JP5358925B2 - Carry-in device and packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a feeding device connected in a latter step of the feeding device which does not stop by an error even if a conveyance trouble occurs in an article to be packaged after centering is carried out by a centering member of the feeding device, and a packaging machine. <P>SOLUTION: The feeding device for feeding/supplying the article to be packaged into the packaging machine includes the centering member for position-regulating the article to be packaged on a conveyance conveyer for conveying the article to be packaged toward the packaging machine in the conveyance conveyer width direction, a stopper means provided near the centering member, first/second sensors for detecting the article to be packaged, a size measuring means for measuring a size of the article to be packaged, a storage means for temporarily storing the measured size data, and a control means for making the size data temporarily stored in the storage means invalid when the article to be packaged is not detected by the second sensor within a predetermined period of time from detection of the article to be packaged by the first sensor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a carry-in device for carrying an article to be packed into a packaging machine, and a packaging machine.

When packaging an article to be packaged with a stretch wrapping machine using a stretch film, a carry-in device is used that separates the article to be packaged continuously conveyed at a predetermined interval and conveys it to the stretch wrapping machine.
The carry-in device is provided with a shutter for separating the article to be packaged, and a centering member for regulating the position of the article to be packaged at the center position of the conveyor and measuring the width of the article to be packaged. It is comprised so that to-be-packaged goods may be conveyed (for example, refer patent document 1).

  However, after centering, for example, when an operator notices an abnormality in the package and removes the package from the carry-in device, the width of the package is measured by centering, but the package is When the packaging machine stops due to a packaging error because it does not reach the packaging machine in time, or a sensor that measures the height and depth dimensions of the package is located downstream of the centering member in the transport direction The size data that the measured width dimension and height and depth data are zero are transmitted to the packaging machine, the packaging machine judges that the data is abnormal, and the packaging machine has stopped due to a packaging error. .

  In other words, the error is notified not only because the packaging machine itself is out of order, but because the error is not notified, but the article is not conveyed. And since it is necessary to stop the driving of the packaging machine in order to cancel the error, if there is another conveyor in the previous stage of transporting the object to be packed transported by the carry-in conveyor, The conveyance line had to be stopped, especially at the night of a processing factory where the production line was operated for 24 hours, and manpower was reduced.

JP 11-49338 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and the object of the present invention is to measure the size of the packaged object after measuring the size of the packaged object with the size measuring means provided in the carry-in device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a carry-in apparatus and a packaging machine that do not stop the conveyance line without stopping the packaging machine connected to the subsequent stage from the carry-in apparatus even when there is a conveyance failure.

  In order to achieve the above object, a carry-in device according to the present invention is a carry-in device that carries a packaged material into a packaging machine, and conveys the packaged product toward the packaging machine, and is conveyed by the conveyance conveyor. A centering member for regulating the position of the packaged article in the width direction of the conveyor, and a stopper means provided in the vicinity of the centering member for regulating and releasing the regulation of the article to be packaged conveyed by the conveyor A first sensor that is provided in the vicinity of the upstream side of the stopper means and detects an object to be packaged conveyed by a conveyor, and is provided downstream of the first sensor and downstream of the centering member. A second sensor for detecting an object to be packaged conveyed by the conveyor, and a size for measuring the size of the object to be packaged provided upstream from the second sensor. Measuring means, storage means for temporarily storing the size data measured by the size measuring means, and the packaging object is detected by the second sensor within a predetermined time after the packaging object is detected by the first sensor. When not detected, it comprises control means for making the size data temporarily stored in the storage means invalid packaging control data (Claim 1).

The conveyance conveyor which comprises the said carrying-in apparatus is divided | segmented back and forth on the boundary of a stopper means, and both the front and back conveyors may change the kind of conveyor by a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, or front and rear.
Further, as the stopper means, a shutter is generally used, and the operation mode of the shutter may be either a sliding type or a rotating type, for example, it can be protruded and retracted from below the conveyor, or can be protruded and retracted from above, Further, the operation direction in the case of the slide type may be any of the vertical direction intersecting the transport surface of the transport conveyor or the left-right direction along the width direction of the transport conveyor.
As the first sensor and the second sensor, photoelectric sensors (reflection type, transmission type / regressive reflection type), optical fiber sensors, and the like are generally employed. Further, the sensor may be installed at any location where the object to be packaged moving by the conveyor can be detected, such as the side in the width direction of the conveyor or above the conveyance path of the conveyor.
The size measuring means may be a mechanical structure integrated with the centering means, or an imaging means such as a separate camera.

  According to the above means, the article to be packaged is conveyed by the conveyor, the article to be packaged is first detected by the first sensor (the article to be packaged blocks light), and the restriction of conveyance by the stopper member is released, and within a predetermined time Whether or not the correct package object is conveyed or not can be determined depending on whether or not the second sensor detects the object (the package object blocks light). If the correct package is not transported, the detected size data will be invalidated. Therefore, abnormal size data such as one of width, height, and depth data will be zero. Will not be sent to and therefore no packaging errors will occur. Further, even when the article to be packaged is removed from the carry-in device after centering, the packaging machine can continue the packaging operation without stopping.

The size dimension may be a lateral width corresponding to the width direction of the conveyor, and the centering member may also serve as the size measuring means.
According to the above means, since the size is measured simultaneously with the centering, it is not necessary to intentionally provide time for measuring the size, so that the processing can be speeded up and the structure can be simplified.

  The packaging machine includes a setting unit that sets a target number of packages to be packaged, and a counting unit that counts the number of packages toward the target number of packages, and when the object to be packaged is detected by the first sensor, Transmitting means for transmitting to the packaging machine a signal for counting one as the number of packages, and the control means makes the temporarily stored size data zero, and the counted number of packages is one. You may make it transmit the signal made to return to the said packaging machine (Claim 3).

  According to the above means, even when setting the target number of packages to be packed by the packaging machine and counting the number of packages toward that number, when the width data is invalid, no packaging is performed. The correct number of packages can be counted by returning In addition, when the packaging machine receives a signal indicating that the packaging has been performed, the method of counting the number of packages includes a method of subtracting 1 from the target number of packages (down-count method). Any of the methods (up-count method) in which the number of packages different from the number of packages is added in a positive direction from 0 and the accumulation is continued until the number becomes the same as the target number of packages.

In addition, the carry-in device has a signal that causes the stopper means to continue to restrict the conveyance of the package when it is determined that the number of packages counted by the counting unit has reached the set target number of packages. May be provided with a receiving means for receiving from the packaging machine (claim 4).
According to the above means, when it is determined that the set target number of packages has been reached, the stopper means is closed by receiving the signal output from the packaging machine by the receiving means provided in the carry-in device, and the article to be packaged Continue to regulate the transport of Thereby, it can prevent that a to-be-packaged product is packaged more than the target number of packages.

  Further, downstream of the second sensor, any of the width, height, and depth dimensions of the article to be packaged conveyed by the conveyance conveyor, and other than the size dimension measured by the size measuring means A third sensor is provided for measuring the size of the package, and the package is detected by the second sensor within a predetermined time from the detection by the first sensor, and then the third sensor within the predetermined time. The size data temporarily stored in the storage means only when the article to be packaged is detected and the size data measured by the third sensor as effective packaging control data, and from the detection by the second sensor Control means may be provided that uses the size data temporarily stored in the storage means as invalid packaging control data when the third sensor does not detect the package within a predetermined time. According to claim 5).

  According to the above means, when an operator discovers that there is an abnormality in the package between the second sensor and the third sensor and removes the package from the transport conveyor, the storage means temporarily Since the stored size data is invalidated, the size data of the package removed from the conveyor is not transmitted to the packaging machine, and therefore no packaging error occurs. Thereby, the packaging machine can continue the packaging operation without stopping.

Moreover, you may arrange | position the said 3rd sensor in the carrying-in port vicinity of the said packaging machine (Claim 6).
According to the above means, since the third sensor is located in the vicinity of the carry-in entrance to the packaging machine arranged continuously on the downstream side of the carry-in device, after passing the position of the third sensor (detection ON), An error in conveying an object does not occur. Therefore, a packaging error does not occur, and a stable packaging operation can be ensured.

Furthermore, the packaging machine for carrying in and packaging the article to be packaged conveyed from the carrying-in apparatus according to claim 1 sets the setting means for setting the target number of packages to be packaged, and the memory for storing the set target number of packages. When a package is detected by the first sensor of the means and the carry-in device, a signal indicating that one package has been received is received from the carry-in device, and the number of packages based on the received signal When it is determined that the target number of packages has been reached by counting one, the stopper means is configured to control to transmit a signal to the carrying-in apparatus to continue to regulate the conveyance of the packaged object (Claim 7). .
The above wrapping machine is a system in which an object to be packaged is pushed up from below on a stretched film, a system in which a film stretched from above on a package to be held in a predetermined position is lowered, and a cylinder A so-called pillow method in which an object to be packaged is inserted into a film and the opening end is heat sealed, or a top seal method in which an object to be packaged is placed in a container and the upper surface of the container is sealed may be used. Moreover, any flow direction (front loading / discharging before, discharging before / after discharge, etc.) may be used.

  According to the above means, when the article to be packaged is detected by the first sensor arranged in the vicinity of the stopper means (for example, shutter) of the carry-in device preceding the packaging machine, the target packaging number input and set in the packaging machine is reached. When the number of packages is counted and the count reaches the target number of packages, this is output to the carry-in device to operate (close) the stopper means that regulates the transport of the package, so the next package Is not carried into the packaging machine, the number of packages can be prevented from being mistaken, and the number of packages can be managed accurately.

In addition, a receiving unit that receives from the loading device that the size data is determined to be invalid packaging control data may be provided, and control may be performed to restore the one count based on the signal. Claim 8).
According to the above means, even when setting the target number of packages to be packed by the packaging machine and counting the number of packages toward that number, when the size data is invalid, it will not be packaged. By returning to the original, the correct number of packages can be counted. In addition, when the packaging machine receives a packaged signal, the method for counting the number of packages is a method of subtracting 1 from the target number of packages (down-count method). Any of the methods (up-count method) of adding another packaging number in the plus direction from 0 and continuing the accumulation until it becomes the same as the target number of packaging may be used.
As a result, when the size data is invalidated, the number to be wrapped is incremented by "1", so the packaged items are removed before passing through the first sensor and being carried into the packaging machine. Even in such a case, the number to be packed can be accurately controlled.

The carrying-in apparatus of the present invention can determine whether the article to be packaged conveyed on the conveying conveyor has been correctly conveyed or not conveyed by the configuration described in claim 1, and is measured when it is not conveyed. Even if the package data is removed from the loading device after centering, the size data of the abnormal package will not be sent to the packaging machine, and no packaging error will occur. The packaging machine does not stop, and as a result, the operation can be continued without stopping the conveyance line.
In the case of the configuration described in claim 2, since the size (width dimension) is measured simultaneously with the centering, it is not necessary to intentionally provide time for measuring the size, so that the processing can be speeded up. The structure can also be simplified.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the size data is invalidated, no packaging is performed. Therefore, the correct number of packages can be counted by returning the counted number to the original value.
Furthermore, according to the configuration of claim 4, when the target number of packages is reached, the conveyance of the package is regulated by the stopper means, so that it is reliably prevented that the package is packed more than the target number of packages. it can.
Further, according to the configuration of claim 5, when an operator discovers that there is an abnormality in the package between the second sensor and the third sensor, and the package is removed from the conveyor, Since the size data temporarily stored in the storage means is invalidated, the size data of the article to be packaged removed from the conveyor is not transmitted to the packaging machine, and therefore no packaging error occurs. Thereby, the packaging machine can continue the packaging operation without stopping.
Further, according to the structure of the sixth aspect, after passing the position of the third sensor (detection ON), there is no occurrence of an error in conveying the packaged object, and thus no packaging error occurs, and stable packaging operation is performed. Can be secured.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the target number of packages has been reached, the transport of the packaged items continues to be regulated by the stopper means. It will not be done. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the number of packages from being mistaken and to accurately manage the number of packages.
Further, according to the configuration of the eighth aspect, when the size data is invalidated, the packaging is not performed. Therefore, the correct number of packaging can be counted by returning the counted number to the original. Therefore, the number to be packaged can be accurately managed even when the article to be packaged is removed before passing through the first sensor and before being carried into the packaging machine.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view in which a carry-in device is continuously arranged at a carry-in port of a stretch wrapping machine, in which A is a carry-in device and B is a stretch wrapping machine. And, for example, meat is processed in the vicinity of the carry-in device or in the preceding stage, and the processed meat is placed on the tray, and the tray is placed on the carry-in device, so that it is successively put into the stretch wrapping machine. It is conveyed.
The carry-in device A is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport conveyor 1 from the position where the centering member 2 is disposed, and the centering member 2 disposed on the start end side of the transport conveyor 1. The stopper means 3 for restricting the transport of the packaged article W, the first sensor 4 arranged on the side in the width direction of the conveyor 1 near the stopper means 3, and the conveyor 1 from the installation position of the first sensor 4 The second sensor 5, the third sensor 6 and the control means 7 for controlling the operation of each member are sequentially arranged on the side in the width direction of the conveyor 1 toward the downstream side in the transport direction.

The conveyor 1 includes a first conveyor 1a composed of a wide belt conveyor, a second conveyor 1b in which narrow belts are arranged in parallel in the width direction, and a narrow width similar to the second conveyor 1b. The belt is arranged in parallel, and is constituted by a third conveyor 1c having an engagement protrusion 8 fixedly provided on the outer peripheral surface of the belt, and the belt of the third conveyor 1c is that of the second conveyor. It is arranged between the belts, the start end positions of the second conveyor 1b and the third conveyor 1c are the same, and the end side is formed long so that the third conveyor 1c protrudes forward in the transport direction from the end position of the second conveyor 1b. .
The first conveyor 1a to the third conveyor 1c constituting the conveyor 1 are all driven by a stepping motor.
Furthermore, the rotation speeds of the second conveyor 1b and the third conveyor 1c are set faster than the rotation speed of the first conveyor 1a. In addition, the rotational speed of the 2nd conveyor 1b and the 3rd conveyor 1c is set to the same speed.

Above the transport path of the first conveyor 1a of the transport conveyor 1, the article W to be packaged supplied to the first conveyor 1a is placed at a predetermined position in the transport path width direction of the first conveyor 1a, for example, the center position in the width direction. A centering member 2 for measuring the width dimension of the article W to be packaged is disposed at the same time as position restriction (correction).
The centering member 2 is arranged to face both sides in the width direction of the transport path of the first conveyor 1a, and is configured to slide toward the center position in the width direction by a slide mechanism that combines a stepping motor and a ball screw mechanism. The position W of the package W is regulated (corrected) to a predetermined position in the width direction of the transport path by moving from the lateral position (initial position) of the transport path toward the center of the transport path, and at the same time, according to the amount of movement from the initial position. The width dimension of the article W to be packaged can be measured. Note that the measured width data of the article W is temporarily stored in a storage unit to be described later, and is used as packaging control data for a packaging operation by the stretch packaging machine B arranged continuously.

The said stopper means 3 is arrange | positioned between the termination | terminus part of the 1st conveyor 1a which comprises the said conveyance conveyor 1, and the start end part of the 2nd conveyor 1b and the 3rd conveyor 1c, and regulates the conveyance space | interval of the to-be-packaged goods W ( Adjustment).
The stopper means 3 is composed of a shutter 3a that protrudes up and down with respect to the transport surface of the transport conveyor 1, and the shutter 3a can be driven up and down by a drive mechanism comprising a combination of a stepping motor and a link mechanism. It is configured. The upper and lower sides of the shutter 3a are controlled by a detection signal of a first sensor 4 described later.

  The first sensor 4 is composed of an optical fiber sensor or a photoelectric sensor, and sandwiches a conveyance path between the side portions of the conveyance conveyor 1 in the vicinity of the stopper means 3 (in the illustrated embodiment, slightly before the stopper means). It is arranged oppositely, and it is detected whether or not the article to be packaged W exists at a position before the shutter 3a of the stopper means 3. When the first sensor 4 detects the article to be packaged W, the detection signal drives / stops the first conveyor 1a of the conveyor 1, drives / stops the centering member 2, and opens / closes the stopper means 3. Is to be controlled.

Like the first sensor 4, the second sensor 5 is composed of an optical fiber sensor or a photoelectric sensor, and the second sensor 5 is disposed on the side of the transport path of the second conveyor 1b and the third conveyor 1c downstream from the stopper means 3. Oppositely arranged across the conveyance path.
Then, the second sensor 5 is transported from the first conveyor 1a to the second conveyor 1b and the third conveyor 1c by the first sensor 4 and is detected by the first sensor 4. The time until the second sensor 5 is turned on by the article to be packaged or turned off within a predetermined time after the detection is detected. Thereby, it is determined whether or not the article W to be packaged conveyed by the carrying-in means A is a regular article to be packaged. That is, it is checked whether or not the sensor is turned off after it has been turned on for a certain period of time after the sensor detects the tip of the package. Thereby, it is judged whether it is an article to be packaged or just garbage.

The third sensor 6 includes a height sensor 6a that measures the height of the package W and a depth sensor 6b that measures the depth of the package W. The height sensor 6a includes a plurality of photoelectric sensors. The depth sensor 6b is composed of an optical fiber sensor, and is disposed on the lowermost side of the height sensor 6a.
And if either the height sensor 6a or the depth sensor 6b detects the package W, it shall be detected by the third sensor 6.

The stretch wrapping machine B arranged continuously with the carry-in device A pushes up the package from below on the film stretched on the packaging unit, covers the upper surface of the package with the film, and covers the periphery of the film. It is a well-known stretch wrapping machine that folds and wraps on the bottom side of the package, and is a wrapping machine in which the flow direction of the package W is a front carry-in / back discharge.
Hereinafter, the structure of the stretch wrapping machine B will be briefly described. In the front part of the machine frame 9, the article W to be packaged conveyed by the carry-in device A is disposed below the packaging part 10 provided inside the packaging machine. An infeed conveyor 12 that conveys to the elevator 11 is disposed, and a measuring instrument 43 that measures the weight of the packaged object W is disposed on the start end side in the conveyance direction of the infeed conveyor 12. It is configured so that it can be weighed.

Further, the elevator 11 disposed on the end side in the conveying direction of the infeed conveyor 12 has a head member for mounting the article W to be packaged between a plurality of parallelly arranged belts constituting the infeed conveyor 12. The to-be-packaged object W that is configured to protrude and is conveyed onto the elevator 11 by the rotation of the infeed conveyor 12 is pushed up with respect to the film stretched on the packaging unit 10 by the lift of the elevator 11. The upper surface of the article to be packaged W is configured to be covered with a film.
A packaging unit 10 is provided above the elevator 11, and is set in the film roll placement unit 13 and the film roll placement unit 13 on the side of the packaging unit 10 (in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the infeed conveyor). A film holding portion (not shown) for holding the tip of the film 14 ′ fed out from the film roll 14 is provided, the film holding portion holds the tip of the film 14 ′, pulls it out, and transfers it to the packaging portion 10. A mechanism 15 is disposed in proximity to the tip of the film holder.

Above the film feed mechanism 15, left and right folding members 16, 16 ′ that fold the periphery of the film 14 ′ covering the top surface of the package W by the elevation of the elevator 11 to the bottom surface side of the package W, a rear folding member 17, A discharge pusher 18 and a front folding roller 19 are arranged. A heat seal device 20 is disposed in the carry-out portion in front of the front folding roller 19 so that the peripheral portion of the film 14 ′ folded on the bottom surface side of the article W can be heat sealed.
The left and right folding members 16, 16 ′ are disposed above the rear folding member 17 that folds the film periphery in a direction perpendicular to the periphery.
Further, a display operation unit 21 is disposed above the front portion of the machine casing 9, and a label printing application device 22 is disposed in the vicinity of the carry-out unit (heat seal device 20) from which the packaged article W ′ is discharged.

FIG. 3 shows the electrical configuration of the carry-in device A and the stretch wrapping machine B described above, and the carry-in device control means 7 controls the mechanism part of the carry-in device A and is controlled by the CPU 22. On the other hand, the packaging device control unit 35 controls the mechanical unit of the stretch packaging machine B, is controlled by the CPU 36, is connected to the communication interface of the carry-in device A via the communication interface (INF), and communicates with each other. To get.
<Import device control unit>
A ROM 23, a RAM 24, a communication interface (INF) 25, and an I / O port 26 are connected to the CPU 22 via a bus 22a.
The ROM 23 has a program executed by the CPU 22, a first sensor 4, a second sensor 5, a third sensor 6, a carry-in conveyor 1 (first conveyor 1 a, second conveyor 1 b, third conveyor 1 c), and a centering member 2. A drive control data table for the stopper means 3 is stored.
The RAM 24 stores various registers and flag areas used when the CPU 22 executes the control data table of the ROM 23. That is, the width data of the package W measured by the centering member 2 and the height data and depth data of the package W measured by the third sensor 6 are stored in a predetermined area (see FIG. 4). It transmits to the stretch wrapping machine B side via the communication interface (INF) 25.

The communication interface (INF) 25 is a communication interface between the carry-in device A and the stretch packaging machine B for transmitting and receiving signals from the CPU on the packaging machine side when operating in a communication state with the stretch packaging machine B. .
The I / O port 26 conceptually shows the entire mechanism portion of the loading device A controlled by the CPU 22, and a part related to the present invention is a drive control circuit for a motor that drives the first conveyor 1a. 27, a motor drive control circuit 28 for driving the second conveyor 1b, a motor drive control circuit 29 for driving the third conveyor 1c, a motor drive control circuit 30 for driving the stopper means 3 (shutter) up and down, and the centering member 2 A motor drive control circuit 31, a first sensor control circuit 32, a second sensor control circuit 33, and a third sensor control circuit 34 are connected to drive the motor in the width direction of the transport path.
The first sensor control circuit 32 is a circuit that outputs a detection signal to the CPU 22 when the first sensor 4 detects the article W to be packaged. The CPU 22 stops driving the first conveyor 1a and starts operating the centering member 2. And a down count signal is transmitted to the packaging device.
The second sensor circuit 33 is a circuit that outputs from the detection start (ON) to the detection end (OFF) of the article W to be packaged by the second sensor 5 to the CPU 22.
The third sensor circuit 34 is a circuit that outputs a detection signal of the article W to be packaged by the third sensor 6 to the CPU 22.

<Packaging device control unit>
The CPU 36 is connected with a ROM 37, a RAM 38, an operation unit 39, a display unit 40, a packaging control unit 41, and a communication interface (INF) 42 via a bus 36a.
The ROM 37 stores a program executed by the CPU 36 and a packaging control data table.
In the RAM 38, various registers and flags used when the CPU 36 executes the packaging control data table in the ROM 37, a preset data area in which various data are stored in advance for each packaged item (product), and results in which various results data are stored. It has a data area. For example, it has an area for storing the number to be packed and an area for storing size data (width data, height data, depth data) of an object to be package transmitted from the carry-in device.
It comprises an operation unit 39 (display operation unit 21), various switches for starting and stopping the packaging machine, a keyboard for inputting data, and the like.
The display unit 40 (display operation unit 21) is composed of a touch panel, and displays input data, preset data, and various messages based on commands from the CPU 36.
The packaging control unit 41 is a circuit for driving each mechanism unit of the stretch packaging machine when performing a packaging operation. For example, the infeed conveyor driving unit, the elevator driving unit, the film feed driving unit, and the left and right folding member driving unit In addition, a rear drive member drive unit, a discharge pusher drive unit, and the like are provided.
The communication interface (INF) 42 is a communication interface between the carry-in device A and the stretch wrapping machine B for transmitting and receiving signals from the CPU 22 of the carry-in device A when operating in the communication state with the carry-in device A.

Next, the operation of transporting the article to be packaged W by the above-described carrying-in apparatus A and packaging by the stretch packaging machine B will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The illustrated flowchart is an example in which the target number of packages is input by the stretch wrapping machine B, and the number of packages is counted down each time packaging is performed.
(S1)... The article to be packaged W is placed and conveyed on the first conveyor 1a to be driven. Then, the object to be conveyed W hits the stopper means (shutter) 3 arranged on the terminal end side of the first conveyor 1a, and the conveyance is stopped. The stopper means (shutter) 3 is normally in a closed state.
(S2)... The first sensor 4 disposed in the vicinity of the stopper means (shutter) 3 detects the article W to be packaged stopped by the stopper means 3.
(S3) ... When the article W is detected by the first sensor 4 , a signal for counting down from the target number of packages by one is transmitted from the CPU 22 of the carry-in device A to the CPU 36 of the packaging device B.
(S4) ... The rotation of the first conveyor 1a that conveys the article W to be packaged is stopped.
(S5)... The centering member 2 installed above the first conveyor 1a is activated, and the centering of the article W to be packaged that stops on the stopped first conveyor is started. Simultaneously with this centering, the width of the article to be packaged W is measured, and the width data of the article to be packaged W is calculated. Then, the lateral width data is temporarily stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 24. (For example, 150mm)
(S6)... The stopper means (shutter) 3 is opened (lowered) when a predetermined time has elapsed since the first sensor 4 detected the package W in (S2).

(S7) ... The first conveyor 1a and the second conveyor 1b to be stopped are driven. The rotational speed of the second conveyor 1b is set faster than the rotational speed of the first conveyor 1a. As a result, the article to be packaged W that has passed through the stopper means (shutter) 3 is reliably separated from the continuous article to be packaged W, and the subsequent article to be packaged W is blocked and waited by the closing movement (raising) of the stopper means 3. The timing for closing (raising) the stopper means 3 depends on the number of pulses output from the stepping motor that drives the second conveyor 1b.
(S8)... The package W is detected by the second sensor 5 within a predetermined time after the first sensor 4 detects the package W in (S2) (the leading end of the package W is detected), and the package is packed. It is determined whether the rear end of the object W has been detected. That is, it is checked whether the second sensor 5 has been turned on for a certain period of time after the second sensor 5 is turned on and then turned off. As a result, it is simply determined whether to detect dust or the like other than the object to be packaged and to detect a normal object to be packaged. If this determination is YES, go to (S9), and if NO, go to (S13).
(S9) ... When the second sensor 5 detects that the article is a regular package W and the rear end of the package W is detected (OFF), the third conveyor 1c is driven to engage the conveyor. The article to be packaged W is conveyed downstream by the joint protrusion 8. At this time, the second conveyor 1b is also driven at the same speed as the third conveyor 1c.
(S10) ... It is determined whether or not the package W is detected by the third sensor 6 within a predetermined time after the package W is detected in (S8). (Time to pass the package W: The height data and depth data of the package W are calculated based on the time from ON to OFF, and temporarily stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 24 (for example, height 40 mm, depth 150 mm). )). If the determination result is YES, go to (S11), and if NO, go to (S13).

(S11)... When the article to be packaged W is conveyed by being pushed by the engagement protrusion 8 of the third conveyor 1c and the article to be packaged W is removed from the detection range of the third sensor 6 , it is temporarily stored in (S5). The width data (150 mm) and the height data and depth data (40 mm, 150 mm) calculated in (S10) are transmitted to the packaging device via the communication INF. The size data of the package W received by the packaging device is temporarily stored in the packaging device RAM 38, the film feed amount is determined based on the packaging control data for each size of the package W stored in the ROM 37, and the packaging is performed. Control the device. In the case of (S15), the third conveyor 1c is driven, and the width data, the height data, and the depth data are all given a predetermined time after the engaging protrusion 8 of the conveyor 1c passes the third sensor 6. “0 (zero)” is transmitted.
(S12)... It is determined whether or not an object to be packaged is detected by the first sensor 4. If YES, the process returns to (S3) and repeats the above process.
(S13)... (S8), if timed out, if (S10) timed out, the width data (150 mm) temporarily stored in (S5) is set to “0 (zero)”.
(S14) ... A signal for counting up the number to be packaged by 1 is transmitted to the packaging device.
(S15) ... The third conveyor 1c is driven.

Even if the package W is removed from the transport conveyor 1 during the transport of the package W by the carry-in device A, the size data transmitted to the stretch wrapping machine is “0 (zero)” data is transmitted for all of the height and depth, and only the width data is measured, and abnormal data of “0 (zero)” is transmitted for each of the height and depth data. Therefore, the stretch wrapping machine determines that the article W has not been conveyed, and the stretch wrapping machine does not stop due to a packaging error.
Further, even when the packaged item is removed after centering, the number to be packed can be adjusted to the correct number.

Further, by counting down with the first sensor 4 arranged in front of the stopper means (shutter) 3, when the set number to be packaged becomes “0 (zero)”, the first sensor 4 Even if the package W is detected, the stopper means (shutter) 3 can be prevented from being lowered, and the packages to be packaged are not carried into the packaging machine.

  The above example is an example in which the number to be wrapped is set in advance and counted down one by one from the number to be wrapped. Even when the number to be wrapped is not set, only the width data (for example, 150, 0, 0) is used. ) Is not transmitted as it is, and the data is transmitted to the stretch wrapping machine as (0, 0, 0) in (S13). Therefore, the stretch wrapping machine determines that the package has not been carried in, and an error occurs. There is nothing.

Below, the flowchart of CPU of the stretch packaging machine side is demonstrated based on FIG.
(S21)... The target number of packages to be packed is input using the numeric keys of the operation unit 39 in a predetermined mode of the stretch wrapping machine, and stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 38.
(S22)... Each time the first sensor of the carry-in device detects an object to be packaged, a command for subtracting one from the target number of packages stored in (S21) is received from the CPU 22 of the carry-in device and stored in (S21). Subtract 1 from the target number of packages.
(S23) ... It is determined whether a command for adding the target number of packages by 1 is received from the CPU 22 of the carry-in device. In the case of YES, 1 is added to the target number of packages subtracted in (S22), and the reception of the downcount signal from the carry-in device is waited for. If NO, the process proceeds to (S24).
(S24) ... It is determined whether or not the target number of packages stored in (S21) is zero. If yes, go to (S25). In the case of NO, it waits for a down count signal from the carry-in device.
(S25) ... Since the target number of packages is zero and the number of packages to be packed has been carried in, the stopper means (shutter) 3 is not lowered to the CPU 22 of the carry-in device, that is, the first sensor 4 Even if the package is detected, a signal is transmitted so as to keep the closed state.

  By the above operation, the objects to be packaged exceeding the target number of packages are not carried into the stretch wrapping machine, so that the number of packages exceeding the target number of packages can be prevented from being packed. In addition, even if the package is removed during the transport after the first sensor 4 detects the package, the subtracted packaging machine is added to return it to the original position, so that the correct packaging You can manage the number.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed without changing the gist of the present invention.
(1) The packaging machine connected and arranged to the carry-in device is not limited to the illustrated form, and the mechanism such as the packaging method and the flow direction of the article to be packaged is not limited.
(2) In the illustrated embodiment, both the first sensor and the second sensor are arranged on the side in the width direction of the conveyor, but may be detected by being arranged above the conveyor.
(3) The stretch wrapping machine may be a device that does not include a measuring instrument on the in-feed conveyor, but only wraps it.
(4) The third sensor is configured by arranging a height sensor and a depth sensor in a vertical row, and if either the height sensor or the depth sensor detects an object to be packaged, the third sensor is detected. When both the height sensor and the depth sensor detect an object to be packaged, the third sensor may be detected.
(5) A dedicated sensor is provided as a third sensor (packaged object detection), and a sensor for detecting the height and depth dimensions of the packaged object is provided separately immediately after the dedicated sensor (downstream side). Also good.
(6) The illustrated embodiment is an example in which the first sensor to the third sensor are arranged. However, when the third sensor is not provided, the height dimension and the depth dimension are simultaneously detected as the second sensor as the second sensor. You may comprise combining a height sensor and a depth sensor so that it can detect.
(7) The embodiment is an example in which the centering member and the width measuring means are integrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the centering member and the width measuring means are separate members, and the packaged object is centered. The width may be measured by an imaging means such as a camera immediately before the image is recorded.
(8) In the illustrated embodiment, the stopper means and the first sensor are disposed in the vicinity of the downstream side of the centering member. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the position of the stopper means and the first sensor is maintained while the position of the stopper means and the first sensor is maintained. You may arrange | position in the side vicinity. In that case, when the horizontal width measuring means is an imaging means such as a camera separate from the centering member, the position where the horizontal width measuring means is arranged is (a) the same position as the first sensor or near the upstream side of the first sensor. (B) It may be between the stopper means and the centering member, or (c) between the centering member and the second sensor. In short, the width is measured upstream of the second sensor. Just do it.

The schematic side view which shows the state which arranged and arranged the carrying-in apparatus which concerns on this invention on the packaging machine. The schematic plan view which shows the structure of a carrying-in apparatus. The block diagram which shows the electrical structure of a carrying-in apparatus and a packaging machine. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of RAM in the control means of a carrying-in apparatus. The flowchart figure which shows the process of a carrying-in apparatus. The flowchart figure which shows the process by the side of a stretch packaging machine.

Explanation of symbols

A ... Loading device B ... Stretch packaging machine (packaging machine)
W: Packaged object 1 ... Conveyor 2 ... Centering member 3 ... Stopper means (shutter)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 ... 1st sensor 5 ... 2nd sensor 6 ... 3rd sensor 7 ... Control means of carry-in apparatus 24 ... RAM (memory | storage means) 35 ... Control means of packaging machine 25 ... Communication INF of carry-in apparatus 38 ... RAM (memory | storage means) )
42 ... Communication machine INF for packaging machines

Claims (8)

A carry-in device for carrying a packaged article into a packaging machine,
A transport conveyor for transporting the items to be packed toward the packaging machine;
A centering member for regulating the position of the article to be packaged conveyed by the conveyor in the width direction of the conveyor;
Stopper means provided in the vicinity of the centering member, for restricting the conveyance of an object to be packaged conveyed by a conveyer and releasing the restriction;
A first sensor which is provided in the vicinity of the upstream side of the stopper means and detects an object to be packaged conveyed by a conveyor;
A second sensor that is provided downstream of the first sensor and downstream of the centering member and detects an object to be packaged conveyed by a conveyor;
A size measuring means provided on the upstream side of the second sensor for measuring the size of the article to be wrapped;
Storage means for temporarily storing size data measured by the size measuring means;
When the packaged object is not detected by the second sensor within a predetermined time after the packaged object is detected by the first sensor, the size data temporarily stored in the storage means is used as invalid packaging control data. Control means;
A carrying-in apparatus comprising:   The carry-in apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size dimension is a lateral width corresponding to a width direction of the conveyor, and the centering member also serves as the size measuring unit. The packaging machine includes a setting unit that sets a target number of packages to be packaged, and a counting unit that counts the number of packages toward the target number of packages,
When an object to be packaged is detected by the first sensor, a transmission unit that transmits a signal to the packaging machine to count one as the number of packages;
The control means transmits a signal for causing the temporarily stored size data to be zero and returning the counted number of packages to one unit to the packaging machine. The carrying-in apparatus according to 1.   When it is determined that the number of packages counted by the counting unit has reached the set target number of packages, a signal is received from the packaging machine that causes the stopper unit to continue to regulate the conveyance of the packaged object. 4. The carrying-in apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means. Downstream from the second sensor, any of the width, height, and depth dimensions of the article to be packaged conveyed by the conveyor, and dimensions other than the size dimension measured by the size measuring means A third sensor for measuring
When the object to be packaged is detected by the second sensor within a predetermined time from the detection by the first sensor, and then the object to be packaged is detected by the third sensor within the predetermined time. Only the size data temporarily stored in the storage means and the size data measured by the third sensor are used as effective packaging control data, and the third sensor is wrapped within a predetermined time from detection by the second sensor. 2. The carrying-in apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that uses the size data temporarily stored in the storage unit as invalid packaging control data when an object is not detected.   The carry-in apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the third sensor is arranged in the vicinity of a carry-in port of a packaging machine that is continuously arranged on the downstream side of the conveyer. In the packaging machine which carries in and packs the to-be-packaged goods conveyed from the carrying-in apparatus of the said Claim 1,
A setting means for setting a target number of packages to be packed;
Storage means for storing the set target number of packages;
Receiving means for receiving, from the carry-in device, a signal indicating that one package has been wrapped when the first sensor detects a packaged item;
Based on the received signal, the number of packages is counted by one, and when it is determined that the target number of packages has been reached, control is performed so as to send a signal to the carry-in device to continue to regulate the conveyance of the package by the stopper means. A packaging machine characterized by   8. A receiving means for receiving from the carry-in device that the size data has been determined to be invalid packaging control data, and performing control to restore the one count based on the signal. The packaging machine described.

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