JPH1191743A - Method and apparatus for inserting compressible article into packaging bag - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To insert plate-like compressible articles such as fried bean curd into a small packaging bag easily by compressing them to reduce thickness as a whole when such articles are inserted into a packaging bag whose mouth is opened upward. SOLUTION: A pair of pinchingly holding plates 11, each having an opening 38 defined therein so as to reach a top end in the lengthwise direction thereof, are kept open in a horizontal state. Plural pieces of fried bean curd F stacked on one another sideways are supplied onto the lower pinchingly holding plate, and both the pinchingly holding plates 11 are closed together to pinchingly hold the plural pieces of the fried bean curd F in a vertically compressed state. Then, the pinchingly holding plates 11 are turned by 90 deg. so that their top ends face downward while the plural pieces of the fried bean curd F are being pinchingly held, and inserted from their top ends into a packaging bag W. The plural pieces of the fried bean curd F are pressed with a pair of press bars from both outer sides of the packaging bag W through the openings 38 and, subsequently, the pinchingly holding plates 11 are withdrawn upward from the packaging bag W to allow the pieces of the fried bean curd F to remain in the packaging bag W.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for inserting a compressible article into a packaging bag. A method and apparatus particularly suited for insertion into a bag.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Inari sushi fries are stacked and inserted into a packaging bag, filled with a seasoning liquid and impregnated, and then sealed with a bag opening. For sufficient impregnation, it is necessary to use a packaging bag as small as possible. For this reason, when the fried food is inserted into the packaging bag, various measures have been taken, such as compressing it in the thickness direction so that it can be inserted even into a small packaging bag, or compressing it at the time of insertion.

For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 61-31922 discloses that a plurality of superposed elastic plate-like articles are placed on a comb-shaped guide member for holding the articles in an upright position, and are horizontally moved.
This comb-shaped guide member is gripped by a pair of grip plates having a comb-shaped portion that does not contact with the comb-shaped guide member, compressed in the thickness direction, and then the comb-shaped guide member is pulled back to the original position, and the grip plate is lowered, There is described an apparatus in which a bag mouth is inserted into a packaging bag having a bag mouth opened upward at a lower portion, a grip plate is opened, and a grip plate is pulled up while an upper end of a plate-shaped article is pressed by an article lifting prevention mechanism. However, in this device, the gripping plate opens in the bag to open the plate-like article, so the opening of the gripping plate is necessary, and the packaging is considerably larger than the thickness of the plate-like article. There is a problem that it is necessary to use a bag. And when the opening margin is reduced, the plate-like article expands due to elasticity and sticks to the gripping plate, so in the case of a weak object such as fried oil, when the gripping plate rises, the upper end is pressed by the lifting prevention mechanism and vertically There is also the problem of squatting. Also, because the tip of the lifting prevention mechanism enters and exits the grip plate,
The structure is complicated.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-178314 discloses that a resilient product is pushed from above into a pair of beak-shaped guide members urged in a closing direction by a spring and held in a compressed state in the guide members. Then, the guide member is inserted into the packaging bag, and then the elastic product is pushed downward by a push rod from above, and the elastic product is inserted into the packaging bag in a state of being compressed in the thickness direction. Is described. However, in this device, the elastic product is pushed into the guide member from above in an upright position, and the upper end is pushed by a push rod and pushed downward, so that a product with a weak waist such as an oil fried product can be pulled vertically. There is a problem that it is almost impossible to compress in the thickness direction in order to prevent squatting.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to reduce the thickness of a compressible article, especially a plate-like compressible article such as fried food, when the article is inserted into a packaging bag, and to easily pack the article into a small packaging bag. It is another object of the present invention to provide a main object to be able to insert and to stably supply and process a compressible article when the article is supplied to an insertion device.

[0006]

According to the method of inserting a compressible article into a packaging bag according to the present invention, the compressible article is held in a compressed state by a pair of holding plates having an opening reaching the longitudinal end. Inserting the holding plate into the packaging bag from the front end while holding it, pressing the compressible article through the opening by pressing members from both sides of the packaging bag, and then pulling out the holding plate to pack the compressible article It is characterized in that it is left in the bag. Note that a compressible article refers to an article whose apparent volume decreases when compressed and increases in apparent volume when compression is released. In this method, the compressible article is sandwiched by the holding plate and inserted into the packaging bag, only the compressible article is pressed from the outside of the packaging bag, and the holding plate is pulled out as it is. It is possible to insert a large compressible article into a small packaging bag without having to allow for an allowance for spreading.

Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 56-125803 discloses that, when packing only enoki, etc., only a pair of holding plates from the outside of the packaging bag are dropped from the loosened arc-shaped flexible plate into the packaging bag. A device is described which prevents only the fly from rising together when the flexible plate is pulled out.This is because the device holds the contents from the outside of the packaging bag and prevents the contents from rising together. It has something in common with the present invention. However, in this device, when the flexible plate is pulled out, the flexible plate is open, and the holding plate is configured to press only the plate under the open flexible plate at a position below the open flexible plate. There is an essential difference from the present invention in which the compressible article held in the compressed state is pressed through the opening formed in the holding plate and the holding plate is pulled out as it is.

[0008] As a specific embodiment of the above method, a compressible article placed sideways is sandwiched in a vertically compressed state by the pair of sandwiching plates, and the compressed article is turned while its tip is directed downward. Moving and inserting the compressible article in a horizontal direction before and after being sandwiched by the pair of sandwiching plates in the upward and downward opening of the packaging bag. Can be

According to this method, a compressible article supplied in a state of being laid horizontally is sandwiched by a sandwiching plate while being laid horizontally, and the compressed article is turned vertically and inserted into a packaging bag. This has the following advantages in both supply and insertion of the compressible article. In other words, as a type of packaging machine, for example, there are many types in which a bag is gripped on both sides of a bag opening of a packaging bag and the contents are filled in an upwardly opened state, and a seasoning liquid such as fried inari sushi is used. For filling, the packaging bag must be held vertically. Therefore, from the viewpoint of insertion into the packaging bag, it is desirable that the compressible article can be inserted into the vertically supported packaging bag from above. However, on the other hand, compressible articles (although not limited to compressible articles), especially in the case of plate-shaped articles, are more likely to be placed sideways than placed in a standing position, as in the conventional example, for example, because they are supplied manually. When the compressible article is transferred to the holding plate, it is more stable if the article is kept horizontal. In addition, when the compressible article is subjected to processing such as cutting, there is an advantage that it is easier to place the article horizontally. Therefore,
From the point of supply and processing of the compressible article, it is desirable that the compressible article be laid on its side.

A device for inserting a compressible article into a packaging bag according to the present invention is an insertion device installed at a position where a compressible article is inserted into a packaging bag in a bag-filling and packaging machine, and has an opening reaching a longitudinal end. Part is formed, is openable and closable by an opening / closing mechanism, clamps the compressible article, and is provided on both sides of the packaging bag with an insertion portion having a pair of clamping plates that advance and retreat toward the tip of the packaging bag. A holding portion provided with a holding member for moving back and forth toward the packaging bag and holding the compressible article through the opening of the holding plate. The insertion portion has an opening formed to reach the longitudinal end, and a pair of holding plates for holding the compressible article that can be opened and closed by an opening and closing mechanism, and the holding plate is turned between a horizontal position and a downward position. It is more preferable to include a rotating mechanism for moving the holding plate and a reciprocating mechanism for vertically moving the holding plate in the downward posture with the tip of the holding plate facing the packaging bag. The operation and effect of this device are the same as those described in relation to the above method.

Further, as a specific mode of the above-described device, a pair of holding plates may have a shape in which both sides in the width direction are narrowed in a cross section perpendicular to the length direction. This is because the pair of holding plates are inserted into the small packaging bag, so that the shape conforms to the shape of the opening of the packaging bag as much as possible, and is based on the idea that the shape that entirely surrounds the compressible article is good. Typical shapes include a substantially [] shape in which the center is parallel to each other and both sides are bent inward in the cross section, and a substantially <> shape in which a U-shaped holding plate faces each other.

[0012] Furthermore, as particularly suitable for use in combination with the above-mentioned insertion device according to the present invention, the compression device is installed near a packaging machine for packing the compressible articles, and the compression device is inserted into the insertion device of the packaging machine. A supply device for supplying in a state of being placed sideways can be cited. The supply device includes an intermittently rotating table, and a plurality of transfer holders provided around the table and for mounting and transporting the compressible article. The transport holder places the compressible article horizontally and compresses the compressed article. A recess having a width substantially the same as the width of the article, the recess having an outwardly open opening and an inwardly narrower opening than the width thereof, and a feeding position to the insertion device. Is provided with an extruding device having an extruding member which enters the recess through the inward opening and pushes out the compressible article placed therein outward. In this supply device, a cutting device for vertically cutting the compressible article placed on the transport holder can be provided at an appropriate position where the transport holder stops around the intermittent rotary table, if necessary.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a method for inserting a compressible article, an insertion apparatus and a supply apparatus for a compressible article according to the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to FIGS. FIG.
Shows a bagging and packaging machine 1 for frying and a feeder 2 for supplying frying to the packaging machine 1.

In the packaging machine 1, a plurality of pairs of grippers 4 are installed at equal intervals around a table 3 which rotates intermittently. The table 3 rotates intermittently one step at a time, and will be described below at each stop position during one rotation. The steps (from the packaging machine in FIG. 1) such as supply of packaging bags, insertion of frying, filling of seasoning liquid, and sealing of the bag mouth are sequentially performed. The intermittent rotary table type bag packing machine itself is a known machine except for an insertion device described later.

Packaging Bag Supply Step A packaging bag W (not shown) is supplied from a bag base 6 installed on a base 5 to a gripper 4 stopped at this position by a bag supply device (not shown), and both upper sides are gripped. And suspended vertically. Printing process When the gripper 4 holding the packaging bag stops at the position,
The printing device 7 prints the date and the like on the bag surface.

When the bag is stopped at the next position, a vacuum suction device (not shown) sucks both sides of the packaging bag by suction cups, and at the same time, the grippers 4 move toward each other and air is blown into the bag by an air blowing device (not shown). The spatula 8a of the opening holding device 8 is inserted into the opened bag mouth. The opening holding device 8 reciprocates between the positions.

Next, the opening holding device 8 rotates together with the table 3 and stops at the position, and then the holding plate 11 of the insertion device 9 is rotated by the spatula 8a.
Is inserted into the packaging bag from the opening of the bag, and pressing members (not shown) from both sides of the packaging bag press the fry sandwiched by the holding plate 11, and then the holding plate 11 is pulled out of the packaging bag, and only the fried food is removed. Left in the packaging bag. In addition, the holding plate 1
After the insertion of 1, the opening holding device 8 separates from the bag mouth, rotates in the opposite direction before the table 3 starts rotating to the next position, and returns to the original position.

Next, when the table 3 rotates and the gripper 4 stops at the position, the nozzle of the liquid filling device 12 is inserted into the opening of the packaging bag to fill the liquid. Preliminary Sealing Step At this position, the grippers 4 are moved in the direction away from each other to make the bag mouth of the packaging bag tight, and the bag mouth is presealed by the sealing device 13. Main Sealing Step At this position, the bag mouth is fully sealed by the sealing device 14. Cooling and discharging process At this position, the bag mouth that has been heat-sealed is cooled by the cooling device 15, and then the gripper 4 is opened to open the packaging bag, dropped onto the lower belt conveyor 16, and dropped outside the machine. Discharge.

In the feeder 2, a plurality of holders 18 for placing and transporting the frying around the intermittently rotating table 17 are installed at equal intervals, and during the intermittent rotation of the table 17,
For example, a plurality of fried foods are placed by hand in the recess of the holder 18 horizontally, cut vertically by a cutting device 19, bisected, and inserted by an extrusion device 21 provided with extrusion claws. It is supplied to the holding plate 11 of the device 9.

As shown in FIG. 2, the holder 18 is provided with a recess 22 on which a plurality (three in the figure) of the fried foods F are placed side by side. The recess 22 has a width substantially equal to the width of the fried fish F, has a length substantially the same as the length of the fried fish F, and allows the fried fish F to be placed horizontally, and is opened toward the outer peripheral direction of the table 17. The opening 23 and the opening 24 having a slightly narrow width facing inward are formed, and the fried fish F is pushed out through the opening 23 by the pushing claw that has entered through the opening 24. In addition, this holder 1
8 (in a plane perpendicular to the radial direction of the table 17)
Is formed with a slit 25 extending from the bottom surface 18a to the middle of the side wall 18b, so that a blade of a cutting cutter can enter therein.

At the stop position of the holder 18, the fry cutting device 19 is provided with a cutter 26 installed below the holder 18 so as to be able to move up and down, and a cutter 26 installed above the holder 18 so as to be able to move up and down so that the blade of the cutter 26 enters. Slit 27
The cutter 26 is attached via a bracket 31 to an elevating shaft 29 driven up and down by a driving mechanism (for example, a cam mechanism) not shown, and the pressing punch 28 is provided with a driving mechanism (for example, cam The bracket is attached via a bracket 33 to an elevating shaft 32 driven up and down by a mechanism.

The cutting device 19 at the standby position (FIG. 2)
When the holder 18 on which the fried F is placed is stopped,
First, the presser punch 28 descends, enters the recess 23, and stops at a position where it comes into contact with the upper surface of the fry F. Then, the cutter 26 rises and enters the slit 25, and subsequently enters the slit 26. Is cut in the vertical direction and bisected (FIG. 3). After the cutting, the cutter 26 descends, then the presser punch 28 rises and returns to the standby position.

The extrusion device 21 is installed at a position (extrusion position) adjacent to the insertion position of the packaging machine 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the pushing device 21 includes a pushing claw 34 having a width capable of entering the opening 24 of the holder 18 above the holder 18. The pushing claw 34 includes a vertical pushing portion 34 a and a horizontal holding portion. 34b
Through a bracket 37 on an elevating shaft 36 driven up and down by a drive mechanism (for example, a cam mechanism) (not shown). Installed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the insertion device 9 is installed at the insertion position (insertion step) of the packaging machine 1 and includes a pair of holding plates 11 for holding the fried fish F, and the holding plates 11 are arranged in the longitudinal direction. When viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the cross section, the central portion is substantially parallel to each other and both sides in the width direction are bent inward to form a substantially [] shape, and has a shape that entirely surrounds the horizontally stacked fried fish F. An opening 38 reaching the tip is formed in the lengthwise direction in a parallel portion of each of the holding plates 11, and a pressing member described later presses the fried oil F through the opening 38.

The holding plate 11 is made openable and closable by an opening / closing cylinder 41 via a bracket 39 (in this embodiment, the lower holding plate 11a does not move, and the upper holding plate 11b
Is set to open and close the lower holding plate 11a). Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the opening / closing cylinder 41 is attached to a rotating shaft 42, and a driving mechanism (not shown) A mechanism 44 is mounted on a lifting shaft 43 driven up and down by a bearing 44 via a bearing 44. A rotation lever 45 is fixed to the rotation shaft 42, and is rotatable by a rotation rod 46 that is advanced and retracted by a drive mechanism (for example, a cylinder) (not shown) attached to the bearing 44. With these mechanisms, the holding plate 11 can be opened and closed,
It can rotate and move up and down freely.

As shown in FIG. 8, the insertion device 9 includes a holding portion 47 for holding the frying from both sides of the packaging bag W. The holding portion 47 is provided with the packaging bag W at the insertion position.
A pair of vertical pressing rods 48 installed substantially parallel to the center of the bag surface on both sides of the bag, and a cylinder 51 that can be opened and closed via a mounting bracket 49 are provided.

One example of the operation of the extrusion device 21 and the insertion device 9 described above will be described in order with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8. The packaging device 1 is horizontally overlapped with a position (extrusion position) adjacent to the insertion position. 18 of the feeder 2 on which the fried F is placed
Stops, the elevating shaft 36 of the extrusion device 21 is lowered, and the extrusion claw 34 is moved from the standby position of FIG.
The presser 34b is lowered to a position where the upper surface of the fry F is lightly pressed (the presser 34b enters the opening 24 from above). Subsequently, the cylinder 35 is operated, and the pushing claw 34 is pushed forward (the pressing portion 34a enters the opening 24 from behind), abuts on the rear end of the fried fish F, and is pushed forward. At this time, the holding plate 11 is in a horizontal state at the raised position, the upper and lower holding plates 11b and 1a are opened in parallel with each other, and the upper surface of the lower holding plate 11a is located on the bottom surface 18a of the recess 23. The height of the bottom 1 is approximately the same.
8a.

The fried oil F pushed out from the recess 23 by the pushing claw 34 is delivered and placed on the lower holding plate 11a, and then the cylinder 41 is operated to keep the holding plate 11 horizontal and parallel. It is closed (the upper holding plate 11b descends), and at this time, the pushing claw 34 passes through the opening 38,
The upper holding plate 11b does not interfere with the pushing claws 34. As shown in FIG. 6, when the holding plate 11 is closed, the frying F is held in a compressed state by the holding plate 11, and the thickness is reduced.

Subsequently, the rotating rod 46 is advanced by a driving source (not shown), and vertically rotates the holding plate 11 by 90 ° so that the tip is directed downward. On the other hand, in the case of the packaging machine 1, the table 3
Is rotated, and the packaging bag W in which the bag mouth is opened and the spatula 8a is inserted comes to the insertion position and stops. At this time, FIG.
As shown in (spatula 8a and the like are not shown), the opening of the opening of the packaging bag W gripped by the gripper 4 is set directly below the holding plate 11.

In this state, the lifting shaft 43 is lowered by a drive source (not shown), and the holding plate 11 is lowered and inserted into the packaging bag W. Subsequently, the pair of presser rods 48 of the presser device 47 that has been opened and at the standby position move symmetrically in the closing direction (operating position) by the cylinder 51, and the opening of the holding plate 11 is opened from outside the packaging bag W. The fry F is pressed from both sides through the portion 38, and then the lifting shaft 43 is operated to raise the holding plate 11, and at this time, the fried F held by the holding rod 48 does not rise with the holding plate 11, and the packaging bag W Will be left in. In addition, since the opening 38 formed in the holding plate 11 is opened above the cut C of the fry F, and the presser rod 48 also presses the upper fry Fa, it is possible to prevent co-raising.

When the holding plate 11 is raised to the original position,
When the rotating rod 46 is retracted, it is turned 90 ° in the opposite direction to become horizontal, and is opened as before by the action of the cylinder 41, where it stands by. During this time, the presser device 47 opens the presser bar 48 by the cylinder 51 as before, and waits here to prepare for the insertion of the next frying F.

[0032]

According to the insertion method and apparatus of the present invention, when a compressible article such as fried food is inserted into a packaging bag, the compressible article is sandwiched by a sandwiching plate and inserted while being compressed to reduce its thickness. After insertion, the compressible article is pressed from the outside of the packaging bag, and only the holding plate is pulled out while the thickness of the compressible article is reduced, so that the compressible article can be easily inserted into a small packaging bag. . In particular, if the compressible article is supplied or gripped in a state where it is laid horizontally instead of in the upright state, and the insertion plate is inserted into a packaging bag opened upward with the holding plate facing downward at the time of insertion, the compression is reduced. The supply of compressible articles, processing such as cutting, and delivery to the holding plate are stable, and the compressible articles can be inserted into the packaging bag that opens upward,
Subsequent filling of the seasoning liquid and other processing on the compressible article and the packaging bag are also facilitated.

According to the supply device of the present invention, the supply of the compressible article to the holder is easy, and the compressible article placed on the holder can be automatically and stably supplied to the filling device. And if necessary, it can be cut vertically in the holder and can be supplied to the filling device as it is,
There is an advantage that the cutting step does not need to be provided separately, and the cut compressible article can be supplied to the insertion device or inserted into the packaging bag by the insertion device in the same step as the non-cutting one.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a bagging and packaging machine for fried food to which an insertion device according to the present invention is applied, and an entire supply machine thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a cutting step of frying in a feeder.

FIG. 3 Same as above.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a process of supplying the frying to the holding plate of the insertion device by the extrusion device of the supply device.

FIG. 5 Same as above.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the holding plate holds the fried oil supplied by the extrusion device in a compressed state in the thickness direction.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the holding plate holding the fried food is turned downward by 90 ° and inserted into the packaging bag.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the pressing member presses the fried fish inserted into the packaging bag together with the holding plate from both sides, and the holding plate is pulled out.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 fried bag packing machine 2 fried supply machine 4 gripper 9 insertion device 11 holding plate 18 transport holder 19 cutting device 21 extruding device 26 cutter 34 extrusion claw 38 opening 47 holding part 48 presser bar F fried W packaging bag

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A compressible article is sandwiched in a compressed state by a pair of sandwiching plates having an opening reaching a longitudinal end, and the sandwiching plate is inserted into the packaging bag from the leading end while holding the compressible article. A method of inserting a compressible article into a packaging bag, comprising: pressing the compressible article from both sides of the bag with the holding member through the opening, and then pulling out the holding plate to leave the compressible article in the packaging bag. 2. A compressible article placed sideways is sandwiched in a vertically compressed state by the pair of sandwiching plates, and the tip is turned downward while holding the compressed article, and upwardly below it. 2. The method for inserting a compressible article into a packaging bag according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises inserting the compressible article into the packaging bag. 3. Before being sandwiched by the pair of sandwiching plates,
3. The method for inserting a compressible article into a packaging bag according to claim 2, wherein the compressible article placed horizontally is cut in a vertical direction. 4. An insertion device installed at a position where a compressible article is inserted into a packaging bag in a bag-filling and packaging machine, wherein an opening reaching a longitudinal end is formed, and is opened and closed by an opening and closing mechanism so that compression is possible. And an insertion section having a pair of holding plates that hold the sexual article and advance and retreat toward the packaging bag at the tip end, and are provided on both sides of the packaging bag to advance and retreat toward the packaging bag and pass through the opening of the holding plate. An apparatus for inserting a compressible article into a packaging bag, comprising: a press section provided with a press member for pressing the compressible article. 5. An insertion device which is installed at a position where a compressible article is inserted into a packaging bag in a bag-filling and packaging machine, has an opening reaching a longitudinal end, and is openable and closable by an opening and closing mechanism. A pair of holding plates for holding the sexual article, a rotating mechanism for rotating the holding plate between a horizontal position and a downward position, and a reciprocating device for moving the holding plate in the downward position toward the packaging bag in the vertical direction. An insertion portion equipped with a mechanism, a pressing member that is installed on both sides of the packaging bag and presses the compressible article through the opening of the holding plate, and a pressing portion that includes an advance / retreat mechanism that advances and retreats the pressing member toward the packaging bag; A device for inserting a compressible article into a packaging bag, comprising: 6. A packaging bag for compressible articles according to claim 4, wherein the pair of holding plates have a shape in which both sides in the width direction are narrowed in a cross section perpendicular to the length direction. Insertion device. 7. A supply device which is installed near a packaging machine for bagging a compressible article and supplies the compressible article to an insertion device of the bagging / packaging machine in a state where the compressible article is placed sideways. A plurality of tables, and a plurality of transport holders provided around the table to place and transport the compressible articles. The transport holders lay the compressible articles horizontally and have a width substantially equal to the width of the compressible articles. A recess having a width, the recess having an outwardly open opening and an inwardly narrower opening than the width thereof; and An apparatus for supplying a compressible article, comprising: an extruding device provided with an extruding member that enters a recess through an opening and pushes out the compressible article placed thereon outward. 8. A cutting device for cutting a compressible article placed on the transport holder in a vertical direction at an appropriate position around the intermittent rotary table where the transport holder stops. 8. The supply device for a compressible article according to 7.