Article packaging device

Abstract

To provide an improved and novel article packaging device capable of picking up and opening various packaging bags one by one and filling the packaging bags with items to be packaged.SOLUTION: An article packaging device comprises a thin plate on which an item to be packaged is placed, a storage case that is positioned at the end of the plate, extending in an inclined direction from the base end to the tip end, and that holds closed packaging bags, and a slide mechanism that moves back and forth along the inclined direction between the underside of the plate and the storage case. The device is also equipped with conveying means that is attached to one side near the mouth of the packaging bag and lifts the packaging bag so that the mouth of the packaging bag faces the tip end of the plate, moves the packaging bag along the inclined direction toward the plate, and conveys the opened packaging bag so that it is positioned to cover the tip end of the plate; and opening means that blows air into the mouth of the packaging bag as it moves toward the plate, thereby opening the mouth.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an article packaging device that opens the mouth of a packaging bag and fills and packages an article (item to be packaged) into the packaging bag, and particularly to an article packaging device that is small and has a simple structure. [Background technology]

[0002] With a few exceptions, supermarkets and other retail stores do not sell food products by weight, but sell them in various packages, taking into consideration business efficiency. Some products, such as fish fillets and meat products, are placed on polystyrene trays and covered with wrapping film, but many products are sold in bags.

[0003] The bagging process is carried out using automated equipment for mass production, but this is not possible for small-lot, high-mix products. The packaging bags are folded and supplied in a tightly packed state with almost no gaps between the individual pieces.

[0004] This makes it difficult to separate the individual pieces from the laminate, and it is not easy to open the top of the packaging bag. This problem is particularly pronounced in packaging bags made of films of polymeric materials such as polypropylene, which are widely used for packaging, because the surface is smooth and has little friction.

[0005] As a technology for addressing such issues, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a packaging bag supplying device that can pick up the topmost packaging bag from a stack of multiple packaging bags one by one and supply it to a device that fills the packaging bag with the packaged items. However, the device disclosed therein has a complex structure and is suitable for processing large quantities, but there is room for improvement in terms of dealing with changes in packaging bag size when processing small quantities of a wide variety of products.

[0006] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses an apparatus configuration proposed by the present inventor, which describes an article packaging apparatus in which an article is placed on a belt that runs above and below a belt support plate, the belt is covered with a bag, and the belt is peeled off below the article while being moved toward the opening of the bag.

[0007] Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses an apparatus configuration proposed by the inventor of the present application, which discloses a bagging apparatus having a structure in which a suction pad is brought into contact with the vicinity of the opening of the topmost individual piece of stacked packaging bags, and a mechanism for blowing air into the opening, and a hopper for putting the packaged items into the packaging bag are integrated. The apparatus in Patent Document 3 can pick up and open a variety of packaging bags one by one, and fill the packaging items into the packaging bags.

[0008] Patent document 4 also discloses a packaging bag opening device (item packaging device) with an apparatus configuration proposed by the present inventor, which can pick up and open packaging bags one by one and fill the packaging bags with packaged items. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-118173 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-034889 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-059551 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-144739 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] After developing the item packaging device of Patent Document 4, the inventors of the present application continued to conduct research and development, and have now developed a new, highly convenient and improved item packaging device that can efficiently package items that are transported horizontally, such as on a conveyor belt.

[0011] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved and novel article packaging device that can pick up and open packaging bags one by one and fill the packaging bags with packaged items. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The article packaging device of the present invention, which achieves the above-mentioned object, is characterized by comprising: a thin plate on which an item to be packaged is placed on a surface extending from a base end side to a tip end side; a storage case that is arranged at the end of the tip end side of the plate, extending in an inclined direction that is inclined vertically so as to be lower than the height position of the plate, and that holds packaging bags in a closed state; a conveying means that has a slide mechanism that moves back and forth between the underside of the plate and the storage case along the inclined direction, and that is attached to one side near the mouth of the packaging bag, raises the packaging bag so that the mouth of the packaging bag faces the tip end side of the plate, moves the packaging bag along the inclined direction toward the plate, and transports the packaging bag so that the opened packaging bag is positioned so as to cover the plate from the tip end side of the plate; and an opening means that blows air into the mouth of the packaging bag that is moving toward the plate, thereby opening the mouth. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the article packaging device of the present invention, packaging bags can be picked up and opened one by one and the packaged items can be filled into the packaging bags. The article packaging device of the present invention is configured to be compact, and can transport and open packaging bags with simple and efficient operations, allowing the bagging of articles (packaged items) to be carried out easily, quickly, and efficiently. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view showing a first configuration example of an article packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the transport operation unit 50. [Figure 3] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the transport operation unit 50. [Figure 4] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the transport operation unit 50. [Figure 5] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the transport operation unit 50. [Figure 6] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the transport operation unit 50. [Figure 7] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the transport operation unit 50. [Figure 8] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the transport operation unit 50. [Figure 9] 1 is a side view showing an article packaging device in a state where a conveyor is connected to a plate 30 in a first configuration example. FIG. [Figure 10] 4 is a side view showing a second configuration example of an article packaging device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in the second configuration example where the movable part 51b has moved to the other end side position (position P2) and the suction pad 52 has rotated so as to face the packaging bag 2. [Figure 12] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the rotation of the suction pad 52 when returning in the upward direction. [Figure 13] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the rotation of the suction pad 52 when returning in the upward direction. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the rotation of the suction pad 52 when returning in the upward direction. [Figure 15] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the rotation of the suction pad 52 when returning in the upward direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to specific drawings.

[0016] 1 is a side view showing a first configuration example of an article packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The article packaging apparatus 1 in the first configuration example includes a base table 10, a support unit 20 extending upward from the base table 10, a thin plate 30 attached to the support unit 20 at a predetermined height and on which an item to be packaged is placed, a storage case 40 provided on the base table 10 and storing packaging bags 2 in a closed state, a transport unit 50 that picks up the packaging bag 2 placed in the storage case 40, moves it toward the plate 20, and transports the packaging bag 2 so that it is positioned to cover the plate 30, and an opening unit 60 that opens the opening of the packaging bag 2 as it moves toward the plate.

[0017] A driving device 70 is also attached to the base 10. The driving device 70 includes a power source, a pump, a control unit, and the like for driving the transport operation unit 50 and the opening operation unit 60. An air cylinder controlled by air pressure can be used.

[0018] The packaging bag 2 is a sheet-like bag body, and the mouth 2a at one end side, which is closed in a folded state, is opened by unfolding the mouth 2a.

[0019] The base 10 is preferably a flat table with legs, and the support part 20 has one end fixed to the base 10 and is disposed extending upward from the base 10 to form an attachment position in the height direction. A storage case 40 is attached to the base 10, which stores the packaging bags 2 in a predetermined position. The storage case 40 is preferably disposed at a predetermined angle inclined relative to the base 10. At least one folded packaging bag 2 (usually multiple stacked bags) is placed flat in the storage case 40, and preferably, a large number of closed packaging bags 2 are placed on top of each other in a flat stack in the storage case 40.

[0020] Plate 30 is attached to support part 20 and positioned at a predetermined height above base 10. Plate 30 is a rectangular thin plate on which the packaged items are placed on a surface extending from base end side 30a to tip end side 30b, and for example, the base end side of plate 30 is connected to a conveyor (see FIG. 9) that transports the packaged items, and the packaged items transported from the conveyor are placed on plate 30 from the end of the conveyor.

[0021] The plate 30 is preferably made of a metal plate such as aluminum or iron, and may have spill-prevention walls on the left and right edges. Also, for example, the sliding article packaging device disclosed in the aforementioned Patent Document 2 (JP 2018-034889 A) can be used as the plate 30.

[0022] A storage case 40 is provided on the tip side of the plate 30. The storage case 40 is attached to and disposed on the base 10 at the end of an inclined direction (at an inclination angle) that is inclined at a predetermined angle in the vertical direction when viewed from the side so as to be lower than the height position of the plate 30 from the tip side of the plate 30.

[0023] The plate 30 is also preferably disposed at an inclination along its inclination direction (inclination angle) so that its distal side 30b is lower than its proximal side 30a. However, the plate 30 may be disposed so that its proximal side 30a and distal side 30b are horizontal.

[0024] The conveying operation unit 50 has a slide mechanism (linear actuator) that moves back and forth linearly along the inclined direction between the underside of the plate 30 and the storage case 40, and a rotation mechanism (guide roller and guide rail), and attaches an suction pad to one side near the mouth 2a of the packaging bag 2, raises the packaging bag 2 so that the mouth 2a of the packaging bag 2 faces the tip side of the plate 30, moves the packaging bag 2 toward the plate along the inclined direction, and conveys the packaging bag 2 so that the opened packaging bag 2 is positioned so that it covers the plate 30 from the tip side 30b of the plate 30.

[0025] The transport operation unit 50 is configured to include, as a component thereof, a linear actuator 51, one end of which is fixed at a predetermined height position on the support unit 20 that is lower than the lower surface of the plate 30, and which is arranged to extend in an inclined direction (at an inclination angle) so as to be lower than that height position when viewed from the side. It is preferable that the inclination direction (inclination angle) of the linear actuator 51 and the plate 30 be the same. Furthermore, the inclination direction (inclination angle) can be adjusted by changing the mounting height of the linear actuator 51 and the base end side 30a of the plate 30 relative to the support unit 20.

[0026] The linear actuator 51 has a fixed shaft 51a extending in an inclined direction and a movable part 51b that moves linearly relative to the shaft 51a. The movable part 51b is, for example, a slider driven by air pressure, and is driven by air supply control by the drive unit 70.

[0027] The transport operation unit 50 further has a suction pad 52 that adsorbs the packaging bag 2, guide rollers 53a and 53b for changing the orientation of the suction pad 52, and the suction pad 52 and guide rollers 53a and 53b, and the suction pad 52 and guide rollers 53a and 53b are attached to a movable part 51b of the linear actuator. The guide rollers 53a and 53b rotate around a rotation axis A that is coaxial with the suction pad 52, and guide rails 54a and 54b that guide the rotation of the guide rollers 53a and 53b are provided along the extension direction of the linear actuator 51. The operation of the transport operation unit 50 will be described later.

[0028] The opening operation unit 60 is an air blowing device that blows out air from an air blowing nozzle 60a arranged on the underside of the plate 30, and by blowing out air from the air blowing nozzle 60a through air supply drive by a drive device, it opens the mouth of the packaging bag 2 moving toward the plate 30.

[0029] The operation of the transport operation unit 50 will be further described. FIGS. 2 to 8 are diagrams illustrating the operation of the transport operation unit 50. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the sliding operation of the movable unit 51b of the linear actuator 51, where the movable unit 51b slides downward from the initial position. The initial position of the movable unit 51b is at one end of the sliding range (position P1 shown in FIG. 1), which is the lower surface position of the plate 30. In the initial position of the movable unit 51b, the suction pad 52 rotatably attached to the movable unit 51b faces upward, i.e., faces in a direction facing the lower surface of the plate 30.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 2, the movable part 51b slides along the fixed-side shaft body 51a, which is disposed at an incline. The linear actuator 51 is disposed at an inclination angle between a relatively high position near the lower surface of the plate 30 (position P1 of the movable part 51b shown in Fig. 1) and a relatively low position near the arrangement position of the storage case 40 (position P2 of the movable part 51b shown in Fig. 5), and the movable part 51b moves in an inclined downward direction along the shaft body 51a from near the lower surface position of the plate 30 (position P1 in Fig. 1) to near the arrangement position of the storage case 40 (position P2 shown in Fig. 5).

[0031] 3, 4, and 5 are diagrams showing the rotation of the suction pad 52 in the downward direction. During the downward sliding movement of the movable part 51b, the guide rollers 53a, 53b rotate according to the shapes of the guide rails 54a, 54b arranged along the shaft body 51a of the linear actuator 51, and in conjunction with this rotation, the suction pad 52 tilts from an upward direction to a forward direction. The suction pad 52 rotates in the order of FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.

[0032] 6 and 7 are partial enlarged views showing the suction operation of suction pad 52. As shown in Fig. 6, suction pad 52 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of guide rollers 53a and 53b, and the suction surface of suction pad 52 faces the opposing direction of packaging bags 2 contained in storage case 40. As suction pad 52 continues to slide, the suction surface of suction pad 52 comes into contact with one side of packaging bag 2 in storage case 40 near the opening thereof and is pressed by the spring force to adhere closely to packaging bag 2. Furthermore, suction pad 52 is connected to hollow pipe 52a that communicates with the suction surface thereof, and hollow pipe 52a is connected to a pump (not shown) driven by a drive device. The suction operation of the pump creates a negative pressure inside the suction surface of suction pad 52, causing suction pad 52 to suction packaging bag 2.

[0033] When the suction pad 52 adsorbs the packaging bag 2 and the movable part 51b reaches the other end position of the sliding movement range (position P2 shown in Figure 5), the movable part 51b switches to sliding movement in the opposite direction, i.e., from downward movement to movement in the upward direction returning to the initial position.

[0034] 7, during the upward sliding movement, guide rollers 53a, 53b rotate along guide rails 54a, 54b in the direction opposite to the downward rotation, and suction pad 52 rotates so that its suction surface faces upward while adsorbing packaging bag 2. When suction pad 52 faces upward, opening 2a of packaging bag 2 adsorbed thereto faces upward, and packaging bag 2 is conveyed toward plate 30.

[0035] 8 is a partially enlarged view showing a state in which the mouth 2a of the packaging bag 2 is open and the packaging bag 2 is placed over the plate 30. While the packaging bag 2, which is sucked onto the suction pad 52, slides toward the plate 30 (in the upward direction), air is blown out from the air blowing nozzle 60a of the opening operation unit 60, and the mouth 2a of the packaging bag 2 is opened by the air blowing nozzle 60a of the opening operation unit 60. With the mouth 2a of the packaging bag 2 open, the packaging bag 2 moves in accordance with the movement of the suction pad 52 so that the leading end of the plate 30 is placed over the plate 30 (the plate 30 is inserted into the packaging bag 2). When the movable unit 51b returns to its initial position, the movement stops, and the packaging bag 2 is placed over the plate 30 at this initial position. The packaged item supplied onto the inclined plate 30 slides down the plate 30 and is contained in the packaging bag 2, allowing it to be packed.

[0036] A switch (not shown) for operating the opening operation unit 60 is provided at the other end position (position P2) of the sliding range of the movable part 51b, and when the movable part 51b reaches the other end position (position P2), the movable part 51b comes into contact with the switch, turning it ON and starting to blow air from the air blowing nozzle 60a. Also, a switch (not shown) for operating a pump for suction of the suction pad 52 is provided at one end position (position P1) of the sliding range of the movable part 51b, and when the movable part 51b starts to move from the one end position (position P1), the movable part 51b leaves contact with the switch, starting to operate the pump. A switch (not shown) for stopping the air blowing operation of the opening operation unit 60 and the suction operation of the pump is also provided, and these stopping operations are performed manually by an operator.

[0037] FIG. 9 is a side view showing the article packaging device of the present invention in a state where a conveyor is connected to the plate 30 in the first configuration example.

[0038] 10 is a side view showing a second configuration example of an article packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the article packaging device according to the second configuration example, compared to the first configuration example, the storage case 40 is placed flat on the base table 10, and essentially multiple packaging bags 2 are placed on the base table 10 in a flat stacked state. The operations of the conveying operation unit 50 and the opening operation unit 60 are the same as those in the first configuration example, but the amount of rotation (rotation angle) of the guide rollers 53a, 53b and the suction pad 52 is adjusted depending on the position of the storage case 40.

[0039] 11 is a diagram showing a state in the second configuration example of the article packaging device in which movable part 51b has moved to the other end position (position P2) and suction pad 52 has rotated to face packaging bag 2. Guide rollers 53a, 53b rotate along the shapes of guide rails 54a, 54b as movable part 51b slides, and suction pad 52, which rotates in conjunction with the rotation, adheres to one side of packaging bag 2 near the opening.

[0040] 12, 13, 14, and 15 are partially enlarged views showing the rotation of the suction pad 52 when returning from the downward direction to the upward direction. Note that the packaging bag 2 is not shown in Figures 12 to 15, and the operation of only the suction pad 52 is shown. As shown in Figure 12, the suction pad 52 is attached to one side of the packaging bag 2 near the opening, and the suction pad 52 adheres to the packaging bag 2 by sucking air using a suction mechanism that is a drive device 70 including a pump.

[0041] 13, 14, and 15, guide rollers 53a and 53b rotate along guide rails 54a and 54b in the direction opposite to the downward rotation, and suction pad 52 rotates so that its suction surface faces upward while adsorbing packaging bag 2. With suction pad 52 facing upward, suction pad 52, which has adsorbed packaging bag 2, slides upward, i.e., in the direction returning to plate 30.

[0042] As in the first configuration example, while the packaging bag 2 sucked onto the suction pad 52 slides (upward) toward the plate 30, air is blown out from the air blowing nozzle 60a of the opening operation unit 60, and the mouth 2a of the packaging bag 2 is opened by the air blowing out. With the mouth 2a open, the packaging bag 2 moves from the tip side of the plate 30 to cover the plate 30 as the suction pad 52 moves, and stops moving when the movable unit 51b returns to its initial position, and at this initial position, the packaging bag 2 is covered by the plate 30. The packaged item supplied onto the inclined plate 30 slides down the plate 30, is contained in the packaging bag 2, and can be packed.

[0043] As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a device with a simple structure that is suitable for bagging a wide variety of products in small quantities. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention also includes design changes, including various modifications and alterations that would be conceivable to a person skilled in the art, that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1: article packaging device, 2: packaging bag, 2a: mouth portion, 10: base, 20: support portion, 30: plate, 40: storage case, 50: transport operation portion, 51: linear actuator, 51a: shaft body, 51b: movable portion, 52: suction pad, 52b: hollow pipe, 53a: guide roller, 53b: guide roller, 54a: guide rail, 54b: guide rail, 60: opening operation portion, 60a: air blowing nozzle, 70: driving device

Claims

1. A thin plate on which an item to be packaged is placed on a surface extending from the base end side to the tip end side; a storage case that is disposed at a tip of the plate extending in an inclined direction that is inclined vertically so as to be lower than the height position of the plate from the tip side of the plate, and that holds the packaging bag in a closed state; a conveying means for conveying the packaging bag, the conveying means having a slide mechanism that moves back and forth between the lower surface position of the plate and the container case along the inclined direction, the conveying means being attached to one side of the packaging bag in the vicinity of the opening of the packaging bag, lifting the packaging bag so that the opening of the packaging bag faces the tip end side of the plate, moving the packaging bag along the inclined direction toward the plate, and positioning the opened packaging bag so that it covers the plate from the tip end side of the plate; and opening means for blowing air onto the opening of the packaging bag as it moves toward the plate, thereby opening the opening.

2. 2. The article packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the opening means has an air blowing nozzle on the underside of the plate, and blows air from the front of the opening of the packaging bag moving from the storage case to the plate.

3. 3. The article packaging device according to claim 2, wherein the plate is disposed at an incline in the inclination direction so that the tip end side of the plate is lower than the base end side.

4. The conveying means is a suction pad that adsorbs to the one side of the packaging bag; an actuator that moves the suction pad in the inclined direction; 2. The article packaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation mechanism that rotates the suction pad to suction onto the packaging bag, and further rotates the suction pad so as to raise the suctioned packaging bag.

5. The article packaging device according to claim 4, characterized in that the rotation mechanism comprises a guide roller connected to the suction pad and moved by the actuator, and a guide rail that guides the guide roller so as to rotate the suction pad as the guide roller moves.

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