JP2788230B2 - Packaging condition inspection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for inspecting the condition of a packaged product filled with contents such as coffee powder and vacuum-packaged.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some foods and drinks such as coffee powder are shipped in a packaged state. In this case, it is necessary to inspect before the shipment whether the packaging is successful. For example, when shipping coffee powder in a vacuum package, if the wrapping paper has a pinhole, the wrapped product will be deformed when the wrapped product is pressed by hand or any external pressure is applied. And the commercial value is reduced. In addition, in the case of coffee powder, if a pinhole is opened in the wrapping paper, there is a problem that the initial quality cannot be maintained due to the contact between the coffee powder as the content and air.

As described above, before shipping a packaged product, it is necessary to inspect the vacuum packaging state of the packaged product in advance, and the inspection has been performed by touch or visual inspection by an operator.

[0004]

However, the inspection by the touch of the operator requires skill,
In addition, variations in inspection results due to different operators have occurred. Furthermore, in the production line of packaging products,
When the inspection work of the operator is performed, there is a limit in trying to increase the production efficiency. Therefore, automation of inspection of the packaging state of the packaged product has been desired.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for automatically inspecting the state of packaging of a packaged product.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, a feature of the present invention is a packaging condition inspection apparatus for a packaged product filled with contents and vacuum packaged,
Pressing the outer surface of the packaged product that is in the first position and orientation when the vacuum packaging state is normal and can be displaced to a second position and orientation different from the first position and orientation when the vacuum packaging state is not normal There is provided a pressing means, and a detecting means for detecting whether the pressing means is in the first position and the second position. When the pressing means acts on the outer surface of the packaged product, the posture of the pressing means changes according to the vacuum packaging state. The posture when the vacuum packaging state is normal is set in advance, and the vacuum packaging state is normal if the pre-set posture (first position / posture) is reached when the pressing means acts on the packaged product. If the posture is different from the first position and posture (the second position and posture), it is determined that the vacuum packaging state is not normal. Then, by detecting the attitude of the pressing means, it is possible to determine whether or not the vacuum packaging state is normal. Further, it is preferable to use an optical sensor as the detecting means because the configuration of the entire apparatus becomes simple.

[0007] Further, it is preferable that the pressing force of the pressing means can be adjusted, because it can cope with various packaged products.

If the packaged products are sequentially conveyed while mounted on a transfer means such as a belt conveyor, at least the pressing means and the pressing force of the pressing means are sandwiched by the transfer means. It is preferable that a pressing force receiving means for receiving a part of the pressing product via the packaged product is provided. The pressing force receiving means may be provided integrally with the transfer means, or may be provided separately. When the packaged product is transported by the transporting means, the packaged product is mounted at a predetermined position on the transporting path of the transporting means and transported. When the pressing means acts on the packaged product, the packaged product tries to move from a predetermined position or has a problem of trying to fall down.However, by providing the pressing force receiving means, the Such problems can be prevented from occurring.

Further, if a rotatable roller is provided as the pressing means, while being conveyed by the transfer means,
An inspection of the packaging condition can also be performed. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to an increase in the efficiency of a production line for packaging products. Furthermore, as a pressing force receiving means, a plurality of rotatable rollers,
If a belt wound around the rollers is provided, not only can the package products be prevented from falling off by these rollers and the belt, but also there is an advantage that the transport of the package products by the transfer means can be performed smoothly. Therefore, the flow of the packaged products in the production line is not stagnated, and the efficiency of the production line can be improved.

[0010] The packaged product for which the detecting means detects that the pressing means is in the second position and posture, that is, the packaged product for which the packaging state is detected to be abnormal, is discharged from the belt conveyor by the discharging means. This is preferable because packaging products of poor quality are not accidentally shipped.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a production line from coffee powder to packaging and shipping. The production line includes a supply unit 1 for supplying roasted coffee powder, a wrapping paper supply unit 2 for supplying wrapping paper formed of aluminum or the like, and filling of the wrapping paper formed into a predetermined form with coffee powder. Filling section 3, a belt conveyor 5 that conveys the packaged product 4 sent from the filling section 3, a weighing section 6 that weighs the packaged product 4, and receives the packaged product 4 that is not within a predetermined weight range. The apparatus includes a container 7, a packaging state inspection device 8 for inspecting the packaging state of the packaged product 4 described in detail later, and a shipping unit 10 provided at the rear end of the production line.

The filling section 3 is provided with a vacuum device for vacuum packaging coffee powder. FIG. 4 shows the packaged product 4 in a state where the packaging is completed. As the material of the wrapping paper, for example, aluminum foil is selected. The packaged product 4 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped body portion 4a filled with coffee powder as a content, an upper heat seal portion 4b, and a lower heat seal portion 4c. When the package is vacuum-packed, its external shape does not easily collapse even when an external force acts.

Although there is almost no pinhole in the wrapping paper itself, a pinhole may be formed in the process of vacuum packaging. This is because when the form of the packaged product 4 is made while filling the coffee powder, the coffee powder may bite into the lower heat seal portion 4c. Further, since the filling is performed in a vacuum state, the coffee powder soars, and the coffee powder may bite into the upper heat seal portion 4b. Such biting may cause a pinhole to open in the wrapping paper. Further, such a pinhole is hard to be found visually, but if the pinhole is opened, it is easily deformed by an external pressure. Therefore, the pinhole is inspected by a packaging state inspection device 8 described later.

The weighing section 6 measures the weight of the packaged product 4 and treats the packaged product 4 which does not fall within a predetermined weight range as a defective product and discharges it to the container 7. The packaged products 4 that have passed through the weighing unit 6 are conveyed to the packaging condition inspection device 8 while being aligned on the belt conveyor 5 at predetermined intervals.

Next, the details of the packaging state inspection device 8 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, a pressing mechanism 11, a falling-off prevention mechanism 12 (pressing force receiving means), and a discharging mechanism 13 are arranged so as to sandwich the transport path of the belt conveyor 5. Pressing mechanism 11
Is a rotatable pressing roller 20 for pressing the packaged product 4 and a driving roller 2 for driving the pressing roller 20.
1, a drive belt 22 for linking the pressing roller 20 and the driving roller 21, and a connection lever 23 for connecting the pressing roller 20 and the driving roller 21. Drive roller 21
Is connected to a motor 24, which transmits a driving force to the pressing roller 20. Further, the pressing roller 20 is constantly urged by the air cylinder 25 in a direction in which the pressing roller 20 protrudes into the path of the belt conveyor 5 (a direction in which the packaging product 4 is pressed). Note that a biasing force may be applied by a spring instead of the air cylinder 25.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pressing roller 20 has a large-diameter portion 20a and a small-diameter portion 20b, and the large-diameter portion 20a presses the packaged product 4. Small diameter section 20
The drive belt 22 is wound around b. The connection lever 23 is rotatable around the support shaft 23a, so that the pressing roller 20 is also rotatable around the support shaft 23a. The connecting lever 23 is provided with a contact portion 23b that contacts the stopper 26 and a reflection portion 23b to which a reflection sheet (not shown) is attached. The stopper 26 regulates the clockwise rotation of the connecting lever 23 in FIG. 2, and the position of the stopper 26 can be adjusted by an adjusting mechanism (not shown). Thereby, it is possible to cope with various packaging products 4 having different external shapes.

In the vicinity of the pressing mechanism 11, a first optical sensor 27 including a light emitter 27a and a light receiver 27b is arranged. The laser light output from the light emitter 27a is emitted toward the reflecting portion 23c of the connecting lever 23. The light receiver 27b receives the laser light reflected by the reflection unit 23c. With this configuration, when the posture of the connecting lever 23 changes, the amount of light received by the light receiver 27b changes.

The falling-off prevention mechanism 12 includes an upstream roller 30 disposed on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the belt conveyor 5, a downstream roller 31 disposed on the downstream side, and both rollers 30,
The transport belt 32 is wound around 31, and a setting member 33 for preventing the transport belt 32 from dent by the pressing action of the pressing roller 20. Downstream roller 31
Is connected to a driving roller 34 via a driving belt 35. The drive roller 34 is connected to a motor 36,
6 is transmitted to the rollers 30 and 31, and the rollers 30 and 31 are driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. The setting member 33 includes a base portion 33a for attaching to a fixed base (not shown), a contact portion 33b having a plane parallel to the transport surface of the drive belt 32, and two portions formed on the base portion 33a. And a long hole portion 33c. It is fixed to a fixed base with a screw 37 using the long hole portion 33c.
Further, by providing the long hole portion 33c, the fixed position can be adjusted in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction.

A second optical sensor 40 for detecting that the packaged product 4 has been conveyed is disposed at the most upstream portion of the belt conveyor 5 of the packaging condition inspection device 8, and includes a light emitting device 40a and a light receiving device 40a. And a device 40b. This second
When the optical sensor 40 detects that the packaged product 4 has been conveyed, it sets the sensors and the like of each part of the packaging state inspection device 8 to an operable state.

The light emitting device 4 is located downstream of the pressing mechanism 11.
A third optical sensor 41 composed of 1a and a light receiver 41b is arranged. Thereby, it is detected that the packaged product 4 for which the inspection of the packaging state has been completed has been conveyed.

Further downstream of the third optical sensor 41, a discharge mechanism 13 for discharging the packaged product 4 whose packaging state is not normal out of the path of the belt conveyor 5 is provided.
The discharge mechanism 13 includes a discharge plate 42 slidable in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance path of the belt conveyor 5 and an air cylinder 43 for driving the discharge plate 42. The discharge mechanism 13 and the container 9 are arranged so as to sandwich the belt conveyor 5, and the packaged product 4 whose packaging state is determined to be abnormal is discharged into the container 9 by the discharge plate 42.

The control unit 50 is provided for controlling the movements of the motors 24, 36 and the air cylinders 25, 43, and controls these based on output signals from the optical sensors 27, 40, 41. Execute. In addition, an input unit 51 such as a keyboard and a monitor 52 are connected to the control unit 50.

Next, the operation of the packaging state inspection device 8 will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to the operation diagram of FIG. 8 and the flowchart of FIG. Laser light is constantly emitted from the second optical sensor 40 to monitor whether the packaged product 4 has been conveyed (step # 1). In FIG. 5, the pressing roller 20 is in a state of protruding most from the belt conveyor 5 (projection amount a1). Further, the connecting lever 23 is in a state of being rotated most clockwise, and the contact portion 23b is in contact with the stopper 26. When it is detected in step # 1 that the packaged product 4 has been conveyed, each unit (the first sensor 27 and the like) of the packaging state inspection device 8 is set to an operating state (step # 2). As shown in FIG. 6, when the packaged product 4 is transported to the pressing mechanism 11, the pressing roller 20 is rotated counterclockwise around the support shaft 23a. At this time, the pressing roller 20
Is pressed.

If the vacuum packaging of the packaged product 4 is normal, FIG.
(First position and attitude), and if the vacuum packaging is not normal, the state is the pressed state (second position and attitude) shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the laser light emitted from the light emitter 27a is rebounded by the reflecting portion 23c of the connecting lever 23,
The reflected light is received by the light receiver 27b, and an output higher than a predetermined level is obtained. The protrusion amount a of the pressing roller 20 at this time
2 is smaller than a1 in FIG. If the vacuum packaging is not normal, the outer surface of the packaged product 4 becomes soft, so that the pressing amount by the pressing roller 20 increases. At this time, the protrusion amount a3 of the pressing roller 20 is larger than a2 in FIG. 6 (however, smaller than a1). The attitude of the connecting lever 23 in FIGS. 6 and 7 is slightly different, and accordingly, the inclination of the reflecting portion 23c with respect to the first optical sensor 27 also changes. In FIG. 7, the reflected light from the light emitter 27a is
The amount received by b is lower than a predetermined level.

Since the upstream and downstream rollers 30, 31 of the pressing roller 20 and the falling-off prevention mechanism 12 are rotating, the packaging condition can be inspected without stopping the packaged product 4 conveyed on the belt conveyor 5. It is efficient because it can be done.
Although the packaged product 4 receives the pressing force from the pressing roller 20, the packaged product 4 can be prevented from falling down or falling off from the belt conveyor 5 by the setting member 33.

In the control unit 50, the first optical sensor 27
It is determined whether or not the output signal output from is higher than a predetermined level (step # 3). If the level is equal to or higher than the predetermined level, it is determined that the packaging state of the packaged product 4 is normal,
The packaged product 4 passes through to the shipping unit 10 without operating the discharge plate 42. If it is not higher than the predetermined level, it is determined that the packaging state of the packaged product 4 is not normal. When the third optical sensor 41 detects that the packaged product 4 has been conveyed (step # 5), the discharge plate 42 is operated as shown in FIG.
The packaged product 4 is discharged into the container 9 (Step # 6).

In the above configuration, when changing the value of the predetermined level, the value may be input from the input unit 51. Thereby, it is possible to cope with packaging products 4 having various shapes. When changing the pressing force of the pressing roller 20, the value may be input from the input unit 51.

Further, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. (1) Instead of the first optical sensor 27, the attitude of the pressing roller 20 (the connecting lever 23) may be detected based on the position where the reflected light is received using a line sensor.
Further, various modifications such as a configuration using a magnetic sensor are possible. (2) The pressing roller 20 of the pressing mechanism 11 is driven by the motor 24, but may be a free roller to which no driving force is applied. Further, a fixed roller that does not rotate may be used instead of the pressing roller 20. From the viewpoint of smoothly transporting the packaged product 4, it is preferable to apply a driving force. (3) Regarding the rollers 31 and 32 of the fall prevention mechanism 12,
Similarly, it may be a free roller or a fixed roller. (4) The contact surface of the pressing roller 20 with the packaged product 4 may be configured to be elastically deformable, so that the pressing roller 20 may be dented depending on the packaging state, and a change in the attitude of the pressing roller 20 due to this may be detected. . (5) In the present embodiment, the falling-off prevention mechanism 12 is provided separately from the belt conveyor 5, but a mechanism for preventing the packaging product 4 from falling off may be provided on the belt conveyor 5 itself.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a production line for packaging products.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the packaging state inspection device as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a packaging state inspection device viewed from a side.

FIG. 4 is an outline drawing of a packaged product.

FIG. 5 is an operation diagram (preparation state) of the packaging state inspection device.

FIG. 6 is an operation diagram of the packaging state inspection device (when the packaging state is normal).

FIG. 7 is an operation diagram of the packaging state inspection device (when the packaging state is not normal)

FIG. 8 is an operation diagram of the packaging state inspection device (the discharging operation of the packaged product).

FIG. 9 is an operation flowchart of the packaging condition inspection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Packaged Product 5 Belt Conveyor (Transporting Means) 8 Packaging Condition Inspection Device 11 Pressing Mechanism (Pressing Means) 12 Drop-Out Prevention Mechanism (Pressing Force Receiving Means) 13 Discharge Mechanism (Discharge Means) 20 Press Roller (Pressing Means) 23 Connecting Lever 27 First optical sensor 30 Upstream roller 31 Downstream roller 32 Conveyor belt 33 Screening member 40 Second optical sensor 41 Third optical sensor 42 Discharge plate (discharge means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-51-80487 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65B 61/24 B65B 57/10

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A packaging condition inspection device for a packaged product filled with contents and vacuum- packaged, comprising a pressing means for pressing an outer surface of said packaged product, wherein said pressing means is in a vacuum packaging state. displaced in a first position and orientation when normal, the first when vacuum packaging status is not normal
Detecting means for detecting whether the pressing means has been displaced to the first position or attitude or to the second position and attitude, and A packaging condition inspection device, comprising: 2. The packaging condition inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing force of said pressing means is adjustable. 3. A transfer means for loading and sequentially transporting the packaged products, and the pressing means and at least a part of the pressing force of the pressing means so as to sandwich a transfer path of the transfer means. 3. A pressing force receiving means for receiving through a product.
The packaging condition inspection device according to 1. 4. The packaging state inspection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said pressing means includes a rotatable roller. 5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said pressing force receiving means is formed integrally with said transfer means. 6. The packaging condition inspection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pressing force receiving means is formed separately from the transfer means. 7. The packaging state inspection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the pressing force receiving means includes a plurality of rotatable rollers and a belt wound around the rollers. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising discharging means for discharging the packaged product detected by said detecting means that said pressing means is in said second position and posture from a transfer path of said transferring means. Item 8. The packaging condition inspection device according to any one of Items 1 to 7. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprises an optical sensor, and said pressing means is provided with a reflector for reflecting output light from said optical sensor.
A packaging condition inspection device according to any one of the above.