Vertical type bag-making and filling packaging machine

Abstract

To provide a vertical type bag-making and filling packaging machine capable of: imparting diversity to an operation pattern of a bottom-supporting member for receiving a filling material; further appropriately executing control according to a situation; and protecting a packaging material and the filling material.SOLUTION: A packaging machine 1 comprises: a pair of interlock bottom-supporting members 40 for receiving a filling material J by sandwiching a packaging material W on an upstream side more than a pair of heater blocks 21 in a lateral seal device 20, which are operated in an opening / closing manner by interlocking with the pair of heater blocks 21; a pair of independent bottom-supporting members 100 for receiving the filling material J by sandwiching the packaging material W on the upstream side more than the pair of heater blocks 21, which are operated in the opening / closing manner not interlocking with the pair of heater blocks 21; and a control device 30 for separately drive-controlling the lateral seal device 20 and the pair of interlock bottom-supporting members 40, and the pair of independent bottom-supporting members 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vertical form fill and pack packaging machine equipped with a bottom support member that receives the filled material. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a technique relating to a vertical bag making, filling and packaging machine equipped with a bottom support member for receiving the filling material that falls inside the bag making tube. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a vertical packaging machine (vertical bag making, filling and packaging machine) equipped with a pair of elastic supports (bottom support members) that come into contact with and separate from each other as a pair of heater blocks of a horizontal sealer open and close, and that cushion the impact on the bag body when the packaged material (filling material) falls. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-006090 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the vertical form fill and pack machine described in Patent Document 1, the bottom support member moves in conjunction with the heater block of the horizontal sealer, so the timing of opening and closing the bottom support member coincides with the timing of opening and closing the heater block. As a result, the bottom support member cannot be opened and closed at any time, which may result in insufficient protection of the packaging material and the filled items.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these problems, and its object is to provide a vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine that can diversify the operating patterns of the bottom support members for receiving the filled materials, perform more appropriate control depending on the situation, and protect the packaging material and filled materials. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the vertical bag form fill packaging machine of the present invention comprises a bag making tube that extends in the vertical direction, guides cylindrically formed packaging material downward and into which filling material is supplied, a horizontal sealing device that heat-seals the packaging material guided downward from the bag making tube using a pair of heater blocks and cuts it with a cutting blade to form a bag, a pair of interlocking bottom support members that open and close in conjunction with the pair of heater blocks and sandwich the packaging material upstream of the pair of heater blocks to receive the filling material, a pair of independent bottom support members that open and close independently of the pair of heater blocks and sandwich the packaging material upstream of the pair of heater blocks to receive the filling material, and a control device that separately drives and controls the horizontal sealing device, the pair of interlocking bottom support members, and the pair of independent bottom support members. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the vertical bag form fill packaging machine of the present invention, the operating patterns of the bottom support members for receiving the fillings can be diversified, and more appropriate control can be performed depending on the situation, thereby protecting the packaging material and the fillings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vertical bag form fill and pack packaging machine. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a horizontal sealing device and an independent bottom support device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a side view showing a horizontal sealing device and an independent bottom support device. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 6] 1A to 1C are explanatory diagrams illustrating examples of operation patterns of a horizontal sealing device and an independent bottom support device in a first cycle after restarting the packaging machine in the first embodiment. [Figure 7]10A to 10C are explanatory diagrams illustrating examples of operation patterns of the horizontal sealing device and the independent bottom support device in the second cycle and thereafter after restarting the packaging machine in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an operation pattern of a horizontal sealing device and an independent bottom support device in the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an operation pattern of a horizontal sealing device and an independent bottom support device in the third embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [First embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vertical bag making, filling and packaging machine. A vertical bag making, filling and packaging machine 1 (hereinafter referred to as "packaging machine 1") of the first embodiment includes a bag making tube 2, a hopper 6, a former 8, a packaging material feeder 12, a vertical sealing device 16, a horizontal sealing device 20, and a control device 30. Each component of the packaging machine 1 is supported by a main body frame (not shown).

[0010] Filling material J (FIG. 6), which is a solid material such as food to be filled into bags F, is supplied to the packaging machine 1 from a supply device 10. The bag-making tube 2 extends vertically, and receives the supply of filling material J from the supply device 10 through a hopper 6 connected to the upper end of the bag-making tube 2. It is also possible to dispose a filling tube that extends vertically within the bag-making tube 2 and is connected to the hopper 6, and supply filling material J into the bag-making tube 2 through the filling tube.

[0011] A former 8 is attached above the bag-making tube 2 and below the hopper 6, and a packaging material feed-out path 11 extends from the former 8 to the packaging material roll WR. Packaging material W, such as a heat-sealable film, is fed from the packaging material roll WR along the packaging material feed-out path 11 and guided to the outer periphery of the bag-making tube 2 via the former 8. The packaging material W is formed into a cylindrical shape that surrounds the bag-making tube 2 by the former 8, and is guided downward along the bag-making tube 2. Furthermore, as the cylindrical packaging material W passes through the former 8, both side edges of the cylindrical packaging material W form a lapped portion in which they are overlapped on each other in a predetermined shape.

[0012] The packaging material feeders 12 are disposed below the former 8, one on each side of the bag-making tube 2. Each packaging material feeder 12 has an endless suction belt, and adsorbs the packaging material W to the suction belt. When the suction belt of the packaging material feeder 12 runs in one direction, the packaging material W adsorbed to the suction belt is fed downward along the outer circumferential surface of the bag-making tube 2.

[0013] The vertical sealing device 16 is disposed adjacent to the packaging material W on the outer peripheral surface of the bag-making tube 2. The vertical sealing device 16 is equipped with a pair of heater blocks 17 that open and close relative to the bag-making tube 2 and heat-seal the lapped portion of the packaging material W. After passing through the vertical sealing device 16, both side edges of the packaging material W are bonded to each other by the pair of heater blocks 17.

[0014] The horizontal sealing device 20 is provided below the bag-making tube 2 and has a pair of heater blocks 21A, 21B that can be opened and closed, and a cutter 22 (cutting blade; FIG. 5). In the horizontal sealing device 20, the pair of heater blocks 21A, 21B sandwich and heat-seal the packaging material W to form a horizontal seal on the packaging material W, and the cutter 22 cuts the packaging material W. As a result, the upper and lower ends of the packaging material W after cutting are closed, and a bag F filled with the filling J is formed. In the following description, one of the horizontal directions in which the pair of heater blocks 21A, 21B open and close is referred to as the "opening and closing direction X." The other horizontal direction perpendicular to the opening and closing direction X is referred to as the "direction Y," and the up-down direction perpendicular to the opening and closing direction X and direction Y, which is the direction in which the packaging material W is fed along the bag-making tube 2 and the direction in which the filling J falls, is referred to as the "direction Z."

[0015] The control device 30 is a control device that performs overall control of the packaging machine 1, and is configured to include an input / output device, a memory device (ROM, RAM, non-volatile RAM, etc.), a central processing unit (CPU), etc. The control device 30 controls various devices and equipment of the packaging machine 1, such as the packaging material feeder 12, the vertical sealing device 16, and the horizontal sealing device 20, in accordance with various settings inputted by the input / output device. The control device 30 also outputs a signal to the supplying device 10 indicating that preparation for receiving the filling material is complete. The supplying device 10, having received the signal, supplies the filling material to the packaging machine 1.

[0016] Here, there is a risk that the filling J falling inside the bag-making tube 2 will collide with the lower end of the packaging material W that will become the bottom of the bag F, causing a pinhole to form in the bottom of the bag F. In order to mitigate the impact of the falling filling J, the packaging machine 1 is provided with a pair of interlocking bottom support members 40A, 40B that open and close in conjunction with the pair of heater blocks 21A, 21B, and an independent bottom support device 60 that opens and closes independently of the pair of heater blocks 21A, 21B. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the horizontal sealing device 20 and the independent bottom support device 60, FIG. 3 is a side view showing the horizontal sealing device 20 and the independent bottom support device 60, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2.

[0017] 5, a pair of heater blocks 21A, 21B of the horizontal sealing device 20 are arranged so that their sealing surfaces for sandwiching and heat-sealing the packaging material W face each other in the opening and closing direction X. Further, a groove is formed in the center of each sealing surface in the direction Z, extending along the opening and closing direction X, for accommodating the cutter 22 and serving as a movement path for the cutter 22.

[0018] As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the pair of heater blocks 21A and 21B receive power from an electric motor M as a first drive source controlled by the control device 30 via a first drive mechanism 50. The first drive mechanism 50 includes a reducer 51 fixed to a horizontal sealing device frame 5 attached to a main body frame (not shown), and a first link mechanism 52 connected to the output shaft of the reducer 51. The reducer 51 is connected to the electric motor M, reduces the rotation speed of the electric motor M, and outputs the rotation power of the electric motor M as a rotation power about an axis along the direction Y. The electric motor M is attached to the horizontal sealing device frame 5 via the reducer 51. The first link mechanism 52 is supported by the horizontal sealing device frame 5 on both sides of the reducer 51 in the direction Y, and is connected to the output shaft of the reducer 51. The first link mechanism 52 transmits the rotation power output from the reducer 51 to the pair of heater blocks 21A and 21B as a force in the opening / closing direction X that moves the heater blocks 21A and 21B closer to or away from each other. As a result, the pair of heater blocks 21A, 21B are opened and closed in the opening and closing direction X by the power of the electric motor M.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 4, the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40A, 40B has a pair of support plates 41A, 41B that receive the filling material, and a pair of brackets 42A, 42B to which the pair of support plates 41A, 41B are attached. The pair of support plates 41A, 41B are formed in a flat plate shape from an elastic material such as a rubber material. The pair of brackets 42A, 42B are formed from a metal material. The interlocking bottom support member 40A has a support plate 41A attached to the upper surface of the heater block bracket 23A that supports the heater block 21A via the bracket 42A, and extends along the upper surface of the heater block 21A in the direction Y. The interlocking bottom support member 40B has a support plate 41B attached to the upper surface of the heater block bracket 23B that supports the heater block 21B via the bracket 42B, and extends along the upper surface of the heater block 21B in the direction Y.

[0020] With this configuration, when the pair of heater blocks 21A, 21B are in the open state, the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40A, 40B are in the open state in which the tips of the pair of support plates 41A, 41B are farthest apart so as not to prevent the passage of the packaging material W or the supply of the fillings J (for example, steps St1 to St5 in FIG. 6). In contrast, when the pair of heater blocks 21A, 21B are in the closed state, the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40A, 40B are in the state in which the tips of the pair of support plates 41A, 41B are closest to each other (for example, step St6 in FIG. 6). Note that even if the tips of the pair of support plates 41A, 41B are not completely abutted against each other, the state in which they are close enough to receive the fillings J is considered to be the "closed state" of the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40A, 40B (for example, step St7 in FIG. 7). 5, a small gap is formed between the tips of the pair of support plates 41A, 41B even when the pair of heater blocks 21A, 21B are in a closed state. However, the tips of the pair of support plates 41A, 41B may abut against each other when the pair of heater blocks 21A, 21B are in a closed state.

[0021] 2 to 4, the independent bottom support device 60 includes a support frame 70, air cylinders 81 and 82 as second drive sources, second drive mechanisms 91 and 92, and a pair of independent bottom support members 100A and 100B. Each component of the independent bottom support device 60 is disposed above the pair of heater blocks 21A and 21B in the Z direction.

[0022] The support frame 70 has side plates 71, 72 and a connecting plate 73. As shown in Fig. 2, the side plates 71, 72 are disposed facing each other on the outer side of the pair of heater blocks 21A, 21B in the direction Y. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 3, one end of each of the side plates 71, 72 is connected to the horizontal sealing device frame 5 via a holder 76. The connecting plate 73 is bridged and connected to the other end of the side plates 71, 72, and is connected to the upper surface of the reducer 51 via a block 77.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the air cylinder 81 and the second drive mechanism 91 are attached to the side plate 71 of the support frame 70, and the air cylinder 82 and the second drive mechanism 92 are attached to the side plate 72. The air cylinders 81 and 82 are simultaneously driven and controlled in the same direction by the control device 30, and the piston rod 80p is extended and contracted along the opening and closing direction X by air from an air supply source (not shown). As shown in FIG. 3, the second drive mechanisms 91 and 92 have a first link member 90a connected to the tip of the piston rod 80p, a second link member 90b connected to the first link member 90a, and a third link member 90c connected to the second link member 90b. The first link member 90a, the second link member 90b, and the third link member 90c are rotatable around axes extending along the direction Y at their respective connecting portions. Further, a middle portion of the first link member 90a extends along direction Y and is connected to a rotating shaft 95A rotatably supported by the side plate 71 (or side plate 72). Further, an end portion of the third link member 90c opposite to the second link member 90b extends along direction Y and is connected to a rotating shaft 95B rotatably supported by the side plate 71 (or side plate 72). The rotating shafts 95A and 95B pass through the side plates 71 and 72, respectively, in direction Y and extend to the outside of the first link member 90a and the third link member 90c (the side opposite to the packaging material W), and are attached at one end portion to the first link member 90a and the third link member 90c.

[0024] Further, near the inside (the packaging material W side) of the side plates 71 and 72, a pair of flat-plate-shaped levers 121A attached to the other end of the rotating shaft 95A, and a pair of flat-plate-shaped levers 121B attached to the other end of the rotating shaft 95B are provided. Further, a pair of mounting members 122A are provided at the end of the pair of levers 121A opposite to the rotating shaft 95A, and a pair of mounting members 122B are provided at the end of the pair of levers 121B opposite to the rotating shaft 95B. The pair of mounting members 122A and 122B are fastened by bolts to elongated holes formed in the pair of levers 121A and 121B, respectively, and are adjustable in position relative to the pair of levers 121A and 121B. This allows the distance between the tips of the pair of independent bottom support members 100A and 100B in a closed state, which will be described later, to be adjusted.

[0025] A flat-plate-shaped transfer member 123A is bridged between the pair of mounting members 122A, and a flat-plate-shaped transfer member 123B is bridged between the pair of mounting members 122B. The transfer members 123A and 123B are bolted to long holes formed in the pair of mounting members 122A and 122B, respectively, and are adjustable in position relative to the pair of mounting members 122A and 122B. This allows the positions of the pair of independent bottom support members 100A and 100B in the direction Z in a closed state, which will be described later, to be adjusted. The pair of levers 121A and 121B, the pair of mounting members 122A and 122B, and the transfer members 123A and 123B are made of metal materials.

[0026] The pair of independent bottom support members 100A, 100B are arranged to sandwich the packaging material W in the opening / closing direction X, as shown in Fig. 2. The pair of independent bottom support members 100A, 100B are arranged upstream (above) the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40A, 40B in the direction Z, as shown in Figs. 3 to 5. The pair of independent bottom support members 100A, 100B are formed in a flat plate shape from an elastic material such as rubber, and are portions that receive the fillings. The independent bottom support member 100A is attached to the upper surface of the transfer member 123A by adhesive, and the independent bottom support member 100B is attached to the upper surface of the transfer member 123B by adhesive.

[0027] With the above configuration, when the piston rods 80p of the air cylinders 81 and 82 are extended from the state shown in Fig. 3, the rotation shafts 95A and 95B rotate in the direction shown by the solid arrows in Fig. 5 in accordance with the rotation of the components of the second drive mechanisms 91 and 92. As a result, the pair of levers 121A and 121B rotate in the direction shown by the solid arrows in Fig. 5, and the tips of the pair of independent bottom support members 100A and 100B are in the closest position to each other, as shown by the dashed lines in Fig. 5. Note that the closed state of the pair of independent bottom support members 100A and 100B may be a state in which the tips are not completely in contact with each other, but are close enough to receive the filling J.

[0028] In addition, when the piston rods 80p of the air cylinders 81, 82 of the pair of independent bottom support members 100A, 100B are contracted from the closed state to the state shown in Fig. 3, the rotation of the components of the second drive mechanisms 91, 92 causes the rotation shafts 95A, 95B to rotate in the opposite direction to the solid arrows in Fig. 3. As a result, the pair of independent bottom support members 100A, 100B enter an open state in which their tips are furthest apart from each other so as not to impede the passage of the packaging material W or the supply of the fillings J. In this way, by providing the air cylinders 81, 82 and the second drive mechanisms 91, 92 on both sides of the packaging material W in the Y direction, the pair of independent bottom support members 100A, 100B can be driven stably.

[0029] Next, an example of the control of the horizontal sealing device 20 and the independent bottom support device 60 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. In the following description, unless there is a particular need to distinguish between them, the pair of heater blocks 21A, 21B will be referred to as the "pair of heater blocks 21", the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40A, 40B will be referred to as the "pair of interlocking bottom support members 40", and the pair of independent bottom support members 100A, 100B will be referred to as the "pair of independent bottom support members 100".

[0030] Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram that shows a schematic example of an operation pattern of the horizontal sealing device 20 and the independent bottom support device 60 in the first cycle after restarting the packaging machine 1 in the first embodiment, and Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram that shows a schematic example of an operation pattern of the horizontal sealing device 20 and the independent bottom support device 60 in the second cycle and thereafter after restarting the packaging machine 1 in the first embodiment. In this case, since it is assumed that the packaging machine 1 has been stopped and then restarted, the bottom end of the packaging material W has been heat-sealed by the time the previous operation of the packaging machine 1 ended, and the bottom end is located downstream in the direction Z of the pair of independent bottom support members 100.

[0031] First, as shown in step St1 of FIG. 6, the control device 30 keeps the pair of heater blocks 21, the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40, and the pair of independent bottom support members 100 in an open state without feeding out the packaging material W. Next, as shown in step St2, the control device 30 closes the pair of independent bottom support members 100. This causes the pair of independent bottom support members 100 to sandwich the packaging material W between them. When the pair of independent bottom support members 100 are thus prepared to receive the filling J1, the filling J1 is supplied from the supply device 10 as shown in step St3. This allows the filling J1 to be received by the pair of independent bottom support members 100 without colliding with the lower end of the packaging material W.

[0032] Here, if the packaging machine 1 does not have the independent bottom support device 60, in order to prevent the filling J1 from the supply device 10 from colliding with the lower end of the packaging material W in the first cycle after restart, it is necessary to close the pair of heater blocks 21 and the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 in steps St2 and St3 in FIG. 6, or to close the pair of heater blocks 21 completely and to close only the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 in a partially closed state. However, in the first cycle after restart, the supply of the filling J does not start until the supply device 10 is ready to supply the filling J, so the timing at which the filling J is actually supplied is unclear. Therefore, it becomes necessary to close the pair of heater blocks 21 and the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 in a closed state or a partially closed state at an early timing in advance, and if the closed state or the partially closed state continues for a long time, the packaging material W may be damaged by the heat of the pair of heater blocks 21. On the other hand, if the supply device 10 outputs a signal to the control device 30 indicating that the supply preparation is complete, it is possible to know the timing when the filling J1 is actually supplied from the supply device 10. However, if the opening and closing of the lateral sealing device 20 is controlled after receiving the above signal, the control program becomes complicated, which may lead to an increase in costs in product development and other situations.

[0033] Therefore, as described above, in the first cycle after the restart, only the pair of independent bottom support members 100 are controlled to open and close. As a result, even if the pair of independent bottom support members 100 are closed at an early timing, such as immediately after the restart, there is no risk of the packaging material W being damaged by heat. In addition, there is no need to output a signal indicating that the supply preparation is complete from the supply device 10 to the control device 30, and there is no need to form a half-closed state only in the first cycle after the restart for the horizontal sealing device 20. As a result, the control program can be simplified and costs can be suppressed. In this embodiment, it is sufficient to output a signal indicating that the supply device 10 is ready to receive the filling J1 from the control device 30 at the time when step St2 is completed. However, as long as the pair of independent bottom support members 100 can be closed before the supply preparation of the supply device 10 is completed, the supply device 10 may supply the filling J1 based on the above signal output from the control device 30 to the supply device 10 before the packaging machine 1 is stopped.

[0034] Next, as shown in step St4, the control device 30 opens the pair of independent bottom support members 100. As a result, the filling J1 falls to the lower end of the packaging material W, but since it falls a short distance from the position where it is received by the pair of independent bottom support members 100, the occurrence of pinholes in the lower end of the packaging material W is suppressed. Next, as shown in step St5, the control device 30 feeds the packaging material W downstream in the direction Z until it reaches a predetermined cutting position where the cutter 22 cuts the upper end of the bag F. When the packaging material W is positioned at the cutting position, as shown in step St6, the control device 30 temporarily stops feeding the packaging material W and closes the pair of heater blocks 21. As a result, the packaging material W is sandwiched and heat-sealed by the pair of heater blocks 21, and the bag F1 of the first cycle after restart is manufactured.

[0035] 7, the next filling material J2 is supplied from the supply device 10. At this time, since the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 are in the closed state together with the pair of heater blocks 21, the filling material J2 that has fallen inside the bag-making tube 2 is received by the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 without colliding with the lower end of the packaging material W. Regarding the supply of filling material J2, when the lateral sealing device 20 is in the closed state in step St6 (step St10 described later in the third and subsequent cycles), a signal indicating that preparations to receive the supply of filling material J2 have been completed may be output from the control device 30 to the supply device 10.

[0036] Next, as shown in step St8, the control device 30 opens the pair of heater blocks 21 and the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40. As a result, the filling J2 falls to the lower end of the packaging material W, but since it falls only a very short distance from the position where it is received by the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40, the occurrence of pinholes in the lower end of the packaging material W is suppressed. In addition, the pair of heater blocks 21 opens, and the bag F1 is discharged. In addition, as shown in step St9, the control device 30 again feeds the packaging material W until the packaging material W is positioned at the cutting position, and then temporarily stops feeding the packaging material W. Then, as shown in step St10, the control device 30 closes the pair of heater blocks 21 and heat-seals the packaging material W. As a result, the bag F2 in the second cycle after the restart is manufactured. Thereafter, the control device 30 repeatedly executes the operations shown in steps St7 to St10. As a result, the bags F in the second cycle and after are manufactured sequentially.

[0037] As described above, in the packaging machine 1 (vertical bag making, filling and packaging machine) of the first embodiment, in the first cycle after restart, the control device 30 closes the pair of independent bottom support members 100 and receives the filling J1 supplied to the bag making tube 2 with the pair of independent bottom support members 100 (step St3), and opens the pair of independent bottom support members 100 to drop the filling J1 onto the lower end of the packaging material W (step St4), and in the second and subsequent cycles after restart, while maintaining the independent bottom support device 60 in the open state, closes the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 and receives the filling J2 supplied to the bag making tube 2 with the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 (step St7), and opens the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 to drop the filling J2 onto the lower end of the packaging material W (step St8).

[0038] With this configuration, in the first cycle after restart, it is sufficient to control the opening and closing of the pair of independent bottom support members 100 when receiving the fillings J, and in the second and subsequent cycles, it is sufficient to control the opening and closing of the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40, i.e., the horizontal sealing device 20, when receiving the fillings J. As a result, as described above, it is possible to more effectively prevent damage to the packaging material W.

[0039] The pair of independent bottom support members 100A, 100B are made of an elastic material, are suspended between a pair of levers 121A, 121B that are provided one each sandwiching the packaging material W, and are attached to delivery members 123A, 123B made of a metal material. With this configuration, the pair of independent bottom support members 100A, 100B made of an elastic material can be stably supported by the delivery members 123A, 123B made of a metal material.

[0040] [Second embodiment] Next, the control of the packaging machine 1 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram that shows a schematic example of an operation pattern of the horizontal sealing device 20 and the independent bottom support device 60 in the second embodiment. Here, as in the first embodiment, the control after the packaging machine 1 is stopped and then restarted is assumed. Also, steps St21 and St22 are similar to steps St1 and St2 in Fig. 6, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0041] After closing the pair of independent bottom support members 100 in step St22, the control device 30 outputs a signal to the supply device 10 indicating that preparation for receiving the filling material Ja is complete. As a result, as shown in step St23, the filling material Ja is supplied from the supply device 10 into the bag-making tube 2. At this time, the supply device 10 supplies an amount of filling material Ja that is less than the total amount of filling material J to be filled into the bag F. In this way, by receiving an amount of filling material Ja that is less than the total amount of filling material J with the pair of independent bottom support members 100, even if the filling material Ja is made of a material that is easily damaged or is heavy, it is easy to protect the filling material Ja. Next, as shown in step St24, the control device 30 opens the pair of independent bottom support members 100. As a result, the filling material Ja falls to the lower end of the packaging material W, but since the amount of filling material Ja is small compared to the total amount of filling material J and falls a short distance from the position where it is received by the pair of independent bottom support members 100, the occurrence of pinholes at the lower end of the packaging material W is suppressed.

[0042] Next, as shown in step St25, the control device 30 closes the pair of heater blocks 21 to the extent that the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 are in a closed state. At this time, the pair of heater blocks 21 are separated from the packaging material W, so that the lower end of the packaging material W is not double heat-sealed, and damage to the packaging material W due to heat is suppressed. After that, the control device 30 outputs a signal to the supply device 10 indicating that preparations for receiving the next supply of filling material Jb are complete. As a result, the supply device 10 additionally supplies filling material Jb (filling material J with diagonal lines in the figure) into the bag-making tube 2 so that the entire amount of filling material J to be filled into the bag F is filled. As a result, the additional filling material Jb that has fallen is received by the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40. In this way, by receiving an amount of filling material Jb less than the entire amount of filling material J by the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40, it becomes easier to protect the filling material Jb even if the filling material Jb is made of a material that is easily damaged or is heavy. It is preferable that step St25 be performed in as short a time as possible.

[0043] Then, as shown in step St26, the control device 30 opens the pair of heater blocks 21. As a result, the entire filling J falls to the lower end of the packaging material W, but since it falls only a very short distance from the position where it is received by the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40, the occurrence of pinholes in the lower end of the packaging material W is suppressed. Next, as shown in step St27, the control device 30 feeds the packaging material W to the cutting position. When the packaging material W is positioned at the cutting position, as shown in step St28, the control device 30 temporarily stops feeding the packaging material W and closes the pair of heater blocks 21 to manufacture the bag F. Thereafter, the control device 30 repeatedly executes the process from step S21 onwards. As a result, the bag F is manufactured in each cycle in sequence. Note that in the second and subsequent cycles, the pair of independent bottom support members 100 are closed in step S28, and when the pair of independent bottom support members 100 are closed, the control device 30 may output a signal to the supply device 10 indicating that preparation for receiving the filling Ja is complete.

[0044] As described above, in the second embodiment, the control device 30 closes a pair of independent bottom support members 100 and receives an amount of filling Ja that is less than the total amount planned to be filled into the bag F supplied to the bag making tube 2 using the pair of independent bottom support members (step St23), then opens the pair of independent bottom support members 100, closes a pair of interlocking bottom support members 40, and receives the filling Jb supplied to the bag making tube 2 so that the total amount is filled using the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 (steps St24, St25), and opens the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 to drop the filling J onto the lower end of the packaging material (step St26).

[0045] With this configuration, the pair of independent bottom support members 100 and the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 are used to receive the fillers J in two stages, divided into the fillers Ja and Jb, so that the amount of each of the fillers Ja and Jb can be reduced compared to the total amount of the fillers J. As a result, as described above, even if the filler J is made of a material that is easily damaged or is heavy, the filler J can be appropriately protected.

[0046] [Third embodiment] Next, the control of the packaging machine 1 of the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram that shows a schematic example of an operation pattern of the horizontal sealing device 20 and the independent bottom support device 60 in the third embodiment. Here, as in the first and second embodiments, the control after the packaging machine 1 is stopped and then restarted is assumed. Also, steps St31 and St32 are similar to steps St1 and St2, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0047] After the control device 30 closes the pair of independent bottom support members 100 in step St32, it outputs a signal to the supply device 10 indicating that preparation for receiving the filling material J is complete. As a result, as shown in step St33, the filling material J is supplied from the supply device 10 into the bag-making tube 2 so that the entire amount of filling material J to be filled into the bag F is filled. Next, as shown in step St34, the control device 30 closes the pair of heater blocks 21 to the extent that the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 are closed while keeping the pair of independent bottom support members 100 in the closed state. As a result, the pair of heater blocks 21 are separated from the packaging material W, so that the lower end of the packaging material W is not double heat-sealed and damage to the packaging material W due to heat is suppressed. Next, as shown in step ST35, the control device 30 opens the pair of independent bottom support members 100. As a result, the filling material J that falls from the pair of independent bottom support members 100 is received by the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40. It is preferable that steps St34 and St35 are performed in as short a time as possible.

[0048] Then, as shown in step St36, the control device 30 opens the pair of heater blocks 21. As a result, the filling J falls to the lower end of the packaging material W, but since it falls only a very short distance from the position where it is received by the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40, the occurrence of pinholes in the lower end of the packaging material W is suppressed. Also, as shown in step St37, the control device 30 feeds the packaging material W to the cutting position. Furthermore, as shown in step St38, when the packaging material W is positioned at the cutting position, the control device 30 temporarily stops feeding the packaging material W and closes the pair of heater blocks 21 to produce bags F. Thereafter, the control device 30 repeatedly executes the processes from step S31 onwards. As a result, bags F are produced sequentially in each cycle. As in the second embodiment, in the second or subsequent cycles, the pair of independent bottom support members 100 may be closed in step S38, and when the pair of independent bottom support members 100 are closed, the control device 30 may output a signal to the supply device 10 indicating that preparations for receiving the supply of filling material Jb are complete.

[0049] As described above, in the third embodiment, the control device 30 closes a pair of independent bottom support members 100 and receives the filling J supplied to the bag-making tube 2 with the pair of independent bottom support members 100 (step St33), closes a pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 and then opens the pair of independent bottom support members 100 to receive the filling J with the pair of interlocking bottom support members (steps St34, St35), and then opens the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 to drop the filling J onto the lower end of the packaging material W (step St36).

[0050] With this configuration, the filling J can be received by the pair of independent bottom support members 100 once, and then by the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40. That is, the filling J can be received in two stages. As a result, the magnitude of the collision between the filling J and the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 can be reduced compared to the case where the entire amount of the filling J is received by the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 at once. Therefore, even if the filling J is made of a material that is easily damaged or is heavy, the filling J can be appropriately protected. In addition, as shown in the second and third embodiments, the pair of independent bottom support members 100 are disposed upstream of the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 in the direction Z in which the packaging material W is fed, so that an operation pattern for receiving the filling J in two stages can be realized.

[0051] As described above, the packaging machine 1 (vertical bag form fill packaging machine) of the first to third embodiments comprises a pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 that open and close in conjunction with a pair of heater blocks 21 and receive the filling material J upstream of the pair of heater blocks 21, a pair of independent bottom support members 100 that open and close without interlocking with the pair of heater blocks 21 and receive the filling material J upstream of the pair of heater blocks 21, and a control device 30 that separately drives and controls the horizontal sealing device 20 and the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 and the pair of independent bottom support members 100.

[0052] With this configuration, the pair of independent bottom support members 100 can be opened and closed to receive the fillings J separately from the horizontal sealing device 20. As a result, a plurality of operation patterns for receiving the fillings J can be provided, compared to a packaging machine equipped only with a pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 that open and close in conjunction with a pair of heater blocks 21. Therefore, according to the packaging machine 1, it is possible to provide a variety of operation patterns for the bottom support members for receiving the fillings J, and to perform more appropriate control depending on the situation, thereby protecting the packaging material W and the fillings J.

[0053] In the control shown in the first to third embodiments, the horizontal sealing device 20 and the pair of independent bottom support members 100 are controlled without receiving a signal indicating whether or not the filling material can be supplied from the supply device 10. As a result, the control programs for the horizontal sealing device 20 and the pair of independent bottom support members 100 can be simplified, and an increase in costs associated with the complication of the control programs can be suppressed.

[0054] Although the description of the embodiment is finished above, the aspect of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the horizontal sealing device 20, the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40, and the pair of independent bottom support members 100 may be driven separately by using the same drive source and drive mechanism, and switching the transmission path of the power from the drive source by the drive mechanism. In addition, the drive source is not limited to an electric motor or an air cylinder, and may be anything that can drive the horizontal sealing device 20, the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40, and the pair of independent bottom support members 100 with good responsiveness according to a predetermined program.

[0055] In addition, the pair of independent bottom support members 100 are driven by the air cylinders 81, 82 and the second drive mechanisms 91, 92 as the second drive sources, but either the air cylinder 81 and the second drive mechanism 91 or the air cylinder 82 and the second drive mechanism 92 may be omitted. In that case, the lever of the pair of levers 121A, 121B on the side where the above-mentioned components are omitted may be rotatably supported by the side plates 71, 72.

[0056] In the second embodiment, the pair of independent bottom support members 100 are opened in step St24 to drop the fillings Ja onto the lower end of the packaging material W, and then the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 are closed in step St25. However, similar to steps St34 and St35 in the third embodiment, the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 may be closed before the pair of independent bottom support members 100 are opened in step St24, the fillings Ja are received by the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40, and then the fillings Jb are received by the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 in step St25. In other words, the entire fillings J (Ja, Jb) supplied to the bag-making tube 2 are received by the pair of interlocking bottom support members 40 in step St25. By controlling in this manner, the risk of the fillings Ja being caught between the pair of heater blocks 21 is reduced. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1 Packaging machine (vertical form-fill-seal machine) 2 Bag-making tube 10 Feeding device 20 Horizontal sealing device 21, 21A, 21B Pair of heater blocks 30 Control device 40, 40A, 40B A pair of interlocking bottom support members 50 First drive mechanism 60 Independent bottom support device 81, 82 Air cylinder 91, 92 Second drive mechanism 100, 100A, 100B A pair of independent bottom support members 121A, 121B Pair of levers 122A, 122B A pair of mounting members 123A, 123B Delivery parts F, F1, F2 bags J, J1, J2, Ja, Jb filling M Electric motor W packaging material

Claims

1. a bag-making tube extending in the vertical direction, guiding a cylindrically formed packaging material downward and supplying a filling material therein; a horizontal sealing device that heat-seals the packaging material guided downward from the bag-making tube with a pair of heater blocks and cuts the packaging material with a cutting blade to form a bag; a pair of interlocking bottom support members that open and close in conjunction with the pair of heater blocks and sandwich the packaging material on the upstream side of the pair of heater blocks to receive the contents; a pair of independent bottom support members that open and close independently of the pair of heater blocks and sandwich the packaging material on the upstream side of the pair of heater blocks to receive the contents; a control device that controls the drive of the horizontal sealing device and the pair of interlocking bottom support members, and the pair of independent bottom support members separately.

2. The control device includes: In a first cycle after restart, the pair of independent bottom support members are closed to receive the filling material supplied to the bag-making tube, and the pair of independent bottom support members are opened to drop the filling material onto the lower end of the packaging material. In the second and subsequent cycles after the restart, the pair of independent bottom support members are maintained in an open state while the pair of interlocking bottom support members are closed, so that the filling material supplied to the bag-making tube is received by the pair of interlocking bottom support members, and the pair of interlocking bottom support members are opened to drop the filling material onto the lower end of the packaging material.

2. The vertical form fill and pack packaging machine according to claim 1.

3. 2. The vertical form fill and pack packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the pair of independent bottom support members are disposed upstream of the pair of interlocking bottom support members in the direction in which the packaging material is fed out.

4. The control device includes: the pair of independent bottom support members are closed and a smaller amount of the filling material than the total amount of the filling material to be filled into the bag supplied to the bag making tube is received by the pair of independent bottom support members; After the pair of independent bottom support members are opened, or before the pair of independent bottom support members are opened, the pair of interlocking bottom support members are closed, and the filling material supplied to the bag-making tube so as to fill the entire amount is received by the pair of interlocking bottom support members; The pair of interlocking bottom support members are opened to drop the contents onto the lower end of the packaging material.

4. The vertical form fill and pack packaging machine according to claim 3.

5. The control device includes: The pair of independent bottom support members are placed in a closed state, and the filling material supplied to the bag-making tube is received by the pair of independent bottom support members; The pair of interlocking bottom support members are closed, and then the pair of independent bottom support members are opened to receive the filling material by the pair of interlocking bottom support members; The pair of interlocking bottom support members are opened to drop the contents onto the lower end of the packaging material.

4. The vertical form fill and pack packaging machine according to claim 3.

6. 6. The vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the independent bottom support member is formed from an elastic material, is spanned between a pair of levers each provided with the packaging material sandwiched between them, and is attached to a transfer member formed from a metal material.

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