Sanitary paper bundle distribution method and sanitary paper bundle product manufacturing method

Abstract

To appropriately distribute sanitary paper bundles to a plurality of conveyance paths.SOLUTION: In a distribution method of a sanitary paper bundle B, a distribution conveyor 20, a wide conveyor 12 provided on the downstream side of the distribution conveyor 20, and a plurality of individual conveyors 13(a) to 13(c) provided in parallel on the downstream side of the wide conveyor 12 are used. The distribution method comprises the steps of: performing transition of a lead-out end of the distribution conveyor 20 in a horizontal direction and delivering the sanitary paper bundle B from the distribution conveyor 20 to the wide conveyor 12 so as to form a plurality of parallel conveyance paths on the wide conveyor 12; and conveying the sanitary paper bundle B to the downstream side along the conveyance paths by the wide conveyor 12 and delivering the sanitary paper bundle B to the plurality of individual conveyors 13(a) to 13(c) provided at delivery destinations of the conveyance paths.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for allocating a transport path of a stack of sanitary paper such as tissue paper during transport.The present invention also relates to a method for producing a sanitary paper product in which a stack of sanitary paper is wrapped in a flexible film or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, products in which sanitary paper such as tissue paper is packaged in a resin film (so-called soft pack products) have been known (Patent Document 1).

[0003] Furthermore, tissue paper is generally manufactured using a method in which a continuous sheet fed from multiple rolls is folded by a multi-stand interfolder, and then cut into individual sizes by a cutter to obtain a sanitary paper bundle (Patent Document 2). This method makes it possible to obtain sanitary paper bundles at high speed and continuously.

[0004] Furthermore, a packaging machine for automatically storing a bundle of multiple articles in a packaging bag made of a resin film or the like is also known (Patent Document 3). This type of packaging machine is configured to expand the opening of the packaging bag, and then push the multiple articles into the packaging bag through the opening while maintaining the expanded state of the packaging bag. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-133981 [Patent Document 2] JP 2012-011170 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2014-125228 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Incidentally, when manufacturing soft pack products in which a sanitary paper bundle such as tissue paper is wrapped in a resin film, it is possible to adopt a manufacturing process in which a multi-reel machine is used to continuously produce a sanitary paper bundle at high speed, and then a packaging machine such as that described in Patent Document 3 is used to push the sanitary paper bundle into a packaging bag. However, as described above, a packaging machine for resin film needs to go through a procedure of pushing the sanitary paper bundle into the packaging bag while maintaining the state after spreading the packaging bag, so there is a problem that it is difficult to store the sanitary paper bundle into the packaging bag at high speed. In particular, since both the sanitary paper bundle and the inside of the packaging bag are soft, in order to properly store the sanitary paper bundle in the packaging bag, the sanitary paper bundle needs to be pushed into the packaging bag at a relatively low speed. Thus, while a multi-reel machine can continuously produce a sanitary paper bundle at high speed, a packaging machine for film cannot sufficiently keep up with the production speed of this multi-reel machine, which is a problem in the manufacturing of soft pack products.

[0007] In order to address the above problems, the present inventor has been considering, mainly when manufacturing soft pack products, distributing and transporting sanitary paper bundles obtained by a multiple machine to multiple transport paths, and arranging a packaging machine for each transport path and packaging the sanitary paper bundles sequentially by the multiple packaging machines. Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a technology that can appropriately distribute sanitary paper bundles to multiple transport paths. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a method for sorting a sanitary paper stack, the method comprising the steps of: A sorting conveyor, a wide conveyor, and a plurality of individual conveyors are used. The sorting conveyor is provided upstream of the wide conveyor. The wide conveyor is provided downstream of the sorting conveyor. The width of the wide conveyor is wider than the sum of the widths of the plurality of individual conveyors. The plurality of individual conveyors are provided in parallel downstream of the wide conveyor. Here, in the sorting method according to the present invention, the outlet end of the sorting conveyor is shifted in the horizontal direction, and the sanitary paper bundle is transferred from the sorting conveyor to the wide conveyor so as to form a plurality of parallel transport paths on the wide conveyor (sorting process). Note that shifting the outlet end of the sorting conveyor in the horizontal direction includes rotating it about a predetermined fulcrum (moving it on a circular orbit) as described below, as well as moving this outlet end in parallel. Also, it is preferable that the conveying surfaces of the sorting conveyor and the wide conveyor are at the same height, but for example, the outlet end of the sorting conveyor may be positioned above the wide conveyor, and the sanitary paper bundle may be handed over by dropping the sanitary paper bundle from the sorting conveyor onto the wide conveyor. Next, the wide conveyor conveys the sanitary paper bundle downstream along the conveying path, and the sanitary paper bundle is handed over to multiple individual conveyors provided at the outlet of the conveying path (handing process). In this way, by installing the sorting conveyor upstream of the wide conveyor, it is possible for the sorting conveyor to efficiently sort the sanitary paper bundle to multiple conveying paths.

[0009] In the sorting method according to the present invention, the sorting conveyor is preferably configured such that the outlet end rotates back and forth horizontally about a predetermined fulcrum. In particular, the predetermined fulcrum is preferably provided near the inlet end of the sorting conveyor. This allows the sorting conveyor to efficiently sort the sanitary paper stacks that have been continuously transported along one transport path into multiple transport paths.

[0010] In the sorting method according to the present invention, the sorting conveyor is preferably configured to convey the sanitary paper stack toward the downstream side while sandwiching it from above and below. A conveyor belt (belt conveyor) can be used as such a configuration. By sandwiching the sanitary paper stack from above and below with the sorting conveyor in this way, the sanitary paper stack can be more reliably sorted to the transport path while suppressing deformation of the sanitary paper stack. In particular, when the outlet end of the sorting conveyor is shifted horizontally to switch the transport path, the sanitary paper stack located at the front of the sorting conveyor slides on a wide conveyor or the like. At this time, since the sanitary paper stack is sandwiched by the sorting conveyor from above and below, it is possible to suppress deformation of the sanitary paper stack due to friction during sliding. In addition, if the sorting conveyor does not sandwich the sanitary paper stack from above and below, the sanitary paper stack may slide on the sorting conveyor, causing variation in the intervals between the sanitary paper stacks, and it is necessary to set the intervals between the sanitary paper stacks wider when sorting to allow for such variation. On the other hand, by clamping the sanitary paper stacks from above and below with the sorting conveyor, it is possible to prevent the sanitary paper stacks from slipping on the sorting conveyor and ensure stable transport, which also makes it possible to set narrower spaces between the sanitary paper stacks.

[0011] In the sorting method according to the present invention, it is preferable to further use a sensor that detects the sanitary paper stack. In this case, it is preferable that the sorting conveyor shifts the outlet end in a horizontal direction so as to switch the transport path based on detection information from the sensor. Specifically, it is preferable to identify a gap between the continuously transported sanitary paper stacks based on the detection information from the sensor, and shift the outlet end in a horizontal direction to match this gap and switch the transport path for the sanitary paper stack.

[0012] In the sorting method of the present invention, when the sorting conveyor switches its transport path, the sanitary paper stacks located on both the sorting conveyor and the wide conveyor may slide on the wide conveyor while the outlet end is moving horizontally.

[0013] In the sorting method according to the present invention, it is preferable to further use a crossing plate provided between the sorting conveyor and the wide conveyor. In this case, it is preferable that the length of the crossing plate in the conveying direction is shorter than the length of the sanitary paper stack in the conveying direction. In particular, it is preferable that the conveying surface of the crossing plate has a smaller friction coefficient than the conveying surface of the wide conveyor. In this way, by providing a crossing plate between the sorting conveyor and the wide conveyor, the sanitary paper stack slides on the crossing plate while the outlet end moves in the horizontal direction when the conveying path is switched by the sorting conveyor. By using a crossing plate with a smaller friction coefficient than the wide conveyor, it is possible to prevent the sanitary paper stack from losing its shape when sliding.

[0014] In the sorting method according to the present invention, the sorting conveyor continuously transports the plurality of sanitary paper bundles, and it is preferable that the interval between the sanitary paper bundles in the transport direction is shorter than the length of the sanitary paper bundle in the transport direction. By continuously transporting the sanitary paper bundles at narrow intervals in this way, the transport efficiency of the sanitary paper bundles can be improved.

[0015] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a sanitary paper bundle product. The sanitary paper bundle product referred to here is a product in which one or more sanitary paper bundles are packaged. The package for the sanitary paper bundle is preferably a packaging bag made of resin film or the like, rather than a carton. The manufacturing method for a sanitary paper bundle product according to the present invention includes a step of sorting the sanitary paper bundle by the sorting method according to the first aspect described above, and a step of packaging the sanitary paper bundle sorted by this sorting method. As described above, a multi-reel machine can produce sanitary paper bundles at high speed and continuously, whereas a packaging machine for film cannot adequately keep up with the production speed of the multi-reel machine. Therefore, by providing a packaging machine for each of the multiple transport paths for the sanitary paper bundle and packaging the sanitary paper bundle at each transport path, the sanitary paper bundle produced by the multi-reel machine can be efficiently packaged even when the packaging speed of the packaging machine is relatively slow. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, sanitary paper stacks can be appropriately distributed to a plurality of transport paths. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a method for producing a sanitary paper bundle product. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view that illustrates a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a sorting device for a sanitary paper stack. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view that illustrates a method for sorting a sanitary paper stack according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view showing a first example of the sorting conveyor. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a side view showing a second example of the sorting conveyor. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side view showing a third example of the sorting conveyor. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view that illustrates a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a sorting device for sanitary paper stacks. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing an example of a method for producing a sanitary paper bundle product. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an example of a deceleration step in the manufacturing method for sanitary paper bundle products. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an example of a gap adjusting step in the manufacturing method for sanitary paper bundle products. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and includes appropriate modifications of the embodiments described below within the scope obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a process for manufacturing a sanitary paper bundle product, in which a sanitary paper bundle B obtained by using a multiple-reel machine 1 is packaged by a packaging machine 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the multiple-reel machine 1 folds and stacks sanitary paper P (base paper) fed from a number of base rolls to form a continuous stack of sanitary paper P. The multiple-reel machine 1 is provided with a number of base rolls corresponding to the number of stacked sheets of sanitary paper. For example, to obtain a product in which 200 sets of tissues each consisting of two sheets (a total of 400 sheets) are stacked, 200 sets of base rolls each consisting of two rolls (a total of 400 rolls) are installed in the multiple-reel machine 1. Such a multiple-reel machine 1 (multi-stand type interfolder) may be a known one. Next, the stack of sanitary paper P formed by the multiple-reel machine 1 is transported downstream and cut at predetermined intervals by a cutter 2. This results in individual sanitary paper bundles B. A known rotary cutter may be used as the cutter 2. In this way, sanitary paper bundles B can be produced continuously at high speed. In sanitary paper stack B, each sheet of sanitary paper is folded approximately in half, and halves of two sheets of sanitary paper are inserted between each sheet of sanitary paper, one above the other, so that when one sheet of sanitary paper is lifted up, the sanitary paper underneath is also lifted up, forming a pop-up style stack.

[0020] Thereafter, the plurality of sanitary paper stacks B are conveyed downstream in a line by a conveyor or the like. There is a speed difference between the conveying speed of the sanitary paper stack B in the cutter 2 and the conveying speed of the sanitary paper stack B by the conveyor immediately thereafter, and the conveying speed of the sanitary paper stack B by the conveyor immediately thereafter is set to be faster. This increases the distance between the sanitary paper stacks B. A sorting device 3 is provided downstream of the cutter 2. The sorting device 3 will be described in detail later, but this sorting device 3 has the function of sorting the plurality of sanitary paper stacks B conveyed in a line along one conveying path into a plurality of conveying paths. In addition, it is preferable to install a known discharge device on the conveying path between the cutter 2 and the sorting device 3, which detects defects in the sanitary paper stack B and discharges the sanitary paper stack B that is determined to be defective. Such a discharge device is provided for the purpose of discharging the sanitary paper stack B in a state that cannot be made into a product at the time of initial operation, or discharging the sanitary paper stack B in a state that cannot be made into a product at the time of sudden stop due to a problem in the downstream process. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of sanitary paper stacks B are sorted into three conveying paths. The number of transport paths for the sanitary paper stack B is not limited to three, and may be two, or may be four or more. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable to switch the transport path every time a predetermined number of sanitary paper stacks B are transported. For example, in the example of FIG. 1, the transport path is switched every four sanitary paper stacks B. In other words, the sorting device 3 repeats the process of guiding a predetermined number (four) of sanitary paper stacks B to a certain transport path, switching the transport path, and then guiding a predetermined number of sanitary paper stacks B again to another transport path adjacent to the one above. When switching from the transport paths on both sides to the transport path on the center side, it is preferable to send out a predetermined number (e.g., four) of sanitary paper stacks B to the sanitary paper stacks on the sides twice (e.g., eight) before switching to the transport path on the center side. This allows an equal amount of sanitary paper stacks B to be sent out from the transport paths on both sides and the transport path on the center.

[0021] Further, a packaging machine 4 is provided downstream of each conveying path. The packaging machine 4 may be one that has the function of packaging one or more sanitary paper bundles B in a flexible packaging bag made of resin film or the like. The packaging bag is preferably made of a resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, or polyvinyl acetate. However, the packaging bag may be a paper bag. As such a packaging machine, a known one such as that disclosed in Patent Document 3 may be used. In this manner, a sanitary paper bundle product (so-called soft pack product) in which one or more sanitary paper bundles B are packaged in a packaging bag can be manufactured.

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of the sorting device 3. As shown in Fig. 2, the sorting device 3 includes a conveyor device 10 for transporting the sanitary paper stack B, and a sorting conveyor 20 for sorting the sanitary paper stack B. In the example shown in Fig. 2, the sorting conveyor 20 is drawn to support the sanitary paper stack B only from the bottom side, so that the position of the sanitary paper stack B can be easily understood. In this way, the sorting conveyor 20 may be configured to have a conveyor device only on the bottom side of the sanitary paper stack B, but as described later, it is preferable that the sorting conveyor 20 is configured to have upper and lower conveyor devices for sandwiching the sanitary paper stack B from both the bottom and top sides.

[0023] The conveyor device 10 includes, in order from the upstream side, a main conveyor 11, a sorting conveyor 20, a wide conveyor 12, and a plurality of individual conveyors 13(a)-(c). Each of the conveyors 11-13, 20 may be a general conveyor having a structure in which an endless belt is stretched around pulleys including a drive pulley and a driven pulley. The main conveyor 11 transports the sanitary paper stacks B in a line and passes them to the sorting conveyor 20. The sorting conveyor 20 switches the transport path of the sanitary paper stacks B. The sorting conveyor 20 also switches the transport path while passing the sanitary paper stacks B to the wide conveyor 12. As a result, a plurality of transport paths for the sanitary paper stacks B are formed in parallel on the wide conveyor 12. A plurality of individual conveyors 13(a)-(c) are arranged in parallel downstream of the wide conveyor 12, and each of the individual conveyors 13(a)-(c) corresponds to a transport path on the wide conveyor 12. In other words, the wide conveyor 12 delivers the sanitary paper stack B to one of the plurality of individual conveyors 13(a)-(c) according to the transport path switched by the sorting conveyor 20. As the wide conveyor 12, one having a width at least equal to or greater than the sum of the widths of the plurality of individual conveyors 13(a)-(c) is used, as shown in Fig. 2.

[0024] The sorting conveyor 20 is disposed between the main conveyor 11 and the wide conveyor 12. All the sanitary paper stacks B conveyed by the main conveyor 11 are introduced into the sorting conveyor 20, and after being guided by the sorting conveyor 20, are transferred from the wide conveyor 12 to any one of the individual conveyors 13(a)-(c). As shown in FIG. 2, the sorting conveyor 20 has a predetermined rotation fulcrum 23. The outlet end side of the sorting conveyor 20 rotates horizontally with respect to the predetermined fulcrum 23, that is, along the conveying surface of the wide conveyor 12. Specifically, the fulcrum 23 for the rotational movement of the sorting conveyor 20 is provided on the introduction end side (i.e., the end side that can receive the sanitary paper stacks B). For this reason, the position of the introduction end of the sorting conveyor 20 is approximately fixed immediately after the main conveyor 11, but the outlet end of the sorting conveyor 20 makes a large transition on the wide conveyor 12 side. Such a rotational movement of the sorting conveyor 20 about the fulcrum 23 can be achieved by a known actuator such as a motor or a piston. The rotational movement of the sorting conveyor 20 is controlled by a control device (not shown) such as a computer.

[0025] The sorting conveyor 20 also includes a sensor 26 near the lead-out end or in the guide path. The sensor 26 is disposed for the purpose of identifying the gap between the sanitary paper stacks B led from the sorting conveyor 20 to the wide conveyor 12. Specifically, the sensor 26 detects the presence or absence of the sanitary paper stack B near the leading end of the sorting conveyor 20 or in the guide path, thereby identifying that a gap between the sanitary paper stacks B is approaching the leading end of the sorting conveyor 20. Based on the detection information of the sensor 26, a control device (not shown) controls the sorting conveyor 20, and rotates the sorting conveyor 20 at the timing when a gap between the sanitary paper stacks B occurs near the leading end of the sorting conveyor 20, thereby switching the transport path of the sanitary paper stacks B. The sensor 26 can also measure the length of the gap between the sanitary paper stacks B. It is possible to control so that if the gap between sanitary paper stacks B is equal to or greater than a certain length, the transport path for the sanitary paper stack B is switched at that gap, and if the gap is less than the certain length, the transport path for the sanitary paper stack B is not switched at that gap. The sensor 26 is not particularly limited as long as it can detect the presence or absence of the sanitary paper stack B, and any known sensor such as an optical sensor (photoelectric sensor), ultrasonic sensor, or pressure sensor may be used. The transport path can be switched by setting a timer after the sensor 26 detects a gap between the sanitary paper stacks B (switching is performed after a predetermined time has elapsed since detection) or by adjusting the position of the sensor 26.

[0026] Next, referring to FIG. 3, the operation of the sorting conveyor 20 will be mainly described. As shown in FIG. 3, the sorting conveyor 20 rotates the lead-out end side around the fulcrum 23. This causes the sorting conveyor 20 to switch the transport path of the sanitary paper stack B on the wide conveyor 12. In the state shown in FIG. 3, the first to third individual conveyors 13(a)-(c) are arranged in parallel at the transport destination of the wide conveyor 12. Here, in the state shown in FIG. 3(a), a plurality of sanitary paper stacks B continuously transported by the main conveyor 11 are introduced into the sorting conveyor 20, and are then guided by the sorting conveyor 20 to the transport path on the wide conveyor 12 for sending to the third individual conveyor 13(c).

[0027] 3(b), the sorting conveyor 20 sends out a predetermined number (e.g., four) of sanitary paper stacks B onto a transport path toward the third individual conveyor 13(c), and starts a transport path switching operation to send the next predetermined number of sanitary paper stacks B onto the second individual conveyor 13(b). At this time, based on the detection information of the sensor 26 provided on the guide path of the sorting conveyor 20, the control device determines that a predetermined number of sanitary paper stacks B have been guided out from the sorting conveyor 20 and that the gaps between the sanitary paper stacks B have reached the vicinity of the lead-out end of the sorting conveyor 20, and controls the sorting conveyor 200 to start a transport path switching operation.

[0028] 3(b), when the transport path is switched, part of the sanitary paper stack B' located at the front of the sorting conveyor 20 is located on the sorting conveyor 20, and another part is located on the wide conveyor 12. In this way, the sorting conveyor 20 rotates to switch the transport path while the sanitary paper stack B' bridges between the sorting conveyor 20 and the wide conveyor 12, so that the sanitary paper stack B' slides on the transport surface of the wide conveyor 12. At this time, in order to prevent the sanitary paper stack B' from losing its shape, it is preferable that the sorting conveyor 20 is configured to rotate with respect to a predetermined viewpoint 23 while pinching at least part of the sanitary paper stack B' from above and below, as described below, to switch the transport path.

[0029] 3(c), the sorting conveyor 20 sends out a predetermined number (e.g., four) of sanitary paper stacks B onto a transport path toward the second individual conveyor 13(b), and then starts a transport path switching operation to send the next predetermined number of sanitary paper stacks B onto a transport path toward the first individual conveyor 13(a). At this time, based on the detection information of the sensor 26 provided on the guide path of the sorting conveyor 20, the control device determines that a predetermined number of sanitary paper stacks B have been guided out from the sorting conveyor 20 and that the gaps between the sanitary paper stacks B have reached the vicinity of the lead-out end of the sorting conveyor 20, and controls the sorting conveyor 200 to start a transport path switching operation.

[0030] The ratio of the length of the guide path of the sorting conveyor 20 to the swing width of one pitch when the sorting conveyor 20 switches the transport path is preferably 1:5 or more, more preferably 1:8 or more, and particularly preferably 1:10 or more. If this ratio is small, the swing angle becomes large and the sanitary paper stack B is likely to wrinkle or collapse, so it is preferable to ensure this ratio at 1:5 or more. Also, as described above, when switching from the transport paths on both sides (first individual conveyor 13(a), third individual conveyor 13(c)) to the transport path on the center side (second individual conveyor 13(b)), it is preferable to send a predetermined number (e.g., 4 pieces) of sanitary paper stacks B to the sanitary paper stacks on the sides twice (e.g., 8 pieces) before switching to the transport path on the center side. This allows the same amount of sanitary paper stacks B to be sent out from the transport paths on both sides and the transport path on the center side.

[0031] Fig. 4 shows a first specific example of the sorting conveyor 20 suitable for performing the various operations described in Fig. 3. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the sorting conveyor 20 includes a lower conveyor 21 and an upper conveyor 22. The upper and lower conveyors 21, 22 are each configured as a belt conveyor. The upper and lower conveyors 21, 22 sandwich the sanitary paper stack B from above and below with the belts 21a, 22a, and transport the sanitary paper stack B downstream as the belts 21a, 22a move. More specifically, the upper and lower conveyors 21, 22 include endless belts 21a, 22a, drive pulleys 21b, 22b, and head pulleys 21c, 22c, respectively. The belts 21a, 22a are stretched around these pulleys. The drive pulleys 21b, 22b are pulleys that rotate and drive themselves to move the belts 21a, 22a in a fixed direction, and are disposed closest to the introduction end of the sorting conveyor 20 among the pulleys. The head pulleys 21c, 22c are pulleys that are driven by the rotation of the belts 21a, 22a, and are disposed closest to the exit end of the sorting conveyor 20 among the pulleys.

[0032] As a result, the belt 21a of the lower conveyor 21 contacts the bottom surface of the sanitary paper stack B, and the belt 22a of the upper conveyor 22 contacts the top surface of the sanitary paper stack B, while the sanitary paper stack B is sandwiched between the upper and lower conveyors 21, 22 and transported downstream. The sanitary paper stack B is sandwiched between the upper and lower conveyors 21, 22 while passing through the guide path of the sorting conveyor 20, but as it proceeds along the guide path, its leading end protrudes from the upper and lower conveyors 21, 22, so that the proportion of the length sandwiched between the upper and lower conveyors 21, 22 gradually decreases. In particular, when the sorting conveyor 20 switches the transport path, it is preferable that 20% or more, more preferably 30% or more of the sanitary paper stack B' located at the beginning of the guide path of the sorting conveyor 20 is sandwiched between the upper and lower conveyors 21, 22 in the transport direction until the sorting conveyor 20 stops operating. As a result, even if the sorting conveyor 20 moves laterally due to a switching operation of the transport path, the switching of the transport path can be performed without causing the sanitary paper stack B' to lose its shape. It is preferable that the upper and lower conveyors 21, 22 rotate at substantially the same speed. It is also preferable that the upper and lower conveyors 21, 22 are arranged substantially parallel to each other so that the upper and lower surfaces of the sanitary paper stack B continue to contact the upper and lower conveyors 21, 22 while the sanitary paper stack B is being guided by the sorting conveyor 20.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a second specific example of the sorting conveyor 20. The sorting conveyor 20 shown in FIG. 5 has a function of adjusting the interval between the sanitary paper stacks B while guiding the sanitary paper stacks B. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the sorting conveyor 20 includes a first lower conveyor 21(a), a second lower conveyor 21(b), a third lower conveyor 21(c), a first upper conveyor 22(a), a second upper conveyor 22(b), and a second upper conveyor 22(c). The first lower conveyor 21(a) and the first upper conveyor 22(a) are arranged to face each other, and form a pair so as to sandwich the sanitary paper stack B and transport it downstream. The relationship between the second lower conveyor 21(b) and the second upper conveyor 22(b) and the relationship between the third lower conveyor 21(c) and the third upper conveyor 22(c) are also similar. In addition, arranged in order from the upstream side are first upper and lower conveyors 21(a) and 22(a), second upper and lower conveyors 21(b) and 22(b), and third upper and lower conveyors 21(c) and 22(c).

[0034] The first upper and lower conveyors 21(a) and 22(a) receive the sanitary paper stacks B conveyed by the main conveyor 11. At this time, the interval G between the sanitary paper stacks B can be adjusted by adjusting the conveying speed V2 of the first upper and lower conveyors 21(a) and 22(a) relative to the conveying speed V1 of the main conveyor 11. For example, if the intervals between the sanitary paper stacks B conveyed by the main conveyor 11 are large, the interval G between the sanitary paper stacks B in the sorting conveyor 20 can be narrowed by slowing down the conveying speed V2 relative to the conveying speed V1 (V1>V2). Conversely, if the intervals between the sanitary paper stacks B conveyed by the main conveyor 11 are small, the interval G between the sanitary paper stacks B in the sorting conveyor 20 can be widened by speeding up the conveying speed V2 relative to the conveying speed V1 (V2>V1). It is also possible to make the conveying speeds V1 and V2 substantially equal.

[0035] The second upper and lower conveyors 21(b), 22(b) receive the sanitary paper stacks B conveyed by the first upper and lower conveyors 21(a), 22(a). In this case, the intervals G between the sanitary paper stacks B can be further adjusted by adjusting the conveying speed V3 of the second upper and lower conveyors 21(b), 22(b) relative to the conveying speed V2 of the first upper and lower conveyors 21(a), 22(a). For example, if there is a gap between the sanitary paper stacks B conveyed by the first upper and lower conveyors 21(a), 22(a), the intervals G between the sanitary paper stacks B in the sorting conveyor 20 can be narrowed by slowing down the conveying speed V3 relative to the conveying speed V2 (V2>V3). On the other hand, when the interval between the sanitary paper stacks B conveyed by the first upper and lower conveyors 21(a) and 22(a) is narrow, the interval G between the sanitary paper stacks B in the sorting conveyor 20 can be widened by making the conveying speed V3 faster than the conveying speed V2 (V2>V3). It is also possible to make the conveying speeds V2 and V3 substantially equal. In addition, if an area (non-driven area) where the sanitary paper stacks B are not actively conveyed by the conveyor is provided before or after (either one or both) the second upper and lower conveyors 21(b) and 22(b), it becomes easier to adjust the sanitary paper stacks B. The non-driven area can be realized, for example, by placing a metal plate or the like between the first upper and lower conveyors 21(a) and 22(a) and the second upper and lower conveyors 21(b) and 22(b) and / or between the second upper and lower conveyors 21(b) and 22(b) and the third upper and lower conveyors 21(c) and 22(c). If there is a large speed difference between the conveyors, there is a risk that the sheet on the surface of the sanitary paper stack B will tear, but the existence of the non-driven area makes it possible to prevent this. It is preferable that the length of the non-driven area is shorter than the length of the sanitary paper stack B, but it is also possible to set the length of the non-driven area longer than the length of the sanitary paper stack B so that it is pushed out by the sanitary paper stack discharged from the upstream belt.

[0036] The third upper and lower conveyors 21(c), 22(c) receive the sanitary paper stacks B conveyed by the second upper and lower conveyors 21(b), 22(b). In this case, the intervals G between the sanitary paper stacks B can be further adjusted by adjusting the conveying speed V4 of the third upper and lower conveyors 21(c), 22(c) relative to the conveying speed V3 of the second upper and lower conveyors 21(b), 22(b). For example, if there is a gap between the sanitary paper stacks B conveyed by the second upper and lower conveyors 21(b), 22(b), the intervals G between the sanitary paper stacks B in the sorting conveyor 20 can be narrowed by slowing down the conveying speed V4 relative to the conveying speed V3 (V3>V4). Conversely, when the intervals between the sanitary paper stacks B being conveyed by the second upper and lower conveyors 21(b), 22(b) are narrow, the intervals G between the sanitary paper stacks B in the sorting conveyor 20 can be widened by making the conveying speed V4 faster than the conveying speed V3 (V3>V4). It is also possible to make the conveying speeds V3 and V4 substantially equal. In particular, it is preferable to make the conveying speed V4 of the third upper and lower conveyors 21(c), 22(c) substantially equal to the conveying speed V5 of the subsequent individual conveyor 13.

[0037] The adjustment of the conveying speeds V1 to V4 of each conveyor may be executed by a control device. Further, sensors may be arranged on each conveyor to measure the interval between the toilet paper bundles B by the sensors, and the control device may automatically adjust the conveying speeds V1 to V4 of the conveyors according to the information on the interval between the toilet paper bundles measured by the sensors. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, since the toilet paper bundle B is sandwiched from above and below by the conveyors, the conveyance of the toilet paper bundle B is stabilized. Therefore, it is also possible to rapidly change the conveying speed of the conveyor to greatly increase or rapidly decrease the interval between the toilet paper bundles B. Further, after minimizing and making constant the interval between the toilet paper bundles B by the speed difference (V2 > V3) between the first upper and lower conveyors 21(a) and 22(a) and the second upper and lower conveyors 21(b) and 22(b), stable sorting can be achieved by sufficiently and constantly adjusting the interval between the toilet paper bundles B by the speed difference (V3 < V4) between the second upper and lower conveyors 21(b) and 22(b) and the third upper and lower conveyors 21(c) and 22(c). At this time, each conveyor can not only adjust at a constant speed, but also adjust the interval between the toilet paper bundles B by detecting the conveyance state of the toilet paper bundle B by a sensor or the like and increasing or decreasing (including stopping) the conveying speed. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the sorting conveyor 20 is constituted by three sets of upper and lower conveyors. However, for example, when the toilet paper bundles B are stably conveyed at equal intervals by the main conveyor 11, the sorting conveyor 20 may be constituted by only two sets of upper and lower conveyors.

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a third specific example of the sorting conveyor 20. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the sorting conveyor 20 has a function of expanding and contracting the guide path. Specifically, the upper and lower conveyors 21 and 22 constituting the sorting conveyor 20 are respectively provided with endless belts 21a and 22a, drive pulleys 21b and 22b, head pulleys 21c and 22c for expansion and contraction, adjustment pulleys 21d and 22d, and vent pulleys 21e and 22e. The belts 21a and 22a are stretched across these pulleys. The drive pulleys 21b and 22b are pulleys that rotate and drive themselves to move the belts 21a and 22a in a fixed direction, and are disposed closest to the introduction end of the sorting conveyor 20 among the pulleys. The head pulleys 21c and 22c for extension and retraction are configured to advance and retract along the guide direction of the sanitary paper stack B, and the advance and retraction of the head pulleys 21c and 22c extends and retracts the guide path of the sanitary paper stack B by the sorting conveyor 20. The adjustment pulleys 21d and 22d are configured to advance and retract along the guide direction of the sorting conveyor 20 together with the head pulleys 21c and 22c, and play a role in adjusting the overall length of the belts 21a and 22a and the tension applied thereto so as to be kept constant even when the head pulleys 21c and 22c advance and retract. In other words, when the head pulleys 21c and 22c advance, the adjustment pulleys 21d and 22d also advance by the same amount, so that the length of the belts 21a and 22a is kept constant, and the tension of the belts 21a and 22a is also constant, and no slack occurs. The vent pulleys 21e, 22e are for bending the travel path of the belts 21a, 22a between the head pulleys 21c, 22c and the adjustment pulleys 21d, 22d, and the positions of the vent pulleys 21e, 22e do not change even when the head pulleys 21c, 22c and the adjustment pulleys 21d, 22d move forward and backward. Of the head pulleys 21c, 22c, the adjustment pulleys 21d, 22d, and the vent pulleys 21e, 22e, the head pulleys 21c, 22c are disposed in a position closest to the guide path of the sanitary paper stack B, the vent pulleys 21e, 22e are disposed in a position farthest from the guide path of the sanitary paper stack B, and the adjustment pulleys 21d, 22d are disposed between them.When the belts 21a and 22a are driven by the drive pulleys 21b and 22b, they pass through the head pulleys 21c and 22c, the adjustment pulleys 21d and 22d, and the vent pulleys 21e and 22e in that order.

[0039] 6(a) shows the sorting conveyor 20 in its most contracted state, and FIG. 6(b) shows the sorting conveyor 20 in its most extended state. As shown in these figures, when the guide path of the sanitary paper stack B by the sorting conveyor 20 is extended, the head pulleys 21c and 22c are advanced along the guide direction, and the adjustment pulleys 21d and 22d are also advanced along the guide direction. On the other hand, when the guide path of the sanitary paper stack B by the sorting conveyor 20 is contracted, the head pulleys 21c and 22c are retracted along the guide direction, and the adjustment pulleys 21d and 22d are also retracted along the guide direction. This allows the guide path of the sanitary paper stack B to be freely adjusted by the forward and backward movements of the head pulleys 21c and 22c and the adjustment pulleys 21d and 22d. In addition, the drive pulleys 21b, 22b continue to drive the belts 21a, 22a even during the forward and backward movements of the head pulleys 21c, 22c and the adjustment pulleys 21d, 22d. Therefore, according to the example shown in FIG. 6, the guide path can be extended or retracted while continuing the transport of the sanitary paper stack B. For example, when the sorting conveyor 20 switches the transport path of the sanitary paper stack B to another transport path, the leading end of the sorting conveyor 20 is extended in accordance with the transport speed of the sanitary paper stack B by the wide conveyor 12. This makes it possible to guide the sanitary paper stack B to another transport path while reliably supporting it with the lead-out end of the sorting conveyor 20. In addition, for example, as in the examples shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, when the sorting conveyor 20 rotates and is inclined obliquely, the gap between the sorting conveyor 20 and the wide conveyor 12 may become large. At this time, by extending the guide path of the sorting conveyor 20, the gap between the sorting conveyor 20 and the wide conveyor 12 can be made smaller. The forward and backward movements of the head pulleys 21c, 22c and the adjustment pulleys 21d, 22d are controlled by a control device such as a computer. The forward and backward movements of each pulley can be realized by a known actuator capable of linear reciprocating motion, such as a piston or a slider. Although not shown, the wide conveyor 12 can also be configured to adopt a similar configuration to the lower conveyor 21, and to be configured so that the conveying path of the wide conveyor 12 can be extended or retracted toward the sorting conveyor 20 side while maintaining a certain range of the gap between the sorting conveyor 20 in synchronization with the extension and retraction of the sorting conveyor 20.

[0040] Fig. 7 shows a second embodiment of the sorting device 3. The sorting device 3 according to the second embodiment shown in Fig. 7 further includes a crossing plate 30 between the sorting conveyor 20 and the wide conveyor 12. The sorting device 3 according to the second embodiment differs from the sorting device 3 according to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 2 in that it further includes this crossing plate 30, but the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the crossing plate 30 will be mainly described, and the description of the same configuration as the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0041] As described above, when the sorting conveyor 20 switches its transport path, at least a part of the sanitary paper stack B slides on the wide conveyor 12, but the crossover plate 30 is arranged mainly for the purpose of reducing the area over which this sanitary paper stack slides on the wide conveyor 12. In other words, when the sorting conveyor 20 switches its transport path, the sanitary paper stack B' (see FIG. 3(b)) located at the front of the sorting conveyor 20 passes from the sorting conveyor 20 across the crossover plate 30 to the wide conveyor 12, but by arranging this crossover plate 30 between the sorting conveyor 20 and the wide conveyor 12, the sanitary paper stack B mainly slides on this crossover plate 30. The sorting conveyor 20 and the wide conveyor 12 are intended to transport the sanitary paper stack B, and therefore require a certain degree of frictional resistance. However, if the sanitary paper stack B is swung sideways while it is on these belts, the bottom surface of the sanitary paper stack B will be disturbed. Therefore, by bringing this part into contact with the crossing plate 30, which has less frictional resistance, the disturbance of the bottom surface of the sanitary paper stack B can be reduced.

[0042] The conveying surface (sliding surface) of the crossing plate 30 is made of a material or has a structure with a smaller coefficient of friction than the conveying surface of the sorting conveyor 20. For example, the conveying surface of the crossing plate 30 is preferably made of a material with a low coefficient of friction such as plastic or metal, and is a smooth surface. In addition, it is preferable that the conveying surface of the crossing plate 30 is provided with measures to prevent static electricity. Specifically, the conveying surface of the crossing plate 30 may be coated with an antistatic agent, or may be made of a material that is easily charged with the same polarity as the sanitary paper stack B. Note that, since the sanitary paper stack B is easily charged negatively, it is preferable that the conveying surface of the crossing plate 30 is also made of a material that is easily charged negatively, such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, or silicone.

[0043] In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, it is preferable that the crossing plate 30 has a shape suitable for filling the gap between the sorting conveyor 20 and the wide conveyor 12. That is, when the sorting conveyor 20 rotates and is inclined obliquely, the gap between the sorting conveyor 20 and the wide conveyor 12 becomes relatively large, so the length of the crossing plate 30 in the conveying direction should be relatively large. On the other hand, when the sorting conveyor 20 is parallel to the conveying direction, the gap between the sorting conveyor 20 and the wide conveyor 12 becomes relatively small, so the length of the crossing plate 30 in the conveying direction may be small. However, the length of the crossing plate 30 in the conveying direction must be shorter than the length of the sanitary paper stack B in the conveying direction at any point. This is because if the length of the crossing plate 30 in the conveying direction is longer than the length of the sanitary paper stack B in the conveying direction, it becomes difficult to transfer the sanitary paper stack B from the sorting conveyor 20 to the wide conveyor 12. Since the length of the sanitary paper stack B in the transport direction is generally 170 to 230 mm, the length of the transition plate 30 in the transport direction is preferably about 50 to 80% of the length of the sanitary paper stack B.

[0044] In addition, in FIG. 7, the crossing plate 30 is arranged in the gap between the sorting conveyor 20 and the wide conveyor 12, but it is also possible to fix this crossing plate 30 to the lead-out end of the sorting conveyor 20. In this case, the conveying surface of the crossing plate 30 is arranged at the same height as the conveying surface of the lower conveyor 21 of the sorting conveyor 20. In this case, it is preferable that at least the tip of the crossing plate 30 fixed to the tip of the sorting conveyor 20 slides on the conveying surface of the wide conveyor 12. This is more preferable because there is no gap when swinging and no resistance when swinging sideways. In addition, the crossing plate 30 can be easily replaced with one of a length corresponding to the length of the sanitary paper stack B.

[0045] Next, Fig. 8 shows a flow diagram from distributing the sanitary paper bundle B to a plurality of transport paths to packaging the sanitary paper bundle B on each transport path to obtain a sanitary paper bundle product. As shown in Fig. 8, the manufacturing method for the sanitary paper bundle product preferably includes a distributing step (S1), a decelerating step (S2), a spacing adjustment step (S3), and a packaging step (S4) in this order.

[0046] The sorting step (S1) is a step of sorting a plurality of sanitary paper stacks B that are continuously transported along one path into a plurality of transport paths. Details of the sorting step are as described above.

[0047] The deceleration process (S2) is a process of decelerating the conveying speed of the sanitary paper stack B in each conveying path after the sorting process. As described above, the multiplexer 1 (see FIG. 1) generates the sanitary paper stack B at high speed, and the sanitary paper stack B is sorted to each conveying path by the sorting device 3 while maintaining the conveying speed. At this time, the packaging machine 4 provided in each conveying path may not be able to handle the conveying speed after the sorting process. Therefore, it is preferable to decelerate the conveying speed of the sanitary paper stack B to a speed that the packaging machine 4 can handle after the sorting process. In particular, when the interval between the sanitary paper stack B is set to 55% or more with respect to the product length (length in the conveying direction) of the sanitary paper stack B, the deceleration process is essential after the sorting process. FIG. 9 shows an example of this deceleration process. In the example shown in FIG. 9, multiple deceleration conveyors 14, 15 are arranged downstream of the individual conveyor 13 in each conveying path, and the conveying speed of the sanitary paper stack B is decelerated in stages. If the conveying speed of the sanitary paper stack B is suddenly reduced, the gaps between the sanitary paper stacks B may become too narrow, causing the sanitary paper stacks B to collide with each other or to lose their shape, so it is better to gradually reduce the conveying speed of the sanitary paper stack B. In the example shown in Fig. 9, for each conveying path, an individual conveyor 13 that receives the sanitary paper stack B from the wide conveyor 12, a first deceleration conveyor 14 that has a conveying speed slower than that of the individual conveyor 13, and a second deceleration conveyor 15 that has an even slower conveying speed than the first deceleration conveyor 14 are arranged in this order. This allows the conveying speed of the sanitary paper stack B to be gradually reduced to a speed that the packaging machine 4 can handle.

[0048] As another example of the deceleration step (S2), a non-driven area such as a metal plate may be provided behind the wide conveyor 12, and the sanitary paper stack B may be fed from the wide conveyor 12 into this non-driven area, where it may be stopped temporarily on the non-driven force area. The sanitary paper stack B moves onto the non-driven area due to the momentum of transport by the wide conveyor 12, and is stopped due to frictional resistance in the non-driven area. After that, after a certain number of sanitary paper stacks B have accumulated in the non-driven area, a pusher (conveyor bar, etc.) is used to send the sanitary paper stack B on the non-driven area to the individual conveyor 13 downstream. This allows the sanitary paper stack B to be rapidly decelerated in a shorter space.

[0049] The interval adjustment step (S3) is a step of adjusting the intervals between the sanitary paper stacks B in each conveying path after the deceleration step. Since the intervals between the sanitary paper stacks B distributed to each conveying path may vary, it is advisable to adjust the intervals between the sanitary paper stacks B to be somewhat uniform before the sanitary paper stacks B are introduced into the packaging machine 4. Here, an example will be described in which the interval adjustment step is mainly performed for the purpose of widening the intervals between the sanitary paper stacks B. As described above, it is preferable to decelerate the speed of the sanitary paper stacks B in stages in each conveying path, and in this case, the intervals between the sanitary paper stacks B become narrower in stages. That is, in each conveying path, a predetermined number (for example, four) of sanitary paper stacks B are conveyed in a row, but for example, when the first sanitary paper stack B is transferred from a conveyor with a high conveying speed to a conveyor with a low conveying speed, the first sanitary paper stack B will be decelerated. As a result, the second sanitary paper stack B following behind will continue to be transported by the faster conveyor, narrowing the gap between the first sanitary paper stack B and the second sanitary paper stack B. Therefore, it is advisable to perform a gap adjustment in order to widen the gap between the sanitary paper stacks B that has narrowed after the deceleration process. Note that if the conveying speed of the entire facility is slow, the deceleration process (S2) is not necessarily required, and the gap adjustment process (S3) alone will suffice.

[0050] FIG. 10 shows an example of this interval adjustment process. In the example shown in FIG. 10, a first interval adjustment conveyor 16 and a second interval adjustment conveyor 17 are arranged in this order on the downstream side of the deceleration conveyors 14 and 15 described above in each conveying path. In this case, the downstream second interval adjustment conveyor 17 is set to convey the sanitary paper stack B at a faster speed than the upstream first interval adjustment conveyor 16. In this case, the sanitary paper stack B accelerates when it is transferred from the first interval adjustment conveyor 16 to the second interval adjustment conveyor 17, and at that time the interval between the sanitary paper stacks B becomes wider. In addition, the downstream second interval adjustment conveyor 17 may be set to convey the sanitary paper stack B at a slower speed than the upstream first interval adjustment conveyor 16. In this case, the sanitary paper stacks B slow down when they are handed over from the first gap adjustment conveyor 16 to the second gap adjustment conveyor 17, narrowing the gap between the sanitary paper stacks B. In this way, the gap between the sanitary paper stacks B can be adjusted by using the first gap adjustment conveyor 16 and the second gap adjustment conveyor 17, which have different transport speeds. For example, in this gap adjustment process, adjustments can be made to narrow the gap between the sanitary paper stacks B that have spread apart into groups (several stacks) during sorting, to make the gaps between the sanitary paper stacks B closer to equal, or to dispense the sanitary paper stacks one by one on the conveyor just before packaging in accordance with the timing of the packaging machine.

[0051] As an example, in the example shown in FIG. 10, an operation of widening the interval between the sanitary paper stacks B is performed for every predetermined number (for example, four) of sanitary paper stacks B. That is, a group is formed with a predetermined number of sanitary paper stacks B, and an interval adjustment is performed between the sanitary paper stack B1 at the end of the first group and the sanitary paper stack B2 at the beginning of the next second group. The interval between the sanitary paper stacks B within each group is not adjusted. Specifically, when the interval adjustment is not performed, the conveying speeds of the first interval adjustment conveyor 16 and the second interval adjustment conveyor 17 are made substantially equal. On the other hand, when all the sanitary paper stacks B (including the sanitary paper stack B1) included in the first group are placed on the second interval adjustment conveyor 17 and all the sanitary paper stacks B (including the sanitary paper stack B2) included in the first group are placed on the first interval adjustment conveyor 16, the conveying speed of the second interval adjustment conveyor 17 and the conveying speed of the first interval adjustment conveyor 16 are made different from each other. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the gap G between the last sanitary paper stack B1 of the first group and the first sanitary paper stack B2 of the second group is enlarged. For example, the second gap adjustment conveyor 17 is accelerated to set its conveying speed faster than the conveying speed of the first gap adjustment conveyor 16. At this time, the conveying speed of the first gap adjustment conveyor 16 may be decelerated, or the first gap adjustment conveyor 16 may be temporarily stopped. This allows the gap between the sanitary paper stack B1 and the sanitary paper stack B2 to be enlarged. In addition, it is also possible to control the conveying speeds of the first gap adjustment conveyor 16 and the second gap adjustment conveyor 17 so as to narrow the gap between the sanitary paper stack B1 and the sanitary paper stack B2 depending on the situation. In this case, the first gap adjustment conveyor 16 and the second gap adjustment conveyor 17 are caused to perform the reverse operation to that described above. This allows the gap between each group to be made somewhat uniform.

[0052] In the packaging step (S4), after the interval adjustment, the sanitary paper bundles B are packaged using packaging machines 4 arranged for each transport path to obtain sanitary paper bundle products. The packaging machines 4 may package each sanitary paper bundle B in a packaging bag, or may collect multiple sanitary paper bundles B and package them in a packaging bag. In the example shown in FIG. 10, groups are formed for each predetermined number of sanitary paper bundles B (for example, four). In this case, it is preferable to collect and package multiple sanitary paper bundles B belonging to each group.

[0053] In the above example, the deceleration step (S2) and the interval adjustment step (S3) are performed after the sorting step (S1), but these deceleration step and interval adjustment step may also be performed before the sorting step. The slower the transport speed of the sanitary paper stacks B and the wider the intervals between the sanitary paper stacks B, the more leeway there is for the sorting operation and the more stable the sorting becomes. In other words, the wider the intervals between the sanitary paper stacks B, the more leeway there is for the sorting operation and the more stable the sorting becomes. The method of increasing the intervals between the sanitary paper stacks B can be achieved by changing to a faster conveyor when changing conveyors before the sorting equipment.

[0054] In the above, in order to express the contents of the present invention, the present specification has described the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and includes modifications and improvements that are obvious to a person skilled in the art based on the matters described in the present specification.

[0055] For example, it is possible to have a guide on the receiving side that moves left and right, moving one pitch in the opposite direction to the distribution. This halves the distribution width, which leads to a reduction in distribution time, stabilizes distribution, and reduces the expansion and contraction width, making it possible to make the equipment more compact. Note that one pitch here is half the lane spacing, and the distribution device and receiving guide both moving in opposite directions by half a lane is equivalent to one lane.

[0056] It would also be preferable to have a function to adjust the allocation destination by detecting the quantity of sanitary paper stacks on each line after sorting using a sensor, etc. If thinning occurs due to a malfunction or other problem, the balance can be automatically corrected.

[0057] Also, for example, if the conveying path (line) stops at a portion after the individual conveyors 13 after the sorting process, the sorting conveyor 20 may be controlled in response to that signal to stop supplying to the corresponding conveying path. In this way, the sorting conveyor 20 is controlled by the control device to sort only to the conveying paths that are in operation. Also, if a partial stop occurs in a portion of the conveying path downstream of the sorting conveyor 20, the sanitary paper stack will overflow if it continues to be supplied at the same speed, so it is preferable to control to reduce the conveying speed of the conveying path upstream of the sorting conveyor 20 and the cutting speed of the stack of sanitary paper by the cutter 2. Since sorting involves skipping one line and doubling the movable width, it is necessary to respond by reducing the speed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1...Multiple machines 2...Cutters 3… Sorting device 4… Packing machine 10...Conveyor device 11...Main conveyor 12...Wide conveyor 13...Individual conveyor 14...First deceleration conveyor 15...Second deceleration conveyor 16: First gap adjustment conveyor 17: Second gap adjustment conveyor 20...Sorting conveyor 21...Lower conveyor 22...Upper conveyor 23...Support point 26...sensor 21a, 22a...belt 21b, 22b...Drive pulley 21c, 22c...Head pulley 21d, 22d…Adjusting pulley 21e, 22e…Bent pulley P…Sanitary paper B…Sanitary paper stack

Claims

1. A method for sorting a sanitary paper stack, comprising the steps of: A sorting conveyor, a wide conveyor provided downstream of the sorting conveyor, and a plurality of individual conveyors provided in parallel downstream of the wide conveyor are used, a step of transferring the sanitary paper stack from the sorting conveyor to the wide conveyor so as to move an outlet end of the sorting conveyor in a horizontal direction and form a plurality of parallel transport paths on the wide conveyor; a step of conveying the sanitary paper stack downstream along the conveying path by the wide conveyor and transferring the sanitary paper stack to the plurality of individual conveyors provided at the output of the conveying path. Sorting method.

2. The sorting conveyor is configured so that the outlet end portion reciprocates horizontally with respect to a predetermined fulcrum. The method of claim 1.

3. The sorting conveyor is configured to convey the sanitary paper stack downstream while sandwiching it from above and below. The method for allocating according to claim 1 or 2.

4. Further using a sensor to detect the sanitary paper, The sorting conveyor shifts the outlet end in a horizontal direction so as to switch the transport path based on the detection information from the sensor. The method for allocating according to claim 1 or 2.

5. When the sorting conveyor switches the transport path, while the outlet end portion is moving in the horizontal direction, the sanitary paper stack located on both the sorting conveyor and the wide conveyor slides on the wide conveyor. The method for allocating according to claim 1 or 2.

6. A bridge plate is further provided between the sorting conveyor and the wide conveyor, The length of the bridge plate in the conveying direction is shorter than the length of the sanitary paper stack in the conveying direction. The method for allocating according to claim 1 or 2.

7. A step of sorting the sanitary paper stack by the sorting method according to claim 1; packaging the sanitary paper stack sorted by the sorting method, A method for manufacturing sanitary paper bundle products.

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