JP2024061812A - Packaging material splicing mechanism and automatic packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a packaging material splicing mechanism and an automatic packaging machine in which a cutting blade is protected so that it is not exposed except when cutting packaging material.SOLUTION: A packaging material splicing mechanism (27) is configured to cause support parts (63A, 63B) to move forward towards contacting tables (73, 74) to bring plates (66A, 66B) into contact with the contacting tables (73, 74), then, cause the support parts (63A, 63B) to move further forward against springs (68A, 68B) with the plates (66A, 66B) in contact with the contacting tables (73, 74), and cause cutting blades (64A, 64B) to enter an opening (75) of the contacting tables (73, 74) via openings (67A, 67B) of the plates (66A, 66B) to cut packaging materials (13A, 13B) located between the contacting tables (73, 74) and cutting blade parts (60A, 60B).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic packaging machine that processes packaging material delivered from a roll and automatically packages various packaging materials such as powders, granular materials, and liquids continuously, and in particular to a mechanism for automatically connecting (splicing) packaging material supplied from one roll to packaging material supplied from another roll when switching the supply of packaging material from one roll to the packaging material supplied from the other roll.

Patent documents 1 and 2 disclose an automatic joining mechanism for an automatic packaging machine that automatically and continuously packages materials to be packaged using packaging material continuously fed from a roll. The mechanism joins the tip of a different, previously prepared packaging material to the packaging material currently being used before the packaging material on the roll that supplies the packaging material currently being used runs out, allowing the packaging operation to continue without stopping the automatic packaging machine for long periods of time.

JP 2001-225810 A JP 2006-21888 A

The automatic joining mechanism in Patent Document 1 simply attaches the tip of a spare new packaging material to the currently supplied packaging material with double-sided tape, and after the packaging material has been joined, it is sent out together with the currently supplied packaging material and the new packaging material. Therefore, after the joining, the double layer and the end of the packaging material are attached to a paper tube, but when part of the paper tube is peeled off, it can get stuck in the film guide, resulting in the automatic joining (joining) operation failing.

In contrast, the automatic repeat mechanism in Patent Document 2 is equipped with a means for cutting the currently supplied packaging material, and does not have the drawbacks of Patent Document 1. However, in the automatic repeat mechanism of the embodiment described in Patent Document 2, the blade that cuts the currently supplied packaging material is exposed. Therefore, when setting packaging material in the automatic packaging machine, care must be taken not to touch the exposed blade with one's hands.

The present invention aims to provide a packaging material splicing mechanism and an automatic packaging machine that are designed to protect the cutting blade in the automatic splicing mechanism under normal conditions, specifically, when the packaging material is not being cut.

The packaging material splicing mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention is
A packaging material splicing mechanism (27) for splicing a second packaging material (13B) unwound from another roll (22B) to a first packaging material (13A) unwound from one roll (22A),
a joining portion (42) having a first suction pressure-welding portion (46A) and a second suction pressure-welding portion (46B) opposed to each other across a conveying path (44A) of the first packaging material (13A) and a conveying path (44B) of the second packaging material (13B);
a contact table (73, 74) disposed upstream of the joint portion (42) in the conveying direction of the first packaging material (13A) and the second packaging material (13B) and between a conveying path (44A) of the first packaging material (13A) and a conveying path (44B) of the second packaging material (13B);
a cutting section (43) having a first cutting blade section (60A) and a second cutting blade section (60B) opposed to each other across the contact table (73, 74), the conveying path (44A) of the first packaging material (13A), and the conveying path (44B) of the second packaging material (13B);
A plate (32) supporting the joint portion (42), the abutment table (73, 74) and the cutting portion (43);
a mechanism (28) for moving the plate (32) in the conveying direction at the same speed as the first packaging material (13A) and the second packaging material (13B);
The first suction pressure welding portion (46A) and the second suction pressure welding portion (46B) of the joint portion (42) are configured to be movable between an advanced position where the first suction pressure welding portion (46A) and the second suction pressure welding portion (46B) abut against each other in a state where the first suction pressure welding portion (46A) sucks the first packaging material (13A) and the second suction pressure welding portion (46B) sucks the second packaging material (13B), and a retreated position where the first suction pressure welding portion (46A) and the second suction pressure welding portion (46B) are separated from each other to release the first packaging material (13A) and the second packaging material (13B);
The abutment table (73, 74) has two portions (73, 74) located on the upstream side and the downstream side with respect to the conveying direction, and an opening (75) formed between the two portions (73, 74),
The first cutting blade portion (60A) and the second cutting blade portion (60B) of the cutting portion (43) are each
a support portion (63A, 63B) supported by the plate (32) so as to be movable toward and away from the abutment table (73, 74);
cutting blades (64A, 64B) fixed to the support portions (63A, 63B) facing the openings (75) of the abutment tables (73, 74);
A plate (66A, 66B) having an opening (67A, 67B) corresponding to the cutting blade (64A, 64B),
a spring (68A, 68B) interposed between the plate (66A, 66B) and the support portion (63A, 63B) and supporting the plate (66A, 66B) on the support portion (63A, 63B) in a state in which the cutting edge (65A, 65B) of the cutting blade (64A, 64B) is accommodated within the opening (67A, 67B) of the plate (66A, 66B) or in a state in which the cutting edge is separated from the opening (67A, 67B) of the plate (66A, 66B),
The support portions (63A, 63B) are advanced toward the abutment tables (73, 74) to bring the plates (66A, 66B) into contact with the abutment tables (73, 74), and then, with the plates (66A, 66B) in contact with the abutment tables (73, 74), the support portions (63A, 63B) are further advanced against the springs (68A, 68B), causing the cutting blades (64A, 64B) to enter the openings (75) of the abutment tables (73, 74) through the openings (67A, 67B) of the plates (66A, 66B), thereby cutting the packaging material (13A, 13B) located between the abutment tables (73, 74) and the cutting blade portions (60A, 60B).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in a normal state, the cutting blades (64A, 64B) are held with their cutting edges (65A, 65B) housed within the openings (67A, 67B) of the plates (66A, 66B) or separated from the openings (67A, 67B) of the plates (66A, 66B), and when cutting the packaging material (13A, 13B), the support parts (63A, 63B) are advanced toward the abutment tables (73, 74) to bring the plates (66A, 66B) into abutment against the abutment tables (73, 74). Next, with the plate (66A, 66B) in contact with the abutment table (73, 74), the support portion (63A, 63B) is further advanced against the spring (68A, 68B), causing the cutting blade (64A, 64B) to enter the opening (75) of the abutment table (73, 74) through the opening (67A, 67B) of the plate (66A, 66B), and cut the packaging material (13A, 13B) located between the abutment table (73, 74) and the cutting blade portion (60A, 60B). Therefore, it is safe because the cutting edge (65A, 65B) of the cutting blade (64A, 64B) is not exposed under normal conditions.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an automatic packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a conveying path of packaging materials in the automatic packaging machine shown in FIG. 1 . 2 is a front view of a lifting unit, a packaging material joining unit, and a packaging material cutting unit in the mechanism for automatically connecting packaging materials shown in FIG. 1 . 4 is a side view showing the configuration of the lifting unit, the packaging material joining unit, and the packaging material cutting unit shown in FIG. 3 . FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of the lifting unit and the packaging material joining unit shown in FIG. 3 . 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of the lifting section and the packaging material cutting section shown in FIG. 3 . FIG. FIG. FIG. FIG.

Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In the following description, in order to facilitate understanding of the invention, terms indicating specific directions (such as "upper", "lower", "right", "left" and other terms including these) will be used when explaining the positional relationship or arrangement of device components and the like shown in the drawings. However, the use of these terms is for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not to be interpreted as being limited to a specific form based on the meaning of these terms.

[1] Outline of the configuration and operation of the automatic packaging machine:
The automatic packaging machine of the embodiment described below is an apparatus that continuously produces bags packed with a predetermined amount of powder (e.g., edible seasoning (sugar, etc.), medicine (powder, granule, etc.)) using a packaging material made of a continuously supplied heat-sealable sheet. However, the present invention is not limited to the automatic packaging machine of the embodiment, and can also be applied to automatic packaging machines that package other packaging materials (e.g., liquids).

The configuration of the automatic packaging machine will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. In the illustrated automatic packaging machine 10, packaging material for forming the desired packaging bag is continuously supplied from a packaging material supply unit 12 provided on the front surface (part shown in Figure 1) of a housing 11. The packaging material may be a heat-sealable synthetic resin film, a composite film in which a heat-sealable film is attached to the inner surface of paper, or a composite film in which heat-sealable fibers are mixed with paper. The packaging material 13 (13A, 13B) supplied from the packaging material supply unit 12 is transported upward and then transported horizontally while the main surface (front and back surfaces) of the packaging material 13 are kept substantially horizontal. The top surface of the packaging material 13 (13A, 13B) sent out horizontally comes into contact with a guide unit 14 that gradually folds the longitudinal center portion toward the sheet transport direction, and is folded while the portions on both sides of the center portion are folded upward. The folded continuous packaging material 13 is conveyed in the circumferential direction of the circular table 16, which rotates based on the drive of a motor 15 housed inside the housing 11, and is sealed at predetermined intervals by the vertical seal section 17, thereby continuously forming bags (packaging material filling sections) 18 with open tops. A powder supply chute 19 is inserted from the top opening end of the bag section 18 between adjacent vertical seals, and a predetermined amount of powder is added through this chute 19. The packaging material with the powder added to the bag section 18 is supplied to the upper end seal section 20, and the upper end opening of the bag section 18 is heat sealed. The sealed bag section 18 is separated into individual packaging bags by providing a cutting section such as a perforation in the vertical seal section as necessary, or by cutting at the vertical seal section as necessary.

[2] Configuration of packaging material supply section:
The packaging material supply unit 12 is disposed on the front surface of the housing 11 and has a first roll support shaft 21A disposed on the left side of the figure and a second roll support shaft 21B disposed on the right side of the figure, and rolls 22A, 22B on which a first packaging material 13A is wound are rotatably supported on these support shafts 21A, 21B. The packaging material 13A supplied from the roll 22A or the packaging material 13B supplied from the roll 22B is guided to the guide unit 14 via a plurality of rollers 23A, 23B, 24, 25, 26 provided on the front surface of the housing 11. The rolls 22A, 22B have a hollow cylinder (e.g., a cardboard tube) in the center, and the packaging materials 13A, 13B are wound around the hollow cylinder by attaching them with tape or the like.

[3] Configuration of the connecting mechanism (switching mechanism):
The packaging material supply section 12 also has a joining mechanism (switching mechanism) 27. When the remaining amount of packaging material on the first roll 22A (or the second roll 22B) decreases beyond a predetermined required remaining amount while the first packaging material 13A (or the second packaging material 13B) is being supplied from the first roll 22A (or the second roll 22B), the joining mechanism 27 joins the second packaging material 13B (or the first packaging material 13A) to the first packaging material 13A (or the second packaging material 13B) currently being supplied.

(3.1) Lifting section:
4 and 5, the connecting mechanism 27 has a lifting section 28. The lifting section 28 has a lifting plate 32 arranged along a front wall 31 of the housing 11. Two linear guides 33 extending parallel to each other in the vertical direction (z, z' directions) are fixed to the rear surface (the surface facing the front wall 31) of the lifting plate 32. Two slide rails 34 extending parallel to each other in the vertical direction (z, z' directions) are fixed to the front wall 31 of the housing, and the guide 33 is engaged with the slide rails 34 so as to be movable up and down.

A rack 35 extending in the vertical direction (z, z' direction) is fixed between the two linear guides 33 on the back surface of the lift plate 32. A pinion gear 36 meshes with the rack 35. The pinion gear 36 is fixed to the front end of a rotating shaft 37 that penetrates the front wall 31 of the housing from front to rear. A bevel gear 38 is fixed to the rear end of the rotating shaft 37. The bevel gear 38 meshes with another bevel gear 39, which is connected to a motor 40 (constant speed movement means). The motor 40 is fixed to the front wall 31 of the housing. Therefore, the rotation (forward and reverse rotation) of the motor 40 is transmitted to the bevel gears 38, 39, the rotating shaft 37, the pinion gear 36, and the rack 35, and the lift plate 32 moves in the vertical direction.

A support base 41 (see FIG. 4) is fixed to the lower front surface of the lift plate 32, protruding forward (in the y direction) from the lift plate 32. Also fixed to the lift plate 32 are a packaging material joining section 42, which is disposed above the support base 41 and protrudes forward (in the y direction) from the lift plate 32, and a packaging material cutting section 43, which is disposed between the packaging material joining section 42 and the support base 41 and protrudes forward (in the y direction) from the lift plate 32.

(3.2) Packaging material joint:
1, in the automatic packaging machine 10 of the embodiment, the positions of the rollers 23A, 23B, and 24 are determined so that a first conveying path 44A along which the first packaging material 13A fed from the first roll 22A advances from roller 23A to roller 24 and a second conveying path 44B along which the second packaging material 13B fed from the second roll 22B advances from roller 23B to roller 24 are symmetrical with respect to a center line 45. In the following description, the regions located to the left and right of the center line 45 will be referred to as the "left region" and the "right region", respectively, as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 5, the packaging material joint 42 has a pair of suction pressure parts 46 (first suction pressure part 46A and second suction pressure part 46B) that face each other across a center line 45 (see FIG. 1). The suction pressure parts 46A and 46B have a structure and size that are almost symmetrical across the center line 45. Specifically, each suction pressure part 46A and 46B has linear guides 47A and 47B that extend in the horizontal direction (x, x' directions). A slide rail 48 that extends in the horizontal direction is fixed to the front surface of the lift plate 32 in correspondence with the linear guides 47A and 47B. The linear guides 47A and 47B are engaged with the slide rail 48, allowing the suction pressure parts 46A and 46B to move in the horizontal direction.

Linear guides 47A, 47B support elongated support parts 49A, 49B that protrude forward (y direction) from linear guides 47A, 47B, and elongated packaging material holding parts 50A, 50B that are arranged along support parts 49A, 49B. Packaging material holding parts 50A, 50B face each other across center line 45 (see Figures 1 and 3), with packaging material holding part 50A in the left region arranged to the right of support part 49A that supports it, and packaging material holding part 50B in the right region arranged to the left of support part 49B that supports it.

The packaging material holding parts 50A, 50B have flat outer surfaces (hereinafter referred to as "packaging material holding surfaces") 51A, 51B extending in the front-rear direction (y, y' direction). Suction holes 52A, 52B are formed in the packaging material holding surfaces 51A, 51B at regular intervals in the front-rear direction (y, y' direction). Inside the packaging material holding parts 50A, 50B, elongated hollow manifolds 54A, 54B are formed that extend in the front-rear direction (y, y' direction) along the central axes 53A, 53B of the packaging material holding parts 50A, 50B, and the ends of the suction holes 52A, 52B are connected to the hollow manifolds 54A, 54B. One end (front end) of the hollow manifolds 54A, 54B is closed, and the other end (rear end) of the hollow manifolds 54A, 54B is open, and suction sources (suction means) 55A, 55B (e.g., vacuum pumps) are connected to the open rear ends of the hollow manifolds 54A, 54B.

The packaging material holding parts 50A, 50B are supported by the support parts 49A, 49B so that they can rotate within a predetermined angular range around the central axes 53A, 53B, and can move back and forth between an opposing position where the packaging material holding surfaces 51A, 51B face the center line 45 and a non-opposing position (preparation position) where the packaging material holding surfaces 51A, 51B face upward (see Figures 7 and 8).

Air cylinders (suction unit moving means) 56A, 56B are connected to the support parts 49A, 49B of the suction pressure parts (packaging material suction parts) 46A, 46B. The air cylinders 56A, 56B are equipped with bodies 57A, 57B and piston rods 58A, 58B that advance and retreat from the bodies 57A, 57B, and are arranged on the opposite side of the center line 45 across the support parts 49A, 49B. With the piston rods 58A, 58B facing the horizontal direction (x, x' direction), the bodies 57A, 57B are fixed to columns 59A, 59B extending upward from the support base 41 (see Figure 4), and the tips of the piston rods 58A, 58B are connected to the support parts 49A, 49B. Therefore, based on the drive of the air cylinders 56A, 56B, each suction and pressure contact portion 46A, 46B can reciprocate between a retreated position (see FIG. 5) where it retreats from the center line 45 and the packaging material holding surfaces 51A, 51B are separated, and an advanced position (see FIG. 3) where it approaches the center line 45 and presses the packaging materials 13A, 13B between the packaging material holding surfaces 51A, 51B.

(3.2) Packaging material cutting section:
The packaging material cutting section 43 has a pair of cutting blades (a first cutting blade 60A and a second cutting blade 60B) facing each other across a center line 45.

The cutting blades 60A, 60B have a structure and size that are almost symmetrical across the center line 45. Specifically, each cutting blade 60A, 60B has a linear guide 61A, 61B that extends in the horizontal direction (x, x' direction). A slide rail 62 that extends in the horizontal direction is fixed to the front surface of the lift plate 32. The linear guides 61A, 61B are engaged with the slide rail 62, allowing the cutting blades 60A, 60B to move in the horizontal direction.

The linear guides 61A, 61B have elongated support parts 63A, 63B that protrude forward (y direction) from the linear guides 61A, 61B. Plate-shaped blades 64A, 64B extending along the front-rear direction (y, y' directions) are supported on the surface of the support parts 63A, 63B facing the center line 45 with the cutting edges 65A, 65B facing the center line 45. The blades 64A, 64B may be blades with small triangular blades arranged continuously, or may be blades with straight cutting edges.

For safety reasons, the cutting edges 65A, 65B of the blades 64A, 64B are protected by protective plates 66A, 66B. Specifically, the protective plates 66A, 66B are formed with elongated openings 67A, 67B through which the cutting edges 65A, 65B can pass. In addition, springs 68A, 68B are arranged between both ends of the protective plates 66A, 66B and the support parts 63A, 63B. In the normal state (when the springs are in their natural state), the blade tips 65A, 65B are accommodated in the openings 67A, 67B of the protective plates 66A, 66B, or the blade tips 65A, 65B are located behind the openings 67A, 67B of the protective plates 66A, 66B (the retreated position shown in the right area of Figure 3). When the protective plates 66A, 66B are moved toward 63A, 63B against the force of the springs 68A, 68B, the blade tips 65A, 65B protrude from the openings 67A, 67B of the protective plates 66A, 66B and penetrate the transport paths 44A, 44B (the advanced position shown in the left area of Figure 3).

Air cylinders (cutting blade movement means) 70A, 70B are connected to the support parts 63A, 63B of the cutting blade parts 60A, 60B. The air cylinders 70A, 70B are equipped with main bodies 71A, 71B and piston rods 72A, 72B that advance and retreat from the main bodies 71A, 71B, and are arranged on the opposite side of the center line 45 across the support parts 63A, 63B. With the piston rods 72A, 72B facing the horizontal direction (x, x' direction), the main bodies 71A, 71B are fixed to columns 59A, 59B extending upward from the support bases 63A, 63B, and the tips of the piston rods 72A, 72B are connected to the support parts 63A, 63B. Therefore, the cutting blade parts 60A, 60B are configured to move between a retreated position retreated from the center line 45 and an advanced position advanced toward the center line 45 based on the drive of the air cylinders 70A, 70B.

Between the left and right cutting blades 60A, 60B, a pair of abutment tables 73, 74 spaced apart vertically are fixed to the lift plate 32, and an opening 75 formed between the abutment tables 73, 74 faces the openings 67A, 67B of the protective plates 66A, 66B. Therefore, when the support sections 63A, 63B are moved from the retracted position to the advanced position by the air cylinders 70A, 70B, first the protective plates 66A, 66B come into contact with the abutment tables 73, 74, and then the cutting edges 65A, 65B pass through the openings 67A, 67B of the protective plates 66A, 66B and enter the openings 75 of the abutment plates 73, 74. As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the air cylinder 70A is operated while the first packaging material 13A is being fed along the first conveying path 44A, the first packaging material 13A is cut by the blade tip 65A which penetrates the opening 67A of the protective plate 66A and enters the openings 75 of the abutment tables 73 and 74.

[4] Operation of the joining mechanism 20:
Regarding the switching of packaging materials using the above-mentioned splicing mechanism 27, the operation of switching from a state in which the first packaging material 13A is supplied from the first roll 22A to a state in which the second packaging material 13B is supplied from the second roll 22B, that is, the operation of splicing the second packaging material 13B onto the first packaging material 13A will be described. Note that the above-mentioned motors 15, 40 and air cylinders 56A, 56B, 70A, 70B are connected to a control unit (not shown) and are operated based on signals output from the control unit.

(4.1: Preparation process)
First, the operator rotates the suction pressure welding part 46B of the second packaging material joint part 42B about the central axis 53B (see FIG. 5) to set the packaging material holding surface 51B facing upward to a non-opposing position (preparation position) as shown in FIG. 7. Next, the operator attaches double-sided tape (not shown) to the leading end surface of the second packaging material 13B pulled out from the second roll 22B, particularly to the surface facing the first packaging material 13A. Next, the operator places the surface of the second packaging material 13B opposite to the surface to which the double-sided tape is attached on the packaging material holding surface 51B facing upward. The packaging material 13B placed on the packaging material holding surface 51B is stably held on the packaging material holding surface 51B by the negative pressure transmitted from the suction source 55B to the manifold 54B and the suction hole 52B. Finally, the operator rotates the second suction/pressure contact portion 46B in the reverse direction, so that the packaging material holding surface 51B faces the first packaging material holding surface 51A, as shown in FIG.

Although not mentioned in the above explanation, by providing an indicator (e.g., a protrusion or mark) on the packaging material holding surface 51B that matches the width of the packaging material 13B, it is possible to accurately align the edge of the second packaging material 13B with the edge of the packaging material 13A.

(4.2: Automatic connection processing)
Subsequent operations are performed automatically based on instructions from the control unit when a detection sensor (not shown) detects that the first packaging material 13A is about to reach its end just before the supply of the currently supplied first packaging material 13A is finished (however, the end of the first packaging material 13A is still attached to the paper tube).

First, the control unit drives the motor 40 to raise the lift plate 32 at a constant speed (step 1). The lift speed of the lift plate 32 is the same or approximately the same as the conveying speed of the first packaging material 13A.

Next, the control unit drives the air cylinders 56A and 56B of the packaging material joining unit 42 almost simultaneously or slightly earlier, and brings the left and right suction and pressure joining units 46A and 46B closer to each other and into contact with each other as shown in FIG. 9 (step 2). As a result, the double-sided tape attached to the second packaging material 13B adheres to the first packaging material 13A, and the tip of the second packaging material 13B is attached to the first packaging material 13B.

Next, the control unit drives the air cylinder 70A of the packaging material cutting unit 43 simultaneously with or after a slight time delay from driving the air cylinders 56A and 56B, and moves the cutting blade 64A from the retreated position to the advanced position as shown in FIG. 3 (step 3). This causes the first packaging material 13A to be cut by the cutting blade 64A.

Finally, the control unit drives the air cylinder 70A of the first packaging material cutting unit 43 in the reverse direction to move the cutting blade 64A to the retracted position (step 4). After that, the control unit drives the air cylinders 56A and 56B of the packaging material joining unit 42 in the reverse direction to move the left and right suction and pressure welding units 46A and 46B to their respective retracted positions to release the packaging materials 13A and 13B.

The above-mentioned approaching and retreating movements of the suction and pressure welding parts 46A and 46B in the packaging material joining part 42, the cutting movement of the cutting blade 64A in the packaging material cutting part 43, and the release movement of the packaging materials 13A and 13B are performed while the lifting plate 32 is rising. Therefore, no undue stress is applied to the first packaging material 13A being cut.

As a result, the supply of the first packaging material 13A ends and the supply of the second packaging material 13B begins. In other words, the packaging material being supplied switches from the first packaging material 13A to the second packaging material 13B. The joined packaging material 13B is supplied continuously without stopping the motor 15.

The above describes the operation of joining the second packaging material 13B to the first packaging material 13A, but the operation of joining the first packaging material 13A to the second packaging material 13B is performed in a similar manner.

As described above, with the automatic packaging machine 10 according to the embodiment, as is clear from the drawings, the packaging material joining section 31 and the packaging material cutting section 32 can be brought as close as possible. As a result, the distance from the joining position between the first packaging material 13A and the second packaging material 13 to the end of the first packaging material 13A is shortened. In the actual automatic packaging machine shown in the drawings, the distance from the joining position to the end could be kept to less than about 3 cm.

In addition, according to the automatic packaging machine 10 of the embodiment, the packaging material 13A is joined while it is attached to the paper tube, i.e., while the packaging material is under tension, so there is no misalignment in the width direction. In addition, the forward and backward movements of the suction and pressure welding parts 46A, 46B, which are related to the joining operation of the packaging material, and the cutting operation of the packaging material, are performed in an environment where there is no relative speed difference with the packaging material, so no undue stress is applied to the packaging material.

10: Automatic packaging machine 11: Housing 13: Packaging material
15: motors 22A, 22B: rolls 27: joining mechanism 28: lifting section 42: packaging material joining section 43: packaging material cutting section 44A, 44B: conveying path 46A, 46B: suction and pressure welding section (packaging material suction section)
50A, 50B: Packaging material holding section 51A, 51B: Packaging material holding surface (adsorption surface)
52A, 52B: Suction holes 55A, 55B: Suction source (suction means)
56A, 56B: Air cylinder (suction part moving means)
60A, 60B: Cutting blade portion 64A, 64B: Blade 70A, 70B: Air cylinder (cutting blade moving means)

Claims (3)

A packaging material splicing mechanism (27) for splicing a second packaging material (13B) unwound from another roll (22B) to a first packaging material (13A) unwound from one roll (22A),
a joining portion (42) having a first suction pressure-welding portion (46A) and a second suction pressure-welding portion (46B) opposed to each other across a conveying path (44A) of the first packaging material (13A) and a conveying path (44B) of the second packaging material (13B);
a contact table (73, 74) disposed upstream of the joint portion (42) in the conveying direction of the first packaging material (13A) and the second packaging material (13B) and between a conveying path (44A) of the first packaging material (13A) and a conveying path (44B) of the second packaging material (13B);
a cutting section (43) having a first cutting blade section (60A) and a second cutting blade section (60B) opposed to each other across the contact table (73, 74), the conveying path (44A) of the first packaging material (13A), and the conveying path (44B) of the second packaging material (13B);
A plate (32) supporting the joint portion (42), the abutment table (73, 74) and the cutting portion (43);
a mechanism (28) for moving the plate (32) in the conveying direction at the same speed as the first packaging material (13A) and the second packaging material (13B);
The first suction pressure welding portion (46A) and the second suction pressure welding portion (46B) of the joint portion (42) are configured to be movable between an advanced position where the first suction pressure welding portion (46A) and the second suction pressure welding portion (46B) abut against each other in a state where the first suction pressure welding portion (46A) sucks the first packaging material (13A) and the second suction pressure welding portion (46B) sucks the second packaging material (13B), and a retreated position where the first suction pressure welding portion (46A) and the second suction pressure welding portion (46B) are separated from each other to release the first packaging material (13A) and the second packaging material (13B);
The abutment table (73, 74) has two portions (73, 74) located on the upstream side and the downstream side with respect to the conveying direction, and an opening (75) formed between the two portions (73, 74),
The first cutting blade portion (60A) and the second cutting blade portion (60B) of the cutting portion (43) are
a support portion (63A, 63B) supported by the plate (32) so as to be movable toward and away from the abutment table (73, 74);
cutting blades (64A, 64B) fixed to the support portions (63A, 63B) facing the openings (75) of the abutment tables (73, 74);
A plate (66A, 66B) having an opening (67A, 67B) corresponding to the cutting blade (64A, 64B),
a spring (68A, 68B) interposed between the plate (66A, 66B) and the support portion (63A, 63B) and supporting the plate (66A, 66B) on the support portion (63A, 63B) in a state in which the cutting edge (65A, 65B) of the cutting blade (64A, 64B) is accommodated within the opening (67A, 67B) of the plate (66A, 66B) or in a state in which the cutting edge is separated from the opening (67A, 67B) of the plate (66A, 66B),
a packaging material splicing mechanism (27) configured to advance the support portions (63A, 63B) toward the abutment tables (73, 74) to bring the plates (66A, 66B) into contact with the abutment tables (73, 74), and then, with the plates (66A, 66B) in contact with the abutment tables (73, 74), further advance the support portions (63A, 63B) against the springs (68A, 68B), thereby causing the cutting blades (64A, 64B) to enter the openings (75) of the abutment tables (73, 74) through the openings (67A, 67B) of the plates (66A, 66B), thereby cutting the packaging material (13A, 13B) located between the abutment tables (73, 74) and the cutting blade portions (60A, 60B). The first suction pressure welding portion (46A) and the second suction pressure welding portion (46B) of the joint portion (42) are each
The packaging material (13A, 13B) is held by suction on a holding surface (51A, 51B),
The packaging material joining mechanism (27) of claim 1 is configured to be movable between a position in which the holding surface (51A, 51B) faces the packaging material (13A, 13B) and a position in which the holding surface (51A, 51B) does not face the packaging material (13A, 13B) around an axis (53A, 53B) perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaging material (13A, 13B). An automatic packaging machine (10) having the packaging material splicing mechanism (27).

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