JP4576064B2 - Pouch bag transport device in pouch bag filling system - Google Patents

Description

【００５３】
ここで、パウチリフター外枠３１の通常運転中は外枠用エアーシリンダ４０内のピストン４１ａは「高圧」用のリードスイッチＳＷ１と「中高圧」用のリードスイッチＳＷ２との間では高圧状態、「中高圧」用のリードスイッチＳＷ２と「中低圧」用のリードスイッチＳＷ３との間では中高圧状態、「中低圧」用のリードスイッチＳＷ３と「低圧」用のリードスイッチＳＷ４との間では中低圧状態、「低圧」用のリードスイッチＳＷ４より上側の領域では低圧状態の４段階のエアー圧で上昇するように設定されている。そのため、パウチ袋２３ａの残量が多い場合には外枠用エアーシリンダ４０の押し上げ圧力を高め、パウチ袋２３ａの残量が少ない場合には外枠用エアーシリンダ４０の押し上げ圧力を低下させるように制御されている。なお、エアーシリンダ４０の押し上げ圧力が「中低圧」の際に第１の３方切換え弁（Ｖ１）５７がオン状態で保持され、またエアーシリンダ４０の押し上げ圧力「低圧」の際に第１の３方切換え弁（Ｖ１）５７と第２の３方切換え弁（Ｖ２）５８とがオン状態で保持されているが、これらはエアー回路上オン又はオフのどちらでも構わない。
【００５４】
また、図１０に示すようにドラム１４の斜め上方には第２の受け渡し用のドラム１５が転接状態で配設されている。さらに、この第２の受け渡し用のドラム１５の側部にはパウチ袋２３ａの縦送り部１６が配設されている。そして、ドラム１４のバキュームパッド６１に吸着されて１枚だけ引き抜かれて受け渡されたパウチ袋２３ａは続いて第２の受け渡し用のドラム１５に受け渡され、このドラム１５によって次の縦送り部１６に搬送されるようになっている。
【００５５】
また、図１２は第２の受け渡し用のドラム１５の内部構造を示すものである。
ここで、ドラム１５の支持フレーム６６には軸受６７が取付けられ、この軸受６７にドラム１５の回転軸１５ａが回転自在に支持されている。さらに、このドラム１５のドラム本体７１には周方向に沿って複数のバキュームパッド６８が並設されている。各バキュームパッド６８には吸引管路６９が接続されている。そして、このドラム１５はドラム１４の回転に連動してドラム１４とは逆方向に回転駆動されるようになっている。なお、バキュームパッド６８の吸引管路６９は図示しないディストリビューターを介してバキューム源と接続されており、決められた区間においてパウチ袋２３ａを吸着することができるようになっている。
【００５６】
また、このドラム１５の回転駆動時にはドラム１４によって搬送されるパウチ袋２３ａがドラム１４との転接部でドラム１５のバキュームパッド６８によって吸着されて移載されるようになっている。続いて、バキュームパッド６８に吸着されたパウチ袋２３ａはこのドラム１５の回転にともない次の縦送り部１６に搬送されるようになっている。
【００５７】
また、図１１に示すようにこのドラム１５のドラム本体７１の周囲には２つのガイドローラー７２，７３が配設されている。ここで、一方のガイドローラー７２は縦送り部１６におけるパウチ袋２３ａの縦送り搬送路と対面する位置に配置されている。さらに、これらのドラム本体７１と２つのガイドローラー７２，７３との間にはタイミングベルト７４が掛け渡されている。そして、ドラム１５のバキュームパッド６８によって吸着されたパウチ袋２３ａは縦向きに立てた状態でこのタイミングベルト７４にガイドされ、縦送り部１６に搬送されるようになっている。
【００５８】
また、縦送り部１６にはドラム１５の側方部位にパウチ袋２３ａの縦送りをガイドするガイドプレート（挾持要素）７５が略鉛直方向に向けて立設されている。このガイドプレート７５の上部はドラム１５の近傍位置に対向配置されている。さらに、このガイドプレート７５の下部は縦送り部１６の終端の横送り位置まで延設されている。
【００５９】
また、縦送り部１６の中途部には縦送り駆動ローラー７６と、この駆動ローラー７６に圧接される従動ローラー７７とが設けられている。これらのローラー７６，７７はガイドプレート７５に沿って下向きに移動するパウチ袋２３ａの移動軌道の両側に配置されている。なお、ガイドプレート７５には図１３に示すように駆動ローラー７６と従動ローラー７７との間の圧接部と対応する部位に窓部７５ａが開口されている。
【００６０】
また、従動ローラー７７は図１３に示すように一対の支持アーム８２の一端部間に回転自在に軸支されている。この支持アーム８２の他端部には支軸８１が回転自在に連結されている。さらに、従動ローラー７７の支持アーム８２には従動ローラー７７を常に駆動ローラー７６側に圧接する方向に付勢するばね部材８３が装着されている。そして、ガイドプレート７５に沿って下向きに移動するパウチ袋２３ａは駆動ローラー７６とガイドローラー７２との間で挟持された状態で、縦送り駆動されるようになっている。なお、駆動ローラー７６の外周面にはローレット加工を施した凹凸部７６ａが形成されている。さらに、従動ローラー７７の外周面にはゴムシート７７ａが焼き付け固定されている。
【００６１】
また、駆動ローラー７６はガイドローラー７２に近接させた位置に配置されている。さらに、縦送り部１６の終端部にはパウチ袋２３ａの受け台８４が配設されているとともに、この受け台８４よりも下方位置にガイドローラー７８が取付けられている。そして、駆動ローラー７６とガイドローラー７８との間には鉛直方向に直線状の軌跡を含むタイミングベルト（挾持要素）８０が架け渡されている。なお、ガイドローラー７８の近傍位置にはタイミングベルト８０に圧接されるピンチローラー７９が設置されている。
【００６２】
また、タイミングベルト８０は縦送り駆動ローラー７６を駆動源として走行駆動され、このタイミングベルト８０の周速度は縦送り駆動ローラー７６の周速度と同一となるように設定されている。そして、縦送り部１６ではドラム１５のタイミングベルト７４とガイドプレート７５との間で縦向きに立てた状態でパウチ袋２３ａが挟持されて拘束された状態でガイドプレート７５に沿って下向きに移動するとともに、続いてタイミングベルト８０とガイドプレート７５との間でパウチ袋２３ａが挟持されて拘束された状態で、受け台８４上の横送り位置まで搬送されるようになっている。これにより、縦送り部１６で縦送りされるパウチ袋２３ａが拘束されていない区間をなくして縦送りされるパウチ袋２３ａの姿勢を安定化させるパウチ袋姿勢安定化手段が形成されている。
【００６３】
また、縦送り部１６の終端部の横送り位置には図１０に示すように鉛直方向に延設された回転軸を中心に常時回転駆動される水平ドラム１７が配設されている。この水平ドラム１７には周方向に沿って複数のバキュームパッドが並設されている。各バキュームパッドには図示しない吸引管路が接続されている。そして、ドラム１７の回転駆動時にはこのドラム１７の回転にともない複数のバキュームパッドが順次、受け台８４上のパウチ袋２３ａの吸着位置に移動されるようになっている。なお、バキュームパッド６１の吸引管路は図示しないディストリビューターを介してバキューム源と接続されており、決められた区間においてパウチ袋２３ａを吸着することができるようになっている。さらに、水平ドラム１７の外周面には円周方向に一定間隔で爪が取り付けられており、次工程である挿入装置２への受渡し時にはパウチ袋２３ａの進行方向後端を爪とバキュームの複合により搬送するようになっている。
【００６４】
また、縦送り部１６を挟んでこの水平ドラム１７と反対側には横送り機構１８が配設されている。この横送り機構１８には図１４に示すように水平ドラム１７の周方向に沿って適宜の間隔を存して２つの横送りローラー９１ａ，９１ｂが設けられている。ここで、一方の第１の横送りローラー９１ａには図１６に示すように共通の回転軸９１ａ１上に２つのローラーが並べて装着されている。
【００６５】
また、第１の横送りローラー９１ａの回転軸９１ａ１の両端部には一対の支持ブラケット９３の各一端部が回動可能に連結されている。各支持ブラケット９３の他端部には回転軸９４が回転自在に取付けられている。さらに、各支持ブラケット９３の中途部には揺動軸９２が揺動可能に取付けられて第１の横送りローラー９１ａの組み立てユニットが形成されている。
【００６６】
なお、他方の第２の横送りローラー９１ｂも第１の横送りローラー９１ａの組み立てユニットと同様の組み立てユニットが構成されている。そのため、ここでは第２の横送りローラー９１ｂの組み立てユニットにおける第１の横送りローラー９１ａの組み立てユニットと同一部分には同一の符号を付してその説明を省略する。
【００６７】
また、図１６に示すように第１の横送りローラー９１ａの組み立てユニットの回転軸９４には２つのタイミングプーリー９９ａ，９９ｂが取付けられている。
ここで、図１４に示すように２つの横送りローラー９１ａ，９１ｂの各組み立てユニットの一方のタイミングプーリー９９ａ間と、駆動軸９５に取付けられたタイミングプーリー９５ａとの間には第１のタイミングベルト９６が架け渡されている。さらに、この第１のタイミングベルト９６にはピンチローラー９７が圧接されている。
【００６８】
また、２つの横送りローラー９１ａ，９１ｂの各回転軸９１ａ１，９１ｂ１にはそれぞれタイミングプーリー９１ａ２，９１ｂ２が取付けられている。そして、第１の横送りローラー９１ａの組み立てユニットの他方のタイミングプーリー９９ｂとタイミングプーリー９１ａ２との間は第２のタイミングベルト９８ａが架け渡されている。同様に、第２の横送りローラー９１ｂの組み立てユニットの他方のタイミングプーリー９９ｂとタイミングプーリー９１ｂ２との間は第３のタイミングベルト９８ｂが架け渡されている。
【００６９】
そして、駆動軸９５の回転力が第１のタイミングベルト９６を介して２つの横送りローラー９１ａ，９１ｂの各組み立てユニットのタイミングプーリー９９ａにそれぞれ伝達され、２つの横送りローラー９１ａ，９１ｂの各組み立てユニットの回転軸９４が同期状態で回転駆動されるようになっている。このとき、２つの横送りローラー９１ａ，９１ｂの各組み立てユニットの回転軸９４の同期回転時に連動して一方のタイミングプーリー９９ｂの回転が第２のタイミングベルト９８ａを介してタイミングプーリー９１ａ２に伝達され、第１の横送りローラー９１ａが回転駆動されると同時に、他方のタイミングプーリー９９ｂの回転が第３のタイミングベルト９８ｂを介してタイミングプーリー９１ｂ２に伝達され、第２の横送りローラー９１ｂが回転駆動されるようになっている。したがって、駆動軸９５の回転力が第１のタイミングベルト９６と、第２のタイミングベルト９８ａおよび第３のタイミングベルト９８ｂとをそれぞれ介して２つの横送りローラー９１ａ，９１ｂに伝達され、２つの横送りローラー９１ａ，９１ｂが同期回転駆動される同期回転機構が形成されている。ここで、２つの横送りローラー９１ａ，９１ｂは水平ドラム１７より早い周速で常時回転駆動されるように設定されている。
【００７０】
また、第１の横送りローラー９１ａの揺動軸９２には図１５に示すようにリンクジョイント１０３の一端部が連結されている。このリンクジョイント１０３の他端部にはカム１０４に当接されるカムフォロアー１０５ａを備えたリンク部材１０５が連結されている。ここで、カムフォロアー１０５ａは図１７に示すようにエアーシリンダ１０６によって駆動される押圧部材によってカム１０４に当接されるようになっている。そして、カム１０４の回転にともないリンクジョイント１０３を前後方向に駆動して第１の横送りローラー９１ａを水平ドラム１７に対して接離する方向、すなわち図１５中に仮想線で示す第１の横送りローラー９１ａが水平ドラム１７から離れた位置と、同図中に実線で示すように第１の横送りローラー９１ａが水平ドラム１７に当接された位置との間に移動するようになっている。
【００７１】
さらに、第２の横送りローラー９１ｂの揺動軸９２にも同様にリンクジョイント１０７の一端部が連結されている。このリンクジョイント１０７の他端部にはカム１０８に当接されるカムフォロアー１０９ａを備えたリンク部材１０９が連結されている。このカムフォロアー１０９ａもエアーシリンダ１０６によって駆動される押圧部材によってカム１０８に当接されるようになっている。そして、カム１０８の回転にともないリンクジョイント１０７を前後方向に駆動して第２の横送りローラー９１ｂを水平ドラム１７に対して接離する方向、すなわち図１５中に仮想線で示す第２の横送りローラー９１ｂが水平ドラム１７から離れた位置と、同図中に実線で示すように第２の横送りローラー９１ｂが水平ドラム１７に当接された位置との間に移動するようになっている。
【００７２】
また、横送り機構１８の駆動時には水平ドラム１７が鉛直方向に延設された回転軸を中心に常時回転駆動される。さらに、駆動軸９５の回転力が第１のタイミングベルト９６と、第２のタイミングベルト９８ａおよび第３のタイミングベルト９８ｂとをそれぞれ介して２つの横送りローラー９１ａ，９１ｂに伝達され、２つの横送りローラー９１ａ，９１ｂが同期回転駆動される。この状態で、カム１０４の回転にともないリンクジョイント１０３が前後方向に駆動されて第１の横送りローラー９１ａが水平ドラム１７に対して接離する方向に駆動されるとともに、カム１０８の回転にともないリンクジョイント１０７が前後方向に駆動されて第２の横送りローラー９１ｂが水平ドラム１７に対して接離する方向に駆動される。そして、縦送り部１６の終端部の受け台８４上にパウチ袋２３ａが搬送された時点で、水平ドラム１７よりも高速で回転駆動されている第１の横送りローラー９１ａを水平ドラム１７に圧接する方向に移動することにより、縦送り部１６の終端の横送り位置で水平ドラム１７との間にパウチ袋２３ａを挟持する状態でパウチ袋２３ａに圧接し、続いて第２の横送りローラー９１ｂを水平ドラム１７に圧接する方向に移動することにより、パウチ袋２３ａを高速度で横送りするようになっている。
【００７３】
次に、上記構成の本実施の形態の作用について説明する。本実施の形態のパウチ袋搬送装置１１の動作時には複数枚のパウチ袋２３ａが積層されたパウチ袋束２３が間欠コンベア１２によってパウチリフト装置１３まで搬送される。
【００７４】
また、パウチリフト装置１３の通常運転時にはパウチリフター外枠３１はガイドプレート３７上にパウチ袋束２３を載せた状態で間欠コンベア１２より上方に位置し、次工程のバキュームパッド付ドラム１４にパウチ袋２３ａを受け渡している。このとき、パウチリフター内枠３２は間欠コンベア１２より下方の待機位置で待機されている。
【００７５】
また、パウチリフト装置１３の動作中はパウチリフター外枠３１は外枠移動機構３３のエアーシリンダ４０からの押圧力によってパウチ袋束２３に上昇方向に押し圧をかけている。このとき、パウチリフト装置１３の上方の受け渡し位置では受け渡し用のドラム１４が回転駆動されている。そして、ドラム１４の回転にともないパウチ袋取出部６２の位置にバキュームパッド６１が移動された際に、パウチリフト装置１３のパウチリフター外枠３１によって押し上げられたパウチ袋束２３の最上位置のパウチ袋２３ａがパウチ袋取出部６２の位置に移動されたバキュームパッド６１に押し付けられる。この状態でバキュームパッド６１に作用するバキューム力によってパウチ袋束２３の最上位置のパウチ袋２３ａがバキュームパッド６１に吸着される。そして、このバキュームパッド６１に吸着されたパウチ袋２３ａがドラム１４の回転にともないパウチ袋束２３から１枚だけ引き抜かれて受け渡される。
【００７６】
また、このパウチ袋２３ａの受け渡し動作によってパウチ袋２３ａが次工程に搬送され、パウチリフター外枠３１上のパウチ袋束２３の集積量が減少するのに伴い、パウチリフター外枠３１は上昇する。ここで、パウチリフター外枠３１のガイドプレート３７上に集積されたパウチ袋２３ａの量が予め設定された規定量より少なくなると、パウチリフター内枠３２が上昇する。このとき、パウチリフター内枠３２のパウチ袋押し上げ部材４２が間欠コンベア１２上のパウチ袋束２３の下面を押し上げる。
【００７７】
さらに、上昇するパウチ袋押し上げ部材４２上のパウチ袋束２３はパウチリフター外枠３１の上側に突出された上昇位置まで押し上げられる。このとき、押し上げられるパウチ袋束２３によってパウチリフター外枠３１の各ガイドプレート３７の内端部がパウチ袋束２３の移動軌道から外れた上向きの退避位置に回動され、パウチ袋束２３が各ガイドプレート３７の上側まで押し上げられる。これにより、パウチリフター外枠３１上に残っているパウチ袋束２３と新たに押し上げられたパウチ袋束２３とが一体化される。
【００７８】
その後、パウチリフター内枠３２のパウチ袋押し上げ部材４２が下降することにより、各ガイドプレート３７が倒れ、各ガイドプレート３７は略水平なパウチ袋受け位置に回動された状態に戻される。この状態で、パウチリフター内枠３２上のパウチ袋束２３がパウチリフター外枠３１の各ガイドプレート３７の内端部上に移載され、パウチリフター外枠３１がパウチ袋束２３の量に応じて適正な位置に下降する。
【００７９】
この後、パウチリフター内枠３２は間欠コンベア１２搬送面より下方の待機位置まで下降する。その後、間欠コンベア１２により次のパウチ袋束２３がパウチリフター内枠３２の上方まで搬送され、同様の動作が繰り返される。
【００８０】
また、上記パウチリフター外枠３１によるパウチ袋束２３の押し上げ動作中、パウチリフター外枠３１の各ガイドプレート３７上に積載されたパウチ袋２３ａの残量はパウチ袋量検出部６０によって検出される。このとき、パウチ袋量検出部６０では、パウチリフター外枠３１の動作中、エアーシリンダ４０内のピストン４１ａの昇降動作時にピストン４１ａが各リードスイッチＳＷ１〜ＳＷ４に接近した際にピストン４１ａのマグネット６３が各リードスイッチＳＷ１〜ＳＷ４によって探知されている。そして、各リードスイッチＳＷ１〜ＳＷ４からの検出信号に応じてエアーシリンダ４０のピストンロッド４１の位置が検出され、このピストンロッド４１の位置に基いてコントローラー６５によってパウチリフター外枠３１の各ガイドプレート３７の内端部上に載置されたパウチ袋束２３の量が検出される。
【００８１】
さらに、コントローラー６５では４つのリードスイッチＳＷ１〜ＳＷ４からの検出信号に基いて検出されるパウチ袋２３ａの残量データに基いて外枠用制御回路４６のエアー回路内の３つの３方切換え弁５７〜５９（Ｖ１〜Ｖ３）の動作が上述した表１に示す通り制御され、パウチリフター外枠３１を上方向に押し上げる外枠用エアーシリンダ４０の押し上げ圧力が調整されている。そして、パウチ袋２３ａの残量が多い場合には外枠用エアーシリンダ４０の押し上げ圧力を高め、パウチ袋２３ａの残量が少ない場合には外枠用エアーシリンダ４０の押し上げ圧力を低下させるように制御される。
【００８２】
また、パウチ袋取出部６２の位置で１枚だけ引き抜かれて受け渡されたパウチ袋２３ａは続いて第２の受け渡し用のドラム１５に受け渡され、このドラム１５によって次の縦送り部１６に搬送される。このとき、ドラム１５のバキュームパッド６８によって吸着されたパウチ袋２３ａは縦向きに立てた状態でタイミングベルト７４にガイドされ、縦送り部１６に搬送されてガイドプレート７５に沿って下向きに移動する。
【００８３】
さらに、この縦送り部１６ではパウチ袋２３ａは駆動ローラー７６とガイドローラー７２との間で挟持された状態で、縦送り駆動される。このとき、パウチ袋２３ａはドラム１５のタイミングベルト７４とガイドプレート７５との間で縦向きに立てた状態で挟持されて拘束された状態でガイドプレート７５に沿って下向きに移動するとともに、続いてタイミングベルト８０とガイドプレート７５との間でパウチ袋２３ａが挟持されて拘束された状態で、受け台８４上の横送り位置まで搬送される。これにより、縦送り部１６で縦送りされるパウチ袋２３ａが拘束されていない区間がないので、縦送りされるパウチ袋２３ａの姿勢が安定化される。
【００８４】
また、縦送り部１６の下端部の横送り位置ではパウチ袋２３ａは水平ドラム１７の回転動作および横送り機構１８の駆動によって縦向きに立てた状態でこのパウチ袋２３ａの幅方向に横送り駆動される。このとき、水平ドラム１７は鉛直方向に延設された回転軸を中心に常時回転駆動されている。さらに、横送り機構１８の駆動時には駆動軸９５の回転力が第１のタイミングベルト９６と、第２のタイミングベルト９８ａおよび第３のタイミングベルト９８ｂとをそれぞれ介して２つの横送りローラー９１ａ，９１ｂに伝達され、２つの横送りローラー９１ａ，９１ｂが同期回転駆動される。この状態で、カム１０４の回転にともないリンクジョイント１０３が前後方向に駆動されて第１の横送りローラー９１ａが水平ドラム１７に対して接離する方向に駆動されるとともに、カム１０８の回転にともないリンクジョイント１０７が前後方向に駆動されて第２の横送りローラー９１ｂが水平ドラム１７に対して接離する方向に駆動される。
【００８５】
そして、横送りローラー９１ａが水平ドラム１７から離れた時点で、縦送り部１６を経て鉛直下向き方向に落下してくるパウチ袋２３ａが横送りローラー９１ａと水平ドラム１７との間に繰り入れられる。続いて、横送りローラー９１ａがカム１０４により前進し、水平ドラム１７に接すると、横送りローラー９１ａと水平ドラム１７との間でパウチ袋２３ａが挟まれ、パウチ袋２３ａが横方向に蹴り出されて横早送りされる。横送りローラー９１ａにより蹴り出され、横早送りされたパウチ袋２３ａはその後、同様に横送りローラー９１ｂにより２回目の横早送りが行われる。このとき横送りローラー９１ａと横送りローラー９１ｂが同時にパウチ袋２３ａに接する一定区間が存在する。
【００８６】
このとき、水平ドラム１７に取付けられた爪がパウチ袋２３ａの進行方向後端を押す。また、押す位置には天面、底面、アウターガイドが設置してあり、パウチ袋２３ａの姿勢制御を行い、この姿勢を維持する為、ディストリビューターによりバキュームが入る。この状態でパウチ袋２３ａが次工程の挿入装置に受け渡されると同時にディストリビューターによりバキュームが切れる。
【００８７】
以上の工程により、連続してパウチ袋２３ａを繰り入れ、なおかつ搬送方向を鉛直方向から水平方向に変換し、次工程に受け渡している。
【００８８】
そこで、上記構成のものにあっては次の効果を奏する。すなわち、本実施の形態ではパウチリフト装置１３の運転時にパウチリフター外枠３１の各ガイドプレート３７上に積載されたパウチ袋２３ａの残量をパウチ袋量検出部６０によって検出し、パウチ袋２３ａの残量データに基いて外枠用制御回路４６によってパウチリフター外枠３１を上方向に押し上げる外枠用エアーシリンダ４０の押し上げ圧力を調整している。そして、パウチ袋２３ａの残量が多い場合には外枠用エアーシリンダ４０の押し上げ圧力を高め、パウチ袋２３ａの残量が少ない場合には外枠用エアーシリンダ４０の押し上げ圧力を低下させるように制御しているので、パウチ袋取出部６２の受け渡し位置に集積されているパウチ袋束２３におけるパウチ袋２３ａの残り量が変化してもパウチ袋束２３の最上面のパウチ袋２３ａに作用する上昇押し圧を略一定に保持することができる。
【００８９】
そのため、例えば、受け渡し位置に束ねて集積されているパウチ袋２３の残り量が多く、パウチ袋２３ａの集積体としての重量が重くなる為、最上面のパウチ袋２３ａに作用する下方からの押し上げ圧力が弱くなる場合には、外枠用エアーシリンダ４０の押し上げ圧力を高めることにより、受け渡し用のドラム１４のバキュームパッド６１に受け渡し位置のパウチ袋束２３の最上位置のパウチ袋２３ａに押し付ける際に、パウチ袋２３ａの押し付け圧力が弱くなることを防止することができる。これにより、回転ドラム１４のバキュームパッド６１がパウチ袋の束２３の最上面のパウチ袋２３ａを吸着できず、吸着不良が発生する現象や、不完全な吸着により搬送途中にバキュームパッド６１が外れてしまい、不完全な搬送が起きることを防止し、受け渡し不良を防止することができる。
【００９０】
また、受け渡し位置に束ねて集積されているパウチ袋２３ａの残り量が少なくなり、パウチ袋２３ａの集積体としての重量が軽くなる場合には、外枠用エアーシリンダ４０の押し上げ圧力を低下させることにより、受け渡し位置に束ねて集積されているパウチ袋束２３の最上面のパウチ袋２３ａに作用する下方からの押し上げ圧力が強くなることを防止できる。そのため、この場合には受け渡し位置に束ねて集積されているパウチ袋束２３の最上面のパウチ袋２３ａを引き出す際の抵抗が回転ドラム１４のバキュームパッド６１のバキュームカよりも大きくなることがないので、パウチ袋２３ａの吸着不良や、バキュームパッド６１からパウチ袋２３ａが途中で離れてしまうことを防止して搬送不良の発生を防止することができる。したがって、最上面のパウチ袋２３ａのみを１枚だけパウチ袋束２３から分離する作業を安定に行なうことができ、パウチ袋２３ａの受け渡し不良の発生を低減することができる。
【００９１】
また、本実施の形態では縦送り部１６に縦送り駆動ローラー７６を駆動源とし、鉛直方向に直線状の軌跡を含むタイミングベルト８０を設置し、このタイミングベルト８０の周速度を縦送り駆動ローラー７６の周速度と同一に設定したので、縦送り駆動ローラー７６で蹴り出されたパウチ袋２３ａをタイミングベルト８０で拘束しながら水平ドラム１７によるパウチ袋２３ａの横送り機構１８に受け渡すことができる。このとき、縦送り部１６で縦送りされるパウチ袋２３ａは駆動ローラー７６と従動ローラー７７との間で挟持された状態で、縦送り駆動される際に、パウチ袋２３ａはドラム１５のタイミングベルト７４とガイドプレート７５との間で縦向きに立てた状態で挟持されて拘束された状態でガイドプレート７５に沿って下向きに移動するとともに、続いてタイミングベルト８０とガイドプレート７５との間でパウチ袋２３ａが挟持されて拘束された状態で、受け台８４上の横送り位置まで搬送されるようにしている。これにより、縦送り部１６で縦送りされるパウチ袋２３ａが拘束されていない区間がないので、縦送り部１６で縦送りされるパウチ袋２３ａが拘束されずに落下する場合のように受け台８４上の横送り位置に落下した際に、着底後に跳ね返る等の現象が発生することを防止することができる。そのため、受け台８４上の横送り位置に落下後のパウチ袋２３ａの姿勢を安定化させることができるので、次工程の横送り機構１８で横送りされるパウチ袋２３ａの姿勢がくずれた状態で搬送されることを防止することができる。
【００９２】
さらに、縦送り部１６で縦送りされるパウチ袋２３ａは縦送り駆動ローラー７６で蹴り出されたパウチ袋２３ａをタイミングベルト８０で拘束しながら水平ドラム１７によるパウチ袋２３ａの横送り機構１８まで縦送りすることができるので、例えば機械全体の処理能力を下げ、各部の動作がそれに伴って遅くなり、縦送り駆動ローラー７６の回転速度も遅くなった場合であっても、縦送り駆動ローラー７６からの蹴り出し後の区間で縦送り駆動ローラー７６の回転速度に同期させた速度でパウチ袋２３ａを縦送りすることができる。そのため、パウチ袋搬送装置全体の処理能力を変化させた場合であっても縦送り部１６と次工程の横送り機構１８との間で縦送りされるパウチ袋２３ａの動作タイミングがずれることを防止することができる。
【００９３】
また、本実施の形態では横送り機構１８に２つの横送りローラー９１ａ，９１ｂを設けたので、従来の水平ドラム１７がパウチ袋２３ａを吸着しながら回転する工程を２つ目の第２の横送りローラー９１ｂによる横早送りに置き換えることができる。そのため、水平ドラム１７の回転と２つの横送りローラー９１ａ，９１ｂの回転との周速差によりパウチ袋２３ａを横送りする際に費やす時間を従来に比べて短縮することができるので、サイクルタイムを同一とするとパウチ袋２３ａの落下速度を遅くすることができ、安定したパウチ袋２３ａの搬送動作が可能となる。
【００９４】
さらに、横送り機構１８における横早送り動作によるパウチ袋２３ａの移動距離を長く又は時間を短縮することができるので、直前に搬送されたパウチ袋２３ａと干渉せずに次のパウチ袋２３ａを横送り機構１８に繰り入れ可能なパウチ袋２３ａの横幅及び高さの制限を緩くすることができ、１台の機械で適用できるパウチ袋２３ａの種類の兼用範囲を拡大することができる。
【００９５】
なお、本発明は上記実施の形態に限定されるものではない。例えば、パウチリフト装置１３のパウチ袋量検出部６０としては、例えば、リニアスケール（ＳＭＣ社製ものさしくん等）を集積されたパウチ袋束２３の下面に押し付けてパウチ袋２３ａの風袋の集積高さを測定し、その測定結果をカウンタで処理し、外枠用制御回路４６のエアー回路内の電空レギュレーター（ＳＭＣ社製等）により電気信号に比例して外枠用エアーシリンダ４０のエアー圧力を無段階に制御することで、パウチ袋２３ａの集積の枚数に応じた外枠用エアーシリンダ４０の上昇押し圧を無段階に調整できる構成にしてもよい。
【００９６】
また、本実施の形態では横送り機構１８に２つの横送りローラー９１ａ，９１ｂを設けた構成を示したが、横送り機構１８に３つ以上の複数の横送りローラーを配設する構成にしても良い。
【００９７】
さらに、その他、本発明の要旨を逸脱しない範囲で種々変形実施できることは勿論である。
【００９８】
【発明の効果】
請求項１の発明によれば、パウチリフター外枠のガイドプレート上のパウチ袋の残量に応じて押し上げ圧力調整機構によってパウチリフター外枠を上方向に押し上げる押し上げ圧力を調整したので、パウチリフト装置における受渡し不良を防止することができる。
【００９９】
請求項２の発明によれば、流体圧シリンダの流体圧力を複数段、または無段階に切換える流体圧力調整弁を備えた流体回路によって押し上げ圧力調整機構を構成することにより、パウチ袋量検出部によってパウチリフター外枠のガイドプレート上のパウチ袋の残量が検出された際に、パウチリフター外枠のガイドプレート上のパウチ袋の残量に応じて流体圧シリンダの流体圧力を調整し、パウチリフター外枠を上方向に押し上げる押し上げ圧力を調整することができる。
【０１００】
請求項３の発明によれば、パウチリフト装置によって押し上げられたパウチ袋束の最上位置のパウチ袋を回転駆動されるドラムの周面にパウチ袋取出部のバキュームパッドからのバキューム力によって吸着することができる。
【０１０１】
請求項４の発明によれば、パウチ袋搬送機構の縦送り部のパウチ袋姿勢安定化手段の挾持要素によって縦向きに立てた状態のパウチ袋を両側から挟持することにより、処理能力を変化させた場合でもパウチ袋搬送機構の縦送り部の動作タイミングがずれることを防止することができる。
【０１０２】
請求項５の発明によれば、搬送ドラムにおけるパウチ袋の送り出し位置と横送り位置との間に架設されたタイミングベルトは縦送り部の駆動ローラーを駆動源としてこの縦送り部の駆動ローラーと同期して走行駆動させ、パウチ袋搬送機構の縦送り部に沿ってパウチ袋をこのタイミングベルトによって拘束しながら搬送することができる。
【０１０３】
請求項６の発明によれば、横送り機構の水平ドラムを鉛直方向に延設された回転軸を中心に常時回転駆動させ、水平ドラムよりも高速で回転駆動される第１の横送りローラーを縦送り部の終端の横送り位置で水平ドラムとの間にパウチ袋を挟持する状態でパウチ袋に圧接し、１回目の横早送りを行う。その後、第２の横早送り口ーラーをパウチ袋に圧接した後に第１の横早送りローラーを後退させ、２回目の横早送りを行うことにより、パウチ袋を高速度で横送りすることができる。
【０１０４】
請求項７の発明によれば、横送り機構の動作時には第１の横送りローラーと第２の横送りローラーとが順次、パウチ袋に接触してこのパウチ袋をその幅方向に押し出して横送りすることができる。
【０１０５】
請求項８の発明によれば、パウチリフト装置における受渡し不良を防止することができるとともに、処理能力を変化させた場合でもパウチ袋搬送機構の縦送り部の動作タイミングがずれるおそれがなく、横送り機構でパウチ袋の姿勢がくずれた状態で搬送されることを防止することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の第１の実施の形態のパウチ袋充填システムにおけるパウチ袋搬送装置の概略構成を示す側面図。
【図２】第１の実施の形態のパウチ袋充填システムの要部の概略構成図。
【図３】第１の実施の形態のパウチ袋搬送装置におけるパウチリフト装置を示す要部の正面図。
【図４】第１の実施の形態のパウチリフト装置におけるパウチリフター外枠とパウチリフター内枠とを示す平面図。
【図５】第１の実施の形態のパウチリフト装置におけるパウチリフター外枠のガイドプレートの支持構造を示すもので、（Ａ）は側面図、（Ｂ）は正面図。
【図６】第１の実施の形態のパウチリフト装置におけるパウチリフター外枠およびパウチリフター内枠の駆動部のエアー回路を示す概略構成図。
【図７】第１の実施の形態のパウチリフト装置におけるパウチリフター外枠によるパウチ袋の支持状態を示す平面図。
【図８】第１の実施の形態のパウチリフト装置におけるパウチ袋の支持状態を示す側面図。
【図９】第１の実施の形態のパウチリフト装置およびパウチ袋取出部の動作を説明するための説明図。
【図１０】第１の実施の形態のパウチ袋搬送装置におけるパウチ袋の中間搬送機構の全体の概略構成図。
【図１１】第１の実施の形態のパウチ袋搬送装置におけるパウチ袋の縦送り部を示す要部の概略構成図。
【図１２】第１の実施の形態のパウチ袋搬送装置における第２ドラムを示す立て断面図。
【図１３】第１の実施の形態のパウチ袋搬送装置におけるパウチ袋の縦送り部における縦送りローラーの周辺部分を示す縦断面図。
【図１４】第１の実施の形態のパウチ袋搬送装置におけるパウチ袋の横送りローラーの駆動機構を示す要部の概略構成図。
【図１５】第１の実施の形態のパウチ袋搬送装置におけるパウチ袋の横送りローラーの支持機構の概略構成を示す側面図。
【図１６】第１の実施の形態のパウチ袋搬送装置におけるパウチ袋の横送りローラーの支持機構の概略構成を示す縦断面図。
【図１７】第１の実施の形態のパウチ袋搬送装置におけるパウチ袋の横送りローラーの支持機構の概略構成を示す横断面図。
【図１８】第１の実施の形態のパウチ袋搬送装置における外枠用エアーシリンダの内部構成およびコントローラーの各切換え弁の接続状態を示す概略構成図。
【符号の説明】
１１ パウチ袋搬送装置
１２ 間欠コンベア
１３ パウチリフト装置
１６ 縦送り部
１７ 水平ドラム
１８ 横送り機構
２３ａ パウチ袋
２３ パウチ袋束
３１ パウチリフター外枠
３２ パウチリフター内枠
３３ 外枠移動機構
３７ ガイドプレート
６０ パウチ袋量検出部
６２ パウチ袋取出部
６４ 押し上げ圧力調整機構
６５ コントローラー[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pouch bag carrying device in a pouch bag filling system that automatically and continuously carries a pouch bag at a high speed to a pouch filling machine that fills the pouch bag with a filling such as a liquid.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, for example, a pouch bag that contains a liquid detergent for refilling is widely used. In this type of pouch bag filling system for filling a pouch bag with a liquid detergent for refilling, the pouch filling machine is provided with a pouch bag carrying device for automatically carrying the pouch bag continuously at a high speed.
[0003]
The pouch bag supply unit of the pouch bag conveying device is provided with an intermittent conveyor for intermittently conveying a pouch bag bundle in which a plurality of pouch bags are stacked. Further, a pouch lift device is disposed at the end position of the conveyance path of the intermittent conveyor. This pouch lift device is a device that pushes up a pouch bag bundle conveyed by an intermittent conveyor to a delivery position above the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor.
[0004]
In addition, a pouch bag take-out section is provided at the transfer position above the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor to take out the pouch bags at the uppermost position of the pouch bag bundle pushed up by the pouch lift device one by one. The pouch bag take-out portion is provided with a suction pad that is held by a rotary drum that is continuously driven to rotate. A vacuum force acts on the suction pad. As the rotary drum rotates, the suction pad is pressed against the uppermost pouch bag of the pouch bag bundle at the delivery position, and the pouch bag is sucked by the vacuum force acting on the suction pad. Therefore, the pouch bag adsorbed by the suction pad is extracted from another pouch bag bundle by the rotation of the rotating drum. Accordingly, the pouch bags at the uppermost position of the pouch bag bundle accumulated at the delivery position are taken out one by one.
[0005]
Further, when the amount of the remaining pouch bags accumulated at the delivery position is reduced by the supply of the pouch bags supplied to the next process from the pouch bag take-out portion, the next pouch bag bundle is supplied from the intermittent conveyor. At this time, the next pouch bag bundle is pushed up again by the pouch lift device, and is fed under the lowermost pouch bag of the remaining pouch bag bundle accumulated at the delivery position so as to be integrated. .
[0006]
Further, the pouch bag transport device includes a pouch bag transport mechanism including a vertical feed unit that vertically feeds the pouch bag transported from the pouch bag take-out unit vertically to the horizontal feed position of the next process in a vertical state. The pouch bag transport mechanism is provided with a lateral feed mechanism that laterally feeds the pouch bag that has been transported to the lateral feed position in the vertical feed section in the width direction of the pouch bag in a vertical state.
[0007]
In addition, the vertical feed portion of the pouch bag transport mechanism is provided with a second drum that is always rotationally driven by a rotating shaft extending in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. And the pouch bag conveyed from the pouch bag taking-out part is conveyed by this 2nd drum to the vertical feed conveyance path of a pouch bag.
[0008]
Furthermore, the pouch bag vertical feed drive path is driven by a pouch bag vertical feed drive roller that is always driven to rotate by a rotating shaft extending in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction, and is driven by a spring against the drive roller. A roller and a driven roller that rotates synchronously are provided. Then, the pouch bag conveyed to the vertical feed conveyance path by the second drum is vertically fed along the vertical feed conveyance path in a state of being vertically oriented, and moves along the vertical feed conveyance path. In the middle of the bag, it is sandwiched between the pouch bag vertical feed drive roller and the driven roller, and is given a driving force to be fed vertically down to the lateral feed position of the next process. .
[0009]
Further, a horizontal drum that is always driven to rotate by a rotary shaft extending in the vertical direction is provided at a lateral feed position below the vertical feed conveyance path of the pouch bag. Further, the horizontal drum is connected to a vacuum source via a distributor so that the pouch bag can be adsorbed in a predetermined section.
[0010]
Further, a horizontal fast feed roller is supported on the horizontal drum so as to be able to contact and separate. This horizontal fast-forward roller is always driven to rotate at a peripheral speed faster than that of the first drum by a rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction. Further, the horizontal fast-forwarding roller is adapted to be brought into and out of contact with the horizontal drum by a cam.
[0011]
Then, the pouch bag vertically fed to the lateral feed position below the vertical feed conveyance path of the pouch bag in the state of being vertically oriented is continuously fed to the next process (insertion device) in the following flow. It has become. First, the pouch bag is fed between the horizontal drum and the horizontal fast-forwarding roller from above in a state where the horizontal fast-forwarding roller is separated from the horizontal drum by the cam. Thereafter, when the horizontal fast-forward roller advances by the cam and comes into contact with the horizontal drum, the pouch bag is sandwiched between the horizontal rapid-feed roller and the horizontal drum, and the pouch bag is kicked out and fast-forwarded. At this time, the claw attached to the horizontal drum pushes the rear end of the pouch bag in the traveling direction. In addition, the top, bottom, and outer guides are installed at the pushing position. The posture of the pouch bag is controlled, and a vacuum is inserted by the distributor to maintain this posture. In this state, the pouch bag is delivered to the insertion device for the next process, and at the same time, the vacuum is cut by the distributor. Through the above steps, the pouch bags are continuously fed, the conveyance direction is changed from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction, and is transferred to the next step.
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, the pouch lift device is configured to push up the pouch bag bundle to a delivery position above the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor by pushing up the air cylinder while applying a constant air pressure. Here, in the conventional pouch lift device, the air cylinder is pushed up by applying a certain air pressure, so the pouch bag on the uppermost surface of the pouch bag bundle depends on the remaining amount of pouch bags in the pouch bag bundle accumulated at the delivery position. Ascending pressure acting on the pressure changes.
[0013]
For example, when the remaining amount of pouch bags that are bundled and collected at the delivery position is large, the weight of the pouch bag as a stack increases, so that the upward pressure acting on the uppermost pouch bag is weakened. . When the suction pad of the rotary drum is pressed against the uppermost pouch bag of the pouch bag bundle at the delivery position and the pouch bags are delivered one by one to the rotary drum side, the pressing pressure of the pouch bag against the suction pad is become weak. For this reason, in this case, the suction pad of the rotating drum cannot suck the uppermost pouch bag of the bundle of pouch bags, and a suction failure may occur. In addition, the suction pad may come off during the transfer due to incomplete suction, resulting in an incomplete transfer, which may cause a delivery failure.
[0014]
In addition, when the remaining amount of the pouch bags bundled and collected at the delivery position is small, the weight of the pouch bags is reduced, so that the uppermost surface of the pouch bag bundle bundled at the delivery position is collected. The pushing-up pressure from below acting on the pouch bag becomes stronger. Therefore, in this case, the resistance at the time of pulling out the uppermost pouch bag of the pouch bag bundle bundled at the delivery position is larger than the vacuum pad of the suction pad of the rotary drum, so the suction failure of the pouch bag May occur, or the pouch bag may be separated from the suction pad on the way, resulting in incomplete conveyance. Therefore, it is difficult to separate only the uppermost pouch bag from the pouch bag bundle, and there is a possibility that a defective delivery of the pouch bag may occur.
[0015]
In addition, in the vertical feed portion of the conventional pouch bag transport mechanism, the pouch bag that falls vertically downward through the vertical feed transport path is kicked out between the pouch bag vertical feed drive roller and the driven roller. It falls without being restrained until it is fed between the horizontal drum and the horizontal rapid feed roller at the lateral feed position in the next process. Therefore, if the processing capacity of the entire pouch bag transport apparatus is changed, the operation timing may be shifted.
[0016]
For example, when the processing capacity of the entire pouch bag conveying device is lowered, the operation of each part is slowed accordingly, and the rotational speed of the pouch bag vertical feed driving roller is also slowed. However, since the pouch bag is not restrained in the section after kicking out from the pouch bag vertical feed driving roller, the conveyance of the pouch bag is not synchronized and there is a possibility that the timing of the subsequent process is shifted.
[0017]
In addition, in the section after kicking out from the pouch bag vertical feed drive roller, the pouch bag falls without being restrained, and the posture of the pouch bag after dropping may become unstable due to a phenomenon such as bounce after landing There is. Therefore, when the pouch bag is sandwiched between the horizontal fast-forwarding roller and the horizontal drum and the pouch bag is kicked out and laterally fed, the pouch bag may be conveyed in a state where the posture of the pouch bag is broken.
[0018]
Further, in the lateral feed mechanism of the pouch bag transport apparatus, the peripheral speed of the moving speed by the horizontal fast-forwarding roller is set faster than the moving speed of the pouch bag by the rotation of the horizontal drum. Here, in order to increase the processing capacity of the pouch bag conveying device, it is necessary to increase the pouch bag dropping speed in the vertical feeding portion of the pouch bag conveying mechanism. However, if the fall speed of the pouch bag is increased, there are problems such as jumping at the time of bottoming and unstable posture, so that there is a limit in increasing the fall speed of the pouch bag. Furthermore, if the cycle times are the same, the pouch bag drop time and the lateral feed time are in a trade-off relationship. As a result, the pouch bag fall speed and the lateral feed rate are also in a trade-off relationship. Therefore, if the falling speed of the pouch bag is decreased, the lateral feed speed needs to be increased.
[0019]
In addition, during the operation of the pouch bag conveying device, the absence of a pouch bag in the feeding portion between the horizontal drum and the horizontal fast-forward roller in the horizontal feeding mechanism is a condition for feeding the next pouch bag. There are limitations on the width and width. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to expand the combined use range of the pouch bag.
[0020]
The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and its purpose is to prevent defective delivery in the pouch lift device and to operate the vertical feeding portion of the pouch bag transport mechanism even when the processing capacity is changed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pouch bag carrying device in a pouch bag filling system that can prevent the timing from being shifted and prevent the pouch bag from being conveyed in a state in which the posture of the pouch bag is broken by a lateral feed mechanism.
[0021]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention of claim 1 is an intermittent conveyor for intermittently conveying a pouch bag bundle in which a plurality of pouch bags are laminated,
A pouch lift device that is disposed at the transfer position of the pouch bag bundle in the intermittent conveyor and pushes up the pouch bag bundle transferred by the intermittent conveyor to a delivery position above the transfer surface of the intermittent conveyor; and
A pouch bag take-out portion that is arranged at the delivery position and takes out the pouch bags at the uppermost position of the pouch bag bundle pushed up by the pouch lift device one by one;
A pouch bag transport mechanism comprising a vertical feed portion that vertically feeds the pouch bag transported from the pouch bag take-out portion vertically to the lateral feed position of the next process in a state where the pouch bag is vertically oriented;
The pouch bag is sequentially passed through a transverse feed mechanism that horizontally feeds the pouch bag that is conveyed to the lateral feed position in the vertical feed portion of the pouch bag conveyance mechanism in the width direction of the pouch bag in a vertical state. In the pouch bag conveying device in the pouch bag filling system for supplying the pouch bag to the filling mechanism portion side for filling the filling material,
The pouch lift device is moved to an upper position of the intermittent conveyor, and is supported so as to be movable between a receiving position for receiving the pouch bag bundle and an upward retreating position deviating from the movement trajectory of the pouch bag bundle. A pouch lifter outer frame with a plate,
It is arranged inside the outer frame of the pouch lifter and is movable from a lowered position moved below the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor to a raised position protruding above the position of the guide plate of the outer frame of the pouch lifter. A pouch lifter inner frame supported by
A pouch bag amount detection unit for detecting the remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the outer frame of the pouch lifter;
An outer frame moving mechanism for moving the pouch lifter outer frame in the vertical direction;
The push-up pressure is adjusted to push up the pouch lifter outer frame upward according to the remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the pouch lifter outer frame, and the push-up pressure when the remaining amount of the pouch bag is large A push-up pressure adjustment mechanism that reduces the push-up pressure when the remaining amount of the pouch bag is small
It is a pouch bag conveyance apparatus in the pouch bag filling system characterized by comprising.
And in invention of this Claim 1, a pouch bag bundle is conveyed to the conveyance position of a pouch bag bundle intermittently by an intermittent conveyor. At this time, the pouch bag bundle conveyed by the intermittent conveyor is pushed up to the delivery position above the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor by the pouch lift device at the pouch bag bundle conveying position. Further, the pouch bags at the uppermost position of the pouch bag bundle pushed up by the pouch lift device are taken out one by one by the pouch bag take-out portion at the delivery position. Subsequently, the pouch bag conveyed from the pouch bag take-out portion is vertically fed downward to the horizontal feed position of the next process in a state of being vertically oriented by the vertical feeding portion of the pouch bag conveying mechanism. Further, the pouch bag conveyed to the horizontal feeding position by the vertical feeding portion of the pouch bag conveying mechanism is laterally fed in the width direction of the pouch bag by the horizontal feeding mechanism in a state where the pouch bag is vertically oriented. Thereby, a pouch bag is supplied to the filling mechanism part side which fills a pouch bag with a filling material. Further, the inner frame of the pouch lifter of the pouch lift device has been moved in advance to a lower position below the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor. The pouch bag bundle on the intermittent conveyor is pushed up to the delivery position above the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor by the pouch lifter inner frame of the pouch lift device, and is transferred onto the guide plate on the outer frame of the pouch lifter. Further, the remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the outer frame of the pouch lifter is detected by the pouch bag amount detection unit, and the pouch lifter is adjusted by the push-up pressure adjusting mechanism according to the remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the outer frame of the pouch lifter. The pushing-up pressure that pushes the outer frame upward is adjusted. Here, the push-up pressure is increased when the remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the outer frame of the pouch lifter is large, and the push-up pressure is decreased when the remaining amount of the pouch bag is small.
[0022]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the push-up pressure adjusting mechanism includes a fluid pressure cylinder and a fluid circuit including a fluid pressure adjusting valve that switches the fluid pressure of the fluid pressure cylinder in a plurality of stages or continuously. It is a pouch bag conveyance apparatus in the pouch bag filling system of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the push-up pressure adjusting mechanism is constituted by a fluid circuit having a fluid pressure adjusting valve for switching the fluid pressure of the fluid pressure cylinder to a plurality of stages or continuously, thereby providing a pouch bag amount detecting unit. When the remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the pouch lifter outer frame is detected by adjusting the fluid pressure of the hydraulic cylinder according to the remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the pouch lifter outer frame, The lifting pressure that pushes the lifter outer frame upward is adjusted.
[0023]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the pouch bag take-out portion sucks the pouch bag at the uppermost position of the pouch bag bundle pushed up by the pouch lift device onto the peripheral surface of the drum rotatably supported by the vacuum force. The pouch bag conveying device in the pouch bag filling system according to claim 1, wherein a pad is provided.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the uppermost pouch bag of the pouch bag bundle pushed up by the pouch lift device is adsorbed to the circumferential surface of the drum driven by the vacuum force from the vacuum pad of the pouch bag takeout portion. It is what I did.
[0024]
The invention of claim 4 is an intermittent conveyor that intermittently conveys a pouch bag bundle in which a plurality of pouch bags are laminated,
A pouch lift device that is disposed at the transfer position of the pouch bag bundle in the intermittent conveyor and pushes up the pouch bag bundle transferred by the intermittent conveyor to a delivery position above the transfer surface of the intermittent conveyor; and
A pouch bag take-out portion that is arranged at the delivery position and takes out the pouch bags at the uppermost position of the pouch bag bundle pushed up by the pouch lift device one by one;
A pouch bag transport mechanism comprising a vertical feed portion that vertically feeds the pouch bag transported from the pouch bag take-out portion vertically to the lateral feed position of the next process in a state where the pouch bag is vertically oriented;
The pouch bag is sequentially passed through a transverse feed mechanism that horizontally feeds the pouch bag that is conveyed to the lateral feed position in the vertical feed portion of the pouch bag conveyance mechanism in the width direction of the pouch bag in a vertical state. In the pouch bag conveying device in the pouch bag filling system for supplying the pouch bag to the filling mechanism portion side for filling the filling material,
The vertical feed portion of the pouch bag transport mechanism includes a holding element that holds the pouch bag in a vertically oriented state from both sides, and holds the pouch bag between the holding elements in a restrained state. A pouch bag conveying device in a pouch bag filling system, comprising a pouch bag posture stabilizing means for stabilizing the posture of the pouch bag during conveyance of the pouch bag by conveying it to a feeding position.
In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the pouch bag in the vertical state is held from both sides by the holding elements of the pouch bag posture stabilizing means of the vertical feed portion of the pouch bag transport mechanism.
[0025]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the pouch bag transport mechanism includes a transport drum provided with a vacuum pad for adsorbing the pouch bag by a vacuum force.
The pouch bag posture stabilizing means is installed between the feed position of the pouch bag on the transport drum and the lateral feed position, and the drive roller of the vertical feed unit is used as the drive roller of the vertical feed unit. 5. The pouch bag transport device in the pouch bag filling system according to claim 4, further comprising a timing belt that is driven to run synchronously.
In the invention of claim 5, the timing belt installed between the delivery position and the lateral feed position of the pouch bag in the transport drum uses the drive roller of the longitudinal feed section as a drive source and the drive roller of the longitudinal feed section. The pouch bag is driven to run synchronously and is conveyed while being restrained by the timing belt along the longitudinal feeding portion of the pouch bag conveying mechanism.
[0026]
The invention of claim 6 is an intermittent conveyor for intermittently conveying a pouch bag bundle in which a plurality of pouch bags are laminated,
A pouch lift device that is disposed at the transfer position of the pouch bag bundle in the intermittent conveyor and pushes up the pouch bag bundle transferred by the intermittent conveyor to a delivery position above the transfer surface of the intermittent conveyor; and
A pouch bag take-out portion that is arranged at the delivery position and takes out the pouch bags at the uppermost position of the pouch bag bundle pushed up by the pouch lift device one by one;
A pouch bag transport mechanism comprising a vertical feed portion that vertically feeds the pouch bag transported from the pouch bag take-out portion vertically to the lateral feed position of the next process in a state where the pouch bag is vertically oriented;
The pouch bag is sequentially passed through a transverse feed mechanism that horizontally feeds the pouch bag that is conveyed to the lateral feed position in the vertical feed portion of the pouch bag conveyance mechanism in the width direction of the pouch bag in a vertical state. In the pouch bag conveying device in the pouch bag filling system for supplying the pouch bag to the filling mechanism portion side for filling the filling material,
The lateral feed mechanism is a horizontal drum that is always driven to rotate around a rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction;
A first lateral feed that is pressed against the pouch bag in a state where the pouch bag is sandwiched between the horizontal drum and the horizontal drum at the lateral feed position at the end of the vertical feed portion, and is driven to rotate at a higher speed than the horizontal drum. A roller,
A second lateral feed roller that presses against the pouch bag in a state of sandwiching the pouch bag between the horizontal drum at a position away from the first lateral feed roller along the circumferential direction of the horizontal drum;
A synchronous rotation mechanism for synchronously rotating the first lateral feed roller and the second lateral feed roller;
It is a pouch bag conveyance apparatus in the pouch bag filling system characterized by comprising.
In the invention of claim 6, the horizontal drum of the horizontal feed mechanism is always driven to rotate around the rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction, and the first horizontal feed roller is driven to rotate at a higher speed than the horizontal drum. In the state where the pouch bag is sandwiched between the horizontal feed drum and the horizontal feed position at the end of the vertical feed section, and at a position away from the first lateral feed roller along the circumferential direction of the horizontal drum. The arranged second transverse feed roller is brought into pressure contact with the pouch bag while the pouch bag is sandwiched between the horizontal drum and the first transverse feed roller and the second transverse feed roller are synchronously rotated by the synchronous rotation mechanism. By doing so, the pouch bag is laterally fed at a high speed.
[0027]
The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the lateral feed mechanism is
The distance between the first lateral feed roller and the second lateral feed roller is set to a length shorter than the length in the width direction of the pouch bag. It is a pouch bag conveyance apparatus in a pouch bag filling system.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, there is a section in which the first lateral feed roller and the second lateral feed roller simultaneously contact the pouch when the lateral feed mechanism is operated.
[0028]
The invention of claim 8 is an intermittent conveyor for intermittently conveying a pouch bag bundle in which a plurality of pouch bags are laminated,
A pouch lift device that is disposed at the end position of the intermittent conveyor and pushes up the pouch bag bundle conveyed by the intermittent conveyor to a delivery position above the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor; and
A pouch bag take-out portion that is arranged at the delivery position and takes out the pouch bags at the uppermost position of the pouch bag bundle pushed up by the pouch lift device one by one;
A pouch bag transport mechanism comprising a vertical feed portion that vertically feeds the pouch bag transported from the pouch bag take-out portion vertically to the lateral feed position of the next process in a state where the pouch bag is vertically oriented;
The pouch bag is sequentially passed through a transverse feed mechanism that horizontally feeds the pouch bag that is conveyed to the lateral feed position in the vertical feed portion of the pouch bag conveyance mechanism in the width direction of the pouch bag in a vertical state. In the pouch bag conveying device in the pouch bag filling system for supplying the pouch bag to the filling mechanism portion side for filling the filling material,
The pouch lift device is moved to an upper position of the intermittent conveyor, and is supported so as to be movable between a receiving position for receiving the pouch bag bundle and an upward retreating position deviating from the movement trajectory of the pouch bag bundle. A pouch lifter outer frame provided with a plate, and a position lower than a position of the guide plate of the pouch lifter outer frame from a lowered position which is disposed on the inner side of the pouch lifter outer frame and moved below the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor. A pouch lifter inner frame that is supported so as to be movable up to a raised position protruding upward, a pouch bag amount detection unit that detects a remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the pouch lifter outer frame, and a pouch lifter outside frame An outer frame moving mechanism for moving the frame up and down, and the pouch bag on the guide plate of the pouch lifter outer frame according to the remaining amount of the pouch bag Adjust the push-up pressure to push up the outer frame of the puncher, and increase the push-up pressure when the remaining amount of the pouch bag is large, and lower the push-up pressure when the remaining amount of the pouch bag is small A pressure adjustment mechanism,
The vertical feed portion of the pouch bag transport mechanism includes a holding element that holds the pouch bag in a vertically oriented state from both sides, and holds the pouch bag between the holding elements in a restrained state. A pouch bag posture stabilizing means for stabilizing the posture of the pouch bag at the time of conveying the pouch bag by conveying it to a feeding position;
The transverse feed mechanism places the pouch bag between a horizontal drum that is always driven to rotate about a rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction and the horizontal drum at the transverse feed position at the end of the longitudinal feed portion. A position that is in pressure contact with the pouch bag in a sandwiched state and is driven to rotate at a higher speed than the horizontal drum, and a position separated from the first lateral feed roller along the circumferential direction of the horizontal drum The second transverse feed roller that is pressed against the pouch bag while the pouch bag is sandwiched between the horizontal drum, the first transverse feed roller, and the second transverse feed roller are synchronously rotated. A pouch bag transport device in a pouch bag filling system comprising a synchronous rotation mechanism.
In the invention of claim 8, the inner frame of the pouch lifter of the pouch lift device is moved in advance to a lower position below the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor, and the pouch bag bundle on the intermittent conveyor is moved into the pouch lifter of the pouch lift device. The frame is pushed up to the delivery position above the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor and transferred onto the guide plate on the outer frame of the pouch lifter. Further, the remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the outer frame of the pouch lifter is detected by the pouch bag amount detection unit, and the pouch lifter is adjusted by the push-up pressure adjusting mechanism according to the remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the outer frame of the pouch lifter. The pushing-up pressure that pushes the outer frame upward is adjusted. Here, when the remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the outer frame of the pouch lifter is large, the push-up pressure is increased, and when the remaining amount of the pouch bag is small, the push-up pressure is decreased. Further, the pouch bag in a vertically standing state is sandwiched from both sides by the holding element of the pouch bag posture stabilizing means of the vertical feed portion of the pouch bag transport mechanism. In addition, the horizontal drum of the horizontal feed mechanism is always driven to rotate around a rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction, and the first horizontal feed roller that is driven to rotate at a higher speed than the horizontal drum is placed at the side of the end of the vertical feed unit. A second lateral feed that is in pressure contact with the pouch bag in a state where the pouch bag is sandwiched between the horizontal drum at the feed position and that is disposed away from the first lateral feed roller along the circumferential direction of the horizontal drum. The pouch bag is raised by pressing the pouch bag between the horizontal drum and the horizontal drum so that the first transverse feed roller and the second transverse feed roller are synchronously rotated by the synchronous rotation mechanism. It is designed to traverse at a speed.
[0029]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the entire pouch bag filling system 1 of the present embodiment. The pouch bag filling system 1 includes a pouch bag insertion device 2, a pouch bag filling device (filling mechanism unit) 3 for filling the pouch bag with a liquid detergent for refilling, and a liquid detergent or the like is supplied to the filling device 3. A liquid supply device 4 for sealing, a seal device 5 for sealing in a state where the opening of the liquid-filled pouch bag is closed, a cooling / discharging device 6, a product discharge conveyor 7, and a defective product discharge chute 8 are provided. It has been.
[0030]
A pouch bag transport device 11 shown in FIG. 1 is disposed at the entrance of the pouch bag insertion device 2. The pouch bag transport device 11 is arranged at an end position of the transport path of the pouch bag bundle 23 by the intermittent conveyor 12 and the intermittent conveyor 12 that intermittently transports the pouch bag bundle 23 in which a plurality of pouch bags 23 a are stacked. The pouch lift device 13 that pushes up the pouch bag bundle 23 conveyed by the intermittent conveyor 12 to a delivery position above the conveyance surface of the intermittent conveyor 12, and two delivery devices disposed above the pouch lift device 13. Drums 14 and 15, and a pouch bag transport mechanism having a longitudinal feed unit 16 for longitudinally feeding the pouch bag 23 a transported through the drums 14 and 15, and a lateral feed position at the end of the longitudinal feed unit 16. The horizontal drum 17 and the lateral feed mechanism 18 shown in FIG. 2 are provided.
[0031]
Further, the intermittent conveyor 12 is provided with a plurality of stoppers 22 arranged in parallel along the conveyance direction on the conveyance surface of the endless belt main body 21 with appropriate intervals. Here, the roller 24 arranged in the loading portion of the pouch bag bundle 23 in the intermittent conveyor 12 is arranged at a position higher than the guide roller 25 arranged in the terminal position of the conveyance path of the pouch bag bundle 23 by the intermittent conveyor 12. Yes. Further, the endless belt body 21 of the intermittent conveyor 12 is stretched between a roller 24, a guide roller 25, and a guide roller 26 disposed below the guide roller 25. The intermittent conveyor 12 is driven to rotate intermittently counterclockwise in FIG. At this time, the pouch bag bundle 23 loaded at the loading portion of the intermittent conveyor 12 is abutted against the stopper 22 and conveyed in a state of being aligned.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 3, the pouch lift device 13 includes a pouch lifter outer frame 31, a pouch lifter inner frame 32, an outer frame moving mechanism 33 for moving the pouch lifter outer frame 31 up and down, and a pouch lifter. An inner frame moving mechanism 34 for moving the inner frame 32 in the vertical direction is provided. Further, the pouch lifter outer frame 31 is provided with a moving frame 35 as shown in FIG. A plurality of, in the present embodiment, eight lower guide bar stays 36 are fixed to the moving frame 35.
[0033]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a guide plate support member 36 a is disposed at the upper end portion of each guide bar stay 36. A flat plate-shaped guide plate 37 that receives the pouch bag bundle 23 is pivotally supported on the guide plate support member 36 a so as to be rotatable about a support shaft 38. Here, each guide plate 37 is held in a state of being moved to a substantially horizontal position as shown by a solid line in FIG. 5A and receives the pouch bag bundle 23, and is indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. As described above, the pouch bag bundle 23 is supported so as to be movable between the pivot position rotated to the upward retracted position deviated from the movement trajectory of the pouch bag bundle 23.
[0034]
Further, each guide plate support member 36a has a claw bent in a substantially L shape for locking the outer end portion of each guide plate 37 in a state where each guide plate 37 is rotated to a substantially horizontal pouch bag receiving position. And a spring member 38a that urges each guide plate 37 in a direction in which the guide plate 37 is brought into contact with the stopper portion 36b. Each guide plate 37 is normally held in contact with the stopper portion 36b by the spring force of the spring member 38a and rotated to a substantially horizontal pouch bag receiving position. At this time, the inner end portion of each guide plate 37 is held in a state of being extended into the movement track of the pouch bag bundle 23 pushed up by the pouch lifter inner frame 32 in the pouch lift device 13. The pouch bag bundle 23 is held in a state of being placed on the inner end portion of each guide plate 37.
[0035]
The outer frame moving mechanism 33 is formed by the air cylinder 40. The moving frame 35 of the pouch lifter outer frame 31 is attached to the tip of the piston rod 41 of the outer frame air cylinder 40.
[0036]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the pouch lifter inner frame 32 is provided with a substantially H-shaped pouch bag push-up member 42 disposed inside the moving frame 35 of the pouch lifter outer frame 31. The pouch bag push-up member 42 is fixed to the upper end portion of the operation member 43 extending in a substantially vertical direction.
[0037]
Further, the inner frame moving mechanism 34 is formed by an air cylinder 44. A lower end portion of the operation member 43 of the pouch lifter inner frame 32 is attached to a tip end portion of the piston rod 45 of the inner frame air cylinder 44.
[0038]
FIG. 6 shows an air circuit (fluid circuit) for controlling the operations of the outer frame air cylinder 40 of the outer frame moving mechanism 33 and the air cylinder 44 of the inner frame moving mechanism 34, respectively. The air circuit includes an outer frame control circuit 46 for controlling the outer frame air cylinder 40 in the outer frame moving mechanism 33, and an inner frame control circuit 47 for controlling the inner frame air cylinder 44 in the inner frame moving mechanism 34. Is provided. The outer frame control circuit 46 and the inner frame control circuit 47 are connected in parallel to an air supply source 48 such as an air pump.
[0039]
The inner frame control circuit 47 includes a first air pipe 49 a connected to the first port on one end side of the inner cylinder air cylinder 44, and a second port on the other end side of the air cylinder 44. A connected second air pipe 49b is provided. The other end of the first air conduit 49a and the other end of the second air conduit 49b are respectively connected to two ports of the first switching valve 50 formed by solenoid valves. Furthermore, an air supply line on the air supply source 48 side is connected to the inflow port of the first switching valve 50, and a discharge line (not shown) is connected to the discharge port. A regulator (pressure regulator) 52 is interposed in the middle of the first air pipe 49a. The first switching valve 50 is held at a first switching position 50a that allows air to flow in the direction in which the piston rod 45 of the air cylinder 44 is pulled into the cylinder 44 in the off state, and the piston rod 45 of the air cylinder 44 during the on operation. Is switched to the second switching position 50b in which air flows in the direction of drawing out the cylinder 44 from the cylinder 44. At this time, the first switching valve 50 is turned off and the switching operation to the first switching position 50a is performed, so that the pouch lifter inner frame 32 is moved to the lowered position moved below the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor 12. It has become so. Further, when the first switching valve 50 is turned on to switch to the second switching position 50b, the pouch lifter inner frame 32 is moved upward from the lowered position to the position of the guide plate 37 of the pouch lifter outer frame 31. It is moved and operated to the raised position.
[0040]
Further, when the pouch bag bundle 23 is pushed up by the pouch bag push-up member 42 of the pouch lifter inner frame 32 in the pouch lift device 13, the pouch bag bundle 23 to be pushed up is projected upward from the pouch lifter outer frame 31. It can be pushed up to the position. At this time, the pouch bag bundle 23 is pushed up so that the inner end portion of each guide plate 37 of the pouch lifter outer frame 31 is rotated to the upward retracted position deviated from the movement trajectory of the pouch bag bundle 23. 23 is pushed up to the upper side of each guide plate 37, and the pouch bag bundle 23 remaining on the pouch lifter outer frame 31 and the newly pushed up pouch bag bundle 23 are integrated. Thereafter, each guide plate 37 is returned to a state where it is rotated to a substantially horizontal pouch bag receiving position. Therefore, in this state, the pouch bag push-up member 42 of the pouch lifter inner frame 32 is lowered so that the pouch bag bundle 23 on the pouch lifter inner frame 32 is transferred onto the inner end portion of each guide plate 37. It has become.
[0041]
Further, the outer frame control circuit 46 includes a second switching valve 54 formed by a solenoid valve for switching the moving direction of the piston rod 41 of the outer frame air cylinder 40 in two directions, upper and lower, and the outer frame air cylinder 40. And a push-up pressure adjusting mechanism 64 for switching the push-up pressure in three stages. Here, the first air pipe 53a connected to the first port on one end side of the outer cylinder air cylinder 40 and the second air connected to the second port on the other end side of the air cylinder 40. The pipe line 53b is connected to two ports of the second switching valve 54, respectively.
[0042]
Further, the push-up pressure adjusting mechanism 64 of the outer frame air cylinder 40 has four branch pipes 56a to 56d connected to the air supply source 48 side and three three-way switching valves 57 to 57 formed by, for example, solenoid valves. 59 and three regulators 55a to 55c for pressure adjustment are provided. Here, each of the three-way switching valves 57 to 59 is provided with two inflow ports and one outflow port. The three regulators 55a to 55c for pressure adjustment are set to an arbitrary set pressure P1 that is smaller than the supply pressure P0 from the air supply source 48 side, for example, the regulator 55a for the first pressure adjustment (medium pressure 1). ing. Further, the set pressure P2 of the regulator 55b for the second pressure adjustment (medium pressure 2) is set to P1> P2, and the set pressure P3 of the regulator 55c for the third pressure adjustment (low pressure) is set to the relationship P2> P3. Has been.
[0043]
A branch pipe 56d connected to the air supply source 48 side is connected to one inflow port of the first three-way switching valve (V1) 57, and a first pressure adjustment (medium) is connected to the other inflow port. A branch line 56c in which a regulator 55a for pressure 1) is interposed is connected. The first three-way switching valve 57 is held at the first switching position 57a that connects the branch pipe 56d to the outflow port in the off state, and the second three-way switching valve 57 connects the branch pipe 56c to the outflow port during the on-operation. Switching operation is made to the switching position 57b.
[0044]
Further, the outflow port side of the first three-way switching valve 57 is connected to one inflow port of the second three-way switching valve (V2) 58, and the second pressure adjustment (intermediate pressure 2) is connected to the other inflow port. ) Regulator 55b is connected to a branch pipe 56b. When the second three-way switching valve 58 is in the OFF state, the second three-way switching valve 57 is held at a first switching position 58a that connects the outflow port side of the first three-way switching valve 57 to the outflow port of the second three-way switching valve 58. In the ON operation, the switching operation is performed to the second switching position 58b that connects the branch pipe 56b to the outflow port of the second three-way switching valve 58.
[0045]
Furthermore, the outflow port side of the second three-way switching valve 58 is connected to one inflow port of the third three-way switching valve (V3) 59, and the other inflow port is for the third pressure adjustment (low pressure). The branch line 56a in which the regulator 55c is interposed is connected. The third three-way switching valve 59 is held at the first switching position 59a that connects the outflow port side of the second three-way switching valve 58 to the outflow port in the off state, and the branch pipe 56a is connected to the on-operation. The switching operation is made to the second switching position 59b connected to the outflow port of the third three-way switching valve 59.
[0046]
In addition, the outflow port side of the third three-way switching valve 59 is connected to the inflow port of the second switching valve 54, and a discharge pipe (not shown) is connected to the discharge port. The second switching valve 54 is held at a first switching position 54a that allows air to flow in the direction in which the piston rod 41 of the air cylinder 40 is pulled into the cylinder 40 during an off operation, and the piston rod 41 of the air cylinder 40 during an on operation. Is switched to the second switching position 54b through which air flows in the direction in which the air is drawn out of the cylinder 40. At this time, the pouch lifter outer frame 31 is driven up and down as the piston rod 41 moves up and down, and the pouch lifter outer frame 31 is driven in a direction to push it up to the delivery position of the upper pouch bag 23a during operation of the pouch lift device 13. It has come to be. It should be noted that when the machine is started up, the pouch lifter inner frame 32 and the pouch lifter outer frame 31 are both waiting below the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor 12.
[0047]
As shown in FIG. 9, a pouch bag take-out portion 62 for taking out the pouch bags 23 a at the uppermost position of the pouch bag bundle 23 pushed up by the pouch lifter outer frame 31 one by one is provided at the upper delivery position of the pouch lift device 13. Has been placed. The pouch bag take-out portion 62 is provided with a delivery drum 14 disposed above the pouch lift device 13. The drum 14 is driven to rotate about a rotation shaft extending in a substantially horizontal direction.
[0048]
Further, a plurality of vacuum pads 61 are arranged in parallel along the circumferential direction on the drum body of the drum 14. A suction line (not shown) is connected to each vacuum pad 61. When the drum 14 is driven to rotate, the plurality of vacuum pads 61 are sequentially moved to the position of the pouch bag take-out portion 62 as the drum 14 rotates. At this time, the uppermost pouch bag 23 a of the pouch bag bundle 23 pushed up by the pouch lifter outer frame 31 of the pouch lift device 13 is pressed against the vacuum pad 61 moved to the position of the pouch bag take-out portion 62. Yes. Therefore, the pouch bag 23a at the uppermost position of the pouch bag bundle 23 is attracted to the vacuum pad 61 by the vacuum force acting on the vacuum pad 61 in this state. The suction pipe line of the vacuum pad 61 is connected to a vacuum source via a distributor (not shown) so that the pouch bag 23a can be adsorbed in a predetermined section. The pouch bag 23a adsorbed to the vacuum pad 61 is pulled out from the pouch bag bundle 23 by the rotation of the drum 14 and delivered.
[0049]
Further, as shown in FIG. 18, the pouch lift device 13 of the present embodiment includes a pouch bag amount detection unit 60 that detects the remaining amount of the pouch bag 23 a loaded on each guide plate 37 of the pouch lifter outer frame 31. Is provided. The pouch bag amount detecting unit 60 includes a magnet 63 embedded in the piston 41a of the outer frame air cylinder 40 and a plurality of reed switches SW1 to SW4 attached to the outer frame air cylinder 40 in the present embodiment. And are provided. Here, the four reed switches SW1 to SW4 are formed by magnetic proximity switches that detect the magnet 63 embedded in the piston 41a. Further, these four reed switches SW1 to SW4 are spaced apart from each other along the moving direction of the piston 41a in the outer cylinder air cylinder 40 with a proper interval from the lower side through a reed switch SW1 for “high pressure”, “medium / high pressure”. Are sequentially arranged in the order of a lead switch SW2 for "low pressure", a switch SW3 for "medium / low pressure" and a lead switch SW4 for "low pressure".
[0050]
Further, as shown in FIG. 18, the four reed switches SW1 to SW4 are connected to a controller 65 such as a CPU. During operation of the pouch lifter outer frame 31, when the piston 41a in the air cylinder 40 moves up and down, the magnet 63 of the piston 41a is detected by the reed switches SW1 to SW4 when the piston 41a approaches the reed switches SW1 to SW4. It has come to be. Therefore, the position of the piston rod 41 of the air cylinder 40 is detected according to the detection signal from each of the reed switches SW1 to SW4, and the guide plate 37 of the pouch lifter outer frame 31 is detected by the controller 65 based on the position of the piston rod 41. The amount of the pouch bag bundle 23 placed on the inner end portion is detected.
[0051]
Further, the controller 65 is connected to a first switching valve 50, a second switching valve 54, and three three-way switching valves 57 to 59, respectively. In the controller 65, three three-way switching valves 57 in the air circuit of the outer frame control circuit 46 based on the remaining amount data of the pouch bag 23a detected based on the detection signals from the four reed switches SW1 to SW4. -59 (V1 to V3) are controlled as shown in the following Table 1, and the push-up pressure of the outer frame air cylinder 40 that pushes up the pouch lifter outer frame 31 upward is adjusted.
[0052]
[Table 1]

[0053]
Here, during normal operation of the pouch lifter outer frame 31, the piston 41a in the outer frame air cylinder 40 is in a high pressure state between the "high pressure" reed switch SW1 and the "medium high pressure" reed switch SW2. Medium-high pressure state between the reed switch SW2 for "medium-high pressure" and the reed switch SW3 for "medium-low pressure", and medium-low pressure between the reed switch SW3 for "medium-low pressure" and the reed switch SW4 for "low-pressure" In the state, the region above the “low pressure” reed switch SW4 is set so as to increase at four stages of air pressure in the low pressure state. Therefore, when the remaining amount of the pouch bag 23a is large, the push-up pressure of the outer frame air cylinder 40 is increased, and when the remaining amount of the pouch bag 23a is small, the push-up pressure of the outer frame air cylinder 40 is decreased. It is controlled. Note that the first three-way switching valve (V1) 57 is held in the ON state when the air cylinder 40 push-up pressure is “medium-low pressure”, and the first air pressure is applied when the air cylinder 40 push-up pressure is “low pressure”. Although the three-way switching valve (V1) 57 and the second three-way switching valve (V2) 58 are held in the on state, these may be either on or off on the air circuit.
[0054]
Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a second delivery drum 15 is disposed in a rolling contact state obliquely above the drum 14. Further, a vertical feed portion 16 of the pouch bag 23a is disposed on the side portion of the second delivery drum 15. Then, the pouch bag 23a, which is attracted to the vacuum pad 61 of the drum 14 and pulled out and delivered, is subsequently delivered to the second delivery drum 15, and this drum 15 causes the next vertical feed section to be delivered. 16 is conveyed.
[0055]
FIG. 12 shows the internal structure of the second delivery drum 15.
Here, a bearing 67 is attached to the support frame 66 of the drum 15, and the rotating shaft 15 a of the drum 15 is rotatably supported by the bearing 67. Further, a plurality of vacuum pads 68 are arranged in parallel on the drum body 71 of the drum 15 along the circumferential direction. A suction line 69 is connected to each vacuum pad 68. The drum 15 is driven to rotate in the opposite direction to the drum 14 in conjunction with the rotation of the drum 14. The suction line 69 of the vacuum pad 68 is connected to a vacuum source via a distributor (not shown) so that the pouch bag 23a can be adsorbed in a predetermined section.
[0056]
Further, when the drum 15 is driven to rotate, the pouch bag 23a conveyed by the drum 14 is attracted and transferred by the vacuum pad 68 of the drum 15 at the rolling contact portion with the drum 14. Subsequently, the pouch bag 23 a adsorbed to the vacuum pad 68 is transported to the next vertical feeding section 16 as the drum 15 rotates.
[0057]
As shown in FIG. 11, two guide rollers 72 and 73 are disposed around the drum main body 71 of the drum 15. Here, one guide roller 72 is disposed at a position facing the vertical feed conveyance path of the pouch bag 23 a in the vertical feed unit 16. Further, a timing belt 74 is stretched between the drum body 71 and the two guide rollers 72 and 73. The pouch bag 23a adsorbed by the vacuum pad 68 of the drum 15 is guided by the timing belt 74 in a state where the pouch bag 23a is vertically oriented, and is conveyed to the longitudinal feeding section 16.
[0058]
Further, a guide plate (holding element) 75 that guides the vertical feed of the pouch bag 23 a is erected in the vertical feed portion 16 at a side portion of the drum 15 in a substantially vertical direction. The upper portion of the guide plate 75 is disposed opposite to the position near the drum 15. Further, the lower portion of the guide plate 75 extends to the lateral feed position at the end of the vertical feed portion 16.
[0059]
A longitudinal feed drive roller 76 and a driven roller 77 pressed against the drive roller 76 are provided in the middle of the longitudinal feed unit 16. These rollers 76 and 77 are disposed on both sides of the moving track of the pouch bag 23a that moves downward along the guide plate 75. As shown in FIG. 13, a window 75 a is opened in the guide plate 75 at a portion corresponding to the pressure contact portion between the driving roller 76 and the driven roller 77.
[0060]
Further, the driven roller 77 is rotatably supported between one end portions of the pair of support arms 82 as shown in FIG. A support shaft 81 is rotatably connected to the other end of the support arm 82. Furthermore, a spring member 83 that urges the driven roller 77 in a direction in which the driven roller 77 is always pressed against the drive roller 76 is mounted on the support arm 82 of the driven roller 77. The pouch bag 23 a that moves downward along the guide plate 75 is driven in a longitudinal direction while being sandwiched between the drive roller 76 and the guide roller 72. The drive roller 76 has a concavo-convex portion 76 a that is knurled on the outer circumferential surface. Further, a rubber sheet 77 a is baked and fixed on the outer peripheral surface of the driven roller 77.
[0061]
The drive roller 76 is disposed at a position close to the guide roller 72. Further, a receiving base 84 of the pouch bag 23 a is disposed at the end portion of the vertical feeding portion 16, and a guide roller 78 is attached at a position below the receiving base 84. A timing belt (holding element) 80 including a linear locus in the vertical direction is bridged between the driving roller 76 and the guide roller 78. A pinch roller 79 that is pressed against the timing belt 80 is provided in the vicinity of the guide roller 78.
[0062]
The timing belt 80 is driven to run with the longitudinal feed drive roller 76 as a drive source, and the circumferential speed of the timing belt 80 is set to be the same as the circumferential speed of the longitudinal feed drive roller 76. In the vertical feed section 16, the pouch bag 23a is held and restrained while being vertically held between the timing belt 74 of the drum 15 and the guide plate 75, and moves downward along the guide plate 75. At the same time, the pouch bag 23 a is sandwiched and restrained between the timing belt 80 and the guide plate 75, and is conveyed to the lateral feed position on the cradle 84. Thereby, the pouch bag attitude | position stabilization means which stabilizes the attitude | position of the pouch bag 23a vertically fed without the area where the pouch bag 23a longitudinally fed by the vertical feed part 16 is not restrained is formed.
[0063]
Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a horizontal drum 17 that is always driven to rotate around a rotary shaft extending in the vertical direction is disposed at the lateral feed position at the end of the vertical feed unit 16. The horizontal drum 17 is provided with a plurality of vacuum pads arranged along the circumferential direction. A suction line (not shown) is connected to each vacuum pad. When the drum 17 is driven to rotate, the plurality of vacuum pads are sequentially moved to the suction position of the pouch bag 23a on the cradle 84 as the drum 17 rotates. The suction pipe line of the vacuum pad 61 is connected to a vacuum source via a distributor (not shown) so that the pouch bag 23a can be adsorbed in a predetermined section. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the horizontal drum 17 is provided with a claw at regular intervals in the circumferential direction, and the rear end of the pouch bag 23a in the advancing direction of the pouch bag 23a is combined with a claw and a vacuum at the time of delivery to the insertion device 2 which is the next process. It is designed to be transported.
[0064]
Further, a lateral feed mechanism 18 is disposed on the opposite side of the horizontal drum 17 with the vertical feed portion 16 interposed therebetween. As shown in FIG. 14, the lateral feed mechanism 18 is provided with two lateral feed rollers 91 a and 91 b at an appropriate interval along the circumferential direction of the horizontal drum 17. Here, as shown in FIG. 16, two rollers are mounted side by side on a common rotation shaft 91a1 in one first transverse feed roller 91a.
[0065]
Moreover, each one end part of a pair of support bracket 93 is connected with the both ends of the rotating shaft 91a1 of the 1st cross feed roller 91a so that rotation is possible. A rotating shaft 94 is rotatably attached to the other end of each support bracket 93. Further, a swing shaft 92 is swingably attached to the middle portion of each support bracket 93 to form an assembly unit of the first lateral feed roller 91a.
[0066]
The other second lateral feed roller 91b also constitutes an assembly unit similar to the assembly unit of the first lateral feed roller 91a. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts in the assembly unit of the second transverse feed roller 91b as in the assembly unit of the first transverse feed roller 91a, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0067]
Further, as shown in FIG. 16, two timing pulleys 99a and 99b are attached to the rotating shaft 94 of the assembly unit of the first lateral feed roller 91a.
Here, as shown in FIG. 14, the first timing belt is provided between one timing pulley 99a of each assembly unit of the two lateral feed rollers 91a and 91b and between the timing pulley 95a attached to the drive shaft 95. There are 96. Further, a pinch roller 97 is pressed against the first timing belt 96.
[0068]
Timing pulleys 91a2 and 91b2 are attached to the respective rotation shafts 91a1 and 91b1 of the two lateral feed rollers 91a and 91b. A second timing belt 98a is bridged between the other timing pulley 99b and the timing pulley 91a2 of the assembly unit of the first transverse feed roller 91a. Similarly, a third timing belt 98b is stretched between the other timing pulley 99b and the timing pulley 91b2 of the assembly unit of the second transverse feed roller 91b.
[0069]
Then, the rotational force of the drive shaft 95 is transmitted to the timing pulley 99a of each assembly unit of the two lateral feed rollers 91a and 91b via the first timing belt 96, and each assembly of the two lateral feed rollers 91a and 91b. The rotation shaft 94 of the unit is driven to rotate in a synchronized state. At this time, the rotation of one timing pulley 99b is transmitted to the timing pulley 91a2 via the second timing belt 98a in conjunction with the synchronous rotation of the rotating shaft 94 of each assembly unit of the two lateral feed rollers 91a and 91b. At the same time as the first lateral feed roller 91a is rotationally driven, the rotation of the other timing pulley 99b is transmitted to the timing pulley 91b2 via the third timing belt 98b, and the second lateral feed roller 91b is rotationally driven. It has become so. Therefore, the rotational force of the drive shaft 95 is transmitted to the two lateral feed rollers 91a and 91b via the first timing belt 96, the second timing belt 98a, and the third timing belt 98b, respectively. A synchronous rotation mechanism is formed in which the feed rollers 91a and 91b are synchronously driven. Here, the two transverse feed rollers 91a and 91b are set so as to be always driven to rotate at a faster peripheral speed than the horizontal drum 17.
[0070]
Further, as shown in FIG. 15, one end of a link joint 103 is connected to the swing shaft 92 of the first lateral feed roller 91a. A link member 105 having a cam follower 105 a that contacts the cam 104 is connected to the other end of the link joint 103. Here, the cam follower 105a is brought into contact with the cam 104 by a pressing member driven by an air cylinder 106 as shown in FIG. Then, as the cam 104 rotates, the link joint 103 is driven in the front-rear direction to bring the first lateral feed roller 91a into and out of contact with the horizontal drum 17, that is, the first lateral shown by the phantom line in FIG. The feed roller 91a moves between a position away from the horizontal drum 17 and a position at which the first lateral feed roller 91a abuts against the horizontal drum 17 as shown by a solid line in FIG. .
[0071]
Further, one end of the link joint 107 is similarly connected to the swing shaft 92 of the second lateral feed roller 91b. A link member 109 having a cam follower 109 a that is in contact with the cam 108 is connected to the other end of the link joint 107. The cam follower 109 a is also brought into contact with the cam 108 by a pressing member driven by the air cylinder 106. Then, as the cam 108 rotates, the link joint 107 is driven in the front-rear direction to bring the second lateral feed roller 91b into and out of contact with the horizontal drum 17, that is, the second lateral direction indicated by the phantom line in FIG. The feed roller 91b moves between a position where the feed roller 91b is separated from the horizontal drum 17 and a position where the second transverse feed roller 91b is in contact with the horizontal drum 17 as indicated by a solid line in FIG. .
[0072]
Further, when the lateral feed mechanism 18 is driven, the horizontal drum 17 is always driven to rotate about a rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction. Further, the rotational force of the drive shaft 95 is transmitted to the two lateral feed rollers 91a and 91b via the first timing belt 96, the second timing belt 98a and the third timing belt 98b, respectively. The feed rollers 91a and 91b are driven to rotate synchronously. In this state, as the cam 104 rotates, the link joint 103 is driven in the front-rear direction so that the first lateral feed roller 91a is driven toward and away from the horizontal drum 17, and as the cam 108 rotates. The link joint 107 is driven in the front-rear direction, and the second transverse feed roller 91 b is driven in a direction in which the second lateral feed roller 91 b is in contact with or separated from the horizontal drum 17. Then, when the pouch bag 23 a is conveyed onto the cradle 84 at the end of the vertical feed unit 16, the first lateral feed roller 91 a that is driven to rotate at a higher speed than the horizontal drum 17 is pressed against the horizontal drum 17. The pouch bag 23a is pressed against the pouch bag 23a in a state where the pouch bag 23a is sandwiched between the horizontal drum 17 and the second transverse feed roller 91b. Is moved in a direction in pressure contact with the horizontal drum 17 so that the pouch bag 23a is laterally fed at a high speed.
[0073]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described. During the operation of the pouch bag transport device 11 of the present embodiment, the pouch bag bundle 23 in which a plurality of pouch bags 23 a are stacked is transported to the pouch lift device 13 by the intermittent conveyor 12.
[0074]
Further, during normal operation of the pouch lift device 13, the pouch lifter outer frame 31 is positioned above the intermittent conveyor 12 with the pouch bag bundle 23 placed on the guide plate 37, and is placed on the drum 14 with the vacuum pad in the next process. 23a is delivered. At this time, the pouch lifter inner frame 32 is on standby at a standby position below the intermittent conveyor 12.
[0075]
Further, during the operation of the pouch lift device 13, the pouch lifter outer frame 31 presses the pouch bag bundle 23 in the upward direction by the pressing force from the air cylinder 40 of the outer frame moving mechanism 33. At this time, the delivery drum 14 is driven to rotate at the delivery position above the pouch lift device 13. Then, when the vacuum pad 61 is moved to the position of the pouch bag take-out portion 62 with the rotation of the drum 14, the pouch bag at the uppermost position of the pouch bag bundle 23 pushed up by the pouch lifter outer frame 31 of the pouch lift device 13. 23 a is pressed against the vacuum pad 61 moved to the position of the pouch bag take-out portion 62. In this state, the uppermost pouch bag 23 a of the pouch bag bundle 23 is adsorbed to the vacuum pad 61 by the vacuum force acting on the vacuum pad 61. Then, only one pouch bag 23a adsorbed to the vacuum pad 61 is pulled out from the pouch bag bundle 23 as the drum 14 rotates, and delivered.
[0076]
Further, the pouch bag 23a is transported to the next process by the delivery operation of the pouch bag 23a, and the pouch bag outer frame 31 rises as the accumulation amount of the pouch bag bundle 23 on the pouch bag outer frame 31 decreases. Here, when the amount of the pouch bag 23a accumulated on the guide plate 37 of the pouch lifter outer frame 31 becomes smaller than a preset specified amount, the pouch lifter inner frame 32 rises. At this time, the pouch bag push-up member 42 of the pouch lifter inner frame 32 pushes up the lower surface of the pouch bag bundle 23 on the intermittent conveyor 12.
[0077]
Further, the pouch bag bundle 23 on the rising pouch bag push-up member 42 is pushed up to a raised position protruding above the pouch lifter outer frame 31. At this time, the pushed-up pouch bag bundle 23 rotates the inner end portion of each guide plate 37 of the pouch lifter outer frame 31 to the upward retracted position deviated from the movement trajectory of the pouch bag bundle 23, and the pouch bag bundle 23 is The guide plate 37 is pushed up to the upper side. As a result, the pouch bag bundle 23 remaining on the pouch lifter outer frame 31 and the newly pushed up pouch bag bundle 23 are integrated.
[0078]
Thereafter, when the pouch bag push-up member 42 of the pouch lifter inner frame 32 is lowered, each guide plate 37 is tilted, and each guide plate 37 is returned to a state where it is rotated to a substantially horizontal pouch bag receiving position. In this state, the pouch bag bundle 23 on the pouch lifter inner frame 32 is transferred onto the inner end portion of each guide plate 37 of the pouch lifter outer frame 31, and the pouch lifter outer frame 31 corresponds to the amount of the pouch bag bundle 23. To the proper position.
[0079]
Thereafter, the pouch lifter inner frame 32 descends to a standby position below the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor 12. Thereafter, the next pouch bag bundle 23 is conveyed to above the pouch lifter inner frame 32 by the intermittent conveyor 12, and the same operation is repeated.
[0080]
Further, during the push-up operation of the pouch bag bundle 23 by the pouch lifter outer frame 31, the remaining amount of the pouch bag 23 a loaded on each guide plate 37 of the pouch lifter outer frame 31 is detected by the pouch bag amount detection unit 60. . At this time, in the pouch bag amount detection unit 60, during the operation of the pouch lifter outer frame 31, when the piston 41a approaches the reed switches SW1 to SW4 when the piston 41a in the air cylinder 40 moves up and down, the magnet 63 of the piston 41a. Is detected by each of the reed switches SW1 to SW4. Then, the position of the piston rod 41 of the air cylinder 40 is detected according to the detection signal from each of the reed switches SW1 to SW4, and the guide plate 37 of the pouch lifter outer frame 31 is detected by the controller 65 based on the position of the piston rod 41. The amount of the pouch bag bundle 23 placed on the inner end portion is detected.
[0081]
Further, in the controller 65, three three-way switching valves 57 in the air circuit of the outer frame control circuit 46 based on the remaining amount data of the pouch bag 23a detected based on the detection signals from the four reed switches SW1 to SW4. -59 (V1 to V3) are controlled as shown in Table 1 above, and the push-up pressure of the outer frame air cylinder 40 that pushes up the pouch lifter outer frame 31 upward is adjusted. When the remaining amount of the pouch bag 23a is large, the push-up pressure of the outer frame air cylinder 40 is increased, and when the remaining amount of the pouch bag 23a is small, the push-up pressure of the outer frame air cylinder 40 is decreased. Be controlled.
[0082]
Further, the pouch bag 23a that has been pulled out and delivered at the position of the pouch bag take-out portion 62 is subsequently delivered to the second delivery drum 15, and is transferred to the next longitudinal feed portion 16 by the drum 15. Be transported. At this time, the pouch bag 23 a adsorbed by the vacuum pad 68 of the drum 15 is guided by the timing belt 74 in a state of being vertically oriented, is conveyed to the longitudinal feeding unit 16, and moves downward along the guide plate 75.
[0083]
Further, in the vertical feed portion 16, the pouch bag 23 a is driven in the vertical feed state while being sandwiched between the drive roller 76 and the guide roller 72. At this time, the pouch bag 23a moves downward along the guide plate 75 while being pinched and restrained between the timing belt 74 of the drum 15 and the guide plate 75, and then continues. The pouch bag 23 a is sandwiched and restrained between the timing belt 80 and the guide plate 75, and is conveyed to the lateral feed position on the cradle 84. Thereby, since there is no section in which the pouch bag 23a vertically fed by the vertical feeding unit 16 is not restrained, the posture of the pouch bag 23a vertically fed is stabilized.
[0084]
Further, at the lateral feed position at the lower end of the longitudinal feed section 16, the pouch bag 23a is laterally driven in the width direction of the pouch bag 23a in a state where the pouch bag 23a is set up vertically by the rotation operation of the horizontal drum 17 and the drive of the lateral feed mechanism 18. Is done. At this time, the horizontal drum 17 is always driven to rotate around a rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction. Further, when the transverse feed mechanism 18 is driven, the rotational force of the drive shaft 95 is supplied with two transverse feed rollers 91a and 91b via the first timing belt 96, the second timing belt 98a and the third timing belt 98b, respectively. The two transverse feed rollers 91a and 91b are driven to rotate synchronously. In this state, as the cam 104 rotates, the link joint 103 is driven in the front-rear direction so that the first lateral feed roller 91a is driven toward and away from the horizontal drum 17, and as the cam 108 rotates. The link joint 107 is driven in the front-rear direction, and the second transverse feed roller 91 b is driven in a direction in which the second lateral feed roller 91 b is in contact with or separated from the horizontal drum 17.
[0085]
Then, when the lateral feed roller 91 a is separated from the horizontal drum 17, the pouch bag 23 a falling in the vertical downward direction via the longitudinal feed unit 16 is fed between the lateral feed roller 91 a and the horizontal drum 17. Subsequently, when the lateral feed roller 91a moves forward by the cam 104 and comes into contact with the horizontal drum 17, the pouch bag 23a is sandwiched between the lateral feed roller 91a and the horizontal drum 17, and the pouch bag 23a is kicked laterally. Is fast forwarded. The pouch bag 23a kicked out by the lateral feed roller 91a and then laterally fast-forwarded is then subjected to the second lateral fast-forward by the lateral feed roller 91b. At this time, there is a certain section in which the lateral feed roller 91a and the lateral feed roller 91b are simultaneously in contact with the pouch bag 23a.
[0086]
At this time, the claw attached to the horizontal drum 17 pushes the rear end of the pouch bag 23a in the traveling direction. Further, a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer guide are installed at the pressing position. The posture of the pouch bag 23a is controlled, and a vacuum is inserted by the distributor to maintain this posture. In this state, the pouch bag 23a is delivered to the insertion device for the next process, and at the same time, the vacuum is cut by the distributor.
[0087]
Through the above steps, the pouch bag 23a is continuously fed in, and the conveying direction is changed from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction and transferred to the next step.
[0088]
Therefore, the above configuration has the following effects. That is, in the present embodiment, the pouch bag 23a remaining amount of the pouch bag 23a loaded on each guide plate 37 of the pouch lifter outer frame 31 during operation of the pouch lift device 13 is detected by the pouch bag amount detection unit 60, and the pouch bag 23a Based on the remaining amount data, the outer frame control circuit 46 adjusts the push-up pressure of the outer frame air cylinder 40 that pushes the pouch lifter outer frame 31 upward. When the remaining amount of the pouch bag 23a is large, the push-up pressure of the outer frame air cylinder 40 is increased, and when the remaining amount of the pouch bag 23a is small, the push-up pressure of the outer frame air cylinder 40 is decreased. Because of the control, even if the remaining amount of the pouch bag 23a in the pouch bag bundle 23 accumulated at the delivery position of the pouch bag take-out portion 62 changes, the rise that acts on the uppermost pouch bag 23a of the pouch bag bundle 23 The pressing pressure can be kept substantially constant.
[0089]
Therefore, for example, the remaining amount of the pouch bag 23 bundled and collected at the delivery position is large, and the weight of the pouch bag 23a is increased, so that the upward pressure applied from the lower side acting on the uppermost pouch bag 23a is increased. Is weakened, by increasing the pushing pressure of the outer frame air cylinder 40, when pressing against the vacuum pad 61 of the delivery drum 14 against the uppermost pouch bag 23a of the pouch bag bundle 23 at the delivery position, It is possible to prevent the pressing pressure of the pouch bag 23a from becoming weak. As a result, the vacuum pad 61 of the rotating drum 14 cannot suck the uppermost pouch bag 23a of the pouch bag bundle 23, and the vacuum pad 61 comes off during the conveyance due to the phenomenon of poor suction or incomplete suction. Thus, it is possible to prevent incomplete conveyance from occurring and to prevent a defective delivery.
[0090]
Further, when the remaining amount of the pouch bag 23a bundled and collected at the delivery position is reduced and the weight of the pouch bag 23a is reduced, the push-up pressure of the outer frame air cylinder 40 is reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the push-up pressure from the lower side acting on the uppermost pouch bag 23a of the pouch bag bundle 23 bundled and collected at the delivery position from increasing. Therefore, in this case, the resistance when pulling out the uppermost pouch bag 23a of the pouch bag bundle 23 bundled and collected at the delivery position does not become larger than the vacuum pad 61 of the vacuum pad 61 of the rotary drum 14. In addition, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of defective conveyance by preventing the adsorption failure of the pouch bag 23a and the separation of the pouch bag 23a from the vacuum pad 61 in the middle. Therefore, it is possible to stably perform the operation of separating only one uppermost pouch bag 23a from the pouch bag bundle 23, and to reduce the occurrence of defective delivery of the pouch bag 23a.
[0091]
Further, in the present embodiment, the vertical feed drive roller 76 is used as a drive source in the vertical feed unit 16 and a timing belt 80 including a linear locus in the vertical direction is installed, and the peripheral speed of the timing belt 80 is determined as the vertical feed drive roller. Since it is set to be the same as the peripheral speed of 76, the pouch bag 23a kicked out by the vertical feed drive roller 76 can be transferred to the lateral feed mechanism 18 of the pouch bag 23a by the horizontal drum 17 while being restrained by the timing belt 80. . At this time, when the pouch bag 23a vertically fed by the vertical feed unit 16 is sandwiched between the driving roller 76 and the driven roller 77 and is driven vertically, the pouch bag 23a is a timing belt of the drum 15. 74 and the guide plate 75 are held in a vertically standing state and moved downward along the guide plate 75 while being constrained. Subsequently, the pouch is moved between the timing belt 80 and the guide plate 75. The bag 23a is transported to the lateral feed position on the cradle 84 with the bag 23a being clamped and restrained. Accordingly, there is no section in which the pouch bag 23a vertically fed by the vertical feed unit 16 is not restrained, so that the pouch bag 23a vertically fed by the vertical feed unit 16 is dropped without being restrained. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a phenomenon such as rebounding after bottoming when falling to the lateral feed position on 84. Therefore, since the posture of the pouch bag 23a after being dropped to the lateral feed position on the cradle 84 can be stabilized, the posture of the pouch bag 23a that is laterally fed by the lateral feed mechanism 18 in the next process is deviated. It can be prevented from being conveyed.
[0092]
Further, the pouch bag 23 a vertically fed by the vertical feed unit 16 is vertically extended to the horizontal feed mechanism 18 of the pouch bag 23 a by the horizontal drum 17 while restraining the pouch bag 23 a kicked by the vertical feed driving roller 76 by the timing belt 80. For example, even when the processing capability of the entire machine is lowered, the operation of each part is slowed down, and the rotational speed of the vertical feed drive roller 76 is slowed down, the vertical feed drive roller 76 The pouch bag 23a can be longitudinally fed at a speed synchronized with the rotational speed of the longitudinal feed drive roller 76 in the section after the kicking. Therefore, even when the processing capacity of the entire pouch bag conveying device is changed, it is possible to prevent the operation timing of the pouch bag 23a vertically fed between the vertical feeding unit 16 and the horizontal feeding mechanism 18 of the next process from being shifted. can do.
[0093]
In the present embodiment, since the transverse feed mechanism 18 is provided with the two transverse feed rollers 91a and 91b, the process of rotating the conventional horizontal drum 17 while adsorbing the pouch bag 23a is performed as the second second transverse feed. It can be replaced with horizontal rapid feed by the feed roller 91b. Therefore, the time spent when the pouch bag 23a is laterally fed due to the difference in peripheral speed between the rotation of the horizontal drum 17 and the rotation of the two lateral feed rollers 91a and 91b can be shortened compared to the conventional case. If they are the same, the dropping speed of the pouch bag 23a can be slowed down, and a stable transfer operation of the pouch bag 23a becomes possible.
[0094]
Further, since the moving distance of the pouch bag 23a by the horizontal fast-forwarding operation in the horizontal feed mechanism 18 can be increased or the time can be shortened, the next pouch bag 23a is laterally fed without interfering with the pouch bag 23a conveyed immediately before. The restrictions on the width and height of the pouch bag 23a that can be transferred to the mechanism 18 can be relaxed, and the combined use range of the types of the pouch bag 23a that can be applied by one machine can be expanded.
[0095]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, as the pouch bag amount detection unit 60 of the pouch lift device 13, for example, a linear scale (manufactured by SMC, etc.) is pressed against the lower surface of the stacked pouch bag bundle 23, and the accumulated height of the pouch bags 23a is accumulated. The measurement result is processed by a counter, and the air pressure of the outer frame air cylinder 40 is proportional to the electric signal by an electropneumatic regulator (manufactured by SMC, etc.) in the air circuit of the outer frame control circuit 46. By controlling in a stepless manner, it may be configured such that the rising pressure of the outer frame air cylinder 40 can be adjusted steplessly according to the number of stacked pouch bags 23a.
[0096]
Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration in which the lateral feed mechanism 18 is provided with the two lateral feed rollers 91a and 91b is shown, but the lateral feed mechanism 18 is configured to have a plurality of three or more lateral feed rollers. Also good.
[0097]
Furthermore, it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0098]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the push-up pressure for pushing the pouch lifter outer frame upward is adjusted by the push-up pressure adjusting mechanism according to the remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the pouch lifter outer frame. It is possible to prevent the delivery failure at.
[0099]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the push-up pressure adjusting mechanism is configured by the fluid circuit having the fluid pressure adjusting valve that switches the fluid pressure of the fluid pressure cylinder to a plurality of stages or steplessly. When the remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the outer frame of the pouch lifter is detected, the fluid pressure of the hydraulic cylinder is adjusted according to the remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the outer frame of the pouch lifter. The push-up pressure that pushes the outer frame upward can be adjusted.
[0100]
According to the invention of claim 3, the uppermost pouch bag of the pouch bag bundle pushed up by the pouch lift device is adsorbed to the circumferential surface of the drum that is rotationally driven by the vacuum force from the vacuum pad of the pouch bag takeout portion. Can do.
[0101]
According to the invention of claim 4, the processing capacity is changed by sandwiching the pouch bag in the vertical state by the holding element of the pouch bag posture stabilizing means of the vertical feed portion of the pouch bag transport mechanism from both sides. Even in such a case, it is possible to prevent the operation timing of the vertical feeding portion of the pouch bag transport mechanism from shifting.
[0102]
According to the invention of claim 5, the timing belt laid between the delivery position and the lateral feed position of the pouch bag in the transport drum is synchronized with the drive roller of the longitudinal feed section using the drive roller of the longitudinal feed section as a drive source. The pouch bag can be transported while being restrained by the timing belt along the longitudinal feed portion of the pouch bag transport mechanism.
[0103]
According to the invention of claim 6, the horizontal drum of the horizontal feed mechanism is always driven to rotate around the rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction, and the first horizontal feed roller driven to rotate at a higher speed than the horizontal drum is provided. The pouch bag is pressed against the pouch bag in a state where the pouch bag is held between the horizontal drum and the horizontal feed position at the end of the vertical feed unit, and the first horizontal fast feed is performed. After that, the second lateral fast-forwarding roller is brought into pressure contact with the pouch bag, and then the first lateral fast-forward roller is retracted to perform the second lateral rapid feed, whereby the pouch bag can be laterally fed at a high speed.
[0104]
According to the invention of claim 7, during operation of the lateral feed mechanism, the first lateral feed roller and the second lateral feed roller sequentially contact the pouch bag and push the pouch bag in the width direction to perform lateral feed. can do.
[0105]
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a delivery failure in the pouch lift device, and even when the processing capacity is changed, there is no possibility that the operation timing of the vertical feed portion of the pouch bag transport mechanism is shifted, and the lateral feed. It is possible to prevent the pouch bag from being conveyed in a state where the posture of the pouch bag is broken by the mechanism.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a pouch bag transport device in a pouch bag filling system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of the pouch bag filling system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a front view of a main part showing a pouch lift device in the pouch bag transport device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a pouch lifter outer frame and a pouch lifter inner frame in the pouch lift device of the first embodiment.
5A and 5B show a support structure for a guide plate of a pouch lifter outer frame in the pouch lift device according to the first embodiment, wherein FIG. 5A is a side view and FIG. 5B is a front view.
FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an air circuit of a drive unit of a pouch lifter outer frame and a pouch lifter inner frame in the pouch lift device of the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a pouch bag supported by a pouch lifter outer frame in the pouch lift device of the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a side view showing a support state of the pouch bag in the pouch lift device of the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining operations of the pouch lift device and the pouch bag take-out unit according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire pouch bag intermediate conveyance mechanism in the pouch bag conveyance device according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part showing a vertical feed portion of the pouch bag in the pouch bag transport device of the first embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view showing a second drum in the pouch bag conveying apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a peripheral portion of a vertical feeding roller in a vertical feeding portion of the pouch bag in the pouch bag conveying device of the first embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part showing a driving mechanism of a lateral feed roller of the pouch bag in the pouch bag transport device of the first embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a support mechanism for a transverse feed roller of the pouch bag in the pouch bag transport device of the first embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a support mechanism for a transverse feed roller of the pouch bag in the pouch bag transport device of the first embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a support mechanism for a lateral feed roller of the pouch bag in the pouch bag transport device of the first embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of an outer frame air cylinder and a connection state of each switching valve of a controller in the pouch bag conveyance device according to the first embodiment;
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Pouch bag conveyor
12 Intermittent conveyor
13 Pouch lift device
16 Vertical feed section
17 Horizontal drum
18 Horizontal feed mechanism
23a pouch bag
23 Pouch bag bundle
31 Outer frame
32 inner frame
33 Outer frame moving mechanism
37 Guide plate
60 Pouch bag amount detector
62 Pouch bag removal section
64 Push-up pressure adjustment mechanism
65 controller

Claims (8)

An intermittent conveyor for intermittently conveying a pouch bag bundle in which a plurality of pouch bags are laminated;
A pouch lift device that is disposed at the transfer position of the pouch bag bundle in the intermittent conveyor and pushes up the pouch bag bundle transferred by the intermittent conveyor to a delivery position above the transfer surface of the intermittent conveyor; and
A pouch bag take-out portion that is arranged at the delivery position and takes out the pouch bags at the uppermost position of the pouch bag bundle pushed up by the pouch lift device one by one;
A pouch bag transport mechanism comprising a vertical feed portion that vertically feeds the pouch bag transported from the pouch bag take-out portion vertically to the lateral feed position of the next process in a state where the pouch bag is vertically oriented;
The pouch bag is sequentially passed through a transverse feed mechanism that horizontally feeds the pouch bag that is conveyed to the lateral feed position in the vertical feed portion of the pouch bag conveyance mechanism in the width direction of the pouch bag in a vertical state. In the pouch bag conveying device in the pouch bag filling system for supplying the pouch bag to the filling mechanism portion side for filling the filling material,
The pouch lift device is moved to an upper position of the intermittent conveyor, and is supported so as to be movable between a receiving position for receiving the pouch bag bundle and an upward retreating position deviating from the movement trajectory of the pouch bag bundle. A pouch lifter outer frame with a plate,
It is arranged inside the outer frame of the pouch lifter and is movable from a lowered position moved below the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor to a raised position protruding above the position of the guide plate of the outer frame of the pouch lifter. A pouch lifter inner frame supported by
A pouch bag amount detection unit for detecting the remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the outer frame of the pouch lifter;
An outer frame moving mechanism for moving the pouch lifter outer frame in the vertical direction;
Adjusting the push-up pressure to push up the pouch lifter outer frame upward according to the remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the pouch lifter outer frame, and the push-up pressure when the remaining amount of the pouch bag is large And a push-up pressure adjusting mechanism that reduces the push-up pressure when the remaining amount of the pouch bag is small. 2. The push-up pressure adjusting mechanism includes a fluid pressure cylinder and a fluid circuit including a fluid pressure adjusting valve for switching the fluid pressure of the fluid pressure cylinder in a plurality of stages or continuously. A pouch bag conveying device in the pouch bag filling system described. The pouch bag take-out section is provided with a vacuum pad for adsorbing the pouch bag at the uppermost position of the pouch bag bundle pushed up by the pouch lift device by a vacuum force on a peripheral surface of a drum that is rotatably supported. The pouch bag carrying device in the pouch bag filling system according to claim 1, wherein An intermittent conveyor for intermittently conveying a pouch bag bundle in which a plurality of pouch bags are laminated;
A pouch lift device that is disposed at the transfer position of the pouch bag bundle in the intermittent conveyor and pushes up the pouch bag bundle transferred by the intermittent conveyor to a delivery position above the transfer surface of the intermittent conveyor; and
A pouch bag take-out portion that is arranged at the delivery position and takes out the pouch bags at the uppermost position of the pouch bag bundle pushed up by the pouch lift device one by one;
A pouch bag transport mechanism comprising a vertical feed portion that vertically feeds the pouch bag transported from the pouch bag take-out portion vertically to the lateral feed position of the next process in a state where the pouch bag is vertically oriented;
The pouch bag is sequentially passed through a transverse feed mechanism that horizontally feeds the pouch bag that is conveyed to the lateral feed position in the vertical feed portion of the pouch bag conveyance mechanism in the width direction of the pouch bag in a vertical state. In the pouch bag conveying device in the pouch bag filling system for supplying the pouch bag to the filling mechanism portion side for filling the filling material,
The vertical feed portion of the pouch bag transport mechanism includes a holding element that holds the pouch bag in a vertically oriented state from both sides, and holds the pouch bag between the holding elements in a restrained state. A pouch bag conveying device in a pouch bag filling system, comprising a pouch bag posture stabilizing means for stabilizing the posture of the pouch bag during conveyance of the pouch bag by conveying it to a feeding position. The pouch bag transport mechanism includes a transport drum provided with a vacuum pad for adsorbing the pouch bag by a vacuum force,
The pouch bag posture stabilizing means is installed between the feed position of the pouch bag on the transport drum and the lateral feed position, and the drive roller of the vertical feed unit is used as the drive roller of the vertical feed unit. 5. The pouch bag conveying device in the pouch bag filling system according to claim 4, further comprising a timing belt that is driven to run synchronously. An intermittent conveyor for intermittently conveying a pouch bag bundle in which a plurality of pouch bags are laminated;
A pouch lift device that is disposed at the transfer position of the pouch bag bundle in the intermittent conveyor and pushes up the pouch bag bundle transferred by the intermittent conveyor to a delivery position above the transfer surface of the intermittent conveyor; and
A pouch bag take-out portion that is arranged at the delivery position and takes out the pouch bags at the uppermost position of the pouch bag bundle pushed up by the pouch lift device one by one;
A pouch bag transport mechanism comprising a vertical feed portion that vertically feeds the pouch bag transported from the pouch bag take-out portion vertically to the lateral feed position of the next process in a state where the pouch bag is vertically oriented;
The pouch bag is sequentially passed through a transverse feed mechanism that horizontally feeds the pouch bag that is conveyed to the lateral feed position in the vertical feed portion of the pouch bag conveyance mechanism in the width direction of the pouch bag in a vertical state. In the pouch bag conveying device in the pouch bag filling system for supplying the pouch bag to the filling mechanism portion side for filling the filling material,
The lateral feed mechanism is a horizontal drum that is always driven to rotate around a rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction;
A first lateral feed that is pressed against the pouch bag in a state where the pouch bag is sandwiched between the horizontal drum and the horizontal drum at the lateral feed position at the end of the vertical feed portion, and is driven to rotate at a higher speed than the horizontal drum. A roller,
A second lateral feed roller that presses against the pouch bag in a state of sandwiching the pouch bag between the horizontal drum at a position away from the first lateral feed roller along the circumferential direction of the horizontal drum;
A pouch bag transport device in a pouch bag filling system, comprising: a synchronous rotation mechanism that synchronously rotates the first horizontal feed roller and the second horizontal feed roller. The lateral feed mechanism is
The distance between the first lateral feed roller and the second lateral feed roller is set to a length shorter than the length in the width direction of the pouch bag. A pouch bag transport device in a pouch bag filling system. An intermittent conveyor for intermittently conveying a pouch bag bundle in which a plurality of pouch bags are laminated;
A pouch lift device that is disposed at the end position of the intermittent conveyor and pushes up the pouch bag bundle conveyed by the intermittent conveyor to a delivery position above the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor; and
A pouch bag take-out portion that is arranged at the delivery position and takes out the pouch bags at the uppermost position of the pouch bag bundle pushed up by the pouch lift device one by one;
A pouch bag transport mechanism comprising a vertical feed portion that vertically feeds the pouch bag transported from the pouch bag take-out portion vertically to the lateral feed position of the next process in a state where the pouch bag is vertically oriented;
The pouch bag is sequentially passed through a transverse feed mechanism that horizontally feeds the pouch bag that is conveyed to the lateral feed position in the vertical feed portion of the pouch bag conveyance mechanism in the width direction of the pouch bag in a vertical state. In the pouch bag conveying device in the pouch bag filling system for supplying the pouch bag to the filling mechanism portion side for filling the filling material,
The pouch lift device is moved to an upper position of the intermittent conveyor, and is supported so as to be movable between a receiving position for receiving the pouch bag bundle and an upward retreating position deviating from the movement trajectory of the pouch bag bundle. A pouch lifter outer frame provided with a plate, and a position lower than a position of the guide plate of the pouch lifter outer frame from a lowered position which is disposed on the inner side of the pouch lifter outer frame and moved below the conveying surface of the intermittent conveyor. A pouch lifter inner frame that is supported so as to be movable up to a raised position protruding upward, a pouch bag amount detection unit that detects a remaining amount of the pouch bag on the guide plate of the pouch lifter outer frame, and a pouch lifter outside frame An outer frame moving mechanism for moving the frame up and down, and the pouch bag on the guide plate of the pouch lifter outer frame according to the remaining amount of the pouch bag Adjust the push-up pressure to push up the outer frame of the puncher, and increase the push-up pressure when the remaining amount of the pouch bag is large, and lower the push-up pressure when the remaining amount of the pouch bag is small A pressure adjustment mechanism,
The vertical feed portion of the pouch bag transport mechanism includes a holding element that holds the pouch bag in a vertically oriented state from both sides, and holds the pouch bag between the holding elements in a restrained state. A pouch bag posture stabilizing means for stabilizing the posture of the pouch bag at the time of conveying the pouch bag by conveying it to a feeding position;
The transverse feed mechanism places the pouch bag between a horizontal drum that is always driven to rotate about a rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction and the horizontal drum at the transverse feed position at the end of the longitudinal feed portion. A position that is in pressure contact with the pouch bag in a sandwiched state and is driven to rotate at a higher speed than the horizontal drum, and a position separated from the first lateral feed roller along the circumferential direction of the horizontal drum The second transverse feed roller that is pressed against the pouch bag while the pouch bag is sandwiched between the horizontal drum, the first transverse feed roller, and the second transverse feed roller are synchronously rotated. A pouch bag transport device in a pouch bag filling system comprising a synchronous rotation mechanism.

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