US20160194100A1 - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Packaging machine Download PDF

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Publication number
US20160194100A1
US20160194100A1 US14/916,132 US201414916132A US2016194100A1 US 20160194100 A1 US20160194100 A1 US 20160194100A1 US 201414916132 A US201414916132 A US 201414916132A US 2016194100 A1 US2016194100 A1 US 2016194100A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
sealing
movement amount
rotating shaft
support part
packaging machine
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US14/916,132
Inventor
Takahiro Yasuda
Makoto Ichikawa
Satoshi Hashimoto
Shinji Koike
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ishida Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Ishida Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ishida Co Ltd filed Critical Ishida Co Ltd
Assigned to ISHIDA CO., LTD. reassignment ISHIDA CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HASHIMOTO, SATOSHI, ICHIKAWA, MAKOTO, KOIKE, SHINJI, YASUDA, TAKAHIRO
Publication of US20160194100A1 publication Critical patent/US20160194100A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
    • B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
    • B65B51/26—Devices specially adapted for producing transverse or longitudinal seams in webs or tubes
    • B65B51/30—Devices, e.g. jaws, for applying pressure and heat, e.g. for subdividing filled tubes
    • B65B51/306—Counter-rotating devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
    • B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/18—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated tools
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/18—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated tools
    • B29C65/24—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated tools characterised by the means for heating the tool
    • B29C65/30—Electrical means
    • B29C65/305—Electrical means involving the use of cartridge heaters
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/74—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area
    • B29C65/743—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area using the same tool for both joining and severing, said tool being monobloc or formed by several parts mounted together and forming a monobloc
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
    • B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
    • B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
    • B29C66/1122—Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
    • B29C66/41—Joining substantially flat articles ; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles
    • B29C66/43—Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles
    • B29C66/431—Joining the articles to themselves
    • B29C66/4312—Joining the articles to themselves for making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles, e.g. transversal seams
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/73—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset
    • B29C66/737—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the state of the material of the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/7373—Joining soiled or oxidised materials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/814—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/8141—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/81411—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined characterised by its cross-section, e.g. transversal or longitudinal, being non-flat
    • B29C66/81421—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined characterised by its cross-section, e.g. transversal or longitudinal, being non-flat being convex or concave
    • B29C66/81422—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined characterised by its cross-section, e.g. transversal or longitudinal, being non-flat being convex or concave being convex
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/814—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/8141—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/81427—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined comprising a single ridge, e.g. for making a weakening line; comprising a single tooth
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/814—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/8141—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/81431—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined comprising a single cavity, e.g. a groove
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/814—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/8141—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/81433—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined being toothed, i.e. comprising several teeth or pins, or being patterned
    • B29C66/81435—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the surface geometry of the part of the pressing elements, e.g. welding jaws or clamps, coming into contact with the parts to be joined being toothed, i.e. comprising several teeth or pins, or being patterned comprising several parallel ridges, e.g. for crimping
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/82—Pressure application arrangements, e.g. transmission or actuating mechanisms for joining tools or clamps
    • B29C66/824—Actuating mechanisms
    • B29C66/8242—Pneumatic or hydraulic drives
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/83—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools
    • B29C66/834—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools moving with the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/8351—Jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders, drums, bands, belts or chains; Flying jaws
    • B29C66/83511—Jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders, drums, bands, belts or chains; Flying jaws jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders or drums
    • B29C66/83513—Jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders, drums, bands, belts or chains; Flying jaws jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders or drums cooperating jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders or drums and moving in a closed path
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/84—Specific machine types or machines suitable for specific applications
    • B29C66/849—Packaging machines
    • B29C66/8491—Packaging machines welding through a filled container, e.g. tube or bag
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/90—Measuring or controlling the joining process
    • B29C66/92—Measuring or controlling the joining process by measuring or controlling the pressure, the force, the mechanical power or the displacement of the joining tools
    • B29C66/922—Measuring or controlling the joining process by measuring or controlling the pressure, the force, the mechanical power or the displacement of the joining tools by measuring the pressure, the force, the mechanical power or the displacement of the joining tools
    • B29C66/9221—Measuring or controlling the joining process by measuring or controlling the pressure, the force, the mechanical power or the displacement of the joining tools by measuring the pressure, the force, the mechanical power or the displacement of the joining tools by measuring the pressure, the force or the mechanical power
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/90—Measuring or controlling the joining process
    • B29C66/92—Measuring or controlling the joining process by measuring or controlling the pressure, the force, the mechanical power or the displacement of the joining tools
    • B29C66/922—Measuring or controlling the joining process by measuring or controlling the pressure, the force, the mechanical power or the displacement of the joining tools by measuring the pressure, the force, the mechanical power or the displacement of the joining tools
    • B29C66/9231—Measuring or controlling the joining process by measuring or controlling the pressure, the force, the mechanical power or the displacement of the joining tools by measuring the pressure, the force, the mechanical power or the displacement of the joining tools by measuring the displacement of the joining tools
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/90—Measuring or controlling the joining process
    • B29C66/92—Measuring or controlling the joining process by measuring or controlling the pressure, the force, the mechanical power or the displacement of the joining tools
    • B29C66/929—Measuring or controlling the joining process by measuring or controlling the pressure, the force, the mechanical power or the displacement of the joining tools characterized by specific pressure, force, mechanical power or displacement values or ranges
    • B29C66/9292—Measuring or controlling the joining process by measuring or controlling the pressure, the force, the mechanical power or the displacement of the joining tools characterized by specific pressure, force, mechanical power or displacement values or ranges in explicit relation to another variable, e.g. pressure diagrams
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
    • B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
    • B65B51/26—Devices specially adapted for producing transverse or longitudinal seams in webs or tubes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • B65B57/10—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
    • B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
    • B65B9/207—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles the web advancing continuously
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
    • B29C66/41—Joining substantially flat articles ; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles
    • B29C66/43—Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles
    • B29C66/432—Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles for making tubular articles or closed loops, e.g. by joining several sheets ; for making hollow articles or hollow preforms
    • B29C66/4322—Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles for making tubular articles or closed loops, e.g. by joining several sheets ; for making hollow articles or hollow preforms by joining a single sheet to itself

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a packaging machine, and particularly relates to a packaging machine in which a pair of sealing members sandwiches and seals portions of a film.
  • Patent Literature 1 Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2007-302261
  • Patent Literature 2 Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. H3-69428 disclose a packaging machine which uses sealing members driven by a servo motor to sandwich and heat-seal a packaging material shaped into a tubular shape, and thereby packages goods to be packaged.
  • Patent Literature 1 Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2007-302261 discloses the feature that the drive current of the servo motor, or in other words, the torque of the servo motor, is measured, and when the drive current exceeds a predetermined value, the sealed portions are determined to have trapped a foreign object and a poor seal is detected.
  • Patent Literature 2 Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. H3-69428 discloses the feature that the rotational angle of the servo motor is measured, and presence of objects in the sealed portions are detected based on a delay from the target position of the rotational position.
  • a separate mechanism is used instead of a servo motor as the drive source for sandwiching the packaging material between the sealing members.
  • the mechanism used as the drive source cannot perceive the force/moment exerted on the packaging material by the drive source and positional information pertaining to the drive source (e.g., the rotational angle of the motor, etc.), directly from information obtained from the drive source. In such cases, it is not possible to detect the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portions based on the information obtained from the drive source.
  • One object of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine which uses sealing members to sandwich and seal a packaging material, wherein the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portions can be detected even when the mechanism used as the drive source of the sealing members is incapable of causing the force/moment exerted on the packaging material by the drive source and positional information pertaining to the drive source, to be directly perceived from information obtained from the drive source.
  • a pair of sealing members is configured to sandwich and seal a sealed portion of a film.
  • the packaging machine is provided with a first support part configured to support one of the sealing members and a second support part configured to support the other of the sealing members, a movement amount detector, and an entrapment determination part.
  • the movement amount detector is configured to measure the relative movement amount of the first support part in relation to the second support part in an approaching direction or a moving away direction, when the first support part and the second support part approach or move away.
  • the entrapment determination part is configured to determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on the relative movement amount.
  • the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion can be detected even when the mechanism, used as the drive source for driving the sealing members, is incapable of perceiving the force/moment exerted on the film by the drive source via the sealing members and positional information pertaining to the drive source (e.g., the rotational angle of the motor, etc.), directly from information obtained from the drive source.
  • the mechanism used as the drive source for driving the sealing members
  • positional information pertaining to the drive source e.g., the rotational angle of the motor, etc.
  • the pair of sealing members are preferably configured to be rotated in a circular orbit, whereby the sealing members sandwich and laterally seal the film along a direction intersecting a first direction, the film being conveyed in the first direction and formed into a tubular shape.
  • the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion during lateral sealing can be detected.
  • the first and second support parts are preferably rotating shafts for rotating the sealing members.
  • the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion during lateral sealing can be detected by measuring the relative movement amount of the rotating shafts for rotating the sealing members.
  • One possible method for detecting the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion is a method of measuring the relative movement amount of one sealing member in relation to the other sealing member.
  • the configuration for measuring the movement amount is likely to be complicated.
  • the relative movement amount of the rotating shafts for rotating the sealing members is measured, the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion can be detected with a simpler configuration than it is detected by measuring the movement amount of the sealing members.
  • the packaging machine according to the present invention is preferably further provided with a fluid-pressure-utilizing pressing mechanism.
  • the fluid-pressure-utilizing pressing mechanism is preferably configured to constantly presses the first support part toward the second support part so that the film is to be pressed between the sealing members when the film is sandwiched between the pair of sealing members.
  • the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion can be detected even when an inexpensive fluid-pressure-utilizing pressing mechanism, which does not itself perceive the force/moment or the like exerted on the film, is used in order to apply pressure to the film between the sealing members.
  • each of the first and second support parts is preferably configured to support the sealing member at a first-end side and a second-end side in the longitudinal direction of a surface with which the sealing members sandwich the film.
  • the movement amount detector is preferably configured to measure, as the relative movement amount, a first relative movement amount of the first support part in relation to the second support part at the first-end side, and a second relative movement amount of the first support part in relation to the second support part at the second-end side.
  • the entrapment determination part is preferably configured to determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on the first relative movement amount and the second relative movement amount.
  • the relative movement amounts of the first support part in relation to the second support part in the respective ends are used in the determination of the presence of trapped articles. It is therefore easy to perceive that articles have been trapped regardless of the location in which they have been trapped in the sealed portion.
  • the entrapment determination part is preferably configured to determine whether or not articles are trapped in the sealed portion based on statistics of the relative movement amount measured during a predetermined time period by the movement amount detector.
  • the entrapment determination part is preferably configured to determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on an average value of the relative movement amount measured during a predetermined time period by the movement amount detector.
  • the pair of sealing members are preferably configured to be rotated in a circular orbit, whereby the sealing members sandwich and laterally seal the film along a direction intersecting a first direction sequentially from the forward side in the first direction, the film being conveyed in the first direction and formed into a tubular shape.
  • the entrapment determination part is preferably configured to determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion, both in a first time period beginning at a start of a sealing action by the sealing members and ending at a first time point and in a second time period beginning at a second time point after the first time point and ending at a finish of the sealing action, within the single sealing action.
  • the determination of the presence of trapped articles is performed separately at the sealing action starting time and the sealing action finishing time, within one sealing action. Therefore, when bags are being packaged continuously, a determination of the presence of trapped articles of one-end side of one bag and a determination of the presence of trapped articles of the other-end side of the following bag can be performed separately. It is thereby easy to detect only bags in which caching of articles is actually caused.
  • the second support part is preferably secured so as not to move in a direction toward or away from the first support part.
  • the first support part is preferably capable of moving in a direction toward or away from the second support part.
  • the movement amount detector is preferably configured to measure the movement amount of the first support part in the direction toward or away from the second support part as the relative movement amount when the first support part moves toward or away from the second support part.
  • the relative movement amount can be measured with a simple configuration to detect the presence of trapped articles.
  • the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion can be detected even when the mechanism, used as the drive source for driving the sealing members, is incapable of perceiving the force/moment exerted on the film by the drive source via the sealing members and positional information pertaining to the drive source (e.g., the rotational angle of the motor, etc.), directly from information obtained from the drive source.
  • the mechanism used as the drive source for driving the sealing members
  • positional information pertaining to the drive source e.g., the rotational angle of the motor, etc.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a weighing and packaging apparatus including a packaging machine (bag making and packaging machine) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the weighing and packaging apparatus according to FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the general configuration of the bag making and packaging unit of the bag making and packaging machine according to FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 4 is a side view, as seen from the right in FIG. 2 , of the lateral sealing mechanism of the bag making and packaging unit according to FIG. 3 .
  • FIG. 5 is a side view, as seen from the right in FIG. 2 , of the path of the sealing jaws of the lateral sealing mechanism according to FIG. 4 .
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view, as seen from the rear right in FIG. 2 , of the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism of the lateral sealing mechanism according to FIG. 4 .
  • FIG. 7 is a side view showing the condition in which the sealing action is performed by the sealing jaws of the lateral sealing mechanism according to FIG. 4 .
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the attaching manner of the rotary encoder in the bag making and packaging mechanism according to FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 9 shows graphs showing the change over time in the movement amount of the first rotating shaft relative to the second rotating shaft, during the sealing action by the sealing jaws of the lateral sealing mechanism according to FIG. 4 .
  • FIG. 9( a ) shows the change over time in the movement amount of the first rotating shaft relative to the second rotating shaft, when no articles are present in the sealed portion.
  • FIG. 9( b ) shows the change over time in the movement amount of the first rotating shaft relative to the second rotating shaft, when articles are present in the sealed portion within the time period X 1 .
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the attaching manner of the load cell in the bag making and packaging machine according to Modification A.
  • FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the attaching manner of the potentiometer in the bag making and packaging machine according to Modification A.
  • FIG. 12 is a drawing showing the path of sealing jaws of a lateral sealing mechanism which performs D-shaped motion according to Modification C.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a weighing and packaging apparatus 1 including a bag making and packaging machine 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the weighing and packaging apparatus 1 .
  • the weighing and packaging apparatus 1 has primarily a combination weighing machine 2 , the bag making and packaging machine 3 , and a controller 30 (see FIGS. 1 and 2 ).
  • the bag making and packaging machine 3 is provided with a bag making and packaging unit 3 a and a film supply unit 3 b (see FIG. 1 ).
  • the combination weighing machine 2 is disposed above the bag making and packaging unit 3 a.
  • goods C (packaged goods) are weighed in a plurality of weighing hoppers, the weight values are combined so as to reach a predetermined total weight, and goods C having the combined predetermined total weight are discharged downward.
  • the bag making and packaging unit 3 a of the bag making and packaging machine 3 bags the goods C in accordance with the timing at which the goods C are supplied from the combination weighing machine 2 .
  • the film supply unit 3 b supplies a film F for packaging, which will be formed into a bag B, to the bag making and packaging unit 3 a.
  • the weighing and packaging apparatus 1 is provided with operation switches 4 for operating the weighing and packaging apparatus 1 .
  • the weighing and packaging apparatus 1 is provided with a touch panel display 5 on which the operating state of the weighing and packaging apparatus 1 is displayed, and to which various settings for the weighing and packaging apparatus 1 are inputted.
  • the operation switches 4 and the touch panel display 5 function as input parts for receiving commands for the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 , and/or settings pertaining to the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 .
  • the touch panel display 5 functions as an output part for displaying information pertaining to the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 .
  • the operation switches 4 and the touch panel display 5 are shared by the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 but are not limited as such; operation switches and a touch panel display may be provided to each machine.
  • the operation switches 4 and the touch panel display 5 are connected to the controller 30 , which is configured from a CPU, ROM, RAM and the like.
  • the controller 30 controls the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 in accordance with operations and settings inputted from the operation switches 4 and/or the touch panel display 5 .
  • the controller 30 takes in necessary information from various sensors arranged to the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 , and uses this information to control the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 .
  • the controller 30 controls both the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 .
  • the controller 30 constitutes part of the combination weighing machine 2 as a control part of the combination weighing machine 2 .
  • the controller 30 also constitutes part of the bag making and packaging machine 3 as a control part of the bag making and packaging machine 3 .
  • the configuration is not limited to this example and respective controllers may be provided to the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 .
  • the expressions “front (front surface),” “rear (back surface),” “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” and the like are sometimes used in order to represent directions.
  • the expressions “front (front surface),” “rear (back surface),” “up,” “down,” “left,” and “right” are defined as shown in FIG. 3 .
  • the expressions “front (front surface),” “rear (back surface),” “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” and the like are used according to how they are defined in FIG. 3 .
  • the expressions “upstream” and “downstream” are also sometimes used, and when not specified otherwise, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” use the conveying direction of the film F as a standard.
  • the bag making and packaging unit 3 a is described below.
  • the bag making and packaging unit 3 a has primarily a forming mechanism 13 , a pull-down belt mechanism 14 , a vertical sealing mechanism 15 , a lateral sealing mechanism 17 , and a rotary encoder 40 (see FIGS. 2 and 3 ).
  • the forming mechanism 13 forms the sheet-like film F, which is conveyed from the film supply unit 3 b, into a tube shape.
  • the pull-down belt mechanism 14 downwardly conveys the film F formed into a tubular shape (hereinafter called the tubular film Fe).
  • the vertical sealing mechanism 15 vertically seals the overlapping portions (the seams) of the tubular film Fc.
  • the lateral sealing mechanism 17 seals the upper and lower ends of the bag B by sealing (laterally sealing) the downwardly conveyed tubular film Fc along a direction intersecting the conveying direction. Further the lateral sealing mechanism 17 cut the laterally sealed bag B away from the tubular film Fc with a knife 72 a arranged to sealing jaws 51 b, 52 b, described hereinafter.
  • the packaged bag B cut away from the tubular film Fc is discharged from the bottom of the bag making and packaging machine 3 .
  • the rotary encoder 40 measures the amount of movement of a first rotating shaft 53 a of a first rotating body 50 a of the lateral sealing mechanism 17 , described hereinafter (the amount of relative movement of the first rotating shaft 53 a in relation to a second rotating shaft 53 b of a second rotating body 50 b of the lateral sealing mechanism 17 , described hereinafter).
  • the forming mechanism 13 has a tube 13 b and a former 13 a.
  • the tube 13 b is a tubular member, open at the upper and lower ends.
  • the goods C weighed by the combination weighing machine 2 are loaded into the opening at the upper end of the tube 13 b.
  • the former 13 a is disposed so as to surround the tube 13 b.
  • the film F in sheet form unreeled from a film roll of the film supply unit 3 b is formed into a tube shape when passing between the former 13 a and the tube 13 b.
  • the tube 13 b and the former 13 a of the forming mechanism 13 can be replaced depending on the size of the bag B to be produced.
  • the pull-down belt mechanism 14 sticks to and continuously downwardly conveys the tubular film Fc that is wound around the tube 13 b.
  • the pull-down belt mechanism 14 has a pair of belts 14 c disposed on the left and right sides of the tube 13 b so as to sandwich the tube 13 b, as shown in FIG. 3 .
  • the belts 14 c which have a sucking function, are rotated by a drive roller 14 a and a driven roller 14 b, whereby the tubular film Fc is conveyed downward.
  • FIG. 3 does not show a roller drive motor for rotating the drive roller 14 a and the like.
  • the vertical sealing mechanism 15 heat-seals the tubular film Fc in the vertical direction (in the up-down direction in FIG. 3 ).
  • the vertical sealing mechanism 15 is disposed on the front side of the tube 13 b (see FIG. 3 ).
  • the vertical sealing mechanism 15 is driven in the forward-backward direction by a drive mechanism (not shown) so as to move toward the tube 13 b or move away from the tube 13 b.
  • a drive mechanism not shown
  • the vertical sealing mechanism 15 is driven by the drive mechanism so as to move toward the tube 13 b, the overlapping portions (the seams) of the tubular film Fc wound around the tube 13 b are sandwiched between the vertical sealing mechanism 15 and the tube 13 b.
  • the vertical sealing mechanism 15 heats the overlapping portions of the tubular film Fc while sandwiching them with the tube 13 b and thereby heat-seals them in the vertical direction.
  • the lateral sealing mechanism 17 is a mechanism in which the sealed portions of the downwardly conveyed tubular film Fc are sandwiched and laterally sealed along a direction (the left-right direction in this case) intersecting the conveying direction of the tubular film Fc, by a pair of sealing jaws 51 (a sealing jaw 51 a and a sealing jaw 51 b ), or a pair of sealing jaws 52 (a sealing jaw 52 a and a sealing jaw 52 b ).
  • the lateral sealing mechanism 17 has primarily a first rotating body 50 a, a second rotating body 50 b, and a horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 , as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the first rotating body 50 a is placed on the front side of the tubular film Fc (the left side in FIG. 4 ).
  • the second rotating body 50 b is placed on the back side of the tubular film Fc (the right side in FIG. 4 ).
  • the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 constantly presses the first rotating shaft 53 a of the first rotating body 50 a toward the second rotating shaft 53 b of the second rotating body 50 b (rearward) so that the tubular film Fc is to be pressed between the pair of sealing jaws 51 or the pair of sealing jaws 52 .
  • FIG. 4 the direction in which the first rotating shaft 53 a is pressed toward the second rotating shaft 53 b is shown by the right-pointing arrows A 1 .
  • the first rotating body 50 a and the second rotating body 50 b will be described in detail.
  • the first rotating body 50 a has primarily a first rotating shaft 53 a, a pair of levers 54 a, a pair of levers 55 a, the sealing jaw 51 a, and the sealing jaw 52 a, as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the first rotating shaft 53 a is a rotating shaft of the first rotating body 50 a extending in the left-right direction. In a side view, the first rotating body 50 a rotates about a rotational axis C 1 with the first rotating shaft 53 a as a rotating shaft (see FIG. 4 ).
  • the pair of levers 54 a are respectively connected near the longitudinal ends (near the left-right directional ends) of the first rotating shaft 53 a. Each of the levers 54 a extends from the first rotating shaft 53 a in the radial direction of the first rotating shaft 53 a. Each of the lever 54 a extends from the first rotating shaft 53 a in the same direction and in parallel with the other lever 54 a.
  • the pair of levers 55 a are respectively connected near the longitudinal ends (near the left-right directional ends) of the first rotating shaft 53 a. Each of the levers 55 a extends from the first rotating shaft 53 a in the radial direction of the first rotating shaft 53 a. Each of the levers 55 a extends from the first rotating shaft 53 a in the same direction and in parallel with the other lever 55 a.
  • the lever 54 a and the lever 55 a that are connected near the right end of the first rotating shaft 53 a extend in point symmetry with respect to the rotational center C 1 of the first rotating body 50 a (see FIG. 4 ).
  • the lever 54 a and the lever 55 a that are connected near the right end of the first rotating shaft 53 a extend in opposite directions from the rotational center C 1 of the first rotating body 50 a (see FIG. 4 ).
  • the lever 54 a and the lever 55 a that are connected near the left end of the first rotating shaft 53 a extend in point symmetry with respect to the rotational center C 1 of the first rotating body 50 a.
  • the lever 54 a and the lever 55 a that are connected near the left end of the first rotating shaft 53 a extend in opposite directions from the rotational center C 1 of the first rotating body 50 a.
  • the sealing jaw 51 a constitutes one of the pair of sealing jaws 51 .
  • the sealing jaws 51 are an example of the sealing members.
  • the sealing jaw 51 a has a sealing surface 511 a (see FIG. 7 ) of which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction.
  • the sealing jaw 51 a functions as a pair with the sealing jaw 51 b described hereinafter, and seals the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc. More specifically, the sealing jaws 51 sandwich and laterally seal the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc in the left-right direction (see FIG. 7 ), using the sealing surface 511 a of the sealing jaw 51 a of which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction and a later-described sealing surface 511 b of the sealing jaw 51 b of which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction.
  • Both ends of the sealing jaw 51 a in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of the sealing surface 511 a are respectively connected to the ends of the levers 54 a extending from the first rotating shaft 53 a. Because the levers 54 a are connected to the first rotating shaft 53 a as described above, the sealing jaw 51 a is supported by the first rotating shaft 53 a at both ends in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of the sealing surface 511 a , via the pair of levers 54 a.
  • the sealing jaw 52 a constitutes one of the pair of sealing jaws 52 .
  • the sealing jaws 52 are an example of the sealing members.
  • the sealing jaw 52 a has a sealing surface (not shown) of which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction.
  • the sealing jaw 52 a functions as a pair with the sealing jaw 52 b described hereinafter, and seals the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc. More specifically, the sealing jaws 52 sandwich and laterally seal the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc in the left-right direction, using the sealing surface of the sealing jaw 51 a of which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction and a later-described sealing surface (not shown) of the sealing jaw 51 b of which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction.
  • Both ends of the sealing jaw 52 a in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of the sealing surface are respectively connected to the ends of the levers 55 a extending from the first rotating shaft 53 a. Because the levers 55 a are connected to the first rotating shaft 53 a as described above, the sealing jaw 52 a is supported by the first rotating shaft 53 a at both ends in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of its sealing surface, via the pair of levers 55 a. Because the levers 54 a and the levers 55 a extend in opposite directions from the rotational center C 1 of the first rotating body 50 a in a side view, the sealing jaw 52 a is disposed in a position 180° away from the sealing jaw 51 a about the rotational center C 1 of the first rotating body 50 a.
  • the second rotating body 50 b has primarily the second rotating shaft 53 b, a pair of levers 54 b, a pair of levers 55 b, the sealing jaw 51 b, and the sealing jaw 52 b, as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the second rotating shaft 53 b is a rotating shaft of the second rotating body 50 b extending in the left-right direction. In a side view, the second rotating body 50 b rotates about a rotational center C 2 with the second rotating shaft 53 b as the rotating shaft (see FIG. 4 ).
  • the pair of levers 54 b are respectively connected near the longitudinal ends (near the left-right directional ends) of the second rotating shaft 53 b. Each of the levers 54 b extends from the second rotating shaft 53 b in the radial direction of the second rotating shaft 53 b. Each of the levers 54 b extends from the second rotating shaft 53 b in the same direction and in parallel with the other lever 54 b.
  • the pair of levers 55 b are respectively connected near the longitudinal ends (near the left-right directional ends) of the second rotating shaft 53 b. Each of the levers 55 b extends from the second rotating shaft 53 b in the radial direction of the second rotating shaft 53 b. Each of the levers 55 b extends from the second rotating shaft 53 b in the same direction and in parallel with the other lever 55 b.
  • the lever 54 b and the lever 55 b that are connected near the right end of the second rotating shaft 53 b extend in point symmetry with respect to the rotational center C 2 of the second rotating body 50 b (see FIG. 4 ).
  • the lever 54 b and the lever 55 b that are connected near the right end of the second rotating shaft 53 b extend in opposite directions from the rotational center C 2 of the second rotating body 50 b (see FIG. 4 ).
  • the lever 54 b and the lever 55 b that are connected near the left end of the second rotating shaft 53 b extend in point symmetry with respect to the rotational center C 2 of the second rotating body 50 b.
  • the lever 54 b and the lever 55 b that are connected near the left end of the second rotating shaft 53 b extend in opposite directions from the rotational center C 2 of the second rotating body 50 b.
  • the sealing jaw 51 b constitutes one of the pair of sealing jaws 51 .
  • the sealing jaw 51 b has a sealing surface 511 b (see FIG. 7 ) of which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction.
  • the sealing jaw 51 b functions as a pair with the sealing jaw 51 a as previously described, and seals the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc.
  • Both ends of the sealing jaw 51 b in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of the sealing surface 511 b are respectively connected to the ends of the levers 54 b extending from the second rotating shaft 53 b. Because the levers 54 b are connected to the second rotating shaft 53 b as described above, the sealing jaw 51 b is supported by the second rotating shaft 53 b at both ends in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of the sealing surface 511 b , via the pair of levers 54 b.
  • the sealing jaw 52 b constitutes one of the pair of sealing jaws 52 .
  • the sealing jaw 52 b has a sealing surface (not shown) of which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction.
  • the sealing jaw 52 b functions as a pair with the sealing jaw 52 a as previously described, and seals the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc.
  • Both ends of the sealing jaw 52 b in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of the sealing surface are respectively connected to the ends of the levers 55 b extending from the second rotating shaft 53 b. Because the levers 55 b are connected to the second rotating shaft 53 b as described above, the sealing jaw 52 b is supported by the second rotating shaft 53 b at both ends in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of its sealing surface, via the pair of levers 55 b. Because the levers 54 b and the levers 55 b extend in opposite directions from the rotational center C 2 of the second rotating body 50 b in a side view, the sealing jaw 52 b is disposed in a position 180° away from the sealing jaw 51 b about the rotational center C 2 of the second rotating body 50 b.
  • the first rotating shaft 53 a is driven by a drive motor (not shown), whereby the first rotating body 50 a is to be rotated about the rotational center C 1 in a side view (see FIG. 5 ).
  • the second rotating shaft 53 b is driven by a drive motor (not shown), whereby the second rotating body 50 b is to be rotated about the rotational center C 2 in a side view (see FIG. 5 ).
  • This causes the sealing jaw 51 a and the sealing jaw 52 a to rotate in a circular orbit about the rotational center C 1 , and the sealing jaw 51 b and the sealing jaw 52 b to rotate in a circular orbit about the rotational center C 2 (see FIG. 5 ).
  • the first rotating body 50 a when viewed from the right side, is to be rotated clockwise about the rotational center C 1 (see FIG. 5 ).
  • the sealing jaw 51 a and the sealing jaw 52 a when viewed from the right side, are to be rotated clockwise about the rotational center C 1 .
  • the second rotating body 50 b when viewed from the right side, is to be rotated counterclockwise about the rotational center C 2 (see FIG. 5 ).
  • the sealing jaw 51 b and the sealing jaw 52 b when viewed from the right side, are to be rotated counterclockwise about the rotational center C 2 .
  • the first rotating body 50 a is supported at both ends in the lateral sealing direction (in the left-right direction) by horizontally moving plates 61 (see FIG. 4 ). More specifically, both ends in the left-right direction of the first rotating shaft 53 a of the first rotating body 50 a are supported by the horizontally moving plates 61 .
  • the second rotating body 50 b is supported at both ends in the lateral sealing direction (in the left-right direction) by stationary plates 62 (see FIG. 4 ). More specifically, both ends in the left-right direction of the second rotating shaft 53 b of the second rotating body 50 b are supported by the stationary plates 62 .
  • the stationary plates 62 are secured to a frame 63 (see FIG. 6 ) of the bag making and packaging unit 3 a.
  • the horizontally moving plates 61 are pressed toward the stationary plates 62 by the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 (refer to the arrows A 1 in FIG. 4 ).
  • the first rotating shaft 53 a supported on the horizontally moving plates 61 is pressed by the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 toward the second rotating shaft 53 b supported on the stationary plates 62 .
  • the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 will be described.
  • the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 is an example of a fluid-pressure-utilizing mechanism.
  • the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 utilizes air pressure to press the first rotating shaft 53 a toward the second rotating shaft 53 b.
  • the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 utilizes air pressure in this embodiment, but the configuration is not limited to this, and may utilize, e.g., oil pressure.
  • the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 has primarily an air cylinder 80 , a first linking rod 81 , a linking plate 82 , and second linking rods 83 , as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the air cylinder 80 is driven by air pressure.
  • the air cylinder 80 is connected with the linking plate 82 via the first linking rod 81 which extends rearward from the air cylinder 80 .
  • force is transferred via the first linking rod 81 , and the linking plate 82 is pressed rearward.
  • the direction in which the linking plate 82 is pressed is indicated by the right-pointing arrows A 1 .
  • the second linking rods 83 are rod-shaped members connecting the linking plate 82 and the horizontally moving plates 61 .
  • the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 has four second linking rods 83 .
  • One end of each second linking rod 83 is connected with the linking plate 82 .
  • Two of the second linking rods 83 extend forward in parallel from the upper-right corner vicinity and the lower-right corner vicinity of the linking plate 82 , as shown in FIG. 6 .
  • the other two second linking rods 83 extend forward in parallel from the upper-left corner vicinity and the lower-left corner vicinity of the linking plate 82 .
  • the two second linking rods 83 that extend forward from the right-side end vicinities of the linking plate 82 are connected with the horizontally moving plate 61 disposed on the right side of the first rotating body 50 a.
  • the two second linking rods 83 that extend forward from the left-side end vicinities of the linking plate 82 are connected with the horizontally moving plate 61 disposed on the left side of the first rotating body 50 a.
  • the second linking rods 83 are not connected with the stationary plates 62 , but the second linking rods 83 slideably extend through the stationary plates 62 .
  • the end (front-side end) vicinities of the second linking rods 83 on the side opposite the linking plate 82 are slideably supported by rod support members 83 a secured to the frame 63 of the bag making and packaging unit 3 a. Because the second linking rods 83 are slideably supported by the rod support members 83 a, the horizontally moving plates 61 connected with the second linking rods 83 can move toward or away from the stationary plates 62 . In other words, the first rotating shaft 53 a supported on the horizontally moving plates 61 can move toward or away from the second rotating shaft 53 b supported on the stationary plates 62 .
  • the first rotating shaft 53 a moves toward or away from the second rotating shaft 53 b according to the balance between the force from the air cylinder 80 and the force exerted either by the sealing jaw 51 b on the sealing jaw 51 a, or by the sealing jaw 52 b on the sealing jaw 52 a, when the tubular film Fc is being laterally sealed by the sealing jaws 51 or the sealing jaws 52 .
  • sealing action by the sealing jaws 51 will be described. More specifically, the following is a description of the lateral sealing of the tubular film Fc by the sealing jaws 51 during the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51 , and the cutting of the laterally sealed bag B away from the tubular film Fc in the sealing jaws 51 .
  • the rotating of the first rotating body 50 a and the second rotating body 50 b (the rotational direction is indicated by the arrows depicted in two-dot chain lines in FIG. 5 ) and the pressing of the first rotating shaft 53 a toward the second rotating shaft 53 b by the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 (the pressing direction is indicated by the arrow A 2 depicted below the first rotating body 50 a in FIG. 5 ) cause the sealing jaw 51 a and the sealing jaw 51 b to sandwich and apply pressure to the downwardly conveyed tubular film Fc between the sealing surface 511 a of the sealing jaw 51 a and the sealing surface 511 b of the sealing jaw 51 b (see FIG. 7 ).
  • the sealing surface 511 a and the sealing surface 511 b have serrations 512 a and serrations 512 b which mesh with each other, as shown in FIG. 7 .
  • the sealing jaws 51 sandwich the tubular film Fc so that the teeth of the serrations 512 a in the sealing surface 511 a and the teeth of the serrations 512 b in the sealing surface 511 b mesh each other and apply pressure to the tubular film Fc.
  • the sealing jaw 51 a and the sealing jaw 51 b have heaters 71 (see FIG. 7 ) arranged in the interiors, and the sealing surface 511 a and sealing surface 511 b are heated by these heaters 71 .
  • the sealing surface 511 a and the sealing surface 511 b are heated while the tubular film Fc is sandwiched by the sealing surface 511 a and the sealing surface 511 b, the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc is thereby heat-sealed.
  • the downwardly conveyed tubular film Fc is heat-sealed in order from the downstream side (the forward side in the conveying direction) toward the upstream side (the rearward side in the conveying direction).
  • a knife 72 a for cutting the bag B away from the tubular film Fc is disposed near the middle of the sealing surface 511 b in the transverse direction (a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the sealing surface 511 b ).
  • the knife 72 a is disposed so that the blade tip protrudes on the side of the sealing jaw 51 a during the sealing action by the sealing jaw 51 a and the sealing jaw 51 b (see FIG. 7 ).
  • a groove 72 b with which the knife 72 a protruding from the sealing jaw 51 b toward the sealing jaw 51 a meshes, is formed near the middle of the sealing surface 511 a in the transverse direction (a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the sealing surface 511 a ).
  • the knife 72 a which is formed into a slanted blade, cuts the bag B away from the tubular film Fc from one end side toward the other end side in the lateral sealing direction (the left-right direction).
  • the sealing jaws 51 perform the following actions in order as single sealing action:
  • timing with which lateral sealing or cutting of the tubular film Fc is performed by one set of actions (1) to (3) may partially overlap the timing with which another set of actions (1) to (3) is performed.
  • cutting of the tubular film Fc in (2) may begin at a timing when lateral sealing in (1) is not completely finished, and lateral sealing in (3) may begin when cutting of the tubular film Fc in (2) is not finished.
  • the rotary encoder 40 is one example of a movement amount detector.
  • the rotary encoder 40 is secured to the frame 63 of the bag making and packaging unit 3 a (see FIG. 8 ).
  • a rotating shaft of the rotary encoder 40 is engaged with the forward-side (the side opposite to the side connected with the linking plate 82 ) end part of the second linking rod 83 so as to rotate due to the second linking rod 83 moving forward and backward.
  • Two rotary encoders 40 are provided.
  • the rotating shaft of one rotary encoder 40 is engaged with the end part of the second linking rod 83 that, among the four second linking rods 83 , is located on the upper right side.
  • the rotating shaft of the other rotary encoder 40 is engaged with the end part of the second linking rod 83 that is located on the upper left side.
  • the arrangement is not limited to this example, and the rotating shaft of one rotary encoder 40 may be engaged with the end part of the second linking rod 83 located on the lower right side, while the rotating shaft of the other rotary encoder 40 may be engaged with the end part of the second linking rod 83 located on the lower left side.
  • the rotary encoders 40 measure the forward and backward movement amount of the second linking rods 83 by measuring the rotational angles of the rotating shafts of the rotary encoders 40 .
  • the forward and backward movement amount of the second linking rods 83 is equal to the amount by which the first rotating shaft 53 a, attached to the horizontally moving plates 61 connected to the second linking rods 83 , moves relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b attached to the stationary plates 62 .
  • the rotary encoders 40 measure the amount by which the first rotating shaft 53 a moves relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in the direction that the first rotating shaft 53 a moves either toward or away from the second rotating shaft 53 b, by measuring the rotational angles of the rotating shafts of the rotary encoders 40 .
  • the movement amount of the second linking rods 83 connected to the horizontally moving plate 61 disposed on the right side of the first rotating shaft 53 a, and the movement amount of the second linking rods 83 connected to the horizontally moving plate 61 disposed on the left side of the first rotating shaft 53 a, are measured by the rotary encoders 40 as described above.
  • the movement amount (right-side movement amount) of the first rotating shaft 53 a on the side of the right-side end part relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b, and the movement amount (left-side movement amount) of the first rotating shaft 53 a on the side of the left-side end part relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b are measured by the rotary encoders 40 . Therefore, the movement of either the left or right end part of the first rotating shaft 53 a, toward or away from the second rotating shaft 53 b, can be detected.
  • the film supply unit 3 b is a unit for supplying the film F in sheet shape to the forming mechanism 13 of the bag making and packaging unit 3 a.
  • the film supply unit 3 b is arranged adjacent to the bag making and packaging unit 3 a.
  • a roll around which the film F is wound is set in the film supply unit 3 b, and the film F is unreeled from this roll.
  • the controller 30 includes primarily a CPU, ROM, RAM, and other storage media.
  • the controller 30 which is connected to the components of the combination weighing machine 2 , constitutes part of the combination weighing machine 2 as a control part of the combination weighing machine 2 .
  • the controller 30 is also connected (see FIG. 2 ) with the components (primarily, the drive motors for driving the pull-down belt mechanism 14 , the vertical sealing mechanism 15 , and the first and second rotating shafts 53 a, 53 b; the lateral sealing mechanism 17 having the air cylinder 80 of the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 and other components; the rotary encoders 40 (the right and left sides); and the film supply unit 3 b ) of the bag making and packaging machine 3 .
  • the controller 30 constitutes part of the bag making and packaging machine 3 as a control part of the bag making and packaging machine 3 .
  • the controller 30 controls the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 by executing programs stored in the storage media.
  • the controller 30 controls the movement of the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 so that, e.g., the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 perform the following actions.
  • the controller 30 controls the combination weighing machine 2 so that the weight of the goods C as the packaged goods is weighed by a plurality of weighing hoppers, these weight values are combined so as to reach a predetermined total weight, and a combined predetermined total weight of goods C is discharged downward in the combination weighing machine 2 .
  • the goods C discharged from the combination weighing machine 2 are dropped into a top open end of the tube 13 b of the bag making and packaging machine 3 .
  • the controller 30 controls the film supply unit 3 b so that the film F is supplied to the forming mechanism 13 .
  • the controller 30 also controls the pull-down belt mechanism 14 so that the film F formed into a tube shape by the forming mechanism 13 (the tubular film Fc) is conveyed downward, and controls the vertical sealing mechanism 15 so that the seams of the conveyed tubular film Fc are vertically sealed.
  • the controller 30 also controls the lateral sealing mechanism 17 so that the downwardly conveyed tubular film Fc is sealed in the lateral direction and the sealed bag B is cut away from the tubular film Fc on the upstream side, in conformity with the timing at which the goods C discharged from the combination weighing machine 2 are discharged from the bottom open end of the tube 13 b.
  • the controller 30 has an entrapment determination part 30 a as a functional part for controlling the bag making and packaging machine 3 . Based on the amount (the right-side movement amount and left-side movement amount) by which the first rotating shaft 53 a moves relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b, which is measured by the rotary encoders 40 , the entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not any articles have been trapped in the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc when the sealing jaws 51 , 52 laterally seal the film. The presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc occurs when, e.g., when goods C are sandwiched in the sealed portion, and/or when cutting debris of the tubular film Fc are sandwiched in the sealed portion. The action to determine the presence of trapped articles performed by the entrapment determination part 30 a is described hereinafter.
  • the numerical values of the amount of displacement indicated on the vertical axes of the graphs shown in FIGS. 9( a ) and 9( b ) are merely specific examples of cases when the settings of the lateral sealing mechanism 17 are adjusted to certain conditions, and these numerical values are not limited to these examples.
  • the numerical values of the amount of displacement change depending on the settings of the lateral sealing mechanism 17 .
  • FIG. 9( a ) is a graph of the change in the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b when no articles are present in the sealed portion of the tubular film Fe.
  • the horizontal axis indicates time
  • the vertical axis indicates movement amount [mm].
  • the movement amount in the direction in which the first rotating shaft 53 a moves away from the second rotating shaft 53 b is represented by a positive value
  • the movement amount in the direction in which the first rotating shaft 53 a moves toward the second rotating shaft 53 b is represented by a negative value.
  • the time period Y 1 in FIG. 9( a ) is a time period that precedes the start of the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51 . Because the sealing action is not performed by the sealing jaws 51 in the time period Y 1 (nor is the sealing action by the sealing jaws 52 performed), no particular force acts on the first rotating shaft 53 a in the direction away from the second rotating shaft 53 b. The movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the time period Y 1 indicates a negative value near 0. In the graph of FIG. 9( a ) , a reference point of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a is taken so that the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a when the sealing action is not performed by the lateral sealing mechanism 17 is a value near 0.
  • the time period X 1 in FIG. 9( a ) is a period after the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51 has begun and lateral sealing of the tubular film Fc has begun. Furthermore, the time period X 1 extends up to the point in time when cutting of the tubular film Fc by the knife 72 a arranged to the sealing jaw 51 b is started.
  • the time period X 1 is an example of the first time period.
  • the lower side of the sealing surface 511 a of the sealing jaw 51 a and the lower side of the sealing surface 511 b of the sealing jaw 51 b sandwich the tubular film Fc.
  • the first rotating shaft 53 a moves away from the second rotating shaft 53 b.
  • the first rotating shaft 53 a moves a distance of approximately 0.1 mm at maximum from the reference point in the direction away from the second rotating shaft 53 b (see FIG. 9( a ) ).
  • the time period X 3 in FIG. 9( a ) starts at the point in time when the tubular film Fc begins to be cut by the knife 72 a arranged to the sealing jaw 51 b, and ends at the point in time when the tubular film Fc finishes being cut by the knife 72 a.
  • a force greater than that during lateral sealing is exerted by the sealing jaw 51 b on the sealing jaw 51 a, and the first rotating shaft 53 a therefore moves even further away from the second rotating shaft 53 b than in the time period X 1 .
  • the first rotating shaft 53 a moves a distance of approximately 0.2 mm at maximum from the reference point in the direction away from the second rotating shaft 53 b (see FIG. 9( a ) ).
  • the time period X 2 in FIG. 9( a ) starts at the point in time when the tubular film Fc has finished being cut by the knife 72 a arranged to the sealing jaw 51 b, and ends when the sealing jaws 51 finish laterally sealing the tubular film Fc on the upstream side of the position cut by the knife 72 a (this time period lasts until the sealing jaws 51 complete the sealing action).
  • the time period X 2 is one example of the second time period.
  • the first rotating shaft 53 a moves a distance of approximately 0.1 mm at maximum from the reference point in the direction away from the second rotating shaft 53 b (see FIG. 9( a ) ).
  • the time period Y 2 in FIG. 9( a ) is the time period after the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51 is finished. Because the sealing action is not performed by the sealing jaws 51 (nor is the sealing action performed by the sealing jaws 52 ) in the time period Y 2 , no particular force acts on the first rotating shaft 53 a in the direction away from the second rotating shaft 53 b. The movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the time period Y 2 indicates a negative value near 0.
  • FIG. 9( b ) the change in the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in a case when articles are trapped in the sealed portion, and particularly in a case when articles are trapped in the sealed portion during the lateral sealing in the time period X 1 , is described referring to FIG. 9( b ) .
  • the horizontal and vertical axes are defined in the same manner as in FIG. 9( a ) .
  • the time periods Y 1 , Y 2 and the time periods X 1 , X 3 , X 2 are also defined in the same manner in FIG. 9( b ) .
  • the time period Y 1 is the same as when no articles are trapped in the sealed portion and is therefore not described.
  • the sealing jaw 51 a is pressed more strongly by the sealing jaw 51 b than when no articles are present in the sealed portion. Therefore, when articles are present in the sealed portion during the lateral sealing performed in the time period X 1 , the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b is greater than when no articles are trapped in the sealed portion. For example, the maximum value of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in the time period X 1 is close to the maximum value of the movement amount in the time period X 3 .
  • the shape of the graph is different from FIG. 9( a ) because movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in the time period X 1 is larger.
  • the first rotating shaft 53 a moves far away from the second rotating shaft 53 b the same as in FIG. 9( a ) .
  • the first rotating shaft 53 a moves a distance of approximately 0.2 mm at maximum from the reference point in the direction away from the second rotating shaft 53 b (see FIG. 9( b ) ).
  • the graph in a case when articles are trapped in the sealed portion is the same that in a case when no articles are trapped in the sealed portion, and is therefore not described.
  • the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the time periods X 1 and X 3 is the same as the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the time periods X 1 and X 3 in FIG. 9( a ) .
  • the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the time period X 2 exhibits the same tendency as the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the time period X 1 in FIG. 9( b ) .
  • the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the time period X 2 is greater than the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the time period X 3 in FIG. 9( a ) .
  • the entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not articles are present in the following manner, utilizing the difference in the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b between a case of no articles being present in the sealed portion, and a case of articles being present in the sealed portion, as described above.
  • the entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not any articles are present for the time period X 1 and the time period X 2 .
  • a case in which the entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not any articles are present in the time period X 1 is used as an example for this description.
  • the maximum value need not be the default value, and the entrapment determination part 30 a may, e.g., measure and accumulate movement amounts of the first rotating shaft 53 a in a case when the trapping of articles is not caused and calculate the maximum value Dmax based on the accumulated data.
  • the entrapment determination part 30 a obtains measured values from the two rotary encoders 40 and calculates the average of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a during the time period X 1 . Particularly, average value of the movement amount (right-side movement amount) of the right-side end of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b, and average value of the movement amount (the left-side movement amount) of the left-side end of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b are respectively calculated.
  • the entrapment determination part 30 a compares the calculated average value of the right-side movement amount and the average value of the left-side movement amount with the maximum value Dmax that the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a could take when no articles are trapped, and determines that articles have been trapped in the time period X 1 when either average value is greater than the maximum value Dmax. When both average values are equal to or less than the maximum value Dmax, it is determined that no articles have been trapped in the time period X 1 .
  • the controller 30 discharges the bag B, which is laterally sealed in the time period X 1 and cut away from the tubular film Fc in the subsequent time period X 3 , from the bag making and packaging machine 3 as a defective product, since there is a risk of a sealing defect.
  • the bag B discharged as a defective product from the bag making and packaging machine 3 is conveyed to, e.g., a defective product collecting location by a conveyor (not shown).
  • the controller 30 discharges the bag B, which is cut away during the sealing action by the sealing jaws 52 in succession with the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51 , from the bag making and packaging machine 3 as a defective product since there is a risk of a sealing defect.
  • the control performed by the controller 30 when it is determined by the entrapment determination part 30 a that articles have been trapped in the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc, is not limited to what is described above.
  • the controller 30 controls so that compressed air is vented out from the air cylinder 80 and either the sealing jaw 51 a and sealing jaw 51 b or the sealing jaw 52 a and sealing jaw 52 b are moved away from each other at the timing when the bag B having a risk of incomplete lateral sealing is to be cut, so as not to cut away the bag B having a risk of incomplete lateral sealing from the tubular film Fc.
  • the characteristics of the bag making and packaging machine 3 are described using the description of the pair of sealing jaws 51 (the sealing jaws 51 a , 51 b ), but the characteristics of the bag making and packaging machine 3 could be described in the same manner using the description of the pair of sealing jaws 52 .
  • a pair of sealing jaws 51 sandwiches and seals the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc.
  • the bag making and packaging machine 3 is provided with the first rotating shaft 53 a as an example of a first support part, the second rotating shaft 53 b as an example of a second support part, the rotary encoders 40 as an example of a movement amount detector, and the entrapment determination part 30 a.
  • the first rotating shaft 53 a supports one sealing jaw 51 (the sealing jaw 51 a ), and the second rotating shaft 53 b supports the other sealing jaw 51 (the sealing jaw 51 b ).
  • the rotary encoders 40 measure the relative movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in relation to the second rotating shaft 53 b in an approaching direction or a moving away direction (in the present embodiment, movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a is measured because the second rotating shaft 53 b does not move in an approaching direction or moving away direction from the first rotating shaft 53 a ) when the first rotating shaft 53 a and the second rotating shaft 53 b approach or move away.
  • the entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on the measured movement amount.
  • the presence of articles in the sealed portion can be detected even when the drive source for driving the sealing jaws 51 (a rotation motor for rotating the sealing jaws 51 , and/or a horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 for pressing the sealing jaw 51 a against the sealing jaw 51 b ) is a mechanism incapable of perceiving the force/moment exerted by the drive source on the tubular film Fc via the sealing jaws 51 , and positional information pertaining to the drive source (e.g., the rotational angle of the motor or the like), directly from information obtained from the drive source.
  • the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion can be detected without using an expensive configuration such as a servo motor as the drive source.
  • the pair of sealing jaws 51 sandwich and laterally seal the tubular film Fc, which is conveyed in a first direction (downward in the present embodiment), along a direction (the left-right direction in the present embodiment) intersecting the first direction, due to the sealing jaws 51 a , 51 b being rotated along a circular orbit.
  • the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion during lateral sealing can be detected.
  • the first and second support parts are the first rotating shaft 53 a and the second rotating shaft 53 b for rotating the sealing jaws 51 .
  • One possible method for detecting the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion is a method of measuring the relative movement amount of one sealing jaw 51 in relation to the other sealing jaw 51 .
  • the configuration for measuring the movement amount is likely to be complicated.
  • the relative movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a for rotating the sealing jaw 51 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b for rotating the sealing jaw 51 b is measured, entrapment of articles in the sealed portion can be detected with a simpler configuration than it is detected by measuring the movement amount of the sealing jaws 51 .
  • the bag making and packaging machine 3 is provided with the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 as a fluid-pressure-utilizing pressing mechanism.
  • the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 constantly presses the first rotating shaft 53 a toward the second rotating shaft 53 b so that the tubular film Fc is to be pressed between the sealing jaws 51 when the tubular film Fc is sandwiched between the pair of sealing jaws 51 .
  • the entrapment of articles in the sealed portion can be detected even when the inexpensive horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 , which does not itself perceive the force/moment or the like exerted on the tubular film Fc, is used in order to apply pressure to the tubular film Fc between the sealing jaws 51 .
  • the first rotating shaft 53 a support the sealing jaw 51 a at the first-end-part side (the right-end side) and the second-end-part side (the left-end side) in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of the sealing surface 511 a with which the sealing jaw 51 a sandwiches the tubular film Fc.
  • the second rotating shaft 53 b supports the sealing jaw 51 b at the first-end-part side (the right-end side) and the second-end-part side (the left-end side) in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of the sealing surface 511 b with which the sealing jaw 51 b sandwiches the tubular film Fc.
  • One rotary encoder 40 measures the first relative movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in relation to the second rotating shaft 53 b at the first-end-part side (the right-end side) (in the present embodiment, the movement amount of the right-side-end part of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b (the right-side movement amount)).
  • the other rotary encoder 40 measures the second relative movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in relation to the second rotating shaft 53 b at the second-end-part side (the left-end side) (in the present embodiment, the movement amount of the left-side-end part of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b (the left-side movement amount)).
  • the entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on the right-side movement amount and the left-side movement amount.
  • the relative movement amounts (the right-side movement amount and the left-side movement amount) of the first rotating shaft 53 a in relation to the second rotating shaft 53 b, in the left and right end parts of the first rotating shaft 53 a, are used in the determination of the presence of trapped articles, it is easy to perceive that articles have been trapped regardless of the location in which they have been trapped in the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc.
  • the configuration is not limited to this example, and only the left-side movement amount or only the right-side movement amount may be measured by a rotary encoder 40 .
  • a rotary encoder 40 for example, in cases such as when it is unlikely a difference between the left-side movement amount and the right-side movement amount to be caused (e.g., when the longitudinal widths of the sealing surfaces 511 a, 511 b are comparatively small), the entrapment of articles can be accurately determined even if only the left-side movement amount or only the right-side movement amount is measured by a rotary encoder 40 .
  • the entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on the statistics of the relative movement amount (the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in this case) measured during a predetermined time period (the time periods X 1 , X 2 in the present embodiment) by the rotary encoders 40 .
  • the entrapment determination part 30 a in this case determines whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on the average value of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b, measured during the time periods X 1 , X 2 by the rotary encoders 40 .
  • the pair of sealing jaws 51 sandwich the tubular film Fc conveyed in the first direction (downward in this case) and laterally seal the film along a direction (the left-right direction in this case) intersecting the first direction sequentially from the forward side in the first direction, due to the sealing jaws 51 a , 51 b being rotated along a circular orbit.
  • the entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion in the time period X 1 (an example of the first time period), which begins at the point in time when the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51 a , 51 b is started and ends at the point in time when cutting of the tubular film Fc by the knife 72 a arranged to the sealing jaw 51 b is started (an example of the first time point).
  • the entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not articles are present in the time period X 2 (an example of the second time period), which begins at the point in time when cutting of the tubular film Fc by the knife 72 a arranged to the sealing jaw 51 b is finished (an example of the second time point), and ends at the point in time when the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51 a, 51 b is finished.
  • the determination of the presence of trapped articles is performed separately at the sealing action starting time and the sealing action finishing time, within one sealing action. Therefore, when bags are being packaged continuously, a determination of the presence of articles of one-end side (the upper-end side during lateral sealing) of one bag B and a determination of the presence of articles of the other-end side (the lower-end side during lateral sealing) of the following bag B can be performed separately. It is thereby easy to expel only bags B in which presence of articles is actually caused as defective products.
  • the configuration is not limited to this example, and the occurrence of the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion may be determined for the entire sealing action. However, in order to expel only bags B in which the presence of trapped articles results in defective products, it is preferable to determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion separately in the time period X 1 and the time period X 2 as described above.
  • the second rotating shaft 53 b is secured so as not to move either toward or away from the first rotating shaft 53 a.
  • the first rotating shaft 53 a is capable of moving toward or away from the second rotating shaft 53 b.
  • the rotary encoders 40 measure the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the direction toward or away from the second rotating shaft 53 b as the relative movement amount when the first rotating shaft 53 a moves toward or away from the second rotating shaft 53 b.
  • the relative movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in relation to the second rotating shaft 53 b can be measured with a simple configuration to detect the presence of trapped articles.
  • alignment adjustment of the sealing jaws 51 is done by using a thickness gauge.
  • alignment adjustment of the sealing jaws 51 can be done based on the measurement result of the left-side movement amount and the right-side movement amount by the rotary encoders 40 . Therefore, it is possible to perform alignment adjustment of the sealing jaws 51 with little variation in a short time.
  • the distance between the sealing surface 511 a and the sealing surface 511 b decrease commensurately with respect to the amount of dirt adhesion than when there is no dirt, and the force with which the sealing jaw 51 b presses the sealing jaw 51 a becomes greater than when there is no dirt.
  • the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in a case when the sealing jaws 51 are dirty becomes greater than in a case when the sealing jaws 51 are not dirty.
  • the bag making and packaging machine 3 utilizes the rotary encoders 40 as movement amount detectors, but such an arrangement is not provided by way of limitation.
  • Other movement amount detectors may be attached to the ends of the second linking rods 83 and be capable of measuring the amount of displacement of the second linking rods 83 .
  • load cells 41 may be attached to the ends of the second linking rods 83 as shown in FIG. 10 , and the strength of the force exerted on the load cells 41 may be used to measure the amount of displacement of the second linking rods 83 .
  • potentiometers 42 may be attached to the ends of the second linking rods 83 as shown in FIG. 11 , and the change in resistance value may be used to measure the amount of displacement of the second linking rods 83 .
  • the movement amount of the second linking rods 83 is measured at the ends of the second linking rods 83 , whereby the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b is measured, but no limitation is provided thereby.
  • the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b may be measured by arranging the rotary encoders 40 or other movement amount detectors to portions of the second linking rods 83 where they are attachable other than the ends, and measuring the movement amount of the second linking rods 83 at those positions.
  • the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b may be measured by directly measuring the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a itself rather than measuring the movement amount of the second linking rods 83 .
  • the presence of trapped articles during lateral sealing is determined in the bag making and packaging machine 3 using a rotating lateral sealing mechanism, but no limitation is provided thereby.
  • the entrapment of articles may be determined with a configuration similar to that of the above embodiment, in a packaging machine using a lateral sealing mechanism in which a sealing jaw 151 a is revolvably driven in a D-shaped path in a side view by a first revolving shaft 153 a as an example of the first support part, and a sealing jaw 151 b is revolvably driven in a D-shaped path in a side view by a second revolving shaft 153 b as an example of the second support part, whereby the tubular film Fc is sandwiched and laterally sealed between the pair of sealing jaws 151 , as shown in FIG. 12 .
  • the first revolving shaft 153 a and the second revolving shaft 153 b are revolvably driven in a D-shaped path in a side view, by moving the first revolving shaft 153 a and the second revolving shaft 153 b toward or away from each other while rotating (refer to the arrows A 3 in FIG. 12 ).
  • the first revolving shaft 153 a and the second revolving shaft 153 b are both capable of moving toward or away from the other.
  • the movement amount detectors in this case are configured so as to measure the movement amounts of both revolving shafts 153 a, 153 b by using rotary encoders or the like, and to calculate the relative movement amount of the first revolving shaft 153 a in relation to the second revolving shaft 153 b.
  • the presence of trapped articles may be determined with a configuration similar to that of the above embodiment.
  • a member supporting the one sealing jaw so that the sealing jaw is linearly driven and a member supporting the other sealing jaw so that the other sealing jaw does not move, would be examples of the first support part and the second support part, respectively.
  • members supporting the sealing jaws so that the sealing jaws are linearly driven would be examples of the first support part and the second support part.
  • the sealing jaw 51 a and the sealing jaw 52 a are provided to the first rotating body 50 a
  • the sealing jaw 51 b and the sealing jaw 52 b are provided to the second rotating body 50 b
  • the sealing jaw 51 a and the sealing jaw 51 b alternate with the sealing jaw 52 a and the sealing jaw 52 b to sandwich and laterally seal the tubular film Fc, but the invention is not limited to this configuration.
  • the sealing jaw 51 a alone may be provided to the first rotating body 50 a
  • the sealing jaw 51 b alone may be provided to the second rotating body 50 b
  • lateral sealing may be performed using the sealing jaws 51 alone.
  • the bag making and packaging machine 3 may have three or more groups of sealing jaws, and lateral sealing of the tubular film Fc may be performed using these groups of sealing jaws alternately.
  • the entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion by calculating the average value of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b measured during the time periods X 1 , X 2 , and comparing the average value with the maximum value Dmax of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in a case when no articles are present, but no limitation is provided thereby.
  • the entrapment determination part 30 a may determine that articles are present in the sealed portion when the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b measured during the time periods X 1 , X 2 , includes an element that surpasses the maximum value Dmax. In this case, the entrapment determination part 30 a can quickly determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion.
  • the entrapment determination part 30 a may also determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion by calculating an intermediate value or another statistical value of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b measured during the time periods X 1 , X 2 , and comparing this statistical value with the maximum value Dmax of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in a case when no articles are present.
  • the entrapment determination part 30 a may also recognize the difference in the shapes of the graphs of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b caused by the occurrence of the presence of trapped articles (see FIGS. 9( a ) and 9( b ) ), and thereby determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion.
  • the bag B is cut away from the tubular film Fc by the knife 72 a arranged to the sealing jaw 51 b or 52 b and configured to protrude toward the sealing jaw 51 a or 52 a, but no limitation is provided thereby.
  • a knife accommodated in a space formed in one sealing jaw 51 of a pair of sealing jaws 51 may be driven so as to move toward the other sealing jaw 51 , and the bag B may thereby be cut away from the tubular film Fc.
  • the occurrence of the entrapment of articles in the sealed portion can be determined based on the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in a case when no articles are present in the sealed portion, and the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b measured by the rotary encoders 40 during the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51 .
  • Another possible option is to not provide a knife 72 a to the sealing jaw 51 b or 52 b , and to have the sealing jaws 51 , 52 perform lateral sealing only (the bag B would not be cut).
  • the bag making and packaging machine 3 is described as an example of the packaging machine according to the present invention, but the packaging machine according to the present invention is not limited as such.
  • the packaging machine may be designed so that it only includes the lateral sealing mechanism 17 portion of the bag making and packaging machine 3 .
  • sealing members sandwich and seal a packaging material.
  • the packaging machine is useful for being capable of detecting when articles are present in a sealed portion even when the mechanism used as the drive source of the sealing members is incapable of perceiving the force/moment exerted on the packaging material by the drive source and positional information pertaining to the drive source, directly from information obtained from the drive source.

Abstract

A packaging machine, includes a pair of sealing jaws that sandwiches and seals a sealed portion of a tubular film. The packaging machine is provided with a first rotating shaft for supporting one sealing jaw, a second rotating shaft for supporting the other sealing jaw, a rotary encoder, and an entrapment determination part. When the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft approach or move away, the rotary encoder measures the movement amount of the first rotating shaft in relation to the second rotating shaft in an approaching direction or a moving away direction. The entrapment determination part determines whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on the movement amount.

Description

    TECHNICAL FIELD
  • The present invention relates to a packaging machine, and particularly relates to a packaging machine in which a pair of sealing members sandwiches and seals portions of a film.
    • BACKGROUND ART
  • In the past, there have been packaging machines with sealing means which use sealing members to sandwich and seal a packaging material. For example, Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2007-302261) and Patent Literature 2 (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. H3-69428) disclose a packaging machine which uses sealing members driven by a servo motor to sandwich and heat-seal a packaging material shaped into a tubular shape, and thereby packages goods to be packaged.
  • With this type of packaging machine, when the packaging material is sandwiched and sealed by the sealing members, sometimes the goods to be packaged or the like get trapped in the sealed portions and the package is thereby incompletely sealed.
  • Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2007-302261) discloses the feature that the drive current of the servo motor, or in other words, the torque of the servo motor, is measured, and when the drive current exceeds a predetermined value, the sealed portions are determined to have trapped a foreign object and a poor seal is detected. Patent Literature 2 (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. H3-69428) discloses the feature that the rotational angle of the servo motor is measured, and presence of objects in the sealed portions are detected based on a delay from the target position of the rotational position.
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem
  • In some packaging machines, a separate mechanism is used instead of a servo motor as the drive source for sandwiching the packaging material between the sealing members. For example, there are cases in which the mechanism used as the drive source cannot perceive the force/moment exerted on the packaging material by the drive source and positional information pertaining to the drive source (e.g., the rotational angle of the motor, etc.), directly from information obtained from the drive source. In such cases, it is not possible to detect the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portions based on the information obtained from the drive source.
  • One object of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine which uses sealing members to sandwich and seal a packaging material, wherein the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portions can be detected even when the mechanism used as the drive source of the sealing members is incapable of causing the force/moment exerted on the packaging material by the drive source and positional information pertaining to the drive source, to be directly perceived from information obtained from the drive source.
    • Solution to Problem
  • In a packaging machine according to the present invention, a pair of sealing members is configured to sandwich and seal a sealed portion of a film. The packaging machine is provided with a first support part configured to support one of the sealing members and a second support part configured to support the other of the sealing members, a movement amount detector, and an entrapment determination part. The movement amount detector is configured to measure the relative movement amount of the first support part in relation to the second support part in an approaching direction or a moving away direction, when the first support part and the second support part approach or move away. The entrapment determination part is configured to determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on the relative movement amount.
  • In this aspect, the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion can be detected even when the mechanism, used as the drive source for driving the sealing members, is incapable of perceiving the force/moment exerted on the film by the drive source via the sealing members and positional information pertaining to the drive source (e.g., the rotational angle of the motor, etc.), directly from information obtained from the drive source.
  • In the packaging machine according to the present invention, the pair of sealing members are preferably configured to be rotated in a circular orbit, whereby the sealing members sandwich and laterally seal the film along a direction intersecting a first direction, the film being conveyed in the first direction and formed into a tubular shape.
  • In this aspect, in a packaging machine using a rotating lateral sealing mechanism, the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion during lateral sealing can be detected.
  • In the packaging machine according to the present invention, the first and second support parts are preferably rotating shafts for rotating the sealing members.
  • In this aspect, in the packaging machine using a rotating lateral sealing mechanism, the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion during lateral sealing can be detected by measuring the relative movement amount of the rotating shafts for rotating the sealing members.
  • One possible method for detecting the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion is a method of measuring the relative movement amount of one sealing member in relation to the other sealing member. However, when the movement amount of sealing members to be rotated in a circular orbit is measured, the configuration for measuring the movement amount is likely to be complicated. In this aspect, because the relative movement amount of the rotating shafts for rotating the sealing members is measured, the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion can be detected with a simpler configuration than it is detected by measuring the movement amount of the sealing members.
  • The packaging machine according to the present invention is preferably further provided with a fluid-pressure-utilizing pressing mechanism. The fluid-pressure-utilizing pressing mechanism is preferably configured to constantly presses the first support part toward the second support part so that the film is to be pressed between the sealing members when the film is sandwiched between the pair of sealing members.
  • The presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion can be detected even when an inexpensive fluid-pressure-utilizing pressing mechanism, which does not itself perceive the force/moment or the like exerted on the film, is used in order to apply pressure to the film between the sealing members.
  • In the packaging machine according to the present invention, each of the first and second support parts is preferably configured to support the sealing member at a first-end side and a second-end side in the longitudinal direction of a surface with which the sealing members sandwich the film. The movement amount detector is preferably configured to measure, as the relative movement amount, a first relative movement amount of the first support part in relation to the second support part at the first-end side, and a second relative movement amount of the first support part in relation to the second support part at the second-end side. The entrapment determination part is preferably configured to determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on the first relative movement amount and the second relative movement amount.
  • In this aspect, when the first and second support parts support the sealing members at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the surfaces with which the sealing members sandwich the film, the relative movement amounts of the first support part in relation to the second support part in the respective ends are used in the determination of the presence of trapped articles. It is therefore easy to perceive that articles have been trapped regardless of the location in which they have been trapped in the sealed portion.
  • In the packaging machine according to the present invention, the entrapment determination part is preferably configured to determine whether or not articles are trapped in the sealed portion based on statistics of the relative movement amount measured during a predetermined time period by the movement amount detector.
  • In this aspect, erroneous detection of the presence of trapped articles is minimized or eliminated, even if there is momentarily a comparatively large measurement error in the relative movement amount measured by the movement amount detector.
  • Furthermore, in the packaging machine according to the present invention, the entrapment determination part is preferably configured to determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on an average value of the relative movement amount measured during a predetermined time period by the movement amount detector.
  • In this aspect, erroneous detection of the presence of trapped articles is minimized or eliminated even if there is momentarily a comparatively large measurement error in the relative movement amount measured by the movement amount detector, because the presence of trapped articles are determined based on the average value of the relative movement amount.
  • In the packaging machine according to the present invention, the pair of sealing members are preferably configured to be rotated in a circular orbit, whereby the sealing members sandwich and laterally seal the film along a direction intersecting a first direction sequentially from the forward side in the first direction, the film being conveyed in the first direction and formed into a tubular shape. The entrapment determination part is preferably configured to determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion, both in a first time period beginning at a start of a sealing action by the sealing members and ending at a first time point and in a second time period beginning at a second time point after the first time point and ending at a finish of the sealing action, within the single sealing action.
  • In the packaging machine using a rotating lateral sealing mechanism, the determination of the presence of trapped articles is performed separately at the sealing action starting time and the sealing action finishing time, within one sealing action. Therefore, when bags are being packaged continuously, a determination of the presence of trapped articles of one-end side of one bag and a determination of the presence of trapped articles of the other-end side of the following bag can be performed separately. It is thereby easy to detect only bags in which caching of articles is actually caused.
  • In the packaging machine according to the present invention, the second support part is preferably secured so as not to move in a direction toward or away from the first support part. The first support part is preferably capable of moving in a direction toward or away from the second support part. The movement amount detector is preferably configured to measure the movement amount of the first support part in the direction toward or away from the second support part as the relative movement amount when the first support part moves toward or away from the second support part.
  • In this aspect, because only one support part can move toward or away from the other support part and occurrence of the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion is determined by detecting the movement amount, the relative movement amount can be measured with a simple configuration to detect the presence of trapped articles.
    • Advantageous Effects of Invention
  • In the packaging machine of the present invention, the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion can be detected even when the mechanism, used as the drive source for driving the sealing members, is incapable of perceiving the force/moment exerted on the film by the drive source via the sealing members and positional information pertaining to the drive source (e.g., the rotational angle of the motor, etc.), directly from information obtained from the drive source.
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a weighing and packaging apparatus including a packaging machine (bag making and packaging machine) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the weighing and packaging apparatus according to FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the general configuration of the bag making and packaging unit of the bag making and packaging machine according to FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 4 is a side view, as seen from the right in FIG. 2, of the lateral sealing mechanism of the bag making and packaging unit according to FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 5 is a side view, as seen from the right in FIG. 2, of the path of the sealing jaws of the lateral sealing mechanism according to FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view, as seen from the rear right in FIG. 2, of the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism of the lateral sealing mechanism according to FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 7 is a side view showing the condition in which the sealing action is performed by the sealing jaws of the lateral sealing mechanism according to FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the attaching manner of the rotary encoder in the bag making and packaging mechanism according to FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 9 shows graphs showing the change over time in the movement amount of the first rotating shaft relative to the second rotating shaft, during the sealing action by the sealing jaws of the lateral sealing mechanism according to FIG. 4. FIG. 9(a) shows the change over time in the movement amount of the first rotating shaft relative to the second rotating shaft, when no articles are present in the sealed portion. FIG. 9(b) shows the change over time in the movement amount of the first rotating shaft relative to the second rotating shaft, when articles are present in the sealed portion within the time period X1.
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the attaching manner of the load cell in the bag making and packaging machine according to Modification A.
  • FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the attaching manner of the potentiometer in the bag making and packaging machine according to Modification A.
  • FIG. 12 is a drawing showing the path of sealing jaws of a lateral sealing mechanism which performs D-shaped motion according to Modification C.
    •  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
  • An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiment is a specific example of the embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.
  • (1) Overall Configuration
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a weighing and packaging apparatus 1 including a bag making and packaging machine 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the weighing and packaging apparatus 1.
  • The weighing and packaging apparatus 1 has primarily a combination weighing machine 2, the bag making and packaging machine 3, and a controller 30 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The bag making and packaging machine 3 is provided with a bag making and packaging unit 3 a and a film supply unit 3 b (see FIG. 1).
  • The combination weighing machine 2 is disposed above the bag making and packaging unit 3 a. In the combination weighing machine 2, goods C (packaged goods) are weighed in a plurality of weighing hoppers, the weight values are combined so as to reach a predetermined total weight, and goods C having the combined predetermined total weight are discharged downward.
  • The bag making and packaging unit 3 a of the bag making and packaging machine 3 bags the goods C in accordance with the timing at which the goods C are supplied from the combination weighing machine 2. The film supply unit 3 b supplies a film F for packaging, which will be formed into a bag B, to the bag making and packaging unit 3 a.
  • The weighing and packaging apparatus 1 is provided with operation switches 4 for operating the weighing and packaging apparatus 1. The weighing and packaging apparatus 1 is provided with a touch panel display 5 on which the operating state of the weighing and packaging apparatus 1 is displayed, and to which various settings for the weighing and packaging apparatus 1 are inputted. The operation switches 4 and the touch panel display 5 function as input parts for receiving commands for the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3, and/or settings pertaining to the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3. The touch panel display 5 functions as an output part for displaying information pertaining to the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3. In the present embodiment, the operation switches 4 and the touch panel display 5 are shared by the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 but are not limited as such; operation switches and a touch panel display may be provided to each machine.
  • The operation switches 4 and the touch panel display 5 are connected to the controller 30, which is configured from a CPU, ROM, RAM and the like. The controller 30 controls the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 in accordance with operations and settings inputted from the operation switches 4 and/or the touch panel display 5. The controller 30 takes in necessary information from various sensors arranged to the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3, and uses this information to control the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3. In the present embodiment, the controller 30 controls both the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3. In other words, the controller 30 constitutes part of the combination weighing machine 2 as a control part of the combination weighing machine 2. The controller 30 also constitutes part of the bag making and packaging machine 3 as a control part of the bag making and packaging machine 3. The configuration is not limited to this example and respective controllers may be provided to the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3.
  • (2) Detailed Configuration
  • The details of the bag making and packaging machine 3 and the controller 30 will be described.
  • In the following description, the expressions “front (front surface),” “rear (back surface),” “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” and the like are sometimes used in order to represent directions. The expressions “front (front surface),” “rear (back surface),” “up,” “down,” “left,” and “right” are defined as shown in FIG. 3. When not specified otherwise, the expressions “front (front surface),” “rear (back surface),” “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” and the like are used according to how they are defined in FIG. 3. The expressions “upstream” and “downstream” are also sometimes used, and when not specified otherwise, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” use the conveying direction of the film F as a standard.
  • (2-1) Bag Making and Packaging Unit
  • The bag making and packaging unit 3 a is described below.
  • The bag making and packaging unit 3 a has primarily a forming mechanism 13, a pull-down belt mechanism 14, a vertical sealing mechanism 15, a lateral sealing mechanism 17, and a rotary encoder 40 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).
  • The forming mechanism 13 forms the sheet-like film F, which is conveyed from the film supply unit 3 b, into a tube shape. The pull-down belt mechanism 14 downwardly conveys the film F formed into a tubular shape (hereinafter called the tubular film Fe). The vertical sealing mechanism 15 vertically seals the overlapping portions (the seams) of the tubular film Fc. The lateral sealing mechanism 17 seals the upper and lower ends of the bag B by sealing (laterally sealing) the downwardly conveyed tubular film Fc along a direction intersecting the conveying direction. Further the lateral sealing mechanism 17 cut the laterally sealed bag B away from the tubular film Fc with a knife 72 a arranged to sealing jaws 51 b, 52 b, described hereinafter. The packaged bag B cut away from the tubular film Fc is discharged from the bottom of the bag making and packaging machine 3. The rotary encoder 40 measures the amount of movement of a first rotating shaft 53 a of a first rotating body 50 a of the lateral sealing mechanism 17, described hereinafter (the amount of relative movement of the first rotating shaft 53 a in relation to a second rotating shaft 53 b of a second rotating body 50 b of the lateral sealing mechanism 17, described hereinafter).
  • (2-1-1) Forming Mechanism
  • The forming mechanism 13 has a tube 13 b and a former 13 a.
  • The tube 13 b is a tubular member, open at the upper and lower ends. The goods C weighed by the combination weighing machine 2 are loaded into the opening at the upper end of the tube 13 b.
  • The former 13 a is disposed so as to surround the tube 13 b. The film F in sheet form unreeled from a film roll of the film supply unit 3 b is formed into a tube shape when passing between the former 13 a and the tube 13 b. The tube 13 b and the former 13 a of the forming mechanism 13 can be replaced depending on the size of the bag B to be produced.
  • (2-1-2) Pull-Down Belt Mechanism
  • The pull-down belt mechanism 14 sticks to and continuously downwardly conveys the tubular film Fc that is wound around the tube 13 b. The pull-down belt mechanism 14 has a pair of belts 14 c disposed on the left and right sides of the tube 13 b so as to sandwich the tube 13 b, as shown in FIG. 3. In the pull-down belt mechanism 14, the belts 14 c, which have a sucking function, are rotated by a drive roller 14 a and a driven roller 14 b, whereby the tubular film Fc is conveyed downward. FIG. 3 does not show a roller drive motor for rotating the drive roller 14 a and the like.
  • (2-1-3) Vertical Sealing Mechanism
  • The vertical sealing mechanism 15 heat-seals the tubular film Fc in the vertical direction (in the up-down direction in FIG. 3).
  • The vertical sealing mechanism 15 is disposed on the front side of the tube 13 b (see FIG. 3). The vertical sealing mechanism 15 is driven in the forward-backward direction by a drive mechanism (not shown) so as to move toward the tube 13 b or move away from the tube 13 b. When the vertical sealing mechanism 15 is driven by the drive mechanism so as to move toward the tube 13 b, the overlapping portions (the seams) of the tubular film Fc wound around the tube 13 b are sandwiched between the vertical sealing mechanism 15 and the tube 13 b. The vertical sealing mechanism 15 heats the overlapping portions of the tubular film Fc while sandwiching them with the tube 13 b and thereby heat-seals them in the vertical direction.
  • (2-1-4) Lateral Sealing Mechanism
  • As will be described hereinafter, the lateral sealing mechanism 17 is a mechanism in which the sealed portions of the downwardly conveyed tubular film Fc are sandwiched and laterally sealed along a direction (the left-right direction in this case) intersecting the conveying direction of the tubular film Fc, by a pair of sealing jaws 51 (a sealing jaw 51 a and a sealing jaw 51 b), or a pair of sealing jaws 52 (a sealing jaw 52 a and a sealing jaw 52 b).
  • The lateral sealing mechanism 17 has primarily a first rotating body 50 a, a second rotating body 50 b, and a horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56, as shown in FIG. 4. The first rotating body 50 a is placed on the front side of the tubular film Fc (the left side in FIG. 4). The second rotating body 50 b is placed on the back side of the tubular film Fc (the right side in FIG. 4). As will be described hereinafter, when the tubular film Fc is sandwiched between the pair of sealing jaws 51 or the pair of sealing jaws 52, the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 constantly presses the first rotating shaft 53 a of the first rotating body 50 a toward the second rotating shaft 53 b of the second rotating body 50 b (rearward) so that the tubular film Fc is to be pressed between the pair of sealing jaws 51 or the pair of sealing jaws 52. In FIG. 4, the direction in which the first rotating shaft 53 a is pressed toward the second rotating shaft 53 b is shown by the right-pointing arrows A1.
  • (2-1-4-1) Rotating Bodies
  • The first rotating body 50 a and the second rotating body 50 b will be described in detail.
  • (2-1-4-1-1) First Rotating Body
  • The first rotating body 50 a has primarily a first rotating shaft 53 a, a pair of levers 54 a, a pair of levers 55 a, the sealing jaw 51 a, and the sealing jaw 52 a, as shown in FIG. 4.
  • The first rotating shaft 53 a is a rotating shaft of the first rotating body 50 a extending in the left-right direction. In a side view, the first rotating body 50 a rotates about a rotational axis C1 with the first rotating shaft 53 a as a rotating shaft (see FIG. 4).
  • The pair of levers 54 a are respectively connected near the longitudinal ends (near the left-right directional ends) of the first rotating shaft 53 a. Each of the levers 54 a extends from the first rotating shaft 53 a in the radial direction of the first rotating shaft 53 a. Each of the lever 54 a extends from the first rotating shaft 53 a in the same direction and in parallel with the other lever 54 a.
  • The pair of levers 55 a are respectively connected near the longitudinal ends (near the left-right directional ends) of the first rotating shaft 53 a. Each of the levers 55 a extends from the first rotating shaft 53 a in the radial direction of the first rotating shaft 53 a. Each of the levers 55 a extends from the first rotating shaft 53 a in the same direction and in parallel with the other lever 55 a.
  • In a side view, the lever 54 a and the lever 55 a that are connected near the right end of the first rotating shaft 53 a extend in point symmetry with respect to the rotational center C1 of the first rotating body 50 a (see FIG. 4). In other words, in a side view, the lever 54 a and the lever 55 a that are connected near the right end of the first rotating shaft 53 a extend in opposite directions from the rotational center C1 of the first rotating body 50 a (see FIG. 4). In a side view, the lever 54 a and the lever 55 a that are connected near the left end of the first rotating shaft 53 a extend in point symmetry with respect to the rotational center C1 of the first rotating body 50 a. In other words, in a side view, the lever 54 a and the lever 55 a that are connected near the left end of the first rotating shaft 53 a extend in opposite directions from the rotational center C1 of the first rotating body 50 a.
  • The sealing jaw 51 a constitutes one of the pair of sealing jaws 51. The sealing jaws 51 are an example of the sealing members. The sealing jaw 51 a has a sealing surface 511 a (see FIG. 7) of which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction.
  • The sealing jaw 51 a functions as a pair with the sealing jaw 51 b described hereinafter, and seals the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc. More specifically, the sealing jaws 51 sandwich and laterally seal the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc in the left-right direction (see FIG. 7), using the sealing surface 511 a of the sealing jaw 51 a of which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction and a later-described sealing surface 511 b of the sealing jaw 51 b of which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction.
  • Both ends of the sealing jaw 51 a in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of the sealing surface 511 a are respectively connected to the ends of the levers 54 a extending from the first rotating shaft 53 a. Because the levers 54 a are connected to the first rotating shaft 53 a as described above, the sealing jaw 51 a is supported by the first rotating shaft 53 a at both ends in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of the sealing surface 511 a, via the pair of levers 54 a.
  • The sealing jaw 52 a constitutes one of the pair of sealing jaws 52. The sealing jaws 52 are an example of the sealing members. The sealing jaw 52 a has a sealing surface (not shown) of which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction.
  • The sealing jaw 52 a functions as a pair with the sealing jaw 52 b described hereinafter, and seals the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc. More specifically, the sealing jaws 52 sandwich and laterally seal the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc in the left-right direction, using the sealing surface of the sealing jaw 51 a of which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction and a later-described sealing surface (not shown) of the sealing jaw 51 b of which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction.
  • Both ends of the sealing jaw 52 a in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of the sealing surface are respectively connected to the ends of the levers 55 a extending from the first rotating shaft 53 a. Because the levers 55 a are connected to the first rotating shaft 53 a as described above, the sealing jaw 52 a is supported by the first rotating shaft 53 a at both ends in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of its sealing surface, via the pair of levers 55 a. Because the levers 54 a and the levers 55 a extend in opposite directions from the rotational center C1 of the first rotating body 50 a in a side view, the sealing jaw 52 a is disposed in a position 180° away from the sealing jaw 51 a about the rotational center C1 of the first rotating body 50 a.
  • (2-1-4-1-2) Second Rotating Body
  • The second rotating body 50 b has primarily the second rotating shaft 53 b, a pair of levers 54 b, a pair of levers 55 b, the sealing jaw 51 b, and the sealing jaw 52 b, as shown in FIG. 4.
  • The second rotating shaft 53 b is a rotating shaft of the second rotating body 50 b extending in the left-right direction. In a side view, the second rotating body 50 b rotates about a rotational center C2 with the second rotating shaft 53 b as the rotating shaft (see FIG. 4).
  • The pair of levers 54 b are respectively connected near the longitudinal ends (near the left-right directional ends) of the second rotating shaft 53 b. Each of the levers 54 b extends from the second rotating shaft 53 b in the radial direction of the second rotating shaft 53 b. Each of the levers 54 b extends from the second rotating shaft 53 b in the same direction and in parallel with the other lever 54 b.
  • The pair of levers 55 b are respectively connected near the longitudinal ends (near the left-right directional ends) of the second rotating shaft 53 b. Each of the levers 55 b extends from the second rotating shaft 53 b in the radial direction of the second rotating shaft 53 b. Each of the levers 55 b extends from the second rotating shaft 53 b in the same direction and in parallel with the other lever 55 b.
  • In a side view, the lever 54 b and the lever 55 b that are connected near the right end of the second rotating shaft 53 b extend in point symmetry with respect to the rotational center C2 of the second rotating body 50 b (see FIG. 4). In other words, in a side view, the lever 54 b and the lever 55 b that are connected near the right end of the second rotating shaft 53 b extend in opposite directions from the rotational center C2 of the second rotating body 50 b (see FIG. 4). In a side view, the lever 54 b and the lever 55 b that are connected near the left end of the second rotating shaft 53 b extend in point symmetry with respect to the rotational center C2 of the second rotating body 50 b. In other words, in a side view, the lever 54 b and the lever 55 b that are connected near the left end of the second rotating shaft 53 b extend in opposite directions from the rotational center C2 of the second rotating body 50 b.
  • The sealing jaw 51 b constitutes one of the pair of sealing jaws 51. The sealing jaw 51 b has a sealing surface 511 b (see FIG. 7) of which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction. The sealing jaw 51 b functions as a pair with the sealing jaw 51 a as previously described, and seals the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc.
  • Both ends of the sealing jaw 51 b in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of the sealing surface 511 b are respectively connected to the ends of the levers 54 b extending from the second rotating shaft 53 b. Because the levers 54 b are connected to the second rotating shaft 53 b as described above, the sealing jaw 51 b is supported by the second rotating shaft 53 b at both ends in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of the sealing surface 511 b, via the pair of levers 54 b.
  • The sealing jaw 52 b constitutes one of the pair of sealing jaws 52. The sealing jaw 52 b has a sealing surface (not shown) of which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction. The sealing jaw 52 b functions as a pair with the sealing jaw 52 a as previously described, and seals the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc.
  • Both ends of the sealing jaw 52 b in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of the sealing surface are respectively connected to the ends of the levers 55 b extending from the second rotating shaft 53 b. Because the levers 55 b are connected to the second rotating shaft 53 b as described above, the sealing jaw 52 b is supported by the second rotating shaft 53 b at both ends in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of its sealing surface, via the pair of levers 55 b. Because the levers 54 b and the levers 55 b extend in opposite directions from the rotational center C2 of the second rotating body 50 b in a side view, the sealing jaw 52 b is disposed in a position 180° away from the sealing jaw 51 b about the rotational center C2 of the second rotating body 50 b.
  • (2-1-4-1-3) Operation of First and Second Rotating Bodies
  • The first rotating shaft 53 a is driven by a drive motor (not shown), whereby the first rotating body 50 a is to be rotated about the rotational center C1 in a side view (see FIG. 5). The second rotating shaft 53 b is driven by a drive motor (not shown), whereby the second rotating body 50 b is to be rotated about the rotational center C2 in a side view (see FIG. 5). This causes the sealing jaw 51 a and the sealing jaw 52 a to rotate in a circular orbit about the rotational center C1, and the sealing jaw 51 b and the sealing jaw 52 b to rotate in a circular orbit about the rotational center C2 (see FIG. 5). The first rotating body 50 a, when viewed from the right side, is to be rotated clockwise about the rotational center C1 (see FIG. 5). In other words, the sealing jaw 51 a and the sealing jaw 52 a, when viewed from the right side, are to be rotated clockwise about the rotational center C1. The second rotating body 50 b, when viewed from the right side, is to be rotated counterclockwise about the rotational center C2 (see FIG. 5). In other words, the sealing jaw 51 b and the sealing jaw 52 b, when viewed from the right side, are to be rotated counterclockwise about the rotational center C2.
  • The first rotating body 50 a is supported at both ends in the lateral sealing direction (in the left-right direction) by horizontally moving plates 61 (see FIG. 4). More specifically, both ends in the left-right direction of the first rotating shaft 53 a of the first rotating body 50 a are supported by the horizontally moving plates 61. The second rotating body 50 b is supported at both ends in the lateral sealing direction (in the left-right direction) by stationary plates 62 (see FIG. 4). More specifically, both ends in the left-right direction of the second rotating shaft 53 b of the second rotating body 50 b are supported by the stationary plates 62. The stationary plates 62 are secured to a frame 63 (see FIG. 6) of the bag making and packaging unit 3 a.
  • The horizontally moving plates 61 are pressed toward the stationary plates 62 by the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 (refer to the arrows A1 in FIG. 4). As a result, the first rotating shaft 53 a supported on the horizontally moving plates 61 is pressed by the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 toward the second rotating shaft 53 b supported on the stationary plates 62.
  • (2-1-4-2) Horizontal-Direction Pressing Mechanism
  • The horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 will be described. The horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 is an example of a fluid-pressure-utilizing mechanism.
  • The horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 utilizes air pressure to press the first rotating shaft 53 a toward the second rotating shaft 53 b. The horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 utilizes air pressure in this embodiment, but the configuration is not limited to this, and may utilize, e.g., oil pressure.
  • The horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 has primarily an air cylinder 80, a first linking rod 81, a linking plate 82, and second linking rods 83, as shown in FIG. 4.
  • The air cylinder 80 is driven by air pressure. The air cylinder 80 is connected with the linking plate 82 via the first linking rod 81 which extends rearward from the air cylinder 80. When the air cylinder 80 is driven, force is transferred via the first linking rod 81, and the linking plate 82 is pressed rearward. In FIG. 4, the direction in which the linking plate 82 is pressed is indicated by the right-pointing arrows A1.
  • The second linking rods 83 are rod-shaped members connecting the linking plate 82 and the horizontally moving plates 61. The horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 has four second linking rods 83. One end of each second linking rod 83 is connected with the linking plate 82. Two of the second linking rods 83 extend forward in parallel from the upper-right corner vicinity and the lower-right corner vicinity of the linking plate 82, as shown in FIG. 6. Though not illustrated, the other two second linking rods 83 extend forward in parallel from the upper-left corner vicinity and the lower-left corner vicinity of the linking plate 82. The two second linking rods 83 that extend forward from the right-side end vicinities of the linking plate 82 are connected with the horizontally moving plate 61 disposed on the right side of the first rotating body 50 a. The two second linking rods 83 that extend forward from the left-side end vicinities of the linking plate 82 are connected with the horizontally moving plate 61 disposed on the left side of the first rotating body 50 a. The second linking rods 83 are not connected with the stationary plates 62, but the second linking rods 83 slideably extend through the stationary plates 62. The end (front-side end) vicinities of the second linking rods 83 on the side opposite the linking plate 82 are slideably supported by rod support members 83 a secured to the frame 63 of the bag making and packaging unit 3 a. Because the second linking rods 83 are slideably supported by the rod support members 83 a, the horizontally moving plates 61 connected with the second linking rods 83 can move toward or away from the stationary plates 62. In other words, the first rotating shaft 53 a supported on the horizontally moving plates 61 can move toward or away from the second rotating shaft 53 b supported on the stationary plates 62. The first rotating shaft 53 a moves toward or away from the second rotating shaft 53 b according to the balance between the force from the air cylinder 80 and the force exerted either by the sealing jaw 51 b on the sealing jaw 51 a, or by the sealing jaw 52 b on the sealing jaw 52 a, when the tubular film Fc is being laterally sealed by the sealing jaws 51 or the sealing jaws 52.
  • (2-1-4-3) Sealing Action by Sealing Jaws
  • Next, the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51 will be described. More specifically, the following is a description of the lateral sealing of the tubular film Fc by the sealing jaws 51 during the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51, and the cutting of the laterally sealed bag B away from the tubular film Fc in the sealing jaws 51.
  • The rotating of the first rotating body 50 a and the second rotating body 50 b (the rotational direction is indicated by the arrows depicted in two-dot chain lines in FIG. 5) and the pressing of the first rotating shaft 53 a toward the second rotating shaft 53 b by the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 (the pressing direction is indicated by the arrow A2 depicted below the first rotating body 50 a in FIG. 5) cause the sealing jaw 51 a and the sealing jaw 51 b to sandwich and apply pressure to the downwardly conveyed tubular film Fc between the sealing surface 511 a of the sealing jaw 51 a and the sealing surface 511 b of the sealing jaw 51 b (see FIG. 7). The sealing surface 511 a and the sealing surface 511 b have serrations 512 a and serrations 512 b which mesh with each other, as shown in FIG. 7. The sealing jaws 51 sandwich the tubular film Fc so that the teeth of the serrations 512 a in the sealing surface 511 a and the teeth of the serrations 512 b in the sealing surface 511 b mesh each other and apply pressure to the tubular film Fc. The sealing jaw 51 a and the sealing jaw 51 b have heaters 71 (see FIG. 7) arranged in the interiors, and the sealing surface 511 a and sealing surface 511 b are heated by these heaters 71. The sealing surface 511 a and the sealing surface 511 b are heated while the tubular film Fc is sandwiched by the sealing surface 511 a and the sealing surface 511 b, the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc is thereby heat-sealed. The downwardly conveyed tubular film Fc is heat-sealed in order from the downstream side (the forward side in the conveying direction) toward the upstream side (the rearward side in the conveying direction).
  • In the sealing jaw 51 b, a knife 72 a for cutting the bag B away from the tubular film Fc is disposed near the middle of the sealing surface 511 b in the transverse direction (a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the sealing surface 511 b). The knife 72 a is disposed so that the blade tip protrudes on the side of the sealing jaw 51 a during the sealing action by the sealing jaw 51 a and the sealing jaw 51 b (see FIG. 7). In the sealing jaw 51 a, a groove 72 b, with which the knife 72 a protruding from the sealing jaw 51 b toward the sealing jaw 51 a meshes, is formed near the middle of the sealing surface 511 a in the transverse direction (a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the sealing surface 511 a). The knife 72 a, which is formed into a slanted blade, cuts the bag B away from the tubular film Fc from one end side toward the other end side in the lateral sealing direction (the left-right direction).
  • Because the knife 72 a is disposed near the middle of the sealing surface 511 b of the sealing jaw 51 b in the transverse direction, the sealing jaws 51 perform the following actions in order as single sealing action:
  • (1) Laterally sealing the tubular film Fc
  • (2) Cutting the transversely sealed bag B away from the tubular film Fc using the knife 72 a on the upstream side of the position laterally sealed in (1)
  • (3) Laterally sealing the tubular film Fc on the upstream side of the position cut by the knife 72 a in (2)
  • However, the timing with which lateral sealing or cutting of the tubular film Fc is performed by one set of actions (1) to (3) may partially overlap the timing with which another set of actions (1) to (3) is performed. In other words, cutting of the tubular film Fc in (2) may begin at a timing when lateral sealing in (1) is not completely finished, and lateral sealing in (3) may begin when cutting of the tubular film Fc in (2) is not finished.
  • Lateral sealing of the tubular film Fc by the sealing jaws 52 and cutting the laterally sealed bag B away from the tubular film Fc in the sealing jaws 52 are similar to those actions of the sealing jaws 51, and are therefore not described here.
  • (2-1-5) Rotary Encoder
  • The rotary encoder 40 is one example of a movement amount detector. The rotary encoder 40 is secured to the frame 63 of the bag making and packaging unit 3 a (see FIG. 8). A rotating shaft of the rotary encoder 40 is engaged with the forward-side (the side opposite to the side connected with the linking plate 82) end part of the second linking rod 83 so as to rotate due to the second linking rod 83 moving forward and backward. Two rotary encoders 40 are provided. The rotating shaft of one rotary encoder 40 is engaged with the end part of the second linking rod 83 that, among the four second linking rods 83, is located on the upper right side. The rotating shaft of the other rotary encoder 40 is engaged with the end part of the second linking rod 83 that is located on the upper left side. The arrangement is not limited to this example, and the rotating shaft of one rotary encoder 40 may be engaged with the end part of the second linking rod 83 located on the lower right side, while the rotating shaft of the other rotary encoder 40 may be engaged with the end part of the second linking rod 83 located on the lower left side.
  • The rotary encoders 40 measure the forward and backward movement amount of the second linking rods 83 by measuring the rotational angles of the rotating shafts of the rotary encoders 40. The forward and backward movement amount of the second linking rods 83 is equal to the amount by which the first rotating shaft 53 a, attached to the horizontally moving plates 61 connected to the second linking rods 83, moves relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b attached to the stationary plates 62. In other words, the rotary encoders 40 measure the amount by which the first rotating shaft 53 a moves relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in the direction that the first rotating shaft 53 a moves either toward or away from the second rotating shaft 53 b, by measuring the rotational angles of the rotating shafts of the rotary encoders 40.
  • The movement amount of the second linking rods 83 connected to the horizontally moving plate 61 disposed on the right side of the first rotating shaft 53 a, and the movement amount of the second linking rods 83 connected to the horizontally moving plate 61 disposed on the left side of the first rotating shaft 53 a, are measured by the rotary encoders 40 as described above. In other words, the movement amount (right-side movement amount) of the first rotating shaft 53 a on the side of the right-side end part relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b, and the movement amount (left-side movement amount) of the first rotating shaft 53 a on the side of the left-side end part relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b, are measured by the rotary encoders 40. Therefore, the movement of either the left or right end part of the first rotating shaft 53 a, toward or away from the second rotating shaft 53 b, can be detected.
  • (2-2) Film Supply Unit
  • The film supply unit 3 b is a unit for supplying the film F in sheet shape to the forming mechanism 13 of the bag making and packaging unit 3 a. The film supply unit 3 b is arranged adjacent to the bag making and packaging unit 3 a. A roll around which the film F is wound is set in the film supply unit 3 b, and the film F is unreeled from this roll.
  • (2-3) Controller
  • The controller 30 includes primarily a CPU, ROM, RAM, and other storage media. The controller 30, which is connected to the components of the combination weighing machine 2, constitutes part of the combination weighing machine 2 as a control part of the combination weighing machine 2. The controller 30 is also connected (see FIG. 2) with the components (primarily, the drive motors for driving the pull-down belt mechanism 14, the vertical sealing mechanism 15, and the first and second rotating shafts 53 a, 53 b; the lateral sealing mechanism 17 having the air cylinder 80 of the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 and other components; the rotary encoders 40 (the right and left sides); and the film supply unit 3 b) of the bag making and packaging machine 3. The controller 30 constitutes part of the bag making and packaging machine 3 as a control part of the bag making and packaging machine 3. The controller 30 controls the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 by executing programs stored in the storage media.
  • The controller 30 controls the movement of the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 so that, e.g., the combination weighing machine 2 and the bag making and packaging machine 3 perform the following actions.
  • The controller 30 controls the combination weighing machine 2 so that the weight of the goods C as the packaged goods is weighed by a plurality of weighing hoppers, these weight values are combined so as to reach a predetermined total weight, and a combined predetermined total weight of goods C is discharged downward in the combination weighing machine 2. The goods C discharged from the combination weighing machine 2 are dropped into a top open end of the tube 13 b of the bag making and packaging machine 3.
  • As a control part for controlling the bag making and packaging machine 3, the controller 30 controls the film supply unit 3 b so that the film F is supplied to the forming mechanism 13. As a control part for controlling the bag making and packaging machine 3, the controller 30 also controls the pull-down belt mechanism 14 so that the film F formed into a tube shape by the forming mechanism 13 (the tubular film Fc) is conveyed downward, and controls the vertical sealing mechanism 15 so that the seams of the conveyed tubular film Fc are vertically sealed. As a control part for controlling the bag making and packaging machine 3, the controller 30 also controls the lateral sealing mechanism 17 so that the downwardly conveyed tubular film Fc is sealed in the lateral direction and the sealed bag B is cut away from the tubular film Fc on the upstream side, in conformity with the timing at which the goods C discharged from the combination weighing machine 2 are discharged from the bottom open end of the tube 13 b.
  • The controller 30 has an entrapment determination part 30 a as a functional part for controlling the bag making and packaging machine 3. Based on the amount (the right-side movement amount and left-side movement amount) by which the first rotating shaft 53 a moves relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b, which is measured by the rotary encoders 40, the entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not any articles have been trapped in the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc when the sealing jaws 51, 52 laterally seal the film. The presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc occurs when, e.g., when goods C are sandwiched in the sealed portion, and/or when cutting debris of the tubular film Fc are sandwiched in the sealed portion. The action to determine the presence of trapped articles performed by the entrapment determination part 30 a is described hereinafter.
  • (3) Determination of Whether or Not Articles Are Present in Sealed Portion
  • The determination of whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc is described below.
  • (3-1) Change in Movement Amount of First Rotating Shaft Relative to Second Rotating Shaft During Sealing Action
  • Firstly, how the change in the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b during the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51 differs between cases when no articles are present in the sealed portion and cases when articles are trapped in the sealed portion, is described referring to FIG. 9. As an example, the movement amount of the right-side end of the first rotating shaft 53 a will be described. The movement amount of the left-side end of the first rotating shaft 53 a can be similarly described and is therefore not described here. Further, as an example, the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51 will be explained. The sealing action by the sealing jaws 52 can be similarly described and is therefore not described here.
  • The numerical values of the amount of displacement indicated on the vertical axes of the graphs shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are merely specific examples of cases when the settings of the lateral sealing mechanism 17 are adjusted to certain conditions, and these numerical values are not limited to these examples. The numerical values of the amount of displacement change depending on the settings of the lateral sealing mechanism 17.
  • (3-1-1) When No Articles Are Present in Sealed Portion
  • FIG. 9(a) is a graph of the change in the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b when no articles are present in the sealed portion of the tubular film Fe. In FIG. 9(a), the horizontal axis indicates time, and the vertical axis indicates movement amount [mm]. The movement amount in the direction in which the first rotating shaft 53 a moves away from the second rotating shaft 53 b is represented by a positive value, and the movement amount in the direction in which the first rotating shaft 53 a moves toward the second rotating shaft 53 b is represented by a negative value.
  • The time period Y1 in FIG. 9(a) is a time period that precedes the start of the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51. Because the sealing action is not performed by the sealing jaws 51 in the time period Y1 (nor is the sealing action by the sealing jaws 52 performed), no particular force acts on the first rotating shaft 53 a in the direction away from the second rotating shaft 53 b. The movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the time period Y1 indicates a negative value near 0. In the graph of FIG. 9(a), a reference point of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a is taken so that the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a when the sealing action is not performed by the lateral sealing mechanism 17 is a value near 0.
  • The time period X1 in FIG. 9(a) is a period after the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51 has begun and lateral sealing of the tubular film Fc has begun. Furthermore, the time period X1 extends up to the point in time when cutting of the tubular film Fc by the knife 72 a arranged to the sealing jaw 51 b is started. The time period X1 is an example of the first time period. During the time period X1, the lower side of the sealing surface 511 a of the sealing jaw 51 a and the lower side of the sealing surface 511 b of the sealing jaw 51 b sandwich the tubular film Fc. Since the sealing jaw 51 a attached to the first rotating body 50 a is pushed by the sealing jaw 51 b attached to the second rotating body 50 b secured to the frame 63 via the stationary plates 62, the first rotating shaft 53 a moves away from the second rotating shaft 53 b. In the time period X1, the first rotating shaft 53 a moves a distance of approximately 0.1 mm at maximum from the reference point in the direction away from the second rotating shaft 53 b (see FIG. 9(a)).
  • The time period X3 in FIG. 9(a) starts at the point in time when the tubular film Fc begins to be cut by the knife 72 a arranged to the sealing jaw 51 b, and ends at the point in time when the tubular film Fc finishes being cut by the knife 72 a. When the tubular film Fc is cut by the knife 72 a in the time period X3, a force greater than that during lateral sealing is exerted by the sealing jaw 51 b on the sealing jaw 51 a, and the first rotating shaft 53 a therefore moves even further away from the second rotating shaft 53 b than in the time period X1. In the time period X3, the first rotating shaft 53 a moves a distance of approximately 0.2 mm at maximum from the reference point in the direction away from the second rotating shaft 53 b (see FIG. 9(a)).
  • The time period X2 in FIG. 9(a) starts at the point in time when the tubular film Fc has finished being cut by the knife 72 a arranged to the sealing jaw 51 b, and ends when the sealing jaws 51 finish laterally sealing the tubular film Fc on the upstream side of the position cut by the knife 72 a (this time period lasts until the sealing jaws 51 complete the sealing action). The time period X2 is one example of the second time period. In the time period X2, the upper side of the sealing surface 511 a of the sealing jaw 51 a and the upper side of the sealing surface 511 b of the sealing jaw 51 b sandwich the tubular film Fc, and the sealing jaws 51 a is pushed by the sealing jaw 51 b similar to the time period X1. However, the force with which the sealing jaw 51 a is pushed by the sealing jaw 51 b is less in the time period X2 than in the time period X3 when the tubular film Fc is cut by the knife 72 a, and the first rotating shaft 53 a therefore moves nearer to the second rotating shaft 53 b than in the time period X3. In the time period X2, the first rotating shaft 53 a moves a distance of approximately 0.1 mm at maximum from the reference point in the direction away from the second rotating shaft 53 b (see FIG. 9(a)).
  • The time period Y2 in FIG. 9(a) is the time period after the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51 is finished. Because the sealing action is not performed by the sealing jaws 51 (nor is the sealing action performed by the sealing jaws 52) in the time period Y2, no particular force acts on the first rotating shaft 53 a in the direction away from the second rotating shaft 53 b. The movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the time period Y2 indicates a negative value near 0.
  • (3-1-2) When Articles Are Present in the Sealed Portion
  • Next, the change in the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in a case when articles are trapped in the sealed portion, and particularly in a case when articles are trapped in the sealed portion during the lateral sealing in the time period X1, is described referring to FIG. 9(b). In FIG. 9(b), the horizontal and vertical axes are defined in the same manner as in FIG. 9(a). The time periods Y1, Y2 and the time periods X1, X3, X2 are also defined in the same manner in FIG. 9(b).
  • The time period Y1 is the same as when no articles are trapped in the sealed portion and is therefore not described.
  • During the lateral sealing performed in the time period X1, because articles are present in the sealed portion of the tubular film Fe, the sealing jaw 51 a is pressed more strongly by the sealing jaw 51 b than when no articles are present in the sealed portion. Therefore, when articles are present in the sealed portion during the lateral sealing performed in the time period X1, the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b is greater than when no articles are trapped in the sealed portion. For example, the maximum value of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in the time period X1 is close to the maximum value of the movement amount in the time period X3.
  • In the time period X3, the shape of the graph is different from FIG. 9(a) because movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in the time period X1 is larger. However, since large force is exerted on the sealing jaw 51 a by the sealing jaw 51 b when the tubular film Fc is cut by the knife 72 a, the first rotating shaft 53 a moves far away from the second rotating shaft 53 b the same as in FIG. 9(a). In the time period X3, the first rotating shaft 53 a moves a distance of approximately 0.2 mm at maximum from the reference point in the direction away from the second rotating shaft 53 b (see FIG. 9(b)).
  • Regarding the time period X2 and the time period Y2, the graph in a case when articles are trapped in the sealed portion is the same that in a case when no articles are trapped in the sealed portion, and is therefore not described.
  • Although a detailed description is not given, when articles are trapped in the sealed portion during lateral sealing not in the time period X1 but in the time period X2, a graph of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a having following characteristics is obtained.
  • The movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the time periods X1 and X3 is the same as the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the time periods X1 and X3 in FIG. 9(a). The movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the time period X2 exhibits the same tendency as the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the time period X1 in FIG. 9(b). In other words, the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the time period X2 is greater than the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the time period X3 in FIG. 9(a).
  • (3-2) Action of Determining Whether or Not Articles Are Present in Sealed Portion by the Entrapment Determination Part
  • The entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not articles are present in the following manner, utilizing the difference in the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b between a case of no articles being present in the sealed portion, and a case of articles being present in the sealed portion, as described above.
  • Because there is a possibility that articles are present in both the time period X1 and the time period X2, the entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not any articles are present for the time period X1 and the time period X2. A case in which the entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not any articles are present in the time period X1 is used as an example for this description.
  • A default value, a maximum value Dmax (see FIG. 9) that the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a could take when the entrapment of articles is not caused, is given to the entrapment determination part 30 a. The maximum value need not be the default value, and the entrapment determination part 30 a may, e.g., measure and accumulate movement amounts of the first rotating shaft 53 a in a case when the trapping of articles is not caused and calculate the maximum value Dmax based on the accumulated data.
  • The entrapment determination part 30 a obtains measured values from the two rotary encoders 40 and calculates the average of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a during the time period X1. Particularly, average value of the movement amount (right-side movement amount) of the right-side end of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b, and average value of the movement amount (the left-side movement amount) of the left-side end of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b are respectively calculated.
  • The entrapment determination part 30 a compares the calculated average value of the right-side movement amount and the average value of the left-side movement amount with the maximum value Dmax that the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a could take when no articles are trapped, and determines that articles have been trapped in the time period X1 when either average value is greater than the maximum value Dmax. When both average values are equal to or less than the maximum value Dmax, it is determined that no articles have been trapped in the time period X1.
  • (3-3) Control of Bag Making and Packaging Machine When It Is Determined That Articles Are Present
  • When it is determined by the entrapment determination part 30 a that articles have been trapped in the time period X1, the controller 30 discharges the bag B, which is laterally sealed in the time period X1 and cut away from the tubular film Fc in the subsequent time period X3, from the bag making and packaging machine 3 as a defective product, since there is a risk of a sealing defect. The bag B discharged as a defective product from the bag making and packaging machine 3 is conveyed to, e.g., a defective product collecting location by a conveyor (not shown). When it is determined by the entrapment determination part 30 a that articles have been trapped in the time period X2, the controller 30 discharges the bag B, which is cut away during the sealing action by the sealing jaws 52 in succession with the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51, from the bag making and packaging machine 3 as a defective product since there is a risk of a sealing defect.
  • The control performed by the controller 30 when it is determined by the entrapment determination part 30 a that articles have been trapped in the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc, is not limited to what is described above. For example, when it is determined that articles have been trapped, instead of controlling as described above, the controller 30 controls so that compressed air is vented out from the air cylinder 80 and either the sealing jaw 51 a and sealing jaw 51 b or the sealing jaw 52 a and sealing jaw 52 b are moved away from each other at the timing when the bag B having a risk of incomplete lateral sealing is to be cut, so as not to cut away the bag B having a risk of incomplete lateral sealing from the tubular film Fc.
  • (4) Characteristics
  • The characteristics of the bag making and packaging machine 3 according to the present embodiment are described below.
  • For the sake of convenience in the description, the characteristics of the bag making and packaging machine 3 are described using the description of the pair of sealing jaws 51 (the sealing jaws 51 a, 51 b), but the characteristics of the bag making and packaging machine 3 could be described in the same manner using the description of the pair of sealing jaws 52.
  • (4-1)
  • In the bag making and packaging machine 3 according to the present embodiment, a pair of sealing jaws 51 sandwiches and seals the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc. The bag making and packaging machine 3 is provided with the first rotating shaft 53 a as an example of a first support part, the second rotating shaft 53 b as an example of a second support part, the rotary encoders 40 as an example of a movement amount detector, and the entrapment determination part 30 a. The first rotating shaft 53 a supports one sealing jaw 51 (the sealing jaw 51 a), and the second rotating shaft 53 b supports the other sealing jaw 51 (the sealing jaw 51 b). The rotary encoders 40 measure the relative movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in relation to the second rotating shaft 53 b in an approaching direction or a moving away direction (in the present embodiment, movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a is measured because the second rotating shaft 53 b does not move in an approaching direction or moving away direction from the first rotating shaft 53 a) when the first rotating shaft 53 a and the second rotating shaft 53 b approach or move away. The entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on the measured movement amount.
  • Here, the presence of articles in the sealed portion can be detected even when the drive source for driving the sealing jaws 51 (a rotation motor for rotating the sealing jaws 51, and/or a horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 for pressing the sealing jaw 51 a against the sealing jaw 51 b) is a mechanism incapable of perceiving the force/moment exerted by the drive source on the tubular film Fc via the sealing jaws 51, and positional information pertaining to the drive source (e.g., the rotational angle of the motor or the like), directly from information obtained from the drive source. In other words, the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion can be detected without using an expensive configuration such as a servo motor as the drive source.
  • (4-2)
  • In the bag making and packaging machine 3 according to the present embodiment, the pair of sealing jaws 51 sandwich and laterally seal the tubular film Fc, which is conveyed in a first direction (downward in the present embodiment), along a direction (the left-right direction in the present embodiment) intersecting the first direction, due to the sealing jaws 51 a, 51 b being rotated along a circular orbit.
  • Here, in the bag making and packaging machine 3 using a rotating lateral sealing mechanism, the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion during lateral sealing can be detected.
  • (4-3)
  • In the bag making and packaging machine 3 according to the present embodiment, the first and second support parts are the first rotating shaft 53 a and the second rotating shaft 53 b for rotating the sealing jaws 51.
  • Here, in the bag making and packaging machine 3 using a rotating lateral sealing mechanism, presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion during lateral sealing can be detected by measuring the relative movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a and the second rotating shaft 53 b (in the present embodiment, the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b) for rotating the sealing jaws 51.
  • One possible method for detecting the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion is a method of measuring the relative movement amount of one sealing jaw 51 in relation to the other sealing jaw 51. However, when the movement amount of sealing jaws 51 rotating in a circular orbit is measured, the configuration for measuring the movement amount is likely to be complicated. Here, because the relative movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a for rotating the sealing jaw 51 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b for rotating the sealing jaw 51 b is measured, entrapment of articles in the sealed portion can be detected with a simpler configuration than it is detected by measuring the movement amount of the sealing jaws 51.
  • (4-4)
  • The bag making and packaging machine 3 according to the present embodiment, is provided with the horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 as a fluid-pressure-utilizing pressing mechanism. The horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56 constantly presses the first rotating shaft 53 a toward the second rotating shaft 53 b so that the tubular film Fc is to be pressed between the sealing jaws 51 when the tubular film Fc is sandwiched between the pair of sealing jaws 51.
  • Here, the entrapment of articles in the sealed portion can be detected even when the inexpensive horizontal-direction pressing mechanism 56, which does not itself perceive the force/moment or the like exerted on the tubular film Fc, is used in order to apply pressure to the tubular film Fc between the sealing jaws 51.
  • (4-5)
  • In the bag making and packaging machine 3 according to the present embodiment, the first rotating shaft 53 a support the sealing jaw 51 a at the first-end-part side (the right-end side) and the second-end-part side (the left-end side) in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of the sealing surface 511 a with which the sealing jaw 51 a sandwiches the tubular film Fc. The second rotating shaft 53 b supports the sealing jaw 51 b at the first-end-part side (the right-end side) and the second-end-part side (the left-end side) in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction) of the sealing surface 511 b with which the sealing jaw 51 b sandwiches the tubular film Fc. One rotary encoder 40 measures the first relative movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in relation to the second rotating shaft 53 b at the first-end-part side (the right-end side) (in the present embodiment, the movement amount of the right-side-end part of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b (the right-side movement amount)). The other rotary encoder 40 measures the second relative movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in relation to the second rotating shaft 53 b at the second-end-part side (the left-end side) (in the present embodiment, the movement amount of the left-side-end part of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b (the left-side movement amount)). The entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on the right-side movement amount and the left-side movement amount.
  • Here, because the relative movement amounts (the right-side movement amount and the left-side movement amount) of the first rotating shaft 53 a in relation to the second rotating shaft 53 b, in the left and right end parts of the first rotating shaft 53 a, are used in the determination of the presence of trapped articles, it is easy to perceive that articles have been trapped regardless of the location in which they have been trapped in the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc.
  • For example, there could be a configuration with one rotary encoder 40, wherein only the movement amount of the right-side-end part of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b (the right-side movement amount) is measured. In this case, if articles got trapped near the left-side-end part of the sealed portion of the tubular film Fc, the right-side-end part of the first rotating shaft 53 a would not move by much relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b (i.e. the difference in movement amount from that of a case when no articles are trapped would not be notable). However, because both the left-side movement amount and the right-side movement amount are measured by two rotary encoders 40, it is easy to accurately determine that articles have been trapped.
  • However, the configuration is not limited to this example, and only the left-side movement amount or only the right-side movement amount may be measured by a rotary encoder 40. For example, in cases such as when it is unlikely a difference between the left-side movement amount and the right-side movement amount to be caused (e.g., when the longitudinal widths of the sealing surfaces 511 a, 511 b are comparatively small), the entrapment of articles can be accurately determined even if only the left-side movement amount or only the right-side movement amount is measured by a rotary encoder 40.
  • (4-6)
  • In the bag making and packaging machine 3 according to the present embodiment, the entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on the statistics of the relative movement amount (the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in this case) measured during a predetermined time period (the time periods X1, X2 in the present embodiment) by the rotary encoders 40. Particularly, the entrapment determination part 30 a in this case determines whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on the average value of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b, measured during the time periods X1, X2 by the rotary encoders 40.
  • Here, erroneous detection of the presence of articles is hardly caused, even if there is momentarily a comparatively large measurement error in the relative movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in relation to the second rotating shaft 53 b, measured by the rotary encoders 40.
  • (4-7)
  • In the bag making and packaging machine 3 according to the present embodiment, the pair of sealing jaws 51 sandwich the tubular film Fc conveyed in the first direction (downward in this case) and laterally seal the film along a direction (the left-right direction in this case) intersecting the first direction sequentially from the forward side in the first direction, due to the sealing jaws 51 a, 51 b being rotated along a circular orbit. Within one sealing action by the sealing jaws 51, the entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion in the time period X1 (an example of the first time period), which begins at the point in time when the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51 a, 51 b is started and ends at the point in time when cutting of the tubular film Fc by the knife 72 a arranged to the sealing jaw 51 b is started (an example of the first time point). Additionally, within one sealing action by the sealing jaws 51, the entrapment determination part 30 a determines whether or not articles are present in the time period X2 (an example of the second time period), which begins at the point in time when cutting of the tubular film Fc by the knife 72 a arranged to the sealing jaw 51 b is finished (an example of the second time point), and ends at the point in time when the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51 a, 51 b is finished.
  • In the bag making and packaging machine 3 using a rotating lateral sealing mechanism, the determination of the presence of trapped articles is performed separately at the sealing action starting time and the sealing action finishing time, within one sealing action. Therefore, when bags are being packaged continuously, a determination of the presence of articles of one-end side (the upper-end side during lateral sealing) of one bag B and a determination of the presence of articles of the other-end side (the lower-end side during lateral sealing) of the following bag B can be performed separately. It is thereby easy to expel only bags B in which presence of articles is actually caused as defective products.
  • The configuration is not limited to this example, and the occurrence of the presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion may be determined for the entire sealing action. However, in order to expel only bags B in which the presence of trapped articles results in defective products, it is preferable to determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion separately in the time period X1 and the time period X2 as described above.
  • (4-8)
  • In the bag making and packaging machine 3 according to the present embodiment, the second rotating shaft 53 b is secured so as not to move either toward or away from the first rotating shaft 53 a. The first rotating shaft 53 a is capable of moving toward or away from the second rotating shaft 53 b. The rotary encoders 40 measure the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in the direction toward or away from the second rotating shaft 53 b as the relative movement amount when the first rotating shaft 53 a moves toward or away from the second rotating shaft 53 b.
  • Here, because only the first rotating shaft 53 a can move toward or away from the second rotating shaft 53 b and occurrence of presence of articles trapped in the sealed portion is determined by detecting the movement amount, the relative movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a in relation to the second rotating shaft 53 b can be measured with a simple configuration to detect the presence of trapped articles.
  • (4-9)
  • Conventionally, alignment adjustment of the sealing jaws 51 is done by using a thickness gauge. In the bag making and packaging machine 3 according to the present embodiment, alignment adjustment of the sealing jaws 51 can be done based on the measurement result of the left-side movement amount and the right-side movement amount by the rotary encoders 40. Therefore, it is possible to perform alignment adjustment of the sealing jaws 51 with little variation in a short time.
  • (4-10)
  • By using the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b measured by the rotary encoders 40, it is possible to detect dirt on the sealing jaws 51 as well as to detect whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion.
  • When the sealing jaws 51 are dirty, the distance between the sealing surface 511 a and the sealing surface 511 b decrease commensurately with respect to the amount of dirt adhesion than when there is no dirt, and the force with which the sealing jaw 51 b presses the sealing jaw 51 a becomes greater than when there is no dirt. As a result, the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in a case when the sealing jaws 51 are dirty becomes greater than in a case when the sealing jaws 51 are not dirty. Therefore, by perceiving the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b and comparing this amount with, e.g., the movement amount in cases of no dirt, dirt on the sealing jaws 51 can be detected and instances of sealing strength being insufficient due to dirt on the sealing jaws 51 can be prevented.
  • (5) Modifications
  • Modifications of the present embodiment are presented below. The modifications may be combined as appropriate as long as they do not contradict each other.
  • (5-1) Modification A
  • In the above embodiment, the bag making and packaging machine 3 utilizes the rotary encoders 40 as movement amount detectors, but such an arrangement is not provided by way of limitation. Other movement amount detectors may be attached to the ends of the second linking rods 83 and be capable of measuring the amount of displacement of the second linking rods 83. For example, load cells 41 may be attached to the ends of the second linking rods 83 as shown in FIG. 10, and the strength of the force exerted on the load cells 41 may be used to measure the amount of displacement of the second linking rods 83. Additionally, for example, potentiometers 42 may be attached to the ends of the second linking rods 83 as shown in FIG. 11, and the change in resistance value may be used to measure the amount of displacement of the second linking rods 83.
  • The results of inspection using real machinery indicates, among rotary encoders, load cells, and potentiometers, that rotary encoders are comparatively superior in terms of performance, and potentiometers are comparatively superior in terms of cost.
  • (5-2) Modification B
  • In the above embodiment, the movement amount of the second linking rods 83 is measured at the ends of the second linking rods 83, whereby the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b is measured, but no limitation is provided thereby. The movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b may be measured by arranging the rotary encoders 40 or other movement amount detectors to portions of the second linking rods 83 where they are attachable other than the ends, and measuring the movement amount of the second linking rods 83 at those positions. The movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b may be measured by directly measuring the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a itself rather than measuring the movement amount of the second linking rods 83.
  • (5-3) Modification C
  • In the above embodiment, the presence of trapped articles during lateral sealing is determined in the bag making and packaging machine 3 using a rotating lateral sealing mechanism, but no limitation is provided thereby.
  • For example, the entrapment of articles may be determined with a configuration similar to that of the above embodiment, in a packaging machine using a lateral sealing mechanism in which a sealing jaw 151 a is revolvably driven in a D-shaped path in a side view by a first revolving shaft 153 a as an example of the first support part, and a sealing jaw 151 b is revolvably driven in a D-shaped path in a side view by a second revolving shaft 153 b as an example of the second support part, whereby the tubular film Fc is sandwiched and laterally sealed between the pair of sealing jaws 151, as shown in FIG. 12.
  • In this case, the first revolving shaft 153 a and the second revolving shaft 153 b are revolvably driven in a D-shaped path in a side view, by moving the first revolving shaft 153 a and the second revolving shaft 153 b toward or away from each other while rotating (refer to the arrows A3 in FIG. 12). In other words, the first revolving shaft 153 a and the second revolving shaft 153 b are both capable of moving toward or away from the other. Therefore, the movement amount detectors in this case are configured so as to measure the movement amounts of both revolving shafts 153 a, 153 b by using rotary encoders or the like, and to calculate the relative movement amount of the first revolving shaft 153 a in relation to the second revolving shaft 153 b.
  • For example, in a packaging machine in which at least one of two sealing jaws is driven linearly toward the other and sandwich a film between the sealing jaws, the presence of trapped articles may be determined with a configuration similar to that of the above embodiment. In a case when one sealing jaw is driven so as to move toward or away from the other, a member supporting the one sealing jaw so that the sealing jaw is linearly driven, and a member supporting the other sealing jaw so that the other sealing jaw does not move, would be examples of the first support part and the second support part, respectively. In a case when both sealing jaws are driven so as to move toward or away from each other, members supporting the sealing jaws so that the sealing jaws are linearly driven would be examples of the first support part and the second support part.
  • (5-4) Modification D
  • In the lateral sealing mechanism 17 according to the above embodiment, the sealing jaw 51 a and the sealing jaw 52 a are provided to the first rotating body 50 a, the sealing jaw 51 b and the sealing jaw 52 b are provided to the second rotating body 50 b, and the sealing jaw 51 a and the sealing jaw 51 b alternate with the sealing jaw 52 a and the sealing jaw 52 b to sandwich and laterally seal the tubular film Fc, but the invention is not limited to this configuration.
  • For example, in the bag making and packaging machine 3, the sealing jaw 51 a alone may be provided to the first rotating body 50 a, the sealing jaw 51 b alone may be provided to the second rotating body 50 b, and lateral sealing may be performed using the sealing jaws 51 alone. Additionally, for example, the bag making and packaging machine 3 may have three or more groups of sealing jaws, and lateral sealing of the tubular film Fc may be performed using these groups of sealing jaws alternately.
  • (5-5) Modification E
  • The entrapment determination part 30 a according to the above embodiment determines whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion by calculating the average value of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b measured during the time periods X1, X2, and comparing the average value with the maximum value Dmax of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in a case when no articles are present, but no limitation is provided thereby. For example, the entrapment determination part 30 a may determine that articles are present in the sealed portion when the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b measured during the time periods X1, X2, includes an element that surpasses the maximum value Dmax. In this case, the entrapment determination part 30 a can quickly determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion.
  • The entrapment determination part 30 a may also determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion by calculating an intermediate value or another statistical value of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b measured during the time periods X1, X2, and comparing this statistical value with the maximum value Dmax of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in a case when no articles are present.
  • The entrapment determination part 30 a may also recognize the difference in the shapes of the graphs of the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b caused by the occurrence of the presence of trapped articles (see FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b)), and thereby determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion.
  • (5-6) Modification F
  • In the above embodiment, the bag B is cut away from the tubular film Fc by the knife 72 a arranged to the sealing jaw 51 b or 52 b and configured to protrude toward the sealing jaw 51 a or 52 a, but no limitation is provided thereby.
  • For example, a knife accommodated in a space formed in one sealing jaw 51 of a pair of sealing jaws 51 may be driven so as to move toward the other sealing jaw 51, and the bag B may thereby be cut away from the tubular film Fc. In this case as well, the occurrence of the entrapment of articles in the sealed portion can be determined based on the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b in a case when no articles are present in the sealed portion, and the movement amount of the first rotating shaft 53 a relative to the second rotating shaft 53 b measured by the rotary encoders 40 during the sealing action by the sealing jaws 51.
  • Another possible option is to not provide a knife 72 a to the sealing jaw 51 b or 52 b, and to have the sealing jaws 51, 52 perform lateral sealing only (the bag B would not be cut).
  • (5-7) Modification G
  • In the above embodiment, the bag making and packaging machine 3 is described as an example of the packaging machine according to the present invention, but the packaging machine according to the present invention is not limited as such. For example, the packaging machine may be designed so that it only includes the lateral sealing mechanism 17 portion of the bag making and packaging machine 3.
    • INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
  • In the packaging machine according to the present invention, sealing members sandwich and seal a packaging material. The packaging machine is useful for being capable of detecting when articles are present in a sealed portion even when the mechanism used as the drive source of the sealing members is incapable of perceiving the force/moment exerted on the packaging material by the drive source and positional information pertaining to the drive source, directly from information obtained from the drive source.
    • REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
    • 3 Bag making and packaging machine (packaging machine)
    • 30 a Entrapment determination part
    • 40 Rotary encoder (movement amount detector)
    • 41 Load cell (movement amount detector)
    • 42 Potentiometer (movement amount detector)
    • 51 (51 a, 51 b) Sealing jaw
    • 52 (52 a, 52 b) Sealing jaw
    • 151 (151 a, 151 b) Sealing jaw
    • 53 a First rotating shaft (first support part)
    • 53 b Second rotating shaft (second support part)
    • 153 a First revolving shaft (first support part)
    • 153 b Second revolving shaft (second support part)
    • 56 Horizontal-direction pressing mechanism (fluid-pressure-utilizing pressing

Claims (9)

1. A packaging machine in which a pair of sealing members is configured to sandwich and seal a sealed portion of a film, the packaging machine comprising:
a first support part configured to support one of the sealing members;
a second support part configured to support the other of the sealing members;
a movement amount detector configured to measure the relative movement amount of the first support part in relation to the second support part in an approaching direction or a moving away direction, when the first support part and the second support part approach or move away; and
an entrapment determination part configured to determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on the relative movement amount.
2. The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein
the pair of sealing members are configured to be rotated in a circular orbit, whereby the sealing members sandwich and laterally seal the film along a direction intersecting a first direction, the film being conveyed in the first direction and formed into a tubular shape.
3. The packaging machine according to claim 2, wherein
the first and second support parts are rotating shafts for rotating the sealing members.
4. The packaging machine according to claim 2, further comprising:
a fluid-pressure-utilizing pressing mechanism configured to constantly press the first support part toward the second support part so that the film is to be pressed between the sealing members when the film is sandwiched between the pair of sealing members.
5. The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein
each of the first and second support parts is configured to support the sealing member at a first-end side and a second-end side in the longitudinal direction of a surface with which the sealing members sandwich the film;
the movement amount detector is configured to measure, as the relative movement amount, a first relative movement amount of the first support part in relation to the second support part at the first-end side, and a second relative movement amount of the first support part in relation to the second support part at the second-end side; and
the entrapment determination part is configured to determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on the first relative movement amount and the second relative movement amount.
6. The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein
the entrapment determination part is configured to determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on statistics of the relative movement amount measured during a predetermined time period by the movement amount detector.
7. The packaging machine according to claim 6, wherein
the entrapment determination part is configured to determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion based on an average value of the relative movement amount measured during the predetermined time period by the movement amount detector.
8. The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein
the pair of sealing members are configured to be rotated in a circular orbit, whereby the sealing members sandwich and laterally seal the film along a direction intersecting a first direction sequentially from the forward side in the first direction, the film being conveyed in the first direction and formed into a tubular shape; and
the entrapment determination part is configured to determine whether or not articles are present in the sealed portion, both in a first time period beginning at a start of a sealing action by the sealing members and ending at a first time point and in a second time period beginning at a second time point after the first time point and ending at a finish of the sealing action, within the single sealing action.
9. The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein
the second support part is secured so as not to move in a direction toward or away from the first support part;
the first support part is capable of moving in a direction toward or away from the second support part; and
the movement amount detector is configured to measure the movement amount of the first support part in the direction toward or away from the second support part as the relative movement amount when the first support part moves toward or away from the second support part.
US14/916,132 2013-09-20 2014-08-11 Packaging machine Abandoned US20160194100A1 (en)

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PCT/JP2014/071168 WO2015040977A1 (en) 2013-09-20 2014-08-11 Packaging machine

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WO2015040977A1 (en) 2015-03-26
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EP3048054B1 (en) 2018-04-25
EP3048054A4 (en) 2017-05-17
JP2015058976A (en) 2015-03-30

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