16  may be provided in the control box  55  to be described below. 
         [0058]    The control box  55  may include the distance measurement unit  57 , a line determination* unit  58 , a communication control unit  59 *, and interfaces  56   a ,  59   a.    
         [0059]    The line determination unit  58  is capable of setting threshold data. 
         [0060]    The threshold data are data indicating a distance between the CCD  16  and a boundary position between the first conveyor  7  and second conveyor  10  arranged side by side. 
         [0061]    The line determination unit  58  is capable of receiving distance data relating to the packaging boxes from the distance measurement unit  57 . 
         [0062]    The line determination unit  58  is also capable of comparing the distance data obtained from the distance measurement unit  57  to the threshold data. 
         [0063]    When the distance data are determined to be shorter than the threshold data as a result of the comparison between the distance data and the threshold data, the packaging box P 1  conveyed by the first conveyor  7  can be determined. 
         [0064]    When the distance data are determined to be longer than the threshold data as a result of the comparison between the distance data and the threshold data, the packaging box P 2  conveyed by the second conveyor  10  can be determined. 
         [0065]    The communication control unit  59  is capable of supplying a signal to the label affixing machine  6  via the interface  59   a  on the basis of the result obtained by the line determination unit  58 . 
         [0066]    Further, the image data from the CCD  16  can be supplied to the control unit  56  via the interface  56   a.    
         [0067]    The control unit  56  is capable of driving and stopping the motors M 1 , M 2 , and can perform control to ensure that signals are supplied to the respective motors M 1 , M 2  via an interface not shown in the drawings. 
         [0068]    Further, when the packaging boxes P 1 , P 2  are conveyed simultaneously, the control unit  56  is capable of measuring the distance to the packaging boxes and recognizing the packaging box P 1  having the shortest distance preferentially. 
         [0069]    The control unit  56  is capable of performing control to halt driving of the second conveyor  10  after detecting the packaging box P 1  conveyed by the first conveyor  7 . 
         [0070]    Further, the control unit  56  is capable of performing control to halt driving of the first conveyor  7  after detecting the packaging box P 2  conveyed by the second conveyor  10 . 
         [0071]    When the packaging box P 1  conveyed by the first conveyor  7  is detected on the basis of the result generated by the line determination unit  58  provided in the control unit  56 , a first signal can be supplied to the label affixing machine  6 . 
         [0072]    When the packaging box P 2  conveyed by the second conveyor  10  is detected on the basis of the result generated by the line determination unit  58 * provided in the control unit  56 , a second signal can be supplied to the label affixing machine  6 . 
         [0073]    Thus, a different signal can be supplied to the label affixing machine  6  depending on the type of the packaging box. 
         [0074]    The integrated line  4  mainly includes an integrated conveyor  17  and the label affixing machine  6 . 
         [0075]    A plurality of rollers  18  . . .  18  are arranged in parallel on the integrated conveyor  17 , and by driving a motor M 4 , the rollers  18  . . .  18  can be driven to rotate. 
         [0076]    By driving the rollers  18  . . .  18  to rotate, the packaging boxes conveyed from the confluence conveyor  13  can be conveyed to a downstream side of the integrated conveyor  17  (from left to right in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0077]    The label affixing machine  6  is disposed to the side of the integrated conveyor  17  to be capable of affixing a label L onto a side face of the conveyed packaging boxes. 
         [0078]    The integrated conveyor  17  is also provided with a guide plate  39 , and the packaging boxes are guided along the guide plate  39  toward the label affixing machine  6 , to be described below. 
         [0079]    Next, the label affixing machine  6  will be described on the basis of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0080]    The label affixing machine  6  mainly includes a sheet supply unit  20 , a printing unit  21 , a peeling unit  22 , a backing sheet winding unit  23 , and a printing control unit  24 . 
         [0081]    The sheet supply unit  20  may be provided with a sheet supply shaft  25  for rotatably holding a roll-form label continuous body C in which a plurality of labels L are temporarily adhered to a strip-form backing sheet D at predetermined intervals. 
         [0082]    The label continuous body C fed from the sheet supply shaft  25  is conveyed to the printing unit  21  via a guide roller  26 . 
         [0083]    The printing unit  21  is provided with a platen roller  27  and a thermal head  28 , and the thermal head  28  is provided to be free to contact and separate from the platen roller  27 . 
         [0084]    A ribbon supply shaft  29  and a ribbon winding shaft  30  are disposed above the thermal head  28 . A roll-form ink film  31  may be held rotatably on the ribbon supply shaft  29 . 
         [0085]    The ink film  31  fed from the ink supply shaft  29  can be conveyed to the ink film winding up shaft  30  passing between the label continuous body C and the thermal head  28 . 
         [0086]    The ink film winding shaft  30  is capable of winding up the ink film  31  when that shaft is driven to rotate by a drive source, not shown in the drawings. 
         [0087]    The label continuous body C and the ink film  31  can be sandwiched between the platen roller  27  and the thermal head  28 . 
         [0088]    When the label continuous body C and the ink film  31  are sandwiched between the platen roller  27  and the thermal head  28 , the platen roller  27  is driven on the basis of a printing start signal issued by the printing control unit  24 , to be described below, and as a result, ink on the ink film  31  is transferred onto the label L, whereby printing information such as alphabetic characters or a barcode can be printed onto the label L. 
         [0089]    The printed label L is conveyed toward the peeling unit  22 . 
         [0090]    Note that an example in which information such as alphabetic characters or a barcode is printed by transferring ink onto the label L was described above, but thermal paper in which the label L is provided with a heat-sensitive development layer may be used. 
         [0091]    The strip-form backing sheet D of the printed label L is turned back by a peeling plate  32  provided in the peeling unit  22  such that the label L is peeled away from the strip-form backing sheet D by the rigidity of the label L. The peeled label L can then be affixed to the side face of the packaging box conveyed by the integrated conveyor  17 . 
         [0092]    The strip-form backing sheet D turned back by the peeling plate  32  is wound onto a backing sheet winding shaft  34  provided in the winding portion  23  via a guide roller  33 . 
         [0093]    Note that a peeling speed at which the label L is peeled and a conveyance speed of the packing boxes may be set to be identical or substantially identical. 
         [0094]    A pitch detection sensor  35  is disposed below the conveyance path of the label continuous body C between the sheet supply unit  20  and the printing unit  21 . 
         [0095]    The pitch detection sensor  35  is capable of detecting a pitch mark (not shown) formed on a rear surface side (the opposite surface to the surface on which the labels are temporarily adhered) of the strip-form backing sheet D. 
         [0096]    The pitch mark may be printed in advance as a black stripe. 
         [0097]    An object detection unit  36  is provided to the side of the integrated conveyor  17 . 
         [0098]    The object detection unit  36  includes a light emission unit  37  and a light reception unit (not shown), which may be provided respectively on one side and the other side of a width direction of the integrated conveyor  17 . 
         [0099]    The object detection unit  36  is disposed such that under normal circumstances, light emitted from the light emission unit can be received by the light reception unit. The object detection unit  36  is also capable of supplying a signal to the printing control unit  24  upon detection of a packaging box passing between the light emission unit and the light reception unit while being conveyed by the integrated conveyor  17 . 
         [0100]    The printing control unit  24  is capable of supplying the printing start signal to the printing unit  21  at a predetermined timing upon reception of the signal from the object detection unit  36 . 
         [0101]    Next, the printing control unit  24  of the label affixing machine  6  will be described on the basis of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0102]    In the printing control unit  24 , a ROM (read only memory)  41  storing a predetermined control program, a CPU (central processing unit)  40  that is operated in accordance with the control program stored in the ROM  41  to control the various units, a RAM (random access memory)  42  storing various data required in an operation of the CPU  40 , a platen control circuit  43  that supplies a pulse signal to a stepping motor  44 , thereby driving the stepping motor  44  to rotate such that the platen roller  27  is driven to rotate, a backing sheet winding control circuit  45  that supplies a pulse signal to a stepping motor  46  for winding the strip-form backing sheet D under the control of the CPU  40 , thereby driving the stepping motor  46  to rotate such that the backing sheet winding shaft  34  is driven to rotate, a head control circuit  47  for generating a control signal corresponding to the printing data to be printed, such as alphabetic characters, graphics, or a barcode, under the control of the CPU  40  and supplies the generated control signal to the thermal head  28  to activate a printing operation, a pitch sensor control circuit  48  that controls the light emission unit of the pitch detection sensor  35  under the control of the CPU  40  such that light is emitted, receives an electric signal output by the light reception unit, and supplies the pitch mark to the CPU  40  as detection data, a data storage unit  54  capable of reading the printing format and the printing information under the control of the CPU  40 , an input unit  50  for inputting various data and commands into an interface  49  under the control of the CPU  40 , and a display unit  51  for displaying input data input through the input unit  50  and various information, are connected. 
         [0103]    Further, the CPU  40  is capable of receiving a signal from the control box  55  of the image capturing unit  5  via an interface  52  and specifying either the packaging box P 1  or the packaging box P 2  from the received signal. 
         [0104]    Further, a detection signal from the object detection unit  36  is supplied to the CPU  40  via an interface  53 . 
         [0105]    Next, the label affixing system will be described on the basis of the flowchart shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0106]    In a step S 1 , a determination may be made as to whether or not a packaging box has been detected by the CCD  16 . 
         [0107]    When a packaging box has been detected, the routine advances to a step S 2 , and when a packaging box has not been detected, the routine returns to the step S 1 , in which the processing of the step S 1  is executed repeatedly. 
         [0108]    When a packaging box is detected by the CCD  16  in the step S 1 , the routine advances to the step S 2 , in which the distance between the packaging box and the CCD  16  is measured. 
         [0109]    By measuring the distance between the packaging box and the CCD  16 , a determination as to whether or not the detected packaging box is the packaging box P 1  conveyed by the first conveyor  7  or the packaging box P 2  conveyed by the second conveyor  10  can be made. 
         [0110]    When, as a result of a comparison between the packaging box distance and the threshold, it is determined that the detected packaging box is the packaging box P 1  conveyed by the first conveyor  7 , the routine advances to a step S 3 , and when it is determined that the detected packaging box is the packaging box P 2  conveyed by the second conveyor  10 , the routine advances to a step S 8 . 
         [0111]    When the first conveyor  7  is determined in the step S 2 , the routine advances to the step S 3 , in which the motor M 2  driving the second conveyor  10  is stopped and a first signal indicating the packaging box P 1  of the first conveyor  7  is supplied from a control unit  19  of the image capturing unit  5  to the label affixing machine  6 , whereupon the routine advances to a step S 4 . 
         [0112]    In the step S 4 , the printing control unit  24  of the label affixing machine  6  calls up a preset first printing format A and first printing information relating to the packaging box P 1  of the first conveyor  7  and corresponding to the first signal, whereupon the routine advances to a step S 5 . 
         [0113]    In the step S 5 , a determination is made as to whether or not the packaging box P 1  conveyed by the integrated conveyor  17  has been detected by the object detection unit  36 . When the object detection unit  36  detects the packaging box P 1 , an affixing signal is supplied to the printing control unit  24  of the label affixing machine  6 , whereupon the routine advances to a step S 6 . 
         [0114]    When the packaging box P 1  is not detected in the step S 5 , the routine returns to the step S 5 , in which the processing of the step S 5  is executed repeatedly. 
         [0115]    In the step S 5 , a determination may be made as to whether or not the packaging box P 1  has been detected by the object detection unit  36 . 
         [0116]    When the object detection unit  36  detects the packaging box P 1 , the routine advances to the step S 6 , and when the packaging box P 1  is not detected, the routine returns to the step S 5 , in which the processing of the step S 5  is executed repeatedly. 
         [0117]    In the step S 6 , the platen roller  27  is driven and the first printing pattern is printed onto the label L on the basis of the first printing format and the first printing information. The routine then advances to a step S 7 . 
         [0118]    In the step S 7 , the label L printed with the first printing pattern is peeled away from the strip-form backing sheet D by the peeling plate  32 , whereupon the label L printed with the first printing pattern is affixed to the side face of the conveyed packaging box P 1 . The routine is then terminated. 
         [0119]    Here, when the first conveyor is driven and an image of the packaging box P 1  conveyed by the first conveyor  7  is captured by the CCD  16 , the second conveyor  10  may be stopped. 
         [0120]    Further, when the packaging box P 1  is not conveyed by the first conveyor  7 , the second conveyor  10  may be driven such that both the first conveyor  7  and the second conveyor  10  are driven. 
         [0121]    Meanwhile, when the second conveyor  10  is determined in the step S 2 , the routine advances to the step S 8 , in which the motor M 1  for driving the first conveyor  7  is stopped and a second signal indicating the packaging box P 2  of the second conveyor  10  is supplied from the control unit  19  of the image capturing unit  5  to the label affixing machine  6 , whereupon the routine advances to a step S 9 . 
         [0122]    In the step S 9 , the printing control unit  24  of the label affixing machine  6  calls up a preset second printing format B and second printing information relating to the packaging box P 2  of the second conveyor  10  and corresponding to the second signal, whereupon the routine advances to the step S 5 . 
         [0123]    In the step S 5 , a determination is made as to whether or not the packaging box P 2  conveyed by the integrated conveyor  17  has been detected by the object detection unit  36 . When the object detection unit  36  detects the packaging box P 2 , the routine advances to the step S 6 , and when the packaging box P 2  is not detected, the routine returns to the step S 5 , in which the processing of the step S 5  is executed repeatedly. 
         [0124]    When the object detection unit  36  detects the packaging box P 2  in the step S 5 , the routine advances to the step S 6 , in which the platen roller  27  is driven and the second printing pattern is printed onto the label L on the basis of the second printing format and the second printing information. The routine then advances to the step S 7 . 
         [0125]    In the step S 7 , the label L printed with the second printing pattern is peeled away from the strip-form backing sheet D by the peeling plate  32 , whereupon the label L printed with the second printing pattern is affixed to the side face of the conveyed packaging box P 2 . The routine is then terminated. 
         [0126]    Here, when the second conveyor  10  is driven and an image of the packaging box P 2  conveyed by the second conveyor  10  is captured by the CCD  16 , the first conveyor  7  may be stopped. 
         [0127]    Further, when the packaging box P 2  is not conveyed by the second conveyor  10 , the first conveyor  7  may be driven such that both the first conveyor  7  and the second conveyor  10  are driven. 
         [0128]    An example in which the label affixing machine is disposed to the side of the integrated conveyor was described above, but the label affixing machine may be disposed on the upper side or the lower side of the conveyed packaging box such that the label can be affixed to the upper surface side or the bottom surface side of the packaging box. 
         [0129]    Further, an example of a conveyance device having two conveyance lines, namely the first conveyor and the second conveyor, was described above, but three or more conveyance lines may be provided. 
         [0130]    Further, the imaging device  5  including the CCD may be provided in a position where it does not contact the packaging box. 
         [0131]    In this embodiment, the numbers, positions, shapes, and so on of the respective constitutional members are not limited to those described in the embodiment, and may be modified appropriately for the purpose of implementing the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and the embodiment may be modified appropriately within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention.