JP2001136859A - Egg printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To print expiration dates etc. on a large number of chicken eggs efficiently using a small device. A printing unit for performing dot printing with laser light is combined with a processing unit. The processing unit 30 has a shield structure having a casing 31,
A three-axis drive type table 32 is provided in the casing 31. The table 32 detachably fixes the trays 11 containing a predetermined number of eggs 10, 10,..., And drives the eggs 10, 10,. At the printing position, printing is performed in order by the printing unit 20 on the eggs 10, 10,.... The processing unit 30 is combined with the dust collection unit 40 in order to process smoke or the like generated during printing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser-type egg printing apparatus for directly printing a shelf life and the like on a shell of an egg such as a chicken egg with a laser beam.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recent legal amendments require that the expiration date of chicken eggs and the like be displayed directly on the shell surface.

[0003] Conventionally, as a method of directly displaying a brand, size, and the like on the surface of a chicken egg shell, attachment of a seal or ink printing by a printer is well known. However, in the case of sticker attachment, peeling and propagation of various bacteria from glue become a problem,
In the case of ink printing, there is a concern that generation of an odor from the organic solvent, penetration of the ink component from the shell of the egg into the inside, and the like may become problems.

[0004] For this reason, as a method of directly displaying the expiration date of a chicken egg on the surface of the shell, it is not preferable to attach a seal or print ink.

[0005] Against this background, a laser-type egg printing apparatus has been developed in which the expiration date and the like are directly displayed on the egg shell directly with a laser beam by dot display. This device displays characters and numbers on the surface of the shell by dot printing by irradiating a carbon dioxide laser.There is no danger of the display marks disappearing.In addition, the propagation of various bacteria, generation of smell, penetration of ink components It is very hygienic without any other factors.

[0006]

However, the laser type egg printing apparatus currently being developed is a printing unit which only emits a laser beam for printing, and can efficiently process a large number of eggs in a small space. No effective structure has been proposed for the processing unit to be known to the applicant.

The following are conceivable requirements of the processing unit combined with the printing unit.

It is required to be small and to have a small installation space.

[0009] Eggs are stored in a predetermined tray for transportation and packed in a box, but the work of taking out the eggs from the tray at the time of printing and storing the eggs again in the tray after printing causes a significant decrease in efficiency. For this reason, it is required that the printing be performed while the eggs are stored in the tray.

[0010] The trays used for boxing eggs will be of a type specific to the size of the eggs. Specifically, the number of eggs varies depending on the size of the eggs, and the arrangement pitch of the eggs varies accordingly. 4A shows an LL size tray, FIG. 4B shows an L size tray, and FIG.
2 shows a size tray. When performing laser printing in a state where the eggs are stored in the tray, it is necessary to accurately move each egg in the tray to the printing position even if the type of tray is different.

[0011] Laser printing on chicken eggs produces smoke and the like.
It is also required that the smoke and the like not escape to the outside.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. By devising a processing unit combined with a printing unit, laser printing can be performed efficiently and accurately on a large number of eggs in a small space. It is an object of the present invention to provide an egg printing device which can be obtained.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an egg printing apparatus which can prevent smoke and the like generated by laser printing from escaping to the outside.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, an egg printing apparatus according to the present invention is a box printing apparatus for storing a predetermined number of eggs arranged in parallel in the vertical and horizontal directions when the eggs are packed in a box. A table on which the tray is positioned at a fixed position and removably mounted thereon, a printing unit for performing laser marking on the surface of the eggs stored in the tray, and a process of relatively moving the table and the printing unit Unit, and the processing unit relatively moves the table and the printing unit relatively to sequentially move a predetermined number of eggs stored in the tray on the table to the printing position. It is made to let.

In the egg printing apparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of eggs are printed in a state of being housed in the tray for packing by driving the table or the printing unit. No need to get in and out.
Therefore, the working efficiency is excellent. The driving direction of the table is basically two directions in the vertical and horizontal directions of the tray, and the driving range is narrow. Therefore, the size of the processing unit is reduced. Further, by driving the table in two directions, each egg in the tray is accurately guided to the printing position even if the type of the tray is different.

Preferably, the table is housed in a casing. According to this structure, escape of smoke and the like generated by laser printing to the outside is prevented. In this case, it is preferable to provide a dust collection unit that sucks and treats smoke and the like generated along with printing in the casing. Thus, escape of smoke and the like to the outside is more effectively prevented.

The table preferably has a structure in which trays are transferred in the vertical direction. According to this structure, when the tray is handled, the tray is vertically oriented and has long sides on both sides, so that the bending deformation of the tray due to the weight of the egg is suppressed.

The table also preferably has a pan structure wider than the tray. According to this structure, when the eggs in the tray are broken on the table, the contents are prevented from escaping, thereby simplifying the subsequent cleaning.

The eggs are typically chicken eggs, but may be eggs other than chicken eggs such as quail eggs.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an egg printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a processing unit used in the egg printing apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a table in the processing unit. .

The egg printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is, as shown in FIG. 1, combined with a printing unit 20 for printing by irradiating a chicken egg 10 with a laser and a printing unit 20 for printing. Processing unit 30 with shield structure
And a dust collection unit 40 combined with the processing unit 30 for processing smoke and the like generated by laser printing in the processing unit 30.

The eggs 10 are stored in a rectangular tray 11 by a predetermined number. The tray 11 is a general-purpose product made of paper or resin used for packing, and as described above, a predetermined number of eggs 10, 10,... It is arranged to be arranged in the recess at a predetermined pitch in the direction (see FIG. 4). Note that the vertical direction of the tray 11 means the longitudinal direction,
The lateral direction means the lateral direction.

The printing unit 20 comprises a main body 21 for forming and controlling a carbon dioxide laser for dot printing, and a duct 22 for guiding the carbon dioxide laser formed by the main body 21 to a predetermined position. The duct section 22 has a multi-joint structure that can be bent. In order to perform laser printing at a printing position M (see FIG. 2) in the processing unit 30 described later, the duct section 22 is moved from the front of the processing unit 30 to a printing position in the unit. Inserted towards.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the processing unit 30 includes a rectangular parallelepiped casing 31 and a casing 3.
1 is provided with a tray-shaped table 32 provided in 1 and a drive unit 33 for driving the table 32. One side of the casing 31 has a tray 1 inside the casing 31.
An opening 31a with a door is provided for taking in and out of the door. The opening 31a has a width that is sufficiently larger than the width of the tray 11 so that the tray 11 can be taken in and out in the vertical direction. The door that opens and closes the opening 31a is an automatic sliding door that moves up and down, and has a viewing window. An operation unit 31b is provided on a side of the opening 31a.

The table 32 in the casing 31 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 3, a rectangular support portion 32a for detachably mounting the tray 11 at a fixed position and supporting the tray 11;
It has a rectangular projection 32b projecting from 2a in three directions around it, specifically in three directions except for the side of the opening 31a of the casing 31.

The table 32 has a structure in which the tray 11 is supported in such a posture that its vertical direction is substantially perpendicular to the opening 31a. For this support, the rectangular support portion 32a has its long side aligned with a direction substantially perpendicular to the opening 31a and its short side aligned with a direction substantially parallel to the opening 31a. In order to fix the tray 11 at a fixed position on the support portion 32a, a fixing member 32c composed of two elastic pieces on each side is attached to four sides of the support portion 32a.

The overhang 32b of the table 32 is
It is provided at a position one step lower than 2a. Overhang 32
A wall portion 32d rising upward is provided on four sides of b. Thereby, the table 32 is formed in a saucer shape.

The drive unit 33 is a three-axis control robot having a well-known structure that drives the table 32 in the vertical, horizontal, and vertical directions of the tray 11 placed on the table 32. More specifically, the tray 1 placed at a fixed position on the table 31 is driven by driving the table 32 in the vertical and horizontal directions.
2 moves from the initial position near the opening 31a indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2 to the printing start position indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. When the tray 11 intermittently moves from the print start position to the print end position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, the plurality of eggs 10, 10,... Move to position M in order,
Thereafter, the tray 11 returns to the initial position near the opening 31a.

In order to sequentially move the eggs 10, 10,... In the tray 11 to the printing position M, the moving pitch of the table 32 is automatically set according to the type of the tray 11. In order to manage the distance from the tip of the duct 22 of the printing unit 20 to the egg 10 guided to the printing position M within a certain range irrespective of the size of the egg 10, the height of the table 32 is set to the tray 11. Is automatically set according to the format.

The dust collecting unit 40 includes a main body 41 for sucking and processing smoke and the like generated by laser printing, and a flexible duct 42 for connecting the main body 41 to the processing unit 30. The duct 42 is inserted into the casing 31 from the front, and faces the printing position M in the casing 31 from above.

Next, a description will be given of a method and functions of using the egg printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

First, the casing 31 of the processing unit 30
The format of the tray 11 to be inserted into the printer is set in the printing apparatus by operating the operation unit 31b. Next, the opening 31a of the casing 31 is opened, and the tray 11 containing a predetermined number of eggs 10, 10,... Is inserted into the casing 31 through the opening 31a, and the tray 11 on the table 32 in the casing 31 is inserted. Place in place.

At this time, the table 32 has an opening 31a.
Has stopped at the initial position near. Also, the table 32
Has a structure in which the tray 11 is supported in a posture in which the vertical direction thereof is substantially perpendicular to the opening 31a. Due to this structure, the operator turns the tray 11 vertically, inserts the tray 11 vertically into the casing 31 from the opening 31a with the long sides on both sides, and places the tray 11 on the table 32. For this reason, the deformation of the tray 11 is suppressed, and the situation where the egg 10 falls during insertion is avoided. By the way, Tray 1
When the side 1 is turned sideways and the short sides on both sides are lifted, the tray 11 is greatly curved in the vertical direction, and the risk of dropping the egg 10 is increased.

When the insertion of the tray 11 is completed, the opening 31
is closed, and the printing device is started by operating the operation unit 31b. Thereby, in the processing unit 30,
When the table 32 is driven, the tray 11 on the table 32 moves to the printing start position, and moves intermittently in the vertical and horizontal directions at a pitch according to the type of the tray 11 from there. Leads to. Thus, a predetermined number of eggs 10, 10,... Stored in the tray 11 are sequentially moved to the printing position M.

Then, the eggs 10, 10,...
Each time the printing unit 20 is moved, the printing unit 20 is operated, so that the preset expiration date and the like are changed to the eggs 10, 10,.
Are printed in order. Smoke and the like generated by this printing are sucked into the dust collection unit 40 from inside the casing 31 by the operation of the dust collection unit 40, and are processed here. The caging 31 also has a role of blocking the laser beam from the printing unit 20.

When the tray 11 returns to the initial position after the printing end position, the opening 31a is automatically opened, and the table 32 is opened.
The tray 11 is taken out of the casing 31 from above. Also at this time, since the tray 11 is handled in the vertical direction, its deformation is suppressed, and a situation such as falling of the eggs 10, 10,... Is avoided.

By repeating this operation, a large number of eggs 10, 10,... Are stored in the tray 11 and printed one after another by irradiating a laser beam. Therefore, there is no need to remove the eggs 10, 10,... From the tray 11 at the time of printing, and to store the eggs 10, 10,... After printing in the tray 11, thereby ensuring high work efficiency.

Furthermore, even if the egg 10 in the tray 11 is broken by the impact when the tray 11 is placed on the table 32, the contents remain on the table 32 because the table 32 has a saucer shape. Since it is prevented from falling on the floor or the like, it is easy to clean up after that, and from this point, an improvement in work efficiency can be expected.

Further, the opening 31a doubles as an insertion port and an ejection port, and the tray 11 which has exited from the initial position near the opening 31a returns to the initial position after finishing printing.
All the work is performed by one worker located near the station.

In the above embodiment, the printing unit 2
The dust collecting unit 40 and the dust collecting unit 40 are formed separately from the processing unit 30 and are separably combined. However, one or both of them may be integrated with the processing unit 30. Also, the casing 31 of the processing unit 30
Can be provided with an insertion port and an extraction port separately.

In the above embodiment, the processing unit 3
In the case of 0, the table 32 is moved. However, the printing unit 20 may be moved, or both may be moved.

[0042]

As described above, according to the egg printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, not only a large number of eggs are continuously printed by irradiating a laser beam, but also the continuous printing is for packing eggs. This is performed in a state where the eggs are stored in the tray, and there is no need to put eggs in and out of the tray before and after printing, so that the work efficiency is extremely high. In addition, the range of movement of the tray for printing is narrow, and the size of the apparatus can be reduced. By storing the eggs in the tray, the eggs are accurately positioned and the printing accuracy is improved.
Further, the size and simplification of the device can be achieved in that the positioning member is not required.

According to the egg printing apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, since the table is housed in the casing, the escape of smoke and the like generated by the laser printing to the outside is prevented. .

According to the egg printing apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, smoke and the like generated during printing in the casing are suction-treated, so that the escape of the smoke and the like to the outside is more effective. Is prevented.

According to the egg printing apparatus of the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the table is configured to transfer the tray in the vertical direction, the bending deformation when the tray is taken in and out is suppressed, and the deformation is prevented. The egg is prevented from falling due to

According to the egg printing apparatus of the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the table has a tray structure wider than the tray, it is easy to clean up the egg in the tray when the egg in the tray is broken on the table. Become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an egg printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a processing unit used in the egg printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a table in the processing unit.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a tray, (a) is for LL size,
(B) shows an L size, and (c) shows an M size.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Chicken egg 11 Tray 20 Printing unit 30 Processing unit 31 Casing 32 Table 33 Drive part 40 Dust collection unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A table on which a box tray for storing a predetermined number of eggs arranged in parallel in the vertical and horizontal directions at the time of packing the eggs is positioned at a fixed position and is removably mounted;
A printing unit that performs laser marking on the surface of the eggs stored in the tray, and a processing unit that relatively moves the table and the printing unit, wherein the processing unit includes the table and the printing unit. Characterized in that a predetermined number of eggs accommodated in a tray on a table are sequentially moved relatively to a printing position by relatively moving the eggs. 2. The egg printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the table is housed in a casing. 3. The egg printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a dust collection unit for sucking and processing smoke and the like generated during printing in the casing. 4. The egg printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the table is configured to transfer a tray in a vertical direction. 5. The egg printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the table has a tray structure wider than a tray.