EP3492397A1 - Packaging machine - Google Patents
Packaging machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3492397A1 EP3492397A1 EP16915222.0A EP16915222A EP3492397A1 EP 3492397 A1 EP3492397 A1 EP 3492397A1 EP 16915222 A EP16915222 A EP 16915222A EP 3492397 A1 EP3492397 A1 EP 3492397A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- box
- pressing
- conveyance path
- side wall
- wall
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 28
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 92
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 230000000391 smoking effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 235000019504 cigarettes Nutrition 0.000 description 35
- 239000003292 glue Substances 0.000 description 25
- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 16
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 14
- 230000002950 deficient Effects 0.000 description 14
- 238000009825 accumulation Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000012467 final product Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004904 shortening Methods 0.000 description 2
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 description 2
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010030 laminating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000032258 transport Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/07—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles
- B65D85/08—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular
- B65D85/10—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular for cigarettes
- B65D85/1036—Containers formed by erecting a rigid or semi-rigid blank
- B65D85/1045—Containers formed by erecting a rigid or semi-rigid blank having a cap-like lid hinged to an edge
- B65D85/1048—Containers formed by erecting a rigid or semi-rigid blank having a cap-like lid hinged to an edge characterized by the shape of the container
- B65D85/10484—Containers formed by erecting a rigid or semi-rigid blank having a cap-like lid hinged to an edge characterized by the shape of the container having rounded corners
-
- 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
- B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
-
- 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
- B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
- B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
-
- 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
- B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
- B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
- B65D5/64—Lids
- B65D5/66—Hinged lids
- B65D5/6602—Hinged lids formed by folding one or more extensions hinged to the upper edge of a tubular container body
- B65D5/662—Hinged lids formed by folding one or more extensions hinged to the upper edge of a tubular container body the container being provided with an internal frame or the like for maintaining the lid in the closed position by friction
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a packaging machine, and particularly to a packaging machine for forming a box by folding a blank around the periphery of a plurality of smoking articles, the machine including a conveyance path for thereafter conveying the box to a subsequent processing stage.
- the conveyance path of this kind of packaging machine one which has a pair of conveyance walls and is provided with a conveyor for conveying the box while holding it between the conveyance walls is known.
- the box is conveyed, for example, while being held between the conveyance walls by a pair of side walls extending along its longitudinal axis, the pair of side walls having inner and outer side wall parts, which are bonded to each other, and while being positioned to extend in a direction in which the pair of side walls traverse the conveyance path in the conveyance path.
- Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus including a conveyor for discharging cigarettes from a packaging machine. It is described that in this apparatus, to appropriately dry the box as a packet containing cigarettes without separating the bonded parts of the box, thereby obtaining a high quality final product, the pair of side walls of the box need to be held closely between a pair of belts forming a pair of conveyance walls of the conveyor.
- the pair of side walls of the box are pressed by pressing wall surfaces of the belt forming a pair of the conveyance walls of the conveyor.
- those side wall parts are bonded to each other by the glue (adhesive) applied on a glue application region of the side wall parts constituting the pair of side walls.
- Patent Document 1 National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2004-502608
- the pressing force acts intensively on an area in which the rigidity of the box is relatively high and, on the other hand, in an area in which the rigidity of the box is low, the reaction force of the side wall against the pressing force is decreased, and thus caving is likely to occur during pressing.
- the present invention has been made in view of the above described problems, and has its object to provide a packaging machine which can suppress bonding defects and, by extension, defective shaping of the box, by surely applying appropriate pressing force to the glue application region of the side walls of the box depending on the shape and type of the box, the shape of the contained object to be contained in the box, and the like.
- an aspect of the present invention is directed to a packaging machine for forming a box by folding a blank around the periphery of a plurality of smoking articles, comprising a conveyance path for thereafter conveying the box to a subsequent processing stage, wherein the box includes a longitudinal axis and a pair of side walls having inner and outer side wall parts which extend along the longitudinal axis and are bonded to each other, and assumes a posture in which the pair of the side walls extend in a direction traversing the conveyance path in the conveyance path; the conveyance path has a pair of conveyance walls for holding therebetween the box by the pair of side walls, and includes a conveyor for conveying the box while holding the same between the conveyance walls; the pair of conveyance walls respectively include pressing wall surfaces for substantially pressing the side walls; and at least one of the pressing wall surfaces includes means for reducing a total effective length of the pressing wall surface along the longitudinal axis to be less than an overall length of the side wall.
- the packaging machine of the present invention it is possible to suppress bonding defects and, by extension, defective shaping of the box, by securely applying appropriate pressing force to the glue application region of the side walls of the box depending on the shape and type of the box, the shape of the contained object to be contained in the box, and the like.
- a packing machine of the present embodiment includes a hopper apparatus 2.
- the hopper apparatus 2 includes three hoppers 2a, 2b, 2c and a large number of filter cigarettes are stored in those hoppers 2a to 2c.
- a plurality of accumulation pockets 4 are successively transported.
- the hoppers 2a to 2c are disposed adjacent to each other in the transportation direction of the accumulation pocket 4.
- Each accumulation pocket 4 receives a predetermined number of filter cigarettes from each hopper 2a to 2c when passing through the lower parts of the hoppers 2a to 2c.
- a cigarette bundle assuming a block shape is contained in the accumulation pocket 4.
- the cigarette bundle includes 20 filter cigarettes, and the filter cigarettes are disposed in a stacked state of upper, middle, and lower levels in the accumulation pocket 4.
- the upper and lower levels include 7 filter cigarettes, and the middle level includes 6 cigarettes.
- the accumulation pocket 4 is transported along a transportation line to a first wheel 6 indicated by a one-point chain line.
- the first wheel 6 receives the cigarette bundle from the accumulation pocket 4, and transports the received cigarette bundle toward the second wheel 8 indicated by a one-point chain line.
- the first and second wheels 6, 8 are disposed in a vertical posture.
- the second wheel 8 includes a plurality of folding pockets 10, and these folding pockets 10 are disposed at an equal spacing in the circumferential direction of the second wheel 8.
- the folding pocket 10 receives a cigarette bundle from the first wheel 6 and also receives a sheet-like inner wrapper IW.
- the inner wrapper IW is supplied from an inner wrapper supply device 12 to between the first and second wheels 6, 8 to be pushed into the folding pocket 10 of the second wheel 8 along with the cigarette bundle. In this occasion, the inner wrapper IW is wound around the cigarette bundle in a U shape in the folding pocket 10.
- the cigarette bundle in the folding pocket 10 is transported in the circumferential direction of the second wheel 8.
- the folding of an end flap for closing the end surface of the cigarette bundle and the folding of a side flap for closing both side surfaces of the cigarette bundle are carried out with respect to the inner wrapper IW wound around the cigarette bundle, resulting in formation of an inner pack IP.
- a third wheel 14 is adjacent to the second wheel 8, and the third wheel 14 and the first wheel 6 are spaced apart from one another in a diametrical direction of the second wheel 8.
- the third wheel 14 has a plurality of transportation pockets, and each transportation pocket successively receives the inner pack IP from the second wheel 8 as the third wheel 14 rotates. Thereafter, the inner pack IP is transported in the circumferential direction of the third wheel 14 along with the transportation pocket.
- the fourth wheel 16 is adjacent to the third wheel 14, and the fourth wheel 16 is disposed in a horizontal posture as with the third wheel 14.
- the fourth wheel 16 has a plurality of transportation pockets, and is positioned below the third wheel 14, so that the circumferences of the third and fourth wheels 14, 16 are partly overlapped in the vertical direction. Arriving at the fourth wheel 16, the inner pack IP on the third wheel 14 transfers from the third wheel 14 into the transportation pocket of the fourth wheel 16, and thereafter, is transported in the circumferential direction of the fourth wheel 16 as it rotates.
- the fourth wheel 16 is connected to a sub blank supply device 18, and the sub blank supply device 18 supplies a sub blank SB to the transportation pocket of the fourth wheel 16 before it receives the inner pack IP.
- the sub blank supply device 18 includes a web roll RS, and the web roll RS feeds out a web WS along the supply path PSB.
- a notch/cutter roller, a feed unit, and a cutting unit are disposed successively from the roll RS side, although none of them is shown.
- the feed unit intermittently supplies the web WS, and in this supply process, the notch/cutter roller forms a pair of side folding lines, etc. on the web WS, and the cutting unit cuts the web WS into a predetermined length, thereby forming a sub blank SB.
- the inner pack IP of the third wheel 14 is packed into the relevant transportation pocket along with the sub blank SB.
- the sub blank SB is folded in from the side folding line to form an inner frame, and this inner frame is bonded to the inner pack IP. Thereafter, the inner pack IP with the inner frame is transported as the fourth wheel 16 rotates.
- the main blank supply device 20 is connected between the fourth wheel 16 and the fifth wheel 24, and this main blank supply device 20 supplies the main blank MB which is an outer wrapper to the inner pack IP on the fourth wheel 16.
- the main blank supply device 20 includes a hopper 22 which stores the main blank MB.
- the main blank MB is transported one by one from the hopper 22 to the fourth wheel 16 along the supply path PMB, and is supplied to the inner pack IP positioned at a supply position of the fourth wheel 16.
- the main blank MB is placed on the inner pack IP in such a way to hold the inner pack IP between itself and the above described inner frame.
- a glue has been applied in the glue application regions 48, 50, 51 to be described later by a glue application apparatus not shown.
- the fifth wheel 24 is disposed in a vertical posture.
- the fifth wheel 24 has a plurality of folding pockets, and each folding pocket receives the inner pack IP with the inner frame and the main blank MB from the fourth wheel 16 as the fifth wheel 24 rotates. In this occasion, a pair of side flaps of the main blank MB are folded in.
- the packaging machine 1 includes a conveyance path 26, and the conveyance path 26 conveys the formed cigarette package SP toward a film packaging section which is a subsequent processing stage. In the film packaging section, the cigarette package SP is packaged with film sheet, thereby forming a final product of the cigarette package SP.
- a conveyor 28 is provided in the conveyance path 26.
- the conveyor 28 includes a pair of endless belts (conveyance walls) 28a, and a plurality of rollers 28b around which a belt 28a is wound and which guides the belt 28a by rotation along the conveyance path 26.
- the conveyor 28 can successively convey a large number of cigarette packages SP to the film packaging section while holding the cigarette packages SP between the pair of belts 28a.
- the cigarette package SP before being packaged by film sheet is formed as a box 30 in which the main blank MB and the sub blank SB are folded in in the periphery of the cigarette bundle which is a plurality of smoking articles.
- the box 30 assumes a cuboid shape and includes a front wall 30a, a rear wall 30b, a top wall 30c, a bottom wall 30d, and a pair of side walls 30e.
- Each side wall 30e extends along the longitudinal axis 32 of the box 30, and is formed by bonding an inner side wall part 34a, which is obtained by folding in an inner side flap of the main blank MB, and an outer side wall part 34b, which is obtained by folding in an outer side flap of the main blank MB, to each other.
- the box 30 forms a cigarette package SP which is a so-called hinge-lid round corner box having an outer body 30A and a lid 30C connected to the outer body 30A via a hinge 30B.
- the above described inner side wall part 34a, outer side wall part 34b, and round corners 36 are formed in the lid 30C as well.
- the main blank MB includes a front panel 40a for forming the front wall 30a, a rear panel 40b for forming the rear wall 30b, a top panel 40c for forming the top wall 30c, a bottom panel 40d for forming the bottom wall 30d, inner and outer side flaps 40e, 40f for respectively forming inner and outer side wall parts 34a, 34b, and a lid front panel 40g, a lid flap 40h, and an outer side flap 40i for forming the lid 30C.
- An arcuate round part 42 is provided in each of the four corners of the top and bottom panels 40c, 40d, and the round part 42 is positioned along the round corner 36 when the box 30 is shaped.
- the lid front panel 40g and the top panel 40c; the rear panel 40b and the top panel 40c; the rear panel 40b and the bottom panel 40d; and the front panel 40a and the bottom panel 40d are connected respectively via the folding lines 44 which are folded when the box 30 is shaped. Then, these folding lines 44 are reduced in length compared with a square box which has no round corner 36 due to slits associated with formation of the round parts 42.
- the round corner 36 is formed by slitting or pressing a plurality of linear folding lines 46 along the longitudinal axis 32 in the back side of the main blank MB.
- a glue application region 48 is formed in a region along the contour of the outer side flap 40f.
- glue as an adhesive is applied in a linear shape or a dot pattern.
- a glue application region 50 which is smaller than the glue application region 48 is formed. Moreover, a glue application region 51 is formed as well in the outer side flap 40i of the lid C.
- the sub blank SB includes a front panel 52a, and side flaps 52b located on both sides of the front panel 52a.
- a plurality of folding lines 54 which are similar to the folding line 46 for forming a part of the round corner 36 are formed.
- the frond side of the side flap 52b of the sub blank SB is bonded to the glue application region 50 in the back side of the inner side flap 40e when the box 30 is shaped, thus shaping an inner frame and, by extension, an inner pack IP including an inner frame and the main blank MB.
- the box 30 is disposed in the conveyance path 26 assuming a posture to extend in a direction (width direction of the belt 28a) in which a pair of side walls 30e traverse the conveyance path 26, and is held between the pair of side walls 30e between the belts 28a of the conveyor 28.
- a guide not shown is provided between the fifth wheel 24 and the conveyor 28. This guide positions the longitudinal axis 32 of the box 30 in the width direction of the belt 28a when the box 30 is conveyed from the fifth wheel 24 to the conveyor 28.
- this guide is provided, for example, on the bottom wall 30d side of the box 30, and positions a conveyance reference position of the box 30 with respect to the belt 28a in the longitudinal axis 32 with reference to the bottom wall 30d.
- two guides may be provided on both the bottom wall 30d side and the top wall 30c side of the box 30, and position the box 30 with respect to the belt 28a with reference to the bottom wall 30d and the top wall 30c.
- the belt 28a is formed by such as laminating an outer base sheet not shown and an inner felt sheet, when seen from the conveyance path 26.
- a roller 28b is in abutment with a rubber sheet, so that for example, rotational driving force of the roller 28b is transferred to the belt 28a by friction.
- the roller 28b of the present embodiment is a so-called flat roller which has substantially the same diameter over the longitudinal axis 32, and the middle of the longitudinal axis 32 of the roller main body is positioned substantially in the middle in the width direction of the belt 28a.
- pressing wall surfaces 28d for pressing the side walls 30e when the box 30 is conveyed are formed on the conveyance path 26 side (felt sheet side).
- predetermined tension acts on the belt 28a.
- a pair of pressing wall surfaces 28d facing each other in the conveyance path 26 substantially press the pair of side walls 30e respectively with predetermined pressing force F indicated by an arrow, thereby holding the box 30 therebetween while the box 30 is conveyed in the conveyance path 26.
- a notched part 56 which is in non-contact with the end part of the side wall 30e while the box 30 is conveyed in the conveyance path 26.
- the notched part 56 is formed by cutting the surface of the both ends of the pressing wall surface 28d reaching an end edge of the belt 28a, and is formed by being subjected to processing to scrape off a thickness t (for example 2 mm) of the belt 28a by a predetermined decrease of width (for example 1 mm). In this way, the notched part 56 decreases the total effective length L of the pressing wall surface 28d for substantially pressing the side wall 30e to be less than the overall length La of the side wall 30e (means).
- the pressing wall surface 28d presses the side wall 30e while avoiding the vicinity of the top wall 30c and the bottom wall 30d of the box 30.
- the top wall 30c and the bottom wall 30d of the box 30, which function as a support wall of the box 30 when the side wall 30e is pressed by the pressing wall surface 28d, are areas in which rigidity is relatively high in the box 30. For this reason, based on the law of action and reaction forces, pressing force F larger than the pressing force F which acts on the side wall 30e acts intensively on the top wall 30c and the bottom wall 30d.
- the folding lines 44 to be formed respectively between the rear and top panels 40b, 40c and between the front and bottom panels 40a, 40d are shorter compared with a case of a square box due to slits associated with formation of the round parts 42.
- the rigidity of both end parts of the pair of side walls 30e decreases, and reaction force against the pressing force F decreases so that caving becomes likely to occur when the side walls 30e are pressed by the pressing wall surfaces 28d.
- the pressing wall surface 28d presses the side wall 30e while avoiding the vicinity of the both end parts of the side wall 30e including the top wall 30c and the bottom wall 30d of the box 30. Since this makes it possible to securely apply an appropriate magnitude of pressing force F to the glue application region 48, 50, thereby forming a uniform pressing force distribution in the glue application region 48, 50, it is possible to effectively suppress bonding defects and, by extension, defective shaping of the box 30.
- the pressing wall surface 28d of the present embodiment has a width W extending in a direction traversing the conveyance path 26.
- This width W is set to be shorter than the overall length La of the side wall 30e.
- the total effective length L of the pressing wall surface 28d which substantially presses the side wall 30e is necessarily decreased to be less than the overall length La of the side wall 30e (means).
- the pressing wall surface 28d presses the side wall 30e while avoiding the vicinity of both end parts of the side wall 30e. Therefore, in the present embodiment as well, it is possible to securely apply appropriate pressing force F on the glue application region 48, 50, thus effectively suppressing bonding defects and, by extension, defective shaping of the box 30.
- the pressing wall surface 28d of the present embodiment has a concave part 58 which is in non-contact with the side wall 30e while the box 30 is conveyed in the conveyance path 26.
- the concave part 58 which is provided in both end parts of the pressing wall surface 28d, decreases the total effective length L of the pressing wall surface 28d which substantially presses the side wall 30e to be less than the overall length La of the side wall 30e (means).
- the pressing wall surface 28d can press the side wall 30e while avoiding the vicinity of the both end parts of the side wall 30e. Therefore, in the present embodiment as well, it is possible to securely apply appropriate pressing force F on the glue application region 48, 50, thereby effectively suppressing bonding defects and, by extension, defective shaping of the box 30.
- a curved part 60 is formed at an end part of the pressing wall surface 28d of the present embodiment.
- This curved part 60 which assume an arcuate shape separated from the side wall 30e while the box 30 is conveyed in the conveyance path 26, decreases the total effective length L of the pressing wall surface 28d which substantially presses the side wall 30e to be less than the overall length La of the side wall 30e (means). For this reason, as with the case of the first embodiment, it is possible that the pressing wall surface 28d presses the side wall 30e while avoiding the vicinity of both end parts of the side wall 30e. Therefore, in the present embodiment as well, it is possible to securely apply appropriate pressing force F on the glue application region 48, 50, thus effectively suppressing bonding defects and, by extension, defective shaping of the box 30.
- the conveyor 28 of the present embodiment uses a crown roller 62 in place of the roller 28b which is a flat roller.
- the crown roller 62 which is configured such that the diameter at the middle in the direction of the longitudinal axis 32 of the roller main body is larger than the diameters of the end parts, has a function of bringing the belt 28e into substantially uniform contact with the side wall 30e while suppressing deflection of the roller main body, and suppressing meandering of the belt 28a.
- the box 30L shown in FIG. 9 is a long box in which the length of the longitudinal axis 32 is longer compared with the box 30, in which the width W of the pressing wall surface 28d is set to be longer compared with the case of the first embodiment, corresponding to the box 30L. Moreover, a notched part 56 is formed at both end parts of the pressing wall surface 28d.
- the box 30S shown in FIG. 10 is a short box in which the length of the longitudinal axis 32 is shorter compared with the box 30, and the width W of the pressing wall surface 28d is set to be the same width as in the case of FIG. 9 .
- a notched part 56 is formed in both end parts of the pressing wall surface 28d.
- the notched part 56 which is located on the top wall 30c side of the pressing wall surface 28d is formed over a longer range, compared with the case of FIG. 9 , in the longitudinal axis 32 to an extent to keep the end part of the side wall 30e of the box 30S in a non-contact state.
- the crown roller 62 for the conveyor 28, it is possible to bring the belt 28a into substantially uniform contact with the side wall 30e, and suppress meandering of the belt 28a. Therefore, even when a box 30L of long size or a box 30S of short size is conveyed, as a result of the pressing wall surface 28d having the notched part 56, the total effective length L of the pressing wall surface 28d which substantially presses the side wall 30e is decreased to be less than the overall length La of the side wall 30e (means). Therefore, it is possible to press the side wall 30e while avoiding the vicinity of the both end parts of the side wall 30e, thus suppressing bonding defects and, by extension, defective shaping of the box 30L, 30S.
- box 30 there may be a case in which, a space in which no contained object such as smoking articles is present, exists in the box 30, 30L, 30S (hereinafter, generally referred to as box 30). There may also be a case in which members such as a spacer for filling up the concerned space, or sectioning the contained object are contained in the box 30.
- the position of the above described each means, which keeps the end parts of the side wall 30e in a non-contact state while the box 30 is conveyed in the conveyance path 26, is not limited to the above described each embodiment.
- the present invention allows various means which can decrease the total effective length L of the pressing wall surface 28d for substantially pressing the side wall 30e to be less than the overall length La of the side wall 30e to securely apply an appropriate magnitude of pressing force F to the glue application region 48, 50 of the side wall 30e depending on the shape and type of the box 30, the shape of the contained object to be contained in the box, and the like.
- each means which brings the pressing wall surface 28d into non-contact with the end part of the side wall 30e while the box 30 is conveyed in the conveyance path 26, is provided in both of the pair of the pressing wall surfaces 28d.
- the aforementioned means may be provided only in one of the pair of pressing wall surfaces 28d.
- the above described means are formed in both end parts of the pressing wall surface 28d facing the both end parts of the side wall 30e.
- the above described means may be provided spot by spot in an area other than the both end parts of the pressing wall surface 28d.
- the above described means may be provided not only in both end parts of the pressing wall surface 28d, but also in only one end part of the pressing wall surface 28d.
- a convex part not shown which increases pressing force F against the side wall 30e while the box 30 is conveyed in the conveyance path 26 may be formed in at least one of the pair of pressing wall surfaces 28d.
- each embodiment has been described on the assumption that the box 30 is a cigarette package SP which provides a hinge-lid round corner box.
- the present invention can be applied to shaping of a square box having no round corner 36, cigarette packages SP other than the form of hinge-lid, and boxes 30 for uses other than cigarette package SP.
- the box 30 when the box 30 is a round corner box, since it has folding lines 46 for forming the round corner 36, pre-folding of the inner and outer side flaps 40e, 40f is performed with less intensity compared with a case of a square box. For this reason, the restoring force against pre-folding of the inner and outer side flaps 40e, 40f tends to increase in the case of a round corner box compared with a square box. Therefore, when the box 30 is a round corner box, due to the concerned restoring force, bonding defects and, by extension, defective shaping of the box 30 is more likely to occur than in the case of a square box.
- the packaging machine 1 can assume various forms without being limited to the above described configurations, provided that it includes a conveyor 28 having the above described means.
- a heater not shown may be provided in the conveyance path 26 to promote bonding of the box 30 through drying.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a packaging machine, and particularly to a packaging machine for forming a box by folding a blank around the periphery of a plurality of smoking articles, the machine including a conveyance path for thereafter conveying the box to a subsequent processing stage.
- As the conveyance path of this kind of packaging machine, one which has a pair of conveyance walls and is provided with a conveyor for conveying the box while holding it between the conveyance walls is known. The box is conveyed, for example, while being held between the conveyance walls by a pair of side walls extending along its longitudinal axis, the pair of side walls having inner and outer side wall parts, which are bonded to each other, and while being positioned to extend in a direction in which the pair of side walls traverse the conveyance path in the conveyance path.
- Meanwhile, Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus including a conveyor for discharging cigarettes from a packaging machine. It is described that in this apparatus, to appropriately dry the box as a packet containing cigarettes without separating the bonded parts of the box, thereby obtaining a high quality final product, the pair of side walls of the box need to be held closely between a pair of belts forming a pair of conveyance walls of the conveyor.
- Specifically, during the conveyance of a box in the conveyance path, the pair of side walls of the box are pressed by pressing wall surfaces of the belt forming a pair of the conveyance walls of the conveyor. As a result of this, those side wall parts are bonded to each other by the glue (adhesive) applied on a glue application region of the side wall parts constituting the pair of side walls.
- Patent Document 1: National Publication of International Patent Application No.
2004-502608 - However, when the side walls of the box are pressed by the pressing wall surfaces of the belt in the conveyance path, depending on the shape and type of the box, the shape of the contained object to be contained in the box, and the like, the pressing force acts intensively on an area in which the rigidity of the box is relatively high and, on the other hand, in an area in which the rigidity of the box is low, the reaction force of the side wall against the pressing force is decreased, and thus caving is likely to occur during pressing.
- In this way, when the pressing force applied from the pressing wall surfaces is concentrated into an unintended spot, or when release of the pressing force occurs due to caving, the pressing force to be primarily applied to the side walls may become too small or nonuniform in magnitude. In such cases, it is not possible to apply an appropriate magnitude of pressing force for suitably performing the bonding of side wall parts constituting the side walls, on the glue application region, thus causing risk of bonding defects of box, and, by extension, of defective shaping of the box due to peeling of the glue application region.
- The present invention has been made in view of the above described problems, and has its object to provide a packaging machine which can suppress bonding defects and, by extension, defective shaping of the box, by surely applying appropriate pressing force to the glue application region of the side walls of the box depending on the shape and type of the box, the shape of the contained object to be contained in the box, and the like.
- In order to achieve the above object, an aspect of the present invention is directed to a packaging machine for forming a box by folding a blank around the periphery of a plurality of smoking articles, comprising a conveyance path for thereafter conveying the box to a subsequent processing stage, wherein the box includes a longitudinal axis and a pair of side walls having inner and outer side wall parts which extend along the longitudinal axis and are bonded to each other, and assumes a posture in which the pair of the side walls extend in a direction traversing the conveyance path in the conveyance path; the conveyance path has a pair of conveyance walls for holding therebetween the box by the pair of side walls, and includes a conveyor for conveying the box while holding the same between the conveyance walls; the pair of conveyance walls respectively include pressing wall surfaces for substantially pressing the side walls; and at least one of the pressing wall surfaces includes means for reducing a total effective length of the pressing wall surface along the longitudinal axis to be less than an overall length of the side wall.
- According to the packaging machine of the present invention, it is possible to suppress bonding defects and, by extension, defective shaping of the box, by securely applying appropriate pressing force to the glue application region of the side walls of the box depending on the shape and type of the box, the shape of the contained object to be contained in the box, and the like.
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FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a packaging machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cigarette package (box) shaped by the packaging machine ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a plan view seen from the back side of a main blank for forming the box ofFIG. 2 -
FIG. 4 is a plan view seen from the back side of a sub blank for forming the box ofFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view, seen from an arrow direction of the A-A section ofFIG. 1 , of a conveyor according to a first embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 6 is a partial section view of the conveyor according to a second embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 7 is a partial section view of the conveyor according to a third embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 8 is a partial section view of the conveyor according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view to show a case in which a long box is conveyed by the conveyor according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view to show a case in which a short box is conveyed by the conveyor according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. - Hereinafter, a packing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.
- As shown in
FIG. 1 , a packing machine of the present embodiment includes ahopper apparatus 2. Thehopper apparatus 2 includes threehoppers hoppers 2a to 2c. To lower parts of thehoppers 2a to 2c, a plurality of accumulation pockets 4 are successively transported. Thehoppers 2a to 2c are disposed adjacent to each other in the transportation direction of the accumulation pocket 4. - Each accumulation pocket 4 receives a predetermined number of filter cigarettes from each
hopper 2a to 2c when passing through the lower parts of thehoppers 2a to 2c. As a result, when the accumulation pocket 4 has passed all of the threehoppers 2a to 2c, a cigarette bundle assuming a block shape is contained in the accumulation pocket 4. The cigarette bundle includes 20 filter cigarettes, and the filter cigarettes are disposed in a stacked state of upper, middle, and lower levels in the accumulation pocket 4. For example, the upper and lower levels include 7 filter cigarettes, and the middle level includes 6 cigarettes. - Hereafter, the accumulation pocket 4 is transported along a transportation line to a
first wheel 6 indicated by a one-point chain line. As it rotates, thefirst wheel 6 receives the cigarette bundle from the accumulation pocket 4, and transports the received cigarette bundle toward the second wheel 8 indicated by a one-point chain line. The first andsecond wheels 6, 8 are disposed in a vertical posture. - The second wheel 8 includes a plurality of
folding pockets 10, and thesefolding pockets 10 are disposed at an equal spacing in the circumferential direction of the second wheel 8. As the second wheel 8 rotates, the foldingpocket 10 receives a cigarette bundle from thefirst wheel 6 and also receives a sheet-like inner wrapper IW. The inner wrapper IW is supplied from an innerwrapper supply device 12 to between the first andsecond wheels 6, 8 to be pushed into the foldingpocket 10 of the second wheel 8 along with the cigarette bundle. In this occasion, the inner wrapper IW is wound around the cigarette bundle in a U shape in the foldingpocket 10. - As the second wheel 8 rotates, the cigarette bundle in the
folding pocket 10 is transported in the circumferential direction of the second wheel 8. During this transportation process, the folding of an end flap for closing the end surface of the cigarette bundle and the folding of a side flap for closing both side surfaces of the cigarette bundle are carried out with respect to the inner wrapper IW wound around the cigarette bundle, resulting in formation of an inner pack IP. - A
third wheel 14 is adjacent to the second wheel 8, and thethird wheel 14 and thefirst wheel 6 are spaced apart from one another in a diametrical direction of the second wheel 8. Thethird wheel 14 has a plurality of transportation pockets, and each transportation pocket successively receives the inner pack IP from the second wheel 8 as thethird wheel 14 rotates. Thereafter, the inner pack IP is transported in the circumferential direction of thethird wheel 14 along with the transportation pocket. - Further, the
fourth wheel 16 is adjacent to thethird wheel 14, and thefourth wheel 16 is disposed in a horizontal posture as with thethird wheel 14. Thefourth wheel 16 has a plurality of transportation pockets, and is positioned below thethird wheel 14, so that the circumferences of the third andfourth wheels fourth wheel 16, the inner pack IP on thethird wheel 14 transfers from thethird wheel 14 into the transportation pocket of thefourth wheel 16, and thereafter, is transported in the circumferential direction of thefourth wheel 16 as it rotates. - On the other hand, the
fourth wheel 16 is connected to a subblank supply device 18, and the subblank supply device 18 supplies a sub blank SB to the transportation pocket of thefourth wheel 16 before it receives the inner pack IP. The subblank supply device 18 includes a web roll RS, and the web roll RS feeds out a web WS along the supply path PSB. - In this supply path PSB, a notch/cutter roller, a feed unit, and a cutting unit are disposed successively from the roll RS side, although none of them is shown. The feed unit intermittently supplies the web WS, and in this supply process, the notch/cutter roller forms a pair of side folding lines, etc. on the web WS, and the cutting unit cuts the web WS into a predetermined length, thereby forming a sub blank SB.
- When the transportation pocket of the
fourth wheel 16 arrives at thethird wheel 14 after receiving the sub blank SB, the inner pack IP of thethird wheel 14 is packed into the relevant transportation pocket along with the sub blank SB. In this occasion, the sub blank SB is folded in from the side folding line to form an inner frame, and this inner frame is bonded to the inner pack IP. Thereafter, the inner pack IP with the inner frame is transported as thefourth wheel 16 rotates. - Further, the main
blank supply device 20 is connected between thefourth wheel 16 and thefifth wheel 24, and this mainblank supply device 20 supplies the main blank MB which is an outer wrapper to the inner pack IP on thefourth wheel 16. As shown inFIG. 1 , the mainblank supply device 20 includes ahopper 22 which stores the main blank MB. The main blank MB is transported one by one from thehopper 22 to thefourth wheel 16 along the supply path PMB, and is supplied to the inner pack IP positioned at a supply position of thefourth wheel 16. The main blank MB is placed on the inner pack IP in such a way to hold the inner pack IP between itself and the above described inner frame. At this moment, in the main blank MB, a glue has been applied in theglue application regions - Right above the supply position of the
fourth wheel 16, thefifth wheel 24 is disposed in a vertical posture. Thefifth wheel 24 has a plurality of folding pockets, and each folding pocket receives the inner pack IP with the inner frame and the main blank MB from thefourth wheel 16 as thefifth wheel 24 rotates. In this occasion, a pair of side flaps of the main blank MB are folded in. - Hereinafter, the received inner pack IP is transported in the circumferential direction of the
fifth wheel 24, and in this transportation process, remaining folding process for the main blank MB is successively performed; as a result of this, a cigarette package SP is formed. The packaging machine 1 includes aconveyance path 26, and theconveyance path 26 conveys the formed cigarette package SP toward a film packaging section which is a subsequent processing stage. In the film packaging section, the cigarette package SP is packaged with film sheet, thereby forming a final product of the cigarette package SP. - Here, a
conveyor 28 is provided in theconveyance path 26. Theconveyor 28 includes a pair of endless belts (conveyance walls) 28a, and a plurality ofrollers 28b around which abelt 28a is wound and which guides thebelt 28a by rotation along theconveyance path 26. By rotationally driving therollers 28b, theconveyor 28 can successively convey a large number of cigarette packages SP to the film packaging section while holding the cigarette packages SP between the pair ofbelts 28a. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , the cigarette package SP before being packaged by film sheet is formed as abox 30 in which the main blank MB and the sub blank SB are folded in in the periphery of the cigarette bundle which is a plurality of smoking articles. - The
box 30 assumes a cuboid shape and includes afront wall 30a, arear wall 30b, atop wall 30c, abottom wall 30d, and a pair ofside walls 30e. - Each
side wall 30e extends along thelongitudinal axis 32 of thebox 30, and is formed by bonding an innerside wall part 34a, which is obtained by folding in an inner side flap of the main blank MB, and an outerside wall part 34b, which is obtained by folding in an outer side flap of the main blank MB, to each other. - In the
box 30 of the present embodiment, fourround corners 36 which respectively connect thefront wall 30a with theside wall 30e, and therear wall 30b with theside wall 30e are formed. - The
box 30 forms a cigarette package SP which is a so-called hinge-lid round corner box having anouter body 30A and alid 30C connected to theouter body 30A via ahinge 30B. The above described innerside wall part 34a, outerside wall part 34b, andround corners 36 are formed in thelid 30C as well. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , the main blank MB includes afront panel 40a for forming thefront wall 30a, arear panel 40b for forming therear wall 30b, atop panel 40c for forming thetop wall 30c, abottom panel 40d for forming thebottom wall 30d, inner andouter side flaps side wall parts lid front panel 40g, alid flap 40h, and anouter side flap 40i for forming thelid 30C. An arcuateround part 42 is provided in each of the four corners of the top andbottom panels round part 42 is positioned along theround corner 36 when thebox 30 is shaped. - In the order seen from the top in
FIG. 3 , thelid front panel 40g and thetop panel 40c; therear panel 40b and thetop panel 40c; therear panel 40b and thebottom panel 40d; and thefront panel 40a and thebottom panel 40d are connected respectively via thefolding lines 44 which are folded when thebox 30 is shaped. Then, thesefolding lines 44 are reduced in length compared with a square box which has noround corner 36 due to slits associated with formation of theround parts 42. - Moreover, the
round corner 36 is formed by slitting or pressing a plurality oflinear folding lines 46 along thelongitudinal axis 32 in the back side of the main blank MB. - In the back side of the
outer side flap 40f of the main blank MB, aglue application region 48 is formed in a region along the contour of theouter side flap 40f. In theglue application region 48, glue as an adhesive is applied in a linear shape or a dot pattern. When thebox 30 is shaped, by bonding the inner andouter side flaps glue application region 48, a pair ofside walls 30e in which the inner and outerside wall parts - Moreover, in an upper part when seen in
FIG. 3 on the back side of theinner side flap 40e of the main blank MB, aglue application region 50 which is smaller than theglue application region 48 is formed. Moreover, aglue application region 51 is formed as well in theouter side flap 40i of the lid C. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , the sub blank SB includes afront panel 52a, andside flaps 52b located on both sides of thefront panel 52a. In the back side of the sub blank SB, a plurality offolding lines 54 which are similar to thefolding line 46 for forming a part of theround corner 36 are formed. - The frond side of the
side flap 52b of the sub blank SB is bonded to theglue application region 50 in the back side of theinner side flap 40e when thebox 30 is shaped, thus shaping an inner frame and, by extension, an inner pack IP including an inner frame and the main blank MB. - As shown in
FIG. 5 , thebox 30 is disposed in theconveyance path 26 assuming a posture to extend in a direction (width direction of thebelt 28a) in which a pair ofside walls 30e traverse theconveyance path 26, and is held between the pair ofside walls 30e between thebelts 28a of theconveyor 28. Here, a guide not shown is provided between thefifth wheel 24 and theconveyor 28. This guide positions thelongitudinal axis 32 of thebox 30 in the width direction of thebelt 28a when thebox 30 is conveyed from thefifth wheel 24 to theconveyor 28. - Moreover, this guide is provided, for example, on the
bottom wall 30d side of thebox 30, and positions a conveyance reference position of thebox 30 with respect to thebelt 28a in thelongitudinal axis 32 with reference to thebottom wall 30d. Note that two guides may be provided on both thebottom wall 30d side and thetop wall 30c side of thebox 30, and position thebox 30 with respect to thebelt 28a with reference to thebottom wall 30d and thetop wall 30c. - The
belt 28a is formed by such as laminating an outer base sheet not shown and an inner felt sheet, when seen from theconveyance path 26. Aroller 28b is in abutment with a rubber sheet, so that for example, rotational driving force of theroller 28b is transferred to thebelt 28a by friction. Note that theroller 28b of the present embodiment is a so-called flat roller which has substantially the same diameter over thelongitudinal axis 32, and the middle of thelongitudinal axis 32 of the roller main body is positioned substantially in the middle in the width direction of thebelt 28a. - In the pair of
belts 28a facing each other in theconveyance path 26, pressing wall surfaces 28d for pressing theside walls 30e when thebox 30 is conveyed are formed on theconveyance path 26 side (felt sheet side). When theroller 28b is rotationally driven to guide thebelt 28a along theconveyance path 26, predetermined tension acts on thebelt 28a. Owing to tension of thebelt 28a and elastic force based on the rubber sheet, etc., a pair of pressingwall surfaces 28d facing each other in theconveyance path 26 substantially press the pair ofside walls 30e respectively with predetermined pressing force F indicated by an arrow, thereby holding thebox 30 therebetween while thebox 30 is conveyed in theconveyance path 26. - Then, in the present embodiment, in an end part of the
pressing wall surface 28d facing an end part of theside wall 30e, there is formed a notchedpart 56 which is in non-contact with the end part of theside wall 30e while thebox 30 is conveyed in theconveyance path 26. The notchedpart 56 is formed by cutting the surface of the both ends of thepressing wall surface 28d reaching an end edge of thebelt 28a, and is formed by being subjected to processing to scrape off a thickness t (for example 2 mm) of thebelt 28a by a predetermined decrease of width (for example 1 mm). In this way, the notchedpart 56 decreases the total effective length L of thepressing wall surface 28d for substantially pressing theside wall 30e to be less than the overall length La of theside wall 30e (means). - As so far described, in the present embodiment, as a result of providing a notched
part 56 at both end parts of thepressing wall surface 28d, thepressing wall surface 28d presses theside wall 30e while avoiding the vicinity of thetop wall 30c and thebottom wall 30d of thebox 30. - Here, conventionally, the
top wall 30c and thebottom wall 30d of thebox 30, which function as a support wall of thebox 30 when theside wall 30e is pressed by thepressing wall surface 28d, are areas in which rigidity is relatively high in thebox 30. For this reason, based on the law of action and reaction forces, pressing force F larger than the pressing force F which acts on theside wall 30e acts intensively on thetop wall 30c and thebottom wall 30d. - On the other hand, as described above, the
folding lines 44 to be formed respectively between the rear andtop panels bottom panels round parts 42. As a result of such shortening of thefolding lines 44, the rigidity of both end parts of the pair ofside walls 30e decreases, and reaction force against the pressing force F decreases so that caving becomes likely to occur when theside walls 30e are pressed by thepressing wall surfaces 28d. - In this way, conventionally, in the vicinity of both end parts of the
side wall 30e, there existed both an area on which pressing force F acts intensively and an area in which caving is likely to be caused by application of pressing force F. Because of this, it is not possible to apply an appropriate magnitude of pressing force F on aglue application region side wall 30e, and therefore there is risk of bonding defects of thebox 30, and, by extension, of defective shaping of thebox 30 associated with peeling of theglue application region - However, in the present embodiment, the
pressing wall surface 28d presses theside wall 30e while avoiding the vicinity of the both end parts of theside wall 30e including thetop wall 30c and thebottom wall 30d of thebox 30. Since this makes it possible to securely apply an appropriate magnitude of pressing force F to theglue application region glue application region box 30. - Hereinafter, referring to
FIG. 6 , aconveyer 28 of the packaging machine 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that regarding the description of each embodiment below, contents thereof which are different from the first embodiment will be primarily described, and other contents may be omitted from description by giving the same reference symbols in the drawings, and so on. - As shown in
FIG. 6 , thepressing wall surface 28d of the present embodiment has a width W extending in a direction traversing theconveyance path 26. This width W is set to be shorter than the overall length La of theside wall 30e. As a result, the total effective length L of thepressing wall surface 28d which substantially presses theside wall 30e is necessarily decreased to be less than the overall length La of theside wall 30e (means). For this reason, as with the case of the first embodiment, it is possible that thepressing wall surface 28d presses theside wall 30e while avoiding the vicinity of both end parts of theside wall 30e. Therefore, in the present embodiment as well, it is possible to securely apply appropriate pressing force F on theglue application region box 30. - As shown in
FIG. 7 , thepressing wall surface 28d of the present embodiment has aconcave part 58 which is in non-contact with theside wall 30e while thebox 30 is conveyed in theconveyance path 26. Theconcave part 58, which is provided in both end parts of thepressing wall surface 28d, decreases the total effective length L of thepressing wall surface 28d which substantially presses theside wall 30e to be less than the overall length La of theside wall 30e (means). As a result, as with the case of the first embodiment, thepressing wall surface 28d can press theside wall 30e while avoiding the vicinity of the both end parts of theside wall 30e. Therefore, in the present embodiment as well, it is possible to securely apply appropriate pressing force F on theglue application region box 30. - As shown in
FIG. 8 , acurved part 60 is formed at an end part of thepressing wall surface 28d of the present embodiment. Thiscurved part 60, which assume an arcuate shape separated from theside wall 30e while thebox 30 is conveyed in theconveyance path 26, decreases the total effective length L of thepressing wall surface 28d which substantially presses theside wall 30e to be less than the overall length La of theside wall 30e (means). For this reason, as with the case of the first embodiment, it is possible that thepressing wall surface 28d presses theside wall 30e while avoiding the vicinity of both end parts of theside wall 30e. Therefore, in the present embodiment as well, it is possible to securely apply appropriate pressing force F on theglue application region box 30. - As shown in
FIG. 9 , theconveyor 28 of the present embodiment uses acrown roller 62 in place of theroller 28b which is a flat roller. Thecrown roller 62, which is configured such that the diameter at the middle in the direction of thelongitudinal axis 32 of the roller main body is larger than the diameters of the end parts, has a function of bringing the belt 28e into substantially uniform contact with theside wall 30e while suppressing deflection of the roller main body, and suppressing meandering of thebelt 28a. - Moreover, the
box 30L shown inFIG. 9 is a long box in which the length of thelongitudinal axis 32 is longer compared with thebox 30, in which the width W of thepressing wall surface 28d is set to be longer compared with the case of the first embodiment, corresponding to thebox 30L. Moreover, a notchedpart 56 is formed at both end parts of thepressing wall surface 28d. - On the other hand, the
box 30S shown inFIG. 10 is a short box in which the length of thelongitudinal axis 32 is shorter compared with thebox 30, and the width W of thepressing wall surface 28d is set to be the same width as in the case ofFIG. 9 . Moreover, a notchedpart 56 is formed in both end parts of thepressing wall surface 28d. However, the notchedpart 56 which is located on thetop wall 30c side of thepressing wall surface 28d is formed over a longer range, compared with the case ofFIG. 9 , in thelongitudinal axis 32 to an extent to keep the end part of theside wall 30e of thebox 30S in a non-contact state. - As so far described, in the present embodiment, as a result of using the
crown roller 62 for theconveyor 28, it is possible to bring thebelt 28a into substantially uniform contact with theside wall 30e, and suppress meandering of thebelt 28a. Therefore, even when abox 30L of long size or abox 30S of short size is conveyed, as a result of thepressing wall surface 28d having the notchedpart 56, the total effective length L of thepressing wall surface 28d which substantially presses theside wall 30e is decreased to be less than the overall length La of theside wall 30e (means). Therefore, it is possible to press theside wall 30e while avoiding the vicinity of the both end parts of theside wall 30e, thus suppressing bonding defects and, by extension, defective shaping of thebox - Further, even when the
box 30L which is a long box and thebox 30S which is a short box are conveyed, by pre-adjusting the position of the guide provided between thefifth wheel 24 and theconveyor 28, it is possible to effectively suppress bonding defects and, by extension, defective shaping of thebox belt 28a to one in which the width W of thepressing wall surface 28d and the forming range of the notchedpart 56 are adjusted without changing conveyance reference position of thebox crown roller 62. - While description on each embodiment of the present invention has been completed, the present invention will not be limited to those embodiments, and various modifications can be made within a range not departing from the spirit of the present invention.
- For example, there may be a case in which, a space in which no contained object such as smoking articles is present, exists in the
box box 30. - In such cases, when the
side wall 30e is pressed by thepressing wall surface 28d, a spot on which the pressing force F intensively acts, and a spot in which caving is likely to occur by application of pressing force F are present in various ways, other than in the both end parts of theside wall 30e. Accordingly, in the present invention, the position of the above described each means, which keeps the end parts of theside wall 30e in a non-contact state while thebox 30 is conveyed in theconveyance path 26, is not limited to the above described each embodiment. Besides, the present invention allows various means which can decrease the total effective length L of thepressing wall surface 28d for substantially pressing theside wall 30e to be less than the overall length La of theside wall 30e to securely apply an appropriate magnitude of pressing force F to theglue application region side wall 30e depending on the shape and type of thebox 30, the shape of the contained object to be contained in the box, and the like. - Specifically, in the above described each embodiment, each means, which brings the
pressing wall surface 28d into non-contact with the end part of theside wall 30e while thebox 30 is conveyed in theconveyance path 26, is provided in both of the pair of thepressing wall surfaces 28d. However, without being limited to these, the aforementioned means may be provided only in one of the pair of pressingwall surfaces 28d. - Further, in the above described each embodiment, the above described means are formed in both end parts of the
pressing wall surface 28d facing the both end parts of theside wall 30e. However, the above described means may be provided spot by spot in an area other than the both end parts of thepressing wall surface 28d. - Moreover, the above described means may be provided not only in both end parts of the
pressing wall surface 28d, but also in only one end part of thepressing wall surface 28d. - Furthermore, a convex part not shown which increases pressing force F against the
side wall 30e while thebox 30 is conveyed in theconveyance path 26 may be formed in at least one of the pair of pressingwall surfaces 28d. By forming the convex part of thepressing wall surface 28d at a position corresponding to a spot where peeling of theside wall 30e is likely to occur depending on the arrangement of the above described space and spacer, it is possible to suppress bonding defects and, by extension, defective shaping of boxes of various shapes and types. - Further, although the fifth embodiment has been described assuming the case of the first embodiment, it can be applied to the cases of the second to fourth embodiments.
- Further, each embodiment has been described on the assumption that the
box 30 is a cigarette package SP which provides a hinge-lid round corner box. However, without being limited thereto, the present invention can be applied to shaping of a square box having noround corner 36, cigarette packages SP other than the form of hinge-lid, andboxes 30 for uses other than cigarette package SP. - Here, when the
box 30 is a round corner box, since it hasfolding lines 46 for forming theround corner 36, pre-folding of the inner andouter side flaps outer side flaps box 30 is a round corner box, due to the concerned restoring force, bonding defects and, by extension, defective shaping of thebox 30 is more likely to occur than in the case of a square box. - On the other hand, when the
box 30 is a square box, since shortening of thefolding line 44 associated with forming ofround part 42 will not occur, the rigidity of at least both end parts of theside wall 30e will not decrease, and thus there is no area, in which caving is likely to be caused by application of pressing force F, in thebox 30. This point is also one of factors to make bonding defects and, by extension, defective shaping of thebox 30 more likely to occur when thebox 30 is a round corner box than in the case of a square box. - Thus, due to the above described structural difference between the round corner box and the square box, when the present invention is applied to the round corner box, it is possible to further effectively suppress bonding defects and, by extension, defective shaping of the
box 30. - Moreover, the packaging machine 1 can assume various forms without being limited to the above described configurations, provided that it includes a
conveyor 28 having the above described means. For example, a heater not shown may be provided in theconveyance path 26 to promote bonding of thebox 30 through drying. -
- 1
- Packaging machine
- 26
- Conveyance path
- 38
- Conveyor
- 28a
- Belt (Conveyance wall)
- 28d
- Pressing wall surface
- 30
- Box (Cigarette pack)
- 30a
- Front wall
- 30b
- Rear wall
- 30c
- Top wall
- 30d
- Bottom wall
- 30e
- Side wall
- 30A
- Outer body
- 30B
- Hinge
- 30C
- Lid
- 30L
- Box (Cigarette pack, long box)
- 30S
- Box (Cigarette pack, short box)
- 32
- Longitudinal axis
- 34a
- Inner side wall part
- 34b
- Outer side wall part
- 36
- Round corner
- 56
- Notched part (Means)
- 58
- Concave part (Means)
- 60
- Curved part (Means)
- 62
- Crown roller
- MB
- Main blank (Blank)
- SB
- Sub blank (Blank)
- F
- Pressing force
- W
- Width
Claims (10)
- A packaging machine for forming a box by folding a blank around a periphery of a plurality of smoking articles, comprising a conveyance path for thereafter conveying the box to a subsequent processing stage, wherein
the box includes a longitudinal axis and a pair of side walls having inner and outer side wall parts which extend along the longitudinal axis and are bonded to each other, and assumes a posture in which the pair of the side walls extend in a direction traversing the conveyance path in the conveyance path;
the conveyance path has a pair of conveyance walls for holding therebetween the box by the pair of side walls, and includes a conveyor for conveying the box while holding the same between the conveyance walls;
the pair of conveyance walls respectively include pressing wall surfaces for substantially pressing the side walls; and
at least one of the pressing wall surfaces includes means for reducing a total effective length of the pressing wall surface along the longitudinal axis to be less than an overall length of the side wall. - The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein
the box assumes a cuboid shape, and further includes a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, and
the means is formed in a portion of the pressing wall surface facing at least one end part of the side wall. - The packaging machine according to claim 2, wherein
the pressing wall surface has a notched part which is in non-contact with the end part of the side wall while the box is conveyed in the conveyance path, and
the notched part constitutes the means. - The packaging machine according to claim 2, wherein
the pressing wall surface has a width extending in a direction traversing the conveyance path, and the width is shorter than an overall length of the side wall to realize the means. - The packaging machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
the pressing wall surface has a concave part which is in non-contact with the side wall while the box is conveyed in the conveyance path, and
the concave part constitutes the means. - The packaging machine according to claim 2, wherein
the means is formed as a curved part in the portion of the pressing wall surface, and
the curved part assumes an arcuate shape separated from the side wall while the box is conveyed in the conveyance path. - The packaging machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
the conveyor comprises:a pair of belts which form the pair of conveyance walls; anda plurality of crown rollers which guide the belts along the conveyance path. - The packaging machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein
at least one of the pressing wall surfaces includes a convex part which increases pressing force against the side wall while the box is conveyed in the conveyance path. - The packaging machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein
the box has four round corners which connect the front wall with the side wall, and the rear wall with the side wall. - The packaging machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein
the box includes an outer body, and a lid which is connected to the outer body via a hinge.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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PCT/JP2016/076028 WO2018042667A1 (en) | 2016-09-05 | 2016-09-05 | Packaging machine |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP3492397A1 true EP3492397A1 (en) | 2019-06-05 |
EP3492397A4 EP3492397A4 (en) | 2020-01-22 |
EP3492397B1 EP3492397B1 (en) | 2021-06-02 |
Family
ID=61305179
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP16915222.0A Active EP3492397B1 (en) | 2016-09-05 | 2016-09-05 | Packaging machine |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3492397B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6868628B2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2018042667A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
SU558635A3 (en) * | 1974-04-17 | 1977-05-15 | Г.Д. Сочиета Пер Ациони (Фирма) | Device for turning the fed piece goods |
JPH03259842A (en) * | 1990-03-07 | 1991-11-19 | Nitta Ind Corp | Travel stabilizing method of magnetic belt and paper sheet conveyor applying method thereof |
IT1242610B (en) * | 1990-12-03 | 1994-05-16 | Gd Spa | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF SEAL CLAMPS ON PACKAGES. |
IT1303992B1 (en) * | 1998-06-03 | 2001-03-02 | Gd Spa | CONVEYOR FOR STABILIZING CIGARETTES PACKAGES IN THE EXIT A PACKAGING MACHINE. |
IT1321318B1 (en) * | 2000-07-11 | 2004-01-08 | Gd Spa | OUTLET DEVICE FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGES FROM A PACKAGING MACHINE. |
JP2003054726A (en) * | 2001-08-09 | 2003-02-26 | Toshiba Corp | Conveyor and method of mounting the same |
JP4914636B2 (en) * | 2006-04-24 | 2012-04-11 | 株式会社太平製作所 | Plate body conveying method and apparatus |
JP2009091040A (en) * | 2007-10-12 | 2009-04-30 | O M Ltd | Bar-code printer |
JP2009292514A (en) * | 2008-06-06 | 2009-12-17 | Japan Tobacco Inc | Packaging container |
IT1394943B1 (en) * | 2009-04-17 | 2012-07-27 | Gima Spa | DEVICE FOR PACKAGING A PRODUCT IN A CORRESPONDENT CONTAINER |
JP2011256029A (en) * | 2010-06-11 | 2011-12-22 | Hamai Co Ltd | Stacked workpiece separation method, stacked workpiece taking-out system and stacked workpiece taking-out method |
-
2016
- 2016-09-05 JP JP2018536672A patent/JP6868628B2/en active Active
- 2016-09-05 EP EP16915222.0A patent/EP3492397B1/en active Active
- 2016-09-05 WO PCT/JP2016/076028 patent/WO2018042667A1/en unknown
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP3492397A4 (en) | 2020-01-22 |
EP3492397B1 (en) | 2021-06-02 |
JP6868628B2 (en) | 2021-05-12 |
WO2018042667A1 (en) | 2018-03-08 |
JPWO2018042667A1 (en) | 2019-04-04 |
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