JP5152181B2 - Powder supply apparatus, powder filling and packaging machine, and method for manufacturing powder package - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides a powder supply apparatus for monitoring a drop defect in which a predetermined amount does not fall from a weighing mass when supplying various powders using the weighing mass, and filling the packaging bag with the powder. The present invention relates to a powder filling and packaging machine for sealing and a method for producing a powder package.

  A variety of medicines, agricultural chemicals, seasonings such as granulated sugar, oxygen scavengers and other powders mainly composed of iron powder and easily oxidizable compounds are packed in a small bag made of paper or plastic. It is widely known as a product form. In general, a powder filling and packaging machine is used for automation during packaging. The powder filling and packaging machine measures a certain amount of powder and then guides the powder into a packaging bag through a chute or the like. For powder measurement, a volumetric measurement system in which powder is filled in a space (metering mass) having a constant volume is often used.

  When the powder filling and packaging machine is operated, the shutter mechanism at the lower opening of the weighing mass does not operate properly, the filling mass is not filled with a certain amount due to a filling failure due to foreign matter, etc. A trouble (filling failure) may occur in which the amount of powder in the weighing mass immediately before dropping falls below a certain amount due to leakage of the liquid. In addition, the powder may fall behind the position where the powder should fall from the weighing mass due to clogging of the powder in the weighing mass, poor fluidity of the powder, malfunction of the shutter opening mechanism under the weighing mass, etc. Troubles (falling failure) may occur in which the entire amount or part of it does not fall.

  The packaging bag in which these troubles occur is not filled with a certain amount of powder and becomes a defective product. As a method for detecting this defective product, a weight inspection in which the weight of each powder package is measured one by one is generally known. However, this method cannot cope with high-speed automatic filling and packaging. Moreover, this method cannot be applied to the continuous packaging form in which the powder packages are not separated one by one and are continuous in a strip shape. For this reason, a general method is to perform sampling by sampling a powder package that is continuously produced at regular intervals or at regular intervals, and measuring the weight.

  Failures due to causes such as powder clogging and foreign matter clogging in the measuring mass often continue to be defective once they occur, in which case the sampling method is effective.

  However, if a defective state suddenly occurs, it cannot be found by the sampling method. Therefore, a photoelectric tube is installed at a fixed position through which the powder packaging body of the powder filling packaging machine passes, and the powder filling height is detected for all of the powder packaging bodies filled with the amount of transmitted light. A method is known in which a powder package is sandwiched between small rolls of a book to detect that the thickness is a certain value or more.

  However, these methods have large errors due to variations in the formability of the powders of individual powder packages and differences in powder filling shapes due to vibration, and malfunctions increase as sensitivity is increased. Further, in the case of a powder package that is filled with two kinds of powders having different volume ratios, such as some oxygen scavengers, there is a drawback that a shortage of powder with a small volume ratio cannot be detected substantially. For this reason, it is extremely difficult to know whether or not all powder packages are filled with the correct amount of powder.

Therefore, the powder in the packaging bag is detected by detecting whether or not the powder to be supplied to the packaging bag remains in the weighing mass without directly checking the presence or absence of the powder filled in the packaging bag. An apparatus for confirming whether or not the gas is filled is proposed. Specifically, a depth measurement sensor for measuring the depth of the weighing mass is used to drop the powder filled in the weighing mass by opening the shutter at the lower opening of the weighing mass and then dropping it below the weighing mass. It arrange | positions above a raw material measurement board so that it may correspond with the measurement mass in the step which closed the shutter of the side opening. Then, at the stage where the shutter of the lower opening of the weighing mass is closed, the depth of the weighing mass is measured by the depth measuring sensor, and this depth is compared with the depth of the empty weighing mass measured in advance. It is configured to check the presence or absence of powder in the weighing mass. (Patent Document 1)
Japanese Patent No. 3662276

  In the powder supply confirmation device described in Patent Document 1, the powder supply device recognizes that the weighing mass has moved to the irradiation position of the laser beam, and has to irradiate the laser beam at this timing. . Furthermore, the depth of the weighing mass must be calculated based on the reflected laser light. Furthermore, it must be compared with the normal depth measured in advance. As described above, since a large load is applied to the control of the apparatus, it takes a long time to detect the abnormality, which hinders the speeding up of the apparatus. In addition, when the displacement of the plate with the weighing mass is shifted, rotation failure of the rotating plate or speed change occurs, whether the measuring mass is irradiated with laser light or the upper surface of the rotating plate is irradiated with laser light It is difficult to determine whether or not the device is malfunctioning, and it is easy to cause malfunction of the device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and since it is easy to detect an abnormality, the operation of the powder feeding device, the powder filling packaging machine, and the powder packaging body capable of speeding up the operation and suppressing the malfunction are produced. It is intended to provide a method.

  As a result of careful examination of troubles such as defective filling of the powder into the measuring mass and defective dropping of the powder from the measuring mass, the present inventors found that both the filling failure and the falling failure were at the upper surface of the powder in the measuring mass. It should be noted that especially in the case of a drop failure where only a part of the powder in the weighing mass falls, a part of the lower part of the weighing mass falls and the upper part often remains in the same position. It was. In addition, the present invention was completed by confirming that it was a practical device with very few malfunctions due to actual operation and high effectiveness. In the present specification, a hole that functions as a weighing mass may be referred to as a weighing mass.

According to the present invention, a powder supply apparatus includes a member having a plate-like portion in which a through-hole is formed, a movement mechanism that moves the member so that the upper opening of the hole moves along a fixed movement path, An opening / closing member that closes and opens the lower opening of the hole as the member moves, a powder filling unit that fills the hole with a certain amount of powder in a predetermined section of the movement path, and the movement It is provided on the upper side of the route other than the predetermined section of the route, and includes a sensor that continuously monitors the hole of the movement route in the plate-like portion and the main surface of the plate-like portion .

Further, the powder filling and packaging machine of the present invention includes a member having a plate-like portion in which a through-hole is formed and a movement mechanism that moves the member so that the upper opening of the hole moves along a fixed movement path. An opening / closing member that closes and opens the lower opening of the hole in accordance with the movement of the member, and a powder filling unit that fills the hole with a certain amount of powder in a predetermined section in the movement path; Sealing the guiding portion for guiding the powder dropped from the hole to the packaging bag and the packaging bag filled with the powder guided from the guiding portion with the lower opening of the hole open. A sealing unit, and a sensor that is provided on the upper side of the path other than the predetermined section of the moving path , and that continuously monitors the hole of the moving path in the plate-like part and the main surface of the plate-like part. It is a feature.

Furthermore, the method for producing a powder package of the present invention includes a step of moving a member having a plate-like portion in which a through-hole is formed so that the upper opening of the hole moves along a fixed movement path, and the hole A step of closing the lower opening of the hole with an opening / closing member, a step of filling the hole with a certain amount of powder in a predetermined section in the movement path, and opening the lower opening of the hole A step of dropping the powder in the hole, a step of guiding and filling the powder in a packaging bag positioned below the plate-like portion, and a step of sealing the packaging bag, and the movement By continuously monitoring the hole and the plate-like main surface of the movement path in the plate-like portion by a sensor provided on the upper side of the route other than the predetermined section of the route, when an abnormality is detected, Specially designed to perform predetermined actions It is an.

In the powder supply apparatus, the powder filling packaging machine, and the manufacturing method of the powder packaging body having such a configuration, the plate-like portion has a plate-like portion and a plate-like portion main surface that is continuous with the movement path of the upper opening of the hole. Therefore, the upper surface of the powder in the hole and the main surface of the plate-like portion are continuously monitored. Therefore, there is no need for control for operating the sensor at the timing when the hole moves to the position of the sensor or control for recognizing that the apparatus is monitoring the hole. For this reason, since the load given to the control of the apparatus is very small, the speed of the apparatus can be increased.

  In addition, for example, when the member having a plate-like portion is a disk, the malfunction of the apparatus is suppressed even when the movement timing of the disk provided with holes is shifted, rotation failure, or speed change occurs. It is possible.

  Conventionally, it is possible to accurately eliminate a defective product that occurs unexpectedly and has been difficult to monitor. Therefore, a good product can be accurately produced and a high-quality powder package can be provided to the world.

  Furthermore, the powder filling portion may be configured to deposit a certain amount of powder on the main surface of the plate-like portion. In the case of such a configuration, the present invention can monitor the movement path of the upper opening of the hole in the plate-like portion, and the state of the upper surface of the powder deposited on the main surface and the upper surface of the powder filled in the hole. Will be monitored.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the powder filled in the holes and the powder deposited on the main surface of the plate-like portion are configured to have the same height. With such a configuration, if a change occurs in the sensor after filling the powder and before dropping from the hole of the powder, it is possible to make the hole poorly filled. Further, if the sensor does not change after the powder is dropped, it can be regarded as a defective drop.

  In this way, the position of the hole is not specified, monitoring is simple and clear, and it is possible to determine a defect with a minimum of arithmetic processing that causes processing time delay and control (sequencer) load. Therefore, feedback such as machine stoppage can be performed simultaneously with the failure monitoring.

  In addition, by providing a plurality of sensors, it is possible to manage filling packaging with higher accuracy by using both monitoring of dropping failure and monitoring of filling failure.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides the sensor in the state above the movement path in a state from when the hole is filled with a certain amount of powder to before the opening / closing member opens the lower opening of the hole. It is suitable if it is provided. The monitoring is preferably performed after the hole is filled with a certain amount of powder and before the opening / closing member opens the lower opening of the hole. With this configuration, powder filling can be monitored.

  Furthermore, the present invention is suitable if the sensor is provided on the upper side of the movement path in a state where the lower opening of the hole is open. Further, it is preferable that the monitoring is performed with the lower opening of the hole being in an open state, and monitoring the fall of the powder from the hole. With this configuration, the present invention has a large difference between the monitoring output of the upper surface of the powder in the hole by the sensor and the monitoring output of the main surface of the plate-like portion when the powder has fallen normally from the hole. Arise. On the other hand, when the powder does not fall normally from the hole, there is no difference between the output of monitoring the upper surface of the powder in the hole by the sensor and the output of monitoring the main surface. Therefore, it is possible to accurately monitor the powder drop failure.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the sensor includes a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit, and the reflected light of the light projected from the light projecting unit is received by the light receiving unit to detect the amount of light. It is. With such a configuration, there are advantages such as little influence of temperature change, little influence by the kind of powder, and high accuracy.

  In particular, if the optical sensor is provided on the upper side of the movement path when the lower opening of the hole is open, the light projected from the light projecting part into the hole when the powder falls normally from the hole Goes through the hole. For this reason, the amount of light received in the hole is greatly reduced and stabilized as compared with the amount of monitored light received in the state of the main surface of the plate-like portion. In addition, when the powder does not fall out of the hole and becomes defective, certain light is reflected on the light receiving portion of the optical sensor. It is possible to monitor the powder drop failure with few false detections.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the plate-like portion is a disc shape, and the motion mechanism is a rotary motion mechanism that moves the member so that the plate-like portion rotates. With this configuration, the holes can be arranged on the circumference. As the circumference angle advances, the operations of filling the powder into the holes and dropping the powder from the holes are repeated (circulated). Suitable for row packaging machines.

  In addition, the present invention is suitable even if the motion mechanism is a reciprocal motion mechanism that reciprocates the member. With such a configuration, the powder is filled in the hole at one end of the reciprocation (the forward path start point or the return path end point), and the powder is dropped from the hole at the other end of the reciprocation (the forward path end point or the return path end point). The reciprocating type is suitable for a multi-row type filling and packaging machine because all holes perform the same operation.

  According to the powder supply apparatus, the powder filling and packaging machine, and the method for manufacturing a powder package according to the present invention, it is possible to increase the speed of operation and suppress malfunction.

It is a figure which shows the light projection and light reception state of the optical sensor in the powder supply apparatus and powder filling packaging machine of this invention. It is a figure which shows the powder supply apparatus and powder filling packaging machine in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the powder supply apparatus and powder filling packaging machine in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1: Member 2: Hole 3: Powder 4: Optical sensor 5: Opening / closing member 7: Grinding plate 8: Packaging bag 13: Hopper 15: Chute 16: Sealing part 18: Movement mechanism 2A: Opening and closing member of the lower opening of the weighing mass Open position 2B: Closed position 2C of the opening / closing member on the lower side of the weighing mass: Powder supply start position

  The powder referred to in the present invention includes not only powdery substances having a particle size of 100 microns or less, but also particles and granules having a particle size of several millimeters or less, and seasonings such as various drugs, agricultural chemicals and granulated sugar. And oxygen scavengers mainly composed of iron powder and easily oxidizable compounds.

  The powder supply device and the powder filling and packaging machine of the present invention typically penetrate a plate-shaped member having a predetermined thickness and a plate-shaped portion that rotates or reciprocates along the main surface. A plurality of holes are provided on the circumference or straight line so as to become a measuring mass, and an opening / closing member is provided at the lower opening of the holes. Furthermore, at a position where the lower opening of the hole is closed and functions as a weighing mass, a certain amount of powder is filled into the hole, and the hole is filled by gravity with the lower opening of the hole being opened. Drop the powder. The fallen powder is guided into the lower sachet through a chute which is a guiding part for filling. Such a powder supply device and a powder filling and packaging machine having a volumetric (metering mass) type are applicable.

(First embodiment)
First, a powder supply device and a powder filling and packaging machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the light projecting and light receiving states (indicated by arrows) of an optical sensor with respect to a state in which powder is filled in and dropped in holes in a plate-like portion of a member. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the powder supply apparatus and the powder filling and packaging machine using a rotating member. 2A is a plan view, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 2A.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the powder supply apparatus includes a member 1 having a hole 2, a motion mechanism 18 that moves the member in a plane, an opening / closing member 5, a powder filling unit 14, and an optical sensor 4. In addition to the powder supply device, the powder filling and packaging machine includes a chute 15 that is a guiding unit that guides the powder 3 to the packaging bag 8 and a sealing unit 16 that seals the packaging bag 8. .

  The member 1 has a disk shape having a main surface, and the entire member 1 is a plate-like portion. In this embodiment, since the member 1 has a plate shape, the member 1 is referred to as a plate member 1. The plate member 1 has 24 holes 2 formed at equal intervals along the vicinity of the circumference and penetrating perpendicularly to the main surface. The plate member 1 is configured to move in a predetermined rotation direction in the main surface direction. For this reason, the movement path of the upper opening of the hole 2 draws a circle. The lower opening of the hole 2 is closed to function as a weighing mass.

  The hopper 13 is provided above the plate member 1. Further, the ground plate 7 is provided in the vicinity of the circumference of the plate member 1 so as to have a predetermined distance from the main surface, which is the upper surface of the plate member 1, and to be able to pass the upper opening of the hole 2. While the lower opening of the hole 2 is in a closed state in the movement path of the upper opening of the hole 2 by the hopper 13 and the grinding plate 7, a predetermined amount of powder is occupied in the hole 2 while occupying a predetermined section. 3 is formed.

  The opening / closing member 5 is provided on the lower surface side of the plate member 1, and is provided at a position overlapping the lower opening of the hole 2. The opening / closing member 5 is configured to slide along the lower surface of the plate member 1 in accordance with the rotational movement of the plate member 1 so that the lower opening of the hole 2 can be closed or opened. . The upper surface of the opening / closing member 5 is processed so as to prevent the powder 3 from adhering when the powder 3 falls.

  The optical sensor 4 is provided above the plate member 1 at a position where the opening / closing member 5 opens the lower opening of the hole 2 in the movement path of the upper opening of the hole 2. The optical sensor 4 has a light projecting unit 41 that projects light and a light receiving unit 42 that receives reflected light.

  A chute 15 is provided below the plate member 1 at a position where the opening / closing member 5 opens the lower opening of the hole 2. The chute 15 functions as a guiding portion that guides the powder 3 that has fallen from the hole 2 to the packaging bag 8. The chute 15 has a funnel shape, and has a wide opening on the plate member 1 side and a narrow opening on the packaging bag 8 side.

  A sealing portion 16 that seals the packaging bag 8 is provided at a location away from the plate member 1. The sealing part 16 seals the packaging bag 8 by heat-sealing a part of the packaging bag 8.

  Next, the operation of the powder supply device and the powder filling and packaging machine and the method for manufacturing the powder package will be described.

  As described above, the upper opening of the hole 2 moves along the circular movement path by the rotational movement of the plate member 1 by the movement mechanism 18. First, when a certain hole 2 is in the position 2C, the lower opening of the hole 2 is closed by an opening / closing member, and the hole 2 functions as a measuring mass. And the powder 3 is supplied on the plate member 1 from the hopper 16 with a measuring instrument.

  Thereafter, the hole 2 moves by 7 squares (105 degrees), and the hole 3 is filled with the powder 3 and measured by the scraping plate 7. The ground plate 7 fills the hole 2 with a certain amount of powder 3 and deposits the powder 3 having a certain height on the main surface of the plate member 1.

  Next, after the plate member 1 rotates and the hole 2 advances by 2 squares (30 degrees) after measurement, that is, at the position 2A, the opening / closing member 5 opens the lower opening of the hole 2. Thereby, the powder 3 in the hole 2 falls. The powder 3 dropped from the hole 2 is guided into the packaging bag 8 by the chute 15.

  Next, when the plate member 1 rotates and the hole 2 advances by 1 square (15 degrees), the optical sensor 4 has dropped the powder 3 or is it causing a trouble without dropping? To monitor. Specifically, the optical sensor 4 continuously monitors the movement path along which the upper opening of the hole 2 of the plate member 1 moves, and the powder upper surface of the hole 2 and the powder on the main surface of the plate member 1 are monitored. Monitors the upper surface of the body continuously. Details of the monitoring will be described later.

  When an abnormality is output from the optical sensor 4 and a powder drop failure is detected, a sound or light alarm is issued via an amplifier, sequencer, microcomputer, or the like. Alternatively, various machine controls such as automatic discharge of the corresponding product, partial or full stop of the filling and packaging machine, and various operations of peripheral machines can be performed.

  The hole 2 moves by 2 squares (30 degrees), that is, 3 squares (45 degrees) from the position 2A after the optical sensor 4 monitors the fall of the powder 3. Then, at the position 2B, the opening / closing member 5 closes the lower opening of the hole 2.

  Then, the process proceeds as it is for 12 squares (180 degrees) and circulates to the position 2C.

  Here, an operation in which the powder 3 falls from the hole 2 into the packaging bag 8 will be described.

  A packaging bag 8 that is continuously formed on the lower side of the plate member 1 and only an upper edge is opened to form an opening is moved in conjunction with the operation of the plate member 1. Specifically, before the opening / closing member 5 opens the lower opening of the hole 2, that is, before the hole 2 moves to the position 2A, the opening of the packaging bag 8 is located directly below the hole 2, It is controlled to move in conjunction with the movement of the hole 2.

  At the position 2 </ b> A, the lower opening of the chute 15 enters the packaging bag 8 immediately before the opening / closing member 5 opens the lower opening of the hole 2. Thereafter, the opening / closing member 5 opens the lower opening of the hole 2, and the powder 3 falls into the chute 15. Thus, the powder 3 guided by the chute 15 is filled in the packaging bag 8.

Next, the operation of sealing the packaging bag 8 and completing the powder package will be described.
As described above, the packaging bag 8 that has moved in conjunction with the hole 2 that moves in accordance with the movement of the plate member 1 is filled with the powder 3 and before the hole 2 moves to the position 2C. It moves from the lower side of the member 1 to the outside of the plate member 1.

  Thereafter, the packaging bag 8 moves into the sealing portion 16. Thereafter, the sealing unit 16 sandwiches the packaging bag 8 so that the upper opening of the packaging bag 8 is closed, and applies heat to the upper edge of the packaging bag 8. Thus, the opening of the packaging bag 8 is heat-sealed and closed, and the packaging bag 8 is sealed. In this way, the powder package is completed.

  In addition, the powder package may be divided into individual packages, or may be in a state where a certain number is continuously connected.

  In the above, the optical sensor 4 is provided between the time when the powder 3 is dropped from the hole 2 and the time when the lower opening of the hole 2 is closed for the purpose of monitoring the drop failure of the powder 3. However, the position where the optical sensor 4 is installed is arbitrary depending on the purpose as long as the sensor can monitor the hole 2. The following positions can be shown as preferred examples.

1) The lower opening of the hole 2 is closed, and the hole 2 is filled with the powder 3, passes through the grinding plate 7, and after a certain amount of the powder 3 is weighed, the lower side of the hole 2 Until the opening is opened and the powder 3 starts to fall.
2) Immediately after the lower opening of the hole 2 is opened and the powder 3 starts to fall.
3) After the powder 3 finishes dropping from the hole 2 until the lower opening of the hole 2 is closed.
4) From the time when the lower opening of the hole 2 is closed to the time when the powder 3 is filled again into the hole 2 that functions as a measuring mass.

  As described above, the optical sensor 4 is filled with the powder by the hopper 13 and the upper side of the fixed path along which the upper opening of the hole 2 moves except for a predetermined section until the powder 3 is weighed by a predetermined amount by the grinding plate 7. Can be provided.

  Next, an operation in which the optical sensor 4 monitors the fall of powder and the like will be described.

  FIG. 1 a is a diagram showing how the state of the main surface of the plate member 1 is monitored. That is, light is irradiated from the light projecting unit 41 onto the main surface of the plate member 1, that is, the upper surface of the powder 3 deposited at a certain height on the portion without the hole 2, and the reflected light of the light is received by the light receiving unit 42. The state of receiving light is shown. In the light receiving part 42, a fixed amount of light is stably received among the light projected from the light projecting part 41 onto the powder 3 on the main surface of the plate member 1.

  FIG. 1 b shows a state in which the powder 3 has fallen normally from the hole 2 and the light projected from the light projecting portion 41 passes through the hole 2. In this case, of the light projected from the light projecting unit 41, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 42 is significantly reduced compared to the case of FIG. 1a.

  FIG. 1 c shows a state in which the powder 3 falls from only the lower part of the hole 2 and is clogged with the powder 3 on the hole 2. In this case, the light projected from the light projecting unit 41 is reflected by the upper surface of the powder 3 on the hole 2 and received by the light receiving unit 42. In this case, the light received by the light receiving unit 42 is substantially the same as in the case of FIG.

  FIG. 1 d shows a state where the lower opening of the hole 2 is closed by the opening / closing member 5 and the powder 2 is filled in the hole 2. In addition, the state shown in the figure shows a normal filling state until passing through the scraping plate 7 and immediately before the start of dropping of the powder 3. In this case, of the light projected from the light projecting unit 41, the light received by the light receiving unit 42 is substantially the same as in the case of FIG. 1a.

  FIG. 1 e shows an abnormal state where the lower opening of the hole 2 is partially opened due to an abnormal opening / closing of the opening / closing member 5 of the measuring mass 2, and powder remains partially in the hole 2. In this case, the light received by the light receiving unit 42 varies depending on the rate at which the opening / closing member 5 opens the lower opening of the hole 2. However, the amount of received light is between the state of FIG. 1b and the state of FIG. 1d.

  Of the above 1) to 4), 1) is used for monitoring filling failure. Specifically, the states of the upper surface of the powder 3 in the hole 2 and the main surface of the plate member 1 are continuously monitored, and the output from the optical sensor 4 is output while the hole 2 advances by one interval (one operation). If no change occurs, it is normal. That is, there is no change in the output from the optical sensor 4 between the monitoring of the state of the main surface of the plate member 1 (FIG. 1a) and the monitoring of the upper surface of the powder 3 in the hole 2 (FIG. 1d).

  On the contrary, the state of the upper surface of the powder 3 in the hole 2 and the state of the main surface of the plate member 1 are continuously monitored, and the output from the optical sensor 4 changes while the hole 2 advances by one (one operation). If it occurs, it is abnormal. That is, as shown in FIG. 1e, when the upper surface of the powder is not located at the position determined by the optical sensor and the filling is poor, the state of monitoring the state of the main surface of the plate member 1 (FIG. 1a) and the inside of the hole 2 When the upper surface of the powder 3 is monitored (FIG. 1e), the output from the optical sensor 4 changes.

  3) is very preferable from the viewpoint of stable operation. FIGS. 1b, 1c and 1d show a state in which the optical sensor 4 is operating for monitoring the drop abnormality of 3).

  Specifically, the states of the upper surface of the powder 3 in the hole 2 and the main surface of the plate member 1 are continuously monitored, and the output from the optical sensor 4 is output while the hole 2 advances by one (one operation). If a change occurs, it is normal. That is, as shown in FIG. 1b, if the upper surface of the powder is not in a fixed position, the powder has fallen normally, so the state of monitoring the main surface of the plate member 1 (FIG. 1a), A change occurs in the output from the optical sensor when the upper surface of the powder 3 in the hole 2 is monitored (FIG. 1b).

  On the contrary, the state of the upper surface of the powder 3 in the hole 2 and the state of the main surface of the plate member 1 are continuously monitored, and the output from the optical sensor 4 changes while the hole 2 advances by one (one operation). If it does not occur, it is abnormal. That is, as shown in FIG. 1 c, if part or all of the powder does not fall from the hole 2 and the upper surface of the powder is in a fixed position, it is abnormal (dropping failure), and the state of the main surface of the plate member 1 is changed. There is no change in the output from the optical sensor between the state of monitoring (FIG. 1a) and the state of monitoring the upper surface of the powder 3 in the hole 2 (FIG. 1c).

  When monitoring with the optical sensor 4, particularly in FIGS. 1 b and 1 c, since the lower opening of the hole 2 is in an open state, the state of monitoring the main surface of the plate member 1 shown in FIG. The state where the powder shown in 1b has fallen normally has a feature that the difference in the amount of reflected light is extremely large, and it is preferable because there are few false detections.

  Moreover, most of the drop abnormalities are in a state where only the lower side of the powder 3 to be dropped falls and the upper side does not fall, or the powder 3 does not fall at all, as shown in FIG. There is no change in the output from the optical sensor between the state of monitoring the main surface of the member 1 (FIG. 1a) and the state of monitoring the upper surface of the powder 3 in the hole 2 (FIG. 1c). .

  Moreover, in 2), it becomes possible to catch the fall delay of the powder. 4) can be used to monitor the malfunction of the opening / closing member provided in the lower opening of the hole 2.

  As for the position where the sensor 4 is installed, the mounting (fixed) position also becomes a problem. There is a method in which the sensor 4 is fixed to the plate member 1 in which the hole 2 is formed, and the sensor 4 is rotated together with the plate member 1 so that the specific sensor 4 always monitors the upper surface of the specific hole 2. In this case, an error is likely to occur due to the fixing method and vibration of the optical sensor.

  Therefore, a method of fixing the optical sensor 4 to a mechanical member that does not move different from the plate member 1 is preferable. However, in this case, it is impossible to keep monitoring the upper part of the specific hole 2 that is constantly moving. Further, in order to capture only the state of the upper portion of the hole 2 with the sensor, it is necessary to select only a specific time zone of the signal from the optical sensor, which places a load on the control of the apparatus. For example, the operation timing can be obtained by obtaining a timing signal via a cam from an appropriate rotating shaft in the powder filling and packaging machine, or by extracting a signal from a component (varicam) that electrically controls the circumferential angle of the rotating shaft. It will be related to the position related to. Normally, this timing signal takes out one signal for each operation of dropping and filling the powder 3 (an operation that advances one metering mass in the case of rotational movement, and one reciprocation operation in the case of reciprocation). It becomes difficult.

  Therefore, in order to attach the optical sensor 4 to a mechanical member that does not apply a load to the control of the apparatus and does not move separately from the plate member 1, the optical sensor 4 includes the upper surface of the powder 3 in the hole 2 and the plate member 1. It is sufficient to continuously monitor the state of the main surface. For example, when the plate member 1 in which the hole 2 is arranged rotates, the optical sensor 4 is installed on the upper side of the movement path along which the upper opening of the hole 2 moves as the plate member 1 moves. The optical sensor 4 continuously monitors the holes 2 and the plate member 1 alternately.

  By monitoring in this way, it is not necessary to extract only the signal of the optical sensor 4 in a specific time zone specified from the operation timing, and simple and highly reliable control is possible.

  In particular, in the case of monitoring the drop at the position 3), the normal opening operation and the normal drop of the powder are confirmed in the normal operation. In normal operation, that is, when the powder 3 has fallen normally, the light receiving unit 42 stably detects almost no reflected light. In the abnormal operation, that is, the drop abnormality, it is possible to inspect and identify the cause of the abnormal operation of the opening / closing member, foreign matter, or insufficient fluidity of the powder.

  In the filling monitoring at the position 1), the normal closing operation of the opening / closing member is confirmed in the normal operation. Abnormal operation, that is, insufficient filling, includes leakage due to abnormal closing operation (such as half-opening) of the opening / closing member, insufficient powder supply due to foreign matter mixing, and the like are detected.

  In addition, in this embodiment, since it demonstrated using the plate-shaped member 1, the member 1 and the plate-shaped part are integrated, but the member 1 has a circular plate-shaped part and was surrounded by the plate-shaped part. The vicinity of the center of the member 1 does not have to be plate-shaped.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a view showing a powder supply apparatus and a powder filling packaging machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the description of the present embodiment, the same parts as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. The powder supply apparatus and the powder filling packaging machine of this embodiment will explain filling and dropping of the powder filling packaging machine using a plate-like member that reciprocates. In this embodiment, since the whole member 1 is plate-shaped, the member 1 is called the plate member 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view, and the optical sensor 4 is provided immediately above the position where the powder 3 falls.

In FIG. 3 a, the lower opening of the hole 2 is closed, and the plate member 1 provided with the hole 2 functioning as a measuring mass is reciprocated by a reciprocating mechanism 18. First, the powder is filled from the hopper 13 onto the main surface of the plate member 1 on the left side of the ground plate 7 with the holes 2. Then, the reciprocating motion of the plate member 1 moves in the rightward direction, and the powder 3 is filled in the hole 2 and weighed by the grinding plate 7. At this time, there is nothing directly under the monitoring position of the optical sensor 4, and there is only a chute 15 for dropping into the packaging bag and the like below.

In FIG. 3b, the plate member 1 further moves to the right, becomes the end of the opening / closing member 5 that is the lower slidable bottom plate, and the powder starts to fall. At this time, the hole 2 is not directly below the optical sensor 4, and the optical sensor 4 is on the main surface of the plate member 1. Therefore, the monitoring state is the same as in FIG.

In FIG. 3c, the plate member 1 is located at a position corresponding to the end point of the forward path and the start point of the return path. At this time, the opening / closing member 5 opens the lower opening of the hole 2, the powder 3 falls from the hole 2, and the hole 2 becomes a cavity. Therefore, the monitoring is the same as in FIG.

FIG. 3d shows a case where a powder drop failure occurs in the state of the plate member 1 of FIG. 3c, and monitoring is the same as in FIG. 1d. In this case, a drop abnormality is detected.

In addition, it functions as a powder filling packaging machine by providing the chute | shoot 15 and the sealing part 16 which are powder induction | guidance | derivation parts in the powder supply apparatus of this embodiment.

When using the plate member 1 in which the holes 2 functioning as a measuring mass are arranged in a straight line as in the powder supply device and powder filling and packaging machine of the present embodiment, one end of the reciprocation (the forward path start point or the return path end point) ), The powder is supplied onto the plate, filled in the hole, and dropped from the hole at the other end of one reciprocation (the end point of the forward path or the start point of the return path). In the reciprocating motion type, all the holes 2 perform the same operation, so that a multi-row filling and packaging machine is obtained.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made.

  For example, when powder is filled in the hole 2 which is a measuring mass, the hopper 13 and the grinding plate 7 can be integrated into the powder supply unit 14, and in this case, the hole 2 functioning as the measuring mass and It can also be rubbed with the powder supply unit 14. Alternatively, it is possible to take measures such as passing through the grinding plate 7 immediately after filling. In this case, the predetermined section occupied by the powder filling unit 14 is shortened, and the degree of freedom of the position where the sensor 4 is provided is increased.

  Further, the upper surface of the powder 3 in the hole 2 may be the same height as the main surface of the plate member 1. In this case, the powder 3 is hardly deposited on the main surface of the plate member 1, and waste can be saved. Then, the powder 3 above the hole 2 is worn and the filling height becomes constant, so that a fixed amount, that is, a fixed volume of powder, is weighed into the measuring mass.

  Further, the hole 2 may be formed by directly opening a through-hole having a desired volume on the plate member 1, and various kinds of hollow cylindrical measuring masses having different hollow diameters are attached to and detached from the plate member 1. It may be provided as a possible structure. In the latter case, the size of the weighing mass can be changed according to the filling amount in the packaging bag 8.

  Further, the opening / closing member 5 is provided with a shutter that can be opened and closed at the lower opening of the hole 2, or a plate surface-treated with Teflon (registered trademark) that slides on the lower opening of the hole 2, and the presence or absence of other bottom plates, etc. Can be determined.

  In the present invention, the description has been given using the optical sensor 4 that monitors the upper surface of the powder 3 after the hole 3 is filled with the powder 3 and weighed. However, the type of sensor may be any type such as an optical type, a capacitance type, and an ultrasonic type as long as it can determine whether the upper surface of the powder 3 is present at a predetermined position from the sensor. Absent. An optical sensor is desirable because of its advantages such as less influence of temperature change, less influence of powder type, and high accuracy. Moreover, the upper surface of the filled powder 3 after the measurement is flattened because it passes through a scraping plate or the like, and an optical sensor using a light emitting diode or a laser is used for the light projecting part because it is easy to use light reflection. Preferably, an optical sensor having a light projecting part and a light receiving part and capturing a V-shaped reflected light amount from the upper surface of the powder is more desirable.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the examples.

Example 1
The powder filling and packaging machine shown in the first embodiment whose basic configuration is shown in FIG. 2 was used. However, the attachment position of the motion mechanism 18 is different. In this embodiment, the member 1 is a plate member having holes 2 penetrating on the circumference of two concentric circles of an inner circle and an outer circle on the main surface. Twenty-four through holes 2 are provided in each of the inner circle and the outer circle. The inner circle through hole 2 has a diameter of about 3 mm, the outer circle through hole has a diameter of about 8 mm, and has a thickness of 5 mm. A shaped member was used. Here, a powder filling unit 14 capable of measuring two kinds of powders is arranged for the inner circle and the outer circle, thereby obtaining a powder filling and packaging machine for the oxygen scavenger.

  The shutter opening / closing cam was set so that the shutter, which is the opening / closing member 5 of the lower opening of the through hole 2, was opened by 3 intervals of the through hole 2, that is, 45 degrees after passing through the weighing plate 7.

  Here, the mounting jig was extended from the machine part that did not move, and the optical sensor 4 was installed immediately above the position where the inner circle and the outer circle both moved by two squares after the shutter was opened. As the optical sensor 4, a V-shaped reflective photoelectric sensor having a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit adjacent to each other was used. The optical sensor 4 was set so that reflection from the powder height position after passing through the scraping plate 7 was maximized, and the optical sensor 4 was set to output a normal signal when there was no powder 3.

  On the other hand, a cam is attached to the internal machine shaft of the powder filling and packaging machine, and a number confirmation signal is output that outputs one pulse every 15 degrees (one operation) at the interval of the hole, that is, the circumferential angle of the plate member 1. Generated and removed.

  If this number confirmation signal and the normal signal from the optical sensor 4 are alternately input to the sequencer, it is normal, and if the normal signal from the optical sensor 4 is not input while the number confirmation signal is continuous twice, it will be a drop defect. A sequence was set to stop the packaging machine urgently with an alarm sound and an alarm lamp lit when the drop was defective.

  Using this filling and packaging machine, 0.2 g of iron powder-based oxygen scavenger powder (maximum particle size 200 microns, apparent specific gravity 3.1) in the through-hole 2 that functions as a measuring mass of the inner circle, and a measuring mass of the outer circle The through-hole 2 functioning as was subjected to volumetric measurement corresponding to 0.2 g of water-containing auxiliary powder (maximum particle size 2 mm, apparent specific gravity 0.8). Then, the sachet-shaped oxygen absorber was filled and packaged at a rate of 720 pieces per minute.

  At this time, if each powder has fallen normally from the through-hole 2 of the inner circle and the outer circle, the sensor is in the state of FIG. 1a (the upper surface of the powder on the plate member between the weighing mass and the weighing mass) Is in the position determined by the sensor) and the state of FIG. 1b (powder falls from the liquid mass and there is no powder in the position determined by the sensor) alternately. Then, a normal signal is intermittently emitted once every about 0.08 seconds. This signal and the number confirmation signal (about once every 0.08 seconds) from the filling and packaging machine were alternately input to the sequencer, and production could be performed without any malfunction.

  Therefore, when a padding was intentionally placed in the lower part of one weighing mass and a drop defect occurred, the number confirmation signal continued in the weighing mass portion, and the filling and packaging machine stopped with an alarm sound and an alarm lamp.

(Example 2)
In this example, the powder filling and packaging machine of the second embodiment whose basic configuration is shown in FIG. 3 was used. A plate member 1 having a thickness of 10 mm, in which ten cylindrical measuring masses 2 having a diameter of about 6 mm and a depth of 10 mm were arranged on a straight line, was used. And it was set as the powder filling packaging machine for multi-row type (10 rows) oxygen absorbers. The plate member 1 for measuring the powder 3 of the powder filling and packaging machine reciprocates at right angles to the arrangement of the through holes 2 serving as a measuring mass, and is provided by a varicam attached to the main rotary shaft of the powder filling and packaging machine. The operation is set.

  The slidable bottom plate at the lower opening of the through hole 2 disappears, and a laser photoelectric sensor is powdered as an optical sensor 4 just above the position where the oxygen scavenger powder (maximum particle size 250 microns) falls from the through hole 2. It attached from the body filling packaging machine frame via the attachment jig.

  Starting at the position of the rotation angle of the main rotating shaft 0 degree, the forward path is moved horizontally through the hopper 13 and the grinding plate 7, reaches the other end at 180 degrees, the powder in all the through holes 2 is dropped, and the return path is moved horizontally again. Then, it returns to 360 degrees (0 degrees).

  Meanwhile, in normal operation, the optical sensor is in the state of no powder 3 (FIG. 3a) → with powder 3 (FIG. 3b) → no powder 3 (FIG. 3c) → with powder 3 (FIG. 3b) → no powder 3 (FIG. 3a) To monitor. Therefore, the sequence was set so that it would be normal if the “powder present” signal was input twice between the rotation angles of 160 to 210 degrees and abnormal if it was once (in FIG. 3d instead of FIG. 3c). When an abnormality occurred, an alarm was issued and the machine was stopped, and 1.2 g of powder 3 (apparent specific gravity 2.5) was weighed and filled with an oxygen scavenger. Production was possible without any malfunction.

  Therefore, when the filling was dared in the lower part of the measuring mass 2 and a drop failure occurred, the filling and packaging machine stopped with an alarm.

(Example 3)
The same apparatus as in Example 1 was used. Further, a sensor of the same type as that used in Example 1 was added at a position immediately before the position where the shutter of the lower opening of the weighing mass 2 was opened. The additional sensor 4 takes a signal as normal when the main surface of the plate member 1 has the powder 3 and sets a sequence so as to output an alarm or the like as a filling failure when the normal signal continuously input is interrupted.

  In this state, after confirming that the sachet-like oxygen absorber can be continuously filled and packaged under the same conditions as in Example 1, assuming that the shutter closing operation is poor, only one weighing mass 2 has a lower opening shutter 3. It was operated in the state where it was opened about 1 / min.

  As a result, filling failure was monitored and the packaging machine stopped with an alarm sound and an alarm lamp. As shown in FIG. 1 e, the hole 2 spilled from the gap between the shutters once filled with the powder 3, and only a small amount of the powder 3 remained in the hole 2.

  Furthermore, the sensor installed in the second square after the shutter was opened when the operation was continued without operating the additional sensor 4 (without abnormal input) and in the same filling failure state. 4 monitored this as a drop defect, and the packaging machine stopped with an alarm sound and an alarm lamp.

  According to the powder supply apparatus according to the present invention, since the fall of the powder 3 filled in the hole 2 can be monitored with high accuracy, the powder supply can be stabilized. In addition, according to the powder filling and packaging machine and the method for producing a powder package according to the present invention, powder can be stably filled in a packaging bag.

Claims (11)

A member having a plate-like portion in which a through-hole is formed;
A movement mechanism for moving the member such that the upper opening of the hole moves along a certain movement path;
An opening / closing member that causes the lower opening of the hole to be closed and open as the member moves,
In a predetermined section in the movement path, a powder filling unit that fills the hole with a certain amount of powder;
A powder provided on the upper side of the path other than the predetermined section of the moving path , and comprising a sensor for continuously monitoring the hole and the main surface of the plate-shaped part in the plate-like part. Feeding device.   The powder supply device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is provided on the upper side of the moving path when the lower opening of the hole is in an open state.   2. The optical sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit, and the reflected light of the light projected from the light projecting unit is received by the light receiving unit to detect the amount of light. Or the powder supply apparatus of 2. The plate-like portion is a disc shape,
The powder supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motion mechanism is a rotary motion mechanism that moves the member so as to rotate the plate-like portion.   The powder supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism is a reciprocation mechanism that reciprocates the member. A member having a plate-like portion in which a through-hole is formed;
A movement mechanism for moving the member such that the upper opening of the hole moves along a certain movement path;
An opening / closing member that causes the lower opening of the hole to be closed and open as the member moves,
In a predetermined section in the movement path, a powder filling unit that fills the hole with a certain amount of powder;
A guide part for guiding the powder dropped from the hole to a packaging bag with the lower opening of the hole open; and
A sealing portion for sealing the packaging bag filled with the powder derived from the guiding portion;
A powder provided on the upper side of the path other than the predetermined section of the moving path , and comprising a sensor for continuously monitoring the hole and the main surface of the plate-shaped part in the plate-like part. Filling packaging machine.   The powder filling and packaging machine according to claim 6, wherein the sensor is provided on the upper side of the moving path when the lower opening of the hole is open.   The said sensor has a light projection part and a light-receiving part, The reflected light of the light projected from the said light projection part is received by the said light-receiving part, It is an optical sensor which detects light quantity. Or the powder filling and packaging machine according to 7. Moving the member having a plate-like portion formed with a through-hole so that the upper opening of the hole moves along a fixed movement path;
A step of closing the lower opening of the hole with an opening and closing member;
Filling a predetermined amount of powder in the hole in a predetermined section in the movement path;
Opening the lower opening of the hole and dropping the powder in the hole;
Inducing and filling the powder into a packaging bag located below the plate-like portion;
A step of sealing the packaging bag,
When an abnormality is detected by continuously monitoring the hole and the main surface of the plate-like portion of the plate-like portion with a sensor provided on the upper side of the route other than the predetermined section of the movement route. Is a method for producing a powder package, characterized by performing a predetermined operation.   The method for manufacturing a powder package according to claim 9, wherein the monitoring is performed in a state where the lower opening of the hole is open, and the fall of the powder from the hole is monitored.   The monitoring includes a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit, and the reflected light of the light projected from the light projecting unit is received by the light receiving unit, and is monitored using an optical sensor that detects the amount of light. The method for producing a powder package according to claim 9 or 10.

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