Pillow packaging machine

Abstract

To provide a method and apparatus for reducing positional deviation of articles stacked in multi-stages when pillow-packaging the articles.SOLUTION: When pillow-packaging articles stacked in multi-stages by sequentially transporting them and covering them with a packaging material from above, a method is employed that provides a guide member 29 to hold down an upper part of the articles stacked in multi-stages when covering them with the packaging material. This prevents positional deviation of the articles while allowing for effective pillow packaging. Additionally, the guide member 29 may be inclined downward along a transportation direction of the articles stacked in multi-stages. The guide member 29 is preferably an elastic plate-shaped body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pillow packaging machine, and more particularly to a packaging machine for pillow packaging a plurality of flat articles stacked in multiple layers. [Background technology]

[0002] Pillow packaging is used to package various items such as various foods. Usually, one item is packaged continuously, but as shown in Figure 16, the same items are sometimes stacked in multiple layers to form a stack, which are then transported together and packaged as a single pillow package. This may be the case.

[0003] On the other hand, when multiple such items are piled up in multiple layers and then pillow-packaged, the items may occasionally become misaligned, resulting in packaging defects during pillow packaging. There is no prior art that directly solves these problems. For example, as shown in the following prior art document 1, an invention has been disclosed for a pillow packaging machine that prevents the collapse of products and the generation of empty bags in a type in which multiple upright products are lined up in the conveying direction and conveyed by fingers in front and behind them. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-138680 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Therefore, the present inventors have conducted various studies on methods for reducing misalignment of articles when multiple stacked articles are packaged in pillow packaging. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] As a result of intensive research by the inventors, it was discovered that when items stacked in multiple layers are transported one after another and covered with packaging material from above to form pillow packaging, providing a guide member that holds down the top of the stacked items when covering them with the packaging material can prevent misalignment and enable good pillow packaging.

[0007] That is, the first invention of the present application is: "A conveying means for continuously conveying a stack of flat articles placed in a plurality of stages in a substantially horizontal direction; a packaging material supply means for continuously supplying a strip of packaging material from above the stack so as to enclose the stack; a means for overlapping both ends of the packaging material containing the laminate and continuously heat-sealing the both ends to form a cylindrical package; a means for sequentially heat-sealing the multi-pack stacks contained in the cylindrical packaging body in a direction crossing the conveyance direction of the stacks to seal the stacks; a separating means for sequentially cutting the heat-sealed portions to separate the packages; In a pillow packaging machine for stacked materials placed in multiple stages, A pillow packaging machine characterized in that a guide member is provided in the conveying direction near the height of the conveyed stack, at a position before the stack is supplied with packaging material from above.

[0008] Next, the present invention can be suitably used when the article is a packaged product. That is, the second invention of the present application is: "A pillow packaging machine as described in claim 1, wherein the article is a packaged product."

[0009] Next, in the present invention, it is preferable that the laminate is conveyed by pressing it from the rear. That is, the third invention of the present application is: "A pillow packaging machine as described in claim 1, wherein the conveying means for the stack is a means for pressing and conveying the stack from the rear."

[0010] Next, in the present invention, it is preferable that the guide member is of a type that is inclined downward along the conveying direction of the article. That is, the fourth invention of the present application is: "A pillow packaging machine as described in claim 1, wherein the guide member is inclined downward along the conveying direction of the conveying means."

[0011] Next, in the present invention, it is preferable that the guide member has elasticity. That is, the fifth invention of the present application is: "The pillow packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is an elastic plate-like body."

[0012] Next, the present invention also contemplates a pillow packaging method based on the configuration defined in the first invention of the present application. That is, the sixth invention of the present application is: "A conveying means for continuously conveying a stack of flat articles placed in a plurality of stages in a substantially horizontal direction; a packaging material supply means for continuously supplying a strip of packaging material from above the stack so as to enclose the stack; a means for overlapping both ends of the packaging material containing the laminate and continuously heat-sealing the both ends to form a cylindrical package; a means for sequentially heat-sealing the multi-pack stacks contained in the cylindrical packaging body in a direction crossing the conveyance direction of the stacks to seal the stacks; a separating means for sequentially cutting the heat-sealed portions to separate the packages; A pillow packaging method for stacked materials placed in multiple stages, comprising: A pillow packaging method characterized in that a guide member is provided at a position where packaging material is supplied from above to the stack, near the height of the stack to be conveyed and facing the conveying direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] By using the pillow packaging machine of the present invention, it is possible to reduce misalignment of articles when pillow packaging articles stacked in multiple layers. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall schematic diagram of an embodiment of a pillow packaging machine of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an upright state of the package after the three-layer laminate of the present invention has been pillow-packaged. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an upright state of the package after pillow-packaging the three-tiered packaged product of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a stack of the present invention placed in three tiers. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of pillow packaging of three-tiered packed products of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example in which stacks of the present invention placed in three tiers are transported on a transport path. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of conveying packaged products arranged in three tiers on a conveying path according to the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of conveying individual packages in which the heat-sealed portions have been cut after the present invention has been heat-sealed. [Figure 9] 10 is a perspective view showing an example of the state of a guide member and a laminate at a position before supplying the packaging material of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 10] 1 is a perspective schematic view showing an example of the state of the guide members and the laminate at a position before supplying the packaging material of the present invention, in which a push rod passes through the gap between two guide members. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a single guide member of the present invention. [Figure 12] 10 is a perspective view showing another embodiment (in the case where the guide member is a short type) of the state of the guide member and the laminate at a position before supplying the packaging material of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 13]10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating another embodiment (in the case where the guide member is rod-shaped) of the state of the guide member and the laminate at a position before supplying the packaging material of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 14] 10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating another embodiment (in which the guide member has an inclination) of the state of the guide member and the laminate at a position before supplying the packaging material of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 15] 10 is an enlarged view showing the state of the guide member and the stack in another embodiment of the pillow packaging machine of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example in which identical articles to be conveyed are stacked in multiple stages to form a stack, and these are conveyed together. [Explanation of symbols]

[0015] 1 Pillow packaging machine 3 Packaging materials 5 Transport path 7 Side wall 11 Push bar conveyor 13 Push stick 15 Conveyor Belt 17 Packaging roll 19 Support frame 21 Heat sealer 23 Lower conveyor 25 Upper holding conveyor belt 27 Upper and lower sealing device 29 Guide member 31 Package transport conveyor P Goods PP pack products PM: Package after laminate ML is pillow-packaged ML Laminate PL packaging (laminate packaging) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The invention described in claim 1 of the present application is: "A conveying means for continuously conveying a stack of flat articles placed in a plurality of stages in a substantially horizontal direction; a packaging material supply means for continuously supplying a strip of packaging material from above the stack so as to enclose the stack; a means for overlapping both ends of the packaging material containing the laminate and continuously heat-sealing the both ends to form a cylindrical package; a means for sequentially heat-sealing the multi-pack stacks contained in the cylindrical packaging body in a direction crossing the conveyance direction of the stacks to seal the stacks; a separating means for sequentially cutting the heat-sealed portions to separate the packages; In a pillow packaging machine for stacked materials placed in multiple stages, A pillow packaging machine characterized in that a guide member is provided in the vicinity of the height position of the transported stack and facing the transport direction at a position where packaging material is supplied from above the stack. , is.

[0017] 1 is a schematic front view of a pillow packaging machine 1 of the present invention. For convenience in explaining the structure, however, the packaging material 3, the side wall portion 7 of the conveying path 5, etc. are shown in a see-through state.

[0018] -Laminated body in which multiple flat articles are stacked in multiple layers- In the present invention, a laminate ML in which a plurality of identical items are placed in multiple layers is the object of pillow packaging. When the laminate ML is pillow-packaged and the package PM is then erected, for example, in the case of three layers, it becomes a package PM containing multiple items as shown in Figure 2. In the present invention, multiple layers refers to two or more layers, and can be approximately two to five layers. Preferably, two or three layers are used.

[0019] Furthermore, various objects such as food can be used for the article P, but the individual articles themselves that make up the laminate ML can be particularly suitably applied to packaged goods PP that are pillow-packaged with soft packaging material as shown in Fig. 3. For example, a suitable object of pillow-packed packaged goods PP is instant noodles. Specifically, a three-meal pack of packaged noodles as shown in Fig. 3 can be mentioned.

[0020] Furthermore, when the stacked items P are a laminate ML of packaged products PP, such as instant noodles, pillow-packaged in a soft packaging material as shown in FIG. 4, the shape of the packaging is often deformed by external pressure, etc., and when these are stacked in multiple layers and then pillow-packaged as shown in FIG. 5, the packaged products are likely to become misaligned, making the configuration of the present application suitable for use.

[0021] -Transport means for continuously transporting a laminate in a substantially horizontal direction- There are various possible methods for conveying the laminate ML continuously in a substantially horizontal direction. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the laminate ML is configured to be movable on a conveying path. Specifically, in the first embodiment of the present invention, push rods 13 attached to the conveyor belt 15 of the push rod transport conveyor 11 circulate endlessly at predetermined intervals, and a slit is provided in the center of the bottom surface of the transport path 5 so that the push rods 13 can circulate by inserting them through the underside of the transport path 5. The push rods 13 are configured to circulate while inserted through the slit, and are configured so that the push rods 13 move the laminate ML while pushing it, i.e., they are configured to be pressed and transported.

[0022] Fig. 6 shows an example of conveying a stack ML of roughly standardized items P. Fig. 7 shows an example of conveying a stack of pillow-packaged packaged products as described above. Note that Figs. 6 and 7 omit the side wall 7 on the front side of the conveying path 5. However, various methods other than those described above are possible for the conveying means of the present invention. For example, instead of using the slit type as described above, a conveyor belt for normal conveyance may be provided with protrusions to push and convey the laminate. Various other methods may also be used. In other words, these conveying methods are not particularly limited.

[0023] --Packaging material supply means for continuously supplying a long (strip-shaped) packaging material from above the multi-pack package so as to enclose the multi-pack stack.-- In the present invention, a strip-shaped packaging material 3 is supplied from above the conveyed laminate ML so as to enclose the laminate ML. In the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 1, a long (strip-shaped) packaging material 3 is continuously supplied to the conveyed laminate ML from a packaging material roll 17 attached to a predetermined roller.

[0024] The packaging material 3 is continuously supplied from above the transported laminate ML as shown in Figure 1, and the packaging material 3 wraps around the laminate ML from the upper surface side, and is supplied so that both widthwise ends of the packaging material 3 are sequentially overlapped below the laminate ML.

[0025] The packaging material 3 supplied from above is folded or bent by a predetermined support frame 19 to form a cylindrical shape. This results in a state in which the laminate ML is present inside the cylindrical packaging body 3, and this state of the laminate ML and packaging material 3 continues, with the laminate ML and packaging material 3 being continuously transported and supplied in sequence.

[0026] -Means for overlapping both ends of the packaging material containing the multi-pack laminate and continuously heat sealing it to form a cylindrical package- In the pillow packaging machine 1 of the present invention, as described above, the packaging material 3 wraps around the laminate ML from the upper side thereof, and is supplied so that both widthwise ends of the packaging material 3 are sequentially overlapped on the lower side of the laminate ML. The widthwise ends of the overlapped packaging material are sequentially heat-sealed by a heat sealer 21 as shown in Figure 1, thereby sealing the back portion of the pillow packaging.

[0027] In this way, the supply of packaging material 3 and the conveyance of the laminate ML continue while the laminate ML exists inside the normal packaging material 3. That is, a cylindrical packaging material is formed, and the laminate ML continues to move by the push rod 13 with the laminate ML contained inside the cylindrical packaging material 3.

[0028] Also, just before the heat seal, the laminate reaches the end of the push rod transport conveyor 11, which becomes the transport end of the push rod transport conveyor 11. Subsequently, the cylindrically formed packaging material 3 and laminate ML continue to be conveyed in the direction of the arrow by the lower conveyor 23 provided below and the upper pressure conveyor belt 25 provided above. The stack ML is kept inside the packaging material 3 thus formed into a cylindrical body, and conveyance continues sequentially.

[0029] -means for successively heat-sealing the tubular packaging body in a direction transverse to the conveying direction of the multi-pack stack to seal each multi-pack stack contained therein- At the exit end of the conveying path of the lower conveying conveyor 23, the upper and lower sealing devices 27 heat-seal the laminates ML contained in the packaging material 3 by closing the upper and lower sealing bars near the middle of the laminates contained in the packaging from above and below, thereby sequentially forming pillow packaging bodies PM of the laminates ML contained in the packaging material 3.

[0030] Various methods of heat sealing are possible, and it goes without saying that any method that can be heat sealed is included.

[0031] -Separation means for separating the heat-sealed portions into individual packages by sequentially cutting them- In the pillow packaging machine 1 of the present invention, the heat-sealed portions are sequentially cut to form individual packages PM (packages in which the laminate is pillow-packaged). In the first embodiment of the present invention, a means is provided for cutting the packaging material 3 after heat sealing at the center of the heat-sealed portion simultaneously with the heat-sealing of the top and bottom portions. However, it goes without saying that a separate cutting step may be carried out after heat sealing. Next, the packages PM containing the heat-sealed laminate ML are successively transported by a package transport conveyor device 31 installed in series, and transferred to any predetermined process (FIG. 8).

[0032] A guide member is provided in the vicinity of the height of the stack to be conveyed and facing the conveying direction, just before the stack is supplied with packaging material from above. The present invention is characterized in that a guide member 29 is provided in the vicinity of the height position of the laminate to be conveyed and facing the conveying direction at a position where the packaging material 3 is supplied from above the laminate ML.

[0033] The guide member 29 of the present invention is installed on the transport path for the stack. When the stack ML is added below the guide member 29 in sequence at predetermined intervals, the guide member 29 can come into contact with the top of the stack ML as needed, lightly pressing it from above to reduce positional deviation. That is, when the entire stack ML in which flat articles P are placed in multiple layers is pillow-packaged, the individual articles P may become misaligned.

[0034] In particular, when the stacked articles P are packages such as packaged products PP wrapped in flexible packaging material, the positions of the individual packaged products PP are likely to shift when the stack ML of packaged products PP stacked in multiple layers comes into contact with the strip-shaped packaging material 3 supplied from above. The position of the packaged product PP in the top layer is particularly likely to shift. If the laminate ML is pillow-packaged while the misalignment remains, packaging defects may occur. This can be improved in the present invention.

[0035] The guide member 29 of the present invention can reduce positional deviation of the article P when the stack ML comes into contact with the packaging material 3 supplied from above. Here, there is no particular limitation on the shape and number of guide members 29. However, the most common type is two separate guide members as shown in Figure 9. However, it goes without saying that three or more guide members may be used.

[0036] In this way, it is preferable that two guide members 29 are provided at a predetermined distance from the center of the conveying path. By using such a type, in a configuration in which the push rod 13 pushes and conveys the laminate, there is an advantage that the push rod 13 can easily pass through the center of the conveying path 5 because the guide members 29 do not interfere (FIG. 10). However, if the height of the push rod 13 is set to be equal to or less than the height of the guide member 29, it is of course possible to use only one guide member 29, as shown in FIG. 11 below. Next, the guide member 29 may be installed so as to be disposed above the conveying path. For example, a support rod may be attached to the side wall 7 of the conveying path, and the guide member 29 may be provided on the support rod, or of course other embodiments may be used.

[0037] (Position on the transport path) The guide member 29 is disposed at a position before the stack ML where the packaging material 3 is supplied from above. Here, the position before the stack ML where the packaging material 3 is supplied from above refers to a position on the conveying path before the position where the packaging material is supplied. Here, the position where the packaging material 3 is supplied refers to the folding position where the strip-shaped packaging material 3 is supplied from above and folded back by the support frame 19. Here, the stack ML comes into contact with the packaging material 3. The guide member 29 is disposed before this folding position.

[0038] (Height of guide member on conveying path) Next, the height of the guide member 29 is adjusted so that it is close to the height position of the stacked bodies stacked in multiple stages. Here, the height of the laminate ML can be determined almost accurately if the size of each product is accurately fixed. On the other hand, in the case of a packaged product PP in which products are packaged, for example, as shown in Figure 4, the shape of the outer flexible packaging material of each packaged product PP can easily change.

[0039] Therefore, when the packaged products PP are stacked in a stack ML as shown in FIG. 5, the height of the top end of the packaging material of the topmost packaged product often varies. Therefore, in such a case, it is preferable to install the guide member 29 so that it is approximately the same height as when the packaged products PP are stacked in multiple layers, and then fine-tune the height of the guide member 29 by actually transporting multiple stacks ML and checking the contact state of the guide member with the top of the stack and the state of positional misalignment.

[0040] (Length of guide member) The length of the guide member 29 is not particularly limited. For example, it may be equal to or greater than the length of the article P in the conveying direction as shown in Fig. 1, or may be equal to or less than the length of the article P in the conveying direction as shown in Fig. 12. It is also preferable to make the length of the guide member 29 longer so that the folded-back packaging material is supported from below at the tip end of the guide member 29.

[0041] (Tip position of guide member) The leading end of the guide member 29 is preferably located further back than the supply position of the packaging material 3 as shown in Fig. 9. However, it may be located before the supply position of the packaging material 3 as shown in Fig. 12.

[0042] (Shape of guide member) The guide member 29 can have various shapes. For example, it can be plate-shaped or rod-shaped. For example, Figures 9 and 10 show a plate-shaped member. However, the guide member 29 is not limited to this. Figure 13 shows a rod-shaped member.

[0043] (Angle of guide member) The arrangement of the guide member 29 is not limited to being horizontal to the conveying direction, but may be slightly inclined downward toward the traveling direction as shown in Figures 14 and 15. In this case, the angle of inclination is set appropriately, but is preferably less than 0° and equal to or less than -10°.

[0044] (Guide material) The guide member 29 can be made of various materials, such as metals such as stainless steel, plastics, or paper. Metals such as stainless steel are particularly preferable. It is also preferable for the guide member 29 to have elasticity. Having elasticity allows for a gentle pressure to be applied to the upper part of the stack when the upper part of the stack comes into contact with the lower part of the guide member.

Claims

1. a conveying means for continuously conveying a stack of flat articles placed in multiple stages in a substantially horizontal direction; a packaging material supply means for continuously supplying a strip of packaging material from above the stack so as to enclose the stack; a means for overlapping both ends of the packaging material containing the laminate and continuously heat-sealing the both ends to form a cylindrical package; a means for sequentially heat-sealing the multi-pack stacks contained in the cylindrical packaging body in a direction crossing the conveyance direction of the stacks to seal the stacks; a separating means for sequentially cutting the heat-sealed portions to separate the packages; In a pillow packaging machine for stacked materials placed in multiple stages, A pillow packaging machine characterized in that a guide member is provided in the conveying direction near the height position of the conveyed stack, just before the stack is supplied with packaging material from above.

2. 2. The pillow packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the article is a packaged product.

3. 2. The pillow packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the conveying means for the stack is a means for pressing and conveying the stack from the rear portion.

4. 2. The pillow packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is inclined downward along the conveying direction of the conveying means.

5. 2. The pillow packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is an elastic plate-like member.

6. a conveying means for continuously conveying a stack of flat articles placed in multiple stages in a substantially horizontal direction; a packaging material supply means for continuously supplying a strip of packaging material from above the stack so as to enclose the stack; a means for overlapping both ends of the packaging material containing the laminate and continuously heat-sealing the both ends to form a cylindrical package; a means for sequentially heat-sealing the multi-pack stacks contained in the cylindrical packaging body in a direction crossing the conveyance direction of the stacks to seal the stacks; a separating means for sequentially cutting the heat-sealed portions to separate the packages; A pillow packaging method for stacked materials placed in multiple stages, comprising: A pillow packaging method characterized in that a guide member is provided at a position where packaging material is supplied from above to the stack, near the height position of the stack to be transported and facing the transport direction.

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