Packaging device

Abstract

To provide a packaging device that can easily cut a packaging film even when a blade tip of a cutting blade for cutting the film becomes dull.SOLUTION: A packaging device comprises: a conveying part 300 that sandwiches a film F fed from a film roll between upper and lower belts, for conveying the film to a packaging position; a cutter 200; and a movement mechanism. The cutter comprising a cutting blade 210 for cutting the film is disposed on the upstream side at a position where the film is sandwiched between the upper and lower belts in a direction D of conveying the film by the conveying part. The movement mechanism moves the cutting blade between a standby position, and a cutting completion position P2 that is located on the downstream side of the standby position in the direction D, and that is a position of approaching the belts from the standby position when the cutting blade penetrates the film. The movement mechanism moves the cutting blade at the cutting completion position in such a manner that an angle A formed by the film on the downstream side of the cutting blade, and the cutting blade is smaller than an angle B formed by the film on the upstream side of the cutting blade, and the cutting blade.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-20700), there is known a packaging device that cuts a packaging film fed out from a film roll at a predetermined length and packages an article with the cut film.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] In such a packaging device, when the cutting edge of the cutting blade for cutting the film becomes dull, the film may be difficult to cut. There is a demand for a packaging device capable of reducing the occurrence of such problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] The packaging device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a conveying unit, a cutter, and a moving mechanism for the cutter. The conveying unit sandwiches the film fed out from the film roll between upper and lower belts and conveys the film to the packaging position by driving at least one of the upper and lower belts. The cutter has a cutting blade for cutting the film and a support portion for supporting the cutting blade. The cutter is disposed upstream of the position where the film is sandwiched between the upper and lower belts in the conveying direction of the film by the conveying unit. The moving mechanism moves the cutting blade between a standby position and a cutting completion position. The standby position is a position away from the upper and lower belts. The cutting completion position is located downstream of the standby position in the conveying direction and is a position where the cutting blade penetrates the film and approaches the belt more than the standby position. The moving mechanism moves the cutting blade so that an angle A formed by the film on the downstream side of the cutting blade and the cutting blade at the cutting completion position is smaller than an angle B formed by the film on the upstream side of the cutting blade and the cutting blade.

[0005] In the packaging device of the first aspect, since the moving mechanism moves the cutting blade so that the angle A is smaller than the angle B at the cutting completion position, in the process of the cutting blade moving to the cutting completion position, the cutting blade does not pull the upstream film to the downstream side, but the cutting blade pulls the downstream film held by the upper and lower belts of the conveying unit, so the cutting blade deeply pierces the film. Therefore, even if the tip of the cutting blade becomes dull, it is relatively easy to cleanly cut the film tightly held by the cutting blade.

[0006] The packaging device according to the second aspect of the present invention is the packaging device of the first aspect, and in the support portion, when the cutting blade is disposed at the cutting completion position, an opening into which a part of the belt enters is formed.

[0007] In the packaging device of the second aspect, since the belt enters the opening of the support portion, the cutting blade can be made to bite into the film in a state where the cutter is brought close to the belt in the film conveyance direction. As a result, in the packaging device of the second aspect, the angle A formed with the film at the time of cutting can be made particularly small, and even if the cutting blade becomes dull, the film is relatively easily cut cleanly.

[0008] The packaging device according to the third aspect of the present invention is the packaging device of the first aspect or the second aspect, and the moving mechanism of the cutter further bites the cutting blade into the film in a state where the cutting blade pierces the film, and cuts the film with the cutting blade.

[0009] In the packaging device of the third aspect, the film is relatively easily cut cleanly by the cutting blade.

[0010] The packaging device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the packaging device according to any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, and the moving mechanism moves the cutting blade between the standby position and the cutting completion position while maintaining the posture in which the plate-shaped support portion to which the cutting blade is attached is erected in the vertical direction.

[0011] When the cutting blade is brought closer to the belt while the support part is moved in a circular motion, as will be described later, depending on the posture of the support part, even if the degree of penetration of the cutting blade into the film increases, the angle formed between the film on the downstream side of the cutting blade and the cutting blade becomes a relatively large value, and there is a possibility that the film cannot be cut cleanly.

[0012] On the other hand, in the packaging device of the fourth aspect, the cutting blade is brought into contact with the film with the posture of the support part to which the cutting part is attached standing vertically, and while maintaining this posture, the cutting blade is brought closer to the belt to cause the cutting blade to penetrate into the film. Therefore, as the cutting blade moves to the cutting completion position, the angle formed between the film on the downstream side of the cutting blade and the cutting blade is gradually reduced, and the film can be cleanly cut by the cutting blade.

[0013] The packaging device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is any one of the packaging devices from the first aspect to the fourth aspect, and the film roll is rotatably supported.

[0014] Since the packaging device of the fifth aspect is configured to rotatably support the film roll, the support structure of the film roll can be simplified, and the attachment work of the film roll is also likely to be simplified. However, when the film roll is rotatable, depending on the film cutting conditions, there is a possibility that the film is not cut by the cutting blade, and only the film upstream of the cutting blade is fed out from the film roll due to the movement of the cutting blade.

[0015] On the other hand, since this packaging device has a configuration in which the cutter moves so that the angle A is smaller than the angle B at the cutting completion position to pull the constrained downstream film, such a situation is less likely to occur.

[0016] The packaging device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is any of the packaging devices from the first aspect to the fifth aspect, and further includes a control unit that controls the operations of the conveying unit and the moving mechanism. The control unit controls the conveying unit to convey the film in the conveying direction, and after executing the process of reducing the slack of the film between the film roll and the conveying unit, or while executing the process of reducing the slack of the film between the film roll and the conveying unit, the moving mechanism moves the cutting blade from the standby position to the cutting completion position.

[0017] When the cutting blade of the cutter contacts the film in a state where there is slack in the film between the film roll and the conveying unit, there is a possibility that the film will not be cut by the cutting blade and will only be pushed by the cutter to eliminate the slack of the film. In contrast, in the packaging device of the sixth aspect, such a situation can be suppressed by the process of reducing the slack of the film.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] In the packaging device of the present invention, even when the cutting edge of the cutting blade becomes dull, it is relatively easy to cut the film cleanly.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] The packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments shown below are examples, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0021] In the following description and drawings, for the sake of convenience of explanation, in order to explain directions, arrangements, etc., expressions such as "front (front side)", "rear (back side)", "left", "right", "up", "down", etc. may be used using the directions of the arrows shown in the drawings. Unless otherwise specified, these expressions do not limit the invention.

[0022] (1) Overall Overview The packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the object to be packaged. For example, it is a device that pushes up a tray (hereinafter referred to as product G) on which fresh food products or the like are placed and presses it against a stretch film (hereinafter simply referred to as film F) to package the product G with the film F. Specifically, the packaging device 100 measures the product G input from the input space Si, moves it backward after measurement, and then pushes up the product G toward the film F disposed at the upper packaging position PP. The packaging device 100 packages the product G with the film F by folding the peripheral edge of the film F against which the product G is pressed onto the bottom surface of the product G, and discharges it to the discharge space Sd. In the packaging device 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the input space Si is disposed at the lower front surface of the packaging device 100, and the discharge space Sd is disposed at the upper front surface of the packaging device 100.

[0023] The packaging device 100 mainly includes a weighing and loading device 10, a lifter 20, a supply unit 30, a cutter 200, a moving mechanism 250, a conveying unit 300, a clamping unit 400, a folding mechanism 40, a discharge pusher 50, a take-out table 70, and a control unit 80 (see FIGS. 1 to 5).

[0024] The weighing and loading device 10 is provided at the lower front center of the packaging device 100. The weighing and loading device 10 includes a weighing instrument 12 (see FIG. 2). The weighing instrument 12 weighs the weight of fresh food products or the like stored in the tray of the product G input into the input space Si. After the weight measurement, the weighing and loading device 10 pushes the product G backward by a loading member (not shown) driven by a driving unit (not shown) such as a motor, and moves the product G onto the movable mounting table 22 of the lifter 20.

[0025] The lifter 20 is arranged behind the weighing and loading device 10. The lifter 20 includes a movable mounting table 22 (see Fig. 2). When receiving the product G from the weighing and loading device 10, the upper surface of the movable mounting table 22 is arranged at the same or slightly lower position as the conveying surface on which the weighing and loading device 10 conveys the product G. The lifter 20 drives the movable mounting table 22 on which the product G is placed by a driving part (not shown) such as a motor and moves it upward to the upper packaging area PA, thereby moving the product G on the movable mounting table 22 upward. Specifically, the lifter 20 moves the product G to the upper packaging area PA and presses the product G against the film F that is held in a stretched state at the packaging position PP at the upper center of the packaging device 100. When the lifter 20 pushes up the product G from below the film F, the upper surface of the product G is covered by the film F. The folding members 46, 48 shown by the two-dot chain line that have retracted enter from the left and right directions below the bottom surface of the product G and fold the peripheral edge of the film F that protrudes from the periphery of the product G onto the bottom surface of the product G. Subsequently, the rear folding member 44 and the discharge pusher 50 that are waiting at the rear move forward and discharge the product G covered with the film F forward. The lifter 20 returns the movable mounting table 22 to the lower position where it receives the product G from the weighing and loading device 10.

[0026] The film F supply unit 30 is arranged at the upper left part of the packaging device 100 (see Fig. 1). As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the supply unit 30 includes a pair of support rollers 32 that hold the film roll R around which the film F is wound, and a guide mechanism 34 arranged below the holding position of the film roll R.

[0027] Both of the pair of support rollers 32 extend in the front-rear direction and are arranged side by side parallel to each other in the left-right direction. Above the pair of support rollers 32, the film roll R is placed. The support roller 32 is a free roller (a roller that does not require a power source) that can rotate in one direction. The pair of support rollers 32 rotatably supports the film roll R in the direction in which the film F is paid out.

[0028] The guide mechanism 34 guides the film F fed from the film roll R between the upper belt and the lower belt of the transport unit 300 (between the upper belt 316F and the lower belt 326F of the front transport unit 300F to be described later, and between the upper belt 316R and the lower belt 326R of the rear transport unit 300R to be described later).

[0029] The cutter 200 cuts the film F after the film F fed from the film roll R is transported to the packaging position PP by the transport unit 300. The cutter 200 (the cutting blade 210 of the cutter 200) is moved by the moving mechanism 250. Details of the cutter 200 and how the moving mechanism 250 moves the cutter 200 will be described later.

[0030] The transport unit 300 transports the film F to the right so that the film F fed from the film roll R is disposed at the packaging position PP (above the movable mounting table 22 of the lifter 20). Specifically, the transport unit 300 sandwiches the film F fed from the film roll R between the upper and lower belts and drives at least one of the upper and lower belts to transport the film F to the packaging position PP. Note that the transport direction of the film F transported by the transport unit 300 is hereinafter referred to as the transport direction D (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Details of the transport unit 300 will be described later.

[0031] The clamp unit 400 holds the film F in a stretched state after the film F is transported to the packaging position PP by the transport unit 300 and separated from the film extending from the film roll R by the cutter 200. Details of the clamp unit 400 will be described later.

[0032] The folding mechanism 40 folds the peripheral edge of the film F covering the upper part of the product G, which is the object to be packaged, onto the bottom surface of the product G (the bottom surface of the tray of the product G) in the packaging area PA.

[0033] The folding mechanism 40 includes a front folding member 42 disposed in front of the packaging area PA where the product G is packaged with the film F, a rear folding member 44 disposed behind the packaging area PA, a right folding member 46 disposed to the right of the packaging area PA, and a left folding member 48 disposed to the left of the packaging area PA. The front folding member 42 is a stationary rod-shaped member extending in the left-right direction, and the rear folding member 44, the right folding member 46, and the left folding member 48 are each movable plate-shaped members. When the lifter 20 presses the product G against the film F held at the packaging position PP, the rear folding member 44 moves forward, the right folding member 46 moves to the left, and the left folding member 48 moves to the right, each driven by a drive unit (not shown) such as a motor, thereby folding the film F disposed on the rear side, right side, and left side of the product G onto the bottom surface of the product G. The front folding member 42 contacts the film F disposed in front of the product G from the front when the discharge pusher 50 moves the product G covered with the film F upward and folded films F on the rear, right, and left sides onto the bottom surface of the product G forward, and folds the film F disposed in front of the product G onto the bottom surface of the product G. In this way, the product G is covered with the film F by the folding mechanism 40.

[0034] The discharge pusher 50 pushes out the product G covered with the film F toward the discharge space Sd. Specifically, the discharge pusher 50 is a pusher member 52 driven by a drive unit (not shown) such as a motor, and pushes the back of the product G forward to push out the product G covered with the film F into the discharge space Sd. When the discharge pusher 50 pushes out the product G into the discharge space Sd, a pressing member (not shown) contacts the product G from above (presses the product G) to suppress the fall of the product G. The pressing member moves back and forth together with the pusher member 52 when the pusher member 52 of the discharge pusher 50 moves back and forth.

[0035] The take-out table 70 is provided in the discharge space Sd and is a table on which the product G covered by the film F is conveyed by the discharge pusher 50. The take-out table 70 mainly has a placement plate 72 and a heater 74. The product G discharged into the discharge space Sd by the discharge pusher 50 moves on the placement plate 72. The heater 74 welds the film F folded on the bottom surface side of the product G when the product G is moved by the discharge pusher 50.

[0036] The control unit 80 is a device that controls the operations of each part of the packaging device 100. As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 80 is electrically connected to the metering and loading device 10, the lifter 20, the moving mechanism 250, the conveying unit 300, the clamping unit 400, the folding mechanism 40, the discharge pusher 50, and the heater 74. The control unit 80 includes an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU and storage devices such as a ROM and a RAM, and controls the operations of various devices 10, 20, 250, 300, 400, 40, 50, 74 by executing the programs stored in the storage devices.

[0037] In addition to the above configuration, the packaging device 100 has a label issuing device 92, a display 94, and an input unit 96. The label issuing device 92 generates a label for attaching to the film F on which the product name, weight, price, etc. of the product G are printed. The display 94 displays various information. The control unit 80 is electrically connected to the label issuing device 92, the display 94, and the input unit 96. The control unit 80 controls the operations of the label issuing device 92 and the display 94, and receives the operations and information input to the input unit 96.

[0038] (2) Detailed configuration Among the components of the packaging device 100, the details of the conveying unit 300, the clamping unit 400, the cutter 200, and the moving mechanism 250 will be described in detail.

[0039] (2-1) Conveying unit The conveying unit 300 includes a front conveying unit 300F that holds the vicinity of the front end of the film F and conveys the film F to the right, and a rear conveying unit 300R that holds the vicinity of the rear end of the film F and conveys the film F to the right. The front conveying unit 300F includes an upper belt 316F and a lower belt 326F (see FIG. 3). The rear conveying unit 300R includes an upper belt 316R and a lower belt 326R (see FIG. 4). Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the conveying unit 300 includes pulleys 312, 314, 322, and pulley 324 that extend in the front-rear direction and are common to the front conveying unit 300F and the rear conveying unit 300R. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pulley 312 and the pulley 322 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, and the pulley 314 and the pulley 324 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. Gears that mesh with each other are attached to the rotation shafts of the pulley 312 and the pulley 322, and when one pulley 312 is rotationally driven, the other pulley 322 is also configured to be rotationally driven. Further, the upper belt 316F and the upper belt 316R are wound around the pulley 312 and the pulley 314. The lower belt 326F and the lower belt 326R are wound around the pulley 322 and the pulley 324. Among the four pulleys, the pulley 312 is rotationally driven by a conveying drive unit 350 such as a motor. However, the pulley directly rotationally driven by the conveying drive unit 350 may be the other pulley 322.

[0040] FIG. 6 is a side view showing the upper belt 316F wound around the pulley 312 and the lower belt 326F wound around the pulley 322 as viewed from the left side. As depicted in FIG. 6, the upper belt 316 includes a plurality of round belts 317, and the lower belt 326 includes a plurality of round belts 327. The round belts 317 and 327 are string-shaped belts with a circular cross-section. In FIG. 6, the number of both the round belt 317 and the round belt 327 is three, but the number is for illustration and does not limit the present disclosure. The plurality of round belts 317 are wound around the pulleys 312 and 314 at intervals in the front-rear direction, and the plurality of round belts 327 are wound around the pulleys 322 and 324 at intervals. The round belts 317 and 327 arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction are arranged alternately and adjacent to each other as shown in FIG. 6.

[0041] Although illustration and detailed description are omitted, the upper belt 316R wound around the pulley 312 includes a plurality of round belts 317, the lower belt 326R wound around the pulley 322 includes a plurality of round belts 327, and the rear conveying unit 300R has the same configuration as the front conveying unit 300F.

[0042] In the conveying unit 300, when the pulley 312 is rotationally driven by the conveying drive unit 350, the upper belt 316F and the upper belt 316R wound around the pulley 312 travel in the conveying direction D, and accordingly, the pulley 314 rotates. Further, when the pulley 312 rotates, the pulley 322 rotates via a gear (not shown), and accordingly, the lower belt 326F and the lower belt 326R travel in the conveying direction D, and accordingly, the pulley 324 rotates.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 7, the supply unit 30 guides the film F to the vicinity of the belt of the transport unit 300 by the guide mechanism 34, and supplies the film F from the left to between the upper belt 316F and the lower belt 326F of the front transport unit 300F and between the upper belt 316R and the lower belt 326R of the rear transport unit 300R. The transport unit 300 rotates the pulley 312 by the transport drive unit 350 to rotate the upper belts 316F, 316R and the lower belts 326F, 326R as described above, and thus sandwiches the film F fed from the film roll R of the supply unit 30 between the upper belt 316F and the lower belt 326F and between the upper belt 316R and the lower belt 326R, and transports it in the transport direction D to the packaging position PP.

[0044] Note that instead of a plurality of round belts 317, 327, a single flat belt may be provided. However, when a plurality of round belts 317 and a plurality of round belts 327 are arranged alternately to sandwich the film F, as shown in FIG. 6, the film F is held in a state of meandering in an S shape by the round belts 317 and 327 in a side view, so that the transport unit 300 can firmly hold and transport the film F.

[0045] (2-2) Clamping part The clamping part 400 includes a front clamping part 400F that holds the vicinity of the front end of the film F arranged at the packaging position PP, and a rear clamping part 400R that holds the vicinity of the rear end of the film F arranged at the packaging position PP. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the front clamping part 400F includes a fixing member 410F and a plurality of movable members 420F arranged side by side in the left-right direction. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the rear clamping part 400R includes an upper member 410R and a plurality of lower members 420R arranged side by side in the left-right direction. Note that the numbers of the fixing members 410F, 410R and the movable members 420F, 420R shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8 are examples, and are not limited to the illustrated numbers, and may be appropriately determined.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 3, the fixed member 410F is disposed above the portion where the upper belt 316F and the lower belt 326F sandwich the film F and adjacent to the upper side of the upper belt 316F. The movable member 420F is disposed below the portion where the upper belt 316F and the lower belt 326F sandwich the film F and below the lower belt 326F. The movable member 420F is disposed at a position facing the fixed member 410F such that the portion where the upper belt 316F and the lower belt 326F sandwich the film F is disposed between the fixed member 410F and the movable member 420F.

[0047] The movable member 420F is driven by a clamp driving unit 450 such as an electromagnetic solenoid and is configured to be movable between a lower position and an upper position. When the film F is conveyed by the conveying unit 300, the movable member 420F is disposed at a lower position away from the lower belt 326F. On the other hand, when the conveying unit 300 conveys the film F to the packaging position PP, the clamp unit 400 moves the movable member 420F to the upper position by the clamp driving unit 450, and holds the upper belt 316F and the lower belt 326F and the vicinity of the front end of the film F sandwiched therebetween by the upper belt 316F and the lower belt 326F between the movable member 420F and the stationary fixed member 410F.

[0048] Since the configuration of the rear clamp portion 400R that holds the vicinity of the rear end of the film F disposed at the packaging position PP is the same as the configuration of the front clamp portion 400F that holds the vicinity of the front end of the film F disposed at the packaging position PP, the description thereof is omitted here.

[0049] (2-3) Cutter and Moving Mechanism The cutter 200 is disposed upstream of the position Pc where the film F is sandwiched between the upper and lower belts of the conveying unit 300 in the conveying direction D of the film F by the conveying unit 300 (see FIG. 7). Explaining with reference to FIG. 7, the cutter 200 is disposed to the left of the position Pc.

[0050] The moving mechanism 250 includes a rotary arm 270 that moves up and down by means of an electromagnetic solenoid or the like, and a parallel link mechanism 260. The rotary arm 270 and the parallel link mechanism 260 are not connected. When the rotary arm 270 moves up and down, the parallel link mechanism 260 is bounced upward about the rotation axis RS1. As a result, the cutter 200 (particularly, the cutting blade 210 described later) is translated in the vertical direction in parallel.

[0051] The cutter 200 has a cutting blade 210 for cutting the film F and a support portion 220 for supporting the cutting blade 210. The support portion 220 is a plate-shaped member extending in the longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction. The cutting blade 210 is attached to an end portion (the upper end portion in the present embodiment) on the side facing the film F among the upper and lower end portions of the support portion 220. The cutting blade 210 is preferably a serrated blade (a saw-toothed blade) as shown in FIG. 9. The support portion 220 and the cutting blade 210 may be separate members or integrally formed. Preferably, the support portion 220 is attached to the parallel link mechanism 260 such that the cutting edge of the cutting blade 210 faces vertically upward. The cutting blade 210 of the cutter 200 translates between a standby position P1 and a cutting completion position P2. The standby position P1 is a position away from the upper and lower belts 316F, 316R, 326F, 326R of the conveying portion 300 (compared to the cutting completion position P2) (FIG. 10(a)). The cutting completion position P2 is located downstream of the standby position P1 in the conveying direction D of the conveying portion 300, and is a position where the cutting blade 210 (finally) penetrates the film F and approaches the belts 316F, 316R, 326F, 326R more than the standby position P1 (FIG. 10(b)). In the present embodiment, the cutting completion position P2 is above the standby position P1.

[0052] The moving mechanism 250 of the present disclosure moves the cutting blade such that, when the film F is viewed along the longitudinal direction of the cutting blade 210 in which the serrated blades of the cutting blade 210 are aligned, at the cutting completion position P2, the angle A formed by the film F on the downstream side of the cutting blade 210 and the cutting blade 210 is smaller than the angle B formed by the film F on the upstream side of the cutting blade 210 and the cutting blade 210 (see FIG. 11).

[0053] The effect of configuring the packaging device 100 so as to satisfy the relationship of angle A < angle B will be described.

[0054] First, the cutter in the conventional packaging device is attached so as to move in a circular motion around, for example, the rotation axis RS1 in FIG. 10. Therefore, the cutter moves in such a manner that the relationship of angle A ≧ angle B is satisfied at the position corresponding to the cutting completion position of the present application (see the movement locus of the cutting blade drawn by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 13). With such a configuration, since the belt of the conveying unit 300 restrains the film F, it was considered that the cutter could easily cut the film F. And even with such a configuration, if the cutting blade is a serrated blade, it is possible to cut the film F.

[0055] However, when the relationship of angle A ≧ angle B holds, the component of the force that the cutter pulls the film F on the upstream side of the cutting blade tends to increase. Therefore, for example, when the cutting edge of the cutting blade becomes dull or there is slack in the film F on the upstream side of the cutting blade, the cutting blade does not penetrate sufficiently into the film F, and the film F may not be cut or may not be cut cleanly.

[0056] On the other hand, in this packaging device 100, the cutting blade 210 moves so as to push up the film F close to the restrained film so as to satisfy the relationship of angle A < angle B at the cutting completion position P2. Therefore, even if the cutting edge of the cutting blade 210 becomes somewhat dull, the cutting blade 210 deeply penetrates into the film F sandwiched between the upper and lower belts in the process of the cutting blade 210 moving to the cutting completion position P2. Particularly when the cutting blade 210 is a serrated blade, a perforated cutting portion is formed at the contact portion of the cutting blade 210 of the film F, and finally, the perforated cutting portions are continuous to form a cutting surface, and the film F is cut.

[0057] Furthermore, in order to make the film F more easily cut by reducing the angle A, it is preferable that the cutting blade 210 approaches the belts 316F, 316R, 326F, 326R of the conveying unit 300 as closely as possible in the left - right direction. However, if the cutter 200 is moved in this way, there is a risk that the support unit 220 will contact the belts 316F, 316R, 326F, 326R of the conveying unit 300. Therefore, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 9 and the cross - sectional view of the cutter 200 in FIG. 11, an opening 222 is preferably formed in the support unit 220 into which a part of the belts 316F, 316R, 326F, 326R (in the examples of FIGS. 9 and 11, a part of the belts 326F, 326R) enters when the cutting blade 210 is disposed at the cutting completion position P2.

[0058] (3) Film cutting process The operation of the packaging device 100 when cutting the film F used for packaging will be described.

[0059] When the conveying unit 300 conveys the film F to the packaging position PP, the control unit 80 controls the operation of the conveying unit 300 to stop the conveyance of the film F (step S1). The control unit 80 moves the guide mechanism 34 (see FIG. 7) of the supply unit 30 that was close to the vicinity of the pulley 312 to supply the film F to the conveying unit 300 to a position away from the pulley 312 using a driving unit such as a motor or an electromagnetic solenoid (not shown) (see FIG. 10).

[0060] Next, the conveying unit 300 executes a process for reducing the slack of the film F between the film roll R and the conveying unit 300 (referred to as the slack reduction process) (step S2). The reason for performing the slack reduction process is that when the position of the guide mechanism 34 is changed, the film F may become slack, or even when the conveying unit 300 stops, the film roll R may not stop immediately and the film F may be excessively fed out from the film roll R, causing the film F to become slack. As described above, the slack of the film F may have an adverse effect on the cutting of the film F.

[0061] The control unit 80 controls, for example, the transport unit 300 to transport the film F by a small amount in the transport direction D, thereby reducing the slack of the film F between the film roll R and the transport unit 300. Preferably, the control unit 80 controls the transport unit 300 to transport the film F at a lower speed than normal (compared to the case of transporting the film F to the packaging position PP).

[0062] In the flowchart of FIG. 12, after the execution of the slack reduction process, the moving mechanism 250 moves the cutting blade 210 from the standby position P1 to the cutting completion position P2. During the execution of the slack reduction process, the control unit 80 may control the operation of the cutter drive unit 270 of the moving mechanism 250 to move the cutting blade 210 from the standby position P1 to the cutting completion position P2.

[0063] In step S3, the control unit 80 operates the rotary arm 270 to move the cutting blade 210 from the standby position P1 to the cutting completion position P2. Before the cutting blade 210 reaches the cutting completion position P2, it contacts the film F, and the cutting edge (serrated blade) of the cutting blade 210 pierces the film F (step S4). Further, as the cutting blade 210 penetrates into the film F, the film F is cut and separated from the film F connected to the film roll R.

[0064] When the cutting blade 210 reaches the cutting completion position P2 (step S5), the control unit 80 returns to the original initial position, and accordingly, the cutting blade 210 also moves to the standby position P1 (step S6).

[0065] (4) Features (4-1) The packaging device 100 includes a conveying unit 300, a cutter 200, and a moving mechanism 250 for the cutter 200. The conveying unit 300 sandwiches the film F fed from the film roll R between the upper belts 316F, 316R and the lower belts 326F, 326R, and drives at least one of the upper and lower belts of the conveying unit 300 (hereinafter, the reference numerals for the belts are omitted) to convey the film F to the packaging position PP. The cutter 200 has a cutting blade 210 for cutting the film F and a support portion 220 for supporting the cutting blade 210. The cutter 200 is disposed upstream of the position Pc where the film F is sandwiched between the upper and lower belts of the conveying unit 300 in the conveying direction D of the film F by the conveying unit 300. The moving mechanism 250 moves the cutting blade 210 between a standby position P1 and a cutting completion position P2. The standby position P1 is a position away from the upper and lower belts of the conveying unit 300. The cutting completion position P2 is located downstream of the standby position P1 in the conveying direction D, and is a position where the cutting blade 210 penetrates the film F and approaches the belt of the conveying unit 300 from the standby position P1. The moving mechanism 250 moves the cutting blade 210 at the cutting completion position P2 such that an angle A formed by the film F on the downstream side of the cutting blade 210 and the cutting blade 210 is smaller than an angle B formed by the film F on the upstream side of the cutting blade 210 and the cutting blade 210.

[0066] In this packaging device 100, in the process of the cutting blade 210 moving to the cutting completion position P2, the cutting blade 210 does not pull the upstream film F downstream, but deeply pierces the film F held by the upper and lower belts of the conveying unit 300 and the cutting blade 210. Therefore, even if the cutting edge of the cutting blade 210 becomes dull, it is relatively easy to cleanly cut the film F with the cutting blade 210.

[0067] (4-2) Preferably, an opening 222 into which a part of the belt of the conveying unit 300 enters is formed in the support portion 220 when the cutting blade 210 is disposed at the cutting completion position P2.

[0068] In this packaging device 100, since the belt enters the opening 222 of the support portion 220, the cutting blade 210 can be made to bite into the film F in a state where the cutter 200 is brought close to the belt of the conveying portion 300 in the conveying direction D. As a result, in this packaging device 100, the angle A formed by the film F at the time of cutting can be made particularly small, and even if the cutting blade 210 becomes dull, the film F is relatively easily cut cleanly.

[0069] (4-3) The moving mechanism 250 moves the cutting blade 210 between the standby position P1 and the cutting completion position P2 while maintaining the posture in which the plate-shaped support portion 220 to which the cutting blade 210 is attached (the upper end portion in this embodiment) is erected in the vertical direction.

[0070] In this packaging device 100, the cutting blade 210 is brought into contact with the film F with the posture of the support portion 220 to which the cutting blade 210 is attached erected in the vertical direction, and while maintaining the posture, the cutting blade 210 is made to bite into the film. Therefore, as the cutting blade 210 moves toward the cutting completion position P2, the angle formed by the film F on the downstream side of the cutting blade 210 and the cutting blade 210 is gradually reduced, and the film F can be cleanly cut by the cutting blade 210.

[0071] (4-4) The packaging device 100 includes a control unit 80 that controls the operations of the conveying unit 300 and the moving mechanism 250. The control unit 80 preferably controls the conveying unit 300 to convey the film F in the conveying direction D, and after executing a process (slack reduction process) for reducing the slack of the film F between the film roll R and the conveying unit 300, or while executing the slack reduction process, the moving mechanism 250 moves the cutting blade 210 from the standby position P1 to the cutting completion position P2.

[0072] When the cutting blade 210 of the cutter 200 comes into contact with the film F in a state where there is slack in the film F between the film roll R and the conveying unit 300, there is a possibility that the film F will not be cut by the cutting blade 210, but will only be pushed by the cutter 200 to eliminate the slack in the film F. In contrast, in this packaging apparatus 100, such a situation can be suppressed by reducing the slack in the film F.

[0073] (5) Variation The following shows variations of the above-described embodiment. As long as they do not conflict with each other, any aspect shown in the above embodiment and the following variations may be combined. Also, the following variations may be combined as appropriate as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0074] (5-1) Variation A In the above embodiment, the cutting blade 210 is attached to the upper end of the support portion 220, the cutting completion position P2 is located above the standby position P1, and when cutting the film F, the cutting blade 210 moves from below upward.

[0075] However, the structure of the cutter 200 and the operation of the cutting blade 210 are not limited to such an aspect. For example, the cutting blade 210 may be attached to the lower end of the support portion 220 with the cutting edge facing downward, and the cutting completion position may be below the standby position. And the moving mechanism 250 may move the cutting blade 210 disposed at the upper standby position to the lower cutting completion position (contacting the film F from above) to cut the film F when cutting the film F.

[0076] (5-2) Variation B In the above embodiment, the moving mechanism 250 moves the cutting blade 210 between the standby position P1 and the cutting completion position P2 while maintaining the posture in which the plate-shaped support portion 220 to which the cutting blade 210 is attached is erected in the vertical direction.

[0077] However, the mode of movement of the cutting blade 210 is not limited to such a mode. When the relationship of the above angle A < angle B can be satisfied at the cutting completion position P2, the moving mechanism 250 may move the cutting blade 210 between the standby position P1 and the cutting completion position P2 while changing the posture of the support portion 220 or while maintaining a posture other than when the support portion 220 is erected in the vertical direction.

Explanation of Signs

[0078] 80 Control unit 200 Cutter 210 Cutting blade 220 Support portion 222 Opening 250 Moving mechanism 300 Conveying unit 316F, 316R Upper belt (belt) 326F, 326R Lower belt (belt) D Conveying direction F Film P1 Standby position P2 Cutting completion position PP Packaging position R Film roll

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0079]

Patent Document 1

Claims

1. A conveying unit that sandwiches the film fed from the film roll between upper and lower belts and drives at least one of the upper and lower belts to convey the film to a packaging position; A cutting blade for cutting the film, and a support portion for supporting the cutting blade, and a cutter disposed upstream of the position where the film is sandwiched between the upper and lower belts in the conveying direction of the film by the conveying unit; A moving mechanism of the cutter that moves the cutting blade between a standby position away from the upper and lower belts and a cutting completion position located downstream of the standby position in the conveying direction and where the cutting blade penetrates the film and approaches the belt from the standby position; comprising; In the cutting completion position, the moving mechanism moves the cutting blade so that an angle A formed by the film on the downstream side of the cutting blade and the cutting blade is smaller than an angle B formed by the film on the upstream side of the cutting blade and the cutting blade; Packaging device.

2. The support portion is formed with an opening into which a part of the belt enters when the cutting blade is disposed at the cutting completion position. The packaging device according to claim 1.

3. The moving mechanism further penetrates the cutting blade into the film in a state where the cutting blade is stabbed into the film to cut the film with the cutting blade. The packaging device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The moving mechanism moves the cutting blade between the standby position and the cutting completion position while maintaining the posture in which the plate-shaped support portion to which the cutting blade is attached is erected in the vertical direction. The packaging device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The film roll is rotatably supported. The packaging device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. further comprising a control unit for controlling the operations of the conveying unit and the moving mechanism, after executing a process of controlling the conveying unit to convey the film in the conveying direction to reduce the slack of the film between the film roll and the conveying unit, or while executing a process of reducing the slack of the film between the film roll and the conveying unit, the moving mechanism moves the cutting blade from the standby position to the cutting completion position, The packaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

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