JP6125951B2 - Exterior film insertion device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an exterior film insertion device for inserting an article such as a bandage into an exterior film.

  For example, bandages, poultices, tea bags, and the like are housed and packaged in an exterior film in order to prevent oxidation and quality deterioration (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the configuration of the invention described in Patent Document 1, the packaging material (corresponding to the exterior film of the present invention) is folded in half, and is supplied in a state where the upper end is open and the lower end is sealed. A shooter, a point seal member, a first seal device, and a second seal device, in which a lower end portion is inserted into an upper end opening portion of the packaging material and drops an article (an article of the present invention) into the packaging material. A cutting device and the like are sequentially arranged.

Japanese Patent No. 3161880

  In the configuration of the invention of Patent Document 1, the contents are put into the packaging material from the shooter. In this configuration, there is a possibility that the contents will be shifted in the packaging material when the contents are charged. As described above, when the contents are displaced from the original loading position in the packaging material, there is a problem that the contents may be caught in the sealing position when sealing by the sealing device.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has an exterior film transporting means for transporting a folded exterior film and a pair of openable and closable grip members, and grips an article to provide the exterior film. An insertion gripper for inserting the article into the exterior film from the opening side, a moving means for moving the insertion gripper , a sealing means for sealing the exterior film, and a gripping means for gripping the article from the outside of the exterior film. wherein the moving means, said article being gripped by the insertion gripper moves the insertion gripper to follow the movement to the exterior film in a state of being inserted into the outer package film, following the article is an exterior film while moving, the upstream side of a position where the article is inserted with sealing by the sealing means, depending on the gripping means Gripping the inserted the article in the exterior film from the outside of the casing film, while the article is gripped by said gripping means, is characterized in that the raising the insertion gripper from exterior film.

  Since the exterior film insertion device of the present invention is designed to seal the upstream side of the position where the adhesive bandage is inserted while inserting and moving the adhesive bandage into the exterior film by the insertion means, The bandage can be accurately positioned and inserted into the exterior film. Moreover, since positioning accuracy is good, since the clearance between the adhesive bandage and the exterior film can be reduced, there is an advantage that the size of the exterior film can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the overall configuration of the exterior film insertion apparatus in a simplified manner. Example 1 FIG. 2 is a plan view of the article supply unit. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a supply gripper for transferring an article to an insertion gripper. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a driving portion of the insertion gripper. FIG. 4A is a plan view, FIG. 4B is a front view, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the insertion operation of the adhesive bandage and the sealing process, and shows the first stage. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing operations and processes following FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing operations and processes following FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing operations and processes following FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing operations and processes following FIG.

  A roll of continuous belt-shaped exterior film wound around a feed roller, and the exterior film is unrolled and folded in half at the center in the longitudinal direction. The folded lower part forms the bottom and the upper part is open. Supply to film forming equipment. The adhesive bandage taken out of the magazine by the rotating arm on the upstream side is transferred to the insertion gripper for inserting the bandage into the exterior film via the supply gripper. The insertion gripper is capable of horizontal movement and vertical movement (elevation), and the insertion gripper is moved along a preset movement curve by controlling the movement in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. After the insertion gripper holding the adhesive bandage moves along the curve and inserts the adhesive bandage into the exterior film, the adhesive bandage is released to return to the adhesive bandage supply position.

  The exterior film forming apparatus is provided with a first seal unit and a second seal unit. These seal units are installed on the same base, move integrally with the movement of the exterior film, and then move backward. The first seal unit includes a first side seal heater for a first seal that seals the upstream side of the adhesive bandage inserted into the exterior unit, and an adhesive bandage inserted into the exterior film from the outside of the exterior film. A gripping means for gripping and a posture guide for guiding the side surface of the adhesive bandage inserted into the exterior film are provided. The second seal unit includes a top seal heater that seals the open upper portion of the exterior film, and a second side seal heater that second seals the portion sealed by the first side seal heater. .

  The insertion gripper moves, and the adhesive bandage received from the supply gripper is inserted into the inside from the opening side above the exterior film being conveyed. While the insertion gripper holding the adhesive bandage moves following the exterior film, the first seal unit approaches from both sides and seals the side of the adhesive bandage with the first side seal heater for the first seal. The adhesive bandage is held from the outside of the exterior film by the holding member. Thereafter, the insertion gripper releases the adhesive bandage and comes out of the exterior film and returns to the adhesive bandage supply position. When the insertion gripper is pulled out from the exterior film, the bandage is not lifted and displaced. When the exterior film further advances and the next adhesive bandage is inserted and the first seal is performed, the upper opening of the exterior film located on the front side is simultaneously sealed with the top seal heater of the second seal unit. At the same time, the second side seal heater is used to perform the second seal on the portion that has already been first sealed and moved forward.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. As the exterior film 2, a belt-like film is wound around the feed roller 4 in a roll shape, and is drawn from the feed roller 4 and supplied to the exterior film forming apparatus 10 through the feed rollers 6 and 8. A folding device 12 (not shown) such as a folding roller is disposed slightly upstream of the exterior film forming apparatus 10, and the belt-shaped exterior film 2 is folded in half. The folded exterior film 2 is continuously conveyed with the folded portion 2a on the lower side and the opening 2b on which the two exterior films 2 are superimposed facing upward.

  Articles inserted into the exterior film 2 (adhesive bandage 14 in this embodiment) are accommodated in a stacked state in the magazine 3 and are taken out one by one by the take-out means 5 and delivered to the supply gripper 16. . The take-out means 5 has four rotating arms 9 at equiangular intervals around the rotating shaft 7, and suction cups 11 for adsorbing the adhesive bandages 14 are attached to the rotating arms 9. The rotating shaft 7 is continuously rotating, and the suction cup 11 that has reached the front surface of the magazine 3 adsorbs the adhesive bandages 14 one by one and rotates them out.

  A supply gripper 16 is disposed at a position facing the magazine 3 with the take-out means 5 interposed therebetween. As shown in FIG. 3, the supply gripper 16 is attached to the moving cylinder 13, and receives the adhesive bandage 14 from the rotating arm 9 of the take-out means 5, and inserts the adhesive bandage 14 into the exterior film 2. The insertion means (insertion gripper 18) is movable to a supply position B for supplying the bandage 14 to the insertion means (insertion gripper 18). The supply gripper 16 is configured to open and close a pair of grip members by an opening / closing cylinder 15. The supply gripper 16 is configured to open and close the adhesive bandage 14 having been moved to the receiving position A by being sucked by the suction cup 11 of the take-out means 5. The lower part is gripped and received and moved to the supply position B to the insertion gripper 18.

  The insertion gripper 18 includes a pair of grip members 18A and 18B (see FIG. 4C) that are opened and closed by an opening / closing motor 20 (see FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C). The adhesive bandage 14 supplied by the supply gripper 16 is held between the grip members 18A and 18B from both sides. Each grip member 18A, 18B of the insertion gripper 18 has an upper mounting portion 18a and two leg portions 18b, 18c extending downward from the mounting portion 18a, and the space between the both leg portions 18b, 18c. This is a space 18d (see FIG. 5B). The both side portions of the upper portion of the adhesive bandage 14 are gripped by the both leg portions 18b and 18c of the both grip members 18A and 18B.

  The insertion gripper 18 can be moved horizontally and vertically (lifted / lowered) by moving means (servomotor 22 for horizontal movement, servomotor 24 for lifting / lowering) shown in FIGS. 4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (c). The driving means (not shown) controls the drive of both the servo motors 22 and 24 and combines the horizontal movement and the vertical movement of the insertion gripper 18 so that a predetermined movement curve (referenced to FIG. 5B) is obtained. The curve is moved along a curve indicated by C. Two parallel horizontal rails 28, 30 are fixed to the vertical mounting plate 26, and a vertically long movable plate 36 is supported so as to be laterally movable through sliders 32, 34 fitted to the horizontal rails 28, 30. Yes. The movable plate 36 is connected to a drive shaft of the lateral movement servomotor 22 via a rotation lever 38 and a link 40, and moves in the horizontal direction by driving the lateral movement servomotor 22.

  Further, a vertical rail 42 is fixed to the movable plate 36, and an insertion gripper mounting plate 46 is supported so as to be vertically movable via a slider 44 fitted to the vertical rail 42. The insertion gripper mounting plate 46 is connected to a drive shaft of the lifting servo motor 24 via a rotation lever 48 and a link 50, and moves up and down by driving the lifting servo motor 24.

  A first seal unit 52 and a second seal unit 54 are arranged in order from the upstream side in the conveyance path of the exterior film 2 (see FIG. 5). The first seal unit 52 and the second seal unit 54 are disposed on a base 56 installed below the conveyance path of the exterior film 2, and follow the movement of the exterior film 2 conveyed by the exterior film conveyance means. Then move and then move backwards. The seal units 52 and 54 are respectively disposed on both sides of the transport path of the exterior film 2 and can be moved forward and backward so as to approach and separate from each other in the transport direction of the exterior film 2.

  The first seal unit 52 includes a pair of first side seal heaters 58A and 58B that first seal the side of the exterior film 2 on the upstream side (upstream side in the transport direction of the exterior film 2) of the position where the adhesive bandage 14 is inserted. A pair of gripping means 60A, 60B for gripping the adhesive bandage 14 inserted into the exterior film 2 from the outside of the exterior film 2, and a pair of posture guides 62A for guiding the side surfaces of the adhesive bandage 14 inserted into the exterior film 2. 62B. The first side seal heaters 58A and 58B, the gripping means 60A and 60B, and the posture guides 62A and 62B are attached to a pair of upright mounting plates 64A and 64B respectively disposed on both sides of the conveyance path of the exterior film 2. , Are placed face to face. The mounting plates 64 on both sides are connected to the piston rods of the forward / backward movement air cylinders 66A, 66B, respectively, and are moved forward and backward integrally by the operation of the forward / backward movement air cylinders 66A, 66B so as to approach and separate from each other. Yes.

  The second seal unit 54 is disposed on the downstream side of the first seal unit 52 on the base 56 on which the first seal unit 52 is installed. The second seal unit 54 includes a top seal heater 68A, 68B that seals the upper end portion of the exterior film 2, and a second side seal heater that second seals the position sealed by the first side seal heater 58A, 58B. 70A and 70B. The top seal heaters 68A and 68B and the second side seal heaters 70A and 70B are attached to mounting plates 72A and 72B that are upright on both sides of the conveyance path of the exterior film 1, respectively, and are arranged face to face. The mounting plates 72A and 72B on both sides are connected to the piston rods of the forward / backward movement air cylinders 74A and 74B, respectively, so that the forward / backward movement air cylinders 74A and 74B can be moved forward and backward integrally to approach and separate from each other. It has become.

  The base 56 on which the first seal unit 52 and the second seal unit 54 are installed is connected to a nut 78 that is screwed into a ball screw 76 that is arranged in parallel with the conveying direction of the exterior film 2. Then, the ball screw 76 is rotated by driving the servo motor 80 for follow-up movement, so that it advances and retreats following the conveyance of the exterior film 2. Note that the first seal unit 52 and the second seal unit 54 may be arranged not on the same base 56 but on different bases that independently follow and move.

  The operation of the exterior film insertion device according to the above configuration will be described. The strip-shaped exterior film 2 wound around the feed roller 4 is drawn out, sent to the folding means 12 (not shown) via the feed rollers 6 and 8, and folded into two. In this embodiment, the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the exterior film 2 is bent and the both end portions are in a state of being overlapped on the upper side. The exterior film 2 is conveyed in a state where the bent lower portion 2a is the bottom and the upper portion 2b is opened, and is sent to the exterior film forming apparatus 10.

  In the adhesive bandage supply position B where the insertion gripper 18 for inserting the adhesive bandage 14 into the exterior film 2 receives the adhesive bandage 14, the adhesive bandage 14 taken out from the magazine 3 by the rotating arm 9 of the taking-out means 5 is lower by the supply gripper 16. Is supplied. The upper part of the adhesive bandage 14 whose lower part is held by the supply gripper 16 is gripped by the insertion gripper 18. The insertion gripper 18 has two grip members 18A and 18B on both sides. The grip members 18A and 18B are brought close to each other by a gripper opening / closing servo motor 20, and the bandage 14 is formed by two legs 18b and 18c. Is gripped in a state parallel to the conveying direction of the exterior film 2.

  When the insertion gripper 18 grips the adhesive bandage 14 (the state shown in FIG. 5B), the base 56 on which the first seal unit 52 and the second seal unit 54 are installed advances by the operation of the servo motor 80 for follow-up movement. It is in a position (moved downstream in the transport direction of the exterior film 2) (position in FIG. 5A). In the state shown in FIG. 5 (a), the first side seal heaters 58A and 58B of the first seal unit 52 are moved from both sides by the operation of the air cylinders 66A and 66B for the forward and backward movement of the first seal unit 52. The first seal is placed at a position on the rear side (upstream side in the conveying direction) of the bandage 14 (the bandage indicated by 14B in FIG. 5B) inserted into the exterior film 2 by the previous insertion operation. It has been broken. Accordingly, the bandage 14 (the bandage indicated by reference numeral 14A in FIG. 5B) held by the insertion gripper 18 in FIG. 5B is the first side seal heaters 58A and 58B in the state of FIG. Inserted upstream of the first sealed position.

  Further, in the state shown in FIG. 5A, the forward / backward movement air cylinders 74A and 74B of the second seal unit 54 are operated, and the top seal heaters 68A and 68B and the second side seal heater 70A of the second seal unit 54 are operated. 70B is brought close to each other and brought into contact with the exterior film 2 from both sides, and the upper end portion of the exterior film 2 where the front adhesive bandage 14 (the adhesive bandages indicated by 14C and 14D in FIG. 5B) is inserted is sealed. At the same time, the position where the first sealing is already performed on the front side (downstream in the transport direction of the exterior film 2) of the adhesive bandage 14 (the adhesive bandage indicated by reference numeral 14D in FIG. 5B) at the location is second-sealed.

  The insertion operation of the insertion gripper 18 is started from the state shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B (see FIG. 6B). Further, the base 56 on which the first seal unit 52 and the second seal unit 54 are installed is moved backward (moved to the upstream side in the transport direction of the exterior film 2), and the heaters 58A, 58B, 68A, 68B, 70A of both the seal units are moved. , 70B are retracted and separated (see FIG. 6A). The insertion gripper 18 moves along a preset movement curve C by controlling the drive of the lateral movement servo motor 22 and the elevation servo motor 24 shown in FIG. The bandage 14 is moved along the descending curve Ca (see FIG. 6B) and inserted into the exterior film 2. The adhesive bandage 14 is inserted on the rear side (upstream side in the conveyance direction) of the place where the first seal is performed by the first side seal heaters 58A and 58B in the previous operation. While the exterior film 2 is conveyed, the insertion gripper 18 moves downward while moving forward, and the base 56 is advanced following these operations (following from the position shown in FIG. 6A to the position shown in FIG. 7A). Move).

  When the insertion gripper 18 moves forward most and reaches the descending end, the entire bandage 14 (14A) is inserted into the exterior film 2 (see FIG. 7B). When the adhesive bandage 14A is inserted into the exterior film 2, the first seal unit 52 and the second seal unit 54 are actuated again, and the first side seal heaters 58A and 58B of the first seal unit 52 are inserted this time. The back side (upstream side in the transport direction) of the adhesive bandage 14A is first sealed. At this time, the adhesive bandage 14 is gripped from the outside of the exterior film 2 by the gripping means 60A and 60B advanced together with the first side seal heaters 58A and 58B, and the rear side of the adhesive bandage 14 is guided by the posture guides 62A and 62B. The gripping means 60A and 60B grip the bandage 14 in the space 18c between both the leg portions 18a and 18b of the insertion gripper 18. Further, the second seal unit 54 seals the upper ends of the adhesive bandages 14B and 14C inserted in the downstream portion of the exterior film 2 with the top seal heaters 68A and 68B, and is already in front of the adhesive bandage 14C. A second seal is performed at the sealed position by the second side seal heaters 70A and 70B (see FIGS. 7A and 7B).

  While the bandage 14 is held by the holding members 60A and 60B of the first seal unit 52 as described above, the insertion gripper 18 releases the bandage 14 and rises along the return side Cb of the preset movement curve C. While moving backward (see FIGS. 8A and 8B). Therefore, when the insertion gripper 18 comes out of the exterior film 2, there is no possibility of lifting the adhesive bandage 14 inserted into the exterior film 2.

  When the insertion gripper 18 returns to the original bandage supply position B, the next bandage 14 is supplied from the supply gripper 16 and transferred to the insertion gripper 18 (see FIGS. 9A and 9B). In the present embodiment, the second seal is performed by the second side seal heaters 70A and 70B at the position sealed by the first side seal heaters 58A and 58B. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The side seal may be performed only by the first side seal heaters 58A and 58B without arranging the two side seal heaters 70A and 70B. Alternatively, the first side seal heaters 58A and 58B and the gripping means 60A and 60B may be relatively movable, and the interval may be adjusted according to the size of the article to be handled.

2 exterior film 2b exterior film opening 14 bandage 18 insertion means (insertion gripper)
22 Moving means (servo motor for lateral movement)
24 Moving means (servo motor for vertical movement)
52 1st seal unit 54 2nd seal unit

Claims (1)

An exterior film transporting means for transporting the folded exterior film, and an insertion gripper having a pair of openable and closable grip members and gripping the article and inserting the article into the exterior film from the opening side of the exterior film; A moving means for moving the insertion gripper , a sealing means for sealing the exterior film, and a gripping means for gripping an article from the outside of the exterior film ,
Said moving means, said article being gripped by the insertion gripper moves the insertion gripper to follow the movement to the outer film in a state of being inserted into the outer film, the mobile tracking the articles in the exterior film During this process, the upstream side of the position where the article is inserted is sealed by the sealing means, and the article inserted into the exterior film by the gripping means is gripped from the outside of the exterior film, and the gripping means The insertion film gripper is lifted from the exterior film while the article is gripped by the exterior film insertion device.

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