EP2669198B1

EP2669198B1 - Heat sealing packaging device

Info

Publication number: EP2669198B1
Application number: EP20120425104
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giovanni Mondini; Takashi Katayama
Original assignee: G Mondini SpA; Teraoka Seiko Co Ltd
Current assignee: G Mondini SpA; Teraoka Seiko Co Ltd
Priority date: 2012-06-01
Filing date: 2012-06-01
Publication date: 2014-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 2032-06-01
Also published as: EP2669198A1; ES2523895T3

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention refers to a heat seal packaging device for covering (by heat sealing) openings of containers containing packaged items with a capping film.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

WO2011/018391 discloses a heat seal packaging device covering and heat sealing opening areas of multiple batches of containers V containing packaged items with a capping film 49, the heat seal packaging device comprising:

A container supply means S1 positioned upstream of a packaging line therein and supplying said containers containing said packaged items to a downstream of a said packaging line;
A heat sealer S2 positioned downstream of said packaging line, covering and heat sealing the opening areas of the said container supplied from said container supply means with said capping film 49.

Single printing of labels is know from US 2009/0071099 A1 . In other words is known a heat seal packaging device for covering openings on containers containing packaged items with a capping film, and heat sealing procedure.
Information such as date of production is also printed on the capping film at a position corresponding to each container containing the packaged item by a printing means. Such a system that the printer (printing head) is positioned at a set point, then the capping film is moved to a set angle to be able to print on the capping film in use.
However, the printer (printing head) of the heat seal packaging device is permanently positioned, whilst the capping film is being fed across the container transferring part, containing the packaged items and the heat seal mechanism part for heat sealing the opening areas of the containers, the capping film is fed at a set angle to print the film. With this system, the transferring speed of the container transfer part is synchronized with the printing speed of the printer with the feeding speed of the capping film. Also, whilst the opening area of the container containing the packaged item is being heat sealed, the feeding procedure of the capping film is stalled. In this way, the film cannot be printed during the heat sealing process. Therefore, when the speed of a packaging process is increased per quantity per hour for the heat seal packaging device using the print system, any of the system that the speed of each step of the heat seal processing is increased to increase a processing speed of the entire device, or a system that multiple containers to be heat sealed by batch processing to improve productivity is utilized. In either of these systems, the feeding speed of the capping film also increases, which results in a problem that the printing speed of the printer (printing head) positioned and arranged in a set position fails to maintain the same speed as the capping film and therefore the printing quality is bad (e.g. smudged or faded characters). Therefore, the speed of the capping film or a printing duration of the printer or similar is restrained, so the increased processing speed of the entire device and the heightened productivity are limited.
[Patent literature 1]Publication of Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 10-203505

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been created in light of problems with the previous model, and the object of the present invention is to provide a heat seal packaging device which prints information on the capping film which covers the opening areas of containers and heat seals the containers, maintaining quality printing on the capping film and improves the productivity and speed of processing a of the entire device.
The object of the present invention as a technical means is to , heat seal multiple batches of containers which are collectively transported in batches, the information is then printed on the capping film covering the opening areas of the containers used to heat seal the group of containers to be heat sealed, when a set number of containers are heat sealed by the printed capping film. Therefore the required time, per cycle of packaging can be reduced. More specifically, the heat seal packaging device for the covering and the heat sealing the opening areas of the containers containing the packaged items with the capping film includes a container feed supply means, positioned upstream of the packaging line in the heat seal packaging device and container supplier, containing the packaged items downstream of the packaging line, a heat sealer positioned downstream of the packaging line, covering and heat sealing opening areas of the containers supplied by the container supply means with a capping film, a film supply means feeding and supplying the band-like capping film covering the opening areas of the containers across the container supply means and the heat sealer on the packaging line from upstream to downstream at an upper position of the opening areas of the containers, and a printer printing the capping film, and a mobile means which moves the printer along the packaging line. The printing means prints information of the packaged items on the stationary capping film covering the opening area of the container to be consequently heat sealed, whilst the heat sealer downstream of the packaging line is heat sealing the capping film to the containers
The number of containers to be heat sealed at each time, is not particularly limited, but the number of container supply means, heat sealer and container transport means have to be identical. Also, to reduce the length of the entire device, multiple rows (for example, two or more rows) are more effective than a single row, set in the same direction as the containers. The packaging line refers to a moving line of the container from the container supply means to the heat sealing means.
The printer printing the information of the packaged items on the capping film can use any sort of printing methods, for example, a thermal transfer type for printing the information by applying heat to an ink ribbon with a thermal head, or an inkjet type. The mechanical means moving the printer along the packaging line has, for example, a structure with a continuous rotary belt and a gear; or a structure containing a rack and pinion, and any other structure which can return to a set zone. The container supply means will support and hold the containers transferred by a carrying-in conveyor on an upstream side until reaching a set quantity. More specifically, it can be, for example any of an intermittently driven belt conveyor, or a device containing a receiving platform and a pusher. The heat sealer covers the capping film on the open areas of the containers containing the packaged items, and the heat seals the capping film around the perimeter of the container to complete the packaging cycle. The packaging type can be any kind of pneumatic packaging (the upper opening area of the container containing the packaged item transported to a sealing mold is covered by the capping film as it is, and the surrounding edge of the capping film is heat sealed around the perimeter of the container), vacuum packaging(air in the container is aspired from the inside of the sealing mold to create a vacuum state, and the circumference of the capping film is heat sealed around the perimeter of the container), and gas-filled packaging (air inside the container is aspired from inside the seal mold, gas (for example, oxygen/carbon dioxide/nitrogen) is injected to improve the preservation conditions in the container).
According to the above-mentioned means, the containers containing the packaged items are held by the container supply means at specified intervals. When the number of the containers reach a set quantity (batch number), all the containers are simultaneously transferred to the heat seal means by the container transport means, then the opening areas of the containers are covered with the capping film by the heat sealer, and the capping film is heat sealed around the perimeters of the opening areas of the containers to complete the packaging process. Then the lengthwise capping film is cut from the packaged containers, whilst the width-wise sides of the capping film remain positioned on the feeder enabling the capping film to maintain its continuity. Therefore, the following groups of containers can be capped from the subsequent capping film supply of the capping film, from which the container portion is perforated after each completion of packaging is carried out by the capping film with the required length for heat sealing of each area. After which, when the container is heat sealed by the heat sealer, a portion of the capping film with a set length positioned on the container supply means at a position upstream of the heat sealer is moved to the heat sealing area of the heat sealer and awaits for the following heat sealing procedure. The relative used for when the products have been heat sealed and positioned on the container supply means information is then printed on the capping film by the printer corresponding to a set number of containers held by the container supply means whilst the capping film container is being heat sealed by the heat sealing means. Accordingly, both the capping film printing and heat sealing procedure of the containers are executed at simultaneously.
The printer is mobile from the starting point of the supply direction of the container supply means, using a terminal end of the supply direction of the container supply means as a starting point, and can print the information of the packaged items of the containers held by the container supply means on the capping film of which the feed is arrested whilst the printer is in motion. Therefore, the relevant information of the packaged items corresponding to the containers held by the container supply means can be printed on to the capping film.
Also, the container supply means also include a container transporter to transport the containers to the heat sealer on a downstream side of the packaging- line when the number of the containers reach a set number. The container transporter is adapted to unload a set number of containers which have been heat sealed with the capping film by the heat sealer from the heat sealer, and transport the containers of the container supply means to the heat sealer, from which the containers have been unloaded. More specifically, the container transport means is constituted of a pair of front and back comb-like clamp members, which can hold an established number of containers which have been heat sealed by the heat sealer and a set number of containers held by the container supply means at the same time, and a mobile device to move the clamp components to a specific position. The «specific position» refers to a position, where the clamp members clamping and holding the packaged containers which have been heat sealed by the heat sealer are moved to a position of the unloading part downstream of the heat sealer and the clamp members, clamp and hold the containers aligned on the container supply means and are then moved to the position of the heat sealer on a downstream side. The clamps may have any of a form to be suited for the individual forms of the containers packaged by the heat sealer and the containers aligned and held by the container supply means are clamped together, or a kind that the containers packaged by the heat sealer and the containers held by the container supply means are clamped separately. The moving member can be adapted to move the clamps clamping the containers on the heat sealer and the clamp member clamping the containers on the container supply means together, or move the clamps separately and independently.
According to the above-mentioned means, a set quantity of containers which have been heat sealed by the heat sealer are unloaded at one time, and a set quantity of containers to be heat sealed next are then transported to the heat sealer, from which the containers are unloaded, by the container transporter, so that the packaging efficiency can be improved.
Also, a weighing device for the weighing of the packaged items to be contained in the container is positioned upstream of the container supply means, and the printer is adapted to move from a terminal end to a starting end of the container supply means, which sequentially print the information including weight information which is calculated by the measuring system on the capping film, and then returns to the initial position after the information has been printed an established amount of times. By the above-mentioned system, even if the weights of the packaged items to be loaded in the containers are different from each other, the weights of the packaged items are measured by the weighing system (total calculated weight minus tare, resulting in the net weight of the packaged item), and the price of the packaged item can be calculated from the weight and each price unit registered with a merchandise file in advance. Accordingly, as print information of the capping film, supplies not only the information of the packaged item of a established amount, but also information such as the weight of the packaged item of a non-established amount can be indicated. Then, the printer moves toward the starting end using a terminal end of the container supply means as a starting point, and then returns to the starting point position when the information has been printed to of an established amount of containers, and therefore, the information of the packaged items can be definitely printed on the capping film whilst maintaining a correlation to the packaged items contained in the containers.
According to a heat seal packaging device of the present invention, a printer prints information of packaged items on a capping film whilst a heat sealer heat seals opening areas of the containers with a capping film, so that the information can be clearly printed on the capping film, and a processing speed of the entire packaging device can be increased without delaying a series of processing speeds of heat seal packaging to improve productivity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing one example of an structure of a heat seal packaging device of the present invention, FIG. 1 (A)is a front view, and FIG. 1 (B) is a plane view along a line b-b of FIG. 1 (A);
FIG.2 shows the condition that a heat sealer and a container of a container supply means are transported by the container transport means, FIG.2(A) is a front view, and FIG.2(B) is a plane view;
FIG.3 is an enlarged cross section view along a line (3)-(3) of FIG. 1(A);
FIG 4 shows a condition that a first container has been printed by a printer, FIG.4 (A) is a front view, and FIG.4 (B) is a plane view showing the information printed on the capping film;
FIG.5 shows a condition that a second container has been printed by the printer,
FIG.5 (A) is a front view, and FIG.5 (B) is a plane view showing that the information printed on the capping film;
FIG.6 shows a set number of (six) containers have been printed by the printer,
FIG.6 (A) is a front view, and FIG.6 (B) is a plane view showing that the information is printed on the capping film;
FIG.7 shows a condition that the printer returns to an initial position to print a first container in a next batch, FIG.7(A) is a front view, and FIG.7(B)is a plane view showing that the information is printed on the capping film;
FIG.8 is an electric block diagram of the printer (printer); and FIG.9 is a plane view showing a printing example onto the capping film.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED STRUCTURES

Now, one example of a structure of a heat seal packaging device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following structures refer to a packaging device, which contains (puts) packaged items into a pre-molded container, moves six containers as a unit in a batch form, prints information of the packaged item on a capping film covering opening areas of the containers, and covers and heat seals (heat seals) the capping film to the opening areas of the containers to complete packaging.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view diagrammatically showing an entire constitution of a heat seal packaging device. The heat seal packaging device includes a container supply means A for supporting and holding a set number of (in the illustrated example, six) containers P containing packaged items W, a heat sealer B for heat sealing opening areas of the containers P with the capping film 1, a capping film supply means C for supplying the capping film 1, a printer D for printing information of the packaged items on the capping film 1, a container transport means E for transporting the container P held by the container supply means A to a heat sealer B and packaged containers P' which have been heat sealed by the heat sealer B to a unloading conveyor 15 respectively, and a weighing device F for measuring weights of the packaged items W contained in the containers P. The heat sealer 8 is serially arranged on a downstream of a container moving direction of the container supply means A, and the capping film supply means C is arranged above the heat sealer B from the container supply means A to the heat sealer B. The measuring means F is arranged to an upstream position of the container supply means A, and is adapted to be sequentially moved and held by the container supply means A after weighing the packaged items contained in the containers P. The number of the containers to be batch processed is determined in advance, and each part (such as container transport means and heat sealer) can be recombined and set according to the batch number (a set number), so that a predetermined number of containers can be batch processed.
The container supply means A supports and holds a set number of containers P with packaged items W measured, and is constituted of a conveyor belt that is driven intermittently. After the conveyor belt of the container supply means A is driven and receives the measured container every time when the weighed containers P are unloaded from the measuring means F arranged at the upstream position of the container supply means A, the conveyor belt is halted. By repeating the above-mentioned performance, a set number of the containers P can be held on the belt conveyor at specified intervals.That is to say, the containers can be held in a batch form. Driving/halting of the belt conveyor constituting the container supply means A is configured to be controlled by detecting signals of container detecting sensors 2, 2' detecting the containers P unloaded from the weighing means F arranged on the upstream side. A batch number (a predetermined number) of the containers P is counted based on the detecting signals of the container detecting sensors 2, 2'. A container holding form (batch form) of the container supply means A can be either one of a single row or of multiple rows. An illustrated example shows a single row (one row x six containers).A batch number (set number) of the containers P can be counted based on the container holding format (batch form) and the detecting signals of the container detecting sensors 2,2'.(For example, in the case of two rows, a counting number is doubled.) The container supply means A is not limited to a constitution with the conveyor belt that is driven intermittently. For example, it can be a device comprising a receiving platform which supports and holds the containers, and a pusher pushing the measured containers onto the receiving platform. When the containers are supplied to the receiving platform using the pusher, a switch may be installed in a relative table area of the pusher to count a pre determined batch number of the containers P by turning on/off the switch.
The capping film supply means C covering the opening areas of a predetermined number of containers P aligned and held by the container supply means A includes a capping film supply part C 1, around which the band-like capping film I wider than a lateral width of the containers P is wound in a roll, and a film take-up part C2 for taking up a perforated remainder) of the capping film, from which the packaged containers P' heat sealed by the capping film I are cut off. The film supply part C1 is arranged at an upstream position of a starting end of the container supply means A, and the film take-up part C2is arranged at a downstream position of a terminal end of the heat sealer B. The capping film 1 fed from the film supply part C I to the film take-up part C2is held to move above the opening areas of the containers P held by the container supply means A and the heat sealer C in an approximately horizontal condition. Thereby, the residue after heat sealing is taken up by an action of the film take-up part C2, and the capping film I is pulled from the film supply part C1. Then, the film with the required length for next heat sealing procedure is moved to the heat seal part of the heat sealer. More specifically, the film, which is positioned on the container supply means A and on which the information of a pre determined number of containers are printed by an under-described printer D, is moved to the position of the heat sealer B.
The printer D prints merchandise information including measurement data(weight value) of the packaged items W contained in the containers P on the capping film 1, and is constituted of a well-known brand of thermal transfer type printer 3(print part 8) which can print the capping film by applying heat to the ink ribbon with a thermal head. Also, a receiving plate 4 which keeps the capping film 1 flat is arranged on a rear side of the capping film opposite the printer 3( face opposite to a print face) across the entire length of the printing area of the printer 3( the same as an approximately entire length of the container supply means A). The size of the thermal head may be controlled by appropriately determining and recombining the size and the number of the thermal head corresponding to a printing area, such as connecting multiple large size thermal heads (for example, A4head orB4head) across a lateral width of the capping film (width in a orthogonal direction to a feeding direction),or thermal heads of a set width (for example, 60 mm width) in a lateral direction to be used as on wide thermal head or, arranging one thermal head of 60 mm width only in the area printing the capping film. The printer 3(print part 8) prints the merchandise information corresponding to an order of the containers supplied to the container supply means A on the capping film 1 by a moving part 9. The moving part 9 intermittently moves opposite to the supply direction of the containers P toward a terminal point on a supply direction starting end side using a supply direction terminal end (i.e., position adjacent to the heat sealer) of the container P at the container supply means A as a starting point (initial position). That is to say, the printer is programmed to return to its initial starting point position after intermittently moving a distance for the number of the containers including holding intervals (specified intervals) of the containers P toward the terminal position of the container supply means A from the beginning position (initial position) relative to the fixed (halted) capping film 1 fed and arranged along the container supply means A. Thereby, the printer D can print the information of a predetermined number of the containers held by the container supply means A from the beginning point (initial position), at which the capping film can be printed, to a position corresponding to the containers containing the packaged items. At the time when a predetermined number of containers have been printed, the information (indication) is positioned on the capping film 1 to be covered above each container P (opening area) corresponding to the containers .The beginning point (initial position) of the printer 3 is adjacent to the heat sealer, so printing can be started from a portion nearest the printable starting end position of the capping film 1. A non printable space area formed on the capping film 1 (a blank distance which cannot be used between a batch number of a container and a batch number of the next container) can be reduced, so that the capping film can be efficiently and economically used.
As shown in FIG.8, the printer D includes RAM 6, a ROM 7, a print part 8 (printer 3), and an INF (interface) 10that are connected to a CPU 5 controlling each block via a bus 5a. A moving part 9 (movement means) that horizontally moves the print part 8 (printer 3) is connected to the CPU 5. The INF 10 can communicate with the weighing device F. The INF 10 can also communicates with the container detecting sensors 2, 2', the container transport means E, the heat sealer B, and the container supply means A, and the CPU 5 controls the print part 8 (printer 3) by horizontally moving the moving part 9 based on results for communicating with the container detecting sensors and each means. The RAM 6 has multiple storage regions, including storage regions for storing each file (for example, merchandise file) and a temporary storage regions for temporarily storing the measurement data (weight value) of the packaged items transmitted from the measurement means F and the data read from each file. The information printed on the capping film with the printer D is the measurement data (weight value) and the merchandise information set to a product number(merchandise file) (for example, company name, place of origin, unit price, and additives etc.) (seeFIG.9). When the packaged item W contained in the container P is an item of a fixed price, which does not need to be measured, the corresponding information is printed.(For example, a tare weight for each item, a standard capacity or net, a storage method, a storage temperature, a nutrient, calories, and a recycling mark to be an index for disposing containers may be stored as other merchandise information to be stored in the merchandise file, and printed on the capping film 1).
The heat sealer B covers the opening areas of a predetermined number of containers P aligned and held by the container supply means A with the capping film I, on which the merchandise information is printed (indicated) 11, and heat seals (heat seals) it. Briefly, the heat sealer B comprises a lower seal mold B l arranged with upwards and downwards motions on the lower side of the capping film 1, and an upper seal mold B2closing a top face of the lower seal mold B I and upwards and downwards motions, to sandwich a predetermined number of containers P (batch containers) horizontally moved by an under-described container transport means E from the container supply means A and the capping film 1 tensioned on the containers P, and the upper seal mold B2 is provided with a heater plate. After the containers P and the capping film I are clamped by the lower seal mold B1 and the upper seal mold B2 and the capping film 1 is heat sealed to the perimeter edges of the opening area of the container P, the lower seal mold B 1 and the upper seal mold B2 move away from each other and the molds are released. A predetermined number of containers P' which have been heat seal packaged are unloaded to an unloading conveyor 15 arranged immediately downstream of the heat sealer B by driving the container transport means E and a predetermined number of containers P (batch containers) to be heat sealed next are transported from the container supply means A.
An outer perimeter edge at a heat seal portion of the container P' heat seal packaged by the heat sealer B is cut off from the capping film 1. The container P' may be cut off from the capping film in any of the following ways: - by separating (heat cutting) the container, by heat sealing, or by cutting an outer perimeter of a heat sealed portion after heat sealing.
The container transport means E transports a predetermined number of containers P' heat seal packaged by the heat sealer B to the unloading conveyor 15 on a downstream side, and transports a predetermined number of containers P aligned and held by the container supply means A to the empty heat sealer B batch-wise. The container transport means E includes a pair of comb-like front and back clamps 12, 12' for batch holding a predetermined number of heat seal packaged containers P' and a predetermined number of containers aligned and held by the containers feeder A at specified intervals, and moving parts 13, 13' for alternating the clamp members 12, 12' in a set zone. In a pair of the front and back clamp members 12, 12', projections 12b are project-formed on one side of belt plate 12 a. The belt plate 12 is long enough to cover an approximate entire length of the container supply means A and the heat sealer B (a face sandwiching the containers) at constant angles. The projections 12b bolds a predetermined number of containers P and a predetermined number of packaged containers P' at specified intervals. That is to say, when the packaged containers P' are clamped by the clamp members 12, 12', the projections 12b enter between the containers P, and between the packaged containers P', so as to hold the containers at specified intervals.
In the clamp members 1 2,12', a pitch of projections 12 b formed in a range for clamping a set number of containers P aligned and held by the container supply means A is made identical to the angle of projection 12b formed in a series for clamping a set number of heat seal packaged containers P'. When a predetermined number of containers P aligned and held by the container supply means A are clamped and transported towards the heat sealer B, the containers P can be located at a set position of the lower seal mold B1 of the heat sealer B.
Moving members 13, 13' for alternating a pair of front and back clamp members are constituted by, for example, actuators such as an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder. The clamp members 12, 12'supported by the mobile members 13, 13'are adapted loc1 amp/release the containers P, P' with an opening/closing mechanism constituted by a link mechanism and suchlike.
The weighing device F measures a weight of a packaged item contained in the container P, and is constituted by a conveyor 14 having a weighing function. The weight of the packaged item W is weighed and calculated by locating the container P containing the packaged item W on the conveyor 14, measuring a gross weight including a preset tare (the container) under a stable condition that the movement is halted and subtracts the preset tare (the container) weight from the gross weight in a subsequent calculation process. The container detecting sensors 2, 2' for detecting that containers P that have completed weighing, are then moved to the container supply means A on downstream side are arranged on a flowing side of the conveyor 14 having the measurement means F (a rotary direction starting position) and unloading position (rotary direction terminal end side). Driving/halting of the conveyor belt constituting the container supply means A on the downstream side is controlled by output signals from the container detecting sensors 2, 2', and the conveyor belt is intermittently driven to support and hold a set number of the containers P with the container supply means A. A carrying-in conveyor 16 is arranged at an up stream position of the conveyor 14 of the measurement means F, to supply the containers P to the conveyor 14 of the measurement means F. Although not illustrated, a containing device for automatically containing the packaged items in the containers can be provided on an upstream side of the carrying-in conveyor 16, and a container molding device for molding the containers from a plate/bowl-shaped plastic board can also be provided on an upstream side of the containing device.
Now the packaging performance of the heat seal packaging device will be simply explained. Firstly, at the point when the containers P containing the packaged items W start to be heat seal packaged, the printer 3 (print part 8) of the printer D is located at an initial position (on a transport direction terminal end of the container supply means adjacent to the heat sealer). Then, a first container P containing the packaged item is fed to the conveyor 14 of the weighing device F by carrying- to conveyor 16, and weighed on conveyor 14. The weighed container W is then transported to the conveyor of the container supply means A on the downstream side from the conveyor 14. At this time, merchandise information including the weight of the packaged item calculated from the measured data of the first container measured by the measurement means F and a price is fed to the printer D via a control unit, and is printed (indicated) 11 on the capping film 1 corresponding to a terminal end position of the container supply means A by the printer 3 (print part 8). Then, the printer 3 (print part 8) that finished printing moves toward an upstream side by a set angle. (Identical to an interval for holding the containers on the container supply means A), and stands by for the second container P (see FIGs. 4 (A) and 4 (B).
Similarly, the second container P is supplied to the conveyor 14 of the weighing device F from the carrying-to conveyor 16, weighed F, and then transported to the conveyor of the container supply means A. The second container is transported after a specified interval from the first container by an intermittent driving of the conveyor of the container supply means A with the output signals of the container detecting sensor 2, 2'. Then, the merchandise information including the weight value of the second container is printed (indicated) at a position moved toward ad upstream side of a feeding direction of the capping film 1 (on the capping film supply part C1 side) from a position, at which the merchandise information of the first container is printed (indicated) with the printer 3 (print part 8) of the printer D, by a set angle. The printer 3 (print part 8) that finishes printing moves towards an upstream side by a set position (identical to an interval for holding the containers on the container supply means A), and stands by for a third container P (see FIGs. 5(A) and 5(B))
By repeating the above-mentioned cycle, a set (six) timer, a predetermined number of (six) measured containers P are aligned and held on the container supply Means A, and the merchandise information of a set number of (six) containers is printed (indicated) from the downstream side towards an upstream side in a print area 17 of the capping film 1 tensioned contemporary and held on the container supply means A. That is to say, the merchandise information of the first container is printed on the downstream side (leading edge) of the print area, and the merchandise information of the second, and third, until the sixth container is printed (indicated) toward the upstream side (trailing edge) (see FIG. 9). Each time when the weighed container is transported on the conveyor of the container feeder A, the conveyor is intermittently driven to sequentially support the containers. So, each time the following container is supported, the previous container is moved towards the downstream side at a constant pace. A predetermined number of containers P are aligned and held on the conveyor of the container feeder A at specified intervals. There after, the containers are aligned and held on the conveyor of the container feeder A correspond to the item information printed on the capping film 1 tensioned and held above the container feeder A (see FIGs.6(A) and 6(B)).
By the above-mentioned performance, a predetermined number of containers P are aligned and held on the conveyor of the container feeder A, and the printer 3 (print part 8) of the printer D that prints the merchandise information on the capping film 1 covering the opening areas of the containers P corresponding to the containers is returned to an initial position, and awaits for the next batch container printing. A predetermined number of batch containers aligned and held on the conveyor of the container supply means A are batch held to the container transport means E by a pair of front and rear clamp members 12, 12', and the containers held by the clamp members 12, 12'by the motions of devices 13, 13' are transported on the lower seal mold B1 of the heat sealer B positioned downstream of the container supply device A. The capping film I, on which the merchandise information of a predetermined number of containers is printed (as indicated) is then moved by a batch by driving a film take-up part C2 of the capping film supply means C, and a portion, on which the merchandise information of a set number of the containers is printed (as indicated), is moved to a position of the heat sealer B. Thereby, the merchandise information of the containers transported from the container supply means A is also located at the position of the heat sealer B. By the actions of the heat sealer B, the opening areas of the containers W are covered with the capping film, on which the corresponding merchandise information is printed (as indicated),and heat sealed to the peripheral edges of the opening areas of the containers (see Figs. 7(A) and 7(B)). After the container transport means E transports the containers to the heat sealer from the container supply means A, the conveyor of the container supply means A is empty and the next batch containers are immediately supplied to the conveyor. If the weighing procedure of the packaged item is faster than the printing procedure the merchandise information on the capping film I, the measuring information is stored in a memory ,and is not linked to the weight as a procedure, but by the programmed merchandise information and therefore is printed on the capping film matching the relative batch unit.
Whilst the capping film 1 is being heat sealed to the opening areas of the containers W for a first batch by the heat sealer B, the containers for the next batch (seventh to twelfth) are aligned and held on the container supply means A on the upstream side, and the merchandise information of these (seventh to twelfth) containers is sequentially printed (as indicated) on the print area 17 of the capping film 1 on the container supply means A at the same time. When the heat sealer B completes heat seal packaging, the lower seal mold B1 and the upper seal mold B2 of the heat sealer are carried out and the heath seal packaged containers supported on the lower seal mold B1 and the containers for the next batch aligned and held on the conveyor of the container supply means A are moved by the container transport means B which are then transported to the unloading conveyor 15 at a downstream position, and the containers for the next batch aligned and held on the conveyor of the container supply means A are transported on the lower seal mold B1 of the empty heat sealer B, from which the packaged containers are moved.
The heat seal packaged containers are cut off from the capping film 1 by heat cutting (or a cutting blade), and a residue (outer peripheral portion) of the capping film 1, from which a heat seal portion is cut off, maintains its longitudinal continuity, and is moved by one batch by driving the film take-up part C2 of the capping film supply means C. The portion, on which the merchandise information of a predetermined number of the containers is printed (as indicated), is moved to the position of the heat sealer B Therefore, the merchandise information can be printed on the capping film and the containers can be heat seal packaged efficiently, so as to increase a process number per unit period.
As described above, the heat seal packaging device according to the present invention aligns and holds a predetermined number of containers on a conveyor of a container supply means to form a batch form, and moves the printer to print the film whilst the capping film is interrupted. Therefore, the capping film can be printed without compromising the printing quality. The merchandise information is printed on the capping film during the heat seal packaging process of the previous batch container, and the packaged containers are unloaded from the heat sealer, and the next batch containers aligned and held on the heat sealer after unloading, the containers are contemporarily moved parallel, therefore, efficiently enabling a series of cycles, such as printing, packaging and unloading
The heat seal packaging device according to the present invention is not limited to the illustrated structures, and modifications can be appropriately/ custom made without compromising or altering the present invention.

(1) In the structure, an example that the container supply means is constituted of an intermittently driven conveyor belt is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the container supply means may be constituted of a receiving platform provided with a specific length to hold a predetermined number of containers, and a pusher for pushing and transporting the containers on the receiving platform.
(2) In the structure, an example that a weighing means is constituted by a measuring conveyor having a measuring function is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a measuring device may be arranged beside a transfer conveyor transferring the containers to directly measure the weight of packaged items to be contained in the containers. After the measuring, the packaged items may be contained in the containers and fed to the container supply means.
(3) In the structure, an example of the container transport means" both of the packaged batch containers heat sealed by the heat sealer and a predetermined number of batch containers aligned and held on the container supply means are clamped and moved by one clamp member is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example a clamping component for the transfer of the packed batch containers and a component for the clamping of the container supply means and their relative transfer to the heat sealer may be provided separately.
(4) In the structure, an example of a single row (one row x six containers) is shown as a batch form, but the present invention is not limited to this. The number of containers in one row may be multiple, and the number of rows may be multiple (for example, two rows x five containers).
(5) In the structure, the printer is positioned upstream of a packaging line in a device, but the present invention is not limited to this. The printer may be positioned downstream of the packaging line. In this case, the printer is provided at a top of the upper sealing mold B2 is constituted by a frame. The printer moves to an upstream side opposite to an unloading direction of the container, and the capping film is printed using a space formed in the plate heating frame. Therefore, the containers P and the capping film 1 are clamped by the lower sealing mold B1 and the upper sealing mold B2, and the capping film 1 can be printed whilst the capping film 1 is being heat sealed to perimeter edges of the opening areas of the containers P. Also, the printer can be incorporated in the heat sealer, and merchandise information including weight and a price of a packaged item corresponding to the container is printed on the capping film 1 covering the containers P during the heat sealing process
Therefore, correspondence between the packaged items W contained in each container and the merchandise information printed on the capping film 1 can be improved, and the information can be correctly and clearly printed at a predetermined position on the surface of the capping film covering the containers P avoiding misalignment.
(6) In the structure, while the heat sealer is heat sealing the film, the printer moves between a starting point (initial position) of a supply direction terminal end of the containers P of the container supply means (i.e. a position adjacent to the heat sealer) and a terminal point on the supply direction starting end side and prints, but the printer is not limited to this. If the printer is provided with multiple print heads, for example, if two printers 3 (print parts 8) are provided, a half longitudinal area of the container supply means is moved to print the information. Or, if three printers 3 (print parts 8) are provided, a one-third longitudinal area is moved to print the information. The number of printers may be increased to move and control the printing process. Therefore, the distance for moving the printer can be reduced, and the duration for indicating the printing information of each container on the capping film can be reduced accordingly. The capping film may be printed by both forward and backward movements of the printer, alternating along the packaging line. Through such a system, the printing duration can be further reduced. In this manner, when the information is printed during alternating, the weighing device F is incorporated into a conveyor upstream of the delivery conveyor 16, and weights of multiple packaged items W contained in the container P are consequentially calculated. The weight data of the items is stored in a storage memory, and the printer can consequentially print the information on the capping film at a position corresponding to each container during the forward and backward movement along the packaging line based on the stored measurement data of the multiple containers in their transferring order. By the above mentioned system, the printing duration and the moving duration of the printer can be reduced whilst maintaining a quality printing, and also the processing speed of the entire packaging device can be increased, so as to improve productivity.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

A: container supply means
B: heat sealer
C: capping film
C1: capping film supply part
C2: film take-up part
D: printer
E: container transport means
F: measurement means
1: capping film
1: printed (indicated) merchandise information
12, 12': clamp members
13, 13': moving members

Claims

A heat seal packaging device covering and heat sealing opening areas of multiple batches of containers (P) containing packaged items with capping film (C), the packaging device comprising:
a container supply means (A) positioned upstream of a packaging line therein and supplying said batch of containers containing said packaged items downstream of a said packaging line, a heat sealer (B) positioned downstream of said packaging line, covering and heat sealing the opening areas of said containers supplied from said container supply means with said capping film, a film supply means (C1) for feeding and supplying a belt-like capping film (4) covering the opening areas of said containers (P) across the said container supply means and the heat sealer (B) in said packing line from an upstream to a downstream at an upper position of the opening areas of the said containers,

a printer (3) for printing said capping film, and a movement means (9) for moving said printer along said packaging line, said printer printing the information of the packaged items on said capping film held above said containers and covering the opening area of a container to be heat sealed next whilst the heat sealer positioned downstream of said packaging line is heat sealing said capping film to said containers.
The heat seal packaging device according to Claim 1, wherein said printer (3) is mobile from the starting end of the supply direction of the said container supply means toward a terminal end of the supply direction of said container supply means as a starting point, and allows the information of the packaged item of the said container held by the said container supply means to be printed on the said capping film of which feeding transmission is halted, whilst the printer is in action.
The heat seal packaging device according to Claim 1, wherein said container supply means further include a container transport means for transporting said held containers to the heat sealer on a downstream side of the said packaging line when the number of the said held containers reaches a predetermined number, said container transport means unloads a predetermined number of containers which have been heat sealed with the said capping film by the said heat sealer from the said heat sealer, and transport the said containers of the said container supply means to the heat sealer, from which the said containers are unloaded.
The heat seal packaging device according to Claim 1, wherein said container transport means is constituted by a pair of front and back clamp members with a comb-like form, which forward a predetermined number of containers beat sealed by the said beat seal means and a predetermined number of containers held by the said container supply means at one time, and a moving member for moving the said clamp members to a set position.
The heat seal packaging device according to Claim 1, wherein a measuring means for measuring a weight of packaged items to be contained in the said container is arranged at an upstream position of the said container supply means, and the said printer is adapted to move from a terminal end to a starting end of the said container supply means, and sequentially print the information including weight information measured by said weighing devices on the said capping film, and return to the said starting position after the information has printed a set number of times.