Packaging device

Abstract

To provide a packaging device capable of packaging long objects to be packaged.SOLUTION: The packaging device includes conveying means, a welding and cutting heater for horizontal welding, and a pair of side welding heaters for vertical welding, and makes a package Pk by sandwiching a sheet S to be packaged between an upper film F1 and a lower film F2. In the package Pk, the sheet S to be packaged is surrounded by a downstream welding line Fx1, an upstream welding line Fx2, a rear welding line F3, and a front welding line F4, and the packaging device performs double vertical joining control by shifting the position in the conveyance direction of the films (F1, F2) that form one package Pk and bringing the side welding heaters into contact with them twice.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a packaging device, there is known one that creates a package by sandwiching an object to be packaged between two continuous film sheets and welding the film sheets to surround the front, rear, left, and right of the object to be packaged with linear welded portions. As this type of packaging device, Patent Document 1 describes one including a cut heater extending in the width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the film sheet and a pair of side heaters extending in the conveyance direction on both end sides in the width direction of the film sheet. In this packaging device, the leading ends of the two film sheets are pre-welded by the cut heater during the previous packaging process, and the object to be packaged is conveyed in a state where it abuts against the inside of this welded portion. Then, when the trailing end of the object to be packaged passes the welding position by the cut heater, the conveyance stops, and a welding process is performed by the cut heater and the side heaters. At this time, the leading end side of the object to be packaged is pre-welded, both ends in the width direction are welded by the pair of side heaters, and the trailing end side of the object to be packaged is welded and cut by the cut heater. Thereby, a packaged product surrounded by linear welded portions on the front, rear, left, and right of the object to be packaged can be created.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the packaging device described in Patent Document 1, the length of the packaged product in the conveying direction of the film sheet is limited to within the length of the pair of side heaters in the conveying direction, and it is impossible to package a packaging object longer than the side heaters. Such problems are not limited to the case where the packaging material is a film sheet. Similar problems can occur as long as a packaging object is sandwiched between two packaging materials and the two packaging materials are joined to create a packaged product.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention includes a first supply unit and a second supply unit that respectively supply sheet-shaped packaging materials continuous in the conveying direction, a first packaging material that is the packaging material supplied from the first supply unit, and a second packaging material that is the packaging material supplied from the second supply unit. Conveying means for sandwiching and conveying a packaging object therebetween, transverse joining means for joining the first packaging material and the second packaging material so as to form a transverse joining portion extending in the width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and cutting the packaging material at the transverse joining portion, and a pair of longitudinal joining members extending in the conveying direction on one side and the other side in the width direction. Longitudinal joining means for bringing the longitudinal joining members into contact with the packaging material and joining the first packaging material and the second packaging material so as to form a longitudinal joining portion extending in the conveying direction, and control means for controlling the conveying means, the transverse joining means, and the longitudinal joining means. A packaging device that performs a packaging process for creating a packaged product in which the packaging object is sandwiched between the first packaging material and the second packaging material and a joining portion is formed so as to surround the packaging object by the transverse joining portion and the longitudinal joining portion, wherein the control means performs, as the packaging process, longitudinal joining multiple execution control for shifting the position in the conveying direction of the packaging material for forming one packaged product and bringing the pair of longitudinal joining members into contact multiple times.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that an object to be packaged longer than a pair of vertically aligned members can be packaged.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, the same or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in each drawing are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations are omitted as appropriate. Also, the dimensions of the members in each drawing are shown enlarged or reduced as appropriate for easy understanding. Further, a part of the members that are not important in explaining the embodiments in each drawing is omitted from the display.

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a packaging device according to the present invention will be described.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging machine 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing an outline of the packaging machine 1 shown in FIG. 1. The packaging machine 1 creates a packaged object by sandwiching a packaging target sheet S, which is an object to be packaged, between two films F (F1, F2) supplied from two film rolls R (R1, R2) and welding them at a welding portion 40. Further, the packaging machine 1 includes a perforation forming portion 50, which is a perforation forming means for making perforations in the upper film F1 supplied from the upper film roll R1. However, the packaging device according to the present invention does not necessarily include the perforation forming portion 50.

[0011] The packaging machine 1 is for packaging an A4-sized advertisement bundle or a sheet material with the short side the same as the A size and the long side longer than the A4 size as the sheet S to be packaged. The sheet S to be packaged is inserted into the apparatus from the insertion port 2 so that the short side of the sheet S to be packaged is parallel to the width direction (the X-axis direction in FIG. 1). The insertion port 2 is provided with guide plates 2a for guiding both sides in the width direction and the lower surface of the sheet S to be inserted, making it easier for the user to insert by hand. In this embodiment, the sheet S to be packaged is inserted by hand by the user, but instead of the guide plates 2a, a device for automatically supplying the sheet S to be packaged little by little may be connected for automatic supply.

[0012] The inserted sheet S to be packaged is conveyed in the apparatus in the direction of arrow "α" in FIG. 1 while being sandwiched between the respective films F (F1, F2) drawn from the upper film roll R1 above and the lower film roll R2 below, and the film F around the sheet S to be packaged is heat-sealed and packaged, and is discharged from the discharge port 9 as a packaged product Pk (see FIGS. 4 to 6) and sequentially stacked on the packaged product tray 4.

[0013] An operation panel 45 is provided on one end side in the width direction on the upper surface of the packaging machine 1. The operation panel 45 functions as an input unit for receiving various inputs from the user for operating the packaging machine 1 and also functions as a display unit for displaying various information inside the packaging machine 1. A power switch 46 for turning on the power to the packaging machine 1 is provided on the other end side in the width direction on the upper surface of the packaging machine 1.

[0014] In FIG. 2, the insertion port 2 is formed on the left side of the packaging machine 1. Inside the insertion port 2, there is provided a welding part 40 composed of a welding and cutting heater 5, front and rear end welding receivers 44, side welding heaters 41, side welding receivers 42, an upper conveying belt 34, a lower conveying belt 35, and the like.

[0015] When not in use or in standby, the insertion port 2 is blocked by the shutter 3. The shutter 3 is rotatable about the shutter fulcrum 3a and is biased in the clockwise direction in Fig. 2 by a biasing means (not shown). Therefore, the lower end of the shutter 3 is in a state of being pressed against the front and rear end welding receiving base 44 provided below it (the biasing means may not be provided and it may be pressed by its own weight). When the packaging target sheet S is inserted, this shutter 3 rotates counterclockwise in Fig. 2 by the tip of the packaging target sheet S, creating a gap between it and the front and rear end welding receiving base 44. The packaging target sheet S enters the gap and is further inserted in the right direction in Fig. 2.

[0016] Above the front and rear end welding receiving base 44, a welding and cutting heater 5 is arranged. The welding and cutting heater 5 is movable between the standby position shown in Fig. 2 and the welding position where the lower end reaches the front and rear end welding receiving base 44 by a drive mechanism (not shown), and is further configured to stop at a non-use position between the standby position and the welding position when not in use. The welding and cutting heater 5 is formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy with good thermal conductivity and light weight, and the lower end shape is formed into an acute angle. A rubber heater (not shown) is baked and fixed to the welding and cutting heater 5, and the welding and cutting heater 5 can be heated by energizing this rubber heater. Also, a thermistor for measuring the temperature of the welding and cutting heater 5 is attached.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 2, an upper film roll R1 is arranged above the welding and cutting heater 5, and a lower film roll R2 is arranged below it. Hereinafter, the upper film roll R1 will be described. However, since the configuration of the lower film roll R2 and its support structure are the same as those of the upper film roll R1, the description will be omitted as appropriate.

[0018] The upper film roll R1 is formed by winding a long film (upper film F1) around an upper paper tube R1a. The upper paper tube shaft 6A coaxially supports the upper paper tube R1a from the inner surface side. The upper film F1 has a width in the direction from the front side (as shown in the figure) to the back side (hereinafter referred to as the width direction), and the upper paper tube R1a also has the same width as the upper film F1. The width is formed to be slightly longer than the length of the short side (210 [mm]) of the A4-sized packaging target sheet S inserted from the insertion port 2.

[0019] Adjacent to the end face of the upper film roll R1 in the width direction, an upper paper tube guide 7A is erected in a plate shape parallel to the end face of the upper film roll R1. An upper guide slit 7aA extending downward from the upper end is formed in the upper paper tube guide 7A, and the upper paper tube shaft 6A is inserted through this upper guide slit 7aA. Further, an upper film support roller 8A for supporting the upper film roll R1 from below is provided.

[0020] The upper paper tube guides 7A of the same shape are erected on both sides in the width direction of the upper film roll R1. By the support ring of the upper paper tube shaft 6A supporting the inner peripheral surface of the upper paper tube R1a, the upper paper tube shaft 6A and the upper film roll R1 are supported to be coaxial. The upper paper tube shaft 6A is formed to be longer in the width direction than the interval between the two upper paper tube guides 7A, and both ends thereof are inserted through the upper guide slit 7aA. When the remaining amount of the upper film roll R1 decreases and the roll diameter becomes smaller, the position of the upper paper tube shaft 6A descends, but it is configured to maintain the state where the outer peripheral surface of the upper film roll R1 contacts the upper film support roller 8A.

[0021] The packaging machine 1 is configured with a lower paper tube shaft 6B, a lower paper tube guide 7B, and a lower film support roller 8B in the same manner as the upper paper tube shaft 6A, the upper paper tube guide 7A, and the upper film support roller 8A in the upper film roll R1 for the lower film roll R2.

[0022] The upper film F1 is drawn from the upper film roll R1, passed over the upper first film guide 31 and the upper second film guide 32, and its tip is positioned below the welding and cutting heater 5. The lower film F2 is drawn from the lower film roll R2, passed over the lower film guide 33, and its tip is positioned below the welding and cutting heater 5. The tips of the two upper and lower films (F1, F2) are welded to each other in advance during the previous packaging process to form a welding line Fx (「Fx1」 and 「Fx2」 in Fig. 4).

[0023] To the right of the welding and cutting heater 5 and the front and rear end welding receiving bases 44 in the drawing, there are provided an upper conveyor belt 34 and a lower conveyor belt 35 for conveying the packaging target sheet S inserted from the insertion port 2 together with the films (F1, F2). Both the upper conveyor belt 34 and the lower conveyor belt 35 are arranged in two rows in the width direction, and the interval therebetween is configured to be shorter than the width of the packaging target sheet S (the length in the X-axis direction in the drawing). Therefore, the upper conveyor belt 34 sandwiches the packaging target sheet S from above, and the lower conveyor belt 35 sandwiches the packaging target sheet S from below, enabling conveyance to the right in the drawing (hereinafter, the direction in which the packaging target sheet S is conveyed is referred to as the 「conveying direction」). The lower conveyor downstream pulley 36, which is one of the pulleys around which the lower conveyor belt 35 is wound, is provided with a driving force from the conveying motor M1 via a lower belt drive transmission mechanism 37 composed of a toothed belt, a toothed pulley, a gear, etc. Also, the upper conveyor downstream pulley 38, which is one of the pulleys around which the upper conveyor belt 34 is wound, is provided with a driving force from the conveying motor M1 via an upper belt drive transmission mechanism (not shown in the drawing). That is, when the conveying motor M1 rotates, driving forces are applied to both the upper conveyor belt 34 and the lower conveyor belt 35, and the two conveyor belts (34, 35) move endlessly.

[0024] There are a total of two side welding heaters 41, one on each side (outer side in the width direction) of the upper conveyor belt 34 in the width direction. Also, there are a total of two side welding receivers 42, one at each position on both sides (outer side in the width direction) of the lower conveyor belt 35 facing each of the side welding heaters 41. The side welding heaters 41 and the side welding receivers 42 are each formed long along the conveying direction of the upper conveyor belt 34 and the lower conveyor belt 35.

[0025] Each of the two side welding heaters 41 is also formed of lightweight aluminum or an aluminum alloy with a rubber heater baked and fixed, and the lower end shape is formed into an acute angle, similar to the welding and cutting heater 5. Also, a thermistor for measuring temperature is attached.

[0026] The interval in the width direction between the two side welding heaters 41 is configured to be longer than the width of the sheet S to be packaged and shorter than the widths of the two films (F1, F2). And both of the two side welding heaters 41 can be lowered by a driving mechanism (not shown) until the lower end reaches the side welding receiver 42. With such a configuration, the films (F1, F2) can be welded on both sides in the width direction of the sheet S to be packaged.

[0027] On the right side in FIG. 2 of the side welding heater 41 and the side welding receiver 42, there is a discharge port 9 for discharging the package obtained by packaging the sheet S to be packaged. In the conveyance path of the sheet S to be packaged from the insertion port 2 to the discharge port 9, an insertion sensor D1 is provided on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the welding and cutting heater 5 and an internal sensor D2 is provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the welding and cutting heater 5 so as to be able to detect the leading end or the trailing end of the sheet S to be packaged. Further, a discharge sensor D3 is provided near the discharge port 9.

[0028] The control unit 500 of the packaging machine 1 drives and controls a heater actuator (a cutting motor and a side motor) that moves the welding and cutting heater 5 and the side welding heater 41 up and down, a conveying motor M1, and two brake mechanisms (not shown) based on a detection signal indicating that the packaging target sheet S, which is the object to be packaged, has been detected by three sensors (D1, D2, D3) at a predetermined timing. The brake mechanism is a mechanism that applies a brake to the rotation of the film support rollers 8 (8A, 8B) that contact the outer circumferences of the two film rolls R (R1, R2).

[0029] Figure 3 is a timing chart of each part of the packaging machine 1. The insertion sensor D1, the internal sensor D2, and the discharge sensor D3 have their sensor outputs turned ON when the packaging target sheet S exists within their detection ranges, and the sensor outputs are turned OFF when the packaging target sheet S does not exist within the detection ranges. Figure 3 shows the timing before and after the control of each part, and the horizontal length does not represent the length of time.

[0030] Figure 3(a) is an example of a timing chart when packaging a packaging target sheet S whose vertical length is equal to or less than the vertical length of A4, and Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a packaged object Pk obtained by packaging a packaging target sheet S whose vertical length is equal to or less than the vertical length of A4.

[0031] In the packaging machine 1 when it is not in use, the welding and cutting heater 5 and the side welding heater 41 are located at a non-use position between the standby position shown in Figure 2 and the welding position where they contact the welding receivers (44, 42).

[0032] When the packaging target sheet S is inserted from the insertion port 2 and the insertion sensor D1 detects the leading edge of the packaging target sheet S (at "T1" in Figure 3(a)), the brakes of the two brake mechanisms are released and the driving of the conveying motor M1 is started. Also, at this time, the cutting motor that moves the welding and cutting heater 5 up and down and the side motor that moves the side welding heater 41 up and down are driven for a predetermined time, and each heater moves from the non-use position to the standby position.

[0033] By driving the conveying motor M1, two films (F1, F2) with the welding line Fx being pushed by the inserted packaging target sheet S are unwound from their respective film rolls (R1, R2). The packaging target sheet S that enters the apparatus while pushing the welding line Fx is conveyed by the upper conveying belt 34 and the lower conveying belt 35 while being sandwiched between the two films (F1, F2). Due to this conveying force, the two films (F1, F2) are pulled and further unwound from their respective film rolls (R1, R2).

[0034] The packaging target sheet S sandwiched between the two films is conveyed rightward in FIG. 2 by the upper conveying belt 34 and the lower conveying belt 35. When the internal sensor D2 detects the passage of the rear end of the packaging target sheet S (either simultaneously or after a predetermined time) (”T3” in FIG. 3(a)), the conveying motor M1 is stopped, the brakes of the two braking mechanisms are turned on, the side motor and the cut motor are driven, and the welding cutting heater 5 and the side welding heater 41 are lowered from the standby position to the welding position. Then, the two films (F1, F2) are clamped for a predetermined period (”HS” and ”HC” in FIG. 3(a)) between the welding cutting heater 5 and the front and rear end welding receiving bases 44, and between the side welding heater 41 and the side welding receiving base 42, and the two films (F1, F2) are thermally welded.

[0035] Thereafter, the side motor is driven to raise the side welding heater 41 to the standby position (”T4” in FIG. 3(a)), the driving of the conveying motor M1 is resumed to resume the endless movement of the upper conveying belt 34 and the lower conveying belt 35, and the conveying of the packaging target sheet S by the upper conveying belt 34 and the lower conveying belt 35 is resumed. At this time, since the welding cutting heater 5 is at the welding position on the upstream side of the packaging target sheet S, the two films (F1, F2) are cut at this welding position. After driving the conveying motor M1 for a time sufficient for the two films (F1, F2) to be cut at the welding position, the cut motor is driven to raise the welding cutting heater 5 to the standby position.

[0036] By these operations, the films (F1, F2) are welded to the rear end side and both sides of the sheet S to be packaged, and a package is created in which the rear end side is cut at the welding position. Since the two films (F1, F2) were previously welded to form a welding line Fx on the front end side of the sheet S to be packaged during the previous packaging process, a package Pk with the periphery of the sheet S to be packaged welded together is created in combination with this.

[0037] Even after the package Pk is created, the conveyance motor M1 continues to drive, and the discharge sensor D3 detects the passage of the rear end of the sheet S to be packaged that forms the package Pk. The sheet S to be packaged whose rear end has passed through the detection position of the discharge sensor D3 is discharged from the discharge port 9 in the state of the package Pk and loaded onto the package tray 4.

[0038] After the discharge sensor D3 detects the passage of the rear end of the sheet S to be packaged (''T6'' in Fig. 3(a)), if the insertion sensor D1 does not turn ''ON'' while a predetermined time elapses, the conveyance motor M1 is stopped (T7), the brakes of the two brake mechanisms are turned ON, and the side motor and the cut motor are driven to move the welding and cutting heater 5 and the side welding heater 41 to the non-use positions.

[0039] On the other hand, after the discharge sensor D3 detects the passage of the rear end of the sheet S to be packaged (''T6'' in Fig. 3(a)), if the insertion sensor D1 turns ''ON'' before the predetermined time elapses, since a new sheet S to be packaged has been inserted, the control after ''T1'' in Fig. 3(a) is repeated.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 4, the packaged object Pk created by the control shown in FIG. 3(a) is formed by sandwiching the sheet S to be packaged between the upper film F1 and the lower film F2 and welding the four sides. As the welding points on the four sides, there are a downstream welding line Fx1 formed by the welding and cutting heater 5 during the previous packaging process, and an upstream welding line Fx2 formed by the welding and cutting heater 5 during the packaging process for the sheet S to be packaged shown in FIG. 4. Further, there are a back side welding line F3 formed by the back side side welding heater 41 in FIG. 2 and a front side welding line F4 formed by the front side side welding heater 41 in FIG. 2.

[0041] Next, as a packaging process for packaging a sheet S to be packaged that is longer in the vertical direction than the length of A4 vertical, the vertical joint two - time execution control in which a pair of side welding heaters 41 are brought into contact twice with a shift in the conveyance direction position with respect to two films (F1, F2) forming one packaged object Pk will be described.

[0042] FIG. 3(b) is an example of a timing chart of the vertical joint two - time execution control, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the packaged object Pk obtained by packaging the sheet S to be packaged that is longer in the vertical direction than the length of A4 vertical.

[0043] When the sheet S to be packaged is inserted from the insertion port 2 and the insertion sensor D1 detects the leading end of the sheet S to be packaged (''T1'' in FIG. 3(b)), the brakes of the two brake mechanisms are released and the driving of the conveyance motor M1 is started. At this time, the cutting motor and the side motor are driven for a predetermined time, and each heater moves from the non - use position to the standby position.

[0044] By driving the conveying motor M1, two films (F1, F2) whose downstream welding line Fx1 pre-welded by the inserted sheet S to be packaged is pushed are unwound from their respective film rolls (R1, R2). The sheet S to be packaged that enters the apparatus while pushing the downstream welding line Fx1 is conveyed by the upper conveying belt 34 and the lower conveying belt 35 while being sandwiched between the two films (F1, F2). By this conveying force, the two films (F1, F2) are pulled and further unwound from their respective film rolls (R1, R2).

[0045] The sheet S to be packaged sandwiched between the two films is conveyed to the right in FIG. 2 by the upper conveying belt 34 and the lower conveying belt 35. After the internal sensor D2 detects the passage of the leading end of the sheet S to be packaged ("T2" in FIG. 3(b)), the conveying motor M1 is driven for a predetermined number of pulses and then stopped ("T2" in FIG. 3(b)). The brakes of the two brake mechanisms are turned ON, and the side motor is driven to lower the side welding heater 41 from the standby position to the welding position. Then, the two films (F1, F2) are sandwiched between the side welding heater 41 and the side welding receiver 42 for a predetermined period ("HS" in FIG. 3(b)), and the first longitudinal heat welding is performed on the two films (F1, F2). By this first longitudinal welding, the back-side leading end welding line F3a and the front-side leading end welding line F4a shown in FIG. 5 are formed.

[0046] Thereafter, drive the side motor to raise the side welding heater 41 to the standby position, turn off the brakes of the two braking mechanisms, and resume driving the conveying motor M1 ("T4" in Fig. 3(b)). After the internal sensor D2 detects the passage of the rear end of the sheet S to be packaged ("T7" in Fig. 3(b)), after the conveying motor M1 is driven by a predetermined number of pulses, stop the conveying motor M1 ("T8" in Fig. 3(b)). Then, turn on the brakes of the two braking mechanisms, drive the cutting motor, and lower the welding and cutting heater 5 from the standby position to the welding position. Then, sandwich the two films (F1, F2) between the welding and cutting heater 5 and the front and rear end welding receivers 44 for a predetermined period ("HC" in Fig. 3(b)), and thermally weld the two films (F1, F2). By this welding, the upstream side welding line Fx2 shown in Fig. 5 is formed.

[0047] Thereafter, turn off the brakes of the two braking mechanisms and resume driving the conveying motor M1 ("T9" in Fig. 3(b)). As a result, the conveyance of the sheet S to be packaged by the upper conveyance belt 34 and the lower conveyance belt 35 is resumed. At this time, since the welding and cutting heater 5 is at the welding position on the upstream side of the sheet S to be packaged, the two films (F1, F2) are cut at this welding position. After driving the conveying motor M1 for a time sufficient for the two films (F1, F2) to be cut at the welding position, drive the cutting motor to raise the welding and cutting heater 5 to the standby position.

[0048] After resuming driving the conveying motor M1 ("T9" in Fig. 3(b)) and driving the conveying motor M1 by a predetermined number of pulses, stop the conveying motor M1 ("T10" in Fig. 3(b)), turn on the brakes of the two braking mechanisms, drive the side motor, and lower the side welding heater 41 from the standby position to the welding position. Then, sandwich the two films (F1, F2) between the side welding heater 41 and the side welding receiver 42 for a predetermined period ("HS" in Fig. 3(b)), and perform the second longitudinal thermal welding on the two films (F1, F2). By this second longitudinal welding, the back side rear end welding line F3b and the front side rear end welding line F4b shown in Fig. 5 are formed.

[0049] In the vertical joint execution control shown in Fig. 3(b), in the first heat welding of the two films (F1, F2), the portion where the upstream end of the side welding heater 41 contacts is controlled to be located downstream of the downstream end of the side welding heater 41 in the second heat welding. As a result, as shown in Fig. 5, between the back-side front-end welding line F3a and the front-side front-end welding line F4a, and the back-side rear-end welding line F3b and the front-side rear-end welding line F4b, a back-side non-welded portion F31 and a front-side non-welded portion F41 are formed.

[0050] If there is an overlap between the portion welded by the first heat welding with the side welding heater 41 and the portion welded by the second heat welding, there may be problems such as the film breaking or unsightly wrinkles occurring at the overlapping portion. On the other hand, by controlling to form the back-side non-welded portion F31 and the front-side non-welded portion F41, the occurrence of these problems can be prevented.

[0051] Thereafter, the side motor is driven to raise the side welding heater 41 to the standby position, the brakes of the two brake mechanisms are turned OFF, and the driving of the conveying motor M1 is resumed ("T11" in Fig. 3(b)).

[0052] Through these operations, a package Pk with the periphery of the packaging target sheet S longer than A4 welded as shown in Fig. 5 is created. Even after the package Pk is created, the conveying motor M1 continues to drive, and the discharge sensor D3 detects the passage of the rear end of the packaging target sheet S forming the package Pk. The packaging target sheet S whose rear end has passed the detection position of the discharge sensor D3 is discharged from the discharge port 9 in the state of the package Pk and loaded on the package tray 4.

[0053] After the discharge sensor D3 detects the passage of the rear end of the packaging target sheet S ("T12" in Fig. 3(b)), if the insertion sensor D1 does not turn "ON" during the elapse of a predetermined time, the conveying motor M1 is stopped (T13), the brakes of the two brake mechanisms are turned ON, and the side motor and the cut motor are driven to move the welding and cutting heater 5 and the side welding heater 41 to the non-use positions.

[0054] On the other hand, after the discharge sensor D3 detects the passage of the rear end of the sheet S to be packaged (''T11'' in Fig. 3(b)), if the insertion sensor D1 turns ''ON'' before a predetermined time elapses, it means that a new sheet S to be packaged has been inserted. Therefore, the control after ''T1'' in Fig. 3(b) is repeated.

[0055] Next, the longitudinal joint three - time execution control for shifting the positions of a pair of side - welding heaters 41 in the conveyance direction and bringing them into contact with two films (F1, F2) forming one package Pk three times will be described. Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a package Pk obtained by packaging a sheet S to be packaged that is even longer in the longitudinal direction than that shown in Fig. 5.

[0056] The longitudinal joint three - time execution control is the control shown in Fig. 3(b), and the same control is performed until the driving of the conveyance motor M1 is restarted (''T4'' in Fig. 3(b)) after the first longitudinal welding. By this first longitudinal welding, the back - side front - end welding line F3a and the front - side front - end welding line F4a shown in Fig. 6 are formed.

[0057] After the first longitudinal welding, after the driving of the conveyance motor M1 is restarted (''T4'' in Fig. 3(b)), when the number of pulses for the portion that was located at the upstream - side end of the side - welding heater 41 during the first longitudinal welding in the films (F1, F2) to pass through the downstream - side end of the side - welding heater 41, once the conveyance motor M1 is driven, the conveyance motor M1 is stopped (''T2'' in Fig. 3(b)), the brakes of the two brake mechanisms are turned ON, the side motor is driven, and the side - welding heater 41 is lowered from the standby position to the welding position. Then, the two films (F1, F2) are sandwiched between the side - welding heater 41 and the side - welding receiving base 42 for a predetermined period, and the second longitudinal heat - welding is performed on the two films (F1, F2). By this second longitudinal welding, the back - side middle - welding line F3c and the front - side middle - welding line F4c shown in Fig. 6 are formed.

[0058] After that, drive the side motor to raise the side welding heater 41 to the standby position, turn off the brakes of the two braking mechanisms, resume driving the conveying motor M1, and when the internal sensor D2 detects the passage of the rear end of the sheet S to be packaged ("T7" in Fig. 3(b)), perform the same control as from "T8" onwards of the vertical joint execution control twice shown in Fig. 3(b), and form the upstream welding line Fx2, the back-side rear-end welding line F3b, and the front-side rear-end welding line F4b shown in Fig. 6. After resuming driving the conveying motor M1 and before the internal sensor D2 detects the passage of the rear end of the sheet S to be packaged, when the number of pulses is such that the position that was located at the upstream end of the side welding heater 41 during the previous vertical welding passes through the downstream end of the side welding heater 41 and the conveying motor M1 is driven, stop the conveying motor M1 and repeat the vertical welding to form the above-described back-side intermediate welding line F3c and the front-side intermediate welding line F4c. By such control, it is not limited to shifting the positions in the conveying direction of the two films (F1, F2) for forming one package Pk as shown in Fig. 6 and performing vertical welding three times, and it is possible to perform vertical welding more times.

[0059] Next, the perforation forming section 50 will be described. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the perforation forming section 50 includes a sewing blade unit 10 having a sewing blade 11 and a sewing blade opposing roller 17. As shown in Fig. 1, the sewing blade opposing roller 17 is a part of the upper paper tube guide 7A and is rotatably supported about the opposing roller rotation shaft 17a with respect to the opposing roller holding portion 70 protruding downstream in the conveying direction. The sewing blade unit 10 is attached to a unit holding casing 71 fixed to the upper surface of the main body housing of the packaging machine 1. The sewing blade unit 10 includes a lower casing 15 and an upper casing 16, and a part of the sewing blade 11 which is a rotary sewing blade and a part of the sewing blade holding lever 12 that rotatably holds the sewing blade 11 are exposed from the casing.

[0060] As shown in Fig. 1, the sewing machine blade holding lever 12 is held by the lower casing 15 so as to be rotatable about the lever rotation axis 13. One end of the sewing machine blade pressing spring 14 disposed within the sewing machine blade unit 10 is fixed to a spring support plate 14a that protrudes inward from the lower casing 15, and the other end is fixed to the sewing machine blade holding lever 12. Due to the biasing force with which the sewing machine blade pressing spring 14 attempts to compress, a force acts on the sewing machine blade holding lever 12 to rotate it counterclockwise in Fig. 1 about the lever rotation axis 13. As a result, the sewing machine blade 11 held by the sewing machine blade holding lever 12 comes into contact with the sewing machine blade opposing roller 17 so as to apply pressure thereto.

[0061] The sewing machine blade 11 can be moved into and out of contact with the sewing machine blade opposing roller 17 by rotating the sewing machine blade holding lever 12. The sewing machine blade unit 10 includes a lever lock mechanism (not shown) that fixes the position of the sewing machine blade holding lever 12 in a state where the sewing machine blade 11 is separated from the sewing machine blade opposing roller 17. By pushing downward a lever operation portion that protrudes from the opening of the lower casing 15 in the sewing machine blade holding lever 12 to the outside of the casing, the sewing machine blade 11 is separated from the sewing machine blade opposing roller 17, and the position of the sewing machine blade holding lever 12 is fixed by the lever lock mechanism. When a lock release lever (not shown) is pushed downward, the position fixing by the lever lock mechanism is released, the sewing machine blade holding lever 12 rotates due to the biasing force of the sewing machine blade pressing spring 14, and the sewing machine blade 11 comes into pressure contact with the sewing machine blade opposing roller 17. In this way, by operating the sewing machine blade holding lever 12 and the lock release lever, the sewing machine blade 11 can be manually moved into and out of contact with the sewing machine blade opposing roller 17.

[0062] In the packaging machine 1, when mounting the upper film roll R1, the lever operation portion of the sewing machine blade holding lever 12 is pushed downward to separate the sewing machine blade 11 from the sewing machine blade opposing roller 17 Fix it in the installed state. Then, wrap the upper film F1 pulled out from the upper film roll R1 to be installed around the sewing blade facing roller 17, sandwich it at the opposing part with the upper film support roller 8A, and wrap it around the upper first film guide 31 and the upper second film guide 32, and install the upper film roll R1. Since the welding line Fx is not formed at the tip of the upper film F1 and the tip of the lower film F2 immediately after installing the film roll R, join the tip of the upper film F1 and the tip of the lower film F2 by joining means such as cellophane tape. Then, in order to form the welding line Fx, insert the packaging object for testing at least once and perform test packaging.

[0063] After installing the film roll R, when the unlocking lever is pushed down, the sewing blade 11 comes into pressure contact with the sewing blade facing roller 17, and the blade part of the sewing blade 11 having the blade part and the groove part alternately formed on the circumference is wrapped around the upper film F1 wrapped around the sewing blade facing roller 17 to make a hole. In this state, the packaging object is inserted, and as the upper film F1 is pulled out from the upper film roll R1, the sewing blade facing roller 17 and the sewing blade 11 rotate together. By the rotating sewing blade 11, a dotted sewing line parallel to the moving direction of the upper film F1 is formed on the upper film F1.

[0064] The upper film F1 with the sewing line formed by the sewing blade 11 passes through the clamping part between the upper film support roller 8A and the upper film roll R1, is guided by the upper first film guide 31 and the upper second film guide 32, and reaches the welding part 40 where the films F are welded by the welding cutter 5 and the side welding heater 41. Then, sandwich the packaging object sheet S between the two films F (F1, F2) that have reached the welding part 40, weld the two films F, create the package Pk having the sewing line on the surface, discharge it from the discharge port 9, and stack it on the package tray 4.

[0065] By performing the packaging process with the sewing machine blade 11 in pressure contact with the sewing machine blade opposing roller 17, it is possible to create a stitch for any length of the packaging material Pk shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. The film F with the stitch formed can be easily cut at the position of the stitch by pulling in the opposite direction with the stitch as the boundary, and the packaging target sheet S, which is the object to be packaged, can be easily taken out from the opening formed by cutting the stitch.

[0066] The packaging machine 1 can also perform the packaging process even when the lever operation part of the sewing machine blade holding lever 12 is pushed down and the sewing machine blade 11 is separated from the sewing machine blade opposing roller 17. The packaging material Pk created in this state will not have a stitch. In this way, the packaging machine 1 can create both the packaging material Pk with a stitch and the packaging material Pk without a stitch by performing the operation of contacting and separating the sewing machine blade 11 with respect to the sewing machine blade opposing roller 17. The sewing machine blade unit 10 can change the fixed position with respect to the unit holding casing 71. By changing the position of the sewing machine blade 11 in the width direction with respect to the upper film F1, the position of the stitch in the width direction (the left - right direction in FIGS. 4 to 6) of the packaging material Pk can be changed.

[0067] As a configuration other than performing longitudinal welding a plurality of times in the packaging machine 1, known ones can be used. For example, those described in JP - A - 2017 - 074975 can be used, but it is not limited to this. Also, the above - described packaging machine 1 has a horizontal conveyance configuration in which the packaging target sheet S, which is the object to be packaged, is packaged with a resin film as the packaging material while being conveyed in the horizontal direction. However, the packaging device that performs longitudinal welding a plurality of times according to the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a vertical conveyance configuration in which the object to be packaged is conveyed from above downward while being packaged, like the packaging device described in JP - A - 2016 - 37302, may also be used. The packaging material for packaging the object to be packaged is not limited to a resin film.

[0068] In the above-described embodiment, the case where the object to be packaged by the packaging machine 1 is the packaging target sheet S has been described. However, the object to be packaged is not limited to this. For example, plate-shaped objects such as newspapers, single sheets of paper, books, catalogs, plastic sheets, etc. can be mentioned. Also, not limited to plate-shaped objects, non-plate-shaped objects to be packaged such as ballpoint pens and shampoo may be packaged. Furthermore, a non-plate-shaped object to be packaged may be placed on a plate-shaped object to be packaged and inserted into the insertion port 2 of the packaging machine 1 to create a packaged product Pk in which these are enclosed. For example, it is conceivable to place novelty goods or samples related to an advertisement on the packaging target sheet S and insert them into the insertion port 2 to create a packaged product Pk in which an article is enclosed with the advertisement.

[0069] The widthwise distance from one side welding heater 41 to the other side welding heater 41 among the pair of side welding heaters 41 may be made changeable. Thereby, packaged products of various widths can be created. Also, the length of the package tray 4 may be made adjustable according to the length of the packaging target sheet S.

[0070] What has been described above is an example, and specific effects are achieved for each of the following aspects.

[0071] 〔Aspect 1〕 A first supply unit such as an upper film roll R1 that supplies packaging materials such as a sheet-shaped film F that is continuous in the conveyance direction, and a second supply unit such as a lower film roll R2, and an upper conveyance belt 34 and a lower conveyance belt 35 that sandwich and convey an object to be packaged such as the packaging target sheet S between a first packaging material such as the upper film F1 that is the packaging material supplied from the first supply unit and a second packaging material such as the lower film F2 that is the packaging material supplied from the second supply unit, and The first packaging material and the second packaging material are joined by welding or the like so as to form a lateral joint portion such as a downstream welding line Fx1 and an upstream welding line Fx2 extending in the width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and a lateral joining means such as a welding cutter 5 and a cutting motor for cutting the packaging material at the lateral joint portion; on one side and the other side in the width direction, there are longitudinal joining members such as a pair of side welding heaters 41 extending in the conveying direction, the longitudinal joining members are brought into contact with the packaging material, and the first packaging material and the second packaging material are joined so as to form a longitudinal joint portion such as an inner side welding line F3 and a front side welding line F4 extending in the conveying direction. Side welding heaters 41 and longitudinal joining means such as side motors; conveying means, lateral joining means, and longitudinal joining means; control means such as a control unit 500 for controlling the conveying means, lateral joining means, and longitudinal joining means; by joining the front and rear in the conveying direction of the object to be packaged by the lateral joining means and joining both outer sides in the width direction of the object to be packaged by the longitudinal joining means, the object to be packaged is sandwiched between the first packaging material and the second packaging material, and a packaging device such as a packaging machine 1 that performs a packaging process for creating a packaged product such as a packaged object Pk in which the joint portion is formed so as to surround the object to be packaged by the lateral joint portion and the longitudinal joint portion, wherein the control means performs a longitudinal joining multiple execution control such as a longitudinal joining two-time execution control in which, as the packaging process, a pair of longitudinal joining members are brought into contact with the packaging material for forming one packaged product a plurality of times by shifting the position in the conveying direction. According to this, it is possible to package an object to be packaged that is longer than a pair of longitudinal alignment members.

[0072] The welding cutter 5, which is the lateral joining means of the above-described embodiment, has one member that serves both as a lateral joint portion for welding and a cutting portion for cutting, but the joint portion and the cutting portion may be separate. In the case where the joint portion and the cutting portion are separate, the joint portion and the cutting portion may be close to each other or may be separated from each other.

[0073] 〔Aspect 2〕 In the packaging device of Aspect 1, when the operation in which the longitudinal joining member contacts and joins the packaging material in the packaging process is defined as a longitudinal joining operation such as longitudinal thermal welding, in the longitudinal joining multiple execution control, the portion of the packaging material that the upstream end of the longitudinal joining member contacts in the previous longitudinal joining operation such as the first longitudinal thermal welding is controlled to be located downstream of the downstream end of the longitudinal joining member in the next longitudinal joining operation such as the second longitudinal thermal welding. This can prevent the occurrence of defects such as tearing or wrinkling of the packaging material caused by overlapping joining positions in multiple joining operations.

[0074] 〔Aspect 3〕 In the packaging device of Aspect 1 or 2, when the operation in which the longitudinal joining member contacts and joins the packaging material in the packaging process is defined as the longitudinal joining operation, in the multiple longitudinal joining execution control, the conveying means conveys while being sandwiched between the first packaging material and the second packaging material whose tips are joined in advance. After performing at least one longitudinal joining operation, a transverse joining operation is performed in which the transverse joining means contacts the packaging material and cuts it. After performing the transverse joining operation, the longitudinal joining operation is performed. According to this, as in the above-described embodiment, since the transverse joining is performed after the longitudinal joining and the longitudinal joining is finally performed, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 6, a packaged product can be created in a state where there is no gap between the rear end welding line F3b on the back side, the rear end welding line F4b on the front side, and the upstream welding line Fx2.

[0075] 〔Aspect 4〕 In the packaging device of Aspect 1 or 2, when the operation in which the longitudinal joining member contacts and joins the packaging material in the packaging process is defined as the longitudinal joining operation, in the multiple longitudinal joining execution control, the conveying means conveys while being sandwiched between the first packaging material and the second packaging material whose tips are joined in advance. After performing at least one longitudinal joining operation, the transverse joining operation in which the transverse joining means contacts the packaging material and cuts it and the longitudinal joining operation are performed simultaneously. According to this, different from the above-described embodiment, after the longitudinal joining, the second and subsequent longitudinal joining and the transverse joining are performed simultaneously. Even with such control, a long packaging object can be packaged.

[0076] 〔Aspect 5〕 In the packaging device of Aspect 1 or 2, when the operation in which the longitudinal joining member contacts and joins the packaging material in the packaging process is defined as the longitudinal joining operation, in the multiple longitudinal joining execution control, the conveying means conveys while being sandwiched between the first packaging material and the second packaging material whose tips are joined in advance. After performing a plurality of longitudinal joining operations, a transverse joining operation is performed in which the transverse joining means contacts the packaging material and cuts it. According to this, different from the above-described embodiments, after the longitudinal joining, the second and subsequent longitudinal joinings are performed, and finally the transverse joining is performed. Even with such control, a long packaging object can be packaged.

[0077] 〔Aspect 6〕 In the packaging device of Aspects 1 to 5, the packaging material is a resin film sheet, and the transverse joining means and the longitudinal joining means are characterized by heat-sealing two overlapping film sheets. According to this, a packaging device that uses two film sheets can package a long packaging object.

Explanation of Signs

[0078] 1 : Packaging machine 4 : Packaging object tray 5 : Welding and cutting heater 10 : Sewing blade unit 11 : Sewing blade 12 : Sewing blade holding lever 17 : Sewing blade opposing roller 34 : Upper conveying belt 35 : Lower conveying belt 40 : Welding part 41 : Side welding heater 50 : Perforation forming part CL : Perforation F : Film F1 : Upper film F2 : Lower film F3 : Rear side welding line F3a : Rear side front end welding line F3b : Rear side rear end welding line F3c : Rear side middle welding line F4 : Front side welding line F4a : Front side front end welding line F4b : Front side rear end welding line F4c : Front side middle welding line Pk : Packaging object R : Film roll R1: Upper film roll R2: Lower film roll S: Sheet to be packaged

Claims

1. A first supply unit and a second supply unit that respectively supply sheet-like packaging materials continuous in the conveying direction, Conveying means for sandwiching and conveying a packaging object between a first packaging material that is the packaging material supplied from the first supply unit and a second packaging material that is the packaging material supplied from the second supply unit, A transverse joining means for joining the first packaging material and the second packaging material so as to form a transverse joining portion extending in the width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and cutting the packaging material at the transverse joining portion, On one side and the other side in the width direction, there are a pair of longitudinal joining members extending in the conveying direction. The longitudinal joining members are brought into contact with the packaging material, and the first packaging material and the second packaging material are joined so as to form a longitudinal joining portion extending in the conveying direction. Longitudinal joining means, Control means for controlling the conveying means, the transverse joining means, and the longitudinal joining means, A packaging apparatus that performs a packaging process for creating a packaged product in which the packaging object is sandwiched between the first packaging material and the second packaging material and a joining portion is formed so as to surround the packaging object by the transverse joining portion and the longitudinal joining portion, by joining the front and rear in the conveying direction of the packaging object by the transverse joining means and joining both outer sides in the width direction of the packaging object by the longitudinal joining means, The control means is characterized in that, as the packaging process, for the packaging material forming one of the packaged products, longitudinal joining multiple execution control is performed in which the positions in the conveying direction are shifted and the pair of longitudinal joining members are brought into contact multiple times.

2. In the packaging apparatus according to Claim 1, When the operation in which the longitudinal joining member contacts and joins the packaging material in the packaging process is defined as a longitudinal joining operation, In the longitudinal joining multiple execution control, it is controlled such that the portion of the packaging material where the upstream end of the longitudinal joining member contacted in the previous longitudinal joining operation is located downstream of the downstream end of the longitudinal joining member in the next longitudinal joining operation. A packaging apparatus characterized by this.

3. In the packaging apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, When the operation in which the longitudinal joining member contacts and joins the packaging material in the packaging process is defined as a longitudinal joining operation, In the longitudinal joining multiple execution control, the conveying means conveys while sandwiching between the first packaging material and the second packaging material whose tips are joined in advance, After performing at least one longitudinal joining operation, a transverse joining operation is performed in which the transverse joining means is brought into contact with the packaging material and cut. A packaging device, characterized in that after performing the horizontal joining operation, the vertical joining operation is performed.

4. In the packaging device according to claim 1 or 2, when the operation in which the vertical joining member contacts and joins the packaging material in the packaging process is defined as the vertical joining operation, in the multiple vertical joining execution control, the conveying means conveys while being sandwiched between the first packaging material and the second packaging material whose tips are joined in advance, a packaging device, characterized in that after performing at least one vertical joining operation, a horizontal joining operation of bringing the horizontal joining means into contact with the packaging material and cutting and the vertical joining operation are performed simultaneously.

5. In the packaging device according to claim 1 or 2, when the operation in which the vertical joining member contacts and joins the packaging material in the packaging process is defined as the vertical joining operation, in the multiple vertical joining execution control, the conveying means conveys while being sandwiched between the first packaging material and the second packaging material whose tips are joined in advance, a packaging device, characterized in that after performing multiple vertical joining operations, a horizontal joining operation of bringing the horizontal joining means into contact with the packaging material and cutting is performed.

6. In the packaging device according to claim 1, the packaging material is a resin film sheet, the horizontal joining means and the vertical joining means are characterized by heat-welding two overlapping film sheets.

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