Packaging system and information display body mounting method

Abstract

To provide a packaging system and an information display body mounting method which are advantageous for sanitarily displaying information on the packaging system.SOLUTION: A packaging system 10 for performing packaging treatment includes information display parts P1 to P8 which contain a metal part and visually display information in the metal part, wherein the information is displayed in the metal part without chipping the metal part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to packaging systems and methods for attaching informational indicia. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, a sticker is attached to the packaging system to call the operator's attention (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-201331 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Stickers that are attached to packaging systems are usually made at least in part from paper or resin. Paper and resin stickers are advantageous in that they are relatively inexpensive and can be easily printed and surface treated, but they are not necessarily very durable and can peel off from the packaging system.

[0005] There is a concern that sticker fragments that have peeled off from the packaging system may unintentionally adhere to containers undergoing packaging in the packaging system, and such containers may undergo packaging with the sticker fragments still attached and be sent to a later stage. If the sticker fragments attached to the container are large, it is possible to remove such containers as defective products by visual inspection, but if the sticker fragments attached to the container are small, it is difficult to find such containers by visual inspection. In particular, if the sticker fragments attached to the container are made of paper or resin, such sticker fragments cannot be detected even with a metal detector.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and one of its objects is to provide a technology that is advantageous for hygienically displaying information on a packaging system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a packaging system that performs packaging processing, the packaging system including a metal part and an information display unit on which information is visually displayed, and the information is displayed on the metal part without scraping the metal part.

[0008] At least a portion of the information may be displayed using chromatic colors.

[0009] The metal portion may be a metal that has undergone at least one or more of a hot rolling process, a cold rolling process, a blasting process, a coating process, and a vibration polishing process.

[0010] The packaging system may include an illumination unit that irradiates the metal portion with light, and the intensity of at least a portion of the light in the red wavelength range may be greater than the intensity of other portions of the light in the visible light wavelength range.

[0011] The information display unit may be provided separately from the structure related to the packaging process and attached to the structure.

[0012] The information display unit may be configured as part of a structure related to the packaging process.

[0013] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of attaching an information indicator to a packaging system, the information indicator including a metal portion on which information is visually displayed, the information being displayed on the metal portion without scraping the metal portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The present disclosure provides an advantageous technique for hygienically displaying information on a packaging system. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a packaging system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the packaging system shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating an example of a packaging machine included in the packaging system shown in FIG. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an example of information displayed on the information display unit. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a diagram showing an example of information displayed on the information display unit. [Figure 4C] FIG. 4C is a diagram showing an example of information displayed on the information display unit. [Figure 4D] FIG. 4D is a diagram showing an example of information displayed on the information display unit. [Figure 4E] FIG. 4E is a diagram showing an example of information displayed on the information display unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a packaging system 10. Fig. 2 is a side view of the packaging system 10 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front view showing an example of a packaging machine 11 provided in the packaging system 10 shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 4A to 4E are diagrams showing examples of information displayed on the information display unit.

[0017] The packaging system 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3 is configured as a bagging and packaging system that performs packaging processing using bags (containers) B, and is equipped with an intermittent rotating rotary bagging and packaging machine 11 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "packaging machine 11") that introduces contents into bags B under the control of a packaging control device 15.

[0018] In addition to the packaging machine 11, the packaging system 10 in this example includes an output conveyor 21 that conveys bags (product bags) B discharged from the packaging machine 11, a discharge chute 22 that discharges the bags (product bags) B discharged by the output conveyor 21 onto a conveying conveyor 23, a metal detector 24 arranged along the conveying conveyor 23, a judgment control device 25 that judges whether the bags (product bags) B are good or bad based on the detection signal (detection result) sent from the metal detector 24, and a defective product removal conveyor 26 that removes bags B that are judged to be defective based on the judgment result by the judgment control device 25 and sends bags B that are judged to be good to a subsequent stage.

[0019] The packaging machine 11 is equipped with a rotary table 31. The rotary table 31 is fixed to the upper end of a rotary shaft (not shown) that is driven to rotate intermittently by a drive source such as a motor, and is driven to rotate intermittently together with the rotary shaft. As shown in FIG. 3, the rotary table 31 in this example extends so as to penetrate through a stand 33 that is erected on a machine base 32. A plurality of gripper pairs 34 (eight gripper pairs 34 in this example) are attached to the outer periphery of the rotary table 31 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Each gripper pair 34 has two grippers for gripping the left and right side portions of a bag B. Note that FIG. 3 shows the gripper pairs 34 intermittently arranged in the liquid injection station IV together with the bag B.

[0020] Information display plates (information display sections) P1, which visually display the identification numbers (identification information) of the corresponding gripper pairs 34, are fixedly attached to the upper surface of the turntable 31 at positions corresponding to each of the multiple (eight) gripper pairs 34 (see FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 3, the bag opening of the bag B held by the gripper pairs 34 is positioned below the lower surface of the turntable 31.

[0021] In response to the intermittent rotation of the rotary table 31, each gripper pair 34 circulates through a plurality of processing stations I to VIII in sequence (see FIG. 1).

[0022] At bag supply station I, a bag supply process is carried out, and bag supply device 41 supplies bags (empty bags in this example) B to gripper pair 34 that is intermittently stopped at bag supply station I. Bag supply device 41 in this example is a magazine-type bag supply device that includes magazine 41a, which stores a large number of bags (empty bags) B. Bags B located at the top of magazine 41a are lifted up one by one by a pickup device and handed to gripper pair 34.

[0023] Bag supply device 41 of this example is fitted with an information display plate (information display section) P2 on which information related to bag supply device 41 is visually displayed (see FIG. 2). The information displayed on information display plate P2 is not limited. For example, if the pickup device of bag supply device 41 uses a suction cup to lift up bags B, a vacuum pressure sensor may be provided that detects the pressure (vacuum pressure) on the suction surface of the suction cup and detects whether the suction cup is vacuum-adhering bags B in a normal state. In this case, information regarding adjustment of the setting value of the vacuum pressure sensor may be displayed on information display plate P2.

[0024] The information on the information display plate P2 may be in accordance with the Product Liability Act (PL Act), and for example, warning information informing of dangers such as getting caught may be displayed on the information display plate P2.

[0025] At printing station II, a printing process is carried out, and a printing device 42 prints various information such as the production date on the bags B supported by the gripper pair 34 that is intermittently stopped at printing station II.

[0026] The opening process is carried out at opening station III, where a pair of suction cups 44 (see FIG. 3) of the opening device 43 vacuum-sucks both side surfaces of the bag B supported by the gripper pair 34, which is intermittently stopped at opening station III, while performing an opening operation to open the mouth formed by the upper end of the bag B. The opening device 43 of this example is attached with an information display plate (information display unit) P3 that visually displays information related to the opening device 43 (see FIG. 3). The information displayed on this information display plate P3 is not limited. For example, a vacuum pressure sensor that detects the pressure (vacuum pressure) on the suction surfaces of the suction cups 44 of the opening device 43 and detects whether the suction cups 44 are vacuum-sucking the bag B in a normal state may be provided. In this case, information regarding adjustment of the setting value of the vacuum pressure sensor may be displayed on the information display plate P3.

[0027] The display on the information display plate P3 may also be in compliance with the Product Liability Act, and for example, warning information informing of danger may be displayed on the information display plate P3.

[0028] At the liquid injection station IV, a liquid injection process is performed, and a liquid injection device 45 injects liquid contents into the inside of the bag B through the opening (open state) of the bag B supported by the gripper pair 34, which is intermittently stopped at the liquid injection station IV. The liquid injection device 45 of this example has a tank 46 that stores the liquid contents and a nozzle 47 that dispenses the liquid contents sent from the tank 46, and the liquid contents dispensed from the nozzle 47 are injected into the bag B. The tank 46 of this example is attached with an information display plate (information display unit) P4 that visually displays information related to the tank 46 (see FIG. 3). The information displayed on the information display plate P4 is not limited. For example, precautions to take when cleaning the tank 46 may be displayed on the information display plate P4.

[0029] In degassing station V, a press degassing process is carried out, and a pair of clamping plates (not shown) of the press degassing device contacts both side surfaces of bag B supported by gripper pair 34, which is stopped intermittently in degassing station V, and squeezes bag B, thereby discharging gas from bag B. The press degassing device of this example is attached with an information display plate (information display unit; not shown) that visually displays information related to the press degassing device, and for example, an information display plate that displays warning information (attention-grabbing information) as shown in FIG. 4A may be attached to the press degassing device.

[0030] The first sealing step is performed at the first sealing station VI, where a pair of hot plates 49 of the first sealing device 48 presses against the mouth of the bag B supported by the gripper pair 34, which is intermittently stopped at the first sealing station VI, thereby heat-sealing the mouth. The second sealing step is performed at the second sealing station VII, where a pair of hot plates 51 of the second sealing device 50 presses against the mouth of the bag B supported by the gripper pair 34, which is intermittently stopped at the second sealing station VII, thereby heat-sealing the mouth. The first sealing device 48 and the second sealing device 50 in this example are equipped with information display plates (information display units) P5 that visually display information related to the first sealing device 48 and the second sealing device 50 (see FIG. 1). For example, information display plates P5 displaying warning information (attention-grabbing information) as shown in FIG. 4A and / or 4B may be attached to the first sealing device 48 and the second sealing device 50.

[0031] The cooling and releasing station VIII performs the cooling and sealing process and the product bag releasing process. Specifically, a pair of cooling plates 53 of the cooling device 52 clamps the mouth of the bag B supported by the gripper pair 34, which is intermittently stopped in the cooling and releasing station VIII, thereby cooling the mouth (particularly the portion subjected to the heat sealing process) and stabilizing the seal. After the cooling and sealing process is completed, the pair of cooling plates 53 and the gripper pair 34 are opened, whereby the bag (product bag) B is released from the gripper pair 34, which is intermittently stopped in the cooling and releasing station VIII, and falls onto the discharge conveyor 21. The cooling device 52 is equipped with an information display plate (information display unit) P6 that visually displays information related to the cooling device 52 (see FIG. 1). For example, the cooling device 52 may be equipped with an information display plate P6 that displays warning information (attention information) as shown in FIG. 4A.

[0032] The bag B that has fallen onto the discharge conveyor 21 is passed from the discharge conveyor 21 to a discharge chute 22, and from the discharge chute 22 to a transport conveyor 23, and while being transported by the transport conveyor 23, a metal detector 24 detects metal in the bag B.

[0033] 2, two information display plates P7 and P8 are attached to the packaging control device 15 of this example. One of the information display plates, P7, is triangular in shape and displays an illustration of electricity (for example, a lightning symbol), indicating that electricity may flow at the attachment location. The other information display plate, P8, is rectangular in shape and visually displays information related to the packaging control device 15, and may display, for example, information related to the work to be performed by the operator.

[0034] [Information display section] 1 to 3, information display plates (information display units) P1 to P8 that display various pieces of information are attached to corresponding structures related to the packaging process. In particular, each of the information display plates P1 to P8 in this embodiment includes a metal portion, and various pieces of information are visually displayed on the metal portion, and in particular, the various pieces of information are displayed on the metal portion without removing the metal portion of the information display unit.

[0035] Each of the information display plates P1 to P8 may be made entirely of metal, or may be made partially of metal. From the viewpoint of realizing good durability in the information display plates P1 to P8, each of the information display plates P1 to P8 may be made entirely of metal, or may be made of a combination of metal portions and other materials that are more durable than the metal portions. However, considering that dirt is likely to accumulate between adjacent members and bacteria may grow between them, each of the information display plates P1 to P8 may be made entirely of a single, integrated metal of a single composition.

[0036] The metal parts used in the information display plates (information display sections) P1 to P8 can be made of any metal material, but are preferably made of a metal that maintains a solid state under the usage environment (e.g., at room temperature and normal pressure), and may be made of, for example, stainless steel, titanium, or aluminum.

[0037] The metal parts used in the information display plates (information display portions) P1 to P8 can be made by any manufacturing method and can be subjected to any treatment. For example, metals that have undergone at least one of hot rolling (hot plate treatment), cold rolling (cold plate treatment), blasting (e.g., sand blasting or bead blasting), film formation (e.g., oxide film formation), and vibration polishing may be used as the metal parts of the information display portions.

[0038] For example, if the information display plates P1-P8 (particularly their surface portions) are made of aluminum, the information display plates P1-P8 may be subjected to anodizing (oxide film formation) as a coating formation process. In this case, the surfaces of the information display plates P1-P8 can be protected by the anodized aluminum, which has excellent corrosion resistance and abrasion resistance, and various colors can be imparted to the surfaces of the information display plates P1-P8 by utilizing the excellent coloring properties of the anodized aluminum. As an example of a method for performing such anodizing, the information display plates P1-P8 are masked and then anodized multiple times, allowing the information display plates P1-P8 to be colored in a desired color. Note that the laser marking process on the information display plates P1-P8 may be performed before or after the anodizing process.

[0039] When the metal portions of the information display plates P1 to P8 are engraved (scraped) by a laser or the like, rust may possibly occur. Therefore, if necessary, the information display plates P1 to P8 may be subjected to an anti-rust treatment (for example, a chemical conversion coating treatment that forms a protective film (a film of an insoluble compound) on the metal surface). For example, when the laser marking process is performed using a laser such as a fiber laser that can appropriately set the depth to engrave the metal portion, such an anti-rust treatment may be performed according to the engraving depth (according to the irradiation intensity of the laser).

[0040] The information displayed on the information display plates (information display sections) P1 to P8 may be displayed using any one or more colors, and may be displayed using only achromatic colors (white and / or black), or may be displayed at least in part using chromatic colors.

[0041] In this example, the processing method for displaying various information on the metal parts of the information display plates P1 to P8 uses laser irradiation, but is not limited to this method, and various information can be displayed on the metal parts in any manner.

[0042] The information displayed on the metal portions of the information display plates P1 to P8 in this example is displayed on the metal portions without scraping them off, as described above. For example, various information may be displayed in a desired color (achromatic and / or chromatic) by utilizing a chemical reaction (discoloration reaction) of the metal portions of the information display plates P1 to P8, or by forming an oxide film on the metal portions and utilizing interference between light reflected by the metal portions and light reflected by the oxide film. Note that the oxide film formed on the surface of the metal portion is a separate member from the metal portion, and may be generated by, for example, irradiating the surface of the metal portion with a laser.

[0043] The technique of displaying information on metal using a laser is well known, and for example, laser marking technology is widely used, which marks information on metal by altering the surface condition of the metal with laser irradiation. Various laser marking techniques based on various principles are known, and any laser marking technique can be applied to marking desired information on the metal parts of the above-mentioned information display plates P1 to P8.

[0044] The specific content of the information displayed on the information display plates (information display units) P1-P8 is not limited, and any information may be displayed on the information display plates P1-P8. Typically, warnings (e.g., warnings complying with the Product Liability Act) that alert operators to danger or inform them of danger, the names of the corresponding structures, and other information (such as characteristics and manufacturing dates), may be displayed on the information display plates P1-P8. For example, the information display plate shown in FIG. 4A displays a warning that there is a risk of fingers or other objects getting caught in the target device. The information display plate shown in FIG. 4B displays a caution that there is a risk of hands or other objects coming into contact with high-temperature exposed parts of the target device. The information display plate shown in FIG. 4C displays information informing users of the interval for applying grease to the target device (once a week). Furthermore, FIG. 4D displays information informing users of the correspondence between the rotation direction of the manual handle (MANUAL HANDLE) and the drive direction of the corresponding device (R: rearward drive; F: forward drive). The information display plate shown in FIG. 4E displays various information about the device (device type, model name, manufacturing date, product number, weight, output, short circuit current rating (SCCR), and drawing number).

[0045] The form of information on the information display plates P1 to P8 is also not limited, and desired information can be displayed on the information display plates P1 to P8 using letters and / or figures (e.g., logos, icons, marks (e.g., push button switch marks), pictograms, and other non-letter displays).

[0046] Although not shown in Fig. 1, the packaging system 10 of this embodiment further includes lighting devices 60 and 61 that irradiate metal portions of the information display plates (information display portions) P1 to P8 with light, as shown in Fig. 2 and 3. The lighting devices 60 and 61 may be equipped with, for example, LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes) and may irradiate the entire structure to which the information display plates P1 to P8 to be irradiated are attached with light, or may irradiate strong, directional light in a concentrated (local) manner onto the information display plates P1 to P8 to be irradiated.

[0047] The lighting devices 60, 61 emit light in any visible wavelength range (e.g., 360 nm to 830 nm) that is effective for improving the visibility of the information displayed on the information display plates P1 to P8, but the specific wavelength characteristics (spectral characteristics) of such lighting light are not limited. For example, information that requires a high level of attention tends to be displayed in red. In light of this fact, the intensity of at least a portion of the light in the red wavelength range (e.g., 625 nm to 780 nm) irradiated by the lighting devices 60, 61 onto the metal parts of the information display plates P1 to P8 may be greater than the intensity of other portions of the light in the visible wavelength range.

[0048] As described above, according to the packaging system, information display unit (information display plates P1-P8), information display attachment method (method for attaching information display plates to structures related to packaging processing), and packaging system manufacturing method (structure manufacturing method) of this embodiment, information is displayed on the metal parts, so information can be displayed hygienically on the packaging system in a durable manner. In particular, because each information display plate (including the metal parts) is made of a material with excellent corrosion resistance, each information display plate can be used for a long period of time.

[0049] Furthermore, since each information display plate is entirely made of metal or metal and a material stronger than the metal, there is almost no risk of breakage of each information display plate, and there is almost no risk of broken pieces of each information display plate getting mixed into the contents inside bag B.

[0050] The method for attaching each information display plate to the corresponding structure is not limited, and each information display plate may be attached to the corresponding structure via screws, bolts, or other fasteners with excellent fastening strength, which effectively prevents each information display plate from unintentionally falling off the corresponding structure.

[0051] Furthermore, since each information display plate contains a metal portion, even if part or all of that metal portion falls off from the corresponding structure, the fallen metal piece can be detected by a metal detector 24 installed downstream and removed based on the detection results.

[0052] Furthermore, if the metal portion of each information display plate and the information displayed on the metal portion have excellent durability (for example, abrasion resistance) and water resistance, it is possible to keep each information display plate clean by rubbing the metal portion with a cloth or spraying cleaning water such as water onto the metal portion. In particular, if the metal portion of each information display plate and the information displayed on the metal portion have excellent heat resistance, it is also possible to spray high-temperature cleaning water onto the metal portion to clean it at high temperatures.

[0053] Furthermore, since the information display plates display information on the metal portions without scraping them, the formation of deep recesses in the metal portions can be effectively prevented. Generally, the deeper the recesses, the more difficult they are to clean and the more likely bacteria will grow in them. On the other hand, the information display plates of the present embodiment described above make it relatively easy to clean the metal portions, effectively preventing bacterial growth.

[0054] As described above, each information display plate of this embodiment can achieve excellent characteristics in terms of both safety and hygiene.

[0055] Furthermore, by displaying information using chromatic colors on the metal parts of the information display plate, it is possible to display various information in a variety of formats with good visibility, which effectively alerts the operator and ultimately improves safety.

[0056] [Variations] In the above-described embodiment, information display plates (information displays) P1-P8 that are provided separately from the structures related to the packaging process and are attachable to such structures are used as information displays, but such information displays may also be configured by the structures related to the packaging process. That is, various pieces of information may be displayed directly on some metal parts of the structures related to the packaging process (e.g., turntable 31, bag supply device 41, opening device 43, liquid injection device 45 (tank 46), first sealing device 48, second sealing device 50, cooling device 52, and / or packaging control device 15) without having to remove the metal parts.

[0057] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment performs a packaging process using bag B, the packaging process may use any container other than bag B. The packaging system 10 may perform any other packaging-related process in addition to or instead of at least one of the above-described processes.

[0058] It should be noted that the embodiments and modifications disclosed in this specification are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be construed as limiting. The above-described embodiments and modifications may be omitted, substituted, and modified in various ways without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims. For example, the above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined in whole or in part, and embodiments other than those described above may be combined with the above-described embodiments or modifications. Furthermore, the effects of the present disclosure described in this specification are merely illustrative, and other effects may be obtained.

[0059] The technical category that embodies the above technical idea is not limited. For example, the above technical idea may be embodied by a computer program that causes a computer to execute one or more procedures (steps) included in a method of manufacturing or using the above device. The above technical idea may also be embodied by a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium on which such a computer program is recorded. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 10 packaging system, 11 packaging machine, 15 packaging control device, 21 discharge conveyor, 22 discharge chute, 23 transport conveyor, 24 metal detector, 25 judgment control device, 26 defective product removal conveyor, 31 rotary table, 32 machine base, 33 stand, 34 gripper pair, 41 bag feeding device, 41a magazine, 42 printing device, 43 opening device, 44 suction cup, 45 liquid injection device, 46 tank, 47 nozzle, 48 first sealing device, 49 pair of heating plates, 50 second sealing device, 51 pair of heating plates, 52 cooling device, 53 pair of cooling plates, 60 lighting device, 61 lighting device, B bag, P1 information display plate, P2 information display plate, P3 information display plate, P4 information display plate, P5 information display plate, P6 information display plate, P7 information display plate, P8 Information display plate

Claims

1. A packaging system for performing packaging processing, an information display unit including a metal portion and visually displaying information on the metal portion; A packaging system wherein the information is displayed on the metal portion without scraping the metal portion.

2. The packaging system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the information is displayed using chromatic colors.

3. The metal portion is a metal that has been subjected to at least one of a hot rolling process, a cold rolling process, a blasting process, a coating process, and a vibration polishing process.

3. The packaging system of claim 1 or 2.

4. an illumination unit that irradiates the metal portion with light; The intensity of at least a part of the light in the red wavelength range is greater than the intensity of the light in the other visible light wavelength ranges.

3. The packaging system of claim 1 or 2.

5. The information display unit is provided separately from a structure related to the packaging process and is attached to the structure.

3. The packaging system of claim 1 or 2.

6. The information display unit is configured by a part of a structure related to the packaging process.

3. The packaging system of claim 1 or 2.

7. attaching an informational indicia to the packaging system; The information display body includes a metal portion, and information is visually displayed on the metal portion, and the information is displayed on the metal portion without being scraped off.

Images