JP2020147365A - Folding device, and container storage device including folding device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a folding device having a simpler constitution than those of conventional folding devices and capable of efficiently folding an unfilled part of a bagged culture medium block, and a container storage device including the folding device.SOLUTION: The folding device 31 includes a bag body 11 having a bottom face 11a and a bag opening 11f opposed to the bottom face 11a, a filled part 11g filled with a culture medium from the bottom face 11a of the bag body 11, and folding means 34 for folding an unfilled part 11h of a bagged culture medium block 14 having the unfilled part 11h from the filling part 11g up to the bag opening 11f; the folding means 34 includes an opening mechanism 32, a support mechanism 35 by which the bag opening 11f is supported, a pressing mechanism 36 by which the unfilled part 11h is pressed and collected to a central side, a pressing-down mechanism 37 in which an unfilled part 11h side is pressed from a side substantially orthogonal to a side pressed by the pressing mechanism 36 of the unfilled part 11h, and a falling mechanism 38 in which the unfilled part 11h is fallen around a part pressed by the pressing-down mechanism 37 as a shaft.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to a folding device for folding the bag mouth side of a packed medium block used for mushroom cultivation and a container storage device for accommodating the folded bagged medium block in a container. The present invention relates to a folding device which has a simple structure, can fold more bagged medium blocks faster than the folding device of the above, and can be stored in a container, and a container storage device provided with the folding device.

In recent years, mushrooms such as shiitake mushrooms, maitake mushrooms, shimeji mushrooms, and nameko mushrooms have shifted from natural collection to artificial cultivation. Of these artificial cultivations, shiitake mushrooms have been cultivated by planting shiitake mushrooms in the logs used by cutting trees such as oak, quercus crispula, and oak to a predetermined length. there were. However, since this log cultivation is mainly outdoors, it is difficult to secure a stable harvest because it is affected by the weather conditions at that time and pests and harmful bacteria. Therefore, in recent years, an air-conditioned environment suitable for indoor cultivation of shiitake mushrooms. We are shifting to fungal bed cultivation that is cultivated in this environment.

Common shiitake mushroom bed cultivation is carried out by a series of steps shown in FIG. 43. In this fungal bed cultivation 1, first, a plurality of mushroom cultivation bags and a preparation medium mixed with nutrients are prepared in advance, and a predetermined amount of this medium is filled in the cultivation bag in the bagging step 1A, and the bagging medium (hereinafter, bag). The bag folding step 1B for folding the unfilled portion of the filling medium block, the container storage step 1C for storing the folded bagged medium block in a container of a predetermined size, and the bagging medium being carried into a sterilization pot. Sterilization step 1D for sterilization, bag mouth opening step 1E, inoculation step 1F for inoculating shiitake mushrooms, bag mouth sealing step 1G, culture step 1H for culturing over a predetermined period while adjusting temperature and humidity, and then the bacterial bed from the cultivation bag. It is carried out in a series of steps such as a development / growth step 1I for generating and growing a vertebrate while culturing a bacterial bed by adjusting the temperature and humidity and a harvesting step 1J for harvesting the cultivated vertebrate.

Until now, these processes were mostly performed manually, but in recent years, some processes have been automatically mechanized, and the mechanical devices have been introduced in patent documents.

For example, Patent Document 1 below describes a packaging bag folding device. As shown in FIGS. 44A and 44B, the folding device 4 is shaped to convey a packaging bag filled with a filling material in an upright state through a folding allowance whose tip opens upward. Means 4A, folding allowance closing means 4B that presses the folding allowance of the packaging bag from both left and right sides with respect to the conveying direction of the shaping means, and closes the folding allowance along the conveying direction, and filling or not filling the packaging bag. The adhesive application means 4C for applying the adhesive to either one of the outer circumferences of the filling portion in the left-right direction and the folding allowance of the packaging bag are pushed down so as to be folded downward in the direction in which the adhesive is applied. The folding means 4D for adhering the folding allowance to the outer periphery of the filling portion of the packaging bag is provided, and the folding means 4D includes a pressing means 4E for pressing the folding allowance from the adhesive application side and after pushing down the folding allowance to the adhesive application side. The folding means 4F, which is folded back so as to press the tip of the folding allowance downward, and the pressing means 4G, which presses the folding allowance tip folded by the folding means against the adhesive and adheres to the outer periphery of the filling portion of the packaging bag. It is configured.

According to this folding device, the folding allowance of the packaging bag can be automatically folded and closed, so that foreign matter can be prevented from entering from the bag mouth and the productivity can be improved.

Further, Patent Document 2 below also describes a packaging bag folding device. This device is an improvement of the device of Patent Document 1, and uses a brush as a folding member of the folding means.

The following Patent Document 3 describes an invention in which a bagged medium block is carried into a container and stored. According to the inoculum culturing method and the fungus bed block loading device in mushroom cultivation described in Patent Document 3 below, four inoculated fungus bed blocks are placed in a container with an open top surface, each with a ventilation interval. The container is placed and transported to the shelving device by a roller conveyor, and the transported container is transported by the shelving device to a rack pallet having shelves capable of loading multiple stages in the vertical direction at predetermined vertical intervals. , Sequentially loaded, the rack pallets loaded with containers are transported to the culture chamber, the rack pallets are placed side by side in the culture chamber, and the inoculum of mushrooms is cultivated with the fungus bed block loaded on the rack pallets.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-294302 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-144413 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-028182

The bagged medium before sterilization, that is, the bagged medium block before sterilization by the sterilizer, carries the bagged forming medium, the fold of the unfilled portion of the medium bagged bag, and the folded bagged medium block into the container. It is done in a series of work such as.

On the other hand, in the existing fungus bed mushroom cultivation factory, a bag-filled molding medium device has been introduced in some factories, but in such a factory, the existing device is discarded and a fully automatic mechanical device is introduced. Then, while the past capital investment is wasted, a new large amount of capital investment will be forced, and such investment will be disliked. Therefore, as a countermeasure, the existing machinery and equipment can be used as they are. There is a demand for an automatic bag folding machine and an automatic container storage machine that can be connected to. However, automatic bag folding machinery and container storage machinery that can be connected to such existing equipment have not yet been developed and commercialized.

Further, since the bag folding device of Patent Documents 1 and 2 is configured to bond the folding allowance by using an adhesive, the device is complicated because an adhesive and its bonding means are required. It has become. If the folding allowance is glued, it will be difficult to open the bag when opening the bag mouth in the next inoculation process (device), which may cause the bag to tear, and the productivity of the medium block in the bag will be reduced. There is a limit to further improvement. That is, at present, the number of pieces produced per unit time is about 400 pieces, but in the future, double the number of pieces of 800 to 1000 pieces or more is required, and such a request cannot be met.

On the other hand, in the existing fungus bed mushroom cultivation factory, a bag-filled molding medium device has been introduced in some factories, but in such a factory, the existing device is discarded and a fully automatic mechanical device is introduced. Then, while the past capital investment is wasted, a new large amount of capital investment will be forced, and such investment will be disliked. Therefore, as a countermeasure, the existing machinery and equipment can be used as they are. There is a demand for an automatic bag folding machine and an automatic container storage machine that can be connected to. However, automatic bag folding machinery and container storage machinery that can be connected to such existing equipment have not yet been developed and commercialized.

An object of the present invention is to provide a folding device having a simpler configuration than a conventional folding device and capable of efficiently folding an unfilled portion of a bagged medium block. Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a container storage device having a simple configuration and provided with a folding device capable of efficiently storing a folded bagged medium block in a container.

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following configuration. That is, the folding device according to the first aspect of the present invention is filled with a bag having a bottom surface having a predetermined area and a bag mouth facing the bottom surface, and a bag body filled with a predetermined amount of medium from the bottom surface of the bag body. A folding device including a folding means for folding the unfilled portion of a bagging medium block having a portion and an unfilled portion from the upper surface of the filled portion to the bag mouth, and the folding means is on the bag mouth side. It has an opening mechanism that opens the bag mouth by blowing air from the bag, and at least two support members that are inserted from the bag mouth of the bag body, and the open state of the unfilled portion is supported. A pressing mechanism that has a support mechanism, a pair of pressing members that press the opposite side of the unfilled portion after the support member is inserted, and the unfilled portion is collected on the center side, and the pressing member. A pressing mechanism in which the unfilled portion side at the boundary between the filled portion and the unfilled portion is pressed from a side substantially orthogonal to the side pressed by the pressing mechanism of the unfilled portion after being pressed by the above. It is characterized by having a tilting mechanism in which the unfilled portion is tilted around a portion pressed by the pressing mechanism.

Further, in the folding device of the second aspect, in the folding device of the first aspect, at least one of at least one of the support member of the support mechanism and the pressing member of the pressing mechanism is used as the folding mechanism. It is characterized in that it is performed in the state of being in the unfilled portion.

Further, the folding device of the third aspect is characterized in that, in the folding device of the first or second aspect, at least one of the folding mechanism, the pressing mechanism, and the pressing mechanism is performed by wind pressure. To do.

Further, the folding device of the fourth aspect is the folding device of any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the folding means includes a transporting means for transporting the bagged medium block to the folding means. The transport means is characterized in that the opening means for blowing air to the bag mouth is provided before the opening mechanism is performed.

The folding device of the fifth aspect includes a bag body having a bottom surface having a predetermined area, a bag mouth facing the bottom surface, a filling portion filled with a predetermined amount of medium from the bottom surface of the bag body, and the filling portion. A folding device including a folding means for folding the unfilled portion of a bagged medium block having an unfilled portion from the upper surface of the portion to the bag mouth, and a transporting means for transporting the bagged medium block. The folding means has an opening mechanism that opens the bag mouth by blowing air from the bag mouth side, and at least two support members that are inserted from the bag mouth of the bag body. It has a support mechanism that supports the open state of the filled portion, and a pair of pressing members that press the opposite side of the unfilled portion after the support member is inserted, and the unfilled portion is on the center side. The unfilled portion at the boundary between the filled portion and the unfilled portion from a side substantially orthogonal to the collected pressing mechanism and the side of the unfilled portion pressed by the pressing mechanism after being pressed by the pressing member. It has a pressing mechanism in which the portion side is pressed, and the unfilled portion is collapsed and folded by transporting the conveying means in a state where the unfilled portion is pressed by the pressing mechanism. And.

Further, in the folding device of the sixth aspect, in the folding device of the fifth aspect, at least a part of at least one of the support member and the pressing member is transferred into the unfilled portion. It is characterized by being performed in a certain state.

Further, in the folding device of the seventh aspect, in the folding device of the fifth or sixth aspect, the conveying means is provided with an opening means for blowing air to the bag mouth before the opening mechanism is performed. The folding device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the folding device is provided.

Further, in the folding device of the eighth aspect, in the folding device of any one of the first to seventh aspects, the portion of the support member arranged on the corner side in the bag is larger than that of the other portion. It is characterized by being thick.

Further, in the folding device of any one of the first to eighth aspects, the folding device of the ninth aspect is brought into close contact with or abutted on both side surfaces of the unfilled portion of the bagging medium block in the folding means. It is characterized in that an opening assisting member is provided at a position where the bag mouth is opened, and the spread of the bag mouth in a predetermined direction is restricted when the bag mouth is opened by the opening mechanism.

Further, in the folding device of the tenth aspect, in the folding device of any one of the first to ninth aspects, in addition to the folding means, the unfilled portion of the bagging medium block folded by the folding mechanism is inserted. It is characterized in that a folding means having a folding member that is folded along the side surface side of the filling portion from the collapsed state is provided.

In the container storage device of the eleventh aspect, the folding device of any one of the first to ninth aspects and a plurality of the bagged medium blocks folded by the folding device are conveyed and stored in the container. It is characterized by that.

Further, in the container storage device of the twelfth aspect, in the container storage device of the eleventh aspect, in addition to the folding means, the unfilled portion of the bagged medium block that has been collapsed by the folding mechanism is collapsed. The folding means has a folding means having a folding member that is folded along the side surface side of the filling portion, and a container loading device in which the container in which the bagging medium block is housed is arranged. It is characterized in that the bagging medium block housed in the container loading device is folded.

Further, in the container storage device of the thirteenth aspect, in the container storage device of the eleventh or twelfth aspect, at least one bagging medium block was housed in the container of the container loading device in the folding means. After that, the container is rotated by a predetermined angle, and at least one bagged medium block is housed again, which is performed a predetermined number of times.

Further, the container storage device of the fourteenth aspect is the container storage device of any one of the eleventh to thirteenth aspects, and the container loading device has a plurality of rods arranged substantially perpendicular to the container. It has a body and an elevating mechanism in which the rod state is repeatedly moved in the vertical direction, and the rod-shaped body is arranged so as to be inserted through a plurality of gaps formed in the bottom of the container. The medium block is characterized in that after being placed on the upper part of the rod-shaped body, the rod-shaped body is moved downward to be housed in the container.

Further, in the container accommodating device of the fifteenth aspect, in the container accommodating device of the fourteenth aspect, the folding device is provided with an underlay member that is taken in and out toward the container loading device side, and the folding means is folded. The member has at least one side wall that surrounds the bagged medium block, and the bagged medium block is sent to the sent-out underlay member and then when the underlay member is pulled back. It is characterized in that it is placed on the rod-shaped body by restricting the movement by the folding member.

Further, in the container accommodating device of the 16th aspect, in the container accommodating device of the 11th or 12th aspect, the folding device is provided with an underlay member that is taken in and out toward the container loading device side, and the underlay member is provided. Is configured such that when the end edge of the underlay member in the direction along the loading / unloading direction is cut out and the bagged medium block is placed, a part of the bagged medium block protrudes, and the folding member is The side wall is provided with at least one side wall that surrounds the bagging medium block, and a plurality of movable claw members on which the bagging medium block is placed are provided on the underlay member side, and the bagging medium is provided. When the block is lifted, the movable claw member is moved in a direction substantially orthogonal to the side wall, and when the bagged medium block is carried into the container, the movable claw member is substantially parallel to the side wall. It is characterized by being moved to.

According to the folding device of the first aspect, the unfilled portion of the bagged medium block can be efficiently folded with a simple configuration.

Further, according to the folding device of the second aspect, the folding mechanism is performed while at least one of the support member and the pressing member is inside the unfilled portion, so that the unfilled portion can be folded accurately. become.

Further, according to the folding device of the third aspect, the configuration can be further simplified by using wind pressure for at least one of the folding mechanism, the pressing mechanism and the pressing mechanism.

Further, according to the folding device of the fourth aspect, in addition to the opening mechanism, an opening means for blowing air is provided, so that the bag mouth of the bagging medium block can be opened more.

According to the folding device of the fifth aspect, the unfilled portion of the bagged medium block can be folded by using the movement of the transport means, and the folding can be performed efficiently.

Further, according to the folding device of the sixth aspect, the folding mechanism is performed while at least one of the support member and the pressing member is inside the unfilled portion, so that the unfilled portion can be folded accurately. become.

Further, according to the folding device of the seventh aspect, in addition to the opening mechanism, an opening means for blowing air is provided, so that the bag mouth of the bagging medium block can be opened more.

Further, according to the folding device of the eighth aspect, by providing the support member with a portion thicker than the other portions, a gap is formed when the unfilled portion of the bagging medium block is folded, and the bag It is possible to suppress the occurrence of a pressure difference between the inside and the atmospheric pressure.

Further, according to the folding device of the ninth aspect, by providing the opening auxiliary member, the spread of the bag mouth can be changed from an elliptical shape close to a substantially circular shape to an elliptical shape having a long long axis, and the support member can be inserted. You will be able to do it smoothly.

Further, according to the folding device of the tenth aspect, the unfilled portion of the bagged medium block can be folded and folded to a size accommodated in the container with a simple configuration.

According to the container storage device of the eleventh aspect, the folded bagged medium block can be automatically and efficiently stored in the container.

Further, according to the container accommodating device of the twelfth aspect, folding is performed when the bagged medium block is carried into the container, so that the process from folding to accommodating can be efficiently performed.

Further, according to the container accommodating device of the thirteenth aspect, by rotating the container, it becomes possible to smoothly fold a plurality of bagged medium blocks and accommodate them in the container.

Further, according to the container storage device of the fourteenth aspect, the bagging medium block can be efficiently stored in the container by using the elevating mechanism having a rod-shaped body.

Further, according to the container accommodating device of the fifteenth aspect, the bagged medium block can be smoothly accommodated in the container by using the underlay member.

Further, according to the container accommodating device of the 16th aspect, the bagging medium block can be placed in the folding member by the movable claw member provided on the folding member, and the bag is moved by the movement of the movable claw member. The filling medium block can be lifted and opened, and can be carried into the container more efficiently.

It is a top view which showed each apparatus of the bagging medium block manufacturing apparatus which includes the folding apparatus and the container accommodating apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view seen from the II side of FIG. It is a front view seen from the III side of FIG. FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a state in which the bag mouth of the bagged medium block is open, FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing a state in which the unfilled portion of the bagged medium block is folded, and FIG. 4C is a perspective view showing the bag. It is a perspective view which showed the state which the unfilled part of the filling medium block was folded. It is a side view which showed the block forming apparatus of the bagging medium block manufacturing apparatus. 6A and 6B show a part of the folding device, FIGS. 6A and 6B are side views showing the first feeding means, and FIGS. 6C and 6D are side views showing the opening means. 7A and 7B are views showing the process of the folding means, FIGS. 7A, 7C, 7E and 7G are front views, and 7B, 7D, 7F and 7H are front views. 8 is a diagram showing a process following FIG. 7 of the folding means, FIG. 8A, FIG. 8C, FIG. 8E, and FIG. 8G are front views, and FIGS. 8B, 8D, 8F, and 8H are front views. is there. 9A and 9B are views for explaining the operation of the container loading device, FIGS. 9A, 9C and 9E are plan views, and FIGS. 9B, 9D and 9F are front views. 10A and 10C are views showing the process of the second feeding means, FIGS. 10A and 10C are plan views, and FIGS. 10B and 10D are front views. 11 is a view following FIG. 10 showing the process of the second feeding means, FIGS. 11A and 11C are plan views, and FIGS. 11B and 11D are front views. 12 is a view following FIG. 11 showing the process of the second feeding means, FIGS. 12A and 12C are plan views, and FIGS. 12B and 12D are front views. 13A to 13F are views showing folding means, FIGS. 13A, 13C, and 13E are plan views, and FIGS. 13B, 13D, and 13F are views viewed from the XIIIB side of FIG. 13A. 14 is a diagram showing the process of the folding means and the container loading device, FIGS. 14A, 14C and 14E are plan views, and FIGS. 14B, 14D and 14F are viewed from the directions corresponding to FIG. 13B. It is a figure. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a process following FIG. 14 of the folding means and the container loading device, FIGS. 15A and 15C are plan views, and FIGS. 15B and 15D are views from the direction corresponding to FIG. 13B. is there. 16A to 16H are views corresponding to FIGS. 7A to 7H showing application examples of the pressing mechanism of the first embodiment. 17A to 17H are views corresponding to FIGS. 8A to 8H showing application examples of the pressing mechanism of the first embodiment. 18A to 18C are perspective views showing a single-character folded bag medium block, and FIGS. 18D to 18F are front views corresponding to FIGS. 7C, 7E, and 7G showing an example of single-character folding. It is a top view which showed the other example of each apparatus of the bagging medium block manufacturing apparatus which includes the folding apparatus and the container accommodating apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. 20A is a front view showing another example of the support member of the first embodiment, FIG. 20B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXB-XXB of FIG. 20A, and FIG. 20C is a front view showing still another example. 20D is a sectional view taken along line XXD-XXD of FIG. 20C, FIG. 20E is a front view showing still another example, and FIG. 20F is a sectional view taken along line XXE-XXE of FIG. 20A. is there. FIG. 21A is a perspective view showing a state in which the bag mouth of the bagged medium block of Modification 1 is opened, and FIG. 21B is a perspective view showing a state in which the unfilled portion of the bagged medium block is folded. FIG. 21C is a perspective view showing a state in which the unfilled portion of the bagged medium block is folded. It is a top view which showed each apparatus of the bagging medium block manufacturing apparatus which includes the folding apparatus and the container accommodating apparatus of modification 1. FIG. It is a side view seen from the XXIII side of FIG. FIG. 24A is a plan view and FIG. 24B is a side view showing the movement of the bagged medium block from the folding device of the first modification to the container loading device. FIG. 25A is a plan view and FIG. 25B is a side view, which is a view following FIG. 24 showing the movement of the bagged medium block from the folding device of the first modification to the container loading device. FIG. 26A is a plan view and FIG. 26B is a side view, which is a view following FIG. 25 showing the movement of the bagged medium block from the folding device of the first modification to the container loading device. FIG. 27A is a plan view and FIG. 27B is a side view, which is a view following FIG. 26 showing the movement of the bagged medium block from the folding device of the first modification to the container loading device. FIG. 28A is a plan view and FIG. 28B is a side view, which is a view following FIG. 27 showing the movement of the bagged medium block from the folding device of the first modification to the container loading device. FIG. 29A is a plan view and FIG. 29B is a side view, which is a view following FIG. 28 showing the movement of the bagged medium block from the folding device of the first modification to the container loading device. FIG. 30A is a plan view, FIG. 30B is a side view, and FIG. 30C is a plan view following FIG. 30A, which shows the movement of the bagging medium block to the container of the container loading device of the first modification. 30D is a side view following FIG. 30B. FIG. 31A is a plan view showing the movement of the bagging medium block to the container of the container loading device of the first modification, FIG. 31B is a plan view following FIG. 31A, and FIG. 31C is a plan view following FIG. 31B. It is a plan view, and FIG. 31D is a side view of FIG. 31C. It is a figure which showed the movement of the container of the container loading apparatus of the modification 1, FIG. 32A is a plan view, and FIG. 32B is a side view. It is a top view of the folding apparatus which concerns on modification 2. FIG. It is a side view seen from one side of the folding apparatus which concerns on modification 2. FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a process of the folding means according to the second modification, and FIGS. 35A, 35C, 35E and 35G are views viewed from the A side of FIG. 33, FIGS. 35B, 35D and 35D. 35F and 35H are views viewed from the B side of FIG. 33. 36 is a diagram showing a process following FIG. 35 of the folding means according to the modified example 2, FIG. 36A, FIG. 36C, FIG. 36E, and FIG. 36G are views viewed from the A side of FIG. 33. 36D, 36F, and 36H are views viewed from the B side of FIG. 33. 37 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the container loading device of the third modification, FIGS. 37A, 37C, and 37E are plan views, and FIGS. 37B, 37D, and 37F are front views. FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating a step of carrying in a bagged medium block in the container carrying device of Modification 3, FIGS. 38A and 38C are plan views, and FIGS. 38B and 38D are front views. 39 is a view following FIG. 38 for explaining the process of carrying in the bagged medium block in the container carrying device of the modified example 3, FIGS. 39A and 39C are plan views, and FIGS. 39B and 39D are front views. is there. FIG. 40 is a view following FIG. 39 for explaining a process of carrying in a bagged medium block in the container carrying device of the third modification, FIGS. 40A and 40C are plan views, and FIGS. 40B and 40D are front views. is there. 41 is a view following FIG. 40 for explaining a process of carrying in a bagged medium block in the container carrying device of the third modification, FIGS. 41A and 41C are plan views, and FIGS. 41B and 41D are front views. is there. It is a side view corresponding to FIG. 2 which showed another example of the folding mechanism of the folding apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a process block diagram which showed the cultivation process of general shiitake mushroom bed cultivation. FIG. 44A is a perspective view showing a folding device of the prior art, and FIG. 44B is a partial side view.

Hereinafter, a folding device for a bagging medium block according to an embodiment of the present invention and a container storage device provided with the folding device will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments shown below exemplify a folding device for a bagged medium block and a container storage device provided with the folding device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and specify the present invention to these. It is not applicable to other embodiments within the scope of the claims.

[Embodiment 1]
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 15, a folding device 31 (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as a folding device 31) for folding an unfilled portion of the bagging medium block according to the first embodiment of the present invention on the bag mouth side, and the folding device 31. The container accommodating device 46 provided with the folding device 31 (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as a container accommodating device 46) will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the folding device 31 serves as a plastic film mushroom cultivation bag filled with a predetermined amount of medium 12 in the step of producing the bagging medium block 14 for cultivating mushrooms. This is a device for folding the unfilled portion 11h on the side of the bag mouth 11f in the open state of the bag body 11. Further, the container storage device 46 is a device that has a container loading device 42 and stores the bagged medium block 14 folded by the folding device 31 in the container 15.

The folding device 31 and the container storage device 46 provided with the folding device 31 are devices provided in a series of work steps for manufacturing the bagged medium block 14. As a step of manufacturing the bagged medium block 14, for example, a block forming device 21 that performs a block forming step of filling the bag body 11 with the medium 12 to form the bagged medium block 14 and a bag body of the bagged medium block 14 A folding device 31 that performs a folding step of folding the unfilled portion 11h on the bag mouth 11f side of 11, and a container loading device 42 that performs a container loading step of loading the folded bagging medium block 14 into a container 15 of a predetermined size. And a container accommodating device 46 having the above (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

Here, the bagged medium block 14 that is folded by the folding device 31 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The bagging medium block 14 is composed of a bag body 11 and a medium 12 filled in the bag body 11. In FIG. 4A, the bag mouth 11f is opened with the medium 12 packed in the bag body 11. , Indicates the case where it is not folded.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the bag body 11 has a rectangular bottom surface 11a having a predetermined length and width, and a wide side surface 11b having a predetermined height erected from the long side of the bottom surface 11a. It has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with 11c and side surfaces 11d and 11e having a narrow area erected at a predetermined height from the short side of the bottom surface 11a. At this time, the upper portion facing the bottom surface 11a is opened, and this opened portion serves as a bag opening 11f, which is a portion filled with the medium 12 described later.

As the material of the bag 11, a synthetic resin film such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyester, a biodegradable film, or a photocatalytic film is used, and the wall thickness thereof is, for example, 10 to 100 μm. In the first embodiment, a synthetic resin film (plastic film) is used for the bag body 11, which is lightweight, easy to handle, and can be produced at low cost.

Further, since the bottom surface of the bag body 11 of the first embodiment has a rectangular shape, the side surface of the bag body 11 is composed of side surfaces 11b and 11c having a large area and side surfaces 11d and 11e having a small area. It has become. A crease is formed in the longitudinal direction at the substantially center of the side surfaces 11d and 11e having a narrow area, and the bag body 11 is a so-called gusset bag.

Further, the bag body 11 is divided into a filled portion 11g filled with the medium 12 and an unfilled portion 11h above the filled portion 11g, which is a space. That is, the filled portion 11g has a predetermined height at which the upper surface of the medium 12 is arranged from the bottom surface 11a when the medium 12 described later is filled, and the unfilled portion 11h is the top of the filled portion 11g, that is, the medium 12. The height is from the upper surface of the medium to the bag mouth 11f.

The medium 12 to be filled in the bag 11 is formed of, for example, a mixed material containing sawdust, rice bran, bran and the like as main components, and a nutrient and water mixed in a predetermined ratio. The medium 12 is packed in a bag 11 to form a certain shape. At this time, the weight when the medium 12 is filled in the bag 11 of the first embodiment is, for example, about 2.5 kg to 2.8 kg.

The size of the bag body 11 is not limited to the above dimensions, the bottom surface 11a may be square or circular, and the lengths of the filled portion 11g and the unfilled portion 11h are used. It may be changed depending on the amount of the medium 12, and the weight may be increased or decreased accordingly.

Further, in the folding device 31 of the first embodiment, first, the bag opening 11f of the bag body 11 as shown in FIG. 4B is closed from the bagging medium block 14 in which the bag opening 11f shown in FIG. 4A is opened. The boundary between the filled portion 11g and the unfilled portion 11h is folded along the upper surface of the filled portion 11g.

Further, in the folding device 31, the bagging medium block 14 is further folded from the state shown in FIG. 4B to be in the state shown in FIG. 4C. That is, in the bagged medium block 14, as shown in FIG. 4C, the bag mouth 11f of the bag body 11 is closed, and the boundary between the filled portion 11g and the unfilled portion 11h is bent along the upper surface of the filled portion 11g. , The bag is formed into a block shape by being bent again along the side surface of the filling portion 11g so that the bag mouth 11f side faces downward. The unfilled portion 11h of the bag body 11 of the bagging medium block 14 is packed in the container 15 by the container loading device 42 described later in a folded block shape.

Next, the folding device 31 will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 5 to 15. As described above, the folding device 31 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is for folding the unfilled portion 11h of the bag body filled with the medium by the block forming device 21 in the step of manufacturing the bagged medium block 14. It has become a thing. Then, after the bagging medium block 14 in which the unfilled portion 11h is folded performs the folding means 41 described later, the unfilled portion 11h is housed in the container 15 by the container loading device 42, or a predetermined number is manually determined. It is housed in the container 15 in the direction of.

Here, since the folding device 31 of the first embodiment is an device provided in a series of work steps for manufacturing the bagged medium block 14, the step of manufacturing the bagged medium block 14 will be described. In the manufacturing process of the bagging medium block 14, as described above, the block forming device 21 for forming the bagging medium block 14 in which the bag opening 11f of the bag body 11 is opened and the bag opening 11f prevent foreign matter from entering. It is provided with a folding device 31 that folds the unfilled portion 11h, and a container loading device 42 that carries the folded bagged medium block 14 into a container 15 having a predetermined size.

First, an example of the block forming apparatus 21 will be described with reference to FIG. In the block forming device 21, the bag setting means 22 in which a plurality of prepared bag bodies 11 are set, and the bag setting means 22 is picked up one by one and mounted at a predetermined position with the bag opening 11f opened. Bag mounting means 23, bag shaping means 24 in which the mounted bag is expanded into a hollow shape and shaped, and filling means 26 in which the bag body 11 is filled with a predetermined amount of medium 12 measured by the measuring means 25. , A molding means 27 in which the filled bagging medium block 14 is molded into a predetermined shape, and a delivery means 28 in which the molded bagging medium block 14 is sent to the next machine, and the bag mouth 11f passes through these machines. A bagged medium block 14 is formed (see FIG. 4A).

A bundle of bag bodies 11 is housed in the automatic bag supply device 29 adjacent to the block forming device 21, and the bag is arranged so that its orientation can be automatically rotated 180 degrees at a predetermined cycle. The bag body 11 is picked up from the automatic supply device 29, moved to the block forming device 21, and the first bag setting means 22 is performed.

In the bag setting means 22, only one bag at the top is taken out from the bundle of the bag body 11. The bag setting means 22 is performed by sucking the bag body 11 by a negative pressure using, for example, one suction cup member connected to a vacuum pump or a ring blower.

Then, after the bag body 11 is lifted upward by one suction cup member, the other suction cup member connected to the vacuum pump or the ring blower so as to face the suction cup member via the bag body 11 comes into contact with the bag body 11. Then, the bag body 11 is moved to the bag mounting means 23 in a state where the bag mouth 11f side of the bag body 11 is sandwiched between one suction cup member and the other suction cup member.

In the bag mounting means 23, the bag opening 11f of the bag body 11 is opened by opening the distance between one suction cup member and the other suction cup member. Next, for example, an inner frame is inserted inside the bag mouth 11f of the bag body 11 so that the bag mouth 11f of the bag body 11 is opened and held in a predetermined substantially rectangular state, and together with this, the bag body 11 The outer frame is abutted from the outside of the bag opening 11f, and the bag opening 11f of the bag body 11 is held so as to be sandwiched between the inner frame and the outer frame.

Next, the bag shaping means 24 of the block forming device 21 is executed. In the bag shaping means 24, for example, in a state where a substantially rectangular frame member is arranged under the bag body 11, the bag body 11 is directed toward the inside of the bag body 11 from the four corners of the bag mouth 11f of the bag body 11 opened in a rectangular shape. Then, four rod-shaped bag shaping members are inserted. When the shaping of the bag body 11 is completed, the bag shaping member is taken out from the inside of the bag body 11. When the processing by the bag shaping means 24 is completed, the filling means 26 for filling the medium 12 is performed while the bag opening 11f is held so as to be sandwiched between the inner frame and the outer frame.

In the filling means 26, a hopper 30 for supplying the medium 12 is provided above the bag body 11. The hopper 30 contains a medium 12 prepared in advance, and the medium 12 supplied to one bag is taken out in a fixed amount by the measuring means 25 for measuring the medium.

Then, in the filling means 26, the quantitative medium 12 filled from the measuring means 25 is supplied into the bag body 11, and then the medium 12 supplied into the bag body 11 in the molding means 27 is molded. .. In the molding means 27, first, a substantially rectangular frame-shaped lower frame member is addressed from the outside of the lower part of the bag 11 in which the medium 12 is stored, and a compression molding plate is inserted from the bag mouth 11f side of the bag 11. The medium 12 is compressed by pressing the compression molding plate toward the lower frame member, and the medium 12 having a predetermined rectangular shape (substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape) is formed.

When the compression molding of the medium is completed and the compression molding plate is taken out from the bag, the formation of the bagged medium block 14 is completed, and the culture medium block 14 is sent to the transport means 60 such as a belt conveyor by the delivery means 28 to the next folding device 31. Be transported. The bagging medium block 14 discharged from the block forming device 21 is in a state in which the bag opening 11f is not closed and the unfilled portion 11h is not broken (see FIG. 4A).

Further, in the first embodiment, the orientation of the bagging medium block 14 conveyed from the block forming apparatus 21 by the conveying means is, for example, the short side of the bagging medium block 14 in the direction along the conveying direction of the conveying means 60, that is, , The narrow side surfaces 11d and 11e containing the fold line of the gusset fold are facing, and the area without the fold line of the gusset fold of the bagged medium block 14 is wide on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction. The side surfaces 11b and 11c face each other (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

Next, the folding device 31 will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and 6 to 15. The folding device 31 is in a state in which the first feeding means 33 for sending the bagged medium block 14 transported by the transporting means 60 from the transporting means 60 to the folding means and the bag mouth 11f of the fed bagged medium block 14 are opened. The container 15 of the container loading device 42, which has an opening mechanism 32 for folding the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 and the unfilled portion 11 folded by the folding means 34. And the folding means 41 in which the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 folded on the container 15 of the container loading device 42 sent from the second feeding means 40 is folded. ,have.

The folding device 31 of the first embodiment is provided in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport means 60 transported from the block forming device 21, and the bagged medium block 14 is in the transport direction of the transport means 60. It will be moved in a direction substantially orthogonal to the above (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

Therefore, when the bagged medium block 14 is moved, the lateral side of the bagged medium block 14, that is, the side surfaces 11d and 11e having a narrow area containing the fold line of the gusset fold faces the upstream side to the downstream side. In addition, the bagged medium block 14 is moved in the direction along the side surfaces 11b and 11c having a large area without fold lines of the gusset fold.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 6A and 6B, the bagged medium block 14 is sent by the first feeding means 33 to the folding means 34 which is folded from the end of the transporting means 60. In the first embodiment, the first feeding means 33 is pressed from the conveying means 60 in the direction of the folding means 34 by, for example, an arm-shaped feeding member 33a. At this time, in the first embodiment, the first feeding means 33 presses the side surface side of the bagged medium block 14 having the narrow area of the gusset fold line. The first feeding means 33 is not limited to the feeding member 33a, and may be a belt conveyor or the like. Further, on the opposite side of the first feeding means 33 of the folding means 34, a regulating member 54 formed of, for example, a rod-shaped body or a plate-shaped body is provided to regulate the movement of the bagged medium block 14 to be fed. .. The regulating member 54 causes the bagging medium block 14 sent by the first feeding means 33 to be positioned at a predetermined position where the folding means 34 is folded. When the bagging medium block 14 is moved by the second feeding means 40 described later, the regulating member 54 is moved to a place deviating from the traveling direction. Therefore, the regulating member 54 is provided so that it can be repeatedly moved.

Next, the folding means 34 will be described. In the folding means 34, the unfilled portion 11h of the bag body 11 of the bagging medium block 14 moved by the first feeding means 33 is opened upward, and the bag opening 11f is opened and conveyed (FIG. FIG. 1 to FIG. 3). First, in the folding means 34, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 6C, and 6D, the bag opening is provided by an opening mechanism 32 for ensuring that the bag opening 11f of the bagging medium block 14 is opened. The opening of 11f is performed. That is, when the bag mouth 11f is not sufficiently opened or a part of the bag mouth 11f is closed (see the left side of FIG. 6D), it becomes difficult to fold the bag mouth 11f by the folding means 34. Therefore, by providing the opening mechanism 32, the bag opening 11f is surely opened (see the right side of FIG. 6D).

As shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D, the opening mechanism 32 is provided from above the bagging medium block 14 positioned by the regulating member 54 by the first feeding means 33, that is, from the bag opening 11f side, for example, by a blower 32a or the like. By blowing air, the bag opening 11f is maintained in an open state. At this time, it is preferable that the air blown from the blower 32a is evenly sent to the entire opened bag opening 11f. On the other hand, if the air is vigorously blown only to a part of the bag opening, the bag opening may be closed or deformed, and the bag opening 11f may not be sufficiently opened.

In the first embodiment, the opening mechanism 32 is performed at the time of the folding means 34, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 6C, the conveying means 60 to the folding means 34 In the stage before being sent to, another opening means 62 may be provided in addition to the opening mechanism 32 of the folding means 34. The other opening means 62 is performed by the blower 62a like the opening mechanism 32 performed by the folding means 34. At this time, it is preferable that the wind power of the blower 62a of the other opening means 62 is substantially the same as or slightly weaker than that of the blower 32a of the opening mechanism 32. By providing the other opening means 62, it becomes possible to more reliably open the bag mouth 11f of the bagging medium block 14 by the folding means 34. The other opening means 62 will be provided on the conveying means 60.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 7 to 8, the folding means 34 of the first embodiment has an opening assist for assisting the opening of the bag mouth 11f of the bagging medium block 14 by the opening mechanism 32. A member 39 is provided. The opening assisting member 39 is provided at a position close to or in contact with both sides of the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 so as to follow the direction in which the bagging medium block 14 is conveyed. The opening assisting member 39 is formed of a rod-shaped body or a plate-shaped body having a predetermined width. The inlet side of the opening auxiliary member 39 on the upstream side in the transport direction of the bagged medium block 14 has an inclined shape that widens toward the upstream so that the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 can easily invade. It may be formed in. Further, this inclination may be provided on the downstream side of the opening assisting member 39.

By providing the opening assisting member 39, the opening mechanism 32 blows air from the bag opening 11f side and expands the unfilled portion 11h so as to be opened. At this time, when the bag opening 11f of the bagging medium block 14 is blown by the opening mechanism 32, the bag opening 11f expands in an elliptical shape close to a substantially circular shape. On the other hand, by providing the opening auxiliary member 39, the opening auxiliary member 39 comes into contact with the expanded unfilled portion 11h of the bag opening 11f of the bagging medium block 14 by the opening mechanism 32, so that the bag opening 11f and the bag opening 11f The spread of the unfilled portion 11h is partially restricted, and the widening shape of the bag mouth 11f becomes an elliptical shape so that the long axis side becomes longer than when the opening auxiliary member 39 is not provided. Therefore, when the support member 35a of the support mechanism 35 described later is inserted, contact with the narrow side surfaces 11d and 11e of the bagging medium block 14 is suppressed, and the support member 35a is prevented from coming into contact with the side surfaces 11d and 11e of the bagging medium block 14 from the bag mouth 11f. It will be easier to insert.

Next, in the bagging medium block 14 whose bag mouth 11f side is opened by the opening mechanism 32, the unfilled portion 11h is folded by the folding means 34. As shown mainly in FIGS. 7 and 8, the folding means 34 is inserted into the unfilled portion 11h from the opening mechanism 32 and the opening assisting member 39 described above and the bag opening 11f of the bagging medium block 14, and the bag is inserted. In a state where the support mechanism 35 is supported so that the mouth 11f is open and the bag mouth 11f of the bagging medium block 14 is supported by the support mechanism 35, the area of the bagged medium block 14 containing the crease. In a state where the narrow side surfaces 11d and 11e are pressed by the pressing mechanism 36 and the narrow side surfaces 11d and 11e of the bagging medium block 14 are pressed by the pressing mechanism 36 and the unfilled portion 11h is narrowed, the filled portion 11g The boundary with the unfilled portion 11h is pushed, the unfilled portion 11h is narrowed to form the neck portion 11i, and the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 pressed by the pressing mechanism 37 is collapsed. It is composed of a tilting mechanism 38 and.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 7, 7A and 7B, the support mechanism 35 is a pair of plates of a predetermined size inserted into the unfilled portion 11h from the opened bag mouth 11f of the bagging medium block 14. It is composed of a support member 35a in the shape of a shape. In the first embodiment, these support members 35a are not along the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side where the gusset folds of the bagged medium block 14 are formed, but along the side surfaces 11b and 11c on the longitudinal side. The support members 35a are arranged so as to face each other and face each other. That is, each support member 35a is arranged in a direction along the feeding direction of the bagged medium block 14. The support member 35a of the support mechanism 35 is configured to be vertically movable.

Further, each support member 35a is connected by, for example, a beam member 35b or the like, and is configured so that they can be repeatedly moved in a direction in which they approach each other and a direction in which they are separated from each other at the same time. Further, the support member 35a may be composed of a plurality of plate-shaped pieces or rod-shaped bodies instead of one plate-shaped body. When it is composed of the plurality of plate-shaped pieces, rod-shaped bodies, or the like, it is provided at least on the four corner sides of the bag mouth 11f of the bagging medium block 14. The support member may be inclined or curved on the tip side, that is, the side to be inserted first into the bag mouth 11f so that the support member can be easily inserted from the bag mouth 11f of the bagging medium block 14.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 7, 7A and 7B, the pressing mechanism 36 is composed of a pair of plate-shaped pressing members 36a that face each other with the bagging medium block 14 in between, and the bagging medium block 14 It is arranged on the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side with the creases, and is repeatedly moved in the direction of pressing and the direction of separation from the bagged medium block 14. The pressing member 36a is arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the bagging medium block 14 in the transport direction so as to sandwich the bagging medium block 14. The pressing member is not limited to a plate shape, but may be a rod shape.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 7A and 7B, the pressing mechanism 37 is composed of a pair of plate-shaped pressing members 37a. The pressing member 37a is moved from the longitudinal side surfaces 11b and 11c of the bagged medium block 14 to the substantially central portion at a position close to the upper surface of the medium 12 of the bagged medium block 14, and the bagged medium block 14 is not yet. The medium 12 side of the filled portion 11h is pressed, and the medium 12 side of the unfilled portion 11h is constricted so that the neck portion 11i is formed. The neck portion 11i serves as a shaft portion when the unfilled portion 11h is tilted by the tilting mechanism 38 described later (see FIG. 8B). Further, in the first embodiment, each pressing member 37a is substantially parallel to the surface on which the bagging medium block 14 is arranged on the folding means 34, that is, the pressing member 37a is the medium 12 of the filling portion 11g of the bagging medium block 14. It is arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the upper surface of the. The pressing member 37a of the pressing mechanism 37 is configured to be repeatedly moved from the side surfaces 11b and 11c on the longitudinal side of the bagging medium block 14 to the substantially central portion.

The pressing members 37a of the pressing mechanism 37 are arranged so as to face each other in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction of the bagged medium block 14. The pressing member 37a is not limited to a plate shape, but may be a rod shape.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 7B, the tilting mechanism 38 tilts the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 along the upper surface of the medium 12, for example, a rod-shaped body or a plate. It is performed by mechanically pushing down with a body or the like, or pushing down with wind pressure by blowing air. In the first embodiment, the airflow generated by a blower or the like is applied to the unfilled portion 11h, that is, by wind pressure (see FIG. 8F). The tilting mechanism 38 is provided at a position along the transport direction of the bagged medium block 14, that is, along the longitudinal side surfaces 11b and 11c of the bagged medium block 14.

Further, the tilting mechanism 38 is not limited to the wind pressure of a blower or the like, and for example, an arm member such as a rod-shaped body, a square-shaped body, or a plate-shaped body is repeatedly moved in a direction of tilting and a direction away from the bagging medium block 14. Then, the unfilled portion 11h may be tilted by bringing it into contact with the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14.

Next, in the second feeding means 40, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 10 to 12, the folded medium block 14 is fed from the folding means 34 onto the container in which the folding means 41 is performed. Be done. The second feeding means 40 is moved from the folding means 34 in the direction of the container loading device 42 in which the container 15 is arranged by being pressed by, for example, an arm-shaped feeding member 40a. At this time, the second feeding means 40 is pressed on the side surfaces 11d and 11e having a narrow area where the gusset-folded fold line of the bagged medium block 14 is inserted, similarly to the first feeding means 33. When the second feeding means 40 is operated, the regulating member 54 is moved to a position deviated from the traveling direction, and after the bagged medium block 14 is fed by the second feeding means 40, the bagging medium block 14 is sent again. The regulation member 54 will be arranged. Further, the regulating member 54 may be moved together with the second feeding means 40.

Further, when the bagged medium block 14 is fed by the second feeding means 40, the bagging medium block 14 is placed in and out of the folding device 31 from the folding means 34 side toward the container loading device 42 side. An underlay member 56 having a thickness and an area is provided. The underlay member 56 is housed in, for example, the folding device 31. The underlay member 56 was sent out with the movement of the bagging medium block 14 by the second feeding means 40, and was placed above the rod-shaped body 48 of the elevating mechanism 51 of the container carrying device 42, which will be described later, and was taken out. The bagged medium block 14 is moved onto the underlay member 56 by the second feeding means 40 (see FIGS. 10C and 10D). Further, it is pulled back when it is stored in the container 15 described later, and is stored in the folding device 31. Therefore, the underlay member 56 is provided so as to be able to repeatedly move in the traveling direction of the bagged medium block 14 and in the opposite direction. Although a part of the underlay member 56 is shown in a protruding state in FIGS. 1, 3, 10, and the like, all of the underlay member 56 may be housed inside the folding device 31. ..

When the folding device 34 and the container loading device 42 are separated from each other, the underlay member 56 is provided with a transport path connecting them, and is taken in and out from the transport path side toward the container loading device 42 side. You may do so. At this time, the underlay member may be housed inside the mechanism provided with the transport path.

Further, when the underlay member 56 is pulled back, the bag-packed medium block 14 can be kept in place by the folding means 41 described later, and the rod-shaped body 48 of the elevating mechanism 51 provided in the lower container loading device 42. It will be placed on top (see FIGS. 11A and 11B). When the bagged medium block 14 is sent to the folding means 34, the second feeding means 40 is moved to a position deviating from the traveling direction, and after the bagged medium block 14 is arranged in the folding means 34, The bagged medium block 14 is arranged at a position where it is pressed. The second feeding means 40 may be a belt conveyor or the like.

As shown mainly in FIGS. 1 and 3, the folding means 41 further folds the unfilled portion 11h in the folded state of the bagging medium block 14 by the folding means 34, and packs the bag in a state of being carried into the container 15. The medium block 14 (see FIG. 4C and FIG. 12) is molded. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 9, 12, and 13, the folding means 41 includes side surfaces 11b and 11c having a large area and side surfaces 11d and 11e having a small area of the bagged medium block 14. A tubular folding member having plate-shaped side walls 41b1, 41b2, 41b3, 41c that surround each side surface thereof, and having a bottom portion on the bagging medium block 14 side and an upper portion facing the bottom portion. It has 41a. The folding member 41a has a shape corresponding to the bagging medium block 14 carried into the container 15.

As will be described later, the folding member 41a has each side wall 41b1, 41b2, 41b3, 41c constituting the folding member 41a, and is formed of a tubular body having a size capable of inserting the bagging medium block 14 inside. ing. Further, among the side walls 41b1, 41b2, 41b3, 41c, there is a folding side wall 41c for folding the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14. Specifically, among the side walls of the folding member 41a, the side wall which is long and is arranged on the side where the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 is folded is the folding side wall 41c (FIG. 9A, FIG. See 9B). The folding member 41a is formed of a tubular body, but the corners may not be closed, and the side walls of the four plate-shaped bodies are arranged so as to face each other in pairs. It may be said. Further, the side walls of the folding member 41a other than the folding side wall 41c are shown as side walls 41b1, 41b2, 41b3, and may be collectively referred to as 41b below.

Then, the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 is folded below the folding member 41a, that is, by the bottom portion 41d of the folding side wall 41c on the side arranged on the bagging medium block 14 side (see FIG. 13). ).

The folding means 41 has a configuration in which the folding member 41a can be moved up and down, and is in contact with the unfilled portion 11h folded substantially parallel to the upper surface of the medium 12 of the bagging medium block 14 arranged on the container 15. After being brought into contact with each other, the unfilled portion 11h is further folded by moving it downward along the side surface of the bagged medium block 14. At this time, the operation of the container loading device 42 is linked, but the details will be described later.

Next, the operation of the folding device 31 of the first embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 7 to 13. First, as described above, the bagged medium block 14 transported by the transporting means 60 is fed by the first feeding means 33 from above the transporting means 60 to the folding means 34 (see FIGS. 6A and 6B). At this time, the bagging medium block 14 is moved until it comes into contact with the regulating member 54 provided on the opposite side of the folding means 34 from the first feeding means 22d, and is brought into contact with the regulating member 54. Positioning in the folding means 34 is performed.

At this time, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the opening mechanism 32, the opening assisting member 39, and the supporting mechanism of the folding means 34 are moved to the positions where the bagging medium block 14 sent by the first feeding means 33 is moved. 35, a pressing mechanism 36, and a pressing mechanism 37 are arranged respectively.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D, the folding means 34 is first blown from above the bag opening 11f by the blower 32a as the opening mechanism 32 toward the bag opening 11f of the bagging medium block 17. The bag mouth 11f of the filling medium block 14 is in an open state (see FIGS. 6C and 6D). In the bagged medium block 14, the bag mouth 11f is more easily opened because the air is blown by the other opening means 62 before being moved to the folding means 34. Further, by providing the opening auxiliary member 39, the bag opening 11f of the bagging medium block 14 is expanded into an elliptical shape having a long long axis by the blower 32a of the opening mechanism 32.

Further, as the opening mechanism 32 is performed, each of the supporting members 35a of the supporting mechanism 35 and the pressing member 36a of the pressing mechanism 36 are moved from above to below the bag mouth 11f of the bagging medium block 14, and among them, each support is provided. The member 35a is inserted into the unfilled portion 11h from the opened bag opening 11f of the bagging medium block 14. Each of the support members 35a is arranged along the side surfaces 11b and 11c on the longitudinal side of the bagged medium block 14, respectively. At this time, since each support member 35a is inserted into the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 while being blown by the blower 32a of the opening mechanism 32, the bag mouth 11f is opened, so that each support member 35a Easy to insert. Further, by providing the opening auxiliary member 39, the bag mouth 11f of the bagging medium block 14 is expanded into an elliptical shape having a long long axis, so that the support member 35a can be easily inserted.

Next, after each support member 35a is inserted into the unfilled portion 11h, each pressing member 36a of the pressing mechanism 36 is moved toward the bagging medium block 14 as shown in FIGS. 7E and 7F. The pressing mechanism 36 pushes the pair of pressing members 36a from the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side of the bagged medium block 14 to the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side of the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14, respectively. Moved to. Then, the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side of the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 are pressed by the pressing members 36a, respectively, so that the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side are pushed along the creases. , The side surfaces 11b and 11c on each longitudinal side of the bagging medium block 14 are moved toward the center side, respectively, and the bag mouth 11f is closed.

At this time, each support member 35a of the support mechanism 35 is moved to the center side in accordance with the movement of the side surfaces 11b and 11c on the longitudinal side, and as shown in FIG. 7F, is centered together with the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14. It is summarized in the department. When the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is grouped on the central side, the boundary between the unfilled portion 11h and the filled portion 11g, that is, the unfilled portion 11h on the upper surface side of the medium 12 is flat, that is, It is not substantially parallel to the upper surface of the medium 12, and for example, the central portion may be swollen and chevron-shaped or distorted (see FIG. 7F).

After the support members 35a of the support mechanism 35 and the pressing members 36a of the pressing mechanism 36 are grouped together with the unfilled portion 11h in the central portion and the opposing support members 35a are in close proximity to each other, they are shown in FIGS. 7G and 7H. As described above, the pressing mechanism 37 presses the upper surface side of the medium 12 of the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14, and provides the neck portion 11i which is the axis when the unfilled portion 11h is tilted. In this pressing mechanism 37, the pair of pressing members 37a are moved from the side surfaces 11b and 11c on the longitudinal side of the bagging medium block 14 toward the center on the upper surface side of the medium 12 of the filling portion 11g, and the unfilled portion 11h It is done by sandwiching. At this time, the upper surface side of the medium 12 of the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is prepared to be substantially flat. In the first embodiment, plate-shaped pressing members are used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a rod-shaped body along the longitudinal direction of the bagged medium block 14 may be used.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, each support member 35a and each pressing member 36a of the support mechanism 35 are moved upward. At this time, the pressing member 36a of the pressing mechanism 36 is maintained in a state where the bagging medium block 14 is pressed.

After that, as shown in FIGS. 8C and 8D, each support member 35a and each pressing member 36a of the support mechanism 35 are moved upward, but the folding mechanism is tilted before being pulled out from the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14. The air is blown by the blower 38a of 38. At this time, even when an arm member such as a rod-shaped body, a square-shaped body, or a plate-shaped body is used as a tilting mechanism, each support member 35a and each pressing member 36a of the support mechanism 35 are moved upward. Is moved to the unfilled portion 11h side of the bagged medium block 14 before being pulled out from the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 8E and 8F, the unfilled portion 11h is pressed by the blower 38a of the tilting mechanism 38 because the side surface 11b on one longitudinal side of the bagging medium block 14 receives wind pressure. It is rotated around the neck portion 11i pressed by 37a and is knocked down. At this time, the tilting mechanism 38 is performed with each support member 35a inserted into the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14, so that the neck portion 11i is supported while the upper portion of the unfilled portion 11h is supported. It will be knocked down, and deformation of the unfilled portion 11h will be suppressed.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 8G and 8H, after the unfilled portion 11 of the bagged medium block 14 is knocked down, the blowing of the blower 38a of the tilting mechanism 38 is stopped. When a mechanical arm member such as a rod-shaped body, a square-shaped body, or a plate-shaped body is used as a tilting mechanism, the arm member is moved to the position of the base before being moved. At this time, the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is in a collapsed state. When the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is knocked down, the blower 32a of the opening mechanism 32 is operated to blow air from above, and the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is knocked down. You may try to maintain the state. This completes the folding of the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 by the folding means 34.

Next, the second feeding means 40 will be described. The bagged medium block 14 is sent onto the container 15 of the container loading device 42, which will be described later, by the second feeding means 40, and the unfilled portion 11h is folded by the next folding means 41. 2. The container carrying device 42 in which the container 15 into which the bagging medium block 14 sent by the feeding means 40 is carried is arranged will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and 9. In FIG. 9, the description of the opening assisting member 39 is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the container loading device 42 is provided with a plurality of rod-shaped bodies 48 on which the bagged medium block 14 is placed, and the elevating mechanism 51 for raising and lowering these and the arranged container rotate. It has a rotating member 49 to be formed, and a rotating mechanism 47 for rotating the rotating member 49. Further, in the elevating mechanism 51, the plurality of rod-shaped bodies 48 are elevated and lowered, and the plurality of packed medium blocks 14 arranged are accommodated in the container 15 by being inserted and removed from the plurality of gaps 15b provided in the bottom portion 15a of the container 15. It is a mechanism to make it. Further, the rotating member 49 of the rotating mechanism 47 is provided with a convex member (not shown) for positioning and fixing the container 15, and the convex member is moved in and out according to the movement of the container 15.

The rotating mechanism 47 has, for example, a disk-shaped rotating member 49 having a predetermined size that can be rotated, and a rotating shaft portion 50 that rotates the rotating member 49. The rotating member 49 is rotatable together with the container 15 and the bagged medium block 14 placed on the upper surface. Further, the rotating member 49 is formed with a plurality of openings 58 through which each rod-shaped body 48 of the elevating mechanism 51 can be inserted.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the elevating mechanism 51 repeatedly elevates and elevates the plurality of rod-shaped bodies 48. The rod-shaped body 48 is inserted and removed from the opening 58 formed in the rotating member 49 of the rotating mechanism 47 and the plurality of gaps 15b formed in the bottom portion 15a of the container 15. Further, the rod-shaped body 48 is arranged below the underlay member 56 sent out from the folding means 34 described above, and as will be described later, the bagging medium block 14 placed on the underlay member 56 The underlay member 56 is pulled back and is placed on the upper part of the rod-shaped body 48. At this time, the folding means 41 restricts the movement of the bagged medium block 14, and even if the underlay member 56 is moved, it can be placed on the rod-shaped body 48.

Then, in the state where the container 15 is not carried in, that is, in the state before the container is carried in, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, each rod-shaped body 48 is lowered by the elevating mechanism 51, and the rotating member 49 It is arranged below and has a height at which the container 15 can be carried.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 9C and 9D, after the container 15 is carried into a predetermined position, each rod-shaped body 48 is lifted by the elevating mechanism 51 as shown in FIGS. 9E and 9F. At this time, each rod-shaped body 48 is penetrated through the gap 15b provided in the bottom portion 15a of the container 15 and the opening 58 of the rotating member 49, respectively. In this state, the bagged medium block 14 is sent onto the rod-shaped body 48 and can be placed on the rod-shaped body 48.

Further, in the container carry-in device 42, a container setting means 43 in which one is taken out from a plurality of prepared containers 15 and set, and a container 15 in which the bagging medium block 14 is carried are used as a next machine, for example. A container transporting means 44 for transporting to a sterilizer is provided (see FIGS. 1 and 3). The container transport means 44 also includes a case where the container transport means 44 is transported to a movable shelf for transport to the sterilizer.

The container setting means 43 automatically transfers one container 15 from a plurality of stacked containers 15 to the container loading device 42 after the container 15 containing the bagging medium block 14 on the container loading device 42 is transported. It is designed to be set to. When the container 15 is transported from the container loading device 42, the empty container 15 pushes out the container 15 containing the bagging medium block 14 from the container setting means 43, so that the container 15 is replaced. Further, in the container transport means 44, the container 15 containing the bagged medium block 14 extruded into the new empty container 15 is transported by a conveyor or the like.

Further, any number of holes 58 may be provided in the rod-shaped body 48 of the elevating mechanism 51 and the rotating member 49 of the rotating mechanism 47, but at least the bagging medium block 14 fed by the second feeding means 40 is provided. It is preferably provided in a supportable portion, for example, a portion including the size of the bagged medium block 14.

Next, the second feeding means 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12. As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the second feeding means 40 feeds the bagged medium block 14 to the container loading device 42 with the unfilled portion 11h tilted down by the second feeding means 40. At this time, in order to prevent the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 from rising, the folding means 41 may be provided with a blower such as the opening mechanism 32 or another opening means 62 as described above. In addition, in FIGS. 10 to 12, the description of the opening assist member 39 is omitted.

When the bagged medium block 14 is fed by the second feeding means 40, first, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, what is the traveling direction of the bagged medium block 14 in which the unfilled portion 11h is folded by the folding means 34? The second feeding means 40 is brought into contact with the second feeding means 40 from the opposite side. At this time, the container 15 to be accommodated is arranged in the container loading device 42.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 10C and 10D, an underlay member 56 that is taken in and out from below where the bagging medium block 14 of the folding means 34 is placed toward the container loading device 42 is provided. The second feeding means 40 allows the bagged medium block 14 to be placed on the underlay member 56 once. At this time, when the bagged medium block 14 is fed by the second feeding means 40, the regulating member 54 is moved to a position where the bagged medium block 14 deviates from the traveling direction of the bagged medium block 14. The regulating member 54 may be configured to be repeatedly moved together with the second feeding means 40. Further, in the container loading device 42, the rod-shaped body 48 is moved upward by the elevating mechanism 51, and is raised to a position where it is arranged under the underlay member 56.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the second feeding means 40 is pulled back and placed at a predetermined position of the folding means 34. At this time, the second feeding means 40 was moved to a position deviated from the traveling direction so that the next bagging medium block 14 was sent to the folding means 34, and the bagging medium block 14 was arranged in the folding means 34. After that, it will be moved to a position where it can be pressed.

After that, as shown in FIGS. 11C and 11D, the folding means 41 is moved downward, and the bagging medium block 14 is surrounded by the folding member 41a. At this time, the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 is folded by the folding wall portion 41c of the folding means 41, and the bag opening 11f faces downward, that is, toward the container 15 (see FIGS. 13A to 13D).

Next, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the underlay member 56 is pulled back in a state where the bagging medium block 14 is surrounded by the folding member 41a of the folding means 41. At this time, since the folding member 41a does not move, the bagging medium block 14 is stopped at the position where it is sent to the second feeding means 40, so that the bagging medium block 14 moves even if the underlay member 56 moves. 14 will stay in place. Then, by moving the underlay member 56, the bagged medium block 14 is moved downward and placed on the rod-shaped body 48.

After that, as shown in FIGS. 12C and 12D, the rod-shaped body 48 of the container loading device 42 is moved downward by the elevating mechanism 51, the folding means 41 is also moved downward, and the bagging medium block 14 is moved to the container 15. Will be housed inside. After the bagged medium block 14 is housed in the container 15, the folding means 41 is moved upward (see FIGS. 13E and 13F).

Next, with reference to FIGS. 13A to 13F, the folding means 41 into which the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is folded will be described. In addition, in FIG. 13B, FIG. 13D, FIG. 13F, etc., the orientation of the unfilled portion 11h is changed so that it is easy to understand.

First, in the bagging medium block 14, the bagging medium block 14 sent from the folding means 34 by the second feeding means 40 and the underlay member 56 is arranged on the upper part of the rod-shaped body 48 as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B. Will be done. The container 15 is arranged in the container loading device 42, and the rod-shaped body 48 is arranged so as to penetrate through the gap 15b of the bottom portion 15a of the container 15, and is also inserted through the opening 58 of the rotating member 49. .. Further, at this time, the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is in a folded state so as to be substantially parallel to the medium 12.

After that, as shown in FIGS. 13C and 13D, the folding member 41a of the folding means 41 moves downward, that is, toward the bagging medium block 14, folds the unfilled portion 11h in the folded state, and the container loading device. The rod-shaped body 48 of the 42 is moved downward by the elevating mechanism 51, and the bagged medium block 14 in which the unfilled portion 11h is folded is accommodated in the container 15. At this time, the rod-shaped body 48 is moved below the container 15 and the rotating member 49.

In the folding means 41, the bottom portion 41d of the folding wall portion 41c of the folding member 41a presses the unfilled portion 11h, so that the folding member 41a is folded downward so as to be along the one longitudinal side surface 11c of the bagging medium block 14. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13D, the shape is formed into a substantially cubic shape (see FIG. 4C).

After that, as shown in FIGS. 13E and 13F, the folding member 41a of the folding means 41 is moved upward, and the folding of one bagged medium block 14 by the folding device 31 is completed. At this time, the step of accommodating one bagged medium block 14 in the container loading device 42 of the container accommodating device 46 is also completed by accommodating one bagged medium block 14 in the container 15.

The unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 by the folding means 41 may be folded at the same time as the rod-shaped body 48 is moved downward by the elevating mechanism 51, and the bagged medium block 14 is the container 15. It may be done after being housed inside.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, a plurality of container loading devices 46 in the container loading device 46, and four bagged medium blocks 14 in the first embodiment will be described.

First, one bagged medium block 14 is housed in the container 15 of the container loading device 42 by the above-mentioned step (see FIGS. 13E and 13F). After that, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the rotating member 49 is rotated by, for example, counterclockwise by approximately 90 degrees, and the bagged medium block 14 is rotated together with the container 15. The rotating member 49 may be rotated clockwise.

After that, as shown in FIGS. 14C and 14D, the rod-shaped body 48 is moved upward by the elevating mechanism 51, penetrates the opening 58 of the rotating member 49 and the gap 15b of the container 15, and is in a predetermined position, that is, a folding device. It is below the underlay member 56 of 31 and is arranged at a position (height) on which the bagged medium block 14 is placed. Then, the next bagging medium block 14 is arranged on the rod-shaped body 48 of the container loading device 42 by the second feeding means 40 and the underlay member 56.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 14E and 14F, the folding member 41a of the folding means 41 is moved downward, and the rod-shaped body 48 is moved downward by the elevating mechanism 51, so that the unfilled portion 11h is folded. The bagged medium block 14 is housed in the container 15. At this time, the unfilled portion 11h of the previously housed bagging medium block 14 was refolded by a wall portion 41b different from the folding wall portion 41c of the folding member 41a of the folding means 41, and was newly accommodated. When the next bagged medium block 14 is brought into contact with the block 14, the folded state can be maintained.

After that, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the rotating member 49 is rotated by approximately 90 degrees counterclockwise again, and the next bagged medium block 14 is accommodated.

Then, the above steps are repeated, and as shown in FIGS. 15C and 15D, the four bagging medium blocks 14 are housed in the container 15 of the container loading device 42 in a so-called swastika shape, whereby the bagging medium block is accommodated. Feeding to the container loading device 42 of 14 is temporarily suspended.

After that, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the container 15 containing the bagged medium block 14 is transported by the container transport means 44 to the next device, for example, a sterilizer, and the empty container 15 is set in a container. It is set in the container loading device 42 by the means 43. Then, again, the bagged medium block 14 is stored in the container 15 by the above-mentioned step.

The folded bagged medium block 14 can be carried from the folding device 31 to the container 15 of the container carrying device 42 by using a robot arm.

From the above, a series of work steps for manufacturing the bagged medium block 14 including folding the unfilled portion 11h of the bag mouth of the bagged medium block 14 is completed.

[Application Example 1]
In the folding device 31 of the first embodiment, the folding means 34 uses a pair of pressing members 36a as the pressing mechanism 36 for pressing the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side of the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14. However, the case is not limited to this, and wind pressure may be used as the pressing mechanism 36A for pressing the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side of the unfilled portion 11h.

That is, as shown in FIG. 16, the pressing mechanism 36A that presses the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is blown from the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side by a blower 36Aa such as a nozzle, and the bag is blown by the wind pressure. The unfilled portion 11h of the filling medium block 14 may be bent by pressing the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side. In FIG. 16, the description of the opening mechanism 32 and the opening assisting member 39 is omitted.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the support mechanism 35, the pressing mechanism 36A, and the pressing mechanism 37 of the folding means 34 are arranged with respect to the bagging medium block 14 sent by the first feeding means 33, respectively. Will be done.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 16C and 16D, the folding means 34 is blown by the opening mechanism 32, and each support member 35a of the support mechanism 35 is lowered from above the bag mouth 11f of the bagging medium block 14. Each support member 35a is inserted into the unfilled portion 11h from the opened bag opening 11f of the bagging medium block 14. Each of the support members 35a is arranged along the side surfaces 11b and 11c on the longitudinal side of the bagged medium block 14, respectively. In addition. At this time, the blower 36Aa of the pressing mechanism 36A does not need to move because it is arranged at a position where the wind pressure reaches.

After each support member 35a is inserted into the unfilled portion 11h, the pressing mechanism 36A is operated. As shown in FIGS. 16E and 16F, the pressing mechanism 36A is provided by a pair of blowers 36Aa from the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side of the bagged medium block 14 on the short side of the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14, respectively. The air is blown to the side surfaces 11d and 11e of the above, and is pushed in by the wind pressure. Then, the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side of the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 are pressed by the wind pressure of each blower 36Aa, so that the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side are pushed along the creases. At the same time, the side surfaces 11b and 11c on each longitudinal side of the bagging medium block 14 are moved toward the center side, respectively, and the bag mouth 11f is closed.

At this time, each support member 35a of the support mechanism 35 is moved to the center side in accordance with the movement of the side surfaces 11b and 11c on the longitudinal side, and is centered together with the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 as shown in FIG. 16F. It is summarized in the department. When the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is grouped on the central side, the boundary between the unfilled portion 11h and the filled portion 11g, that is, the unfilled portion 11h on the upper surface side of the medium 12 is flat, that is, It is not substantially parallel to the upper surface of the medium 12, and for example, the central portion may be swollen and chevron-shaped or distorted (see FIG. 16F).

Then, after each of the support members 35a of the support mechanism 35 is gathered in the central portion together with the unfilled portion 11h and the opposing support members 35a are in close proximity to each other, the pressing mechanism 37 is used as shown in FIGS. 16G and 16H. The upper surface side of the medium 12 of the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is pressed, and a neck portion 11i serving as an axis when the unfilled portion 11h is tilted is provided. At this time, the blower 36Aa of the pressing mechanism 36A may maintain the state in which the air pressure is applied to the bagged medium block 14. Hereinafter, the same steps as in the first embodiment are performed.

By doing so, the number of mechanical steps can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. Since the other operations of Application Example 1 are common to those of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[Application example 2]
In the folding device 31 of the first embodiment, the case where the folding means 34 is pressed by the pair of pressing members 37a as the pressing mechanism 37 for pressing the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Wind pressure may be used as the pressing mechanism 37A for pressing the portion 11h.

That is, as shown in FIG. 17, at the neck portion 11i between the unfilled portion 11h and the filling portion 11g collected in the central portion of the bagged medium block 14, a blower such as a nozzle is used from the side opposite to the tilting mechanism 38. By applying the wind pressure by 37Aa, the root portion of the unfilled portion 11h, that is, the neck portion 11i is formed, and the shaft can be used as a shaft to be supported when the tilting mechanism 38 is tilted. In FIG. 17, the description of the opening mechanism 32 and the opening assisting member 39 is omitted.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the upper surface side of the medium 12 of the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is pressed by the wind pressure of the blower 37Aa by the pressing mechanism 37A, and the unfilled portion 11h is tilted. A neck portion 11i, which serves as an axis for the operation, is provided. In this pressing mechanism 37A, air is blown from one side, that is, the side surface 11b on the longitudinal side of the bagging medium block 14 opposite to the folding mechanism 38, toward the center of the upper surface side of the medium 12 of the filling portion 11g. This is performed by applying wind pressure to the filling portion 11h.

Then, after the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is pressed by the wind pressure of the blower 37Aa of the pressing mechanism 37A, the pressing member 37a of the pressing mechanism 37 is pressed from the unfilled portion 11h as shown in FIGS. 17C and 17D. It is pulled out.

After that, as shown in FIGS. 17E and 17F, the air is blown by the blower 38a of the tilting mechanism 38, and the side surface 11b on one longitudinal side of the bagging medium block 14 receives the wind pressure, so that the unfilled portion 11h becomes the blower 37Aa. The neck portion 11i, which is suppressed by the wind pressure of the above, is rotated around the axis and is knocked down. At this time, as in the first embodiment, the tilting mechanism 38 is blown with the support member 35a and the pressing member 36a in the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 17G and 17H, the blower of the blower 38a of the tilting mechanism 38 is stopped, and the blower of the blower 37Aa of the holding mechanism 37A is blown in a state where the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 is tilted. Is stopped. After that, the same steps as in the first embodiment are performed.

By doing so, the number of mechanical steps can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. Since other operations of the pressing mechanism 37A of Application Example 2 are common to those of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Further, in Application Example 1, the pressing mechanism 36A is a blower 36Aa, and in Application Example 2, the pressing mechanism 37A is a blower 37Aa. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the pressing mechanism 36A is used so that both the pressing mechanism and the pressing mechanism are performed by wind pressure. The blower 36Aa and the holding mechanism 37A may be used with the blower 37Aa.

[Application example 3]
Further, in the first embodiment, the case where the so-called gusset type bag body 11 is used for the bagging medium block 14 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the bagging medium block 14 may be folded in one character or in a bundle. it can. The gusset fold is a method of folding in a substantially M shape according to the crease on the side surface on the short side of the bag, and the opening side of the bag has four layers at the end on the short side and two layers at the center. How to fold. Single-character folding is a method of folding with both short sides stretched straight outward, and the opening side of the bag has two layers everywhere. Bundling is a folding method in which the openings of the bag are bundled, and the crease lines are irregularly formed.

Here, as shown in FIG. 18A, the one-character fold is a state in which both short sides 11d and 11e are stretched straight outward when the bag mouth 11f side of the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 is closed. It is a method of folding with, and the bag mouth 11f side of the bag has two layers everywhere. Even when the bag mouth 11f is folded by one character, as shown in FIGS. 18B and 18C, the unfilled portion 11h can be folded to form the bagging medium block 14.

Further, in the case of folding one character, for example, the structure of the folding means 34 of the folding device 31 of the first embodiment can be used, and a part of the operation can be changed. That is, as shown in FIG. 18D, after inserting each support member 35a of the support mechanism 35 of the folding means 34 and the pressing member 36a of the pressing mechanism 36 from the opened bag opening 11f side of the bagging medium block 14, respectively. As shown in FIG. 18E, the bag mouth 11f can be closed by folding the bag mouth 11f by moving the pressing member 36a to both short sides 11d and 11e of the bagging medium block 14 and pressing them outward. Will be. Then, as shown in FIG. 18F, after the support mechanism 35 and the pressing mechanism 36 are pulled out, the subsequent steps of the pressing mechanism 37 and the tilting mechanism 38 are performed in the state of the unfilled portion 11h in which the bag opening 11f is folded by one character. , Will be delivered to the container. When the tilting mechanism 38 is performed, it is performed in a state where the support member 35a is inside the unfilled portion 11h, as in the first embodiment.

[Application example 4]
Further, in the first embodiment, the case where the transport means 60 from the block forming device 21 and the folding device 31 are arranged at substantially right angles has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 19, the block forming device is not limited to this. The transport means 60B from 21 and the folding device 31B may be arranged so as to be substantially linear.

In this case, the first feeding means described in the first embodiment can be omitted, and the first feeding means is directly conveyed from the block forming device 21 to the folding device 31B by the conveying means 60, and the unfilled portion of the bagged medium block 14 is conveyed by the folding means 34. It can be folded for 11 hours. At that time, the bagged medium block 14 is brought into contact with the regulating member 54 by the movement of the transport means 60B, and is positioned when folding is performed by the folding means 34.

At this time, the orientation of the bagged medium block 14 is the same as in the first embodiment, that is, the short side of the bagged medium block 14, that is, the narrow side surfaces 11d and 11e having the fold line of the gusset fold is upstream to downstream. It is designed to face sideways and is moved in the direction along the side surfaces 11b and 11c of the bagged medium block 14 having a large area without fold lines.

[Application Example 5]
Furthermore, the case where the support member 35a of the support mechanism 35 of the first embodiment is composed of one plate-shaped body or a plurality of plate-shaped pieces or rod-shaped bodies has been described, but at least the support member 35a is packed in a bag. The thickness of the portions provided on the four corners of the bag mouth 11f of the culture medium block 14 can be increased.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, for example, in the case of the support member 35Ca of the support mechanism 35C formed of a single plate-like body, the cross section on both ends is thicker than the thickness other than the ends. For example, it is formed to have a quadrangular shape, that is, a quadrangular columnar shape so as to be thick. It may be formed so as to be columnar. Further, as shown in FIGS. 20C to 20F, the cross section of the support member 35a of the support mechanism 35 formed of a plurality of plate-shaped pieces or rod-shaped bodies is thicker than the thickness of the support member 35a shown in the first embodiment. A circular shape, that is, a support member 35Da (see FIGS. 20C and 20D) of the columnar support mechanism 35D, and a square shape, that is, a support member 35Ea of the square columnar support mechanism 35E (see FIGS. 20E and 20F). Is formed in.

By using the support members 35Ca to 35Ea having such a configuration, when the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 is folded, when the thick portion of the support members 35Ca to 35Ea is folded. A gap is provided on each side surface 11b, 11c, 11d, 11e of the unfilled portion 11h. Then, by folding or folding in this state, when the bagging medium block 14 is formed into a block shape, a gap is formed in the bag mouth 11f of the unfilled portion 11h, and the inside of the bag body 11 is sealed. Is suppressed. By suppressing the sealing of the bag body 11, for example, in a sterilization step in which the bagging medium block 14 is carried into a later sterilization pot to sterilize the bagged medium, pressure is applied between the inside of the bag body 11 and the atmospheric pressure. It becomes possible to suppress the occurrence of a difference.

When a plurality of support members, for example, a pair of support members on one side are provided, any shape and size can be used as long as the shape is thicker than the portion where the support members are not provided, that is, the shape can form a gap. Can be formed.

[Modification 1]
Next, the container storage device 46F, which is a modification 1 of the container storage device 46 of the first embodiment, will be described. In the first embodiment, the case where the bagged medium block 14 having a volume of about 2.5 kg to 2.8 kg is mainly used has been described, but in the modified example, the volume is smaller than that of the bagged medium block 14 of the first embodiment. Will be about 1.0 kg to 1.3 kg, and a case where a bagged medium block 14F having a size of about 1/2 to 1/3 is used will be described.

When such a small bagged medium block 14F is used, in the container accommodating device 46F, a part of the loading and accommodating operation of the container loading device 42 connected to the folding device 31 is changed, and the folding means 34 ends. In the process of being carried into the container 15 after the operation, the operation is partially different from that of the first embodiment, so that the container 15 can be carried in more efficiently.

Since the block forming device 21 is common, detailed description thereof will be omitted. Since the folding device 31F is partially different, the same reference numerals will be given to the common configurations, and detailed description will be omitted.

Here, a bagged medium block 14F having a capacity of about 1.0 kg to 1.3 kg (hereinafter, simply referred to as a bagged medium block 14F) will be described. As shown in FIG. 21, the bagged medium block 14F is composed of a bag body 11F and a medium 12 filled in the bag body 11F, as in the first embodiment. In FIG. 21A, the bag body 11F is formed. The bag mouth 11Ff is opened in a state where the medium 12 is packed in the bag, and the bag mouth 11Ff is not folded.

As shown in FIG. 21A, the bag body 11F has a circular bottom surface 11Fa having a predetermined length and width, and a side surface 11Fb erected at a predetermined height from the long side of the bottom surface 11Fa. , It is columnar. At this time, the upper portion facing the bottom surface 11Fa is opened, and this opened portion becomes the bag mouth 11Ff, which is a portion filled with the medium 12 described later. The material of the bag body 11F is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Further, the bag body 11F is divided into a filled portion 11Fg filled with the medium 12 and an unfilled portion 11Fh above the filled portion 11Fg, which is a space. That is, the filled portion 11Fg has a predetermined height at which the upper surface of the medium 12 is arranged from the bottom surface 11F when the medium 12 described later is filled, and the unfilled portion 11Fh is the top of the filled portion 11Fg, that is, the medium 12. The height is from the upper surface of the medium to the bag mouth 11Ff.

Further, the medium 12 filled in the bag body 11F is common to the first embodiment, and the weight when the medium 12 is filled in the bag body 11F is, for example, about 1.0 kg to 1.3 kg.

The size of the bag body 11F is not limited to the above dimensions, the bottom surface 11Fa may be rectangular, and the lengths of the filled portion 11Fg and the unfilled portion 11Fh are the medium used. It may be changed by the amount of 12, and the weight may be increased or decreased.

Further, in the folding device 31F as in the first embodiment, first, from the bagging medium block 14F in which the bag opening 11Ff shown in FIG. 21A is opened, the bag opening 11Ff of the bag body 11F as shown in FIG. 21B is formed. It is closed and the boundary between the filled portion 11Fg and the unfilled portion 11Fh is folded along the upper surface of the filled portion 11Fg. In addition, in the bagging medium block 14F of the modification 1, it is folded in one character.

Further, in the folding device 31F, the bagging medium block 14F is further folded from the state shown in FIG. 21B, and is brought into the state shown in FIG. 21C by the folding means. That is, as shown in FIG. 21C, in the bagged medium block 14F, the bag mouth 11Ff of the bag body 11F is closed, and the boundary between the filled portion 11Fg and the unfilled portion 11Fh is bent along the upper surface of the filled portion 11Fg. , The bag is formed into a block shape by being bent again along the side surface of the filling portion 11Fg so that the bag mouth 11Ff side faces downward. The unfilled portion 11Fh of the bag body 11F of the bagged medium block 14F is packed in the container 15 in a folded block shape.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 22 to 32, the loading and storage of the bagged medium block 14F from the folding device 31F in the container storage device 46 of the modification 1 to the container loading device 42F will be described. Since the opening means 32, the first feeding means 33, and the folding means 34 of the folding device 31F in the first modification are the same as those in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted. The first feeding means 33 may use a belt conveyor or the like. Therefore, the process after the folding means 34 of the folding device 31F, which is different from the first embodiment, is mainly described will be described.

In the first modification, as shown in FIG. 22, the bagged medium blocks 14F are arranged in the container 15 in a 3 × 3 row to accommodate a total of nine. At this time, the unfilled portion 11Fh of each bagged medium block 14F is arranged so that the folded side faces inward.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the folding device 31F of the modified example 1 is provided with an alignment portion 70F having a predetermined size between the folding device 31F and the container loading device 42F, and as will be described later, a predetermined one. In the number and modification 1, the three bagged medium blocks 14F are aligned.

Further, the folding device 31F of the first modification is provided with an aligning member 72F for aligning the bagging medium block 14F and moving the bagging medium block 14F. The alignment member 72F is provided with a plurality of dividing means 74F for restricting the movement of the bagged medium block 14F and for partitioning each bagged medium block 14F, and four in the first modification. The separating means 74F is attached so that the position that blocks the movement and the position that does not block the movement can be repeatedly moved with respect to the moving direction of the bagged medium block 14F.

Further, the folding member 41F of the folding means 41F of the modified example 1 is different in shape from the folding member 41a of the first embodiment, and is configured to have two rows of plate bodies 41Fc. That is, two rows of plate bodies 41Fc are provided side by side substantially in parallel in the direction in which the bagged medium block 14F is carried into the container 15. Further, the opposite side of the bottom portion 41Fd into which the unfilled portion 11Fh of the bagged medium block 14F of the plate body 41Fc is folded is configured to integrally connect the two rows of plate bodies 41Fc.

Further, in the container loading device 42F of the modification 1, the movement of the container 15 is different from that of the first embodiment, but the details will be described later.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 22 to 32, the delivery of the packaged medium block 14F of the first modification into the container 15 will be described after the folding means 34 of the bagged medium block 14F is completed.

First, as shown in FIG. 24, in the folding device 31F of the first modification, the bagged medium block 14F that has been folded by the folding means 34 is aligned with the aligning portion 70F. That is, the bagged medium block 14F is folded at the position positioned by the regulating member 54 and then sent to the aligning portion 70F.

At this time, in the aligning member 72F provided in the aligning portion 70F, the separating means 74F on the farthest side far from the folding means 34, that is, the side closest to the container 15, was closed, and the other dividing means 74F was opened. Waiting in the state. Therefore, the packed medium block 14F in which the unfilled portion 11Fh is folded is sent so as to be in contact with or close to the separating means 74F on the innermost side of the aligning portion 70F and aligned. The second feeding means 40 for feeding the bagged medium block 14F to the aligning portion 70F may be extruded by an arm-shaped member, or a belt conveyor or the like may be used. Further, the elevating mechanism 51 of the container loading device 42F has been moved upward and is arranged below the position of the underlay member 56.

In addition, in FIGS. 22 and 23, the transport means 60 and the folding device 31F are arranged so as to be substantially at right angles, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the transport means 60 and the folding device 31F are arranged substantially in a straight line. It may be (see FIG. 19).

Next, as shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B, the second bagged medium block 14F newly folded by the folding means 34 is sent to the aligning portion 70F. At this time, the aligning member 72F provided in the aligning portion 70F is the second side from the back farthest from the folding means 34, that is, the separating means 74F next to the bagging medium block 14F previously aligned in the aligning portion 70F. Is closed. Then, the bagged medium block 14F in which the unfilled portion 11Fh is folded is sent to a position where it comes into contact with or is close to the second separating means 74F, and is aligned.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 26A and 26B, the third bagged medium block 14F newly folded by the folding means 34 is sent to the alignment portion 70F. At this time, the aligning member 72F provided on the aligning portion 70F is located on the third side from the innermost side far from the folding means 34, that is, next to the second bagging medium block 14F previously aligned on the aligning portion 70F. Separation means 74F is closed.

Then, the bagged medium block 14F in which the unfilled portion 11Fh is folded is sent to a position where it comes into contact with or is close to the third separating means 74F, and is aligned. Further, after the three bagged medium blocks 14F are arranged in the aligning portion 70F, the separating means 74F on the folding means 34 side is closed.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B, each bagged medium block 14F aligned with the alignment portion 70F is moved from the alignment portion 70F onto the underlay member 56 by moving the alignment member 72F. .. At this time, if a belt conveyor is used, the belt conveyor may be moved.

After that, as shown in FIGS. 28A and 28B, the underlay member 56 is pulled back. At this time, each bagging medium block 14F is caught by each of the separating means 74F of the alignment member 72F, so that the bagging medium block 14F stays in place against the movement of the underlay member 56. Then, by eliminating the underlay member 56, each bagged medium block 14F is placed on the upper part of the rod-shaped body 48.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 29A and 29B, the elevating mechanism 51 is moved downward and the rod-shaped body 48 is lowered, so that each bagged medium block 14F on the rod-shaped body 48 is housed in the container 15. Will be done. Further, the folding member 41F of the folding means 41F arranged above each bagging medium block 14F is moved downward, and the unfilled portion 11Fh of each bagging medium block 14F is folded. At this time, the bagged medium block 14F is shaped into a block. The details of the storage of the bagged medium block 14F from the underlay member 56 into the container 15 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 30A and 30B, after the folding member 41F of the folding means 41F is raised, the rotating member 49 of the rotating mechanism 47 of the container loading device 42 is rotated by about 180 degrees. At this time, the plurality of previously housed medium blocks 14F in the first modification are arranged on opposite sides, that is, at positions away from the underlay member 56 and the folding means 34 in the traveling direction. The folded unfilled portion 11Fh of each bagged medium block 14F faces the center side of the container 15.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 30C and 30D, the steps shown in FIGS. 24 to 29 described above are performed, and the container 15 again contains the three bagged medium blocks 14F. Then, the folding member 41Fa of the folding means 41F is moved downward again to fold the unfilled portion 11Fh of each newly housed bagged medium block 14F. At this time, since the folding members 41Fa of the folding means 41F are formed in two rows, the unfilled portion 11Fh of each of the previously housed bagging medium blocks 14F is also folded again. Therefore, the bagged medium blocks 14F are arranged side by side on one side and both ends of the container 15, and the central portion is not yet housed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 31A, after the folding member 41F of the folding means 41F is raised, the container 15 is moved in the container loading device 42F. The movement of the container 15 is such that the row of the central portion in which the bagged medium block 14F is not housed and the underlay member 56 are substantially linear, that is, the traveling direction of the newly sent bagged medium block 14F. It is moved to a position that makes it substantially linear. The folding member 41F of the folding means 41F is not moved and remains in the original position.

Then, as shown in FIG. 31B, the steps shown in FIGS. 24 to 29 are repeated to align the three bagged medium blocks 14F in the central portion of the container 15.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 31C and 31D, after the container 15 is moved to the original position by the container loading device 42F, the folding member 41F of the folding means 41F is moved downward to the central portion of the container 15. The unfilled portion 11Fh of the contained bagged medium block 14F is folded, and the previously stored bagged medium block 14F on both ends is folded again. At this time, the unfilled portion 11Fh of the bagged medium block 14F is arranged so that nothing faces the outside of the container 15, that is, the unfilled portion 11Fh faces inward. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the bag mouth 11Ff of the unfilled portion 11Fh of the bagging medium block 14F from opening in the container 15.

After that, as shown in FIGS. 32A and 32B, the container 15 containing the nine bagged medium blocks 14F is sent to the next step (sterilization step) by the container transport means 44, and a new container 15 is set in the container. It comes to be set by means 43, and these steps are repeated.

This completes the process from the folding means 34 of the folding device 31F of the bagging medium block 14 of the modified example 1 to the storage in the container 15.

In the first embodiment and the first modification, the case where the number of rod-shaped bodies 48 of the elevating mechanism 51 of the container loading devices 42 and 42F indicates the number corresponding to the packaged medium block 14 to be accommodated has been described. Not limited to this, by configuring each of the rod-shaped bodies to be able to move up and down, an arbitrary number may be provided so that the rod-shaped bodies can be raised and lowered at necessary locations. At this time, the number of gaps in the container may be changed according to the number of rod-shaped bodies of the elevating mechanism 51, and conversely, the number of rod-shaped bodies may be changed according to the number of gaps in the container.

Further, although the description of the opening assisting member 39 is omitted in the modification 1, the opening assisting member 39 may be provided in the folding device 31F as in the first embodiment.

Further, in the folding device 31 of the first embodiment, a space such as the alignment portion 70F as shown in the modification 1 may be provided between the folding means 34 of the folding device 31 and the container loading device 42.

[Modification 2]
Next, the folding device 31G according to the second modification will be described with reference to FIGS. 33 to 36. The same reference numerals are given to the configurations common to those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the folding device 31G according to the second modification has a folding means 34G for folding the bagged medium block 14 transported by the transporting means 60G. The folding device 31G of the second modification is a device in which the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is folded so as to be substantially parallel to the medium 12.

Further, the bagged medium block 14 transported by the transporting means 60G of the second modification has a different orientation when transported from the first embodiment, and the side surfaces 11b and 11c having a large area of the bagged medium block 14 are in the transport direction. It will be transported so as to face the upstream side or the downstream side.

As shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the folding device 31G of the second modification has an opening mechanism 32, a support mechanism 35, a pressing mechanism 36, and a pressing mechanism provided at a place where the bagging medium block 14 is folded. It is composed of 37G.

Further, in the folding device 31G of the second modification, after being stopped at a position where folding is performed by the folding means 34G by the conveying means 60G, folding is performed, and the unfilled portion of the bagging medium block 14 is performed by the final pressing mechanism 37G. After the 11h is pressed, the transport means 60G is moved, and the bagging medium block 14 is transported with the unfilled portion 11h pressed, so that the unfilled portion 11h pressed in response to this transport is performed. Will be folded.

The opening mechanism 32, the supporting mechanism 35, and the pressing mechanism 36 have substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. That is, as shown in FIGS. 33, 34, 35A, and 35B, the opening mechanism 32 blows air from above the positioned bagging medium block 14, that is, from the bag mouth 11f side, for example, by a blower 32a or the like. By doing so, the bag mouth 11f is maintained in an open state (see FIGS. 6C and 6D). In the second modification, as in the first embodiment, the opening mechanism 32 and other opening means 62 including a blower or the like may be provided in front of the folding device 31G.

As shown in FIGS. 33, 34, 35A, and 35B, the support mechanism 35 is a pair of plates of a predetermined size inserted into the unfilled portion 11h from the opened bag mouth 11f of the bagging medium block 14. It is composed of a support member 35a having a shape. In the second modification, these support members 35a are not along the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side where the gusset folds of the bagged medium block 14 are formed, but along the side surfaces 11b and 11c on the longitudinal side. The support members 35a are arranged so as to face each other and face each other. That is, each support member 35a is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the bagged medium block 14.

Each of the support members 35a is connected by, for example, a beam member 35b, and is configured to be able to repeatedly move in a direction in which they approach and a direction in which they are separated at the same time. Further, the support member 35a may be composed of a plurality of plate-shaped pieces or rod-shaped bodies instead of one plate-shaped body. When it is composed of the plurality of plate-shaped pieces, rod-shaped bodies, or the like, it is provided at least on the four corner sides of the bag mouth 11f of the bagging medium block 14. The support member may be inclined or curved on the tip side, that is, the side to be inserted first into the bag mouth 11f so that the support member can be easily inserted from the bag mouth 11f of the bagging medium block 14.

As shown in FIGS. 33, 34, 35A, and 35B, the pressing mechanism 36 is composed of a pair of plate-shaped pressing members 36a that face each other with the bagging medium block 14 interposed therebetween. It is arranged on the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side with the creases, and is repeatedly moved with respect to the bagged medium block 14. The pressing member 36a is arranged so as to sandwich the bagging medium block 14 on the side orthogonal to the transport direction of the bagging medium block 14. The pressing member is not limited to a plate shape, but may be a rod shape.

The pressing mechanism 37G of the second modification has a configuration different from that of the first embodiment. In the holding mechanism 37G of the second modification, as shown in FIGS. 33, 34, 35A, and 35B, the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 on the downstream side with respect to the transport direction of the bagging medium block 14 is provided. The downstream pressing member 37Ga to be pressed, the downstream rotating means 37Gb for rotationally moving the downstream pressing member 37Ga, the upstream pressing member 37Gc to which the unfilled portion 11h of the upstream bagging medium block 14 is pressed, and the upstream side. It is composed of an upstream rotating means 37Gd for rotating and moving the pressing member 37Ga. Then, around the downstream rotating means 37Gb and the upstream rotating means 37Gd, the downstream pressing member 37Ga and the upstream pressing member 37Gc are moved so as to open and close, respectively.

At this time, the pressing mechanism 37G is moved from the longitudinal side surfaces 11b and 11c of the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 to the substantially central portion by the support mechanism 35 and the pressing mechanism 36 described above, and then the bagging medium. By sandwiching the portion of the block 14 in the unfilled portion 11h close to the medium 12 between the downstream pressing member 37Ga and the upstream pressing member 37Gc, the unfilled portion 11h can be pressed so as to sandwich the medium 12 side. ..

Further, the unfilled portion 11h is tilted to the upstream side in the transport direction by transporting the conveying means 60G while being pressed by the downstream pressing member 37Ga and the upstream pressing member 37Gc of the pressing mechanism 37G. Become. Details will be described later.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 35 and 36, folding of the bagged medium block 14 by the folding device 31G of the second modification will be described. The bagged medium block 14 transported to the folding device 31G of the second modification is in a state in which the bag body 11 is filled with the medium 12 by the block forming device 21 (see FIG. 1 and the like) as shown in the first embodiment. It is designed to be transported by. Further, FIG. 35A is a view seen from the A side of FIG. 33, FIG. 35B is a view seen from the B side of FIG. 33, and the following figures are shown following this.

First, as shown in FIGS. 35A and 35B, the bagged medium block 14 in which the bagged body 11 is filled with the medium 12 is subjected to the transport means 60G on the side surfaces 11b and 11c having a large area of the bagged medium block 14. It is transported so as to be on the upstream side or the downstream side, and is arranged at a position where folding by the folding device 31G is performed (see FIGS. 33 and 34). At this time, as a method of arranging the bagging medium block 14 at the position where the folding device 31G is folded, the transport means 60G may stop the bagging medium block 14 at a predetermined position, or the bagging medium block 14 may be moved onto the transport means 60G. A regulating member may be provided to stop the movement.

The unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 is first folded toward the bag opening 11f of the bagging medium block 17 by a blower 32a as an opening mechanism 32, as shown in FIGS. 35C and 35D. The bag mouth 11f of the bagging medium block 14 is opened by blowing air from above (see FIGS. 6C and 6D). In the bagged medium block 14, the bag mouth 11f is more easily opened because the air is blown by the other opening means 62 before being moved to the folding means 34. Further, as the opening mechanism 32 is performed, each of the supporting members 35a of the supporting mechanism 35 and the pressing member 36a of the pressing mechanism 36 are moved from above to below the bag mouth 11f of the bagging medium block 14, and among them, each support is provided. The member 35a is inserted into the unfilled portion 11h from the opened bag opening 11f of the bagging medium block 14. Each of the support members 35a is arranged along the side surfaces 11b and 11c on the longitudinal side of the bagged medium block 14, respectively. At this time, since each support member 35a is inserted into the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 while blowing air by the blower 32a of the opening mechanism 32, the bag mouth 11f is opened, so that each support member 35a Easy to insert.

Next, after each support member 35a is inserted into the unfilled portion 11h, the pressing mechanism 36 is moved toward the bagging medium block 14 as shown in FIGS. 35E and 35F. The pressing mechanism 36 pushes the pair of pressing members 36a from the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side of the bagged medium block 14 to the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side of the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14, respectively. Moved to. Then, the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side of the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 are pressed by the pressing members 36a, respectively, so that the side surfaces 11d and 11e on the short side are pushed along the creases. , The side surfaces 11b and 11c on each longitudinal side of the bagging medium block 14 are moved toward the center side, respectively, and the bag mouth 11f is closed.

At this time, each support member 35a of the support mechanism 35 is moved to the center side in accordance with the movement of the side surfaces 11b and 11c on the longitudinal side, and as shown in FIG. 35F, is centered together with the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14. It is summarized in the department. When the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is grouped on the central side, the boundary between the unfilled portion 11h and the filled portion 11g, that is, the unfilled portion 11h on the upper surface side of the medium 12 is flat, that is, It is not substantially parallel to the upper surface of the medium 12, and for example, the central portion may be bulged and mountain-shaped or distorted (see FIG. 35F).

Next, after each of the support members 35a of the support mechanism 35 and each of the pressing members 36a of the pressing mechanism 36 are put together in the central portion together with the unfilled portion 11h and the opposing support members 35a are in close proximity to each other, FIG. 35G, FIG. As shown in 35H, the pressing mechanism 37G presses the upper surface side of the medium 12 of the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14. At this time, the pressing mechanism 37G is moved so that the downstream pressing member 37Ga and the upstream pressing member 37Gc sandwich the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 by the downstream rotating means 37Gb and the upstream rotating means 37Gd. It is done by. Then, the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is in a state in which the portion close to the medium 12 is pressed by the downstream pressing member 37Ga and the upstream pressing member 37Gc.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 36A and 36B, each support member 35a of the support mechanism 35 and each pressing member 36a of the pressing mechanism 36 are upwardly transferred, and the transfer of the transporting means 60G is started, and the bagging medium block is started. 14 will be moved. At this time, the unfilled portion 1h of the bagged medium block 14 is sandwiched between the downstream pressing member 37Ga and the upstream pressing member 37Gc of the pressing mechanism 37G, and is therefore as shown in FIGS. 36C and 36D. , The unfilled portion 11h will fall down as the bagged medium block 14 moves.

When the bagging medium block 14 is transported, at least one of the support member 35a of the support mechanism 35 or each pressing member 36a of the pressing mechanism 36 is in the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14. It is preferable to allow it to be moved. By doing so, it becomes possible to suppress the defect of folding of the unfilled portion 11h. This is because the upper part of the unfilled portion 11h to be knocked down on the bag mouth 11f side is temporarily supported, so that the unfilled portion 11h to be knocked down is tilted in order from the lower side, that is, the side close to the medium 12. Because.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 36E and 36F, after the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is tilted down, the downstream side pressing member 37Ga and the upstream side of the pressing mechanism 37G holding the unfilled portion 11h. The pressing member 37Gc is separated from the unfilled portion 11h. Similarly, the support mechanism 35 and the pressing mechanism 36 are also separated from the unfilled portion 11h.

After that, as shown in FIGS. 36G and 36H, the support mechanism 35 and the pressing mechanism 36 move to the initial positions, and similarly, the downstream pressing member 37Ga and the upstream pressing member 37Gc of the pressing mechanism 37G are opened. It is moved and is arranged to fold with respect to the next bagged medium block 14.

This completes the operation of the folding device 31G of the second modification. The folded bagged medium block 14 may be, for example, connected to the above-mentioned container loading device 42 to the transporting means 60G to carry the container into the container 15, or may be manually loaded into the container. You may bring it to.

The folding device 31G of the second modification is also provided with an opening assisting member 39 that partially restricts the spread of the bag opening 11f of the bagging medium block 14 when the opening mechanism 32 is performed as in the first embodiment. You may.

[Modification 3]
Next, the container loading device 42H related to the container accommodating device 46H according to the third modification will be described with reference to FIGS. 37 to 41. The container loading device 42H according to the third modification is different from the container loading device 42 shown in the first embodiment in the method of accommodating in the container 15. Therefore, the steps up to folding the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the configurations common to those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Further, in the container accommodating device 46H of the modification 3, since the configuration of the container loading device 42H carried into the container 15 after the folding means 34 in the folding device 31 of the bagging medium block 14 is completed is different, a common folding The description will be given after the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 by the apparatus 31 has been folded. In addition, in FIGS. 37 to 41, the description of the opening assist member 39 is omitted.

In the delivery of the bagged medium block 14 into the container 15 in the container loading device 42H of the modification 3, the configuration different from that of the first embodiment is mainly the configuration of the underlay member 56H provided in the folding device 31. , The folding member 41a constituting the folding means 41H, and further, the configuration of the rod-shaped body 48 provided in the container loading device 42 of the first embodiment and the elevating mechanism 51 for raising and lowering the rod-shaped body 48 are omitted. That is the point.

As shown in FIGS. 37A, 37C, and 37E, the underlay member 56H related to the container carry-in device 42H of the third modification is the underlay member 56H as compared with the underlay member 56 of the container carry-in device 42 provided in the first embodiment. Is provided along the direction in which the is repeatedly moved, and the notched portions 56Ha are provided so that the end edges on both sides are notched, and the width of the central portion is narrower than that of the underlay member 56 of the first embodiment. It has become. With this width, the movable claw member 41He provided on the side walls 41Hb2 and 41Hc of the folding member 41Ha provided in the folding means 41H, which will be described later, can be fitted into the notch 56Ha, and the bagging medium block 14 is mounted. It is formed to a size that can be placed. At this time, the bagging medium block 14 placed on the underlay member 56H of the modified example 3 is placed so as to partially protrude from the notch portion 56Ha. The underlay member 56H of the modified example 3 is also arranged on the folding device 31 side, and is configured to be movable so as to be taken in and out of the container loading device 42 side.

As shown in FIGS. 37A to 37D, the folding member 41Ha of the folding means 41H of the modified example 3 is composed of the side walls 41Hb1, 41Hb2, 41Hb3, 41Hc like the folding member 41a of the folding means 41 of the first embodiment. The bagged medium block 14 is made of a tubular body having a size that allows it to be inserted. At this time, one of the side walls is a folded side wall 41Hc as in the first embodiment.

Further, in the folding member 41Ha according to the third modification, among the side walls, the lower side of the side walls 41Hb2 and 41Hc arranged on the side surfaces 11b and 11c having a large area of the bagging medium block 14, that is, close to the underlay member 56H. A plurality of movable claw members 41He are provided on the side to be moved. The movable claw member 41He is a portion on which the bagging medium block 14 is placed and lifted from the folding device 31 when it is carried into the container 15. The movable claw member 41He has a direction in which the unfilled portion 11h supports the bottom surface 11a side of the packed medium block 14 in a folded state, that is, a direction substantially parallel to the bottom surface 11a of the bagging medium block 14. The side that opens the support of the bagging medium block 14, that is, the direction that is separated from the bottom surface 11a of the bagging medium block 14, and the direction that is substantially orthogonal to the bottom surface 11a are repeatedly moved. The movable claw member 41He can be moved by using the power of a motor, a cylinder, or the like.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 37E and 37F, the container 15 is conveyed to the container loading device 42H in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Since this configuration is common to the container setting means 43 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, FIGS. 38 to 41 show the steps of carrying the packed medium block 14 in which the unfilled portion 11h is folded in the container storage device 46H of the third modification from the folding device 31 into the container 15 of the container loading device 42H. It will be explained with reference to.

First, as shown in FIGS. 38A and 38B, the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is folded by the folding device 31 as in the first embodiment. At this time, the container 15 to be accommodated is arranged in the container loading device 42. Further, the movable claw members 41He provided below the side walls 41Hb2 and 41Hc of the folding means 41H are arranged so as to be parallel to each side wall 41Hb2 and 41Hc.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 38C and 38D, the bagging medium block 14 is moved by the second feeding means 40, and the bagging medium block 14 is taken in and out from the folding device 31 in the direction of the container loading device 42H. The underlay member 56H to be removed is projected, placed on the projected underlay member 56H, and moved onto the container 15.

At this time, the underlay member 56H of the modified example 3 is formed so that the width on the side orthogonal to the direction of repeated movement is narrower than that of the underlay member 56 of the first embodiment, but the bagging medium block 14 is mounted. It is large enough to be placed. Further, when the bagging medium block 14 is placed on the underlay member 56H, a part of the side surface 11b and 11c side having a large area from the notch portion 56Ha of the underlay member 56H to the side surface 11b and 11c of the bagging medium block 14 is from the underlay member 56H. It will be placed in a protruding state.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 39A and 39B, the second feeding means 40 is pulled back and arranged at a predetermined position of the folding means 34, and the folding means 41H is moved downward and packed by the folding member 41Ha. The medium block 14 is surrounded. At this time, the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14 is folded by the folding side wall 41Hc of the folding means 41H, and the bag opening 11f faces downward, that is, toward the container 15 (see FIGS. 13A to 13D). The second feeding means 40 is moved to a position deviating from the traveling direction so that the next bagging medium block 14 is sent to the folding means 34, and after the bagging medium block 14 is arranged in the folding means 34. , Will be moved to a pressable position.

After that, as shown in FIGS. 39C and 39D, below the side walls 41Hb2 and 41Hc arranged on the wide side surfaces 11b and 11c of the bagging medium block 14 of the folding means 41H, that is, on the bottom of the underlay member 56H side. The provided movable claw member 41He is operated and moved from a position substantially parallel to each side wall 41Hb2, 41Hc in a direction substantially orthogonal to each side wall 41Hb2, 41Hc. At this time, since the cutout portion 56Ha is formed in the underlay member 56H, each movable claw member 41He is fitted, and is arranged at substantially the same height as the underlay member 56H or slightly below. Then, in this state, the bagging medium block 14 can be placed on the movable claw member 41He.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 40A and 40B, the underlay member 56H is pulled back in a state where the bagging medium block 14 is surrounded by the folding member 41Ha of the folding means 41H. At this time, since the folding member 41Ha does not move, the bagging medium block 14 is stopped at the position where it is sent to the second feeding means 40, so that even if the underlay member 56H moves, the bagging medium block 14 is stopped. 14 will stay in place. Then, by moving the underlay member 56H, the bagging medium block 14 is moved downward so that it can be placed on the movable claw member 41He provided on the side walls 41Hb2 and 41Hc of the folding means 41H.

After that, as shown in FIGS. 40C and 40D, the folding means 41H is moved downward, and the bagging medium block 14 is arranged at a position where it is housed in the container 15.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 41A and 41B, the movable claw members 41He provided on the side walls 41Hb2 and 41Hc of the folding means 41H are moved in a direction parallel to the side walls 41Hb2 and 41Hc, respectively. The bagged medium block 14 mounted on the movable claw member 41He is moved into the container 15 and placed on the bottom 15a of the container 15.

After that, as shown in FIGS. 41C and 41D, the folding means 41H is raised and moved to the initial position, so that the unfilled portion 11h of the bagged medium block 14 is folded and carried into the container 15. Become so. This completes the delivery of one bagged medium block 14 into the container 15.

After that, as in the first embodiment, the container 15 is rotated by the rotation mechanism 47 to carry in the four bagged medium blocks 14, and after the carrying in is completed, the container in which the bagged medium block 14 is housed. Reference numeral 15 advances to the next step.

In this way, by configuring the container loading device 42H of the modified example 3, there is no step of inserting the rod-shaped body 48 from below the container 15, and it is difficult to insert the rod-shaped body 48. , The bagged medium block 14 can be carried into various containers such as those having different sizes.

Here, in the folding device 31 according to the first embodiment, the case where the blower 38a is used in the folding mechanism 38 is shown, but it is not limited to the wind pressure of the blower or the like, and as in the folding mechanism 38'shown in FIG. 42, for example, a rod shape. Even if the unfilled portion 11h is tilted by repeatedly moving the tilting member 38a'of the arm member such as the body, the horn-shaped body, or the plate-shaped body and bringing it into contact with the unfilled portion 11h of the bagging medium block 14. Good.

Further, in the first embodiment or the like, the folding device 31 may carry the container loading device 42 into the container 15 by using a robot arm in addition to the above-mentioned case.

11, 11F: Bag body 11a, 11Fa: Bottom surface 11b, 11c: Wide area side surface 11d, 11e: Small area side surface 11Fb: Side surface 11f, 11Ff: Bag mouth 11g, 11Fg: Filled part 11h, 11Fh: Unfilled part 11i : Neck 12: Medium 1414F: Bagged medium block 15: Container 15a: Bottom 15b: Gap 21: Block forming device 31, 31B, 31F, 31G: Folding device 32: Opening mechanism 32a: Blower 33: First feeding means 33a: Feed member 34, 34G: Folding means 35: Support mechanism 35a: Support member 35b: Beam member 36, 36A: Pressing mechanism 36a: Pressing member 36Aa: Blower 37, 37A, 37G: Pressing mechanism 37a: Pressing member 37Aa: Blower 37Ga: Downstream holding member 37Gb: Downstream rotating means 37Gc: Upstream holding member 37Gd: Upstream rotating means 38, 38': Tilt mechanism 38a: Blower 38a': Tilt member 39: Opening auxiliary member 40: Second feeding means 40a: Feed member 41, 41F, 41H: Folding means 41a, 41Fa, 41Ha: Folding member 41b (41b1, 41b2, 41b3), 41Hb (41Hb1, 41Hb2, 41Hb3): Side wall 41c, 41Hc: Folding side wall 41Fc: Plate 41d, 41Fd : Bottom 41He: Movable claw member 42, 42H: Container loading device 46, 46F, 46H: Container accommodating device 47: Rotating mechanism 48: Rod-shaped body 51: Elevating mechanism 54: Regulatory member 56, 56H: Underlay member 56Ha: Notch Part 58: Opening holes 60, 60B, 60G: Conveying means 62: Other opening means 70F: Aligning part 72F: Aligning member 74F: Separating means

Claims (16)

A bag having a bottom surface having a predetermined area and a bag mouth facing the bottom surface, a filling portion filled with a predetermined amount of medium from the bottom surface of the bag body, and a filling portion from the upper surface of the filling portion to the bag mouth. A folding device including a folding means for folding the unfilled portion of a bagged medium block having an unfilled portion.
The folding means
An opening mechanism that opens the bag mouth by blowing air from the bag mouth side,
A support mechanism having at least two support members inserted from the bag mouth of the bag body and supporting the open state of the unfilled portion.
A pressing mechanism having a pair of pressing members in which the opposite side of the unfilled portion is pressed after the support member is inserted, and the unfilled portion is collected in the center side.
After being pressed by the pressing member, a pressing mechanism that presses the unfilled portion side at the boundary between the filled portion and the unfilled portion from a side substantially orthogonal to the side of the unfilled portion pressed by the pressing mechanism. When,
A tilting mechanism in which the unfilled portion is tilted around the portion pressed by the pressing mechanism, and
A folding device characterized by having. The first aspect of the present invention, wherein the tilting mechanism is performed in a state where at least a part of at least one of the support member of the support mechanism and the pressing member of the pressing mechanism is in the unfilled portion. Folding device. The folding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the folding mechanism, the pressing mechanism, and the pressing mechanism is performed by wind pressure. The folding means includes a transporting means for transporting the bagged medium block to the folding means.
The folding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the transport means is provided with an opening means for blowing air to the bag mouth before the opening mechanism is performed. A bag body having a bottom surface having a predetermined area and a bag mouth facing the bottom surface, a filling portion filled with a predetermined amount of medium from the bottom surface of the bag body, and from the upper surface of the filling portion to the bag mouth. A folding device including a folding means for folding the unfilled portion of a bagged medium block having an unfilled portion and a transporting means for transporting the bagged medium block.
The folding means
An opening mechanism that opens the bag mouth by blowing air from the bag mouth side,
A support mechanism having at least two support members inserted from the bag mouth of the bag body and supporting the open state of the unfilled portion.
A pressing mechanism having a pair of pressing members in which the opposite side of the unfilled portion is pressed after the support member is inserted, and the unfilled portion is collected in the center side.
After being pressed by the pressing member, a pressing mechanism that presses the unfilled portion side at the boundary between the filled portion and the unfilled portion from a side substantially orthogonal to the side of the unfilled portion pressed by the pressing mechanism. And have
A folding device, characterized in that the unfilled portion is tilted and folded by transporting the transport means in a state where the unfilled portion is pressed by the pressing mechanism. The folding device according to claim 5, wherein the transport of the transport means is performed in a state where at least a part of at least one of the support member and the pressing member is in the unfilled portion. The folding device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the transport means is provided with an opening means for blowing air to the bag mouth before the opening mechanism is performed. The folding device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the support member has a portion arranged on the corner side of the bag body thicker than the other portions. In the folding means, the bag mouth is provided at a position close to or in contact with both side surfaces of the unfilled portion of the bagged medium block, and when the bag mouth is opened by the opening mechanism, the bag mouth in a predetermined direction. The folding device according to claim 1, wherein an opening assisting member for which the spread of the baggage is regulated is provided. In addition to the folding means, there is provided a folding means having a folding member that folds the unfilled portion of the bagging medium block that has been collapsed by the folding mechanism along the side surface side of the filled portion from the collapsed state. The folding device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the folding device is characterized by the above. The folding device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and the folding device.
A container storage device, characterized in that a plurality of the bagged medium blocks folded by the folding device are transported and stored in a container. In addition to the folding means, a folding means having a folding member that folds the unfilled portion of the bagging medium block that has been collapsed by the folding mechanism along the side surface side of the filling portion from the collapsed state.
A container loading device in which the container in which the bagged medium block is housed is arranged,
Have,
The container storage device according to claim 11, wherein the folding means is folded into the bagged medium block housed in the container loading device. In the folding means, after at least one bagged medium block is housed in the container of the container loading device, the container is rotated by a predetermined angle, and at least one bagged medium block is housed again. The container storage device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the container storage device is performed a predetermined number of times. The container loading device includes a plurality of rod-shaped bodies arranged substantially perpendicular to the container, and an elevating mechanism in which the rod state is repeatedly moved in the vertical direction.
The rod-shaped body is arranged so as to be inserted through a plurality of gaps formed in the bottom of the container.
Any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the bagged medium block is placed on the upper part of the rod-shaped body, and then the rod-shaped body is moved downward to be housed in the container. The container storage device described in. The folding device is provided with an underlay member that is taken in and out in the direction toward the container loading device.
The folding member of the folding means has at least one side wall that surrounds the bagging medium block.
The bagged medium block is characterized in that it is placed on the rod-shaped body by being restricted from moving by the folding member when the underlay member is pulled back after being sent to the sent out underlay member. The container accommodating device according to claim 14. The folding device is provided with an underlay member that is taken in and out in the direction toward the container loading device.
The underlay member is configured such that the end edge in the direction along the loading / unloading direction of the underlay member is cut out, and when the bagged medium block is placed, a part of the bagged medium block protrudes.
The folding member has at least one side wall that surrounds the bagged medium block.
On the side wall, a plurality of movable claw members on which the bagged medium block is placed are provided on the underlay member side.
When lifting the bagged medium block, the movable claw member is moved in a direction substantially orthogonal to the side wall.
The container storage device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein when the bagged medium block is carried into a container, the movable claw member is moved in a direction substantially parallel to the side wall.

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