JP2013035590A - Seal check device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a seal check device whose checking ability is hardly influenced by length of a packaging bag.SOLUTION: The seal check device 50 holds the packaging bag hermetically sealed in a state where an object to be packaged is contained between an upper conveyor 61 located on the upside of the packaging bag and a lower conveyer 51 located on the downside of the packaging bag, and determines whether a hermetically sealed state of the packaging bag is good from a capacity change of the packaging bag. The upper conveyor 61 is switched to a first state where length of its conveying surface coming into contact with the packaging bag becomes longer than prescribed length and a second state where it becomes shorter than the prescribed length in accordance with the length of the packaging bag.

Description

  The present invention relates to a seal check device that determines whether a sealed state is good by pressing a packaging bag from the outside.

  Conventionally, a seal check for finding a seal failure has been performed on a packaging bag in which snacks or the like are packaged. For example, a seal check device disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-168855) is disclosed. , A pair of upper and lower conveyors that sandwich and convey the packaging bags and press them, a detecting means for detecting the interval between the upper and lower conveyors or a load accompanying the pressing, and an interval detected by the detecting means Or the determination means which determines the sealing performance of a packaging bag based on a load is provided.

  However, the seal check device as described above can continuously check the seal when the length of the packaging bag is smaller than the upper conveyor, but when the length of the packaging bag is larger than the upper conveyor, the conveyor is stopped and sealed. Since the check is performed, the inspection ability is reduced. In addition, when the upper conveyor is set to be long in accordance with a long packaging bag, the conveyor speed increases during the inspection of the small bag and the middle bag, and the broken bag and the contents are broken.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a seal check device whose inspection capability is hardly affected by the length of the packaging bag.

The seal check device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes an upper conveyor positioned above the packaging bag and a lower conveyor positioned below the packaging bag. Is a seal check device that determines whether the packaging bag is sealed or not from the volume change of the packaging bag. In the upper conveyor, according to the length of the packaging bag, the length of the conveyance surface that contacts the packaging bag In this seal check device, for example, when the upper conveyor is set to the second state, the product is changed to the first state where the length is longer than the predetermined length and the second state where the length is shorter than the predetermined length. If the switching is to transport a packaging bag that is longer than the transport surface of the conveyor, the transport surface becomes longer than the packaging bag by switching the upper conveyor to the first state. Can be performed. That is, by switching the upper conveyor to either one of the first state and the second state according to the length of the packaging bag, the seal check can be performed in the continuous mode. Hard to be affected.

  A seal check device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the seal check device according to the first aspect, wherein the upper conveyor includes a conveyor belt, a plurality of rollers, and a moving mechanism. The plurality of rollers support the conveyor belt so as to form a predetermined ring shape. A moving mechanism moves the 1st roller of the side which forms the conveyance surface among several rollers along the conveyance direction of a packaging bag.

  In this seal check device, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the length of the transport surface can be changed in multiple stages, so the length of the transport surface can be appropriately adjusted for each type of packaging bag.

  A seal check device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the seal check device according to the second aspect, and includes a drive unit that causes the moving mechanism to move the first roller.

  In this seal check device, in addition to the effect of the second aspect, the first roller can be moved by remote operation, so that the operator does not have to manually adjust the length of the transport surface when switching the packaging bag model. Easy to use.

  A seal check device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the seal check device according to the first aspect, wherein the upper conveyor includes a conveyor belt, a plurality of rollers, an auxiliary plate, and a switching mechanism. . The plurality of rollers support the conveyor belt so as to form a predetermined ring shape. The auxiliary plate forms an auxiliary conveyance surface adjacent to the conveyance surface and extending to the outside of the conveyor belt. The switching mechanism switches between a transport posture in which the auxiliary plate is along the extension of the transport surface and a retreat posture in which the auxiliary plate is retracted from the extension of the transport surface.

  In this seal check device, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, any one of the packaging bag shorter than the conveying surface of the upper conveyor and the packaging bag longer than the conveying surface of the upper conveyor and shorter than [conveying surface + auxiliary conveying surface] Accordingly, the state of the upper conveyor can be switched and the seal check can be performed in the continuous mode.

  A seal check device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the seal check device according to the fourth aspect, and includes a drive unit in which the switching mechanism moves the auxiliary plate.

  In this seal check device, in addition to the effect of the fourth aspect, the auxiliary plate can be moved by remote operation, so that the operator can save the trouble of switching the posture of the auxiliary plate at the time of switching the type of packaging bag. .

  A seal check device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the seal check device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the upper conveyor applies pressure in the thickness direction of the packaging bag, and the thickness thereof The quality of the sealed state of the packaging bag is determined from the change in dimensions.

  In this seal check device, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, if there is an abnormality in the sealing performance of the bag, the thickness of the bag is reduced by a predetermined value or more, so that the seal check is easy.

  In the seal check apparatus of the present invention, the seal check can be performed in the continuous mode by switching the upper conveyor to either one of the first state and the second state according to the length of the packaging bag. Less susceptible to the length of the packaging bag.

The perspective view of the conveying apparatus which employ | adopted the seal | sticker check apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a side view of a seal check device and its surroundings according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The side view of the lower conveyor and upper conveyor of the seal | sticker check apparatus switched to the 2nd state. The side view of the lower conveyor and upper conveyor of the seal | sticker check apparatus switched to the 1st state. The seal check apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and the surrounding side view. The side view of the lower conveyor and upper conveyor of the seal | sticker check apparatus switched to the 2nd state. The side view of the lower conveyor and upper conveyor of the seal | sticker check apparatus switched to the 1st state. The perspective view of the conveying apparatus by which the air nozzle is provided in the upstream of the seal | sticker check apparatus of FIG.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are specific examples of the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transfer device 100 that employs a seal check device 50 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the transport device 100 includes a seal check device 50 and a horizontal conveyor 120.

  On the horizontal conveyance surface of the horizontal conveyor 120, plate-shaped first guide members 181 and second guide members 182 are arranged so as to sandwich the track on which the packaging bag B moves from both sides. The packaging bag B that has passed through the seal check device 50 is carried into the horizontal conveyor 120 and conveyed to the next process while being linearly aligned by the first guide member 181 and the second guide member 182.

(1) Configuration of Seal Check Device 50 FIG. 2 is a side view of the seal check device 50 and its surroundings according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the seal check device 50 includes a lower conveyor 51 and an upper conveyor 61 that are arranged to face each other vertically, and a servo motor 71 that moves the upper conveyor 61 up and down. In addition, the packaging bag B is conveyed in the H direction of FIG.

(1-1) Lower conveyor 51
The lower conveyor 51 is detachably installed above the main body frame 50a via a plurality of support members, and supports and conveys the packaging bag B from below. The lower conveyor 51 includes a pair of rollers 55 that are rotatably supported and a pair of belts 57 that are wound around the rollers 55. The belt 57 is a motor that is attached to the main body frame 50a. (Not shown), the vehicle travels in the transport direction (H direction).

(1-2) Upper conveyor 61
The upper conveyor 61 presses the packaging bag B with the lower conveyor 51. The upper conveyor 61 has a lifting frame 63, six rollers 651 to 656, a belt 67, and a top plate 69.

  The elevating frames 63 are arranged in pairs so that the belt 67 is sandwiched between the front side and the back side as viewed from the front in FIG.

  The elevating frame 63 has six support portions 631 to 636 that support the six rollers 651 to 656. The six support parts 631 to 636 include a first support part 631, a second support part 632, a third support part 633, a fourth support part 634, a fifth support part 635, and a sixth support part 636.

  The six rollers 651 to 656 include a first roller 651, a second roller 652, a third roller 653, a fourth roller 654, a fifth roller 655, and a sixth roller 656.

  The first roller 651 is supported by a first support portion 631 located on the left side of the center of the elevating frame 63 in the front view of FIG. The first support portion 631 has an elongated hole shape, and can support the shaft of the first roller 651 so as to be rotatable and movable in parallel.

  The second roller 652 is supported by a second support portion 632 that is separated from the first support portion 631 by a predetermined distance in the horizontal right direction in the front view of FIG. The second support portion 632 has a round hole shape, and can support the second roller 652 rotatably.

  The third roller 653 is supported by a third support portion 633 that is located on the upper right side of the second support portion 632 in the front view of FIG. The third support portion 633 has a round hole shape, and can support the third roller 653 in a rotatable manner.

  The fourth roller 654 is supported by a fourth support portion 634 that is located on the upper right side of the first support portion 631 in the front view of FIG. The fourth support portion 634 has a long hole shape, and can support the shaft of the fourth roller 654 so as to be rotatable and parallel movable.

  The fifth roller 655 is supported by a fifth support portion 635 located on the upper left side of the fourth support portion 634 in the front view of FIG. The fifth support portion 635 has a round hole shape and can rotatably support the fifth roller 655.

  The sixth roller 656 is supported by a sixth support portion 636 that is located on the upper right side of the fifth support portion 635 in the front view of FIG. The sixth support portion 636 has a round hole shape and can rotatably support the sixth roller 656.

  The belt 67 is wound around the first roller 651, the second roller 652, the third roller 653, the fourth roller 654, the fifth roller 655, and the sixth roller 656.

  As a result, the belt 67 is a closed loop in which the space between the first roller 651 and the second roller 652 is horizontal and the space between the second roller 652 and the third roller 653 is inclined upward. The belt 67 travels in the H conveyance direction (H direction) by a motor (not shown) attached to the main body frame 50a.

  Further, when the first roller 651 moves leftward in the front view of FIG. 2, the distance between the first roller 651 and the second roller 652 becomes longer, and accordingly, the fourth roller 654 also moves leftward. Therefore, the overall length of the belt 67 does not change.

  In addition, a top plate 69 for preventing deformation to the inside of the loop is disposed in a portion of the belt 67 located between the first roller 651 and the second roller 652 (hereinafter referred to as a conveyance surface). Yes.

(1-3) Servo motor 71
In the front view of FIG. 2, a servo motor 71 is disposed on the right side portion of the main body frame 50a. One end of a lever 72 is attached to the output shaft 71 a of the servo motor 71. One end of a linear relay link 73 is connected to the other end of the lever 72.

  Further, one end of the boomerang-shaped first link 76 is connected to the other end of the relay link 73. The other end of the first link 76 is connected to the upstream end of the lifting frame 63. The upstream side means the upstream side of the belt 67 in the conveyance direction.

  The first link 76 is rotatably supported by the main body frame 50a via a support shaft 76a penetrating the main body frame 50a, and can swing in the direction of arrow e about the support shaft 76a.

  In addition, one end portion of the second link 78 is rotatably attached to the left side of the main body frame 50a via a support shaft 78a penetrating the main body frame 50a. Since the other end portion of the second link 78 is connected to the downstream side of the lifting frame 63, the servo motor 71 rotates the lever 72, so that the first link 76 and the second link 78 swing and move up and down. The frame 63 can move in the vertical direction while maintaining the parallel relationship between the upper conveyor 61 and the lower conveyor 51.

(2) Operation of Seal Check Device 50 The operation of the seal check device configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

  FIG. 3A is a side view of the lower conveyor 51 and the upper conveyor 61 of the seal check device 50 switched to the second state. FIG. 3B is a side view of the lower conveyor 51 and the upper conveyor 61 of the seal check device 50 switched to the first state.

  In FIG. 3A, the elevating frame 63 raises the upper conveyor 61 so that the distance between the lower conveyor 51 and the upper conveyor 61 is a little smaller than the thickness of the packaging bag B.

  When the packaging bag B is carried into the seal check device 50, the interval between the lower conveyor 51 and the upper conveyor 61 in the initial state is smaller than the thickness of the packaging bag. Lifted.

  When the packaging bag B sandwiched between the conveyance surface of the lower conveyor 51 and the conveyance surface of the upper conveyor 61 is conveyed, the upper conveyor 61 pushes the packaging bag B with a predetermined force transmitted from the servo motor 71. At this time, the interval between the lower conveyor 51 and the upper conveyor 61 is detected by the servo motor 71, and the control system determines the sealing property of the packaging bag B based on the detection signal. That is, when the packaging bag B is pressed, if the interval decreases rapidly, it is determined that the seal is defective.

  Next, when the packaging bag B whose length is equal to or longer than the distance between the first roller 651 and the second roller 652, that is, the length of the conveying surface, is transferred by the product switching, the operator checks the seal check device 50. The state is switched from the second state shown in FIG. 3A to the first state shown in FIG. 3B. Specifically, the operator manually moves the first roller 651 and the fourth roller 654 in the transport direction to expand the transport surface.

  Accordingly, even when a packaging bag B that is longer than the conveyance surface in the second state is flowed, if the conveyance surface is expanded, the seal check can be performed in the continuous mode, and thus it is possible to suppress a decrease in inspection capability.

(3) Features of the first embodiment (3-1)
Since the seal check device 50 can perform the seal check in the continuous mode by switching the upper conveyor 61 to one of the first state and the second state according to the length of the packaging bag B, the inspection capability is improved. Less susceptible to the length of the packaging bag B.

(3-2)
Further, in the seal check device 50, since the length of the transport surface can be changed in multiple stages, the length of the transport surface can be appropriately adjusted for each type of packaging bag B.

(3-3)
In the seal check device 50, the upper conveyor 61 applies pressure in the thickness direction of the packaging bag B, and determines the quality of the sealed state of the packaging bag B from the change in the thickness dimension. If there is an abnormality in the sealing property of the packaging bag B, the thickness of the bag is reduced by a predetermined value or more, so that the seal check is easy.

(4) Modification of First Embodiment In the first embodiment, the operator manually moves the first roller 651 and the fourth roller 654, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, a ball screw mechanism that reciprocates the first roller 651 along the elongated hole of the first support portion 631 and a reciprocating movement of the fourth roller 654 along the elongated hole of the fourth support portion 634, and a drive that rotates the ball screw. By providing the mechanism, the first roller 651 and the fourth roller 654 can be moved according to the rotation amount of the ball screw.

  In this modification, the first roller 651 and the fourth roller 654 can be moved by remote operation, so that the operator does not have to manually adjust the length of the transport surface when switching the type of the packaging bag B. Is good.

Second Embodiment
(1) Configuration of Seal Check Device 150 FIG. 4 is a side view of the seal check device 150 and its surroundings according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the second embodiment is a form in which the upper conveyor of the first embodiment is replaced with the upper conveyor 161, so the upper conveyor 161 will be described here, and descriptions of other members will be omitted.

  The upper conveyor 161 presses the packaging bag B with the lower conveyor 51. The upper conveyor 161 includes an elevating frame 163, three rollers 165a to 165c, a belt 167, a top plate 169, and an auxiliary plate 171.

  The elevating frames 163 are arranged in pairs so that the belt 167 is sandwiched between the front side and the back side in FIG.

  The elevating frame 163 has three support portions 163a to 163c that support the three rollers 165a to 165c. The three support portions 163a to 163c include a first support portion 163a, a second support portion 163b, and a third support portion 163c.

  The three rollers 165a to 165c include a first roller 165a, a second roller 165b, and a third roller 165c.

  The first roller 165a is supported by a first support portion 163a located on the left side of the center of the lifting frame 63 in a front view of FIG. The first support part 163a has a round hole shape and can rotatably support the shaft of the first roller 165a.

  The second roller 652 is supported by a second support portion 163b that is spaced a predetermined distance in the horizontal right direction from the first support portion 163a in the front view of FIG. The second support portion 163b has a round hole shape and can rotatably support the second roller 165b.

  The 3rd roller 165c is supported by the 3rd support part 163c located in the upper right of the 2nd support part 163b in FIG. 4 front view. The 3rd support part 163c comprises a round hole shape, and can support the 3rd roller 165c rotatably.

  The belt 167 is wound around the first roller 165a, the second roller 165b, and the third roller 165c.

  As a result, the belt 167 is a triangular closed loop in which the distance between the first roller 165a and the second roller 165b is horizontal and the distance between the second roller 165b and the third roller 165c is inclined upward. The belt 67 travels in the transport direction by a motor (not shown) attached to the main body frame 50a.

  In addition, a top plate 169 that prevents deformation to the inside of the loop is disposed in a portion of the belt 67 that is located between the first roller 165a and the second roller 165b (hereinafter referred to as a conveyance surface). Yes.

  Further, the auxiliary plate 171 is switched by the switching mechanism between a transport posture along the extension of the transport surface and a retracted posture retracted from the extension of the transport surface. Specifically, one end of the auxiliary plate 171 is supported by the elevating frame 163 so that the first roller 165a can rotate around the rotation axis of the first roller 165a. The auxiliary plate 171 may be made of the same material as the top plate 169.

(2) Operation of Seal Check Device 150 The operation of the seal check device configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

  FIG. 5A is a side view of the lower conveyor 51 and the upper conveyor 161 of the seal check device 150 switched to the second state. FIG. 3B is a side view of the lower conveyor 51 and the upper conveyor 161 of the seal check device 150 switched to the first state.

  In FIG. 5A, the elevating frame 163 raises the upper conveyor 161 so that the distance between the lower conveyor 51 and the upper conveyor 161 is a little smaller than the thickness of the packaging bag B.

  When the packaging bag B is carried into the seal check device 150, the interval between the lower conveyor 51 and the upper conveyor 161 in the initial state is smaller than the thickness of the packaging bag B. Is lifted.

  When the packaging bag B sandwiched between the conveyance surface of the lower conveyor 51 and the conveyance surface of the upper conveyor 161 is conveyed, the upper conveyor 161 presses the packaging bag B with a predetermined force transmitted from the servo motor 71. At this time, the interval between the lower conveyor 51 and the upper conveyor 61 is detected by a servo motor, and the control unit determines the sealing property of the packaging bag B based on the detection signal.

  That is, when the packaging bag B is pressed, if the interval decreases rapidly, it is determined that the seal is defective.

  Next, when the packaging bag B whose length is longer than the distance between the first roller 165a and the second roller 165b, that is, longer than the length of the transport surface, is transferred by the product switching, the operator checks the seal check device. The state 150 is switched from the second state shown in FIG. 5A to the first state shown in FIG. 5B. Specifically, the operator rotates the auxiliary plate 171 around the rotation axis of the first roller 165a to bring the conveying posture along the extension of the conveying surface, thereby extending the conveying surface.

  Thus, even when a packaging bag B that is longer than the transport surface in the first state is flowed, if the transport surface is expanded, the seal check can be performed in the continuous mode, so that a decrease in inspection capability can be suppressed.

(3) Features of the second embodiment (3-1)
In the seal check device 150, the auxiliary plate 171 forms an auxiliary conveyance surface that is adjacent to the conveyance surface and extends to the outside of the belt 167. In the first state of the seal check device 150, the auxiliary plate 171 is in a transport posture along the extension of the transport surface, and in the second state, is in a retracted posture retracted from the extension of the transport surface. As a result, depending on either the packaging bag B that is shorter than the conveying surface of the upper conveyor 161 and the packaging bag B that is longer than the conveying surface of the upper conveyor 161 and shorter than [conveying surface + auxiliary conveying surface], the upper conveyor 161. The seal check can be performed in the continuous mode.

(3-2)
In the seal check device 150, the upper conveyor 161 applies pressure in the thickness direction of the packaging bag B, and determines whether the sealing state of the packaging bag B is good or not from the change in the thickness dimension. If there is, the thickness of the bag is reduced by more than the specified value, so that the seal check is easy.

(4) Modified example of the second embodiment In the second embodiment, the operator manually switches the auxiliary plate 171 to the conveying posture, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, since the auxiliary plate 171 can be rotated by a remote operation by using a mechanism that rotates the auxiliary plate 171 with a motor, the operator has to switch the posture of the auxiliary plate 171 when switching the type of the packaging bag B. Is easy to use.

<Other embodiments>
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the transfer apparatus 100 in which the air nozzle 240 is provided on the upstream side of the seal check apparatus 50 of FIG. In FIG. 6, the front conveyor 10 is a conveyor that carries the packaging bag B produced by the upstream bag making and packaging machine (not shown) into the seal check device 50. An object detection sensor 230 is disposed above the joint between the front conveyor 10 and the lower conveyor 51 of the seal check device 50.

  The object detection sensor 230 transmits a reference signal indicating that the packaging bag B has passed to the control system. The control system determines the timing for discharging the packaging bag B determined to be defective by the seal check device 50 based on the reference signal.

  An air nozzle 240 is disposed below the joint. The air nozzle 240 can blow air from below the joint. For example, when the bag of the packaging bag B is torn by the upstream bag making and packaging machine and the scattered contents continue to stay at the joint, the upper object detection sensor 230 is continuously blocked, and the conveyance device 100 stops abnormally. To do. However, by disposing the air nozzle 240 below the joint, the contents accumulated in the joint by the air jetted from the air nozzle 240 can be removed.

  The timing for blowing air from the air nozzle 240 is preferably when the seal check device 50 detects a sealing failure of the packaging bag B. This is because if the bag is torn, it will definitely cause a seal failure.

  Alternatively, air may be blown from the air nozzle 240 when the object detection sensor 230 is blocked for a predetermined time. This is because the situation that the object detection sensor 230 is blocked for a predetermined time or more means that the contents or foreign matter is present at the joint, and the abnormality of the packaging bag B is detected before the seal check device 50. Can be detected.

  According to the present invention, since the upper conveyor is switched between the first state and the second state according to the length of the packaging bag, the seal check can be performed in the continuous mode. This is useful for a seal check device for large packaging bags.

50, 150 Seal check device 51 Lower conveyor 61, 161 Upper conveyor 67, 167 Belt 631 First support (moving mechanism)
651 1st roller 652 2nd roller 653 3rd roller 654 4th roller 655 5th roller 656 6th roller 165a 1st roller 165b 2nd roller 165c 3rd roller 171 Auxiliary plate

JP 2007-168855 A

Claims (6)

A packaging bag that is sealed in a state where an article to be packaged is contained is sandwiched between an upper conveyor located above the packaging bag and a lower conveyor located below the packaging bag, and the volume change of the packaging bag It is a seal check device for judging the quality of the sealed state of the packaging bag,
In the upper conveyor, switching between a first state in which the length of the conveyance surface in contact with the packaging bag is longer than a predetermined length and a second state in which the length is shorter than the predetermined length is made according to the length of the packaging bag. Done,
Seal check device. The upper conveyor is
A conveyor belt,
A plurality of rollers that support the conveyor belt so as to form a predetermined ring shape;
A moving mechanism that moves the first roller on the side of the plurality of rollers that forms the conveying surface along the conveying direction of the packaging bag;
Having
The seal check device according to claim 1. The moving mechanism includes a drive unit that moves the first roller.
The seal check device according to claim 2. The upper conveyor is
A conveyor belt,
A plurality of rollers that support the conveyor belt so as to form a predetermined ring shape;
An auxiliary plate that forms an auxiliary conveyance surface adjacent to the conveyance surface and extending to the outside of the conveyor belt;
A switching mechanism that switches between a conveying posture that causes the auxiliary plate to extend along the extension of the conveying surface, and a retracting posture that retracts the auxiliary plate from above the extension of the conveying surface;
Having
The seal check device according to claim 1. The switching mechanism includes a drive unit that moves the auxiliary plate.
The seal check device according to claim 4. The upper conveyor applies pressure in the thickness direction of the packaging bag, and determines the quality of the sealed state of the packaging bag from the change in the thickness dimension thereof.
The seal check device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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