JPH10194206A - Method and device for bag packing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent wrinkles form occurring at the sealed part in the automation of a work wherein a bag mouth is sealed after placing an article in a bag. SOLUTION: After placing an article C in a bag B, top and bottom interval holding pieces 2, 3 are inserted in the bag mouth, and gusset parts G on the right and left of the bag, are pushed inward from right and left, both sides. By doing so, a tension is applied around the bag mouth, and the occurrence of wrinkles is suppressed. Then, the top and bottom interval holding pieces 2, 3 are made to approach each other under this state, and at the same time, the mutual approaching for the gusset parts G is continued. Thus, the bag mouth is closed and adhered under a state without wrinkles.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bag packing method and a bag packing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a semiconductor manufacturing process, a disk-shaped silicon wafer from which a semiconductor substrate is to be manufactured is formed as shown in FIG.
In some cases, a plurality of sheets may be packed in a carrier case C as shown in FIG. In many of such transfer operations, it is necessary to pack the carrier case C into a bag B made of vinyl or the like and seal it in order to protect the silicon wafer from dust and specific gas components in the air. It has been.

[0003] The carrier case C has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is bulky, so that a bag B for containing the carrier case C has a gusset portion G which can be bent inward on two opposite sides. Conventionally, in order to pack the carrier case C in this way, after inserting the carrier case C into the bag B as shown in FIG. 21, the two opposite sides of the bag mouth are first brought close to each other, and this state is maintained. Then, while the gusset portions G on both sides are folded inward along the outer contour of the carrier case C facing the bag mouth side, two opposing side surfaces (upper and lower surfaces in the figure) adjacent to these gusset portions G are brought closer to each other. The two opposing side surfaces are bonded by heat welding.

[0004]

In the conventional bag packing method, the procedure is such that the bag mouth is first closed, and then the two opposing sides closer to the carrier case C are brought closer to each other and bonded. In the process of bringing the bonding positions closer to each other, small wrinkles may be generated on the peripheral surface of the bag B and the folded portion of the gusset portion G, and the wrinkles may remain as minute air holes even after bonding. For this reason, the inside of the bag B is contaminated through the ventilation holes, which may lead to a reduction in the quality of the silicon wafer or a defect thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a bag packing method capable of closing without wrinkles when bagging various articles such as a silicon wafer carrier case. And a bag filling device.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the following technical measures have been taken in order to achieve the above object. That is, in the bag packing method according to the present invention, first, a pair of interval holding pieces is inserted into the opened bag mouth along the inner surfaces of the two opposite sides thereof. In addition, at the time of insertion of the spacing member,
It does not matter whether the bag opening is already open or before opening. If the spacing member is inserted before the opening of the bag opening, the bag may be opened by the spacing member itself after the insertion.

Next, the respective intermediate portions of the other two opposing sides of the bag mouth are pushed into the bag mouth or pulled out of the bag mouth. For example, if the bag has gusset portions on both sides, the gusset portions are brought closer to each other from the outside to fold the bag mouth. Also, if the bag is a flat bag having ears on both sides, the ears may be held apart on the outside and separated from each other or the inside of the ears may be separated away from each other, Make the bag mouth flat.

In any case, by performing such an operation, the inner surface of the bag opening is brought into a state in which the inner surface thereof is strongly in contact with both of the spacing members, and the circumferential tension is further applied thereto. Become. Therefore, generation of wrinkles from around the bag mouth is suppressed. Therefore, if the space holding pieces are made to approach each other while continuing to push the bag inward or pull out outward as described above, the bag mouth has no wrinkles around which it is tight. It starts to close as it is.

In this way, if the inner surfaces of the bag mouth are adhered to each other at the stage where they come into contact with each other, sealing can be performed without wrinkles, that is, without leaving the ventilation holes. On the other hand, the bag filling apparatus according to the present invention has an opening holding means, a tension applying means, a closing means, and an adhesive means for performing the above-mentioned operations.

With such a configuration, the whole can be made compact, so that it can be suitably used even in a clean room where silicon wafers are handled as described above.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 6 show the procedure for carrying out the first embodiment of the bag packing method according to the present invention. Also in the first embodiment, the article C was used as a carrier case for a silicon wafer, and the bag B was used as a vinyl gusset bag provided with gusset portions G which can be bent inward on two opposite sides.

The bag packing apparatus used in carrying out the bag packing method of the present invention includes an opening holding means 4 having a pair of upper and lower spacing members 2 and 3 as shown in FIGS. And closing means 8 for causing the opening holding means 4 and the tension applying means 7 to perform predetermined related operations as shown in FIG.
And bonding means 11 having a pair of upper and lower bonding operation portions 9 and 10 as shown in FIG.

In the opening holding means 4 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2), the upper spacing piece 2 and the lower spacing piece 3
Each of them has a pair of plate pieces separated and fixed at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction. In addition, these upper and lower spacing members 2 and 3 are initially waiting on the front side of the bag mouth with respect to the bag B with a narrower vertical spacing. And
The spacing members 2 and 3 can be moved back and forth so that they can be inserted into and removed from the bag mouth, and the upper spacing member 2 faces upward and the lower spacing member 3 faces downward. And each can be moved up and down.

Although not shown, these spacing pieces 2,
The back-and-forth movement and the up-and-down movement of 3 are performed by a fluid pressure cylinder, a screw feed mechanism, a wrapping drive mechanism, a rack advance / retreat mechanism by meshing a rack and a pinion, and the like. For this reason, in the opening holding means 4, the spacing members 2, 3 are inserted into the bag mouth of the bag B while keeping the vertical spacing narrow. It is designed to engage with the four corners in the bag mouth.

At this point, it is not essential to move the spacing members 2 and 3 up and down, and a mechanism for this may be omitted. In addition, these spacing members 2, 3
May be formed as a single plate shape or a frame shape in which the left and right plate pieces are connected, or may be configured as a rod-shaped member protruding corresponding to the four corners in the bag mouth. In the tension applying means 7 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), each of the pushing pieces 5, 6
Are formed in plate shapes that are symmetrical to each other, and are initially waiting on both the left and right sides of the bag B.

The left and right pushing pieces 5 and 6 can maintain a height corresponding to an intermediate position in the vertical direction of the gusset portion G of the bag B, and can approach and separate from each other.
When they are close to each other, they are arranged so as to be sandwiched between the above and below spacing members 2 and 3. Although illustration is omitted, advance and retreat driving for the mutually approaching / separating of the pushing pieces 5 and 6 is performed by a fluid pressure cylinder, a screw feed mechanism,
This is performed by a winding drive mechanism, a rack advancing / retracting mechanism by meshing a rack and a pinion, or the like.

Because of this, the tension applying means 7
Thus, the gusset portion G of the bag B can be folded inward from both left and right sides by the pushing pieces 5 and 6. The closing means 8 (see FIG. 4) is provided with the spacing members 2 and 3 of the opening holding means 4.
And the movement of the pressing pieces 5 and 6 of the tension applying means 7 to approach each other in the horizontal direction.
The control is performed so as to be synchronized with each other.

In the bonding means 11 (see FIG. 6), the upper and lower bonding operation portions 9 and 10 are, for example, low-voltage large-current heaters which can instantaneously start up after heating (heating to a predetermined temperature). Is formed by These bonding operation parts 9 and 10 are initially on standby above and below the bag B, respectively. If necessary, the two opposing sides of the bag mouth with which the space holding pieces 2 and 3 are engaged, These space holding pieces 2,
3 and can be pressed close to each other while not interfering with the engagement position of the product C in the bag B.
Then, after the pressing is completed, the two surfaces abutted in the bag mouth are heated and welded.

In the bonding operation sections 9 and 10, heat insulating plates 13 and 14 are provided in a side-by-side manner on the side of the bag B facing the article C. This prevents the bonding operation portions 9 and 10 from contacting other than a predetermined portion of the bag B, thereby preventing the bag B from being deformed or damaged. Although not shown, advance / retreat driving for causing the bonding operation sections 9 and 10 to perform a pressing operation is performed by a fluid pressure cylinder, a screw feed mechanism, a winding drive mechanism, a rack advance / retreat mechanism by engagement of a rack and a pinion, and the like. Will be

The bonding sections 9 and 10 are not limited to those that perform heat welding, but may be replaced with those that perform ultrasonic welding, high-frequency welding, or the like. It is also possible to replace it with one that performs bonding. In the bag packing method of the present invention performed by the bag packing apparatus 1 having such a configuration, first, after the article C is loaded into the bag B, the opening holding means 4 is opened as shown in FIGS. The spacing members 2 and 3 are inserted into the opening of the bag, and preferably at this point, the vertical spacing of the spacing members 2 and 3 is widened to engage the inner surfaces of the upper and lower opposite sides of the opening.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tension applying means 7 presses the pushing pieces 5 and 6 against the gusset portion G of the bag B to cause the gusset portion G to be bent inward.
At this time, if the spacing pieces 2 and 3 of the opening means 4 have not yet been engaged with the bag mouth, the pushing amounts of the pushing pieces 5 and 6 are increased, and the spacing pieces 2 and 3 are securely attached. Engage with the bag mouth.

In this manner, around the bag mouth,
With the inner surface in contact with the spacing members 2 and 3, tension is applied along the circumferential direction. Therefore, generation of wrinkles from around the bag mouth is suppressed. And closing means 8
, The close proximity of the spacing pieces 2 and 3 and the close proximity of the pressing pieces 5 and 6 are performed synchronously, and the bag mouth is closed while being tightly tightened without wrinkles ( FIG.
reference).

After the bag mouth is completely closed and the inside surfaces of the bag mouths come into contact with each other, as shown in FIG. 6, the bonding means 11 presses the bonding operation portions 9 and 10 around the mouth of the bag, and the inside surfaces of the bag mouths come together. To adhere. In this way, complete sealing without any remaining ventilation holes can be achieved. FIGS. 7 and 8 show a main procedure of the second embodiment of the bag packing method according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, the most different points from the first embodiment are in the shape of the spacing members 2 and 3 in the opening holding means 4 and how to insert them into the bag mouth.

That is, the spacing members 2 and 3 used in the second embodiment are bent in an L-shape, and their base end portions are connected to the upper and lower rotating shafts 15 and 16. Have been. These rotation shafts 15 and 16 are rotatable in opposite directions. As a mechanism for rotating the rotating shafts 15 and 16, a mechanism for driving a gear mechanism, a winding transmission mechanism, or the like with a motor, a lever driving using a fluid pressure cylinder, or the like can be employed.

Therefore, at first, the spacing members 2 and 3 are
As shown in FIG. 8, each of the rotary shafts 1 is in a standby state with the leading ends facing each other.
The upper spacing member 2 swings downward from the rear along with the rotation of 5 and 16, and the lower spacing member 3 swings upward from the rear. . Other configurations, operations, and effects are almost the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the main steps of a third embodiment of the bag packing method according to the present invention. In the third embodiment, the form of the bag B are different, the top portion b ₁ and a lower surface portion b ₂ are assembled by bonding the left and right portions of the gusset portions G. Therefore, the upper surface portion b ₁ and a lower surface portion b _2, which is intended to fins F projecting to the left and right sides beyond the junction of the gusset portion G is provided.

Therefore, in the third embodiment, in the opening holding means 4, the upper interval holding piece 2 is provided with the gusset portion G
The have a sandwich at top part b ₁ and both become contactable fork configuration of the fin F, Similarly, the bottom of spacing piece 3, the lower surface portion sandwiches the gusset portion G b ₂ and the fins F And a fork-shaped body capable of abutting on both.

Other structures, operations and effects are almost the same as those of the second embodiment. FIGS. 11 to 17 show the procedure of the fourth embodiment of the bag packing method according to the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, the bag B is a flat bag. That is, it does not have the gusset portion G. In addition, this type of flat bag generally has ears E on both sides.

The basic structure of the opening holding means 4 of the fourth embodiment is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment (see FIGS. 7 and 8). 20 is attached. Further, the tension urging means 7 has a completely different configuration from the above embodiments. The auxiliary opening means 20 (see FIGS. 11 to 13) attached to the opening holding means 4 is a pair of upper and lower suction parts 22, 23.
have. These suction portions 22 and 23 are initially on standby above and below the bag B, respectively, and if necessary, are directed to the two opposite sides of the bag mouth where the spacing members 2 and 3 are to be engaged. From each other, it is possible to approach and separate from each other. Of course, suction and release to the outer surface of the bag mouth are enabled.

Although not shown in the drawings, advance / retreat driving for vertically moving the suction units 22 and 23 is performed by a fluid pressure cylinder, a screw feed mechanism, a winding drive mechanism, a rack advance / retreat mechanism by meshing a rack and a pinion, and the like. Will be The auxiliary opening means 20 operates before the opening holding means 4 to slightly open the bag mouth of the bag B so that the opening holding means 4 can easily insert the spacing pieces 2 and 3. I have.

Further, the opening holding means 4 is provided with the spacing pieces 2 and 3.
After being engaged with the inside of the bag mouth, the suction state is continuously maintained, and the upper surface side of the bag mouth is sandwiched between the suction portion 22 and the spacing member 2, and the lower surface side of the bag mouth is spaced from the suction portion 23. It is preferable that the holding piece 3 is held between the holding pieces 3. Then, thereafter, the suction portion 22 and the spacing member 2 and the suction portion 23 and the spacing member 3 may be moved up and down integrally to open or close the bag mouth.

Tension urging means 7 (see FIGS. 16 and 17)
Has a pair of left and right drawer members 25 and 26. These drawer members 25 and 26 are initially waiting on the left and right sides with respect to the bag B, respectively. If necessary, the drawers 25 and 26 can maintain the height corresponding to the ear E of the bag B and can approach and separate from each other. Has become. Further, each of the drawer members 25 and 26 has a hand structure capable of holding and releasing the ear portion E of the bag B up and down.

Although not shown, these drawer members 2
The hand structures 5 and 26 may be driven by a motor using a gear mechanism or the like, or may be driven by a fluid pressure using a piston structure. In addition, the advancing / retracting drive for the drawer members 25 and 26 to approach / separate from each other is performed by a fluid pressure cylinder, a screw feed mechanism, a winding drive mechanism, a rack advancing / retracting mechanism by meshing a rack and a pinion, and the like.

Because of this, the tension applying means 7
In this case, the ear portions E of the bag B are pulled to the left and right sides by the respective drawer members 25 and 26. Therefore, a tension along the circumferential direction is applied around the bag mouth in a state where the inner surface of the bag comes into strong contact with both of the spacing pieces 2 and 3. Therefore, wrinkles are removed from around the bag mouth. FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 show the main steps of a fifth embodiment of the bag packing method according to the present invention. In the fifth embodiment, the bag B is a flat bag as in the fourth embodiment.

The fifth embodiment is most different from the fourth embodiment in that the pull-out members 25, 26 of the tension urging means 7 are provided.
And its operating condition. That is, the drawer members 25 and 26 have a plate-like shape that can be inserted into the opened bag mouth, and are initially waiting in front of the bag mouth with the left-right distance narrowed relative to the bag B. .

And these drawer members 25 and 26
It can be moved back and forth so that it can be inserted and removed from the bag mouth, and can be separated from each other inside the bag mouth. The forward / backward movement for the forward / backward movement and mutual approach / separation of the drawer members 25 and 26 is performed by a fluid pressure cylinder, a screw feed mechanism, a winding drive mechanism, a rack advance / retreat mechanism by meshing a rack and a pinion, and the like.

Accordingly, the tension urging means 7 inserts the two drawer members 25 and 26 into the opened bag mouth and then separates them from each other, thereby moving the ear E of the bag B from the inside to the left and right sides. I try to extrude. for that reason,
Around the bag mouth, a tension is applied in the circumferential direction with its inner surface strongly contacting both of the spacing pieces 2 and 3. Therefore, wrinkles are removed from around the bag mouth.

According to the fifth embodiment having such a tension urging means 7, application to a bag B having no ear portion E is also possible. Other configurations, operations, and effects are almost the same as those of the fourth embodiment. By the way, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the shape, use, material, and the like of the article C and the bag B are not limited at all.

[0039]

As is apparent from the above description, in the bag packing method and the bag packing apparatus according to the present invention, when bagging various articles such as a carrier case of a silicon wafer or the like, wrinkles are formed on the bag mouth. The door can be closed without any occurrence of In particular, it is possible to completely shut off exposure to minute dust and specific gas components in the air, such as silicon wafers, from the outside air. Will have a tremendous effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a first stage (a standby state of an interval holding piece) in a bag filling method according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory view showing a second stage (a state of insertion of a spacing member) of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a third stage (a state in which a gusset portion is pressed by a pushing piece) of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view corresponding to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view showing a fourth stage (a closing state of the bag mouth following FIG. 3) of the first embodiment with a part omitted;

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view showing a fifth stage (adhesion state of the bag mouth) of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state in which a spacing member is on standby in the second embodiment of the bag filling method according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view showing a situation where a spacing member is inserted into a bag mouth in the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view showing a state in which a spacing member is inserted into a bag mouth in the third embodiment of the bag packing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front sectional view corresponding to FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory view showing a first stage (a standby state of the interval holding pieces) in the fourth embodiment of the bag filling method according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a second stage (a state of insertion of a spacing member) of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 13 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a third stage (a state of opening the bag mouth) of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 16 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a fourth stage (operation start state of the tension applying unit) of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a fifth stage of the fourth embodiment (closed state of the bag mouth).
FIG.

FIG. 18 is an operation explanatory view showing a situation where the tension applying means starts operating in the fifth embodiment of the bag filling method according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an operation explanatory view showing a state where the bag mouth is closed in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing an example of an article and a bag.

FIG. 21 is an operation explanatory view showing a conventional bag packing method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Upper spacing member 3 Lower spacing member 4 Opening holding means 5 Pushing piece 6 Pushing piece 7 Tension applying means 8 Closing means 9 Upper bonding operation section 10 Lower bonding operation section 11 Bonding means B bag C Article E Ear Part F fin

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Masaki Hieda 8 Shiroyamacho, Ayabe-shi, Kyoto Gunze Machinery Division (72) Inventor Yuji Mukai 1st Ikura Shinmachi Ishiburo Gunze Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenji Ishii 1 Ikura Shinmachi Ishiba, Ayabe-shi, Kyoto Gunze Co., Ltd.Kyoto R & D Laboratories

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A bag packing method for sealing a bag mouth of a bag (B) into which an article (C) is loaded, wherein a pair of a pair of open bag mouths is formed along inner surfaces of two opposing sides thereof. While inserting the space holding pieces (2, 3), the intermediate portions of the other two opposite sides at the bag mouth are pushed into the bag mouth or pulled out of the bag mouth while the space holding pieces (2, 3) are being pulled out. ) Are kept close to each other, so that the inner surfaces of the bag mouth are always kept in contact with both of the gap holding pieces (2, 3). A bag packing method characterized by bonding. 2. A bag packing device for sealing a bag mouth of a bag (B) into which an article (C) is loaded, wherein the bag mouth which is open can be engaged with inner surfaces of two opposite sides thereof. The opening holding means (4) having a pair of interval holding pieces (2, 3) and the intermediate portions of the other two opposing sides at the bag mouth are pushed into the bag mouth or pulled out of the bag mouth. Tension applying means (7) for bringing the inner surface of the bag mouth into contact with both spacing pieces (2, 3), and pushing in or pulling out of the bag mouth by the tension applying means (7) is continued. At the same time, the closing means (8) for bringing the spacing pieces (2, 3) of the opening holding means (4) closer to each other in conjunction therewith; A bag-filling device, comprising a bonding means (11) for bonding.