Bag supplying device and bag processing system

Abstract

To provide a technique advantageous for taking out a desired bag from a plurality of overlapping bags.SOLUTION: A bag supplying device 11 comprises bag holding parts 25, 44 that hold a plurality of bags B, a feed roller 31 that contacts a target bag to be taken out from among the plurality of bags B and applies a force in a forward direction Df to send the contacted part of the target bag in the forward direction Df, a feed restricting part 35 that applies a force in a reverse direction Dr opposite to the forward direction Df to the target bag, thereby bending the target bag, and then separates a forward-direction end Ef of the target bag from other adjacent bags in the bag holding parts 25, 44, and a bag taking-out part 50 that takes out the target bag from the bag holding parts 25, 44.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a bag supplying device and a bag processing system. [Background technology]

[0002] In a bag processing system, in order to continuously process a large number of bags, bags may be continuously removed from a bag bundle and sent to a subsequent stage.

[0003] For example, in the conveying system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a removal suction cup sucks and lifts up bags in a bag bundle one by one, and sends them to a subsequent stage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-63901 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Each bag in a bag bundle may be sent to a subsequent stage without being properly separated from adjacent bags due to bag distortion, friction between bags, static electricity, moisture between bags, etc. In this case, the target bag may not be picked up in the correct state (for example, in the correct posture), or bags that are not the target for picking may be picked up together with the bag currently being picked up.

[0006] Such inappropriate removal of bags can lead to processing errors at downstream stages (such as the transportation of empty bags on a production line) and defective final bag products, and in some cases can result in problems such as the shutdown of downstream processing equipment and the disposal of defective bag products.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and provides a technology that is advantageous for removing a desired bag from a plurality of overlapping bags. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a bag supplying device that includes a bag holding section that holds a plurality of bags, a feed roller that contacts a bag to be removed among the plurality of bags and applies a force in a forward direction to send the contacting portion of the bag to be removed in the forward direction, a feed restricting section that applies a force in a reverse direction opposite to the forward direction to the bag to be removed, thereby bending the bag to be removed, and then separates the forward direction end of the bag to be removed from other bags adjacent to the bag to be removed in the bag holding section, and a bag removal section that removes the bag to be removed from the bag holding section.

[0009] The bag supplying device includes a positioning section that moves the forward end of the bag to be removed, which is separated from other bags by the feed restricting section, to position it at the removal position, and the bag removal section may remove the bag to be removed, whose forward end is positioned at the removal position, from the bag holding section.

[0010] The positioning section has a rotating body that rotates intermittently, and a plurality of blade sections that extend radially from the periphery of the rotating body and move intermittently together with the rotating body, and each of the plurality of blade sections supports a forward end portion that is separated from the other bags while moving the bag to be removed away from the feed restricting section and intermittently stopping at a position that positions the forward end portion at the removal position, and the bag removal section supports the forward end portion that is positioned at the removal position, and may remove the bag to be removed from the bag holding section while supporting the forward end portion.

[0011] Each of the multiple wing portions has a flat surface, and the forward end of the bag to be removed is positioned at the removal position in a state of contact with the flat surface, and the bag removal portion may have a suction cup that adheres to the portion of the forward end positioned at the removal position that is in contact with the flat surface.

[0012] The bag holding portion has an inclined surface that forms an upward gradient in the forward direction between the feed roller and the feed regulating portion, and the feed regulating portion may separate the forward end of the bag to be removed from other bags while at least a portion of the bag to be removed is supported from below by the inclined surface.

[0013] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a bag processing system including a bag supplying device and a processing device that receives bags from the bag supplying device, wherein the bag supplying device has a bag holding section that holds a plurality of bags, a feed roller that applies a force in a forward direction to a bag to be removed among the plurality of bags, thereby feeding the bag to be removed in the forward direction, a feed restricting section that applies a force in a reverse direction opposite to the forward direction to the bag to be removed, thereby bending the bag to be removed, and then separates the forward direction end of the bag to be removed from other bags adjacent to the bag to be removed in the bag holding section, and a bag removal section that removes the bag to be removed from the bag holding section. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the present disclosure, an advantageous technique is provided for removing a desired bag from a plurality of overlapping bags. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an outline of an example of a bag processing system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the bag supplying device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the bag supplying device according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an outline of an example of a bag processing system 10. As shown in FIG.

[0017] The bag processing system 10 includes a bag supplying device 11 and a plurality of processing devices 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, and 19 that use bags B supplied from the bag supplying device 11 for processing.

[0018] In the example shown in Figure 1, there are provided a transport device 19 that transports bags B, a printing device 12 that performs various processes using the bags B transported by the transport device 19, an opening device 13, a content injection device 14, a first heat sealing device 16, a second heat sealing device 17, and a cooling sealing device 18.

[0019] The transfer device 19 has a disk-shaped rotating table that rotates intermittently about a rotation axis Ax that extends along the vertical direction (height direction; direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1), and a plurality of bag support devices (eight bag support devices in the example shown in FIG. 1; not shown) attached to the outer periphery of the rotating table. Each bag support device supports a bag B, moves intermittently along a circular orbit in response to the intermittent rotation of the rotating table, and intermittently stops sequentially at the first station S1 to the eighth station S8. As an example, each bag support device includes a pair of grippers that grip both side portions of the bag B, and can suspend and support the bag B in an upright position. However, the specific configuration of each bag support device and the manner in which the bag B is supported are not limited.

[0020] While intermittently stopping at the first station S1, each bag support device receives and supports unprocessed bags B (empty bags (flat bags) in the example shown in Fig. 1) via the bag supplying device 11. The bag supplying device 11 shown in Fig. 1 has a bag storage device 21 that stores and holds a bag bundle Bg (a plurality of bags B) in which the bags B overlap each other so that adjacent bags B are at least partially in contact with each other, and a bag delivery device 22 that removes the bags B from the bag storage device 21 and delivers them to the bag support device positioned at the first station S1.

[0021] Each bag support device, together with the bag B received at the first station S1, then travels sequentially through the second station S2 to the eighth station S8, and after releasing the bag B (processed bag B) at the eighth station S8, is again intermittently positioned at the first station S1 to receive new unprocessed bags B. By intermittently stopping the rotary table of the transfer device 19, the bag support devices are simultaneously positioned at each of all stations S1 to S8, and the bags B supported by each bag support device are processed by the corresponding processing device during the intermittent stops.

[0022] The bag B supported by each bag support device undergoes printing processing by the printing device 12 at the second station S2, opening processing by the opening device 13 at the third station S3, contents insertion processing by the contents insertion device 14 at the fourth station S4, heat sealing processing by the first heat sealing device 16 at the sixth station S6, heat sealing processing by the second heat sealing device 17 at the seventh station S7, and cool sealing processing by the cool sealing device 18 at the eighth station S8.

[0023] The opening device 13 opens the mouth of the bag B. The content injection device 14 injects the contents (solid and / or liquid) into the inside of the bag B through the opened mouth. The contents injected into the bag B are not limited, but may be, for example, food or daily necessities (such as detergent).

[0024] In this example, the fifth station S5 is an empty station, but any process may be performed at the fifth station S5. The mouth of the bag B supported by each bag supporting device is closed while moving from the fourth station S4 to the sixth station S6, for example, by widening the gap between a pair of grippers gripping both sides of the bag B. The first heat sealing device 16 and the second heat sealing device 17 then apply pressure to and heat seal the mouth of the bag B in the closed state, and the cooling and sealing device 18 cools the heat-sealed portion of the mouth by sandwiching the portion with a pair of plate-like members.

[0025] Then, in eighth station S8, bag B is released from being pinched by the pair of plate-like members of cool-sealing apparatus 18 and from being held by the bag supporting device, and thus falls under the influence of gravity and is released from bag processing system 10. Bags B (product bags) thus released from bag processing system 10 may be stored in a storage box, or may be sent to a subsequent stage by a guide device such as a guide chute.

[0026] It should be noted that the bag processing system 10 shown in Fig. 1 above is merely an example, and the bag processing system 10 to which the bag supplying device 11 described below can be applied is not limited to the example shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, the "processing device that performs processing using bags B supplied from the bag supplying device 11" that can be combined with the bag supplying device 11 is also not limited to the devices shown in Fig. 1 (printing device 12, opening device 13, content injection device 14, first heat sealing device 16, second heat sealing device 17, cooling sealing device 18, and transport device 19).

[0027] Next, an embodiment of the bag supplying device 11 will be described by way of example.

[0028] [First embodiment] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the bag supplying device 11 according to the first embodiment.

[0029] The bag storage device 21 of the bag supplying apparatus 11 shown in Fig. 2 has a conveyor belt 25 and a conveyor support surface 44 on which the bag bundle Bg is placed, and a pair of conveyor guides 26 that guide the movement of the bag bundle Bg in the forward direction Df on the conveyor belt 25 and the conveyor support surface 44. For ease of understanding, Fig. 2 only shows the conveyor belt 25 and the conveyor guide 26 located on the rear side of the conveyor belt 25 and the conveyor support surface 44, and does not show the conveyor guide 26 located on the front side of the conveyor belt 25 and the conveyor support surface 44.

[0030] The conveyor belt 25 is an endless belt that is driven by a conveyor belt drive device (not shown) to run in a circular manner, and moves the belt surface exposed above in a forward direction Df together with the bag bundle Bg placed on the belt surface. The conveyor belt 25 moves along an endless track while being guided by a plurality of rollers rotatably attached to a support main body. The bag bundle Bg (a plurality of bags B) may be loaded onto the conveyor belt 25 (bag holding section) mechanically by a bag refilling device (not shown) or may be loaded onto the conveyor belt 25 manually.

[0031] The pair of conveyor guides 26 are positioned with the conveyor belt 25 therebetween, are supported by the support body portion, and extend in the forward direction Df.

[0032] In this manner, the conveyor belt 25 and the conveyor guide 26, together with a conveyor support surface portion 44 (including an inclined surface 45) described below, function as a bag holding portion that accommodates and holds a plurality of bags B.

[0033] A plurality of bags B included in a bag bundle Bg placed on the conveyor belt 25 are arranged so as to overlap adjacent bags B, and the bag B located on the forward direction Df side is located above the bag B located on the reverse direction Dr side opposite to the forward direction Df.

[0034] 2, bags B (bag bundle Bg) located upstream of the transport adjustment unit 60 (on the reverse direction Dr side) are placed on the transport belt 25 in an upright, inclined position. On the other hand, bags B (bag bundle Bg) located downstream of the transport adjustment unit 60 (on the forward direction Df side) are placed on the transport belt 25 and the transport support surface 44 in a recumbent, inclined position.

[0035] The conveyor adjustment unit 60 has an endless conveyor adjustment belt 61 and a plurality of conveyor adjustment rollers 62 that support the conveyor adjustment belt 61. At least one of the conveyor adjustment rollers 62 is actively rotated by a conveyor adjustment drive device (not shown), causing the conveyor adjustment belt 61 to run. In the example shown in FIG. 2, each conveyor adjustment roller 62 rotates counterclockwise, and a portion of the conveyor adjustment belt 61 that contacts the bag B on the conveyor belt 25 moves in the forward direction Df. Bags B on the conveyor belt 25 located upstream (particularly the bag B located at the front of the forward direction Df) come into contact with and are pressed against the traveling conveyor adjustment belt 61, and are sent downstream in a lying position by the conveyor adjustment belt 61.

[0036] The bag bundle Bg on the conveyor belt 25 moves in the forward direction Df together with the conveyor belt 25, but is blocked by the conveyance adjustment unit 60 from moving in the forward direction Df.

[0037] 2, a bag detection sensor 65 is provided that directly or indirectly detects the number of bags B on the conveyor belt 25 and / or the conveyor support surface 44 downstream of the conveyor adjustment unit 60 (upstream of the delivery rollers 31 described below). Depending on the detection result of this bag detection sensor 65, the travel of the conveyor adjustment belt 61 of the conveyor adjustment unit 60 is controlled to be turned on and off.

[0038] That is, when the detection result of the bag detection sensor 65 indicates that there is a sufficient number of bags B on the conveyor belt 25 and / or the conveyor support surface 44 downstream of the conveyor adjustment unit 60, the conveyor adjustment belt 61 is not allowed to run. As a result, even if the belt portion of the conveyor belt 25 on which the bag bundle Bg is placed moves in the forward direction Df, the bag bundle Bg located upstream of the conveyor adjustment unit 60 is blocked by the conveyor adjustment unit 60 (conveyor adjustment belt 61), and new bags B are not sent from the upstream side of the conveyor adjustment unit 60 to the downstream side.

[0039] On the other hand, when the detection result of the bag detection sensor 65 indicates that the number of bags B on the conveyor belt 25 and / or the conveyor support surface 44 downstream of the conveyor adjustment unit 60 is insufficient, the conveyor adjustment belt 61 is caused to run. As a result, the bags B located upstream of the conveyor adjustment unit 60 (particularly the bags B located at the head of the forward direction Df and in contact with the conveyor adjustment belt 61) are sent downstream by the conveyor adjustment belt 61.

[0040] This prevents an excess or shortage of bags B on the conveyor belt 25 and on the conveyor support surface 44 downstream of the conveyor adjustment unit 60, and allows a desired number of bags B suitable for removal of the bags B to be continuously waiting. In addition, the conveyor adjustment unit 60 allows the bags B to be sent out in a uniform posture.

[0041] The feed roller 31 is provided downstream of the conveyance adjustment unit 60 (on the forward direction Df side). The feed roller 31 shown in FIG. 2 is attached to a rocking body 33 that is provided so as to be rockable around the rocking reference roller 32, and rocks together with the rocking body 33 around the rocking reference roller 32. The rocking reference roller 32 is rotatably supported by a support main body and rotated by a conveyance rocking drive device (not shown). The feed roller 31 rocks in accordance with the rotation of the rocking reference roller 32 (i.e., the rocking of the rocking body 33) so as to be positionable at a contact position (see dashed line in FIG. 2) where it contacts the upper exposed surface of the bag B (particularly the bag B at the top position) on the conveyor belt 25, and at a separated position (see dashed line in FIG. 2) where it is separated from the bag B (particularly the bag B at the top position) on the conveyor belt 25.

[0042] 2, the delivery roller 31 positioned at the contact position applies a force in the forward direction Df while contacting a bag B to be removed out of the multiple bags B on the conveyor belt 25, thereby sending the contact portion of the bag B to be removed (the reverse direction end Er in the example shown in FIG. 2) in the forward direction Df. The delivery roller 31 is rotated by a delivery drive device (not shown), but may be selectively rotated only while it is positioned at the contact position, or may be rotated not only at the contact position but also while it is positioned at another position (separated position).

[0043] A feed restricting unit 35 is provided downstream (on the forward direction Df side) of the feed rollers 31. The feed restricting unit 35 applies a force in the reverse direction Dr to the bag B to be taken out (for example, the uppermost bag B) to bend the bag B to be taken out, and then separates the forward direction end Ef of the bag B to be taken out from another bag B adjacent to the bag B to be taken out (for example, the second bag B from the top) in the bag holding unit (inclined surface 45 in the example shown in FIG. 2).

[0044] The delivery restriction section 35 shown in Fig. 2 includes a first restriction roller 36 and a second restriction roller 37. The first restriction roller 36 is located upstream of the second restriction roller 37 (on the reverse direction Dr side) and has a larger diameter than the second restriction roller 37. The bottommost part of the first restriction roller 36 is positioned higher than the bottommost part of the second restriction roller 37, and in particular, the distance to the upper surface (inclined surface 45 in the example shown in Fig. 2) of the conveyor support surface section 44 on which the bag B to be removed is placed is set greater for the first restriction roller 36 than for the second restriction roller 37.

[0045] Specifically, the gap between the first regulating roller 36 and the upper surface (inclined surface 45) of the transport support surface 44 is set to be larger than the total thickness of one or more bags B (for example, the total thickness of two bags B). On the other hand, the gap between the second regulating roller 37 and the upper surface (inclined surface 45) of the transport support surface 44 is set to be smaller than the thickness of one bag B.

[0046] Each of the first and second regulating rollers 36 and 37 is rotated by a regulating drive device (not shown), in particular so as to inhibit movement of the bag B to be removed from the bag holding section (in this example, the bag B on the conveying support surface section 44) in the forward direction Df. Each of the first and second regulating rollers 36 and 37 shown in FIG. 2 is rotated in the clockwise direction on the plane of the paper in FIG. 2.

[0047] 2, the forward direction end Ef of bag B enters below the first regulating roller 36 and the second regulating roller 37. The bag B (particularly the forward direction end Ef) that entered below the second regulating roller 37 receives a force pushing it back in the reverse direction Dr from the rotating second regulating roller 37. Meanwhile, the bag B (particularly the reverse direction end Er) receives a force sending it out in the forward direction Df from the feed roller 31 positioned at the contact position. In this way, the bag B that receives opposite forces (particularly forces in the opposite directions) at the forward direction end Ef and the reverse direction end Er bends so that the center bulges upward, which results in the bag B to be removed being spaced apart from the adjacent bags B.

[0048] The forward end Ef of the bag B thus bent comes into contact with the rotating first regulating roller 36, and is lifted up onto the first regulating roller 36 by the force applied thereto.

[0049] 2, bags B are handed over from conveyor belt 25 to conveyor support surface 44 downstream of conveyor adjustment unit 60 and upstream of output roller 31 (particularly the contact position), and each bag B moves from conveyor belt 25 onto conveyor support surface 44. Each bag B located on conveyor belt 25 moves in forward direction Df with the movement of conveyor belt 25, as described above. Meanwhile, each bag B located on conveyor support surface 44 moves in forward direction Df by being pushed by the upstream bag B moving with conveyor belt 25.

[0050] The conveying support surface portion 44 has an inclined surface 45 that forms an upward gradient toward the forward direction Df at least in the range between the feed roller 31 positioned at the contact position and the feed regulating portion 35 (for example, the second regulating roller 37). In the example shown in FIG. 2, the inclined surface 45 is configured as a flat surface. However, the specific shape of the inclined surface 45 is not limited, and the inclined surface 45 may have a curved surface (for example, an arch-shaped surface) and / or a finely uneven surface in part or all. The inclination direction of the inclined surface 45 is not limited, and the inclined surface 45 may extend in a direction that forms an arbitrary inclination angle (excluding 0 degrees) with respect to the horizontal direction (horizontal plane). The conveying support surface portion 44 may have a horizontal plane extending in the horizontal direction instead of the inclined surface 45 at least in the range between the feed roller 31 positioned at the contact position and the feed regulating portion 35 (for example, the second regulating roller 37).

[0051] The output restriction section 35 having the above-described configuration separates the forward end Ef of the bag B to be removed from other bags (particularly bags B positioned adjacent to each other) while at least a portion of the bag B to be removed (in the example shown in Figure 2, the entire bag B to be removed) is supported from below by the inclined surface 45.

[0052] The bag supplying device 11 of the present embodiment further includes a positioning unit 40. The positioning unit 40 moves the forward direction end Ef of the bag B to be removed, which is separated from the other bags B by the output restricting unit 35, so as to position it at the removal position Pt.

[0053] 2 has a rotor 41 that is intermittently rotated by a positioning drive device (not shown), and a plurality of blades 42 that extend radially from the periphery of the rotor 41 and move intermittently together with the rotor 41. The plurality of blades 42 are arranged at equal angular intervals around the rotor 41, and move cyclically along a circular orbit in response to the intermittent rotation of the rotor 41. Each intermittently moving blade 42 supports a forward direction end Ef of the bag B to be removed that is separated from the other bags B, while moving the bag B to be removed away from the feed restricting portion 35, and intermittently stops at a rotational position that positions the forward direction end Ef at the removal position Pt.

[0054] Each blade portion 42 shown in Figure 2 has a hook shape and includes a radial extension portion 42a extending radially from the rotating body 41 and a tip extension portion 42b extending in a curved manner from the radial extension portion 42a, and a flat surface 42c is formed by the tip extension portion 42b.

[0055] The forward end Ef of the bag B to be taken out, which has been separated from the other bags B by the feed restricting portion 35 and is placed on the second restricting roller 37, is supported from below by the tips (particularly the tip faces) of the radially extending portions 42a of the blades 42. The forward end Ef of the bag B to be taken out is then pushed upward (particularly toward the take-out position Pt) by the blades 42 moving along the circular orbit. Meanwhile, the blades 42 gradually change direction as they move toward the take-out position Pt. As a result, the forward end Ef of the bag B to be taken out is positioned at the take-out position Pt in a state of surface contact with the flat surfaces 42c of each blade 42.

[0056] The bag delivery device 22 has a bag removal section 50 that removes the bag B to be removed from the bag holding section. The bag removal section 50 removes the bag B to be removed, whose forward direction end Ef is positioned at the removal position Pt, from the bag holding section (on the inclined surface 45 of the conveyor support surface section 44 in the example shown in FIG. 2). That is, the bag removal section 50 removes the bag B to be removed from the bag holding section while supporting the forward direction end Ef positioned at the removal position Pt.

[0057] In particular, the bag removal section 50 of this example has a suction cup 51 capable of adsorbing to a portion of the forward direction end Ef positioned at the removal position Pt, which is in surface contact with the flat surface 42c.

[0058] The bag removal section 50 is arranged to be swingable by a removal swing drive device (not shown) and can take an removal swing posture (see solid line in Figure 2) in which the suction cup 51 is positioned at the removal position Pt, and a transfer swing posture (see dashed line in Figure 2) in which the suction cup 51 is positioned at a transfer position for transferring the removed bag B to a downstream processing device.

[0059] The transfer position here corresponds to the first station S1 (see FIG. 1) when the bag supplying device 11 shown in FIG. 2 is applied to the bag processing system 10 shown in FIG. 1. That is, the bag B is transferred from the suction cup 51 positioned at the transfer position to a bag support device (e.g., a pair of grippers) positioned at the first station S1. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 2, the bag removal unit 50 is provided so as to be able to move forward and backward. This allows the bag removal unit 50 to move forward (e.g., horizontally) at the transfer position so as to approach the bag support device of the first station S1 in order to transfer the bag B to the bag support device, and to retreat (e.g., horizontally) so as to move away from the bag support device after transferring the bag B.

[0060] In the bag supplying device 11 having the above-mentioned configuration, the various devices operate in conjunction with each other. For example, the delivery roller 31, the delivery restricting section 35 (first restricting roller 36 and second restricting roller 37), the positioning section 40 (rotating body 41 and blade section 42), and the bag removal section 50 (suction cup 51) operate in conjunction with each other. That is, the rotating body 41 may be rotated in response to the timing when the forward end Ef of the bag B to be removed that has been bent by the delivery roller 31 and the delivery restricting section 35 is placed on the first restricting roller 36, and the blade section 42 may move the forward end Ef toward the removal position Pt while supporting it. Also, in response to the timing when the forward end Ef of the bag B to be removed is positioned at the removal position Pt by the blade section 42, the bag removal section 50 may suction-support the bag B to be removed by advancing and retracting the suction cup 51 in a removal swing posture (see solid line in FIG. 2).

[0061] The operation of the various devices of the bag supplying device 11 may be electrically controlled by a control device (not shown), or may be mechanically controlled by a master mechanism (not shown) of the bag supplying device 11 (bag processing system 10).

[0062] For example, a regulating drive device (not shown) that drives the first regulating roller 36 and the second regulating roller 37 of the feed regulating unit 35 may be electrically or mechanically controlled so that the first regulating roller 36 and the second regulating roller 37 rotate in synchronization with the operation of the master mechanism. Also, a positioning drive device (not shown) that drives the positioning unit 40 (particularly the rotating body 41) may be electrically or mechanically controlled so that each blade portion 42 of the positioning unit 40 moves intermittently in response to the rotational operation of the first regulating roller 36 and the second regulating roller 37. Also, a take-out swing drive device (not shown) that drives the bag take-out unit 50 may be electrically or mechanically controlled so that the bag take-out unit 50 swings and moves forward and backward in response to the movement of each blade portion 42.

[0063] According to the above-described bag supplying device 11, the bag B to be removed can be removed from the bag holding section by the bag removal section 50 in a state in which the bag B to be removed is bent between the delivery roller 31 and the delivery restricting section 35 so that the forward direction end Ef is separated from the adjacent bags B. In this manner, the bag supplying device 11 of the present embodiment is advantageous for appropriately removing the desired bag B to be removed from a plurality of overlapping bags B.

[0064] In particular, with the bag B to be removed being supported from below by the bag holding portion (transport support surface portion 44 (inclined surface 45)), forces acting in opposing directions are applied to both ends (forward direction end portion Ef and reverse direction end portion Er) of the bag B to be removed by the feed rollers 31 and the feed restricting portion 35. This makes it possible to stably bend the center of the bag B to be removed in a fixed direction (i.e., the upward direction), and to correct the bag B to be removed into a desired posture (deflected shape).

[0065] Furthermore, the bag B to be removed is removed from the bag holding portion in a state in which the forward end Ef of the bag B to be removed is positioned at the desired removal position Pt by the positioning portion 40. This makes it possible to stably remove the bag B to be removed from the bag holding portion.

[0066] In particular, the forward end Ef of the bag B to be removed is positioned at the removal position Pt using multiple blades 42 of the positioning unit 40 that move cyclically along a circular orbit. This makes it possible to position the forward end Ef of multiple bags B continuously, quickly, and accurately at the removal position Pt.

[0067] In particular, the forward end Ef can be more accurately and more stably positioned at the removal position Pt by positioning the forward end Ef of the bag B to be removed at the removal position Pt while it is in contact with the flat surfaces 42c of each wing portion 42. Furthermore, with the forward end Ef of the bag B to be removed in contact with the flat surfaces 42c of each wing portion 42, the suction cups 51 of the bag removal portion 50 can be pressed against the forward end Ef, so that the bag B to be removed can be more reliably and stably suction-supported by the suction cups 51.

[0068] Furthermore, in a state in which the bag B to be taken out is supported from below by the inclined surface 45, the forward direction end Ef of the bag B to be taken out is separated from the other bags B. This makes it possible to turn up the forward direction end Ef of the bag B to be taken out while sliding it on the other bags B by the feed restricting unit 35 in a state in which the other bags B located below the bag B to be taken out (for example, the bag B in contact with the inclined surface 45) are not easily slippery on the inclined surface 45. As a result, the bag B to be taken out (particularly the forward direction end Ef) can be more reliably separated from the other bags B. From the viewpoint of making it difficult for the bag B located below the bag B to be taken out and in contact with the inclined surface 45 to slip on the inclined surface 45, it is preferable that the inclined surface 45 has a large coefficient of friction, and is preferably configured as a relatively rough surface, for example, or configured from a material (composition) that inherently has a large coefficient of friction.

[0069] 2 includes two regulating rollers 36, 37, but the output regulating unit 35 may include only a single regulating roller. However, by including multiple regulating rollers in the output regulating unit 35, it is possible to use small regulating rollers with a small diameter, and it is possible to increase the lifting amount of the forward direction end Ef of the bag B to be taken out while saving the installation space of the device. Also, by varying the height positions (particularly the distance from the bag holding unit (inclined surface 45)) between the multiple regulating rollers 36, 37, it is possible to prevent the bag B from getting caught below the output regulating unit 35 (e.g. the second regulating roller 37) while allowing the output regulating unit 35 (e.g. the first regulating roller 36) to turn up the forward direction end Ef of the bag B to be taken out and place it at a sufficient height position.

[0070] [Second embodiment] In this embodiment, elements that are the same as or correspond to those in the above-described first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0071] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a bag supplying device 11 according to the second embodiment.

[0072] The bag supplying device 11 shown in FIG. 3 is not provided with the positioning unit 40 (see FIG. 2).

[0073] That is, the bag B to be removed (the bag B in the uppermost position in the example shown in Figure 3) which is stacked on top of other bags B and positioned on the conveying support surface portion 44 (particularly the inclined surface 45) is bent by the feed roller 31 positioned at the contact position (see the dotted line in Figure 3) and the feed regulating portion 35 (first regulating roller 36 and second regulating roller 37), and the forward direction end Ef of the bag B is turned up and placed on the second regulating roller 37.

[0074] Then, the bag B to be removed is removed from the bag holding section by the bag removal section 50 with the forward end Ef placed on the second regulating roller 37. Specifically, with the bag removal section 50 in a removal swinging position (see solid line in FIG. 3), the forward end Ef located on the second regulating roller 37 is attracted by the suction cup 51 of the bag removal section 50. Then, with the forward end Ef being attracted by the suction cup 51, the bag removal section 50 swings to change its position from the removal swinging position to the handover swinging position (see two-dot chain line in FIG. 3).

[0075] Thus, in this embodiment, the forward direction end Ef is positioned at the "removal position" by being placed on the second regulating roller 37. Then, with the forward direction end Ef positioned at the removal position (i.e., the position supported by the second regulating roller 37 (feed-out regulating portion 35)), the bag removal portion 50 removes the bag B to be removed from the bag holding portion.

[0076] According to the bag supplying device 11 of the present embodiment described above, since it is not necessary to install the positioning section 40, it is possible to save installation space for the device and also to facilitate the reduction in the overall size of the bag supplying device 11.

[0077] [Variations] In the bag supplying device 11 according to the first embodiment described above (see FIG. 2), a "component including a rotor 41 and a plurality of blades 42" is used as the positioning unit 40 that positions the forward end Ef of the bag B to be taken out at the take-out position Pt, but the positioning unit 40 may be realized by another component. As an example, the positioning unit 40 may be configured by a component including an elevation movement unit such as an elevation piston. For example, by raising the tip of the elevation movement unit, the tip can support and lift the forward end Ef of the bag B to be taken out, which is placed on the second regulating roller 37, from below, and position it at the take-out position Pt.

[0078] In the bag supplying device 11 according to each of the above-described embodiments, a conveyor-type bag storage device 21 is used that transports multiple bags B in a bag bundle Bg horizontally while being horizontally offset from each other, but the bag storage device 21 applicable to the bag processing system 10 and bag supplying device 11 of the present disclosure is not limited to such a conveyor type.

[0079] The bag storage device 21 is capable of transporting the multiple bags B in the bag bundle Bg in any direction, and may be, for example, a so-called lifting type bag storage device 21 (for example, a lifting magazine) that transports the bag bundle Bg (multiple bags B) in the height direction (for example, upward direction). When the bag storage device 21 is a lifting magazine, the multiple bags B in the bag bundle Bg may be stacked in the height direction without being shifted relative to one another in the horizontal direction.

[0080] 1, one bag support device (e.g., a pair of grippers) is intermittently positioned at each station S1-S8 at a time, but multiple bag support devices may be intermittently positioned at each station S1-S8 at a time. In such a case, bag supplying device 11 may simultaneously remove multiple bags B from the bag holding section and pass them to a downstream processing device (e.g., multiple bag support devices positioned at first station S1).

[0081] In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, a flat bag is taken out of the bag holding section as bag B by bag supplying device 11, but there are no limitations on the specific shape or type of bag B. For example, a bag with a spout or other device attached, a bag with gas, liquid and / or solid inside, a bag with a planar shape other than rectangular, or a bag with a part of the thickness different from the thickness of the other part (for example, a free-standing bag with one end having a folded structure) may be taken out of the bag holding section as bag B by bag supplying device 11.

[0082] The material (composition) of bag B is not limited, but the disclosed technology can effectively exert its effects when bag B is made of a material (composition) that is likely to cause adhesion between overlapping bags B that are in contact with each other.

[0083] For example, the above-described bag processing system 10 and bag supplying device 11 are also effective when each bag B has a so-called "mono-material" configuration. The mono-material bag B referred to here is not necessarily limited to a bag B made of only a single material. For example, a bag B in which only a portion of the constituent materials (e.g., 50% or more, 60% or more, 70% or more, 80% or more, or 90% or more) is made of a single material can also be classified as a mono-material bag B.

[0084] It should be noted that the embodiments and modifications disclosed in this specification are merely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting in all respects. The above-mentioned embodiments and modifications can be omitted, substituted, and modified in various forms without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims. For example, the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications may be combined in whole or in part, and embodiments other than those described above may be combined with the above-mentioned embodiments or modifications. In addition, the effects of the present disclosure described in this specification are merely illustrative, and other effects may be obtained.

[0085] The technical category embodying the above technical idea is not limited. For example, the above technical idea may be embodied by a computer program for causing a computer to execute one or more procedures (steps) included in a method for manufacturing or using the above device. The above technical idea may also be embodied by a non-transitory recording medium readable by a computer on which such a computer program is recorded. [Note] The present disclosure may take the following forms.

[0086] [Aspect 1] A bag holding section that holds a plurality of bags; a feed roller that applies a force in a forward direction while contacting a bag to be removed from among the plurality of bags, thereby feeding a contact portion of the bag to be removed in the forward direction; a feed restricting section that applies a force to the bag to be removed in a direction opposite to the forward direction to deflect the bag to be removed, and then separates a forward direction end of the bag to be removed from another bag adjacent to the bag to be removed in the bag holding section; a bag removal section that removes the bag to be removed from the bag holding section; A bag supplying device comprising:

[0087] [Aspect 2] a positioning unit that moves the forward direction end of the bag to be removed, which is separated from the other bags by the feed restricting unit, to a removal position, the bag removal unit removes the bag to be removed, the forward direction end of which is positioned at the removal position, from the bag holding unit. The bag supplying device according to embodiment 1.

[0088] [Aspect 3] The positioning unit has a rotor that rotates intermittently and a plurality of blades that extend radially from a periphery of the rotor and move intermittently together with the rotor, each of the plurality of wing portions moves the bag to be removed away from the feed restricting portion while supporting the forward direction end portion that is separated from the other bags, and intermittently stops at a position where the forward direction end portion is positioned at the removal position; the bag removal unit supports the forward direction end portion positioned at the removal position, and removes the bag to be removed from the bag holding unit while supporting the forward direction end portion. The bag supplying device according to embodiment 2.

[0089] [Aspect 4] Each of the plurality of blades has a flat surface, The forward end of the bag to be removed is positioned at the removal position in a state of contact with the flat surface, The bag removal unit has a suction cup that adheres to a portion of the forward direction end portion that is in contact with the flat surface and is positioned at the removal position. The bag supplying device according to embodiment 3.

[0090] [Aspect 5] the bag holding portion has an inclined surface that forms an upward gradient in the forward direction between the delivery roller and the delivery restricting portion, the feed restricting portion separates the forward direction end portion of the bag to be removed from the other bags in a state in which at least a portion of the bag to be removed is supported from below by the inclined surface. The bag supplying device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects.

[0091] [Aspect 6] A bag supply device; a processing device that receives the bags from the bag supply device, The bag supply device is A bag holding section that holds a plurality of bags; a feed roller that applies a force in a forward direction to a bag to be removed from among the plurality of bags, thereby feeding the bag to be removed in the forward direction; a feed restricting section that applies a force to the bag to be removed in a direction opposite to the forward direction to deflect the bag to be removed, and then separates a forward direction end of the bag to be removed from another bag adjacent to the bag to be removed in the bag holding section; a bag removal section that removes the bag to be removed from the bag holding section; having Bag handling system. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 10 bag processing system, 11 bag supply device, 12 printing device, 13 opening device, 14 contents input device, 16 first heat sealing device, 17 second heat sealing device, 18 cooling sealing device, 19 transfer device, 21 bag storage device, 22 bag delivery device, 25 conveyor belt, 26 conveyor guide, 31 delivery roller, 32 oscillating reference roller, 33 oscillating body, 35 delivery regulation portion, 36 first regulation roller, 37 second regulation roller, 40 positioning portion, 41 rotating body, 42 blade portion, 42a radial extension portion, 42b tip extension portion, 42c flat surface, 44 conveying support surface portion, 45 inclined surface, 50 bag removal portion, 51 suction cup, 60 conveying adjustment unit, 61 conveying adjustment belt, 62 conveying adjustment roller, 65 bag detection sensor, S1 first station, S2 2nd station, S3 3rd station, S4 4th station, S5 5th station, S6 6th station, S7 7th station, S8 8th station, Ax rotation axis, B bag, Bg bag bundle, Df forward direction, Dr reverse direction, Ef forward end, Er reverse end, Pt removal position

Claims

1. A bag holding section for holding a plurality of bags; a feed roller that applies a force in a forward direction while contacting a bag to be removed from among the plurality of bags, thereby feeding a contact portion of the bag to be removed in the forward direction; a feed restricting section that applies a force to the bag to be removed in a direction opposite to the forward direction to deflect the bag to be removed, and then separates a forward direction end of the bag to be removed from another bag adjacent to the bag to be removed in the bag holding section; a bag removal section that removes the bag to be removed from the bag holding section; A bag supplying device comprising:

2. a positioning unit that moves the forward direction end of the bag to be removed, which is separated from the other bags by the feed restricting unit, to a removal position, the bag removal unit removes the bag to be removed, the forward direction end of which is positioned at the removal position, from the bag holding unit.

2. The bag supplying apparatus of claim 1.

3. The positioning unit has a rotor that rotates intermittently and a plurality of blades that extend radially from a periphery of the rotor and move intermittently together with the rotor, each of the plurality of wing portions moves the bag to be removed away from the feed restricting portion while supporting the forward direction end portion that is separated from the other bags, and intermittently stops at a position where the forward direction end portion is positioned at the removal position; the bag removal unit supports the forward direction end portion positioned at the removal position, and removes the bag to be removed from the bag holding unit while supporting the forward direction end portion.

3. The bag supplying device according to claim 2.

4. Each of the plurality of blades has a flat surface, The forward end of the bag to be removed is positioned at the removal position in a state of contact with the flat surface, The bag removal unit has a suction cup that adheres to a portion of the forward direction end portion that is in contact with the flat surface and is positioned at the removal position.

4. The bag supplying device according to claim 3.

5. the bag holding portion has an inclined surface that forms an upward gradient in the forward direction between the delivery roller and the delivery restricting portion, the feed restricting portion separates the forward direction end portion of the bag to be removed from the other bags in a state in which at least a portion of the bag to be removed is supported from below by the inclined surface. The bag supplying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A bag supply device; a processing device that receives the bags from the bag supply device, The bag supply device is A bag holding section for holding a plurality of bags; a feed roller that applies a force in a forward direction to a bag to be removed from among the plurality of bags, thereby feeding the bag to be removed in the forward direction; a feed restricting section that applies a force to the bag to be removed in a direction opposite to the forward direction to deflect the bag to be removed, and then separates a forward direction end of the bag to be removed from another bag adjacent to the bag to be removed in the bag holding section; a bag removal section that removes the bag to be removed from the bag holding section; having Bag handling system.

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