JP6757562B2 - Printing packaging equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing and packaging device.

For example, for a product on a tray with a lid such as a lunch box, a band sheet is circulated around the product, and the lid or the like is fixed by welding a superposed portion where the ends overlap each other (hereinafter, also referred to as "band packaging"). ) Is being done. As such a printing wrapping device for band wrapping, for example, in Patent Document 1, a band sheet (film) is unwound in a loop so as to surround the product mounting portion, and the band sheet is drawn along the outer periphery of the product. A packaging device for wrapping a band sheet on a product by drawing and welding and cutting a portion that overlaps with the tip end portion of the band sheet is disclosed. Further, in recent years, not only the band sheet is circulated around the product to weld the overlapping portion where the ends overlap each other, but also the entire product is passed through the shrink tunnel to be subjected to shrink treatment (heat shrink treatment). It has been.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-168792

A product name, a characteristic pattern, or the like is often printed on the band wrapping packaged by such a printing and packaging device. Therefore, a relatively expensive film, a film on which a pattern or the like is printed in advance, or the like is used as a packaging material. However, as shown in Patent Document 1, the same packaging material is printed even though such printing is usually applied to a portion covering a lid, which is a position that is easy to see when displayed on a product shelf. Because it is wound by, there is a situation that expensive packaging material is used even in the part that is not printed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing wrapping device capable of band wrapping having excellent appearance while reducing the cost of a packaging material.

The wrapping device of the present invention is a printing wrapping device that wraps the outer periphery of a product in an annular shape, and supports a transport portion for transporting the product and a roll on which a first film covering the upper surface of the product is wound. The roll support portion, the second roll support portion that supports the second film that covers the lower surface of the product, the printing portion that prints on the first film that is unwound from the first roll support portion, and the first film and the second film are The film is heated by applying heat from below to the welded portion that welds to form the polymerized portion, the cut portion that cuts the polymerized portion, and the product that has been cut by the cut portion and wound by the film. It is equipped with a heater that performs shrinkage processing.

In the printing and packaging device having this configuration, since two packaging materials are used for band packaging the product, a versatile heat-shrinkable film can be used for the film on the non-printing side. As a result, the cost of the packaging material can be reduced. In addition, since it is equipped with a heater that heats the product wound by the film cut by the cut portion from below, only the second film of the first film and the second film is heat-shrinked. Is supplied with heat. As a result, it is possible to prevent the first film from being deformed due to heat and the appearance from being deteriorated, so that it is possible to wrap the band with an excellent appearance. As a result, it is possible to carry out wrapping with excellent appearance while reducing the cost of the packaging material.

In the printing and packaging apparatus of the present invention, the second roll support portion is arranged to face the first roll support portion, and the heater may be a heater belt.

In the printing and packaging apparatus having this configuration, since the first roll support portion and the second roll support portion are arranged so as to face each other, the film can be easily supplied from the upper direction and the lower direction of the product. Further, since the heater that applies heat supplies heat while supporting it from below, heat can be easily applied only to the film that covers the lower surface of the product.

In the printing and packaging apparatus of the present invention, the first film may have a heat-sensitive layer.

Since the heat-sensitive film could not be used in the packaging device using the shrink tunnel, it was necessary to prepare ink separately. In the printing and packaging apparatus having this configuration, since heat is not supplied to the first film, the color is not developed by the heat. Therefore, the heat-sensitive film makes it possible to print at a position that covers the upper surface of the product.

The printing and packaging apparatus of the present invention further includes a delivery control unit that controls the delivery amount of the first film supported by the first roll support portion and the second film supported by the second roll support portion, and the delivery control unit is provided. The delivery amount of at least one of the first film and the second film may be controlled so that the polymerization section located on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport section is located near the lower surface of the product.

In the printing and packaging apparatus having this configuration, one side surface of the product can be covered with a first film that covers the upper surface of the product. As a result, even when printing is performed on both the upper surface and one side surface of the product, printing on the first film, which is a heat-sensitive film, becomes possible. As a result, a part of the content printed on the upper surface of the film can be printed on the side surface, so that the appearance of the product is improved. Further, since the content printed on the lower surface of the conventional product can be printed on the side surface, the visibility of the product is improved.

In the printing and packaging device of the present invention, the product information storage unit that stores the first identifier and the information about the product to be printed on the product in association with each other, and the printing that stores the information about the position where the second identifier and the product information are printed in association with each other. An information storage unit, a scanner that reads code information in which the first identifier and the second identifier are stored as one code, and a print control unit that associates product information with print information by reading the code information by the scanner. And further prepare.

In the print packaging device having this configuration, the product information and the print information can be associated with each other by a simple operation of reading the code with a scanner. Further, by preparing a plurality of codes in which the first identifier and the second identifier are combined, it becomes easy to print arbitrary product information at an arbitrary position. The code referred to here is, for example, a one-dimensional code (bar code), a two-dimensional code, or the like.

According to the present invention, it is possible to carry out band packaging having excellent appearance while reducing the cost of the packaging material.

It is an overall block diagram which showed the whole structure of the printing packaging apparatus of one Embodiment. It is a functional block which showed the functional structure of the printing packaging apparatus of one Embodiment. (A) and (B) are diagrams for explaining the flow of band packaging of goods. (A) is a top view of the band-wrapped product as viewed from the top of the product, and (B) is a bottom view of the band-wrapped product as viewed from the bottom of the product. (A) is an example of information stored in the product information storage unit, and (B) is an example of information stored in the print information storage unit. Each of (A) to (D) is a diagram showing an example of a barcode for printing setting.

Hereinafter, one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted. The dimensional ratios in the drawings do not always match those described.

(1) Overall Configuration The printing and packaging device 1 of the present embodiment prints on a film delivered to product P of a tray with a lid such as a lunch box, and as shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B), the present invention is used. A strip-shaped film (first film 17 and second film 27) is circulated around the product, and the lid is welded by welding the overlapping portion w (see FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B)) in which the ends overlap each other. Etc. are fixed (hereinafter, also referred to as "band packaging"). As shown in FIG. 1, the printing and packaging apparatus 1 includes a transport unit 3, a first film supply unit 10, a printing unit 30, a second film supply unit 20, and a welding cutting unit (welding unit / cutting unit). It includes a 45, a heater block (heater) 9, a scanner 71 (see FIG. 2), and a control unit 60 (see FIG. 2).

The transport unit 3 transports the product P in a substantially horizontal direction. The transport unit 3 is composed of a plurality of belt conveyors 7 including a transport drive roller 4A and an endless belt 6 bridged to the transport driven roller 4B. The belt conveyors 7 are arranged in a row in the horizontal direction along a predetermined direction.

In the transport unit 3, a second film 27 supplied from a second film supply unit 20, which will be described later, is provided between one belt conveyor 7 and another belt conveyor 7 adjacent to the one belt conveyor 7. An opening 8 for guiding on the belt conveyor 7 is provided. The size of the gap of the opening 8 in the transport direction of the transport section 3 is the welding cutting section 45 through which the second film 27 fed from the second film supply section 20 passes and the first film 17 and the second film 27 are welded together. The size is such that the lower fusing blade 45B can pass through, but the product P to be packaged does not fall.

Above the opening 8, the first film 17 and the second film 27 are supplied from the first film supply section 10 and the second film supply section 20, which will be described later, and the overlapping portions w where the ends overlap each other (FIG. 3 (FIG. 3). A) and FIG. 3B) are welded and cut by the welding and cutting portion 45, whereby the product is band-wrapped in the band-wrapping area 40.

The first film supply unit 10 is arranged above the transport unit 3 and supplies the first film 17 that covers the upper surface of the product P that is transported in the substantially horizontal direction by the transport unit 3. The first film supply unit 10 has a first roll support unit 11 and a first delivery unit 13. The first roll support portion 11 rotatably supports the first roll 15 around which the first film 17 is wound. The first delivery unit 13 pulls out the first film 17 from the first roll 15 supported by the first roll support portion 11, and sends the pulled out first film 17 above the opening 8 (band packaging area 40). .. The first delivery unit 13 includes a first drive roller 13A and a first driven roller 13B that sandwich the first film 17. In the first delivery unit 13, the delivery of the first film 17 is controlled by the transmission control unit 61, which will be described later.

The first film 17 is a heat-sensitive film having a main body portion 17A as a base and a printed surface 17B on which one surface of the main body portion 17A is formed by a heat-sensitive layer. The printed surface 17B develops color when heat is applied.

The printing unit 30 prints on the first film 17 fed from the first film supply unit 10. The printing unit 30 includes a heat generating unit 31 and a printing roller 33.

The heating unit 31 is a thermal head including a plurality of minute heating elements that are heated according to the print data. The heating unit 31 performs heat-sensitive printing method printing by bringing the heated heating element into contact with the printing surface (the surface provided with the heat-sensitive layer) of the first film 17.

The printing roller 33 is arranged so as to face the heat generating portion 31. The surface of the printing roller 33 is made of a rubber-based material. The printing roller 33 is a drive roller that is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown). As the motor, for example, a stepping motor is used.

The printing roller 33 is arranged so as to sandwich the first film 17 together with the heat generating portion 31. As a result, the printing roller 33 can move the first film 17 in the supply direction (arrow in FIG. 1) by rotationally driving the printing roller 33 while pressing the printing surface of the first film 17 against the heat generating portion 31. The printing roller 33 is arranged below the heat generating portion 31. Therefore, the first film 17 is supplied to the band packaging region 40 in a posture in which the printed surface is on the upper surface.
To.

The second film supply unit 20 is arranged below the transport unit 3 and supplies the second film 27 that covers the lower surface of the product P that is transported in the substantially horizontal direction by the transport unit 3. The second film supply unit 20 is arranged so as to face each other in the vertical direction with the transport unit 3 interposed therebetween. The second film supply unit 20 has a second roll support unit 21 and a second delivery unit 23. The second roll support portion 21 rotatably supports the second roll 25 around which the second film 27 is wound. The second delivery unit 23 pulls out the second film 27 from the second roll 25 supported by the second roll support portion 21, and pulls out the second film 27 above the opening 8 (band) through the opening 8. Send out to the packaging area 40). The second delivery unit 23 includes a second drive roller 23A and a second driven roller 23B that sandwich the second film 27. In the second delivery unit 23, the delivery of the second film 27 is controlled by the transmission control unit 61 described later.

The second film 27 is a shrink film. As the second film 27, a film made of a material such as vinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyolefin is used.

The welding cutting portion 45 is a second film 27 supplied from the first film supply section 10 and the second film supply section 20 above the opening 8 (band packaging region 40). The tips are heat-welded to each other to form a polymerized portion w (see FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B)), and the polymerized portion w is cut in a direction (width direction) orthogonal to the transport direction. The welding cutting portion 45 has a pair of upper and lower fusing blades 45A and 45B. The fusing blades 45A and 45B are provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and the ends of the first film 17 and the second film 27 are heat-welded to form the polymerized portion w and cut at the same time.

The heater block 9 heat-shrinks the second film 27 by applying heat from below to the product P which has been cut by the welding cutting portion 45 and wound by the first film 17 and the second film 27. To do. In the present embodiment, the heater block 9 is arranged so that the endless belt 6 comes into contact with the endless belt 6 at a position where the endless belt 6 is sandwiched when the product P is conveyed. As a result, the endless belt 6 functions as a heater belt. The endless belt 6 as a heater belt supports the product P from below and shrinks (heat shrinks) the second film 27 of the supporting portion.

The control unit 60 shown in FIG. 2 controls the operation of the printing and packaging device 1 and performs various signal processing. In the control unit 60, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like are connected to each other via a bus line such as an address bus and a data bus. The control unit 60 includes a transmission control unit 61 as a conceptual part for executing various control processes in the print packaging device 1, a product information storage unit 63, a print information storage unit 65, a print setting unit 67, and print control. It has a part 69 and. In such a conceptual part, for example, a program stored in ROM is loaded on RAM and executed by the CPU.

The delivery control unit 61 controls the delivery amount of the first film 17 supported by the first roll support unit 11 and the second film 27 supported by the second roll support unit 21. Specifically, in the delivery control unit 61, as shown in FIG. 3B, the polymerization unit w located on the downstream side in the transport direction comes into contact with the lower surface Pb of the product P (for example, the endless belt 6). The delivery amount of at least one of the first film 17 and the second film 27 is controlled so as to be located at the position). The delivery control in the transmission control unit 61 will be described in detail later.

The product information storage unit 63 stores the product number (first identifier) in association with the information about the product to be printed on the product P. The product information storage unit 63 is composed of, for example, a storage device such as a silicon disk or an SSD (Solid State Drive). As shown in FIG. 5A, the product information storage unit 63 has, for example, the product name, price, expiration date, tray long side, tray short side, tray height, film length, etc. with respect to the product number. The product information associated with is stored as the product information table T1.

The print information storage unit 65 stores the print format number (second identifier) in association with the information regarding the position where the product information is printed. For example, it is composed of a storage device such as an SSD. The print information storage unit 65 stores the print information associated with the print format number, the print position (long side), the print position (short side), the print speed, and the like as the print information table T2.

The print setting unit 67 associates the product information with the print information. Specifically, the print setting unit 67 uses the scanner 71, which will be described later, to set the first barcode 81 corresponding to the product number and the print format number as shown in FIGS. 6 (A) to 6 (D). By reading the bar code (code information) 80 in which the corresponding second bar code 83 is set, the product number and the print format number are associated with each other.

For example, the barcode 80 shown in FIG. 6 (A) has the product information of the product number “1234” shown in FIG. 5 (A) and the print information of the print format number “1236” shown in FIG. 5 (B). And are used to associate. For example, the barcode 80 shown in FIG. 6 (B) has the product information of the product number “1234” shown in FIG. 5 (A) and the print information of the print format number “1237” shown in FIG. 5 (B). And are used to associate. For example, the barcode 80 shown in FIG. 6 (C) has the product information of the product number “1235” shown in FIG. 5 (A) and the print information of the print format number “1236” shown in FIG. 5 (B). And are used to associate. For example, the barcode 80 shown in FIG. 6 (D) has the product information of the product number “1235” shown in FIG. 5 (A) and the print information of the print format number “1237” shown in FIG. 5 (B). And are used to associate. The printing and packaging device 1 is prepared with a booklet or the like on which a plurality of such barcodes 80 are printed.

The print control unit 69 sets the first drive roller 13A, the second drive roller 23A, the transport drive roller 4A, the heat generating unit 31, the printing roller 33, the welding cutting unit 45, and the like according to the settings associated with the printing setting unit 67. Control. For example, when the print control unit 69 is band-wrapped by the first film 17 and the second film 27 according to the settings associated with the print setting unit 67, the product P as shown in FIG. 3 (B). It is possible to print at the position P1 that covers the upper surface Pa and at the position P2 that covers the side surface Pc of the product P.

The scanner 71 reads the bar code 80, which is a set of the first bar code 81 corresponding to the product number and the second bar code 83 corresponding to the print format number. A light source and an optical sensor are provided on the reading surface of the scanner 71. The scanner 71 detects the light from the light source that hits the bar code and is reflected by the sensor, and identifies the numerical value based on the width of the bar and the width of the gap.

(2) Operation of band packaging by the print packaging device Next, the operation of band packaging by the print packaging device 1 will be described. In the print wrapping device 1, the content to be printed as the band wrapping is set by the operator prior to the band wrapping. To set the print contents, the operator uses the scanner 71 mounted on the print wrapping device 1 to print a booklet or the like on which a plurality of barcodes 80 as shown in FIGS. 6 (A) to 6 (D) are printed. From, one bar code 80 is read. By such work, the content to be printed on the first film 17 is set in the printing and packaging apparatus 1.

The product P is conveyed by the conveying unit 3, and the first film 17 and the second film 27 are delivered by the first sending unit 13 and the second sending unit 23, respectively. The first film 17 is printed by the printing unit 30 according to the contents set in advance.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tips of the first film 17 and the second film 27, which are unwound by the first delivery section 13 and the second delivery section 23, are welded and cut at the band packaging region 40 on the transport section 3. It is welded and connected by the portion 45 (front polymerization portion w1). Next, as shown in FIG. 3A, the product P is sent out to the tips of the first film 17 and the second film 27 which are integrated by welding and connecting. The product P delivered by the transport unit 3 is covered along the upper surface Pa and the lower surface Pb by the first film 17 and the second film 27 delivered by the first delivery unit 13 and the second delivery unit 23, respectively.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 3B, in the delivery control unit 61, the front polymerization unit w1 located on the downstream side in the transport direction is located near the lower surface Pb of the product P (near the transport surface). The first delivery unit 13 and the second delivery unit 23 are controlled to control the delivery amount of at least one of the first film 17 and the second film 27. For example, the delivery control unit 61 first delivers the first film 17 so that the feed amount of the first film 17 is larger than the feed amount of the second film 27 for a predetermined time after the product P comes into contact with the front polymerization section w1. It controls at least one of the unit 13 and the second transmission unit 23.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, the first film 17 and the second film 27 around which the upper surface Pa and the lower surface Pb of the product P are wound are placed on the trailing edge (upstream side in the transport direction) of the product P. Then, it is welded and connected (posterior polymerization portion w2) by the welding cutting portion 45. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B), the band packaging for the product P is completed.

(3) Features, Actions, and Effects In the printing and packaging device 1 of the above embodiment, two packaging materials, the first film 17 and the second film 27, are used for band-wrapping the product P, thereby printing. A versatile heat-shrinkable film can be used as the film (second film 27 in this embodiment) on the side not subjected to the above. As a result, the cost of the packaging material can be reduced.

Further, in the printing and packaging apparatus 1 of the above embodiment, the heater block 9 that heats the product P wound by the first film 17 and the second film 27 cut by the welding cutting portion 45 from below is provided. Of the first film 17 and the second film 27, only the second film 27 is supplied with heat for the heat shrinkage treatment. As a result, it is possible to prevent the first film 17 from being deteriorated in appearance due to deformation due to heat or the like, so that band packaging having an excellent appearance can be achieved. As a result, it is possible to carry out wrapping with excellent appearance while reducing the cost of the packaging material.

Further, in the printing and packaging apparatus 1 of the above embodiment, since the first roll support portion 11 and the second roll support portion 21 are arranged so as to face each other, the first film 17 is printed from the upper direction of the product P. The second film 27 can be easily supplied from the lower direction of P. Further, since the heater block 9 for applying heat supplies heat while supporting it from below via the endless belt 6, heat can be easily applied only to the second film 27 covering the lower surface of the product P.

Further, since the printing and packaging apparatus 1 of the above embodiment has the above configuration, heat is not supplied to the first film 17. Therefore, the heat-sensitive film makes it possible to print at a position that covers the upper surface of the product. Further, since a heat-sensitive film that could not be used in a printing packaging device using a shrink tunnel can be used, it is not necessary to separately prepare ink for printing.

Further, in the printing and packaging apparatus 1 of the above embodiment, the feed amounts of the first film 17 and the second film 27 are controlled so that the front polymerization portion w1 located on the downstream side in the transport direction is located near the lower surface Pb of the product P. Therefore, one side surface Pc of the product P can be covered with the first film 17 that covers the upper surface Pa of the product P. As a result, even when it is desired to print on both the upper surface Pa and the one side surface Pc of the product P, it can be realized only by printing on the first film 17 which is a heat-sensitive film. Further, since a part of the content printed on the upper surface Pa of the product P can be printed on the side surface Pc, the appearance of the product P is improved. Further, since the content printed on the lower surface of the conventional product can be printed on the side surface Pc, the visibility of the product P is improved.

Further, in the print packaging device 1 of the above embodiment, the product information and the print information can be associated with each other by a simple operation of reading the barcode 80 with the scanner 71.

(4) Modifications Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the above embodiment, an example in which a thermal film is used as the first film 17 has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a film having no heat sensitive layer may be used as the first film. In this case, for example, an ink ribbon impregnated with a paint (ink) for printing on the first film, a thermal head that heats the ink ribbon to transfer and apply (print) the paint to the first film, and a thermal head correspond to each other. The printing unit may include a platen roller that sandwiches the ink ribbon and the first film, and a winding shaft that collects the used ink ribbon.

The configuration of the printing unit when the thermal film is not used as the first film is not limited to the above configuration, and is, for example, a configuration adopting an inkjet method, a direct electrostatic copying method, a wet electrostatic copying method, or the like. May be good.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the polymerized portion w is formed by heat-welding the first film 17 and the second film 27 by heating has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the polymerization portion w may be welded by high frequency or by ultrasonic waves. When welding by high frequency is used, it is safe because the film itself is heated from the inside by the action of high frequency energy, and only the portion to be welded can be heated, so that the appearance of the polymerized portion w is excellent. Further, when ultrasonic welding is used, the target film is welded by generating frictional heat by the action of ultrasonic energy.

In the above embodiment, the transport unit 3 has been described by taking the belt conveyor 7 as an example, but the transport unit 3 may be a roller conveyor in which a plurality of rollers are arranged in the transport direction.

The various embodiments and modifications described above may be combined in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 ... Printing packaging device, 3 ... Conveying unit, 9 ... Heater block (heater), 10 ... First film supply unit, 17 ... First film, 20 ... Second film supply unit, 27 ... Second film, 30 ... Printing Unit, 45 ... Welding and cutting part (welding part / cutting part), 60 ... Control unit, 61 ... Transmission control unit, 63 ... Product information storage unit, 65 ... Print information storage unit, 67 ... Print setting unit, 69 ... Print control Section, 71 ... Scanner, 80 ... Bar code (code information), P ... Product, Pa ... Top surface, Pb ... Bottom surface, Pc ... Side surface, T1 ... Product information table, T2 ... Print information table, w ... Overlapping section.

Claims (4)

A printing and wrapping device that wraps the outer circumference of a product in a ring with two upper and lower films.
A transport unit that transports the product and
A first film that is sent out from the first roll support, covers the upper surface of the product, and is printed.
A second film, which is sent out from the second roll support portion, covers the lower surface of the product, and is made of a heat-shrinkable film.
The printing part to be printed on the first film and
A welded portion that covers the product and welds the first film and the second film to each other to form a polymerized portion.
A cutting portion that separates the polymerized portion from the first film delivered from the first roll support portion and the second film delivered from the second roll support portion.
A heater that heat-shrinks the second film by applying heat from below to the product cut by the cutting portion.
A delivery control unit for controlling the delivery amount of each of the first film delivered from the first roll support portion and the second film delivered from the second roll support portion is provided.
The delivery control unit feeds at least one of the first film and the second film so that the polymerization unit located on the downstream side in the transport direction of the product in the transport unit is located near the lower surface of the product. A printing and packaging device to control . The second roll support portion is arranged to face the first roll support portion.
The heater is a heater belt, printing and packaging apparatus according to claim 1. The printing and packaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the first film has a heat-sensitive layer that develops color by heating the printing portion. A product information storage unit that stores the first identifier in association with the product information to be printed on the product,
A print information storage unit that stores the second identifier in association with the print information related to the position where the product information is printed, and
A scanner that reads code information including the first identifier and the second identifier is further provided.
The printing and packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein when the code information is read by the scanner, the product information is printed at a position specified by the printing information.

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