JP6551555B2 - Packaging equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention also relates to packaging equipment.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various packaging forms have been taken to reduce the amount of garbage by reducing the amount of containers and films used. For example, instead of a bulky tray, a sheet-like base material is used as a packaging member, an article (packaged material) placed on the base material is covered with a film, and the edge of the film is thermally welded to the surface of the base material There is known a heat-seal packaging apparatus capable of reducing the volume and weight of packaging members and the amount of film used by packaging (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, since the packaging form for packaging articles using trays is versatile in that it can correspond to the characteristics of various articles, a packaging apparatus for packaging articles placed on trays with film, and heat It may be used together with a seal packaging device. In such a case, the packaging form using the base material and the packaging form using the tray are mixed at the packaging site.

  As described above, when the two types of packaging forms are mixed at the packaging site, a situation in which the worker mistakenly packages an article using a tray as a packaging target of the heat seal packaging apparatus is fully conceivable. . Moreover, the opposite situation is also assumed in the two types of packaging forms.

  When such a situation occurs, there is a possibility of causing a failure or a malfunction of the packaging device.

JP 2012-046230 A

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, a simple structure, and an object thereof is to provide a packaging equipment capable of adequately controlling the packaging operation in accordance with the packaging member.

The packaging device according to the present invention has an upstream light emitting / receiving section that emits light on the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveying direction of the article carry-in section cradle and receives reflected light from a packaging member that is used for packaging an article to be packaged. And the downstream side light receiving and receiving portion, and the light receiving amount of the upstream side light receiving and receiving portion and the light receiving of the downstream side light receiving and receiving portion Detection means for detecting the sheet-like base material in a state in which the tray is specified in advance as a type of a packaging member, a detection means for detecting based on comparison with the amount, a packaging means for packaging the packaged object, Or a control means for prohibiting the packaging means from packaging an object to be packaged when the detection means detects the tray in a state where the sheet-like base material is specified in advance as the type of packaging member. That And butterflies.
Further, the upstream side light emitting / receiving unit and the downstream side light emitting / receiving unit are respectively positioned obliquely below the slits provided on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction of the article carry-in unit cradle, and light is transmitted through the slits. And the reflected light is received.

In the packaging apparatus according to the present invention, the apparatus further includes a weighing unit that weighs the mass of the package, and the control unit is the weighing unit in a state where the detection unit does not detect the packaging member. When the mass of the article to be packaged is weighed, the packaging means prohibits the packaging of the article to be packaged, and the control means until the article to be weighed by the weighing means is removed, It is characterized in that the packaging of the package by the packaging means is prohibited.
Further, the upstream side light emitting / receiving section detects the type and size of the packaging member, and the downstream side light emitting / receiving section detects the size of the packaging member.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when a packaging member that is not suitable for the packaging device is detected, the packaging operation is prohibited, so that the packaging device does not fail or malfunction. Details of the effect will be described later.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the article carry-in unit 20. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the main part of the configuration of the transport system of the article carry-in unit 20 and the operation thereof. FIGS. 4A to 4C are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining schematic configurations and operations of the package size / type sensor and the package size sensor provided in the article loading unit 20. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a case where a non-object NF containing an article W is placed on the tray T, which cannot be properly packaged by the packaging apparatus 100 in the article carry-in unit 20. is there. FIGS. 6A and 6B are waveform diagrams for explaining an example in the case of binarizing the light reception signal level of the package size / type sensor SS1 and the package size sensor SS2. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration view showing the table 11 positioned at the lower position of the table. FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration view showing the table 11 positioned at a position in the table. FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration view showing the table 11 positioned at a position on the table. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control unit 200 for controlling the operation of each unit in the packaging device 100. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a part of the process initially executed by the CPU 201 when the article F and the like are placed in the article loading unit 20.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
〔Example〕
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, the packaging device 100 is disposed on the left side when viewed from the front, and is disposed on the right side when viewed from the front and the packaging unit 110 that wraps the package F with a film, and an operator operates the packaging device 100. And a display / operation unit 120 to handle the Further, the display operation unit 120 also has a printing function of printing out a pricing label or the like.
The packaging unit 110 and the display operation unit 120 are integrally configured, and constitute the packaging apparatus 100 as a whole.

The packaging unit 110 includes an article carry-in unit 20 that conveys an article F to be packaged composed of a base material S, which is a sheet-like packaging member, and an article W placed on the base material S into the elevator unit 10. The heat seal unit 30 has a table (described later) on which the package item F loaded by the carry-in unit 20 is placed, and the heat seal unit 30 is packaged after moving up the table and moving to the heat seal unit 30 provided above. The article W placed on the base material S of the article F to be packaged F and the elevator unit 10 that lowers the table on which the article F (product) to be packaged after being lowered and sends it to the discharge table 40 rises. Covering with the film pulled out from the film roll 31 mounted on the upper part, the edge of the film is thermally welded to the surface of the base material S, and the heat seal unit 30 for packaging the article W with the film, and the elevator unit 10 An inclined portion 41 that receives the packaged article F (product) after being slid down from the table and is connected to the lowermost part of the inclined part 41 and holds the slid down packaged article F. And a discharge stand 40 and the like.

  The display operation unit 120 includes a screen display device for displaying various information to the operator and an operation device (touch panel device etc.) for the operator to operate each operation element of the display screen displayed on the screen display device. A display operation unit 50, a key input unit 60 for the operator to input various numerical information and the like, a printer unit 70 for printing out a pricing label and the like, and a pricing label printed out by the printer unit 70. The sheet discharge port 80 and the like are provided for discharging the sheet, etc.

Next, the article loading unit 20 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration view showing a schematic configuration of the article loading unit 20. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration view for explaining the main parts of the configuration of the transport system of the article loading unit 20 and the operation thereof. (C) to (c) and FIG. 5 are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining schematic configurations and operations of a package size / type sensor and a package size sensor provided in the article loading unit 20. The description also refers to FIG.

  The article loading section 20 generally has a box-like shape in which the upper end and the end on the downstream side in the transport direction are open (see FIG. 1), and on the left and right sides thereof The guide portions 21a and 21b that define the position are standing, and a cover portion 22 that also serves as a positioning portion that defines the position on the near side of the package F to be transported is provided on the upstream side (front side) in the transport direction. ing.

  The guide parts 21a and 21b have a flat upper end, and cooperate with the upper surface of the cover part 22 so that a worker who performs the packaging work also serves as a table on which the article F to be packaged before being transported is placed. Also serves as. And the guide which instruct | indicates the area | region (laying range) which the articles | goods W mounted on the base material S occupy on the upper surface of the guide part 21a about each of the to-be-packaged goods F (large and small) with two dimensions of a conveyance direction. A display GS is formed.

  The surface for transporting the article to be packaged F is arranged at a substantially central portion thereof, and has a cradle 23 having a wide flat surface, and a cradle having a narrow flat surface provided inside the vicinity of the guide portions 21a and 21b. 24a, 24b and the conveyor belts 25a, 25b. Further, the cradle 23 also serves as a weighing table for measuring the weight of the article F to be packaged.

The cradle 24a is provided with a slit SL1 through which the detection light of the package size / type sensor SS1 passes on the upstream side in the transport direction, and the detection light of the package size sensor SS2 on the downstream side in the transport direction. A slit SL2 is formed. A package size / type sensor SS1 is provided below the slit SL1, and a package size sensor SS2 is provided below the slit SL2. As the packaged object size / type sensor SS1 and the packaged object size sensor SS2, a reflective optical sensor is used.
Note that the slits SL1 and SL2, the package size / type sensor SS1, and the package size sensor SS2 may be provided on the receiving base 24b side.
In addition, the package size / type sensor SS1 and the package size sensor SS2 have a positional relationship in the conveying direction (sensor mounting pitch (mounting interval)) of the base material S of the minimum size that can be packaged by the packaging apparatus 100. It is attached so as to have a slightly wider pitch (interval).

  A conveying belt 25a is provided between the receiving stand 23 and the receiving stand 24a, and a conveying belt 25b is provided between the receiving stand 23 and the receiving stand 24b. In these transport belts 25a, 25b, claw portions 26aa, 26ba for pushing the front end of the packaged object F placed thereon are respectively transported belts 25a, 25b via L-shaped metal fittings 27aa, 27ba. It is attached to the aspect that rises from. Although not shown in FIG. 2, as described later, on the opposite side (lower side) of the transport belts 25a and 25b, the claws 26ab and 26bb are L-shaped at positions corresponding to the claws 26aa and 26ba. Are attached respectively (described later).

  The transport belt 25a and the transport belt 25b are interlocked and driven by the same drive source. FIG. 2 shows the positions of the claws 26aa and 26ba when the transport belts 25a and 25b are at the home position (described later). As described above, when the conveyor belts 25a and 25b are positioned at the home position, the conveyor belts are arranged such that the claws 26aa and 26ba are positioned upstream of the front end of the packaged object F in the conveyance direction. The attachment positions of the claws 26aa and 26ba at the positions 25a and 25b are determined.

  The table 11 of the elevator unit 10 is located on the downstream side of the article loading unit 20 in the transport direction. As described above, the table 11 of the elevator unit 10 is a position for receiving the packaged object F from the article loading unit 20 (in-table position), and a position for pushing up the packaged material F onto the heat seal unit 30 and packing (table top position) And, while being positioned in the height direction at any one of three positions at which the packaged object F after packaging is delivered to the discharge table 40 (table lower position), its inclination is determined (details will be described later). FIG. 2 shows a state in which the table 11 is positioned at the middle position of the table. In this case, the table 11 is positioned so that its inclination is substantially horizontal so as not to be an obstacle when receiving the package F.

  As described above, the inclination of the table 11 at the position in the table may be set within a certain range as long as it does not hinder the transport of the package F in the article loading unit 20. The height of the table 11 at the middle position of the table may be located below the surface for transporting the packaged product F, but the difference in height from the surface for transporting the packaged product F (step difference If the) is too large, the base material S of the package F is deformed by the weight of the product W depending on the type and the application range of the product W placed on the base material S, and the appearance of the package F after packaging is It is preferable that the step is not so large because it may become worse.

  The dimensions of the receiving table 23 and the transport belts 25a and 25b in the transport direction are determined so as to be positioned close to the front end of the table 11 so that the packaged object F can be smoothly moved to the table 11 during transport. The dimensions of the cradle 24a, 24b in the transport direction are such that when the larger article F is placed, the end of the article F does not protrude from the end of the cradle 24a, 24b. It has established.

  Further, as described above, when the table 11 is positioned at the middle position of the table, the downstream end of the transport belts 25a and 25b in the transport direction is positioned at the nearest position on the front side of the table 11, After the object F is moved to the table 11, if the conveyor belts 25a and 25b are further driven in the conveying direction in this state, the claws 26aa and 26ba and the end of the table 11 interfere with each other. It is preferable to drive the conveyor belts 25a and 25b during a period in which the belt 11 is moved from the table middle position to the table top position. For example, an operation sequence of “move the package object F to the table 11” → “raise the table 11” → “restart the driving of the transport belts 25a and 25b” can be adopted.

  Next, the drive system of the transport belt 25b will be described. The drive system for the transport belt 25a is basically the same as the drive system for the transport belt 25b, and illustration and description thereof are omitted. However, points different from the conveyance belt 25b will be described each time.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the conveyor belt 25b has a configuration in which a timing belt formed in an endless shape is spanned between sprockets SP1 and SP2 on the surface of which teeth that mesh with the teeth of the timing belt are formed. A driving force is transmitted to the sprocket SP1 from a transport motor (not shown) via a transmission mechanism (not shown). Here, a stepping motor capable of forward and reverse rotation is used as the transport motor. When the transport motor is driven in the forward direction, the transport belts 25a and 25b move in the forward transport direction (direction along the transport direction), and when the transport motor is driven in the reverse direction, the transport belts 25a and 25b are moved in the reverse transport direction (in the transport direction). Move in the opposite direction).

  The transport belt 25a also has a similar drive system, but a sprocket SP1 '(not shown) corresponding to the sprocket SP1 is connected to the shaft CC of the sprocket SP1 and transmitted to the sprocket SP1' via this shaft CC. The conveying belt 25a is driven by the driving force. That is, the conveyance belt 25a is driven by the conveyance belt 25b, and when the conveyance belt 25b is driven and controlled, the conveyance belt 25a is driven in the same movement as the conveyance belt 25b.

  As described above, the claw portion 26ba is attached to the drive belt 25b via the L-shaped metal fitting 27ba, and when the claw portion 26ba is positioned at the home position set above the sprocket SP1, the lower side of the sprocket SP2 Claw part 26bb is attached to drive belt 25b via L-shaped metal fitting 27bb so that it may be located. That is, the mounting position of the claw portion 26ba and the mounting position of the claw portion 26bb are defined in a relationship of being separated by 1/2 of the length of the endless drive belt 25b.

  Therefore, by driving the drive belt 25b in the transport direction by a half of its length, an operation of transporting the package F toward the table 11 by the claw portion 26ba or the claw portion 26bb can be performed.

  Then, in order to control the transport operation of the package object F, the operation of the drive belt 25b is controlled. In this case, basically, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, from the state where the claw portion 26ba is located at the home position, as shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure, the claw portion 26ba is Is moved continuously to the limit position pushing the table 11 to the table 11, and the claw portion 26ba is stopped at the limit position.

  In order to perform this control, with the claw 26ba at the home position, the home position sensor SHP is provided at a position where the other claw 26bb is detected, and the claw 26ba is moved to the limit position. In this state, a limit position detection sensor SST is provided at a position where the other claw portion 26bb is detected. Since the home position sensor SHP and the limit position detection sensor SST are provided in such a positional relationship, the home position sensor SHP detects the claw portion 26ba in the state where the claw portion 26bb on the opposite side is positioned at the home position. The limit position detection sensor SST detects the claw portion 26ba in a state where the claw portion 26bb is moved to the limit position.

  In this manner, with the home position sensor SHP and the limit position detection sensor SST, whether the claws (one of the claws 26ba and 26bb) on the side for transporting the package object F are positioned at the home position, Alternatively, it is detected whether it is located at the limit position.

Here, as the home position sensor SHP and the limit position detection sensor SST, for example, an inexpensive sensor such as a reflection type light sensor, a transmission type light sensor, or a micro switch sensor having a filler can be used. Further, for example, when a reflection type photosensor is used, the detection light used by the reflection type photosensor is accurately determined so that the home position sensor SHP and the limit position detection sensor SST can reliably detect the claw portions 26ba and 26bb. It is preferable to form the surfaces of the claw portions 26ba and 26bb that are irradiated with the detection light of the reflective optical sensor with a material (material) and shape that can be reflected on the surface.
As described above, since the drive belt 56a is driven by being driven by the drive belt 56b, sensors corresponding to the home position sensor SHP and the limit position detection sensor SST are provided on the drive belt 56a side. Absent.

  Next, operations of the packaged object size / type sensor SS1 and the packaged object size sensor SS2 will be described.

  In the state where the packaged object F is not placed on the article loading unit 20, as shown in FIG. 4A, most of the light flux emitted from the light emitting unit of the packaged material size / type sensor SS1 is the slit SL1. And does not enter the light receiving portion of the package size / type sensor SS1, and most of the light flux emitted from the light emitting portion of the package size sensor SS2 passes through the slit SL2 to be packaged It does not enter the light receiving unit of the size sensor SS2.

  In addition, in a state where the large packaged item F (large) is placed on the article carry-in unit 20, as shown in FIG. 5B, the packaged object size / type sensor SS1 emits light. Among the luminous fluxes, the luminous flux transmitted through the slit SL1 is irregularly reflected on the back surface of the base material S (large) of the packaged object F (large), and a part thereof is incident on the light receiving portion of the packaged object size / type sensor SS1. Is done. Similarly, among light fluxes emitted from the light emitting portion of the package size sensor SS2, the light flux transmitted through the slit SL2 is irregularly reflected on the back surface of the base material S (large) of the package F (large), and a part thereof Is incident on the light receiving unit of the package size SS2.

  In addition, in a state where the small packaged item F (small) is placed on the article carry-in unit 20, as shown in FIG. 5C, the packaged object size / type sensor SS1 emits light. Among the luminous fluxes, the luminous flux transmitted through the slit SL1 is irregularly reflected on the back surface of the base material S (small) of the packaged object F (small), and a part thereof is incident on the light receiving portion of the packaged object size / type sensor SS1. Is done. On the other hand, most of the light flux emitted from the light emitting section of the package size sensor SS2 passes through the slit SL2 and does not enter the light receiving section of the package size sensor SS2.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4A, in the state where the article F is not placed on the article loading unit 20, the light reception signal level output from the article size / type sensor SS1 and the article size sensor SS2 The light reception signal level output from the package size sensor SS2 is in a state where the small package material F (small) is placed on the article loading unit 20 as shown in FIG. 4C. Both are small levels. The received signal level is returned to the light receiving portion by light reflected from the back surface of the receiving table 24 a of the light flux emitted from the light emitting portion and returned to the light receiving portion or halation generated at the end of the slits SL1 and SL2. It becomes a value corresponding to the sum total of the amount of light received such as light. This value is set as a basic received light amount corresponding value Lvl_A (see FIG. 6A).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), output is performed from the package size / type sensor SS1 and the package size sensor SS2 in a state where the large package F (large) is placed in the article carry-in portion 20. In the state where the small object F (small) with a small size is placed on the article loading unit 20 as shown in FIG. 4C, the output signal from the object size and type sensor SS1 The received light signal level is returned to the light receiving portion by the light reflected from the back surface of the cradle 24a and returning to the light receiving portion of the luminous flux emitted from the light emitting portion, and the halation generated at the ends of the slits SL1 and SL2. The value corresponds to the total amount of light received, such as the light returned to the light receiving portion among the light and the light irregularly reflected on the back surface of the base material S of the package F, and therefore the value is the basic value described above. Received light intensity corresponding value Lvl_ Than a value larger by a value corresponding to the amount of light received by the light that has returned to the light receiving portion of the light that is diffusely reflected by the rear surface of the base material S of the packaged articles F.
That is, since the total amount of light reception amount in those states is large, the light reception signal level output from the package size / type sensor SS1 and the package size sensor SS2 is large in those states.

  Accordingly, the received light signal levels of the packaged object size / type sensor SS1 and the packaged object size sensor SS2 are respectively set to threshold values TH (see FIG. 6A) larger than the received light signal level corresponding to the basic received light quantity corresponding value Lvl_A. By performing binarization processing (see FIG. 6B), it is determined whether or not the package size / type sensor SS1 and the package size sensor SS2 detect the base material S of the package F, respectively. can do.

Here, as shown in FIG. 5, a case where a non-object NF containing an article W is placed on the tray T, which cannot be properly packaged by the packaging apparatus 100, is placed on the article carry-in unit 20. Think.
In this case, since the area of the upper opening of the tray T is larger than that of the bottom surface, the wall surface around the tray T has a slope rising from the bottom surface with a predetermined elevation angle. For this reason, among the light beams emitted from the light emitting unit of the package size / type sensor SS1, the light transmitted through the slit SL1 is not irradiated on the outer peripheral surface of the wall surface of the tray T, and is irregularly reflected light from the outer peripheral surface. Is not incident on the light receiving portion of the packaged object size / type sensor SS1. At this time, the received light signal level output from the packaged object size / type sensor SS1 is approximately the same as the above-described basic received light amount correspondence value Lvl_A. It becomes the value of.
On the other hand, among the light beams emitted from the light emitting portion of the packaged object size sensor SS2, the light beam transmitted through the slit SL2 is irregularly reflected by an inclination rising from the bottom surface of the tray T with a predetermined elevation angle, and a part of the light beam is transmitted. It is incident on the light receiving part of SS2. At this time, the light reception signal level output from the package size sensor SS2 is substantially the same value as the threshold TH (see FIG. 6A) larger than the light reception signal level corresponding to the basic light reception amount corresponding value Lvl_A. .

  Therefore, in this case, when the light reception signal level output from the packaged object size sensor SS2 and the packaged object size / type sensor SS1 is binarized with the above-described threshold value, the base material S of the packaged object F is detected. Different processing results can be obtained.

Therefore, whether to start the packaging operation of the packaging apparatus 100 using the binarization processing result of the light reception signal level output from the package size sensor SS2 and the package size / type sensor SS1 By determining, when the non-object NF using the tray T that cannot be properly packaged by the packaging apparatus 100 is placed on the article carry-in section 20, the article to be wrapped by the article carry-in section 20 Since the packaging operation of the packaging apparatus 100 starting from the conveyance of the object F is not performed (the packaging operation is prohibited), it is possible to prevent an accident such as breakdown of the packaging apparatus 100 from occurring.
Whether or not the received light signal level output from the package size / type sensor SS1 using only the package size / type sensor SS1 is approximately the same value as the basic light reception amount corresponding value Lvl_A. May be determined, and the classification of the base material S and the tray T, which are the types of the packaging material, may be performed.

  Note that, depending on the elevation angle of the wall surface of the tray T, a part of the light flux transmitted through the slit is irradiated to the outer peripheral surface of the wall surface of the tray T, and irregular reflected light etc. from the outer peripheral surface It is conceivable that external light reflected by the outer peripheral surface may be incident on the light receiving portion of the package size / type sensor SS1) to be incident on the light receiving portion of the package size / type sensor SS1. In order to cope with such a case, the above-mentioned threshold value TH is higher than the received light signal level output from the package size / type sensor SS1 when the tray T to be used has the smallest elevation angle. Set a large value. In the same manner, depending on the elevation angle of the wall surface of the tray T, part of the light flux transmitted through the slit is irradiated to the outer peripheral surface of the wall surface of the tray T, and diffuse reflection from the outer peripheral surface Light or the like (external light reflected by the outer peripheral surface may be incident on the light receiving portion of the package size sensor SS2 depending on the reflectance of the outer peripheral surface etc.) enters the light receiving portion of the package size sensor SS2 Since it can be considered, the light reception signal level output from the package size sensor SS2 may be set to a value larger than the above.

In addition, the mounting pitch (mounting interval) in the conveyance direction between the package size / type sensor SS1 and the package size sensor SS2 is set to be slightly wider than the minimum size base material S that can be packaged by the packaging device 100. Therefore, when the base material S of the minimum size or the tray T of the minimum size is placed between the package size / type sensor SS1 and the package size sensor SS2, the size and type of the package In some cases, both the sensor SS1 and the package size sensor SS2 cannot detect the minimum-size base material S or the minimum-size tray T.
On the other hand, even in such a case, the weighing signal output from the weighing unit 210 indicates a value corresponding to the mass of the packaged object F placed on the article loading unit 20. That is, since the weighing value output by the weighing unit 210 indicates the value on which the object is placed on the article loading unit 20, in this case, the sensor for detecting the base material F or the tray T in the weighing unit 210 Can be used to determine whether or not the article to be packaged F is placed on the article carry-in section 20.
Therefore, as described above, when both the package size / type sensor SS1 and the package size sensor SS2 cannot detect the base material S or the tray T, the weighing unit 210 outputs the data. When the measured value indicates a value corresponding to the mass of the article F to be packaged, “the base material S or the tray T (the article F to be packaged) on which the article is placed is placed, but the type of the packaging member is It may be determined that it is not possible to specify whether or not the packaging member is of a specific type, and the control unit may perform control to prohibit packaging by the packaging unit.

Next, a mechanism for moving the table 11 up and down in the elevator unit 10 will be described. In addition, although the mechanism which moves the table 11 up and down is provided with what comprised similarly the respectively right side and the left side of the table 11 seeing the packaging apparatus 100 from the front, in the following description, the mechanism on the left side is mainly demonstrated. To do.
FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the table 11 positioned at the lower position of the table, FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the table 11 positioned at the middle position in the table, and FIG. It is the schematic block diagram which showed a mode that the table 11 is located in the table top position.

  In the drawing, the table 11 is attached to the upper end of the base 11a, and the inclination of the table 11 is determined according to the inclination of the base 11a. The base portion 11a is inserted through the pillar portion 12 provided upright on the base material BS of the casing of the packaging device 100, and is connected to the guide portion 12a moving up and down inside the elevator unit 10 via the shaft 12b. ing. Further, the horizontal inclination of the table 11 is determined according to the vertical position of the guide portion 12a by a table posture mechanism (not shown).

  The drive mechanism 13 that drives the guide portion 12a in the vertical direction is rotatable about an internal chassis portion 13a that houses a table vertical motor 14 serving as a drive source of the drive mechanism 13, and a shaft 13b provided on the internal chassis portion 13a. Between the arm 13c attached to the shaft 13d provided at the left end of the arm 13c and the shaft 13e provided below the inner chassis 13a in the counterclockwise direction of the arm 13c The spring 13f for applying an urging force to rotate to the link 13h linking the shaft 13g provided at the tip of the arm 13c and the shaft 12c provided at the guide 12a, and the arm 13c at an intermediate position between the shaft 13b and the shaft 13g And a toothed pulley 13j on which an endless timing belt 14b is hung between a shaft 13i provided on the shaft and a toothed pulley 14a provided on the shaft of the table vertical motor 14 A plate 13k, which is an element of a crank mechanism that converts the rotational force of the pulley 13j into a driving force that vertically moves the arm 13c, and one of the crank mechanisms whose one end is pivotally supported by the plate 13k. The link 13l is an element, and the other end of the link 13l is rotatably attached to the shaft 13i, whereby the vertical driving force of the crank mechanism is transmitted to the arm 13c.

  Then, the driving force for moving the crank mechanism in the vertical direction is transmitted to the arm 13 c via the shaft 13 i (force point), whereby the arm 13 c rotates counterclockwise and clockwise around the shaft 13 b. With this rotation, the guide portion 12a connected by the link portion 13h having one end attached to the shaft 13g (operation point) is guided up and down by the column portion 12, and the guide portion 12a moves up and down. Accordingly, the base 11a moves up and down, thereby moving the table 11 up and down.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the table 11 is positioned at the lower position of the table, the attitude of the table 11 is held at the same angle as the inclination angle of the inclined portion 41 of the discharge stand 40 by the table attitude mechanism not shown. As a result, the package item F placed on the table 11 slips off the table 11 and is received by the inclined portion 41.

  Further, the roller 15 is for smoothly flowing the article F to be packaged that has been slid down from the table 11 to the inclined portion 41. The number of rollers 15 is one in the figure, but may be two or more. The table lower position sensor PS1 is a sensor for detecting that the table 11 is located at the table lower position.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the posture of the table 11 is not shown in a state where the table 11 is positioned at a position in the table that is convenient for receiving the article to be packaged F conveyed by the article carry-in unit 20. The to-be-packaged thing F which is hold | maintained substantially horizontal by the table attitude | position mechanism, and is conveyed by the goods loading part 20 by this is smoothly conveyed to the table 11.

  The table middle position sensor PS2 is a sensor for detecting that the table 11 is located at the middle table position.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the table 11 is positioned at a position on the table which is a convenient height for the heat seal unit 32 of the heat seal unit 30 to heat-seal the packaged object F placed on the table 11 In the state, the posture of the table 11 is held almost horizontally by a table posture mechanism (not shown), whereby the heat seal unit 32 can appropriately wrap the article F to be packaged placed on the table 11 with the film 31. .

  The on-table position sensor PS3 is a sensor for detecting that the table 11 is located at the on-table position.

Then, the control means rotates the table vertical motor 14 clockwise or counterclockwise based on detection signals of the table lower position sensor PS1, the table middle position sensor PS2, and the table upper position sensor PS3. The table 11 is moved in the downward direction or the upward direction, and the table 11 is positioned at a desired position.
Here, when the right mechanism is configured in the same manner as the left mechanism, the rotation direction of the table vertical motor 14 '(not shown) provided in the right mechanism is opposite to the table vertical motor 14 provided in the left mechanism. Become a direction. Further, due to the structure of the mechanism, the driving of the table vertical motors 14 and 14 'is controlled so as to reciprocate within a fixed driving amount range.

The on-table position sensor PS1, the in-table position sensor PS2, and the on-table position sensor PS3 are positions for detecting the guide portion 12a when the table 11 is at the on-table position, and the table 11 is an in-table position The guide portion 12a may be provided at a position at which the guide portion 12a is located, and at a position at which the guide portion 12a may be detected when the table 11 is located at the table lower position.
That is, the on-table position sensor PS1, the in-table position sensor PS2, and the on-table position sensor PS3 may detect the position of the guide portion 12a instead of detecting the position of the table 11 or the pedestal 11a. .

  In addition, the table posture mechanism changes the posture of the table 11 so as to have a downward inclination when the table 11 is located at the table lower position (the table 11 is located at the initial position (home position)). When the table 11 is moved upward from the table lower position to the middle position in the table (when the table 11 is moved from the home position to the position to receive the object F), the table 11 is in the middle of the table At a stage before moving to the position, the posture of the table 11 is maintained so as to be substantially horizontal, and then, while the table 11 is moved to the table upper position (wrapped object F placed on the table 11 During the movement to the heat seal unit 32), the table 11 is maintained in a substantially horizontal position.

  Then, when the table 11 is moved downward from the table top position to the table lower position (when the table 11 on which the packaged object F is placed is moved to the discharge position), the table 11 passes the table middle position. The position of the table 11 is maintained substantially horizontal until the stage before moving to the table lower position, so that the table 11 has a downward inclination before the table 11 moves to the table lower position. In a state where the posture of the table 11 is defined and the table 11 is located at the lower position of the table (a state in which the packaged article F placed on the table 11 is discharged to the discharge table 40), the table 11 has a downward inclination. In this way, the table 11 is held in a prescribed state (the same state as the standby state at the home position).

  Thus, the table posture mechanism defines the posture of the table 11 according to the vertical position of the table 11.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control unit 200 for controlling the operation of each unit in the packaging device 100.
In FIG. 10, a CPU (central processing unit) 201 performs processing for controlling various control operations performed by the control unit 200 and operations of respective units of the control unit 200, and a RAM (random access memory) 202. Is for forming a work area etc. necessary for the execution operation of the CPU 201 and for holding temporary data, and the ROM (read only memory) 202 is data of various programs executed by the CPU 201 and the like. This is for storing various constant values to be referred to when the CPU 201 executes processing.

  The weighing unit 210 is for measuring the weight of heat of the package F placed on the article carry-in unit 20 by using a load cell or the like provided on the cradle 23 of the article carry-in unit 20, and is controlled by motor drive. The unit 211 controls driving of various motors provided in the packaging device 100. The objects controlled by the motor drive control unit 211 are used to drive the film feed motor 212 used to pull out the film from the film roller 31 of the heat seal unit 30 and the conveyance belts 25a and 25b of the article carry-in unit 20. In the conveyance motor 213 and the elevator section 10, there are table vertical motors 14, 14 'used for a mechanism for moving the table 11 up and down.

  The sensor drive control unit 215 is for driving various types of sensor groups provided at various places of the packaging device 100 and inputting the sensor signals. The sensor group driven by the control unit 215 includes a home position sensor SHP of the article loading unit 20, a limit position sensor, a package size / type sensor SS1, a package size sensor SS2, and a table below the elevator unit 10. The position sensor PS1, the in-table position sensor PS2, the on-table position sensor PS3, and the discharge table 40, and an unloading sensor 216 for detecting the packaged product F after being discharged to the discharge table 40 ( (Not shown).

  On the bus 220 of the CPU 201, there are a RAM 202, a ROM 203, a display operation unit 50, a key input unit 60, a printer unit 70, a weighing unit 210, a heat seal unit 32, a motor drive control unit 211, and a sensor drive control unit 215. The exchange of data between these elements connected to the bus 220 and the exchange of data between these elements and the CPU 201 are mainly performed via the bus 220.

  The bus 220 is not a simple common signal line, but has an appropriate system bus configuration, and for example, various types of signals and data, signal levels, signal change timings and signal meanings, etc. It also has a signal control function for mutually transmitting various signals between the elements. The configuration of such a bus 220 is not directly related to the present invention, so the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a part of the process initially executed by the CPU 201 when the article F and the like are placed in the article loading unit 20.

  The CPU 201 inputs the measured value of the measuring unit 210 and checks whether the measured value is increased by a fixed amount or more and an object such as the packaged object F is placed (NO loop of step S101, step S102).

  When an object such as the package F is placed and the result of step S102 is YES, detection signals of the package size / type sensor SS1 and the package size sensor SS2 are input, and these detection signals are input. From the combination, it is checked whether or not the object placed on the article loading unit 20 is the package object F which is the packaging object (step S104).

  When it is determined in step S104 that the object placed on the article loading unit 20 is the packaged object F, when the result of step S104 is YES, the table lower position sensor PS1 and the in-table position sensor PS2 With reference to the detection signal, the table raising / lowering motors 14 and 14 'are appropriately driven to position the table 11 in the middle of the table, and the table 11 on which the article F is placed is carried in by the article loading unit 20. The operation is started, and the package object F is transported to the table 11 (step S105).

  Next, while referring to the detection signals of the in-table position sensor PS2 and the on-table position sensor PS3, the table up-and-down motors 14 and 14 'are appropriately driven to place the table 11 on which the article F is placed at the on-table position. In this state, the heat seal unit 32 is operated to wrap the article F to be packaged with a film (step S106).

  When the packaging operation of the heat seal unit 32 is completed, the table vertical motors 14 and 14 ′ are appropriately driven while referring to the detection signals of the lower position sensor PS1, the in-table position sensor PS2, and the on-table position sensor PS3, and the packaging is performed. The table 11 on which the subsequent package object F is placed is moved to the table lower position, positioned at the table lower position, and the packaged object F placed on the table 11 is discharged to the discharge stand 40 ( Step S107). At this time, the packaging object F after packaging discharged to the ejection table 40 is detected by the ejection sensor 216, and the CPU 201 confirms that the packaging object F after packaging is ejected to the ejection table 40.

  On the other hand, when the item placed in the article carry-in unit 20 is not the packaged item F that is the packaging target, and the result of step S104 is NO, an error message or the like is displayed on the display operation unit 50. Then, an error is notified that the object placed on the article loading unit 20 is not the packaging object (step S108), and the packaging prohibition mode in which the operation concerning the subsequent packaging is not performed is set in the packaging apparatus 100 (step S109). ).

  Here, in the packaging prohibition mode performed in step S109, for example, the operation of the article loading unit 20 is not started, the object placed on the article loading unit 20 is left as it is, and the worker removes the article This is an operation mode in which the operation relating to packaging is not performed until it can be determined from the measurement value of the measurement unit 210. Also, “prohibition of packaging” means, for example, “do not allow the packaging apparatus 100 (the packaging unit of the packaging apparatus) to perform the packaging operation”. For example, the entire packaging apparatus 100 is hung up or the system It does not mean shutting down or forcibly shutting off the power source that is input to the packaging device 100.

  By the way, in the embodiment described above, when the packaging apparatus 100 packages the package F using the sheet-like base material S using the heat seal unit 32, the package using the tray is the article loading unit 20 Although the packaging operation is prohibited because the misalignment occurs between the packaging apparatus 100 and the article when it is set in the box, such a misalignment also occurs in the following cases. .

  For example, when the packaging apparatus 100 performs a packaging operation on an article to be packaged in which an article is stored in a tray, the packaging apparatus 100 and the article to be packaged also when the article to be packaged on the base material is set. Inconsistency occurs between objects. Then, even when such a mismatch occurs, it is preferable to prohibit the wrapping operation of the wrapping apparatus 100 when the mismatch is detected.

In the embodiment described above, the case of using the reflection type optical sensor as the package size / type sensor SS1 and the package size sensor SS2 has been described, but other types of sensors are used as these sensors. You may do it.
In the above-described embodiment, the size and type of the package F are detected using the package size / type sensor SS1, but a dedicated type for detecting the type of the package F is used. It is also possible to provide a type detection sensor. In that case, a plurality of package size sensors may be provided, and the type detection and size detection of the package F may be configured as independent sensor means. Moreover, as a size detection sensor in that case, for example, a sensor that detects the size of the packaged object F placed on the article loading unit 20 by arranging two or more reflective optical sensors in the transport direction, etc. Can be used.

The data of the control program executed by the CPU 201 can be, for example, a storage device built in the CPU 201 or data stored in the ROM 203. In addition, for example, the packaging device 100 includes a communication unit, It is also possible to use one that is downloaded from a server on a network and stored in the RAM 202 using a communication means, or an external storage device that uses a storage medium and that is read from the storage medium and saved in the RAM 202.
Moreover, in the Example demonstrated above, although the case where this invention was applied to the packaging apparatus 100 provided with the goods carrying-in part 20 was shown, not only this but the goods carrying-in part 20 is used as a separate conveyance apparatus, for example, The present invention can also be applied in the same manner to a packaging system that performs packaging using a packaging device that interlocks articles conveyed by the conveyance device.
In such a packaging system, for example, when the detection unit of the conveyance device detects that an article to be packaged that cannot be packaged by the packaging device 100 is placed at the carry-in port, the control unit is placed on the conveyance device. Control means for prohibiting packaging by the packaging device 100 by not transporting the packaged material to the packaging device 100, or when a packaging material that cannot be packaged is carried into the device of the packaging device 100 Performs a notification to the packaging device 100 by communication means or the like, and performs a control for returning (returning) the article to be packaged carried into the apparatus of the packaging device 100 to the placement position for placing the article to be packaged in the transport device. Control for prohibiting the packaging by the packaging device 100 may be performed.

  The present invention can be applied to any type and form of packaging apparatus and packaging system as long as the packaging apparatus and packaging system package an object to be packaged. For example, the present invention can be applied to a packaging system in which a post-packaging processing apparatus that stocks products after packaging is connected.

SS1 Packaged object size / type sensor SS2 Packaged object size sensor 100 Packaging device 200 Control unit

Claims (5)

An upstream side light emitting / receiving part and a downstream side light emitting / receiving part for emitting light and receiving reflected light from a packaging member used for packaging of an article to be packaged on the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveying direction of the article carry-in part cradle. Provided, based on a comparison between the amount of light received by the upstream side light receiving portion and the amount of light received by the downstream side light receiving portion whether the packaging member is a tray or a sheet-like base material Detecting means for detecting;
Packaging means for packaging the packaged article;
When the detection unit detects the sheet-like base material in a state in which the tray is specified in advance as the type of packaging member, or in a state in which the sheet-like base material is specified in advance as the type of packaging member And a control unit for prohibiting the packaging of the package by the packaging means when the means detects the tray. The upstream side light emitting / receiving part and the downstream side light emitting / receiving part are respectively positioned obliquely below the slits provided on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction of the article carrying part receiving base, and emit light through the slits. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus receives reflected light . A measuring means for measuring the mass of the article to be packaged,
The control means is the weighing means in a state in which the detection means does not detect the packaging member.
The packaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein packaging of the package by the packaging unit is prohibited when the mass of the package is measured by the control unit. The control means keeps the packaging hand until the package to be weighed by the weighing means is removed.
4. The packaging apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein packaging of an article to be packaged by steps is prohibited . The upstream light emitting and receiving unit detects the type and size of the packaging member, and the downstream light emitting and receiving unit detects the size of the packaging member. Packaging equipment.

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