Multi-low vertical type automatic filling / packaging machine and hopper

Abstract

To provide an automatic filling / packaging machine and a hopper capable of arranging a line for filling a different type of filling between lines for filling the same type of filling without impairing the workability when putting the filling into the hopper.SOLUTION: An automatic filling and packaging machine 2 comprises a hopper 205A that supplies filling material A21 and a hopper 205B that supplies filling material B21. The hopper 205A is configured to include an upper opening storage section 205AL and a first branch section 205AS1 and a second branch section 205AS2 that branch off below the upper opening storage section. The first branch section 205AS1 and the second branch section 205AS2 supply filling material A to filling pipes 2031, 2033, and the outlet of the second branch section 205AS2 is configured to extend in the direction of the arrangement of the filling pipes so that a filling pipe 2032 supplied from the hopper B is located between the outlet of the first branch section 205AS1 and the outlet of the second branch section 205AS2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of automatic packaging machines that automatically fill and package fillers (contents, packaged items) using packaging film (packaging material). More specifically, the present invention relates to technology for a multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine (for example, a vertical stick (or vertical pillow) filling and packaging machine) that forms three or more parallel rows of strip-shaped packaging film into approximately cylindrical shapes to form packaging bags with upper openings, fills the contents through the upper openings, and laterally seals the upper openings to seal them. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when performing vertical stick packaging in which a filling such as powder, granular material, solid material, paste-like material, or liquid material is automatically packaged in a packaging film into a long, vertical stick-shaped packaging bag, there is a multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine (for example, a multi-row vertical stick packaging machine) (hereinafter simply referred to as a packaging machine) that simultaneously fills and packages multiple rows. Figure 9 shows an example of the internal structure of this type of packaging machine 1.

[0003] In the past, when using a packaging machine 1 to package (produce) two types of stick packaging bags (P16A, P16B) with different fillings as shown in Fig. 9 and packing a predetermined number of them together into one box (assortment pack, etc.), the packaging was done as follows. Note that here, assortment means an assortment of products.

[0004] In other words, conventionally, the individual packaging bags P16A, P16B conveyed out of the packaging machine 1 are temporarily stored in product output boxes 114A, 114B by type as individual packaging bags P17A, P17B, and then workers manually count and remove a predetermined number of bags from each product output box 114A, 114B and manually pack them (see Figure 11).

[0005] 9 and 11, symbols P17A and P17B indicate packaging bags stored in product output boxes 114A and 114B, and symbols P18A and P18B indicate a group of packaging bags (products) counted and removed by a worker in a predetermined number. In Fig. 11, the worker packs packaging bags P18A, which is a group of five bags, and P18B, which is also a group of five bags, into a common (same) box to complete boxed product P19.

[0006] Incidentally, Figure 9 illustrates stick-shaped packaging bags (packaging bag P16A, packaging bag P16B) with different fillings, and an example of a packaging machine that produces each packaging bag in two rows. The packaging bags P16A and P16B are each produced in two rows (or three or more rows) rather than in a single row, in order to increase productivity (the number of packaging bags produced per unit time).

[0007] Another known method for assorted packing is to use a stacking device for packing a predetermined number of items into a single box (assorted packing) (see Patent Document 1).

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4100749 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Here, when performing box packing (assorted packing) in which a predetermined number of two types of packaging bags (P16A, P16B) containing different fillings are packed into one box, the packaging machine 1 needs to be equipped with a hopper 105 that includes a hopper 105A that stores filling A11 and a hopper 105B that stores filling B11, as shown in Figure 10.

[0010] Furthermore, in order to increase productivity, when producing two rows of packaging bags P16A and two rows of packaging bags P16B (see FIG. 9), hoppers 105 (105A and hopper 105B) configured as shown in FIG. 10 are required. As shown in FIG. 10, the hopper 105A for storing the filling material A11 and the hopper 105B for storing the filling material B11 are symmetrical and have similar configurations, so here, the hopper 105A will be described as a representative.

[0011] Hopper 105A is configured to include an upper opening storage section 105a having an upper opening of a relatively large size (cross-sectional area) and an approximately rectangular horizontal cross section (hereinafter also referred to simply as a cross section) cut along a horizontal plane perpendicular to the plane of Figure 10, and branch sections 105b and 105c branching into two from the lower part (lower part in Figure 10) of this upper opening storage section 105a.

[0012] That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the filler A11 introduced through the upper opening storage section 105a and stored in the hopper 105A (the upper opening storage section 105a and the branching sections 105b and 105c) is distributed by the branching sections 105b and 105c and supplied to the intermediate chutes 107A1 and 107A2.

[0013] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the packaging machine 1 is equipped with a weighing device 106 that weighs the filling material A11 supplied from the branching portions 105b and 105c of the hopper 105A and supplies the same to intermediate chutes 107A1 and 107A2.

[0014] 9, the packaging machine 1 is equipped with: four filling pipes 103, which are formed by slitting a single strip of packaging film P11 by a slitting device 101 to narrow the width of the packaging film P12 and winding the resulting films into a substantially cylindrical shape; and four filling ports 104, which supply the filling material (contents) to the filling pipes 103 through four intermediate chutes 107 (107A1, 107A2, 107B1, 107B2) around the four wrapping lines of packaging film P12. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 102 denotes a tension roller that applies tension to the packaging film.

[0015] The packaging machine 1 also includes a vertical sealing device 108 that overlaps and joins the left and right ends of the packaging film P12 wrapped around the filling pipe 103 to form a cylindrical packaging film P13. The packaging machine 1 also has a horizontal sealing device 109 that applies a lower horizontal seal to the packaging film P13 formed into a cylindrical shape by the vertical sealing device 108 to form a bag-like packaging film P14, and that applies an upper horizontal seal to seal the film after the filling material has been filled through the filling pipe 103, thereby producing a continuous packaging bag P15. The packaging machine 1 also has a cutter device 110 that cuts off a continuous packaging bag P15, which is made up of a continuous (connected) bag-shaped packaging film P14 in which the filling material has been sealed by a horizontal sealing device 109, into individual packaging bags P16, and also has a product slide 111 that transports the individual packaging bags P16 cut off by the cutter device 110 out of the packaging machine 1. In FIG. 9, the individual packaging bags P16 carried out from the product slide 111 are carried out as packaging bags P17 via the carrying-out conveyor 113 into product carrying-out boxes 114A and 114B.

[0016] Here, the individual packaging bags P16A, P16B conveyed from the conventional packaging machine 1 as described above are first stored in product output boxes 114A, 114B as packaging bags P17 for each type, and then, as shown in Figure 11, an operator manually counts a predetermined number of bags from each product output box 114A, 114B and manually packs them into an assortment pack, which means that counting errors (human error) are likely to occur. Furthermore, when assortment packing is performed using a stacking device such as that described in Patent Document 1, there are problems such as the fact that the stacking device is expensive and therefore the introduction is not cost-effective, and there is no space in the factory to install the stacking device, so it is not possible to adopt a stacking device, and in the end, workers have to count and pack the products by hand.

[0017] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and aims to provide a multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine and hopper that are low-cost in configuration, maintain the productivity of packaging bags, and are configured so that, in multiple rows of three or more, rows filled with the same type of filling material can be arranged between rows filled with a different type of filling material, without impairing the operability when supplying (putting) the filling material into the hopper. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] The multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine according to the present invention comprises: a multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine that produces packaging bags by wrapping three or more rows of continuously conveyed packaging films around outer peripheries of filling pipes that are arranged in a vertical direction in rows corresponding to the rows of packaging films to form a substantially cylindrical shape, applying vertical seals to left and right ends of each packaging film that extend in the vertical direction to form a tubular packaging film, applying horizontal seals to predetermined positions of the tubular packaging film to form an upwardly opening packaging bag, filling the upwardly opening packaging bag with a filling material via the filling pipes, and then applying a horizontal seal to the upper part of the tubular packaging bag to seal the upward opening, a hopper A for storing a filling material A and supplying the filling material A to a corresponding filling pipe among the plurality of rows of filling pipes; a hopper B for storing a filling material B and supplying the filling material B to a corresponding filling pipe among the plurality of rows of filling pipes; Equipped with The hopper A is an upper opening accommodating portion having an upper opening with a relatively large cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction; a first branch portion and a second branch portion that are bifurcated below the upper opening accommodation portion, each having a cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction smaller than that of the upper opening accommodation portion; The invention comprises: The first branch portion and the second branch portion are A filling material A is supplied from each outlet of the first branch portion and the second branch portion to a corresponding filling pipe among the plurality of rows of filling pipes, and The outlet of the first branch portion or the outlet of the second branch portion is configured to extend in the arrangement direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes so that at least one filling pipe for filling the filling material B supplied from a hopper B is present between the outlet of the first branch portion and the outlet of the second branch portion in the arrangement direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes. It is characterized by:

[0019] In addition, in the multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine according to the present invention, The hopper B is an upper opening accommodating portion having an upper opening with a relatively large cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction; a third branch portion and a fourth branch portion that are bifurcated below the upper opening accommodation portion, each having a cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction smaller than that of the upper opening accommodation portion; The invention comprises: The third branch portion and the fourth branch portion are The filling material B is supplied from each outlet of the third branch portion and the fourth branch portion to a corresponding filling pipe among the plurality of rows of filling pipes, and the outlet of the third branch portion or the outlet of the fourth branch portion is configured to extend in the arrangement direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes so that at least one filling pipe for filling with filling material A supplied from a hopper A is present between the outlet of the third branch portion and the outlet of the fourth branch portion in the arrangement direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes, Hopper A and hopper B are arranged so that the branch portions extending in the arranging direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes face each other. The present invention can be characterized by the above.

[0020] The hopper according to the present invention further comprises: A hopper that stores a filling material and supplies the filling material to a filling pipe, a hopper used in a multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine that produces packaging bags by wrapping three or more rows of continuously conveyed packaging film around the outer periphery of filling pipes arranged in a vertical direction in rows corresponding to the rows of packaging film to form a substantially cylindrical shape, applying vertical seals to the left and right ends of each packaging film extending in the vertical direction to form a tubular packaging film, applying horizontal seals to predetermined positions of the tubular packaging film to form an upwardly opening packaging bag, filling the upwardly opening packaging bag with a filling material via the filling pipe, and then applying a horizontal seal to the upper part of the tubular packaging bag to seal the upward opening, The hopper is an upper opening accommodating portion having an upper opening with a relatively large cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction; a first branch portion and a second branch portion that are bifurcated below the upper opening accommodation portion, each having a cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction smaller than that of the upper opening accommodation portion; The invention comprises: The first branch portion and the second branch portion are A filler is supplied from each outlet of the first branch portion and the second branch portion to a corresponding fill pipe among the plurality of rows of fill pipes, and The outlet of the first branch section or the outlet of the second branch section is configured to extend in the arrangement direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes so that at least one filling pipe for filling a filling material supplied from another hopper is present between the outlet of the first branch section and the outlet of the second branch section in the arrangement direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes. It is characterized by:

[0021] In addition, in the hopper according to the present invention, A hopper that stores a filling material and supplies the filling material to a filling pipe, a hopper used in a multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine that produces packaging bags by wrapping three or more rows of continuously conveyed packaging film around the outer periphery of filling pipes arranged in a vertical direction in rows corresponding to the rows of packaging film to form a substantially cylindrical shape, applying vertical seals to the left and right ends of each packaging film extending in the vertical direction to form a tubular packaging film, applying horizontal seals to predetermined positions of the tubular packaging film to form an upwardly opening packaging bag, filling the upwardly opening packaging bag with a filling material via the filling pipe, and then applying a horizontal seal to the upper part of the tubular packaging bag to seal the upward opening, The hopper is an upper opening accommodating portion having an upper opening with a relatively large cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction; a first branch portion and a second branch portion that are bifurcated below the upper opening accommodation portion, each having a cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction smaller than that of the upper opening accommodation portion; The invention comprises: The first branch portion and the second branch portion are A filler is supplied from each outlet of the first branch portion and the second branch portion to a corresponding fill pipe among the plurality of rows of fill pipes, and The outlet of the first branch portion or the outlet of the second branch portion is configured to extend in the arrangement direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes so that at least one filling pipe for filling a filling material supplied from another hopper is present between the outlet of the first branch portion and the outlet of the second branch portion in the arrangement direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes, and In addition to the hopper, a hopper having the same configuration as the hopper is disposed so that the branch portions extending in the arranging direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes face each other. The present invention can be characterized by the above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine and hopper that are low-cost in configuration, maintain the productivity of packaging bags, and do not impair the workability when supplying (putting) filling materials into the hopper, and are configured so that, in multiple rows of three or more, rows filled with the same type of filling material can be arranged between rows filled with a different type of filling material. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing an example of the configuration of a multi-line vertical automatic filling and packaging machine (automatic filling and packaging machine) according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the filling and packaging portion of the automatic filling and packaging machine. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view seen from the front showing an example of the configuration of a hopper and intermediate chute provided in the automatic filling and packaging machine. FIG. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a boxing operation of an assortment pack performed by a worker in the embodiment. [Figure 5] (A) is a plan view of the hopper 205 in the same embodiment, (B) is a front view of the hopper 205, (C) is a bottom view of the hopper 205, (D) is a view taken along the arrow AA of (B), (E) is a view taken along the arrow of (B), (F) is a right side view of (B), (G) is a perspective view of the hopper 205 seen from diagonally above, and (H) is a perspective view of the hopper 205A (or 205B) extracted and seen from diagonally above. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the filling and packaging portion of an automatic filling and packaging machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 3 is a cross-sectional view seen from the front showing an example of the configuration of a hopper and an intermediate chute provided in the automatic filling and packaging machine. FIG. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a boxing operation of an assortment pack performed by a worker in the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a filling and packaging section of a conventional automatic filling and packaging machine. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view seen from the front showing an example of the configuration of a hopper and an intermediate chute provided in a conventional automatic filling and packaging machine. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an assortment packing operation performed by an operator using a conventional automatic filling and packaging machine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] An embodiment of a multi-line vertical automatic filling and packaging machine (automatic filling and packaging machine) according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described below.

[0025] In the embodiment of the present invention, the automatic filling and packaging machine For example, a multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine will be described as a representative example, which produces packaging bags by slitting a strip of packaging film that is continuously conveyed at a predetermined speed into three or more narrow rows of packaging film, wrapping each of the packaging films around the outer circumference of filling pipes that are arranged vertically in multiple rows corresponding to the multiple rows of packaging film to form an approximately cylindrical shape, applying vertical seals to the left and right ends of each packaging film that extend vertically to form a tubular packaging film, applying horizontal seals at predetermined positions on the tubular packaging film to form an upwardly opening packaging bag, filling the upwardly opening packaging bag with a filling material via the filling pipe, and then applying a horizontal seal to the upper part of the tubular packaging bag to seal the upward opening, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0026] Figure 1 is a front view of a multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine (multi-row vertical stick filling and packaging machine) (automatic filling and packaging machine) 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the filling and packaging portion of the automatic filling and packaging machine 2 in Figure 1. The multi-row vertical stick filling and packaging machine designated by reference numeral 2 in each figure is configured to be able to continuously produce four stick packaging bags (vertical pillow-shaped packaging bags) at a time in four parallel rows.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 2, the automatic filling and packaging machine 2 is equipped with: a single strip of wide packaging film P21 that has been slit by a slitting device 201 into multiple rows (four rows (four rows) in Fig. 2) of narrower packaging film P22; these rows are then wound into a substantially cylindrical shape to form a substantially cylindrical packaging film P23; and four rows of hollow filling pipes 203 that serve as filling passages for the fillers (contents); and four rows of hollow filling ports 204 for supplying the fillers to the filling pipes 203 via four rows of hollow intermediate chutes 207 (207A1, 207B1, 207A2, 207B2). In Fig. 2, reference numeral 202 denotes a tension roller that applies tension to the packaging film.

[0028] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, intermediate chutes 207A1 and 207A2 for supplying filler A21 and intermediate chutes 207B1 and 207B2 for supplying filler B21 are arranged in the order of 207A1, 207B1, 207A2, and 207B2 from the left in FIG. 3.

[0029] 2 and 3, reference numeral 206 denotes a measuring device having a similar configuration to the measuring device 106.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2, the automatic filling and packaging machine 2 is also equipped with a vertical sealing device 208 that overlaps and joins the left and right ends of the packaging film P23 wrapped (wrapped) around the filling pipe 203 to create a tubular packaging film P24.

[0031] The automatic filling and packaging machine 2 also includes a horizontal sealing device 209 that applies a lower horizontal seal to the packaging film P23 formed into a cylindrical shape by the vertical sealing device 208 to form a bag-like packaging film P24, and that applies an upper horizontal seal to seal the film after the filling material has been filled through the filling pipe 203, thereby producing a continuous packaging bag P25. Since the cylindrical packaging film P24 is continuous, the horizontal sealing device 209 of this embodiment simultaneously performs horizontal sealing on the upper side of the preceding packaging film P24 (downstream in the conveying direction of the packaging film) and horizontal sealing on the lower side of the following packaging film P24 (upstream in the conveying direction of the packaging film) adjacent to the preceding packaging film P24.

[0032] The automatic filling and packaging machine 2 also includes a cutter device 210 that separates the continuous packaging bag P25 filled with the filling material into individual packaging bags P26, and a product slide 211 that transports the separated individual packaging bags P26 out of the main body of the automatic filling and packaging machine 2. In FIG. 2, reference symbol P26A denotes an individual packaging bag filled with filler A21 (containing filler A21 as the contents), and reference symbol P26B denotes an individual packaging bag filled with filler B21 (containing filler B21 as the contents).

[0033] The automatic filling and packaging machine 2 is provided with a weighing stopper 212 that is provided below the sliding surface of the product slide 211 and that opens the gate when the number of individual packaging bags P26 stored on the sliding surface of the product slide 211 reaches a predetermined number.

[0034] Therefore, when the number of individual packaging bags P26 on the product slide 211 reaches a predetermined number, the gate of the weighing stopper 212 is opened, and in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the predetermined number of individual packaging bags P26 are grouped together to form a group (set of 5) of individual packaging bags P27, which are then placed on the upper surface of the discharge conveyor 213.

[0035] Here, in this embodiment, of the group of individual packaging bags P27 placed on the upper surface of the discharge conveyor 213, the individual packaging bag P27A filled with filling material A21 is placed first from the front in Figure 2, the individual packaging bag P27B filled with filling material B21 is placed second from the front in Figure 2, the individual packaging bag P27A is placed third from the front in Figure 2, and the individual packaging bag P27B is placed fourth from the front (furthest back) in Figure 2.

[0036] Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the worker S21 can take out (pick up) a product group P28, which consists of a set of five products A (P27A) and a set of five products B (P27B), without counting the individual packaging bags P27, and can pack the taken-out product group P28 as is without counting it, and then close the lid to complete the boxed product P29.

[0037] Similarly, worker S22 opposite worker S21 can also take out (pick up) product group P28, which consists of a set of five products A (P27A) and a set of five products B (P27B), without counting the individual packaging bags P27, and can box the taken-out product group P28 as is without counting it, and then close the lid to complete boxed product P29.

[0038] In other words, according to this embodiment, the product discharge mode of the automatic filling and packaging machine 2 can be adjusted to suit various requirements, thereby eliminating tasks that are prone to errors, such as having an operator count by hand, thereby contributing to the realization of assorted packing work with fewer errors (human error).

[0039] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, intermediate chutes 207A1 and 207A2 for supplying filler A21 and intermediate chutes 207B1 and 207B2 for supplying filler B21 are arranged in the order of 207A1, 207B1, 207A2, and 207B2 from left to right in FIGS. 2 and 3. The upper portions of the intermediate chutes 207A1 and 207A2 are connected to branch portions 205AS1 and 205AS2, respectively, of the hopper 205A in which the filling A21 is stored, and the upper portions of the branch portions 205AS1 and 205AS2 are connected to a common upper opening accommodation portion 205AL. The upper opening accommodation portion 205AL has a relatively large upper opening (cross-sectional area). Here, the branching portion 205AS1 and the branching portion 205AS2 correspond to an example of a first branching portion and a second branching portion according to the present invention.

[0040] In addition, the upper parts of the intermediate chutes 207B1 and 207B2 are connected to branch parts 205BS1 and 205BS2, respectively, of the hopper 205B in which the filling material B21 is stored, and the upper parts of the branch parts 205BS1 and 205BS2 are connected to a common upper opening storage part 205BL, which has a relatively large upper opening (cross-sectional area). Here, the branching portion 205BS1 and the branching portion 205BS2 correspond to an example of a third branching portion and a fourth branching portion according to the present invention.

[0041] An example of the configuration of the hopper 205 (205A, 205B) according to this embodiment is shown in Figure 5. The hopper in the combined state of the hoppers 205A and 205B is indicated by the reference numeral 205. Fig. 5(A) is a plan view of hopper 205 (205A, 205B), and Fig. 5(B) is a front view of hopper 205 (205A, 205B). Fig. 5(C) is a bottom view of hopper 205 (205A, 205B), Fig. 5(D) is a view from the arrow AA of hopper 205A, Fig. 5(E) is a view from the arrow BB of hopper 205B, Fig. 5(F) is a right side view of Fig. 5(B), Fig. 5(G) is a perspective view of hopper 205 seen obliquely from above, and Fig. 5(H) is a perspective view of hopper 205A (or 205B) extracted and seen obliquely from above.

[0042] Here, the hoppers 205A and 205B correspond to examples of the hoppers A and B according to the present invention.

[0043] As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the hopper (205A) an upper opening accommodation portion 205AL having an upper opening with a relatively large cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction; a first branch portion (205AS1) and a second branch portion (205AS2) that are bifurcated below the upper opening accommodation portion (205AL), each having a cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction smaller than that of the upper opening accommodation portion; The invention comprises: The first branch portion (205AS1) and the second branch portion (205AS2) are A filler A (A21) is supplied from each outlet of the first branch portion (205AS1) and the second branch portion (205AS2) to a corresponding filling pipe (2031, 2033) among the plurality of rows of filling pipes, and The outlet of the first branch section (205AS1) or the outlet of the second branch section (205AS2) is configured to extend in the arrangement direction (left-right direction, horizontal direction) of the multiple rows of filling pipes so that at least one filling pipe (2032) for filling with filling material B (B21) supplied from a hopper (205B) is present between the outlet of the first branch section (205AS1) and the outlet of the second branch section (205AS2).

[0044] Hopper 205B has the same configuration (identical) as hopper 205A, and hopper 205 is formed by combining (arranging) hopper 205A and hopper 205B so that the branch portions extending in the arrangement direction of the multiple rows of filling pipes (in Figures 3 and 5, the second branch portion (205AS2) and the branch portion of hopper B (205BS1: the third branch portion according to the present invention)) face each other. Here, in the hopper 205, the hopper 205A and the hopper 205B can be integrally configured, or the hopper 205A and the hopper 205B can be separably configured as separate bodies.

[0045] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, hoppers 205A and 205B are identical, hoppers 205AL and 205BL are identical and correspond to each other, the first branch portion of hopper A (205AS1) and the branch portion of hopper B (205BS2: the fourth branch portion according to the present invention) are identical and correspond to each other, and the second branch portion of hopper A (205AS2) and the branch portion of hopper B (205BS1: the third branch portion according to the present invention) are identical and correspond to each other.

[0046] However, although hopper 205A and hopper 205B have been described here as being identical, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to make hopper 205A and hopper 205B different in size, shape, etc., while maintaining the same components (same configuration) as long as the purpose and effects of the present invention can be achieved as specified.

[0047] As can be seen from Figure 5, the upper opening storage section 205AL (205BL) has a larger upper opening compared to the branch sections 205AS1, 205AS2 (or 205BS1, 205BS2), so that it does not impair the workability when supplying (putting) the filling material A21 (B21) into the hopper 205A (205B), and can contribute to providing an automatic filling and packaging machine that is easy to use and has good workability.

[0048] In this way, the upper opening storage section 205AL (205BL) is configured to have a relatively large upper opening, and the two-pronged branch sections 205AS1, 205AS2 (205BS1, 205BS2) are connected below it because, when loading the filling material A21 (B21) into the hopper 205A (205B), workability is reduced if the upper opening is not large.

[0049] In other words, if the area of ​​the upper opening is small, when the worker puts the filling material (e.g., A21) into hopper 205A, he or she must pay close attention so that the filling material (e.g., A21) does not get mixed into hopper 205B, which is located adjacent and stores a different type of filling material (B21), and the worker must also work carefully so as not to spill the material onto the surrounding area.This increases the time required to put the required amount into the hopper, making work easier, and this must be avoided.

[0050] For this reason, in this embodiment, the upper parts of the intermediate chutes 207A1 and 207A2 are configured to have a significantly larger upper opening area than when they are connected to independent hoppers with small upper opening areas.As a result, in this embodiment, at least one filling pipe (2032) for filling material B (B21) can be located between the rows of filling pipes 2031 and 2033 for filling material A (A21) without compromising the ease of operation when supplying (putting) the material into the hopper, thereby contributing to the provision of an easy-to-use automatic filling and packaging machine and hopper that allows for improved freedom in the discharge mode (discharge layout) of the product (packaging bag).

[0051] Furthermore, since it is only necessary to replace hopper 205 with an automatic filling and packaging machine equipped with a conventional hopper 105 as shown in Figure 10, it is possible to increase the freedom of product discharge mode at low cost, thereby contributing to the provision of an easy-to-use automatic filling and packaging machine.

[0052] Thus, according to this embodiment, simply by replacing the conventional hopper 105 with the hopper 205 according to this embodiment, when filling and packaging in four rows in parallel, for example, it is possible to produce rows filled with the same type of filling material and rows filled with a different type of filling material alternately, with a low-cost configuration and while maintaining the productivity of packaging bags and without impairing the workability when supplying (putting) the filling material into the hopper. Therefore, this embodiment can provide an easy-to-use multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine and hopper that can contribute to realizing the delivery mode (delivery layout) of products (packaging bags) that meets the needs of the factory, etc.

[0053] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, stick-shaped packaging bags (packaging bag P27A, packaging bag P27B) with different fillings (contents, packaged items) are exemplified, and a packaging machine that produces each packaging bag in two rows is used as an example.However, since packaging bag P27A and packaging bag P27B are each produced in two rows rather than one row, productivity (number of packaging bags produced per unit time) can be increased.

[0054] In other words, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine and hopper that are configured to have a low-cost configuration, maintain the productivity of packaging bags, and not impair the workability when supplying (putting) filling materials into the hopper, and that are configured so that, in multiple rows of three or more, rows filled with the same type of filling material can be arranged between rows filled with different types of filling material.

[0055] Next, a second embodiment will be described. Figure 6 shows a multi-row vertical stick packaging machine (automatic filling packaging machine) 3 according to the second embodiment, which is configured so that it can continuously seal and form eight stick packaging bags (vertical pillow-shaped packaging bags) at a time in eight parallel rows. The basic configuration is the same as the example in Figure 2, so only the differences will be explained.

[0056] As shown in Figure 6, the automatic filling and packaging machine 3 is equipped with eight rows (eight strips) of packaging film wound into an approximately cylindrical shape to form the packaging film, eight rows of hollow filling pipes 303 which serve as filling passages for the filling material, and eight rows of hollow filling ports 304 for feeding the filling material into the filling pipes 303 via eight rows of hollow intermediate chutes 307.

[0057] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7, a hopper having the same configuration as the hopper 205 according to the first embodiment is used. In other words, the hoppers 305A and 305B correspond to examples of the hoppers A and B according to the present invention.

[0058] However, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the filler A31 supplied from the branching section 305AS1 is divided into two rows, weighed by the weighing supply device 306, and then supplied to the intermediate chutes 307A1 and 307A2. Similarly, the filling material B31 supplied from the branching portion 305BS1 is divided into two lines and measured by the measuring and supplying device 306, and then supplied to the intermediate chutes 307B1 and 307B2. Similarly, the filling material A31 supplied from the branching portion 305AS2 is divided into two lines and measured by the measuring and supplying device 306, and then supplied to the intermediate chutes 307A3 and 307A4. Furthermore, the filling material B31 supplied from the branching portion 305BS2 is divided into two lines and measured by the measuring and supplying device 306, and then supplied to the intermediate chutes 307B3 and 307B4.

[0059] In this embodiment, when there are four individual packaging bags P36 on the product slide 311, the gate of the weighing stopper 312 is opened, and as shown in Figure 6, four individual packaging bags P36 are placed on the upper surface of the discharge conveyor 313 from each of the eight rows of product slides 311 as a group (one set) of individual packaging bags P27.

[0060] Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the worker S31 can take out two sets of four products A (P37A) and two sets of four products B (P37B) without counting the individual packaging bags P36, and take out a group (one set) of products P38 (eight products A (P37A) and eight products B (P37B)), and can then box the taken-out product group P38 as is without counting it, and then close the lid to complete the boxed product P39.

[0061] Similarly, worker S32 opposite worker S31 can also take out two sets of four product A (P37A) and two sets of four product B (P37B) without counting the individual packaging bags P36, and take out product group P38, which is a group (one set) of these products, and can then box the taken-out product group P38 as is without counting it, and then close the lid to complete boxed product P39.

[0062] In other words, according to this embodiment, the product removal mode can be adjusted to suit various requirements, so that, for example, it is possible to eliminate tasks that are prone to errors, such as workers counting items manually, thereby contributing to the realization of assortment packing work with fewer errors (human errors).

[0063] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to produce rows filled with the same type of filling material and rows filled with a different type of filling material alternately, while maintaining the productivity of packaging bags and without compromising the workability when supplying (putting) the filling material into the hopper, and thus it is possible to provide an easy-to-use multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine and hopper that can contribute to realizing the product (packaging bag) delivery pattern (delivery layout) that meets the needs of the factory, etc.

[0064] Furthermore, since it is only necessary to replace hopper 305 with an automatic filling and packaging machine equipped with a conventional hopper 105 as shown in Figure 10, it is possible to increase the freedom of product discharge mode at low cost, thereby contributing to the provision of an easy-to-use automatic filling and packaging machine.

[0065] In other words, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine and hopper that are configured to have a low-cost configuration, maintain the productivity of packaging bags, and not impair the workability when supplying (putting) filling materials into the hopper, and that are configured so that, in multiple rows of three or more, rows filled with the same type of filling material can be arranged between rows filled with different types of filling material.

[0066] In addition, the hopper (305A) an upper opening accommodation portion 305AL having an upper opening with a relatively large cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction; a first branched portion (305AS1) and a second branched portion (305AS2) that are bifurcated below the upper opening accommodation portion (305AL), each having a cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction smaller than that of the upper opening accommodation portion; The invention comprises: The first branch portion (305AS1) and the second branch portion (305AS2) are A filler A (A31) is supplied from each outlet of the first branch portion (305AS1) and the second branch portion (305AS2) to a corresponding filling pipe (3031, 3032, 303035, 3036) among the plurality of rows of filling pipes, The outlet of the first branch portion (305AS1) or the outlet of the second branch portion (305AS2) is configured to extend in the direction in which the multiple rows of filling pipes are arranged so that at least one filling pipe (3033, 3034) for filling with filling material B (B31) supplied from a hopper (305B) is present between the outlet of the first branch portion (305AS1) and the outlet of the second branch portion (305AS2) in the direction in which the multiple rows of filling pipes are arranged.

[0067] In the above embodiments, as shown in Figures 4 and 8, examples have been given of cases where the products are packed into boxes manually by an operator. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the products (P28, P38) on the discharge conveyor 213 (313) in Figure 4 are packed into boxes using a simple mechanism, such as by pushing them sideways.

[0068] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, an example of continuous production of stick packaging bags (vertical pillow-shaped packaging bags) has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to any automatic filling and packaging machine that can use the hopper according to the present invention.

[0069] Furthermore, the packaging film according to the present invention is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a base film such as PET and a heat seal film such as polyethylene having a lower melting point than the base film, or a packaging film having a three-layer structure of a base film, an intermediate film, and a heat seal film.

[0070] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, a configuration has been exemplified in which eight stick packaging bags can be continuously sealed at one time, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if it is desired to increase the number of rows to match the specifications of the products to be boxed, a configuration can also be adopted in which the filling material is supplied to three filling pipes at each of the first to fourth branch sections, and 12 stick packaging bags can be continuously sealed at one time.

[0071] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, an example was given of a configuration in which four stick packaging bags of filling A and four stick packaging bags of filling B can be continuously sealed at one time. However, if it is desired to change the ratio of the contents of stick packaging bags of filling A and stick packaging bags of filling B in a boxed product from 1:1 to 1:2, for example, it is possible to supply filling material to two filling pipes at each of the first and second branching sections, and to supply filling material to four filling pipes at each of the third and fourth branching sections, thereby continuously sealing a total of 12 stick packaging bags, i.e., four sticks of filling A and eight sticks of filling B, at one time.

[0072] The above-described embodiment is merely an example for explaining the present invention, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 2. Multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine (automatic filling and packaging machine) 203 Filling Pipe Filling pipes 2031, 2032, 2033, and 2034 204 Filling port 205 Hopper 205A Hopper (for filling material A21, Hopper A) 205AL upper opening storage area 205AS1, 205AS2 Branching section (first branching section and second branching section according to the present invention) 205B Hopper (for filling material B21, Hopper B) 205BL upper opening storage compartment 205BS1, 205BS2 Branching section (third branching section and fourth branching section according to the present invention) 207 Mid-shot 207A1, 207B1, 207A2, 207B2 Intermediate Shoots 208 Vertical sealing device 209 Horizontal sealing device 210 Cutter device

Claims

1. a multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine that produces packaging bags by wrapping three or more rows of continuously conveyed packaging films around outer peripheries of filling pipes that are arranged in a vertical direction in rows corresponding to the rows of packaging films to form a substantially cylindrical shape, applying vertical seals to left and right ends of each packaging film that extend in the vertical direction to form a tubular packaging film, applying horizontal seals to predetermined positions of the tubular packaging film to form an upwardly opening packaging bag, filling the upwardly opening packaging bag with a filler via the filling pipe, and then applying a horizontal seal to an upper portion of the tubular packaging bag to seal the upward opening, a hopper A for storing a filling material A and supplying the filling material A to a corresponding filling pipe among the plurality of rows of filling pipes; a hopper B for storing a filling material B and supplying the filling material B to a corresponding filling pipe among the plurality of rows of filling pipes; Equipped with The hopper A is an upper opening accommodating portion having an upper opening with a relatively large cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction; a first branch portion and a second branch portion that are bifurcated below the upper opening accommodation portion, each having a cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction smaller than that of the upper opening accommodation portion; The invention comprises: The first branch portion and the second branch portion are A filling material A is supplied from each outlet of the first branch portion and the second branch portion to a corresponding filling pipe among the plurality of rows of filling pipes, and The outlet of the first branch portion or the outlet of the second branch portion is configured to extend in the arranging direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes so that at least one filling pipe for filling the filling material B supplied from a hopper B is present between the outlet of the first branch portion and the outlet of the second branch portion in the arranging direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes. A multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine characterized by:

2. The hopper B is an upper opening accommodating portion having an upper opening with a relatively large cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction; a third branch portion and a fourth branch portion that are bifurcated below the upper opening accommodation portion, each having a cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction smaller than that of the upper opening accommodation portion; The invention comprises: The third branch portion and the fourth branch portion are The filling material B is supplied from each of the outlets of the third branch portion and the fourth branch portion to a corresponding filling pipe among the plurality of rows of filling pipes, and the outlet of the third branch portion or the outlet of the fourth branch portion is configured to extend in the arrangement direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes so that at least one filling pipe for filling with filling material A supplied from a hopper A is present between the outlet of the third branch portion and the outlet of the fourth branch portion in the arrangement direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes, The hoppers A and B are arranged so that the branch portions extending in the arranging direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes face each other.

2. The multi-line vertical automatic filling and packaging machine according to claim 1.

3. A hopper that stores a filling material and supplies the filling material to a filling pipe, a hopper used in a multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine that produces packaging bags by wrapping three or more rows of continuously conveyed packaging films around the outer periphery of filling pipes arranged in a vertical direction in rows corresponding to the rows of packaging films to form a substantially cylindrical shape, applying vertical seals to the left and right ends of each packaging film extending in the vertical direction to form a tubular packaging film, applying horizontal seals to predetermined positions of the tubular packaging film to form an upwardly opening packaging bag, filling the upwardly opening packaging bag with a filling material via the filling pipe, and then applying a horizontal seal to the upper part of the tubular packaging bag to seal the upward opening, The hopper is an upper opening accommodating portion having an upper opening with a relatively large cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction; a first branch portion and a second branch portion that are bifurcated below the upper opening accommodation portion, each having a cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction smaller than that of the upper opening accommodation portion; The invention comprises: The first branch portion and the second branch portion are A filler is supplied from each outlet of the first branch portion and the second branch portion to a corresponding filling pipe among the plurality of rows of filling pipes, and The outlet of the first branch portion or the outlet of the second branch portion is configured to extend in the arranging direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes so that at least one filling pipe for filling with a filling material supplied from another hopper is present between the outlet of the first branch portion and the outlet of the second branch portion in the arranging direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes. A hopper characterized by:

4. A hopper that stores a filling material and supplies the filling material to a filling pipe, a hopper used in a multi-row vertical automatic filling and packaging machine that produces packaging bags by wrapping three or more rows of continuously conveyed packaging films around the outer periphery of filling pipes arranged in a vertical direction in rows corresponding to the rows of packaging films to form a substantially cylindrical shape, applying vertical seals to the left and right ends of each packaging film extending in the vertical direction to form a tubular packaging film, applying horizontal seals to predetermined positions of the tubular packaging film to form an upwardly opening packaging bag, filling the upwardly opening packaging bag with a filling material via the filling pipe, and then applying a horizontal seal to the upper part of the tubular packaging bag to seal the upward opening, The hopper is an upper opening accommodating portion having an upper opening with a relatively large cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction; a first branch portion and a second branch portion that are bifurcated below the upper opening accommodation portion, each having a cross-sectional area in the horizontal direction smaller than that of the upper opening accommodation portion; The invention comprises: The first branch portion and the second branch portion are A filler is supplied from each outlet of the first branch portion and the second branch portion to a corresponding filling pipe among the plurality of rows of filling pipes, and The outlet of the first branch portion or the outlet of the second branch portion is configured to extend in the arrangement direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes so that at least one filling pipe for filling a filling material supplied from another hopper is present between the outlet of the first branch portion and the outlet of the second branch portion in the arrangement direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes, and In addition to the hopper, a hopper having the same configuration as the hopper is disposed so that the branch portions extending in the arranging direction of the plurality of rows of filling pipes face each other. A hopper characterized by:

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