Packaging device

Abstract

To provide a packaging device capable of greatly contributing to space saving by a configuration where a plurality of means related to packaging processing are arranged within one device body, as well as, by devising of conveying means.SOLUTION: A packaging device for sealing a container with a film, according to the present invention, comprises: weighing means for weighing the container; packaging means for sealing the weighed container with a film; a rear stage region disposed downstream of the packaging means; and conveying means for conveying the container from the weighing means to the packaging means. The conveying means conveys the container from the weighing means to the packaging means and also conveys the container from the packaging means to the rear stage region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging device which covers a tray on which an item to be packaged is placed with a film and heat-seals the film to the edge of the tray. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional packaging device is one in which the food items to be packaged are placed on a weighing scale, then transported into trays fed onto a conveyor, and top-sealed onto a film lid on the tray, thereby performing top sealing on a large number of trays (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2013-515654 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the packaging device described in Patent Document 1, the weighing means and other means are arranged to protrude significantly along the production line outside the machine frame in which the packaging means is arranged, and no attention is paid to space saving at all. Specifically, the conveyor transports the packaged items over a wide area, so the entire device consisting of multiple means ends up occupying a large area. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to provide a packaging device which can greatly contribute to space saving by arranging multiple means related to the packaging process in one device body and by devising a conveying means. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The packaging device of the present invention has at least the following configuration. A packaging device for sealing a film onto a container, comprising: a weighing means for weighing the weight of the container; a packaging means for sealing the weighed container with a film; a downstream area arranged downstream of the packaging means; and a conveying means for conveying the container from the weighing means to the packaging means, wherein the conveying means conveys the container from the weighing means to the packaging means and also conveys the container from the packaging means to the downstream area. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, the articles to be packaged can be transported from the weighing means through the packaging means to the downstream area by a single transport means, which can greatly contribute to space saving and cost reduction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a right perspective view showing the appearance of the packaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a left perspective view showing the appearance of the packaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is a top view showing an appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the packaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the weighing means and packaging means (with a part of the machine frame removed). [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the weighing means and packaging means (with a part of the machine frame removed). [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front cross-sectional view explaining an upper cut-out die and an upper cut-out die folder, where FIG. 7(a) shows the upper cut-out die folder when an upper cut-out die is not loaded, FIG. 7(b) shows the upper cut-out die alone, and FIG. 7(c) shows the upper cut-out die loaded in the upper cut-out die folder. [Figure 8] 8A, 8B, and 8C are diagrams for explaining the upper punching die, with FIG. 8A being a top view, FIG. 8B being an upper perspective view, and FIG. 8C being a lower perspective view. [Figure 9]9(a) and 9(b) are diagrams showing the upper die loaded in the upper die folder, where FIG. 9(a) is a top view, FIG. 9(b) is a front view, FIG. 9(c) is a bottom view, FIG. 9(d) is an upper oblique view, FIG. 9(e) is a right side view, and FIG. 9(f) is a conceptual diagram showing the heat transfer member. [Figure 10] 10(a) is a top view, FIG. 10(b) is a front view, FIG. 10(c) is a bottom view, FIG. 10(d) is an oblique view from above, FIG. 10(e) is a right side view, and FIG. 10(f) is an enlarged view of portion D in FIG. 10(d). [Figure 11] 11A and 11B are diagrams for explaining the lower die, with FIG. 11A being a top view and FIG. 11B being a side cross-sectional view. [Figure 12] 13 is a perspective view showing how a lower die is attached to and detached from a lower die folder. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the mechanism of action of determining the loading state. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display of a determination result on a weighing screen. [Figure 15] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. [Figure 16] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. [Figure 17] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. [Figure 18] FIG. [Figure 19] 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the lower die is pushed up against the upper die. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] An example of an embodiment of a packaging device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the drawings below have been created for the purpose of explanation, and in order to make the drawings easier to understand, some members not necessary for the explanation may not be shown intentionally. In addition, some members may be shown intentionally large or small for the purpose of explanation, and the drawings are not drawn to an accurate scale. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different drawings indicate parts with the same function, and duplicate descriptions in each drawing will be omitted as appropriate.

[0009] (Overall composition) Fig. 1 to Fig. 4 show the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with Fig. 1 being a right perspective view, Fig. 2 being a left perspective view, Fig. 3 being a top view, and Fig. 4 being a right side view. Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show in particular the weighing means and packaging means, with Fig. 5 being a right side view (with a part of the machine frame removed) and Fig. 6 being a perspective view (with a part of the machine frame removed).

[0010] 1 to 3, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention weighs the packaged items, carries the tray T on which the packaged items are placed into the machine, and automatically performs a series of operations up to carrying out the tray after top sealing and labeling accompanied by a gas replacement process (processing the entire welded area at once) to extend the expiration date of the packaged items. In other words, the device has a packaging process between the weighing process of the packaged items and the labeling process. More specifically, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3, in the packaging device 100, when a tray T on which an article to be packaged is placed is placed on the weighing means 1 (see FIG. 1), the weight of the article to be packaged is measured, and the tray T is conveyed by the in-feed bar IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6) so as to proceed into the machine frame having the packaging means 2. In the machine frame, the lower punch 25 (see FIG. 1) pushes the tray T upward, and first, the air present in the space formed between the film, which is always stretched with both ends held by the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212 (see FIG. 1), and the tray T is replaced with an inert gas. Then, while the edge of the tray T is abutted against the film, the film is heat-welded to seal packaging while being sandwiched between the lower die 25 and the upper die 24 (see FIG. 1), and after the film is cut, the lower die 25 and the tray T are lowered to return to a predetermined height (fixed position), and the tray T is again advanced in the carry-in direction by the in-feed bar IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6) to be transferred to the rear area 3, and while moving in the carry-out direction perpendicular to the carry-in direction, a label is attached by the label attachment means 7, and the tray T is discharged to the first discharge table 4, and further moved in the opposite direction to the carry-in direction to be sent to the second discharge table 5. In the embodiment of the present invention, three types of upper and lower die are prepared and configured to be interchangeable so as to be able to handle three types of tray T of different sizes, "large", "medium" and "small". However, this is merely one example, and there may be only two sizes, "large" and "small," or four or more sizes available, or even there may be only one tray size and the tray may not be designed to be replaced. The weighing means 1, the packaging means 2, and the rear area 3 are vertically arranged from the front to the back of the device. As shown in FIG. 1, above the weighing means 1 and upstream of the weighing means 1 in the conveying direction, a console 6 is disposed, which has an operation unit such as a display unit, a numeric keypad, and a touch panel on the front side and has a control unit inside. To explain this arrangement in more detail, the lower end of the case of the console 6 is located upstream of the weighing means 1, and the center of the console 6 and the center of the display unit are located in the area of ​​the weighing means 1, and although the console 6 is disposed at an angle, the upper end of the case of the console 6 is also located upstream of the weighing means 1. The upper part of the rear area 3 is a label attachment means 7 that prints and attaches a product label having information such as the measured weight, unit price, and price. Furthermore, the lower die 25 is provided with a mechanism for gas replacement that is not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. In this specification, "gas replacement" refers to "gas replacement" used in a broad sense (regardless of the specific process) of a process in which the air inside a packaged product is replaced with an inert gas to extend the expiration date, and includes both "gas replacement" used in the narrow sense in which the air is completely removed before gas is introduced, and "gas flushing" in which gas is sprayed to expel the air.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration, the top seal is performed while gas is replaced between the packaged item and the film, thereby making it possible to improve work efficiency by performing the gas replacement process for extending the expiration date of the packaged item and the packaging process using top sealing almost simultaneously.

[0012] In addition, the embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the tray T inserted from the front is packaged and returned to the front again, which contributes greatly to the efficiency of work in the backyard, and this configuration is realized in a compact manner. However, from the viewpoint of performing the gas replacement process for extending the expiration date of the packaged items and the packaging process by top sealing almost simultaneously, the configuration in which the tray is inserted at the front and then returned to the front is not essential, and it is also possible to realize it by simply conveying in one direction from the front to the rear, or by first performing the packaging process and then the weighing process. Furthermore, it is also possible to eliminate the weighing process and the labeling process and to configure an apparatus specialized for the packaging process. This will be described later as another embodiment.

[0013] The machine frame shown in FIG. 1, especially the upper part of the machine frame, not only serves to accommodate the packaging means 2 and other components inside, but also plays a significant role in isolating the inside from the outside. A buffer tank (not shown) is provided in the lower part of the machine frame for gas replacement. After weighing by the weighing means 1, the tray T is transported and the upper and lower cutters are closed to perform top sealing. In order to prevent an operator from accidentally inserting his / her hand and causing an unexpected accident, a shutter 11 is provided between the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2, in a portion slightly including the area of ​​the weighing means 1 (see FIG. 5). When the tray T is transported to the packaging means 2 by the in-feed bar IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6), the shutter 11 is configured to isolate the inside and outside of the housing. The transport means in the embodiment of the present invention is not a belt conveyor, but an in-feed bar IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6), so that the shutter 11 is raised from the bottom up to close, avoiding the chain part (see FIG. 5). However, the shutter may be configured to close by descending from top to bottom, or a shutter may not be provided and safety may be ensured by stopping the device when a sensor detects the intrusion of a hand.

[0014] In order to improve the convenience during transportation, the first discharge table 4 and the second discharge table 5 are configured to be removable. After these discharge tables are removed, the label attachment means 7 is configured to be slidable to the left in FIG. 3 so as to fit within the range of the left and right sides of the machine frame so as not to get in the way during transportation.

[0015] The weighing means 1 is configured to weigh the packaged items and the tray T placed thereon, and transmits information on the weighed weight to the control means of the console 6. Also, as shown in Fig. 5, rod-shaped in-feed bars IB are stretched across two left and right chains that can rotate all around from the front side of the weighing means 1 to the rear side of the packaging means 2 at four positions in the circumferential direction, and the placed tray T can be brought into the machine frame having the packaging means 2 and can be transported as is to the rear area 3. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, a total of eight in-feed bar support members IB1 for stretching the in-feed bars IB are provided on the two left and right chains at four positions in the circumferential direction of the two left and right chains, and four antibacterial treated rod-shaped in-feed bars IB are connected to them (see also Fig. 6). The spacing between the in-feed bars IB in the circumferential arrangement is set so that when the in-feed bars IB perform a retreating movement (this will be described later), the in-feed bars IB will not interfere with the next packaged article placed on the weighing means 1. The height of the in-feed bars IB relative to the placement surface of the tray T is configured to be located at the center between the height of the bottom surface and the height of the top surface of the tray T, but the height may be changed as appropriate as long as the tray T can be transported stably.

[0016] As described above, three types of trays T are set, namely, "large", "medium" and "small", and upper and lower cutters 24 and 25 are prepared and exchangeable for performing packaging processing corresponding to each size. Specifically, in this embodiment, an upper cutter 24A for a large tray having a tray size of 150 mm in width and 150 mm in depth, an upper cutter 24B for a medium tray having a tray size of 150 mm in width and 120 mm in depth, and an upper cutter 24C for a small tray having a tray size of 120 mm in width and 120 mm in depth are prepared. However, the outer shape of the cutter is the same regardless of the tray size. In order to properly center the three types of trays T, "large", "medium" and "small", on the in-feed bar IB, the placement table of the weighing means 1 is provided with recesses of slightly different depths corresponding to the tray sizes "large", "medium" and "small". That is, a deep recess for the medium size is arranged inside the recess for the large size, and an even deeper recess for the small size is arranged inside the recess for the medium size. The step caused by this recess is kept small so as not to cause resistance when the in-feed bar IB transports the tray T. In addition, guides 12 tapering toward the center are provided on both the left and right sides as a means for centering (see FIG. 2). Furthermore, the means for centering does not have to be recesses or guides, and may be a visually visible indicator. Even if some left-right misalignment occurs, the sides of the tray T are inclined, so that the tray is naturally guided to the correct position when it is pushed up by the lower punch die 25. In addition to this, a sliding member that narrows the width in coordination with the left and right sides, as is commonly used in cutting machines, may be provided at the lower end of the opening portion defined by a shutter located in a portion between the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2 that slightly includes the area of ​​the weighing means 1, to provide a means for correcting the centering if it shifts at the start of conveyance.

[0017] The tray T that has been packaged by thermal welding is transferred from the packaging means 2 to the rear area 3 as shown in FIG. 5. The rear area 3 is composed of a conveyor belt as shown in FIG. 6, and functions as a discharge means for moving the tray T outside the machine frame, and a labeling means 7 for printing and attaching product labels is provided above the rear area 3. For this reason, the rear area 3 can also be regarded as the labeling means 7. In this way, the tray T is transferred by the rear area 3 in a discharge direction perpendicular to the carry-in direction and discharged toward the first discharge table 4. The first discharge table 4 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is equipped with a driving roller, and moves the tray T in the opposite direction to the carry-in direction to the second discharge table 5. The second discharge table 5 is inclined, and the tray T moves by its own weight, so the rollers of the second discharge table 5 are simply rollers without driving force.

[0018] To summarize the machine frame having the packaging means 2, in Figure 4, a film holding means 211 that holds the film used to package the containers and a surplus film winding means 212 that winds up the excess film when the container is sealed are arranged at the upper part of the machine frame, corresponding to the front and rear arrangement of the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2, respectively, shown by the dashed areas, and as a whole these form a film hanging means 21.

[0019] As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the film hanging means 21 is arranged so as to be accommodated in the upper part of the machine frame in which the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2 are arranged. The film is hung in the same direction as the weighing means 1, the packaging means 2, and the rear area 3 are vertically arranged from the front to the rear of the machine. In other words, the hanging direction of the film is the same as the conveying direction of the tray T. In the conventional packaging device, the film hanging means is usually arranged to protrude greatly into the outer area of ​​the machine frame in which the packaging means and the like are arranged, but this embodiment contributes greatly to space saving. Note that the film hanging means 21 is arranged so as to be accommodated in the upper area of ​​the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2, but the surplus film winding means 212 may be set to a range that extends to the rear area 3, or the console 6 may be arranged in a different position so that the film holding means 211 protrudes further forward. Even with such a configuration, it can be said that this is a technical idea for space saving that can be clearly distinguished from the conventional technology of a film hanging means that is arranged to protrude significantly into the area outside the device frame. Furthermore, even if the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212 are arranged in the opposite front-to-rear directions, this does not impair space saving, and the film holding means 211 may be arranged at the rear and the surplus film winding means 212 at the front. 5, this embodiment employs an arrangement in which the film unwound from film holding means 211 is given a constant tension by dancer roller DR to stabilize the tension, and then is looped around two film feed shafts so that it passes near the lower part of the mounting means, and then taken up by surplus film take-up means 212. The dancer roller DR functions as an adjustment means for adjusting the tension of the film, and is located above the weighing means 1 and below the film holding means 211. In FIG. 1, the side panel SP is pivotally supported at the right long side and is configured to be rotatable backward. This configuration allows the film roll to be replaced from the right side, and as described later, the upper die 24 and the lower die 25 can also be replaced from the right side. In this way, the upper die 24, the film holding means 211, and the surplus film winding means 212 can be attached and detached in the same direction along the winding shaft when replaced. The lower die 25 is replaced by inserting it from the right side and then dropping it slightly downward (see also FIG. 12). The label attachment means 7 can be tilted backward (rotated), and is configured to facilitate replacement of the film roll and replacement of the upper die 24 and the lower die 25. In addition, the rotatable configuration makes it easy to replace the labels themselves. The rotatable side panel SP may be arranged on the left side instead of the right side. In other words, the rotatable side panel SP does not have to be provided on the same side as the side on which the first discharge table 4, etc. are arranged. However, in terms of space saving, it is advantageous to configure the side panel SP on the same side as the side on which the first discharge table 4, etc. are arranged to be rotatable.

[0020] The top panel UP, front panel FP, and side panels SP of the machine frame are made of transparent materials or have transparent plates fitted in them, so that the state of the film suspended by the film suspension means 21 can be confirmed. In addition to visual confirmation, the top panel UP is configured to be slidable backward to a position where it does not come into contact with the label application means 7, so that any trouble can be dealt with, and the front panel FP is also configured to be pivoted at its upper edge and rotatable. It should be noted that it may also be configured to be pivoted by a pivot at its lower edge, or to be slidable.

[0021] As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, an upper die holder 240 in which the upper die 24 is loaded is provided between the film hanging means 21 and the transport space of the tray T (by the in-feed bar IB). The upper die holder 240 is provided with a locking means for preventing the upper die 24 from being removed after it has been loaded. To remove the upper die 24, it is necessary to operate the lock release lever 24L (see Fig. 9). The lock release lever 24L is configured to prevent the unlocking operation in an inappropriate situation in conjunction with various processes for the die, which will be described later. The locking means may also be configured as an automatic locking means, and in that case, it is preferable to configure the locking operation to be linked to the temperature of the upper die 24 in various processes for the die, which will be described later. A heater means 241 (see FIG. 7) for supplying heat for welding the film is provided inside the upper die holder 240. A metal plate 242 (see FIG. 7) for transmitting heat supplied from the heater means 241 and a film cutting means 244 (see FIG. 8) for cutting the film are provided in the upper die holder 240. The heater means 241 contacts the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 loaded in the upper die holder 240. The metal plate 242 has a protrusion 242a having a size corresponding to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protrusion 242a, and the heat supplied from the heater means 241 is transmitted to the protrusion 242a to thermally weld the film in contact with the edge of the tray T. In the embodiment of the present invention, aluminum, which has high thermal conductivity, is used as the material for metal plate 242, but there is nothing to prevent the use of silver, copper, gold, etc., which have higher thermal conductivity, and even if a material has a lower thermal conductivity than aluminum, it may be used as well, so long as there are no practical problems. In the embodiment of the present invention, the metal plate 242 has a structure including a protruding portion 242a corresponding to the edge of the tray T and has an uneven shape, but the protruding portion 242a and the central portion 242b are basically a single-piece structure composed of a single member. However, the metal plate may be structured by bonding two plates together, and a heat pipe may be arranged between the two plates to conduct heat from the heater more quickly and more widely and evenly. In addition, the metal plate 242 welds the film and the container with the protruding portion 242a that functions as a top seal portion, so that the central portion 242b, which is the other portion, does not need to be at a high temperature. Rather, considering the possibility of heat dissipation from the central portion 242b, it is preferable to configure the central portion 242b to have a member that serves as a heat retaining material fixed thereto, and such a configuration may be used.

[0022] A lower die 25 is provided below the upper die folder 240, sandwiching the transport space for the tray T. The lower die 25 pushes up the tray T, and the film sequentially fed out from the roll film R loaded in the film hanging means 21 is sandwiched between the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 and the lower die 25 for packaging (top sealing). In this way, the film hanging means 21, the upper die 24, and the lower die 25 constitute the packaging means 2, which is disposed downstream of the weighing means 1 in the transport direction.

[0023] In this embodiment, the roll film R is supported by passing the shaft of the film holding means 211 through its center hole. The sent-out film is sealed and cut to the size of the tray T, leaving only the cut periphery of the film in a scrap state, i.e., the inside of the film is hollowed out. This scrap film is sequentially wound up by the surplus film winding means 212.

[0024] A metal plate 242 (see FIG. 7) that functions as a top seal is disposed so as to face the fed film. When the tray T is moved upward by the lower die 25, the film is heat-sealed along the edge of the tray T with the edge of the tray T and the film sandwiched between the lower die 25 and the metal plate 242 (see FIG. 7) of the upper die 24. Before the heat-sealing, a gas replacement process is performed in which an inert gas is injected into the space formed between the film and the tray T to extend the expiration date of the packaged goods, replacing the air with the inert gas, which will be described later.

[0025] (Transport operation by in-feed bar) As shown in FIG. 5, the in-feed bar IB, which is a transport mechanism for the trays T, is hung at four circumferential positions on two left and right chains that can rotate all around from the front of the weighing means 1 to the rear of the packaging means 2, and is configured to transport the trays T from the weighing means 1 to the packaging means 2, and then from the packaging means 2 to the rear area 3 by rotating the chains. Rollers 31 are disposed in the space between the packaging means 2 and the rear area 3, allowing the trays T to move smoothly from the packaging means 2 to the rear area 3. Since most of the packaging objects are food, the metallic in-feed bar IB is treated with antibacterial and anti-rust treatments. The in-feed bar IB is connected to the chains via eight in-feed bar support members IB1 provided at four circumferential positions on the two left and right chains.

[0026] The conveying operation of the in-feed bar IB, which is connected to the chain as the drive means and moves in a circumferential direction, and the opening and closing operation of the shutter 11 will be described below. During standby, the shutter 11 is closed. When the weighing means 1 performs weighing, the shutter 11 descends to allow communication between the inside and outside of the housing. The tray T placed on the weighing means 1 is pushed by the in-feed bar IB and transported to the packaging means 2, where the in-feed bar IB stops. If this continues, the in-feed bar IB will interfere with the in-feed bar IB when the lower punching die 25 described below moves upward, so the in-feed bar IB moves back once to the area where the weighing means 1 is located. As described above, the arrangement interval of the in-feed bar IB in the circumferential direction is set so that the in-feed bar IB will not interfere with the next packaged item placed on the weighing means 1 when the in-feed bar IB moves back once. When the in-feed bar IB moves back once, the shutter 11 moves up from below the front part of the machine frame, blocking the outside from the inside, and ensuring safety. This blocking state by the shutter 11 continues until the next product is weighed. Due to the structure of the in-feed bars IB arranged intermittently in the circumferential direction, a shutter configuration is realized in which the in-feed bars IB rise from below to close, avoiding the chain parts arranged continuously in the circumferential direction. After the top of the tray T is sealed by the packaging means 2, the in-feed bar IB advances again and transports the tray T to the rear area 3. At this time, due to the presence of the rollers 31, the tray T is smoothly transported without dropping between the packaging means 2 and the rear area 3. The height of the in-feed bar IB with respect to the placement surface of the tray T is configured to be located at the center between the height of the bottom surface and the height of the top surface of the tray T, but the height may be changed appropriately as long as the tray T can be transported stably. This embodiment with such a configuration can transport the packaged items from the weighing means through the packaging means to the rear area by a single transport means, which greatly contributes to space saving and cost saving.

[0027] (Gas replacement and packaging operation by upper and lower die) FIG. 7 is a front cross-sectional view for explaining the upper die and the upper die folder, where FIG. 7(a) shows the upper die folder when the upper die is not loaded, FIG. 7(b) shows the upper die alone, and FIG. 7(c) shows the state in which the upper die is loaded in the upper die folder. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the upper die, where FIG. 8(a) shows a top view, FIG. 8(b) shows an upper oblique view, and FIG. 8(c) shows a lower oblique view. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the lower die, where FIG. 11(a) shows a top view, and FIG. 11(b) shows a side cross-sectional view. FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 11(b), rotated 90 degrees and shown in a state in which the lower die is horizontally arranged. FIG. 19 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the lower die is pushed up against the upper die.

[0028] As can be seen from the comparison of the front cross-sectional views of Fig. 7(a) and Fig. 7(c), the upper die 24 is loaded into the upper die holder 240 in a manner that it enters from the right side. That is, as described above, the upper die 24 is removable from the right side of Fig. 1, which is the same direction along the winding shaft as the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212. Also, as shown in Fig. 7(b), the upper die has a metal plate 242 to which heat supplied from the heater means 241 is transferred to function as a top seal, and a film cutting means 244 for cutting the film. As shown in Fig. 8, the metal plate 242 is formed into a rectangular shape with chamfers so as to correspond to the edge portion of the tray T, and the film cutting means 244 is disposed on the outer periphery. Also, the metal plate 242 is composed of a convex portion 242a having a size corresponding to the edge portion of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the convex portion 242a. The film cutting means 244 can cut the welded film to the size of the tray T. Although the heat from the heater means 241 is transferred only to the metal plate 242, a structure in which the heat is transferred to other metal parts is not excluded.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 7(a), when the upper die 24 is not loaded, the heater means 241 for supplying heat for film welding is positioned upward by a biasing means (not shown) (see also Figs. 10(b) and 10(d)). When the upper die 24 shown in Fig. 7(b) is inserted from the right side as shown in the figure, the abutting portion at the tip of the upper die 24 abuts against the roller 2431 at the tip of the heater link 243, and the heater link 243 presses the heater means 241 downward as shown in Fig. 7(c) (see also Figs. 9(b) and 9(d)). Then, the heater means 241 comes into contact with the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24, and becomes able to transmit heat for welding to the metal plate 242. In the embodiment of the present invention, the heater means 241 is formed by drilling holes in an aluminum material and inserting a cartridge heater into the holes (see also FIG. 10(d)). However, it is also possible to adopt a silicon rubber heater, a plate heater, a plug-type heater, a sheath heater, etc. Furthermore, in addition to a heat conduction type heater, the heater type may be a convection type or a radiation type (radiation type), and is not limited to a heat conduction type. The heater means may be configured to directly contact the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24, or may be configured to indirectly contact the heater means and the metal plate 242 by adding a heat transfer member having good thermal conductivity, such as gold, silver, copper, aluminum, etc., to the metal plate 242. For example, if the extent of the heater means is small compared to the size of the rectangular portion of the metal plate 242, the area where heat is transferred is limited to the center, which is not efficient. Therefore, by interposing a heat transfer member HTM with good thermal conductivity and a size comparable to the extent of the metal plate 242 between the heater means and the metal plate 242, the area where heat is transferred can be effectively expanded (see also FIG. 9(f)).

[0030] 8, the upper die 24 is provided with a chamfered rectangular metal plate 242 whose size and shape correspond to the edge of the tray T, and the metal plate 242 is composed of a protruding portion 242a whose size corresponds to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protruding portion 242a. In this embodiment, an upper die 24A for a large tray having a tray size of 150 mm in width and 150 mm in depth, an upper die 24B for a medium tray having a tray size of 150 mm in width and 120 mm in depth, and an upper die 24C for a small tray having a tray size of 120 mm in width and 120 mm in depth are prepared (FIG. 8 shows the upper die 24B corresponding to a "medium" size tray). The metal plate 242 transfers heat supplied from a heater means 241 disposed in the upper die holder 240 (see FIG. 7) to the film to perform top sealing. A cutting blade is provided around the outer periphery of the beveled rectangular metal plate 242 as a film cutting means 244 for cutting the film after top sealing. The upper die 24 body, the metal plate 242, and the film cutting means 244 are biased downward with different biasing forces relative to the upper die holder 240, and are configured to be able to move relatively in the vertical direction independently of each other. When the tray T is pushed upward with its edge abutted against the tray edge support part 254 (see FIG. 11 and FIG. 18) of the lower die 25, first the lower die 25 comes into contact with the peripheral bottom plate of the upper die 24, then the edge of the tray T comes into contact with the metal plate 242a, and finally the film pushed up by the tray T comes into contact with the film cutting means 244. The upper die 24 has three upper die holes 245 for detecting the size of the die, and one of these holes is filled according to the size. The unfilled hole serves as a light-transmitting portion, and the filled hole serves as a light-shielding portion or a reflecting portion. When attaching the upper punch die 24 to the upper punch die folder 240, the cutout portions 248 provided at the left and right lower ends of the upper punch die 24 are placed on the rails 2401 on the left and right inner surfaces of the upper punch die folder 240, and then the upper punch die 24 can be easily loaded by sliding it (see also Figs. 10(d) and 10(f)). When removing the upper punch die 24 from the upper punch die folder 240, the lock release lever 24L shown in Fig. 9 is pressed downward to release the lock, and then the pull-out grip portion 24G is gripped and slid to remove the upper punch die 24, allowing easy removal.

[0031] 9 and 10 show the state where the upper die is loaded in the upper die folder and the state where the upper die is not loaded in the upper die folder. Fig. 9 shows the state where the upper die is loaded in the upper die folder, where Fig. 9(a) is a top view, Fig. 9(b) is a front view, Fig. 9(c) is a bottom view, Fig. 9(d) is an upper perspective view, Fig. 9(e) is a right side view, and Fig. 9(f) is a conceptual diagram showing a heat transfer member. Fig. 10 shows the state where the upper die is not loaded in the upper die folder, where Fig. 10(a) is a top view, Fig. 10(b) is a front view, Fig. 10(c) is a bottom view, Fig. 10(d) is an upper perspective view, Fig. 10(e) is a right side view, and Fig. 10(f) is an enlarged view of part D in Fig. 10(d). Unlike FIG. 8, FIG. 9 shows a state in which the upper die 24A corresponding to a "large" size tray is loaded. As can be seen by comparing Figures 9(b) and 10(b), or by comparing Figures 9(d) and 10(d), when the upper die 24 is loaded, the heater link 243 presses the heater means 241 downward, as shown in Figures 9(b) and 9(d), whereas when the upper die 24 is not loaded, the heater means 241 is positioned upward by a biasing means (not shown), as shown in Figures 10(b) and 10(d), so that the heater link 243 also jumps upward along with it. Fig. 9(c) shows that the metal plate 242 is composed of a protruding portion 242a having a size corresponding to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protruding portion 242a. Fig. 10(d) shows that the heater means 241 is positioned upward by a biasing means (not shown), and a hole for inserting a cartridge heater can be seen. While the metal plate 242 shown in Fig. 9(c) is widely expanded in all directions, the heater means 241 shown in Fig. 10(c) is not so expanded, especially not vertically. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 9(f), a heat transfer member HTM with good thermal conductivity and a size comparable to the expansion of the metal plate 242 is interposed between the heater means 241 and the metal plate 242, so that the area through which heat is transferred is effectively expanded.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 11(a) and FIG. 11(b), the lower die 25 is provided with a gas inlet 251 for performing a gas replacement process (gas flush), a gas diffusion step 2510 connected to the gas inlet 251, and an air outlet 252. The gas inlet 251 and the gas diffusion step 2510 are covered with a cover, so the gas inlet 251 and the gas diffusion step 2510 are drawn with dashed lines in FIG. 11(a). The gas diffusion step 2510 has a triangular shape when viewed from above, so that the gas is given a diffusibility that easily spreads in the lateral direction of the tray, as shown by the white arrow in the figure. In FIG. 18, F shown with a dashed line is a film and also indicates the film support surface. However, since a cover that covers the gas diffusion step 2510 and the like is located at the left end of the dashed line, only that portion is drawn with a solid line. 18, the gas is diffused by the gas diffusion step 2510, enters the tray T, and is sent to the rear, and then finally turns downward and is discharged from the multiple air exhaust ports 252. Note that while the gas inlet 251 is disposed at the front (corresponding to the long side of the tray), the air exhaust port 252 is disposed at the rear (corresponding to the opposing long side of the tray), but they may be configured to be disposed on the side corresponding to the short side of the tray (either on both the left and right sides or on one side). Also, although the air exhaust port 252 is configured to communicate downward, it may be configured to communicate rearward.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 11(a), the lower die 25 has three lower die holes 253 for detecting the size of the die, and one of these holes is filled according to the size. The unfilled holes serve as light-transmitting sections, and the filled holes function as light-shielding sections or reflecting sections. The tray T is raised by having its edge supported by a tray edge support section 254 provided inside the lower die 25. The center of the lower die 25 is penetrated vertically, and at this position, a container bottom support section 26 is fixedly provided to the housing (see Fig. 19).

[0034] A method of attaching and detaching the lower die will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing how the lower die is attached to and detached from the lower die folder. As shown in the figure, when the lower die 25 is loaded in the lower die folder 250, the lower die 25 can be easily attached to and detached from the lower die folder 250 by gripping the hole into which the tray falls inside the tray edge support part 254 of the lower die 25, that is, by gripping the gripping part with the surrounding parts, that is, the upper surface, the lower surface and the inner surface, as the gripping part.

[0035] The upper die 24, the upper die holder 240, and the lower die 25 work together to push up the tray T, perform a gas replacement process to extend the expiration date of the packaged product, and then perform packaging. This operation will be described. Figure 19 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the lower die is pushed up against the upper die, in which Figure 19(a) shows a state in which the lower die 25 has risen slightly from the lowest position, Figure 19(b) shows a state in which the lower die 25 has risen significantly and is in contact with the film F to form a closed space, and Figure 19(c) shows a state in which the lower die 25 continues to rise, and after contacting the metal plate 242, it further rises and the film F is cut (hollowed out) by the film cutting means 244. Partially enlarged views of parts B and C of Figures 19(b) and 19(c) are also shown below.

[0036] The tray T conveyed by the infeed bar IB from the weighing means 1 is initially supported at its bottom by the container bottom support part 26. After that, when the lower die 25 rises, the support of the bottom of the tray T by the container bottom support part 26 is taken over by the support of the edge of the tray T by the tray edge support part 254 of the lower die 25, as shown in FIG. 19(a). After that, when the lower die 25 rises to the position shown in FIG. 19(b), a closed space is formed by the lower die 25 and the film F, and an inert gas for replacing the air present in the space formed between the film F and the tray T is injected through the gas inlet 251 and the gas diffusion step part 2510, and instead, the air is discharged from the air outlet 252. This results in the gas replacement process (gas flush) for extending the expiration date of the packaged product. The lower die 25 continues to rise thereafter, and the edge of the tray T comes into contact with the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 (this state is not shown, and the lower die 25 is positioned at a height position between Figures 19(b) and 19(c)). In this state, while or after the top sealing is being performed, the lower die 25 continues to rise, and the excess length around the top-sealed film is cut off by the film cutting means 244. It can be seen from Figure 19(c) that the edges of the film F and tray T are clamped between the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 and the tray edge support part 254 of the lower die 25, and the blade of the film cutting means 244 is positioned below them. The mechanism by which the edge of the tray T first comes into contact with the metal plate 242 and then comes into contact with the film cutting means 244 is achieved by setting the downward biasing force of the metal plate 242 to be weaker than the biasing force of the film cutting means 244 and configuring the metal plate 242 to retreat upward relative to the film cutting means 244. Although not shown, when the lower die 25 descends, support of the edge of the tray T by the tray edge support parts 254 of the lower die 25 is taken over by support of the bottom surface of the tray T by the container bottom support parts 26, and then the tray T is transported to the subsequent region 3 by the in-feed bar IB.

[0037] (Regarding compatibility detection of upper and lower punch dies) As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, three types of upper and lower dies are prepared so as to be compatible with three types of trays T of different sizes, "large", "medium" and "small". The upper die 24 can be replaced by simply inserting it from the right side of the side panel SP, and the lower die 25 can be replaced by inserting it from the right side of the side panel SP and then dropping it down. Here, whether or not a die of the correct size is loaded is an issue. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, a device is provided to detect whether or not the correct upper die 24 and the correct lower die 25 are loaded. That is, the upper die 24 has three upper die holes 245 as shown in FIG. 8, and the lower die 25 has three lower die holes 253 as shown in FIG. 11. One of these holes is filled in accordance with the size. At the portions corresponding to both ends of the three holes, a light-emitting element is provided below the lower die 25, and a light-receiving element is provided above the upper die 24. In the portion corresponding to the center, a light-emitting element is provided above the upper die 24, and a light-receiving element is provided below the lower die 25. Normally, two lights should be received, but if the upper die 24 and the lower die 25 do not correspond, the light will be blocked by one of them, meaning that the upper and lower dies do not match, and this can be detected. On this premise, the size of the dies that are loaded together above and below can also be detected and determined according to the position of the hole, and if necessary, a notification is given by a notification means such as a display means, a voice guide, or communication with another external device.

[0038] In this embodiment, the light travel direction is opposite between the parts corresponding to both ends and the part corresponding to the center in order to suppress interference between adjacent lights, but if there is no risk of light interference, the directions of the three lights may be the same. Also, although one of the three holes is filled according to the size, two may be filled. However, filling one and detecting with two increases the possibility of determining various different situations, which is a desirable aspect. Furthermore, instead of a combination of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, a reflective sensor may be used, and in this case, the hole to be filled is a reflective part rather than a light-shielding part. Also, instead of an optical sensor, other optical means, for example, an imaging element, may be used to capture the characteristics of the upper and lower cutters and perform image analysis to make a judgment. In this case, even if the upper and lower cutters are not aligned and are in a mismatched state, it is possible to judge the upper and lower cutters separately. According to this embodiment with such a configuration, a highly effective packaging device can be provided without stopping the line due to incompatibility between the upper and lower cutters.

[0039] As a mode of problem occurrence, there may be other errors other than mismatch of the upper and lower die. In busy seasons, other work than packaging work may occur in the field, forcing the worker to do other work, or an inexperienced worker may operate the machine, which may result in a mistake of forgetting to load the die itself. Even if the die is loaded, the worker may think that the replacement is completed and try to resume the work. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the upper and lower die are not loaded, the light is not blocked from all three holes, so that the light emitted from the three light-emitting elements is detected by all three light-receiving elements. The state in which these three sensors are on is judged as a loading failure and this is notified, thereby preventing further work mistakes due to the loading failure of the upper and lower die.

[0040] As described above, the three holes can detect mismatches between the upper and lower dies and failure to load the upper and lower dies, but there are also cases where other types of mistakes can occur. If an interruption occurs during an exchange operation, it is possible that the upper die has been exchanged but the lower die has not been exchanged and is not loaded, or vice versa. Here, we will explain another example of detecting compatibility between the upper and lower dies, which assumes the occurrence of such mistakes.

[0041] FIG. 13 shows an example in which holes are provided at five different positions for the upper die hole 245 and the lower die hole 253. The fact that three upper die holes and three lower die holes are required for coincidence determination, and the mechanism of determining coincidence by turning on two sensors are the same as the example described above. In addition to this, in another example, a hole for determining whether the lower die is not loaded is provided in the upper die, and a hole for determining whether the upper die is not loaded is provided in the lower die. This allows the control means of the packaging device to determine whether the lower die is not loaded or the upper die is not loaded. Of course, it is also possible to determine whether both the upper and lower die are not loaded.

[0042] The mechanism of action of the determination will be explained. Here, the numbers 2 to 4 with circles (hereinafter, indicated as 02 to 04, etc.) are upper die holes for determining coincidence or lower die holes for determining coincidence. Also, 01 is a hole for determining whether the lower die is not loaded, and 05 is a hole for determining whether the upper die is not loaded. Note that the hole in the lower die facing the hole for determining whether the lower die is not loaded of the upper die 24 is filled, but it may be configured so that no hole is originally drilled. The same applies to the hole in the upper die facing the hole for determining whether the upper die is not loaded of the lower die 25.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 13(a), if the sensor output at the corresponding positions of O2 and O3 is on, it is determined that a large size die is loaded. Also, as shown in FIG. 13(b), if the sensor output at the corresponding positions of O2 and O4 is on, it is determined that a medium size die is loaded. Also, as shown in FIG. 13(c), if the sensor output at the corresponding positions of O3 and O4 is on, it is determined that a small size die is loaded. Also, although not shown, if there is only one sensor output that is on, it means that the sizes of the upper and lower dies are not consistent. In contrast, if there are three sensor outputs that are on, it means that neither the upper nor the lower dies are loaded. Note that the judgment method of the other example described so far has the same mechanism of action even in the example in which only three holes are provided as described above.

[0044] If only one of the upper and lower die is left unloaded, it cannot be detected by only three sensors. However, five sensors can detect it properly. That is, as can be seen from FIG. 13(d), when the sensor output of 〇1 is on, the upper die is loaded but the lower die is not loaded. On the other hand, as can be seen from FIG. 13(e), when the sensor output of 〇5 is on, the lower die is loaded but the upper die is not loaded. When neither the upper nor lower die is loaded, as explained above, the sensor outputs of 〇2 to 〇4 are on, but in addition to this, the sensor outputs of 〇1 and 〇5 are also on, and all five sensor outputs are on.

[0045] In both the example with three holes and the example with five holes, size information of the container linked to the product information is stored in an appropriate storage means, and it is possible to detect that the determined sizes of the upper and lower cutters are different from the size of the container linked to the called-up product information, and to notify the user by the notification means as necessary. In contrast, it is also possible to control the calling up of a product that does not correspond to the set cutter, so that the user is made aware that the cutter is not suitable by not being able to call up the product.

[0046] The means for determining the suitability of the die may not be an optical determination means, but may be one that uses another physical quantity, or may be one that uses a hole and another detection means in combination. For example, if a sensor (a contact switch, an electromagnetic sensor, or the like, does not matter in terms of the method) that detects that the upper die has been loaded is provided, the sensor of O5 shown in FIG. 13 can be omitted. In addition, a more intelligent means using an imaging element, or conversely, a primitive means, may be adopted. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the weight of the die is measured for determination, or a mark or number is written on the die so that the die number can be visually confirmed, or the confirmation mark may be composed of a strong adhesive sticker. Even if an imaging element is used, the determination may be made by reading a barcode displayed on the die, rather than the physical characteristics of the die itself. However, in a device that uses optical means or another physical quantity, if a sensor capable of identifying which upper and lower cutters are loaded is provided, it becomes possible to determine which sizes of cutters are loaded in the upper and lower cutter folders, and guidance on a display screen, which will be described later, becomes advantageous.Specific examples of sensors include physical sensors according to the sizes of each cutter, transmission sensors, camera means, etc., that can be appropriately adopted.

[0047] (Regarding the timing of judging the loading status of the upper and lower die) In this embodiment, the timing of determining the loading state of the upper and lower die is effectively determined while considering the characteristics of the packaging device. When changing the upper and lower die, the emergency stop button 8 is pressed to stop the packaging machine, and then the die and film are replaced. However, when the emergency stop button 8 is released after replacing the die, the type of die is determined, and if the upper and lower die are different, an error is notified. When the power is turned on, the type of die currently set is determined and the type of die set is displayed, so that the set die can be checked at all times. Furthermore, when replacing the die, a cleaning notification is issued, and if a cleaning command is issued upon receiving the notification, a purging process is performed to keep the gas injection port of the die clean. In addition, a gas detection sensor may be provided to check whether gas injection is being performed properly, or a test run may be performed to ensure that the air in the entire path up to the injection port is completely gaseous.

[0048] The timing of judging the loading state of the die (including judging whether the upper and lower die are not loaded and whether the upper and lower die are consistent or not) will be specifically described while showing an example of the layout of the display screen. First, the display (notification) of the die when the power is turned on will be described. When the device is not in operation, first, when the power is turned on, an initial screen such as a date and time confirmation screen is displayed, and then the main menu shown in FIG. 15(a) is displayed, and it is possible to select a "packaging and pricing mode" in which packaging and pricing are performed, a "packaging mode" in which only packaging is performed, and a "pricing mode" in which only pricing labels are issued without packaging. Here, an example of the screen immediately after the "pricing mode" is selected is shown. When the packaging operation and the pricing mode button for pricing are pressed, the device transitions to a reset mode (not shown) and a reset operation is performed, and during the reset operation, a judgment is made as to whether the upper and lower die are not loaded and whether the upper and lower die are consistent or not, and the judgment result is displayed or notified. The judgment timing can be changed to any timing, even if it is not during the reset operation, during the initial operation, while the main menu is being displayed, etc. In particular, since the packaging device includes a storage means for storing size information of containers linked to product information, it is convenient to provide a notification when the size of the loaded die is different from the size of the container linked to the called product information. However, the product information is called by checking the screen and displaying the next candidate and the candidates after that several times to determine the product. If the judgment and notification are performed each time a candidate is displayed before the determination, it is considered that the warning is excessive. Therefore, it is preferable to perform the judgment and notification when the product is placed on the weighing means. Alternatively, the judgment and notification may be performed when the product is placed and the weight is detected. However, it is not excluded to adopt a mode of notifying each time the product information is called. FIG. 14 shows an example of the display of the judgment result on the weighing screen, the details of which will be described later.

[0049] On the other hand, during normal packaging operations (hereinafter referred to as "normal times"), when replacing a die, it is necessary to wait for the die to cool down, and the timing of the judgment is naturally limited, since it is meaningless unless the judgment is made after an instruction for replacement is given. As described above, during normal times, by pressing the emergency stop button 8, the screen of FIG. 15(b) is displayed, heating of the upper die is stopped, and natural cooling is started. Note that a cooling means may be provided to perform forced cooling. As shown in FIG. 15(b), the guide screen displays that the current die is a large size, as well as the current die temperature, the appropriate replacement temperature, and the estimated time until the appropriate replacement temperature is reached. In addition, the display mode of the current die temperature may be changed to make it more noticeable unless the temperature is at the appropriate temperature. For example, while it is still necessary to wait for heating, a message saying "The temperature is 90°C. Please wait until it reaches 35°C" may be displayed in red, and when the appropriate temperature is reached, a message saying "Cooling has been completed" may be displayed in green.

[0050] When the temperature reaches the optimum temperature for replacement and cooling is completed, the screen in FIG. 16(a) is displayed. The guidance screen displays a message that the current die is a large size, and a message urging the user to press the "replace die" button to replace the die. When the "replace die" button is pressed, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention executes control to make it easier to replace the die by rotating the film support shaft in a loosening direction or rotating the winding side in a loosening direction to loosen the film. This is because the film and the upper die 24 are very close to each other, and there is a risk that the film will get caught when the upper die 24 is inserted or removed (see FIG. 5). The operator then performs the die replacement operation, and after the operation is completed, presses the "replacement completed" button (not shown). At this timing, the loading status of the upper and lower die dies is determined.

[0051] If the size of the upper and lower die matches as a result of the determination, for example, as shown in Fig. 16(b), the guide screen displays that the upper die and the lower die are both medium size, and the "Start heating" button is activated and displayed as being in a pressable state. Alternatively, the control may be such that heating is started together with a display of the start of heating without requiring a pressing operation. Furthermore, the control may be such that the start of heating is not even displayed, and heating is started if the upper die and the lower die match, and heating is not started if they do not match.

[0052] On the other hand, if the result of the judgment indicates that there is a problem with the loading state of the die, an error message is displayed prominently, along with the content of the error. For example, as shown in FIG. 17(a), a message is displayed indicating that the upper die is a large size while the lower die is a medium size, resulting in a size mismatch, along with a highlighted display of "die matching error." The "start heating" button is not activated and cannot be pressed. As another example, as shown in FIG. 17(b), a message is displayed indicating that the upper die is not loaded, along with a highlighted display of "die matching error." The "start heating" button is not activated and cannot be pressed. The display example here is a display corresponding to a configuration equipped with a sensor that can identify which upper and lower die are loaded. With a detection method using three or five holes, it is possible to determine whether the upper and lower dies do not match, but it is not possible to identify which die is loaded on the upper and lower parts. Nevertheless, this is still meaningful because an operator who sees the "die match error" display will check the actual loading status. Furthermore, if the result of judging the loading status of the upper and lower die is that the upper and lower die are incompatible or that the upper and lower die have not been loaded, the system is configured not to be able to switch to the weighing mode until the upper and lower die are replaced or the heating temperature reaches the appropriate level.

[0053] (Example of the judgment result displayed on the weighing screen) FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the display of the judgment result on the weighing screen. For the product name "Gauda Cheese," "Large (1)" is displayed in the "Tray Type Selection" field, and "Width 150 x Depth 150" is displayed in the "Tray Dimensions" field, so that an experienced worker can recognize that there is a size error. Incidentally, "Medium (2)" is "Width 150 x Depth 120," and "Small (3)" is "Width 120 x Depth 120." In addition, in order to make it easy for inexperienced workers to recognize that there is a size error, the display mode may be changed from the usual one to be displayed prominently, or a more straightforward message such as "Size error" may be displayed together. Furthermore, the error may be notified by voice. In addition, it also shows that the current "packaging mode" is the "packaging pricing mode" and that the "heat seal temperature" is "160°C." The temperature display may be made more noticeable by changing the display mode as long as the temperature is not yet at the appropriate temperature. For example, it may be possible to display the temperature in red while it is still necessary to wait for heating, and to change the display to green when the appropriate temperature is reached. When the "pricing mode" is selected as the "packaging mode", the packaging work is not performed, so the system is configured not to judge and notify whether the die size associated with the called product matches the loaded die size. Of course, the system may be configured to judge and notify for the packaging work to be performed later.

[0054] (Gas replacement treatment) Gas replacement processing to extend the expiration date of packaged goods is performed by replacing air with inert gas. Inert gas is used to extend the expiration date of food by adjusting the ratio of three types of gas: nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen. Oxygen may not seem necessary, but it is actually necessary to keep meat red. As mentioned above, gas can be efficiently delivered by a structure in which gas is injected between the film and the container while the upper and lower die are closed. That is, it is possible to shorten the gas injection time by injecting gas from the gas inlet 251 while evacuating the air from the air outlet 252 inside the die. In addition, since the gas inlet 251 is located on the side of the weighing means 1, gas can be injected from the same position even for die sizes of different sizes. Furthermore, since the gas inlet 251 and the air outlet 252 are provided in the film transport direction, the film can be reliably covered without shifting left and right. Here, only one type of film is prepared so that there is no need to change the film for each tray size. The same is true for the trays T, which are all the same width and differ only in depth, allowing for efficient use of film. However, multiple heights may be prepared. Conventionally, most gas replacement packaging methods involve injecting gas into the bag when it is made. The present embodiment is significantly more effective in that it injects gas into the bag while the film is sandwiched between the bag, achieving efficient gas replacement processing at the top seal. Also, a configuration may be made such that vacuum packaging can be selected by not injecting gas from the gas inlet 251 and evacuating the air from within the die through the air outlet 252. Furthermore, a configuration may be made such that neither gas injection nor air evacuation is performed, in other words, normal packaging can be selected.

[0055] The gas replacement time is configured to be automatically or manually changeable depending on the size of the tray T, which are three types: "large," "medium," and "small." In addition, the gas replacement time may be configured to be changed depending on the expiration date. The expiration date may be selected directly on the console 6, or a recommended expiration date may be linked to product information, and the gas replacement time may be automatically changed depending on the product selection. Furthermore, a plurality of gas inlets may be provided, for example, three inlets each dedicated to nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, so that the optimal gas ratio can be adjusted by setting or automatic control.

[0056] (About another embodiment) The embodiment described so far is for carrying out weighing, packaging, and labeling processes, but it may be configured to have a packaging-only mode in which only packaging processes are performed. The packaging-only mode is suitable for fixed-price products that do not require weighing. Since there is no need to transport to a rear area for labeling, in the packaging-only mode, the in-feed bar IB may be configured to rotate in the reverse direction after packaging processes and discharge a tray to the front side. Alternatively, it may be configured as a dedicated device that performs only packaging. Even in that case, it is included in the category of the technical idea of ​​performing gas replacement processes for extending the expiration date of the packaged items and packaging processes by top sealing at approximately the same time. Furthermore, the present invention also includes a device configuration that is specialized for packaging, rather than a mode switching to a packaging-only mode. In other words, the device may be configured as a dedicated device that performs only packaging processing by communicating with a separate device, without having components such as a weighing means, a console for the weighing means, and a labeling means.

[0057] In the embodiment described, the weighing means is provided in the front stage of the packaging means 2, but the weighing function may be provided at the position of the container bottom support part 26 (see FIG. 19) or in the rear stage area 3 (see FIG. 5). If the weighing function is provided in the rear stage area 3, weighing and labeling will be performed after packaging, and the weight to be weighed at this time will include the tray weight, film weight, and gas weight, so it is preferable to print the weight including these after tare subtraction. Note that when the weighing function is provided in the container bottom support part 26 or the rear stage area 3, the area indicated by the dashed line "1" in FIG. 4 will simply be a loading area for carrying the packaged items into the device.

[0058] It is also possible to provide the packaging means at the frontmost stage. That is, upper and lower die sets may be arranged in the area indicated by the dashed line "1" in Fig. 4, and the tray may be placed directly on the lower die, after which weighing and labeling may be performed. In this case, the weighing function is provided in the container bottom support section 26 or the rear stage area 3 described above. When this configuration is adopted, it is preferable to provide a shutter at the front portion of the frontmost stage, and close the shutter as soon as the tray is placed thereon, to ensure safety.

[0059] In the embodiment described above, the inert gas is filled by a gas flush, which blows gas to expel the air, but it may be replaced by a gas replacement (in the narrow sense) in which the air is removed and then the gas is introduced. This takes more time to inject than gas flushing, but is advantageous in terms of gas diffusion and the fact that the gas reaches every corner. In this case, the air exhaust port is first configured as a suction port for removing the air. In addition, in the embodiment described above, the film is suspended in the same direction as the weighing means 1, packaging means 2 and rear area 3 are vertically arranged from the front to the back of the device, and the tray width is set to a single size; however, the film may be suspended in a direction perpendicular to the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2 so that the tray width direction can be changed for each tray size.

[0060] <Overview of the embodiment> [Technical field] The present invention relates to a packaging device which covers a tray on which an item to be packaged is placed with a film and heat-seals the film to the edge of the tray. [Background technology] A conventional packaging device is one in which the food items to be packaged are placed on a weighing scale, then transported into trays fed onto a conveyor, and top-sealed onto a film lid on the tray, thereby performing top sealing on a large number of trays (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art document] [Patent documents] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-515654 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be solved by the invention] In the packaging device described in Patent Document 1, the weighing means and other means are arranged to protrude significantly along the production line outside the machine frame in which the packaging means is arranged, and no attention is paid to space saving at all. Specifically, the conveyor transports the packaged items over a wide area, so the entire device consisting of multiple means ends up occupying a large area. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to provide a packaging device which can greatly contribute to space saving by arranging multiple means related to the packaging process in one device body and by devising a conveying means. [Means for solving the problem] (1) As described above, one aspect of this embodiment is a packaging apparatus 100 that seals a film onto a container, comprising a weighing means 1 that weighs the container, a packaging means 2 that seals the weighed container with a film, a subsequent area 3 that is arranged downstream of the packaging means, and a conveying means IB that conveys the container from the weighing means 1 to the packaging means 2, wherein the conveying means IB conveys the container from the weighing means 1 to the packaging means 2 and also conveys the container from the packaging means to the subsequent area 3. According to the above configuration, the items to be packaged can be transported from the weighing means through the packaging means to the downstream area by a single transport means, which can greatly contribute to space saving and cost reduction.

[0061] (2) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device 100 described in (1), in which the container is transported to the packaging means, then retreats once, and the container is transported to the subsequent area after being sealed by the packaging means. According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the conveying operation and the packaging operation from interfering with each other.

[0062] (3) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device 100 described in (1), in which the conveying means IB is connected to a drive section from the front end of the weighing means 1 to the rear end of the packaging means 2. According to the above configuration, the structure of the conveying means can be simplified.

[0063] (4) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device 100 described in (1), in which the rear area 3 is a moving means for moving the container, and moves the container in a direction perpendicular to the conveying means IB. The above configuration contributes to space saving and is also convenient for the operator.

[0064] (5) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device 100 described in (1), in which the rear area 3 has a label attachment means 7 that attaches labels to the containers. According to the above configuration, the device configuration including the label sticking means can be arranged in a space-saving manner.

[0065] The packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention includes design changes and the like that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 100 Packaging equipment 1 Measuring means 11. Shutter 2 Packaging means 21 Film hanging means 211 Film holding means 212 Surplus film winding means 24 Upper cutting die 241 Heater means 242 Metal plate 243 Heater Link 244 Film cutting means 245 Upper punch hole 25 Lower die (gas replacement means) 251 Gas inlet 2510 Gas diffusion step 252 Air exhaust port 253 Bottom punching hole 26 Container bottom support part 3 Later area (transportation means) 4 1st discharge platform 5 Second discharge platform 6 Console 7 Labeling Method 8 Emergency Stop Button HTM Heat Transfer Materials T-Tray R Roll Film DR Dancer Roller IB Infeed bar (conveying means)

Claims

1. 1. A packaging apparatus for sealing a film to a container, comprising: A weighing means for weighing the container; a packaging means for sealing the weighed container with a film; a downstream region disposed downstream of the packaging means; a conveying means for conveying the container from the weighing means to the packaging means; The conveying means conveys the container from the weighing means to the packaging means, and also conveys the container from the packaging means to the downstream area. A packaging device comprising:

2. The conveying means conveys the container to the packaging means, retreats once, and conveys the container to the subsequent area after the container is sealed by the packaging means.

2. The packaging device according to claim 1.

3. The conveying means is connected to a drive unit from the front end of the weighing means to the rear end of the packaging means.

2. The packaging device according to claim 1.

4. The rear area includes a moving means for moving the container in a direction perpendicular to the conveying means.

2. The packaging device according to claim 1.

5. The rear area includes a labeling means for attaching a label to the container.

2. The packaging device according to claim 1.

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