JP5774950B2 - Cover film sealing device to tray - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sealing device that seals a cover film on an upper surface of a plastic tray, for example.

Conventionally, for example, the present applicant has provided a sealing device A configured as shown in FIG. 6 as a sealing device that covers and seals a transparent cover film on an upper surface of a polystyrene foam tray.
In the sealing device A, a plurality of sealing bases B are provided on the upper surface of the tray conveyor C, and a tray (not shown) containing an article to be packaged is placed on the sealing base B, from the upstream side to the downstream side (arrows). F1) is conveyed in a row, reversed to the back side, and further returned to the original upstream side. Although this conventional sealing device A is not shown in FIG. 6, a sealing table B having two sets of four holes extending in the width direction is provided on the upper surface of 7 sections [reference symbols (1) to (7). )], And one tray can be fitted into and placed in two sets of four holes of each seal base B.

  A cover film delivery roller D and a take-up roller E are arranged above the tray transport conveyor C, and the cover film G fed from the delivery roller D is delivered in the same direction as the tray flow direction (arrow F1). Then, it is wound up by the winding roller E. Sealing means H is disposed above the fifth section (5) of the conveyor C, and the upper surfaces of the four trays that are intermittently moved by the stop motion are simultaneously sealed by the sealing means H.

Registration No. 3144709 Utility Model Gazette

  However, in the conventional sealing device A, the cover film G fed out from the feed roller D is fed in the same direction as the tray flow direction and taken up by the take-up roller E. The number of (1) to (7) increases, and the size of the tray in the transport direction (the length in the longitudinal direction of the sealing device A) must be increased accordingly. That is, it is necessary to arrange the sealing table B having two sets of four holes only on the upper surface of the conveyor C over the seven sections (1) to (7). And the same sealing stand B as the said upper surface is arrange | positioned also on the lower surface of the conveyor C over 7 sections (7)-(1). For this reason, the sealing device A is enlarged, and a large space is required for its installation.

In addition, in order to seal the upper surface of the four trays in a row at the same time, a cover film G having a large width (raw width of 500 mm) is required, and one roll is considerably heavy. It is difficult for a worker with weak work to work alone.
Furthermore, usually, as described above, in the sealing process of the cover film G made in the fifth section (5) by the sealing means H, two sets of four sealing bases B are fitted and placed. Seal all four trays. However, in the sealing operation, there may be a need for an irregular sealing operation that seals only one tray out of a set of two trays. Conventionally, one is normally sealed, Since the remaining one had to be sealed and discarded without being packaged, the cover film G was wasted.

  The present invention reduces the number of sections of the tray conveyor and shortens the longitudinal dimension of the sealing device, thereby reducing the size and installation space of the device and using a cover film with a small width. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a sealing device that can use a raw material having a light weight and that can eliminate the waste of the cover film even if it is necessary to seal only a part of the trays less than the regular one. is there.

  In the sealing device of the present invention, a tray supply conveyor that conveys a tray in which an article is to be packaged, and a plurality of seal stands that receive and support a plurality of trays on the tray supply conveyor in a row in a longitudinal direction. And a cover film that conveys a tray to the downstream side by intermittent operation at the same pitch, and a cover film that feeds and winds a strip-shaped cover film at an upper region of the tray conveyance conveyor by intermittent operation at a predetermined pitch Feeding and winding means, and a sealing frame for welding the cover film to the tray by disposing the cover film on the upper area of the cover film and in a seal section that overlaps the upper area of the tray conveyor A sealing means comprising: a sealed tray having a cover film welded to the downstream side of the tray conveyor And a carry-out means for receiving and carrying out the cover film, wherein the cover film feeding / winding means is installed so as to feed the cover film in a direction crossing the tray carrying direction by the tray carrying conveyor. It is characterized by being made.

  In the present invention, the number of sections of the tray transfer conveyor can be reduced and the cover film having a small width can be used by feeding the cover film in the crossing direction with respect to the tray transfer direction by the tray transfer conveyor.

Even if the sealing device of the present invention sets the tray feeding direction of the tray feeding conveyor in the same direction as the cover film feeding direction of the cover film feeding and winding means, and seals a smaller number of trays. The cover film in the unsealed portion can be used in the next operation by constructing a structure in which a small number of trays in which an article is to be packaged are packed and sealed at the front end side in the cover film feeding direction of the seal base. According to this, even if it is necessary to seal only one tray, which is less than normal, for example, if this one tray is sealed by sealing it toward the front end in the cover film feed direction, the remaining two seals will be sealed. Since the cover film having the remaining length can be used in the next sealing operation, waste can be eliminated.
In addition, when the tray supply direction of the tray supply conveyor is set in a direction different from the cover film delivery direction of the cover film delivery / rewinding means, and a smaller number of trays are packaged, the cover film delivery / rewinding means feeds the tray. Even if the cover film corresponding to the tray is sent out, the waste of the cover film can be similarly reduced.

  In the sealing device of the present invention, it is desirable that the tray supply conveyor is arranged at a right angle to the tray conveyance direction. According to this, the longitudinal dimension of the sealing device can be positively shortened.

  By reducing the number of sections of the tray conveyor, the sealing device of the present invention shortens the longitudinal dimensions of the tray conveyor and the sealing device, and reduces the size of the sealing device and the installation space of the sealing device. In addition, the use of the raw material of the light cover film having a narrow weight can facilitate the replacement operation of the raw material. Further, even when a smaller number of trays are packaged, the cover film remaining without being sealed can be used, so that there is an effect that the waste of the cover film can be saved.

Overall plan view of the sealing device of the present invention Front view of the sealing device of the present invention Partial enlarged view of FIG. Side view of the sealing device of the present invention Overall plan view of another embodiment of the sealing device of the present invention Front view of conventional sealing device

Example 1
1 to 4, the sealing device 1 includes a tray supply conveyor 3 that conveys a plurality of trays 2 in which articles to be packaged are placed in cascade, and three tips on the front end side of the plurality of trays 2 on the tray supply conveyor 3. The trays 2 are pushed in a row in a row toward the standby section P1, and the three previous trays 2 already waiting in the standby section P1 are directed to the first lifting section P2 immediately downstream of the standby section P1. The tray push-in mechanism 4 that pushes in at once and the lift mechanism (not shown) arranged in the first elevating section P2 move up and down, wait on the upper moving top h1 (see FIG. 3), and then push in the tray push-in mechanism 4 And three elevators 5 for receiving and placing the three trays 2 pushed out by the above.

  The tray supply conveyor 3 is composed of a belt conveyor arranged at the uppermost stream end portion (the right end portion in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the sealing device 1 so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the later-described tray transfer conveyor 3, and the upper surface thereof is covered with a belt conveyor. The trays 2 containing the packages are sequentially placed and conveyed in a tandem shape from the upstream side to the downstream side (arrow f1). A baffle plate 14 is installed at the downstream end of the tray supply conveyor 3. For this reason, the tray 2 at the front end in the transport direction comes into contact with the baffle plate 14 and stops. As a result, the tray 2 at the front end in the transport direction and the tray 2 subsequent thereto stay in a row in the transport direction on the idle tray supply conveyor 3.

  The tray pushing mechanism 4 pushes the three trays 2 on the front end side collectively onto the upper surface of the mounting table 15 of the standby section P1 among the plurality of trays 2 that are staying in a row on the idle tray supply conveyor 3 ( Along with the arrow f2), the three trays 2 that have been pushed together are moved forward into the first elevating section P2 by collectively moving the three previous trays 2 that are already waiting on the mounting table 15. Immediately after that, it moves backward (arrow f3) and returns to the original position.

  The tray push-in mechanism 4 includes a locking portion 4a and a holding portion 4b that are simultaneously advanced and retracted (arrows f2 and f3) by an actuator (not shown). The locking portion 4a moves forward and pushes the first three trays 2 on the mounting table 15 into the first lifting section P2, but avoids contact with the waiting tray 2 on the waiting section P1 when retreating. In addition, the air cylinder (not shown) rotates the tip upward and retracts, and then retracts to return to the original position and posture. The holding unit 4b moves forward and pushes the three trays 2 on the front end side of the tray supply conveyor 3 into the upper surface of the mounting table 15, and then moves back horizontally to return to the original position. During the tray pushing operation, the tray 2 is stopped by the stopper means (not shown) so that the holding portion 4b can be moved backward as it is, and a space for the holding portion 4b to move backward is provided on the tray supply conveyor 3. After the holding portion 4b is retracted and returned to the original position, the tray 2 stopped by the stopper means is advanced, and the tray 2 at the front end in the conveying direction comes into contact with the baffle plate 14 and together with the subsequent tray 2 Then, the trays are allowed to stay in tandem on the idle tray supply conveyor 3 to complete the preparation for the next pushing of the three trays 2 on the front end side.

  However, when the holding portion 4b also moves backward (arrow f3), it may be rotated upward and retracted. In that case, since it is not necessary to wait for the tray 2 on the tray supply conveyor 3 by the stopper means, the holding unit 4b moves on the tray supply conveyor 3 that runs idle in the upper area of the tray 2 that has already stayed in the cascade. Then, it returns to its original posture and is ready for the next push.

  The sealing device 1 includes a tray conveyance conveyor 6. The tray transfer conveyor 6 is constituted by a chain conveyor including a pair of endless chains 6a on both sides in the width direction in which seven seal stands 60 are installed at intervals in the transfer direction corresponding to the transfer pitch P of the tray transfer conveyor 6. The respective sealing bases 60 can be sequentially stopped at the first elevating section P2 at the upstream end, the intermediate sealing section P4, and the second elevating section P3 at the downstream end on the tight side (upper side) of the endless chain 6a. The drive mechanism is intermittently driven by a drive mechanism (not shown). That is, the number of sections of the tray transfer conveyor 6 is reduced to three sections, that is, the first elevating section P2, the seal section P4, and the second elevating section P3.

  Each seal stand 60 is a rectangular dish with a frame that opens upward on the tight side of the endless chain 6a, and the bottom of the seal stand 60 allows the three lift stands 5 to move up and down in the first lift section P2. Three through holes 60a (see FIG. 1) are provided at equal intervals in the width direction. For this reason, the tray 2 placed on each lifting platform 5 is moved by the sealing table 60 in the process in which the lifting platform 5 descends from the upper movement top h1 (see FIG. 3) to the lower movement under-h2 (see FIG. 3). Received in bulk.

  The sealing device 1 includes a cover film feeding and winding means 7. The cover film feeding and winding means 7 is a belt-shaped transparent resin cover film F that crosses and straddles the upper area of the tray transport conveyor 6 in the seal section P4, and is wound out by intermittent operation at a predetermined pitch. A feed motor (motor) 7a that feeds intermittently by feeding a roll F1 of a cover film F wound in a roll, and after being fed from the feed motor 7a, seal means and tray transport described later By the cooperation with the seal stand 60 on the conveyor 6 side, a part of the cover film F is welded to the peripheral flange of the tray 2 and the winding side motor that intermittently winds up the scrap part F2 removed by trimming. (Motor) 7b, and the cover film F fed out from the feed-out motor 7a includes a plurality of direction change rollers, Is stretched in the roll group 7A, including Nsarora and the pinch roller, in a state in which a predetermined tension is applied, intermittently moved toward the scrap portion F2 side from raw F1 side.

  Cover film feeding and winding means 7 is installed so as to feed the cover film F in the crossing direction with respect to the direction of transport of the tray 2 by the tray transporting conveyor 6, and the number of sections of the tray transporting conveyor 6 as described above. Is reduced to three sections of the first elevating section P2, the sealing section P4, and the second elevating section P3, thereby shortening the longitudinal dimension of the tray transfer conveyor 6 and the sealing apparatus 1 and reducing the installation space of the sealing apparatus 1. It becomes possible to do. In addition, the cover film F is sent out in the crossing direction with respect to the transport direction of the tray 2, so that the cover film F having a small width dimension (raw width 240 mm) can be used. For this reason, since the weight of the raw fabric F1 becomes light, the installation work becomes easy.

  The sealing device 1 includes sealing means 8. The sealing means 8 is disposed in the upper section of the cover film F and in the sealing section P4 where the cover film F overlaps the upper area of the sealing stand 60 of the tray transport conveyor 6. This sealing means 8 is equipped with a seal frame 8a that moves up and down by the operation of a lifting mechanism (not shown) and a vacuum box 8b.

  By the downward movement of the seal frame 8a, the cover film F is pushed down on the seal table 60, and the heating sealer of the seal frame 8a is pressed against the peripheral flanges of the three trays 2 that are individually received and supported by the seal table 60. The cover film F is applied and welded to the peripheral flange, and the periphery of the peripheral flange is trimmed.

  In the vacuum box 8b, evacuation is started before the seal frame 8a presses the cover film F against the tray 2 on the seal table 60. The evacuation is performed simultaneously from the inside of the vacuum box 8b and the lower part of the sealing table 60, and the surroundings of the three trays 2 are made negative pressure. When the predetermined reduced pressure state is reached, the cover film F is pressed against the upper surface of the tray 2 to inject the atmosphere only into the vacuum box 8b, and the seal frame 8a presses the cover film F against the seal base 60. The cover film F is welded to the peripheral flanges of the three trays 2 and trimmed. As a result, the pressure on the seal table 60 side is negative, and only the upper vacuum box 8b is opened to atmospheric pressure, so that the cover film F adheres to the surface of the tray 2 and the packaged items in the tray 2 by the atmosphere. It becomes a so-called skin pack. The seal frame 8a side is also opened to the atmospheric pressure, and the vacuum box 8b returns to its original position and waits by an upward movement due to the operation of a lifting mechanism (not shown).

  On the carry-out side of the sealing device 1, three elevators 11, a tray push-out mechanism 12, and a carry-out conveyor (carrying means) 13 are provided. The three lifting platforms 11 are arranged in the second lifting section P3, and are lifted and lowered by an operation of a lifting mechanism (not shown), wait in a downward movement under h3 (see FIG. 3), and are moved downward. In the process of rising from h3 to the upper moving top h4 (see FIG. 3), the three sealed trays 2 held together by the sealing stand 60 of the tray conveyor 6 are the same height as the upper moving top h4. Are pushed up to the carry-out level 10 and supported. The vertical movement of the three lifting platforms 11 is allowed by the three through holes 60 a provided in the sealing table 60.

  The tray push-out mechanism 12 is pushed up to the carry-out level 10 and pushes out the three sealed trays 2 that are individually supported in a row by the three lifts 11 toward the upstream end of the carry-out conveyor 13. The tray push-out mechanism 12 moves forward and backward in the longitudinal direction of the sealing device 1 with a predetermined stroke by the operation of an actuator (not shown), and is locked to the sealed tray 2 when moving forward. An extrusion plate 12a that extrudes toward the upstream end is provided. When the three sealed trays 2 are pushed up to the carry-out level 10 by the three lifting platforms 11, the push-out plate 12a stands by at the standby position P5 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). While the plate 12a moves forward from the standby position P5 to the forward top P6 (see FIG. 2), reverses from this position and returns to the standby position P5, the three lift platforms 11 descend to the downward movement under-h3. stand by.

The carry-out conveyor 13 is a belt conveyor arranged to send out the tray from the tray conveyance conveyor 6 side at the most downstream end portion (left end portion in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the sealing device 1. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 16 denotes a conveyor, which sequentially receives the sealed trays 2 sent from the carry-out conveyor 13 and sends them out to a subsequent process such as a packing process.
(Example 2)

When sealing the cover film F on the upper surface of the tray 2, there must be an irregular sealing operation for packaging less than the regular number (three in this embodiment) of the tray 2 (one or two). There is. In that case, in the conventional example of FIG. 6, one or two must be properly sealed, and the rest must be sealed and discarded without containing the packaged items. Film F was wasted.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, when the tray 2 supply direction of the tray supply conveyor 3 is set in the same direction as the cover film F delivery direction of the cover film feeding and winding means 7, 1 The trays 2 are sealed by holding the one or two trays 2 at the front end side in the cover film F feeding direction of the sealing table 60. Naturally, the trimming of the seal frame 8a in the portion where the tray 2 is not fitted is not performed. By carrying out in this way, the cover film F having a length of two or one can be used in the next operation. Therefore, conventionally, the cover film F is wasted as much as it had to be discarded. Can be reduced. In FIG. 5, the same parts as those in FIG.

(Example 3)
As shown in FIG. 1, when the tray 2 supply direction of the tray supply conveyor 3 is set in the direction opposite to the cover film F delivery direction of the cover film feeding and winding means 7, 2 (one or two) is pushed into the seal table 60 side by the tray push-in mechanism 4, and the cover film F corresponding to the tray 2 (one or two) fed from the cover film feeding and winding means 7 is sent out. Also in this case, waste of the cover film F having a length of two or one can be reduced.

  As in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the tray supply conveyor 2 is disposed at a right angle to the conveying direction of the tray 2, thereby positively increasing the longitudinal dimension of the sealing device 1. Can be shortened.

  The sealing device of the present invention can be applied to a sealing device in which an article to be packaged such as fresh food is put in a polystyrene foam tray and sealed with a transparent cover film.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sealing device 2 Tray 3 Tray supply conveyor 5 Elevating table 6 Tray transporting conveyor 7 Cover film feeding and winding means 11 Elevating table 13 Unloading conveyor
60 Seal stand F Cover film P Conveyance pitch (pitch)
P2 First lifting section P3 Second lifting section P4 Seal section

Claims (4)

A tray supply conveyor for transporting a tray in which packages are placed;
A tray transporter that is equipped with a plurality of seal stands at a predetermined pitch in the longitudinal direction and that receives and supports a plurality of trays on the tray supply conveyor in a row in the longitudinal direction, and transports the trays to the downstream side by intermittent operation at the same pitch. A conveyor,
Cover film feeding and winding means for feeding and winding the belt-shaped cover film in an intermittent operation at a predetermined pitch in the upper area of the tray conveyor,
A sealing means comprising a sealing frame that is disposed in a lower section of the cover film and is disposed in a seal section that overlaps the upper area of the tray conveyor, and welds the cover film to the tray;
An unloading means for receiving and unloading the sealed tray with the cover film welded from the downstream side of the tray conveyor,
The sealing device, wherein the cover film feeding and winding means is installed so as to feed the cover film in a direction crossing the tray conveying direction by the tray conveying conveyor. When the tray supply direction of the tray supply conveyor is set in the same direction as the cover film delivery direction of the cover film feeding and winding means, and when packaging less than the regular number of trays, the trays to be packaged are sealed. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing device is sealed at a front end side in a cover film feeding direction of the table. When the tray supply direction of the tray supply conveyor is set in a direction different from the cover film delivery direction of the cover film delivery / rewinding means, and less than the regular number of trays are packaged, the tray is fed by the cover film delivery / rewinding means. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the cover film for the tray is sent out. The sealing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tray supply conveyor is disposed at a right angle to a conveyance direction of the tray.

Images