Packaging machine

Abstract

To provide a packaging machine capable of manufacturing a packaging pack whose bottom on one end side orthogonal to the thickness direction of a pack film is relatively flat.SOLUTION: A packaging machine comprises: a folding unit 12 for forming a raw material film F2 and a raw material film F3 which is continuous with the raw material film F2 at one end in the width direction of the raw material film F2 and is arranged so as to overlap with the raw material film F2, by folding from the central portion in the width direction of a raw material film F1; and a forming device 15 for forming pockets in the raw material films F2 and F3 by discharging a gas between the raw material films F2 and F3 from the other end side in the width direction of the raw material films F2 and F3 in a state where the raw material film F2 and the raw material film F3 are arranged so as to overlap with each other and are pinched from both sides in the overlapping direction of the raw material films F2 and F3 by a mold, and for forming a pack film F4 by bonding the outer peripheral portions of the raw material films F2 and F3 having the pockets formed therein with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging machine. [Background technology]

[0002] A method for manufacturing a container package having a container body with a pair of main plate parts formed from a synthetic resin sheet and a content has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Here, the container body has a shell part that forms a sealed storage space that stores the content defined by the pair of main plate parts, a seal part where end regions of the pair of main plate parts are joined together, and an opening starting point thin-walled part that is connected to the edge of the main plate parts and has a thickness thinner than the surrounding part. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-156474 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the manufacturing method of the container packaging body described in Patent Document 1, a pair of films is stacked and then a pocket is formed, making it difficult to form a container packaging body having a relatively flat bottom on one end side perpendicular to the thickness direction of the pair of films, for example.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned reasons, and has an object to provide a packaging machine capable of producing packaging packs having a relatively flat bottom on one end side perpendicular to the thickness direction of the pack film. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the packaging machine according to the present invention comprises: a raw film supply unit for supplying a first raw film; a folding unit for folding the first raw film from a center portion in a width direction perpendicular to the extension direction and thickness direction of the first raw film to form a second raw film and a third raw film that is continuous with the second raw film at one end portion in the width direction perpendicular to the extension direction and thickness direction of the second raw film and is arranged overlapping the second raw film; a molding device for forming a pocket in at least one of the second and third raw films and bonding an outer periphery of the portion where the pocket is formed to the other of the at least one of the second and third raw films, by discharging gas from the other end side in the width direction of the second and third raw films through a first region facing the communicating groove between the second and third raw films, while the second and third raw films are sandwiched between a first mold having a recess and a communicating groove communicating with the recess and a second mold opposed to the first mold in a state where the second and third raw films are overlapped and the recess faces the overlapping portion of the second and third raw films from both sides in the overlapping direction of the second and third raw films and the communicating groove is located closer to the other end side in the width direction of the second and third raw films than the recess, thereby forming a pocket in at least one of the second and third raw films and bonding an outer periphery of the portion where the pocket is formed to the other of the at least one of the films where the pocket is formed, thereby producing a pack film; a work filling unit that fills the inside of the pocket with a work from the other end side in the width direction of the pack film; and a sealing device that seals the other end of the pack film in the width direction. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, after forming a second raw film and a third raw film that is continuous with the second raw film at one end in the width direction perpendicular to the extension direction and thickness direction of the second raw film and is arranged overlapping the second raw film, a pocket is formed in at least one of the second raw film and the third raw film by discharging gas from the other end side in the width direction of the second raw film and the third raw film to a region facing the recess of the mold between the second raw film and the third raw film. This makes it possible to form the shape of the pocket such that one end side of the second raw film and the third raw film in the pocket rises in the direction along the thickness direction of the second raw film, making it possible to produce a packaging pack with a relatively flat bottom on one end side of the pocket. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a folding unit according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a part of a folding unit according to an embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a part of a guide roller. [Figure 4] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a portion of a folding unit according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a front view of the chuck feeder according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front view of the molding device according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2A is a plan view of a mold according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining the operation of a molding device in an embodiment, in which (A) shows how the raw film is clamped between molds, and (B) shows how a gas ejection plug is inserted between the raw film. [Figure 9]1 is a diagram showing how the forming device according to the embodiment ejects gas between the raw material film to form pockets. FIG. [Figure 10] 1A and 1B show a container film according to an embodiment, in which (A) is a plan view and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in (A). [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a front view of the sealing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 12] 1A and 1B show a container film according to an embodiment, in which (A) shows the state immediately after a workpiece is inserted, and (B) shows the state sealed by a sealing device. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a front view of the chuck feeder according to the embodiment. [Figure 14] 1A and 1B show a packaging pack according to an embodiment, in which (A) is a front view and (B) is a view showing a state in which a lid portion has been cut off. [Figure 15] 13A is a plan view of a mold according to a modified example, and FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view of the mold according to the modified example taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 16] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining the operation of a molding device for a modified example, where (A) shows how the raw film is clamped between molds, and (B) shows how a gas ejection plug is inserted between the raw film. [Figure 17] 13 is a diagram showing how the forming device according to the modified example ejects gas between the raw material film to form pockets. FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a buffer unit according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The packaging machine according to the present embodiment includes a raw film supplying unit that supplies a first raw film, a folding unit, a forming device, a work filling unit, and a sealing device. The folding unit folds the first raw film from the center in the width direction perpendicular to the extension direction and thickness direction of the first raw film to form a second raw film and a third raw film that is continuous with the second raw film at one end in the width direction perpendicular to the extension direction and thickness direction of the second raw film and is arranged overlapping the second raw film. The forming device, in a state where the second and third raw films are arranged one on top of the other, clamps the second and third raw films from both sides in the overlapping direction of the second and third raw films with a first mold having a recess and a communicating groove communicating with the recess and a second mold opposing the first mold so that the recess faces the overlapping portion of the second and third raw films and the communicating groove is located closer to the other end side in the width direction of the second and third raw films than the recess, discharges gas from the other end side in the width direction of the second and third raw films through the area facing the communicating groove between the second and third raw films to the area facing the recess between the second and third raw films, thereby forming pockets in at least one of the second and third raw films, and bonding the outer periphery of at least one of the pockets to the other to produce a pack film. The work filling unit fills the work inside the pocket from the other end side in the width direction of the pack film. The sealing device seals the other end in the width direction of the pack film while the workpiece is filled inside the pocket.

[0010] 1, the packaging machine according to the present embodiment includes a raw film supplying unit 11, a folding unit 12, a slitter 13, a chuck feeder 14, a forming device 15, a work filling unit 16, a sealing device 17, a chuck feeder 18, and a long base 21. The raw film supplying unit 11 includes a film reel 111 around which the raw film F1 is wound, and a support 112 that stands upright from the base 21 and supports the film reel 111 at its tip. As shown in FIG. 2, the film reel 111 includes a shaft 1116, a cylindrical winding section 1111 that is fitted around the shaft 1116 and around which the raw film F1 is wound, and outer flanges 1112 that protrude from both ends of the winding section 1111 in the axial direction in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. Furthermore, film reel 111 has rings 1113 fitted and fixed to the outer sides of outer flanges 1112 in the longitudinal direction of shaft 1116. Furthermore, notches 112a are formed at the tip of support 112, extending from the edge on the +Z direction side to the -Z direction side. Support 112 supports film reel 111 with the portion of shaft 1116 of film reel 111 between outer flanges 1112 and rings 1113 fitted inside notch 112a.

[0011] Returning to Figure 1, the folding unit 12 has a crease forming section 121, a folding guide section 122, and a film guide 123, and forms a crease in the center of the raw film F1 in the width direction perpendicular to the extension direction and thickness direction, and then folds both sides of the crease in the width direction of the raw film F1 from the crease to form raw film F2 and raw film F3 that is continuous with and overlaps raw film F2 at one end in the width direction perpendicular to the extension direction and thickness direction of the raw film F2. 2, the crease forming section 121 has a long cylindrical guide roller 1211, outer flanges 1212 protruding from both ends of the guide roller 1211 in the axial direction in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, a shaft 1216 that rotatably supports the guide roller 1211 via bearings 1215 that are inserted inside the guide roller 1211 and fixed to both ends of the guide roller 1211, and two pillars 1213 that support both ends of the shaft 1216. The base ends of the two pillars 1213 are fixed to the base 21. The crease forming section 121 also has a beam 1217 mounted on the tips of two support columns 1213, and a folding roller unit 1214 that is fixed to the center of the beam 1217 and forms a crease in the center in the width direction of the raw material film F1 by pressing a folding roller 1214a from the +Z direction side to the center of the raw material film F1 placed on the +Z direction side of the guide roller 1211. As shown in Figure 3(A) , the guide roller 1211 has a groove 1211a with a V-shaped cross section that extends all around the circumferential direction around the cylindrical axis at its center in the cylindrical axis direction. The folding roller unit 1214 also has a folding roller 1214a that is disk-shaped and has a central portion in the central axis direction along the thickness direction that protrudes radially and has a side shape that is inclined so as to approach the central axis toward both ends in the central axis direction, for creating a crease in the raw film F1, and a roller unit main body 1214b that rotatably holds the folding roller 1214a in an orientation where the aforementioned central axis is approximately parallel to the cylindrical axis direction of the guide roller 1211 and is fixed to a beam 1217.3(B), with the raw film F1 placed on the +Z direction side of the guide roller 1211, the radially protruding peripheral portion of the side surface of the folding roller 1214a is pressed into the groove 1211a of the guide roller 1211, forming a crease in the widthwise center of the raw film F1. Here, as described above, outer flanges 1212 are provided on both ends of the guide roller 1211. This restricts the movement of the raw film F1 placed on the guide roller 1211 in the widthwise direction, thereby preventing the crease from shifting from approximately the center in the widthwise direction of the raw film F1.

[0012] Returning to Fig. 2, the folding guide section 122 has two cylindrical guide rollers 1221 that hold the raw films F2 and F3 from both sides in the overlapping direction of the raw films F2 and F3 that are generated by folding the raw film F1 from the center in the width direction. As shown in Fig. 4, the folding guide section 122 has a shaft 1225 that supports the guide roller 1221 rotatably around its cylindrical axis via bearings 1224 inserted inside the guide roller 1221 and fixed to both ends of the guide roller 1221, two holding sections 1222 that hold both ends of the shaft 1225 in the longitudinal direction in a position where the longitudinal direction of the shaft 1225 is approximately aligned with the Z-axis direction, and a fixing member 1226 for fixing both ends of the shaft 1225 to the holding sections 1222. As a result, the two guide rollers 1221 are supported by the shaft 1225 and are arranged approximately parallel to each other with their cylindrical axes aligned along the Z-axis direction. The folding guide section 122 also has a support pillar 1223 that supports the two holding sections 1222 in a state where they are spaced apart in the Z-axis direction, and the base end of the support pillar 1223 is fixed to the base 21. The holding section 1222 has a long rectangular plate-shaped main piece 1222b, a side piece 1222c erected from one end of the main piece 1222b in the longitudinal direction, and a side piece 1222d erected from both ends of the main piece 1222b in the width direction. The side piece 1222c is fixed to the support pillar 1223. The main piece 1222b has a long hole 1222a that extends along the longitudinal direction and penetrates the main piece 1222b in the thickness direction. A shaft 1225 is inserted inside one of the two guide rollers 1221 located on the +X direction side, and is fixed to the main piece 1222b by a fixing member 1226 with both ends inserted into the long hole 1222a. The positions at which both ends of the shaft 1225 are fixed can be changed in the longitudinal direction of the long hole 1222a. As a result, the gap between the two guide rollers 1221 can be set to a width suitable for the thickness of the raw films F2 and F3 by changing the fixing position in the holding portion 1222 of the shaft 1225 inserted into the guide roller 1221 located on the +X direction side.The distance in the Y-axis direction between the cylindrical axis of guide roller 1111 of crease forming section 121 and the cylindrical axis of guide roller 1221 of folding guide section 122 is set to, for example, 300 mm or more and 600 mm or less.

[0013] The film guide 123 suppresses the meandering of the raw films F2, F3 in the Z-axis direction. Specifically, the film guide 123 supports the -Z direction sides of the raw films F2, F3 to suppress the raw films F2, F3 from sagging in the -Z direction. In addition, the film guide 123 guides the raw films F2, F3 while holding the raw films F2, F3 from both sides in the X-axis direction of the +Z direction ends of the superimposed raw films F2, F3 conveyed out of the folding guide section 122 so that the +Z direction ends of the superimposed raw films F2, F3 are not separated from each other.

[0014] 1, the slitter 13 has a film guide 131 that guides the raw films F2, F3, and a slit forming unit 132, and forms grooves extending in the Y-axis direction on the side opposite to the opposing surfaces of the superimposed raw films F2, F3. The slit forming unit 132 has blades (not shown) that are arranged to face each other on both sides in the thickness direction of the raw films F2, F3, and forms grooves by abutting the tips of the blades against parts of the raw films F2, F3 being conveyed that correspond to the boundary between the lid portion and the body portion of the packaging pack BP1.

[0015] The chuck feeder 14 has a movable chuck unit 141, a fixed chuck unit 142, and a base 143. The base 143 is fixed to the base 21. As shown in Fig. 5, the movable chuck unit 141 has a chuck 1411 that clamps the ends of the raw films F2, F3 on the +Z direction side, a long support column 1412 that supports the chuck 1411 at the end on the +Z direction side in the longitudinal direction, a slider 1413 that is disposed movably in the Y axis direction relative to the base 143 and has a base end of the support column 1412 fixed on the +Z direction side, and a chuck movement mechanism 1414 that moves the slider 1413 in the direction indicated by the arrow AR101. The movable chuck unit 141 moves the slider 1413 in the +Y direction with the chucks 1411 clamping the +Z direction ends of the raw films F2, F3, then releases the clamping of the raw films F2, F3 by the chucks 1411 and returns to the -Y direction, and then repeats the process of clamping the raw films F2, F3 with the chucks 1411 again, thereby intermittently transporting the raw films F2, F3 to the forming device 15. The fixed chuck unit 142 has a chuck 1421 that clamps the +Z direction ends of the raw films F2, F3, and a long support column 1422 that supports the chuck 1421 at the end on the +Z direction side in the longitudinal direction and has a base end fixed to the base 143. After the movable chuck unit 141 releases the clamping of the raw films F2, F3, the fixed chuck unit 142 clamps the +Z direction ends of the raw films F2, F3 with the chuck 1421, and the slide body 1413 returns to the -Y direction, and the +Z direction ends of the raw films F2, F3 are clamped again by the chuck 1411, after which the fixed chuck unit 142 releases the clamping of the raw films F2, F3. That is, in the chuck feeder 14, the fixed chuck unit 142 and the movable chuck unit 141 alternately clamp the raw films F2, F3 while intermittently transporting the raw films F2, F3. This makes it possible to prevent the raw films F2, F3 from coming into contact with the chuck 1411 and returning to the -Y direction when the slide body 1413 moves in the -Y direction back direction in the movable chuck unit 141.

[0016] 6, the forming device 15 has a heating section 151, a pocket forming section 152 that forms pockets in the raw films F2, F3, an upper film guide 1541, a lower film guide 1542, a film heating section 1543, and an apparatus main body 153. The forming device 15 heats the raw films F2, F3 in the heating section 151, and then forms pockets in the raw films F2, F3 in the pocket forming section 152. The upper film guide 1541 and the lower film guide 1542 guide the raw films F2, F3 to the heating section 151 while being in contact with both ends in the width direction of the folded raw films F2, F3 supplied to the forming device 15. Here, the upper film guide 1541 has a guide member 1541a with a wedge-shaped cross section that is thinner toward the -Z direction side, and guides the raw films F2 and F3 with the tip of the guide member 1541a on the -Z direction side inserted between the raw films F2 and F3. The film heating section 1543 has a guide member (not shown) with a wedge-shaped cross section that is thinner toward the -Z direction side, and a cartridge-type heater (not shown) for example that heats the guide member. The +Z direction ends of the raw films F2 and F3 are heated in a state in which they are spread apart from each other by the guide member, so that the +Z direction ends of the raw films F2 and F3 are maintained in a spread state. As a result, the raw films F2 and F3 are transported to the pocket forming section 152 with their upper ends spread apart from each other.

[0017] The heating section 151 has heating plates 1511 and 1512, and a heating control section 1513 that controls the temperatures of the heating plates 1511 and 1512. The heating plates 1511 and 1512 are disposed on both sides of the raw films F2 and F3 in the overlapping direction, respectively, and sequentially heat the raw films F2 and F3. The pocket forming section 152 has a mold set 1521 for forming pockets in the raw films F2 and F3, a nozzle unit 1522, and a driving section 1523 that drives the nozzle unit 1522. The nozzle unit 1522 has a nozzle stand (not shown) and a gas discharge nozzle (not shown) that protrudes from the nozzle stand toward the mold set 1521. The driving section 1523 is connected to a gas supply source (not shown) that supplies compressed gas, and causes the compressed gas supplied from the gas supply source to be discharged from the gas discharge nozzle. As shown in Figs. 7(A) and (B), the mold set 1521 includes two molds 15211 and 15212. The molds 15211 and 15212 have recesses 15211a and 15212a having shapes corresponding to the shapes of the pockets to be molded, and communication grooves 15211b and 15212b communicating with the recesses 15211a and 15212a, respectively. In addition, tapered portions 15211c and 15212c are formed at the ends of the molds 15211 and 15212 on the side of the direction from the recesses 15211a and 15212a to the communication grooves 15211b and 15212b, which are inclined so that the thickness of the molds 15211 and 15212 becomes thinner toward the edge. In addition, the pocket molding section 152 has a cooling mechanism (not shown) for cooling the molds 15211 and 15212.

[0018] In the pocket forming section 152, first, as shown by the arrow AR11 in FIG. 8(A), the metal molds 15211 and 15212 are butted against each other in the overlapping direction of the raw films F2 and F3, so as to sandwich the raw films F2 and F3. Next, as shown by the arrow AR21 in FIG. 8(B), the gas discharge hole 15221 of the nozzle unit 1522 is disposed in a portion of the raw films F2 and F3 facing the communicating grooves 15211b and 15212b. At this time, the nozzle stand 15222 of the nozzle unit 1522 comes into contact with the tapered portions 15211c and 15212c of the metal molds 15211 and 15212 via the upper ends of the raw films F2 and F3 in FIG. 8(B). Then, as shown by the arrow AR31 in FIG. 9, the gas is discharged from the gas discharge nozzle 15221 between the raw films F2 and F3, forming the pocket Po1. That is, The pocket forming unit 152 forms pockets Po1 in the raw films F2 and F3 by discharging gas from the +Z direction side of the raw films F2 and F3 through a first region S1 facing the communicating grooves 15211b and 15212b between the raw films F2 and F3 to a second region S2 facing the recesses 15211a and 15212a between the raw films F2 and F3 in a state in which the recesses 15211a and 15212a of the dies 15211 and 15212 face the overlapping portions of the raw films F2 and F3 from both sides in the overlapping direction of the raw films F2 and F3 and the communicating grooves 15211b and 15212b are located on the other end side in the +Z direction from the raw films F2 and F3. The pocket forming unit 152 also bonds the outer peripheries of the portions of the raw films F2 and F3 where the pockets Po1 are formed. At this time, the cooling mechanism cools the molds 15211 and 15212, and after the pockets Po1 are formed in the raw films F2 and F3, the heated and softened raw films F1 and F3 are cooled and hardened. As a result, a pack film F4 is formed in which multiple pockets Po1 are arranged in parallel along the extension direction, as shown in Figures 10(A) and (B). This pack film F4 is formed by bonding the outer peripheries of the pockets Po1 on the opposite side to the side where the pockets Po1 protrude from the container films F41 and F42 having multiple pockets Po1, and has a structure in which voids are formed in the parts corresponding to the pockets Po1.The ends of the container films F41, F42 opposite to the side where the container films F41, F42 are continuous are open in a direction away from each other.

[0019] Returning to FIG. 1, the work filling unit 16 has a work supply head 161 having a work discharge nozzle 161a that discharges work such as liquid or powder, and a film support part 162 that supports the pack film F4 from the -Z direction side. The work filling unit 16 moves the work supply head 161 in the -Z direction so as to insert the work discharge nozzle 161a from the +Z direction side of the pack film F4 arranged on the -Z direction side of the work supply head 161 into the inside of the pocket Po1, and then supplies the work to the inside of the pocket Po1. Then, when the supply of the work is completed, the work filling unit 16 moves the work supply head 161 in the +Z direction to separate the work discharge nozzle 161a from the pack film F4.

[0020] The sealing device 17 seals the end of the pack film F4 on the +Z direction side. As shown in Fig. 11, the sealing device 17 has upper film guides 175 and 176, heating units 171, 172, and 173, a cooling unit 174, and a lower film guide 177. The upper film guides 175 and 176 and the lower film guide 177 guide the pack film F4 while being in contact with both ends in the width direction of the pack film F4 supplied to the sealing device 17. The lower film guide 177 is cooled by a cooling mechanism, and supports the end of the pack film F4 on the -Z direction side to prevent the pack film F4 from sagging in the -Z direction.

[0021] The heating sections 171, 172, and 173 clamp the end of the packing film F4 on the +Z direction side while heating it, thereby gradually crushing the end of the packing film F4 on the +Z direction side while thermally shrinking it. As a result, the packing film F4, which had the end of the container films F41 and F42 on the +Z direction side open as shown in Fig. 12(A) just before being inserted into the sealing device 17, becomes in a state in which the end of the container films F41 and F42 on the +Z direction side are bonded together and sealed as shown in Fig. 12(B). The cooling section 174 has a mold (not shown) and a cooling mechanism (not shown) for cooling the mold, and presses the mold against the end of the packing film F4 on the +Z direction side to cool and harden the end of the packing film F4 on the +Z direction side.

[0022] The chuck feeder 18 has a movable chuck unit 181, a fixed chuck unit 182, and a base 183. The base 183 is fixed to the base 21. As shown in Fig. 13, the movable chuck unit 181 has a chuck 1811 that clamps an end of the pack film F4 on the +Z direction side, a long support column 1812 that supports the chuck 1811 at an end on the +Z direction side in the longitudinal direction, a slider 1813 that is arranged to be movable in the Y axis direction relative to the base 183 and has a base end of the support column 1812 fixed on the +Z direction side, and a chuck moving mechanism 1814 that moves the slider 1813 in the direction indicated by the arrow AR102. The movable chuck unit 181 moves the slider 1813 in the +Y direction with the chuck 1811 clamping the end of the pack film F4 on the +Z direction side, then releases the clamping of the pack film F4 by the chuck 1811 and returns to the -Y direction side, and then repeats the process of clamping the pack film F4 by the chuck 1811 again, thereby intermittently transporting the pack film F4 downstream of the sealing device 17. The fixed chuck unit 182 has a chuck 1821 that clamps the end of the pack film F4 on the +Z direction side, and a long support column 1822 that supports the chuck 1821 at its end on the +Z direction side in the longitudinal direction and has its base end fixed to the base 183. After the movable chuck unit 181 releases the clamping of the pack film F4, the fixed chuck unit 182 clamps the end of the pack film F4 on the +Z direction side with the chuck 1821, and releases the clamping of the pack film F4 after the slide body 1813 returns to the -Y direction side and the end of the pack film F4 on the +Z direction side is clamped again by the chuck 1811. That is, in the chuck feeder 18, the fixed chuck unit 182 and the movable chuck unit 181 alternately clamp the pack film F4 while intermittently transporting the pack film F4. This makes it possible to prevent the pack film F4 from coming into contact with the chuck 1811 and returning to the -Y direction side when the slide body 1813 moves in the direction returning to the -Y direction side in the movable chuck unit 181. Here, the amount of feeding in one go of the chuck feeder 18 is set to be larger than the amount of feeding in one go of the chuck feeder 14.This makes it possible to maintain the tension applied to the raw material films F2, F3 and the pack film F4 between the two chuck feeders 14, 18. In addition, since the chuck feeder 18 is disposed downstream of the sealing device 17, it is possible to save space and reduce the size of the entire packaging machine.

[0023] In the manufacturing method of the packaging pack BP1 using the packaging machine according to the present embodiment, first, in the folding unit 12, a crease is formed in the center of the width direction of the raw material film F1, and then both sides of the crease in the width direction of the raw material film F1 are folded and overlapped to generate raw material films F2 and F3. Next, in the forming device 15, the raw material films F2 and F3 are heated and gas is discharged between the raw material films F2 and F3 to inflate the adjacent sides in the width direction of the raw material films F2 and F3, forming pockets Po1 in the raw material films F2 and F3 to generate a pack film F4. Next, in a state where the work discharge nozzle 161a of the work supply head 161 is inserted into the pocket Po1 of the pack film F4, the work is filled into the pocket Po1 through the work discharge nozzle 161a. After that, in the sealing device 17, the end portion on the +Z direction side of the pack film F4 is heated and crushed multiple times to gradually flatten the end portion, and then completely sealed, and the end portion is cooled and hardened. Next, in a punching device (not shown), a punch die is used to punch out a packaging pack from the packing film F4. This produces a packaging pack BP1 having a body portion B1 and a lid portion R1, for example, as shown in Fig. 14(A). A slit SL1 formed by a slitter 13 is located at the boundary between the body portion B1 and the lid portion R1 of this packaging pack BP1. A user of the packaging pack BP1 can then twist the lid portion R1 of the packaging pack BP1 to separate the lid portion R1 from the body portion B1 and open the packaging pack BP1, as shown in Fig. 14(B).

[0024] As described above, according to the packaging machine of the present embodiment, after forming continuous raw films F2, F3 at one end in the width direction, gas is discharged from the other end side in the width direction of the raw films F2, F3 to the area between the raw films F2, F3 facing the recesses 15211a, 15212a of the dies 15211, 15212 to inflate one end side in the width direction of the raw films F2, F3 to form a pocket Po1. This allows the shape of the pocket Po1 to be such that the one end side of the raw films F2, F3 in the pocket Po1 rises in the direction along the thickness direction of the raw films F2, F3, making it possible to produce a packaging pack BP1 with a relatively flat bottom on one end side of the pocket Po1.

[0025] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, the folding guide portion of the folding unit 12 may have two cylindrical guide shafts (not shown) arranged close to each other instead of the guide roller 1211. Also, in the folding unit 12 according to the embodiment, an example has been described in which the raw film F2, F3 is formed by folding both sides of the crease toward the surface side of the raw film F1 on which the crease is formed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the folding unit may form the raw film F2, F3 by folding both sides of the crease toward the surface side opposite to the surface side of the raw film F1 on which the crease is formed.

[0026] In the embodiment, the slitter may form a groove by pressing a blade against a portion of the raw film F2, F3 that corresponds to the boundary between the lid portion and the body portion of the packaging pack BP1. Alternatively, the slitter may form a groove by irradiating a laser beam onto a portion of the raw film F2, F3 being conveyed that corresponds to the boundary between the lid portion and the body portion of the packaging pack BP1. Furthermore, the slitter 13 may be disposed in a process subsequent to the process in which the forming device 15 forms the pocket Po1 in the raw film F2, F3.

[0027] In the embodiment, the slitter may not form a groove over the entire width of the end of the packaging pack BP1, but may form a groove at one end in the width direction. According to this configuration, when the lid of the packaging pack BP1 is opened, the body part and the lid part are connected, so that the lid part is prevented from becoming detached from the body part and becoming a separate waste. In particular, the lid part is prevented from being accidentally swallowed by small children.

[0028] In an embodiment, a notch cut forming device may be provided for forming a slit or through hole penetrating the raw films F2, F3 in the thickness direction in a portion of the superposed raw films F2, F3 that corresponds to a so-called notch cut portion of the packaging pack. This notch cut forming device may have, for example, a cutting tool (not shown) having a shape corresponding to the notch cut shape, and may form a slit or through hole penetrating the raw films F2, F3 by abutting the cutting tool from one side of the raw films F2, F3 in the thickness direction and moving it to the other side.

[0029] 15(A) and (B), for example, the mold set 21521 may include three molds 215211, 215212, and 215213. The molds 215211 and 215212 have recesses 215211a and 215212a having shapes corresponding to the shapes of the pockets to be molded, respectively, and communication grooves 215211b and 215212b that communicate with the recesses 215211a and 215212a. The ends of the recesses 215211a and 215212a opposite to the communication grooves 215211b and 215212b are open. Further, tapered portions 215211c and 215212c are formed at the ends of the molds 215211 and 215212 in the direction from the recesses 215211a and 215212a to the communicating grooves 215211b and 215212b, which are inclined so that the thickness of the molds 215211 and 215212 becomes thinner toward the end edge. The mold 215213 is butted against the molds 215211 and 215212 so as to cover the end faces of the molds 215211 and 215212 opposite to the tapered portions 215211c and 215212c, with the surfaces of the molds 215211 and 214212 on which the recesses 215211a and 215212a are formed being butted against each other so as to face each other.

[0030] Here, in the pocket forming section 152, first, as shown by the arrow AR211 in Fig. 16(A), the dies 215211 and 215212 are butted together in a manner that they sandwich the raw films F2 and F3 from both sides in the overlapping direction of the raw films F2 and F3, and as shown by the arrow AR212, the die 215213 is butted against the dies 215211 and 215212 so as to cover the lower end faces of the dies 215211 and 215212 in Fig. 16(A). Next, as shown by the arrow AR221 in Fig. 16(B), the gas discharge hole 215221 of the nozzle unit 21522 is positioned in a position facing the communicating grooves 15211b and 15212b in the raw films F2 and F3. At this time, the nozzle stand 15222 of the nozzle unit 1522 abuts against the tapered portions 215211c, 215212c of the molds 215211, 215212 via the upper ends of the raw films F2, F3 in Fig. 16(B). Thereafter, as indicated by the arrow AR231 in Fig. 17, gas is discharged from the gas discharge hole 215221 through the first region S1 facing the communicating grooves 215211b, 215212b between the raw films F2, F3 into the region S2 between the raw films F2, F3, thereby forming a pocket Po1.

[0031] According to this configuration, for example, by providing a structure protruding upward from the portion of the mold 215213 facing the recesses 215211a and 215212a, it is possible to realize a shape of the pocket Po1 that cannot be made by the molds 15211 and 15212 according to the embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to increase the variation in the shape of the pocket Po1 that can be made.

[0032] In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18, for example, a buffer unit 3019 for temporarily storing the pack film F4 may be provided between the work filling unit 16 and the sealing device 17. The buffer unit 3019 includes a stage 3191 on which the pack film F4 is placed on the +Z direction side, guide rollers 3192 and 3193 arranged at a distance from each other along the transport direction of the pack film F4 on the stage 3191 with their rotation axes aligned along the Z axis direction, a tension roller 3194 arranged between the guide rollers 3192 and 3193 in the Y axis direction with their rotation axes aligned along the Z axis direction, and a biasing mechanism 3195. The guide rollers 3192 and 3193 abut against the surface of the pack film F4 on the +X direction side, and the tension roller 3194 abuts against the surface of the pack film F4 on the -X direction side. The biasing mechanism 3195 biases the tension roller 3194 in the +X direction to apply tension to the pack film. The biasing mechanism 3195 biases the tension roller 3194 in the +X direction by an air cylinder, a spring, or the like. The buffer unit 3019 may be disposed between the chuck feeder 18 and a punching device installed downstream of the chuck feeder 18. The buffer unit 3019 may also include only the stage 3191.

[0033] In the embodiment, an auxiliary raw material film supplying unit can be further provided that can supply two raw material films to folding guide portion 122 of folding unit 12 from both sides in the X-axis direction of crease forming portion 121 of folding unit 12. In this case, it is possible to apply both to the case where one raw material film is folded to produce pack film F4, and to the case where two raw material films are supplied from the auxiliary raw material film supplying unit to produce pack film.

[0034] In an embodiment, the sealing device 17 may have an engraving section (not shown) that engraves the end portion of the pack film F4 in the +Z direction after cooling and hardening the end portion of the pack film F4 in the +Z direction using the cooling section 174.

[0035] In an embodiment, the method may include a stacking step of stacking two raw films F2, F3, a step of heating the two stacked raw films F2, F3 and expanding both of the two raw films F2, F3 to form a pocket Po1 in the opposing portions of the two raw films F2, F3 to generate a pack film F4, a step of inserting a work discharge nozzle of a work supply head into a portion of the pack film F4 that communicates with the pocket Po1 to fill the pocket Po1 with the work, and a step of gradually flattening the end of the pack film F4 and then sealing it. [Industrial Applicability]

[0036] The invention is suitable for producing packaging packs, for example for filling with liquids. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 11: raw film supply unit, 12: folding unit, 13: slitter, 14, 18: chuck feeder, 15: forming device, 16: workpiece filling unit, 17: sealing device, 21: base, 111: film reel, 112: support, 121: crease forming section, 122: folding guide section, 123, 131: film guide, 132: slit forming section, 141, 181: movable chuck unit, 142, 182: fixed chuck unit, 143, 183: base, 151, 171, 172, 173: heating section, 152: pocket forming section, 153: device body, 161: workpiece supply head, 161a: workpiece discharge nozzle, 162: film support section, 175, 176, 1541: upper filter film guide, 174: cooling unit, 177: lower film guide, 1211, 3192, 3193: guide roller, 1211a: groove, 1214: folding roller unit, 1214a: folding roller, 1511, 1512: heating plate, 1513: heating control unit, 1521: mold set, 1522: nozzle unit, 1523: drive unit, 1542: lower film guide, 1543: film heating unit, 3019: buffer unit, 3191: stage, 3194: tension roller, 15211, 15212, 215211, 215212, 215213: mold, BP1: packaging pack, F1, F2, F3: raw film, F4: packing film, F41, F42: container film, Po1: pocket

Claims

1. a raw film supply unit for supplying a first raw film; a folding unit for folding the first raw film from a center portion in a width direction perpendicular to the extension direction and thickness direction of the first raw film to form a second raw film and a third raw film that is continuous with the second raw film at one end portion in the width direction perpendicular to the extension direction and thickness direction of the second raw film and is arranged overlapping the second raw film; a molding device for forming a pocket in at least one of the second and third raw films and bonding an outer periphery of the portion where the pocket is formed to the other of the at least one of the second and third raw films, by discharging gas from the other end side in the width direction of the second and third raw films through a first region facing the communicating groove between the second and third raw films, while the second and third raw films are sandwiched between a first mold having a recess and a communicating groove communicating with the recess and a second mold opposed to the first mold in a state where the second and third raw films are overlapped and the recess faces the overlapping portion of the second and third raw films from both sides in the overlapping direction of the second and third raw films and the communicating groove is located closer to the other end side in the width direction of the second and third raw films than the recess, thereby forming a pocket in at least one of the second and third raw films and bonding an outer periphery of the portion where the pocket is formed to the other of the at least one ... a work filling unit that fills the inside of the pocket with a work from the other end side in the width direction of the pack film; and a sealing device that seals the other end of the pack film in the width direction. packaging machine.

2. The folding unit includes: a crease forming section including: a first guide roller that is cylindrical and has a groove formed in a central portion in the axial direction that extends over the entire circumferential direction around the axial direction of the cylinder; and a folding roller that forms a crease in the first raw film by pressing a portion of the first raw film placed on a side surface of the first guide roller against the groove, from the side opposite to the first guide roller, so that a portion of the first raw film is fitted into the groove together with the first raw film; a folding guide section in which the first raw film discharged from the crease forming section is inserted between the two second guide rollers in a state where the first raw film is folded at the crease, the folding guide section including two second guide rollers each having a cylindrical shape and arranged side by side along the cylindrical axis direction of the first guide roller with a cylindrical axis direction perpendicular to the cylindrical axis direction of the first guide roller; 2. The packaging machine of claim 1.

3. The folding guide portion has a holding portion that holds the two second guide rollers so as to change the interval between the two second guide rollers.

3. The packaging machine according to claim 2.

4. the molding device has a nozzle unit having a gas discharge nozzle and discharging compressed gas through the gas discharge nozzle, and in a state in which the gas discharge nozzle is inserted from the other end side in the width direction of the second raw film and the third raw film into a first region facing the communicating groove between the second raw film and the third raw film, gas is discharged from a tip of the gas discharge nozzle into a region facing the recess between the second raw film and the third raw film. A packaging machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the sealing device has a plurality of heating sections which clamp the other end of the pack film in the width direction in a heated state, and the other end of the pack film in the width direction is sequentially heated by the plurality of heating sections to cause stepwise thermal shrinkage, thereby sealing the other end of the pack film in the width direction. A packaging machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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