JP2016003032A - Filling state detection device, and filling state detection method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect a filling state of content in a connection package without hindering transportation.SOLUTION: In a device 300 that detects a filling state of content into connection packages 210 before a step of separating the connection packages 210 to an individual package 100 after a content filling step into the continuously produced connection packages 210, a filling state of content in the connection packages 210 can be detected by providing a fixation roller 311 and a movable roller 312 so as to sandwich the connection packages 210, and continuously detecting a displacement magnitude of the movable roller 312.

Description

  The present invention relates to a filling state inspection apparatus and a filling state inspection method for inspecting a filling state of contents filled in a continuously produced package. In particular, after a packed package is filled with contents, and before being separated into individual packages, a filling state inspection apparatus and a filling device that inspects whether or not the contents are correctly filled in the linked package It relates to a state inspection method.

  Conventionally, filling machines called bag making and filling machines have been widely used. This bag making and filling machine is a type of packaging machine that fills the contents, seals the mouth, and cuts during or immediately after the process of making a bag from the heat-adhesive winding and packaging material.

  In the bag making and filling process using such a bag making and filling machine, it is important to inspect whether or not the contents are correctly filled, and various methods have been considered. As a conventional inspection method, the thickness of a connected package is obtained by irradiating a laser with a laser displacement meter to a connected package (hereinafter referred to as “connected package”) after the filling process of the contents and before cutting. A method for continuously measuring the content and detecting whether or not the contents are filled is known. Further, in Patent Document 1, the thickness of a plate is measured when a linked package filled with a liquid and hermetically sealed is sandwiched between clamp plates, and the amount of filling is determined by the thickness dimension measured at that time. An invention for measuring is described.

JP 2004-325375 A

  However, in the method for measuring the thickness of the linked package using the laser displacement meter as described above, the thickness may be measured even when the linked package has air bulges, wrinkles, etc. If the amount is small, there is a risk of false detection. On the other hand, in the method described in Patent Document 1, since the thickness of the plate when the linked package is sandwiched between the clamp plates is measured, the risk of detecting wrinkles in the linked package is reduced. However, when air is contained at the time of sealing the connected package, the bulge due to air may still be detected, and accurate detection is difficult when the content is small. Moreover, when the conveyance speed of a connection package is quick, when an individual package is short in a connection direction, or each individual package has a some accommodating part, and the content is filled with each accommodating part. In some cases, it is necessary to continuously measure the thickness. In that case, it is necessary to control the operation of the clamp plate at a high speed, and it is difficult to perform the measurement without disturbing the conveyance of the connected package.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a subject, and it aims at providing the filling state inspection apparatus and the filling state inspection method which can detect the filling state of the content of a connection packaging body, without disturbing conveyance.

  In order to achieve the above object, the filling state inspection apparatus according to the present invention includes a content filling process for a continuously produced linked package, and a process before the linked package is separated into individual packages. , A device for inspecting the state of filling of the contents of the connected package, a roller set including a fixed roller and a movable roller provided so as to sandwich the connected package, and a displacement amount of the movable roller Displacement amount detection means for continuously detecting, and determination means for determining a filling state of the contents of the connected package based on a temporal change of the displacement amount detected by the displacement amount detection means. And

  In addition, the filling state inspection method according to the present invention can be applied to the connected package body after the content filling process to the continuously produced linked package body and before the connected package body is separated into individual package bodies. A method of inspecting a filling state of the contents of the method, the step of sandwiching the connected packaged body by a roller set composed of a fixed roller and a movable roller, a step of continuously detecting a displacement amount of the movable roller, and a detection And a step of determining the filling state of the contents of the connected package body accurately and at high speed based on the time change of the displacement amount.

  According to the filling state inspection apparatus and the filling state inspection method according to the present invention, it is possible to detect the filling state of the contents of the linked package without hindering the conveyance.

It is the schematic which shows the structure of the whole bag making filling machine containing the filling condition inspection apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is the top view and perspective view which show the detection part which comprises the filling condition inspection apparatus which concerns on this invention. (A) a graph showing temporal changes in displacement detected by a laser displacement meter constituting the filling state inspection apparatus according to the present invention, and (b) detected by a laser displacement meter when a fixed roller and a movable roller are not used. It is a graph which shows the time change of the amount of displacement.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a bag making and filling machine including a filling state inspection device used in an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

  The bag making and filling machine 400 includes a sheet roll 410, vertical sealers 421 to 423, filling nozzles 431 and 432, a heater 440, a horizontal sealer 450, and a cutter 460. The packaging sheet 200 discharged from the sheet roll 410 by the bag making and filling machine 400 passes through the vertical sealers 421 to 423, the filling nozzles 431 and 432, the heater 440, the horizontal sealer 450, and the cutter 460, respectively. The enclosed package 100 is sequentially manufactured.

  A filling state inspection device 300 is provided between the vertical sealers 421 to 423 and the horizontal sealer 450 of the bag making and filling machine 400. The filling state inspection device 300 includes a detection unit 310, a lower support unit 320, and an upper support unit 330.

  Next, the bag making and filling machine 400 and the filling state inspection apparatus 300 will be described in detail.

  The sheet roll 410 is obtained by winding the packaging sheet 200 in a roll shape. Here, the packaging sheet 200 is not particularly limited as long as it is a heat-sealable material. For example, the packaging sheet 200 is made of a synthetic resin film such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, or polyethylene terephthalate, and may be a film in which these are laminated. good. Moreover, you may use what vapor-deposited metals, such as aluminum and copper, to the synthetic resin film material. The packaging sheet 200 is continuously conveyed while being drawn from the sheet roll 410.

  Before reaching the vertical sealer 421, the packaging sheet 200 is folded in two while being conveyed so that a crease comes in the direction along the conveyance direction. At this time, the folded part folded in two is positioned below, and the upper part is open.

  The packaging sheet 200 is heat-sealed in the vertical direction by the vertical sealers 421 to 423 to form an accommodating portion. At the same time, the filling nozzle 431 is inserted from the gap between the vertical sealers 421 and 422, and the filling nozzle 432 is inserted from the gap between the vertical sealers 422 and 423, respectively, the first content from the filling nozzle 431, and the second content from the filling nozzle 432. Each item is filled in each accommodating portion of the packaging sheet 200. Although simplified in FIG. 1, a plurality of vertical sealers 421 to 423 and filling nozzles 431 and 432 may be provided and move in synchronization with the speed at which the packaging sheet 200 is conveyed. May be. In addition, the packaging sheet 200 filled with the contents in this way is referred to as a connected package 210 in the subsequent steps.

  By the way, the content is not particularly limited, but it is preferably solid, and more preferably powder or granular or a mixture thereof. For example, the seasoning etc. which consist of powdery and granular mixtures, such as powdered soups, powdered soy sauce, and the like, etc. are mentioned.

  After that, the connected packaging body 210 is inspected for the filling state of the contents by the detection unit 310 while the lower blur is restricted by the lower support unit 320. By restricting the blurring of the lower part of the connection package 210 by the lower support part 320, the accuracy of the inspection by the detection part 310 can be improved.

  The connected packaging body 210 that has been inspected by the detection unit 310 is restricted from moving upward by the upper support unit 330. Although details will be described later, in the detection unit 310, the lower part of the connected package 210 is sandwiched between rollers, and thus an upward force may be generated in the connected package 210. By providing the upper support part 330, it is possible to prevent the connected package 210 from moving upward.

  After the upper end of the connected package 210 is preheated by the heater 440, the upper end is sealed by the horizontal sealer 450, so that the accommodating portion is sealed. Here, by preheating with the heater 440, the sealing by the horizontal sealer 450 can be reliably performed. The position where the connected package 210 is preheated by the heater 440 is not particularly limited as long as it is sealed by the vertical sealer 423 and before sealing by the horizontal sealer 450. The connected package 210 is sealed by the horizontal sealer 450 after passing through the upper support 330.

  The connected package 210 whose upper end is sealed by the horizontal sealer 450 is cut by the cutter 460, and the individual package 100 is completed. Here, the cutter 460 separates the connected package 210 at the vertical seal position. In addition, the cutter 460 cuts the connection package 210 at every other vertical seal position, and sequentially manufactures one package 100 in which the first content and the second content are sealed in different storage units. .

  FIG. 2 is a plan view and a perspective view showing a detection unit constituting the filling state inspection device used in one embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

  The detection unit 310 includes a fixed roller 311, a movable roller 312, and a laser displacement meter 313. The fixed roller 311 has a cylindrical shape, and the roller surface 311b can rotate around the roller shaft 311a. The fixed roller 311 is fixed so as not to move on the bag making and filling machine 400.

  The movable roller 312 has a cylindrical shape, and the roller surface 312b can rotate around the roller shaft 312a. In addition, the movable roller 312 is movable in the direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the connected package 210 on the plan view. Furthermore, the movable roller 312 is urged in the direction of the fixed roller 311 by an elastic body such as a spring, and the direction in which the fixed roller 311 moves away from the fixed roller 311 is a stable state in which the movable roller 312 is in contact with the fixed roller 311 at the side surface. It is energized with a strong force. In the following, the state in which the movable roller 312 is in contact with the fixed roller 311 is assumed to be zero displacement, and the displacement amount is expressed as the movable roller 312 moves away from the fixed roller 311.

  The linked package 210 is transported while being sandwiched between the roller surface 311 b of the fixed roller 311 and the roller surface 312 b of the movable roller 312. Both the rotatable direction of the fixed roller 311 and the movable roller 312 coincide with the conveying direction of the connected package 210, and the movable roller 312 continues to be displaced according to the thickness of the connected package 210. Specifically, the connected package 210 has locations filled with contents and vertical seals alternately arranged in the conveying direction, but when the location filled with contents passes between both rollers. The displacement amount of the movable roller 312 increases. On the other hand, when the vertical seal portion passes between both rollers, the amount of displacement of the movable roller 312 is smaller than when the portion filled with the contents passes.

  In addition, as for the vertical seal part of the connection package 210, the separation seal part 211 and the sorting seal part 212 are alternately arranged. The separation seal portion 211 is a seal portion corresponding to a position where the separation portion 211 is separated by the cutter 460. On the other hand, the sorting seal part 212 is a seal part for sorting the contents in the package 100 after separation.

  The position where the fixed roller 311 and the movable roller 312 sandwich the linked package 210 is not particularly limited as long as the contents are sandwiched. Is desirable.

  Further, on the plan view, a fixed roller 311 may be provided at a position where the path of the connected package 210 is blocked, and the connected package 210 may be conveyed while being pressed against the fixed roller 311. By setting it as such a structure, the change of the thickness of the connection package 210 is reflected by the displacement of the movable roller 312 with high precision, and the certainty of thickness detection of the connection package 210 can be improved.

  The laser displacement meter 313 is for measuring the time change of the displacement amount of the movable roller 312. The laser displacement meter 313 includes a laser light emitting / receiving unit 313a. When a laser is emitted from the laser emission / reception unit 313a and irradiated to the laser irradiation area A of the roller surface 312b of the movable roller 312, a part of the irradiated laser is reflected from the laser irradiation area A, and laser emission / light reception is performed. The light enters the portion 313a. Although detailed description is omitted here, according to the measurement principle of a normal laser displacement meter, the laser displacement meter 313 uses a laser incident on the laser emission / light receiving unit 313a to change the displacement amount of the movable roller 312 over time. Can be measured.

  The computer 314 is connected to the laser displacement meter 313 so as to be able to exchange information by wire or wirelessly, and receives data of time variation of the displacement amount of the movable roller 312 measured by the laser displacement meter 313. Then, the received data is analyzed to determine whether or not the first content 110 and the second content 120 are filled.

  FIG. 3 is a graph showing the change over time in the amount of displacement detected by the laser displacement meter. More specifically, FIG. 3A is a graph showing a change over time in the amount of displacement measured by the laser displacement meter 313, and FIG. 3B is a comparative example without using the fixed roller 311 and the movable roller 312. 6 is a graph showing the change over time in the amount of displacement when the connected package 210 is directly irradiated with a laser from the laser displacement meter 313. In these graphs, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents the amount of displacement.

  Comparing these graphs, both graphs are common in that the amount of displacement repeatedly rises and falls with a substantially constant period as time changes. This is because the thickness of the connected package 210 is reduced at the position of the separation sealing portion 211 of the connected package 210 and the amount of displacement is reduced, and at the position of the first content 110 and the second content 120, the connected package 210. This is because the amount of displacement increases because the thickness of the substrate increases. Further, although the sorting seal portion 212 exists between the first content 110 and the second content 120, the sorting seal portion 212 is shorter in the transport direction than the separation seal portion 211. As shown by 3 (b), the displacement reduction peak does not appear clearly, and the sorting seal part 212 cannot be detected well. For this reason, in the comparative example, even if it can be detected that either the first content 110 or the second content 120 is filled, it is detected whether each of the first content 110 and the second content 120 is filled. It is difficult to do.

  On the other hand, according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3A, the peak 51 corresponding to the first content and the peak 52 corresponding to the second content appear clearly, and are used for sorting. Since the decrease peak corresponding to the seal part 211 also appears clearly, it becomes possible to detect whether each of the first contents 110 and the second contents 120 is filled.

  As a method for the computer 314 to detect whether the first content 110 and the second content 120 are filled, for example, from the value of the displacement increase peak corresponding to each of the first content 110 and the second content 120, Subtract the value of the displacement reduction peak corresponding to the immediately preceding separation seal part 211, and determine that the contents are filled when the difference is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value for each content, A method of determining that the content is not filled when the value is less than the threshold value is used. For example, when the first content 110 has a larger filling amount or a larger filling content than the second content 120, the threshold value corresponding to the first content 110 is set to the first threshold value. It is possible to adjust the minimum filling amount that is determined to be filled, for example, by setting it to be larger than the threshold value corresponding to the two contents 120. Thereby, even if the filling amount is very small, it can be detected with high accuracy.

  Further, instead of the displacement amount reduction peak corresponding to the separation seal portion 211, the value of the displacement amount reduction peak corresponding to the sorting seal portion 212 may be used. Furthermore, by providing a plurality of threshold values, it is possible to determine not only the presence / absence of filling of each content but also the filling amount.

  When the computer 314 determines that any content is not filled, the computer 314 transmits a command to stop the operation to the bag making and filling machine 400. When the command is received, the bag making and filling machine 400 stops the bag making and filling operation, so that it is possible to prevent the package 100 not filled with the contents from being manufactured.

  As described above, according to the filling state inspection apparatus 300 according to the present embodiment, the filling state of the contents can be detected with high accuracy even if the contents of the connected package are very small, without disturbing the conveyance. it can.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, the embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment or some constituent requirements are combined in different forms, the problems described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention are not solved. When the effects described in the column “Effects of the Invention” can be obtained, a configuration in which these constituent requirements are deleted or combined can be extracted as an invention.

  For example, the package 100 filled with the first content 110 and the second content 120 as the content has been described. However, the content may be one type, or may be three or more types.

Moreover, although the detection part 310 was provided in the process before the upper end of the connection package 210 is sealed by the horizontal sealer 450, you may provide it in the process after the horizontal sealer 450. However, by providing the detection unit 310 in a process before the horizontal sealer 450, even if air in the package enters the outside of the package, air between the rollers is pushed out of the package, so that the displacement of the movable roller 312 can be prevented. The influence of air is reduced, and the accuracy of content detection is further increased. Therefore, it is more preferable to provide the detection unit 310 in a process before the horizontal sealer 450.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Packaging 101 ... 1st heat seal part 102 ... 2nd heat seal part 103 ... 3rd heat seal part 104 ... 4th heat seal part 110 ... 1st content 120 ... 2nd content 200 ... Sheet 210 for packaging ·············································································································································································································································································· 313 ... Laser displacement meter 313a ... Laser light emitting / receiving unit 314 ... Computer 320 ... Lower support unit 330 ... Upper support unit 400 ... Bag-filling machine 410 ... Sheet roll 421 ... Vertical sealer 422 ... Vertical sealer 423 ... Vertical sealer 431 ... Filling Nozzle 432 ... Filling nozzle 440 ... Heater 450 ... Horizontal Ra 460 ... cutter 50 ... displacement time variation graphs 51 ... Peak A ... laser irradiation area corresponding to the peak 52 ... second content corresponding to the first content

Claims (6)

It is a device that inspects the state of filling of the contents of the linked package after the process of filling the contents in the continuously produced linked package before the process of separating the linked package into individual packages. And
A roller set consisting of a fixed roller and a movable roller provided so as to sandwich the connected package,
A displacement amount detecting means for continuously detecting the displacement amount of the movable roller;
A determination means for determining a filling state of the contents of the connected package based on a time change of the displacement detected by the displacement detection means;
A filling state inspection apparatus. The linked package has two or more accommodating parts for each individual package,
The filling state inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the storage portions is provided along a connection direction of the connection package.   The filling state inspection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the content filled in the continuous package is made of powder, granules, or a mixture thereof.   The filling state inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the connected package body is sandwiched by the roller set immediately before the step of sealing the connected package body.   The filling state inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the roller set is provided so as to sandwich the connected package body from a lateral direction. This is a method of inspecting the state of filling the contents of the linked package after the process of filling the contents in the continuously produced linked package and before the step of separating the linked package into individual packages. And
A step of sandwiching the linked package by a roller set composed of a fixed roller and a movable roller;
Continuously detecting the amount of displacement of the movable roller;
A step of determining the filling state of the contents of the connected package based on the change over time of the detected displacement amount;
A filling state inspection method including:

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