JP6586372B2 - Packaging apparatus and packaging method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a packaging apparatus and a packaging method for producing a package by sealing a transported cylindrical film.

Reference numerals used in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are written in parentheses, and the packaging device described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 will be described. In the technique described in Patent Document 1, a strip-shaped film (8) wound around a supply roll (11) is continuously drawn out, and the film (8) is placed in the middle of the conveyance path of the film (8). Rounded into a cylinder. A plurality of articles (4) to be wrapped are sequentially supplied by a conveyor to a position where the film (8) is rolled, and are wrapped in the tubular film (8). Then, the article (4) to be packaged is transported downstream together with the film (8), and the longitudinal seam (10) of the film (8) is continuously sealed by the sealing roller (16), and from the sealing roller (16). Also on the downstream side, the lateral seam (22) of the film (8) is periodically sealed and cut by the end sealer (18). Thereby, a pillow-shaped package is produced sequentially.

  An article to be packaged (4) to be packaged by the packaging device described in Patent Document 1 is composed of a plurality of biscuits (5) stacked in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the conveyor which supplies the article to be packaged (4) conveys the biscuit (5) sandwiched between the pair of front and rear push fingers (6) in order to prevent the biscuit (5) from falling down. On the downstream side, the biscuit (5) wrapped in the film (8) cannot be supported by the pushing finger (6), so the biscuit together with the film (8) between the pair of left and right belt conveyors (25). (5) is inserted, and the film (8) and the biscuit (5) are conveyed to the end sealer (18) by the belt conveyor (25). When a portion of the film (8) between the items to be packaged (4) passes through the end sealer (18) downstream, the end sealer (18) sandwiches the film (8) and seals it. Moreover, the biscuit (5) is supported by the support element (45) in the area from the downstream end part of the belt conveyor (25) to the end sealer (18). Specifically, the leading biscuit (5) is supported by the support element (45) by protruding inward at a position upstream of the downstream end of the belt conveyor (25). Then, the support element (45) passes the downstream end of the belt conveyor (25) together with the biscuit (5) to the downstream side, and is drawn outward in the width direction immediately before the end sealer (18).

  The packaging apparatus described in Patent Document 2 also produces a pillow-shaped package. In the technique described in Patent Document 2, the articles (A) such as biscuits are prevented from falling by the plurality of clamping members (17) attached to the endless chain (12). Specifically, the clamping member (17) protrudes downward on the upstream side of the end sealer (21), and the article (A) wrapped in the film (packaging material F) is clamped from the upstream side and the downstream side. In a state of being pinched by the member (17), the pinching member (17) is moved from the upstream side of the end sealer (21) to the downstream side by the endless chain (12).

Japanese Patent No. 3535171 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 53-32857

By the way, the range in which the belt conveyor (25) described in Patent Document 1 is provided is from the downstream end of the conveying range of the push finger (6) to the upstream side of the end sealer (18). Further, the movement range of the support element (45) is from a position upstream of the downstream end of the belt conveyor (25) to a position upstream of the end sealer (18).
Therefore, when the film (8) is sandwiched by the end sealer (18), the package (4) immediately before and after the end sealer (18) is displaced with respect to the film (8), or these packages The biscuit (5) of (4) falls down. Therefore, the biscuit (5) of the article to be packaged (4) is bitten into the end sealer (18), and a sealing failure occurs.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. The problem to be solved by the present invention is to prevent the object to be packaged from being caught in the end sealer when the film is sandwiched and sealed by the end sealer.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a plurality of packaging devices in which packaging apparatuses are arranged in parallel with each other at intervals and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the film inside a cylindrical film conveyed in the longitudinal direction. and goods and of the film and clamping free a pair of conveyors, a first end sealer to seal by sandwiching the direction crossing the site between the packaged articles in parallel direction of the conveyor of the film to be conveyed The first end sealer is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction, and a portion between the objects to be packaged is sandwiched in the intersecting direction in the film to be transported, and is overlapped with the seal by the first end sealer. A second end sealer, and the conveyor is provided so as to straddle from the upstream side in the transport direction of the first end sealer to the downstream side.

In the packaging method of the present invention, the film is transported in the longitudinal direction of the film by transporting a cylindrical film and a plurality of objects to be packaged arranged at intervals inside the film in the longitudinal direction of the film. In addition, when the article to be packaged is passed from the upstream side of the first end sealer to the downstream side of the second end sealer through the first end sealer and the second end sealer in this order, they are arranged in parallel at a distance from each other. The film and the object to be packaged are supported between a pair of conveyors provided so as to straddle from the upstream side to the downstream side of the first end sealer, and between the objects to be packaged among the films. When the part passes through the first end sealer, the film is moved by the first end sealer in the crossing direction intersecting the parallel direction of the conveyor. Crowded viewed sealed, when the portion between the packaged articles out of the film passes through the second end sealer, the film is sandwiched by said second end sealer in the intersecting direction, the first end Seal on top of the sealer seal .

According to the present invention, the pair of conveyors are provided so as to straddle from the upstream side in the transport direction of the first end sealer to the downstream side, so that the packaged material is sandwiched between these conveyors and downstream of the first end sealer. It is conveyed to the side. Therefore, when the cylindrical film is sandwiched by the first end sealer, the packaged object is not displaced with respect to the cylindrical film. Moreover, when the packaged article is a stack of a plurality of plate-like articles in the transport direction, the plate-like articles do not fall down when the cylindrical film is sandwiched between the first end sealers. Therefore, the packaged object is not bitten by the first end sealer.
In addition, since the second end sealer is provided on the downstream side of the first end sealer, even if the portion of the tubular film that contacts the conveyor is not sealed by the first end sealer, that portion is not the second end sealer. Sealed by a sealer. Therefore, the sealing part is highly sealed.
Moreover, since the site | part between a to-be-packaged item and a to-be-packaged item is sealed by the 1st end sealer, when the site | part is sent from a 1st end sealer to a 2nd end sealer, it will be in the state which was restrict | squeezed. . Therefore, the objects to be packaged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the part sealed by the first end sealer are not displaced in the longitudinal direction of the film. Therefore, the packaged object is not bitten by the second end sealer.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a pillow packaging apparatus. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the pillow packaging apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the package. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a pair of upper and lower pressure contact portions of the first end sealer and a pair of left and right folding plates of the gusset forming machine. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a pair of belt conveyors of the support machine together with a film, a folding plate, and a pressure contact portion. FIG. 6 is a side view showing a pair of belt conveyors of the support machine together with a film, a folding plate, and a pressure contact portion.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are provided with various technically preferable limitations for carrying out the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

1. Outline of Pillow Packaging Device and Package FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the pillow packaging device 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the pillow packaging apparatus 1. FIG. 3 shows a package 2 manufactured by the pillow packaging apparatus 1.

  The pillow wrapping apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an apparatus that sequentially manufactures a package 2 by wrapping a package 3 with a film 5 sequentially. As shown in FIG. 3, the packaging film 5 of the packaged product 2 in a completed state is in a state of being rolled into a cylindrical shape so as to wrap the packaged product 3, and further on the outer side in the circumferential direction of the packaged product 3. The fin-shaped longitudinal seam (center seal portion) 6 is formed by being partially sealed, and the ends of the packaging film 5 are sealed on both end surfaces of the package 3. As a result, the side stitches (end seal portion) 7 are formed, and a portion of the side surface of the packaging film 5 near the side stitches 7 is folded inward to form a gusset (town) 8. It is in the state.

  The articles to be packaged 3 accommodated inside the packaging film 5 are a group consisting of a plurality of plate-like articles 4, and these plate-like articles 4 are in a posture substantially perpendicular to the peripheral surface of the packaging film 5. , In a state of being gathered and stacked. The plate-like article 4 is an article that is difficult or impossible to stand, such as a PTP package (blister package), strip package, card, printed circuit board, paperboard, medal, coin, hard sheet or thin plate food ( For example, molded potato chips, biscuits, cream sand biscuits).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pillow packaging apparatus 1 includes a transport table 28, a film feeder 10, a bag making device 18, an article supply device 20, a first transport device 30, a second transport device 35, and an unloading device. Machine 40, support machine 50, center sealer 60, first end sealer 70, second end sealer 80, gusset forming machine 90, and the like.

A plurality of articles to be packaged 3 are sequentially supplied to the bag making machine 18 by the article to be packaged feeding machine 20, and the belt-like film 5 is continuously supplied to the bag making machine 18 by the film feeding machine 10. When the film 5 is continuously rolled into a cylindrical shape by the bag making device 18, the article 3 is wrapped in the film 5, and the vertical stitches 6 on both sides of the film 5 overlap. The overlapping vertical stitches 6 are continuously sealed and sealed by the center sealer 60. Thereafter, the film 5 and the object to be packaged 3 are conveyed by the first conveying device 30 to the first end sealer 70 and the gusset forming machine 90, and the gusset 8 is formed in the portion of the film 5 between the objects to be packaged 3. And the part between the articles to be packaged 3 is preliminarily sealed by the first end sealer 70. Further, the film 5 and the object to be packaged 3 are conveyed to the second end sealer 80 by the second conveying device 35, and the portion of the film 5 between the objects to be packaged 3 is sealed and cut by the second end sealer 80. As a result, the side stitches 7 are formed at portions between the objects to be packaged 3. The package 2 thus separated is conveyed downstream by the unloader 40.
Hereinafter, each component of the pillow packaging apparatus 1 will be described in detail.

2. Conveying table The conveying table 28 is a plate-like member, and is provided so that the upper surface of the conveying table 28 is horizontal. A long groove 29 is formed at the center in the width direction of the conveyance table 28 along the conveyance direction of the article 3 to be packaged, and the article 3 is placed on the conveyance table 28 across the long groove 29 . Here, the width direction refers to a horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the article 3 to be packaged, and specifically refers to a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.

  The article 3 to be packaged is conveyed by the article supply machine 20 on the conveyance table 28. The plurality of plate-like articles 4 constituting the article 3 to be packaged conveyed by the article supply machine 20 are in a small edged state. The small edge standing state is also referred to as a piece standing state, and the plate-like articles 4 are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction by gathering together the plurality of plate-like articles 4 standing on the conveyance table 28. The state that is.

  A pair of horizontal upper plates 68 are provided on the downstream side of the transport table 28 so that the height is aligned with the upper surface of the transport table 28. The pair of upper plates 68 are arranged in a direction (width direction) perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1, and a slit (gap) is formed between these upper plates 68.

3. Package supply machine The package supply machine 20 is a finger conveyor provided on the upstream side of the bag making machine 18. The package supply machine 20 includes a first sprocket 21 disposed below the transport table 28 and the bag making machine 18, and a second sprocket disposed upstream of the first sprocket 21 and below the transport table 28. A sprocket (not shown), an endless chain 22 spanned between the first sprocket 21 and the second sprocket, a plurality of push fingers 23 attached to the endless chain 22 at predetermined intervals, and the first sprocket 21 are driven to rotate. And a motor. When the endless chain 22 is circulated by the motor, the pushing finger 23 moves on the forward path from the second sprocket toward the first sprocket 21 in a state where the pushing finger 23 protrudes through the long groove 29 and onto the conveying table 28. As a result, the article to be packaged 3 is pushed and fed from the upstream side by the push finger 23, so that the article to be packaged 3 is sequentially supplied to the bag making machine 18.

  In addition, a support finger may be attached to the endless chain 22 on the downstream side of each push finger 23, and the article 3 to be packaged may be sandwiched between the push finger 23 and the support finger. Further, the endless chain 22 may be changed to an endless belt, and the first sprocket 21 and the second sprocket may be changed to pulleys.

4). Film feeder The film feeder 10 is set with an original roll 11 around which the belt-like film 5 is wound. The belt-shaped film 5 fed out from the original fabric roll 11 is folded back by the roller 12 and guided to the bag making machine 18. This film supply machine 10 has a drive motor connected to the original fabric roll 11, and the belt-like film 5 is produced from the original fabric roll 11 at a constant speed by rotating the original fabric roll 11 by the drive motor. It is fed into the bag 18.

  The belt motor 5 is not limited to the configuration in which the drive motor is connected to the original roll 11, but the drive motor is connected to a feed roller (not shown), and the feed roller is driven by the drive motor. It is good also as what is pulled out from.

5. Bag Making Device The bag making device 18 is provided between the transport table 28 and the upper plate 68. Further, the bag making device 18 is disposed below the original fabric roll 11, and when the belt-shaped film 5 fed out from the original fabric roll 11 passes through the bag making device 18 to the downstream side, It is rounded into a cylindrical shape by the bag making machine 18 so that the vertical stitches 6 on both sides thereof are bent downward. Further, the vertical stitches 6 are formed in a fin shape so as to be overlapped and drooped by the bag making device 18, and protrude below the upper plate 28 through the slits of the upper plate 28.

  On the downstream side of the bag making device 18, the plurality of articles to be packaged 3 are driven downstream of the tubular film 5 in a state of being arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction (conveying direction) of the tubular film 5. It is conveyed to. In addition, in order to prevent the article to be packaged 3 from sliding with respect to the cylindrical film 5 and to prevent the plate-like article 4 of the article to be packaged 3 from falling down, the cylindrical film 5 and the article to be packaged 3 Both sides are supported by a support machine 50. The support machine 50 will be described in detail later.

6). Center Sealer The center sealer 60 is provided on the downstream side of the bag making device 18 and below the upper plate 68. The center sealer 60 is sealed by heating while sandwiching the vertical stitch 6 protruding downward from the slit of the upper plate 68 from both sides. In the illustrated example, the center sealer 60 includes a pair of left and right bar heaters 61 provided below the upper plate 68 and a pair of press rollers 62 provided on the downstream side of the bar heater 61. Heat is generated when the vertical stitch 6 passes through the gap between the pair of bar heaters 61. The vertical stitches 6 to which the residual heat is applied are sandwiched by the press roller 62 with a predetermined pressure, whereby the vertical stitches 6 are sealed. A pair of pinch rollers 63 are provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the bar heater 61 in the width direction for sandwiching the vertical stitch 6, and a pair of pinch rollers 63 in the width direction for sandwiching the vertical stitch 6 are provided on the downstream side of the press roller 62. A pinch roller 64 is provided, and the vertical stitch 6 is sent downstream by the pinch rollers 63 and 64. The interval between the pair of rod heaters 61 can be adjusted.

7. First conveyor, second conveyor, and unloader On the downstream side of the pinch roller 64, a belt conveyor type first conveyor 30, a second conveyor 35, and an unloader 40 are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side. It is provided to be arranged. The upper surface of the endless belt of the first transporter 30 extends from the downstream end of the upper plate 68 toward the downstream side in the horizontal direction. The upper surface of the endless belt of the second transporter 35 is separated from the downstream end of the upper surface of the endless belt of the first transporter 30 to the downstream side and extends to the downstream side in the horizontal direction. The upper surface of the endless belt of the unloader 40 is separated from the downstream end of the upper surface of the endless belt of the second transporter 35 to the downstream side and extends to the downstream side in the horizontal direction.

  The cylindrical film 5 and the article 3 to be packaged inside thereof are fed from the upper plate 68 onto the endless belt of the first transporter 30. Further, the sealed longitudinal stitch 6 is folded so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the tubular film 5 when being fed from the pinch roller 64 onto the endless belt of the first transport device 30.

The cylindrical film 5 placed on the endless belt of the first transporter 30 and the article 3 to be packaged inside thereof are transported downstream by the endless belt of the first transporter 30. The film 5 and the article 3 to be packaged conveyed to the downstream end of the first conveyor 30 are transferred from the endless belt of the first conveyor 30 to the endless belt of the second conveyor 35.
Then, the film 5 placed on the endless belt of the second transporter 35 and the article 3 to be packaged inside thereof are transported downstream by the endless belt of the second transporter 35. The film 5 and the article 3 to be packaged conveyed to the downstream end of the second conveyor 35 are transferred from the endless belt of the second conveyor 35 to the endless belt of the unloader 40. It is completed and cut from the film 5 on the upstream side.
The package 2 placed on the endless belt of the unloader 40 is conveyed downstream by the endless belt of the unloader 40.

8). Gazette forming machine A gusset forming machine 90 is provided on both sides between the first conveyor 30 and the second conveyor 35. This gusset forming machine 90 forms gussets 8 on both side surfaces of the tubular film 5 by periodically folding both side surfaces of the tubular film 5 inward. The timing at which the gusset forming machine 90 forms the gusset 8 on the tubular film 5 is from when the article to be packaged 3 passes through the gusset forming machine 90 until the next article to be packaged 3 passes through the gusset forming machine 90. is there. That is, the gusset 8 is formed by the gusset forming machine 90 when the portion of the film 5 between the adjacent packages 3 is transferred from the endless belt of the first transporter 30 to the endless belt of the second transporter 35. Is done.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of essential parts of the gusset forming machine 90 and the first end sealer 70. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the gusset forming machine 90 is provided at a position above the upper surfaces of these endless belts on both sides in the width direction of the first transporter 30 and the second transporter 35. A folding plate 91 is provided. Claws 93 are provided on both sides of the front end of the folding plate 91, and a rectangular recess 92 is formed between the claws 93 (see also the plan view of FIG. 5). Moreover, the cylindrical film 5 is conveyed downstream through the folding plates 91 on both sides.

The folding plate 91 is provided so as to be capable of reciprocating in the width direction, and is provided so as to be capable of reciprocating in the transport direction of the film 5. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 5, the folding plate 91 moves along a rectangular track 99 as seen from the top by a combination of the movement in the width direction of the folding plate 91 and the movement in the transport direction. In other words, folding plates 91 at a position downstream end of the first conveyor 30 is moved inward in the width direction, the endless belt first conveyor 30 from the side of the tip of the folding plates 91 is first conveyor 30 The endless belt protrudes upward (however, the ends of the folding plate 91 are spaced apart from each other). Thereby, the side surface of the cylindrical film 5 is folded inward, and the gusset 8 is formed. Thereafter, the folding plate 91 is moved from the upstream side to the downstream side at the same speed as the film 5 in a state where the distance between the tips of the folding plate 91 is maintained. Thereafter, the folding plate 91 moves outward in the width direction at the position of the upstream end portion of the second conveyor 35, and the leading edge of the folding plate 91 extends from the upper side of the endless belt of the second conveyor 35 to the second conveyor 35. Pull it to the side of the endless belt. Thereafter, the folding plate 91 moves from the downstream side to the upstream side with the distance between the tips of the folding plate 91 maintained. Here, the power of a first crimping drive mechanism 73 of the first end sealer 70 described later is transmitted to the folding plate 91 as power in the width direction of the folding plate 91 by a transmission mechanism such as a cam mechanism, whereby the folding plate 91 is It moves in the width direction in conjunction with the raising and lowering operations of the pressure contact portions 71 and 72. Further, the power of the first crimping drive mechanism 73 or another servo motor is transmitted to the folding plate 91 as power in the conveying direction of the folding plate 91 by a transmission mechanism such as a cam mechanism. 72 moves in the transport direction in conjunction with the lifting and lowering operation.

  In addition, when the side surface of the tubular film 5 is folded inward by the folding plate 91, the tubular film 5 is slightly drawn close to the folding plate 91. Still, since the plate-like article 4 of the article 3 to be packaged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the folding plate 91 is sandwiched between a pair of endless belts 54 of a support machine 50 described later, the plate-like article 4 falls to the folding plate 91 side. There is nothing.

9. First End Sealer As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first end sealer 70 is provided between the first conveyor 30 and the second conveyor 35. The 1st end sealer 70 carries out the thermocompression bonding of the center part of the width direction of the cylindrical film 5 in which the gusset 8 was formed by the gusset formation machine 90 periodically. The timing at which the first end sealer 70 thermocompression-bonds the central portion in the width direction of the tubular film 5 is such that the next article 3 to be packaged passes the first end sealer 70 after the article 3 has passed through the first end sealer 70. Until it passes. That is, when the part between the adjacent packages 3 in the film 5 is transferred from the endless belt of the first transporter 30 to the endless belt of the second transporter 35, the cylindrical film is formed by the first end sealer 70. The center part in the width direction of 5 is thermocompression bonded. When the center part in the width direction of the tubular film 5 is thermocompression bonded by the first end sealer 70, the film 5 is squeezed, so that the plate-like article 4 is prevented from falling.

  The first end sealer 70 is an upper pressure contact portion 71 and a lower pressure contact portion 72 that contact and separate from each other by moving up and down, and a first pressurizing drive mechanism that contacts and separates the upper pressure contact portion 71 and the lower pressure contact portion 72 in the vertical direction. 73. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, etc., heaters are built in the pressure contact portions 71 and 72, and convex portions are formed at the front portion (upstream surface) and the rear portion (downstream surface) of the pressure contact portions 71 and 72. 71a and 72a are formed. 6 is a side view of the illustrated range of FIG.

  The first crimping drive mechanism 73 is a direct drive drive mechanism, a rotary drive mechanism, or a box motion drive mechanism having a power source such as a motor and a transmission mechanism such as a cam mechanism. The direct acting drive mechanism moves the pressure contact portions 71 and 72 up and down along a linear track. The rotary drive mechanism turns the upper pressure contact portion 71 counterclockwise in FIG. 1 around the rotation axis extending in the width direction, and lower pressure contact around the rotation axis extending in the width direction. The pressure contact parts 71 and 72 are moved up and down by turning the part 72 clockwise in FIG. The box motion type drive mechanism moves the upstream side to the downstream side at the same speed as the tubular film 5 with the press contact parts 71 and 72 being close to each other, and then presses the press contact parts 71 and 72 up and down. It is moved from the downstream side to the upstream side. For example, the motion trajectory of the upper pressure contact portion 71 by the box motion type drive mechanism is a rounded triangular shape with the upper side at the top and the lower side at the bottom, and the motion trajectory of the lower pressure contact portion 72 by the box motion type drive mechanism. Is a rounded triangular shape with the lower side at the top and the upper side at the bottom.

  The tubular film 5 is conveyed downstream between the upper pressure contact portion 71 and the lower pressure contact portion 72. Before the press contact portions 71 and 72 come close to each other, the folding plate 91 is brought close to each other by the gusset forming drive mechanism as described above, and the gusset 8 is formed on the side surface of the tubular film 5. Thereafter, when the pressure contact portions 71 and 72 are brought close to each other by the first pressure-bonding drive mechanism 73, the tubular film 5 is sandwiched between the pressure contact portions 71 and 72 and the convex portions 71a and 72a and is pressurized and heated. The press contact portions 71 and 72 have a width smaller than the interval between a pair of belt conveyors 51 of the support machine 50 described later, more specifically, so as not to interfere with the support machine 50 on the side of the first end sealer 70. Since the widths of the pressure contact portions 71 and 72 are shorter than the width of the tubular film 5, the widthwise central portion of the tubular film 5 is sealed. Further, when the press contact portions 71 and 72 are brought close to each other by the first crimping drive mechanism 73, both sides of the press contact portions 71 and 72 are accommodated in the rectangular cutout 92 of the folding plate 91 to pressurize and heat the film 5. A part of the gusset 8 is pressurized and heated by both side portions of the pressure contact portions 71 and 72.

  Further, when the tubular film 5 is sandwiched between the press contact portions 71 and 72 and the convex portions 71a and 72a, the tubular film 5 is pulled slightly toward the press contact portions 71 and 72. Still, since the plate-like article 4 of the article 3 to be packaged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the press contact portions 71 and 72 is sandwiched between a pair of endless belts 54 of the support machine 50 described later, the press contact portions 71 and 72 are. There is no lodging on the side.

  When the first pressure-bonding drive mechanism 73 is a box motion drive mechanism, when the pressure contact portions 71 and 72 approach each other, the downstream roller of the first transport device 30 and the upstream roller of the second transport device 35 The interval between the first transfer device 30 and the upstream roller of the second transfer device 35 is reduced when the pressure contact portions 71 and 72 are separated from each other. In this case, the power of the first crimping drive mechanism 73 is the power of contact and separation between the downstream roller of the first transport device 30 and the upstream roller of the second transport device 35 by a transmission mechanism such as a cam mechanism. It is transmitted to the downstream roller of the one transporter 30 and the upstream roller of the second transporter 35.

10. Support Machine A support machine 50 is provided in a range from the bag making machine 18 to the downstream side of the first end sealer 70 and the gusset forming machine 90. The support machine 50 holds the film 5 and the plate-like article 4 inside thereof in a state of being sandwiched in the width direction.

The support machine 50 has a pair of belt conveyors 51 disposed on both sides of the tubular film 5. These belt conveyors 51 are arranged in parallel in the width direction so that their transport surfaces face each other in the width direction.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the belt conveyor 51 includes a first pulley 52 disposed above the upper surface of the upper plate 68 and the first transporter 30 and obliquely behind the bag making device 18, and a second transporter. A second pulley 53 disposed on the upper side of the endless belt of the machine 35 and on the downstream side of the first end sealer 70 and the gusset forming machine 90, and two upper and lower belts stretched over the first pulley 52 and the second pulley 53. One endless belt 54, a plurality of elastic convex portions 55 projecting from the outer circumferential surface of the endless belt 54 at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction, and a motor 56 that rotationally drives the first pulley 52. The second pulley 53 may be rotationally driven by the motor 56.

  When the first pulley 52 or the second pulley 53 is rotationally driven by the motor 56, the endless belt 54 circulates so that the mutually opposite conveying surfaces of the endless belts 54 move to the downstream side. The speed of the endless belt 54 is equal to the speed of the endless belts of the first transporter 30 and the second transporter 35.

  The elastic convex portion 55 is a rubber fin that is inclined with respect to the outer circumferential surface of the endless belt 54 in the direction opposite to the circumferential direction. The elastic convex portion 55 may be a bristle material distributed on the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt 54 and provided so as to protrude obliquely from the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt 54 in the direction opposite to the circumferential direction. Further, an elastic material such as sponge may be attached to the surface of the endless belt 54 instead of the elastic convex portion 55.

  The cylindrical film 5 rolled by the bag making machine 18 and the inner packaging material 3 are conveyed downstream by the endless belt 54 while being sandwiched between the conveying surfaces of the endless belts 54 facing each other. Is done. Thereby, the fall of the plate-shaped article 4 of the article 3 to be packaged is prevented. Further, in a state where the tubular film 5 and the article to be packaged 3 are sandwiched between the endless belts 54 on both sides, the elastic convex portion 55 is elastically deformed, so that the elastic convex portion 55 is elastically deformed by the elastic film 55. And since the article 3 to be packaged is pressed inward, the article 3 to be packaged is reliably supported. Thereby, the to-be-packaged object 3 does not slip to the downstream side or the upstream side with respect to the tubular film 5, and the plate-like article 4 of the to-be-packaged object 3 does not fall down.

  The belt conveyor 51, in particular the endless belt 54, is provided so as to straddle the pressure contact portions 71 and 72 and the folding plate 91 from the upstream side to the downstream side. The distance between the pair of belt conveyors 51 (particularly, the distance from the tip of the elastic convex part 55 of the belt conveyor 51 to the elastic convex part 55 of the other belt conveyor 51) is the distance between the convex parts 71a and 72a and the pressure contact parts 71 and 72. Greater than total width. Therefore, when the press contact portions 71 and 72 are close to each other, the press contact portions 71 and 72 and the convex portions 71 a and 72 a do not hit the belt conveyor 51 and sandwich the tubular film 5. At that time, even if the tubular film 5 is drawn into the press contact portions 71 and 72, the plate-like article 4 of the article 3 to be packaged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the press contact portions 71 and 72 falls to the press contact portions 71 and 72 side. There is nothing. This is because the plate-like article 4 is supported by the endless belt 54 and the elastic convex portion 55.

  Further, since the elastic convex portion 55 is inclined with respect to the outer circumferential surface of the endless belt 54 in the direction opposite to the circumferential direction, the elastic convex portion 55 is easily deformed in the direction toward the upstream side. Therefore, when the side surface of the tubular film 5 is folded inward by the folding plate 91 or when the tubular film 5 is sandwiched between the press contact portions 71, 72, the folding plate 91 or the press contact portion 71 of the tubular film 5. , 72 is smoothly moved toward the upstream side. Therefore, the tubular film 5 is neatly folded, and the resistance when the pressure contact portions 71 and 72 sandwich the tubular film 5 is reduced, and the finish of the seal is improved. On the other hand, the portion of the tubular film 5 on the upstream side of the folding plate 91 and the press contact portions 71 and 72 moves because the direction in which the folding plate 91 is pulled is opposite to the inclination direction of the elastic convex portion 55. Hard to do. This does not affect the mark control (detecting marks printed on the film 5 at regular intervals by a sensor and controlling each part of the pillow packaging apparatus 1 based on the detection result).

11. Second End Sealer As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a second end sealer 80 is provided between the second transporter 35 and the unloader 40. The second end sealer 80 is thermo-compressed periodically over the entire width direction of the film 5, overlapping the portion thermo-compressed by the first end sealer 70. The timing at which the second end sealer 80 thermocompression-bonds the film 5 is between the time when the package 3 passes through the second end sealer 80 and the time when the next package 3 passes through the second end sealer 80. . That is, when the part between the adjacent packages 3 in the film 5 is transferred from the endless belt of the second transporter 35 to the endless belt of the unloader 40, the second end sealer 80 causes the tubular film 5 to move. The entire width direction is thermocompression bonded.

  The second end sealer 80 includes an upper pressure contact portion 81 and a lower pressure contact portion 82 that contact and separate from each other by moving up and down, and a second pressurizing drive mechanism that contacts and separates the upper pressure contact portion 81 and the lower pressure contact portion 82 in the vertical direction. 83 and the cutter 84 provided in the upper pressure contact part 81 or the lower pressure contact part 82 or both of them. A heater is incorporated in the pressure contact portions 81 and 82.

  The second crimping drive mechanism 83 of the second end sealer 80 is a rotary drive mechanism having a power source such as a motor and a transmission mechanism such as a cam mechanism. That is, the second pressure-bonding drive mechanism 83 rotates the upper pressure contact portion 81 counterclockwise in FIG. 1 around the rotation shaft 81a extending in the width direction, and the rotation shaft 82a extending in the width direction. By rotating the lower pressure contact portion 82 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, the pressure contact portions 81 and 82 are moved up and down.

  The film 5 is conveyed downstream between the upper pressure contact portion 81 and the lower pressure contact portion 82. When the pressure contact portions 81 and 82 are brought close to each other by the second pressure bonding drive mechanism 83, the portion sandwiched by the first end sealer 70 is pressurized and heated by the pressure contact portions 81 and 82. Since the widths of the pressure contact portions 81 and 82 are wider than the crushed film 5, the entire width direction of the film 5 (the portion sealed by the first end sealer 70 and its both sides) is sealed. When the film 5 is sandwiched between the press contact portions 81 and 82, the air inside the film 5 is discharged from the unsealed portions on both sides of the preliminary seal portion (the portion sealed by the first center sealer 70). In particular, since the second pressure-bonding drive mechanism 83 is a rotary drive mechanism, the press contact portions 81 and 82 draw a circular locus, so that a position close to the package 3 can be sealed. Therefore, the air inside the packaging film 5 is discharged upstream from the unsealed portions on both sides of the preliminary seal portion so that the pressure contact portions 81 and 82 squeeze out.

  Cutters 84 are provided at the lower end of the upper pressure contact portion 81 and the upper end of the lower pressure contact portion 82, respectively. When the film 5 is sandwiched between the upper pressure contact portion 81 and the lower pressure contact portion 82 as described above, the film 5 is pushed by the cutter 84.

  The operation cycle of the second end sealer 80 and the operation cycle of the first end sealer 70 are equal, but the phase of the operation cycle of the second end sealer 80 is delayed from the phase of the first end sealer 70. As described above, when the side surface of the tubular film 5 is folded inward by the folding plate 91 or when the tubular film 5 is sandwiched between the press contact portions 71 and 72, the folding plate 91 or the press contact of the tubular film 5. This is because the downstream portion of the portions 71 and 72 is closer to the upstream side. That is, even if such a phenomenon of the tubular film 5 occurs, the phase of the operation cycle of the second end sealer 80 is delayed, so that the seal location by the second end sealer 80 is the seal location by the first end sealer 70. Does not deviate from.

  Note that the second crimping drive mechanism 83 of the second end sealer 80 may be changed to a linear motion drive mechanism or a box motion drive mechanism. The direct acting drive mechanism moves the pressure contact portions 81 and 82 up and down along a linear track. The box motion type drive mechanism moves from the upstream side to the downstream side at the same speed as the film 5 with the pressure contact portions 81 and 82 being close to each other, and then the pressure contact portions 81 and 82 are separated from each other in the vertical direction. It moves to the upstream side. For example, the locus of movement of the upper pressure contact portion 81 by the box motion type drive mechanism is a rounded triangular shape with the upper side being the apex and the lower side being the bottom, and the movement locus of the lower pressure contact portion 82 by the box motion type drive mechanism is Is a rounded triangular shape with the lower side at the top and the upper side at the bottom.

  When the second crimping drive mechanism 83 of the second end sealer 80 is a box motion type drive mechanism, a cutter 84 that moves in the vertical direction is provided at either the upper pressure contact portion 81 or the lower pressure contact portion 82. . When the film 5 is sandwiched between the upper pressure contact portion 81 and the lower pressure contact portion 82, the cutter 84 advances from the upper pressure contact portion 81 toward the lower pressure contact portion 82, so that the film 5 is moved by the cutter 84. Cut to break through.

  Further, when the second crimping drive mechanism 83 of the second end sealer 80 is a box motion type drive mechanism, the downstream roller of the second transport device 35 and the upstream of the unloader 40 when the press contact portions 81 and 82 approach each other. The space between the side rollers is widened, and the space between the downstream roller of the second transport device 35 and the upstream roller of the unloader 40 is narrowed when the press contact portions 81 and 82 are separated from each other. In this case, the power of the second pressure-bonding drive mechanism 83 is used as a power for contact / separation between the downstream roller of the second transport device 35 and the upstream roller of the unloader 40 by a transmission mechanism such as a cam mechanism. It is transmitted to the downstream roller of the machine 35 and the upstream roller of the unloader 40.

12 Effect (1) Since a pair of belt conveyors 51 are provided on both sides of the cylindrical film 5 being conveyed, and the article 3 to be packaged inside the cylindrical film 5 is conveyed while being sandwiched between the belt conveyors 51. The to-be-packaged object 3 does not shift to the downstream side or the upstream side with respect to the tubular film 5. Further, the plate-like article 4 of the packaged article 3 does not fall down. In particular, since the belt conveyor 51 is provided so as to straddle the first end sealer 70 and the gusset forming machine 90 from the upstream side to the downstream side, the tubular film 5 is deformed by the first end sealer 70 and the gusset forming machine 90. The plate-like article 4 of the article 3 to be wrapped will not fall down. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the plate-like article 4 of the article 3 to be packaged from being bitten by the first end sealer 70.

(2) When the portion sealed by the first end sealer 70 is sent from the first end sealer 70 to the second end sealer 80 , the articles 3 to be packaged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the portion are transferred to the film 5. The plate-like article 4 of the article 3 to be packaged does not fall down. Therefore, the plate-like article 4 of the article 3 to be packaged is not bitten by the second end sealer 80.

(3) Even if the belt conveyor 51 is provided so as to straddle the first end sealer 70 and the gusset forming machine 90 from the upstream side to the downstream side, the central portion in the width direction of the tubular film 5 is pressed against the first end sealer 70. Since the portions 71 and 72 are sandwiched, the press contact portions 71 and 72 do not hit the belt conveyor 51. Only the central portion in the width direction of the tubular film 5 is sealed by the first end sealer 70, but the entire width direction of the tubular film 5 is sealed by the second end sealer 80 on the downstream side of the first end sealer 70. Therefore, the sealing property of the side stitch 7 can be secured.

(4) In the technique described in Patent Document 2, when the number or thickness of the article (A) is changed, the clamping member (17) attached to the endless chain (12) must be changed, It takes time to replace the member (17). On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the plate-like article 4 of the article to be packaged 3 is sandwiched in the width direction by the pair of belt conveyors 51, the number and thickness of the plate-like article 4 (the length of the article to be packaged 3 in the conveying direction). Even if it is changed, the replacement work of the belt conveyor 51 is not required. Therefore, this pillow wrapping apparatus 1 can cope with any length of the package 3 in the transport direction.

13. Modifications As mentioned above, although the form for implementing this invention was demonstrated, the said embodiment is for making an understanding of this invention easy, and is not for limiting and interpreting this invention. The embodiments of the present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and equivalents thereof are also included in the present invention. Changes from the above embodiment will be described below. You may apply combining each change point demonstrated below.

(1) Although the gusset forming machine 90 is provided in the above embodiment, the gusset forming machine 90 may not be provided. In this case, no gusset is formed on the side surface of the packaging film 5 of the completed package 2, and the side stitches 7 that are crushed and sealed are wider than the portion that wraps the package 3.

(2) In the above embodiment, when the gusset forming machine 90 is provided on both sides between the first transporter 30 and the second transporter 35 and the film 5 is thermocompression bonded by the first end sealer 70, A gusset 8 is formed by the gusset forming machine 90. On the other hand, the gusset forming machine 90 is provided on both sides between the second transporter 35 and the unloader 40, and when the film 5 is thermocompression bonded by the second end sealer 80, the gusset forming machine 90 8 may be formed. In this case, even if the distance from the front end of the folding plate 91 to the bottom of the rectangular cutout 92 is sufficiently long, and the folding plate 91 approaches each other and the side surface of the tubular film 5 is folded, the rectangular cutout 92 is also provided. Do not hide the bottom of the gusset 8. Then, even if the press contact portions 81 and 82 of the second end sealer 80 are close to each other, both side portions of the press contact portions 81 and 82 are accommodated in the rectangular cutout 92 and the entire width direction of the tubular film 5 is the press contact portion. 81 and 82 are thermocompression-bonded.
In addition, after the gusset forming machine 90 is provided on both sides between the first transfer machine 30 and the second transfer machine 35 as in the above embodiment, the second gusset forming machine is connected to the second transfer machine 35. It may be provided on both sides between the unloader 40.

(3) In the above embodiment, the pillow packaging device 1 is a normal pillow packaging device, but may be a reverse pillow packaging device. When the pillow packaging apparatus 1 is a reverse pillow packaging apparatus, the raw fabric roll 11 and the feed roller 12 are arranged on the lower side of the bag making machine 18 and both sides of the belt-like film 5 sent to the bag making machine 18 (center). The film 5 is rolled into a cylindrical shape so that the seal portion 6 is folded upward by the bag making device 18. The center sealer 60 is disposed on the upper side of the cylindrical film 5 to be conveyed, and the side portion (center seal portion) 6 standing on the upper surface of the cylindrical film 5 is thermocompression bonded by the center sealer 60. Further, since the belt conveyor 51 is not extended to the second end sealer 80, the press contact portions 81 and 82 of the second end sealer 80 do not hit the belt conveyor 51.

(4) With the center axis Ax shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as the center, the raw fabric roll 11, feed roller 12, bag making device 18, center sealer 60, first end sealer 70, second end sealer 80, gusset formation You may provide the machine 90 and the upper board 68 in the state rotated 90 degrees. Then, the pressure contact portions 71 and 72 of the first end sealer 70 are moved toward and away from each other in the width direction, and the pressure contact portions 81 and 82 of the second end sealer 80 are moved toward and away from each other in the width direction. The folding plates 91 move toward and away from each other in the vertical direction. Further, the pair of belt conveyors 51 are arranged vertically, and the cylindrical film 5 and the article 3 to be packaged inside thereof are conveyed while being sandwiched between these belt conveyors 51. In this case, the conveyor table 28, the first conveyor 30 and the second conveyor 35 are appropriately redesigned so that the lower belt conveyor 51 does not interfere with the conveyor table 28, the first conveyor 30 and the second conveyor 35. To do.

(5) The belt conveyor 51 of the above embodiment may be changed to a roller conveyor. The central axes of the rollers of the roller conveyor extend vertically, and these rollers are arranged at regular intervals in the conveying direction from the bag making device 18 to the upstream end of the second conveying device 35. The tubular film 5 and the article to be packaged 3 inside thereof are sandwiched between rollers of roller conveyors on both sides, and the rollers are driven to rotate by a motor or the like, whereby the tubular film 5 and the article to be packaged 3 are conveyed downstream. It is preferable that a hair-like or fin-like elastic convex portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the roller. In the case of a roller conveyor, the surface connecting the buses of a plurality of rollers that the tubular film 5 contacts corresponds to the transport surface.

(6) A plurality of convex portions arranged at intervals in the width direction may be provided on the lower surface of the press contact portion 71. Then, when the press contact portions 71 and 72 come close to each other, the tubular film 5 is sandwiched between the convex portion of the press contact portion 71 and the upper surface of the press contact portion 72 and sealed, so that a plurality of point-like seal portions are formed on the film. 5 are arranged in the width direction. The plurality of convex portions may be formed on the upper surface of the press contact portion 72, or may be formed on both the lower surface of the press contact portion 71 and the upper surface of the press contact portion 72. When a plurality of convex portions are formed on both the lower surface of the press contact portion 71 and the upper surface of the press contact portion 72, the film 5 is sandwiched between the convex portion on the lower surface of the press contact portion 71 and the convex portion on the upper surface of the press contact portion 72. And sealed.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pillow package thing, 3 ... Packaged article, 4 ... Plate-shaped article, 5 ... Film, 6 ... Center seal part, 7 ... End seal part, 8 ... Gazette, 18 ... Bag making machine, 50 ... Support machine, 51 ... belt conveyor, 52 ... first pulley, 53 ... second pulley, 54 ... endless belt, 55 ... elastic convex part, 60 ... center sealer, 70 ... first end sealer, 71 ... upper pressure contact part, 72 ... lower pressure contact , 73... First crimping drive mechanism, 80... Second end sealer, 81... Upper pressure contact portion, 82... Lower pressure contact portion, 83. 91 ... Folding plate, 92 ... Rectangular cutout, 93 ... Drive mechanism for gusset formation

Claims (7)

In parallel spaced apart from one another, the clamping free a pair longitudinally with a plurality of packaged articles which are arranged at intervals and the film of the film on the inside of the tubular film is conveyed in the longitudinal direction the conveyor When,
A first end sealer that sandwiches and seals a portion between the articles to be packaged in the intersecting direction intersecting the parallel direction of the conveyor among the film to be conveyed;
Provided on the downstream side of the first end sealer in the transport direction and sandwich the portion between the objects to be wrapped in the transported film in the intersecting direction, and overlap and seal the seal by the first end sealer. A second end sealer, and
The packaging apparatus, wherein the conveyor is provided so as to straddle from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the first end sealer.   The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor is a belt conveyor. The belt conveyor is
A first pulley provided upstream of the first end sealer;
A second pulley provided downstream of the first end sealer;
An endless belt spanned between the first pulley and the second pulley;
The packaging device according to claim 2, further comprising: an elastic convex portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt. The first end sealer sandwiches and seals the central portion in the width direction of the portion between the items to be packaged in the film,
The said 2nd end sealer is piled up on the site | part sealed with said 1st end sealer, and pinches | interposes the whole width direction of the site | part between the said to-be-packaged goods, It seals as described in any one of Claim 1 to 3. Packaging equipment.   Provided at the position of the first end sealer or the second end sealer in the transport direction of the film, the film is folded in a direction intersecting the direction of sandwiching the first end sealer or the second end sealer, and the gusset is The packaging apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 to 4 further equipped with the gusset formation machine formed in a film. A cylindrical film and a plurality of objects to be packaged arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the film on the inside thereof are conveyed in the longitudinal direction of the film, whereby the packaged object and the film are first-ended. When passing through the first end sealer and the second end sealer from the upstream side of the sealer in order to the downstream side of the second end sealer, they are arranged in parallel at a distance from each other and upstream of the first end sealer. Support the film and the object to be packaged between a pair of conveyors provided so as to straddle the downstream side from the side,
When the portion of the film to be packaged passes through the first end sealer, the film is sandwiched and sealed by the first end sealer in a crossing direction intersecting the parallel direction of the conveyor,
When the portion of the film between the items to be packaged passes through the second end sealer, the film is sandwiched by the second end sealer in the intersecting direction, and overlapped with the seal by the first end sealer. Packaging method to seal. Between the pair of belt conveyors, the portion in the width direction of the portion of the film to be wrapped is sandwiched by the first end sealer and sealed,
Before SL overlapping a portion that is sealed by the first end sealer method of packaging according to claim 6, sealing the entire width of the region sandwiched by said second end sealer between the packaged articles out of the film .

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