Bag having reflector

Abstract

To eliminate the need to detect an error state, not allowing a product to be normally inserted, that an opening is possibly adhered to stay closed by static electricity, etc. even if air is occasionally blown thereto, although there is an art to insert a product into a bag with an opening thereof made spread broadly by blowing air thereto in an automation of product bagging.SOLUTION: A bag having a reflector according to the present invention comprises a light reflector that is attached in a bottom at an end of a bag opposite to an opening thereof, and a light-emitting device that detects a normal state if there is a detection, by an optical sensor, of reflection light which has been made incident to the opening of the bag and reflected with the opening spread broadly and an error state if no reflection light is detected by the optical sensor because of closure of the opening and hence no reflection of the incident light upon the reflector.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention can be applied to any industry that performs bagging. In the present invention, bagging of sugar is particularly taken as an example. Many applications are conceivable, such as bagging of other foods, bagging of sand, minerals, etc., bagging of cement, bagging of iron powder, bagging of block toys, bagging of liquids, bagging of detergents, and the like.

Background Art

[0002] In this type of bagging, a technique is used in which air is blown into the opening 13 of the bag to open it wide, and the product is inserted into the bag 11. Also, a technique such as opening the bag 11 by suction of a suction pad as in Patent Document 1 is used.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the former technique of the background art, for automating the bagging of any product, one idea is to blow air into the opening 13 of the bag to open it wide and insert the product into the bag 11. For this purpose, it is necessary to surely blow air to open the opening 13, but sometimes even if air is blown, the opening 13 may be attracted by static electricity or the like and remain closed. Since the product cannot be inserted normally in this case, it is necessary to detect an error state.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to realize the detection of this error state.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The bag with the reflector 5 according to the present invention attaches the light reflector 5 to the bottom of the end opposite to the opening 13 of the bag to achieve this detection. When light is incident and the reflected light 42 is observed and sensed by the optical sensor 6, the incident light 41 is emitted. When the optical sensor 6 senses the reflected light 42, it is determined that the bag 11 is open in a normal state and the product can be inserted normally, and then the product is inserted.

[0007] When the incident light 41 is emitted and the optical sensor 6 does not sense the reflected light 42, it is determined that the bag 11 is in an error state and is closed due to some kind of electrostatic charge, and the product cannot be inserted normally. In this case, the insertion of the product into that bag 11 is stopped, the next bag 11 is loaded, air is blown in to widely open the opening 13, and the work is carried out one after another. Or once the automatic product insertion into the bag 11 is stopped, the main maintenance of the automatic product inserter can be performed.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] In this way, an error state where the product cannot be automatically inserted into the bag 11 can be automatically detected, and the efficiency of automatic product insertion can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Attach aluminum foil to the bottom of the side opposite to the opening 13 of the bag. Or deposit aluminum on the bottom of the side opposite to the opening 13 of the bag by CVD chemical vapor deposition method, vacuum evaporation method, or sputtering method. In the case of a bag 11 made of an organic polymer compound such as transparent vinyl or polyethylene, aluminum foil can be attached or aluminum can be deposited on the inner bottom of the bag 11, or aluminum foil can be attached or aluminum can be deposited on the bottom of the side opposite to the opening 13 of the bag from the outside of the bag 11.

[0011] In the case of a paper bag 11 or a bag 11 made of an organic polymer compound such as opaque vinyl or polyethylene, an aluminum foil can be attached or aluminum can be laminated on the inner side of the bag 11.

[0012] Instead of the aluminum laminated film, a silver laminated film may be used. The silver laminated film can also be laminated by a CVD chemical vapor deposition method, a vacuum evaporation method, a sputtering method, or the like.

[0013] If a light reflector 5 is attached to the bottom of the end opposite to the opening 13 of the bag, the bag 11 is loaded into the automatic product inserter, air is sent into the opening 13 of the bag, the opening 13 of the bag is widely opened, light is incident on the opening 13 by a semiconductor laser or an LED, the incident light 41 is reflected by the reflector 5, and when the reflected light 42 is detected by the photosensor 6 and it is detected that the opening 13 is widely opened, the product is automatically inserted.

[0014] When the incident light 41 is not reflected by the reflector 5 and the reflected light 42 is not detected by the photosensor 6, the bag 11 is removed as an error state, the next bag 11 is loaded, air is blown in to widely open the opening 13, the incident light 41 is emitted, the reflected light 42 is detected by the photosensor 6, and it can be determined whether to automatically insert the product and the operation can be continued.

[0015] When the reflected light 42 cannot be detected by the photosensor 6, the automatic product inserter may be stopped once and the automatic product inserter may be maintained.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows an example of the bag 11 with the reflector 5 of the present invention, in which an aluminum foil, an aluminum laminated film, or a silver laminated film is attached to the bottom of the end opposite to the opening 13 of the bag. Air is blown into the opening 13 to widely open the opening 13, the incident light 41 is emitted from a semiconductor laser or an LED, and the photosensor 6 senses the reflected light 42 to detect whether the opening 13 is widely open.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0017] 11 Bag 12 Bottom of the bag 13 Opening of the bag 2 Air blowing device 3 Light emitting device (semiconductor laser or LED) 41 Incident light 42 Reflected light 5 Light reflector (aluminum foil or aluminum laminated film or silver laminated film) 6 Optical sensor

Claims

1. A bag having a light reflector at the bottom of the bag at the end opposite to the opening of the bag with an opening at one end.

2. The bag according to Claim 1, wherein the bag is made of paper.

3. The bag according to Claim 1, wherein the bag is made of an organic polymer compound such as vinyl or polyethylene.

4. The bag according to Claims 1, 2, and 3, wherein the reflector is made of aluminum foil.

5. The bag according to Claims 1, 2, and 3, wherein the reflector is made of an aluminum laminated film.

6. The bag according to Claims 1, 2, and 3, wherein the reflector is made of a silver laminated film.

7. Air is sent into the bag having a light reflector at the side opposite to the opening of the bag with an opening at one end, the opening is widely opened, light is incident, and the light is reflected by the reflector at the bottom of the bag. When the reflected light of the incident light reflected by the reflector is sensed by a light sensor, it is detected that the opening is widely open and not closed. When the incident light is made incident and the reflected light is not sensed by the light sensor, it is detected that the opening is not open even when air is sent in and it is in an error state. A method for detecting the open / closed state of the opening of the bag.

8. A method for detecting the open / closed state of the opening of the bag according to Claim 7, wherein the incident light is semiconductor laser light.

9. A method for detecting the open / closed state of the opening of the bag according to Claim 7, wherein the incident light is the emitted light of an LED

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