Heat-sealing device and packaging device

Abstract

To provide a heat-sealing device capable of improving the sealing performance of packaging materials.SOLUTION: A heat-sealing device includes a conveying section that conveys long sheet-like packaging materials 21, 31 in the longitudinal direction, a heating member 111 that heats the two-ply packaging materials 21, 31, and a receiving member 121 that faces the heating member 111 across the two-ply packaging materials 21, 31. The heating member 111 and the receiving member 121 gradually press-bond the two-ply packaging materials 21, 31 from the downstream side to the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the packaging materials 21, 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 18

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to heat sealing and packaging machines. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-53538 (Patent Document 1) describes a drug packaging device that overlaps two continuous sheets of paper transported downwards and heat-seals them to form a drug storage chamber, and then pours drugs into this drug storage chamber from a hopper and seals it. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-53538 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A packaging bag containing the packaged items is formed by supplying the packaged items between two layers of packaging material and then heat-sealing the packaging material. If an attempt is made to heat-seal the packaging material with a large amount of packaged items supplied, the packaging material may wrinkle, resulting in a poor seal.

[0005] The present disclosure proposes a heat-sealing device that can improve the sealing performance of packaging materials, and a packaging device that includes the heat-sealing device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The heat-sealing device according to the present disclosure includes a conveying section that conveys a long sheet-like packaging material in the longitudinal direction, a heating member that heats the two-ply packaging material, and a receiving member that faces the heating member across the two-ply packaging material. The heating member and the receiving member gradually press-bond the two-ply packaging material from the downstream side to the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the packaging material.

[0007] A packaging device according to the present disclosure includes the heat sealing device described above and a supply section that supplies packaging objects between two layers of packaging material. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, the sealing properties of packaging materials can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a packaging device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the packaging material is passed through the guide rollers during the paper threading operation, as viewed from above. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the packaging material is moved along the guide rollers, as viewed from above. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view showing the vicinity of a tension applying portion. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the tension applying portion as seen from the rear bottom side. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of dancer rollers when replacing packaging materials. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the tension applying portion in the state shown in FIG. 7, seen from behind. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of dancer rollers during paper threading. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the dancer rollers after the paper threading operation is completed. [Figure 11] 11 is a schematic view of the tension applying portion in the state shown in FIG. 10 as seen from behind. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a side cover portion. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the state in which the opening / closing cover is removed. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a sachet. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a heat sealing device. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a blocking member. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a first explanatory diagram of the operation of the heat-sealing device and the closing member. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a second explanatory view of the operation of the heat-sealing device and the closing member. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a third explanatory view of the operation of the heat-sealing device and the closing member. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a fourth explanatory view of the operation of the heat-sealing device and the closing member. [Figure 21] FIG. 5 is a fifth explanatory view of the operation of the heat-sealing device and the closing member. [Figure 22] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams illustrating the arrangement of a closing member relative to a packaging material. [Figure 23] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of a blocking member relative to a hopper. [Figure 24] FIG. 6 is a sixth explanatory diagram of the operation of the heat-sealing device and the closing member. [Figure 25] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a heating member. [Figure 26] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of a heating member and a receiving member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated. In the drawings, configurations may be omitted or simplified for the sake of convenience. It is also intended from the beginning that any configurations may be extracted from the embodiments and arbitrarily combined.

[0011] [Overall configuration] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a packaging device 1 according to an embodiment.

[0012] The packaging device 1 is used to package an object to be packaged. The object to be packaged is a medicine, specifically a solid medicine. Examples of solid medicine include powders, granules, tablets, pills, and capsules. The object to be packaged is not limited to a solid medicine. The object to be packaged may be a semi-solid medicine or a liquid medicine.

[0013] The packaging device 1 is a drug packaging device for packaging drugs based on a prescription. A prescription is issued to a patient by a doctor. The prescription contains patient information and drug information. The patient information includes the patient's name and age. The drug information includes the drug name, amount, usage, and dosage. The packaging device 1 is used to package drugs into single doses based on such a prescription.

[0014] Packaging rolls 2 and 3 are attached to the packaging device 1. Packaging roll 2 is a packaging material 21 wound in a roll shape. The packaging material 21 is fed out from packaging roll 2. Packaging roll 3 is a packaging material 31 wound in a roll shape. The packaging material 31 is fed out from packaging roll 3. Packaging rolls 2 and 3 correspond to an example of a "wound body" in which packaging materials 21 and 31 are wound.

[0015] Packaging device 1 combines packaging material 21 unwound from packaging roll 2 and packaging material 31 unwound from packaging roll 3 by heat sealing them to form sachets 19 containing medicines. Packaging materials 21, 31 are in the form of long sheets. Packaging device 1 is equipped with a packaging material conveying section 9. Packaging material conveying section 9 applies a driving force to packaging materials 21, 31 to convey them. Packaging materials 21, 31 are conveyed in their longitudinal directions. Arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the conveying direction DR of packaging materials 21, 31.

[0016] Dancer roller 11A and guide rollers 12A and 13A are provided in this order from upstream (closer to packaging roll 2) to downstream (away from packaging roll 2) in the conveying direction DR of packaging material 21. Dancer roller 11A and guide rollers 12A and 13A guide the packaging material 21 being conveyed and also apply a constant tension to the packaging material 21. Dancer roller 11B and guide rollers 12B and 13B are provided in this order from upstream (closer to packaging roll 3) to downstream (away from packaging roll 3) in the conveying direction DR of packaging material 31. Dancer roller 11B and guide rollers 12B and 13B guide the packaging material 31 being conveyed and also apply a constant tension to the packaging material 31.

[0017] The packaging device 1 includes a packaging unit 5. The packaging unit 5 includes a medicine supply unit 6, a container forming unit 7, and a perforation forming unit 8.

[0018] Medicine supply unit 6 supplies medicine between packaging materials 21 and 31 being conveyed by packaging material conveying unit 9. The tip of a hopper (not shown) is placed between packaging materials 21 and 31, and medicine is poured into the gap between packaging materials 21 and 31 from the tip of the hopper. Medicine is supplied at a dose based on the prescription.

[0019] The storage section forming section 7 forms sachet 19 using packaging materials 21, 31 conveyed by packaging material conveying section 9. Medicines are contained in sachet 19. The storage section forming section 7 heat-seals packaging materials 21 and 31 in a superimposed state, individually packaging the medicines supplied from medicine supply section 6 for each dose, and forms sachet 19, which is a package containing the medicines inside.

[0020] The perforation forming unit 8 is provided in the storage section forming unit 7. The perforation forming unit 8 forms perforations that extend in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction DR in the packaging material 21, 31 conveyed by the packaging material conveying unit 9. The perforations are multiple small holes that are lined up continuously in the short direction of the packaging material 21, 31. The perforations are formed at positions that separate adjacent sachets 19 in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material 21, 31. Adjacent sachets 19 can be easily separated by cutting the packaging material 21, 31 along the perforations.

[0021] The packaging device 1 further includes a printing unit 4. The printing unit 4 prints predetermined information on the packaging material 31 that is unwound from the packaging material roll 3 and transported by the packaging material transport unit 9. The predetermined information is information related to the drug. The printing unit 4 is disposed upstream of the packaging unit 5 in the transport direction DR of the packaging material 31. The printing unit 4 prints information related to the drug on the packaging material 31 prior to the heat sealing of the packaging materials 21, 31 by the storage portion forming unit 7. The information related to the drug includes the patient's name, the time of administration, the name and amount (quantity, weight) of the drug, etc.

[0022] The packaging apparatus 1 further includes a line drawing device 10. The line drawing device 10 is used to draw a line on the packaging material 21 being conveyed, the line extending in the conveying direction DR of the packaging material 21. The line drawing device 10 is capable of printing lines of multiple colors on the packaging material 21. The line drawing device 10 can draw lines of specific colors on the packaging material 21 corresponding to information related to the drug printed on the packaging material 21 by the printing unit 4. For example, the line drawing device 10 can draw lines of different colors, such as red, black, blue, and green, depending on the timing of administration.

[0023] The packaging device 1 further includes side cover portions 71, 72 and upper cover portions 81, 82. The side cover portion 71 covers from the sides the path of the packaging material 21 between the dancer roller 11A and the guide roller 12A. The side cover portion 72 covers from the sides the path of the packaging material 31 between the dancer roller 11B and the guide roller 12B. The upper cover portion 81 covers from above the path of the packaging material 21 between the guide roller 12A and the guide roller 13A. The upper cover portion 82 covers from above the path of the packaging material 31 between the guide roller 12B and the guide roller 13B.

[0024] [Guide roller] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B. Details of the guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B will be described with reference to Fig. 2 and subsequent Figs.

[0025] The guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B have an elongated, generally rod-like shape overall. The guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B have a base end 41 that is one end and a tip end 42 that is the other end. The guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B are attached to the main body of the packaging device 1 at the base end 41. The guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B are arranged to extend in the front-to-rear direction of the packaging device 1. The base end 41 forms the rear end in the front-to-rear direction, and the tip end 42 forms the front end in the front-to-rear direction. The tip end 42 has a curved shape. Typically, the tip end 42 has a partial spherical shape.

[0026] The guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B have a packaging material passing section 43 and a temporary placement section 44.

[0027] Packaging material passing section 43 is a part of guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B through which packaging materials 21 and 31 conveyed by packaging material conveying section 9 pass. Packaging material passing section 43 constitutes the part on the base end 41 side of guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B.

[0028] The temporary placement section 44 is a part of the guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B where the packaging materials 21, 31 can be temporarily placed during the paper threading operation of passing the packaging materials 21, 31 through the packaging material passing section 43. The temporary placement section 44 forms the part on the tip 42 side of the guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B.

[0029] In the front-to-rear direction of the packaging device 1, the packaging material passing section 43 is located at the rear, and the temporary placement section 44 is located at the front. At least a portion of the temporary placement section 44 is located forward of the printing section 4 and the line drawing device 10 shown in FIG. 1. An operator performing paper threading work accesses the packaging device 1 from the front. Therefore, it is easier for an operator to access the temporary placement section 44 than to access the packaging material passing section 43.

[0030] The packaging material passing section 43 has a cylindrical outer shape. The temporary placement section 44 also has a cylindrical outer shape that is concentric with the packaging material passing section 43. The center line L shown in Figure 2 is the center line of the cylindrical shape formed by the packaging material passing section 43 and the temporary placement section 44.

[0031] Temporary placing section 44 is formed with a larger diameter than packaging material passing section 43. The outer peripheral surfaces of temporary placing section 44 and packaging material passing section 43 are connected by a tapered surface whose diameter decreases from the tip end 42 toward the base end 41. The tapered surface smoothly connects the step between the outer peripheral surfaces of temporary placing section 44 and packaging material passing section 43.

[0032] The packaging material passing section 43 is configured to be rotatable. The center line L is the rotation center of the packaging material passing section 43. The temporary placement section 44 is also configured to be rotatable. The center line L is the rotation center of the temporary placement section 44. The packaging material passing section 43 and the temporary placement section 44 are configured to be rotatable together. The packaging material passing section 43 and the temporary placement section 44 may be molded as an integral member, in which case the guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B can be easily manufactured. Alternatively, the temporary placement section 44 may be molded as a separate member from the packaging material passing section 43, and then the temporary placement section 44 may be attached to the packaging material passing section 43. The packaging material passing section 43 and the temporary placement section 44 may be fixed so as to be immovable relative to each other. Alternatively, the packaging material passing section 43 and the temporary placement section 44 may be connected so as to be rotatable relative to each other.

[0033] 3 is a schematic diagram showing packaging material 21 temporarily placed on guide rollers 12A and 13A during threading, as viewed from above. The worker performing the threading operation pulls out packaging material 21 from packaging roll 2 and passes packaging material 21 around dancer roller 11A, guide roller 12A, and guide roller 13A in that order.

[0034] The drawing device 10 is disposed above the path of the packaging material 21 between the guide rollers 12A and 13A. The guide rollers 12A and 13A have a temporary placement section 44, and because the guide rollers 12A and 13A are longer in the longitudinal direction than conventional guide rollers, at least a portion of the temporary placement section 44 protrudes forward of the drawing device 10 (toward the bottom in Figures 3 and 4). This makes it possible to temporarily place the packaging material 21 on the guide rollers 12A and 13A (temporary placement section 44) in front of the drawing device 10, avoiding the drawing device 10, which would interfere with the paper threading operation. This improves the workability of the paper threading operation.

[0035] The temporary storage section 44 is formed by the longitudinal extensions of the guide rollers 12A, 13A, so that the number of parts can be minimized and paper threading can be improved at the lowest cost.

[0036] Because temporary placement section 44 is configured to be rotatable, packaging material 21 that has been pulled out from packaging roll 2 and folded twice by dancer roller 11A and guide roller 12A can be pulled with a light load. This reliably prevents problems such as packaging material 21 coming off guide rollers 12A and 13A or packaging material 21 being torn due to load being applied to packaging material 21 during the paper threading operation.

[0037] 4 is a schematic diagram showing the state in which packaging material 21 is moved along guide rollers 12A, 13A, as viewed from above. From the state in which packaging material 21 is temporarily placed on temporary placement section 44 of guide rollers 12A, 13A shown in FIG. 3, the temporarily placed packaging material 21 is slid along guide rollers 12A, 13A to the inner side (rear side; upper side in FIGS. 3 and 4) of packaging device 1. The outline arrow in FIG. 4 indicates the direction in which packaging material 21 slides. In this way, as shown in FIG. 4, packaging material 21 is moved to packaging material passage section 43, through which packaging material 21 passes when being transported to package an object to be packaged, thereby completing the paper threading operation.

[0038] Because temporary placement section 44 is formed with a larger diameter than packaging material passing section 43, it is easy to slide packaging material 21 and align it with packaging material passing section 43. After packaging material 21 fits into packaging material passing section 43, packaging material 21 is prevented from shifting out of packaging material passing section 43. Even if packaging material 21 shifts forward from packaging material passing section 43, the shifted packaging material 21 is supported by temporary placement section 44, and therefore packaging material 21 can be prevented from coming off guide rollers 12A, 13A.

[0039] 3 and 4, the threading operation for packaging material 21 has been described, but even when threading packaging material 31, the printing unit 4, which interferes with the threading operation, can be avoided and packaging material 31 can be temporarily placed on guide rollers 12B and 13B (temporary placement unit 44) in front of the printing unit 4, and packaging material 31 can be slid to the rear and placed in packaging material passage unit 43. This similarly achieves the effect of improving the workability of the threading operation.

[0040] [Dancer Lola's Rock] 5 is an enlarged front view showing the vicinity of the tension applying unit 51. The packaging material roll 2 is attached to the attachment unit 50. The attachment unit 50 extends in the front-to-rear direction of the packaging device 1 (in FIG. 5, the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper). The attachment unit 50 protrudes from the main body of the packaging device 1 to the front of the packaging device 1. The packaging material roll 2 is attached to the attachment unit 50 so as to be unable to rotate relative to the attachment unit 50. The rotational drive force of an unwinding / winding motor (not shown) is transmitted to the attachment unit 50, causing the attachment unit 50 to rotate. As the packaging material roll 2 rotates integrally with the attachment unit 50, the packaging material 21 is unwound from the packaging material roll 2 and the packaging material 21 is wound onto the packaging material roll 2.

[0041] The tension applying unit 51 includes a dancer roller 11A, also shown in Figure 1. The packaging material 21 is wound around the dancer roller 11A. The dancer roller 11A presses the packaging material 21 unwound from the packaging roll 2, causing the tension applying unit 51 to apply tension to the packaging material 21. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tension applying unit 51, seen from the rear and below. The tension applying unit 51 further includes a slider 52 and a support unit 54.

[0042] The support section 54 has an upper plate 55, a lower plate 56, and a front plate 57. At least the lower plate 56 of the support section 54 is made of a magnetic material. Typically, the support section 54 is made of a steel material. A guide hole 58 extending in the vertical direction is formed in the front plate 57. The dancer roller 11A moves in the vertical direction along the guide hole 58. The dancer roller 11A moves relative to the packaging material roll 2. The dancer roller 11A moves relative to the packaging section 5 and the packaging material conveying section 9.

[0043] The guide hole 58 defines the movable range within which the dancer roller 11A can reciprocate. The movable range of the dancer roller 11A extends in the vertical direction. The dancer roller 11A can reciprocate in the vertical direction with the packaging material 21 wrapped around it, and is biased vertically downward by gravity. The dancer roller 11A is biased in one direction (downward) of the directions in which the dancer roller 11A reciprocates (up and down directions). The dancer roller 11A corresponds to an example of a "displacement member." The vertically downward direction corresponds to an example of a "biasing direction." The bottom end of the guide hole 58 corresponds to an example of a "downstream end of the biasing direction."

[0044] The slide bar 59 extends in the vertical direction. The slide bar 59 has an upper end supported by the upper plate 55 and a lower end supported by the lower plate 56. The slide bar 59 supports the slider 52 so that the slider 52 can move up and down. The slider 52 can move back and forth up and down along the slide bar 59.

[0045] Dancer roller 11A is positioned in front of front plate 57 of support portion 54. Slider 52 is positioned behind front plate 57. Slider 52 and dancer roller 11A are connected by connecting portion 53. Connecting portion 53 is positioned to pass through guide hole 58. Slider 52 supports dancer roller 11A via connecting portion 53, and is able to move up and down integrally with dancer roller 11A.

[0046] A magnet 60 is fixed to the underside of the slider 52. The magnet 60 is, for example, a permanent magnet. The magnet 60 is movable up and down together with the slider 52 and the dancer roller 11A. The magnet 60 is disposed above the lower plate 56 of the support portion 54. The magnet 60 is disposed so as to face the lower plate 56 in the up and down direction.

[0047] Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the position of dancer roller 11A when replacing packaging material 21. Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing tension applying unit 51 as seen from behind in the state shown in Fig. 7. When packaging material 21 is not wrapped around dancer roller 11A and the tension of packaging material 21 is not acting on dancer roller 11A, dancer roller 11A is urged downward by its own weight and moves to the lowest end of guide hole 58.

[0048] In this state, magnet 60 comes into contact with lower plate 56 of support portion 54. Magnet 60 is attached to lower plate 56 by magnetic force. Dancer roller 11A is locked at the bottom end of guide hole 58 by the magnetic force of magnet 60. Magnet 60 and lower plate 56, which is a magnetic body, correspond to an example of a "lock portion" that locks dancer roller 11A at the bottom end of guide hole 58.

[0049] Dancer roller 11A is biased downward by its own weight, and when packaging material 21 is not wrapped around dancer roller 11A, dancer roller 11A moves downward due to the action of its own weight. When dancer roller 11A reaches the lowest end of guide hole 58, dancer roller 11A is locked at that position by the magnetic force of magnet 60. This eliminates the need to lock dancer roller 11A manually. Because the configuration for locking dancer roller 11A can be simplified, the packaging device 1 can be made inexpensive.

[0050] 9 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the dancer roller 11A during paper threading. The worker performing the paper threading operation pulls out the packaging material 21 from the packaging roll 2, wraps it around the dancer roller 11A, and then pulls out the packaging material 21 and wraps it around the guide rollers 12A and 13A in that order. As the packaging material 21 is pulled out, the packaging roll 2 rotates in the rotation direction R1 indicated by the curved arrow in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, the packaging roll 2 rotates counterclockwise. At this time, the unwinding / winding motor is not driven, and the rotational drive force of the unwinding / winding motor is not transmitted to the mounting portion 50.

[0051] When the worker pulls out the packaging material 21 during threading, tension from the packaging material 21 acts on the dancer roller 11A. The magnet 60 is selected so that the magnetic force of the magnet 60 is greater than the vertically upward component of the tension acting on the dancer roller 11A at this time. Therefore, the dancer roller 11A is not unlocked by the magnetic force during threading. The dancer roller 11A remains positioned at the lowest end of the guide hole 58 during threading.

[0052] Because the dancer roller 11A remains locked during the threading operation, it is possible to reduce the tension that the dancer roller 11A exerts on the packaging material 21 pulled out from the packaging roll 2. This prevents the worker pulling out the packaging material 21 from feeling the tension of the dancer roller 11A as being heavy, and also prevents the packaging material 21 from being pulled back, improving the workability of the threading operation. The force with which the worker pulls out the packaging material 21 easily rotates the packaging roll 2, more reliably preventing the worker from feeling any strain.

[0053] Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the dancer roller 11A after the paper threading operation is completed. Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of the tension applying unit 51 in the state shown in Fig. 10, seen from behind.

[0054] While the packaging device 1 is packaging the objects to be packaged, the packaging material 21 is intermittently conveyed by the packaging material conveying unit 9. While the packaging material conveying unit 9 is conveying the packaging material 21, the packaging material roll 2 is stopped, and the packaging material 21 is not unwound from the packaging material roll 2. The packaging material conveying unit 9 conveys the packaging material 21 by the length of one sachet 19, thereby shortening the length of the packaging material 21 in the conveying direction DR from the packaging material roll 2 to the packaging material conveying unit 9 by the length of one sachet 19. This change in the length of the packaging material 21 is adjusted by moving the dancer roller 11A upward. This adjustment makes it possible to convey the packaging material 21 while maintaining a predetermined tension applied to the packaging material 21.

[0055] While the transport of the packaging material 21 is stopped, predetermined operations are performed, such as heat sealing of the packaging materials 21, 31 by the storage section forming section 7, forming perforations in the packaging materials 21, 31 (sachet bags 19) by the perforation forming section 8, and cutting of the sachet bags 19 by a cutting section not shown.

[0056] While the conveyance of the packaging material 21 is stopped, the unwinding / winding motor is driven. The rotational drive force of the unwinding / winding motor is transmitted to the mounting portion 50, causing the packaging roll 2 to rotate, and the packaging material 21 is unwound from the packaging roll 2. At this time, conveyance of the packaging material 21 by the packaging conveying section 9 is stopped, so the packaging material 21 unwound from the packaging roll 2 is used to restore the length of the packaging material 21 from the packaging roll 2 to the packaging conveying section 9. When the packaging material 21 has been unwound by the length of one sachet 19, the unwinding / winding motor is stopped. As the packaging material 21 is unwound from the packaging roll 2, the dancer roller 11A moves downward.

[0057] In this way, by alternately repeating the conveyance of packaging material 21 by packaging material conveying section 9 and the unwinding of packaging material 21 from packaging roll 2, packaging material 21 can be appropriately conveyed while maintaining a predetermined tension applied to packaging material 21. Applying tension to packaging material 21 prevents slack in packaging material 21, and prevents shifting and wrinkling of packaging material 21 when it is conveyed.

[0058] When packaging of an object to be packaged by the packaging device 1 is started, the packaging material 21 is wound onto the packaging roll 2 as shown in Fig. 10. The unwinding / winding motor transmits a rotational driving force to the mounting portion 50, causing the packaging roll 2 to rotate in the direction in which the packaging material 21 is wound up (rotation direction R2 indicated by the curved arrow in Fig. 10; clockwise in Fig. 10).

[0059] As the packaging material 21 is wound onto the packaging roll 2, the tension of the packaging material 21 acting on the dancer roller 11A applies a vertically upward force to the dancer roller 11A. The magnet 60 and the unwinding / winding motor are designed so that the tension of the packaging material 21 acting on the dancer roller 11A is greater than the magnetic force of the magnet 60. Therefore, the tension of the packaging material 21 releases the magnetic lock on the dancer roller 11A. The slider 52 and magnet 60 move upward together with the dancer roller 11A. As shown in FIG. 11 , the magnet 60 moves away from the lower plate 56 of the support portion 54, forming a gap between the magnet 60 and the lower plate 56. The magnetic force of the magnet 60 no longer interferes with the movement of the dancer roller 11A. The dancer roller 11A can now move freely up and down as the packaging material 21 is transported and unwound.

[0060] Since the dancer roller 11A is unlocked by the action of winding up the packaging material 21, there is no need to provide a dedicated member for unlocking, and the packaging device 1 can be configured at low cost.

[0061] In the above description, an example has been described in which the dancer roller 11A is movable in the vertical direction, is biased vertically downward by its own weight, is locked at the lowest end of its movable range, and is unlocked by the tension applied when the packaging material 21 is wound onto the packaging roll 2. Doing so is desirable because it simplifies the configuration of the packaging device 1, but the present invention is not limited to this example. The dancer roller 11A may be locked in any position and unlocked in any way.

[0062] For example, dancer roller 11A may be locked at the upper end of its movable range. Dancer roller 11A may be biased by a biasing member such as a spring rather than by its own weight. The direction of movement of dancer roller 11A does not have to be vertical. Dancer roller 11A may move horizontally, with a biasing member biasing dancer roller 11A toward one end of its movable range, with that end being the locked position of dancer roller 11A. A separate structure may be provided to move dancer roller 11A from the locked position to unlock it.

[0063] The dancer roller 11A has been described with reference to Figures 5 to 11, but by making the dancer roller 11B, which applies tension to the packaging material 31, similar in configuration to the dancer roller 11A, it is possible to similarly obtain the effects of improving the workability of the paper threading operation and making the packaging device 1 less expensive.

[0064] [Dust prevention for packaging materials] Packaging materials 21, 31 have a surface that will become the inner surface of sachet 19 when sachet 19 is formed (hereinafter referred to as the inner surface of the sachet paper), and a surface opposite the inner surface of the sachet paper (hereinafter referred to as the outer surface of the sachet paper) that will become the outer surface of sachet 19. The inner surface of the sachet paper faces outward from packaging device 1 in the path between dancer rollers 11A, 11B and guide rollers 12A, 12B, and faces upward in the path between guide rollers 12A, 12B and guide rollers 13A, 13B.

[0065] When packaging device 1 is stopped, airborne particles such as scatterable chemicals and dust may adhere to the inner surface of the packaging paper, causing contamination. In particular, in the lateral path between guide rollers 12A, 12B and guide rollers 13A, 13B, the inner surface of the packaging paper faces upward, making it easy for airborne particles to accumulate on the inner surface of the packaging paper. To protect packaging materials 21, 31 from airborne particles and prevent contamination, packaging device 1 of this embodiment includes side cover portions 71, 72 and upper cover portions 81, 82, as shown in FIG. 1 .

[0066] 12 is a perspective view showing the configuration of side cover portion 72. Side cover portion 72 has a base 73 and an opening / closing cover 74. The outer surface of the packaging paper of packaging material 31 faces base 73, and the inner surface of the packaging paper of packaging material 31 faces opening / closing cover 74. Base 73 covers the outer surface of the packaging paper of packaging material 31, and opening / closing cover 74 covers the inner surface of the packaging paper of packaging material 31.

[0067] FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view showing the base 73 with the openable cover 74 removed. Support shafts 75 extending in the vertical direction are provided at the upper and lower ends of the base 73. The openable cover 74 is rotatable relative to the base 73 around the support shafts 75. By rotating the openable cover 74 during the paper threading operation, the openable cover 74 is opened to expose the path of the packaging material 31, allowing the packaging material 31 to easily pass between the dancer roller 11B and the guide roller 12B. After the paper threading operation is completed, the openable cover 74 is rotated in the opposite direction to close the openable cover 74 and cover the packaging material 31 with the openable cover 74, preventing the inner surface of the packaging paper from being exposed and preventing foreign matter from adhering to the inner surface of the packaging paper.

[0068] The base 73 has a flat, angular C-shape in plan view. The packaging material 31 is placed inside the C-shape of the base 73. The outer surface of the packaging paper of the packaging material 31 is placed facing the bottom of the C-shape of the base 73. The end faces of the packaging material 31 are placed facing the wall portions protruding from both ends of the bottom of the C-shape of the base 73. As shown in FIG. 13 , ventilation holes 76 are formed in the wall portion of the base 73. A plurality of ventilation holes 76 are formed in the wall portion of the base 73. The plurality of ventilation holes 76 are arranged in a line in the vertical direction. The plurality of ventilation holes 76 are arranged in a line along the conveying direction DR of the packaging material 31.

[0069] The dashed arrows in Figure 13 indicate the flow of air blown out from ventilation holes 76. Air curtains are formed by using ventilation holes 76 as air outlets. Blowing air out from ventilation holes 76 creates positive pressure around packaging material 31, making it possible to create a structure that keeps floating dust away from the inner surface of the packaging paper of packaging material 31.

[0070] If the air curtain alone is expected to be sufficiently effective in preventing foreign matter from adhering to the inside of the packaging paper, there is no need to provide the opening / closing cover 74. Since there is no need to open and close the opening / closing cover 74 to thread the paper, the paper threading process can be carried out more easily.

[0071] By dehumidifying the air blown out from the ventilation holes 76 in advance, both sides of the packaging material 31 can be dehumidified uniformly, and curling (curving) of the packaging material 31 can be suppressed.

[0072] Like dancer roller 11A described with reference to Figure 10, dancer roller 11B moves back and forth in the vertical direction during the packaging operation of the items to be packaged. By extending open-close cover 74 downward to the lower end of the path of reciprocating movement of dancer roller 11B, exposure of the inner surface of the packaging paper of packaging material 31 can be prevented, thereby more reliably preventing foreign matter from adhering to the inner surface of the packaging paper.

[0073] Dancer roller 11B and guide rollers 12B, 13B come into contact with the outer surface of the packing paper of packaging material 31, but do not come into contact with the inner surface of the packing paper of packaging material 31. By reducing the number of components that come into contact with the inner surface of the packing paper of packaging material 31, the configuration is more advantageous in terms of preventing dust from entering the inner surface of the packing paper.

[0074] 12 and 13, side cover portion 72 can be similarly dustproofed by configuring side cover portion 71, which covers packaging material 21 from the sides, to be bilaterally symmetrical to side cover portion 72 described above. By forming ventilation holes in the undersides of upper cover portions 81 and 82, which cover packaging material 21 and 31 from above, and blowing air toward the inner surface of the packaging paper for packaging material 21 and 31 to form an air curtain, it is possible to similarly obtain the effects of dustproofing packaging material 21 and 31 and suppressing the adhesion of foreign matter to the inner surface of the packaging paper.

[0075] [Saving bag 19] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of sachet 19. Sachet 19 is formed by dividing two layers of packaging material 21, 31 by a longitudinal fusion portion 23 and a transverse fusion portion 24. A storage portion 22 is formed inside sachet 19, and the medicine to be packaged is stored in storage portion 22. Sachet 19 packages one package of the medicine to be packaged.

[0076] A separation region where the packaging materials 21, 31 are not heat-sealed is provided between two adjacent lateral fusion portions 24. Perforations 25 are formed in this separation region. Perforations 25 have a plurality of fine holes that are spaced apart in the lateral direction of the packaging materials 21, 31. In FIG. 14 , the up-down direction in the drawing is the lateral direction of the packaging materials 21, 31. A handler who separates sachets 19 can separate two adjacent sachets 19 along perforations 25 by holding one of the two adjacent sachets 19 between the fingers of his right hand and the other between the fingers of his left hand and moving the two sachets 19 held in both hands away from each other so as to tear perforations 25.

[0077] [Heat sealing device] Fig. 15 is a schematic diagram of a heat-sealing device. The container forming section 7, which is also shown in Fig. 1, includes a heating member 111 and a receiving member 121. Packaging materials 21, 31 are disposed between the heating member 111 and the receiving member 121. The heating member 111 heats the packaging materials 21, 31. The receiving member 121 faces the heating member 111 with the packaging materials 21, 31 interposed therebetween. The arrows in Fig. 15, as in Fig. 1, indicate the conveying direction DR of the packaging materials 21, 31 and sachet 19. In Fig. 15 and subsequent Figs. 17 to 21, and 24, the upper side of the figure is the upstream side of the conveying direction DR of the packaging materials 21, 31 and sachet 19, and the lower side of the figure is the downstream side of the conveying direction DR of the packaging materials 21, 31 and sachet 19.

[0078] Of the packaging materials 21, 31 shown in Figure 15, the packaging materials 21, 31 shown at the bottom in the figure have already been heat-sealed to form a sachet 19. The packaging materials 21, 31 that are separated from each other in Figure 15 have not yet been heat-sealed. Before being crimped together by the heating member 111 and the receiving member 121, the packaging material 21 is spaced apart from the heating member 111 and arranged parallel to the receiving member 121. Before being crimped together by the heating member 111 and the receiving member 121, the packaging material 31 is spaced apart from the receiving member 121 and arranged parallel to the receiving member 121.

[0079] A heating member rotation shaft 112 is provided on the rear surface of the heating member 111 opposite to the front surface facing the packaging material 21. The heating member rotation shaft 112 is joined to the heating member 111 near the upstream end of the heating member 111 in the conveying direction DR. The heating member rotation shaft 112 rotatably supports the heating member 111. The heating member 111 can rotate in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions in the drawing around the heating member rotation shaft 112 as the center of rotation.

[0080] A heating member biasing unit 116 is attached to the rear surface of the heating member 111 near the downstream end in the conveying direction DR. The heating member biasing unit 116 biases the downstream end of the heating member 111 in the conveying direction DR in a direction approaching the packaging material 21. The heating member biasing unit 116 is, for example, a spring. When the heating member 111 is not in contact with the packaging material 21 as shown in FIG. 15 , the heating member biasing unit 116, which is a spring, has a total length that is shorter than its natural length. The heating member biasing unit 116 biases the heating member 111 in a counterclockwise direction around the heating member rotation axis 112. The heating member biasing unit 116 applies a force to the heating member 111 to lift its own weight. The heating member 111 is tilted relative to the vertical direction.

[0081] Instead of a spring, the heating member biasing unit 116 may be a known elastic body such as rubber. A plurality of heating member biasing units 116 may be provided. The plurality of heating member biasing units 116 may be arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 15 , which is orthogonal to the transport direction DR.

[0082] One end (the right end in FIG. 15) of the heating member biasing part 116 is attached to the back surface of the heating member 111. The other end (the left end in FIG. 15) of the heating member biasing part 116 is attached to the heating member support part 114. The heating member support part 114 supports the heating member 111 via the heating member biasing part 116. The heating member 111 is supported by the heating member rotation shaft 112 and the heating member support part 114.

[0083] Heating member support part 114 has a first surface facing heating member 111 and a second surface opposite the first surface. The other end of heating member biasing part 116 is attached to the first surface of heating member support part 114. The second surface of heating member support part 114 faces heating member driving part 113.

[0084] A heating member compression spring 115 is disposed between the heating member driving unit 113 and the heating member supporting unit 114. The heating member compression spring 115 is a spring member having a larger elastic coefficient than the heating member biasing unit 116. One end (the right end in FIG. 15) of the heating member compression spring 115 is attached to the second surface of the heating member supporting unit 114. The other end (the left end in FIG. 15) of the heating member compression spring 115 is attached to the heating member driving unit 113. The heating member compression spring 115 may include multiple spring members.

[0085] The heating member driving unit 113 generates a driving force that reciprocates the heating member 111 in a direction toward the packaging material 21 and a direction away from the packaging material 21. An assembly including the heating member 111, heating member rotation shaft 112, heating member driving unit 113, heating member support unit 114, heating member compression spring 115, and heating member biasing unit 116 is hereinafter referred to as the heating assembly. The driving force generated by the heating member driving unit 113 causes the heating member 111 to reciprocate as a unit in a direction toward the packaging material 21 (to the right in Figures 15 and 16 to 21 and 24) and a direction away from the packaging material 21 (to the left in Figures 15 and 16 to 21 and 24). As will be described in detail below, during this reciprocating movement, the relative positions of the heating member 111, heating member driving unit 113, and heating member support unit 114 are not always constant but change as appropriate.

[0086] The receiving member 121 has an elastic material such as rubber at least on the surface facing the heating member 111 with the packaging materials 21 and 31 interposed therebetween.

[0087] A receiving member rotation shaft 122 is provided on the back surface of the receiving member 121, opposite to the front surface that faces the packaging material 31. The receiving member rotation shaft 122 is joined to the receiving member 121 near the upstream end of the receiving member 121 in the conveying direction DR. The receiving member rotation shaft 122 rotatably supports the receiving member 121. The receiving member 121 can rotate in the counterclockwise and clockwise directions in the drawing around the receiving member rotation shaft 122 as the center of rotation.

[0088] A receiving member biasing portion 126 is attached to the back surface of the receiving member 121 near the downstream end in the conveying direction DR. The receiving member biasing portion 126 biases the downstream end of the receiving member 121 in the conveying direction DR in a direction approaching the packaging material 31. The receiving member biasing portion 126 is, for example, a spring. When the receiving member 121 is not in contact with the packaging material 31 as shown in FIG. 15 , the receiving member biasing portion 126, which is a spring, has an overall length that is shorter than its natural length. The receiving member biasing portion 126 biases the receiving member 121 in a clockwise direction about the receiving member rotation axis 122. The receiving member biasing portion 126 applies a force to the receiving member 121 that lifts the receiving member 121's own weight. The receiving member 121 is tilted in the up-down direction.

[0089] Instead of a spring, the receiving member biasing portion 126 may be a known elastic body such as rubber. A plurality of receiving member biasing portions 126 may be provided. A plurality of receiving member biasing portions 126 may be arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 15 , which is orthogonal to the conveying direction DR.

[0090] One end (the left end in FIG. 15) of receiving member urging portion 126 is attached to the back surface of receiving member 121. The other end (the right end in FIG. 15) of receiving member urging portion 126 is attached to receiving member support portion 124. Receiving member support portion 124 supports receiving member 121 via receiving member urging portion 126. Receiving member 121 is supported by receiving member rotation shaft 122 and receiving member support portion 124.

[0091] Receiving member support portion 124 has a first surface facing receiving member 121 and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The other end of receiving member biasing portion 126 is attached to the first surface of receiving member support portion 124. The second surface of receiving member support portion 124 faces receiving member driving portion 123.

[0092] A receiving member crimping spring 125 is disposed between the receiving member driving portion 123 and the receiving member supporting portion 124. The receiving member crimping spring 125 is a spring member having a larger elastic modulus than the receiving member biasing portion 126. One end (the left end in FIG. 15) of the receiving member crimping spring 125 is attached to the second surface of the receiving member supporting portion 124. The other end (the right end in FIG. 15) of the receiving member crimping spring 125 is attached to the receiving member driving portion 123. The receiving member crimping spring 125 may include multiple spring members.

[0093] The receiving member drive unit 123 generates a drive force that reciprocates the receiving member 121 in a direction toward the packaging material 31 and a direction away from the packaging material 31. An assembly including the receiving member 121, receiving member rotation shaft 122, receiving member drive unit 123, receiving member support unit 124, receiving member pressure spring 125, and receiving member bias unit 126 will be referred to as the receiving assembly hereinafter. The receiving assembly reciprocates integrally with the drive force generated by the receiving member drive unit 123 in a direction in which the receiving member 121 approaches the packaging material 31 (leftward in Figures 15 and 16 to 21 and 24) and a direction in which the receiving member 121 moves away from the packaging material 31 (rightward in Figures 15 and 16 to 21 and 24). As will be described in detail below, during this reciprocating movement, the relative positions of the receiving member 121, receiving member drive unit 123, and receiving member support unit 124 are not always constant but change as appropriate.

[0094] The heating assembly, the receiving assembly, and the packaging material conveying section 9 (FIG. 1) constitute the heat sealing device of the embodiment.

[0095] The medicine supply unit 6 (FIG. 1), which supplies medicines to be packaged, includes a hopper 160. The hopper 160 guides the medicines between the packaging materials 21 and 31. The medicines are supplied from the hopper 160 between the packaging materials 21 and 31. The hopper 160 has a tip 161. The tip 161 is positioned between the packaging materials 21 and 31. The tip 161 is open. The medicines are poured from the tip 161 into the space between the packaging materials 21 and 31. The hopper 160 has a tapered shape, with the diameter decreasing as it approaches the tip 161. The side of the hopper 160 is inclined in the vertical direction.

[0096] Closing members 130 and 140 are arranged around hopper 160. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 15, closing member 130 is arranged upstream of heating member 111 in the conveying direction DR of packaging material 21, and closing member 140 is arranged upstream of receiving member 121 in the conveying direction DR of packaging material 31. Closing members 130 and 140 are arranged upstream of tip 161 of hopper 160 in the conveying direction DR of packaging materials 21 and 31.

[0097] Packaging material 21 is placed between closing member 130 and the side surface of hopper 160. Closing member 130 has a receiving surface 131 that extends parallel to the side surface of hopper 160. Packaging material 31 is placed between closing member 140 and the side surface of hopper 160. Closing member 140 has a receiving surface 141 that extends parallel to the side surface of hopper 160. Receiving surfaces 131, 141 face the side surface of hopper 160.

[0098] When the medicine is poured between the packaging materials 21, 31 through the hopper 160, the closure member 130 sandwiches the packaging material 21 between the receiving surface 131 and the side surface of the hopper 160. The closure member 140 sandwiches the packaging material 31 between the receiving surface 141 and the side surface of the hopper 160. Furthermore, when the medicine is poured between the packaging materials 21, 31 through the hopper 160, the closure members 130, 140 sandwich the packaging materials 21, 31 between them. The closure members 130, 140 tightly contact the packaging materials 21 and 31, preventing any gaps from forming between the two overlapping packaging materials 21 and 31.

[0099] 16 is a perspective view schematically showing the closing member 130. The closing member 130 has a hollow hopper accommodating space 132 that can accommodate a hopper 160. A receiving surface 131 defines the hopper accommodating space 132. The receiving surface 131 forms part of the surface of the hopper accommodating space 132. The closing member 130 has a pair of clamping surfaces 135 that clamp the packaging materials 21, 31 between the closing member 130 and the closing member 140. The clamping surfaces 135 have a flat shape. The clamping surfaces 135 extend in the vertical direction.

[0100] The blocking member 130 has protrusions 133 and 134 at the lower end of the blocking member 130, at the edge where the receiving surface 131 intersects with the clamping surface 135. The protrusions 133 and 134 protrude from the receiving surface 131. The protrusions 133 and 134 protrude toward the hopper accommodating space 132. Because the blocking member 130 has the protrusions 133 and 134, the hopper accommodating space 132 is partially smaller at the lower end of the blocking member 130.

[0101] Although not shown, the blocking member 140 also has a hopper accommodating space, a clamping surface, and a protrusion, similar to the blocking member 130.

[0102] [Operation of the heat sealing device and the closing members 130, 140] 17 is a first explanatory diagram of the operation of the heat-sealing device and the closing members 130, 140. When the heating member driving unit 113 generates a driving force, the heating assembly described above moves to the right in the drawing, as indicated by the white arrow in the drawing. When the receiving member driving unit 123 generates a driving force, the receiving assembly described above moves to the left in the drawing, as indicated by the white arrow in the drawing.

[0103] 17, the downstream end of heating element 111 in the conveying direction DR is in contact with packaging material 21. The downstream end of receiving element 121 in the conveying direction DR is in contact with packaging material 31. Packaging materials 21 and 31 are sandwiched between the downstream end of heating element 111 in the conveying direction DR and the downstream end of receiving element 121 in the conveying direction DR. Unfused packaging material 21 is not in contact with heating element 111. Unfused packaging material 31 is not in contact with receiving element 121. In FIG. 17, the relative position of heating element 111 with respect to heating element rotation shaft 112 is the same as in FIG. 15, and the relative position of receiving element 121 with respect to receiving element rotation shaft 122 is the same as in FIG. 15.

[0104] 17, the closing members 130, 140 have not moved, and the relative positions of the closing members 130, 140 and the hopper 160 have not changed from those in FIG.

[0105] 18 is a second explanatory diagram of the operation of the heat-sealing device and the closing members 130, 140. The driving force of the heating member driving unit 113 causes the heating assembly to move further to the right in the drawing, as indicated by the hollow arrow in the drawing. The driving force of the receiving member driving unit 123 causes the receiving assembly to move further to the left in the drawing, as indicated by the hollow arrow in the drawing.

[0106] At this time, the heating member 111 rotates clockwise in the figure around the heating member rotation axis 112. The overall length of the heating member biasing portion 116 between the heating member 111 and the heating member support portion 114 is smaller than in FIG. 17. The inclination of the heating member 111 is smaller than in FIG. 17. The receiving member 121 rotates counterclockwise in the figure around the receiving member rotation axis 122. The overall length of the receiving member biasing portion 126 between the receiving member 121 and the receiving member support portion 124 is smaller than in FIG. 17. The inclination of the receiving member 121 is smaller than in FIG. 17.

[0107] The upstream end of heating member 111 in the conveying direction DR is in contact with unfused packaging material 21. The upstream end of receiving member 121 in the conveying direction DR is in contact with unfused packaging material 31. Packaging material 21 is pressed by heating member 111 and approaches packaging material 31. Packaging material 31 is pressed by receiving member 121 and approaches packaging material 21. The gap between packaging material 21 and packaging material 31 is becoming smaller.

[0108] 18, the closing members 130, 140 have not moved, and the relative positions of the closing members 130, 140 and the hopper 160 have not changed from those in FIG.

[0109] 19 is a third explanatory diagram of the operation of the heat-sealing device and the closing members 130, 140. The driving force of the heating member driving unit 113 causes the heating assembly to move further to the right in the drawing, as indicated by the outline arrow in the drawing. The driving force of the receiving member driving unit 123 causes the receiving assembly to move further to the left in the drawing, as indicated by the outline arrow in the drawing.

[0110] At this time, the heating member 111 rotates clockwise in the figure around the heating member rotation shaft 112. The receiving member 121 rotates counterclockwise in the figure around the receiving member rotation shaft 122. The overall lengths of the heating member biasing portion 116 and the receiving member biasing portion 126 are even shorter than those in FIG. 18. The heating member 111 and the receiving member 121 are arranged parallel to each other. The packaging material 21 is pressed by the heating member 111, and the packaging material 31 is pressed by the receiving member 121, causing the unfused packaging materials 21 and 31 to come into contact with each other. As the inclination of the heating member 111 and the receiving member 121 decreases, the packaging materials 21 and 31 gradually come into contact with each other from the downstream side to the upstream side in the conveying direction DR of the packaging materials 21 and 31.

[0111] The overall length of the heating member compression spring 115 between the heating member driving unit 113 and the heating member supporting unit 114 is shorter than that in FIG. 18. The biasing force of the heating member compression spring 115 as it tries to expand acts on the heating member 111. The overall length of the receiving member compression spring 125 between the receiving member driving unit 123 and the receiving member supporting unit 124 is shorter than that in FIG. 18. The biasing force of the receiving member compression spring 125 as it tries to expand acts on the receiving member 121.

[0112] Heating member 111 and receiving member 121 sandwich packaging materials 21, 31 between the surface of heating member 111 and the surface of receiving member 121, and press packaging materials 21, 31 from both sides. The elastic material on the surface of receiving member 121 is elastically deformed, so that sufficient surface pressure can be applied to packaging materials 21, 31.

[0113] At this time, packaging material 21 and packaging material 31 are in surface contact and are in a two-ply state. Heating member 111 heats the two-ply packaging materials 21, 31. Receiving member 121 faces heating member 111 with the two-ply packaging materials 21, 31 interposed between them. Pressure is applied to packaging materials 21, 31 to heat them, thereby crimping the packaging materials 21, 31. Heating member 111 and receiving member 121 gradually crimp the two-ply packaging materials 21, 31 from the downstream side to the upstream side in the conveying direction DR of the packaging materials 21, 31.

[0114] 19, the closing members 130, 140 have not moved, and the relative positions of the closing members 130, 140 and the hopper 160 have not changed from those in FIG.

[0115] 20 is a fourth explanatory diagram of the operation of the heat-sealing device and the closing members 130, 140. After the packaging materials 21, 31 are crimped, the driving force of the heating member driving unit 113 moves the heating assembly to the left in the figure, as indicated by the white arrow in the figure. The heating member crimping spring 115 returns to its original length. The driving force of the receiving member driving unit 123 moves the receiving assembly to the right in the figure, as indicated by the white arrow in the figure. The receiving member crimping spring 125 returns to its original length.

[0116] Heating member 111 rotates counterclockwise in the figure around heating member rotation shaft 112. Receiving member 121 rotates clockwise in the figure around receiving member rotation shaft 122. The overall length of heating member biasing portion 116 and the overall length of receiving member biasing portion 126 are longer than those in FIG. 19. Heating member 111 and receiving member 121 are separated from sachet 19 formed by heat-sealing packaging materials 21, 31.

[0117] As shown by the white arrow in Figure 20, the closing member 130 is moving diagonally downward to the right. The closing member 130 is moving in a direction approaching the hopper 160 while maintaining parallelism between the receiving surface 131 and the side surface of the hopper 160. The distance between the closing member 130 and the hopper 160 is smaller than in Figure 19. The closing member 130 is moving downstream in the conveying direction DR of the packaging material 21. The distance between the closing member 130 and the heating member 111 in the conveying direction DR is smaller than in Figure 19.

[0118] As shown by the white arrow in Figure 20, the closing member 140 is moving diagonally downward to the left. The closing member 140 is moving in a direction approaching the hopper 160 while maintaining parallelism between the receiving surface 141 and the side surface of the hopper 160. The distance between the closing member 140 and the hopper 160 is smaller than in Figure 19. The closing member 140 is moving downstream in the conveying direction DR of the packaging material 31. The distance between the closing member 140 and the receiving member 121 in the conveying direction DR is smaller than in Figure 19.

[0119] Figure 21 is a fifth explanatory diagram of the operation of the heat-sealing device and the closing members 130, 140. The driving force of the heating member driving unit 113 returns the heating assembly to the position shown in Figure 15. The driving force of the receiving member driving unit 123 returns the receiving assembly to the position shown in Figure 15. The heating member 111 and the receiving member 121 are positioned at a position where the distance between them is maximum. The heating member 111 and the receiving member 121 are positioned at a position where they are furthest apart from each other.

[0120] The blocking members 130, 140 have moved further diagonally downward. The blocking members 130, 140 have moved in a direction approaching the side of the hopper 160. The packaging material 21 is sandwiched between the receiving surface 131 of the blocking member 130 and the side of the hopper 160. The packaging material 31 is sandwiched between the receiving surface 141 of the blocking member 140 and the side of the hopper 160. The blocking members 130, 140 have portions that are positioned below the tip 161 of the hopper 160. The blocking members 130, 140 are positioned in positions that surround the tip 161 of the hopper 160.

[0121] 21, the medicine is dispensed between the packaging materials 21 and 31 through the hopper 160. The medicine is dispensed between the packaging materials 21 and 31 from the tip 161 of the hopper 160, which is disposed between the two packaging materials 21 and 31.

[0122] Figure 22 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of closure member 130 relative to packaging materials 21, 31 when a medicine is injected between packaging materials 21, 31. By crimping packaging materials 21, 31 as described with reference to Figure 19, longitudinal fused portion 23 and lateral fused portion 24 (see also Figure 14) are formed where packaging materials 21, 31 are fused together. End 23E of longitudinal fused portion 23 on the most upstream side in the conveying direction DR of packaging materials 21, 31 is sandwiched between clamping surface 135 of closure member 130 and a clamping surface (not shown) of closure member 140. By sandwiching end 23E, which is the joint of longitudinal fused portion 23, between closure members 130, 140, the injected powder medicine is prevented from landing on end 23E.

[0123] 23 is a schematic diagram showing the positioning of the closing member 130 relative to the hopper 160 when drugs are poured between the packaging materials 21 and 31. The protrusions 133 and 134 of the closing member 130 are positioned below the tip 161 of the hopper 160 and are positioned to face the tip 161 of the hopper 160. The packaging material 21 sandwiched between the closing member 130 and the hopper 160 is bent toward the hopper accommodating space 132 by the protrusions 133 and 134. The packaging material 31 sandwiched between the closing member 140 and the hopper 160 is also bent toward the hopper accommodating space 132 by the protrusions (not shown) of the closing member 140 in the same manner.

[0124] 22 and 23, even if powder medicine dispensed from hopper 160 blows up, it is possible to prevent the powder medicine from blowing out from between packaging materials 21, 31 upstream in the conveying direction DR from end 23E of longitudinal fused portion 23, or to prevent powder medicine remaining in the uncrimped portion of packaging materials 21, 31 from getting into the fused portion and reducing the sealing performance. By folding packaging materials 21, 31 toward hopper storage space 132 below tip 161 of hopper 160, the blown-up powder medicine does not enter the gap between packaging materials 21, 31 and hopper 160 (the small gap between packaging materials 21, 31 sandwiched between receiving surfaces 131, 141 and the side surface of hopper 160 and the side surface of hopper 160).

[0125] Figure 24 is a sixth explanatory diagram of the operation of the heat-sealing device and the closing members 130, 140. The heating assembly and the receiving assembly have not moved from Figure 21, and the distance between the heating member 111 and the receiving member 121 remains at its maximum. After the medicine has been poured between the packaging materials 21, 31, the closing members 130, 140 move upstream in the conveying direction DR, as shown by the white arrow in Figure 24, and move in a direction away from the hopper 160. The closing members 130, 140 are capable of reciprocating between the upstream and downstream sides of the conveying direction DR, and are also capable of reciprocating in a direction approaching and moving away from the hopper 160. The sachet 19 and the packaging materials 21, 31 are conveyed in the conveying direction DR by the packaging material conveying unit 9 (Figure 1).

[0126] When the closure members 130, 140 return to their original positions shown in Fig. 15 and the sachet 19 and packaging materials 21, 31 are transported to the positions shown in Fig. 15, the operation of crimping the packaging materials 21, 31 is performed again. The process of inserting the medicine between the packaging materials 21, 31 and crimping the packaging materials 21, 31 is repeated the required number of times to produce the desired number of sachets 19.

[0127] 25 is a schematic diagram of the heating member 111. The heating member 111 has a longitudinal heating section 111A for forming the longitudinal fused section 23 and a transverse heating section 111B for forming the transverse fused section 24. The longitudinal heating section 111A and the transverse heating section 111B are arranged in a substantially H-shape. The two adjacent transverse heating sections 111B are arranged apart with a gap between them, and this gap provides a separation region (see FIG. 14) for forming the perforations 25.

[0128] A pressing portion 119 is provided at the upper end of the longitudinal heating portion 111A. When the packaging material 21 is crimped, the edge of the pressing portion 119 comes into contact with the packaging material 21 and presses down the packaging material 21. The pressing portion 119 is provided to keep the packaging material 21 flat when the packaging material 21 is crimped, and to prevent bending or wrinkling of the packaging material 21.

[0129] 26 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of heating member 111 and receiving member 121. Receiving member 121 has a pressing portion 129 that keeps packaging material 31 flat when it is crimped to prevent bending or wrinkling of packaging material 31. Pressing portion 119 of heating member 111 and pressing portion 129 of receiving member 121 are disposed at different positions in the conveying direction DR. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 26, pressing portion 129 of receiving member 121 is disposed above pressing portion 119 of heating member 111, i.e., upstream of pressing portion 119 of heating member 111 in the conveying direction DR.

[0130] By differentiating the positions of pressing portion 119 and pressing portion 129, when heating member 111 and receiving member 121 press-bond packaging materials 21, 31 together, pressing portions 119, 129 are prevented from coming into contact with each other and interfering with the movement of heating member 111 and receiving member 121. This makes it possible to apply sufficient surface pressure to packaging materials 21, 31.

[0131] In the above description, an example has been described in which two layers of packaging material 21, 31 are pressure-bonded and fused together, but packaging material 21, 31 may be bonded in any manner. This bonding means that packaging material 21 and packaging material 31 stick together and cannot be separated, and should not be interpreted as having the limited meaning of fixing an object using an adhesive. The longitudinal fused portion 23 and the lateral fused portion 24 in the embodiment correspond to an example of a bonded portion where two layers of packaging material 21, 31 are bonded together. End portion 23E of longitudinal fused portion 23 corresponds to an example of an end portion of a bonded portion.

[0132] [Action and effect] Although some of the description overlaps with the above description, the characteristic configuration and effects of the packaging device 1 of the embodiment can be summarized as follows.

[0133] As shown in FIG. 1, the packaging unit 5 packages packaging objects using long sheet-like packaging materials 21 and 31. The packaging material conveying unit 9 conveys the packaging materials 21 and 31 in the longitudinal direction of the packaging materials 21 and 31. The guide rollers 12A and 13A guide the packaging material 21 being conveyed. The guide rollers 12B and 13B guide the packaging material 31 being conveyed. As shown in FIG. 2, the guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B have a packaging material passing section 43 and a temporary placement section 44. The packaging material passing section 43 constitutes the portion of the guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B on the base end 41 side. The packaging materials 21 and 31 conveyed by the packaging material conveying unit 9 pass through the packaging material passing section 43. The temporary placement section 44 constitutes the portion of the guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B on the tip end 42 side. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, during the paper threading operation of passing the packaging materials 21 and 31 through the packaging material passing section 43, the packaging materials 21 and 31 can be temporarily placed on the temporary placement section 44.

[0134] During the threading operation of the packaging materials 21, 31, the packaging materials 21, 31 can be temporarily placed on the guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B, avoiding units such as the printing unit 4 and the line drawing device 10 that would interfere with the operation. This prevents the packaging materials 21, 31 from coming off the guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B during the threading operation, improving the workability of the threading operation. By sliding the packaging materials 21, 31 temporarily placed on the temporary placement section 44 along the guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B, the packaging materials 21, 31 can be easily aligned with the packaging material passing section 43. This makes the threading operation easy.

[0135] 1 to 4, guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B may extend in the front-to-rear direction of packaging device 1, with temporary placement section 44 located at the front in the front-to-rear direction. An operator performing paper threading accesses packaging device 1 from the front. By locating temporary placement section 44 in a position that is easily accessible to the operator, it becomes easier to temporarily place packaging materials 21 and 31 on temporary placement section 44 during paper threading. This makes it easier to pass packaging materials 21 and 31 through packaging material passage section 43 of guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B.

[0136] 2, temporary placement section 44 may be formed with a larger diameter than packaging material passing section 43. Packaging materials 21, 31 can be easily placed in packaging material passing section 43 by sliding them from temporary placement section 44, which has a larger diameter, to packaging material passing section 43, which has a smaller diameter. This prevents packaging materials 21, 31 from shifting from packaging material passing section 43 to temporary placement section 44.

[0137] 2, temporary placement section 44 may be configured to be rotatable. When packaging material 21, 31 is temporarily placed on temporary placement section 44 and then further pulled out, temporary placement section 44 rotates, allowing packaging material 21, 31 to be pulled out with little force. This makes it easy to thread the paper.

[0138] As shown in Figure 2, the packaging material passage section 43 and the temporary placement section 44 may be configured to be rotatable integrally. Such guide rollers 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B can be easily manufactured.

[0139] As shown in FIG. 1, the packaging unit 5 packages the object to be packaged using packaging material 21, 31 unwound from packaging material rolls 2, 3 around which long sheet-like packaging material 21, 31 is wound. As shown in FIG. 5, the dancer roller 11A can move back and forth within a movable range with packaging material 21 wound around it. The dancer roller 11A is biased in a biasing direction (downward), which is one of the directions in which the dancer roller 11A moves back and forth (up and down directions). As shown in FIG. 8, the magnet 60 and the lower plate 56 of the support unit 54 lock the dancer roller 11A at the lower end of the movable range of the dancer roller 11A.

[0140] As shown in Figure 9, the dancer roller 11A is locked during the paper threading operation. This reduces the tension that the dancer roller 11A exerts on the packaging material 21 pulled out from the packaging roll 2. This prevents the worker pulling out the packaging material 21 from feeling the tension of the dancer roller 11A as being heavy, improving the workability of the paper threading operation. This makes the paper threading operation easier.

[0141] The position at which dancer roller 11A is locked is the downstream end in the direction in which dancer roller 11A is biased. Therefore, as shown in Figure 7, when the tension of packaging material 21 no longer acts on dancer roller 11A, dancer roller 11A naturally moves to the locked position and is locked in the locked position. Since there is no need to manually lock dancer roller 11A and the configuration for locking dancer roller 11A can be simplified, an inexpensive packaging device 1 can be realized.

[0142] 10 and 11, the tension of the packaging material 21 acting on the dancer roller 11A when the packaging material 21 is wound onto the packaging roll 2 may unlock the dancer roller 11A. Because the dancer roller 11A is unlocked by the action of winding up the packaging material 21, there is no need to provide a dedicated member for unlocking the dancer roller 11A. This simplifies the configuration of the packaging device 1, allowing for an inexpensive packaging device 1 to be realized.

[0143] As shown in Fig. 8, dancer roller 11A may be locked by the magnetic force of magnet 60. A locking section that locks dancer roller 11A can be realized with a simple configuration using magnet 60 and a magnetic body.

[0144] 5, the movable range of dancer roller 11A may extend in the vertical direction. By minimizing the movable range of dancer roller 11A in the width direction of packaging device 1, the width dimension of packaging device 1 can be reduced, thereby reducing the floor space required to install packaging device 1. This increases the degree of freedom in selecting the installation location of packaging device 1, allowing floor space to be used more effectively.

[0145] As shown in Fig. 7, the dancer roller 11A may be biased vertically downward by gravity. By configuring the dancer roller 11A to be biased by its own weight, there is no need to provide a separate biasing member for biasing the dancer roller 11A. This simplifies the configuration of the packaging device 1, allowing for an inexpensive packaging device 1 to be realized.

[0146] As shown in Figure 1, packaging device 1 protects the inner surface of the packaging paper, which will become the inner surface of sachet 19 when sachet 19 is formed, from dust along the path of packaging material 21, 31 between packaging rolls 2, 3 and packaging unit 5. This prevents foreign matter from adhering to the inner surface of the packaging paper of packaging material 21, 31 while packaging material 21, 31 is being transported or while packaging device 1 is stopped. This prevents contamination from occurring.

[0147] As shown in Figure 1, part of the path of packaging material 21, 31 between packaging rolls 2, 3 and packaging unit 5 is covered by side cover portions 71, 72 and upper cover portions 81, 82. Side cover portions 71, 72 and upper cover portions 81, 82 cover the inner surface of the packaging paper, protecting it from dust. Covering the inner surface of packaging material 21, 31 and preventing the inner surface from being exposed can prevent foreign matter from adhering to the inner surface of the packaging paper.

[0148] 12, the side cover portion 72 has an openable / closable cover 74. By opening the openable cover 74, the path of the packaging material 31 is exposed, allowing the packaging material 31 to be easily threaded between the dancer roller 11B and the guide roller 12B. By closing the openable cover 74, the packaging material 31 is not exposed, making it possible to protect the packaging material 31 from dust.

[0149] 13, side cover portion 72 has ventilation holes 76 through which air is blown out. By blowing air out from ventilation holes 76 to form an air curtain, a structure can be created that keeps floating dust away from the inner surface of the packaging paper of packaging material 31, and it is possible to prevent foreign matter from adhering to the inner surface of the packaging paper.

[0150] 1 and 12, dancer roller 11B and guide rollers 12B, 13B come into contact with the outer surface of the packaging paper of packaging material 31, which will become the outer surface of sachet 19 when sachet 19 is formed. Because the number of components of packaging material 31 that come into contact with the inner surface of the packaging paper is reduced, the inner surface of the packaging paper can be more reliably protected from dust.

[0151] As shown in Fig. 15, the heat-sealing device includes a heating member 111 that heats the two-ply packaging material 21, 31, and a receiving member 121 that faces the heating member 111 across the two-ply packaging material 21, 31. As shown in Figs. 17 to 19, the heating member 111 and the receiving member 121 gradually pressurize the two-ply packaging material 21, 31 from the downstream side to the upstream side in the conveying direction DR of the packaging material 21, 31.

[0152] By gradually crimping the two layers of packaging material 21, 31 starting from the already crimped portion of packaging material 21, 31 on the downstream side in the conveying direction DR toward the upstream side in the conveying direction DR, packaging material 21, 31 can be crimped without causing wrinkles even if a large amount of medicine is placed between packaging material 21, 31. Since the occurrence of sealing defects can be suppressed, the sealing performance of packaging material 21, 31 can be improved.

[0153] 17 to 21, heating member drive unit 113 may reciprocate heating member 111 in a direction toward packaging material 21 and a direction away from packaging material 21. By bringing heating member 111 close to packaging material 21, heat can be reliably applied to two layers of packaging material 21, 31. Once packaging materials 21, 31 have been crimped, heating member 111 can be moved away from packaging material 21, allowing for smooth supply of medicine between packaging materials 21, 31 and transport of sachets 19.

[0154] 15, the heating member biasing unit 116 may bias the downstream end of the heating member 111 in the conveying direction DR in a direction toward the packaging material 21. By tilting the heating member 111 when it is away from the packaging material 21 and gradually decreasing the angle of tilt as the packaging materials 21 and 31 are crimped, it is possible to reliably achieve the operation of gradually crimping the packaging materials 21 and 31 from the downstream side toward the upstream side in the conveying direction DR.

[0155] 15, a heating member rotation shaft 112 may rotatably support the heating member 111. By rotating the heating member 111 around the heating member rotation shaft 112, the tilt angle of the heating member 111 can be changed.

[0156] 17 to 21, receiving member drive unit 123 may reciprocate receiving member 121 in a direction toward packaging material 31 and a direction away from packaging material 31. By bringing receiving member 121 close to packaging material 31, heating member 111 and receiving member 121 can reliably apply pressure to the two-ply packaging materials 21, 31, thereby crimping packaging materials 21, 31. Once packaging materials 21, 31 have been crimped, receiving member 121 can be moved away from packaging material 31, allowing the supply of medicines between packaging materials 21, 31 and the transport of sachets 19 to be carried out smoothly.

[0157] 15, a receiving member biasing portion 126 may bias the downstream end of the receiving member 121 in the conveying direction DR in a direction toward the packaging material 31. By tilting the receiving member 121 when it is away from the packaging material 31 and gradually decreasing the angle of tilt as the packaging materials 21, 31 are crimped, it is possible to reliably achieve the operation of gradually crimping the packaging materials 21, 31 from the downstream side toward the upstream side in the conveying direction DR.

[0158] 15, a receiving member rotation shaft 122 may rotatably support the receiving member 121. By rotating the receiving member 121 around the receiving member rotation shaft 122, the angle of inclination of the receiving member 121 can be changed.

[0159] As shown in FIG. 15 , before packaging material 21 is crimped by heating member 111 and receiving member 121, packaging material 21 may be arranged parallel to heating member 111, and packaging material 31 may be arranged parallel to receiving member 121. As shown in FIG. 17 , with packaging materials 21 and 31 sandwiched between the downstream end of heating member 111 in the conveying direction DR and the downstream end of receiving member 121 in the conveying direction DR, unfused packaging material 21 is arranged away from heating member 111, and unfused packaging material 31 is arranged away from receiving member 121. From this state, by bringing heating member 111 and receiving member 121 closer to each other, unfused packaging materials 21 and 31 can be gradually brought into surface contact from the downstream side to the upstream side in the conveying direction DR. This reliably achieves the operation of gradually crimping packaging materials 21 and 31 from the downstream side to the upstream side in the conveying direction DR.

[0160] As shown in FIG. 1, packaging device 1 includes a drug supply unit 6, a container forming unit 7, and a packaging material conveying unit 9. As shown in FIG. 15, container forming unit 7 includes a heating member 111 and a receiving member 121. Heating member 111, receiving member 121, and packaging material conveying unit 9 constitute a heat-sealing device. Drug supply unit 6 supplies a drug between two layers of packaging material 21, 31. Drug supply unit 6 supplies a drug between packaging materials 21, 31, and the heat-sealing device crimps packaging materials 21, 31, thereby creating sachet 19 shown in FIG. 14 containing a drug therein.

[0161] As shown in Figure 15, a tip 161 of a hopper 160 is positioned between two layers of packaging material 21, 31, and the medicine is dispensed between the packaging materials 21, 31 from the tip 161, and the packaging device 1 may further include closure members 130, 140 that sandwich the end 23E of the longitudinal fused portion 23 when the medicine is dispensed between the packaging materials 21, 31 through the hopper 160, as shown in Figures 21 and 22. Even if the powder dispensed from the hopper 160 blows up, the blowing out of the powder from between the packaging materials 21, 31 on the upstream side of the end 23E of the longitudinal fused portion 23 in the conveying direction DR can be suppressed.

[0162] 19 to 21, and 24, closing members 130, 140 may be reciprocally movable in conveyance direction DR of packaging materials 21, 31. When supplying medicine between packaging materials 21, 31, closing members 130, 140 can be moved to the downstream end in conveyance direction DR to sandwich end 23E of longitudinal fused portion 23 between closing members 130, 140, thereby reliably suppressing blowing out of the powder medicine. When crimping packaging materials 21, 31, closing members 130, 140 can be moved upstream in conveyance direction DR to retract to a position where they do not interfere with heating member 111 and receiving member 121, allowing heating member 111 and receiving member 121 to smoothly crimp packaging materials 21, 31.

[0163] 16 and 23, closing member 130 may have protrusions 133 and 134 below tip 161 of hopper 160 that face tip 161 of hopper 160. Closing member 140 may have protrusions (not shown) below tip 161 of hopper 160 that face tip 161 of hopper 160. When drugs are supplied between packaging materials 21 and 31, packaging material 21 is folded along protrusions 133 and 134 of closing member 130 toward hopper accommodating space 132, and packaging material 31 is folded along the protrusions of closing member 140 toward hopper accommodating space 132. By folding packaging materials 21, 31 below tip 161 of hopper 160, even if the powder dispensed from hopper 160 blows up, the powder is prevented from flowing between packaging materials 21, 31 and hopper 160, and the blown-up powder is less likely to pass between packaging materials 21, 31 and hopper 160. This makes it possible to prevent the powder from blowing out from between packaging materials 21, 31 and hopper 160.

[0164] [Note] The above description includes the following additional features.

[0165] (Appendix 1) a conveying unit that conveys the long sheet-shaped packaging material in a longitudinal direction; a heating element for heating the two-ply packaging material; a receiving member facing the heating member via the double-ply packaging material, The heating member and the receiving member gradually press-bond the two-ply packaging material from the downstream side to the upstream side in the conveying direction of the packaging material.

[0166] (Appendix 2) 2. The heat-sealing device according to claim 1, further comprising a heating member drive unit that reciprocates the heating member in a direction toward the packaging material and a direction away from the packaging material.

[0167] (Appendix 3) The heat-sealing device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a heating member biasing section that biases a downstream end of the heating member in the conveying direction in a direction approaching the packaging material.

[0168] (Appendix 4) 4. The heat-sealing device according to claim 1, further comprising a heating member rotation shaft that rotatably supports the heating member.

[0169] (Appendix 5) 5. The heat-sealing device according to claim 1, further comprising a receiving member drive unit that reciprocates the receiving member in a direction toward the packaging material and a direction away from the packaging material.

[0170] (Appendix 6) 6. The heat-sealing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a receiving member biasing section that biases the downstream end of the receiving member in the conveying direction in a direction approaching the packaging material.

[0171] (Appendix 7) 7. The heat-sealing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a receiving member rotation shaft that rotatably supports the receiving member.

[0172] (Appendix 8) 8. The heat-sealing device according to claim 1, wherein one of the two-ply packaging materials is positioned parallel to the heating member and the other of the two-ply packaging material is positioned parallel to the receiving member before being crimped by the heating member and the receiving member.

[0173] (Appendix 9) A heat-sealing apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 8; a supply unit that supplies an object to be packaged between the two layers of packaging material.

[0174] (Appendix 10) the supply unit includes a hopper, a tip of the hopper is disposed between the two-ply packaging material, and the packaging object is introduced into the two-ply packaging material from the tip, The packaging device described in Appendix 9, further comprising a closing member that clamps the end of the adhesive portion where the two-ply packaging material is bonded when the packaging object is placed between the two-ply packaging material through the hopper.

[0175] (Appendix 11) 11. The packaging device according to claim 10, wherein the closing member is reciprocally movable in the conveying direction.

[0176] (Appendix 12) 12. The packaging device of claim 10, wherein the closure member has opposing protrusions at the tip.

[0177] When starting to package items using a packaging device, when there is no packaging material left, when the packaging material runs out during packaging work, or when the packaging material runs out, new packaging material must be threaded through the packaging device. Packaging devices are required to make threading easy.

[0178] The following additional features provide a packaging device that allows easy paper threading.

[0179] (Appendix 13) a packaging unit that packages an object to be packaged using a long sheet-like packaging material; a packaging material conveying section that conveys the packaging material in a longitudinal direction of the packaging material; and at least one guide roller that guides the packaging material being conveyed. The guide roller has a packaging material passing section that forms a base end portion of the guide roller and through which the packaging material passes as it is transported, and a temporary placement section that forms a tip end portion of the guide roller and on which the packaging material can be temporarily placed during a paper threading operation to pass the packaging material through the packaging material passing section.

[0180] (Appendix 14) The packaging device described in Appendix 13, wherein the guide roller extends in the front-to-rear direction of the packaging device, and the temporary placement section is arranged on the front side in the front-to-rear direction.

[0181] (Appendix 15) The packaging device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the temporary placement section is formed with a larger diameter than the packaging material passage section.

[0182] (Appendix 16) 16. The packaging device according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the temporary placement section is configured to be freely rotatable.

[0183] (Appendix 17) 17. The packaging device according to claim 16, wherein the packaging material passage section and the temporary placement section are configured to be rotatable together.

[0184] (Appendix 18) a packaging unit that packages an object to be packaged using a long sheet-like packaging material unwound from a roll; a displacement member that is reciprocally movable within a movable range while the packaging material is wrapped around it, the displacement member is biased in a biasing direction which is one of directions in which the displacement member reciprocates, The packaging device further includes a locking portion that locks the displacement member at a downstream end in the biasing direction.

[0185] (Appendix 19) 19. The packaging device of claim 18, wherein tension of the packaging material acting on the displacement member when the packaging material is wound onto the wound body releases the locking of the displacement member by the locking portion.

[0186] (Appendix 20) The locking portion has a magnet, 20. The packaging device according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the displacement member is locked by the magnetic force of the magnet.

[0187] (Appendix 21) 21. The packaging device according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the movable range extends in the vertical direction.

[0188] (Appendix 22) 22. The packaging device of claim 21, wherein the displacement member is biased vertically downward by gravity.

[0189] The embodiments disclosed herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined not by the above description but by the claims, and it is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0190] 1 Packaging device, 2, 3 Packaging material roll, 4 Printing section, 5 Packaging section, 6 Drug supply section, 7 Storage section forming section, 8 Perforation forming section, 9 Packaging material conveying section, 10 Line drawing device, 11A, 11B Dancer roller, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B Guide roller, 19 Sachet bag, 21, 31 Packaging material, 22 Storage section, 23 Longitudinal fusion section, 23E End, 24 Transverse fusion section, 25 Perforation, 41 Base end, 42, 161 Tip, 43 Packaging material passing section, 44 Temporary placement section, 50 Mounting section, 51 Tensioning section, 52 Slider, 53 Connecting section, 54 Support section, 55 Upper plate, 56 Lower plate, 57 Front plate, 58 Guide hole, 59 Slide rod, 60 Magnet, 71, 72 Side cover portion, 73 base, 74 opening / closing cover, 75 support shaft, 76 ventilation hole, 81, 82 upper cover portion, 111 heating element, 111A longitudinal heating portion, 111B lateral heating portion, 112 heating element rotation shaft, 113 heating element drive portion, 114 heating element support portion, 115 heating element pressure spring, 116 heating element biasing portion, 119, 129 pressing portion, 121 receiving element, 122 receiving element rotation shaft, 123 receiving element drive portion, 124 receiving element support portion, 125 receiving element pressure spring, 126 receiving element biasing portion, 130, 140 blocking member, 131, 141 receiving surface, 132 hopper storage space, 133, 134 protrusion, 135 clamping surface, 160 hopper, DR conveying direction, L Center line, R1, R2 rotation direction.

Claims

1. a conveying unit that conveys the long sheet-shaped packaging material in a longitudinal direction; a heating element for heating the two-ply packaging material; a receiving member facing the heating member via the double-ply packaging material, The heating member and the receiving member gradually press-bond the two-ply packaging material from the downstream side to the upstream side in the conveying direction of the packaging material.

2. The heat-sealing device according to claim 1 , further comprising a heating member driving unit that reciprocates the heating member in a direction toward the packaging material and a direction away from the packaging material.

3. The heat-sealing device according to claim 2 , further comprising a heating member biasing section that biases a downstream end of the heating member in the conveying direction in a direction approaching the packaging material.

4. The heat-sealing device according to claim 3 , further comprising a heating member rotation shaft that rotatably supports the heating member.

5. The heat-sealing device according to claim 1 , further comprising a receiving member drive unit that reciprocates the receiving member in a direction toward the packaging material and a direction away from the packaging material.

6. The heat-sealing device according to claim 5 , further comprising a receiving member biasing portion that biases a downstream end of the receiving member in the conveying direction in a direction approaching the packaging material.

7. The heat-sealing device according to claim 6, further comprising a receiving member rotation shaft that rotatably supports the receiving member.

8. 2. The heat-sealing device according to claim 1, wherein, before the two-ply packaging material is pressed together by the heating member and the receiving member, one of the two-ply packaging material is positioned parallel to the heating member and the other of the two-ply packaging material is positioned parallel to the receiving member.

9. The heat-sealing device according to claim 1; a supply unit that supplies an object to be packaged between the two layers of packaging material.

10. the supply unit includes a hopper, a tip of the hopper is disposed between the two-ply packaging material, and the packaging object is introduced into the two-ply packaging material from the tip, The packaging device according to claim 9, further comprising a closing member that pinches an end of the adhesive portion where the two-ply packaging material is adhered when the packaging object is placed between the two-ply packaging material through the hopper.

11. The packaging device according to claim 10 , wherein the closing member is reciprocally movable in the conveying direction.

12. The packaging device of claim 10 , wherein the closure member has opposing projections at the leading end.

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