Tape conveyance device and tape conveyance method

Abstract

To provide a tape conveyance device and a tape conveyance method capable of conveying a tape piece so that a portion between a tape cut position and a sticking position is surely sucked and held in a tape holding area of a tape conveyor belt, even if the tape piece has a short conveyance direction length.SOLUTION: The tape conveyance device comprises: the tape conveyor belt having a suction hole in the tape holding area; and a vacuum box having an internal space that is in a negative pressure state. The tape conveyor belt is arranged so that the tape piece obtained at the tape cut position is sucked to a tape sucking area in the tape holding area subjected to a negative pressure of the vacuum box via the suction hole and conveyed to a position to be stuck to a blank. The tape conveyor belt is configured of a first belt conveyor roll, where one side wall of the vacuum box approaches the tape cut position, and a groove is formed on an outer peripheral surface, extending over an entire periphery in a peripheral direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tape feeding device and a tape feeding method for supplying waterproof tape to a blank in a taping edge processing device that covers the edge of a blank for forming a paper container such as a paper cup with waterproof tape. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, the material for paper containers such as paper cups has been a paper laminate, in which a resin layer is laminated as a water-blocking layer on the surface of the base paper (paper substrate) that faces the inside of the container, because base paper alone has poor water resistance and gas barrier properties. The inverted truncated cone-shaped body of a paper cup is formed by rolling up a blank punched into a fan shape, overlapping it so that one side edge (the adhesive part) is on the inside and the other side edge is on the outside, and gluing them together liquid-tightly.However, it is known that the edge surface of one side edge of the blank that will be on the inside side is treated so that the base paper is not exposed and water resistance is ensured. An example of edge treatment is edge treatment in which separately prepared strips of waterproof tape are attached to both the front and back sides of the side edges of the blank to cover the edge surfaces (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

[0003] However, when performing edge processing in which strips of tape are attached to the side edges of a blank, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, it is difficult to attach the tape to the surface of the side edge of the blank quickly and with high precision, and attachment defects such as wrinkling or curling of the tape may occur. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 57-063241 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-157526 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 5211849 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] On the other hand, a device such as that shown in FIG. 10 can be considered as a tape joining mechanism for joining strips of tape together at high speed and with high precision. The tape bonding mechanism 530 in Figure 10 includes a tape cutting unit 532 that cuts uncut tape unwound from a tape roll (not shown) in the tape width direction perpendicular to the tape transport direction at a tape cutting position C to obtain tape pieces T, a tape transport device 600 that transports the tape pieces T obtained by the tape cutting unit 532 along a tape transport path from the tape cutting position C to a bonding position P where the tape pieces T are bonded to a blank B, and a bonding unit 533 that bonds the tape pieces T to the blank B. The tape transport device 600 includes a tape transport belt 610 that is stretched around a plurality of belt transport rolls and driven to circulate, and a vacuum box 650 that is disposed on the inner periphery of the tape transport belt 610 and has an internal space that is under negative pressure. Although the tape piece T does not have adhesive properties to the tape transport belt 610, suction holes are formed in the tape transport belt 610, and the tape piece T can be adsorbed to the tape transport belt 610 by the application of negative pressure from the vacuum box 650 through the suction holes, thereby allowing the tape piece T to be transported while being adsorbed to the tape transport belt 610. When the tape piece T is cut, that is, when the upper end of the tape piece T is positioned at the tape cutting position C, at least the lower end of the tape piece T is adsorbed and held by the tape transport belt 610, and therefore the tape piece T can be transported without peeling off from the tape transport belt 610 or shifting position.

[0006] However, in such a tape transport device 600, if the length of the tape piece T in the transport direction is short, there is a risk that the tape piece T may not be reliably attracted and held by the tape transport belt 610. Specifically, if the tape cutting unit 532 is positioned to cut the tape in a section of the tape transport path where the tape is transported vertically downward, and the tape transport belt 610 is also positioned to transport the tape piece T along the vertical direction in the tape transport path, if the length of the tape piece T in the transport direction is short, the upper end of the tape piece T may be cut off from the original tape, and the lower end of the tape piece T may not be adsorbed and held by the tape transport belt 610.In this case, there is a concern that the tape piece T may deviate from the tape transport path due to free fall, etc. This is because the vacuum box 650 is disposed on the inner periphery of the tape transport belt 610, and therefore, from the tape cut position C to the tape adsorption area where the negative pressure of the vacuum box 650 acts (i.e., to the position corresponding to the uppermost end of the slit 658 of the vacuum box 650), the belt transport roll 620 is inevitably present in the tape transport path, resulting in the existence of a tape non-adsorption section N. Even if the belt transport roll 620 is configured as a vacuum roll, the belt transport roll 620 needs to have a certain diameter, and therefore a tape non-adsorption section of a certain length is still formed between the apex of the belt transport roll 620 facing the tape transport path and the vacuum box 650. As a result, there is a risk that the tape piece T may deviate from the tape transport path and fall before being adsorbed to the tape transport belt 610, or, even if it does not fall, it may not be held in the intended holding position and may be transported in a misaligned state. If the diameter of the belt transport roll 620 is made larger, the distance between the belt transport roll 620 and the tape transport belt 610 can be made closer due to the radius of curvature, and it may be possible to obtain a small suction force from the vacuum force of the belt transport roll 620. However, in this case, the tape cutting position C will have to be placed farther away due to the mechanical layout, and it will still not be possible to transport short pieces of tape T. Immediately after being cut at the tape cutting position C, the upper end of the tape piece T is held only by a roll (not shown) provided above the tape cutting position C, and its lower end is free and flapping about. In order to adsorb and hold the tape piece T in such a state on the tape conveying belt 610 in the desired position, sufficient suction force is required, but the belt conveying roll 620 configured as described above does not currently have sufficient suction force. For this reason, the conventional tape transport device 600 could only transport tape pieces T having a length of, for example, 60 mm or more.

[0007] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a tape transport device and tape transport method that can transport even a piece of tape that is short in length in the transport direction while reliably adsorbing and holding it in the tape holding area of ​​the tape transport belt from the tape cutting position to the joining position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The tape transport device of the present invention is a tape transport device that supplies tape pieces cut to a length corresponding to an adhesive portion of a blank transported along a transport path in synchronization with a transport speed of the blank, in order to attach tape to an adhesive portion of the blank transported along a transport path, a tape transport belt that is stretched around a plurality of belt transport rolls and driven to rotate, and that has suction holes in a tape holding area; and a vacuum box that is disposed on the inner circumferential side of the tape transport belt and has an internal space that is kept in a negative pressure state; the tape transport belt is arranged so as to adsorb the tape pieces obtained by cutting the uncut tape unwound from the raw tape at a tape cutting position to a tape adsorption area in the tape holding area where the negative pressure of the vacuum box acts through the adsorption holes, and transport the tape along the tape transport path from the tape cutting position to a joining position where the tape is joined to the blank; One side wall of the vacuum box adjacent to the tape cutting position is formed by a first belt conveying roll adjacent to the tape cutting position among the plurality of belt conveying rolls, The first belt transport roll is characterized in that grooves extending over the entire circumference in a circumferential direction are formed in the outer peripheral surface of the first belt transport roll in a state facing the suction holes of the tape transport belt.

[0009] A tape transport method of the present invention is a tape transport method in which a tape transport device is used to supply a tape piece cut to a length corresponding to a bonding portion of a blank transported along a transport path in synchronization with a transport speed of the blank, in order to apply tape to a bonding portion of the blank transported along a transport path, the tape transport device includes a tape transport belt that is stretched around a plurality of belt transport rolls and driven to circulate, the tape transport belt having suction holes in a tape holding area, and a vacuum box that is disposed on the inner circumferential side of the tape transport belt and has an internal space that is kept under negative pressure; the tape transport belt of the tape transport device is arranged so as to be able to adsorb a tape piece obtained by cutting an uncut tape unwound from a tape roll at a tape cutting position to a tape adsorption area in the tape holding area where a negative pressure of the vacuum box acts through the adsorption holes, and transport the tape along a tape transport path from the tape cutting position to a joining position where the tape is joined to the blank; one side wall of the vacuum box of the tape transport device that is adjacent to the tape cutting position is formed by a first belt transport roll that is adjacent to the tape cutting position among the plurality of belt transport rolls, the first belt transport roll of the tape transport device has grooves formed on its outer circumferential surface, the grooves extending over the entire circumferential direction in a state facing the suction holes of the tape transport belt, When the tape is cut at the tape cutting position, at least the leading end of the resulting tape piece in the tape transport direction is positioned within the tape adsorbable area of ​​the tape transport belt. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the tape transport device of the present invention, one side wall of the vacuum box adjacent to the tape cutting position is formed by a first belt transport roll that stretches the tape transport belt, and a groove extending around the entire circumference is formed on the outer surface of the first belt transport roll facing the suction holes of the tape transport belt.As a result, the desired negative pressure state inside the vacuum box is maintained, and the groove of the first belt transport roll is connected to the inside of the vacuum box.Through this groove, the negative pressure of the vacuum box can be applied to the tape holding area via the suction holes of the tape transport belt that face the groove of the first belt transport roll.As a result, the tape adsorption area in the tape holding area can be expanded in the direction approaching the tape cutting position.As a result, even if the tape piece is short in length in the transport direction, the tape piece obtained when cut from the original tape can be reliably adsorbed and held in the tape adsorption area of ​​the tape transport belt without misalignment and passed on.As a result, the tape can be transported by the tape transport belt from the tape cutting position to the joining position.

[0011] Furthermore, in the tape transport device of the present invention, if the distance between the second belt transport roll adjacent to the first belt transport roll downstream in the belt transport direction and the vacuum box is less than the length of the tape piece in the transport direction, the tape piece T can be maintained in a state of being adsorbed and held in at least one of the tape adsorption area where the negative pressure of the vacuum box acts and the tape adsorption area where the negative pressure of the second belt transport roll acts.Therefore, even if the tape piece has a short length in the transport direction, it can be reliably transferred between the two tape adsorption areas without any positional misalignment, and as a result, the tape piece can be transported by the tape transport belt to the joining position. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing a state in which a tape piece is adhered to a blank, in which (a) is a plan view and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX. [Figure 2]1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a taping edge surface processing apparatus including a tape transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing a state in which a piece of tape has been adhered to the front surface of a blank, where (a) is a plan view and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY. [Figure 4] 1 is a side view showing a main part of a tape transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 5A is a developed view of the tape transport belt of the tape transport device of FIG. 4, and FIG. 5B is an enlarged cross section taken along line AA. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a vacuum box of the tape transport device of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front view of the vacuum box of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the vacuum box taken along line BB in FIG. 6. [Figure 9] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the vacuum box of FIG. 6 taken along line CC. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a tape transport device according to a conventional example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0014] The tape feeding device of the present invention is a tape application edge processing device for continuously and automatically performing edge processing to cover the edge of a blank, which is the material for a paper container such as a paper cup, with a piece of tape, and transports the tape piece cut at the tape cutting position to the bonding position where it is bonded to the blank. The edge processing of the blank is performed for the purpose of preventing the base paper from being exposed at the edge of the adhesive part of the blank that will be located on the inner surface of the container, thereby suppressing liquid penetration from the blank edge and ensuring high water resistance of the container.

[0015] [Tape-applying edge processing device] As shown in Figure 1, the tape application edge surface processing device 100 equipped with the tape conveying device 200 of the present invention performs edge surface processing by using the side edge of a blank B as an adhesive part and applying a long piece of tape T to it to cover the end face E of the side edge. As shown in FIG. 2, the tape application edge surface processing apparatus 100 includes a transport mechanism 101 that transports the blank B along a transport path, a blank heating mechanism 120 that performs a blank heating step of heating the side edge of the blank B, and a tape application mechanism 130 that performs a tape application step of applying a half (hereinafter referred to as the "left half") T1 consisting of approximately half of the width direction of a pre-cut tape piece T to an adhesive end region A1 of the side edge on the front (one side) of the blank B, as shown in FIG. the tape folding mechanism 150 for performing a tape folding step of folding back the remaining half (hereinafter referred to as the "right half") T2 of the tape piece T protruding from the side edge F on the front side of the blank B to the back side (other side) along the side edge F of the blank B; a first welding section 160 for performing a first welding step of temporarily fastening the folded tape piece T to the adhesive end region A2 on the other side of the blank B; and a second welding section 170 for performing a second welding step of welding the entire surface of the folded tape piece T.

[0016] The blank heating mechanism 120, tape joining mechanism 130, tape temporary fastening mechanism 140, tape folding mechanism 150, first welding unit 160, and second welding unit 170 are arranged from the upstream side along a linear transport path, and each step of the tape joining edge face processing method is performed at each location as the blank B is transported. Furthermore, the blank heating mechanism 120, tape joining mechanism 130, tape temporary fastening mechanism 140, tape folding mechanism 150, first welding unit 160, and second welding unit 170 are controlled to operate in conjunction with each other during intermittent transport by the transport mechanism 101. This allows the tape joining edge face processing device 100 to continuously perform edge face processing by covering the edge face E of the side end of the blank B with a piece of tape T. The speed at which the end face of the blank B is processed by the taping end face processing device 100 of this embodiment is set to 120 to 180 sheets / min, and preferably, for example, 150 sheets / min or more. According to the edge processing described above, basically, the tape piece T is attached to the side edge of the blank B on both the front and back sides, covering the edge E, thereby preventing the base paper from being exposed at the edge E and ensuring the desired water resistance. Furthermore, even when the edge processing of the blank B is performed at high speed, this can be done continuously, automatically, and with high precision, preventing the occurrence of bonding defects such as wrinkling and curling of the tape, and the tape piece T can be folded back to the back side while the blank B is being transported. Therefore, the edge processing of the blank B with the tape piece T can be performed in a short time and with a high yield.

[0017] 〔blank〕 The blank B to which the tape pieces T are supplied is used to form the body of a paper cup, for example, and has a fan shape in plan view, as shown in Fig. 1(a). A fan shape is a shape obtained by cutting a single ring by two straight lines that extend radially from a center point (the center of the fan) and form an acute angle with each other, and in the tape application edge surface processing device 100 of this embodiment, strip-shaped tape pieces T are applied to the side edge formed by the straight lines.

[0018] The blank B can be obtained by punching out a paper laminate 1 into a predetermined shape. As shown in FIG. 1(b), the paper laminate 1 is formed by forming resin layers 3, 3, which serve as water-stopping layers, on both surfaces of the base paper 2, which is the main material. From the viewpoint of imparting water resistance to the paper container finally manufactured by assembling the blank B, this resin layer 3 only needs to be formed on the side that will become the inner surface of the container. The paper laminate 1 may also have a laminated structure of three or more layers, and each resin layer 3 may be made of a different resin material. Furthermore, for example, a barrier layer made of a metal vapor deposition layer, a printed layer, an adhesive layer, etc. may also be provided.

[0019] The thickness of the blank B (thickness of the paper laminate 1) is, for example, 150 to 450 μm. Furthermore, the thickness of the resin layer 3 is a thickness that exhibits heat sealing properties when the blanks B are thermally bonded together to assemble the paper container, and can be, for example, in the range of 10 to 80 μm, and the thickness can be set according to the target areas to be bonded.

[0020] As the base paper 2, various known base papers can be used depending on the shape of the paper container, the desired strength, etc. Base paper 2 has a basis weight of 150 to 330 g / m 2 It is preferable to use one in the range of

[0021] Various known water-resistant resin materials can be used as the resin material for forming the resin layer 3. Also preferred are materials that combine water resistance and heat-sealing properties, such as polyolefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyvinyl alcohol resins, acrylic acid resins, methacrylic acid resins, vinyl chloride resins, polyvinylidene chloride resins, vinyl acetate resins, polyurethane resins, polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide resins such as nylon 6 and nylon 6,6, polystyrene resins, phenolic resins, and mixtures thereof. Among these, polyethylene resins are preferred from the viewpoints of water resistance, heat-sealing properties, glass transition temperature, and the like.

[0022] 〔tape〕 The tape piece T to be attached to the side edge of the blank B is made of a film having a surface layer of a resin with heat-sealing properties that allows it to be welded to the blank B, and may be of a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure. The tape piece T is made of a material that does not have adhesiveness at the environmental temperature during transport, and if a force that attracts the tape piece T to the tape transport belt 210 described below is not applied during transport, the tape piece T will not be held by the tape transport belt 210 and will peel off. Specific examples of materials for the tape piece T include polyethylene resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, polypropylene resin, etc. An example of the layer structure of the tape piece T is a polyethylene resin layer (thickness 20 μm) / polyethylene terephthalate resin layer (thickness 12 μm) / polyethylene resin layer (thickness 20 μm). The thickness of the tape piece T is preferably, for example, 25 to 150 μm, taking into consideration the folding property and durability.

[0023] The length of the tape piece T in the conveying direction (hereinafter also referred to as "the length of the tape piece T") is, for example, 30 mm or more, and there is no particular upper limit, but when used to process the end faces of paper containers of general specifications, the upper limit is, for example, 150 mm. The tape conveying device 200 of the present invention can handle tape pieces T having a length that is 125% or more of the length of the tape non-suction section N (see FIG. 4), which will be described in detail later. If the length of the tape piece T is excessive, the entire tape joining mechanism will inevitably become larger and more complex, and if the length of the tape piece T is too small, the upper end of the tape piece T will be separated from the original tape roll, and the lower end of the tape piece T will not be adsorbed and held by the tape conveying belt 210, which may cause the tape piece T to deviate from the tape conveying path due to free fall, etc. The width of the tape piece T is, for example, 5 to 20 mm, and preferably 10 mm. If the width of the tape piece T is too large, the tape folding mechanism will have to be large, and if the width of the tape piece T is too small, it may not be possible to reliably weld the tape piece T to the front and back sides of the side end portions of the blank B. The tape piece T is supplied to the tape joining mechanism 130 as a raw tape in which an uncut, long, narrow tape is wound.

[0024] [Tape bonding mechanism] The tape transport device 200 of the present invention is incorporated into the tape transport unit described below of the tape joining mechanism 130 of the tape joining end surface processing device 100, and transports the tape piece T obtained at the tape cutting position C along the tape transport path from the tape cutting position C to the joining position P where it is joined to the blank B. As shown in Figures 3(a) and (b), the tape joining mechanism 130 supplies a tape piece T cut to a length corresponding to the side end of the blank B at the joining position P so that the conveying direction (longitudinal direction) of the tape piece T coincides with the blank conveying direction, and while conveying the blank B, joins the left half T1 of the tape piece T to the adhesive end area A1 on the front side of the blank B, and puts the right half T2 of the tape piece T in a selvedge state in which it protrudes outward (to the right in Figures 3(a) and (b)) from the side end edge F of the blank B. In this example, the width of the tape piece T is 10 mm, the left half T1 of the tape piece T is 4.7 mm wide, and the remaining right half is 5.3 mm wide. Since the tape pieces T are cut to a length corresponding to the side end of the blank B, even when the specifications of the blank B change, tape of a length corresponding to the blank B can be supplied, and there is no need to change the width size of the raw tape roll when the specifications of the blank B change, resulting in high versatility.

[0025] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the tape bonding mechanism 130 includes a tape transport unit that unwinds uncut tape from a roll of tape (not shown) and transports it along a tape transport path while applying tension using a tension roll or the like as necessary; a tape cutting unit 132 that cuts the tape in the tape width direction perpendicular to the tape transport direction in the tape transport path to obtain tape pieces T; and a bonding unit 133 that is positioned downstream of the tape cutting unit 132 on the tape transport path and bonds the tape pieces T to the adhesive end area A1 on the front side of the blank B.

[0026] [Tape cutting unit] The tape cutting unit 132 is positioned so that it can cut the tape in the section of the tape transport path where the tape is transported vertically downward at tape cutting position C. When the tape is in a vertical position, tension acts in the longitudinal direction of the tape (vertically downward) due to its own weight, which increases the rigidity of the tape and improves the stability of tape transport, thereby stabilizing tape cutting. In the tape cutting unit 132, the tape is cut in the tape width direction, so that the width of the raw tape corresponds to the width of the tape piece T.

[0027] [Tape transport unit] In the tape transport unit, the specific mechanism that unwinds the uncut tape from the original tape and transports it to the tape cutting position C is not particularly limited, and various known mechanisms can be adopted as long as they can transport extremely thin tape along the tape transport path without meandering. The tape transport unit includes a tape transport device 200 that transports the tape piece T from the tape cutting position C to the joining position P along the tape transport path. The tape transport device 200 includes a tape transport belt 210 made of a circulating endless belt, and a vacuum box 250 arranged on the inner periphery side of the tape transport belt 210, the internal space of which is kept under negative pressure.

[0028] The tape transport belt 210 is stretched around a plurality of (three in this embodiment) belt transport rolls 220, 230, and 240 and driven to circulate in one direction (clockwise in FIG. 4). Of the multiple belt transport rolls, the first belt transport roll 220 close to the tape cut position C and the second belt transport roll 230 adjacent to the first belt transport roll 220 on the downstream side in the belt transport direction are arranged so that the apex of the first belt transport roll 220 on the tape transport path side (the right apex in FIG. 4) and the apex of the second belt transport roll 230 on the tape transport path side (the right apex in FIG. 4) are aligned vertically with the tape cut position C. This allows the tape transport belt 210 to be transported vertically downward between these apexes.

[0029] 5, the tape carrier belt 210 has a tape holding layer 216 laminated over the entire periphery of the central region in the width direction of the belt substrate 215, and the area on the tape holding layer 216 is the tape holding region. The length in the width direction of the tape holding layer 216 (the length in the vertical direction in FIG. 5(a)) is preferably equal to or greater than the tape width of the tape piece T to be bonded to the blank B, and in the tape carrier belt 210 of this embodiment, the tape holding layer 216 has the same width as the tape piece T (10 mm in this embodiment). In this embodiment, the width of the belt substrate 215 (the width of the tape carrier belt 210) is 45 mm, the thickness of the belt substrate 215 is 1.2 mm, and the thickness of the tape holding layer 216 is 2.0 mm. The tape holding area is formed with suction holes 211, each consisting of a plurality of through-holes regularly arranged in the belt conveyance direction. The shape of the suction holes 211 is not limited to the circular shape shown in FIG. 5 and may be other shapes. The diameter of the suction holes 211 varies depending on the tape width of the tape piece T, but is, for example, 2 to 6 mm. In the tape conveyance belt 210 of this embodiment, the diameter is 4 mm. If the diameter of the suction holes 211 is too large relative to the tape holding area, the tape piece T may be pulled into the suction holes 211, causing the tape piece T to wrinkle or become misaligned. Furthermore, the tolerance for misalignment in the width direction of the tape conveyance path may be narrowed, reducing the adjustment margin for the entire tape application end face processing device 100. Furthermore, if the diameter of the suction holes 211 is too small, the negative pressure of the vacuum box 250 may not be sufficiently applied to the tape holding area. The distance between the suction holes 211 varies depending on the length of the tape piece T, but is, for example, 4 to 12 mm, and is 8 mm in the tape carrier belt 210 of this embodiment. If the distance between the suction holes 211 is too large, the area in the tape holding region where the tape can be adsorbed becomes short, and depending on the length of the tape piece T, it may not be possible to reliably adsorb and hold the tape piece T on the tape carrier belt 210. Furthermore, if the distance between the suction holes 211 is too small, the strength of the tape carrier belt 210 may be weakened.

[0030] As shown in Figures 6 to 9, the vacuum box 250 has a bottomed, square cylindrical housing 251 with no ceiling wall, and a front wall 252, which is one side wall of the housing 251 adjacent to the tape transport belt 210, and a slit 258 extending in the vertical direction formed at a position corresponding to the suction hole 211 of the tape transport belt 210, and the front wall 252 is arranged so as to follow the tape transport belt 210. The front wall 252 of the housing 251 extends downward further than the opposing rear wall 254, and therefore, the bottom wall 256 of the housing 251 is an inclined wall that slopes downward as it approaches the front wall 252 in a longitudinal cross section, as shown in Fig. 8. By having the housing 251 have such a shape, a space is formed below the rear wall 254 of the housing 251, and the second belt transport roll 230 can be placed in that space, while the bottom end of the slit 258 in the front wall 252, which can apply the negative pressure of the vacuum box 250, can be extended downward. In the vacuum box 250 of this embodiment, the width of the slit 258 (the length in the left-right direction in FIG. 7) is 2 mm, and the length in the vertical direction is 58.7 mm.

[0031] Guide members 252b and 252c that regulate the conveyance direction of the tape conveyor belt 210 are formed on the front wall 252 of the vacuum box 250 so as to protrude forward (to the right in FIG. 4) on both sides in the belt conveyance direction of a conveyance surface 252a that contacts the tape conveyor belt 210. The width of the conveyance surface 252a is set to match the width of the tape conveyor belt 210, and is 45 mm in this embodiment.

[0032] In the tape transport device 200 of the present invention, one side wall (ceiling wall) of the vacuum box 250 that is close to the tape cutting position C is formed by the first belt transport roll 220. In the present invention, one side wall of the vacuum box 250 being formed by the first belt transport roll 220 refers to a state in which, when the first belt transport roll 220 is rotatably installed in place of a part of the wall that should form the housing 251, the negative pressure generated inside the vacuum box 250 is not released and a desired negative pressure state can be maintained inside the vacuum box 250. In this embodiment, at least the part of the vacuum box 250 where the ceiling wall of the housing 251 should be is open, and the clearance between the periphery of this open part and the first belt transport roll 220 is configured to be extremely small at all parts. In this embodiment, the first belt transport roll 220 is fitted into the housing 251, which serves as a substitute for the ceiling wall of the vacuum box 250, and is rotatably held therein. Specifically, the first belt transport roll 220 is fitted into the housing 251 by having a rotation shaft supported in a shaft support groove formed in the upper end of the side walls 253 and 255 that face each other adjacent to the front wall 252 of the housing 251. The upper end of the front wall 252 is located below a roll axis plane that passes through the apex of the first belt transport roll 220 on the tape transport path side, while the upper ends of the rear wall 254 and the side walls 253 and 255 are all located above the roll axis plane. The clearance between the first belt transport roll 220 and the periphery of the upper end of the housing 251 of the vacuum box 250 is preferably as narrow as possible within a range that does not interfere with its rotation or cause any other problems. For example, it is preferably 0.5 mm or less, and particularly preferably 0.2 mm or less.

[0033] The first belt conveying roll 220 functions as one side wall (ceiling wall) of the vacuum box 250 that is closest to the tape cutting position C. Grooves 222 extending all around the circumference are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the roll body 223 of the first belt transport roll 220, which comes into contact with the tape transport belt 210 of the first belt transport roll 220 to move it in a circular motion, in a state facing the suction holes 211 of the tape transport belt 210. Since the grooves 222 extend all around the circumference, negative pressure in the vacuum box 250 can be constantly applied to the tape holding area of ​​the tape transport belt 210 when the first belt transport roll 220 rotates. In this embodiment, the roll width of the roll body 223 of the first belt transport roll 220 is, for example, 45.4 mm, the width (length in the left-right direction in FIG. 7) of the groove 222 is 2 mm, and the depth is 2 mm.

[0034] The tape adsorption-capable region in the tape holding region of the tape transport belt 210 is a region where the negative pressure of the vacuum box 250 acts through the suction holes 211, and specifically, is a region from a position passing through a position R1 (hereinafter also referred to as the "first roll apex position") corresponding to the apex of the first belt transport roll 220 on the tape transport path side (the right apex in FIG. 4) on the tape transport path to a position passing through the bonding position P. If the second belt transport roll 230 is not a vacuum roll, the tape adsorption-capable region is a region from a position passing through the first roll apex position R1 on the tape transport path to a position passing through a position S2 (hereinafter also referred to as the "slit lower end position") corresponding to the lowest end of the slit 258 on the tape transport path. In addition, in the section between the first roll apex position R1 of the tape transport path and the position S1 corresponding to the uppermost end of the slit 258 (hereinafter also referred to as the "slit upper end position"), the groove 222 of the first belt transport roll 220 is connected to the inside of the vacuum box 250, and the negative pressure of the vacuum box 250 can be applied through this groove 222 via the suction hole 211 of the tape transport belt 210 facing the groove 222, so the area on the tape transport belt 210 corresponding to this section is considered to be a tape holding area capable of adsorbing the tape piece T. In addition, in the section between the slit lower end position S2 and a position R2 corresponding to the apex of the second belt transport roll 230 on the tape transport path side (the right apex in Figure 4) (hereinafter also referred to as the "second roll apex position"), the vacuum of the second belt transport roll 230, which is a vacuum roll as described below, can adsorb a lightweight object such as a tape piece T with a small vacuum force even if there is a slight distance between the second belt transport roll 230 and the tape transport belt 210, so the area on the tape transport belt 210 corresponding to this section is also considered to be a tape holding area that can adsorb the tape piece T. In this embodiment, the distance between the first roll apex position R1 and the slit upper end position S1 in the tape transport path is 10.5 mm, and the distance between the slit lower end position S2 and the second roll apex position R2 is 26.8 mm.

[0035] On the other hand, the section in the tape transport path between the tape cut position C and the first roll apex position R1 is a tape non-suction section N in which no supporting or holding force acts on the tape piece T, and the length of this tape non-suction section N (the length in the vertical direction in FIG. 4) is set to 80% or less of the length of the tape piece T. In other words, as described above, the tape transport device 200 of the present invention can accommodate a tape piece T having a length in the transport direction that is 125% or more of the length of the tape non-suction section N. The length of the tape non-adsorption section N is preferably such that when the upper end of the tape piece T is at the tape cutting position C, the lower end of the tape piece T is adsorbed and held within the tape adsorption area of ​​the tape conveying belt 210 for at least 10 mm, preferably at least 15 mm. In this embodiment, the length of the tape non-suction section N is 20 mm. In a tape transport device in which the first belt transport roll and the vacuum box are configured as separate devices, as in the conventional example (FIG. 10), the length of the tape non-suction section N is, for example, 40 mm, and it has been difficult to make the tape non-suction section N any shorter.

[0036] The second belt conveying roll 230, which is adjacent to the first belt conveying roll 220 on the downstream side in the belt conveying direction, is a vacuum roll whose internal space is kept under negative pressure, and has the function of adsorbing the tape piece T to the tape holding area of ​​the tape conveying belt 210 through the suction holes 211 of the tape conveying belt 210.

[0037] In the above-mentioned tape conveying device 200, when the internal space of the vacuum box 250 is brought to a negative pressure state by an appropriate suction mechanism (not shown), a negative pressure acts on an area in the tape holding area corresponding to the slit 258 of the vacuum box 250 via the slit 258 of the vacuum box 250 and the suction hole 211 of the opposing tape conveying belt 210, and the negative pressure of the vacuum box 250 flows through the groove 222 of the first belt conveying roll 220 and acts on an area in the tape holding area corresponding to the groove 222 via the suction hole 211 of the opposing tape conveying belt 210, thereby forming a tape suction area. In this state, when the tape connected from the original tape roll is cut to a fixed length by the tape cutting unit 132 at the tape cutting position C to obtain tape pieces T, the lower end of the tape piece T, which is the leading end in the tape transport direction, is adsorbed and held within the tape adsorption area of ​​the tape transport belt 210, and as the tape transport belt 210 moves in a circular motion, the entire tape piece T is adsorbed and held within the tape adsorption area, and in this state it is transported to the joining position P. The tape pieces T are intermittently transported at an overall transport speed synchronized with that of the blanks B, for example, at 120 to 180 sheets / min.

[0038] [Laminating unit] The bonding unit 133 is configured to include a second belt conveying roll 230, which is a belt conveying roll of the tape conveying belt 210, and a nip roll (not shown) arranged opposite the second belt conveying roll 230, which is a driving roll, and which is rotated in synchronization with the second belt conveying roll 230 so as to move in the same direction at the bonding point. The lamination position P for the blank B is a position facing the second belt transport roll 230 and a nip roll that is disposed opposite the second belt transport roll and is driven to rotate.

[0039] In the tape bonding mechanism 130, the uncut tape is transported in the longitudinal direction and cut in the tape width direction of the tape, and the cut tape piece T is also transported in the longitudinal direction while being supplied along the side edge F of the blank B. The transport speed of the tape piece T is synchronized with the transport speed of the blank B by the transport mechanism 101, so that the blank B heated by the blank heating mechanism 120 and the tape piece T are stacked and sandwiched between the tape transport belt 210 on the second belt transport roll 230 and the nip roll, and at the bonding position P, the left half T1 of the tape piece T comes into contact with the adhesive end region A1 on the front side of the blank B in a heated state, and due to pressure bonding, the resin layer 3 of the blank B is melted to a bondable state, allowing the tape piece T to be bonded to this adhesive end region A1. With this tape joining mechanism 130, the conveying speed of the tape piece T and the conveying speed of the blank B are the same at the joining position P, and the conveying amounts of the blank B and the tape piece T are the same. Therefore, the blank B and the tape piece T are brought into contact while moving at the same speed, and joining can be performed while suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles and misalignment in the tape piece T even under high-speed operation. Here, to explain the positional relationship of the second belt conveying roll 230 and the nip roll relative to the thickness of the blank B and the tape piece T, the thickness of the blank B is approximately 0.4 mm, the thickness of the tape piece T is approximately 0.05 mm, and the gap between the second belt conveying roll 230 and the nip roll is approximately 0.45 mm. In this embodiment, the second belt conveying roll 230 and the nip roll are positioned such that a gap of a size corresponding to the thickness of the tape piece T is therebetween, but the nip roll may also be positioned in a state in which it presses the drive roll 126 to apply an appropriate nip pressure.

[0040] The area to be joined to the blank B by the tape joining mechanism 130 varies depending on the specific specifications of the paper cup, etc., but is generally a central area of ​​the side edge of the blank B, leaving both the upstream and downstream ends in the blank transport direction. In this embodiment, the edge areas to which the tape piece T is not joined are areas, for example, with a length t1 in the blank transport direction of approximately 5 mm±1 mm. In other words, the length h of the tape piece T cut by the tape cutting unit 132 is shorter than the length of the side edge of the blank B, minus the length of the edge area to which the tape piece T is not joined. If the positional accuracy of the lamination is low, the end face covering effect may not be properly obtained, curling may be hindered when assembling blank B, and the appearance may be impaired. The end regions are not exposed inside the container because they become the curled portion of the opening or the bottom portion when the blank B is assembled.

[0041] The specific amount of protrusion of the tape piece T outward from the adhesive end region A1 on the front side of the blank B varies slightly depending on the width of the tape piece T, but it is sufficient that it is securely attached to the front and back surfaces of the side end portions of the blank B and covers the end face E, and for example, it is preferably 20 to 80% of the width of the tape piece T after deducting the length of the end face E, and more preferably 50%. While the present embodiment has been described above as a configuration in which the tape piece T is attached to most of one side edge of the blank B, covering both the front and back surfaces, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a configuration in which a short piece of tape T is attached only to the curled portion where the blanks are attached to each other may be used to reduce the amount of tape piece T used. Furthermore, in the tape feeding device and tape feeding method of the present invention, the tape piece T is not limited to being supplied to the side edge of the blank B and attached thereto, but can be supplied to any location on the blank B and attached thereto.

[0042] The specific method of adhering the tape pieces T to the blanks B in the laminating unit 133 is not limited to the method of pressure bonding using two rolls, and various known methods can be adopted. For example, a method using a seal bar (hot plate) or a method using ultrasonic waves may be adopted. Furthermore, depending on the welding method adopted, welding can be performed while the blanks B are stationary, rather than while they are being conveyed.

[0043] Hereinafter, other devices provided in the taping edge surface processing device 100 of this embodiment will be described.

[0044] [Transport mechanism] The conveying mechanism 101 conveys the blanks B continuously and intermittently in one direction, specifically conveying the blanks B linearly so that the longitudinal direction (direction in which the side edges F extend) of the end faces E of the side ends of the blanks B that are to undergo end face processing coincides with the blank conveying direction. The conveying mechanism 101 also has a conveying lane 102, and preferably supports and conveys the blanks B by supporting their central portions so that the side ends of the blanks B that are to undergo end face processing are suspended in midair, with, for example, 35 to 50 mm of the end faces E of the blanks B protruding outward from the conveying lane 102. In the transport mechanism 101 according to the present embodiment, a transport method using a belt conveyor with vacuum suction is adopted, but the specific transport method is not particularly limited as long as it is a method that can achieve the desired intermittent transport, and various known configurations can be adopted. For example, a transport method in which the workpiece is clamped by a clamping member may be adopted.

[0045] [Blank heating mechanism] The blank heating mechanism 120 heats the front and back surfaces of the side end portions of the blank B, thereby increasing the temperature of the entire blank B and melting the resin layer 3 on the front and back surfaces of the side end portions of the blank B. Specifically, the blank heating mechanism 120 is configured to include a heating unit 121 that heats the front side of the side end of the blank B, and a heating unit 126 that heats the back side of the side end of the blank B, both of which are provided on the transport path of the side end of the blank B. By simultaneously heating the front and back sides of the side end of the blank B, a sufficient amount of heat is applied to the side end of the blank B, even when the edge surface of the blank B is processed at high speed, making it possible to reliably raise the temperature of the blank B, and allowing the tape piece T to be reliably bonded to the blank B in the subsequent tape bonding mechanism 130. These heating sections 121, 126 are arranged on the conveying path at the side end of the blank B so as to be in a non-contact state with the blank B, thereby enabling the blank B to be heated simply by conveying it in the conveying direction and stopping it at a predetermined position. Specifically, the heating sections 121, 126 consist of hot air heaters, with multiple tiny hot air ports that blow out hot air arranged along a length approximately equal to the longitudinal direction of the side end of blank B, spaced 3 to 8 mm from each of the front and back surfaces of the side end of blank B. In the blank heating mechanism 120, the area including the adhesive end areas A1 and A2 on the front and back sides of the side end of the blank B to which the tape pieces T are attached needs to be heated to a predetermined temperature, for example, an area 10 mm inward from the side edge F is heated. The temperature of the hot air from the heating unit 121 facing the front surface of the blank B can be, for example, 440°C, and the temperature of the hot air from the heating unit 126 facing the back surface of the blank B can be, for example, 300°C. The temperatures of the heating units 121, 126 for the front and back surfaces of the blank B may be the same, but because the tape piece T is bonded to the front surface of the side edge of the blank B in the tape bonding mechanism 130 described below, it is preferable to set the temperature of the heating unit 121 facing the front surface of the blank B higher. If the temperatures of the heating units 121, 126 are excessively high, there is a risk that the resin forming the resin layer 3 will foam due to the moisture in the base paper 2 of the blank B. The specific heating method of the blank B in the blank heating mechanism 120 is not limited to a method using hot air, and various known configurations can be adopted as long as it can heat the front and back surfaces of the side end portion of the blank B to a predetermined temperature. For example, a heating method using a direct flame plate may be adopted.

[0046] [Tape temporary fastening mechanism] The tape temporary fastening mechanism 140 is disposed between the tape joining mechanism 130 and the tape folding mechanism 150, and temporarily fastens the tape piece T to the surface side of the blank B in order to prevent the tape piece T from peeling off from the blank B in the tape folding mechanism 150 described below, or to improve the folding accuracy of the tape piece T. The tape piece T can be temporarily fastened by welding the left half T1 of the tape piece T to at least a part of the upstream side in the blank conveyance direction (blank leading edge side) of the adhesive end region A1 on the front side of the blank B. In other words, at least the leading edge side in the blank conveyance direction of the left half T1 of the tape piece T can be welded to the blank leading edge side of the adhesive end region A1 on the front side of the blank B. The tape piece T may be temporarily fastened over the entire adhesive end region A1, that is, over the entire left half T1 of the tape piece T.

[0047] Specifically, the tape temporary fastening mechanism 140 is configured to include an upper seal bar 141 that can move up and down and is provided on the transport path of the side end of the blank B, and that heats the front side of the side end of the blank B, and a fixed lower seal bar 146 that heats the back side of the side end of the blank B. The upper seal bar 141 and the lower seal bar 146 each have a size corresponding to the area of ​​the left half T1 of the tape piece T to be temporarily fastened. By lowering the upper seal bar 141 while the blank B is stopped in a predetermined position, a predetermined area where the tape piece T on the side edge of the blank B should be temporarily fastened is sandwiched between the upper seal bar 141 and the lower seal bar 146, thereby enabling the temporary fastening process. When the upper seal bar 141 is in the raised position, the space between the upper seal bar 141 and the lower seal bar 146 becomes a transport path for the side edge of the blank B, allowing the blank B to pass through. The temperature of the upper seal bar 141 can be, for example, 130°C, and the temperature of the lower seal bar 146 can be, for example, 60°C. The temperatures of the seal bars 141, 146 are preferably set so that the temperature of the upper seal bar 141 is higher, since the tape piece T is temporarily fastened to the surface side of the side edge of the blank B. If the temperature of the lower seal bar 146 is excessively high, there is a risk that the blank B will stick to the lower seal bar 146. The temperatures of the seal bars 141, 146 may be set higher, as long as problems such as the tape piece T or blank B sticking to them do not occur. In addition to temperature control, the surfaces of the seal bars 141, 146 that come into contact with the blank B and tape piece T are subjected to an adhesion surface treatment such as fluororesin processing in order to prevent the resin layers of the blank B and tape piece T from sticking to these seal bars 131, 136. The specific method of welding the tape piece T to the blank B in the tape temporary fastening mechanism 140 is not limited to a method using a seal bar (hot plate), and various known configurations can be used as long as the tape piece T can be temporarily fastened to the blank B. For example, a pressure bonding method using a fixing roll or an ultrasonic method may be used. Furthermore, depending on the welding method used, welding can be performed while the blank B is being conveyed, rather than while the conveyance of the blank B is stagnant.

[0048] [Tape folding mechanism] The tape folding mechanism 150 has an insertion path 151 extending in the blank conveying direction, through which the side edge of the blank B passes while being conveyed. The insertion path 151 is open on one side (the front side in Figure 2) along the blank conveying direction, allowing the side edge of the blank B to pass through during conveyance. The insertion path 151 has a ceiling wall arranged to face the front side of the blank B on the plane along which the conveyed blank extends (hereinafter referred to as the "blank plane"), a folding wall whose angle with the blank plane continuously decreases as the blank B is conveyed in the blank conveying direction, and a rear wall connecting the ceiling wall and the folding wall. In other words, the folding wall has a different slope depending on its position along the blank conveying direction, and the slope of the wall surface changes continuously or stepwise as the blank moves in the blank conveying direction. The inner surface of the insertion passage 151 of the tape folding mechanism 150, i.e., the surface that comes into contact with the blank B and the tape piece T, is subjected to a surface treatment such as a fluororesin processing treatment to ensure non-adhesion and low friction with the blank B and the tape piece T.

[0049] When the blank B with the left half T1 of the tape piece T adhered to its surface and the right half T2 protruding from the side edge F is passed through the insertion passage 151, the tape piece T interferes with the rear wall and the folding wall, and the right half T2 of the tape piece T is automatically folded toward the back surface of the blank B, and is finally folded 180 degrees so as to face closely against the back surface of the blank B.

[0050] In the tape folding mechanism 150, the right half T2 of the tape piece T to be folded is bent along the rear wall and the folding wall, so that the tape piece T folded along the rear wall, which is slightly spaced apart from the end face E of the blank B, is folded back without coming into contact with the end face E of the side end of the blank B. Since the tape piece T is welded in this state, the resulting edge-processed blank B has a small space formed between the edge E of the blank B and the tape piece T. Here, "not contacting the edge E of the blank B" means that a space can be formed between the edge E and the folded-back tape piece T, and means that the length of the tape piece T from the side edge on the front side of the blank B to the side edge on the back side is greater than the length in the thickness direction of the edge E (i.e., the thickness of the blank B), and includes the case where a part of the floating tape piece T is in contact with the edge E. For example, in a blank B whose edge has been processed, the width of the left half T1 of the tape piece T welded to the adhesive end area A1 on the front side of the side end of the blank B can be 4.7 mm, and the width of the remaining right half T2 welded to the adhesive end area A2 on the back side can be 4.7 mm, and the width of the non-welded portion facing the edge E can be 0.6 mm. The space formed between the end surface E of the blank B after end surface treatment and the tape piece T may be larger than the space described above.

[0051] In the tape folding mechanism 150 of this embodiment, the folding of the tape piece T is achieved by a single insertion passage 151 whose internal wall structure changes continuously, but the specific configuration of the tape folding mechanism 150 is not limited to the above embodiment, and it may be configured to gradually fold the tape piece T using multiple stations, or it may be configured to fold the tape piece T while the blank B is stopped from being transported, rather than while it is being transported.

[0052] [First welded part] The tape application end surface processing device 100 of this embodiment has a welding mechanism that attaches the folded tape piece T to the adhesive end area A2 on the back surface of the blank B, and this welding mechanism consists of a first welding section 160 that temporarily fastens the folded tape piece T to the adhesive end area A2 on the back surface of the blank B, and a second welding section 170 that welds the entire surface of the folded tape piece T to the adhesive end area A2 on the back surface of the blank B. The first welding section 160 is located near the exit of the insertion passage 151 of the tape folding mechanism 150, and serves to temporarily fasten the tape piece T folded back to the back side of the blank B, maintaining the folded state of the tape piece T, and providing it to the second welding section 170. The tape piece T can be temporarily fastened to the back side of the blank B by welding a portion of the right half T2 of the tape piece T to an inner region in the width direction perpendicular to the blank conveyance direction in the adhesive end region A2 on the back side of the blank B. For example, a region 2.2 mm wide from the free end (the right end before being folded back) of the tape piece T folded back to the back side of the blank B, and extending from the leading end to the trailing end in the blank conveyance direction, can be welded to the adhesive end region A2 on the back side of the blank B.

[0053] Specifically, the first welding section 160 is equipped with a tape correction guide (not shown) that supports the area of ​​the tape piece T other than the temporary fastening area to the back side of the blank B and maintains the folded state in which the tape piece T folded back by the tape folding mechanism 150 is forcibly brought close to the other side of the blank B, and is further equipped with a fixed upper sealing bar 161 that is provided on the conveying path of the side end of the blank B and heats the front side of the side end of the blank B, and a lower sealing bar 166 that can move up and down and heats the back side of the side end of the blank B. The tape correction guide is composed of a non-heating bar that supports the tape piece T in a state where it pushes it upward from below, facing the upper seal bar 161, and a lower seal bar 166 is disposed adjacent to the tape correction guide and facing the upper seal bar 161. The tape correction guide and the lower seal bar 166 are spaced apart from each other by, for example, about 0.5 mm in the horizontal direction. The tape correction guide is fixedly provided, and the space between the exit of the insertion passage 151 of the tape folding mechanism 150 and the upper seal bar 161 and tape correction guide at the first welding portion 160 is substantially continuous, so that the blank B can be transported to the specified heating point while maintaining the folded state of the tape piece T. By using a non-heating bar as the tape correction guide, the tape piece T is prevented from contacting the seal bar for a long period of time, and thermal shrinkage of the tape piece T can be suppressed. The surfaces of the tape correction guide that come into contact with the blank B and the tape piece T are subjected to a surface treatment such as a fluororesin processing treatment to prevent the resin layer of the blank B or the tape piece T from sticking to the tape correction guide.

[0054] By raising the lower seal bar 166 while the blank B is held in a predetermined position, the side edge of the blank B is sandwiched between the upper seal bar 161 and the lower seal bar 166, thereby enabling the temporary fastening process. After the temporary fastening process, the free end of the right half T2 of the tape piece T of the blank B is welded to the back surface of the blank B, and the remainder of the right half T2 of the tape piece T is left floating without being welded to the blank B. On the other hand, when the lower seal bar 166 is in the lowered position, the space between the upper seal bar 161 and the lower seal bar 166 and the tape correction guide forms a transport path for the side edge of the blank B, allowing the blank B to pass through. The temperature of the upper seal bar 161 can be, for example, 115°C, and the temperature of the lower seal bar 166 can be, for example, 135°C. The temperatures of the seal bars 161, 166 are preferably set higher than the temperature of the lower seal bar 166 because the tape pieces T are temporarily fastened to the backside of the side edges of the blank B and because time has passed since the blank B was heated by the blank heating mechanism 120. On the other hand, the temperature of the upper seal bar 161 does not need to be raised as much as that of the lower seal bar 166 because the heat applied by the tape temporary fastening mechanism 140 remains. If the temperatures of the seal bars 161, 166 are excessively high, there is a risk that the tape pieces T will stick to the seal bars 161, 166. The temperatures of the seal bars 161, 166 may be set higher as long as problems such as the tape pieces T sticking to them do not occur. In addition to temperature control, the surfaces of the seal bars 161, 166 that come into contact with the blank B and the tape piece T are subjected to an adhesion surface treatment such as a fluororesin processing treatment in order to prevent the resin layers of the blank B and the tape piece T from sticking to these seal bars 161, 166. The specific method of welding the tape piece T to the blank B in the first welding section 160 is not limited to a method using a seal bar (hot plate), and various known configurations can be used as long as the tape piece T can be temporarily fastened to the blank B. For example, a pressure bonding method using a fixing roll or an ultrasonic method may be used. Furthermore, depending on the welding method used, welding can be performed while the blank B is being conveyed, rather than while the conveyance of the blank B is stagnant.

[0055] [Second weld part] The second welding portion 170 welds substantially the entire surface of the folded tape piece T to the adhesive end region A2 on the back surface of the blank B. Because a portion of the right half T2 of the tape is temporarily fastened to the back surface of the blank B at the first welding portion 160, the folded state of the tape piece T is maintained even without correction by the tape correction guide. The welding of the tape piece T at the second welding section 170 may be performed on the entire right half T2 of the tape piece T facing the back side of the blank B, but this is not limited to this. It is sufficient if the floating area of ​​the tape piece T that has not been welded to the back side of the blank B at the first welding section 160 is newly welded, and some floating may remain as long as it melts during the heat sealing process when assembling the blank B to form a paper container.

[0056] Specifically, the second welding section 170 is configured to include a fixed upper seal bar 171 that is provided on the conveying path of the side end of blank B and heats the front side of the side end of blank B, and a lower seal bar 176 that can move up and down and heats the back side of the side end of blank B. By raising the lower seal bar 176 while the blank B is held in a predetermined position, the side edge of the blank B is sandwiched between the upper seal bar 171 and the lower seal bar 176, thereby enabling full-surface welding. After full-surface welding, the blank B has the left half T1 of the tape piece T welded to the front of the blank B and most of the right half T2 welded to the back of the blank B, with the tape piece T affixed to both the front and back surfaces of the blank B by welding, and therefore the end face E is covered. Note that the tape piece T may be welded directly to the end face E of the blank B, or it may be covered by the tape piece T via a gap. When the lower seal bar 176 is in the lowered position, the space between the upper seal bar 171 and the lower seal bar 176 serves as a transport path for the side edge of the blank B, allowing the blank B to pass through. The temperature of the upper seal bar 171 can be, for example, 40°C, and the temperature of the lower seal bar 176 can be, for example, 130°C. The temperatures of the seal bars 171, 176 are preferably set higher than that of the lower seal bar 176, since the tape pieces T are to be welded to the unwelded portions of the adhesive end region A2 on the back side of the blank B. On the other hand, the upper seal bar 171 still retains heat applied in the mechanism up to the previous process, so the temperature does not need to be raised as much as the lower seal bar 176. If the temperatures of the seal bars 171, 176 are excessively high, there is a risk that the tape pieces T will stick to the seal bars 171, 176. The temperatures of the seal bars 171, 176 may be set higher as long as no problems such as the tape pieces T sticking to them occur. In addition to temperature control, the surfaces of the seal bars 171, 176 that come into contact with the blank B and the tape piece T are subjected to an adhesion surface treatment such as a fluororesin processing treatment in order to prevent the resin layers of the blank B and the tape piece T from sticking to these seal bars 171, 176. The specific method of welding the tape piece T to the blank B in the second welding section 170 is not limited to a method using a seal bar (hot plate), and various known methods can be used as long as the tape piece T can be temporarily fastened to the blank B. For example, a pressure bonding method using a fixing roll or an ultrasonic method may be used. Furthermore, depending on the welding method used, welding can be performed while the blank B is being conveyed, rather than while the conveyance of the blank B is stagnant.

[0057] The above describes a tape transport device according to one embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope that does not change the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1 Paper laminate 2 Base paper 3 Resin layer 100 Tape-attaching edge processing device 101 Transport mechanism 102 Transport Lane 120 Blank heating mechanism 121,126 Heating section 130 Tape bonding mechanism 132 Tape cutting unit 133 Laminating Unit 140 Tape temporary fastening mechanism 141 Upper seal bar 146 Lower seal bar 150 Tape folding mechanism 151 Passage 160 1st welding part 161 Upper seal bar 166 Lower seal bar 170 2nd welding part 171 Upper seal bar 176 Lower seal bar 200 Tape carrier device 210 Tape conveyor belt 211 Adsorption hole 215 Belt base material 216 Tape retention layer 220 First belt conveying roll 222 Groove 223 Roll body 230 Second belt conveying roll 240 Belt conveyor roll 250 Vacuum Box 251 Housing 252 Front wall 252a Conveying surface 252b, 252c Guide member 253,255 side wall 254 Back wall 256 Bottom Wall 258 Slit 530 Tape bonding mechanism 532 Tape cutting unit 533 Bonding Unit 600 Tape carrier 610 Tape conveyor belt 620 Belt conveyor roll 650 Vacuum Box 658 Slit B Blank C. Ribbon cutting position E End face N Tape non-adsorption section P Joining position T tape piece

Claims

1. A tape transport device that supplies tape pieces cut to a length corresponding to an adhesive portion of a blank transported along a transport path in synchronization with a transport speed of the blank, in order to attach tape to the adhesive portion of the blank, the tape transport device comprising: a tape transport belt that is stretched around a plurality of belt transport rolls and driven to rotate, and that has suction holes in a tape holding area; and a vacuum box that is disposed on the inner circumferential side of the tape transport belt and has an internal space that is kept in a negative pressure state; the tape transport belt is arranged so as to adsorb the tape pieces obtained by cutting the uncut tape unwound from the raw tape at a tape cutting position to a tape adsorption area in the tape holding area where the negative pressure of the vacuum box acts through the adsorption holes, and transport the tape along the tape transport path from the tape cutting position to a joining position where the tape is joined to the blank; one side wall of the vacuum box adjacent to the tape cutting position is formed by a first belt conveying roll adjacent to the tape cutting position among the plurality of belt conveying rolls, a tape transport device, characterized in that grooves extending over the entire circumference are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first belt transport roll in a state facing the suction holes of the tape transport belt;

2. the tape transport path has a section for transporting the tape vertically downward, 2. The tape transport device according to claim 1, wherein the tape cutting position is located in a section where the tape is transported vertically downward.

3. 2. The tape transport device according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the tape cutting position and the most upstream position of the tape adsorbable area on the tape transport belt is equal to or less than the length of the tape piece in the transport direction.

4. 2. The tape transport device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the tape piece in the transport direction is 30 to 150 mm.

5. 2. The tape transport device according to claim 1, wherein the tape piece is supplied so that the transport direction of the tape piece coincides with the transport direction of the blank.

6. 2. The tape transport device according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the tape piece is 25 to 150 μm.

7. The tape transport device described in claim 1, characterized in that a second belt transport roll adjacent to the first belt transport roll downstream in the belt transport direction has an internal space that is kept under negative pressure, and has the function of adsorbing the tape piece to the tape holding area through the suction holes in the tape transport belt.

8. A tape transport method for feeding a tape piece cut to a length corresponding to a bonding portion of a blank transported along a transport path using a tape transport device in synchronization with a transport speed of the blank, in order to attach the tape to the bonding portion of the blank, the method comprising: the tape transport device includes a tape transport belt that is stretched around a plurality of belt transport rolls and driven to circulate, the tape transport belt having suction holes in a tape holding area, and a vacuum box that is disposed on the inner circumferential side of the tape transport belt and has an internal space that is kept under negative pressure; the tape transport belt of the tape transport device is arranged so as to be able to adsorb a tape piece obtained by cutting an uncut tape unwound from a tape roll at a tape cutting position to a tape adsorption area in the tape holding area where a negative pressure of the vacuum box acts through the adsorption holes, and transport the tape along a tape transport path from the tape cutting position to a joining position where the tape is joined to the blank; one side wall of the vacuum box of the tape transport device that is adjacent to the tape cutting position is formed by a first belt transport roll that is adjacent to the tape cutting position among the plurality of belt transport rolls, the first belt transport roll of the tape transport device has grooves formed on its outer circumferential surface, the grooves extending over the entire circumferential direction in a state facing the suction holes of the tape transport belt, A tape transport method characterized in that, when the tape is cut at the tape cutting position, at least the leading end of the resulting tape piece in the tape transport direction is positioned within the tape adsorption area of ​​the tape transport belt.

Images