Packaging device and program

Abstract

To provide a packaging device capable of reliably using the most suitable type of gas for each food to be packaged.SOLUTION: A packaging device performs gas replacement packaging by sealing an inert gas mixture in a tray, and includes a gas change means for changing the gas to be sealed in, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to set and store, in a product information storage means that stores product information, a product and a type of gas to be sealed in association with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 34

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging device and a program for covering a tray on which an item to be packaged is placed with a film and heat-sealing the film to the edge of the tray. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional packaging device is a so-called gas replacement packaging device that operates by placing the food to be packaged on a weighing scale, then transporting the food into a tray supplied on a conveyor, and heat-sealing the food to a film lid on the tray with an inert gas mixture sealed inside the tray (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2013-515654 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Gas replacement packaging is used to extend the shelf life of packaged products by replacing the air with an inert gas. The inert gas is a mixture of three gases: nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, with the ratio adjusted. Oxygen is not effective in extending shelf life, but without oxygen, some foods may darken, so oxygen is sometimes intentionally added. On the other hand, there are some foods that do not darken even without oxygen. Ideally, the gas ratio should be carefully adjusted depending on the food. However, the packaging device described in Patent Document 1 packages food products with a single type of inert gas mixture sealed inside, and does not address the need to use the optimal type of gas for each food product being packaged. To accommodate multiple types of gas, it is conceivable to prepare multiple gas cylinders and switch between them as needed. However, if the product and the gas to be sealed are incorrectly associated, there is a risk that the expiration date extension packaging will not be performed properly.

[0005] The present invention addresses these problems and aims to provide a packaging machine that can ensure that the most appropriate type of gas is used for each food product being packaged. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The packaging device of the present invention has at least the following configuration. This packaging device performs gas replacement packaging by sealing a gas inside a tray, and is equipped with a gas change means that can change the gas to be sealed in, and a control unit, and is characterized in that the control unit sets and stores in a product information storage means that stores product information, a correspondence between the product and the type of gas to be sealed in. Here, being able to change the gas to be enclosed refers to a broader concept that includes both the simple switching of multiple gas cylinders containing multiple types of pre-prepared gas mixtures, and the control of multiple gas cylinders containing different types of gases using a mixing valve to change the mixing ratio. The program of the present invention has at least the following configuration. This program is characterized by causing a computer of a packaging device that has a gas changing means capable of changing the gas to be sealed in and performs gas replacement packaging by sealing gas in a tray to execute a product information storage step in which the computer stores product information in a product information storage means that stores product information by associating the product with the type of gas to be sealed in, and a gas type output step in which the computer outputs the type of gas that has been set and stored in association with the product to an output means at a predetermined timing. Here, "output means" refers to notification means such as a display unit or a speaker, and "outputting" means performing display control or audio output control. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present invention provides a packaging machine that ensures that the most appropriate type of gas is used for each food item being packaged. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a right perspective view showing the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a left perspective view showing the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a top view showing the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the packaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the weighing means and packaging means (with part of the machine frame removed). [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a right perspective view of the weighing means and packaging means (with a part of the machine frame removed). [Figure 7] These are front cross-sectional views illustrating the upper cutter die and the upper cutter die folder, where Figure 7(a) shows the upper cutter die folder when no upper cutter die is loaded, Figure 7(b) shows the upper cutter die alone, and Figure 7(c) shows the upper cutter die loaded in the upper cutter die folder. [Figure 8] 8(a) is a top view, FIG. 8(b) is a front view, FIG. 8(c) is a bottom view, FIG. 8(d) is an upper perspective view, and FIG. 8(e) is a lower perspective view showing the upper die. [Figure 9] These are diagrams showing the state in which the gripping portion for transportation has been removed from the upper die, with Figure 9(a) being a top view, Figure 9(b) being a front view, Figure 9(c) being a bottom view, Figure 9(d) being an upper oblique view, and Figure 9(e) being a lower oblique view. [Figure 10]The upper die has been removed from the gripping portion for transportation, and the metal plate and surrounding bottom plate have been omitted. Figure 10(a) is a top view, Figure 10(b) is a front view, Figure 10(c) is a bottom view, Figure 10(d) is an upper oblique view, and Figure 10(e) is a lower oblique view. [Figure 11] 11(a) and 11(b) are diagrams showing the state in which an upper die is loaded into an upper die folder, with FIG. 11(a) being a top view, FIG. 11(b) being a front view, FIG. 11(c) being a bottom view, FIG. 11(d) being an oblique view from above, FIG. 11(e) being a right side view, and FIG. 11(f) being a conceptual diagram showing a heat transfer member. [Figure 12] 12(a) and 12(b) are diagrams showing the state in which an upper die is not loaded in the upper die folder, with FIG. 12(a) being a top view, FIG. 12(b) being a front view, FIG. 12(c) being a bottom view, FIG. 12(d) being an oblique view from above, FIG. 12(e) being a right side view, and FIG. 12(f) being an enlarged view of portion D in FIG. 12(d). [Figure 13] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a lower die, with FIG. 13A being a top view and FIG. 13B being a side cross-sectional view. [Figure 14] 10 is a perspective view showing how a lower die is attached to and detached from a lower die folder. FIG. [Figure 15] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating other examples of upper and lower punching dies. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the mechanism of action for determining the loading state. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the flow of various processes for a cutting die. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. [Figure 23] FIG. [Figure 24] 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the lower die is pushed up relative to the upper die. FIG. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a right perspective view showing how the upper die and the lower die are housed in the die housing means. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is a right side view showing how the upper die and the lower die are housed in the die housing means. [Figure 27] 1 is a system configuration diagram of a gas supply configuration of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. [Figure 29] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. [Figure 30] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. [Figure 31] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of label display. [Figure 32] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. [Figure 33] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. [Figure 34] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout of a display screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An example of an embodiment of a packaging device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the drawings below have been created for explanatory purposes, and for the sake of clarity, components not necessary for the explanation may be intentionally omitted. Furthermore, components may be intentionally enlarged or reduced in size for the purpose of explanation, and the drawings are not drawn to an accurate scale. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different drawings indicate parts with the same function, and duplicate explanations in each drawing will be omitted as appropriate.

[0010] (Overall composition) Figures 1 to 4 show the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with Figure 1 being a right perspective view, Figure 2 being a left perspective view, Figure 3 being a top view, and Figure 4 being a right side view. Figures 5 and 6 particularly show the weighing means and packaging means, with Figure 5 being a right side view (with part of the machine frame removed) and Figure 6 being a right perspective view (with part of the machine frame removed).

[0011] 1 to 3, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention weighs the packaged items (contents) placed on a tray T by tare, and while carrying the tray T with the packaged items placed on it into the machine, automatically performs a series of operations up to carrying out the device after top sealing and labeling, which involves a gas replacement process (processing the entire welded area at once) to extend the expiration date of the packaged items. In other words, the device has a packaging process between the process of weighing the packaged items and the process of labeling. More specifically, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3, in the packaging device 100, when a tray T (see FIG. 5) carrying an article to be packaged is placed on the weighing means 1 (see FIG. 1), the weight of the article to be packaged is measured, and the tray T is carried forward by the in-feed bar IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6) into the machine frame having the packaging means 2. In the machine frame, the lower punching die 25 (see FIG. 1) pushes the tray T upward, and first, the air present in the space formed between the film, which is always stretched and held at both ends by the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212 (see FIG. 1), and the tray T is purged with an inactivation gas. The tray T is then replaced with a new one, and while the edge of the tray T is abutted against the film, the film is clamped between the lower die 25 and the upper die 24 (see FIG. 1), and the film is heat-sealed to form a sealed package. After the film is cut, the lower die 25 and the tray T are lowered to a predetermined height (home position), and the in-feed bar IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6) again advances the tray T in the carry-in direction to transport it to the subsequent area 3, and while moving it in the carry-out direction perpendicular to the carry-in direction, a label is attached by the label attachment means 7, and the tray T is then ejected onto the first ejection table 4, and further moved in the opposite direction to the carry-in direction to the second ejection table 5. In this embodiment of the present invention, three types of upper and lower die dies are provided and configured to be interchangeable to accommodate three different sizes of tray T: large, medium, and small. However, this is merely an example, and the types of sizes may be two, "large" and "small," or four or more sizes may be prepared, or even an embodiment may have only one size tray that is not intended to be interchangeable. The weighing means 1, packaging means 2, and subsequent area 3 are aligned vertically from the front to the back of the device.As shown in FIG. 1, above the weighing unit 1 and upstream of the weighing unit 1 in the conveying direction, a console 6 is disposed. The console 6 has an operation unit, such as a display unit, a numeric keypad, and a touch panel, on the front side, and a speaker for emitting buzzers and various voice messages, and a control unit disposed inside. To explain this arrangement in more detail, the lower end of the console 6 case is located upstream of the weighing unit 1, and the center of the console 6 and the center of the display unit are located in the area of ​​the weighing unit 1. Although the console 6 is disposed at an angle, the upper end of the console 6 case is also located upstream of the weighing unit 1. The upper portion of the rear area 3 is a labeling unit 7 that prints and affixes product labels bearing information such as the weighed weight, unit price, and price. Furthermore, the lower die 25 is provided with a gas replacement mechanism (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3). In this specification, "gas replacement" refers to "gas replacement" used in the broad sense (regardless of the specific process) of replacing the air inside a package with an inert gas to extend the shelf life, and includes both "gas replacement" used in the narrow sense of completely removing the air and then adding gas, and "gas flushing" in which gas is sprayed to expel the air. Gas replacement packaging in this broad sense is sometimes called MAP packaging.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration, the top seal is performed while gas is replaced between the packaged item and the film, so that the gas replacement process for extending the expiration date of the packaged item and the packaging process using the top seal can be performed approximately simultaneously, thereby making the work more efficient.

[0013] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the tray T is inserted from the front, packaged, and then returned to the front, which significantly contributes to the efficiency of work in the backyard and realizes this configuration in a compact manner. However, from the viewpoint of performing the gas replacement process for extending the expiration date of the packaged items and the packaging process using a top seal substantially simultaneously, the configuration in which the tray is inserted from the front and then returned to the front is not essential. It is also possible to realize this configuration by simply transporting the tray in one direction from the front to the rear, or by first performing the packaging process and then the weighing process. Furthermore, it is also possible to eliminate the weighing process and labeling process and create an apparatus assembly specialized for the packaging process. This will be described later as another embodiment.

[0014] The machine frame shown in FIG. 1, particularly the upper portion, not only houses the packaging means 2 and other components, but also plays a vital role in isolating the interior from the outside. The lower portion of the machine frame is equipped with buffer tanks (buffer tank BT1, buffer tank BT2) for gas replacement (see FIG. 6). After weighing by the weighing means 1, the tray T is transported, and the upper and lower cutters are closed to perform the top seal. To prevent an operator from accidentally inserting their hand and causing an accident, a shutter 11 is provided between the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2, slightly including the area of ​​the weighing means 1 (see FIG. 6). When the tray T is transported to the packaging means 2 by the infeed bar IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6), the shutter 11 isolates the inside and outside of the housing. Since the transport means in this embodiment of the present invention is the infeed bar IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6) rather than a belt conveyor, the shutter is configured to close by lifting from bottom to top, avoiding the chain portion. However, the shutter may be configured to close by descending from top to bottom, or a shutter may not be provided and the device may be stopped when a sensor detects the intrusion of a hand, thereby ensuring safety.

[0015] To improve convenience during transportation, the first and second discharge trays 4 and 5 are detachable. After these trays are removed, the label application unit 7 is configured to slide fully to the left in FIG. 3 so that it fits within the machine frame's left-right range and does not get in the way during transportation. Conversely, in a "pricing mode" in which only pricing labels are issued without packaging, the label application unit 7 is slid fully to the right in FIG. 3 so that an operator manually applies pricing labels to products. To achieve this, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a label application unit slide rail 71 and anti-tip legs 72. The anti-tip legs 72 support the entire device to prevent the packaging device 100 from losing balance and tipping over when the label application unit 7 is moved all the way to the right.

[0016] The weighing means 1 is configured to weigh the placed packaged items and trays T, and transmits information on the weighed weight to the control unit of the console 6. As shown in Fig. 5, rod-shaped in-feed bars IB are stretched across two left and right chains that can travel the entire circumference from the front of the weighing means 1 to the rear of the packaging means 2, at four circumferential positions, so that the placed trays T can be carried into the machine frame that houses the packaging means 2 and then transported directly to the subsequent area 3. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, a total of eight in-feed bar support members IB1 for stretching the in-feed bars IB across are provided on the two left and right chains at four circumferential positions on the two left and right chains, and four antibacterial treated metal rod-shaped in-feed bars IB are connected to them (see also Fig. 6). The spacing between the in-feed bars IB in the circumferential arrangement is set so that when the in-feed bar IB makes a retreating movement (this will be described later), the in-feed bar IB will not interfere with the next packaged item placed on the weighing means 1. The height of the in-feed bar IB relative to the placement surface of the tray T is configured to be located at the center between the height of the bottom surface and the height of the top surface of the tray T, but the height may be changed as appropriate as long as the tray T can be transported stably.

[0017] As mentioned above, three types of trays T are available: large, medium, and small. Interchangeable upper and lower die dies 24 and 25 are provided for packaging the trays T. Specifically, in this embodiment, an upper die 24A for large trays (150 mm wide and 150 mm deep), an upper die 24B for medium trays (150 mm wide and 120 mm deep), and an upper die 24C for small trays (120 mm wide and 120 mm deep) are provided. However, the outer shapes of the die dies are all the same regardless of tray size. To properly center the three types of trays T (large, medium, and small) relative to the in-feed bar IB, the platform of the weighing unit 1 is provided with recesses of slightly different depths corresponding to the large, medium, and small tray sizes. That is, a deeper recess for the medium size tray is located inside the recess for the large size tray, and an even deeper recess for the small size tray is located inside the recess for the medium size tray. The difference in level caused by this recess is kept to a minimum so as not to create resistance when the in-feed bar IB transports the tray T. In addition, guides 12 tapering toward the center are provided on both the left and right sides as a means for centering (see the partial enlargement in Figure 2). Furthermore, instead of recesses or guides, a visually identifiable indicator may also be used as a means for centering. Even if there is some left-right misalignment, the tray T is naturally guided to the correct position when pushed up by the lower punch die 25 because the sides of the tray T are sloped.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 5, the tray T that has been packaged by thermal welding is transferred from the packaging means 2 to the subsequent area 3. As shown in FIG. 6, the subsequent area 3 is composed of a conveyor belt and functions as a discharge means that moves the tray T outside the machine frame. Above the subsequent area 3, a labeling means 7 that prints and affixes product labels is provided. Therefore, the subsequent area 3 can also be regarded as the labeling means 7. Thus, the tray T is transferred by the subsequent area 3 in an output direction perpendicular to the feed direction and discharged toward the first discharge table 4. The first discharge table 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is equipped with a drive roller that moves the tray T in the opposite direction to the feed direction to the second discharge table 5. The second discharge table 5 is inclined, and the tray T moves under its own weight. Therefore, the rollers of the second discharge table 5 are simply rollers without any driving force.

[0019] The packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an upper die storage means 24H and a lower die storage means 25H as storage means capable of storing all types of unused die dies for the upper die 24 and the lower die 25. This eliminates the need to store unused die dies in a location separate from the packaging device body, thereby saving space. The upper die storage means 24H and the lower die storage means 25H are located in the vicinity of the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212. More specifically, in the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the upper die storage means 24H and the lower die storage means 25H are located above the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2, corresponding to their placement. The lower die storage means 25H is located above the weighing means 1, near the console 6 having a display unit, and downstream of the console 6. Of course, this is merely an example, and the positions of the upper die accommodating means 24H and the lower die accommodating means 25H may be reversed, or the accommodating means may be divided into a space for accommodating upper and lower die dies of one size and a space for accommodating upper and lower die dies of another size. Details of the upper die accommodating means 24H and the lower die accommodating means 25H will be described later.

[0020] To summarize the machine frame containing the packaging means 2, in FIG. 4 , a film holding means 211 that holds the film used to package the containers and a surplus film take-up means 212 that takes up excess film after sealing the containers are arranged in the upper part of the machine frame, corresponding to the front-to-rear arrangement of the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2, respectively, as shown by the dashed line areas. These components collectively constitute the film hanging means 21. The film holding means 211 is provided with a film setting shaft lever 211L that can be raised or tilted, and the surplus film take-up means 212 is provided with a winding shaft lever 212L that can be raised or tilted. In FIG. 6 , the film setting shaft lever 211L is tilted approximately perpendicular to the axial direction, while the winding shaft lever 212L, which does not have a roll loaded, is raised and extends axially. As can be seen from FIG. 6 , the lever must be raised to insert the roll film; however, tilting the lever after inserting the roll film prevents the roll film from falling out. In addition, the setting shaft expands in conjunction with the tilting of the lever, tensioning the film's core from the inside, ensuring that the roll film is stably fixed to the setting shaft. Furthermore, the dimensions are set so that the side panel SP cannot be closed unless the lever is tilted, ensuring the safety of the device. In Figure 4, a first imaging means C1 is provided at position A marked with a circle, and a second imaging means C2 is provided at position B marked with a circle. The first imaging means C1 captures an image of the tray T being carried into the machine frame from above by the in-feed bar IB (see Figures 5 and 6). Using the captured image information, the control unit of the packaging device 100 determines the tray size and the arrangement of the articles to be packaged. The second imaging means C2 captures an image of the tray T from the side within the machine frame, and using the captured image information, the control unit of the packaging device 100 determines whether the tray T is securely fitted into the lower die 25 when it is pushed upward. These imaging means may also be configured to be used to determine the compatibility of the die, as described below.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 , the film hanging means 21 is arranged to fit within the upper portion of the machine frame in which the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2 are arranged. The film is hung in the same direction as the weighing means 1, packaging means 2, and rear area 3, which are vertically aligned from the front to the back of the machine. In other words, the hanging direction of the film is the same as the conveyance direction of the tray T. As shown in Patent Document 1, in conventional packaging machines, the film hanging means is typically arranged to protrude significantly into the outer area of ​​the machine frame in which the packaging means and other components are arranged. However, in this embodiment, the film holding means 211 and surplus film winding means 212 are arranged above and near an attachment means that can attach multiple cutting dies, and the film is hung below and near the attachment means, greatly contributing to space savings. More specifically, in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, an attachment means (as an upper die holder 240 in which upper die dies 24 are loaded) is provided between the film hanging means 21 (consisting of the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212) and the transport space for the tray T (by the in-feed bar IB). Also, as shown in Fig. 5, this embodiment employs an arrangement in which the film unwound from the film holding means 211 is given a constant tension by a dancer roller DR to stabilize the tension, and then the film is looped around two film feed shafts FS, FS so that it passes near the bottom of the attachment means, and then taken up by the surplus film winding means 212. The film hanging means 21, consisting of the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212, is configured to fit in the area above the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2. However, the surplus film winding means 212 may be configured to extend into the rear area 3, or the console 6 may be located in a different position so that the film holding means 211 protrudes further forward. Even with such a configuration, it can be said that this is a technical concept for space saving that is clearly distinguishable from the conventional technology in which the film hanging means is positioned to protrude significantly into the area outside the machine frame. Furthermore, even if the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212 are arranged in the opposite front-to-rear directions, this does not impair space saving, and the film holding means 211 may be configured to be at the rear and the surplus film winding means 212 to be at the front. In FIG. 1 , the side panel SP is pivotally supported on its right long side and is configured to be rotatable rearward. This configuration allows roll film replacement from the right side, and as described below, the upper die 24 and the lower die 25 can also be replaced from the right side. In this way, the upper die 24, film holding means 211, and surplus film winding means 212 are detachable from the same direction along the winding shaft during replacement (the lower die 25 is inserted from the right side and then dropped slightly downward for replacement). The label application means 7 can be tilted (rotated) rearward, facilitating replacement of roll film and replacement of the upper die 24 and the lower die 25. The rotatable configuration also facilitates label replacement. The rotatable side panel SP may be located on the left side instead of the right side. In other words, the rotatable side panel SP does not have to be located on the same side as the first discharge tray 4, etc. However, in terms of space saving, it is advantageous to configure the side panel SP on the same side as the side on which the first discharge tray 4 and the like are arranged to be rotatable.

[0022] The top panel UP, front panel FP, and side panels SP of the machine frame are made of transparent material or have transparent plates fitted in them, so that the state of the film suspended on the film suspension means 21 can be checked. In addition to visual check, the top panel UP is configured to be slidable rearward to a position where it does not come into contact with the label application means 7, so that any problems can be dealt with, and the front panel FP is also pivoted at its top edge and is configured to be rotatable. The front panel FP may also be pivoted at its bottom edge, or it may be configured to be slidable.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , an upper die holder 240, into which the upper die 24 is loaded, is provided between the film hanging means 21 and the transport space for the tray T (transported by the in-feed bar IB), and functions as a mounting means capable of mounting multiple die holders. The upper die holder 240 is provided with a locking means that prevents the upper die 24 from being removed after it has been fully inserted and loaded. To remove the upper die 24, the lock release lever 24L must be operated (see FIG. 11 ). The lock release lever 24L is configured to prevent the unlocking operation when it is inappropriate to remove the upper die, such as when the temperature is high, in coordination with various die processing operations described below. The locking means may be configured as an automatic locking means. In this case, it is preferable to configure the locking operation and the unlocking prohibition operation to be linked to the temperature of the upper die 24 in various die processing operations described below. The upper cutting die folder 240 is provided with a heater means 241 (see FIG. 7(a)) for supplying heat for welding the film. The upper cutting die 24 is provided with a metal plate 242 (see FIG. 7(b)) (as a top seal portion 242) for transmitting the heat supplied from the heater means 241, and a film cutting means 244 (see FIGS. 7(b), 8, 9, and 10) for cutting the film. The heater means 241 contacts the metal plate 242 of the upper cutting die 24 loaded in the upper cutting die folder 240. The metal plate 242 has a protrusion 242a of a size corresponding to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protrusion 242a (see also FIG. 11(c)). The heat supplied from the heater means 241 is transmitted to the protrusion 242a to heat-seal the film in contact with the edge of the tray T. In the embodiment of the present invention, aluminum, which has high thermal conductivity, is used as the material for the metal plate 242, but this does not prevent the use of silver, copper, gold, etc., which have higher thermal conductivity, and even if a material has a lower thermal conductivity than aluminum, it may also be used as long as there are no practical problems. In the embodiment of the present invention, the metal plate 242 has a structure including protrusions 242a corresponding to the edges of the tray T and an uneven shape, but the protrusions 242a and the central portion 242b are basically a single-piece structure composed of a single member. However, the metal plate may be configured by bonding two plates together and by extending a heat pipe between the two plates to conduct heat from the heater more quickly and more evenly over a wider area. Furthermore, because the protrusions 242a, which function as the top seal, of the metal plate 242 weld the film and the container, the central portion 242b, which is not located there, does not need to be hot. Rather, considering the risk of heat dissipation from the central portion 242b, it is preferable to configure the central portion 242b to have a heat-retaining material fixed thereto, and such a configuration may be used. A temperature sensor (not shown) is provided near the upper die holder 240. The temperature sensor constitutes part of the die temperature calculation means. The temperature sensor may be provided near the heater means 241 or on a heat transfer member (described later). Essentially, the die temperature calculation means, upon receiving detection information from the temperature sensor, can determine the temperature of the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 directly or indirectly by performing appropriate calculations. Specifically, the temperature of the upper die is directly detected by the temperature sensor, and the temperatures of the heater means and heat transfer member are also detected by the temperature sensor. Then, the temperature of the metal plate 242 of the upper die, which is in contact with the edge of the tray T, is calculated by a computer predictive calculation based on the temperature information and the thermal resistance and heat capacity of the heater means and heat transfer member. The calculated temperature information of the upper die 24 (metal plate 242) is used to perform various processes on the die (described later).

[0024] A lower die 25 is provided below the upper die folder 240, sandwiching the transport space for the tray T. The lower die 25 pushes up the tray T, and the film sequentially fed out from the roll film R loaded in the film hanging means 21 is sandwiched between the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 and the lower die 25, performing a packaging process (top seal process). In this way, the film hanging means 21, the upper die 24, and the lower die 25 constitute the packaging means 2, which is disposed downstream of the weighing means 1 in the transport direction.

[0025] In this embodiment, the roll film R is supported by passing the shaft of the film holding means 211 through its center hole. The fed film is sealed with a metal plate 242 and cut to the size of the tray T by the film cutting means 244, leaving only the cut periphery, i.e., the film in a hollowed-out state. This film waste is then sequentially wound up by the surplus film winding means 212.

[0026] A metal plate 242 (see Figures 7(b) and 8) that functions as a top seal is disposed so as to face the fed-out film. When the tray T is moved upward by the lower die 25, the film is heat-sealed along the edge of the tray T with the edge of the tray T and the film sandwiched between the lower die 25 and the metal plate 242 (see Figures 7(b) and 8) of the upper die 24. Before the heat-sealing, a gas replacement process is performed in which an inert gas is injected into the space formed between the film and the tray T to extend the expiration date of the packaged goods, replacing the air with the inert gas.

[0027] (Transport operation by infeed bar) As shown in FIG. 5 , the infeed bar IB, which serves as the tray T transport mechanism, is suspended at four circumferential positions on two left and right chains that can travel the entire circumference from the front of the weighing means 1 to the rear of the packaging means 2. As the chains rotate, the tray T can be transported from the weighing means 1 to the packaging means 2, and then from the packaging means 2 to the rear area 3. Rollers 31 are placed in the space between the packaging means 2 and the rear area 3, allowing the tray T to move smoothly from the packaging means 2 to the rear area 3. Because most of the packaging items are food, the metal infeed bar IB is treated with antibacterial and anticorrosive agents. The infeed bar IB is connected to the chains via eight infeed bar support members IB1, each installed at four circumferential positions on the two left and right chains.

[0028] The conveying operation of the in-feed bar IB, which is connected to the chain that serves as the drive unit and moves in a circular motion, will now be described. The opening and closing operation of the shutter 11 will also be described. When in standby mode, the shutter 11 closes by rising from below the front part of the machine frame, isolating the inside and outside of the housing. After weighing by the weighing means 1, the shutter 11 descends, opening the inside and outside of the housing. The tray T placed on the weighing means 1 is pushed by the in-feed bar IB and transported to the packaging means 2, where the in-feed bar IB stops. If this were to continue, the in-feed bar IB would interfere with the lower cutter die 25 (described below) as it ascends. Therefore, the in-feed bar IB temporarily retreats to the area where the weighing means 1 is located. As mentioned above, the spacing of the in-feed bars IB in the circumferential direction is set so that when the in-feed bar IB retreats, it will not interfere with the next packaged item placed on the weighing means 1. Once the in-feed bar IB has moved backward, the shutter 11 rises from below the front part of the machine frame, separating the inside from the outside. This state of separation by the shutter 11 continues until the next product has been weighed. In other words, after weighing is complete, the shutter 11 opens once, the in-feed bar IB pushes the tray T into the housing, and after the shutter 11 closes, the inside and outside of the housing are kept separated by the shutter 11 until the next weighing is complete, ensuring a high level of safety. The structure of the infeed bars IB, which are arranged intermittently in the circumferential direction, allows for a shutter configuration in which the bars rise from below and perform a closing operation, avoiding the chain portions arranged continuously in the circumferential direction. After the top of the tray T is sealed by the packaging means 2, the infeed bar IB moves forward again and transports the tray T to the subsequent area 3. At this time, the presence of rollers 31 ensures that the tray T is smoothly transported without falling between the packaging means 2 and the subsequent area 3. The height of the infeed bar IB relative to the tray T placement surface is configured to be centered between the height of the bottom and top of the tray T, but the height may be changed as needed as long as the tray T can be transported stably. This embodiment, configured as described above, allows the transport of packaged items from the weighing means through the packaging means to the subsequent area using a single transport means, significantly contributing to space and cost savings.

[0029] (Gas replacement and packaging operation by upper and lower die) FIG. 7 is a front cross-sectional view illustrating an upper die and an upper die folder. FIG. 7(a) shows the upper die folder without an upper die loaded, FIG. 7(b) shows the upper die alone, and FIG. 7(c) shows the upper die loaded in the upper die folder. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the upper die. FIG. 8(a) is a top view, FIG. 8(b) is a front view, FIG. 8(c) is a bottom view, FIG. 8(d) is an upper oblique view, and FIG. 8(e) is a lower oblique view. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the lower die. FIG. 13(a) is a top view, and FIG. 13(b) is a side cross-sectional view. FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of portion A in FIG. 13(b), rotated 90 degrees, showing the lower die horizontally. FIG. 24 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the lower die is pushed up against the upper die.

[0030] As can be seen from a comparison of the front cross-sectional views of Figures 7(a) and 7(c), the upper cutting die 24 is loaded into the upper cutting die holder 240 by entering from the right side. That is, as described above, the upper cutting die 24, like the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212, is detachable from the right side in Figure 1, which is the same direction along the winding shaft. Also, as shown in Figure 7(b), the upper cutting die has a metal plate 242 that functions as a top seal when heat supplied from the heater means 241 is transferred, and a film cutting means 244 for cutting the film. As shown in Figure 8, the metal plate 242 is chamfered rectangular to fit the edge of the tray T, and the film cutting means 244 is arranged around its periphery. Furthermore, the metal plate 242 is composed of a protrusion 242a having a size corresponding to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protrusion 242a (see also FIG. 11(c)). The film cutting means 244 can cut the welded film to the size of the tray T. Note that although the heat from the heater means 241 is transferred only to the metal plate 242, a structure in which the heat is transferred to other metal parts is not excluded.

[0031] As shown in Figure 7(a), when the upper die 24 is not installed, the heater means 241 for supplying heat for film welding is positioned upward by a biasing means (not shown) (see also Figures 12(b) and 12(d)). When the upper die 24 shown in Figure 7(b) is inserted from the right side in the figure, the contact portion at the tip of the upper die 24 comes into contact with the roller 2431 at the tip of the heater link 243, and the heater link 243 presses the heater means 241 downward as shown in Figure 7(c) (see also Figures 11(b) and 11(d)). This causes the heater means 241 to come into contact with the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24, enabling it to transfer heat for welding to the metal plate 242. In the embodiment of the present invention, the heater means 241 is formed by drilling holes in an aluminum material and inserting cartridge heaters into the holes (see also FIG. 12(d)). However, it is also possible to use a silicon rubber heater, a plate heater, a plug-type heater, a sheathed heater, or the like. Furthermore, in addition to a heat conduction type heater, the heater type may be a convection type or a radiation type (radiation type), and is not limited to a heat conduction type. The heater means may be configured to directly contact the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24, or may be configured to indirectly contact the heater means and the metal plate 242 by adding a heat transfer member with good thermal conductivity, such as gold, silver, copper, or aluminum, to the metal plate 242. For example, if the heater means's area is small compared to the size of the rectangular portion of the metal plate 242, heat transfer will be limited to the center, resulting in inefficient heat transfer. Therefore, by interposing a heat transfer member with good thermal conductivity comparable in size to the area of ​​the metal plate 242 between the heater means and the metal plate 242, the area through which heat is transferred can be effectively expanded (see also Figure 11(f)). If a heat transfer member is provided, the thermal resistance and heat capacity of the heat transfer member will be taken into account when the upper die temperature calculation means calculates the temperature.

[0032] To accommodate three different sizes of trays T (for example, large, medium, and small), a single die from among a number of die sizes can be selected and attached. It is common to imagine providing a heater for each die. However, this requires the user to disconnect and reconnect the heat source connector each time the die is replaced, which is time-consuming. However, the packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention eliminates the need to reconnect the heater wires, and does not require additional work to establish an electrical connection when replacing the upper die, making the replacement process simple and efficient.

[0033] As described above, the upper cutting die 24 is provided with a chamfered rectangular metal plate 242 whose size and shape correspond to the edge of the tray T, and the metal plate 242 is composed of a protrusion 242a whose size corresponds to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protrusion 242a. In this embodiment, an upper cutting die 24A for a large tray having a tray size of 150 mm wide and 150 mm deep, an upper cutting die 24B for a medium tray having a tray size of 150 mm wide and 120 mm deep, and an upper cutting die 24C for a small tray having a tray size of 120 mm wide and 120 mm deep are prepared (Figures 8 to 10 show the upper cutting die 24B corresponding to a "medium" size tray, while Figure 11 shows the upper cutting die 24A corresponding to a "large" size tray). The metal plate 242 transfers heat supplied from a heater means 241 disposed in the upper cutting die holder 240 (see FIG. 7) to the film to perform top sealing. A cutting blade is provided around the outer periphery of the chamfered rectangular metal plate 242 as a film cutting means 244 for cutting the film after top sealing. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the film cutting means 244 is fixed to the main body of the upper cutting die 24 (see FIG. 10 in particular). The metal plate 242 and the peripheral bottom plate 247 are connected to the main body of the upper cutting die 24 via a biasing means, and the biasing force of the former is set to be stronger than the biasing force of the latter. Therefore, when the lower die 25 is pushed upward while the edge of the tray T is in contact with the tray edge support portion 254 of the lower die 25 (see Figures 13 and 23), first the lower die 25 comes into contact with the peripheral bottom plate 247 of the upper die 24, then the edge of the tray T comes into contact with the metal plate 242, and finally the film pushed up by the tray T comes into contact with the film cutting means 244. The upper die 24 has three upper die holes 245 for detecting the die size, and one of these holes is filled in accordance with the size. The unfilled hole serves as a light-transmitting portion, and the filled hole functions as a light-shielding portion or a reflective portion. If the side of the upper die 24 is grasped when the upper die 24 is removed from the upper die folder 240, the film cutting means 244 may fly out from the bottom of the upper die 24, which is dangerous, as shown in FIG. 9(b). Therefore, the upper die 24 is provided with a handle portion 246 for transportation, as shown in FIG. 8. For the sake of explanation, FIG. 9 is a diagram in which the handle portion 246 for transportation is omitted from FIG. 8. The handle portion 246 for transportation allows the film cutting means 244 to fly out relatively downward when pressing to perform heat sealing, i.e., when the lower die 25 is pushed up. However, when the upper die 24 is removed and held in the hand, the film cutting means 244 does not fly out relatively. The handle portion 246 for transportation also contributes to preventing burns when holding the upper die 24 before it has fully cooled. When attaching the upper cutout die 24 to the upper cutout die folder 240, the cutout portions 248 (see FIG. 8(d)) provided at the left and right lower ends of the upper cutout die 24 are first placed on rails 2401 on the left and right inner surfaces of the upper cutout die folder 240, and then the upper cutout die 24 can be easily loaded by sliding it (see also FIGS. 12(d) and 12(f)). When removing the upper cutout die 24 from the upper cutout die folder 240, the lock release lever 24L shown in FIG. 11 is pressed downward to release the lock, and then the drawer grip portion 24G is grasped and slid, and when most of the upper cutout die 24 has protruded, the transport grip portion 246 is grasped again to pull it out, thereby easily removing it.

[0034] 11 and 12 show the state in which an upper die is loaded into the upper die folder and the state in which an upper die is not loaded into the upper die folder. Fig. 11 shows the state in which an upper die is loaded into the upper die folder, with Fig. 11(a) being a top view, Fig. 11(b) being a front view, Fig. 11(c) being a bottom view, Fig. 11(d) being an upper oblique view, Fig. 11(e) being a right side view, and Fig. 11(f) being a conceptual diagram of a heat transfer member. Fig. 12 shows the state in which an upper die is not loaded into the upper die folder, with Fig. 12(a) being a top view, Fig. 12(b) being a front view, Fig. 12(c) being a bottom view, Fig. 12(d) being an upper oblique view, Fig. 12(e) being a right side view, and Fig. 12(f) being an enlarged view of part D in Fig. 12(d). Unlike FIGS. 8 to 10, FIG. 11 shows a state in which an upper die 24A corresponding to a "large" size tray is loaded. As can be seen by comparing Figures 11(b) and 12(b), or by comparing Figures 11(d) and 12(d), when the upper die 24 is loaded, the heater link 243 presses the heater means 241 downward, as shown in Figures 11(b) and 11(d), whereas when the upper die 24 is not loaded, as shown in Figures 12(b) and 12(d), the heater means 241 is positioned upward by a biasing means (not shown), and the heater link 243 also jumps upward along with it. Figure 11(c) shows that the metal plate 242 is composed of a protrusion 242a having a size corresponding to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protrusion 242a. Figure 12(d) shows that the heater means 241 is positioned upward by a biasing means (not shown), and a hole for inserting a cartridge heater can be seen. 11(c) and 12(c), the extent of the heater means 241 is smaller than the size of the rectangular portion of the metal plate 242. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 11(f), a heat transfer member HTM with good thermal conductivity and a size comparable to the extent of the metal plate 242 is interposed between the heater means 241 and the metal plate 242, thereby effectively expanding the area over which heat is transferred.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b), the lower die 25 includes a gas inlet 251 for gas replacement (gas flushing), a gas diffusion step 2510 connected to the gas inlet 251, and an air outlet 252. The area including the gas inlet 251 and the gas diffusion step 2510 is covered with a cover, and therefore the gas inlet 251 and the gas diffusion step 2510 are depicted by dashed lines in FIG. 13(a). The gas diffusion step 2510 has a triangular shape in top view, which allows the gas to diffuse easily in the lateral direction of the tray, as indicated by the hollow arrows in the figure. In FIG. 23, the dashed line F represents the film and also indicates the film support surface. However, because a cover covering the gas diffusion step 2510 and other components is located at the left end of the dashed line, only that area is depicted by a solid line. 23, the gas is diffused by the gas diffusion step 2510, enters the tray T, and is sent rearward, after which it finally turns downward and is discharged through the multiple air outlets 252. Note that the gas inlet 251 is disposed in the front (corresponding to the long side of the tray), while the air outlet 252 is disposed in the rear (corresponding to the opposing long side of the tray), but they may also be configured to be disposed on either side (either on both sides or on one side) corresponding to the short sides of the tray. Also, although the air outlet 252 is configured to communicate downward, it may also be configured to communicate rearward.

[0036] As shown in Figure 13(a), the lower die 25 has three lower die holes 253 for detecting the die size, one of which is filled depending on the size. The unfilled holes serve as light-transmitting sections, while the filled holes function as light-shielding or reflective sections. The tray T is raised by having its edges supported by tray edge supports 254 provided inside the lower die 25. The center of the lower die 25 is perforated vertically, and at this position, tray bottom support means 26 is fixedly provided to the housing (see Figure 24).

[0037] A method for attaching and detaching the lower die will be described using Figure 14. Figure 14 is a perspective view showing how the lower die is attached to and detached from the lower die folder. As shown in the figure, with the lower die 25 loaded in the lower die folder 250, the lower die 25 can be easily attached and detached to and from the lower die folder 250 by gripping the hole into which the tray falls inside the tray edge support portion 254 of the lower die 25, that is, by gripping the surrounding areas, that is, the upper surface, lower surface, and inner surface, as the gripping portion.

[0038] The upper die 24, the upper die folder 240, and the lower die 25 cooperate to push up the tray T, perform a gas replacement process to extend the expiration date of the packaged items, and then perform the packaging process. This operation will be described below. Figure 24 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the lower die is pushed up relative to the upper die. Figure 24(a) shows a state in which the lower die 25 has risen slightly from the lowest position, Figure 24(b) shows a state in which the lower die 25 has risen significantly and is in contact with the film F to form a closed space, and Figure 24(c) shows a state in which the lower die 25 continues to rise, contacts the metal plate 242, and then rises further, and the film F has been cut (cut out) by the film cutting means 244. Note that Figures 24(b) and 24(c) also show partial enlargements of parts B and C, respectively.

[0039] The tray T transported by the infeed bar IB from the weighing means 1 is initially supported at its bottom by the tray bottom support means 26. Thereafter, when the lower die 25 rises, support of the bottom of the tray T by the tray bottom support means 26 is taken over by support of the edge of the tray T by the tray edge support portion 254 of the lower die 25, as shown in FIG. 24(a). Thereafter, when the lower die 25 rises to the position shown in FIG. 24(b), a closed space is formed by the lower die 25 and the film F, and an inert gas is injected through the gas inlet 251 and the gas diffusion step 2510 to replace the air present in the space formed between the film F and the tray T. Instead, the air is discharged from the air outlet 252. This results in a gas replacement process (gas flush) being performed to extend the shelf life of the packaged products. The lower die 25 continues to rise thereafter, and the edge of the tray T comes into contact with the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 (this state is not shown, and the lower die 25 is positioned at a height between Figures 24(b) and 24(c)). In this state, while or after the top is sealed, the lower die 25 continues to rise, and the excess length around the top-sealed film is cut off by the film cutting means 244. Figure 24(c) shows that the edges of the film F and tray T are clamped between the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 and the tray edge support part 254 of the lower die 25, with the cutting edge of the film cutting means 244 positioned below them. The mechanism by which the edge of the tray T first comes into contact with the metal plate 242 and then with the film cutting means 244 is achieved by setting the downward biasing force of the metal plate 242 to be weaker than the biasing force of the film cutting means 244, and by configuring the metal plate 242 to retreat upward relative to the film cutting means 244. Although not shown, when the lower die 25 descends, support of the edge of the tray T by the tray edge support parts 254 of the lower die 25 is taken over by support of the bottom surface of the tray T by the tray bottom support means 26, and the tray T is then transported to the subsequent region 3 by the in-feed bar IB.

[0040] (Regarding compatibility detection of upper and lower punching dies) As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, three types of upper and lower die dies are prepared to accommodate three different sizes of tray T: large, medium, and small. The upper die 24 can be replaced by simply inserting it from the right side with the side panel SP open, and the lower die 25 can be replaced by inserting it from the right side with the side panel SP open and then dropping it down. Here, whether or not the correct size die is loaded is an issue. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, a device is provided to detect whether the correct upper die 24 and the correct lower die 25 are loaded. That is, the upper die 24 has three upper die holes 245 as shown in FIG. 8, and the lower die 25 has three lower die holes 253 as shown in FIG. 13. One of these holes is filled in for each size. Light-emitting elements are provided below the lower die 25 and light-receiving elements are provided above the upper die 24 at the ends of the three holes. In the portion corresponding to the center, a light-emitting element is provided above the upper die 24 and a light-receiving element is provided below the lower die 25. Normally, two lights should be received, but if the upper die 24 and the lower die 25 do not correspond, one of the lights will be blocked, meaning that the upper and lower die do not match, and this can be detected. Based on this, it is possible to detect and determine the sizes of the die dies that are loaded together in the upper and lower positions according to the position of the holes, and if necessary, a notification is given by a display means, audio guidance, or notification means such as communication with another external device.

[0041] In this embodiment, the light propagation direction is opposite between the end portions and the center portion to prevent interference between adjacent lights. However, if there is no risk of light interference, the three light directions may be the same. Furthermore, although one of three holes is filled depending on the size, two may be filled. However, filling one hole and detecting two holes is preferable because it increases the possibility of determining various situations. Furthermore, a reflective sensor may be used instead of a combination of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. In this case, the filled hole would be a reflective portion rather than a light-blocking portion. Furthermore, instead of an optical sensor, other optical means, such as an imaging element, may be used to capture the characteristics of the upper and lower cutting dies and perform image analysis to make a judgment. In this case, even if the upper and lower dies are not aligned, it is possible to separately judge the upper and lower dies. This embodiment, configured as described above, provides a highly effective packaging device without stopping the line due to incompatible upper and lower cutting dies.

[0042] Problems can also occur due to errors other than misalignment of the upper and lower die dies. During busy periods, other tasks besides packaging may interrupt the work, forcing workers to perform other tasks. Or, due to inexperienced workers operating the machine, they may forget to load the die itself. Even when they have forgotten to load the die, they may mistakenly assume that the die has been replaced and attempt to resume work. However, in embodiments of the present invention, when both the upper and lower die dies are not loaded, the light is not blocked from all three holes, and the light emitted from the three light-emitting elements is detected by all three light-receiving elements. By determining that the upper and lower die dies are loaded when all three sensors are on and providing a warning, further operational errors due to forgetting to load the upper and lower die dies can be prevented.

[0043] As described above, the three holes can detect mismatches between the upper and lower die sets and failure to load the upper and lower die sets, but there are cases where other types of mistakes can occur. If an interruption occurs during a replacement operation, it is possible that the upper die set has been replaced but the lower die set has not been completed and is not loaded, or vice versa. Here we will explain another example of detecting compatibility between the upper and lower die sets, which takes into account the possibility of such mistakes.

[0044] FIG. 15 shows an example in which holes are provided in five different positions for the upper die hole 245 and the lower die hole 253 (one hole is filled in the figure, so it appears as four holes). The configuration of three holes, the upper die hole 2451 for matching determination and the lower die hole 2531 for matching determination, and the mechanism of action, such as determining a match when two sensors are turned on, are the same as those in the example described above. In addition, in another example, as shown in FIG. 15, the upper die 24 is provided with a hole 2452 for determining whether a lower die is not loaded, and the lower die 25 is provided with a hole 2532 for determining whether an upper die is not loaded. Another example of detecting compatibility between the upper and lower die is configured so that the control unit of the packaging device can determine whether a lower die is not loaded or whether an upper die is not loaded by providing the hole 2452 for determining whether a lower die is not loaded and the hole 2532 for determining whether an upper die is not loaded. Of course, it is also possible to determine if both the upper and lower dies are not loaded.

[0045] The mechanism of action of the determination will be explained using Figure 16. Here, the numbers 2 to 4 with circles (hereinafter referred to as O2 to O4, etc.) are the upper die hole 2451 for determining coincidence or the lower die hole 2531 for determining coincidence. Also, O1 is the hole 2452 for determining whether the lower die is not loaded, and O5 is the hole 2532 for determining whether the upper die is not loaded. Note that the hole in the lower die at a position opposite the hole 2452 for determining whether the lower die is not loaded in the upper die 24 is filled, but it may be configured so that no hole is drilled originally. The same applies to the hole in the upper die at a position opposite the hole 2532 for determining whether the upper die is not loaded in the lower die 25.

[0046] As shown in Figure 16(a), if the sensor output at the corresponding positions of O2 and O3 is ON, it is determined that a large-size die is loaded. Also, as shown in Figure 16(b), if the sensor output at the corresponding positions of O2 and O4 is ON, it is determined that a medium-size die is loaded. Also, as shown in Figure 16(c), if the sensor output at the corresponding positions of O3 and O4 is ON, it is determined that a small-size die is loaded. Although not shown, if only one sensor output is ON, it means that the sizes of the upper and lower die do not match. In contrast, if three sensor outputs are ON, it means that neither the upper nor lower die is loaded. The determination method of the other example described above has the same mechanism of action even in the example described above where only three holes are provided.

[0047] If only one of the upper and lower die dies is left unloaded, three sensors alone cannot detect this. However, five sensors can properly detect this. That is, as can be seen from FIG. 16(d), when the sensor output of O1 is on, it means that the upper die is loaded but the lower die is not. On the other hand, as can be seen from FIG. 16(e), when the sensor output of O5 is on, it means that the lower die is loaded but the upper die is not. When neither the upper nor lower die dies are loaded, as explained above, the sensor outputs of O2 to O4 are on. In addition, the sensor outputs of O1 and O5 are also on, meaning that all five sensor outputs are on.

[0048] In both the example with three holes and the example with five holes, size information of the container linked to the product information is stored in an appropriate storage means, and it is possible to detect a difference between the determined sizes of the upper and lower cutters and the size of the container linked to the called-up product information, and to issue a notification using a notification means as necessary.In contrast to this, it is also possible to control the system so that a product that does not correspond to the set cutter is not called up, and to make the user aware that the cutter is not compatible by not being able to call up the product.

[0049] The means for determining the suitability of the die does not necessarily have to use holes, but may be another detection means, or a combination of a hole-based detection means and another detection means may be used. For example, if a sensor (a contact switch, an electromagnetic sensor, or the like) that detects the loading of the upper die itself is provided, the sensor indicated by O5 in FIG. 16 can be omitted. Other methods may include a more intelligent method using a first imaging unit C1 and a second imaging unit C2 that capture images of the tray T, or, conversely, a more primitive method. For example, the die may be determined by measuring its weight, or a mark or number may be written on the die so that its number can be visually confirmed. The identification mark may be a strong adhesive sticker. Even if an imaging element is used, the determination may be made by reading a barcode displayed on the die rather than the physical characteristics of the die itself. However, in a device that uses optical means or another physical quantity, if a sensor capable of identifying which upper and lower die holders are loaded is provided, it becomes possible to determine which size die holders are loaded in each of the upper and lower die holders, making the display screen guidance described below more advantageous. Specific examples of sensors include the first imaging means C1 and second imaging means C2 described above. That is, the first imaging means C1 can be configured as a wide-angle camera so that it can capture the upper die 24 at the same time as the tray T being carried into the machine frame, or it can be configured as a swivelable camera so that it can capture the upper die 24. Of course, a dedicated imaging means for the upper die 24 may also be provided. Alternatively, physical sensors corresponding to the size of each die may be appropriately employed.

[0050] (Various treatments for cutting dies) In this embodiment, the device characteristics of the packaging machine are taken into consideration, and an effective process for the upper and lower die is performed. Specifically, the device is configured to use temperature information obtained from die temperature measuring means, and also use information on the compatibility of the upper and lower die depending on the situation, and to perform a process that contributes to an appropriate packaging operation. This will be described with reference to Figs. 17 to 22.

[0051] Fig. 17 is a flow diagram showing the flow of various processes for the cutting die, and Figs. 18 to 22 are examples of screen layouts displayed on the display unit of the console 6. The processes performed for the cutting die will be described with reference to the flow diagram of Fig. 17.

[0052] When changing the upper and lower cutting dies, the "emergency stop" button is pressed to stop the packaging machine and then the die and film are replaced. However, in step 1, the "emergency stop" button 8 is pressed first (ST1). The "emergency stop" button 8 is a mechanical button located on the machine frame (see Figures 1 and 5), but it does not necessarily have to be a mechanical button. Figure 18(a) shows the screen layout immediately after the "emergency stop" button 8 is pressed. The type of die currently set is determined and displayed. Figure 18(a) shows that upper cutting die 24A and lower cutting die 25A for large trays have been set, along with size information that the die is 150 mm wide and 150 mm deep.

[0053] In step 2, it is determined whether or not the cutting die is to be replaced (ST2). In other words, if the "Film Change" button is pressed on the screen in Figure 18(a), this means that the operator has input their intention to replace the film, not the cutting die, and the determination in step 2 is NO, and in step 3, film replacement or other work is performed (ST3). An example of other work is work in "pricing mode," which does not perform packaging but only issues pricing labels. To switch to pricing mode, the "Manual Pricing" button is pressed, and then the display screen transitions to the "Weighing Screen (Packaging Pricing - Packaging - Pricing Screen)." Another example of work is cleaning the packaging device.

[0054] On the other hand, when the "Replace Cutting Die" button is pressed on the screen of FIG. 18(a) to replace the cutting die, a button prompting the user to "Start Cooling" is displayed, as shown in the screen layout of FIG. 18(b). In this embodiment, "Start Cooling" refers to stopping the heat supply to the heater means 241 and allowing natural cooling. Of course, if the device is equipped with a cooling means to protect the device body when the entire device is slightly overheated, this may be used to actively cool the device, or a special cooling means dedicated to the cutting die may be provided. Furthermore, as for the operation mode, for example, pressing the "Replace Cutting Die" button may be skipped so that cooling (natural cooling) begins immediately. The display of the operation screen is merely an example.

[0055] Returning to the flow chart, when the "Start Cooling" button is pressed in step 4, the device enters a natural cooling state (ST4), and the display unit displays the screen layout shown in FIG. 19(a). As shown in FIG. 19(a), first, the information "Cooling" is displayed. In addition to the tray size information corresponding to the current die, the current temperature calculated by the die temperature calculation means is displayed as "90°C" and the optimum temperature for replacement is displayed as "35°C." Furthermore, the estimated time required to reach the optimum temperature is displayed as "required time: 20 minutes." The estimated time may be set in advance as the time required to reach the optimum temperature from the current temperature, or may be calculated using a predetermined algorithm based on the current temperature, outside air temperature (room temperature), etc.; however, this is merely a guideline.

[0056] If the "emergency stop" button 8 is released during cooling, a message will be displayed indicating that "replacement has not yet been carried out," or a message will be displayed asking whether it is necessary to resume packaging with the die being loaded without replacement, and then a confirmation screen will be displayed to confirm whether "reheating is necessary" or whether heating should be carried out to the appropriate welding temperature, making it possible to reheat the die.

[0057] Monitoring continues until the current temperature calculated by the die temperature calculation means reaches the optimum replacement temperature of 35°C (ST5). Once the optimum replacement temperature is reached, the screen layout shown in Figure 19(b) is displayed. After confirming the messages "Cooling Complete" and "Now Replacing," the operator presses the "Cutting Die Change" button in step 6 to change the upper and lower die sets to those corresponding to the desired tray size (ST6). When the "Cutting Die Change" button is pressed, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention executes control to loosen the film by rotating the film setting shaft or the winding shaft in a loosening direction, thereby slackening the film and making die replacement easier. As shown in Figure 5, the film and the upper die set 24 are very close to each other, which could cause the upper die set 24 to get caught on the film when inserted or removed. Specifically, when the "Cutting Die Change" button is pressed, the control unit rotates the film holding means 211, which is the film setting shaft, in the unwinding direction. This slackens the film between the two film feed shafts FS-FS, allowing the upper cutting die 24 to be inserted and removed without interfering with the film. As a variant, the control unit may rotate the take-up shaft, or surplus film take-up means 212, in the opposite direction to the take-up direction to slacken the film, or may rotate the film set shaft in the payout direction and the take-up shaft in the opposite direction to the take-up direction to slacken the film. The operator then performs the cutting die replacement work, and after completing the work, presses the "Cutting die replacement complete" button shown in Figure 20(a). The control unit then rotates the film set shaft and take-up shaft in the direction that eliminates the slack in the film, and in step 7, the loading status of the upper and lower cutting dies is determined (ST7). Furthermore, if a sensor that detects the loading of the upper die using a contact switch, electromagnetic sensor, or the like, which was explained as another example of the means for determining the suitability of the die, is provided, the timing for loosening the film may be after the upper die is removed. This is based on the idea that the film is likely to get caught when the die, which tends to wobble up and down, is inserted, but the film is unlikely to get caught when the die is simply pulled out. In addition to this, the timing for loosening the film can be any timing that is expected to result in a subsequent die change, such as when the side panel SP is opened, when the product is changed, or when the power is turned off. In addition, the timing for rotating the film setting shaft and winding shaft in the direction that eliminates slack in the film can be determined not only when the "die replacement complete" button is pressed, but also when the side panel SP is closed or when the sensor detects that the upper die has been attached. As another method for slackening the film, the dancer roller DR, which normally applies a constant tension to the film to stabilize the tension, may be moved upward when changing the cutting dies to slacken the film, or one or both of the film feed shafts FS, FS may be moved downward when changing the cutting dies to slacken the film. The movement of the dancer roller DR and the film feed shafts may also be used in combination. Furthermore, if there is sufficient space, the upper cutting die 24 may be configured to be movable upward, and the upward movement of the upper cutting die 24 may separate the cutting die and the film.

[0058] If the determination reveals a problem with the loading status of the die, a conspicuous error message is displayed, along with the details of the error. For example, as shown in FIG. 20( a), a message indicating that the upper die is not loaded is displayed with a "die match error" highlighted. The "start heating" button is not activated and cannot be pressed. After an operator viewing the screen of FIG. 20( a) loads an upper die that is not loaded and presses the "die exchange complete" button, the die loaded in each of the upper and lower dies is displayed. As a result, if the upper die is loaded with the wrong size, for example, a message indicating that the upper die is large and the lower die is medium, indicating a size mismatch, is displayed with a "die match error" highlighted, and the "start heating" button is not activated and cannot be pressed. However, this display mode applies when a sensor capable of individually determining the upper and lower die is provided. If a different sensor is provided, the message simply indicates that the upper and lower die do not match.

[0059] On the other hand, if the determination result indicates that the sizes of the upper and lower cutting dies are consistent, for example, as shown in Figure 20(b), the guidance screen will display that both the upper and lower cutting dies are medium size, and the "Start Heating" button will be activated and displayed as if it can be pressed. The size information display for the separate upper and lower cutting dies may then be configured to transition to a single size information display, such as "Medium (2) Tray 150w x 120D," as shown in Figure 18. Alternatively, the control may be such that heating begins together with the display of "Start Heating" without requiring a pressing operation.

[0060] Alternatively, the button display may not even indicate the start of heating, but heating may be started if the upper and lower die match, and not started if they do not. However, it is desirable to configure the system so that the fact that heating is in progress can be recognized by a screen display, audio notification, signpost, etc. Furthermore, if it is detected that the upper die has been reattached during replacement, heating may be restarted, or heating may be restarted under certain conditions, such as a gradual restart. By implementing these controls, the time required to reach the appropriate welding temperature can be shortened.

[0061] Thereafter, monitoring continues until the current temperature calculated by the die temperature calculation means reaches 160°C, the optimum welding temperature (ST8). At this time, the guidance screen on the display unit indicates that both the upper die and the lower die are medium size, as shown in FIG. 21(a), and also indicates that the temperature is "heating." Note that the heating status may be indicated by flashing a pilot lamp provided on the device housing or a sign pole located outside the housing. The current temperature calculated by the die temperature calculation means is also displayed as "38°C" and the welding temperature as "160°C." In addition, an estimated time until the temperature reaches the welding temperature may be displayed.

[0062] If the "emergency stop" button 8 is pressed to cancel the emergency stop state during heating, a warning such as "Possible packaging defects" is issued, and the packaging device 100 is prevented from switching to the "packaging mode" or "packaging pricing mode" among the multiple processing modes available for various operations until the heating temperature reaches the appropriate temperature. On the other hand, the "pricing mode," which performs weighing and pricing without packaging or issues only pricing labels, can be performed even during heating, so the "manual pricing" button is available on the screen in FIG. 21(a). Thus, the packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a mode switching means capable of switching between a first processing mode, in which both the packaging means and the pricing means perform processing, and a second processing mode, in which only the pricing means performs processing. However, the mode switching means is configured to restrict switching to modes other than the second processing mode if the upper die is not within the appropriate temperature range for welding. In addition, the operation screen for the "pricing mode" may be configured to prohibit changing the processing mode when the temperature is not appropriate for welding, or may be configured to simply notify the user that the temperature is not appropriate without prohibiting the change.

[0063] Furthermore, in addition to manual pricing, which is a task completely independent of packaging, it is also possible to configure the system so that some of the weighing work related to packaging can be started in advance. That is, even if packaging is not yet at a stage where it is possible to properly perform packaging, the weighing work, which is a pre-processing step, can be performed, by configuring the system so that the temperature at which switching to the weighing screen is permitted can be set. For example, if the welding temperature is 160°C, it is possible to configure the system so that switching to the weighing screen is permitted when the temperature reaches 120°C.

[0064] In step 8, when it is determined that the temperature has reached the welding temperature, i.e., that heating has been completed (ST8), the screen layout shown in Figure 21(b) is displayed. After confirming the messages "Heating completed" and "Please release the emergency stop button," the operator presses the "Heating completed" button for confirmation, and then releases the "Emergency Stop" button 8, allowing the packaging and pricing work to begin. Note that the configuration may be such that pressing the "Heating completed" button is omitted and the "Emergency Stop" button 8 is directly released.

[0065] Additional configurations and modifications relating to various processes for the cutting die will be described. The welding temperature range setting may vary depending on the materials and compatibility of the tray, film, etc., and is configured to be configurable for storage and retrieval. In this case, it is preferable to configure the welding temperature to be changed by changing the "tray" or "film" settings on the measurement screen. It is also possible to set a master that combines the tray and film type, and change the temperature by specifying it from that master. It is also preferable to configure the system to appropriately notify users of an inappropriate combination of tray and film by using a warning display or a warning or attention-calling sound such as a buzzer.

[0066] Furthermore, for notifications during cooling and heating, in addition to the screen display on the display unit, a sign pole may be provided that lights up blue during cooling, flashes blue when the appropriate replacement temperature is reached, lights up red during heating, and flashes red when the appropriate welding temperature is reached. The degree to which the appropriate welding temperature has been reached during heating and the appropriate replacement temperature has been reached during cooling can be grasped by changing the notification mode, which has the advantage of allowing the operator to grasp the temperature status while performing other tasks even if the waiting time is relatively long, or to grasp the situation from a location far from the packaging device. Notifications regarding the appropriate welding temperature and the appropriate replacement temperature may be made in multiple stages, for example, by flashing until the temperature is reached and then turning on once the temperature is reached, and gradually increasing the flashing cycle until the temperature is reached.

[0067] When replacing the cutting dies, if the temperature is not appropriate for replacement, a message or voice may be issued to advise the user to wear insulated gloves when replacing. Furthermore, if a sensor for detecting the loading state of the cutting dies is provided, a notification that the temperature is not appropriate for replacement can be issued if the cutting dies are replaced when the temperature is not appropriate for replacement. Furthermore, if a locking mechanism is provided when the cutting dies are loaded, the lock may be inhibited from being released until the temperature reaches the appropriate temperature for replacement, or a special authority may be set for unlocking the lock so that it can be released by a special operation such as a password.

[0068] (Example of the judgment result displayed on the weighing screen) FIG. 22 shows an example of the display of the determination result on the weighing screen. For the product name "Gauda Cheese," "Large (1)" is displayed in the "Tray Type Selection" field, and "Width 150 x Depth 150" is displayed in the "Tray Dimensions" field. The tray dimensions for "Gauda Cheese" are set to "Width 150 x Depth 150," and the cutter is "Large (1)," so the combination is correct. If a "Medium (2)" or "Small (3)" cutter is loaded, the corresponding tray dimensions would be "Width 150 x Depth 120" or "Width 120 x Depth 120," resulting in a size error for "Gauda Cheese." Therefore, if the determination result for the loaded status of the upper and lower cutters is medium or small, a notification of a size error is issued. For example, to make the size error easily recognizable, the display may be changed from the usual display format to make it more noticeable, or a more straightforward message such as "Size Error" may be displayed. Furthermore, the error may be notified by sound. Also, if the combination is correct, the tray dimensions may not be changed. However, depending on the operation at the site, it may be permitted to change the tray dimensions relative to the cutter, changing the tray dimensions of "Gauda Cheese" from "150W x 150D" to "150W x 120D" or "120W x 120D" that match the cutter. In that case, the system may be configured to allow the tray dimensions to be changed as an exception. In other words, if a corresponding tray is not available, the product may be packaged in another tray. Furthermore, if the operator has a vague memory of the product number and wants to try entering it several times, it can be a bit annoying to be notified of a size error every time, so the notification can be configured to occur at a slightly later time, for example, when the operator actually weighs the product without noticing the size error. In addition, it also displays that the current processing mode is "packaging pricing mode" and that the "heat seal temperature" is "160°C." This temperature display may be made more visible by changing the display style until the temperature reaches the appropriate temperature. For example, while the product still needs to be heated, the display may be in red, and once the appropriate temperature is reached, the display may change to green. Furthermore, the gas pressure 1 column shows a value of "500 kPa," and the gas pressure 2 column shows a value of "300 kPa." This will be explained in more detail in the section "(Processing According to Gas Supply Status)" below. When the "pricing mode" is selected as the "packaging mode," the system is configured not to perform a match determination or notification for the match between the cutter size associated with the called product and the loaded cutter size, since the packaging work will not be performed. Of course, the system may be configured to perform the determination and notification for the packaging work to be performed later.

[0069] (Gas replacement treatment) Gas replacement processes to extend the shelf life of packaged products are performed by replacing air with an inert gas. Inert gases are created by adjusting the ratio of three gases—nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen—to extend the shelf life of food. While oxygen may seem unnecessary, it is actually necessary to maintain the redness of meat. As mentioned above, gas can be efficiently delivered by injecting gas between the film and the container while the upper and lower die dies are closed. In other words, gas injection time can be shortened by injecting gas through the gas inlet 251 while evacuating the air inside the die dies through the air outlet 252. Furthermore, since the gas inlet 251 is located on the side of the weighing device 1, gas can be injected from the same position even with die dies of different sizes. Furthermore, since the gas inlet 251 and air outlet 252 are located in the film conveyance direction, the film can be reliably covered without shifting left or right. Here, only one type of film is used to eliminate the need to change film for each tray size. The same is true for trays T, which are all the same width and only differ in depth (however, multiple heights may be prepared), so film can be used without waste. Conventionally, most gas replacement packaging involves injecting gas into the bag during the manufacturing process. This embodiment is highly significant in that it achieves efficient gas replacement processing at the top seal by injecting gas while the film is sandwiched between the bags. As mentioned above, this embodiment has an air outlet 252 to shorten the gas injection time, and this structure allows vacuum packaging to be selected by changing the control so that gas is not injected from the gas inlet 251, that is, by changing the control so that air is only removed from the die through the air outlet 252. Of course, normal packaging, which does not perform either gas injection or air removal, can also be selected. The operator can select between normal packaging, gas replacement packaging, and vacuum packaging by selecting the mode. This is advantageous in that it allows for a wide range of packaging changes during normal operation, but in addition to this, it also has the effect of allowing for a wide range of responses to a drop in gas pressure, as described below.

[0070] The gas replacement time can be changed manually or automatically depending on the size of the tray T, which can be one of three types: "large," "medium," or "small." The gas replacement time may be configured to change according to the expiration date, in other words, using the expiration date as an indicator. FIG. 30 shows a screen displayed on the display unit of the console 6, which allows the user to select from presented options the number of days from the processing date to set as the expiration date. Alternatively, the number of days may be specified by direct input. The control unit calculates the required gas replacement time based on the size of the tray T corresponding to the cutting die determined by the compatibility detection information for the upper and lower cutting dies and the expiration date specified on the console 6, and executes the gas replacement process. In this example display, a notification is displayed indicating that by setting the expiration date five days from January 16, 2024, a January 21, 2024 expiration date will be printed on the label. It is preferable to intuitively indicate that the expiration date cannot be changed if the gas pressure drops or the gas supply is completely stopped, for example by masking the touch buttons to prevent changes. Also, the recommended expiration date may be linked to the product information, and the gas replacement time may be automatically changed depending on the product selected.Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted in which multiple gas inlets are provided, for example, three inlets dedicated to nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, so that the optimal gas ratio can be adjusted by setting or automatic control.

[0071] (Regarding die storage means) As described above, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an upper die storage means 24H and a lower die storage means 25H as storage means capable of storing all types of unused die dies, eliminating the need to store unused die dies in a location separate from the packaging device itself. In this embodiment, the storage means are configured to store two unused die dies out of three types of die dies. However, if the device can be made larger so that all three die dies can be stored without being loaded when the packaging device is not in use, this configuration is more efficient when it is likely that operation will begin with any die size when the device is first used.

[0072] Fig. 25 is a right perspective view showing the state in which the upper and lower cutters are stored in the cutter die storage means, and Fig. 26 is a right side view showing the state in which the upper and lower cutters are stored in the cutter die storage means. Figs. 25(a) and 26(a) show the state in which the upper and lower cutters are stored, and Figs. 25(b) and 26(b) show the state in which the upper and lower cutters are not stored. Fig. 26(c) is an enlarged view of the lower right corner of the upper cutter die storage means 24H in Fig. 26(a).

[0073] In Figures 25 and 26, upper die 24B for medium-sized trays and lower die 25B for medium-sized trays are loaded in a folder and are in use (not shown), upper die 24A for large trays and upper die 24C for small trays that are not loaded in a folder are stored in upper die storage means 24H, and lower die 25A for large trays and lower die 25C for small trays that are not loaded in a folder are stored in lower die storage means 25H.

[0074] Because the upper die-holding means 24H and the lower die-holding means 25H are positioned near the rolled film, they are covered with protective members to prevent the effects of heat on the rolled film. That is, they are covered with covers to prevent inadvertent heat transfer to the rolled film. These protective members can be made of heat-insulating or cooling materials as appropriate to reduce the effects of heat. Alternatively, a cooling fan may be provided in addition to the protective members.

[0075] The upper die storage means 24H is configured to allow the upper die to be slidably attached and detached so that two upper die dies can be stored vertically and apart in a horizontally laid state. As shown in Figure 26(c), the right and left ends of the lower part of the upper die 24 are L-shaped or inverted L-like, and the upper die storage means 24H is in the form of a rail that rises up in an inverted L-shaped or inverted L-like shape, and notches 248 on the lower left and right sides of the upper die 24 fit into the rail shape, allowing it to slide. The relationship between the notches 248 and the rail shape is the same for the upper die 24 and the upper die folder 240, so that loading into the folder and storing into the die storage means can be performed by a similar sliding operation.

[0076] The lower die storage means 25H is configured to allow the lower die to be attached and detached in a sliding manner so that two lower die sets can be stored upright and spaced apart. The relationship between the ends of the die sets and the rail shape of the storage means is substantially the same as that for the upper die sets. In addition, to make it easier to remove the two lower die sets lined up side by side, one of the left and right sides of the housing of the storage means is shorter than the other.

[0077] (Processing according to gas supply status) The packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured to be able to appropriately respond to changes in the gas supply state, such as when the gas supply state is reduced or when the gas supply is completely stopped. Furthermore, as a modified embodiment, a configuration can be adopted in which the mode of the gas replacement process can be changed regardless of the gas supply state, i.e., even when sufficient gas is being supplied. This will be explained below.

[0078] FIG. 27 is a system configuration diagram of a gas supply configuration of a packaging apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment of the present invention, an inert gas in which the ratios of three types of gases, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, are adjusted, and an inert gas in which the ratios of two types of gases, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, are adjusted, are prepared in advance and sealed in two gas cylinders (GB1, GB2). The two gas cylinders (GB1, GB2) are disposed outside the packaging apparatus 100. Each of the two gas cylinders is connected to two buffer tanks (buffer tank BT1, buffer tank BT2) via two systems of an outer gas measuring device OGM and an outer regulator OR. The two buffer tanks (buffer tank BT1, buffer tank BT2) are disposed within the housing of the packaging apparatus 100, for example, below the upper and lower die-cutting machines. Beef darkens if it does not contain approximately 30% oxygen, so an inert gas containing three types of gases is used. Chicken and pork do not darken, so an inert gas containing two types of gases is used. For this reason, two gas systems are used. However, the gas supply configuration shown in the system configuration diagram is merely an example. If only one mixed concentration is required, for example, if some darkening of beef is tolerated, or if oxygen is tolerated in chicken and pork, a single gas system may be used. Conversely, three or more gas systems may be configured to accommodate different food types. Furthermore, instead of preparing a gas for each food type, a gas supply system may be configured to prepare three gas cylinders (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen) and vary the mixture ratios of these gases.

[0079] The initial pressure of the gas supplied from the two gas cylinders when they are full is 14.7 MPa. However, the consumption rate will naturally vary depending on the usage situation, and the degree of gas pressure drop will also change. The gas pressure is monitored by the outer gas measuring device OGM for each system. For example, when the pressure reaches 0.8 MPa, the outer gas measuring device OGM notifies the packaging device 100 that the gas in the target system is near the end.

[0080] The two outer regulators reduce the 14.7 MPa gas pressure to 0.5 MPa and supply it to the two buffer tanks (buffer tank BT1, buffer tank BT2) inside the packaging machine. The 0.5 MPa gas pressure supplied from the two buffer tanks (buffer tank BT1, buffer tank BT2) is individually monitored by the inner gas meter IGM. For example, when the pressure reaches 300 kPa, a notification indicating that the gas is exhausted is executed. Figure 22 shows an example of the display screen of the console 6. The gas pressure 1 column shows 500 kPa for buffer tank BT1, and the gas pressure 2 column shows 300 kPa for buffer tank BT2. It can be seen that sufficient gas is being supplied from buffer tank BT1, while the gas in buffer tank BT2 is decreasing, indicating that the gas is exhausted. The two inner regulators IR reduce the 0.5 MPa gas pressure to 0.3 MPa, and then the selector valve SV exclusively selects either gas and sprays it from the gas outlet GO. The gas outlet GO is connected to a gas inlet 251 of the lower die 25 (see FIGS. 13 and 23).

[0081] When the gas pressure monitored by the outer gas meter OGM reaches 0.8 MPa and it is determined that the gas is near the end, a warning message is displayed in a pop-up format on the display unit disposed on the console 6, as shown in FIG. 28. Two examples are shown: a message display with a selection button saying "Gas is running low. Change the expiration date to the normal date. Yes / No," and a message display with a selection button saying "Gas is running low. Change to normal packaging? Yes / No." While both are shown simultaneously for the sake of explanation, these are two examples, and in reality, only one of the two messages will be displayed. However, multiple display modes may be prepared and stored in a storage device, allowing the mode of the message to be selected by setting. Here, switching the expiration date to a standard x number of days or switching to standard packaging means performing standard heat-seal packaging without gas replacement. Previous gas replacement packaging devices were unable to respond to gas supply outages and had to halt operation until the gas cylinder was replaced. However, the packaging device 100 according to the present invention allows for continued packaging, albeit with a shorter expiration date, by switching to standard packaging. The selection button allows the user to choose not to switch to standard packaging because the device is designed to detect a drop in gas pressure at a near-end point, allowing ample time for detection. The operator can select whether to complete the process with gas replacement packaging or switch to standard packaging, taking into account the number of packs remaining to be packaged.

[0082] Even after the gas pressure drops, the gas replacement packaging process continues. If the gas pressure monitored by the internal gas meter IGM reaches 300 kPa, it is determined that the gas is out, and a pop-up message like the one shown in Figure 29 appears on the display unit of the console 6. For example, a message appears with an approval button stating, "Due to gas shortage, the expiration date will be the normal date. Confirm button." Upon pressing the approval button, the packaging device 100 automatically switches from the gas replacement packaging process to the standard packaging process. After switching to the standard packaging process, the gas filling process is omitted. The changed expiration date is also displayed. After that, the expiration date cannot be changed as described above using the screen display example in Figure 30. Furthermore, when a different product is called up from the PLU, it is preferable to display a screen to confirm whether the expiration date has been reset to the date corresponding to the standard packaging.

[0083] As an example of the display and processing when gas supply becomes unavailable, instead of the automatic switching accompanied by the display of the approval button described above, a selection button may be displayed for manual switching. The options at this time are to switch to normal packaging processing or to cancel packaging. Alternatively, as an alternative to gas replacement packaging processing, vacuum packaging, i.e., packaging in which gas is not injected through the gas inlet 251 but the air inside the die is simply removed through the air outlet 252, may also be an option. As explained above, in this embodiment, the gas pressure in the gas cylinder is monitored by the outer gas measuring instrument OGM, and the gas pressure in the buffer tank is monitored by the inner gas measuring instrument IGM. This has the advantage of allowing you to quickly know when the gas cylinder is running low and to order gas early. From this perspective, it is preferable to configure the system so that when a near-end notification is issued, you can order gas from the display screen.

[0084] In addition, the printed label may be configured to be manually or automatically changed to accommodate stores that change the price of products packaged in standard packaging rather than gas-flushing packaging. The label may also clearly indicate whether the product contains gas or not. Figure 31 shows examples of labeling. Figures 31(a) and 31(b) are examples of labels affixed to products packaged in extended-life packaging, while Figure 31(c) is an example of a label affixed to products packaged in standard packaging. In Figure 31(a), "MAP" is printed in white letters in the center below the product name to clearly indicate that the product is packaged in extended-life packaging, or MAP packaging. MAP stands for Modified Atmosphere Packaging. In Figure 31(b), the expiration date, "24.1.21," is highlighted in white letters, making it intuitively clear that the product is packaged in MAP packaging. On the other hand, the printed label of the product in regular packaging in Figure 31(c) shows that although the processing date is 24.1.16, the same as for MAP packaging, the expiration date is "24.1.18", which is shorter than that of MAP packaging. Furthermore, by learning the amount of gas used per pack, when the remaining amount of gas is decreasing, a notification of how many packs are left until the gas runs out may be provided. More specifically, by linking the amount of gas used to product information or tray information in advance, it is possible to calculate the number of packs that can be packaged with one gas cylinder, and a notification of how many packs are left until the gas runs out may be provided. Furthermore, a selection screen may be displayed for whether or not to reduce gas usage by shortening the expiration date. In other words, instead of choosing between gas replacement packaging and regular packaging, a selection between the two may be provided, allowing the user to change the gas replacement mode. In this case, if gas usage is reduced, a preset expiration date corresponding to the reduced amount of gas may be displayed. Alternatively, the number of remaining packs may be input to determine the gas filling amount, and the expiration date may be calculated and displayed based on the gas filling amount.

[0085] (Gas switching process based on product information) As described above, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention has two gas cylinders (gas cylinder 1 and gas cylinder 2) arranged outside the device, and is configured to be able to switch the type of gas depending on the product. For example, when packaging beef, an inert gas made up of a mixture of three types of gases, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, is used, and when packaging chicken or pork, an inert gas made up of a mixture of two types of gases, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, is used. However, if the operator simply selects the wrong gas for packaging when operating the device, there is a risk that the packaging will not be performed properly, such as not extending the expiration date as desired or causing discoloration of the product. Therefore, the packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is designed to ensure that the optimal type of gas is used for each food product being packaged. This will be explained below.

[0086] The packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to associate the type of gas used for packaging with each product and store the associated information in a product information storage unit. The product information storage unit stores the product name, a PLU (Price Look Up) code (which is a product identifier), the product name, a thumbnail image showing the product design, whether the product is fixed weight or variable weight, and the price of the corresponding product (expressed as (unit price x quantity) or (unit price x weight)). These stored items are the same as those stored in existing product storage units. In addition to these items, the packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to set and store the type of gas used for packaging and to automatically change the gas to be enclosed at a predetermined timing. A typical example of the predetermined timing is when the product is called up, but other timings may be set in addition to or instead of this. The product information storage means may be provided in the packaging device 100 or in an external device. In either configuration, the control unit of the packaging device 100 executes a storage control process to set and store the type of gas used for packaging in association with the product in the product information storage means.

[0087] FIG. 32 shows an example screen of the display unit of the console 6 when a specific PLU code is used to retrieve beef for chuck steak as a product to be packaged from the product information storage unit. The fixed weight / unfixed weight display area WL on the second line, which indicates the price according to whether the product is fixed weight or unfixed weight, displays the price of the fixed weight product as "1,980 yen." The background color also indicates that the product is fixed weight. Using different background colors in the fixed weight / unfixed weight display area WL to intuitively inform the operator of the fixed weight / unfixed weight status is a technique adopted in previous packaging devices, and this is also adopted in the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The display screen of the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention also includes a gas type display area GL, which indicates that the selected gas is Gas 1, and the gas selection key GL is illuminated with a background color corresponding to Gas 1. The Gas Pressure 1 field, which displays the value "500 kPa," is also illuminated with the same background color. Instead of being illuminated, the indicator may be flashing. The same UI affordances as those in the fixed weight / unfixed weight display area WL are extended to the display of gas types. This background color change may be applied not only to the gas selection key GL but also to all surrounding keys to make the current setting more noticeable. Alternatively, or in addition, the background color of the area displaying the product name at the top of the fixed weight / unfixed weight display area WL may be changed. When a specific PLU code is used to call up a product to be packaged, the type of gas is also announced by voice, for example, "Beef Gas No. 1 is set for this product." Furthermore, the warning display and audio notification of the gas type may be configured to be executed at other times. For example, in addition to or instead of when the product is called up, a pop-up display or audio guidance may be configured to be displayed after the tray T containing the packaged items is placed on the weighing means 1, as shown in FIG. 34, stating, "Beef Gas No. 1 is set for this product. Do you want to proceed with packaging?" The pop-up display preferably includes a "Yes / No" selection button for confirmation. Normally, touching "Yes" for confirmation automatically switches the gas in response to the product call. If some unforeseen event occurs, such as when the product and gas are incorrectly associated, touching "No" will prevent packaging. Alternatively, after touching "No," the gas selection key GL may be touched to manually select and switch the gas.

[0088] FIG. 33 shows an example screen displayed on the display unit of the console 6 when a specific PLU code is used to retrieve pork for thinly slicing as a product to be packaged from the product information storage means. The fixed weight / unfixed weight display area WL on the second line, which indicates the price according to whether the product is fixed weight or unfixed weight, displays the unit price of the unfixed weight product as "128 yen / 10g." The background color also indicates that the product is unfixed weight. This screen shows an example of the stage before the unfixed weight product is weighed, so the price is "0 yen." However, once the tray T containing the packaged items is placed on the weighing means 1 and the weight of the packaged items is measured, the price of the corresponding product (unit price x weight) will be calculated and displayed. The gas type display area GL indicates that the selected gas is Gas 2, and the background color corresponding to Gas 2 is illuminated, which is different from the background color corresponding to Gas 1. The Gas Pressure 2 field, which displays the value "300 kPa," is also illuminated with the same background color. The background color may be changed not only for the key portion of the gas type display area GL but also for all the keys, so that the current setting is more conspicuous. When a specific PLU code is used to call up a product to be packaged, the type of gas is also announced by voice, such as "Gas No. 2 for pork and poultry is set for this product." Furthermore, the gas type warning display and audio notification may be configured to be executed at any timing. For example, when a tray T containing packaged items is placed on the weighing means 1 and the weight of the packaged items is measured, a pop-up display stating "Gas No. 2 for pork and poultry has been set for this product" or an audio guide may be provided. It is preferable for the pop-up display to display a "Yes / No" selection button for confirmation. Normally, touching "Yes" for confirmation automatically switches the gas in response to the product call. However, if an unexpected situation occurs and the product and gas are incorrectly associated, the gas can be manually selected and switched by touching "No" and then the gas selection key GL.

[0089] The packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is also designed to prevent incorrect associations when associating and storing gas types for each product. Specifically, when associating and storing a product with a type of gas to be sealed, the control unit of the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention executes control to output the gas type as audio. For example, if an operator associates and stores gas No. 2 for pork and poultry with beef shoulder steak, the operator hears a voice prompt saying, "Gas No. 2 for pork and poultry will be assigned to this product. Is this OK?" This prevents the operator from making an incorrect association. It is also possible that the user forgets to store the information even before making an incorrect association. As a countermeasure for this situation, the packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to display a message saying "No gas has been set. Is this OK?" along with buttons to select "Set Gas 1 / Set Gas 2 / Package without gas" when a product to be packaged is called up using a specific PLU code and no gas for gas replacement packaging is associated with the product.

[0090] It is not always possible for an experienced worker to associate and memorize gas types. Therefore, the packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a function to assist the operation for memorizing the associations. For example, if the product name contains the character "beef" (gluten) or its synonyms or similar words, such as "beef" or "beef," the device is configured to automatically select Gas 1 or display it as a candidate. If the product name contains the characters "pork" (pig) or "chicken" (chicken), or its synonyms or similar words, the device is configured to automatically select Gas 2 or display it as a candidate. Alternatively, a method can be employed in which product categories are prepared in advance, and Gas 1 is associated with the "beef" category and Gas 2 is associated with the "pork," "chicken," and "fresh fish" categories.

[0091] The packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is capable of setting and storing not only the type of gas used for each product, but also the amount (force) of gas spray. For example, when gas is sprayed on foods that contain many small pieces, such as whitebait, rather than large solids like meat or fish, the pieces can fly off and get into the gap between the film and the edge of the tray before sealing. For such products, it is preferable to perform gas replacement by reducing the amount of gas sprayed.

[0092] The packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to store the gas pressure and type of gas actually used when packaging is performed and output the stored data to a server as gas replacement packaging data. The device may also be configured to use the packaged container in conjunction with a device that measures oxygen concentration in a non-contact manner, and output the measured oxygen concentration data as data. The gas replacement packaging data and oxygen concentration data are managed by the provider of the packaging device or the seller of the product, and are used for post-sale traceability, etc.

[0093] (Regarding another embodiment) The embodiments described so far have been for weighing, packaging, and labeling, but a packaging-only mode may be provided for packaging only. The packaging-only mode is suitable for fixed-price products that do not require weighing. Because there is no need to transport the products to a later stage for labeling, the packaging-only mode may be configured so that the in-feed bar IB rotates in the reverse direction after packaging and ejects the tray to the front. Alternatively, the device may be configured as a dedicated device for packaging only. Even in this case, the technical concept of substantially simultaneously performing a gas replacement process to extend the expiration date of the packaged products and a top-seal packaging process is still included. Furthermore, rather than switching to a packaging-only mode, the present invention also includes a device configuration that is specialized for packaging. In other words, the device may be configured as a dedicated device that performs only packaging processing by communicating with a separate device, without having components such as a weighing means, a console for that purpose, or a labeling means.

[0094] In the embodiment described above, the weighing means is provided in the upstream stage of the packaging means 2, but the weighing function may also be provided at the position of the tray bottom support means 26 (see FIG. 24) or in the downstream area 3 (see FIG. 5). If the weighing function is provided in the downstream area 3, weighing and labeling will be performed after packaging. In addition, the weight to be measured at this time will include the tray weight, film weight, and gas weight, so it is preferable to tare and print the weight including these. Note that if the weighing function is provided in the tray bottom support means 26 or the downstream area 3, the area indicated by the dashed line "1" in FIG. 4 will simply be a loading area for transporting the packaged items into the device.

[0095] It is also possible to provide the packaging means in the front stage. That is, upper and lower die sets may be arranged in the area indicated by the dashed line "1" in Fig. 4, and the tray may be placed directly on the lower die set, after which weighing and labeling may be performed. In this case, the weighing function is provided in the tray bottom support means 26 or the rear stage area 3 described above. When this configuration is adopted, it is preferable to provide a shutter in the front part of the front stage, which closes as soon as the tray is placed thereon, to ensure safety.

[0096] In the embodiment described above, the inert gas is filled by a gas flush, which sprays gas to expel air. However, a gas replacement (in the narrow sense) mode may also be used, in which the air is removed and then the gas is introduced. This takes longer than gas flushing, but is advantageous in terms of gas diffusion and the ability of the gas to reach every corner. In this case, the air outlet is initially configured as a suction port for removing air. Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the film is configured to be suspended in the same direction as the weighing means 1, packaging means 2, and rear area 3, which are arranged vertically from the front to the back of the device, and the tray width is set to a single size, but the film may also be configured to be suspended in a direction perpendicular to the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2, so that the tray width direction can be changed for each tray size.

[0097] <Summary of the embodiment> [Technical field] The present invention relates to a packaging device and a program for covering a tray on which an item to be packaged is placed with a film and heat-sealing the film to the edge of the tray. [Background technology] A conventional packaging device is a so-called gas replacement packaging device that operates by placing the food to be packaged on a weighing scale, then transporting the food into a tray supplied on a conveyor, and heat-sealing the food to a film lid on the tray with an inert gas mixture sealed inside the tray (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art document] [Patent documents] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2013-515654 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be solved by the invention] Gas replacement packaging is used to extend the shelf life of packaged products by replacing the air with an inert gas. The inert gas is a mixture of three gases: nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, with the ratio adjusted. Oxygen is not effective in extending shelf life, but without oxygen, some foods may darken, so oxygen is sometimes intentionally added. On the other hand, there are some foods that do not darken even without oxygen. Ideally, the gas ratio should be carefully adjusted depending on the food. However, the packaging device described in Patent Document 1 packages food products with a single type of inert gas mixture sealed inside, and does not address the need to use the optimal type of gas for each food product being packaged. To accommodate multiple types of gas, it is conceivable to prepare multiple gas cylinders and switch between them as needed. However, if the product and the gas to be sealed are incorrectly matched and switched, there is a risk that the expiration date extension packaging will not be properly performed. The present invention addresses these problems and aims to provide a packaging machine that can ensure that the most appropriate type of gas is used for each food product being packaged. [Means for solving the problem] (1) As described above, one aspect of this embodiment is a packaging device (100) that seals gas in a tray to perform gas replacement packaging, and is equipped with a gas change means (SV) that can change the gas to be sealed in, and a control unit, and the control unit is characterized in that the packaging device (100) associates the product with the type of gas to be sealed in a product information storage means that stores product information, and sets and stores the information. According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a packaging device that can reliably use the most suitable type of gas for each food item being packaged.

[0098] (2) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device (100) described in (1), in which the control unit causes the display means to display the type of gas that has been set and stored in association with the product at a predetermined timing. According to the above configuration, for example, when calling up a product, it is possible to confirm from the display whether or not the appropriate gas has been set and stored.

[0099] (3) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device (100) described in (1) or (2), in which the control unit outputs the type of gas set and stored in association with the product as a sound at a predetermined timing. According to the above configuration, for example, when calling up a product, it is possible to confirm by voice guidance whether or not the appropriate gas has been set and stored.

[0100] (4) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device (100) described in any one of (1) to (3), wherein the control unit outputs the type of gas as a sound when the control unit associates the product with the type of gas to be sealed therein and stores the association. According to the above configuration, when associating and setting and storing the product with the type of gas to be enclosed, it is possible to prevent a situation in which an incorrect association is made.

[0101] (5) One aspect of this embodiment is a packaging device (100) according to any one of (1) to (4), which includes a gas switching means (SV) for switching between multiple types of gas, and the control unit controls the gas switching means to switch between gases that are set and stored in association with the product depending on the product being packaged. According to the above configuration, the optimum gas can be automatically selected when a product is ordered.

[0102] (6) One aspect of this embodiment is a program that causes a computer of a packaging device that has a gas changing means capable of changing the gas to be sealed in and seals a gas in a tray to perform gas replacement packaging to execute a product information storage step of setting and storing in a product information storage means a correspondence between a product and the type of gas to be sealed in, and a gas type output step of outputting to an output means at a predetermined timing the type of gas that has been set and stored in association with the product. Here, "output means" refers to notification means such as a display unit or a speaker, and "output" refers to display control or audio output control. According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a packaging device that can reliably use the most suitable type of gas for each food item being packaged.

[0103] The packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and design changes within the scope of the present invention are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, while the embodiment describes two gas systems, a configuration with three or more gas systems is also possible. Furthermore, instead of preparing gases for each food type, a gas supply system may be configured with three gas cylinders (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen) and different mixture ratios of these gases. Furthermore, while we have described setting expiration dates by reducing the amount of gas used when gas pressure drops, a configuration may also be adopted in which the gas system with the lowest pressure drop is used, for example, by deliberately using beef gas for pork. Furthermore, the invention disclosed in this specification is not limited to the overall configuration of the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment. That is, it is not limited to the conveying flow shown in Fig. 3 or the sealing form shown in Fig. 24, but should be considered as an invention with a higher concept of performing effective control after measuring the temperature of the die. Furthermore, the object to be heated and the object whose temperature is measured can be the lower die instead of, or in addition to, the upper die. [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] 100 Packaging equipment 1 Measuring means 2 Packaging means 21 Film hanging means 211 Film holding means 211L Film set shaft lever 212 Surplus film winding means 212L Winding shaft lever 24 Upper cutting die 24G drawer grip 24H Upper Die Storage Means 24L Lock release lever 240 Upper cutout folder (mounting means) 2401 Rail 241 Heating means 242 Metal plate 242a Convex part 242b Central part 243 Heater Link 244 Film cutting means 245 Upper punch hole 246 Gripping part during transportation 248 Notch 2451 Upper die hole for match judgment 2452 Hole for determining whether the lower die is loaded or not 25 Lower die (gas replacement means) 25H Lower die accommodation means 251 Gas inlet 2510 Gas diffusion step 252 Air exhaust port 253 Bottom punching hole 2531 Bottom punching hole for matching judgment 2532 Hole for determining whether upper die is loaded or not 26 Tray bottom support means 3 Later area 4 1st discharge stand 5 Second discharge platform 6 Console 7 Labeling method 71 Label attachment means slide rail 72 Anti-tip legs 8 "Emergency Stop" button HTM Heat Transfer Material GB1 Gas Cylinder 1 GB2 Gas Cylinder 2 OGM Outside Gas Meter OR Outer Regulator BT1 Buffer Tank 1 BT2 Buffer Tank 2 IGM Internal Gas Meter IR Internal Regulator SV switching valve GO gas outlet T-Tray R roll film WL Fixed-penetration / irregular-penetration display area GL gas selection key FS film feed shaft DR Dancer Roller

Claims

1. A packaging device that performs gas replacement packaging by sealing a gas in a tray, The device is provided with a gas changing means capable of changing the gas to be sealed, and a control unit, The control unit stores the product information in a product information storage unit that stores product information in association with the type of gas to be enclosed. A packaging device characterized by:

2. The control unit causes the display means to display the type of gas that has been set and stored in association with the product at a predetermined timing.

2. The packaging device according to claim 1.

3. The control unit outputs the type of gas set and stored in association with the product as a voice at a predetermined timing.

2. The packaging device according to claim 1.

4. The control unit outputs the type of gas as a sound when setting and storing the correspondence between the product and the type of gas to be enclosed.

2. The packaging device according to claim 1.

5. A gas switching means for switching between a plurality of types of gas is provided, The control unit controls the gas switching unit to switch between gases that are set and stored in association with the product depending on the product to be packaged.

4. The packaging device according to claim 2 or 3.

6. A packaging device is provided with a gas changing means capable of changing the gas to be sealed in, and performs gas replacement packaging by sealing a gas in a tray, a product information storage step of storing product information in a product information storage means that stores product information in association with the product and the type of gas enclosed therein; a gas type output step for causing the output means to output the type of gas set and stored in association with the product at a predetermined timing; A program characterized by executing the following.

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