JP2003321004A - Filler - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the cost of a filler and increase the detection accuracy of an overlapped section. <P>SOLUTION: The filler has a carrier means which carries a tubular packing material 11 provided with the overlapped section S2, a light source 21 which rays an area including at least the overlapped section S2 out of the outer periphery of the material 11, a light detection means which generates a sensor output by receiving a light generated by the light source 21 and reflected on the end 18 of the material 11 and an overlapped section detection means 28 which detects the overlapped section S2 by the peak of the sensor output. The strength of the light reflected on the end of the material 11 is big and a peak is formed in the sensor output of the light detection means. Therefore, a point where the peak is formed in the sensor output can be detected as the overlapped section S2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a filling machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a filling machine for producing a packaging container filled with liquid food such as milk or soft drink, the web-shaped packaging material is continuously formed into a tube shape while being conveyed. A packaging container is manufactured by filling a packaging material with liquid food.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a conventional filling machine, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the meandering of the position of the overlapping portion.

In the figure, numeral 11 is a packaging material, and the packaging material 1
1 is set in a packaging machine in the state of a reel 12 and is delivered by a delivery machine (not shown) and conveyed in a web-like shape in the filling machine.

Subsequently, the web-shaped packaging material 11 is gradually curved while being guided by guide and molding rollers (not shown), formed into a tube, and vertically sealed by a vertical seal device (not shown). . And
While the tubular packaging material 11 is conveyed downward, the liquid food is supplied from above through the filling pipe 13 and filled in the packaging material 11. Next, the packaging material 11 is sandwiched from both sides and laterally sealed at predetermined intervals to form a prototype container 14 having a pillow shape, a bag shape, or the like.

Subsequently, the prototype container 14 is separated by cutting the laterally extending seal portion S1 and each prototype container 14 is molded into a predetermined shape along a crease formed in advance. Is completed.

However, when the web-shaped packaging material 11 is conveyed, it is possible to prevent the packaging material 11 from meandering by guide members or the like formed corresponding to both edges of the packaging material 11. Can be relatively easily positioned, but when the tubular packaging material 11 is transported, the packaging material 11
Since it is curved, it is difficult to position the packaging material 11.

Therefore, the tubular packaging material 11 receives a force from the molding roller and rotates in the direction of the arrow A, and accordingly, the seal portion extending in the vertical direction, that is, the overlap portion S2 is moved from the correct position. Deviation, for example, packaging material 1
The position of the end portion 18 outside 1 may vary within the range of the angle θ. Then, the overlap portion S2
When the prototype container 14 is molded into a predetermined shape and the packaging container 15 is completed with the position shifted from the correct position, the fold position preset on the packaging material 11 and the actual fold position do not match, The outer appearance of the packaging container 15 is deteriorated.

Therefore, the sample of the packaging container 15 is taken out from the manufacturing line, and whether the position of the fold line preset on the packaging material 11 and the position of the actual fold line match, that is, whether the molding is performed correctly. I try to inspect it visually.

[0010]

However, in the conventional filling machine described above, not only the operation for carrying out the inspection is troublesome, but also it is difficult to carry out the inspection for all the packaging containers 15.

Therefore, an image of the packaging material 11 is taken, the obtained image data is subjected to image processing, and the overlap portion S2
A filling machine designed to detect is possible. However,
Since the image processing device for performing image processing is expensive,
Not only is the cost of the filling machine increased, but the design of the exterior of the packaging container 15 causes noise, so the detection accuracy of the overlapping portion S2 is reduced accordingly.

Further, it is possible to mechanically detect the overlap portion S2 by directly contacting the contact with the packaging material 11. However, since liquid food may be scattered and adhere to the contact, The detection accuracy of the lap portion S2 becomes low.

An object of the present invention is to provide a filling machine which solves the problems of the filling machine, can reduce the cost, and can improve the accuracy of detecting the overlapping portion.

[0014]

To this end, in the filling machine of the present invention, a conveying means for conveying a tubular packaging material having an overlapping portion, and an overlapping portion of the outer peripheral surface of the packaging material. A light source for irradiating light to a portion including at least, a light detection unit for receiving a light generated by the light source and reflected by an outer peripheral surface of the packaging material to generate a sensor output, and a peak of the sensor output for the light detection unit. And an overlap portion detecting means for detecting the overlap portion.

In another filling machine of the present invention,
The light source is arranged so as to face the end surface of the end portion of the overlapping portion.

In still another filling machine of the present invention, the light detecting means is arranged radially outward from the end of the overlap portion.

Still another filling machine of the present invention further comprises a display device for displaying the position of the overlapping portion.

In still another filling machine of the present invention, the filling machine is further driven based on the position of the overlapping portion,
It has drive means for changing the position of the packaging material.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a filling machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of an overlap detection circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is an enlarged view of the packaging material in the 1st Embodiment of invention.

In the figure, 11 is vertically sealed,
A packaging material in the form of a tube that includes an overlapping portion S2 and is transported by a transporting device (not shown).
Both edges are overlapped at the overlap portion S2, and a step is formed on the outer peripheral surface by the outer end portion 18. Reference numeral 21 denotes a light source, and the light source 21 irradiates the outer peripheral surface of the packaging material 11 with light to at least a portion including the overlapping portion S2. To that end, the light source 21 comprises an end 1
On the tangent line of the packaging material 11 in FIG. 8, the packaging material 11 is disposed at a predetermined distance from the end portion 18 and faces the end surface of the end portion 18. Reference numeral 22 denotes a lens as a condensing member that is arranged at a predetermined position radially outward of the end portion 18 on a line connecting the center of the packaging material 11 and the end portion 18, and the lens 22 Collects the light generated by the light source 21 and reflected on the outer peripheral surface of the packaging material 11. 23 is disposed radially outward of the end portion 18 and the lens 22 and on the optical axis of the lens 22 on the line connecting the center of the packaging material 11 and the end portion 18, and is collected by the lens 22. It is a CCD as a light detecting means for receiving the emitted light and generating a sensor output as shown in FIG.
The CCD 23 may be a one-dimensional line sensor or a two-dimensional surface sensor. The lenses 22 and C
The CD 23 constitutes an image pickup means. Reference numeral 24 is an overlap detection circuit.

The CCD 23 is driven by the CCD drive circuit 26, and the sensor output of the CCD 23 is sent to the binarization unit 27 via the CCD drive circuit 26, and the binarization unit 27 is supplied.
Is binarized at. In the present embodiment, a comparator can be used as the binarization unit 27, and the comparator compares a preset reference value with the sensor output to generate an output of 1 or 0. . Further, the output of the binarization unit 27 is sent to the overlap part detecting means 28, and the overlap part detecting means 28 detects the overlap part S2. When the overlap portion S2 is detected, the detection signal of the overlap portion detecting means 28 is sent to the display device 31 such as a display, and the display device 31 displays the position of the overlap portion S2.

As described above, when light is emitted from the side of the tubular packaging material 11, the intensity of the light reflected at the end portion 18 of the light reflected on the outer peripheral surface of the packaging material 11. Is large, as shown in FIG.
A peak is formed in the sensor output of D23. Therefore, the point where the peak is formed in the sensor output can be detected as the overlap portion S2. In this case, since the light reflected at the end portion 18 has a higher intensity than the light reflected at the other parts of the packaging material 11, the exterior design of the packaging container 15 (see FIG. 2) may not become noise. Absent. Therefore, the detection accuracy of the overlapping portion S2 can be increased.

Further, when the prototype container 14 is molded into a predetermined shape and the packaging container 15 is completed, it is possible to judge whether or not the molding is properly performed based on the position of the overlapping portion S2. Therefore, the packaging container 15
Since it is no longer necessary to remove the sample from the manufacturing line, it is possible to simplify the work for determining whether or not the molding is properly performed, and reduce the cost of the packaging container 15. Also, all packaging containers 1
With respect to No. 5, it can be judged whether or not molding is performed correctly.

In order to detect the overlap portion S2, it is only necessary to binarize the sensor output of the CCD 23, and it is not necessary to perform image processing on the image data obtained by photographing, so the cost of the filling machine is reduced. Can be lowered. Further, since it is not necessary to directly contact the contactor with the packaging material 11, the detection accuracy of the overlapping portion S2 can be increased.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the thing which has the same structure as 1st Embodiment, the description is abbreviate | omitted by giving the same code | symbol.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the filling machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In this case, the overlap portion detecting means 28
The detection signal generated by is sent to the driver 32 in real time. Then, the driver 32 compares the correct position of the overlapping portion S2 set by a control device (not shown) with the position of the overlapping portion S2 detected by the overlapping portion detecting means 28, and based on the deviation. Feedback control,
A motor 33 as a driving unit is driven to adjust the positions of guide and molding rollers (not shown). as a result,
Is changed, and the overlapping portion S2 is placed in the correct position. In this case, the packaging material 11 will not be wasted.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention, and they are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

[0030]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in the filling machine, the conveying means for conveying the tubular packaging material having the overlapping portion and the outer peripheral surface of the packaging material are provided. A light source for irradiating a portion including at least an overlapping portion with light, a light detection unit for receiving a light generated by the light source and reflected by an outer peripheral surface of the packaging material to generate a sensor output, and the sensor output And an overlap portion detecting means for detecting the overlap portion according to the peak of

In this case, of the light reflected on the outer peripheral surface of the packaging material, the intensity of the light reflected at the end portion of the packaging material is large, and a peak is formed in the sensor output of the light detecting means. Therefore, the point where the peak is formed in the sensor output can be detected as the overlap portion.

The light reflected at the end is
Since the intensity of the light is higher than that of the light reflected by the other part of the packaging material, the exterior design of the packaging container does not become noise. Therefore, the detection accuracy of the overlap portion can be increased.

Then, when the prototype container is molded into a predetermined shape to complete the packaging container, it is possible to judge whether or not the molding is properly performed based on the position of the overlapping portion. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove the sample of the packaging container from the manufacturing line, so that it is possible to simplify the work for determining whether or not the molding is properly performed, and reduce the cost of the packaging container. Further, it is possible to judge whether or not molding is properly performed for all the packaging containers.

Since it is only necessary to binarize the sensor output of the light detecting means and it is not necessary to perform image processing on the image data obtained by photographing, the cost of the filling machine can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to directly contact the packaging material with the packaging material, it is possible to improve the detection accuracy of the overlapping portion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a filling machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a conventional filling machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the meandering of the position of the overlapping portion.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of an overlap portion detection circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the packaging material according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of a filling machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 packaging materials 18 edges 21 light source 23 CCD 28 Overlap detection means 31 Display 33 motor S2 Overlap part

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A transporting means for transporting a tubular packaging material having an overlapping portion, and (b) irradiating a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the packaging material including at least the overlapping portion with light. A light source; (c) a light detecting means for receiving a light generated by the light source and reflected by an outer peripheral surface of the packaging material to generate a sensor output; and (d) a peak of the sensor output for the overlapping portion. A filling machine having an overlap portion detecting means for detecting 2. The filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed so as to face an end surface of an end portion of the overlapping portion. 3. The filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the light detection means is disposed radially outward of an end portion of the overlap portion. 4. The filling machine according to claim 1, further comprising a display device that displays a position of the overlapping portion. 5. The filling machine according to claim 1, further comprising a driving unit that is driven based on the position of the overlapping portion to change the position of the packaging material.