JP4509832B2 - Weighing and packaging inspection system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a weighing and packaging inspection system.

Recently, there is an increasing interest in product safety, and an increasing number of users introduce inspection equipment such as weight checkers (Patent Document 1), seal checkers, and X-rays. At the same time, there is an increasing interest in whether the introduced inspection equipment is functioning correctly.
On the other hand, with the diversification and speeding up of equipment, the setting of each inspection device has been advanced, and troubles due to setting mistakes by users have also occurred.
JP 60-138426 A

  In such a situation, in order to check individual inspection devices, it has been proposed that an operator puts several test samples into each inspection device and checks them. However, there are problems in terms of man-hours and costs. For this reason, the number of users who check the inspection equipment every day is limited.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a weighing package that can automatically check whether each inspection device and the entire system are functioning correctly (whether they are out of order, whether there is a mistake in a reservation, whether there is a mistake in setting, etc.). To provide an inspection system.

  In order to achieve the above object, a weighing and packaging inspection system of the present invention comprises a weighing device for weighing a product and discharging a predetermined weight of the product, a packaging device for receiving and packaging the product discharged from the weighing device, In a weighing and packaging inspection system comprising one or more inspection devices for inspecting the goods produced by weighing and packaging, a failure generation mode for intentionally generating defective products by the weighing device and the packaging device is provided. It is characterized by that.

  Since it is possible to determine whether or not the inspection device is operating normally by determining whether or not the intentionally generated defective product is recognized as a defective product by the inspection device, the reliability of the system is improved. To do.

  The “item” in the present invention refers to a product that is a product by packaging one to many items.

In the present invention, the inspection apparatus may include a seal checker that inspects the seal state of the package, and the packaging apparatus may generate a product with a defective seal in the defect generation mode.
According to this aspect, confirmation of the operation of the seal checker can be surely executed.

In the present invention, the inspection device includes a weight checker for determining whether there is an excess weight and / or an insufficient weight with respect to a set weight range, and the weighing device is weighted in the defect generation mode. Excessive and / or underweight merchandise may be generated.
According to this aspect, confirmation of the operation of the weight checker can be performed reliably.

In the present invention, the inspection apparatus includes a metal detector that determines whether or not a metal piece is mixed in a product, and the metal piece is not collected until the packaging after the weighing in the defect generation mode. You may throw it in.
According to this aspect, confirmation of the operation of the metal detector can be executed reliably.

In the present invention, the inspection device includes a plurality of types of inspection equipment, and an inspection device other than the inspection device corresponding to the content of the defect of the generated defective product determines whether the defect is in the defect generation mode. It is preferable not to do so.
According to this aspect, when there are two or more inspection devices, the inspection device irrelevant to the content of the defect of the defective product does not determine, so it is ensured whether the inspection device corresponding to the defect is operating normally. Can be determined.

Hereinafter, a measurement packaging inspection system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
System configuration:
First, the outline of this system will be described.
In FIG. 1, 100 is a conveyor, 1 is a combination weighing device, 200 is a bag making and packaging machine (packaging device), 300 is a weight checker, and 700 is a boxing device.

Combination weighing device 1:
In FIG. 2, the transfer conveyor 100 drops the item M, which is the contents of the product, onto the central portion of the dispersion feeder 2 of the combination weighing device 1. A plurality of supply troughs (supply devices) 3 i each including an electromagnetic feeder are provided on the periphery of the dispersion feeder 2. The dispersion feeder 2 and the supply troughs 3i are each vibrated by driving of a vibration exciter, thereby supplying the articles M on the dispersion feeder 2 to a number of pool hoppers 4i provided downstream of the supply troughs 3i. Each pool hopper 4i is provided with a gate 5i, and each pool hopper 4i temporarily stores and stores the goods M supplied and received from the supply troughs 3i. A weighing hopper 6i is provided downstream of each pool hopper 4i. Each of these weighing hoppers 6i is provided with a weight detector 7i and a gate 8i for detecting the weight of the product M put into the weighing hopper 6i from the pool hopper 4i. A large collective discharge chute 9 is provided below the gate 8i. By combining the weights of the articles M detected by the respective weight detectors 7i, the articles are grouped together and are close to a target or a target value. And

Bag making and packaging machine 200:
In FIG. 3, a bag making and packaging machine 200 is a so-called vertical pillow packaging machine, in which a film F unwound from a film roll Fr is welded with a vertical sealer 201 to form a cylinder, and falls from above (food) In a state where M is in the tubular film F, the portion F1 above the food in the film F is welded and cut by the end sealer 202, and the product M1 is continuously packaged (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-128105). No. publication). The packaged product M1 is dropped downward and then conveyed downstream by the receiving conveyor 302.

  The packaged product M1 is subjected to various inspections by an inspection apparatus including inspection apparatuses such as a downstream weight checker 300, a seal checker 400, and a metal detection device 500. The product M1 is first transported from the receiving conveyor 302 to the weighing conveyor 303 of the weight checker 300.

Weight checker 300:
The weight checker 300 measures the weight of the product M1 while conveying the product M1 downstream, and checks whether the weight is within a predetermined weight range. Thereafter, the commodity M1 is conveyed to the downstream seal checker 400.

Seal checker 400:
The seal checker 400 conveys the product M1 conveyed by the conveyer 310 obliquely upward while being pressed from above with the presser 401, and determines whether or not air leakage has occurred from the bag of the product M1. Inspect the bag for bad seals. After the seal check, the commodity M1 is conveyed to the downstream metal detection device 500.

Metal detector 500:
The metal detection device 500 determines whether or not a metal piece is mixed in the product M1 while conveying the product M1. Thereafter, the product M1 is conveyed to the sorting device 600.

Sorting device 600:
The distribution device 600 discharges the product M1 received from the upstream based on the inspection results of the inspection devices 300, 400, and 500 if it is defective, and discharges the product M1 downstream from the system if it is defective. To 700.

Equipment configuration:
The combination weighing device 1, the bag making and packaging machine 200, the weight checker 300, the seal checker 400, the metal detection device 500, the sorting device 600, and the boxing device 700 are respectively combined weighing control shown in FIG. Operation control is performed by each control unit of the unit 21, the bag making and packaging control unit 22, the weight checker control unit 23, the seal checker control unit 24, the metal detection control unit 25, the distribution control unit 26, and the boxing control unit 27. . Each of the control units 21 to 27 is connected to the main control device 10 via an interface and communication means (not shown).

  The main controller 10 includes a printer 30, a touch screen 31, a stroke key 32, and the like.

  The main control device 10 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and includes a CPU 11 and a memory 12. The memory 12 stores an operation condition storage unit 13 in which operation conditions for operating each device in conjunction with each other are stored. The CPU 11 reads the operation condition from the operation condition storage unit 13 and controls the devices 1 and 200 to 700 in conjunction with each other via the control units 21 to 27 according to the operation condition.

The weight checker 300 transmits a weight defect signal to the CPU 11 when the weight of the weighed product M1 is outside the predetermined allowable range (the weight is excessive or insufficient).
The seal checker 400 transmits a seal failure signal to the CPU 11 when the product M1 has a seal failure (air leaks from the bag).
The metal detection device 500 transmits a metal detection signal to the CPU 11 when metal is detected from the product M1 (a metal piece or the like is mixed in the product).

  When the CPU 11 receives the weight failure signal, the seal failure signal, or the metal detection signal, the CPU 11 outputs a sorting signal to the sorting device 600 to discharge the product M1 out of the system.

  The CPU 11 has a normal operation mode for producing and inspecting products and a defect generation mode. The defect generation mode is a mode for generating a defective product used for diagnosing whether or not each of the inspection devices 300 to 500 is operating normally. When the defect generation mode starts, a defective product used for diagnosis of each inspection device 300 to 500 is generated.

  In order to generate the defective weight product C1 used for the diagnosis of the weight checker 300, for example, the combination of the weights of the products M detected by the respective weight detectors 7i of the combination weighing device 1 is set to be greater than a predetermined target value. A combination with a small amount (for example, 5 g to 10 g) is used, and the defective product C1 is generated.

  In order to generate the defective seal product C2 used for the diagnosis of the seal checker 400, for example, by reducing the seal temperature and pressure of the vertical sealer 201 of the bag making and packaging machine 200, the defective seal product C2 that is not completely sealed is used. Generate.

  In order to generate the metal contamination defective product C3 used for the diagnosis of the metal detection device 500, for example, the metal contamination product C3 is generated by enclosing or attaching a metal piece or the like. As a method of enclosing a metal piece or the like, in the case where an insertion machine or the like that inputs a bonus or a coupon with the product M is provided, the metal piece may be input using the input machine, You may produce | generate the metal mixing goods C3 by sticking a metal piece on the outer side of the produced goods M1.

  In the defect generation mode, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, only the inspection devices corresponding to the defective products C1 to C3 generated for the inspection devices 300 to 500 are operated. In devices other than the inspection device, it is set so that the quality of the defective products C1 to C3 is not determined.

Next, a diagnosis method for determining whether or not each of the inspection devices 300 to 500 is operating normally will be described.
Defect generation mode:
For example, defective products C1 to C3 are generated in a defect generation mode described below before the first product production of a day is performed, and the inspection devices 300 to 500 are diagnosed.

  When the operator performs a predetermined operation and sets the CPU 11 to the defect generation mode, the combination weighing device 1 and the bag making and packaging machine 200 perform defective products C1 to C3 in the order of the defective product C1, the defective seal product C2, and the metal-mixed product C3. Is generated.

First, the combination weighing device 1 generates a weight defect product C1 that is smaller by a predetermined amount than the target value.
While the defective weight product C1 is conveyed by the weighing conveyor 303 of the weight checker 300, the weight of the defective weight product C1 is measured. The weight checker 300 compares the measured weight value with the original target value for the product. As described above, the weight defect product C1 is generated with a weight smaller than the target value. Therefore, when the weight checker 300 is operating normally, the weight checker 300 removes the weight defect product C1 from the weight defect ( It is determined that the weight is insufficient, and a weight defect signal is transmitted to the CPU 11.

  At the time of diagnosis of the weight checker 300, as shown in FIG. 5A, the determination functions of the seal checker 400 and the metal detection device 500 are stopped, and only the weight checker 300 inspects the defective weight product C1.

  Next, the bag making and packaging machine 200 generates a defective seal C2 having a defective seal. The defective seal C2 is conveyed by the conveyor 302 and the conveyor 303, and then conveyed to the seal checker 400. In the seal checker 400, while being transported by the transport conveyor 310, it is suppressed from above by the presser 401, and a seal failure inspection is performed. As described above, the defective seal product C2 is generated so that the seal is defective. Therefore, when the seal checker 400 is operating normally, the seal checker 400 determines that the defective seal product C2 is defective. Judgment is made and a seal failure signal is transmitted to the CPU 11.

  At the time of diagnosis of the seal checker 400, as shown in FIG. 5B, the determination functions of the weight checker 300 and the metal detection device 500 are stopped, and only the seal checker 400 inspects the defective seal product C2.

Next, a metal-mixed product C3 in which a metal piece is enclosed is generated. The metal-mixed product C3 is transported into the metal detection device 500 through the weight checker 300 and the seal checker 400. The metal detection device 500 determines whether or not metal is mixed in or attached to the metal-mixed product C3. As described above, since a metal piece is enclosed in the metal-mixed product C3, when the metal detection device 500 is operating normally, the metal detection device 500 detects the metal piece in the metal-mixed product C3, A metal detection signal is transmitted to the CPU 11.
In addition, the size and shape of the metal piece are determined according to a metal detection threshold set in the metal detection device 500.

  At the time of diagnosis of the metal detection device 500, as shown in FIG. 5C, the determination functions of the weight checker 300 and the seal checker 400 are stopped, and only the metal detection device 500 inspects the metal mixed product C3.

When the defective products C1 to C3 reach the sorting device 600 according to the defective signals (weight defective signal, seal defective signal, metal detection signal), the CPU 11 causes the sorting device 600 to perform defective products C1 to C3, respectively. Is discharged outside the system.
If any of the defective products C1 to C3 is not discharged out of the system, which of the inspection devices 300 to 500 is not operating normally based on the defective product that has not been discharged. Can be identified. Further, when all the defective products C1 to C3 are not discharged, it is possible to know the possibility of failure of the sorting apparatus 600.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the defect generation mode, a defective product is intentionally generated, and the inspection device detects the defective product. It is possible to determine whether or not the inspection device is operating normally, such as whether or not it is set.

  In the defect generation mode, the operator confirms that each of the inspection devices 300 to 500 is operating normally by generating and detecting the defective products C1 to C3, and then sets the CPU 11 to the normal operation mode, and the product M1 To start production.

  In the above description, the operator manually sets the operation mode of the present system to the failure generation mode. However, the normal operation mode may be automatically switched to the failure generation mode. That is, for example, in an unmanned system operating for 24 hours, the operation check of the inspection apparatus may be automatically performed by activating the defect generation mode periodically at a predetermined time. In the defect generation mode, when at least one of the defective products C1 to C3 is not discharged out of the system, the system is automatically stopped, an alarm is sounded, and a warning is displayed on the touch screen 31.

  In addition, the inspection device in the present invention may be a device other than the inspection device other than the weight checker 300, the seal checker 400, and the metal detection device 500 exemplified in the above-described embodiment. For example, a discharge sensor such as an optical sensor may be provided in the discharge unit of the sorting apparatus 600 to detect whether or not the defective product has been discharged.

  In the above-described embodiment, a product with an insufficient weight is illustrated as an example of a defective product. However, an overweight product may be generated. Further, both underweight and overweight products may be generated, and the weight checker may be diagnosed using both products.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the defective seal product C2 is generated by lowering the seal temperature and pressure of the vertical sealer 201. However, the defective seal product is reduced by lowering the seal temperature and pressure of the end sealer 202. C2 may be generated. Further, the seal temperature and pressure for generating the defective seal C2 may be set by both the vertical sealer 201 and the end sealer 202. Further, an empty bag may be used.
Moreover, you may provide the apparatus for opening the hole of arbitrary sizes in the arbitrary locations of the goods M1 separately.

As described above, the preferred embodiments have been described with reference to the drawings. However, those skilled in the art will readily understand various changes and modifications within the obvious scope by looking at the present specification.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the operation confirmation of a plurality of types of inspection devices is performed, but any operation confirmation may be performed on at least one inspection device. Further, the weighing device may be a weighing device other than the combination weighing device.
Accordingly, such changes and modifications are to be construed as within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

  The present invention can be used for confirming the operation of an inspection device of a weighing and packaging inspection system.

It is a schematic perspective view of the measurement packaging inspection system concerning one Example of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the function of a combination weighing device. It is a schematic side view of a measurement packaging inspection system. It is a conceptual diagram of this system. It is a table | surface which shows the starting condition of the test | inspection apparatus corresponding to the inferior goods produced | generated in defect production | generation mode.

Explanation of symbols

1: Combination weighing device 200: Bag making and packaging machine (packaging device)
300: Weight checker (inspection equipment)
400: Seal checker (inspection equipment)
500: Metal detector (inspection equipment)
M: Product M1: Product

Claims (5)

One or more weighing devices for weighing and discharging a predetermined weight of the item; a packaging device for receiving and packaging the item discharged from the weighing device; and one or more for inspecting the goods produced by weighing and packaging In a weighing and packaging inspection system equipped with an inspection device,
A measuring and packaging inspection system, wherein a defect generation mode for intentionally generating defective products is provided by the weighing device and the packaging device. In claim 1, the inspection device includes a seal checker for inspecting the seal state of the package,
A weighing and packaging inspection system in which the packaging device generates a product with a defective seal in the defect generation mode. In Claim 1, the inspection apparatus includes a weight checker for determining whether there is an excessive weight and / or an insufficient weight with respect to a set weight range.
A weighing and packaging inspection system in which the weighing device generates an overweight and / or underweight product in the defect generation mode. In claim 1, the inspection device includes a metal detector for determining whether or not a metal piece is mixed in the product,
A weighing and packaging inspection system that inserts metal pieces before packaging after weighing in the defect generation mode.   5. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the inspection apparatus includes a plurality of types of inspection devices, and the inspection device other than the inspection device corresponding to the content of the defect of the generated defective product is the defect. A weighing and packaging inspection system that does not make pass / fail judgments in the generation mode.

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