JP4707441B2 - Roller device and packaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for fixing, releasing, and moving a roller for guiding a film in a packaging apparatus for packaging an article with a film.

  Conventionally, a packaging apparatus for packaging an article with a film is known. The packaging apparatus includes a former for forming a belt-like film into a cylindrical shape, and the article is packaged by putting the article into a film formed into a cylindrical shape in the former and sealing the end of the film.

  In such a packaging apparatus, the film is guided by a plurality of rollers when the strip-shaped film is supplied from the film supply unit to the former. In particular, a roller disposed at a position closest to the former (a so-called former roller) defines a final supply angle of the film supplied to the former and plays a role of preventing the film from shifting or bending on the former. The conventional packaging apparatus provided with such a former roller is disclosed by patent document 1, for example.

JP 2004-231202 A

  In a conventional packaging device, a former having a suitable size is mounted according to the size of the film to be used. The position of the former roller can be changed in order to appropriately prevent the film from being displaced or bent on various sizes of formers.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional former roller 110 and a support member 120 that supports the former roller 110. In the configuration of FIG. 8, the former roller 110 is screwed with a pair of ball screws 121 and 122 at both ends. The pair of ball screws 121 and 122 are connected to one operation shaft 123 via a gear. When the former roller 110 is moved, the nut 124 on the operation shaft 123 is loosened and the operation shaft 123 is rotated by operating the knob 125. Then, the pair of ball screws 121 and 122 connected to the operation shaft 123 rotate at the same rotational speed, and the former roller 110 moves in the horizontal direction. Further, when the former roller 110 is fixed, the nut 124 on the operation shaft 123 is tightened and the rotation of the operation shaft 123 is restricted to fix the former roller 110.

  However, in such a conventional configuration, since the former roller 110 is fixed by tightening the nut 124, the nut 124 may be loosened or forgotten to be tightened. Further, since the position of the former roller 110 is slightly shifted when the nut 124 is tightened, it is difficult to accurately and accurately position the former roller 110. In addition, a computer scale may be arranged above the packaging device to measure the article and supply it to the packaging device at a constant weight. In that case, it is difficult to secure a space where the knob 125 and the nut 124 can be freely operated due to the support for supporting the computer scale.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and even when there is an obstacle such as a support on the side of the roller, the operation of fixing, releasing, and moving the roller can be easily performed. An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can accurately and accurately perform positioning of a roller.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a roller device for guiding a film, and is provided at a substantially horizontal roller capable of moving back and forth in an axial direction and at one end of the roller. A pinion, an upper rack that meshes with the pinion above the pinion, and a lower rack that meshes with the pinion below the pinion, wherein the upper rack and the lower rack have different axial positions. A fixed state in which the pinion meshes with both the upper rack and the lower rack, and the pinion meshes with only one of the upper rack and the lower rack by moving the roller forward and backward in the axial direction. The movable state is switched.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the roller device according to claim 1, wherein the roller is biased toward the fixed state.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the roller device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movable state is a state in which the pinion meshes with only the upper rack.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the roller device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the second pinion provided at the other end of the roller, and the second pinion above the second pinion. And a second upper rack that meshes with the other pinion.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the roller device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the roller has an axial center portion and an outer periphery provided rotatably around the axial center portion. And the pinion is fixed to the shaft center portion of the roller.

  The invention according to claim 6 is a packaging device for wrapping an article with a film, a supply unit for supplying a film, a former for forming a film supplied from the supply unit into a cylindrical shape, and a cylindrical shape by the former A supply unit that supplies an article into a film formed in the film and a seal unit that seals the film, and the supply unit includes the roller device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A film is supplied to the former.

According to the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, the fixed state and the movable state of the roller can be easily switched by moving the roller forward and backward in the axial direction. In the fixed state, the rotation of the pinion is restricted by the upper rack and the lower rack, and the roller can be fixed. On the other hand, in the movable state, the pinion can roll along the upper or lower rack, and the roller can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the axis. Since the roller moves while meshing with the rack, it is accurately positioned with good reproducibility. Also, since there is no need to perform nut tightening work or the like on the side of the roller, even if there is an obstacle such as a support on the side of the roller, the obstacle is fixed, released, and moved. Will not interfere with your work.

  In particular, according to the invention described in claim 2, the roller is urged toward the fixed state. For this reason, a roller can be fixed stably. Further, there is no fear that the operator forgets to fix the roller.

  In particular, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the pinion rolls along the upper rack in the movable state. Since the upper rack is less likely to accumulate dust than the lower rack, the rollers can be moved smoothly.

  In particular, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the pinion and the upper rack are provided at both ends of the roller. Then, at both ends of the roller, the pinion rolls while meshing with the upper rack. For this reason, the translatability of the both ends of a roller improves, and it can prevent the inclination of a roller.

  In particular, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the pinion is fixed to the shaft center portion of the roller. For this reason, even in the fixed state, the outer peripheral portion of the roller can freely rotate, and the film can be smoothly guided. Moreover, when moving a roller, only an axial center part can be rolled, without rotating the outer peripheral part of a roller. For this reason, the operator can hold the outer periphery of the roller and move the roller smoothly.

  In particular, according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the roller for guiding the film to the former can be easily fixed, released, and moved. For this reason, the position of the roller can be easily changed according to the size of the former. In addition, since parts such as a knob, a nut, and a ball screw are not necessary, the number of parts of the packaging apparatus can be reduced and the space occupied by the apparatus can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<1. General configuration of packaging device>
FIG. 1 is a front view of a packaging device 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the packaging device 1 according to the present invention. 1 and 2 and the following drawings, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is defined in order to clarify the positional relationship of each part.

  The packaging device 1 is a vertical pillow type bag making and packaging device for continuously bagging articles such as snacks and candy. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a computer scale 9 is disposed on the top of the packaging device 1. The computer scale 9 is a device that weighs articles in the weighing unit 91 and supplies the articles to the packaging device 1 by a constant weight via a discharge chute 92. The computer scale 9 and the packaging device 1 constitute a weighing / packaging system for packaging articles by a constant weight.

  The packaging apparatus 1 mainly includes an apparatus main body 2 and a film supply unit 3 that supplies a belt-like film f to the apparatus main body 2. The film supply unit 3 supplies the film f fed from the roll 31 to the apparatus main body unit 2 via a plurality of rollers 32.

  Inside the housing 4 of the apparatus main body 2, a packaging unit 5 is provided for packaging an article supplied from the computer scale 9 with a film f supplied from the film supply unit 3. In addition, a control unit (not shown) including a microcomputer that comprehensively controls the operation of the entire packaging device 1 is provided inside the housing 4, and an operation input from an operator is provided on the front side of the housing 4. Are provided, and a liquid crystal display 42 for displaying various information to the worker is provided.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the packaging part 5 provided inside the housing 4 of the apparatus main body 2. The packaging unit 5 receives the article Ar supplied from the computer scale 9 and sends it downward, a collecting chute 51 that sends the article Ar downward, and forms the film f into a cylinder around the article Ar, and the film f. A pull-down belt 53 to be sent downward, a vertical seal mechanism 54 for sealing the seam of the film f formed into a cylindrical shape, and a horizontal seal for sealing the upper and lower ends of the packaging bag of the film f formed into a cylindrical shape And a mechanism 55.

  The former 52 includes a tube 521 that conducts an article Ar falling from the collective chute 51 and a sailor 522 for forming the film f into a cylindrical shape. The film f supplied from the film supply unit 3 is received substantially horizontally on the upper surface of the sailor 522, and passes through a gap between the tube 521 and the sailor 522 surrounding the tube 521 so that the side edges fv overlap. It is formed into a shape.

  A pair of pull-down belts 53 are provided on the side of the tube 521. The pull-down belt 53 rotates while being in contact with the surface of the film f formed in a cylindrical shape around the tube 521, and pulls the film f down vertically.

  The vertical sealing mechanism 54 is provided at a position where the side edge portion fv of the film f passes on the side portion of the tube 521. The vertical sealing mechanism 54 has a heater belt (not shown) and the like, and heats the side edge portion fv of the film f while pressing it with a constant pressure, so that the seam of the film f is vertical (Z-axis direction). To seal. The film f sealed by the vertical sealing mechanism 54 is further conveyed downward by the pull-down belt 53.

  The horizontal seal mechanism 55 is provided below the tube 521. The horizontal sealing mechanism 55 seals the tubular film f in the horizontal direction (Y-axis direction) by a pair of sealing jaws 551. Further, a cutter (not shown) is built in the pair of seal jaws 551, and the intermediate height position of the seal portion by the seal jaw 551 is cut in the lateral direction (Y-axis direction) by the cutter. If the position which becomes the bottom part of a packaging bag is welded by the horizontal sealing mechanism 55, the cylindrical film f will become the intermediate body bag Pi which the lower part closed and the upper part opened. When the intermediate bag Pi is formed, an article Ar having a predetermined weight is introduced from the computer scale 9 into the intermediate bag Pi through the inside of the collecting chute 51 and the tube 521. The intermediate bag Pi containing the article Ar is further conveyed downward by the pull-down belt 53. And the upper part of the intermediate body bag Pi is sealed and cut | disconnected by a horizontal sealing mechanism, and one packaging bag Pa which packaged the articles | goods Ar is produced | generated.

  In the packaging unit 5, a plurality of packaging bags Pa are continuously generated by repeating the respective operations of the respective parts. The produced packaging bag Pa is sent onto a belt conveyor through a discharge chute (not shown) provided below the packaging unit 5 and conveyed to a subsequent device.

  In the housing 4 of the apparatus main body 2, a former roller 81 is provided for guiding the film f when the film f received from the film supply unit 3 is sent to the sailor 522. The former roller 81 defines the final supply angle of the film f supplied to the sailor 522 and plays a role of preventing the film f from being displaced or bent on the sailor 522.

  In the packaging unit 5 described above, the former 52 is configured to be detachable. An operator wears and uses a former 52 having a size suitable for the size of the film f used as a packaging material. Further, when the former 52 is replaced, the position of the former roller 81 is changed according to the size of the former 52. Hereinafter, a configuration for fixing, releasing, and moving the former roller 81 will be described.

<2. Regarding the configuration of the roller device>
4 and 5 are views of the former roller 81 and the support member 82 that supports the former roller 81 as seen from the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The support member 82 includes a pair of first support member 82 a and second support member 82 b fixedly attached to the housing 4 of the packaging device 1. The first support member 82a and the second support member 82b support both ends of the former roller 81, respectively. The former roller 81 and the support member 82 constitute a roller device 80.

  The former roller 81 has a shaft (axial center portion) 81a extending in the Y-axis direction, and a roller outer peripheral portion 81b provided to be rotatable around the shaft 81a. The roller outer peripheral portion 81b can be freely rotated with respect to the shaft 81a, but is fixed so as not to be displaced in the axial direction of the shaft 81a. A first pinion 81c is fixed on the shaft 81a between the roller outer peripheral portion 81b and the first support member 82a. A second pinion 81d is fixed on the shaft 81a between the roller outer peripheral portion 81b and the second support member 82b. The first pinion 81c and the second pinion 81d are small gears having the same system and the same pitch, and both are provided coaxially with the shaft 81a.

  The shaft 81a is inserted through the first support member 82a at the tip of the first pinion 81c. A spring 81e is engaged between the tip of the shaft 81a on the first support member 82a side and the outer surface of the first support member 82a. For this reason, the shaft 81a is urged toward the first support member 82a by the action of the spring 81e. On the other hand, the other end side of the shaft 81a is inserted into the second support member 82b at the tip of the second pinion 81d. An abutting member 81f that abuts on the outer surface of the second support member 82b is provided at the tip of the shaft 81a on the second support member 82b side. Therefore, in a state where no external force is applied to the roller device 80, the former roller 81 is stationary with the contact member 81f and the outer surface of the second support member 82b contacting each other.

  On the inner surface of the first support member 82a, a lower rack 82c that meshes with the first pinion 81c below the first pinion 81c, and a first upper rack 82d that meshes with the first pinion 81c above the first pinion 81c, It is fixedly attached. On the other hand, a second upper rack 82e that meshes with the second pinion 81d above the second pinion 81d is fixedly attached to the inner surface of the second support member 82b. The lower rack 82c, the first upper rack 82d, and the second upper rack 82e have teeth at the same pitch as the first pinion 81c and the second pinion 81d in the X-axis direction.

  The lower rack 82c and the first upper rack 82d are provided at different positions in the axial direction of the shaft 81a. That is, the position of the lower rack 82c in the Y-axis direction is different from the position of the first upper rack 82d in the Y-axis direction. Specifically, the lower rack 82c is arranged at a position outside the first upper rack 82d (a position far from the roller outer peripheral portion 81b).

  As described above, the former roller 81 is biased by the spring 81e. For this reason, at the normal time, the former roller 81 is fixed in a state of being attracted to the first support member 82a (the state of FIG. 4). In this state, the first pinion 81c meshes with both the lower rack 82c and the first upper rack 82d, and the rotation of the first pinion 81c is restricted. Therefore, the first pinion 81c does not roll, and the former roller 81 is in a fixed state incapable of moving in the X-axis direction.

  On the other hand, when an external force is applied to the former roller 81 toward the second support member 82b, the former roller 81 slides toward the second support member 82b against the bias of the spring 81e. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the former roller 81 is slid and moved to the second support member 82b side. In this state, the first pinion 81c is released from the lower rack 82c and meshes with only the first upper rack 82d, so that the rotation of the first pinion 81c is not restricted. Accordingly, the first pinion 81c and the second pinion 81d roll along the first upper rack 82d and the second upper rack 82e, respectively, and the former roller 81 is movable so as to be movable in the X-axis direction.

  As described above, in the roller device 80, the lower rack 82c is provided at one end portion of the former roller 81 so as to be different from the first upper rack 82d in the axial direction. Therefore, by moving the former roller 81 in the axial direction, the fixed state and the movable state of the former roller 81 can be easily switched.

<3. Fixing, releasing and moving the former roller>
The operation when the position of the former roller 81 is changed corresponding to the size of the former 52 in the roller device 80 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When changing the position of the former roller 81, first, an external force in the axial direction is applied to the former roller 81 to slide the former roller 81 toward the second support member 82b. The operator may push the end portion of the former roller 81 to slide the former roller 81, but may hold the roller outer peripheral portion 81b of the former roller 81 and push the former roller. In this way, the former roller 81 is switched from the fixed state to the movable state (step S1). In the movable state, the first pinion 81c and the second pinion 81d of the former roller 81 mesh with only the first upper rack 82d and the second upper rack 82e, respectively.

  Next, an external force in the X-axis direction is applied to the former roller 81 to move the former roller 81. The first pinion 81c and the second pinion 81d roll while meshing with the first upper rack 82d and the second upper rack 82e, respectively, whereby the former roller 81 moves in the X-axis direction (step S2). In the former roller 81, the shaft 81a can be rolled without rotating the roller outer peripheral portion 81b. For this reason, the operator can move the former roller 81 smoothly in the X-axis direction while holding the roller outer peripheral portion 81b.

  When the former roller 81 is moved in the X-axis direction, the first pinion 81c and the second pinion 81d roll while meshing with the first upper rack 82d and the second upper rack 82e, respectively. For this reason, the former roller 81 can be accurately moved by a predetermined pitch unit. Even when the former roller 81 is repeatedly moved, the former roller 81 can be positioned with good reproducibility.

  In the roller device 80, a first upper rack 82d and a second upper rack 82e having the same pitch are provided at both ends of the former roller 81. Then, at both ends of the former roller 81, the first pinion 81c and the second pinion 81d roll while meshing with the first upper rack 82d and the second upper rack 82e. For this reason, the translatability of the both ends of the former roller 81 is improved, and the inclination of the former roller 81 can be prevented.

  When the former roller 81 is moved to a desired position, the former roller 81 is released from the external force in the axial direction, and the former roller 81 is slid to the first support member 82a side by the bias of the spring 81e. As a result, the former roller 81 is switched from the movable state to the fixed state (step S3). In the fixed state, the first pinion 81c of the former roller 81 meshes with not only the first upper rack 82d but also the lower rack 82c, and the movement of the former roller 81 in the X-axis direction is restricted.

  In the roller device 80, the former roller 81 is urged toward the first support member 82a by a spring 81e. That is, the former roller 81 is urged toward the fixed state. For this reason, the former roller 81 is stably fixed in the fixed state. Further, there is no risk that the former roller 81 is left unforgettable. The roller outer peripheral portion 81b of the former roller 81 can freely rotate regardless of the fixing of the shaft 81a. For this reason, even if the shaft 81a is fixed, the roller outer peripheral portion 81b can smoothly guide the film f.

  Thus, in the roller device 80, the former roller 81 can be easily switched between the fixed state and the movable state by moving the former roller 81 in the axial direction. For this reason, the position of the former roller 81 can be easily changed according to the size of the former 52. An operator holds the roller outer peripheral portion 81b and performs the operations of fixing, releasing, and moving the former roller 81. For this reason, even if a column for supporting the computer scale 9 is arranged near the side of the former roller 81, the column or the like is used for fixing, releasing, and moving the former roller 81. There is no hindrance. Further, in the packaging device 1, parts such as a knob, a nut, and a ball screw are not required for fixing, releasing, and moving the former roller 81, so that the number of parts is reduced and the space occupied by the packaging device 1 Can be reduced.

<4. Modification>
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to said example. For example, in the above example, the former roller 81 is moved along the first upper rack 82d and the second upper rack 82e and the lower rack 82c is used for fixing, but the upper and lower sides of these racks are switched. It may be configured. That is, the former roller 81 may be moved along the lower rack and the upper rack may be used for fixing. However, dust is less likely to accumulate between the teeth of the upper rack compared to the lower rack. For this reason, the former roller 81 can be moved more smoothly by moving the former roller 81 along the upper rack.

It is a front view of a packaging apparatus. It is a side view of a packaging apparatus. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a packaging unit 5. It is the figure which looked at the roller apparatus of the fixed state from the X-axis direction. It is the figure which looked at the roller apparatus from the Y-axis direction. It is the figure which looked at the roller apparatus of the cancellation | release state from the X-axis direction. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement of fixation, cancellation | release, and movement of a former roller. It is the perspective view which showed the structure of the conventional former roller and a supporting member.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Packaging apparatus 2 Apparatus main body part 3 Film supply part 5 Packaging part 9 Computer scale 51 Collecting chute 52 Former 53 Pull-down belt 54 Vertical sealing mechanism 55 Horizontal sealing mechanism 80 Roller apparatus 81 Former roller 81a Shaft 81b Roller outer peripheral part 81c 1st pinion 81d Second pinion 81e Spring 82 Support member 82c Lower rack 82d First upper rack 82e Second upper rack 521 Tube 522 Sailor Ar Goods f Film

Claims (6)

A roller device for guiding a film,
A roller provided substantially horizontally and capable of moving back and forth in the axial direction;
A pinion provided at one end of the roller;
An upper rack that meshes with the pinion above the pinion;
A lower rack that meshes with the pinion below the pinion;
With
The upper rack and the lower rack are provided with different positions in the axial direction,
By moving the roller back and forth in the axial direction, a fixed state where the pinion meshes with both the upper rack and the lower rack, and a movable state where the pinion meshes with only one of the upper rack and the lower rack, A roller device characterized by switching. The roller device according to claim 1,
The roller device, wherein the roller is biased toward the fixed state. The roller device according to claim 1 or 2,
The roller device, wherein the movable state is a state in which the pinion meshes with only the upper rack. The roller device according to claim 2 or 3,
A second pinion provided at the other end of the roller;
A second upper rack that meshes with the second pinion above the second pinion;
A roller device further comprising: The roller device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The roller has an axial center part, and an outer peripheral part provided rotatably around the axial center part,
The roller device, wherein the pinion is fixed to the shaft center portion of the roller. A packaging device for packaging an article with a film,
A supply section for supplying film;
A former for forming the film supplied from the supply unit into a cylindrical shape;
An input unit for supplying an article into a film formed into a cylindrical shape by the former;
A seal portion for sealing the film;
With
The said supply part supplies the film to the said former | foamer via the roller apparatus in any one of Claim 1-5, The packaging apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

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