Packaging bag seal device and closing method of opening of packaging bag using the same

Abstract

To provide a device that has a small and simple structure and contributes to improving workability of sealing an opening of a packaging bag.SOLUTION: A packaging bag seal device comprises: a packaging bag placement plate that is inclined relative to a horizontal plane; a pusher sliding plate that has a main part disposed at an upper side of an inclined surface of the packaging bag placement plate in a state where a length direction is approximately perpendicular to the packaging bag placement plate and passes through the package bag placement plate, and has a packaging bag insertion slit near the packaging bag placement plate, the packaging bag insertion slit allowing a packaging bag to be inserted therein; a packaging bag receiving part that is disposed below the pusher sliding plate; a pusher that has a straight part on a side of the pusher sliding plate that faces the packaging bag placement plate and can slide on an upper surface of the pusher sliding plate; a pusher insertion slit that is disposed at an upper side of a position where the pusher sliding surface is joined on the packaging bag placement plate, with a lower side roughly aligned with the upper surface of the pusher sliding plate; and a seal device that is disposed at a back side of the packaging bag placement plate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for closing the opening of a packaging bag whose main material is a film of a polymer material. [Background technology]

[0002] In today's distribution system, products ranging from food to machine parts are often packed in bags in fixed quantities, taking into consideration ease of handling during transportation and display in stores. To ensure visibility of the contents of the bag, transparent polymer film such as polyethylene is often used as the bag material.

[0003] Various types of automatic equipment are sometimes used for bagging in such cases, but this is often difficult to apply to small quantities of a wide variety of products, so tools and semi-automatic equipment have been developed to improve workability.

[0004] The present inventors have developed an article packaging device that can improve the efficiency of the work of filling product bags, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 5856229. However, although this device is extremely useful for bagging products, the work of closing the opening of the bag is a separate process, and there is a need to improve the efficiency of this closing work as well.

[0005] As a device for addressing these issues, Patent Document 1 discloses a bag opening shaping and sealing device that comprises an input / supply device that transfers self-standing bags filled with packaged products in a horizontal position using a slat conveyor; an expansion bar device that uses an expansion bar to spread the opening of the self-standing bag horizontally at the sealing position to preliminarily flatten it; a shaping device that uses upper and lower grippers to clamp the left and right side edges of the opening of the bag that has been preliminarily flattened by the expansion bar, and spreads it left and right to completely flatten it; and a hermetic sealing device that clamps the opening of the bag, which has been completely flattened, from above and below with seal bars to seal it.

[0006] However, the device disclosed therein is limited in the shape of packaging bags that can be handled, and is large and has a complex structure, making it difficult to apply to work on a table, for example.

[0007] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a device for sealing the opening of a packaging bag, which has an opening at one end and a sealing portion with an adhesive layer on the back side, by melting and solidifying the adhesive layer while pressing the sealing portion from the front side along a conveying path along which the packaging bag is filled with contents and conveyed in an unsealed state. However, this device requires the adhesive layer to be provided in advance on the sealing portion, which makes it somewhat less versatile. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3241287 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-018883 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device that is small and has a simple structure, and that contributes to improving the workability of sealing the opening of a packaging bag. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention was made as a result of extensive research into the structure of a device that can be easily operated to seal the opening of a packaging bag made primarily of a polymeric film, a material that is widely used as a packaging bag material.

[0011] In order to solve the above problems, a packaging bag sealing device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a packaging bag placing plate that is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, a pusher sliding plate that is disposed above the inclined surface of the packaging bag placing plate with its width direction substantially parallel to the horizontal plane and its length direction substantially perpendicular to the packaging bag placing plate and that penetrates the packaging bag placing plate, and that has a packaging bag insertion slit near the packaging bag placing plate through which a packaging bag can be inserted, a packaging bag receiving portion that is disposed below the pusher sliding plate on the packaging bag placing surface, and the packaging bag placing plate of the pusher sliding plate. The packaging bag mounting plate is characterized by having a pusher having a straight portion on the opposite side and capable of sliding on the upper surface of the pusher sliding plate, a pusher insertion slit arranged above the position on the packaging bag mounting plate where the pusher sliding surface is joined, with the lower side approximately coinciding with the upper surface of the pusher sliding plate and having a width greater than the thickness of the pusher plus four times the thickness of the film constituting the packaging bag, and a sealing device having the function of closing the opening of the packaging bag arranged above the pusher insertion slit on the lower side of the inclined surface of the packaging bag mounting plate.

[0012] In addition, a method for closing the opening of a packaging bag according to one aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a packaging bag filled with an item to be packaged and having its opening folded flat is placed with its bottom on the packaging bag receiver and its upper end, where the opening is located, is held above the packaging bag insertion slit in a state where a length at least equal to the thickness of the pusher is exposed, and then the pusher is pushed into the pusher insertion slit, causing the packaging bag to bend into a U-shape, and the upper end of the packaging bag placed above the pusher is closed by the sealing device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The sealing device of the present invention has a simple structure as described above, and by making it possible to adjust the position of the bag receiving portion on the packaging bag placement surface and the width of the packaging bag insertion slit, etc., it can be applied to packaging bags of various sizes and is extremely useful for packaging a wide variety of products in small quantities. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a packaging bag sealing device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of a packaging bag sealing device according to the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a rear view showing an example of a packaging bag sealing device according to the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a packaging bag filled with packaging objects is held at a position above a pusher sliding plate on a packaging bag placement plate of an example of a packaging bag sealing device according to the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a packaging bag filled with an object to be packaged is slid along the surface of a packaging bag placement plate and lowered until the bottom of the packaging bag reaches the packaging bag receiver. [Figure 6] A diagram showing the state in which the tip of the pusher is pushed in until it passes through the pusher insertion slit. [Figure 7] A detailed diagram showing the state in which the tip of the pusher is pushed in until it passes through the pusher insertion slit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to specific drawings.

[0015] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a packaging bag sealing device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view showing an example of a packaging bag sealing device according to the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a rear view showing an example of a packaging bag sealing device according to the present invention.

[0016] As shown in these figures, the packaging bag sealing device of the present invention has as its main components a packaging bag placing plate 1, which is a flat plate arranged at an angle relative to a horizontal plane, a pusher sliding plate 3 whose main part is arranged above the slope formed by the packaging bag placing plate 1, i.e., on the right side in Figure 2, and which is arranged in a direction approximately perpendicular to the slope and penetrates the packaging bag placing plate 1, a pusher 2 that can slide on the pusher sliding plate 3 in the direction of the packaging bag placing plate 1, a packaging bag receiving part 4, and a sealing device 7 arranged on the back of the packaging bag placing plate 1.

[0017] The packaging bag placing plate 1 is provided with a pusher insertion slit 5 at a portion where the pusher 2 abuts when it is slid on the surface of the pusher sliding plate 3 toward the packaging bag placing plate 1. In addition, the pusher sliding plate 3 is provided with a packaging bag insertion slit 6 near the packaging bag placing plate 1, through which a packaging bag filled with an item to be packaged can pass.

[0018] Although not shown in the figure, for ease of use, providing an opening and closing function increases convenience, and since the thickness of the packaging bag filled with the packaged item varies depending on the size of the packaged item, it is desirable to provide a mechanism that makes it possible to adjust the width of the packaging bag insertion slit.

[0019] A sealing device 7 is disposed on the back side of the packaging bag placing plate 1. This sealing device has the function of fusing the vicinity of the opening of the packaging bag, and has a built-in heater and a vibrator for ultrasonic bonding.

[0020] Next, a process for sealing the opening of a packaging bag using the packaging bag sealing device according to the present invention described above will be described with reference to specific drawings.

[0021] 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a packaging bag 8 filled with packaging objects 9 is held above a pusher sliding plate 3 on a packaging bag placing plate 1 of an example of a packaging bag sealing device according to the present invention. The packaging bag 8 can be held by gripping it with a hand or by closing the packaging bag insertion slit 6. In the example shown here, the packaging bag slit 6 is closed by a pusher 2.

[0021] 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a packaging bag 8 filled with an item to be packaged 9 is slid over the surface of the packaging bag placing plate 1 and lowered until the bottom of the packaging bag 8 reaches the packaging bag receiver 4. As shown here, when sealing the opening of the packaging bag using the packaging bag sealing device according to the present invention, it is necessary to maintain a certain length of the upper end of the packaging bag 8 in a state in which it is positioned above the pusher insertion slit 5 in the figure.

[0022] 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the tip of pusher 2 is pushed in until it passes through pusher insertion slit 5. As shown here, the top end of packaging bag 8 is pushed into the pusher insertion slit by the tip of pusher 2 in a state in which the annular opening is flattened and overlapped, and is bent 180 degrees and bent into a U-shape, forming folded portion 8a that protrudes on the opposite side of packaging bag placing plate 1. In this state, sealing device 7 is brought into contact with the upper side of folded portion 8a in the figure, thereby sealing the opening of packaging bag 8.

[0023] 7 is a detailed view showing the state in which the tip of pusher 2 has been pushed in until it passes through pusher insertion slit 5. In this figure, H1 is the thickness of folding portion 8a, H2 is the thickness of pusher 2, and H3 is the width of pusher insertion slit 5. The thickness of a film made of a polymer material such as polyethylene used for packaging bags is 50 μm to 60 μm, and the thickness of a laminate film similarly used for packaging bags is 70 μm to 80 μm. Therefore, when the annular opening of the packaging bag is flattened and folded portion 8a is formed, the thickness of the packaging bag alone is 200 μm to 320 μm, which is four times the thickness of the film that makes up the packaging bag.

[0024] When a 3 mm thick flat plate is used as the pusher 2, the thickness H1 of the folded portion 8a is approximately 3.3 mm. Therefore, the width H3 of the pusher insertion slit 5 needs to be approximately 3.5 mm or more, but this can be changed as appropriate depending on the thickness of the polymeric film that makes up the packaging bag 8 and the thickness of the pusher.

[0025] In the figure, L1 is the distance between the tip of pusher 2 and the back surface of the packaging bag mounting plate, i.e., the surface on the left side in the figure, when pusher 2 is pushed into pusher insertion slit 5, and L2 is the length of the portion of folding portion 8a that is located above pusher 2 in the figure. Since the opening of the packaging bag is sealed by abutting sealing device 7 against folding portion 8a, the U-shaped shape of folding portion 8a needs to be maintained until sealing device 7 abuts. For this reason, it is desirable to adjust the length to the upper end of the packaging bag exposed above packaging bag insertion slit 6 in Figure 5 and the position at which pusher 2 is pushed into the pusher insertion slit so that L2 is longer than L1 and the tip of the opening of the packaging bag is located inside pusher insertion slit 7.

[0026] The transport of the packaging bags 8 onto the packaging bag placing plate 1 and the sliding of the pusher 2 can be done manually, but it is of course possible to automate these operations using an actuator such as an air cylinder.

[0027] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a packaging bag sealing device and a method for closing the opening of a packaging bag with a simple structure, which are capable of sealing the opening of a packaging bag. Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes design changes, including various modifications and alterations that would be conceivable to a person having ordinary skill in the art, as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1. Packaging bag placement plate 2. Pusher 3 Pusher sliding plate 4. Packaging bag receiving section 5 Pusher insertion slit 6. Packaging bag insertion slit 7. Sealing device 8...Packaging bag 8a...Bending part 9. Packaging items

Claims

1. A packaging bag placement plate having an inclination with respect to a horizontal plane; a pusher sliding plate disposed on the packaging bag placing plate with its width direction substantially parallel to a horizontal plane and its length direction substantially perpendicular to the packaging bag placing plate, and its main portion disposed above the inclined surface of the packaging bag placing plate, and having a packaging bag insertion slit near the packaging bag placing plate through which a packaging bag can be inserted; a packaging bag receiving portion disposed below the pusher sliding plate on the packaging bag placing surface; a pusher having a linear portion on the side of the pusher sliding plate facing the packaging bag placing plate, the pusher being slidable on the upper surface of the pusher sliding plate; a pusher insertion slit, which is disposed above the position on the packaging bag mounting plate where the pusher sliding surface is joined, the lower side of which is substantially aligned with the upper surface of the pusher sliding plate, and which has a width greater than the sum of the thickness of the pusher and four times the thickness of the film constituting the packaging bag; A packaging bag sealing device characterized in that a sealing device having the function of closing the opening of the packaging bag is arranged below the inclined surface of the packaging bag placing plate and above the pusher insertion slit.

2. 2. A method for closing an opening of a packaging bag using the packaging bag sealing device according to claim 1, characterized in that a packaging bag filled with an item to be packaged and having its opening folded flat is placed at its bottom on the packaging bag receiver and its upper end, where the opening is located, is held in a state where it is exposed above the packaging bag insertion slit for a length at least equal to the thickness of the pusher, and then the pusher is pushed into the pusher insertion slit, so that the packaging bag is bent into a U-shape by being pushed into the pusher, and the upper end of the packaging bag placed above the pusher is closed by the sealing device.

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