Seal device

Abstract

To provide a seal device capable of attaching a seal member to an appropriate position with high accuracy in a short time regardless of the skill level of an operator.SOLUTION: A cutting blade 18 for cutting a cylindrical film is movably disposed on a body 25 of an anvil 16 which cooperates with a horn to apply an end seal to the cylindrical film. The body 25 is formed with a through hole 29 through which the cutting blade 18 moves. A jig 27 is positioned relative to the body 25 by fitting a first fitting part 33 of the jig 27, which has an insertion hole 27a formed therein and which communicates with the through hole 29, into the through hole 29. An elongated hole 26a of the seal member 26 is fitted into a second fitting part 34 of the jig 27, thereby attaching the seal member 26 to the body 25. The seal member 26 attached to the body 25 via the jig 27 is positioned at a position where the moving cutting blade 18 does not come into contact with the inner surface of the elongated hole 26a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sealing device that clamps and seals a tubular packaging material with a sealing body and cuts the tubular packaging material. [Background technology]

[0002] In packaging machines such as horizontal form-fill-seal machines, both widthwise edges of a strip of film (packaging material) pulled from a roll and guided by a bag-making device are overlapped to form a tubular shape. A center seal is applied to the overlapped portion in the film conveyance direction. End seals intersecting the conveyance direction are applied and cut at the front and rear positions of each item fed into the tubular film, producing pillow-packaged products. Patent Document 1 discloses a sealing device for end-sealing and cutting tubular film in a packaging machine. The sealing device includes a pair of sealing bodies that rotate in opposite directions across the tubular film conveyance path. Each sealing body has a sealing member with an embedded heat source, such as a heater, mounted on its rotation shaft. One sealing body has a cutting blade that reciprocates radially to cut the tubular film. The sealing member of the other sealing body has a groove that can receive the tip of the cutting blade without contact. The sealing device is configured to heat and seal the tubular film by clamping it between the sealing surfaces of the paired sealing members, and to cut the tubular film clamped between the sealing surfaces by protruding the tip of the cutting blade built into one of the sealing bodies from the corresponding sealing surface until it enters the opposing groove. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 55-29862 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the sealing device, the sealing surfaces of the sealing members that clamp the tubular film wear over time, making it impossible to seal the tubular film properly, necessitating periodic replacement of the sealing members. Furthermore, in the sealing device, the tip of the cutting blade protrudes from the sealing surfaces when the tubular film is clamped between the sealing surfaces of a pair of sealing members. Therefore, if the through-hole through which the cutting blade passes in one of the sealing bodies is misaligned with the cutting blade disposed in one of the sealing bodies, the cutting blade may come into contact with the sealing member, damaging the cutting blade or the sealing member, or resulting in poor cutting of the tubular film. In other words, the sealing device requires accurate alignment of the cutting blade disposed in the sealing body with the through-hole in the sealing member before fixing the sealing member. However, the installation accuracy and installation time of the sealing member vary depending on factors such as the operator's skill level. Therefore, there is a need for a sealing device that can install sealing members with consistent installation accuracy in a short time, regardless of the operator's skill level.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a sealing device that can attach a sealing member to an appropriate position with high accuracy in a short time, regardless of the skill level of the worker. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems and achieve the intended purpose, the first means is: A sealing device that sandwiches a tubular packaging material (10) between sealing surfaces (26b, 24b) of sealing bodies (16, 17) that face each other across a conveying path of the tubular packaging material (10) and seals the material in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the packaging material, a seal member (26) that is detachably disposed on the main body (25) of one of the seal bodies (16), and that has a plurality of seal surfaces (26b, 26b) that are spaced apart in the packaging material conveyance direction, and a through hole (26a) that opens between the seal surfaces (26b, 26b) that is formed to communicate with a through hole (29) formed in the main body (25); a cutting blade (18) disposed in the main body (25), which is moved toward and away from the other sealing body (17) by a driving means (39), and which protrudes from the through hole (26a) of the sealing member (26) to cut the tubular packaging material (10); a jig (27) having a first fitting portion (33) that fits into the through hole (29) of the main body (25) and a second fitting portion (34) that fits into the through hole (26a) of the seal member (26), and allowing the cutting blade (18) to move back and forth with the first fitting portion (33) fitted into the through hole (29), The jig (27) is characterized in that, when the first fitting portion (33) and the second fitting portion (34) are fitted into the through hole (29) and the through hole (26a), the sealing member (26) is positioned relative to the main body (25) so that the cutting blade (18) moving back and forth does not come into contact with the inner surface of the through hole (26a). With this configuration, the seal member can be positioned in the correct position relative to the main body using the jig, preventing damage caused by contact between the cutting blade and the seal member when the device is in operation. Furthermore, the position of the seal member relative to the main body is mechanically determined simply by fitting the first and second fitting portions of the jig into the corresponding through-holes and through-holes, so the seal member can be attached accurately in the correct position in a short time, regardless of the worker's level of skill.

[0007] The second means is a clamped portion (35) provided on the jig (27) that protrudes in a direction intersecting the first fitting portion (33) and the second fitting portion (34), and the clamped portion (35) is clamped between the main body (25) and the seal member (26), and The main body (25) and / or the seal member (26) are characterized in that a recess (26c) for accommodating the clamped portion (35) is formed. According to this configuration, the clamped portion of the jig that is clamped between the main body and the sealing member is accommodated in a recess in the main body and / or the sealing member, so that the position of the sealing surface on the sealing member does not change due to the jig, and the positional relationship with the sealing surface of the other sealing body can be maintained appropriately.

[0008] The third means is that the jig (27) has an insertion hole (27a) formed therein, the insertion hole (27a) being narrower than the dimension of the through hole (29) in the thickness direction of the cutting blade (18), The cutting blade (18) is characterized in that it is configured to move back and forth within the insertion hole (27a) of the jig (27). With this configuration, the insertion hole of the jig is narrower than the through hole of the main body, so the gap between the inner surface of the insertion hole and the cutting blade is small, which prevents packaging debris generated during sealing and cutting from entering the inside of the seal body.

[0009] The fourth means is configured so that the seal bodies (16, 17) facing each other across the conveying path rotate in opposite directions to each other, A plurality of the seal members (26) are arranged on the main body (25) of one of the seal bodies (16) at intervals in the rotational direction, and a cutting blade (18) is arranged corresponding to each seal member (26); The other seal body (17) is characterized in that seal surfaces (24b, 24b) corresponding to the seal members (26) are formed at intervals in the rotational direction. This configuration can accommodate faster packaging speeds and improve packaging capacity.

[0010] The fifth means is characterized in that one sealing body (16) equipped with the cutting blade (18) is configured as an anvil (16), and the other sealing body (17) is configured as a horn (17) that is ultrasonically vibrated by a vibration generating means (20), and the tubular packaging material (10) held between the anvil (16) and the horn (17) is sealed by ultrasonic vibration. According to this configuration, the tubular packaging material is sealed using ultrasonic vibrations, so the sealing member placed on the anvil does not become hot, and maintenance can be performed in a shorter time without waiting for the sealing member to cool down.

[0011] The sixth means is characterized in that the jig (27) is made of a synthetic resin having heat resistance and abrasion resistance. This configuration can extend the service life of the jig and reduce running costs. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, regardless of the skill level of the worker, the sealing member can be attached to the main body with high precision in a short time at a position that ensures an appropriate positional relationship with the cutting blade arranged on the main body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing the end seal device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a main part of an end seal device. [Figure 3] 3 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a main portion of an anvil, showing one of the sealing members, a jig, and a cutting blade in an exploded view. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the main part of the anvil, taken along a longitudinal line at the position of the clamped portion of the jig. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic view of a main part of an anvil cut longitudinally at a position away from a clamped portion of a jig. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a main part showing a state in which a seal member is attached to a main body of the anvil. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the main part showing a state in which a seal member is removed from a main body of the anvil. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the main part showing a state in which a seal member, a jig, and a cutting blade are removed from the main body of the anvil. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Next, a preferred embodiment of the sealing device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment, the sealing device will be described as being used as an end sealing device of a horizontal form-fill-seal machine. [Example]

[0015] The horizontal form-fill-seal machine (packaging machine) comprises a bag-making means that forms a tubular film (tubular packaging material) 10 by folding both longitudinal edge portions of a strip of film (packaging material) pulled out from a raw roll; a supply conveyor that supplies items 11 toward the tubular film 10 at predetermined intervals; a center seal device that applies a center seal to the overlapped portion of the tubular film 10; a film transport means that clamps the overlapped portion of the tubular film 10 and transports the tubular film 10 toward the center seal device; and an end seal device that clamps the tubular film 10 at the front and rear of the items 11 supplied into the tubular film 10 at predetermined intervals, and applies end seals and cuts in the direction intersecting the film transport direction (width direction). In addition, the horizontal form-fill-seal machine is provided with a transport conveyor 12 and an output conveyor 13 at the front and rear of the film transport direction of the end sealing device, which support the item 11 from below via the tubular film 10 and transport it downstream, and is configured so that the product (pillow packaged item) that has been end-sealed and cut and separated from the upstream tubular film 10 is transported to the next process by the output conveyor 13 (see Figure 2).

[0016] 1 and 2, the end sealing device comprises an anvil (one sealing body) 16 disposed on one rotating shaft (first rotating shaft) 14 of a pair of rotating shafts 14, 15 that rotate in opposite directions across the transport path of tubular film 10, a horn (the other sealing body) 17 disposed on the other rotating shaft (second rotating shaft) 15, cutting means 19 disposed on anvil 16 and equipped with cutting blade 18 that cuts tubular film 10, and vibration generating means 20 disposed on second rotating shaft 15. Vibration generating means 20 includes a converter that generates ultrasonic waves and a booster that amplifies the ultrasonic waves, and is configured to ultrasonically vibrate horn 17 at a predetermined amplitude, so that tubular film 10 transported by the film transport means or transport conveyor 12 is clamped between anvil 16 and horn 17 at a predetermined pressure, and end sealing is performed in the width direction using the ultrasonic vibrations. The pair of rotary shafts 14, 15 are rotatably supported by a pair of support members 21a, 21a / 21b, 21b spaced apart in the width direction, and in this embodiment, the anvil 16 is disposed on the lower side and the horn 17 is disposed on the upper side between the pair of support members 21a, 21a / 21b, 21b, with the conveying path sandwiched between them. The rotary shafts 14, 15 on which the anvil 16 and horn 17 are disposed are linked via a transmission mechanism 22 such as a gear mechanism or a chain-sprocket mechanism, and the first rotary shaft 14 is rotationally driven by a drive motor such as a servo motor (not shown), causing the anvil 16 and horn 17 to rotate in opposite directions.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of lower support members 21a, 21a that support the anvil 16 are configured to be movable toward or away from a pair of upper support members 21b, 21b that support the horn 17, and by moving the lower support members 21a, 21a in the vertical direction using a height position adjustment means 23, the distance between sealing surfaces 26b, 24b, described later, between the anvil 16 and the horn 17 can be adjusted.

[0018] 1 and 2, the horn 17 is provided with a plurality of (in the embodiment, two, spaced apart in the rotational direction) radially extending seal portions 24. Each seal portion 24 is formed with a groove 24a recessed radially from the outer circumferential surface and extending in the width direction, and second seal surfaces 24b, 24b that sandwich the tubular film 10 between themselves and first seal surfaces 26b, 26b of the anvil 16 (described later) are formed on both the front and rear sides of the groove 24a in the rotational direction so as to extend linearly in the width direction.

[0019] 1 to 3, the anvil 16 includes a main body 25 disposed on the first rotary shaft 14 and rotating therewith, the cutting means 19 housed in a housing chamber 25a defined inside the main body 25 and movable in the radial direction, seal members 26 detachably fixed to the outer peripheral surface (outer surface) of the main body 25 corresponding to the moving direction of the cutting means 19 and pairing with each seal portion 24 of the horn 17, and a jig 27 for positioning each seal member 26 with respect to the main body 25. The anvil 16 also includes a lid 28 detachably fixed to the main body 25 and closing an opening 25b of the housing chamber 25a. The main body 25 has an arrangement surface (contact surface, outer surface) 25c on which each seal member 26 is arranged, which is formed in an arc shape (arc-like) centered on the rotation axis of the anvil 16, and the outer periphery excluding the arc-shaped portion including both arrangement surfaces 25c, 25c is formed as a flat surface along the movement direction of the cutting means 19. One of the flat surfaces has the opening 25b that opens the storage chamber 25a to the outside, and the lid 28 is detachably fixed thereto. That is, by removing the lid 28 from the main body 25 and opening the opening 25b, access to the storage chamber 25a from the outside is possible. Furthermore, the main body 25 has radially penetrating through-holes 29 formed in the width direction at positions corresponding to the arrangement positions of each seal member 26, and the through-holes 29 allow the cutting blade 18 of the cutting means 19 to move back and forth in the radial direction (reciprocating movement) (see FIG. 9).

[0020] 3 and 7, the sealing member 26 is a block-shaped member extending a predetermined length in the width direction, and the sealing member 26 is fixed to the main body 25 by threading sealing bolts (fixing means) 31, such as hexagon socket head bolts, into threaded holes 32 formed in the main body 25. The sealing bolts 31 are inserted into through holes 30a formed in fixing portions 30 provided on both sides in the width direction. A bottom surface (abutment surface) 26d of the sealing member 26 facing the installation surface 25c of the main body 25 is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the installation surface 25c. In the embodiment, the bottom surface of the sealing member 26 has linear portions formed at both ends in the thickness direction intersecting with the width direction, but the entire bottom surface may be arc-shaped. Furthermore, the sealing member 26 is formed with a radially penetrating elongated hole (through hole) 26a at a position corresponding to the through hole 29 of the main body 25. The elongated hole 26a communicates with the through hole 29 and allows the cutting blade 18 to move back and forth (reciprocate) radially. The sealing member 26 is also formed with two (plural) first sealing surfaces 26b, 26b that form pairs with the two second sealing surfaces 24b, 24b of the horn 17 and extend in the width direction, on both the front and rear sides of the elongated hole 26a in the rotation direction of the anvil 16 (the film feed direction during end sealing), and the elongated hole 26a is open between the first sealing surfaces 26b, 26b. Anvil 16 and horn 17 then rotate relative to tubular film 10 as it is being conveyed, clamping tubular film 10 with a predetermined pressure between sealing surfaces 24b, 26b on both the front and rear sides of tubular film 10, sandwiching articles 11 fed at predetermined intervals into tubular film 10. Ultrasonic vibrations emitted from horn 17 are transmitted to the clamping portion, melting the heat-sealed film and forming a sealed end seal portion that intersects with the conveyance direction of tubular film 10. Although not shown, first sealing surfaces 26b, 26b have seals of a predetermined shape formed to create irregularities in the end seal portion.

[0021] 2 to 6, 8, and 9, the jig 27 includes a first fitting portion 33 that fits into the through-hole 29 of the main body 25 to position the jig 27 relative to the main body 25; a second fitting portion 34 that is connected to the first fitting portion 33, protrudes radially away from the main body 25, and fits into the elongated hole 26a of the seal member 26 to position the seal member 26 relative to the main body 25; and a clamped portion 35 that is clamped between the main body 25 and the seal member 26. The jig 27 is preferably formed from a heat-resistant and abrasion-resistant synthetic resin, such as an engineering plastic such as MC Nylon (registered trademark), but may also be formed from other synthetic resins. The jig 27 also includes a radially penetrating insertion hole 27a that extends in the width direction and communicates with the through-hole 29 of the main body 25 and the elongated hole 26a of the seal member 26. The insertion hole 27a allows the cutting blade 18 to move back and forth radially. The insertion hole 27a extends in the width direction. The insertion hole 27a penetrates the jig 27 in the radial direction and communicates with the through-hole 29 of the main body 25 and the elongated hole 26a of the seal member 26. The insertion hole 27a allows the cutting blade 18 to move back and forth radially. The first fitting portion 33 has a widthwise length and a thickness intersecting the widthwise direction that allow it to be inserted into the through-hole 29 of the main body 25 with almost no gap. The second fitting portion 34 has a widthwise length and a thickness that allow it to be inserted into the elongated hole 26a of the seal member 26 with almost no gap. That is, by attaching the seal member 26 to the main body 25 via a jig 27, the seal member 26 can be mechanically positioned relative to the main body 25 at an appropriate position where the cutting blade 18 does not contact the inner surface of the elongated hole 26a. The second fitting portion 34 in this embodiment is composed of a pair of ridges 34a, 34a that extend in the widthwise direction and are spaced apart in the rotational direction across the insertion hole 27a. The height of the second fitting portion 34 is set so that the second fitting portion 34 does not protrude from the first seal surfaces 26b, 26b when the seal member 26 is attached to the main body 25 via the jig 27.

[0022] 4, 5, 7, and 8, in this embodiment, the clamped portions 35 are provided at two locations spaced apart in the width direction on both sides of the jig 27 in the thickness direction (direction intersecting the width direction), protruding outward (in the direction separating the first seal surfaces 26b, 26b) so as to intersect with the fitting portions 33, 34. The clamped portions 35 are formed in a plate shape and protrude outward linearly from the end side of the second fitting portion 34 where the first fitting portion 33 is connected. When the first fitting portion 33 is fitted into the through hole 29, the clamped portions 35 are located between the opposing surfaces of the main body 25 and the seal member 26, and a portion of the clamped portions 35 abuts against the placement surface 25c of the main body 25, thereby functioning to prevent the entire jig 27 from entering the through hole 29. The seal member 26 has a bottom surface 26d facing the mounting surface 25c, on which a recess 26c capable of accommodating the clamped portion 35 of the jig 27 is formed. The recess 26c is recessed in a direction away from the mounting surface 25c at a position corresponding to the clamped portion 35 of the jig 27. The depth of the recess 26c in the direction away from the mounting surface 25c is set to a dimension such that the clamped portion 35 can be clamped in a housed state between the mounting surface 25c of the main body 25 and the inner surface of the recess 26c when the arc-shaped bottom surface 26d of the seal member 26 abuts against the mounting surface 25c of the main body 25 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The seal member 26 is fixed to the main body 25 with the sealing bolt 31, whereby the jig 27 is positioned and fixed by the main body 25 and the seal member 26.

[0023] 2, a support member 36 is removably disposed on the main body 25 of the anvil 16. The support member 36 is capable of supporting from below the tubular film 10 transported along the transport path as the anvil 16 rotates, and of supporting articles 11 fed into the tubular film 10 from below through the tubular film 10. The support member 36 is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the rotation radius of the anvil 16, so that it extends in the direction of rotation of the anvil 16 on its outer periphery except for the arc-shaped installation surface 25c on which the sealing member 26 is disposed. In other words, the support member 36 is configured to clamp the tubular film 10 between the first sealing surface 26b and the second sealing surface 24b and allow the cutting blade 18 to protrude from the first sealing surface 26b, and to support from below the tubular film 10 and the articles 11 in the tubular film 10 as the anvil 16 rotates, guiding them downstream without hindrance. In this embodiment, a support material 36 is arranged to cover the lid body 28, and is configured so that even when the side of the lid body 28 faces upward due to rotation of the anvil 16, the support material 36 can support the item 11 without causing a significant change in the conveying level of the item 11.

[0024] 2 and 3, the cutting means 19 includes a movable member 37 supported within the housing chamber 25a of the anvil 16 and movable back and forth in the radial direction, and cutting blades 18 detachably fixed to the movable member 37 at positions corresponding to each sealing member 26, and the cutting means 19 is configured so that, as the movable member 37 moves back and forth, the cutting blades 18, 18 pass through the corresponding through holes 29 in the main body 25, the insertion holes 27a in the jig 27, and the elongated holes 26a in the sealing members 26 and protrude from the first sealing surface 26b to cut the tubular film 10. The cutting blades 18 are plate-shaped members of a predetermined thickness, and have an attachment portion 18b provided on the rotation center side of the anvil 16, and a cutting edge portion 18a, on the end away from the rotation center of the anvil 16, that is connected to the attachment portion 18b. The cutting blade 18 is configured such that the attachment portion 18b is detachably positioned and fixed to the moving member 37 by a blade bolt 38 or the like, and the center of the thickness direction of the portion of the cutting edge portion 18a where the blade is not formed and the thickness does not change is approximately aligned with the center of the short side direction (thickness direction of the jig 27) of the insertion hole 27a of the jig 27, and can move forward and backward (reciprocate) in the radial direction within the insertion hole 27a without coming into contact with the jig 27. The blade bolt 38 is positioned to face the opening 25b of the storage chamber 25a, and is configured so that the blade bolt 38 is exposed to the outside when the lid 28 is removed from the main body 25.

[0025] 5, the dimension (inner dimension A) of insertion hole 27a of jig 27 in the short side direction is set to be narrower than the inner dimension (dimension B) of through-hole 29 in the short side direction and slightly larger than the thickness of cutting edge 18a of cutting blade 18, so that there is only a very small gap M between the outer surface of cutting edge 18a inserted into insertion hole 27a and the inner surface of insertion hole 27a. Gap M is a dimension that can prevent article residue or film residue (packaging material residue) generated when article 11 is caught or tubular film 10 is cut from entering storage chamber 25a and preventing lubricating oil and the like in storage chamber 25a from splashing out of storage chamber 25a, and is set to be, for example, 0.2 to 0.3 mm.

[0026] The cutting means 19 is connected to a reciprocating means (driving means) 39 that moves the cutting means 19 back and forth in the radial direction (moving it toward and away from the horn 17), and the reciprocating means 39 causes the moving member 37 to move back and forth in the radial direction of the anvil 16 (see FIGS. 1 and 3). The cutting means 19 is configured so that neither of the cutting blades 18, 18 protrudes from the first seal surfaces 26b, 26b at an intermediate position in the reciprocating direction of the moving member 37, and is configured so that when one cutting blade 18 protrudes from the corresponding first seal surface 26b, the other cutting blade 18 retracts from the side of the elongated hole 26a of the corresponding seal member 26 toward the through hole 29. In addition, the reciprocating means 39 is configured to move the moving member 37 in conjunction with the rotation of the anvil 16 and the horn 17 so that the cutting edge 18a of the cutting blade 18 protrudes from the first sealing surface 26b at the timing when the first sealing surface 26b and the second sealing surface 24b clamp the tubular film 10, thereby cutting the tubular film 10 between the end sealing portions that are spaced apart in the film conveying direction.

[0027] Next, the operation of the end seal device according to the embodiment will be described. When performing maintenance such as replacing the sealing member 26 in a horizontal form-fill-seal machine, the packaging machine is stopped, and the anvil 16 and horn 17 are rotated to move the sealing member 26 to a position where the sealing member 26 and the sealing portion 24 do not engage and the sealing member 26 can be accessed from outside the machine. The sealing bolt 31 is removed, and in that state, the sealing member 26 is moved radially to remove the second fitting portion 34 of the jig 27 from the elongated hole 26a, thereby removing it from the main body 25 (see FIG. 3). When a new sealing member 26 is to be installed, the second fitting portion 34 of the jig 27, whose first fitting portion 33 is fitted into the through-hole 29 and positioned relative to the main body 25, is inserted into the elongated hole 26a, and the new sealing member 26 is attached to the main body 25. By fixing the new sealing member 26 to the main body 25 with the sealing bolt 31, the clamped portion 35 of the jig 27 is clamped between the main body 25 and the new sealing member 26, and the jig 27 and the new sealing member 26 are positioned and fixed relative to the main body 25 (see Figures 3, 5, and 6).

[0028] In the end seal device of the embodiment, the seal member 26 can be positioned in the appropriate position relative to the main body 25 of the anvil 16 by the jig 27, preventing damage caused by contact between the cutting blade 18 and the seal member 26 during operation of the device. Furthermore, the position of the seal member 26 relative to the main body 25 is mechanically determined simply by fitting the first fitting portion 33 and the second fitting portion 34 of the jig 27 into the corresponding through-hole 29 and elongated hole 26a. This allows the seal member 26 to be attached accurately and in the appropriate position in a short time, regardless of the worker's level of skill. Furthermore, because the seal member 26 can be attached while the jig 27 remains attached to the main body 25, the seal member 26 can be attached in the appropriate position with little labor, eliminating the need to attach and detach the jig 27. Furthermore, since the mounting surface 25c on the main body 25 of the anvil 16 and the bottom surface 26d of the sealing member 26 are formed in a corresponding arc shape, the sealing member 26 can be easily positioned along the rotational axis direction of the anvil 16 simply by placing the sealing member 26 on the main body 25 so that the bottom surface 26d abuts against the mounting surface 25c (see Figure 6).

[0029] The end sealing device of the embodiment uses a sealing method that uses ultrasonic vibrations, so the sealing member 26 disposed on the anvil 16 does not become hot, and when performing maintenance on the sealing member 26, there is no need to wait for the sealing member 26 to cool down to a temperature that does not interfere with operation, as is the case with heat sealing methods that use heaters, etc. Maintenance can be started immediately after the packaging machine is stopped, further reducing work time. Furthermore, since the sealing member 26, which requires periodic replacement, does not need to be provided with a positioning part relative to the main body 25, the structure of the sealing member 26 can be simplified, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0030] In the end seal device of the embodiment, the clamped portion 35 of the jig 27, which is clamped between the main body 25 and the sealing member 26, is accommodated in a recess 26c formed in the sealing member 26, as shown in Figure 5.Therefore, the position of the first sealing surface 26b of the sealing member 26 is not changed radially by the jig 27, and the positional relationship with the second sealing surface 24b of the horn 17 can be maintained properly even after maintenance, allowing a proper end seal to be applied to the tubular film 10. Furthermore, first fitting portion 33 of jig 27 is fitted into through hole 29 provided in main body 25 to allow movement of cutting blade 18, and cutting blade 18 moves without contact within insertion hole 27a provided in jig 27 and narrower than through hole 29. This leaves a small gap between the inner surface of insertion hole 27a and cutting blade 18, preventing article waste, film waste, and the like generated during end seal cutting from entering storage chamber 25a, which houses the mechanism for driving cutting blade 18, and preventing malfunction of cutting blade 18. Furthermore, because the gap between the inner surface of insertion hole 27a and cutting blade 18 is small, it is possible to prevent lubricating oil and the like from splashing from within storage chamber 25a through the gap to the outside, preventing contamination of the surrounding area and packaged products.

[0031] In the end sealing device of the embodiment, the anvil 16 and horn 17, which rotate in opposite directions, are provided with two pairs of sealing members 26 and sealing units 24 spaced apart in the rotational direction to end seal and cut the tubular film 10. This allows the anvil 16 and horn 17 to end seal and cut the tubular film 10 twice with one rotation of the anvil 16 and horn 17, enabling faster packaging and improving packaging capacity. Furthermore, the jig 27 for positioning the sealing member 26 relative to the body 25 of the anvil 16 is formed from a heat-resistant and abrasion-resistant synthetic resin, thereby extending the service life of the jig 27 and reducing running costs. Furthermore, a jig 27 made of abrasion-resistant synthetic resin has the advantage that even if it comes into contact with the cutting blade 18, problems such as damage to the cutting blade 18 or scraping of the jig 27 are less likely to occur.

[0032] (Example of change) The present invention is not limited to the configurations of the examples, and can be modified as follows, for example: Furthermore, the configurations described in the examples are not limited to the following modifications, and various embodiments can be adopted within the scope of the gist of the present invention. (1) In the embodiment, the sealing method is based on ultrasonic vibration, but a heat sealing method using a heater or the like may also be used. (2) In the embodiment, two sealing members 26 are arranged on the anvil 16, spaced apart in the rotational direction. However, the number of sealing members 26 is not limited to two, and one or three or more sealing members may be arranged spaced apart in the rotational direction. The number of cutting blades 18 arranged on the moving member 37 and the number of sealing portions 24 provided on the horn 17 may correspond to the number of sealing members 26 arranged. (3) In the embodiment, a rotary type sealing device is used, but a box motion type sealing device in which opposing sealing bodies approaching and moving away from each other while clamping tubular film 10 may also be used. (4) In the embodiment, the clamped portion 35 of the jig 27 is shaped to protrude linearly outward, but the clamped portion 35 may also be shaped in an arc that follows the arrangement surface 25c of the main body 25. (5) In the embodiment, the clamped portion 35 of the jig 27 is configured to be housed in the recess 26c formed in the seal member 26. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the clamped portion 35 is housed in a recess formed in the main body 25 so as not to protrude from the mounting surface 25c. Also, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which recesses are formed facing each other on the opposing surfaces of the seal member 26 and the main body 25, and the clamped portion 35 is housed in a space defined by both recesses and clamped by the opposing surfaces of the recesses. In other words, it is only necessary that the clamped portion 35 be configured to be housed in a recess formed in one or both of the seal member 26 and the main body 25. (6) In the embodiment, two clamped portions 35 of the jig 27 are provided spaced apart in the width direction, but the number of clamped portions 35 may be one or three or more, and the number and positions of the recesses 26c provided in the sealing member 26 and / or main body 25 may correspond to the number and positions of the clamped portions 35. (7) In the embodiment, the sealing member 26 is fixed to the main body 25 by the sealing bolt 31. However, the fixing means for fixing the sealing member 26 is not limited to a configuration in which it is attached and detached using a tool such as a bolt or a screw, and various known means can be used, such as various locking mechanisms that can be switched between a locked state and an unlocked state without using a tool. (8) In the embodiment, the jig 27 is configured to clamp the clamped portion 35 between the main body 25 and the sealing member 26 and fix it, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the jig 27 without the clamped portion 35 is fixed to the main body 25 or the sealing member 26 by a fixing means such as a bolt. (9) In the embodiment, the case where only the seal member 26 is removed from the main body 25 when replacing the seal member 26 has been described. However, the jig 27 may also be removed from the main body 25. That is, after the seal member 26 and the jig 27 are removed from the main body 25 either together or individually, the jig 27 and the new seal member 26 may be attached to the main body 25 in order and individually. Alternatively, the new seal member 26 integrated with the jig 27 may be attached to the main body 25 by fitting the second fitting portion 34 into the elongated hole 26a and inserting the first fitting portion 33 of the jig 27 into the through hole 29 of the main body 25. (10) A configuration can be adopted in which the anvil 16 is disposed above the conveying path and the horn 17 is disposed below. (11) The present invention can be used as an end sealing device for a vertical form-fill-seal machine. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 10 cylindrical film (cylindrical packaging material), 16 anvil (one sealing body) 17 Horn (other seal body), 18 Cutting blade, 20 Vibration generating means 24b second seal surface (seal surface), 25 main body, 26 seal member, 26a elongated hole (through hole) 26b first seal surface (seal surface), 26c recess, 27 jig, 27a insertion hole 29 through hole, 33 first fitting part, 34 second fitting part, 35 clamped part 39 Reciprocating means (driving means)

Claims

1. A sealing device that clamps a tubular packaging material between sealing surfaces of sealing bodies that face each other across a conveying path of the tubular packaging material and seals the material in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the packaging material, a sealing member that is detachably disposed on the main body of one of the sealing bodies, the sealing member having a plurality of sealing surfaces that are spaced apart in the packaging material conveyance direction, and through holes that open between the sealing surfaces and are formed to communicate with through holes formed in the main body; a cutting blade disposed on the main body, which is moved toward and away from the other sealing body by a driving means, and which protrudes from the through hole of the sealing member to cut the tubular packaging material; a jig having a first fitting portion that fits into the through hole of the main body and a second fitting portion that fits into the through hole of the seal member, and allowing the cutting blade to move back and forth in a state in which the first fitting portion is fitted into the through hole, The jig is configured to position the sealing member relative to the main body at a position where the cutting blade, which moves back and forth, does not come into contact with the inner surface of the through hole when the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are fitted into the through hole and the through hole. A sealing device characterized by:

2. The jig is provided with a clamped portion that protrudes in a direction intersecting the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion, and the clamped portion is clamped between the main body and the seal member, 2. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein a recess for accommodating the clamped portion is formed in the main body and / or the sealing member.

3. The jig has an insertion hole formed therein that is narrower than the dimension of the through hole in the thickness direction of the cutting blade, 2. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting blade is configured to move back and forth within the insertion hole of the jig.

4. The seal bodies facing each other across the conveying path are configured to rotate in opposite directions to each other, a plurality of the seal members are disposed on the main body of the one seal body at intervals in the rotational direction, and a cutting blade is disposed corresponding to each seal member; 2. The seal device according to claim 1, wherein the other seal body has seal surfaces formed thereon in correspondence with the seal members, the seal surfaces being spaced apart in the rotational direction.

5. The sealing device according to claim 1, characterized in that one sealing body equipped with the cutting blade is configured as an anvil, and the other sealing body is configured as a horn that is ultrasonically vibrated by a vibration generating means, and the tubular packaging material held between the anvil and the horn is sealed by ultrasonic vibration.

6. 6. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the jig is made of a synthetic resin having heat resistance and abrasion resistance.

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