Packaging device

Abstract

To deal with various points to be improved so as to improve effectiveness, when performing mounting of a packaging device which brings the entire welding place into contact with a heat generation part and processes at one time.SOLUTION: A packaging device can replace a plurality of types of punching dies so as to seal a film at containers of a plurality of sizes. The packaging device includes: upper and lower punching dies corresponding to the containers of the plurality of sizes; and storage means capable of storing at least one punching die out of the upper and lower punching dies.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 19

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] Conventional packaging devices have been designed to improve convenience by placing the packaged item on a loading platform and pushing it into the machine body, and then automatically pushing the loading platform out of the machine body after heat sealing by a discharge mechanism (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-261102 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The packaging device described in Patent Document 1 has the drawback of taking a long time to complete one process because it uses a rotating heat-sealing roller. It is possible to eliminate the heat-sealing roller and have the entire welding area contact the heat-generating part to complete the process at once, but when implementing a packaging device in this way, there are various points that need to be improved in order to increase its effectiveness. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The packaging device of the present invention has at least the following configuration. This packaging device is exchangeable with a plurality of types of cutters to seal films onto containers of a plurality of sizes, and is characterized by comprising upper and lower cutters corresponding to the plurality of sizes of containers, and a storage means capable of storing at least one of the upper and lower cutters. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a packaging device that can greatly contribute to space saving. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a top view showing the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the packaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the weighing means and packaging means (with part of the machine frame removed). [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the weighing means and packaging means (with a part of the machine frame removed). [Figure 6] These are front cross-sectional views illustrating the upper cutter die and the upper cutter die folder, where Figure 6(a) shows the upper cutter die folder when no upper cutter die is loaded, Figure 6(b) shows the upper cutter die alone, and Figure 6(c) shows the upper cutter die loaded in the upper cutter die folder. [Figure 7] 7(a) is a top view, FIG. 7(b) is a front view, FIG. 7(c) is a bottom view, FIG. 7(d) is an upper perspective view, and FIG. 7(e) is a lower perspective view showing the upper die. [Figure 8] These are diagrams showing the state in which the gripping portion for transportation has been removed from the upper die, with Figure 8(a) being a top view, Figure 8(b) being a front view, Figure 8(c) being a bottom view, Figure 8(d) being an upper oblique view, and Figure 8(e) being a lower oblique view. [Figure 9] The upper die has been removed from the gripping portion for transportation, and the metal plate and surrounding bottom plate have been omitted. Figure 9(a) is a top view, Figure 9(b) is a front view, Figure 9(c) is a bottom view, Figure 9(d) is an upper oblique view, and Figure 9(e) is a lower oblique view. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a lower die, with FIG. 10A being a top view and FIG. 10B being a side cross-sectional view. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating other examples of upper and lower punching dies. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the mechanism of action for determining the loading state. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display of a determination result on a weighing screen. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display 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. [Figure 18] 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. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing how an upper die and a lower die are housed in a die housing means. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a right side view showing how the upper die and the lower die are housed in the die housing means. 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 3 show the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with Figure 1 being a perspective view, Figure 2 being a top view, and Figure 3 being a right side view. Figures 4 and 5 particularly show the weighing means and packaging means, with Figure 4 being a right side view (with part of the machine frame removed) and Figure 5 being a perspective view (with part of the machine frame removed).

[0010] 1 and 2, a packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention weighs the packaged items, carries the tray T carrying the packaged items into the device, and automatically performs a series of operations up to carrying out the device 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. 2, the packaging device 100 weighs the packaged items when a tray T (see FIG. 4) carrying the packaged items is placed on the weighing means 1 (see FIG. 1), and the tray T is carried by the in-feed bar IB (see FIGS. 4 and 5) so as to proceed into the machine frame having the packaging means 2. Within the machine frame, the lower die 25 (see FIG. 1) pushes the tray T upward, and first, the air existing in the space formed between the film, which is always stretched and held at both ends by the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212 (see FIG. 1), and the tray T is replaced with an inert gas, and then, while the edge of the tray T is abutted against the film, the film is heat-sealed and sealed while being sandwiched between the lower die 25 and the upper die 24 (see FIG. 1). After the film is cut, the lower die 25 and the tray T are lowered and returned to a predetermined height (fixed position), and The in-feed bar IB (see FIGS. 4 and 5 ) again advances the tray T in the feed direction to the subsequent area 3, where it is then moved in an unfeed direction perpendicular to the feed direction. The label is applied to the tray T by a labeling device 7, and the tray is then ejected onto the first discharge tray 4. The tray T is then moved in the opposite direction to the feed direction to the second discharge tray 5. In this embodiment of the present invention, three types of upper and lower ejection dies are provided and interchangeable to accommodate three different sizes of tray T: large, medium, and small. The weighing device 1, packaging device 2, and subsequent area 3 are aligned vertically from the front to the back of the device. As shown in FIG. 1 , a console 6 is located above the weighing device 1 and upstream of the weighing device 1 in the conveying direction. The console 6 has an operation unit, such as a display, numeric keypad, and touch panel, on the front side, and includes a control unit.To explain this arrangement in more detail, the lower end of the case of the console 6 is located upstream of the weighing means 1, and both the center of the console 6 and the center of the display unit are located in the area of ​​the weighing means 1. Although the console 6 is disposed at an angle, the upper end of the case of the console 6 is also located upstream of the weighing means 1. The upper portion of the rear area 3 is a labeling means 7 that prints and affixes product labels bearing information such as the weighed weight, unit price, and price. Furthermore, the lower die 25 is equipped with a gas replacement mechanism (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). In this specification, the term "gas replacement" refers to "gas replacement" in the broad sense (regardless of the specific process) of replacing the air in the packaged product with an inert gas to extend the expiration date. It includes both the "gas replacement" mode in the narrow sense of completely removing the air before adding gas, and the "gas flush" mode 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 contributes greatly 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 the top seal almost simultaneously, the configuration in which the tray is inserted from the front and then returned to the front is not essential, and it is also possible to realize a configuration in which the tray is simply transported in one direction from the front to the rear, or to realize a configuration in which the packaging process is first performed and then the weighing process is performed. 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. Specifically, 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 (not shown) is provided between the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2, slightly including the area of ​​the weighing means 1. The shutter is lowered from above when the tray T is transported to the packaging means 2 by the infeed bar IB (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Furthermore, since the transport means in this embodiment of the present invention is the infeed bar IB (see FIGS. 4 and 5) rather than a belt conveyor, the shutter can also be raised and closed from below, provided that the structure can avoid the chain. Alternatively, a shutter may be omitted, and safety may be ensured by stopping the device when a sensor detects a hand entering the device.

[0014] To improve convenience during transportation, the first and second discharge trays 4 and 5 are detachable. After these trays are removed, the label application unit 7 is configured to slide fully to the left in FIG. 2 so that it fits within the machine frame's left-right range and does not get in the way during transportation. Conversely, in a "pricing mode" in which only pricing labels are issued without packaging, the label application unit 7 is slid fully to the right in FIG. 2 so that an operator manually applies pricing labels to products. To achieve this, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a label application unit slide rail 71 and anti-tip legs 72. The anti-tip legs 72 support the entire device to prevent the packaging device 100 from losing balance and tipping over when the label application unit 7 is moved all the way to the right.

[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 unit of the console 6. As shown in Fig. 4, 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. 4, 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. 5). The spacing between the in-feed bars IB in the circumferential arrangement is set so that when the in-feed bar IB moves backward (this will be described later), the in-feed bar IB will not interfere with the next packaged item placed in the weighing section. The height of the in-feed bar IB relative to the tray T placement surface 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. Furthermore, a visually visible indication may be used as a means for centering, instead of a recess. Even if there is a slight misalignment to the left or right, the tray T is naturally guided to the correct position when pushed up by the lower punching die 25 because the sides of the tray T are inclined. 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. 4, 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. 5, 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 input direction and discharged toward the first output tray 4. The first output tray 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is equipped with a drive roller that moves the tray T in the opposite direction to the input direction to the second output tray 5. The second output tray 5 is inclined, and the tray T moves under its own weight. Therefore, the rollers of the second output tray 5 are simply rollers that do not have a driving force.

[0018] The packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an upper die storage means 24H and a lower die storage means 25H as storage means capable of storing all types of unused die dies for the upper die 24 and the lower die 25. This eliminates the need to store unused die dies in a location separate from the packaging device body, thereby saving space. The upper die storage means 24H and the lower die storage means 25H are located in the vicinity of the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212. More specifically, in the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the upper die storage means 24H and the lower die storage means 25H are located above the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2, corresponding to their placement. The lower die storage means 25H is located above the weighing means 1, near the console 6 having a display unit, and downstream of the console 6. Of course, this is merely an example, and the positions of the upper die accommodating means 24H and the lower die accommodating means 25H may be reversed, or the accommodating means may be divided into a space for accommodating upper and lower die dies of one size and a space for accommodating upper and lower die dies of another size. Details of the upper die accommodating means 24H and the lower die accommodating means 25H will be described later.

[0019] To summarize the machine frame having the packaging means 2, in Figure 3, 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 areas, and as a whole, these form a film hanging means 21.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 , 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 hanging direction of the film 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 upper portion of the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2, it may be arranged such that the surplus film take-up means 212 extends into the rear-stage area 3, or the console 6 may be arranged 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 conventional technology of film hanging means being placed in a large protruding area outside the machine frame. Furthermore, it goes without saying that even if the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212 are arranged in the opposite front and rear directions, this does not impair space saving. In FIG. 1 , the side panel SP is pivotally supported on its 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. Thus, 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 inserted from the right side and then dropped slightly downward for replacement). 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. That is, the rotatable side panel SP does not have to be located on the same side as the first discharge tray 4, etc. 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 tray 4 and the like are arranged to be rotatable.

[0021] 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.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an upper die holder 240 in which an upper die 24 is loaded is provided between the film hanging means 21 and the transport space for the tray T (transported by the in-feed bar IB). A heater means 241 (see FIG. 6(a)) for supplying heat for welding the film is provided within the upper die holder 240. The upper die 24 is provided with a metal plate 242 (as a top seal portion 242) (see FIG. 6(b)) for transmitting the heat supplied from the heater means 241, and film cutting means 244 (see FIGS. 6(b), 7, 8, and 9) for cutting the film. The heater means 241 contacts the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 loaded in the upper die holder 240. The metal plate 242 is sized to fit the edge of the tray T, and receives heat supplied from the heater means 241 to heat-seal the film in contact with the edge of the tray T.

[0023] 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.

[0024] In this embodiment, the roll film R is supported by passing the shaft of the film holding means 211 through its center hole. The fed film is sealed with a metal plate 242 and cut to the size of the tray T by the film cutting means 244, leaving only the cut periphery, i.e., the film in a hollowed-out state. This film waste is then sequentially wound up by the surplus film winding means 212.

[0025] A metal plate 242 (see Figures 6(b) and 7) that functions as a top seal is disposed so as to face the fed-out 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 Figures 6(b) and 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 carried out to replace the air with the inert gas, which will be described later.

[0026] (Transport operation by infeed bar) As shown in FIG. 4, 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. Since most of the items to be packaged 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, which are provided at four circumferential positions on the two left and right chains.

[0027] The conveying operation of the in-feed bar IB, which is connected to the chain serving as the drive unit and rotates as described above, will now be described. First, 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 later) ascends. Therefore, the in-feed bar IB temporarily 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, a shutter descends from above the front part of the machine frame, isolating the inside from the outside and ensuring safety. At this time, the in-feed bar IB is located within the shutter. In other words, the shutter is not positioned exactly at the boundary between the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 1, but is positioned slightly within the area of ​​the weighing means 1. Because the infeed bars IB are arranged intermittently in the circumferential direction, a shutter configuration that rises from below is also possible as long as the chain portions arranged continuously in the circumferential direction are avoided. After the top seal of the tray T is applied by the packaging means 2, the infeed bar IB advances again and transports the tray T to the subsequent area 3. At this time, the rollers 31 ensure 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 adjusted as needed as long as the tray T can be transported stably. This embodiment, configured as described above, allows packaged items to be transported from the weighing means through the packaging means to the subsequent area using a single transport means, significantly contributing to space and cost savings.

[0028] (Gas replacement and packaging operation by upper and lower die) FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view illustrating an upper die and an upper die folder, where FIG. 6(a) shows the upper die folder without an upper die loaded, FIG. 6(b) shows the upper die alone, and FIG. 6(c) shows the upper die loaded in the upper die folder. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the upper die, where FIG. 7(a) shows a top view and FIG. 7(b) shows a perspective view. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the lower die, where FIG. 10(a) shows a top view and FIG. 10(b) shows a side cross-sectional view. FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of portion A in FIG. 10(b), rotated 90 degrees to show the lower die positioned horizontally. FIG. 18 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the lower die is pushed up relative to the upper die.

[0029] As can be seen from comparing the front cross-sectional views of FIGS. 6(a) and 6(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. 6(b), the upper cutting die has 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. 7, the metal plate 242 has a chamfered rectangular shape to fit the edge of the tray T, and the film cutting means 244 is disposed around its periphery. 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.

[0030] As shown in Figure 6(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). When the upper die 24 shown in Figure 6(b) is inserted from the right side as shown in the figure, the abutting 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 6(c). 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. Here, the heater means is configured to be in direct contact with the metal plate 242 of the upper punching die 24, but it may also be configured so that the heater means and the metal plate 242 are in indirect contact by adding a material 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 area where heat is transferred will be limited to the center, resulting in poor efficiency. Therefore, by interposing a material with good thermal conductivity that is comparable in size to the extent of the metal plate 242 between the heater means and the metal plate 242, the area where heat is transferred can be effectively expanded.

[0031] To accommodate three different sizes of trays T (for example, large, medium, and small), a single die from among a number of die sizes can be selected and attached. It is common to imagine providing a heater for each die. However, this requires the user to disconnect and reconnect the heat source connector each time the die is replaced, which is time-consuming. However, the packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention eliminates the need to reconnect the heater wires, and does not require additional work to establish an electrical connection when replacing the upper die, making the replacement process simple and efficient.

[0032] As described above, 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. In this embodiment, an upper cutting die 24A for a large tray having a tray size of 150 mm in width and 150 mm in depth, an upper cutting die 24B for a medium-sized tray having a tray size of 150 mm in width and 120 mm in depth, and an upper cutting die 24C for a small tray having a tray size of 120 mm in width and 120 mm in depth are provided (FIG. 7 shows the upper cutting die 24B corresponding to the "medium" size tray). The metal plate 242 transfers heat supplied from a heater means 241 disposed in the upper cutting die folder 240 (see FIG. 6) 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 one periphery of the chamfered rectangular metal plate 242. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the film cutting means 244 is fixed to the main body of the upper cutting die 24 (see FIG. 9 in particular). The metal plate 242 and the peripheral bottom plate 247 are connected to the upper die 24 body via a biasing means, with the former biasing force being stronger than the latter biasing force. Therefore, when the lower die 25 is pushed upward while the edge of the tray T is in contact with the tray edge support portion 254 (see FIGS. 10 and 17) of the lower die 25, the lower die 25 first contacts the peripheral bottom plate 247 of the upper die 24, then the tray T contacts the metal plate 242, 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, one of which is filled depending on the size. The unfilled holes function as light-transmitting portions, and the filled holes function as light-blocking or reflective portions. Furthermore, if the side of the upper die 24 is grasped when the upper die 24 is removed from the upper die folder 240, the film cutting means 244 may fly out from the bottom surface of the upper die 24, as shown in Fig. 8(b), which is dangerous, so the upper die 24 is provided with a gripping portion 246 for transportation, as shown in Fig. 7. The gripping portion 246 for transportation is fixed to the peripheral bottom edge 247, and is pushed up together with the peripheral bottom edge 247 as the lower die 25 is pushed up.For the sake of explanation, Figure 8 is a diagram in which the grip portion 246 during transportation shown in Figure 7 has been omitted. The presence of the grip portion 246 during transportation causes the film cutting means 244 to relatively protrude downward when pressing to perform heat sealing, i.e., when the lower die 25 is pushed up, but when the upper die 24 is removed and held in the hand, the film cutting means 244 does not relatively protrude. The grip portion 246 also contributes to preventing burns when holding the upper die 24 before cooling has fully completed.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 10(a) and 10(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. 10(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. 17, 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. 17, 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 while the gas inlet 251 is located at the front (corresponding to the long side of the tray), the air outlet 252 is located at the rear (corresponding to the opposing long side of the tray), but they may also be configured to be located 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.

[0034] As shown in Figure 10(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 serve as light-transmitting sections, while the filled holes function as light-shielding or reflective sections. 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, tray bottom support means 26 is fixedly provided to the housing (see Figure 18).

[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 18 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the lower die is pushed up relative to the upper die. Figure 18(a) shows the state in which the lower die 25 has risen slightly from the lowest position, Figure 18(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 18(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 18(b) and 18(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 tray bottom support means 26. Thereafter, when the lower die 25 rises, support of the bottom of the tray T by the tray bottom support means 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. 18(a). Thereafter, when the lower die 25 rises to the position shown in FIG. 18(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) 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 18(b) and 18(c)). In this state, while or after the top is sealed, the lower die 25 continues to rise, and the excess length around the top-sealed film is cut off by the film cutting means 244. Figure 18(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 tray bottom support means 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, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper die 24 has three upper die holes 245, and the lower die 25 has three lower die holes 253, as shown in FIG. 10. 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. 11 shows an example in which holes are provided in five different positions for the upper die hole 245 and the lower die hole 253 (one hole is filled in the figure, so it appears as four holes). The configuration of three holes, the upper die hole 2451 for matching determination and the lower die hole 2531 for matching determination, and the mechanism of action, such as determining a match when two sensors are turned on, are the same as those in the example described above. In addition, in another example, as shown in FIG. 11, the upper die 24 is provided with a hole 2452 for determining whether a lower die is not loaded, and the lower die 25 is provided with a hole 2532 for determining whether an upper die is not loaded. Another example of upper and lower die compatibility detection is configured so that the control unit of the packaging device can determine whether a lower die is not loaded or an upper die is not loaded by providing the hole 2452 for determining whether a lower die is not loaded and the hole 2532 for determining whether an upper die is not loaded. Of course, it is also possible to determine if both the upper and lower cutting dies are not loaded.

[0042] The mechanism of action of the determination will be explained using Figure 12. Here, the numbers 2 to 4 with circles (hereinafter referred to as O2 to O4, etc.) are the upper die hole 2451 for determining match or the lower die hole 2531 for determining match. Also, O1 is the hole 2452 for determining whether the lower die is not loaded, and O5 is the hole 2532 for determining whether the upper die is not loaded. Note that the hole in the lower die 24 facing the hole 2452 for determining whether the lower die is not loaded 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 25 facing the hole 2532 for determining whether the upper die is not loaded.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 12(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. 12(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. 12(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. 12(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. 12(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 cutting dies does not have to be an optical determination means, but may use another physical quantity. Also, more intelligent means using an imaging element, or conversely, primitive means, may be used. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the weight of the cutting dies is measured for determination, or a mark or number is written on the cutting dies so that the number of the cutting dies can be visually confirmed. Furthermore, even if an imaging element is used, determination may be made by reading a barcode displayed on the cutting dies rather than the physical characteristics of the cutting dies themselves. 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 packaging machine is stopped by pressing the emergency stop button. The "emergency stop" button 8 is a mechanical button located on the machine frame (see FIGS. 1 and 5), but it does not necessarily have to be a mechanical button. When the die cutter or film is subsequently replaced, the type of die cutter is determined when the emergency stop button is released after the die cutter or film replacement. If the upper and lower die cutters are different, an error notification is issued. Furthermore, when the power is turned on, the type of die cutter currently set is determined and displayed, allowing the user to check the currently set die cutter at any time. Furthermore, when changing the die cutter, a cleaning notification is issued. If a cleaning command is issued upon receiving the notification, a purging process is performed to keep the die cutter gas inlet clean. In addition, a gas detection sensor may be provided to check whether the gas is being injected properly, or a trial run may be performed to ensure that the air in the entire path up to the injection port is completely 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. 14(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 is equipped with a storage means 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, product information is retrieved by checking the screen and confirming the product by displaying the next and subsequent candidates several times. Therefore, if a configuration in which a judgment and notification are made each time a candidate is displayed before the product is determined, it may be considered excessive to provide a warning. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a judgment and notification when the product is placed on the weighing means. However, it is not excluded to adopt a configuration in which a notification is made each time product information is retrieved. Figure 13 shows an example of the display of the judgment result 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 displays the screen shown in FIG. 14(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. 14(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's 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. 15(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. 4). 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. 15(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 in a conspicuous manner, along with the details of the error. For example, as shown in FIG. 16(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. 16(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 device 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. 13 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." To help inexperienced workers easily recognize that the size is incorrect, the display may be changed from the usual display format to make it more noticeable, 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 trays T, which are all the same width and only differ in depth (however, multiple heights may be prepared), so film can be used without waste. 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.

[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, for example, three dedicated for nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, can be provided, allowing the optimal gas ratio to be adjusted by setting or automatic control.

[0056] (Regarding die storage means) As described above, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an upper die storage means 24H and a lower die storage means 25H as storage means capable of storing all types of unused die dies, eliminating the need to store unused die dies in a location separate from the packaging device itself. In this embodiment, the storage means is configured to store two unused die dies out of three types of die dies. However, if the device can be made larger so that all three types of die dies can be stored without being loaded when the packaging device is not in use, this configuration is more efficient when there is a high possibility that die dies of any size will be used at the start of use.

[0057] Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing how an upper die and a lower die are accommodated in the die accommodating means, and Fig. 20 is a right side view showing how an upper die and a lower die are accommodated in the die accommodating means. Figs. 19(a) and 20(a) show how the upper and lower die are accommodated, and Figs. 19(b) and 20(b) show how the upper and lower die are not accommodated. Fig. 20(c) is an enlarged view of the lower right corner of the upper die accommodating means 24H in Fig. 20(a).

[0058] In Figures 19 and 20, upper die 24B for medium-sized trays and lower die 25B for medium-sized trays are loaded in a folder and are in use (not shown), upper die 24A for large trays and upper die 24C for small trays that are not loaded in a folder are stored in upper die storage means 24H, and lower die 25A for large trays and lower die 25C for small trays that are not loaded in a folder are stored in lower die storage means 25H.

[0059] Because the upper die housing means 24H and the lower die housing means 25H are positioned near the film, they are covered with protective members to prevent the heat from affecting the film. That is, they are covered with covers to prevent inadvertent heat transfer to the film. For these protective members, heat insulating or cooling materials can be appropriately used to reduce the heat effect. Alternatively, more proactively, a heater for residual heat and a cooling fan may be provided in addition to the protective members. In particular, if a heater for residual heat is provided, it is expected that the device will become usable more quickly after the die replacement.

[0060] The upper die storage means 24H is configured to allow the upper die to be slidably attached and detached so that two upper die dies can be stored vertically and spaced apart. As shown in Figure 20(c), the right and left ends of the lower part of the upper die 24 are L-shaped or inverted L-like, and the upper die storage means 24H is shaped like a rail that rises up in an inverted L-shaped or inverted L-like shape, and the lower part of the upper die 24 fits into the rail shape, allowing it to slide. Note that this rail shape relationship is the same for the upper die 24 and the upper die folder 240, so that loading into the folder and storing into the die storage means can be performed by a similar sliding operation.

[0061] The lower die storage means 25H is configured to allow the lower die to be attached and detached in a sliding manner so that two lower die sets can be stored upright and spaced apart. The relationship between the ends of the die sets and the rail shape of the storage means is substantially the same as that for the upper die sets. In addition, to make it easier to remove the two lower die sets lined up side by side, one of the left and right sides of the housing of the storage means is shorter than the other.

[0062] (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.

[0063] 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 tray bottom support means 26 (see FIG. 18) or in the downstream area 3 (see FIG. 4). If the weighing function is provided in the downstream area 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 these weights and print them. Note that if the weighing function is provided in the tray bottom support means 26 or the downstream area 3, the area indicated by the dashed line "1" in FIG. 3 will simply be a loading area for transporting the packaged items into the device.

[0064] 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. 3, 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 tray bottom support means 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.

[0065] 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.

[0066] <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] Conventional packaging devices have been designed to improve convenience by placing the packaged item on a loading platform and pushing it into the machine body, and then automatically pushing the loading platform out of the machine body after heat sealing by a discharge mechanism (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art document] [Patent Documents] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-261102 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be solved by the invention] The packaging device described in Patent Document 1 has the drawback of taking a long time to complete one process because it uses a rotating heat-sealing roller. It is possible to eliminate the heat-sealing roller and have the entire welding area contact the heat-generating part to complete the process at once, but when implementing a packaging device in this way, there are various points that need to be improved in order to increase its effectiveness. [Means for solving the problem] (1) As described above, one aspect of this embodiment is a packaging device (100) that can replace multiple types of cutters to seal films on containers of multiple sizes, characterized in that the packaging device (100) is equipped with upper and lower cutters (24, 25) that correspond to the multiple sizes of containers, and storage means (24H, 25H) that can store at least one of the upper and lower cutters. According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a packaging device that can greatly contribute to space saving.

[0067] (2) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device (100) described in (1), wherein the storage means is capable of storing all types of cutting dies that are not loaded. According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a packaging device that can store all unused cutting dies.

[0068] (3) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device (100) described in (1), wherein the die-receiving means (24H, 25H) are covered with a protective member. According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent inadvertent heat transfer to the film.

[0069] (4) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device (100) described in (3), which is provided with a film holding means (211) above the protective member for holding the film used to package the container, and an excess film winding means (212) for winding up excess film when sealing the container, and the storage means (24H, 25H) is located in the vicinity of the film holding means (211) and the excess film winding means (212). According to the above configuration, the cutting dies can be accommodated in an efficient arrangement.

[0070] (5) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device (100) described in (1), which comprises a weighing means (1) for weighing the weight of the container, and a packaging means (2) into which the die for sealing the weighed container with a film is loaded, and one of the die storage means (24H, 25H) is arranged above the weighing means (1) and the packaging means (2) in a manner corresponding to the arrangement of the weighing means (1) and the packaging means (2). According to the above configuration, the cutting die receiving means can be arranged efficiently.

[0071] (6) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device (100) described in (5), which is provided with a display unit, the display unit being arranged above the weighing means (1) and upstream of the weighing means (1) in the conveying direction, and the other storage means (25H, 24H) of the cutting die being arranged downstream of the display unit. According to the above configuration, the cutting die receiving means can be arranged more efficiently.

[0072] The packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and design changes within the spirit and scope of the present invention are also encompassed. For example, in the embodiment, a storage means is provided around the film consisting of the film holding means and the excess film winding means. However, since the technical concept of the present invention resides in providing a storage space for unused cutting dies, providing storage means in other appropriate space is not excluded depending on the size of the device. Furthermore, while the embodiment is configured to accommodate both upper and lower cutting dies, a configuration that accommodates only at least one of the upper and lower cutting dies is still within the scope of the present invention. Since the lower cutting dies are smaller than the upper cutting dies, even an arrangement that accommodates only the upper cutting dies can contribute to space savings. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 100 Packaging equipment 1 Measuring means 2 Packaging means 21 Film hanging means 211 Film holding means 212 Surplus film winding means 24 Upper cutting die 24H Upper Die Storage Means 240 Top-cutting folder 241 Heating means 242 Metal plate 243 Heater Link 244 Film cutting means 245 Upper punch hole 246 Gripping part during transportation 2451 Upper die hole for match judgment 2452 Hole for determining whether the lower die is loaded or not 25 Lower die (gas replacement means) 25H Lower die accommodation means 251 Gas inlet 2510 Gas diffusion step 252 Air exhaust port 253 Bottom punching hole 2531 Bottom punching hole for matching judgment 2532 Hole for determining whether upper die is loaded or not 26 Tray bottom support means 3 Later area 4 1st discharge platform 5 Second discharge platform 6 Console 7 Labeling method 71 Label attachment means slide rail 72 Anti-tip legs 8 "Emergency Stop" button T-Tray R roll film

Claims

1. A packaging device that can replace multiple types of cutting dies in order to seal films into containers of multiple sizes, Upper and lower die sets corresponding to the plurality of sizes of containers; a storage means for storing at least one of the upper and lower cutting dies; A packaging device comprising:

2. The storage means can store all kinds of unloaded cutting dies.

2. The packaging device according to claim 1.

3. The housing means for at least one of the upper and lower cutting dies is covered with a protective member.

2. The packaging device according to claim 1.

4. Above the protective member, a film holding means for holding a film for packaging the container; and an excess film winding means for winding up excess film when sealing the container, The storage means is disposed in a region adjacent to the film holding means and the surplus film winding means.

4. The packaging device according to claim 3.

5. a weighing means for measuring the weight of the container; a packaging means into which the upper and lower die sets are loaded to seal a film onto the weighed container, The storage means for one of the upper and lower cutting dies is disposed above the measuring means and the packaging means in a manner corresponding to the arrangement of the measuring means and the packaging means.

2. The packaging device according to claim 1.

6. A display unit is provided, the display unit is disposed above the weighing means and upstream of the weighing means in the conveying direction; The other of the upper and lower die receiving means is disposed downstream of the display unit.

6. The packaging device according to claim 5.

Images