Packaging system with improved flow of articles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a packaging system for causing articles M to fall downward along a predetermined falling route A and filling the articles M into a tubular film F. The packaging system is provided with an auxiliary device 205 operating on the falling route A at predetermined timing and facilitating or improving the flow of the articles M, determination unit 21a determining whether a state of the flow of the articles M on the falling route A is normal or abnormal, and a change unit 21b changing the operating timing of the auxiliary device 205 according to the state of the flow of the articles M determined by the determination unit 21a. With this configuration, the state of the flow of the articles M is improved and the high productivity (yield) and / or operativity of the packaging system can be maintained.

Description

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] The present invention relates to a so-called vertical pillow type packaging system with an improved flow of articles to be packaged.[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art[0004] A conventional packaging system will be described with reference to FIG. 1 showing one embodiment of the present invention.[0005] In FIG. 1, after articles M discharged from a combination weighing apparatus 1 fall downward intermittently to a chute 203, they are packaged continuously by a bagging and packaging machine 200. While the articles M falling from above are filled into a tubular film F, the bagging and packaging machine 200 fuses (seals) and then cuts an upper end F1 of a film F positioned above the articles M by means of sealing jaws 202a provided on a tip end of an end sealer (sealing means) 202, to thereby continuously package products M1.[0006] In the afore-mentioned packaging system, if the articles M are bulky such as potato chips, then they may interfere ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, the predetermined operating timing of the auxiliary device is automatically changed, so that the state of flow is improved. It is thereby possible to suppress the occurrence of weight-defective products and to maintain the high productivity of the packaging system.

[0014] A packaging system according to another aspect of the present invention is intended to improve the defective timing of sealing means, and comprises sealing means operating on the falling route at predetermined timing, for sealing the end of the film in a direction vertical to a transfer direction of the film; determination means for determining whether a state of a flow of the articles on the falling route is normal or abnormal; and change means for changing the predetermined timing of the sealing means according to the state of the flow of the articles determined by the determination means.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, the predetermined operating timing of the sealing means is automatically changed, so that the flow state of the articles is improved. It is thereby possible to suppress the occurrence of weight-defective products and to maintain the high productivity of the packaging system.

[0022] Further, according to the present invention, if there is provided a timing storage for updating and storing the operating timing of the auxiliary device or that of the sealing means according to the type of the articles or products, it is possible to minutely change the operating timing according to the type of the articles or products and to thereby maintain the high productivity of the packaging system.

Problems solved by technology

In some cases, however, good operating timing at which the clapper H projects into the chute 203 is not taken and the clogging of the articles M cannot be completely removed.

As a result, weight-defective products M1 are packaged and thus system productivity deteriorates.

In addition, since the system operates at high speed, large amounts of articles M accumulate in a short period of time if the articles M begin clogging.

It takes a lot of time and labor to remove the large amounts of accumulated articles M and restart the system, so that system operativity greatly decreases.

Meanwhile, if the articles M interfere with one another and the flow thereof becomes slower, the distance between a former group of articles M which are now falling and a later group of articles M becomes shorter and accordingly, the sealing means cannot operate at good timing.

As a result, weight-defective products M1 are produced and thus system productivity deteriorates.

As mentioned above, the abnormal flow of articles is considered to be caused by the defective timing of an auxiliary device and that of seal means.

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