JP4148708B2 - Product supply equipment for packaging machines - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a product supply apparatus that supplies a product to a section that folds a packaging material in a packaging machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a technique related to this type of product supply apparatus, an example of a packaging apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-240013 can be given. In this packaging apparatus, while supplying a product along a supply line, the product is once pushed and pressed in the vicinity of the end, and the top product is cut upward by an elevator and positioned at the push-out position by a pusher. The product pushed out by the pusher is supplied into the pocket of the folded turret while folding the packaging material.
[0003]
In the supply of the product by the packaging apparatus described above, since the elevator cut-out operation is performed at a timing synchronized with the packaging cycle, it is excellent in practicality in that the product can be randomly supplied on the supply line. In addition, after the product is pushed out by the pusher, the elevator can be lowered to prepare for the next cutting operation, which is also suitable for speeding up the product supply.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in order to cope with a change in product size in a general-purpose packaging machine, the lifting stroke is set in accordance with the maximum product height for the above-described elevator. That is, if the up / down stroke is set in advance assuming the maximum height, the product size can be freely changed within the range. However, in this case, if the maximum product height is increased, the lift stroke is increased accordingly, and there is a certain limit to further shortening the lift cycle of the elevator.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily shorten the elevator lifting cycle and to further increase the product supply speed.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The product supply apparatus of the packaging machine of the present invention solves the above-described problem by cutting out the product below the conveying surface. That is, in the product supply device, the product is conveyed on the conveyance surface by the supply conveyor, Through a pair of guide members that form an extension of the conveying surface of the product delivered from the end of the supply conveyor and guide both side ends of the product on its lower surface, elevator above At the same height as the transfer surface On the receiving side The elevator is lowered from the receiving position to the lowered position together with the product, and the product is cut out from the product group on the conveying surface and cut out as a product. Then, the cut product is pushed out from above the elevator in the lowered position by the pusher and supplied to the folding section. In this way, when the cut product is cut downward from the conveyance surface, it is not necessary to set the lift distance of the elevator assuming the maximum height of the product, so that the lift distance can be minimized.
[0007]
More specifically, in the product supply device of the present invention, The pusher is provided directly below the conveying surface between the pair of guide members, and can reciprocate in the horizontal direction to advance and retreat with respect to the elevator. The elevator lowering position is set based on the pusher position. ing. That is, the lowering position of the elevator is defined so that the horizontal reciprocation of the pusher is performed immediately above the receiving surface of the elevator at the lowering position. . In this way, the pusher is placed directly under the transfer surface. And set the lowering position of the elevator as described above. If it exists, the raising / lowering distance of an elevator will become the minimum.
In a further specific example of the present invention, a pair of guide members on both sides continuous from the terminal end of the supply conveyor to the conveying surface are arranged, and a standby position of the pusher is provided between the guide members. The pair of guide members guide both end portions of the product delivered from the end of the supply conveyor on the lower surface thereof.
[0008]
Moreover, the elevator has a pair of holding members on both sides, and these holding members can hold both end portions of the product on both the upper and lower sides. The holding member is lifted by the elevator to receive the product from the guide member at the raised position, and cuts the product by being lowered to the lowered position. At this time, since the product is held by the holding member, the posture is stably stabilized.
[0009]
The pusher described above can move forward between the pair of holding members during the operation. At this time, since the pusher and the holding member do not interfere with each other, the elevator can raise the holding member after the product is pushed out by the pusher and before the pusher moves backward. Therefore, the next product can be received without waiting for the pusher to finish returning.
[0010]
As described above, since the guide member and the holding member are divided into both sides of the product to form a pair, it is necessary to adjust the interval when changing the size of the product. For this reason, the product supply apparatus of this invention can mutually connect a guide member and a holding member on both sides of a product, and can adjust these space | intervals in the width direction of a product. In this case, since the width of the guide member and the holding member can be adjusted at the same time, it is easy to change the size of the product.
[0011]
On the other hand, when one side of the transport surface is located on the front side of the machine body, it is preferable that only the holding member can be independently moved to the front side of the machine body. In this case, maintenance work near the elevator is facilitated.
When the elevator has the holding member described above, if the product is not completely received during the lowering operation, the product may be caught. For this reason, in the present invention, it is confirmed whether or not the product has been completely received by the holding member, and if it is confirmed that the product has been received completely during the lowering operation, the lowering operation of the holding member is stopped. This prevents the product from being bitten.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a flow of packaging work in a packaging machine as an example. This packaging machine has a film reel FR and a tape reel TR, and a long film packaging material FW is drawn from the film reel FR, and an opening tape T is drawn from the tape reel TR. The opening tape T is cut at a certain length on the feeding path, and is attached to one side of the film packaging material FW with a gap.
[0013]
The film wrapping material FW to which the opening tape T is affixed is drooped downward, and is cut into fixed lengths in the downward feeding process. At this time, the film wrapping material FW is separated between the opening tapes T and becomes the packaging film F with the opening tapes T attached one by one.
The products P to be packaged in the packaging machine are supplied in a row in the horizontal direction. The products P are cut out from the product group one by one before the packaging film F and pushed into the packaging film F. At this time, the packaging film F is folded into a U-shape (or J-shape) around the trunk of the product P. The supply, cut-out, and push-in of the product P will be described in detail later.
[0014]
A folding section is formed at the supply destination of the product P, and the folding turret 4 is disposed here. The product P is pushed into one pocket (not shown) of the folding turret 4 while folding the packaging film F. Thereafter, the folding turret 4 rotates intermittently, and the product P and the packaging film F accommodated in the pocket are transferred. In the process from supplying the product P to pushing it into the folding turret 4, the lower surface and the rear end surface of the product P are the reference surfaces.
[0015]
With the rotation of the folding turret 4, the body-folded packaging film F first has two body flaps superimposed on each other in the form of a palm joint, where the body primary fin seal is performed (position a in FIG. 1). . Further, with the intermittent rotation of the folding turret 4, two notches are formed in the trunk fin seal portion (position b in FIG. 1). In addition, the site | part pinched | interposed into these notches becomes an opening knob after completion of packaging, and further, an opening knob is continued to the affixing area of the opening tape T. For this reason, it is possible to easily open the packaged product along the opening tape T by causing the opening picking and pulling it in one direction around the trunk as it is. Next, when the folding turret 4 is intermittently rotated, the trunk fin seal portion is folded upward (position c in FIG. 1).
[0016]
When the folding turret 4 is rotated halfway after the product P is first received in the pocket, the product P is discharged from the pocket in a posture reversed 180 ° from the initial state. At this time, the folded trunk fin seal portion is folded with respect to the upper surface of the product P, and here, the trunk secondary seal is made (d position in FIG. 1). The cylinder secondary seal is performed while avoiding the above-described unsealed area. When the body winding of the packaging film F is completed in this way, the body-wrapped semi-wrapped product M is obtained.
[0017]
A reversing turret 6 is arranged further ahead of the folding turret 4, and the semi-wrapped product M that has been secondarily sealed by the barrel is then received in a pocket (not shown) of the reversing turret 6. The inversion turret 6 rotates the attitude of the semi-packaged product M by 180 °, that is, inverts up and down. As a result, the product P (semi-wrapped product M) returns to the initial posture in which the lower surface and the rear end surface are the reference surfaces.
[0018]
A transfer path 8 is provided at the tip of the reversing turret 6, and the semi-packaged product M is transported laterally along the transfer path 8 when discharged from the reversing turret 6. The ear | edge part of the packaging film F is expanded by this transfer path | route 8, and the side fin is each shape | molded by the both sides of the product P at this time (e position in FIG. 1). Thereafter, the semi-packaged product M is transferred along the transfer path 8, and the above-described side fins are heat-sealed, that is, side-fin sealed (position f in FIG. 1).
[0019]
A chain pusher 10 is arranged at the end of the transfer path 8, and the side-fin sealed semi-wrapped product M is delivered to the chain pusher 10 from the end of the transfer path 8 and then transferred upward. In FIG. 1, only one sprocket center of the chain pusher 10 is shown.
In the process in which the semi-wrapped product M is transferred upward by the chain pusher 10, the side fins on both sides are folded down with respect to the side surface of the product P (position g in FIG. 1). By this folding, a pair of expanded flaps that expand from the side surface of the product P are formed. Thereafter, when the semi-wrapped product M is further transferred upward, the spread flap is folded toward the side surface of the product P. Then, the side folded portions on both sides including the folded side fin and the expanded flap are finally heat sealed (position h in FIG. 1). Thus, the packaged product is completed, and thereafter, the sealing surface of the side folding portion is cooled and the packaged product is discharged from the packaging machine.
[0020]
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the packaging machine more specifically. A film conveyor 12 for supplying the packaging film F is disposed in front of the folding turret 4 described above. This film conveyor 12 can be fed in front of the folding turret 4 with the packaging film F adsorbed thereto.
Further, a supply conveyor 14 for the products P is disposed in front of the film conveyor 12, and the supply conveyor 14 extends horizontally from the side of the packaging machine along the front surface thereof. A conveying surface for the product P is formed on the upper surface of the supply conveyor 14 and therefore the conveying surface extends horizontally towards the folding section.
[0021]
A bottom guide 16 is disposed beyond the end of the supply conveyor 14 when viewed in the conveying direction of the product P. The bottom guide 16 extends from the end of the supply conveyor 14 in the conveyance direction of the product P, and its upper surface forms a part of the conveyance surface following the supply conveyor 14. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the bottom guide 16 is divided and arranged in the width direction of the product P. Therefore, a pair is formed on both sides with respect to the conveyance center of the product P. The details of the bottom guide 16 will be described later with reference to the drawings.
[0022]
Further, an elevator 18 is disposed at the tip of the bottom guide 16. The elevator 18 receives the product P at the rising position that is the same height as the above-described conveying surface, and descends from there to cut out only one leading product P. The details of the elevator 18 will be described later with reference to the drawings.
In the folding section, a trunk primary sealer 20 and a notch forming machine 22 are arranged along the outer periphery of the folding turret 4. Of these, the trunk primary sealer 20 forms the above-described trunk fin seal portion at the first intermediate position of the folding turret 4, and the notch forming machine 22 forms a notch at the trunk fin seal section at the next intermediate position.
[0023]
The packaging machine includes a transfer unit 24, and the transfer unit 24 transfers the product P from the folding turret 4 to the reversing turret 6 and the transfer of the product P (semi-wrapped product M) along the transfer path 8 described above. Done. The transfer unit 24 has a plurality of pushers 26, and these pushers 26 are arranged in the transfer direction with a transfer pitch of the product P (semi-packed product M). The transfer unit 24 can perform a transfer operation by a crank mechanism (not shown). The crank mechanism moves all the pushers 26 forward in the transfer direction by a transfer pitch, and then hides the product P (half-packaged product M) below. Then move back. When the transfer unit 24 performs the transfer operation by repeating such reciprocating motion, the product P (semi-wrapping) is formed on the transfer path 8 from the folding turret 4 to the reverse turret 6 and from the reverse turret 6 to the chain pusher 10. Article M) is transferred intermittently.
[0024]
A cylinder secondary sealer 28 is disposed between the folding turret 4 and the reversing turret 6, and the cylinder secondary sealer 28 is in the intermittent stop position after the product P is discharged from the folding turret 4, and the cylinder 2 described above. Next seal.
Side fold seal mechanisms 30 are provided in pairs on both sides of the transfer path 8. As described above, the side fold seal mechanism 30 has a function of expanding the ear portion of the semi-wrapped product M in the transfer direction to form a side fin and sealing the side fin.
[0025]
FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the product supply apparatus more specifically. The elevator 18 described above has a holding member 32, and this holding member 32 has a shape that sandwiches the product P from above and below and allows passage in the transport direction. The holding member 32 is also divided and arranged in the width direction of the product P, similarly to the bottom guide 16, and therefore forms a pair on both sides with respect to the conveyance center of the product P. FIG. 3 shows only the holding member 32 on the rear side of the machine body.
[0026]
Next, a mechanism for raising and lowering the holding member 32 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 4, the holding member 32 is attached to the vertically long side plate 34, and the upper portions of the faces facing each other as the side plates 34 on both sides serve as the attaching portion of the holding member 32. Yes. Among these, the upper holding member 32 can change the mounting height with respect to the side plate 34, and the position of the holding member 32 can be adjusted as the height of the product P changes. The side plate 34 extends downward from the attachment site of the holding member 32, and an elevating mechanism 36 is provided below the side plate 34.
[0027]
The elevating mechanism 36 has an upright elevating rod 38, and a guide rod 42 is fixed to the upper end of the elevating rod 38 via a clamp 40. The guide rod 42 is attached in a horizontal posture and extends from the lifting rod 38 to the front side and the back side of the machine body. Slide bushes 44 are respectively attached to the lower ends of the side plates 34, and guide rods 42 are fitted to these slide bushes 44. When the lifting rod 38 is the center, the guide rod 42 is long on the front side of the machine body and protrudes from the slide bush 44 accordingly.
[0028]
The elevating mechanism 36 has a disk-shaped cam 46, and the cam 46 is attached to a cam shaft 48. As shown in FIG. 6, support plates 50 and 52 erected on the front side and the back side of the airframe are arranged, and the camshaft 48 extends between the support plates 50 and 52 in the front-rear direction of the airframe. Yes. Both ends of the cam shaft 48 are rotatably supported by support plates 50 and 52. On the camshaft 48 A drive sprocket 54 is attached between the cam 46 and the support plate 52. A drive chain (not shown) is wound around the sprocket 54. Therefore, the cam shaft 48 is rotated by the travel of the drive chain.
[0029]
A rotating arm 56 is disposed above the cam 46. The rotating arm 56 can be driven by the cam 46 via a roller-shaped cam follower. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the pivot arm 56 has a base end portion rotatably supported by an arm shaft 58 and extends substantially horizontally from the base end portion. The arm shaft 58 also extends between the support plates 50 and 52 in the front-rear direction of the airframe. Therefore, the rotating arm 56 can swing up and down around the arm shaft 58. As shown in FIG. 3, the rotating arm 56 is attracted to the cam 46 by a coil spring 57. On the other hand, a connecting rod 59 is pin-connected to the tip of the rotating arm 56, and this connecting rod 59 is pin-connected to the lower end of the elevating rod 38.
[0030]
As shown in FIGS. Support plate A cross bar 60 is stretched horizontally between 50 and 52, and a slide bush 62 is attached to the cross bar 60. And the raising / lowering rod 38 is fitted by the slide bush 62, and can raise / lower with respect to the cross bar 60 by the guidance.
In FIG. 3, the cam 46 is indicated by a two-dot chain line, but the rotation arm 56 swings up and down by the rotation of the cam 46, and thereby the lifting rod 38 is lifted up and down. And by raising / lowering the raising / lowering rod 38, the side plates 34 on both sides are integrally raised / lowered via the guide rod 42, and the holding member 32 can be raised / lowered. As shown in FIG. 4, the elevation of the side plate 34 is guided by a linear guide 64, which will be described later.
[0031]
FIG. 3 shows only the bottom guide 16 on the rear side of the machine body, but a pusher 66 for pushing the product P is disposed between the pair of bottom guides 16 on both sides. The pusher 66 is positioned slightly below the conveying surface connected from the supply conveyor 14 to the bottom guide 16 and can reciprocate in the horizontal direction at this height. Next, a mechanism for giving a reciprocating motion to the pusher 66 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0032]
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a horizontal base plate 68 is disposed between the support plates 50 and 52. A linear guide 70 is mounted on the base plate 68, and the linear guide 70 extends in the conveyance direction of the product P along the front surface of the machine body. A reciprocating rod 72 is attached to the linear guide 70, and a pusher 66 is supported at the tip of the reciprocating rod 72. The tip of the reciprocating rod 72 rises in an L shape, and the pusher 66 is positioned above the base plate 68 at the tip.
[0033]
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, a pivot arm 74 is attached to the above-described arm shaft 58, and the pivot arm 74 extends upward from the arm shaft 58. The reciprocating rod 72 is connected to the tip of the rotating arm 74 via a link rod 76. Note that a rectangular opening 78 is formed in the base plate 68, and the rotating arm 74 protrudes above the base plate 68 through the opening 78.
[0034]
Here, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the arm shaft 58 is rotatably supported by the support plates 50 and 52. The arm shaft 58 and the cam shaft 48 are connected via a crank mechanism 80, and the crank mechanism 80 can convert the rotation of the cam shaft 48 into the reciprocating rotation of the arm shaft 58. By such reciprocating rotation of the arm shaft 58, the rotating arm 74 swings in the direction along the front surface of the machine body, and the reciprocating operation can be given to the pusher 66 via the reciprocating rod 72.
[0035]
Next, the width adjustment mechanism of the bottom guide 16 and the holding member 32 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The bottom guide 16 and the holding member 32 are paired on both sides as viewed in the width direction of the product P. When the size of the product P is changed in the packaging machine, the interval between the bottom guide 16 and the holding member 32 is set to the product. It is necessary to adjust to the width dimension of P.
[0036]
First, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, another linear guide 82 is disposed on the above-described base plate 68, and this linear guide 82 extends in the front-rear direction of the machine body. Two slide blocks 84 and 86 are attached to the linear guide 82 on the front side and the back side of the machine body, and support frames 88 and 90 are vertically installed on the slide blocks 84 and 86, respectively. The bottom guide 16 has an angled shape, its base portion is attached to the facing surfaces of the support frames 88 and 90, and its main body portion extends horizontally from the support frames 88 and 90 toward the conveyance center of the product P. As is clear from FIG. 10, the bottom guide 16 can support and guide both end portions of the product P on its lower surface.
[0037]
Further, side guides 92 are attached to the support frames 88 and 90 above the bottom guide 16, respectively. These side guides 92 guide the side surface of the product P on the bottom guide 16. An upper guide 94 is attached above each side guide 92, and these upper guides 94 guide the upper surface of the product P. Further, the upper guide 94 extends in the conveying direction of the product P beyond the holding member 32, and the extended portion can guide the upper surface of the product P at the time of pushing.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 11, the support frame 90 on the back side of the machine body extends and extends from the bottom guide 16 in the conveyance direction of the product P, and a linear guide 64 for the side plate 34 is attached to the protruding portion. Yes. For this reason, the bottom guide 16 and the holding member 32 on the rear side of the machine body are in a state of being connected to each other via the support frame 90.
[0039]
The support frame 88 on the front side of the machine body has no overhanging portion, and two moving blocks 96 and 98 are connected instead. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the moving block 96 is guided to the linear guide 82 via a separate slide block 100, and a vertically long moving block 98 is attached to the side of the moving block 96. . A linear guide 64 for the side plate 34 on the front side of the machine body is attached to the vertically long moving block 98. Therefore, the bottom guide 16 and the holding member 32 on the front side of the machine body are also connected to each other via the support frame 88 and the two moving blocks 96 and 98.
[0040]
Here, the support frame 88 on the front side of the machine body is connected to the moving block 96 via the catch clip 102. The catch clip 102 detachably connects the support frame 88 and the moving block 96. In other words, the catch clip 102 is released from the connection by a simple operation, and is separated into two parts between the support frame 88 and the moving block 96 in the released state. Then, these two parts can be easily re-engaged by approaching each other, and the support frame 88 and the moving block 96 can be returned to the connected state.
[0041]
As is clear from FIG. 12, the support frame 88 on the front side of the machine body and the side plate 34 do not overlap each other, and they can pass in the guide direction of the linear guide 82. Therefore, the holding member 32 can be moved independently of the bottom guide 16 by releasing the connection by the catch clip 102 and sliding the moving blocks 96 and 98 forward. A slide operation knob 104 is attached to the upper end of the moving block 98. Since the guide rod 42 is longer on the front side of the machine body as described above, the slide bush 44 does not fall off even if the holding member 32 is moved to the front side of the machine body.
[0042]
Thus, if the holding member 32 on the front side of the machine body can be slid independently of the bottom guide 16, maintenance work in the vicinity of the elevator 18 can be easily performed. Further, even if a product clogging occurs in the body folding section between the elevator 18 and the folding turret 4, the restoration work can be easily performed by moving the holding member 32 independently.
[0043]
Further, a feed screw 106 in two directions is provided below the support frames 88 and 90, and the feed screw 106 extends in the front-rear direction of the machine body. Further, nuts 108 are attached to the support frames 88 and 90, respectively, and these nuts 108 are combined with the feed screw 106 in a screwed state. Therefore, by rotating the feed screw 106 in either direction, the support frames 88 and 90 on both sides move symmetrically with respect to their centers (the centers of the products P), and approach or separate from each other.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 11, one end of the feed screw 106 protrudes from the support plate 50 toward the front side of the machine body, and a handle 110 is attached to this one end to rotate, thereby rotating the gap between the bottom guide 16 and the holding member 32 on both sides. Can be adjusted at once. For this reason, when changing the size of the product P, the width of the bottom guide 16 and the holding member 32 can be easily adjusted according to the width dimension. At this time, a digital indicator may be attached to one end of the feed screw 106 so that the displayed numerical value matches the product width.
[0045]
Here, as shown in FIG. 3, a product stopper 112 is disposed above the elevator 18, and the product stopper 112 is located at the center of the holding members 32 on both sides. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 11 and the like, a cantilever beam 114 extends from the support plate 52 on the rear side of the machine body to the front side, and is attached to the tip of the beam 114. Product A stopper 112 is attached. 4 and 9 and the like, a slide block 116 is attached to the base end of the beam 114, and the slide block 116 is slidable in the conveying direction of the product P with respect to the support plate 52. Yes. Therefore, by adjusting the position of the slide block 116, according to the size change of the product P Product The position of the stopper 112 can be adjusted. Also, as shown in FIG. Product The position of the stopper 112 can also be adjusted in the vertical direction.
[0046]
Here, since the elevator 18 sandwiches the product P by the holding member 32 and cuts the product P downward, it may be considered that the product P is caught between the bottom guide 16 when the holding of the product P by the holding member 32 is not complete. . Therefore, the product supply device confirms whether or not the product has been completely received by the holding member 32 when the product P is cut out as follows.
[0047]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. Product An optical product sensor 118 is attached to the stopper 112 (see also FIGS. 4, 11 and the like). Further, the product supply apparatus has a controller 120, and a sensor signal from the product sensor 118 is input to the controller 120. That is, when the front end of the product P reaches the product stopper 112, the product sensor 118 detects this and outputs a sensor signal to the controller 120. When the sensor signal is input from the product sensor 118, the controller 120 can confirm that the product P is completely received by the holding member 32 based on the sensor signal.
[0048]
Such confirmation work by the controller 120 is performed in association with the lifting operation by the elevator 18. That is, a timing signal synchronized with the packaging cycle is input to the controller 120, and based on this timing signal, the controller 120 can know the timing when the holding member 32 is lowered. When it is confirmed that the product P has been received incompletely at the lowering timing of the holding member 32, the controller 120 stops the lowering operation of the holding member 32.
[0049]
Such a stop of the lowering operation can be realized by the stop cam 122, for example. As shown in FIG. 3, the stop cam 122 is arranged on the rear side of the machine body side by side with the normal cam 46, and the stop cam 122 is rotatably supported with respect to the cam shaft 48. The stop cam 122 is connected to the rod of the air cylinder 124, and the stop cam 122 is driven by the expansion / contraction operation. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the above-mentioned rotating arm 56 can be driven by the stop cam 122 via a separate cam follower.
[0050]
A compressed air supply passage 126 is connected to the air cylinder 124, and supply / exhaust of compressed air through the supply passage 126 can be operated by a switching valve 128. The controller 120 can extend and contract the rod of the air cylinder 124 by electronically controlling the operation of the switching valve 128.
Specifically, when it is confirmed that the product P is not received by the holding member 32 at the lowering timing described above, the controller 120 operates the switching valve 128 to extend the rod of the air cylinder 124 to stop. The cam 122 is driven. As a result, the cam follower is pushed upward, and the rotating arm 56 stops in a state where the rotating arm 56 is cut off from the normal cam 46. In this case, the normal cam 46 is idle, and the lowering operation of the holding member 32 is stopped.
[0051]
Thereafter, when it is confirmed that the reception of the product P by the holding member 32 is complete, the controller 120 contracts the rod of the air cylinder 124 and returns the stop cam 122 to the standby state. As a result, the cam follower returns to the driven relationship with the normal cam 46, and the cutting of the product P is resumed.
From the above description, the details of various mechanisms that give individual operations to the elevator 18 and the pusher 66 have been clarified, and hereinafter, the linkage of the operations by these mechanisms will be described.
[0052]
As shown in FIG. 13, the product P delivered from the terminal end of the supply conveyor 14 is conveyed by being pushed on the bottom guide 16. FIG. 13 shows only the bottom guide 16 on the rear side of the machine body. At this time, the pair of bottom guides 16 on both sides guides both end portions of the product P on the lower surface thereof.
The holding member 32 of the elevator 18 is in the raised position, and receives the product P sent from the bottom guide 16 by being pushed. At this time, product P is Product The stopper 112 comes into contact with the stopper 112 and stops, so that the product P is completely received by the holding member 32. In addition, when the product P is continuously supplied through the supply conveyor 14, since the product P is sequentially conveyed by pressing, the receiving of the product P by the holding member 32 does not normally become incomplete. FIG. 13 shows only the holding member 32 on the rear side of the machine body. At this time, the pair of holding members 32 on both sides hold both side ends of the product P on both upper and lower sides.
[0053]
Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the product P is cut out by the lowering operation of the elevator 18. At this time, since the product P is held by the holding member 32, the posture does not become unstable during the lowering operation. Further, the subsequent product group is restricted in conveyance by the holding member 32 and remains on the conveyance surface.
The pusher 66 that has been waiting between the pair of bottom guides 16 on both sides starts to move forward (forward) immediately before the lowering operation of the elevator 18 is completed. As shown in FIG. 15, when the lowering operation of the elevator 18 is completed, the pusher 66 enters between the pair of holding members 32 on both sides, passes through the holding members 32 as it is, and directs the product P toward the pocket of the turret 4. Push out. Thereafter, the extruded product P is cylinder-folded on the packaging film F on the film conveyor 12 as described above.
[0054]
Here, a guide plate 130 is disposed between the elevator 18 and the folding turret 4, and a body folding guide 132 is disposed at the entrance position of the folding turret 4. The product P pushed out from the elevator 18 is guided to the guide plate 130 and pushed into the pocket of the folding turret 4 through the body folding guide 132 together with the packaging film F.
[0055]
As shown in FIG. 16, when the product P is pushed out of the holding member 32, the elevator 18 starts the ascending operation while the pusher 66 moves forward. Since the holding member 32 is divided and disposed on both sides of the product P, the reciprocating mechanism of the pusher 66 and the lifting mechanism of the elevator 18 do not interfere at this time.
As shown in FIG. 17, when the lifting operation of the elevator 18 is completed and the holding member 32 returns to the lifted position, the product P remaining on the transport surface is sent out from the bottom guide 16 by pressing. Further, the pusher 66 folds the product P completely into the pocket of the turret 4 and completes the forward movement there.
[0056]
As shown in FIG. 18, when the push-in of the product P is completed, the folding turret 4 starts intermittent rotation, and the pusher 66 moves backward toward the standby position. Further, the elevator 18 is stopped at the raised position, and the next product P is received by the holding member 32. Thereafter, when the pusher 66 returns to the standby position, the state returns to the state shown in FIG. 13, and the same operation is repeated thereafter.
[0057]
FIG. 19 shows two product cutouts in comparison. As shown in FIG. 19A, for example, when the product is cut out by the lifting operation of the elevator 136, the lifting distance S of the elevator 136 is assumed assuming the maximum height Hmax of the product P. ₁ Need to be set. In this case, the pusher 138 is disposed above the lifted position of the elevator 136.
[0058]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, the above-described product supply apparatus lowers the elevator 18 and cuts out the product P, so there is no need to consider the maximum height of the product P. In this case, the pusher 66 Lifting distance S with reference to thickness T ₂ Should be set. For this reason, the lifting distance S ₂ Can be minimized, and the lift cycle of the elevator 18 can be shortened accordingly. Further, in this case, if the bottom guide 16 is divided on both sides as in the present embodiment, the pusher 66 can be positioned directly below the transport surface, so that the lifting distance S ₂ Can be minimized.
[0059]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, the mechanism for giving each operation to the elevator 18 and the pusher 66 is not limited to that of the embodiment, and a different mechanism may be used. Moreover, the power of various mechanisms may use actuators, such as an air cylinder and a motor, for example.
[0060]
Various members such as the bottom guide 16, the holding member 32, and the pusher 66 can be appropriately modified according to the specific specifications of the packaging machine and the form of the product to be packaged.
[0061]
【The invention's effect】
The product supply apparatus of the present invention is excellent in speeding up the packaging machine by shortening the lifting distance by the elevator.
Further, since the pusher does not interfere with other mechanisms and can be realized by a short member, the pusher does not tilt when the product is pushed out, and the product can be supplied reliably and stably.
[0062]
Furthermore, it is easy to adjust the interval when changing the product size, and is suitable for a versatile packaging machine. In addition, maintenance of the elevator and the body folding section is easy and convenient.
Care is taken to prevent biting of the product, and the overall stability of the packaging machine is also excellent.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a flow of a series of packaging operations in a packaging machine.
2 is a front view partially showing the configuration of the packaging machine of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram specifically illustrating a product supply apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a front view specifically showing an elevator and its lifting mechanism.
5 is a view of the lifting mechanism seen from the direction of arrow V in FIG. 3. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a front view specifically showing a pusher and its reciprocating mechanism.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a pusher and its reciprocating mechanism.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the pusher and its reciprocating mechanism.
FIG. 9 is a view specifically showing a bottom guide and a holding member.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a plan view of a bottom guide and a holding member.
FIG. 12 is a side view showing a bottom guide and a holding member on the front side of the machine body.
FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of various mechanisms by the product supply device.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state when the elevator starts a lowering operation from the state of FIG.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a pushing operation of a product by a pusher.
16 is a view showing a state when the elevator is lifted from the state of FIG.
FIG. 17 is a view showing a state when the elevator has reached an ascending position from the state of FIG.
18 is a view showing a state when the pusher moves backward from the state of FIG.
FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the product supply in comparison with the embodiment and the prior art.
[Explanation of symbols]
14 Supply conveyor
16 Bottom guide (guide member)
18 Elevator
32 Holding member
36 Lifting mechanism
66 Pusher
118 Product sensor (confirmation means)
120 controller (confirming means, stopping means)
122 Stop cam (stop means)

Claims (6)

A supply conveyor having a conveying surface extending toward the folding section of the packaging machine and conveying the product on the conveying surface;
A pair of guide members that extend from the end of the supply conveyor to form an extension of the transport surface and guide both side ends of the product delivered from the end of the supply conveyor at the lower surface thereof;
The product delivered from the end of the pair of guide members is received on the receiving surface at the same height as the conveying surface, and the product is lowered together with the product to a lowering position, and the product is moved to the conveying surface. An elevator cut out from the above product group as a cut out product;
A pusher which is provided directly below the conveying surface between the pair of guide members and is capable of reciprocating in a horizontal direction moving forward and backward with respect to the elevator;
The lowered position of the elevator is defined so that the horizontal reciprocation of the pusher is performed directly above the receiving surface of the elevator at the lowered position ,
The pusher advances toward the cut product on the elevator in the lowered position, pushes the cut product from the elevator, and supplies the cut product to the folding section. A supply conveyor having a conveying surface extending toward the folding section of the packaging machine and conveying the product on the conveying surface;
A pair of guide members on both sides that extend from the end of the supply conveyor to the transport surface in the product transport direction and guides both side ends of the product sent from the end by transport of the conveyor at the lower surface thereof;
A pair of holding members provided on both ends of the pair of guide members and holding both side end portions of the product on both upper and lower sides, and the holding members are raised to a predetermined ascending position and sent out from the guide member. An elevator that receives the product to be cut out from the product group on the transport surface by lowering the received product together with the holding member to a predetermined lowered position;
It is provided so as to be able to reciprocate in a horizontal direction at a position below the conveying surface, and moves from the standby position between the pair of guide members to the lowered position by moving forward between the pair of holding members. A product supply device for a packaging machine, comprising: a pusher for extruding a product toward the folding section. The packaging according to claim 2, wherein after the product is pushed out by the pusher, the elevator raises the holding member toward the raised position before the pusher moves back to the standby position. Machine product supply equipment. The guide member and the holding member are connected to each other on both sides of the product, and further provided with a width adjusting means for adjusting an interval between the connected guide member and the holding member in the width direction of the product. The product supply device for a packaging machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein The transport surface is arranged so that one side thereof faces the front of the packaging machine body,
5. The packaging according to claim 4, wherein the width adjusting unit includes an independent movement mechanism that allows the holding member located on the front side of the machine body to move to the front side of the machine body independently of the guide member. Machine product supply equipment. The elevator is
An elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering the holding member at a predetermined cycle;
Confirmation means for confirming whether the product is completely received by the holding member;
And a stop means for stopping the lowering operation of the holding member when the confirmation means confirms that the product has been received incompletely during the lowering operation of the holding member by the elevating mechanism. The product supply apparatus of the packaging machine in any one of 2-5.

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