JP2002302105A - Goods packaging machine and packaging method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a goods packaging machine capable of making various kinds of side folding, and a packaging method thereof. SOLUTION: This packaging machine has a unit receiver 42 for selecting one folding unit 52 out of a plurality of kinds of folding units and fitting it to a side folding passage, and various kinds of folding units have a tightening tool 46 for fixing the folding unit to the unit receiver 42 in an attachable/ detachable manner.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a packaging machine for packaging an article to be packaged in a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a packaging film, and a packaging method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of packaging machine is disclosed in, for example,
JP 39020, JP-B-7-101061 and JP-A-11-49
No. 120 discloses this. JP 10-139020
The former packaging machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-15083, after the packaging film is wound around and sealed around the packaging product, the packaging product protrudes from both sides of the packaging product in the process of being transported along the side folding path. The side extending portion of the packaging film is folded in a so-called diamond-folding side-folding form, and side-sealed. Such a packaging machine has a simple configuration of the side folding path, and the diamond folding is also excellent in aesthetics.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 7-10651 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
All of the latter packaging machines disclosed in JP 11-49120A employ a fin seal formed on at least one of the body seal and the side seal of the packaging film, and the packaging form cannot be opened unless the packaging film is broken. are doing. therefore,
Although the latter packaging machine is superior to the former packaging machine in terms of preventing mischief, the packaging is not a general diamond-folding and is inferior in aesthetics.

[0004]

However, since the packaging machine user needs to prepare the former and latter packaging machines individually because the packaging form differs for each product of the company, the user has to pay a great deal of capital investment. Not only that, the former and latter packaging machines have completely different configurations, so that maintenance of these packaging machines is also not easy.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object thereof is to provide different packaging forms.
An object of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine and a packaging method for a packaged product capable of folding / sealing the side extension of the packaging film described above. Further, the packaging form has a fin seal for preventing mischief. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a packaging machine for a product to be packaged and a packaging method thereof, which can be formed in a pseudo diamond-folding form and can obtain an excellent packaging form in terms of aesthetics.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a packaging machine for packaging articles according to the present invention (Claim 1) winds a packaging film around a rectangular parallelepiped packaging article in a U-shape. The body winding is performed, and the body winding forms side extending portions protruding from both side surfaces of the packaged article on the packaging film, and after the body winding, when the packaged article is transferred toward the side folding path, in the transfer direction. Then, the rear end of the side extension is folded on the corresponding side surface of the packaged product, and after this folding, the remaining portion of the side extension is packaged in the process of transporting the packaged product through the side folding path. In a packaging machine for a product to be packaged, which is folded and sealed in a predetermined side-folding form on a corresponding side surface of a product, a plurality of types of folding units for folding the remaining side extension portions in different side-folding forms in a side folding path. To selectively attach It is equipped with a detachable means.

According to the packaging machine described above, the selected folding unit is mounted on the side folding path via the detaching means, so that the remaining side of the side extension of the packaging film follows the selected folding unit. Folded in side fold form and sealed. Here, the above-mentioned attaching / detaching means is provided on the side folding path side, and a unit receiver for supporting the selected folding unit movably in the width direction of the side folding path, and the folding unit can be detached from the unit receiver. (Claim 2). In this case, in the case of a packaged product whose size is different only in the width direction of the side folding path,
By simply adjusting the position of the folding unit in the width direction of the side folding path, the remaining portion of the side extending portion of the packaging film can be folded and sealed with respect to the packaged product.

More specifically, the folding unit includes at least a first-type folding unit and a second-type folding unit, and the first-type folding unit corresponds to the rear end of the remaining portion of the side extension. A front end folding guide portion for folding the front end and leaving the remaining portion as a pair of side flaps, and a side folding guide portion for sequentially folding the pair of side flaps; and the second type folding unit includes the front end folding guide portion. And a pair of side flaps, and the front end portions of the side flaps are folded back so as to protrude from the corresponding side surface of the article to be packaged and overlap each other to form a fin portion. It has a folding guide portion and a fin folding guide for folding the fin portion.

When the first-type folding unit is mounted on the side folding path, the side extending portion of the packaging film is folded in the form of a diamond fold and sealed. On the other hand, the second-type folding unit is folded in a pseudo-diamond-folded form but sealed in a pseudo-diamond-folded form. In the case of this pseudo diamond-folded form, the fin portion can be formed as a fin seal by heat fusion.

[0010] Preferably, an ultrasonic sealer is provided in the side folding path (claim 3), and the ultrasonic sealer ultrasonically welds a fin portion to form a fin seal. Note that, instead of the ultrasonic sealer, a fin seal may be formed by pressing and heating the fin portion from both sides with a heater block. The above-mentioned object is also achieved by a method for packing articles to be packed according to the present invention (claim 5), and this packing method is carried out using the above-described packing machine. That is, the selected folding unit is attached to the side folding path, and using this folding unit,
The remaining portion of the side extension of the packaging film is folded.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 schematically shows the appearance of a packaging machine according to one embodiment and the flow of a packaged article A inside the packaging machine. Here, the packaged article A has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The packaging machine includes a horizontal supply path 2 for the article to be packaged A. The supply path 2 extends from outside the packaging machine to the inside of the packaging machine.
Can be supplied one by one to the terminal. In the packaging machine, a body winding section 4 of the packaging film S is provided above the end of the supply path 2, and a side folding path 6 of the packaging film S extends horizontally from the body winding section 4.

Further, between the end of the supply path 2 and the body winding section 4, an end of a delivery line 10 for supplying the packaging film S is provided. Delivery line 10
Feeds out a film web W from a film roll (not shown) around which the packaging film S is wound, and cuts the film web W into a packaging film S of a predetermined length. As shown in FIG. Is positioned horizontally above the end of the supply path 2. Specifically, the terminal end of the payout line 10 is constituted by a pair of suction belts (not shown) separated in the width direction of the payout line 10.

On the other hand, the end of the supply path 2 is formed of a lift (not shown) capable of receiving one packaged article A, and the lift moves between the supply path 2 and the body winding section 4 by an elevator. You can go up and down. Therefore, in the state where the packaging film S is positioned between the elevator and the body winding section 4, when the article to be packaged A on the elevator is moved up to the body winding section 4 together with the elevator, the article to be packaged A is raised. Pushes up the packaging film S, so that the packaging film S is folded around the packaged product A in a so-called body-folding manner. Then, in the body winding section 4, the lower surface of the packaged product A is held by a pair of latches (not shown). Will be retained.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pair of latches fold the both ends of the packaging film S toward the lower surface of the packaged product A, whereby the packaging film S is wound around the packaged product A. As a result, the packaged product A becomes the body-wrapped package B
Becomes Here, the body-wrapped package B has side extending portions E protruding from both side surfaces of the packaged product A when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the side folding path 6.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, a transfer pusher 12 is disposed in the vicinity of the body winding section 4 on the opposite side of the side folding path 6, and the transfer pusher 12 is connected to an advance / retreat mechanism (not shown). It is possible to advance and retreat with respect to the side folding path 6. More specifically, the transfer pusher 12 is provided with a pressing plate 14 for pressing the end surface of the body-wrapped package B.
And a pair of rear fore-folded pieces 16 attached to both ends of the pressing plate 14 and protruding toward the side folding path 6. Each of the rear fore-folded pieces 16 is a split type that is vertically divided. I have. Further, these rear edge folded pieces 16 are seen from the longitudinal direction of the side folding path 6, and the body-wrapped package B,
That is, they are spaced apart from each other with an interval corresponding to the width dimension of the packaged product A.

The side folding path 6 is composed of a pair of left and right belt conveyors (not shown). These belt conveyors form the conveying surface of the body-wrapped package B in the side folding path 6, and the interval between the belt conveyors is the body-wrapped package. B is smaller than the width dimension. A pair of left and right folding units 18 are provided outside these belt conveyors.
Are arranged, and these folding units 18 extend along the side folding path 6.

Each folding unit 18 has a front guide 20, an intermediate guide 22 and a rear guide 24 arranged sequentially from the body winding section 4 side, that is, from the upstream side of the side folding path 6. These guides 20, 22,
Numerals 24 each consist of a plate material, and a slight gap is secured between the lower edge thereof and the conveying surface of the body-wrapped package B.

The upstream end of each front guide 20 is formed as a tapered front edge folded piece 26.
The interval between the left and right front edge folds 26 is wider than the interval between the rear edge folds 16 described above to allow the rear edge folds 16 to enter. At the downstream end, the interval between these downstream ends is set substantially equal to the width of the packaged product A.

When the transfer pusher 12 advances toward the bobbin package B on the bobbin section 4, the left and right rear small fold pieces 16 are first placed on the rear ends of the left and right side extending portions E in the bobbin package B. The rear ends are folded into the corresponding side surfaces of the article A to be packaged. Thereafter, when the pressing plate 14 of the transfer pusher 12 comes into contact with the body winding package B, the body winding package B is pushed out from the body winding section 4 toward the side folding path 6.

At this time, a plate-like guide base (not shown) for guiding the lower surface of the body-wound packaged product B, that is, the packaged product A, is provided between the body-wound section 4 and the upstream end of the side folding path 6. The guide base is arranged so that both ends of the film packaging material F overlap with each other with respect to the lower surface of the article to be packaged A. On the other hand, when the body-wrapped package B reaches the side folding path 6, the front edge folded pieces 26 of the left and right front guides 20 abut against the front ends of the left and right side extending portions E in the body-wrapped package B, and these front ends correspond. Then, the transfer pusher 12 positions the body-wrapped package B at the body sealing position in the side folding path 6.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, when the body-wrapped package B is positioned at the body seal position of the side folding path 6 from the body-wrapped section 4, the right and left lateral extension portions E of the body-wrapped package B are provided. The front end and the rear end are sequentially folded, and the remainder is left as upper and lower side flaps SF.
Extend laterally from between the lower edge of the front guide 20 and the transport surface, and the upper side flap SF extends laterally from the upper edge of the front guide 20.

As described above, the interval between the left and right front edge folds 16 is wider than the interval between the left and right rear edge folds 16. The piece 16 does not interfere with the front edge folded piece 26. Also, ridges extending along the side folding path 6 are formed on the inner surface of each front fore fold 26, and these ridges are formed in grooves between the corresponding rear fore folds 16 when the transfer pusher 12 enters. The pusher 12 is fitted and guides the transfer pusher 12 to enter. Further, when the body-wrapped package B is at the body seal position, the front ends and the rear ends of the left and right laterally extending portions E are in a state where the folding thereof is maintained at the downstream end of the front guide 20.

A body sealer (not shown) is disposed below the side folding path 6 at the body seal position. The body sealer is used when the body packaged product B is positioned at the body seal position. The lower surface of the package B, that is,
The package film S is pressed against the lower surface of the article to be packaged A via the both ends of the packaging film S overlapping each other, and both ends of the packaging film S are heat-sealed, that is, the body is sealed, and these both ends are bonded.

As is apparent from FIG. 3, the front guide 2
0 and the upstream end of the intermediate guide 22 cooperate with each other to form a lower folding slit 28.
2 and the upstream end of the rear guide 24 also cooperate with each other to form an upper folding slit 30. The lower folding slit 28 rises obliquely from the transport surface toward the downstream side of the side folding path 6, and the upper folding slit 30 descends obliquely from the upper edge of the intermediate guide 22 toward the downstream side of the side folding path 6. .

Accordingly, when the body-wrapped package B is conveyed from the body seal position toward the downstream of the side folding path 6, the lower side flap SF of the body-wrapped package B is first folded downward as shown in FIG. Through the slit 28, it is folded into the side surface of the body-wrapped package B while being drawn between the intermediate guide 22 and the side surface of the body-wrapped package B. Thereafter, the upper side flap SF is connected to the rear guide 24 through the upper folding slit 30. It is folded while being drawn between the side of the body-wrapped package B. As a result, the upper side flap SF is superimposed on the lower side flap SF, and in this case, the side extension of the side extension portion E is a diamond fold.

A pair of left and right side sealers (not shown) are arranged downstream of the side folding path 6 so as to be continuous with the left and right rear guides 24. The side sealers allow the body-wrapped package B to pass through. At this time, the side flaps SF pressed against the body-wrapped package B and overlapped with each other are heat-sealed, that is, side-sealed,
These side flaps are bonded.

Thereafter, the body-wrapped package B is a completed package P
It is discharged from the side folding path 6 (see FIG. 1), that is, from the packaging machine. As shown in FIG. 5, the above-mentioned folding unit 18 has brackets 34, 36, 38 protruding from the outer surfaces of the front guide 20, the intermediate guide 22, and the rear guide 24, respectively. The guides 20, 22, 24 are unitized by being connected to the common support plate 40.

The folding unit 18 is detachably attached to the side folding path 6. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the side folding path 6 has unit receivers 42 on the left and right sides thereof, and these unit receivers 42 are arranged on both sides of the above-described belt conveyor and extend along the side folding path 6. It consists of a horizontal plate member. In each unit receiver 42, a pair of mounting slots 44 are formed before and after the unit winding 42 when viewed in the conveying direction of the body-wrapped package B.
Has an open end that extends in a direction perpendicular to the side folding path 6, that is, in the width direction of the body-wrapped package B, and is opened at one side edge on the belt conveyor side.

On the other hand, the folding unit 18 has a pair of fasteners 46 corresponding to the mounting slots 44, and these fasteners 46 are attached to the support plate 40. Each fastener 46 has a pad shaft 48 projecting below the support plate 40, and the pad shaft 48 can be slidably fitted to the mounting slot 44 from an open end thereof. A pin (not shown) is provided at the lower end of the pad shaft 48.
Is mounted, and a tightening lever 50 is mounted on the upper end thereof. When the tightening lever 50 is rotated in one direction,
Unit receiver 4 between the holding pad and the support plate 40
2 are tightened, so that the folding unit 18 can be fixed on the unit receiver 42. On the other hand, when the tightening lever 50 is rotated in the opposite direction, the tightening of the unit receiver 42 between the holding pad and the support plate 40 is released, and the folding unit 18 can be removed from the unit receiver 42.

Here, the fixing position of the folding unit 18 can be adjusted in the groove direction of the mounting slot 44, so that the same folding unit 18 can be used for articles to be packaged which differ only in the width dimension. Accordingly, the folding of the lateral extension E in the packaging film S can be performed. In addition to the above-described folding unit 18, the folding unit 52 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, for example, can be mounted on the unit receiver 42.

In the description of the folding unit 52, the same members and parts as those of the folding unit 18 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
Only the differences will be described. As is apparent from FIGS. 6 and 7, intermediate guide 22 of the folding unit 52 is divided into upper and lower, it forms a dividing structure of the intermediate guide 54 _L and an upper intermediate guide 54 _U of the lower. These intermediate guides 5
A desired gap G is secured between 4 _L and 54 _U , and this gap G is positioned at a height level that is half the height dimension from the conveying surface of the body-wrapped package B.

A folding unit 1 is provided between the downstream end of the front guide 20 and the upstream end between the intermediate guides 54 _L and 54 _U.
Instead of the lower folding slit 8, an upper and lower folding slit 56 is formed, and the upper and lower folding slit 56 has a V-shape that is pointed toward the downstream side of the side folding path 6 and is connected to the gap G. Then, the downstream end portion of the front guide 20 has folding guide 58 is attached on its outer surface, the folding guide 58 extends along the front guide 20 in the gap G between the intermediate guide 54 _L, 54 _U.

Furthermore, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the side folding path 6, the intermediate guide 54 _L and outer surface central receiving in part the block 60 is mounted in the upper surface of the receiving block 60 is positioned at the same level as the gap G I have. On the other hand, an ultrasonic sealer 62 is disposed above the receiving block 60, and the ultrasonic sealer 62 has an exponential horn 64 located immediately above the receiving base 60.

When the above-mentioned folding unit 52 is mounted, the upper and lower side flaps SF are simultaneously drawn into the upper and lower folding slits 56 when the body-wrapped package B is conveyed from the body seal position. Folded into. However, the entire upper and lower side flaps SF are not folded, and their ends are horizontally folded while being guided by the folding guide 58, and after passing through the folding guide 58, are shown in FIG. Fin portions F overlapping each other as described above.

Thereafter, when the transport of the body-wrapped package B proceeds and the fin portion F passes over the receiving block 60 described above,
The ultrasonic sealer 62 operates, and the ultrasonic sealer 62 welds the base of the fin portion F to seal the fin. The transport of the body-wrapped package B further proceeds, and the fin portion F is moved to the intermediate guide 5.
When the end of the gap G between 4 _L and 54 _U is reached,
The fin portion F is folded into the side surface of the body-wrapped package B while being pulled into the upper folding slit 30, whereby the fin portion F is moved to the position shown in FIG.
In this case, the side folded form of the body-wrapped package B is not a complete diamond-fold, but a pseudo diamond-fold in this case.

FIG. 7 shows the transfer pusher 12 described above more clearly, and FIG.
Also shown are a pair of belt conveyors 64 and left and right side sealers 66 that define the transfer surfaces of the two. As shown in FIG. 9, the above-mentioned folding unit 52 is also unitized similarly to the folding unit 18 and connected to the support plate 40. In this case, the intermediate guide 54 _L, 54 _U is connected to the support plate 40 via a bracket 36 _L, 36 _U, bracket 36 _L extends from the receiving block 60. Incidentally, the upper bracket 36 _U are openings formed through the opening, the ultrasonic sealer 62 horn 6
4 can face the receiving block 60.

As is apparent from FIG. 9, the folding unit 52 also has a pair of fasteners 46, and can be detachably fixed to the unit receiver 42 via these fasteners 46. When the above-mentioned folding unit 52 is selected and used, the article to be packaged A is not limited to a complete rectangular parallelepiped,
As shown in FIG. 0, a rectangular parallelepiped whose both side surfaces are concave may be used. That is, the fin portion F described above is
Since heat welding is performed between 0 and the ultrasonic sealer 642, even if there is a dent on the side surface of the article to be packaged A, heat welding of the fin portion F, that is, fin sealing is possible.

In this case, the side sealer 66 shown in FIG. 7 is replaced with a side sealer 68 shown in FIG. Each side sealer 68 is provided with a heater block 7 that can protrude and retract from the side surface of the body-wrapped package B on the side folding path 6.
0, each of the heater blocks 70 protrudes toward the side when the body-wrapped package B arrives, presses the fin portion F against the concave side surface of the packaged product A, and places the fin portion F on the lower side flap. Heat seal to SF.

The wrapping machine of the present invention comprises a folding unit 18,
52, various folding units can be mounted. In this case, the folding unit
When viewed in the longitudinal direction, it is only necessary that the length is the same and that the interval between the pair of fasteners 46 is the same as the interval between the mounting slots 44 on the unit receiver 42 side. Further, the fin seal at the fin portion is not limited to the ultrasonic sealer 62, and can be formed by replacing the ultrasonic sealer 62 and the receiving block 60 with heater blocks, respectively, and heat-pressing the fin portions from both sides by these heater blocks. is there.

[0040]

As described above, according to the packaging machine and the packaging method of the present invention (claims 1 and 25), a folding unit selected from various folding units can be mounted on the side folding path. Therefore, the side-folding form of the packaging film on the side surface of the article to be packaged can be variously changed by the same packaging machine. Therefore, there is no need to provide a packaging machine for each side folding mode, and maintenance of the packaging machine becomes easy.

If one of the folding units includes a second-type folding unit that provides a side-folding form with a fin seal (claim 3), the same packaging machine is used to take countermeasures against mischief. A packaging form can be obtained. In this case, the side folding form can be a pseudo diamond fold, and the aesthetic appearance of the packaging form is also excellent.

Further, if the fin portion is sealed by ultrasonic welding (claim 4), a reliable packaging form can be provided while preventing mischief.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a packaging machine.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a part of a flow of an article to be packaged in the packaging machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing one type of folding unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a side folding mode using the folding unit of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a method of attaching and detaching the folding unit in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing another type of folding unit.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the folding unit of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a side folding mode using the folding unit of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a method of attaching and detaching the folding unit in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another packaged article.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a side seal applied to the packaged article of FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

6 Side Folding Path 12 Transfer Pusher 16 Rear Folded Fold 18 Folding Unit 20 Front Guide 22 Intermediate Guide 24 Rear Guide 26 Front Folded Fold 28 Lower Fold Slit 30 Upper Fold Slit 52 Folding Unit 54 _L Middle Guide 54 _U Middle Guide 56 Up / Down Folding slit 60 Receiving block 62 Ultrasonic sealer A Packaged product B Body-wrapped product E Side extension F Fin Gap SF Side flap

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3E051 AA03 AB05 AB09 BA01 CA03 CB03 EA05 EB03 EB05 FB02 FB05 FD01 HA02 HA08 HB02 HC02 HC10 HE01

Claims (5)

[Claims] A wrapping film is wound around a rectangular parallelepiped packaged product in a U-shape, and the packaged film is provided with side extending portions protruding from both side surfaces of the packaged product. Forming, after the body winding, when transporting the packaged product toward the side folding path, viewed in the transport direction, the rear end of the side extending portion is folded on the corresponding side surface of the packaged product, After the folding, in a process of transporting the packaged article through a side folding path, a packaging machine for a packaged article that folds and seals the remaining portion of the side extending portion on the corresponding side surface in a predetermined side fold form. The package for an article to be packaged, further comprising: detachable means for selectively attaching a plurality of types of folding units for folding the remaining portion of the side extension portion in different side folding forms in the side folding path. Equipment. 2. A unit receiver provided on the side folding path side for supporting a selected folding unit movably in a width direction of the side folding path; The packaging machine according to claim 1, further comprising a fastener for detachably fastening the unit. 3. The folding unit has at least a first
The first type folding unit includes a type folding unit and a second type folding unit, and the first type folding unit folds a front end corresponding to the rear end of the remaining portion of the side extension portion, and leaves the remaining portion as a pair of side flaps. Front end folding guide part,
A side folding guide portion for sequentially folding the pair of side flaps, wherein the second-type folding unit includes a front end folding guide similar to the front end folding guide portion, and a pair of side flaps. It has a side fold / return guide part for folding the tip of the flap so as to protrude from the corresponding side surface of the packaged product and overlapping each other to form a fin part, and a fin folding guide for folding the fin part. The packaging machine for articles to be packaged according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. The packaging machine according to claim 3, further comprising an ultrasonic sealer provided in the side folding path and ultrasonically welding the fin portion. 5. A body winding for winding a packaging film in a U-shape around a rectangular parallelepiped article to be packaged, and by means of the body winding, laterally extending portions projecting from both side surfaces of the article to be packaged are formed on the packaging film. Forming, after the body winding, when transporting the packaged product toward the side folding path, viewed in the transport direction, the rear end of the side extending portion is folded on the corresponding side surface of the packaged product, After the folding, in a process of transporting the packaged article through a side folding path, a method of packaging the packaged article in which the remaining portion of the side extension is folded and sealed on the corresponding side surface in a predetermined side folding form. In the side folding path, one of a plurality of types of folding units capable of folding the remaining portion of the side extending portion in different side folding forms is selectively mounted and prepared, At feeding process, by the selected folding unit packaging method of the packaged article, characterized in that folding the remainder of the lateral projection portion.