Reverse pillow wrapping machine

Abstract

To provide a reverse pillow wrapping machine that reduces the occurrence of defects, improves work efficiency, and reduces costs.SOLUTION: The reverse pillow wrapping machine is provided with: an upstream-side wrapping film guideway 32 where a product 16 is placed on a wrapping film 10; and a downstream-side wrapping film guideway 34 which is separated and arranged in close proximity to the upstream-side wrapping film guideway 32 and where the product 16 is replaced from the upstream-side wrapping film guideway 32. The upstream-side wrapping film guide way 32 is configured to convey the wrapping film 10 with the entire area formed as a flat plane, and a former 20 is arranged on the upstream of the downstream-side wrapping film guide way 34 in a conveying direction. When a worker manually places the product 16 on the wrapping film 10 conveyed by the upstream-side wrapping film guide way 32, the product 16 can be placed on the wrapping film 10 whose entire area is a flat plane.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an inverted pillow packaging machine that packages products supplied manually with a packaging film.

Background Art

[0002] As a pillow packaging machine that packages products while transporting a packaging film in the horizontal direction, an inverted pillow packaging machine is provided that places the product on the packaging film and wraps it from below. The inverted pillow packaging machine forms a pair of standing portions that stand upward from both sides of the central portion in the width direction of the packaging film on which the product is placed by a former while transporting the packaging film in the horizontal direction, and joins the tips of the pair of standing portions by a longitudinal seal portion to form a longitudinal seal to form the packaging film into a tubular film, forms a transverse seal on the tubular film located between the products by a transverse seal portion, and forms a packaging bag enclosing the product by cutting the tubular film portion where the transverse seal is formed by a cutting portion. In such an inverted pillow packaging machine, there are a method of supplying products with a product supply conveyor (see Patent Document 1) and a method in which an operator manually places the products on the packaging film (see Patent Document 2). In the method of using a product supply conveyor, it is necessary to prepare a conveyor separately from the packaging machine, which is a drawback in that the cost increases. In the method in which an operator manually places the products on the packaging film, generally, while a strip-shaped film is erected upward on both sides by a former and a longitudinal seal is performed by a longitudinal sealer, that is, between the former and the longitudinal sealer, the operator places the products aiming at the pattern printed on the packaging film. Therefore, since a product supply conveyor is not required, it is advantageous in reducing costs.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In such an inverted pillow packaging machine that manually places products, there are the following problems. That is, as the product becomes larger, the position of the tip of the pair of standing parts becomes higher. Therefore, when the fingers holding the product are caught on the tip of the standing part, the packaging film is distorted, the position of the product with respect to the packaging film is displaced, and this causes packaging defects. In addition, when the packaging film is distorted, the height of the tips of the pair of standing parts is displaced, which causes a longitudinal seal defect. Also, when the oil contained in the product such as food adhering to the fingers adheres to the tip of the standing part, it also causes a longitudinal seal defect. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully perform the operation at a low conveyance speed of the packaging film so that the fingers are not caught on the tips of the pair of standing parts, and there is a concern that the work efficiency will be reduced. In addition, in the conventional inverted pillow packaging machine, since the product is placed on the central portion in the width direction of the packaging film in which the pair of standing parts are formed, a pair of guide plates for holding the pair of standing parts formed on the packaging film are required. Therefore, it is disadvantageous in reducing the cost of the inverted pillow packaging machine. The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances. The object of the present invention is to provide an inverted pillow packaging machine that suppresses the occurrence of defects, improves work efficiency, and is advantageous in reducing costs.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To achieve the above object, an embodiment of the present invention is an inverted pillow packaging machine comprising a packaging film conveying unit that conveys a packaging film and on which products are placed at regular intervals in the center in the width direction of the packaging film, a former that forms a flat central portion on the conveyed packaging film and forms a pair of standing portions that stand up from both sides of the central portion, a longitudinal seal portion that joins the tips of the pair of standing portions to form a tubular film from the packaging film, a transverse seal portion that forms a transverse seal at a location of the tubular film located between the products, and a cutting portion that forms a packaging bag enclosing the product by cutting the location of the tubular film where the transverse seal is formed. The packaging film conveying unit includes an upstream packaging film guide path on which the product is placed on the packaging film, a downstream packaging film guide path that is separated and arranged in a state close to the upstream packaging film guide path and to which the product is transferred from the upstream packaging film guide path, and a conveying drive unit that conveys the packaging film. The upstream packaging film guide path is configured to convey the packaging film with its entire area as a flat plane. The former is disposed upstream of the downstream packaging film guide path in the conveying direction of the packaging film in the packaging film conveying unit, and the longitudinal seal portion, the transverse seal portion, and the cutting portion are disposed downstream of the former in the conveying direction. Below the boundary between the downstream end of the upstream packaging film guide path and the upstream end of the downstream packaging film guide path, an intermediate packaging film guide path is provided that guides the packaging film downward from the downstream end of the upstream packaging film guide path and then to the upstream end of the downstream packaging film guide path. A tension mechanism that applies tension to the packaging film guided to the upstream end of the downstream packaging film guide path and a length adjustment mechanism that adjusts the length of the intermediate packaging film guide path are provided in the intermediate packaging film guide path, which is characterized in that. Further, an embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the former is disposed at the upstream end of the downstream packaging film guide path. Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, the length adjustment mechanism includes a rotatable adjustment roller provided so as to be position - adjustable in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the packaging film in the packaging film conveyance unit around which the packaging film is wound. Also, in one embodiment of the present invention, a film feeding unit for feeding the packaging film wound around the adjustment roller is provided in the intermediate packaging film guide path, and the tension mechanism includes a tension roller that applies tension to the packaging film guided from the film feeding unit and guides it to the upstream end of the downstream - side packaging film guide path. Also, in one embodiment of the present invention, the tension mechanism includes a tension roller that applies tension to the packaging film guided from the film feeding unit and guides it to the upstream end of the downstream - side packaging film guide path. In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, the upstream - side packaging film guide path includes a table that extends in the conveyance direction of the packaging film in the upstream - side packaging film guide path and on which the packaging film is conveyed. A marker for indicating the placement position where the product should be placed is formed on the table by projecting light onto the conveyed packaging film, and a placement position indicating portion for moving the position of the marker in synchronization with the conveyance speed of the packaging film is provided. Also, in one embodiment of the present invention, designs are formed at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the packaging film that constitutes the outer surface of the packaging bag, and the formation of the marker on the packaging film by the placement position indicating portion is made corresponding to the positions of the designs.

Advantages of the Invention

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when an operator manually places a product on the packaging film conveyed in the upstream - side packaging film guide path, the product can be placed on the packaging film that has become a flat plane throughout its area. Therefore, in order to prevent the fingers holding the product from getting caught on the front parts of the upright portions or the guide plates, which may cause the packaging film to be distorted, the position of the product with respect to the packaging film to shift, and packaging defects to occur; also, in order to prevent the front heights of the pair of upright portions from shifting due to the distortion of the packaging film, which may cause longitudinal seal defects; and also, in order to prevent oil contained in products such as food adhering to the fingers from adhering to the front parts of the upright portions, which may cause longitudinal seal defects, it is of course advantageous. Since there is no need to carefully perform the operation at a low conveyance speed of the packaging film so that the fingers are not caught on the front parts of the pair of upright portions, it is possible to facilitate the operation while increasing the conveyance speed of the packaging film, which is advantageous for improving the working efficiency. Also, since a pair of guide plates for holding the pair of upright portions formed on the packaging film, which were necessary in the past, can be omitted, it is advantageous for reducing the cost of the reverse pillow packaging machine. In addition, since the packaging film itself conveyed in the upstream-side packaging film guide path functions as a conveyor for transferring the product, there is no need to separately provide a conveyor for transferring the product, which is advantageous for simplifying the configuration and reducing the cost of the reverse pillow packaging machine. Also, by adjusting the length of the intermediate packaging film guide path with the length adjustment mechanism, when the product is transferred from the downstream end of the upstream-side packaging film guide path to the upstream end of the downstream-side packaging film guide path, the positional relationship between the product and the design such as the product name and pattern formed on the packaging film can be maintained. Therefore, even though the product is transferred from the upstream-side packaging film guide path, which is separated from each other, to the downstream-side packaging film guide path, the position of the design such as the product name and pattern formed on the surface of the packaging film and the product in the downstream-side packaging film guide path can be surely matched, which is advantageous for improving the quality and appearance of the packaging bag. Also, when the former is arranged at the upstream end of the downstream-side packaging film guide path, it is advantageous for compacting the entire length along the conveyance direction of the downstream conveyance guide portion, and it is advantageous for miniaturizing the reverse pillow packaging machine. Furthermore, if the length adjustment mechanism is configured to include an adjust roller that is arranged so that its position can be adjusted in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the packaging film in the packaging film conveying section, the length of the intermediate packaging film guide path can be adjusted over a wide range by adjusting the position of the adjust roller, which is advantageous for making the length adjustment mechanism more compact and therefore for making the reverse pillow packaging machine more compact. In addition, if a film pay-out unit that transports the packaging film wound around an adjustment roller is provided in the intermediate packaging film guide path, and a tension roller is provided as a tension mechanism that applies tension to the packaging film guided from the film pay-out unit and guides it to the upstream end of the downstream packaging film guide path, the packaging film guided from the film pay-out unit is applied with tension and guided to the former, which is advantageous in ensuring that the packaging film is formed by the former. Furthermore, if a placement position indicator is provided, the worker can manually place the product on the portion of the packaging film where the marker is formed, which is advantageous in terms of improving work efficiency. Furthermore, if the placement position indicating unit forms a marker on the packaging film in accordance with the position of the design, the product can be easily placed in line with the position of the design (center of the design), which is advantageous in improving work efficiency. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

[0008] (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the packaging film used in the reverse pillow wrapping machine will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the packaging film 10 has a strip shape, and the packaging film web 12 is formed by winding it cylindrically around a paper tube with its front surface 10A facing radially outward and its back surface 10B facing radially inward. Note that the front surface 10A of the packaging film 10 is the surface that constitutes the outer surface of the formed packaging bag 48. In the central portion in the width direction of the front surface 10A of the packaging film 10, designs such as product names and patterns corresponding to the product 16 are formed at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the packaging film 10 by printing or the like. As will be described in detail later, the reverse pillow wrapping machine according to the present invention is applicable to various conventionally known types of packaging films 10. In the first embodiment, the packaging film 10 is transparent or translucent, and the design formed on the front surface 10A of the packaging film 10 can be visually recognized through the back surface 10B. Therefore, a case where the design can be used as a guide (target) for placing the product 16 will be described as an example. Note that the material of the packaging film 10 is a material that can be welded by applying heat. For example, various conventionally known materials such as polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), biaxially oriented polypropylene (OPP), aluminum-laminated paper, and aluminum vapor-deposited paper can be used.

[0009] Next, the reverse pillow wrapping machine 14 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The reverse pillow wrapping machine 14 of the present embodiment wraps and packages the product 16 from below while transporting the packaging film 10 in the lateral direction. The product 16 to be packaged is placed manually on the packaging film 10 (back surface 10B). The reverse pillow wrapping machine 14 includes a packaging film conveyance unit 18, a former 20, a longitudinal seal unit 22, a transverse seal unit 24, a cutting unit 26, and an intermediate packaging film guide path 28. The packaging film conveying unit 18 is a location where the packaging film 10 is conveyed and the product 16 is placed at regular intervals in the center in the width direction of the packaging film 10. The packaging film conveying unit 18 includes an upstream packaging film guiding path 32, a downstream packaging film guiding path 34, and a conveying drive unit 36. The upstream packaging film guiding path 32 is a location where the product 16 is placed on the packaging film 10. The upstream packaging film guiding path 32 is configured to convey the packaging film 10 with its entire area as a flat plane, and includes a table 38 that extends in the conveying direction and on which the packaging film 10 is conveyed with its back surface 10B facing upward. Therefore, the packaging film 10 itself conveyed in the upstream packaging film guiding path 32 functions as a conveyor for transferring the product 16. In the present embodiment, the upstream packaging film guiding path 32 conveys the packaging film 10 guided from the packaging film reel 12 through the first, second, and third upstream guide rollers 40A, 40B, and 40C while maintaining it on a flat horizontal plane on the table 38. The downstream packaging film guiding path 34 is a location where it is separated and arranged in a state close to the upstream packaging film guiding path 32, and the product 16 is transferred from the upstream packaging film guiding path 32. The conveying drive unit 36 is a location where the packaging film 10 is conveyed.

[0010] A bottom guide plate 39 is provided on the table 38. The bottom guide plate 39 has a flat bottom surface that guides the surface 10A of the conveyed packaging film 10, and is composed of a mirror-finished stainless steel plate or a stainless steel plate embossed to reduce the contact resistance with the packaging film 10.

[0011] The downstream packaging film guiding path 34 is configured by arranging the first belt conveyor 42 and the second belt conveyor 44 linearly along the conveying direction. The former 20 raises both side portions in the width direction of the packaging film 10 on which the product 16 is placed upward from the central portion, forms a flat central portion 1010 on which the product 16 is placed in the central portion of the packaging film 10, and forms a pair of standing portions 1012 that stand up from both sides of the central portion 1010. The former 20 is disposed at the upstream end 3402 of the downstream packaging film guide path 34 in the conveyance direction of the packaging film 10 in the packaging film conveyance unit 18. The former 20 includes a bottom plate portion 2002 extending in the conveyance direction of the packaging film 10, and a pair of side plate portions 2004 that gradually rise along the conveyance direction from both sides of the bottom plate portion 2002. As described above, the downstream packaging film guide path 34 is a location where it is separated and arranged in a state close to the upstream packaging film guide path 32, and the product 16 is transferred from the upstream packaging film guide path 32. In the present embodiment, the product 16 is transferred from the downstream end 3202 of the upstream packaging film guide path 32 on the packaging film 10 to the bottom plate portion 2002 of the former 20 via a first intermediate guide roller 50A described later. Therefore, since the bottom plate portion 2002 of the former 20 constitutes the downstream packaging film guide path 34, and the first intermediate guide roller 50A described later constitutes the upstream packaging film guide path 32, a gap is secured between the tip of the bottom plate portion 2002 and the first intermediate guide roller 50A. The width of the bottom plate portion 2002 is formed to be larger than the width of the product 16 accommodated in the packaging bag 48. The interval between the pair of side plate portions 2004 can be adjusted corresponding to the dimensions in the width direction of the product 16 and the packaging film 10.

[0012] When the packaging film 10 passes through the former 20, a flat central portion 1010 guided onto the bottom plate portion 2002 and a pair of standing portions 1012 guided to the inner surfaces of the pair of side plate portions 2004 and standing up from both sides of the central portion 1010 are formed on the packaging film 10. The tip of the bottom plate portion 2002 is provided at substantially the same height as the downstream end of the table 38 and the upper surface of the first intermediate guide roller 50A, and is designed so that the product 16 can be smoothly transferred from the upstream packaging film guide path 32 to the downstream packaging film guide path 34. Also, the rear end of the bottom plate portion 2002, which is located opposite to the tip, is provided in proximity to the upstream end of the first belt conveyor 42, and the rear end and the upstream end are provided at substantially the same height, and the first belt conveyor 42 and the second belt conveyor 44 are provided at substantially the same height. The widths of the first belt conveyor 42 and the second belt conveyor 44 are formed to be larger than the width of the bottom plate portion 2002, and it is intended to prevent the product 16 from falling from the first belt conveyor 42 and the second belt conveyor 44. The first belt conveyor 42 includes a driving roller 4202, a driven roller 4204, and a first conveyor belt 4206. The first conveyor belt 4206 is moved in the conveying direction by the driving roller 4202, and the central portion of the packaging film 10 on which the product 16 is placed is conveyed from the former 20 to the first belt conveyor 42. Similarly, the second belt conveyor 44 includes a driving roller 4402, a driven roller 4404, and a second conveyor belt 4406. The second conveyor belt 4406 is moved in the conveying direction by the driving roller 4402. In the present embodiment, the first belt conveyor 42 constitutes the conveying drive unit 36.

[0013] A longitudinal seal portion 22, a transverse seal portion 24, and a cutting portion 26 are arranged downstream of the former 20 in the conveying direction. The longitudinal seal portion 22 is arranged above the first belt conveyor 42. The longitudinal seal portion 22 is a location where the tips of a pair of standing portions 1012 are overlapped in a clasped shape, heated and melted while being pressure-bonded to form the longitudinal seal 1002. By forming the longitudinal seal 1002, the tubular film 46 is formed. The longitudinal seal portion 22 is arranged at a position higher than the product 16 placed at the central portion of the packaging film 10. The longitudinal seal portion 22 is configured to include a pair of film pulling rollers 2202 arranged side by side in the conveying direction, a pair of preheating heater bars 2204, and a pair of heater rollers 2206. The pair of film pulling rollers 2202 overlap and sandwich the front portions of the pair of standing portions 1012 of the packaging film 10 in a clasped shape and rotate while clamping them, thereby causing the packaging film 10 to travel in the conveying direction. Each film pulling roller 2202 is rotationally driven in opposite directions to each other by a film pulling motor 2203. Therefore, the pair of film pulling rollers 2202 constitute the conveying drive unit 36. The pair of preheating heater bars 2204 are arranged so as to be close to and face both sides of the front portion of the pair of standing portions 1012 overlapped in a clasped shape, and preheat the front portion of the pair of standing portions 1012 overlapped. The pair of heater rollers 2206 are rotatably arranged, and while rotating, overlap the front portions of the pair of standing portions 1012 in a clasped shape, and form the longitudinal seal 1002 by heating and melting the front portions of the pair of standing portions 1012 while pressing them together.

[0014] The transverse seal portion 24 forms a transverse seal 1004 on the tubular film 46 located between the products 16. The transverse seal portion 24 is provided close to the downstream end of the first belt conveyor 42. The transverse seal portion 24 is composed of a pair of upper and lower heating bodies that move in a so-called box motion, moving along a box-shaped path above and below the tubular film 46. In the process where the pair of heating bodies move while sandwiching the tubular film 46, the tubular film 46 is welded at each length corresponding to one packaging bag 48 to form the transverse seal 1004. Therefore, the transverse seal portion 24 constitutes the conveying drive unit 36. The cutting portion 26 forms a packaging bag 48 enclosing the product 16 by cutting the portion of the tubular film 46 where the transverse seal 1004 is formed. The cutting portion 26 is incorporated in a pair of heating elements and is composed of a pair of cutters (not shown) that cut or fuse the lateral seal portion 24 while forming the lateral seal 1004 by the pair of heating elements. Note that the conveyance speeds of the first belt conveyor 42 and the second belt conveyor 44 are synchronized with the conveyance speed of the upstream-side packaging film guide path 32.

[0015] The intermediate packaging film guide path 28 is provided below the boundary between the downstream end 3202 of the upstream-side packaging film guide path 32 and the upstream end 3402 of the downstream-side packaging film guide path 34. The intermediate packaging film guide path 28 guides the packaging film 10 downward from the downstream end 3202 of the upstream-side packaging film guide path 32 and then guides it to the upstream end 3402 of the downstream-side packaging film guide path 34.

[0016] Specifically, the intermediate packaging film guide path 28 includes a first intermediate guide roller 50A provided at the downstream end 3202 of the upstream-side packaging film guide path 32 around which the packaging film 10 is wound, an adjustment roller 52 provided below the first intermediate guide roller 50A, a second intermediate guide roller 50B provided above the adjustment roller 52 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction from the first intermediate guide roller 50A, a third intermediate guide roller 50C provided below the second intermediate guide roller 50B, a fourth intermediate guide roller 50D provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction from the third intermediate guide roller 50C, a pair of film payout rollers 54, a fifth intermediate guide roller 50E provided above the pair of film payout rollers 54 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction, and a tension roller 56 provided above the fifth intermediate guide roller 50E.

[0017] The intermediate packaging film guide path 28 includes a length adjustment mechanism 58 and a tension mechanism 60. The length adjustment mechanism 58 adjusts the length of the intermediate packaging film guide path 28 and includes the adjustment roller 52. The adjustment roller 52 is provided so as to be position - adjustable and rotatable in a direction intersecting with the conveyance direction of the packaging film 10 around which the packaging film 10 is wound in the packaging film conveyance unit 18. In the present embodiment, it is provided so as to be position - adjustable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the packaging film 10. The adjustment roller 52 is provided, for example, so as to be position - adjustable along a long groove within the long groove. The adjustment roller 52 folds back upward the packaging film 10 guided downward via the first intermediate guide roller 50A and guides it to the second intermediate guide roller 50B. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by adjusting the vertical position of the adjustment roller 52, the length of the intermediate packaging film guide path 28 from the first intermediate guide roller 50A to the former 20 can be adjusted. By adjusting the length of this intermediate packaging film guide path 28, it is designed to absorb the phase difference of the packaging film 10 between the upstream - side packaging film guide path 32 and the downstream - side packaging film guide path 34. Here, the phase difference of the packaging film 10 between the upstream - side packaging film guide path 32 and the downstream - side packaging film guide path 34 is, for example, when designs such as product names and patterns (hereinafter simply referred to as designs) are printed at equal intervals L1 in the longitudinal direction of the packaging film 10, the difference ΔL = L2 - L1 between the interval L2 between adjacent designs across the boundary between the upstream - side packaging film guide path 32 and the downstream - side packaging film guide path 34 and the above - mentioned equal interval L1. Absorbing the phase difference means making the difference ΔL zero.

[0018] Also, in the present embodiment, the length adjustment mechanism 58 is configured such that the adjustment roller 52 folds back upward the packaging film 10 guided downward via the first intermediate guide roller 50A and guides it to the second intermediate guide roller 50B. Therefore, the adjustment range ΔR by the length adjustment mechanism 58 with respect to the movement range D of the adjustment roller 52 is twice the movement range D. For example, if the movement range D is 100 mm, the adjustment range ΔR can be set to 200 mm. Therefore, it is possible to secure the adjustment range ΔR by the length adjustment mechanism 58 while suppressing the space occupied by the length adjustment mechanism 58.

[0019] The fourth intermediate guide roller 50D and the pair of film feeding rollers 54 are configured as a film feeding unit 62. The film feeding unit 62 sandwiches and conveys the packaging film 10 guided from the adjustment roller 52 through the second, third, and fourth intermediate guide rollers 50B, 50C, 50D by the pair of film feeding rollers 54, thereby pulling out the packaging film 10 from the packaging film reel 12 and conveying it. Therefore, the film feeding unit 62 constitutes the conveyance drive unit 36. In the present embodiment, the case where the film feeding unit 62 is provided in the intermediate packaging film guide path 28 has been described. However, the film feeding unit 62 only needs to be able to feed out the packaging film 10 from the packaging film reel 12. For example, the film feeding unit 62 may be provided at any position between the packaging film reel 12 and the third intermediate guide roller 50C. In short, the film feeding unit 62 only needs to be provided upstream of the former 20 in the conveyance direction of the packaging film 10.

[0020] The tension mechanism 60 applies tension to the packaging film 10 guided to the former 20, which is the upstream end 3402 of the downstream packaging film guide path 34. In the present embodiment, the tension mechanism 60 includes a tension roller 56 that applies tension to the packaging film 10 guided from the film feeding unit 62 through the fifth intermediate guide roller 50E and guides it to the upstream end 3402 of the downstream packaging film guide path 34, and a tension arm 64 that supports the position and angle of the tension roller 56 so as to be adjustable. By the tension arm 64, it is possible to adjust the position and angle of the tension roller 56 with respect to the bottom plate portion 2002 and the tips (edge portions) of the pair of side plate portions 2004, which are the portions of the former 20 where the packaging film 10 is folded, so as to correspond to a plurality of types of packaging films 10 having different dimensions in the width direction. The tension mechanism 60 applies tension to the packaging film 10 guided from the film feeding unit 62, so that the pair of standing portions 1012 of the packaging film 10 are surely formed by the former 20. In other words, appropriate tension is applied to the packaging film 10 guided to the former 20, so that the packaging film 10 is firmly formed by the former 20.

[0021] Next, the operation will be described. Prior to the formation of the packaging bag 48, in advance, in the intermediate packaging film guide path 28, in order to absorb the phase difference of the packaging film 10 between the upstream packaging film guide path 32 and the downstream packaging film guide path 34, the length of the intermediate packaging film guide path 28 is adjusted using the length adjustment mechanism 58. That is, when the product 16 is transferred from the downstream end 3202 of the upstream packaging film guide path 32 to the upstream end 3402 of the downstream packaging film guide path 34, the vertical position of the adjustment roller 52 is adjusted and the length of the intermediate packaging film guide path 28 is adjusted so that the positional relationship between the product 16 and the design formed on the packaging film 10 is maintained. The packaging film 10 is drawn from the packaging film reel 12 by the conveying drive unit 36 and guided along the conveying direction on the upstream packaging film guide path 32, that is, on the table 38, via the first, second, and third upstream guide rollers 40A, 40B, 40C. In the first embodiment, since the design formed on the surface 10A of the packaging film 10 guided on the upstream packaging film guide path 32 can be visually recognized from the back surface of the packaging film 10B, the operator can easily place the product 16 with the portion where the design is formed as a guide (target).

[0022] The product 16 placed on the packaging film 10 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction together with the packaging film 10, and is eventually transferred from the downstream end 3202 of the upstream-side packaging film guide path 32 to the upstream end 3402 of the downstream-side packaging film guide path 34. That is, the product 16 is transferred onto the bottom plate portion 2002 of the former 20 on the packaging film 10. Then, the product 16 is conveyed from the bottom plate portion 2002 to the first belt conveyor 42 on the packaging film 10 and is conveyed on the first belt conveyor 42. On the other hand, a longitudinal seal 1002 is formed by a longitudinal seal portion 22 including a pair of film pulling rollers 2202, a preheating heater bar 2204, and a heater roller 2206 at the tips of a pair of standing portions 1012 erected by the former 20, and thereby the packaging film 10 is formed into a tubular film 46. After that, a transverse seal 1004 is formed by the transverse seal portion 24, and by cutting the portion corresponding to the transverse seal portion 24 by the cutting portion 26, a packaging bag 48 enclosing the product 16 is formed, and the packaging bag 48 is conveyed from the second belt conveyor 44 to a storage case (not shown) or the like.

[0023] According to the present embodiment, an upstream-side packaging film guide path 32 on which the product 16 is placed on the packaging film 10 and a downstream-side packaging film guide path 34 that is separated and arranged in a state close to the upstream-side packaging film guide path 32 and from which the product 16 is transferred from the upstream-side packaging film guide path 32 are provided. The upstream-side packaging film guide path 32 is configured to convey the packaging film 10 with its entire area as a flat plane, and the former 20 is disposed upstream of the upstream end of the downstream-side packaging film guide path 34 in the conveying direction. When an operator manually places the product 16 on the packaging film 10 conveyed in the upstream-side packaging film guide path 32, in the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3(A), the product 16 can be placed on the packaging film 10 whose entire area is a flat plane. Therefore, as in the conventional example shown in Fig. 3(B), there are no pair of standing portions 1020 formed on both sides in the width direction of the packaging film 10 and no pair of guide plates G for holding the pair of standing portions 1020. Therefore, in order to prevent the fingers holding the product 16 from being caught on the upright portions 1020 or the tips of the guide plates G, which would cause the packaging film 10 to be distorted and the position of the product 16 relative to the packaging film 10 to shift, resulting in packaging defects, and also to prevent the distortion of the packaging film 10 from causing a shift in the height of the tips of the pair of upright portions 1020, which would cause longitudinal seal defects, and further to prevent the oil content in the product 16 such as food adhering to the fingers from adhering to the tips of the upright portions 1020, which would cause longitudinal seal defects, it is advantageous. Therefore, it goes without saying that the occurrence of packaging defects and longitudinal seal defects can be suppressed. Since it is not necessary to carefully perform the operation at a low conveyance speed of the packaging film 10 so that the fingers are not caught on the tips of the pair of upright portions 1020, it is possible to facilitate the operation while increasing the conveyance speed of the packaging film 10, which is advantageous for improving the working efficiency. In addition, since a pair of guide plates G for holding a pair of upright portions formed on the packaging film, which were conventionally necessary, can be omitted, it is advantageous for reducing the cost of the reverse pillow packaging machine 14. Also, since the packaging film 10 itself conveyed in the upstream packaging film guide path 32 functions as a conveyor for transferring the product 16, it is not necessary to separately provide a conveyor for transferring the product, which is advantageous for simplifying the configuration and reducing the cost of the reverse pillow packaging machine 14. Further, in the present embodiment, by adjusting the length of the intermediate packaging film guide path 28 by the length adjustment mechanism 58, when the product 16 is transferred from the downstream end 3202 of the upstream packaging film guide path 32 to the upstream end 3402 of the downstream packaging film guide path 34, the positional relationship between the product 16 and the design formed on the packaging film 10 can be maintained. Therefore, even though the product 16 is transferred from the mutually separated upstream packaging film guide path 32 to the downstream packaging film guide path 34, the position of the design formed on the surface 10A of the packaging film 10 and the product 16 in the downstream packaging film guide path 34, in other words, the center of the design and the position of the product 16 can be surely aligned, which is advantageous for improving the quality and appearance of the packaging bag 48 and for suppressing the occurrence of defective products.

[0024] The former 20 may be positioned upstream of the downstream packaging film guide path 34, but if the former 20 is positioned at the upstream end 3402 of the downstream packaging film guide path 34 as in the embodiment, it is advantageous for the downstream conveying guide section to have a compact overall length along the conveying direction, which is advantageous for reducing the size of the reverse pillow packaging machine 14.

[0025] In addition, in this embodiment, the length adjustment mechanism 58 is configured to include a rotatable adjustment roller 52 around which the packaging film 10 is wound and whose position can be adjusted in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the packaging film 10 in the packaging film conveying section 18.Therefore, by adjusting the position of the adjustment roller 52, the length of the intermediate packaging film guide path 28 can be adjusted over a wide range, which is advantageous for making the length adjustment mechanism 58 more compact and is advantageous for making the reverse pillow packaging machine 14 more compact.

[0026] In addition, in this embodiment, a film pay-out unit 62 that transports the packaging film 10 wound around the adjustment roller 52 is provided in the intermediate packaging film guide path 28, and the tension mechanism 60 applies tension to the packaging film 10 guided from the film pay-out unit 62 and guides it to the former 20, which is advantageous in ensuring that the packaging film 10 is formed by the former 20.

[0027] (Second embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a placement position indication portion 30 is provided on a table 38 instead of a bottom guide plate 39. In the following embodiment, the same parts and members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted, and the description will be focused on the placement position indication unit 30.

[0028] The placement position indicator 30 forms a marker indicating the placement position where the product 16 should be placed with respect to the central portion in the width direction of the packaging film 10 guided on the table 38, and moves the position of the marker in synchronization with the conveyance speed of the packaging film 10. Also, the formation of the marker on the packaging film 10 by the placement position indicator 30 is made corresponding to the position (center of the design) of a design such as a product name or a pattern formed on the surface 10A of the packaging film 10. In the present embodiment, the placement position indicator 30 is configured to form one or more markers by light that projects light downward from below with respect to the central portion in the width direction of the packaging film 10 guided on the table 38 and transmits through the packaging film 10. Note that the marker formed by the projection of light may be composed of the light projection portion, or may be composed of a non-projection portion where light is not projected between adjacent light projection portions. In this case, the placement position indicator 30 can be configured by a display device (not shown) incorporated in the table 38 and capable of displaying a marker, and a display control unit (not shown) that causes the position of the marker displayed on the display device to be displayed in synchronization with the conveyance speed of the packaging film 10. As the display device, various conventionally known displays such as an LED display panel in which a plurality of LED elements are arranged in a grid pattern, an EL display, or a liquid crystal display can be used. Note that the placement position indicator 30 only needs to be able to form a marker indicating the placement position. For example, by a projector provided above the table 38, light is projected from above with respect to the central portion in the width direction of the packaging film 10 (back surface 10B) guided on the table 38 to form one or more markers in the central portion in the width direction of the packaging film 10, and the position of the marker may be moved in synchronization with the conveyance speed of the packaging film 10. However, when a display device is incorporated in the table 38 as in the present embodiment, the light forming the marker is not blocked by the operator's fingers or the product 16 held by the fingers, which is advantageous for easily and surely forming the marker on the packaging film 10.

[0029] According to the second embodiment, not only can the same effects as those of the first embodiment be achieved, but the placement position indicating unit 30 forms a marker indicating the placement position where the product 16 should be placed in the widthwise central portion 1010 of the packaging film 10 transported along the upstream packaging film guide path 32, and the position of the marker is moved in synchronization with the transport speed of the packaging film 10. Therefore, the worker only needs to place the product 16 at the location where the marker has been formed, which is advantageous in improving work efficiency. In addition, instead of providing a placement position indication section 30, a placement position marker indicating the placement position at which the product 16 should be placed may be formed in advance by printing or the like in the central portion 1010 in the width direction of the back surface 10B of the packaging film 10, in the same location as the product name and pattern formed on the front surface 10A of the packaging film 10. However, when the placement position indicator 30 is provided as in this embodiment, it is not necessary to form a placement position marker on the packaging film 10 in advance by printing or the like, which is advantageous in reducing the cost of the packaging film 10.

[0030] As described above, in the first embodiment, a packaging film 10 is used in which the design formed on the front side 10A can be viewed from the back side 10B, allowing the worker to place the product 16 using the design as a guide, and in the second embodiment, a marker is formed on the packaging film 10 using the placement position indication unit 30, allowing the worker to place the product 16 using the marker as a guide. However, as described below in (1) to (5), the reverse pillow packaging machine 14 according to the present invention can package products using packaging films 10 of various types that have been conventionally known.

[0031] (1) When the packaging film 10 has no design or registration mark and there is no guide for placing the product In this case, it can be dealt with by using the second embodiment. That is, by forming a marker at a position on the packaging film 10 corresponding to the center of the packaging bag 48 in the conveying direction of the packaging film 10 using the placement position indicating portion 30 for indicating the placement position, in other words, by forming markers at intervals corresponding to the length of the packaging bag 48 in the conveying direction of the packaging film 10, the operator can surely place the product at the position on the packaging film 10 corresponding to the center of the packaging bag 48 using the marker as a guide.

[0032] (2) When the design is not formed at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the packaging film 10 on the surface 10 of the packaging film 10, but the design is printed over the entire area of the surface 10A of the packaging film 10 and there is no guide for placing the product This is the same as the case of (1) above and can be dealt with by using the second embodiment. That is, by forming a marker at a position on the packaging film 10 corresponding to the center of the packaging bag 48 in the longitudinal direction of the packaging film 10 using the placement position indicating portion 30 for indicating the placement position, the operator can surely place the product at the position on the packaging film 10 corresponding to the center of the packaging bag 48 using the marker as a guide.

[0033] (3) When the design is formed at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the packaging film 10 on the surface 10 of the packaging film 10, the packaging film 10 is transparent or translucent, and the design formed on the surface 10A of the packaging film 10 can be seen through from the back surface 10B In this case, it can be dealt with by using the first embodiment. That is, by using the bottom guide plate 39 without using the placement position indicating portion 30 for indicating the placement position, the operator can surely place the product at the position on the packaging film 10 in alignment with the position (center of the design) of the design using the design visible from the back surface 10B as a guide.

[0034] (4) When the design is formed at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the packaging film 10 on the surface 10 of the packaging film 10 and the material of the packaging film 10 is a material that is difficult to see through When the design formed on the front surface 10A of the packaging film 10 can be visually recognized from the back surface 10B by irradiating illumination light from the front surface 10A side of the packaging film 10 using a backlight or the like By using the first embodiment, it can be dealt with. That is, without using the mounting position indicating portion 30 indicating the mounting position, the operator can surely mount the product at the position of the design (the center of the design) of the packaging film 10 by using as a guide the design that can be visually recognized from the back surface 10B by being illuminated from the front surface 10A side of the packaging film by the backlight

[0035] (5) When designs are formed at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the packaging film 10 on the surface 10 of the packaging film 10, the material of the packaging film 10 is a material that is difficult to see through (for example, a paper wrapping material), and the design on the front surface 10A cannot be seen through from the back surface 10B This is the same as the case of (1) above, and it can be dealt with by using the second embodiment. That is, by using the mounting position indicating portion 30 indicating the mounting position, the operator can surely mount the product in accordance with the position of the design (the center of the design) of the packaging film 10 by using the marker as a guide

[0036] In addition, even in the cases of (3) and (4), a marker may be formed on the packaging film 10 by using the mounting position indicating portion 30 indicating the mounting position. In that case, needless to say, the operator can surely mount the product in accordance with the position of the design (the center of the design) of the packaging film 10 by using the marker as a guide

Explanation of reference numerals

[0037] 10 Packaging film 10A Front surface 10B Back surface 1002 Longitudinal seal 1004 Transverse seal 1010 Central portion 1012 Standing portion 1020 Standing portion 12 Packaging film web 14 Inverted pillow packaging machine 16 Products 18 Packaging Film Conveyor Section 20 Former 2002 Bottom Plate Section 2004 Pair of Side Plate Sections 22 Longitudinal Seal Section 2202 Pair of Film Pulling Rollers 2203 Film Pulling Motor 2204 Pair of Preheating Heater Bars 2206 Pair of Heater Rollers 24 Transverse Seal Section 26 Cutting Section 28 Intermediate Packaging Film Guide Path 30 Placement Position Indicator Section 32 Upstream Side Packaging Film Guide Path 3202 Downstream End 34 Downstream Side Packaging Film Guide Path 3402 Upstream End 36 Conveyor Driving Section 38 Table 39 Bottom Surface Guide Plate 40A First Upstream Guide Roller 40B Second Upstream Guide Roller 40C Third Upstream Guide Roller 42 First Belt Conveyor 4202 Driving Roller 4204 Driven Roller 4206 First Conveyor Belt 44 Second Belt Conveyor 4402 Driving Roller 4404 Driven Roller 4406 Second Conveyor Belt 46 Tubular Film 48 Packaging Bag 50A First Intermediate Guide Roller 50B Second Intermediate Guide Roller 50C Third Intermediate Guide Roller 50D Fourth Intermediate Guide Roller 50E Fifth Intermediate Guide Roller 52 Adjusting Roller 54 Pair of Film Pay - out Rollers 56 Tension roller 58 Length adjustment mechanism 60 Tension mechanism 62 Film feeding unit 64 Tension arm G Guide plate

Claims

1. A packaging film conveying unit that conveys a packaging film and places products at regular intervals in the center in the width direction of the packaging film, A former that forms a flat central portion on the conveyed packaging film and forms a pair of standing portions that stand up from both sides of the central portion, A longitudinal seal portion that joins the tips of the pair of standing portions to form a tubular film from the packaging film, A transverse seal portion that forms a transverse seal at a location of the tubular film located between the products, An inverted pillow packaging machine comprising a cutting portion that forms a packaging bag enclosing the product by cutting a location of the tubular film where the transverse seal is formed, The packaging film conveying unit includes an upstream packaging film guide path on which the product is placed on the packaging film, a downstream packaging film guide path that is separated and arranged in a state close to the upstream packaging film guide path and into which the product is transferred from the upstream packaging film guide path, and a conveying drive unit that conveys the packaging film, The upstream packaging film guide path is configured to convey the packaging film with its entire area as a flat plane, The former is arranged upstream of the downstream packaging film guide path in the conveying direction of the packaging film in the packaging film conveying unit, The longitudinal seal portion, the transverse seal portion, and the cutting portion are arranged downstream of the former in the conveying direction, An intermediate packaging film guide path is provided below the boundary between the downstream end of the upstream packaging film guide path and the upstream end of the downstream packaging film guide path. The intermediate packaging film guide path guides the packaging film downward from the downstream end of the upstream packaging film guide path and then guides it to the upstream end of the downstream packaging film guide path, A tension mechanism that applies tension to the packaging film guided to the upstream end of the downstream packaging film guide path and a length adjustment mechanism that adjusts the length of the intermediate packaging film guide path are provided in the intermediate packaging film guide path, An inverted pillow packaging machine characterized by the above.

2. The former is disposed at the upstream end of the downstream packaging film guide path.

2. The inverted pillow packaging machine according to claim 1 .

3. The length adjustment mechanism includes a rotatable adjust roller around which the packaging film is wound and whose position is adjustable in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the packaging film in the packaging film transport section.

2. The inverted pillow packaging machine according to claim 1 .

4. a film unwinding unit that conveys the packaging film wound around the adjustment roller is provided in the intermediate packaging film guide path; The tension mechanism includes a tension roller that applies tension to the packaging film guided from the film payout unit and guides the packaging film to the upstream end of the downstream packaging film guide path.

4. The inverted pillow packaging machine according to claim 3.

5. the upstream packaging film guide path includes a table extending in a transport direction of the packaging film in the upstream packaging film guide path and on which the packaging film is transported, The table is provided with a placement position indicator that projects light onto the packaging film being transported to form a marker indicating a placement position at which the product should be placed, and that moves the position of the marker in synchronization with the transport speed of the packaging film.

2. The inverted pillow packaging machine according to claim 1 .

6. The surface of the packaging film constituting the outer surface of the packaging bag is formed with designs at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the packaging film, The formation of the marker on the packaging film by the placement position indicating unit is performed in correspondence with the position of the design.

6. The reverse pillow packaging machine according to claim 5.

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