Packaging device

Abstract

To provide a packaging device which is space-saving and has improved maintainability by arranging a plurality of means related to packaging processing in a device body.SOLUTION: There is provided a packaging device 100 that can replace multiple types of upper die 24 and lower die in order to seal a film around multiple sizes of containers containing contents, the device including: a weighing means 1 for weighing the container; a heater means for heating the upper die; a packaging means 2 for moving the lower die up and down relative to the upper die and sealing a weighed container with a film by the upper die heated by the heater means; a conveying means for conveying the weighed container from the weighing means to the packaging means; a film holding means 211; and an excess film winding means 212, in which the packaging means is arranged downstream of the weighing means in a conveying direction, and the upper die, film holding means, and excess film winding means are arranged above an area where the weighing means and packaging means are arranged, and can be detached from the same direction when replaced.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A conventional packaging device is one that performs top sealing on a large number of trays by placing the food to be packaged on a weighing scale, then transporting the food into trays supplied on a conveyor, and heat-sealing the film lid on the tray (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

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

[0004] In the packaging device described in Patent Document 1, other means such as weighing means are arranged outside the machine frame where the packaging means is arranged, protruding along the production line, and no consideration is given at all to space saving. On the other hand, if the means are arranged in a concentrated manner to save space, a new problem arises, such as the difficulty of maintenance. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a packaging device that saves space while improving maintainability by arranging multiple means related to packaging processing in a single device body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The packaging device of the present invention has at least the following configuration. A packaging device that can replace multiple types of upper and lower cut-out dies to seal film around containers of multiple sizes containing contents, and is equipped with a weighing means for measuring the weight of the container, a heater means for heating the upper cut-out dies, a packaging means for moving the lower cut-out dies up and down relative to the upper cut-out dies and sealing film around the containers weighed by the upper cut-out dies heated by the heater means, a transport means for transporting the weighed containers from the weighing means to the packaging means, a film holding means for holding the film, and a surplus film winding means for winding up excess film when packaging in the packaging means, and is characterized in that the packaging means is located downstream of the weighing means in the transport direction, and the upper cut-out dies, the film holding means, and the surplus film winding means are located above the area where the weighing means and packaging means are located, and can be detached and attached from the same direction when replaced. Here, since the weighing means and the packaging means are arranged upstream and downstream, the area in which the placement area and the packaging means are arranged is the area in the width direction of the device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, by arranging a plurality of means related to packaging processing in one device main body, it is possible to provide a packaging device that is space-saving and also has improved maintainability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a right perspective view showing the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a left perspective view showing the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a top view showing the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the packaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the weighing means and packaging means (with part of the machine frame removed). [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the weighing means and packaging means (with a part of the machine frame removed). [Figure 7] These are front cross-sectional views illustrating the upper cutter die and the upper cutter die folder, where Figure 7(a) shows the upper cutter die folder when no upper cutter die is loaded, Figure 7(b) shows the upper cutter die alone, and Figure 7(c) shows the upper cutter die loaded in the upper cutter die folder. [Figure 8] 8A, 8B, and 8C are diagrams illustrating an upper punching die, with FIG. 8A being a top view, FIG. 8B being an upper perspective view, and FIG. 8C being a lower perspective view. [Figure 9] 9(a) and 9(b) are diagrams showing the state in which an upper die is loaded into an upper die folder, with FIG. 9(a) being a top view, FIG. 9(b) being a front view, FIG. 9(c) being a bottom view, FIG. 9(d) being an oblique view from above, FIG. 9(e) being a right side view, and FIG. 9(f) being a conceptual diagram showing a heat transfer member. [Figure 10] 10(a) and 10(b) are diagrams showing the state in which an upper die is not loaded in the upper die folder, with FIG. 10(a) being a top view, FIG. 10(b) being a front view, FIG. 10(c) being a bottom view, FIG. 10(d) being an oblique view from above, FIG. 10(e) being a right side view, and FIG. 10(f) being an enlarged view of portion D in FIG. 10(d). [Figure 11] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating a lower die, with FIG. 11A being a top view and FIG. 11B being a side cross-sectional view. [Figure 12] 10 is a perspective view showing how a lower die is attached to and detached from a lower die folder. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the mechanism of action for determining the loading state. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display of a determination result on a weighing screen. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. [Figure 18] FIG. [Figure 19] 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the lower die is pushed up relative to the upper die. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An example of an embodiment of a packaging device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the drawings below have been created for explanatory purposes, and for the sake of clarity, components not necessary for the explanation may be intentionally omitted. Furthermore, components may be intentionally enlarged or reduced in size for the purpose of explanation, and the drawings are not drawn to an accurate scale. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different drawings indicate parts with the same function, and duplicate explanations in each drawing will be omitted as appropriate.

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

[0010] 1 to 3, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention weighs the packaged items, carries the tray T carrying the packaged items into the machine, and automatically performs a series of operations up to carrying out the packaged items after top sealing and labeling, which involves a gas replacement process (processing the entire welded area at once) to extend the expiration date of the packaged items. In other words, the device has a packaging process between the process of weighing the packaged items and the process of labeling. More specifically, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 3, in the packaging device 100, when a tray T carrying an article to be packaged is placed on the weighing means 1 (see FIG. 1), the weight of the article to be packaged is measured, and the tray T is carried forward by the in-feed bar IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6) into the machine frame having the packaging means 2. In the machine frame, the lower punch 25 (see FIG. 1) pushes the tray T upward, and first, the air present in the space formed between the film, which is always stretched and held at both ends by the film holding means 211 and the excess film winding means 212 (see FIG. 1), and the tray T is replaced with an inert gas. Then, while the edge of the tray T is brought into contact with the film, the film is heat-sealed and packaged while being sandwiched between the lower die 25 and the upper die 24 (see FIG. 1), and after the film is cut, the lower die 25 and the tray T are lowered to a predetermined height (home position), and the in-feed bar IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6) again advances the tray T in the carry-in direction to transfer it to the subsequent area 3, and while moving it in the carry-out direction perpendicular to the carry-in direction, a label is affixed by the label affixing means 7, and the tray T is then discharged onto the first discharge table 4, and further moved in the opposite direction to the carry-in direction to the second discharge table 5. In an embodiment of the present invention, three types of upper and lower die dies are provided and configured to be interchangeable so as to accommodate three different sizes of tray T: large, medium, and small. However, this is merely one example, and the size types may be two, "large" and "small," or four or more sizes may be available, or even there may be only one tray size that is not intended to be replaced. The weighing unit 1, packaging unit 2, and rear-stage area 3 are aligned vertically from the front toward the rear of the device. As shown in FIG. 1 , a console 6 is located above the weighing unit 1 and upstream of the weighing unit 1 in the conveying direction. The console 6 has a display, a numeric keypad, a touch panel, and other operating units on its front, and includes a control unit. To explain this arrangement in more detail, the lower end of the console 6 case is located upstream of the weighing unit 1, and both the center of the console 6 and the center of the display are located in the weighing unit 1 area. Although the console 6 is tilted, the upper end of the console 6 case is also located upstream of the weighing unit 1. The upper portion of the rear-stage area 3 is a labeling unit 7 that prints and affixes product labels bearing information such as the weighed weight, unit price, and price. The lower die 25 is also equipped with a gas replacement mechanism (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 ). In this specification, "gas replacement" refers to "gas replacement" used in a broad sense (regardless of the specific process) of a process in which the air inside a packaged item is replaced with an inert gas to extend the expiration date, and includes both "gas replacement" used in the narrow sense in which the air is completely removed before gas is introduced, and "gas flushing" in which gas is sprayed to expel the air.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration, the top seal is performed while gas is replaced between the packaged item and the film, so that the gas replacement process for extending the expiration date of the packaged item and the packaging process using the top seal can be performed approximately simultaneously, thereby making the work more efficient.

[0012] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the tray T is inserted from the front, packaged, and then returned to the front, which significantly contributes to the efficiency of work in the backyard and realizes this configuration in a compact manner. However, from the viewpoint of performing the gas replacement process for extending the expiration date of the packaged items and the packaging process using a top seal substantially simultaneously, the configuration in which the tray is inserted from the front and then returned to the front is not essential. It is also possible to realize this configuration by simply transporting the tray in one direction from the front to the rear, or by first performing the packaging process and then the weighing process. Furthermore, it is also possible to eliminate the weighing process and labeling process and create an apparatus assembly specialized for the packaging process. This will be described later as another embodiment.

[0013] The machine frame shown in FIG. 1, particularly the upper portion, not only houses the packaging means 2 and other components, but also plays a vital role in isolating the interior from the outside. A buffer tank (not shown) for gas replacement is installed in the lower portion of the machine frame. After weighing by the weighing means 1, the tray T is transported, and the upper and lower cutters are closed to seal the top. To prevent an operator from accidentally inserting their hand and causing an accident, a shutter 11 is installed between the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2, slightly including the area of the weighing means 1 (see FIG. 5). When the tray T is transported to the packaging means 2 by the infeed bar IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6), the shutter 11 isolates the inside and outside of the housing. Since the transport means in this embodiment of the present invention is the infeed bar IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6) rather than a belt conveyor, the shutter 11 is configured to close by lifting from the bottom up, avoiding the chain portion (see FIG. 5). However, the shutter may be configured to close by descending from top to bottom, or a shutter may not be provided and the device may be stopped when a sensor detects the intrusion of a hand, thereby ensuring safety.

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

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

[0016] As mentioned above, three types of trays T are available: large, medium, and small. Interchangeable upper and lower die dies 24 and 25 are provided for packaging the trays T. Specifically, in this embodiment, an upper die 24A for large trays (150 mm wide and 150 mm deep), an upper die 24B for medium trays (150 mm wide and 120 mm deep), and an upper die 24C for small trays (120 mm wide and 120 mm deep) are provided. However, the outer shapes of the die dies are all the same regardless of tray size. To properly center the three types of trays T (large, medium, and small) relative to the in-feed bar IB, the platform of the weighing unit 1 is provided with recesses of slightly different depths corresponding to the large, medium, and small tray sizes. That is, a deeper recess for the medium size tray is located inside the recess for the large size tray, and an even deeper recess for the small size tray is located inside the recess for the medium size tray. The difference in level caused by this recess is kept to a minimum so as not to create resistance when the tray T is transported by the in-feed bar IB. In addition, guides 12 tapering toward the center are provided on both the left and right sides as a means for centering (see Figure 2). Furthermore, instead of recesses or guides, a visually identifiable indicator may also be used as a means for centering. Even if there is some left-right misalignment, the sides of the tray T are sloped, so that the tray T is naturally guided to the correct position when pushed up by the lower punch die 25. In addition to this, a slide member that narrows the width in cooperation with the left and right sides, as is commonly used in cutting machines, may be provided at the lower end of the opening defined by a shutter located in a part between the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2 that slightly includes the area of the weighing means 1, thereby providing a means for correcting any misalignment at the start of conveyance.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 5, the tray T that has been packaged by thermal welding is transferred from the packaging means 2 to the subsequent area 3. As shown in FIG. 6, the subsequent area 3 is composed of a conveyor belt and functions as a discharge means that moves the tray T outside the machine frame. Above the subsequent area 3, a labeling means 7 that prints and affixes product labels is provided. Therefore, the subsequent area 3 can also be regarded as the labeling means 7. Thus, the tray T is transferred by the subsequent area 3 in an output direction perpendicular to the feed direction and discharged toward the first discharge table 4. The first discharge table 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is equipped with a drive roller that moves the tray T in the opposite direction to the feed direction to the second discharge table 5. The second discharge table 5 is inclined, and the tray T moves under its own weight. Therefore, the rollers of the second discharge table 5 are simply rollers without any driving force.

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

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 , the film hanging means 21 is arranged to fit within the upper portion of the machine frame in which the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2 are arranged. The film is hung in the same direction as the weighing means 1, packaging means 2, and rear-stage area 3, which are vertically aligned from the front to the rear of the machine. In other words, the film hanging direction is the same as the conveyance direction of the tray T. In conventional packaging machines, the film hanging means is typically arranged to extend significantly outside the machine frame in which the packaging means and other components are arranged. However, this embodiment significantly contributes to space savings. Note that while the film hanging means 21 is arranged to fit within the area above the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2, it may also be configured such that the surplus film winding means 212 extends into the rear-stage area 3, or the console 6 may be located in a different position so that the film holding means 211 extends further forward. Even with such a configuration, it can be said that this is a technical concept for space saving that can be clearly distinguished from the prior art in which film hanging means are arranged to protrude significantly outside the area of the device frame. Furthermore, even if the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212 are arranged in the opposite front-to-rear directions, this does not impair space saving, and the film holding means 211 may be arranged at the rear and the surplus film winding means 212 at the front. 5, this embodiment employs an arrangement in which the film unwound from film holding means 211 is given a constant tension by dancer roller DR to stabilize the tension, then looped around two film feed shafts so that it passes near the bottom of the mounting means, and then taken up by surplus film take-up means 212. Dancer roller DR functions as an adjustment means for adjusting the tension of the film, and is located above the weighing means 1 and below the film holding means 211. In FIG. 1 , the side panel SP is pivotally supported on the right long side and is configured to be rotatable rearward. This configuration allows the film roll to be replaced from the right side, and as described below, the upper die 24 and the lower die 25 can also be replaced from the right side. In this way, the upper die 24, film holding means 211, and surplus film winding means 212 are detachable from the same direction along the winding shaft during replacement. The lower die 25 is replaced by inserting it from the right side and then dropping it slightly downward (see also FIG. 12 ). The label application means 7 can be tilted (rotated) rearward, facilitating the replacement of the film roll and the upper die 24 and the lower die 25. The rotatable configuration also facilitates label replacement. The rotatable side panel SP may be located on the left side instead of the right side. In other words, the rotatable side panel SP does not have to be provided on the same side as the side on which the first discharge table 4, etc. are arranged. However, in terms of space saving, it is advantageous to configure the side panel SP on the same side as the side on which the first discharge table 4, etc. are arranged to be rotatable.

[0020] The top panel UP, front panel FP, and side panels SP of the machine frame are made of transparent material or have transparent plates fitted in them, so that the state of the film suspended on the film suspension means 21 can be checked. In addition to visual check, the top panel UP is configured to be slidable backward to a position where it does not come into contact with the label application means 7, so that any problems can be dealt with, and the front panel FP is also pivoted at its top edge and is configured to be rotatable. However, it may also be configured to be pivoted at its bottom edge or to be able to slide.

[0021] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, an upper die holder 240, into which the upper die 24 is loaded, is provided between the film hanging means 21 and the transport space for the tray T (operated by the in-feed bar IB). The upper die holder 240 is provided with a locking means that prevents the upper die 24 from being removed after it has been loaded. To remove the upper die 24, the lock release lever 24L must be operated (see Figure 9). The lock release lever 24L is configured to prevent the unlocking operation under inappropriate conditions in conjunction with various processes for the die, which will be described later. The locking means may also be configured as an automatic locking means. In this case, it is preferable to configure the locking operation to be linked to the temperature of the upper die 24 during various processes for the die, which will be described later. A heater means 241 (see FIG. 7) for supplying heat for welding the film is provided inside the upper cutting die folder 240. A metal plate 242 (see FIG. 7) for transmitting the heat supplied from the heater means 241, and a film cutting means 244 (see FIG. 8) for cutting the film are provided in the upper cutting die 24. The heater means 241 contacts the metal plate 242 of the upper cutting die 24 loaded in the upper cutting die folder 240. The metal plate 242 has a protrusion 242a of a size corresponding to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protrusion 242a, and the heat supplied from the heater means 241 is transmitted to the protrusion 242a to heat-weld the film in contact with the edge of the tray T. In the embodiment of the present invention, aluminum, which has high thermal conductivity, is used as the material for the metal plate 242, but this does not prevent the use of silver, copper, gold, etc., which have higher thermal conductivity, and even if a material has a lower thermal conductivity than aluminum, it may also be used as long as there are no practical problems. In the embodiment of the present invention, the metal plate 242 has a structure including protrusions 242a corresponding to the edges of the tray T and an uneven shape, but the protrusions 242a and the central portion 242b are basically a single-piece structure composed of a single member. However, the metal plate may be configured by bonding two plates together and by extending a heat pipe between the two plates to conduct heat from the heater more quickly and more evenly over a wider area. Furthermore, because the protrusions 242a, which function as the top seal, of the metal plate 242 weld the film and the container, the central portion 242b, which is not located there, does not need to be hot. Rather, considering the risk of heat dissipation from the central portion 242b, it is preferable to configure the central portion 242b to have a heat-retaining material fixed thereto, and such a configuration may be used.

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

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

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

[0025] (Transport operation by infeed bar) As shown in FIG. 5 , the infeed bar IB, which serves as the tray T transport mechanism, is suspended at four circumferential positions on two left and right chains that can travel the entire circumference from the front of the weighing means 1 to the rear of the packaging means 2. As the chains rotate, the tray T can be transported from the weighing means 1 to the packaging means 2, and then from the packaging means 2 to the rear area 3. Rollers 31 are placed in the space between the packaging means 2 and the rear area 3, allowing the tray T to move smoothly from the packaging means 2 to the rear area 3. Because most of the packaging items are food, the metal infeed bar IB is treated with antibacterial and anticorrosive agents. The infeed bar IB is connected to the chains via eight infeed bar support members IB1, each installed at four circumferential positions on the two left and right chains.

[0026] The following describes the transport operation of the in-feed bar IB, which rotates and is connected to the chain that serves as the drive unit, and the opening and closing operation of the shutter 11. During standby, the shutter 11 is closed. When weighing is performed by the weighing means 1, the shutter 11 descends, opening and closing the housing. The tray T placed on the weighing means 1 is pushed by the in-feed bar IB and transported to the packaging means 2, where the in-feed bar IB stops. If the tray T were to remain in this state, it would interfere with the in-feed bar IB when the lower cutter die 25 (described below) ascends. Therefore, the in-feed bar IB retreats to the area where the weighing means 1 is located. As mentioned above, the spacing between the in-feed bars IB in the circumferential direction is set so that when the in-feed bar IB retreats, it will not interfere with the next packaged item placed on the weighing means 1. Once the in-feed bar IB retreats, the shutter 11 rises from below the front of the machine frame, isolating the inside from the outside, ensuring safety. This blocking state by the shutter 11 continues until the next product is weighed. The structure of the infeed bars IB, which are arranged intermittently in the circumferential direction, allows for a shutter configuration in which the bars rise from below and perform a closing operation, avoiding the chain portions arranged continuously in the circumferential direction. After the top of the tray T is sealed by the packaging means 2, the infeed bar IB moves forward again and transports the tray T to the subsequent area 3. At this time, the presence of rollers 31 ensures that the tray T is smoothly transported without falling between the packaging means 2 and the subsequent area 3. The height of the infeed bar IB relative to the tray T placement surface is configured to be centered between the height of the bottom and top of the tray T, but the height may be changed as needed as long as the tray T can be transported stably. This embodiment, configured as described above, allows the transport of packaged items from the weighing means through the packaging means to the subsequent area using a single transport means, significantly contributing to space and cost savings.

[0027] (Gas replacement and packaging operation by upper and lower die) FIG. 7 is a front cross-sectional view illustrating an upper die and an upper die folder, where FIG. 7(a) shows the upper die folder without an upper die loaded, FIG. 7(b) shows the upper die alone, and FIG. 7(c) shows the upper die loaded in the upper die folder. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the upper die, where FIG. 8(a) shows a top view, FIG. 8(b) shows an upper oblique view, and FIG. 8(c) shows a bottom oblique view. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the lower die, where FIG. 11(a) shows a top view, and FIG. 11(b) shows a side cross-sectional view. FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of portion A in FIG. 11(b), rotated 90 degrees, showing the lower die positioned horizontally. FIG. 19 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the lower die is pushed up relative to the upper die.

[0028] As can be seen from comparing the front cross-sectional views of FIGS. 7(a) and 7(c), the upper cutting die 24 is loaded into the upper cutting die holder 240 by entering from the right side. That is, as described above, the upper cutting die 24, like the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212, is detachable from the right side of FIG. 1, which is the same direction along the winding shaft. Also, as shown in FIG. 7(b), the upper cutting die includes a metal plate 242 that functions as a top seal when heat supplied from the heater means 241 is transferred, and a film cutting means 244 for cutting the film. As shown in FIG. 8, the metal plate 242 has a chamfered rectangular shape to correspond to the edge of the tray T, and the film cutting means 244 is disposed on its periphery. The metal plate 242 also includes a protrusion 242a sized to correspond to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protrusion 242a. The film cutting means 244 can cut the welded film to the size of the tray T. Although the heat from the heater means 241 is transferred only to the metal plate 242, a structure in which the heat is transferred to other metal parts is not excluded.

[0029] As shown in Figure 7(a), when the upper die 24 is not loaded, the heater means 241 for supplying heat for film welding is positioned upward by a biasing means (not shown) (see also Figures 10(b) and 10(d)). When the upper die 24 shown in Figure 7(b) is inserted from the right side in the figure, the abutment portion at the tip of the upper die 24 abuts against the roller 2431 at the tip of the heater link 243, and the heater link 243 presses the heater means 241 downward as shown in Figure 7(c) (see also Figures 9(b) and 9(d)). This causes the heater means 241 to come into contact with the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24, enabling it to transfer heat for welding to the metal plate 242. In the embodiment of the present invention, the heater means 241 is formed by drilling holes in an aluminum material and inserting cartridge heaters into the holes (see also FIG. 10(d)). However, it is also possible to use a silicon rubber heater, a plate heater, a plug-type heater, a sheathed heater, or the like. Furthermore, in addition to a heat conduction type heater, the heater type may be a convection type or a radiation type (radiation type), and is not limited to a heat conduction type. The heater means may be configured to be in direct contact with the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24, or may be configured to be in indirect contact with the heater means and the metal plate 242 by adding a heat transfer member with good thermal conductivity, such as gold, silver, copper, or aluminum, to the metal plate 242. For example, if the extent of the heater means is small compared to the size of the rectangular portion of the metal plate 242, the heat transfer area will be limited to the center, resulting in poor efficiency. Therefore, by interposing a heat transfer member HTM with good thermal conductivity and a size comparable to the extent of the metal plate 242 between the heater means and the metal plate 242, the area over which heat is transferred can be effectively expanded (see also Figure 9(f)).

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

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

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b), the lower die 25 includes a gas inlet 251 for gas replacement (gas flushing), a gas diffusion step 2510 connected to the gas inlet 251, and an air outlet 252. The gas inlet 251 and the gas diffusion step 2510 are covered with a cover, and therefore the gas inlet 251 and the gas diffusion step 2510 are depicted in dashed lines in FIG. 11(a). The gas diffusion step 2510 has a triangular shape in top view, which allows the gas to diffuse easily in the lateral direction of the tray, as indicated by the hollow arrows in the figure. In FIG. 18, the dashed line F represents a film and also indicates the film support surface. However, because a cover covering the gas diffusion step 2510 and other components is located at the left end of the dashed line, only that portion is depicted in solid lines. 18, the gas is diffused by the gas diffusion step 2510, enters the tray T, and is sent rearward, after which it finally turns downward and is discharged through the multiple air outlets 252. Note that the gas inlet 251 is disposed at the front (corresponding to the long side of the tray), while the air outlet 252 is disposed at the rear (corresponding to the opposing long side of the tray), but they may also be configured to be disposed on either side (either on both sides or on one side) corresponding to the short sides of the tray. Also, although the air outlet 252 is configured to communicate downward, it may also be configured to communicate rearward.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 11(a), the lower die 25 has three lower die holes 253 for detecting the die size, one of which is filled depending on the size. The unfilled holes function as light-transmitting portions, while the filled holes function as light-shielding or reflective portions. The tray T is raised by having its edges supported by tray edge supports 254 provided inside the lower die 25. The center of the lower die 25 is perforated vertically, and at this position, a container bottom support 26 is fixedly provided to the housing (see FIG. 19).

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

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

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

[0037] (Regarding compatibility detection of upper and lower punching dies) As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, three types of upper and lower die dies are prepared to accommodate three different sizes of tray T: large, medium, and small. The upper die 24 can be replaced by simply inserting it into the right side of the side panel SP, and the lower die 25 can be replaced by inserting it into the right side of the side panel SP and then dropping it down. Here, whether or not the correct size die is loaded is an issue. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, a device is provided to detect whether the correct upper die 24 and the correct lower die 25 are loaded. Specifically, the upper die 24 has three upper die holes 245 as shown in FIG. 8, and the lower die 25 has three lower die holes 253 as shown in FIG. 11. One of these holes is filled in for each tray T according to its size. Light-emitting elements are provided below the lower die 25 and light-receiving elements are provided above the upper die 24 at the ends of the three holes. In the portion corresponding to the center, a light-emitting element is provided above the upper die 24 and a light-receiving element is provided below the lower die 25. Normally, two lights should be received, but if the upper die 24 and the lower die 25 do not correspond, one of the lights will be blocked, meaning that the upper and lower die do not match, and this can be detected. Based on this, it is possible to detect and determine the sizes of the die dies that are loaded together in the upper and lower positions according to the position of the holes, and if necessary, a notification is given by a display means, audio guidance, or notification means such as communication with another external device.

[0038] In this embodiment, the light propagation direction is opposite between the end portions and the center portion to prevent interference between adjacent lights. However, if there is no risk of light interference, the three light directions may be the same. Furthermore, although one of three holes is filled depending on the size, two may be filled. However, filling one hole and detecting two holes is preferable because it increases the possibility of determining various situations. Furthermore, a reflective sensor may be used instead of a combination of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. In this case, the filled hole would be a reflective portion rather than a light-blocking portion. Furthermore, instead of an optical sensor, other optical means, such as an imaging element, may be used to capture the characteristics of the upper and lower cutting dies and perform image analysis to make a judgment. In this case, even if the upper and lower dies are not aligned, it is possible to separately judge the upper and lower dies. This embodiment, configured as described above, provides a highly effective packaging device without stopping the line due to incompatible upper and lower cutting dies.

[0039] Problems can also occur due to errors other than misalignment of the upper and lower die dies. During busy periods, other tasks besides packaging may interrupt the work, forcing workers to perform other tasks. Or, due to inexperienced workers operating the machine, they may forget to load the die itself. Even when they have forgotten to load the die, they may mistakenly assume that the die has been replaced and attempt to resume work. However, in embodiments of the present invention, when both the upper and lower die dies are not loaded, the light is not blocked from all three holes, and the light emitted from the three light-emitting elements is detected by all three light-receiving elements. By determining that the upper and lower die dies are loaded when all three sensors are on and providing a warning, further operational errors due to forgetting to load the upper and lower die dies can be prevented.

[0040] As described above, the three holes can detect mismatches between the upper and lower die sets and failure to load the upper and lower die sets, but there are cases where other types of mistakes can occur. If an interruption occurs during a replacement operation, it is possible that the upper die set has been replaced but the lower die set has not been completed and is not loaded, or vice versa. Here we will explain another example of detecting compatibility between the upper and lower die sets, which takes into account the possibility of such mistakes.

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

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

[0043] As shown in FIG. 13(a), if the sensor output at the corresponding positions of O2 and O3 is ON, it is determined that a large-size die is loaded. Also, as shown in FIG. 13(b), if the sensor output at the corresponding positions of O2 and O4 is ON, it is determined that a medium-size die is loaded. Also, as shown in FIG. 13(c), if the sensor output at the corresponding positions of O3 and O4 is ON, it is determined that a small-size die is loaded. Although not shown, if only one sensor output is ON, it means that the sizes of the upper and lower die do not match. In contrast, if three sensor outputs are ON, it means that neither the upper nor lower die is loaded. The determination method of the other example described above has the same mechanism of action even in the example described above where only three holes are provided.

[0044] If only one of the upper and lower die dies is left unloaded, three sensors alone cannot detect this. However, five sensors can properly detect this. That is, as can be seen from FIG. 13(d), when the sensor output of O1 is on, it means that the upper die is loaded but the lower die is not. On the other hand, as can be seen from FIG. 13(e), when the sensor output of O5 is on, it means that the lower die is loaded but the upper die is not. When neither the upper nor lower die dies are loaded, as explained above, the sensor outputs of O2 to O4 are on. In addition, the sensor outputs of O1 and O5 are also on, meaning that all five sensor outputs are on.

[0045] In both the example with three holes and the example with five holes, size information of the container linked to the product information is stored in an appropriate storage means, and it is possible to detect a difference between the determined sizes of the upper and lower cutters and the size of the container linked to the called-up product information, and to issue a notification using a notification means as necessary.In contrast to this, it is also possible to control the system so that a product that does not correspond to the set cutter is not called up, and to make the user aware that the cutter is not compatible by not being able to call up the product.

[0046] The means for determining the suitability of the die does not have to be optical, but may utilize other physical quantities, or may combine a means utilizing holes with other detection means. For example, if a sensor (a contact switch, electromagnetic sensor, or other method is not important) is provided that detects the loading of the upper die, the sensor indicated by O5 in Figure 13 can be omitted. Other than this, more intelligent means using an imaging element, or conversely, more primitive means, may be employed. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the weight of the die is measured for determination, or a mark or number is written on the die so that the die number can be visually confirmed, or the confirmation mark may be a strong adhesive sticker. Furthermore, even if an imaging element is used, determination may be made by reading a barcode displayed on the die rather than the physical characteristics of the die itself. However, in a device that uses optical means or another physical quantity, if a sensor that can identify which upper and lower cutters are loaded is provided, it becomes possible to determine which sizes of cutters are loaded in the upper and lower cutter folders, and guidance on the display screen described below becomes advantageous.Specific examples of sensors that can be used include physical sensors that correspond to the sizes of each cutter, transmission sensors, camera means, etc.

[0047] (Regarding the timing of determining the loading status of the upper and lower die) In this embodiment, the timing for determining the loading status of the upper and lower die cutters is effectively adjusted while taking into consideration the characteristics of the packaging machine. When changing the upper and lower die cutters, the emergency stop button 8 is pressed to stop the packaging machine, and then the die cutter and film are replaced. However, when the emergency stop button 8 is released after replacing the die cutters, the type of die cutter is determined, and if the upper and lower die cutters are different, an error notification is issued. Furthermore, when the power is turned on, the currently set die cutter type is determined and displayed, allowing the user to check the set die cutter at any time. Furthermore, when replacing the die cutter, a cleaning notification is issued. If a cleaning command is issued upon receiving the notification, a purge process is performed to keep the die cutter gas inlet clean. Additionally, a gas detection sensor may be provided to check whether gas is being properly injected, or a test run may be performed to ensure that the entire path leading to the inlet is completely filled with gas.

[0048] The timing for determining the loading status of the cutting dies (including determining whether the upper and lower cutting dies are loaded and whether the upper and lower cutting dies are consistent or not) will be specifically described, with an example of the display screen layout shown. First, the display (notification) of the cutting dies when the power is turned on will be explained. When the device is not in operation, turning the power on first displays an initial screen, such as a date and time confirmation screen, followed by the main menu shown in FIG. 15(a). From this screen, the user can select a "packaging pricing mode" that performs packaging and pricing, a "packaging mode" that performs packaging only, or a "pricing mode" that does not package and only issues pricing labels. An example of the screen immediately after "pricing mode" is selected is shown here. When the packaging operation and the pricing mode button are pressed, the device transitions to a reset mode (not shown) and a reset operation is performed. During this reset operation, a determination is made as to whether the upper and lower cutting dies are loaded or whether the upper and lower cutting dies are consistent or not, and the determination results are displayed or notified. The timing of the determination can be changed at any time, even without the reset operation, such as during initial operation or while the main menu is displayed. In particular, since the packaging device includes a storage unit for storing size information of containers linked to product information, it would be convenient to provide a notification when the size of the loaded die differs from the size of the container linked to the retrieved product information. However, since product information is retrieved by checking the screen and repeatedly displaying the next and subsequent candidates to confirm the product, a configuration in which a judgment and notification are made each time a candidate is displayed before confirmation may be considered excessive. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a configuration in which a judgment and notification are made when the product is placed on the weighing unit. Alternatively, a configuration in which a judgment and notification are made when the product is placed and its weight is detected may also be possible. However, a configuration in which a notification is made each time product information is retrieved is not excluded. Figure 14 shows an example of the display of the judgment results on the weighing screen, the details of which will be described later.

[0049] On the other hand, when replacing a die during normal packaging operations (hereinafter referred to as "normal operation"), it is necessary to wait for the die to cool down. Furthermore, the timing of the determination is naturally limited because the determination is meaningless unless it is made after an instruction for replacement is given. As mentioned above, during normal operation, pressing the emergency stop button 8 displays the screen shown in FIG. 15(b), stops heating of the upper die, and starts natural cooling. Note that a cooling means may be provided to perform forced cooling. As shown in FIG. 15(b), the guidance screen displays the current die's temperature, the appropriate replacement temperature, and the estimated time until the temperature reaches the appropriate replacement temperature, along with the fact that the current die is a large size. Furthermore, the display of the current die temperature may be made more noticeable by changing the display mode until the temperature reaches the appropriate temperature. For example, while the die still needs to be heated, a message such as "Temperature is 90°C. Please wait until it reaches 35°C" may be displayed in red. Once the appropriate temperature is reached, a message such as "Cooling is complete" may be displayed in green.

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

[0051] If the determination result shows that the sizes of the upper and lower cutting dies are consistent, for example, as shown in FIG. 16(b), the guidance screen displays that both the upper and lower cutting dies are medium size, and the "Start Heating" button is activated and displayed as being pressable. Alternatively, the control may be such that heating is started along with a display indicating that heating should start, without requiring a press operation. Furthermore, the control may be such that heating is started only if the upper and lower cutting dies are consistent, and not if they are not consistent, without even a display indicating that heating should start.

[0052] On the other hand, if the result of the judgment indicates a problem with the loading status of the cutting dies, an error message is displayed prominently, along with the details of the error. For example, as shown in FIG. 17(a), a message is displayed highlighting "Cutting die matching error," indicating that the upper cutting die is large size but the lower cutting die is medium size, indicating a size mismatch. The "Start heating" button is not activated and cannot be pressed. As another example, as shown in FIG. 17(b), a message is displayed highlighting "Cutting die matching error," indicating that the upper cutting die is not loaded. The "Start heating" button is not activated and cannot be pressed. The display example here corresponds to a configuration equipped with a sensor that can identify which upper and lower die are loaded. With a detection method using three or five holes, it is possible to determine whether the upper and lower dies are inconsistent, but it is not possible to identify which dies are loaded on each side. Even so, this is still meaningful because when an operator sees the "die match error" display, they will check the actual loading status. Furthermore, if the result of judging the loading status of the upper and lower die is that the upper and lower die are incompatible or have been forgotten to be loaded, the system is configured so that it cannot transition to the weighing mode until the die is replaced to bring it into an appropriate state or until the heating temperature reaches the appropriate temperature.

[0053] (Example of the judgment result displayed on the weighing screen) FIG. 14 shows an example of the display of the judgment result on the weighing screen. For the product name "Gauda Cheese," "Large (1)" is displayed in the "Tray Type Selection" field, and "150mm W x 150mm D" is displayed in the "Tray Dimensions" field. This allows an experienced worker to recognize that the size is incorrect. Incidentally, "Medium (2)" is "150mm W x 120mm D" and "Small (3)" is "120mm W x 120mm D." Furthermore, to help inexperienced workers easily recognize that there is a size error, the display format may be changed from the usual format to make it more conspicuous, or a more straightforward message such as "Size Error" may be displayed. Furthermore, the error may be announced by audio. In addition, it also displays that the current "packaging mode" is the "packaging pricing mode" and that the "heat seal temperature" is 160°C. This temperature display may be made more noticeable by changing the display mode until the temperature reaches the appropriate temperature. For example, it could be displayed in red while the product still needs to be heated, and then change to green once the appropriate temperature has been reached. When the "pricing mode" is selected as the "packaging mode," the system is configured not to perform a match determination or notification for the match between the cutter size associated with the called product and the loaded cutter size, since the packaging work will not be performed. Of course, the system may be configured to perform the determination and notification for the packaging work to be performed later.

[0054] (Gas replacement treatment) Gas replacement processes to extend the shelf life of packaged products are performed by replacing air with an inert gas. Inert gases are created by adjusting the ratio of three gases—nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen—to extend the shelf life of food. While oxygen may seem unnecessary, it is actually necessary to maintain the redness of meat. As mentioned above, gas can be efficiently delivered by injecting gas between the film and the container while the upper and lower die-cutting dies are closed. In other words, gas injection time can be shortened by injecting gas through the gas inlet 251 while evacuating the air inside the die-cutting dies through the air outlet 252. Furthermore, since the gas inlet 251 is located on the side of the weighing device 1, gas can be injected from the same position even with die-cutting dies of different sizes. Furthermore, since the gas inlet 251 and air outlet 252 are located in the film transport direction, the film can be reliably covered without shifting left or right. Here, only one type of film is used to eliminate the need to change film for each tray size. The same is true for the tray T, which is all the same width and has different depths, allowing for efficient film use. However, multiple heights may be available. Conventionally, most gas replacement packaging involves injecting gas into the bag during the manufacturing process. This embodiment is highly significant in that it achieves efficient gas replacement processing at the top seal by injecting gas while the film is sandwiched between the bags. Also, the configuration may be such that vacuum packaging can be selected by not injecting gas through the gas inlet 251 but evacuating the air from inside the die through the air outlet 252. Furthermore, the configuration may be such that neither gas injection nor air evacuation is performed, in other words, normal packaging can be selected.

[0055] The gas replacement time can be changed automatically or manually depending on the size of the tray T (large, medium, and small). Alternatively, the gas replacement time can be changed depending on the expiration date. The expiration date can be selected directly on the console 6, or a recommended expiration date can be linked to product information, and the gas replacement time can be automatically changed depending on the product selection. Furthermore, multiple gas inlets can be provided, for example, three dedicated inlets for nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, allowing the optimal gas ratio to be adjusted by setting or automatic control.

[0056] (Regarding another embodiment) The embodiments described so far involve weighing, packaging, and labeling, but the device may also be configured to have a packaging-only mode in which only packaging is performed. The packaging-only mode is suitable for fixed-price products that do not require weighing. Because there is no need to transport the products to a later stage for labeling, the packaging-only mode may be configured so that the in-feed bar IB rotates in the reverse direction after packaging and ejects the tray to the front. Alternatively, the device may be configured as a dedicated device that performs only packaging. Even in this case, the technical idea of substantially simultaneously performing a gas replacement process to extend the expiration date of the packaged products and a packaging process using a top seal is included. Furthermore, rather than switching to a packaging-only mode, the present invention also includes a device configuration that is specialized for packaging. In other words, the device may be configured as a dedicated device that performs only packaging processing by communicating with a separate device, without having components such as a weighing means, a console for that purpose, or a labeling means.

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

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

[0059] In the embodiment described above, the inert gas is filled by a gas flush, which sprays gas to expel air. However, a gas replacement (in the narrow sense) mode may also be used, in which the air is removed and then the gas is introduced. This takes longer than gas flushing, but is advantageous in terms of gas diffusion and the ability of the gas to reach every corner. In this case, the air outlet is initially configured as a suction port for removing air. Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the film is configured to be suspended in the same direction as the weighing means 1, packaging means 2, and rear area 3, which are arranged vertically from the front to the back of the device, and the tray width is set to a single size, but the film may also be configured to be suspended in a direction perpendicular to the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2, so that the tray width direction can be changed for each tray size.

[0060] <Summary of the embodiment> [Technical field] The present invention relates to a packaging device that covers a tray on which an item to be packaged is placed with a film and heat-seals the film to the edge of the tray. [Background technology] A conventional packaging device is one that performs top sealing on a large number of trays by placing the food to be packaged on a weighing scale, then transporting the food into trays supplied on a conveyor, and heat-sealing the film lid on the tray (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art document] [Patent Documents] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-515654 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be solved by the invention] In the packaging device described in Patent Document 1, other means such as weighing means are arranged outside the machine frame where the packaging means is arranged, protruding along the production line, and no consideration is given at all to space saving. On the other hand, if the means are arranged in a concentrated manner to save space, a new problem arises, such as difficulty in maintenance. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a packaging device that saves space while improving maintainability by arranging multiple means related to packaging processing in a single device body. [Means for solving the problem] (1) As described above, one aspect of this embodiment is a packaging device 100 that can replace a plurality of types of upper cut-out dies 24 and lower cut-out dies 25 in order to seal a film around containers of a plurality of sizes containing contents, and includes a weighing means 1 that weighs the containers, a heater means 241 that heats the upper cut-out dies 24, a packaging means 2 that moves the lower cut-out dies 25 up and down relative to the upper cut-out dies 24 and seals a film around the weighed containers by the upper cut-out dies 24 heated by the heat from the heater means 241, and a packaging means 2 that transfers the weighed containers from the weighing means 1 to the The packaging device 100 is characterized in that it comprises a conveying means (in-feed bar IB) that conveys the film to the packaging means 2, a film holding means 211 that holds the film, and a surplus film winding means 212 that winds up any excess film that is left over when packaging in the packaging means 2, and the packaging means 2 is arranged downstream in the conveying direction of the weighing means 1, and the upper cutting die 24, the film holding means 211, and the surplus film winding means 212 are arranged above the area where the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2 are arranged, and can be detached from the same direction when replaced. According to the above configuration, by arranging multiple means related to the packaging process in one device body, it is possible to provide a packaging device that is space-saving, yet allows for easy film replacement and improves maintainability.

[0061] (2) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device 100 described in (1), which is equipped with a lower die attachment means 250 that detachably holds the lower die 25, and a container bottom support part 26 that supports the bottom of the container, and the lower die 25 has a container edge support means 254 and an opening that can be grasped by an operator, and when the lower die 25 is positioned downward, the lower die 25 can be easily attached and detached by grasping the opening. According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a packaging device in which the cutting die can be easily replaced and further, the maintainability is improved.

[0062] (3) One aspect of this embodiment is a packaging device 100 described in (1) or (2), which is provided with a cover SP that covers the side of the device and can be opened and closed, and by opening and closing the cover SP, the upper and lower cutting dies, the film holding means, and the surplus film winding means can be attached and detached. According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a packaging device that can be easily opened and closed by simply opening the cover, and that allows easy replacement of cutting dies and film.

[0063] (4) One aspect of this embodiment is a packaging device 100 described in any one of (1) to (3), which includes a transfer means (subsequent region 3) that transfers containers packaged by the packaging means, and the transfer means (subsequent region 3) transfers the containers in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and the attachment and detachment direction of the upper die 24, the lower die 25, the film holding means 211, and the excess film winding means 212 is the same as the transfer direction of the transfer means (subsequent region 3). According to the above configuration, the access direction when replacing various components can be aligned on the same side, so that a packaging device with improved maintainability can be provided.

[0064] The packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes design changes within the scope of the present invention that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 100 Packaging equipment 1 Measuring means 11 Shutter 2 Packaging means 21 Film hanging means 211 Film holding means 212 Surplus film winding means 24 Upper cutting die 241 Heating means 242 Metal plate 243 Heater Link 244 Film cutting means 245 Upper punch hole 25 Lower die (gas replacement means) 250 Lower die folder (lower die mounting means) 251 Gas inlet 2510 Gas diffusion step 252 Air exhaust port 253 Bottom punching hole 254 Tray edge support (container edge support means) 26 Container bottom support part 3 Later area (transportation means) 4 1st discharge stand 5 Second discharge platform 6 Console (display) 7 Labeling method 8 Emergency Stop Button IB Infeed bar (conveying means) HTM Heat Transfer Material T-Tray R roll film DR Dancer Roller

Claims

1. A packaging device that allows for the exchange of multiple types of top and bottom die-cutting dies for sealing film onto containers of multiple sizes containing contents, A heater means for heating the upper cutting die, A packaging means that moves the lower die up and down relative to the upper die, and seals the film onto the container with the upper die, which is heated by the heat from the heater means, A film holding means for holding the aforementioned film, The packaging means includes an excess film winding means for winding up any excess film left over during packaging, The upper die, the film holding means, and the excess film winding means are positioned above the area where the packaging means is located, and are detachable from the same direction when replaced. A packaging device characterized by the following features.

2. The system comprises a bottom-cutting die mounting means for detachably holding the bottom-cutting die, and a container bottom support portion for supporting the bottom surface of the container, The aforementioned bottom-cutting mold has a container edge support means and an opening that can be grasped by an operator. The downward-cutting die is detachable by gripping the opening when the downward-cutting die is in a downward position. The packaging apparatus according to feature 1.

3. The device has a cover that covers the sides and can be opened and closed. By opening and closing the cover, the upper and lower cutting molds, the film holding means, and the excess film winding means can be attached and detached. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A transfer means for transferring the container packaged by the aforementioned packaging means, The transfer means transfers the container in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the container, The attachment and detachment directions of the upper cut-out die, the lower cut-out die, the film holding means, and the excess film winding means are the same as the transport direction of the transport means. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

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