Packaging material feeding device and bag-making filling packaging machine

Abstract

To provide a packaging material feeding device that realizes positioning of packaging material rolls and packaging material meandering adjustment with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A packaging material feeding device includes: a holder unit that integrates a holder shaft that supports packaging material rolls in which packaging materials are wound around a core and a positioning mechanism that positions the packaging material rolls in an axial direction of the holder shaft; a support frame that cantilever-supports the holder unit; a first drive part that is supported by the support frame and rotatably drives the holder shaft; and a meandering adjustment mechanism that is supported by the support frame on the opposite side of the packaging material rolls across the support frame and moves the holder unit in an axial direction relative to the support frame.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging material feeding device and a form-fill-seal packaging machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, packaging material feeding devices used in form-fill-seal machines and the like are equipped with a holder shaft that supports the core of the packaging material roll and a support frame that cantilevers the base end of the holder shaft in order to feed packaging material pulled out from the packaging material roll downstream.

[0003] The packaging material feeding device described in Patent Document 1 also includes a positioning mechanism that positions the packaging material roll when the packaging material roll is attached to the holder shaft. This adjustment mechanism includes a moving piece that is slidable in the axial direction relative to the holder shaft, and a drive unit that moves the moving piece in the axial direction. The moving piece moved by the drive unit restricts the axial movement of the packaging material roll, automatically positioning it.

[0004] Furthermore, some packaging material feeding devices are equipped with a meandering adjustment mechanism that moves the holder shaft in the axial direction to adjust the meandering of the packaging material in cases where the position of the packaging material fed from the packaging material roll is misaligned (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-55666 [Patent Document 2] Special Publication No. 7-115777 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, if both the positioning mechanism and the meandering adjustment mechanism are to be installed in the packaging material feeding device, the configuration becomes complicated and the device becomes large in size.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a packaging material feeding device that realizes positioning of a packaging material roll and adjustment of meandering of the packaging material with a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a holder unit including a cylindrical holder shaft inserted into a core of a packaging material roll, a first drive unit that rotates and drives the holder shaft, a first screw shaft arranged inside the holder shaft, a nut that screws onto the first screw shaft, a moving piece that is coupled with the nut, and a clutch mechanism; a support frame that supports a base end of the holder unit; and a meandering adjustment mechanism that moves the holder unit in the axial direction of the holder shaft relative to the support frame, wherein the holder shaft has a slit that penetrates radially from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface and extends axially; The mechanism switches between a connected state in which the rotational drive of the holder shaft is transmitted to the first screw shaft and a disconnected state in which the transmission of the rotational drive to the first screw shaft is disconnected, the moving piece is arranged to be slidable relative to the slit, and when the clutch mechanism is in the disconnected state and the holder shaft is driven to rotate by the first drive unit, the moving piece moves along the axial direction as the holder shaft rotates relative to the first screw shaft to position the packaging material roll, and the meandering adjustment mechanism moves the holder unit in the axial direction of the holder shaft relative to the support frame when the clutch mechanism is in the connected state and the holder shaft is driven to rotate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a packaging material feeding device that is capable of positioning a packaging material roll and adjusting meandering of the packaging material, and that can be made compact. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine. [Figure 3]FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a holder unit and a first driving unit. [Figure 5] 1A is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a holder unit, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA, and FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the stopper and the support shaft periphery. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a clutch mechanism. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part when the clutch mechanism is in an engaged state. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part when the clutch mechanism is in a disengaged state. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a meandering adjustment mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] [Overall configuration of horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 10] A horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 10 to which the packaging material feeding device of the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment of the present invention described below is an example of how the present invention can be realized, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope of the described embodiment. Therefore, the present invention can be implemented by adding various modifications to the embodiment.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a side view of a horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 10. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 10. The horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 10 (form-fill-seal packaging machine) is a device that packages products P supplied from a supply device (not shown) one by one. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 10 mainly comprises a supply conveyor 11, a packaging material feeder 20, a cylinder former 29, a clamping and conveying device 30, a center sealing device 35, and an end sealing device 40.

[0013] The supply conveyor 11 supplies products P, which are sequentially supplied from a supply device (not shown), to the cylinder former 29. As shown in FIG. 1, the supply conveyor 11 is made up of a drive sprocket 14, a driven sprocket 15, an endless circular conveyor chain 16 stretched between the drive sprocket 14 and the driven sprocket 15, and a drive motor 17 that drives the drive sprocket 14.

[0014] The conveyor chain 16 is also provided with a plurality of pushers 18. The pushers 18 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the conveying direction of the products P. A product P supplied from a supply device enters between two adjacent pushers 18. The pushers 18 come into contact with the rear end of the product P and push the product P.

[0015] The packaging material feeding device 20 feeds a strip-shaped film Fw (packaging material) toward the clamping and conveying device 30. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the packaging material feeding device 20 includes a holder unit 21 that holds a film roll Fr (packaging material roll) formed by winding the strip-shaped film Fw around a core and forming a roll, a drive roller 22, a driven roller 23, a feed motor 24, and guide rollers 25a and 25b.

[0016] The strip film Fw is a strip-shaped packaging material that is used to make bags for packaging products. The strip film Fw is a film-like member that can be welded by applying heat, and examples include polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), biaxially oriented polypropylene (OPP), aluminum-backed paper, and aluminum-metalized paper. The product refers to granular foods such as candy, bean snacks, and snacks. However, specific examples of the product are not limited to these and include any item that is packaged in a bag Bp and shipped.

[0017] The drive roller 22 and the driven roller 23 rotate while sandwiching the strip film Fw. The drive roller 22 rotates when the driving force of the feed motor 24 is transmitted to it. As a result, the drive roller 22 and the driven roller 23 pay out the strip film Fw wound around the holder unit 21 toward the tube former 29. The guide rollers 25a and 25b are arranged along the transport path of the strip film Fw from the holder unit 21 through the drive roller 22 and driven roller 23 to the tube former 29, and apply tension to the strip film Fw as it is paid out.

[0018] The cylinder former 29 forms the strip film Fw fed by the packaging material feeding device 20 into a cylindrical shape, and serves as an entrance through which the products P fed from the supply conveyor 11 enter the cylindrical strip film Fw. The cylinder former 29 is disposed on the transport path of the strip film Fw from the packaging material feeding device 20 to the center seal device 35. The cylinder former 29 is disposed facing the downstream end of the supply conveyor 11 in the transport direction.

[0019] The strip film Fw fed by the packaging material feeding device 20 is formed into a cylindrical shape by overlapping both ends in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction below as it moves along the cylinder former 29. In addition, the product P fed from the supply conveyor 11 passes through the internal space of the cylinder former 29 and enters the inside of the cylindrical strip film Fw.

[0020] The clamping and conveying device 30 clamps the overlapped ends of the strip film Fw formed into a cylindrical shape by the cylinder former 29 and conveys it in the conveying direction. The clamping and conveying device 30 is located downstream in the conveying direction from the cylinder former 29. The clamping and conveying device 30 is also located below the strip film Fw and product P that have passed through the cylinder former 29. The clamping and conveying device 30 mainly comprises a support plate 31, a pair of film feed rollers 32, 33, and a feed motor 34.

[0021] The support plate 31 is connected downstream in the conveying direction from the cylinder former 29. The support plate 31 supports the product P contained in the cylindrical strip film Fw. The support plate 31 also extends in the conveying direction up to the position of the center seal device 35. Furthermore, the support plate 31 has a slit 39 that extends through the center of the width direction along the conveying direction of the strip film Fw. The overlapped ends of the strip film Fw protrude from the underside of the support plate 31 through the slit 39.

[0022] The pair of film feed rollers 32, 33 are disposed on the underside of the support plate 31. The pair of film feed rollers 32, 33 clamp the overlapping ends of the strip film Fw protruding through the slit 39. The film feed roller 132 is rotated by the driving force of the feed motor 34. As a result, the cylindrical strip film Fw is transported in the transport direction toward the center seal device 35.

[0023] The center seal device 35 seals both widthwise ends of the strip film Fw that has been laminated by the cylinder former 29. The center seal device 35 is located downstream in the conveying direction from the cylinder former 29 and the clamping and conveying device 30. The center seal device 35 is also located below the strip film Fw and the product P (in other words, the support plate 31). The center seal device 35 mainly comprises a pair of sealing rollers 36, 37 and a sealing motor 38.

[0024] The pair of sealing rollers 36, 37 are disposed on the underside of the support plate 31, downstream of the film feed rollers 32, 33 in the transport direction of the strip film Fw. The pair of sealing rollers 36, 37 clamp the overlapped ends of the strip film Fw protruding through the slit 39. The outer peripheral surfaces of the sealing rollers 36, 37 are heated by a heater (not shown). The driving force of a sealing motor 38 is transmitted to the sealing roller 36, causing it to rotate. This seals (welds) the overlapped ends of the strip film Fw clamped between the sealing rollers 36, 37.

[0025] The end sealing device 40 is disposed downstream in the conveying direction from the tube former 29, the clamping and conveying device 30, and the center sealing device 35. The end sealing device 40 seals the tubular strip film Fw sealed by the center sealing device 35 on both sides of the product P in the conveying direction, thereby forming a bag Bp filled with the product P.

[0026] [Configuration of packaging material feeding device 20] 3, packaging material feeding device 20 includes, in addition to the above-mentioned holder unit 21, drive roller 22, driven roller 23, feed motor 24, and guide rollers 25a and 25b, a support frame 26, a meandering adjustment mechanism 27, and a first drive unit 28 (see FIG. 4). Note that in FIG. 3, drive roller 22, driven roller 23, feed motor 24, guide rollers 25a and 25b, etc. are omitted.

[0027] The support frame 26 is fixed to the frame of the horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 10. The support frame 26 is a plate-shaped member that is perpendicular to the axial direction of a holder shaft 51, which will be described later. The support frame 26 supports the components of the packaging material feeding device 20. Hereinafter, of the two surfaces of the support frame 26 in the thickness direction, the side facing the film roll Fr will be referred to as the "front surface" and the opposite side will be referred to as the "back surface."

[0028] [Configuration of holder unit 21] As shown in FIG. 4, the holder unit 21 includes a holder shaft 51, a first screw shaft 53 (see FIG. 5), a nut 54 (see FIG. 5), a stopper 55, an origin detection sensor 56, and a clutch mechanism 57.

[0029] [Configuration of holder axis 51] The holder shaft 51 has a uniform, approximately cylindrical shape in the axial direction Z, and is inserted into the core of the film roll Fr to support the film roll Fr. The holder shaft 51 has an axial length sufficient to support a film roll Fr of the maximum roll width that can be handled by the horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 10. The outer diameter of the holder shaft 51 is set slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the core of the film roll Fr.

[0030] A support shaft 58 is integrally provided on the holder shaft 51. A base end portion 51B (see FIG. 6) of the holder shaft 51 is fitted onto the inner peripheral surface of the support shaft 58. The support shaft 58 is cantilevered by the support frame 26. As a result, the film roll Fr side is supported by the holder shaft 51 on the surface side of the support frame 26. Note that "supported" here does not necessarily mean being directly supported by the support frame 26, but may also mean being indirectly supported via a part interposed between the support frame 26 and the support shaft 58.

[0031] In the following, in the axial direction Z of the holder shaft 51, the end of the holder shaft 51 that is supported by the support frame 26 will be referred to as the base end, and the end that is not supported will be referred to as the tip. The axial direction Z is a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the strip film Fw is fed and the radial direction of the holder shaft 51.

[0032] A nut 54 is disposed inside the holder shaft 51. An inner peripheral surface 59 (see FIG. 6) of the holder shaft 51 guides the nut 54 in the axial direction Z. That is, the inner peripheral surface 59 has an axial length corresponding to the amount of movement of the nut 54. The nut 54 also has a sufficient fitting length relative to the inner peripheral surface 59. Therefore, when the nut 54 moves in the axial direction Z, the central axis of the nut 54 does not tilt with respect to the axial direction Z.

[0033] The holder shaft 51 has a plurality of grooves 61 extending in the axial direction Z at positions spaced apart in the circumferential direction on the outer circumferential surface 51A. A rubber tube 62 (tube member) is housed inside each groove 61. The grooves 61 are formed, for example, at three positions equiangularly spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the holder shaft 51, but the positions and number of the grooves 61 are not limited to this and may be one, two, or four or more.

[0034] The holder shaft 51 has one slit 63 that penetrates radially from the outer peripheral surface 51A to the inner peripheral surface 59 and extends in the axial direction Z. The slit 63 is disposed at a different position in the circumferential direction of the holder shaft 51 from the groove 61 and the rubber tube 62. The slit 63 guides the stopper 55 in the axial direction Z. The stopper 55 is a ring-shaped moving piece that is extrapolated onto the outer peripheral surface of the holder shaft 51 so as to be movable in the axial direction Z, and as will be described later, it restricts the position of the film roll Fr in its roll width direction, i.e., in the axial direction Z.

[0035] The support shaft 58 has a cylindrical shape and is supported by the support frame 26 via needle bearings 101 and 102, which will be described later. The support shaft 58 is connected to the first screw shaft 53 via a clutch mechanism 57.

[0036] The first drive unit 28, the operation of which will be described in detail later, rotates the holder shaft 51 that supports the film roll Fr to perform operations such as unwinding the strip film Fw from the film roll Fr. The first drive unit 28 includes a servo motor 65 supported by the support frame 26, a drive gear 66 attached to the output shaft of the servo motor 65, and a driven gear 67 that meshes with the drive gear 66. The driven gear 67 is fastened to the outer peripheral surface of the support shaft 58 of the holder shaft 51. As a result, the drive gear 66, the driven gear 67, and the holder shaft 51 are rotated by the driving force of the servo motor 65. The driven gear 67 is located midway between the needle bearings 101 and 102 in the axial direction Z. The driven gear 67 has a width in the axial direction Z that allows it to maintain meshing with the drive gear 66 throughout the entire range of movement of the holder unit 21 by the meandering adjustment mechanism 27, which will be described later.

[0037] [Configuration of the first screw shaft 53] As shown in Fig. 5(A), the first screw shaft 53 is disposed inside the holder shaft 51 and extends in the axial direction Z. A male thread is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first screw shaft 53. Fig. 5(A) is a cross-sectional view of the essential parts of the holder unit 21 taken parallel to the axial direction Z and at a position passing through the rubber tube 62 and the connecting member 73, Fig. 5(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 5(A), and Fig. 5(C) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 5(A). In Figs. 5(A) to 5(C), the origin detection sensor 56, the clutch mechanism 57, etc. are omitted to simplify the internal structure.

[0038] Air for inflating the rubber tube 62 is supplied to the holder unit 21 from an air pump (not shown) via an air pipe 68. An air passage 69 is formed inside the first screw shaft 53 so as to penetrate in the axial direction Z. The air passage 69 is connected to the air pipe 68 on the base end side of the first screw shaft 53.

[0039] The rubber tubes 62 expand and bulge out of the grooves 61 when air is supplied through the air passages 69. As a result, the diameter of an imaginary circle connecting the bulging ends of the multiple rubber tubes 62 is larger than the outer diameter of the holder shaft 51 and matches the inner diameter of the winding core of the film roll Fr. This fixes the film roll Fr to the holder shaft 51. Meanwhile, as air is discharged from the rubber tubes 62, they contract and retract into the grooves 61. This allows the film roll Fr to be inserted into or removed from the holder shaft 51.

[0040] A first clutch plate 81 (see FIG. 8) of the clutch mechanism 57, which will be described later, is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the base end side of the first screw shaft 53. When changing the position of the stopper 55, the clutch mechanism 57 is disengaged. This prevents the rotational drive of the holder shaft 51 by the first drive unit 28 from being transmitted to the first screw shaft 53. As a result, the holder shaft 51 rotates relative to the first screw shaft 53, causing the stopper 55 to move in the axial direction Z. On the other hand, when stopping the position of the stopper 55 and feeding out the strip film Fw, the clutch mechanism 57 is engaged. This transmits the rotational drive of the holder shaft 51 by the first drive unit 28 to the first screw shaft 53. As a result, the holder shaft 51 and the first screw shaft 53 rotate together, allowing the strip film Fw to be fed out while the position of the stopper 55 remains fixed.

[0041] The air pipe 68 and the air passage 69 are connected via a rotary pipe joint 70. As a result, even if the first screw shaft 53 (air passage 69) rotates, the air pipe 68 does not rotate.

[0042] The air passage 69 of the first screw shaft 53 is also connected to a branch air pipe 71 (which does not rotate with respect to the holder shaft 51) provided at the tip of the holder shaft 51. The branch air pipe 71 is connected to the air passage 69 and has an air passage 71a formed in the center of the holder shaft 51 and three air passages 71b extending radially from the air passage 69. The rubber tubes 62 are connected to the air passages 71b of the branch air pipe 71 outside the moving range of the stopper 55. Air is supplied to the rubber tube 62 through the air passage 69 and the branch air pipe 71.

[0043] The air passage 69 and the branch air pipe 71 are connected via a rotary pipe joint 72. This allows the clutch mechanism 57 to be disengaged, allowing the holder shaft 51 (branch air pipe 71) to rotate relative to the first threaded shaft 53 (air passage 69).

[0044] [Configuration of positioning mechanism 52] As shown in FIG. 6, the positioning mechanism 52 includes a first screw shaft 53, a nut 54, a stopper 55, a connecting member 73, a bearing 74, and an intermediate cylinder 75.

[0045] An internal thread is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the nut 54 to be threaded onto the first screw shaft 53, which is an external thread. The nut 54 is connected to the stopper 55 via a connecting member 73. The connecting member 73 extends in the radial direction of the holder shaft 51 from the outer peripheral surface of the nut 54 to the inner peripheral surface of the stopper 55 through the slit 63. The nut 54, the stopper 55, and the connecting member 73 are fastened together with a screw 76.

[0046] A support shaft 77 is integrally formed with the first screw shaft 53. The support shaft 77 is located at the base end of the first screw shaft 53 and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The support shaft 77 is supported by an intermediate tube 75 via a bearing 74. The bearing 74 is, for example, a ball bearing. The tip side of the intermediate tube 75 abuts against the base end 51B of the holder shaft 51, is fitted to the inner circumferential surface of the support shaft 58, and is sandwiched between the base end 51 and a cylindrical portion 82A of a second clutch plate 82 (described later), thereby rotating integrally with the holder shaft 51 (support shaft 58). In addition, the support shaft 77 (first screw shaft 53) is rotatably supported on the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate tube 75 via the bearing 74. As a result, the first screw shaft 53 is rotatable relative to the holder shaft 51 and is supported in a state where its movement in the axial direction Z is restricted.

[0047] The connecting member 73 is fitted into the slit 63 and is slidable in the axial direction Z relative to the slit 63, but its movement in the circumferential direction is restricted (in other words, it rotates integrally with the holder shaft 51). When the clutch mechanism 57 is in a disengaged state, the holder shaft 51 rotates due to the driving force of the first drive unit 28, but the first screw shaft 53 does not rotate. Furthermore, the nut 54, the stopper 55, and the connecting member 73, whose movement in the circumferential direction is restricted by the slit 63, rotate integrally with the holder shaft 51. The rotating nut 54 moves in the axial direction Z along the male thread of the stopped first screw shaft 53. As a result, the stopper 55, which is connected to the nut 54 via the connecting member 73, moves in the axial direction Z on the outer circumferential surface 51A of the holder shaft 51.

[0048] [Configuration of clutch mechanism 57] 6 to 9, the clutch mechanism 57 includes a first clutch plate 81, a second clutch plate 82, an actuator 83, a coil spring 84 (biasing member), and a pressing member 85. In FIG. 7, to avoid complication, the first clutch plate 81 and the second clutch plate 82 are shown separated by a large distance, but in reality, they are located close to each other as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first clutch plates 81 are disposed inside the holder shaft 51 (support shaft 58) at a position on the base end side. The first clutch plates 81 are formed from a material, such as rubber, that generates friction when pressed against the second clutch plates 82. The first clutch plates 81 are formed in a ring shape, and have key grooves 81A (see FIG. 7) formed on their inner peripheral surface. The first clutch plates 81 are fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the support shaft 77 (first screw shaft 53). The key grooves 81A of the first clutch plates 81 are fitted to key protrusions 77A (see FIG. 7) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the support shaft 77. This allows the first clutch plates 81 to move in the axial direction Z relative to the first screw shaft 53, but restricts their rotation around the axial direction Z (i.e., they rotate integrally with the first screw shaft 53).

[0050] The second clutch plates 82 are provided at the base end of the holder shaft 51, i.e., the base end of the support shaft 58. The second clutch plates 82 are fixed to the holder shaft 51 at a position where the first clutch plates 81, which move in the axial direction Z, can come into contact with and separate from the second clutch plates 82. The second clutch plates 82 have a cylindrical portion 82A and a plate-like portion 82B connected to the base end side of the cylindrical portion 82A. The cylindrical portion 82A has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first clutch plates 81, and is located outside the first clutch plates 81. The cylindrical portion 82A is fitted to the inner circumferential surface of the base end of the support shaft 58 (i.e., rotates integrally with the holder shaft 51).

[0051] The plate-shaped portion 82B has a circular plate shape that protrudes radially outward and inward from the base end of the cylindrical portion 82A and continues in the circumferential direction. The plate-shaped portion 82B has an outer diameter larger than that of the first clutch plate 81 and an inner diameter smaller than that of the first clutch plate 81. The plate-shaped portion 82B is arranged coaxially with the first clutch plate 81. That is, the second clutch plate 82 overlaps with the first clutch plate 81 in the radial direction of the holder shaft 51. The plate-shaped portion 82B is fastened to the base end of the support shaft 58 by a screw 86. The rotary pipe coupling 70 connected to the first screw shaft 53 protrudes from the inside of the first clutch plate 81 and the second clutch plate 82 toward the base end.

[0052] The actuator 83 is, for example, an air cylinder, and a piston rod 83A moves forward and backward in the axial direction Z in response to the supply of air. The pressing member 85 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The pressing member 85 is disposed radially inside the second clutch plate 82 and outside the first screw shaft 53. The pressing member 85 is disposed on the base end side of the first clutch plate 81 in the axial direction Z. The pressing member 85 is coupled to the piston rod 83A of the actuator 83. As a result, the pressing member 85 moves in the axial direction Z in conjunction with the driving of the actuator 83.

[0053] The actuator 83 is attached to the base end side of the first screw shaft 53 via a base member 91, a bearing 92, and a fixing member 93. The base member 91 and the bearing 92 are components that make up the meandering adjustment mechanism 27, and will be described in detail later. The base end of the support shaft 77 is supported by the base member 91 via the bearing 92. The support shaft 77 (holder shaft 51) is rotatable relative to the base member 91, and movement in the axial direction Z is restricted.

[0054] The fixed member 93 is a frame body that has a U-shaped cross section and is disposed so as to surround the pressing member 85 (see FIG. 10). The open end of the fixed member 93 is fastened to the base member 91. The fixed member 93 also holds the actuator 83 at the closed end. The fixed member 93 also houses the pressing member 85 inside. Furthermore, the closed end of the fixed member 93 is formed with a through-hole that allows the piston rod 83A to pass through.

[0055] As shown in Figure 7, the pressing member 85 has a notch 85A formed in part of the circumferential direction of the cylindrical shape. The notch 85A extends in the axial direction Z. A rotation-preventing member 94 enters the notch 85A. A part of the rotary pipe joint 70 is exposed from the notch 85A. This allows the rotary pipe joint 70 to be connected to an external air pipe 68 (see Figure 5).

[0056] The anti-rotation member 94 is, for example, a screw that enters the notch 85A and is fastened to the fixing member 93. This restricts the rotation of the pressing member 85 and allows movement in the axial direction Z. The pressing member 85 is movable by driving the actuator 83 between a position where it is separated from the first clutch plate 81 and a position where it comes into contact with and presses the first clutch plate 81.

[0057] The coil spring 84 is located on the tip side of the first clutch plate 81 and is fitted onto the outer peripheral surface of the support shaft 77. A retaining tube 95 is disposed on the tip side of the coil spring 84. The retaining tube 95 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the support shaft 77. The coil spring 84 is sandwiched between the retaining tube 95 and the first clutch plate 81 in the axial direction Z and is elastically compressed. In other words, the coil spring 84 urges the first clutch plate 81 towards the base end side (in the direction of pressing against the plate-shaped portion 82B).

[0058] The clutch mechanism 57 can be switched between an engaged state and a disengaged state in accordance with the operation of the actuator 83. Specifically, when the piston rod 83A of the actuator 83 moves from the distal end side to the proximal end side, that is, when the pressing member 85 separates from the first clutch plate 81, the first clutch plate 81 is pressed against the second clutch plate 82 by the bias of the coil spring 84. A frictional force acts on the contact surfaces between the first clutch plate 81 and the second clutch plate 82, resulting in a connected state. With the first clutch plate 81 and the second clutch plate 82 in a connected state, the rotational drive of the holder shaft 51 can be transmitted to the first threaded shaft 53 (the state shown in FIG. 8).

[0059] On the other hand, when the piston rod 83A moves from the base end side to the tip end side, that is, when the pressing member 85 presses the first clutch plate 81 and moves the first clutch plate 81 toward the tip end side in the axial direction Z (in a direction away from the second clutch plate 82) against the bias of the coil spring 84, the first clutch plate 81 moves away from the second clutch plate 82 and enters a disconnected state. Since the first clutch plate 81 and the second clutch plate 82 are now in a disconnected state, the transmission of rotational drive from the holder shaft 51 to the first screw shaft 53 can be cut off (the state shown in FIG. 9). As a result, the holder shaft 51 rotates relative to the first screw shaft 53.

[0060] [Configuration for supporting the holder unit 21 on the support frame 26] 6, the holder unit 21 is supported on the support frame 26 via needle bearings 101 and 102. The needle bearings 101 and 102 are disposed apart from each other in the axial direction Z and attached to the support shaft 58 of the holder unit 21.

[0061] Preventive rings 103A and 103B are disposed on the tip and base ends of the needle bearing 101. The preventive rings 103A and 103B are fastened to the support frame 26 with screws 104A and 104B. As a result, the needle bearing 101 is attached to the support frame 26 with its position in the axial direction Z restricted. Note that the needle bearing 102 is also attached to the support frame 26 with its position restricted in the axial direction Z, similar to the needle bearing 101. On the other hand, the needle bearings 101 and 102 do not restrict movement of the support shaft 58 in the axial direction Z. As a result, the holder unit 21 is supported by the needle bearings 101 and 102 so as to be movable and rotatable in the axial direction Z relative to the support frame 26.

[0062] [Configuration of meandering adjustment mechanism 27] As shown in FIG. 10, the meandering adjustment mechanism 27 is disposed on the rear side of the support frame 26 and is supported by the support frame 26. The meandering adjustment mechanism 27 includes second screw shafts 105A and 105B, a base member 91, a bearing 92, and a second drive unit 106. As described above, the holder shaft 51 of the holder unit 21 is supported on the base member 91 via the bearing 92. The inner peripheral surface (inner ring) of the bearing 92 is fitted with the support shaft 58 of the holder shaft 51 (see FIGS. 8 and 9). The base end of the bearing 92 is locked by the plate-shaped portion 82B of the second clutch plate 82 described above (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

[0063] The base member 91 is disposed on the rear surface side of the support frame 26. The base member 91 has a rectangular plate-like outer shape and has a through-hole 91A in the center. The outer peripheral surface of the bearing 92 is fitted into the through-hole 91A of the base member 91. The thickness dimension (dimension in the axial direction Z) of the base member 91 is formed to match the thickness dimension of the bearing 92, and the front and back surfaces of the bearing 92A fitted into the through-hole 91A are flush with the front and back surfaces of the base member 91, respectively. Washers 108 with screws 107 inserted therethrough are fastened to the front and back surfaces of the base member 91 (see FIG. 6). This allows the washers 108 to lock the outer peripheral edge (outer ring) of the bearing 92. As described above, the inner ring of the bearing 92 is fixed to the support shaft 58, and the outer ring is fixed to the base member 91. Therefore, the bearing 92 supports the holder shaft 51 rotatably relative to the base member 91 while restricting movement in the axial direction Z. As a result, the base member 91 allows the holder unit 21 to rotate.

[0064] The second screw shafts 105A, 105B are rotatably supported by the support frame 26 and extend in the axial direction Z. Male threads are formed on the outer circumferential surfaces of the second screw shafts 105A, 105B. The base member 91 has female screw holes 91B, 91C near the corners and at positions rotationally symmetrical about the through hole 91A, and the second screw shafts 105A, 105B are screwed into the female screw holes 91B, 91C, respectively.

[0065] As a result, the base member 91 can move in the axial direction Z integrally with the holder unit 21 as the second screw shafts 105A and 105B rotate. Since the second screw shafts 105A and 105B are rotated synchronously by the second drive unit 106 as described below, when the second screw shafts 105A and 105B rotate by the same amount, the vicinity of the corners where the second screw shafts 105A and 105B screw into each other also move by the same amount in the axial direction Z. In other words, the base member 91 can move along the axial direction Z without tilting with respect to the axial direction Z.

[0066] The second driving unit 106 includes sprockets 109A and 109B, a chain (or an endless belt) 110, sprockets 111A and 111B, a chain (or an endless belt) 112, and a handle 113.

[0067] The sprockets 109A and 109B are provided at the base ends of the second screw shafts 105A and 105B, respectively. A chain 110 is wound around the sprockets 109A and 109B. This allows the second screw shafts 105A and 105B to rotate synchronously. The handle 113 is attached rotatably around the rotating shaft 113A. The rotating shaft 113A is supported by the support frame 26, for example.

[0068] The sprocket 111A is connected to the handle 113. The sprocket 111B is provided coaxially with the second screw shaft 105A and the sprocket 109A. A chain 112 is wound around the sprockets 111A and 111B. As a result, when the handle 113 is rotated, the sprocket 111B and the second screw shafts 105A and 105B also rotate synchronously. In other words, the base member 91 and the holder unit 21 supported by the base member 91 can be moved in the axial direction Z relative to the support frame 26 depending on the amount of rotation of the handle 113. Note that the second drive unit 106 is not limited to the above configuration, and may be configured to rotate the second screw shafts 105A and 105B by driving a motor, for example.

[0069] As described above, the driven gear 67 is fixed to the holder shaft 51. On the other hand, the servo motor 65 and the drive gear 66 are supported by the support frame 26. Therefore, although the driven gear 67 moves in the axial direction Z relative to the drive gear 66, the driven gear 67 can maintain meshing with the drive gear 66 throughout the entire range of movement of the holder unit 21 caused by the serpentine adjustment mechanism 27. Therefore, even if the holder unit 21 moves in the axial direction Z due to the serpentine adjustment mechanism 27, the rotational drive by the first drive unit 28 can be transmitted.

[0070] The origin detection sensor 56 (for example, a proximity sensor) detects the origin position of the stopper 55 in the axial direction Z. The origin detection sensor 56 is supported by an axis member 114 (see FIG. 4) fixed to the base member 91. As a result, even if the origin position of the stopper 55 changes due to the operation of the meandering adjustment mechanism 27, the origin detection sensor 56 moves in the axial direction Z together with the holder unit 21, and therefore the origin position can be detected.

[0071] [Step of Supporting the Film Roll Fr on the Holder Unit 21] 3, when the holder shaft 51 of the holder unit 21 is inserted onto the core of the film roll Fr and the film roll Fr is supported by the holder unit 21, first, the clutch mechanism 57 is switched from the connected state to the disconnected state, and then the first drive unit 28 is driven to move the stopper 55. It should be noted that at the start of the work of attaching the film roll Fr to the holder unit 21, the clutch mechanism 57 is in the connected state and the rubber tube 62 is contracted.

[0072] The first drive unit 28 moves the stopper 55 based on the width dimension (dimension in the axial direction Z) of the film roll Fr that has been input in advance. Under the control of a control unit (not shown), the servo motor 65 is driven to rotate a predetermined amount from the timing when the origin detection sensor 56 detects the origin. When the clutch mechanism 57 is in a disengaged state, the holder shaft 51 rotates due to the rotational drive of the first drive unit 28, but the first screw shaft 53 does not rotate. The stopper 55 moves in the axial direction Z along the slit 63 as the holder shaft 51 rotates. As a result, the stopper 55 moves to a predetermined position that matches the width dimension of the film roll Fr, enabling the film roll Fr to be positioned.

[0073] After the stopper 55 has moved to a predetermined position, the holder shaft 51 is inserted onto the core of the film roll Fr and pushed down to the position of the stopper 55. As a result, the film roll Fr is positioned by the stopper 55. After the film roll Fr has been positioned by the stopper 55, the air pump is operated to supply air from the air piping 68 to the air passage 69. Air is supplied through the air passage 69 and via the air branch piping 71 to the rubber tube 62. As a result, the rubber tube 62 bulges outward in the radial direction from the outer circumferential surface 51A of the holder shaft 51, thereby enabling the core of the film roll Fr to be held.

[0074] [Process for adjusting the meandering of the film strip Fw] As described above, after the film roll Fr is positioned and supported by the holder unit 21, the strip film Fw is pulled out from the film roll Fr, and the horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 10, including the packaging material feeding device 20, is operated. In this state, the clutch mechanism 57 is in an engaged state. That is, the holder shaft 51 rotates due to the rotational drive of the first drive unit 28, and the first screw shaft 53, to which the rotation is transmitted by the clutch mechanism 57, also rotates. The stopper 55, which threads onto the first screw shaft 53, does not rotate relative to the first screw shaft 53, and therefore does not move along the slit 63. As a result, the holder unit 21 rotates with the stopper 55 positioning the film roll Fr.

[0075] The packaging material feeding device 20 feeds the strip film Fw to the tube former 29, and the product P is supplied to the strip film Fw formed into a cylindrical shape. Here, the side edges of the cylindrically formed strip film Fw may be misaligned, i.e., the strip film Fw fed by the packaging material feeding device 20 may meander. In this case, to correct the meandering, the operator operates the second drive unit 106, i.e., rotates the handle 113 to move the holder unit 21 in the axial direction Z. This makes it possible to correct the meandering of the strip film Fw fed by the packaging material feeding device 20.

[0076] [Effects of the embodiment] According to the above embodiment, the entire holder unit 21, which integrates the holder shaft 51 and the positioning mechanism 52, is moved in the axial direction, which simplifies the configuration compared to when only a part of the holder unit is moved to perform meandering adjustment. Also, by moving the holder unit 21 relative to the support frame 26, the device can be made more compact than when the entire frame supporting the holder unit is moved.

[0077] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, by using needle bearings 101, 102 to support the holder unit 21 on the support frame 26 so that it is movable and rotatable in the axial direction Z, it is possible to achieve both radial miniaturization and a simplified configuration.

[0078] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the driving force can be reliably transmitted by disposing the driving gear 66 and the driven gear 67 between the multiple needle bearings 101, 102. Furthermore, by increasing the axial width of the driven gear 67, the transmission of the driving force can be maintained even when the entire holder unit 21 is moved.

[0079] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, by having the rubber tube 62 protrude into and retract from the groove of the holder shaft 51, the film roll Fr can be held on the holder shaft 51 with a simple configuration.

[0080] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, air is supplied to the rubber tube 62 through the air passage 69 provided inside the first screw shaft 53, so that the movement of the stopper 55 and the extension and retraction of the rubber tube 62 can be achieved with a simple configuration.

[0081] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the air pipe 68 is passed through the notch 85A formed in the pressing member 85, and the anti-rotation member 94 is engaged therewith, thereby realizing an air passage with a simple configuration.

[0082] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, by integrating the origin detection sensor 56 with the holder unit 21, the origin position of the stopper 55 can be properly detected even if the holder unit 21 is moved in the axial direction Z by the meandering adjustment mechanism 27.

[0083] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the meandering adjustment mechanism 27 is configured with the base member 91, the second screw shafts 105A and 105B, and the second drive unit 106, so that the meandering of the strip film Fw can be adjusted with a simple configuration.

[0084] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, by providing multiple second screw shafts 105A, 105B at rotationally symmetric positions around the holder shaft 51, the base member 91 (holder unit 21) can be moved parallel to the axial direction Z.

[0085] Furthermore, the packaging material feeding device 20 may be provided with multiple (typically, two) holder units 21. The film roll Fr currently in use is attached to one of the multiple holder units 21. Meanwhile, spare film rolls Fr are attached in advance to the other holder units 21. The meandering adjustment mechanism 27 may then move the multiple holder units 21 in the axial direction Z in unison (i.e., adjust the meandering in unison). This reduces downtime of the packaging material feeding device 20 (horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 10) and enables meandering adjustment to be achieved with a simple configuration.

[0086] Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to packaging machines other than the horizontal form-fill-seal packaging machine 10 (i.e., vertical form-fill-seal packaging machines). The above-described embodiments are examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to only these embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make appropriate modifications within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 10 Horizontal form-fill-seal machine 11 Supply conveyor 14 Drive sprocket 15 driven sprocket 16 Conveyor chain 17 Drive motor 18 Pusher 20 Packaging material feeder 21 Holder unit 22 Drive roller 23 Driven roller 24 Feed motor 25a, 25b Guide rollers 26 Support frame 27 Snake adjustment mechanism 28 First drive unit 29 Tube maker 30 Clamping and conveying device 31 Support plate 32, 33 Film feed roller 34 Feed motor 35 Center seal device 36, 37 Seal roller 38 Seal Motor 39 Slit 40 End seal device 51 Holder shaft 51A Outer surface 51B Base end 52 Positioning mechanism 53 First screw shaft 54 Nut 55 Stopper 56 Origin detection sensor 57 Clutch mechanism 58 Support shaft 59 Inner surface 61 Groove 62 Rubber tube (tube material) 63 Slit 65 Servo motor 66 Drive gear 67 Driven gear 68 Air piping 69 Air passage 70, 72 rotary pipe fittings 71 Air branch piping 71a, 71b air passages 73 Connecting member 74 Bearings 75 Intermediate tube 76 screws 77 Support shaft 77A Key protrusion 81 First clutch plate 81A keyway 82 Second clutch plate 82A Cylindrical part 82B Plate-shaped part 83 Actuator 84 Coil spring 85 Pressing member 85A Notch 91 Base material 91A through hole 92 Bearings 93 Fixing member 94 Anti-rotation member 95 Stopper tube 101, 102 needle bearings 103A, 103B retaining ring 104A, 104B screws 105A, 105B Second screw shaft 106 Second drive unit 107 Screw 108 Washer 109A, 109B, 111A, 111B sprockets 110, 112 Chain 113 Handle 114 Shaft member Fr film roll Fw Strip Film Z axis direction

Claims

1. a holder unit that integrates a holder shaft that supports a packaging material roll having packaging material wound around a core and a positioning mechanism that positions the packaging material roll in the axial direction of the holder shaft; a support frame that cantilevers the holder unit; a first drive unit supported by the support frame and configured to rotationally drive the holder shaft; a meandering adjustment mechanism supported by the support frame on the opposite side of the support frame from the packaging material roll, and configured to move the holder unit in the axial direction relative to the support frame.

2. 2. The packaging material feeding device according to claim 1, a needle bearing for supporting the holder unit relative to the support frame so as to be movable in the axial direction and rotatable;

3. 3. The packaging material feeding device according to claim 2, the needle bearing supports the holder unit at a plurality of positions spaced apart in the axial direction; The first driving unit is a motor fixed to the support frame; a drive gear attached to the output shaft of the motor; a driven gear fixed to an outer peripheral surface of the holder shaft and meshing with the drive gear, a driven gear having a width in the axial direction that enables the driven gear to maintain meshing with the drive gear throughout the entire range of movement of the holder unit by the serpentine adjustment mechanism;

4. 2. The packaging material feeding device according to claim 1, a plurality of grooves each extending in the axial direction are formed on an outer circumferential surface of the holder shaft at positions spaced apart in the circumferential direction, A packaging material feeding device characterized by comprising a tube member that is housed in each of the plurality of grooves, expands from the groove when air is supplied to hold the packaging material roll, and retracts into the groove when air is discharged to allow the packaging material roll to be inserted into and removed from the holder shaft.

5. 5. The packaging material feeding device according to claim 4, the holder shaft has a slit that penetrates radially from an outer peripheral surface to an inner peripheral surface at a position different from the groove and extends in the axial direction, The positioning mechanism includes: a stopper fitted onto the holder shaft so as to be movable in the axial direction; a first screw shaft disposed inside the holder shaft; a nut that is threaded onto the first screw shaft and is connected to the stopper through the slit; a clutch mechanism that can be switched between a connected state in which the holder shaft and the first screw shaft rotate integrally and a disconnected state in which the holder shaft rotates relative to the first screw shaft, The plurality of tube members include: an air passage formed inside the first screw shaft; a packaging material feeding device, characterized in that air is supplied outside the movement range of the stopper through branch air pipes that extend radially from the air passage and are connected to each of the plurality of tube members;

6. 6. The packaging material feeding device according to claim 5, a base member that is disposed on the opposite side of the support frame from the packaging material roll and that moves integrally with the holder unit in the axial direction and allows the holder unit to rotate; a fixing member fixed to the base member, The clutch mechanism includes: a first clutch plate that rotates integrally with the first screw shaft and is movable in the axial direction relative to the first screw shaft; a second clutch plate fixed to the holder shaft at a position where the first clutch plate moving in the axial direction can be brought into contact with or separated from the holder shaft; a biasing member that biases the first clutch plate in a direction to press the first clutch plate against the second clutch plate; a cylindrical pressing member having a notch formed in a portion thereof in the circumferential direction; an actuator fixed to the fixed member and configured to press the first clutch plate with the pressing member in a direction away from the second clutch plate against the biasing member, The cutout is An air pipe for supplying air is passed through the air passage, a rotation preventing member fixed to the fixed member, the rotation of the pressing member being restricted by the rotation preventing member being engaged with the fixed member;

7. 6. The packaging material feeding device according to claim 5, a packaging material feeding device comprising an origin detection sensor that moves in the axial direction integrally with the holder unit and detects an origin position of the stopper in the axial direction;

8. 2. The packaging material feeding device according to claim 1, The meandering adjustment mechanism includes: a base member that is disposed on the opposite side of the support frame from the packaging material roll and that moves integrally with the holder unit in the axial direction and allows the holder unit to rotate; a second screw shaft that is threaded into a female screw hole provided in the base member and extends in the axial direction; a second drive unit that rotates the second screw shaft.

9. 9. The packaging material feeding device according to claim 8, The packaging material feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the second screw shaft is arranged at a plurality of positions that are rotationally symmetrical about the holder shaft.

10. 10. A form-fill-seal packaging machine that forms the packaging material fed from the packaging material feeder according to claim 1 into a bag and fills it with a product.

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