Cutting device and bag-making filling and packaging machine

Abstract

To provide a cutting device which alleviates a load when a cutter slides and which can easily attach / detach the cutter.SOLUTION: A cutting device includes: a shaft extending in the thickness direction of a medium; a cutter unit capable of sliding along the shaft between a separation position which is separated from the medium and a cut position where the medium is cut; and a drive unit including a drive source for generating a drive force for sliding the cutter unit, and a drive force transmission part for transmitting the drive force which the drive source has generated to the cutter unit. The cutter unit includes: a slider extrapolated in the shaft so as to slide in the thickness direction; and a cutter integrated with the slider, and for penetrating the medium in the thickness direction and cutting it when in the cut position. The drive unit can move between a transmission position where extraction of the slider from the shaft is inhibited and transmission of the drive force to the cutter unit becomes possible, and a release position where extraction of the slider from the shaft is permitted and transmission of the drive force to the cutter unit is released.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cutting device and a form-fill-seal machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a form-fill-seal machine that includes a first sealing device that seals both ends of overlapping strip film, a second sealing device that seals the portions of the strip film formed into a cylindrical shape by the first sealing device that correspond to the top and bottom of a bag containing a product, and a cutter that appears and disappears from the heater block of the second sealing device and cuts the boundary portions of the bags that are continuously produced.

[0003] In such form-fill-fill-seal machines, the cutter loses its sharpness with repeated use, so it needs to be removed and cleaned periodically. Furthermore, depending on the shape of the bag end, it may be necessary to replace the cutter with another cutter with a different blade shape. Patent Document 1 therefore discloses a technology in which the cutter and guide pin are unitized in a cutter holder, making it detachable from the machine. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-036977 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the heavy guide pin slides together with the cutter, increasing the inertial force during sliding, and placing a heavy load on the device at the stroke end of the cutter. Furthermore, the heavier the unit, the greater the workload for attaching and detaching the cutter to and from the device. Furthermore, the longer the stroke of the cutter (i.e., the length of the guide pin), the more pronounced this problem becomes.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cutting device that reduces the load when the cutter slides and allows the cutter to be easily attached and detached. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a cutting device for cutting strip-shaped media, comprising: an axis extending in the thickness direction of the media; a cutter unit that is slidable along the axis between a separated position spaced from the media and a cutting position where the media is cut; a drive source that generates a drive force for sliding the cutter unit; and a drive unit having a drive force transmission section that transmits the drive force generated by the drive source to the cutter unit, wherein the cutter unit comprises a slider that is extrapolated onto the axis so as to be slidable in the thickness direction; and a cutter that is integrated with the slider and that cuts the media by penetrating through the thickness direction when at the cutting position, and the drive unit is movable between a transmission position that prevents the slider from being removed from the axis and enables the transmission of drive force to the cutter unit, and a release position that allows the slider to be removed from the axis and releases the transmission of drive force to the cutter unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, a cutting device can be obtained that reduces the load when the cutter slides and allows the cutter to be easily attached and detached. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cutting device attached to an end seal device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cutting device as seen from the upstream side in the conveying direction. [Figure 5]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cutting device as seen from the downstream side in the conveying direction. [Figure 6] 1A is a front view of the cutting device with the cutter unit in the separated position, and FIG. 1B is a side cross-sectional view thereof. [Figure 7] 1A is a front view of the cutting device with the cutter unit in the cutting position, and FIG. 1B is a side cross-sectional view thereof. [Figure 8] 1A is a perspective view of the cutting device with the drive unit in a transmission position (A) and a release position (B). FIG. [Figure 9] 8A-8A cross-sectional view (A) and 8B-8B cross-sectional view (B) of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a transmission position and a separation position of a cutting device according to a first modification, a transmission position and a disconnection position of the cutting device, and a release position of the cutting device according to a first modification. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a vertical bag form-fill-seal packaging machine. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a side view of a vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 100 according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment of the present invention described below is merely an example of how the present invention can be realized, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope of the described embodiment. Therefore, the present invention can be implemented by adding various modifications to the embodiment.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a side view of a horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 100. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 100. The horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 100 (form-fill-seal packaging machine) is a device that packages products P supplied from a supply device (not shown) one by one. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 100 mainly comprises a supply conveyor 110, a film feeding device 120, a clamping and conveying device 130, a center sealing device 135 (first sealing device), an end sealing device 140 (second sealing device), and a cutting device 200.

[0012] The supply conveyor 110 supplies products P, which are sequentially supplied from a supply device (not shown), to the cylinder former 126. As shown in FIG. 1, the supply conveyor 110 is made up of a drive sprocket 114, a driven sprocket 115, an endless circular conveyor chain 116 stretched between the drive sprocket 114 and the driven sprocket 115, and a drive motor 117 that drives the drive sprocket 114.

[0013] The conveyor chain 116 is also provided with a plurality of pushers 118. The pushers 118 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the conveying direction of the products P. A product P supplied from a supply device enters between two adjacent pushers 118. The pushers 118 come into contact with the rear end of the product P and push the product P.

[0014] The film feeding device 120 feeds the strip film Fw (strip packaging material) toward the clamping and conveying device 130. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the film feeding device 120 mainly includes a winding shaft 121 around which the strip film Fw is wound, a driving roller 122, a driven roller 123, a feed motor 124, guide rollers 125a and 125b, and a cylinder former 126.

[0015] The strip film Fw is a strip-shaped packaging material that is used to make bags for packaging products. The strip film Fw is a film-like member that can be welded by applying heat, and examples include polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), biaxially oriented polypropylene (OPP), aluminum-lined paper, and aluminum-metalized paper. Products refer to granular foods such as mochi (rice cakes), buns, candy, bean snacks, and snacks. However, specific examples of products are not limited to these and include any item that is packaged in a bag Bp and shipped.

[0016] The drive roller 122 and driven roller 123 rotate while sandwiching the strip film Fw. The drive roller 122 rotates by receiving the driving force of the feed motor 124. This causes the drive roller 122 and driven roller 123 to pay out the strip film Fw wound around the winding shaft 121 toward the tube former 126. Guide rollers 125a and 125b are arranged along the transport path of the strip film Fw from the winding shaft 121 to the tube former 126 via the drive roller 122 and driven roller 123, and apply tension to the strip film Fw as it is paid out.

[0017] The cylinder former 126 forms the strip film Fw fed by the film feeding device 120 into a cylindrical shape, and serves as an entrance through which the product P fed from the supply conveyor 110 enters the cylindrical strip film Fw. The cylinder former 126 is disposed on the transport path of the strip film Fw from the film feeding device 120 to the center seal device 135. The cylinder former 126 is disposed facing the downstream end of the supply conveyor 110 in the transport direction.

[0018] The strip film Fw fed by the film feeding device 120 is formed into a cylindrical shape by overlapping both ends in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction below as it moves along the cylinder former 126. In addition, the product P supplied from the supply conveyor 110 passes through the internal space of the cylinder former 126 and enters the interior of the cylindrical strip film Fw.

[0019] The clamping and conveying device 130 clamps the overlapped ends of the strip film Fw formed into a cylindrical shape by the cylinder former 126 and conveys it in the conveying direction. The clamping and conveying device 130 is located downstream of the cylinder former 126 in the conveying direction. The clamping and conveying device 130 is also located below the strip film Fw and product P that have passed through the cylinder former 126. The clamping and conveying device 130 mainly comprises a support plate 131, a pair of film feed rollers 132, 133, and a feed motor 134.

[0020] The support plate 131 is connected downstream in the conveying direction from the cylinder former 126. The support plate 131 supports the product P contained in the cylindrical strip film Fw. The support plate 131 also extends in the conveying direction up to the position of the center seal device 135. Furthermore, the support plate 131 has a slit 139 that extends through the center of the width direction along the conveying direction of the strip film Fw. The overlapping ends of the strip film Fw protrude from the underside of the support plate 131 through the slit 139.

[0021] A pair of film feed rollers 132, 133 are disposed on the underside of the support plate 131. The pair of film feed rollers 132, 133 clamp the overlapping ends of the strip film Fw protruding through the slit 139. The film feed roller 132 rotates by the driving force transmitted from the feed motor 134. As a result, the cylindrical strip film Fw is transported in the transport direction toward the center seal device 135.

[0022] The center seal device 135 seals both widthwise ends of the strip film Fw that has been laminated in the cylinder former 126. The center seal device 135 is located downstream in the conveying direction from the cylinder former 126 and the clamping and conveying device 130. The center seal device 135 is also located below the strip film Fw and the product P (in other words, the support plate 131). The center seal device 135 mainly comprises a pair of seal rollers 136, 137 and a seal motor 138.

[0023] The pair of sealing rollers 136, 137 are disposed on the underside of the support plate 131, downstream of the film feed rollers 132, 133 in the transport direction of the strip film Fw. The pair of sealing rollers 136, 137 clamp the overlapped ends of the strip film Fw protruding through the slit 139. The outer circumferential surfaces of the sealing rollers 136, 137 are heated by a heater (not shown). The driving force of a sealing motor 138 is transmitted to the sealing roller 136, causing it to rotate. This seals (welds) the overlapped ends of the strip film Fw clamped between the sealing rollers 136, 137.

[0024] The end sealing device 140 is disposed downstream in the conveying direction from the cylinder former 126, the clamping and conveying device 130, and the center sealing device 135. The end sealing device 140 seals the cylindrical strip film Fw sealed by the center sealing device 135 on both sides of the product P in the conveying direction, thereby forming a bag Bp containing the product P. The end sealing device 140 mainly comprises a pair of sealing blocks 141, 142 and a contact / separation motor 143.

[0025] A pair of sealing blocks 141, 142 are arranged vertically, sandwiching a cylindrically formed strip film Fw therebetween. The surfaces of the pair of sealing blocks 141, 142 facing the strip film Fw are heated by a heater (not shown). The pair of sealing blocks 141, 142 are brought into contact with and separated from each other by the driving force of a contact / separation motor 143. The end sealing device 140 brings the pair of sealing blocks 141, 142 into contact with each other between adjacent products P. As a result, the portions of the strip film Fw corresponding to the top and bottom of the bag Bp containing the product P are sandwiched between the sealing blocks 141, 142 and sealed (welded).

[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cutting device 200 attached to the end sealing device 140. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the cutting device 200 as seen from the upstream side in the conveying direction. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the cutting device 200 as seen from the downstream side in the conveying direction. FIG. 6 is a front view (A) and a side cross-sectional view (B) of the cutting device 200 with the cutter unit 210 in the separated position. FIG. 7 is a front view (A) and a side cross-sectional view (B) of the cutting device 200 with the cutter unit 210 in the cutting position. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cutting device 200 with the drive unit 220 in the transmission position (A) and the release position (B). FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view (A) taken along line 8A-8A and a cross-sectional view (B) taken along line 8B-8B of FIG. 8. The vertical direction corresponds to the thickness direction of the strip film Fw, and the conveying direction corresponds to the extension direction of the strip film Fw.

[0027] The cutting device 200 is a device that cuts the strip film Fw (an example of a strip-shaped medium). More specifically, the cutting device 200 cuts the sealed portion of the strip film Fw sealed by the end sealing device 140 (i.e., the boundary portion between adjacent bags Bp). As shown in FIG. 3, the cutting device 200 is fixed to the sealing block 141 (more specifically, the holder 144 that supports the sealing block 141). Also, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 9, the cutting device 200 mainly includes, for example, a base plate 201, shafts 202a and 202b, set collars 203a and 203b, a cutter unit 210, a drive unit 220, and a locking mechanism 230.

[0028] The base plate 201 is fixed to the holder 144. The upper surface of the base plate 201, which is a horizontal plane, supports the shafts 202a and 202b and the locking mechanism 230. The upper surface of the base plate 201 also functions as a guide surface that guides the drive unit 220 (more specifically, the bottom wall 221) that rotates around the shaft 202a.

[0029] The shafts 202a and 202b extend upward from the upper surface of the base plate 201 at positions spaced apart in the width direction of the strip film Fw. The lengths of the shafts 202a and 202b are set to be sufficiently longer than the stroke of the cutter unit 210, which will be described later. The shafts 202a and 202b may be solid or hollow.

[0030] The set collars 203a and 203b are fixed to the shafts 202a and 202b at a predetermined distance from the upper surface of the base plate 201. The set collars 203a and 203b also determine the vertical position of the drive unit 220 (more specifically, the bottom wall 221). Furthermore, the set collars 203a and 203b function as trays for grease applied between the shafts 202a and 202b and the sliders 212a and 212b.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the set collar 203b includes, for example, a fixed portion 204b and a cylindrical portion 205b. The fixed portion 204b is fitted onto the shaft 202b and fixed with a bolt. The cylindrical portion 205b protrudes upward from the upper end of the fixed portion 204b and is continuous in the circumferential direction. The cylindrical portion 205b is spaced a predetermined distance from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 202b in the radial direction of the shaft 202b. A space is formed between the shaft 202b and the cylindrical portion 205b, into which the slider 212b can enter. The set collar 203a has a similar configuration.

[0032] Cutter unit 210 is configured to be detachable (insertable) from shafts 202a and 202b. Cutter unit 210 is also configured to be slidable (movable up and down) along shafts 202a and 202b between a separation position (FIG. 6) and a cutting position (FIG. 7) by a driving force transmitted from drive unit 220. Cutter unit 210 mainly includes, for example, a cutter 211, sliders 212a and 212b, and a cutter holder 213.

[0033] The cutter 211 has a plate-like outer shape with a blade 214 formed at its tip. The cutter 211 is made of, for example, a metal material. The sliders 212a and 212b have a cylindrical outer shape that is extrapolated onto the shafts 202a and 202b. The sliders 212a and 212b are shorter and thinner than the shafts 202a and 202b. In other words, the sliders 212a and 212b are lighter than the shafts 202a and 202b.

[0034] The cutter holder 213 supports and integrates the cutter 211 and sliders 212a and 212b. This allows the cutter 211, sliders 212a and 212b, and cutter holder 213 to slide integrally between the separation position and the cutting position. Furthermore, when the sliders 212a and 212b are inserted onto the shafts 202a and 202b, the blade 214 of the cutter 211 faces downward and extends in the width direction of the strip film Fw.

[0035] A recess 215 is also formed in the cutter holder 213. The recess 215 is a portion recessed in the conveying direction from the wall surface facing the drive unit 220. Note that, although the recess 215 according to this embodiment is a through-hole that penetrates the cutter holder 213 in the conveying direction, it does not necessarily have to be completely through. The recess 215 has a flat shape in which the length in the width direction of the strip film Fw is longer than the width in the up-down direction. The recess 215 receives the bearing 224 when the drive unit 220 is in the transmission position.

[0036] Furthermore, the cutter holder 213 includes a grip portion 216. The grip portion 216 protrudes from the cutter holder 213 in the conveyance direction. The grip portion 216 is a portion that is gripped by a user when removing the cutter unit 210 from the shafts 202a and 202b. The user can remove the sliders 212a and 212b from the shafts 202a and 202b by gripping the grip portion 216 and pulling it upward. The grip portion 216 is formed, for example, from a material (for example, a resin material) that has a lower thermal conductivity than the cutter 211.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 6, the separation position is a position where the blade 214 of the cutter 211 is recessed inside a groove that penetrates the sealing block 141 in the vertical direction, and the blade 214 of the cutter 211 is separated upward from the strip film Fw. As shown in Fig. 7, the cutting position is a position where the blade 214 of the cutter 211 protruding from the underside of the sealing block 141 penetrates and cuts the strip film Fw. In other words, the separation position and the cutting position are positions separated in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the cutting position is a position below the separation position.

[0038] Grease is applied between the outer circumferential surfaces of the shafts 202a and 202b and the sliders 212a and 212b to allow the cutter unit 210 to slide smoothly. As shown in FIGS. 6B and 7B, when the cutter unit 210 is positioned between the separation position and the cutting position, the lower end of the slider 212b is positioned inside the cylindrical portion 205b of the set collar 203b and below the upper end of the cylindrical portion 205b. As a result, any grease leaking downward from between the shaft 202b and the slider 212b is contained in the space between the fixed portion 204b and the cylindrical portion 205b, preventing it from leaking out. The same is true between the set collar 203a and the slider 212a.

[0039] A user of the horizontal form-fill-fill-seal machine 100 (or cutting device 200) selects a cutter 211 having a blade 214 with a different shape depending on the shape of the end of the bag Bp. Therefore, the cutting device 200 may be provided with a plurality of cutter units 210 in advance, each equipped with cutters 211 having blades 214 with different shapes. The user may then select a cutter unit 210 equipped with a desired cutter 211 from the plurality of cutter units 210 provided in advance, and attach it to the cutting device 200. As another example, the user may remove the cutter unit 210 from the shafts 202a and 202b, replace the cutter 211 with respect to the cutter holder 213, and then attach the replaced cutter unit 210 to the shafts 202a and 202b.

[0040] The drive unit 220 generates a drive force for sliding the cutter unit 210 between the separated position and the cutting position, and transmits the generated drive force to the cutter unit 210. The drive unit 220 also prevents or allows the cutter unit 210 to be removed from the shafts 202a and 202b. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 9, the drive unit 220 mainly includes a bottom wall 221, a standing wall 222, a pneumatic rotary actuator 223, and a bearing 224.

[0041] The bottom wall 221 is disposed parallel to the base plate 201. One longitudinal end (rotation base end) of the bottom wall 221 is rotatably supported on a shaft 202a between the base plate 201 and the set collar 203a. This allows the drive unit 220 to rotate (move) about the shaft 202a between a transmission position (FIGS. 8(A) and 9(A)) and a release position (FIGS. 8(B) and 9(B)). In other words, the drive unit 220 rotates (moves) on a plane (i.e., a horizontal plane) perpendicular to the sliding direction (i.e., the up-down direction) of the cutter unit 210. The drive unit 220 rotates with the lower surface of the bottom wall 221 in contact with the upper surface of the base plate 201.

[0042] The transmission position is a position of the drive unit 220 that prevents the sliders 212a and 212b from being removed from the shafts 202a and 202b and enables the transmission of driving force to the cutter unit 210. The release position is a position of the drive unit 220 that allows the sliders 212a and 212b to be removed from the shafts 202a and 202b and releases the transmission of driving force to the cutter unit 210.

[0043] Furthermore, a holding portion 225 is formed at the other longitudinal end (the rotating tip) of the bottom wall 221. The holding portion 225 is a portion that includes a substantially U-shaped notch formed at the rotating tip of the bottom wall 221. The holding portion 225 holds the pin 231 when the drive unit 220 rotates from the release position to the transmission position (in other words, the pin 231 enters the notch). On the other hand, the holding portion 225 disengages from the pin 231 when the drive unit 220 rotates from the transmission position to the release position.

[0044] Furthermore, a grip portion 226 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom wall 221. The grip portion 226 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the bottom wall 221. The grip portion 226 is a portion that is gripped by a user when rotating the drive unit 220. The grip portion 226 is formed, for example, from a material (for example, a resin material) that has a lower thermal conductivity than the bottom wall 221 (for example, a metal).

[0045] The standing wall 222 is a wall erected on the upper surface of the bottom wall 221. The standing wall 222 supports the pneumatic rotary actuator 223. The standing wall 222 is formed with a through-hole (not shown) through which the output shaft X of the pneumatic rotary actuator 223 passes. The standing wall 222 is inserted between the pair of shafts 202a and 202b when the drive unit 220 is in the transmission position.

[0046] The pneumatic rotary actuator 223 is a drive source that generates a drive force (rotational drive force) for sliding the cutter unit 210. The pneumatic rotary actuator 223 generates a rotational motion by supplying and discharging compressed air supplied from a compressor (not shown). The output shaft X of the pneumatic rotary actuator 223 extends in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction (i.e., horizontally) and penetrates the standing wall 222. A bearing 224 is rotatably attached to the tip of the output shaft X. In other words, the pneumatic rotary actuator 223 and the bearing 224 are disposed on opposite sides of the standing wall 222. Note that a specific example of the drive source is not limited to the pneumatic rotary actuator 223, and may be a motor (servo motor), etc.

[0047] The bearing 224 is a driving force transmission part that transmits the driving force generated by the pneumatic rotary actuator 223 to the cutter unit 210. As shown in FIG. 9(A), the bearing 224 enters the recess 215 when the drive unit 220 is in the transmission position. As a result, the driving force of the pneumatic rotary actuator 223 is transmitted to the cutter unit 210, as will be described later, and the sliders 212a, 212b cannot be removed from the shafts 202a, 202b. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9(B), the bearing 224 retracts from the recess 215 when the drive unit 220 is in the release position. As a result, the driving force of the pneumatic rotary actuator 223 is not transmitted to the cutter unit 210, and the sliders 212a, 212b can be removed from the shafts 202a, 202b.

[0048] The bearing 224 revolves around the output shaft X as the output shaft X rotates. The diameter of the bearing 224 matches the vertical dimension of the recess 215. Therefore, when the bearing 224 enters the recess 215, there is substantially no vertical gap (play) between the recess 215 and the bearing 224. The revolving bearing 224 presses against the wall surfaces that define the vertical ends of the recess 215. Furthermore, the diameter of the bearing 224 is smaller than the width dimension of the recess 215 of the strip film Fw. Therefore, the revolving bearing 224 can move inside the recess 215 in the width direction of the strip film Fw.

[0049] More specifically, the bearing 224 moves forward and backward relative to the recess 215 at a position above the center of the output shaft X. When the bearing 224 revolves toward the lower end of its revolution locus, the bearing 224 moves inside the recess 215 in the width direction of the strip film Fw while pressing downward against the wall surface that defines the lower end of the recess 215. This causes the cutter unit 210 to move from the separating position toward the cutting position. On the other hand, when the bearing 224 revolves toward the upper end of its revolution locus, the bearing 224 moves inside the recess 215 in the width direction of the strip film Fw while pressing upward against the wall surface that defines the upper end of the recess 215. This causes the cutter unit 210 to move from the cutting position toward the separating position.

[0050] The locking mechanism 230 is a mechanism for locking the drive unit 220 in the transmission position. More specifically, the locking mechanism 230 is operated by a user to switch between a state in which the drive unit 220 is locked in the transmission position and a state in which the drive unit 220 is unlocked. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 9, the locking mechanism 230 mainly includes, for example, a pin 231, a pressing member 232, and a lever 233 (operation portion).

[0051] Pin 231 protrudes upward from the upper surface of base plate 201 at a position where it is held by holding portion 225 when drive unit 220 is in the transmission position. Furthermore, a male screw is formed on at least a portion (upper end) of pin 231, into which lever 233 is screwed. Pressing member 232 is a cylindrical member that is extrapolated onto pin 231. Furthermore, pressing member 232 is supported by pin 231 so as to be movable in the up and down direction. Lever 233 is rotatably supported at the upper end of pin 231. When lever 233 is rotated by the user, it moves up and down along the male screw of pin 231. As a result, pressing member 232 moves up and down along pin 231.

[0052] When the lever 233 is rotated in the first direction with the drive unit 220 disposed in the transmission position (i.e., the holder 225 holds the pin 231), the pressing member 232 moving downward presses the holder 225 against the base plate 201. In other words, the holder 225 (bottom wall 221) is sandwiched between the base plate 201 and the pressing member 232. This locks the drive unit 220 in the transmission position. The position of the pressing member 232 at this time is the locked position. On the other hand, when the lever 233 is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the pressing member 232 moving upward moves away from the holder 225. This allows the drive unit 220 to rotate from the transmission position to the released position. The position of the pressing member 232 at this time is the unlocked position.

[0053] According to the above embodiment, for example, the following advantageous effects are achieved.

[0054] As in the above embodiment, the cutter unit 210 including the cutter 211, sliders 212a and 212b, and cutter holder 213 is lighter than a unit including a guide pin (Patent Document 1). Furthermore, the greater the stroke of the cutter 211 (i.e., the longer the shafts 202a and 202b), the more significant this weight difference becomes. This reduces the load (impact) on the cutting device 200 at the stroke end of the cutter unit 210. Furthermore, the cutter 211 can be easily attached and detached by inserting and removing the lightweight cutter unit 210 into and from the shafts 202a and 202b fixed to the base plate 201.

[0055] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the bearing 224 provided at the tip of the horizontally extending output shaft X is inserted into the recess 215, so that the cutter unit 210 and the drive unit 220 can be arranged horizontally. This allows the cutting device 200 to be made smaller in the vertical direction than when the cutter unit and the drive unit are arranged vertically (Patent Document 1).

[0056] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the cutter unit 210 is slid by pressing the wall surfaces that define the vertical ends of the recess 215 with the bearing 224, so the cutter unit 210 can slide in synchronization with the rotation of the pneumatic rotary actuator 223, compared to when the cutter unit 210 is pressed downward by an air cylinder and upward by a spring (Patent Document 1). As a result, the cycle time of the horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 100 can be shortened. Furthermore, vibration of the cutter unit 210 when sliding is suppressed, so the load on the cutting device 200 is also reduced.

[0057] Furthermore, when the cutter unit and drive unit are arranged as in Patent Document 1, the drive unit is tilted in the opening direction when the drive unit slides. Therefore, to prevent the drive unit from opening when the cutter unit slides, it is necessary to increase the locking strength of the locking mechanism.

[0058] In contrast, according to the above embodiment, the sliding direction (vertical direction) of the cutter unit 210 and the rotation direction (horizontal direction) of the drive unit 220 are orthogonal to each other (in other words, the sliding direction of the cutter unit 210 is aligned with the extension direction of the shaft 202a, which is the rotation axis of the drive unit 220), thereby preventing the drive unit 220 from rotating due to the force generated when the cutter unit 210 slides. As a result, the drive unit 220 can be restrained in the transmission position without increasing the locking strength of the locking mechanism 230. However, as will be described later in Modification 1, the movement of the drive unit 220 between the transmission position and the release position is not limited to "rotation."

[0059] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, by clamping the drive unit 220 at the transmission position between the base plate 201 and the pressing member 232 from the top and bottom (i.e., the sliding direction of the cutter unit 210), it is possible to prevent the drive unit 220 from vibrating due to the force generated when the cutter unit 210 slides.

[0060] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, by using the set collars 203a, 203b as grease trays, it is possible to prevent the grease from scattering between the shafts 202a, 202b and the sliders 212a, 212b, thereby preventing the bags Bp formed by the horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 100 from being contaminated.

[0061] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the gripping portions 216, 226 are formed of a material with a lower thermal conductivity than the cutter 211 and the bottom wall 221. This reduces the influence of heat from the heaters provided in the seal blocks 141, 142 when the user moves the cutter unit 210 and the drive unit 220.

[0062] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, by preparing in advance a plurality of cutter units 210 equipped with frequently used cutters 211, it is possible to reduce downtime when replacing the cutter 211. This makes it possible to improve the productivity of the horizontal form-fill-fill-seal packaging machine 100, particularly in factories where the cutter 211 is replaced frequently.

[0063] [Variation 1] A cutting device 200A according to Modification 1 will be described with reference to Figure 10. Figure 10 shows the transmission position and separation position (A), the transmission position and disconnection position (B), and the release position (C) of the cutting device 200A according to Modification 1. Note that a detailed description of the commonalities with the above embodiment will be omitted, and the following description will focus on the differences. As shown in Figure 10, the cutting device 200A according to Modification 1 includes a drive unit 240 that integrates an air cylinder 241, which is another example of a drive source, and an L-shaped member 242, which is another example of a drive force transmission section.

[0064] The air cylinder 241 is disposed with its cylinder rod 243 facing downward. The L-shaped member 242 is attached to the lower end of the cylinder rod 243. The tip of the L-shaped member 242 (the end opposite the attachment end of the cylinder rod 243) extends horizontally. The air cylinder 241 moves the L-shaped member 242 up and down. Furthermore, the drive unit 240 according to the first modification moves linearly in the conveyance direction between a transmission position (FIGS. 10(A) and (B)) and a release position (FIG. 10(C)).

[0065] 10(A) and 10(B), when the drive unit 240 is in the transmission position, the tip of the L-shaped member 242 enters the recess 215 of the cutter holder 213. When the air cylinder 241 is extended or retracted in this state, the cutter unit 210 slides up or down. In addition, the L-shaped member 242 entering the recess 215 prevents the cutter unit 210 from being removed from the shafts 202a and 202b.

[0066] 10(C), when the drive unit 240 is in the release position, the tip of the L-shaped member 242 retracts from the recess 215 of the cutter holder 213. Even if the air cylinder 241 is extended or retracted in this state, the drive force is not transmitted to the cutter unit 210. Furthermore, removal of the cutter unit 210 from the shafts 202a and 202b is not prevented.

[0067] [Variation 2] Another example of a form fill seal packaging machine will be described with reference to Figures 11 and 12. Figure 11 is an overall perspective view of a vertical form fill seal packaging machine 1. Figure 12 is a side view of the vertical form fill seal packaging machine 1. The vertical form fill seal packaging machine 1 (form fill seal packaging machine) is a device that forms a strip film Fw (strip packaging material) into bags Bp and fills the formed bags Bp with products. The vertical form fill seal packaging machine 1 mainly comprises a film supply device 10, a film feeding device 20, a product filling tube 30, a vertical sealing device 40, a horizontal sealing device 50, and a control device 80.

[0068] Film supply device 10 is a device that transports strip film Fw wound around take-up roll 11 to film feeding device 20. Film supply device 10 mainly includes take-up roll 11, multiple fixed guide rolls 12a-12h, tension mechanism 13, and cylinder former 14.

[0069] The take-up roll 11 rotates in the direction in which the strip film Fw is unwound by being driven by the film feeding device 20. The fixed guide rolls 12a-12h are arranged in the feed path of the strip film Fw from the take-up roll 11 to the cylinder former 14, and guide the strip film Fw transported along the feed path. The tension mechanism 13 applies an appropriate tension to the strip film Fw transported along the feed path.

[0070] The cylinder former 14 overlaps both widthwise ends of the strip film Fw to form the strip film Fw into a cylindrical shape. The cylinder former 14 then sends the cylindrically formed strip film Fw downward toward the product filling tube 30. The strip film Fw formed into a cylindrical shape by the cylinder former 14 moves downward along the outer peripheral surface of the product filling tube 30.

[0071] A date printing device 15 and a date inspection device 16 are disposed opposite the feed path of the strip film Fw from the winding roll 11 to the tube former 14. The date printing device 15 prints dates (e.g., manufacturing date, expiration date, best-before date, etc.) at predetermined positions on the strip film Fw transported by the film supply device 10. The date inspection device 16 inspects whether the date has been properly printed by the date printing device 15.

[0072] The film feeding device 20 transports the strip film Fw transported by the film supply device 10 along a feed path that extends in the vertical direction. More specifically, the film feeding device 20 includes a pair of feed belts 21, 22 that face each other across the product filling tube 30. The pair of feed belts 21, 22 receive the driving force of a motor (not shown), and feed the strip film Fw that covers the outer surface of the product filling tube 30 downward toward the lateral sealing device 50. In this embodiment, the feed direction of the strip film Fw by the film feeding device 20 is downward.

[0073] The product filling cylinder 30 is a cylindrical member with open top and bottom ends. The product filling cylinder 30 is installed between the cylinder former 14 and the horizontal sealing device 50, extending vertically along the feed direction of the cylindrically formed strip film Fw. A hopper 31 is attached to the top opening of the product filling cylinder 30. The product filling cylinder 30 fills bags Bp formed by the vertical sealing device 40 and the horizontal sealing device 50 with product supplied through the hopper 31 from a combination weighing device (product supply device) (not shown) through the bottom opening.

[0074] The vertical sealing device 40 is disposed in a position facing the product filling tube 30. More specifically, the vertical sealing device 40 is disposed downstream of the tube former 14 and upstream of the horizontal sealing device 50 in the feeding direction of the strip film Fw by the film feeding device 20.

[0075] The vertical sealing device 40 includes a pair of sealing blocks 41, 42 arranged to sandwich the overlapping ends of the strip film Fw. The pair of sealing blocks 41, 42 move toward and away from each other when rotation of a motor is transmitted. Each of the pair of sealing blocks 41, 42 has a built-in heater. The pair of sealing blocks 41, 42 sandwich and heat the overlapping ends of the strip film Fw, thereby welding (sealing) both widthwise ends. This forms the strip film Fw into a cylindrical shape.

[0076] The horizontal sealing device 50 is disposed downstream of the vertical sealing device 40 in the feeding direction of the strip film Fw. The horizontal sealing device 50 forms the tubular strip film Fw into bags Bp by welding (sealing) the tubular strip film Fw at predetermined intervals. More specifically, the horizontal sealing device 50 seals both sides of the product (the portion corresponding to the top of the first bag Bp1 and the portion corresponding to the bottom of the second bag Bp2 next to the first bag Bp1) of the tubular strip film Fw formed by the vertical sealing device 40.

[0077] The horizontal sealing device 50 includes a pair of sealing blocks 51 and 52. The pair of sealing blocks 51 and 52 are arranged opposite each other, sandwiching the strip film Fw formed into a cylindrical shape by the vertical sealing device 40. Each of the pair of sealing blocks 51 and 52 has a built-in heater. The pair of sealing blocks 51 and 52 come into contact with and separate from each other while sandwiching the strip film Fw. The pair of sealing blocks 51 and 52 then heat the strip film Fw while sandwiching it, thereby welding the strip film Fw.

[0078] Furthermore, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be achieved by mounting the cutting devices 200, 200A on the horizontal sealing device 50. In this case, the vertical direction corresponds to the extension direction of the strip film Fw, and the horizontal direction corresponds to the thickness direction and width direction of the strip film Fw.

[0079] [Other variations] As another example of a strip-shaped medium, the cutting devices 200 and 200A may cut a strip-shaped adhesive tape at any position, or at the boundary between a series of strip-shaped bags, each containing an oxygen absorber. Furthermore, the cutting devices 200 and 200A may be installed not only on the vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine 1 and the horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 100, but also on a boxing machine, a box-making machine, a box-sealing machine, an oxygen absorber supplying device, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 1...Vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine, 10...Film supply device, 11...Winding roll, 12a-12h...Fixed guide roll, 13...Tension mechanism, 14,126...Cylinder maker, 15...Date printing device, 16...Date inspection device, 20...Film feed device, 21,22...Feed belt, 30,126...Product filling tube, 31...Hopper, 40...Vertical sealing device, 41,42,51,52,141,142...Seal block, 50...Horizontal sealing device, 80...controller, 100...horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine, 110...supply conveyor, 114...drive sprocket, 115...driven sprocket, 116...conveyor chain, 117...drive motor, 118...pusher, 120...film feed device, 121...winding shaft, 122...drive roller, 123...driven roller, 124, 134...feed motor, 125a, 152b...guide roller, 130...clamping and conveying device, 131...support plate, 1 32, 133...film feed roller, 135...center seal device, 136, 137...seal roller, 138...seal motor, 139...slit, 140...end seal device, 143...contact / separation motor, 144...holder, 200, 200A...cutting device, 201...base plate, 202a, 202b...shaft, 203a, 203b...set collar, 204b...fixed portion, 205b...cylindrical portion, 210...cutter unit, 211... Cutter, 212a, 212b... slider, 213... cutter holder, 214... blade, 215... recess, 216, 226... gripping portion, 220, 240... drive unit, 221... bottom wall, 222... standing wall, 223... pneumatic rotary actuator, 224... bearing, 225... holding portion, 230... locking mechanism, 231... pin, 232... pressing member, 233... lever, 241... air cylinder, 242... L-shaped member, 243... cylinder rod

Claims

1. A cutting device for cutting a strip-shaped medium, an axis extending in a thickness direction of the medium; a cutter unit that is slidable along the axis between a spaced position spaced from the medium and a cutting position that cuts the medium; a drive unit including a drive source that generates a drive force for sliding the cutter unit, and a drive force transmission unit that transmits the drive force generated by the drive source to the cutter unit, The cutter unit includes: a slider that is fitted onto the shaft so as to be slidable in the thickness direction; a cutter that is integrated with the slider and cuts the medium in the thickness direction when the medium is at the cutting position; The drive unit is a transmission position that prevents the slider from being removed from the shaft and allows transmission of a driving force to the cutter unit; A cutting device characterized in that the slider is movable between a first position, which allows the slider to be removed from the shaft, and a second position, which releases the transmission of driving force to the cutter unit.

2. 2. The cutting device according to claim 1, The cutter unit has a recess that is recessed in the extension direction of the medium, The driving force transmission unit includes: The drive unit enters the recess when in the transmission position, The cutting device, wherein the drive unit retracts from the recess when in the release position.

3. 3. The cutting device according to claim 2, the drive source is a pneumatic rotary actuator having an output shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction, The recess is longer in the width direction of the medium than in the thickness direction, A cutting device characterized in that the driving force transmission part entering the recess revolves around the output shaft, thereby pressing against a wall surface that defines the thickness-wise end of the recess, thereby sliding the cutter unit in the thickness direction.

4. 3. The cutting device according to claim 2, The cutting device is characterized in that the drive unit is configured to be rotatable about the axis between the transmission position and the release position.

5. 5. The cutting device according to claim 4, a base plate supporting the shaft; a locking mechanism capable of locking the drive unit at the transmission position, The locking mechanism is a pin extending from the base plate in the thickness direction and held by a holding portion provided at a rotation tip of the drive unit; a pressing member that is movable along the pin between a locked position in which the holding portion is pressed against the base plate to lock the drive unit in the transmission position, and an unlocked position in which the holding portion is moved away from the holding portion to allow the drive unit to rotate to the released position.

6. 2. The cutting device according to claim 1, a set collar having a fixed portion fixed to the shaft, and a cylindrical portion extending upward from the fixed portion at a predetermined radial distance from the shaft and continuing in a circumferential direction, The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the slider is located inside the cylindrical portion when the cutter unit is located between the separated position and the cutting position.

7. 2. The cutting device according to claim 1, The cutter unit is formed of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the cutter, and is provided with a gripping portion that is gripped when the cutter unit is removed from the shaft.

8. 2. The cutting device according to claim 1, A cutting device comprising a plurality of cutter units each having a different blade shape attached thereto.

9. In a form-fill-seal machine that fills products into bags formed from a strip-shaped packaging material, a cylinder former for overlapping both widthwise ends of the strip-shaped packaging material to form it into a cylindrical shape; a first sealing device that seals both ends of the strip-shaped packaging material that has been overlapped by the tube former; a second sealing device that seals the portions of the strip-shaped packaging material formed into a cylindrical shape by the first sealing device that correspond to the top and bottom of a bag containing a product; 2. A bag-making, filling, and packaging machine comprising: a cutting device according to claim 1, which cuts the sealed portion of the strip-shaped packaging material sealed by the second sealing device.

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