Packaging system

Abstract

To provide a packaging system capable of suppressing an increase in control load and improving printing when randomly packaging objects to be packaged having different sizes.SOLUTION: In a packaging system, printed packaging materials 60S, F1 of one packaging length corresponding to size information of an object W to be packaged arriving at an engagement position F2 of sealing bodies 61, 62 are fed and randomly packaged. The distances between the set position P of the print head 52 and the cut position 60C, the stored one packaging lengths of the plurality of types of packaging materials, and the positions of the to-be-printed area PS in the respective one packaging lengths are set such that, when the printed packaging material having the one packaging length is fed for each packaging, the feeding of the printed packaging material having the one packaging length is stopped after the printing on the to-be-printed area PS of the packaging material having the one packaging length corresponding to the size of the article to be packaged W to be packaged next is completed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging system that randomly packages items of different sizes. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, it is generally known to print information about packaged items transported by a conveyor on packaging material, cover the packaged items with the packaging material, and weld the edges of the packaging material together to package them. For example, Patent Document 1 shows a method of packaging each packaged item with an appropriate amount of packaging material according to its size by adjusting the relative speed of the front and rear conveyors based on height information about the packaged items obtained during transport on the conveyor, thereby adjusting the spacing between the packaged items. It also shows a method of printing information about the packaged items obtained during transport on the conveyor directly on the surface of the packaging material, and displaying the printed information near the center of the package.

[0003] Here, when the packaged items vary in size, the length of the packaging material used for one package varies. Therefore, when the packaging material is conveyed and information about each packaged item is printed sequentially, the timing of one of the printing operations may overlap with the timing when a pair of vertically spaced sealing bodies in the end seal device downstream of the printing device sandwich the packaging material. Because the end seal device sandwiches the packaging material in a direction intersecting the feeding direction of the packaging material, the conveyance of the packaging material temporarily stops when the sealing bodies sandwich the packaging material. Furthermore, if the printing device has not finished printing when the packaging material conveyance temporarily stops, it will have to resume printing from where it left off when operation is resumed, which increases the frequency of printing errors.

[0004] There are two methods to avoid the technical issue of not having the printing timing coincide with the timing when the sealing body of the end seal device pinches the packaging material (when the film feed stops): In general packaging, that is, when packaging the same type of packaged item sequentially using packaging material of the same length, there are two methods: packaging with packaging material that has registration marks printed at regular intervals, and packaging with packaging material that does not have registration marks.

[0005] When packaging is done with packaging material that has registration marks, it is possible to determine the printing timing for each package based on the detection information for each registration mark on the packaging material and information about the amount of packaging material that is fed, and by setting the relationship between the operation timing of the end seal device and the distance equivalent to the length of multiple packages (actual value) from the position where the sealing bodies of the end seal device clamp the packaging material to the upstream printing position on the packaging material feed path, it is possible to avoid the printer stopping temporarily during printing when the packaging material feed is temporarily stopped. Also, even when packaging is done with packaging material that does not have registration marks, because the length of one package is the same, it is possible to set the printing timing to avoid the printer stopping temporarily during printing when the packaging material feed is temporarily stopped by setting the relationship between the operation timing of the end seal device and the distance equivalent to the length of multiple packages or more from the position where the sealing bodies of the end seal device clamp the packaging material to the upstream printing position on the packaging material feed path. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6751725 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, when packaging items of different sizes at random, no registration marks are attached to the packaging material, and the length of one package varies depending on the size of the packaged items. Therefore, new calculations are required, mainly as described below in (1) to (3), which are different from the packaging using packaging materials without registration marks. (1) The timing at which each packaged item arrives at the end seal device and the timing at which the end seal device operates must be calculated based on size information for each packaged item obtained by detecting the packaged item on the conveyor upstream of the end seal device. (2) When printing on the packaging material the code corresponding to the currently detected packaged item, it is necessary to calculate the total length of the packaging material corresponding to each packaged item that was detected before the currently detected packaged item but has not yet reached the end seal device, as well as to calculate the timing of the current printing. These calculations must be updated for each package that the end seal device operates. (3) Furthermore, based on the sum of the lengths of the packaging material corresponding to the multiple packaged items obtained by calculation and updating for each package, it is determined whether the timing at which the sealing body of the end seal device pinches the packaging material and the printing timing overlap. If it is expected that these two timings will overlap, it will be necessary to consider installing a dancer roller in the film transport path between the printing device and the end seal device, and to consider a control process that will shift the printing operation timing in conjunction with this additional device.

[0008] In this way, when packaging different sized items at random, avoiding overlapping of the timing of printing on the packaging material and the timing of the sealing body of the end seal device downstream of the printing device requires complex calculations, which increases the control load and makes it impossible to increase the number of packages per minute (packaging capacity).

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a packaging system that can suppress an increase in control load and can achieve good printing when randomly packaging items of different sizes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the packaging system of the present invention takes the following measures. First, the invention according to claim 1 comprises an article conveying means consisting of a first conveying means (11, 12) for sequentially conveying packaged articles (W) of different sizes, and a second conveying means (13) for conveying the packaged articles (W) sent from the first conveying means (11, 12); an item detection means (21, 22) that detects at least length information of the packaged item (W) in the conveying direction conveyed by the first conveying means (11, 12) and height information of the packaged item (W) and acquires the information as size information of the packaged item (W); packaging material transfer means (31, 32, 34) that transfers packaging material (F1, F2) drawn from original rolls (R1, R2) along a predetermined transfer path to the second transfer means (13) together with the packaged item (W) so that the packaging material can cover at least the outer periphery in the transfer direction of the packaged item (W) being transferred by the article transfer means; a seal cutting means for sandwiching and sealing the overlapped packaging materials (F1, F2) with the sealing bodies (61, 62) so that the packaging materials (F1, F2) have a length selected in accordance with the size information of the packaged items (W) that have been detected by the item detection means (21, 22) and arrived at the meshing position (60S), by moving a pair of sealing bodies (61, 62) close to and apart from each other and that sandwich the packaging materials (F1, F2) between them; and cutting the packaging materials (F1, F2) at a cutting position (60C) at the meshing position (60S), the seal cutting means being able to set an engagement position (60S) of the sealing bodies (61, 62) that sandwich the packaging materials (F1, F2) between the sealing bodies (61, 62) so that the packaging materials (F1, F2) have a length selected in accordance with the size information of the packaged items (W) that have been detected by the item detection means (21, 22) and arrived at the meshing position (60S); a control unit (40) that controls these wrapping operations; a printing means for printing by a print head (52) of a printing device (50) disposed opposite the packaging material (F1, F2) on the transport path in response to a printing command generated by the control unit (40); A packaging system comprising: The control unit (40) The information on the length of one package of a plurality of types of packaging material (FS) corresponding to the size information of the packaged items (W) of various sizes to be packaged, and the position information of the printing area (PS) in each one package length are stored in advance, For each size information acquired, the corresponding package length is selected, linked, and stored. When the packaged item (W) arrives at the engagement position (60S), the packaging material transfer means (31, 32, 34) is instructed to feed the packaging material (F1, F2) by one packaging length selected corresponding to the packaged item (W), and to stop feeding the packaging material (F1, F2) when the sealing bodies (61, 62) clamp the packaging material (F1, F2), and When feeding the packaging material (FE) by one package length, the printing command is issued to the printing means so as to print in the intended printing area (PS) of the packaging material (FS) which is one package length after the packaging material (FE), The printing means Each time the packaged item (W) arrives at the engagement position (60S), while the printed packaging material (FE) of one packaging length immediately preceding the engagement position (60S) is being sent, based on the print command, print information related to the subsequent packaged item (W) arriving after the packaged item (W) that has arrived at the engagement position (60S) is printed in the intended print area (PS) of the packaging material (FS) that is one packaging length after the immediately preceding printed packaging material (FE) of one packaging length, Furthermore, regarding the relationship between the distance from the set position (P) of the print head (52) on the transport path to the cutting position (60C), the length of one package of the stored plurality of types of packaging material (FS), and the position of the intended printing area (PS) in each package length, In relation to the height of the specific engagement position (60X), which is the lowest height among the engagement positions (60S), a1 is the length from the cutting position (60C) on the transfer path to the rear end (FEK) of the packaging material (FE) of the smallest one-package length among each of the printed one-package lengths of packaging material (FE) when packaging at the specific engagement position (60X), and a2 is the shortest length between the front end (FSJ) of the packaging material (FS) and the front end (PSJ) of the intended printing area (PS) among each one-package length of packaging material (FS), and the sum of these is A (a1 + a2 = A), In each printed packaging material (FE) of one package length, the distance from the cutting position (60C), which changes depending on the height of the engagement position (60S) in the transport path, to the rear end (PEK) of the farthest printed area (PE) is defined as B. In the case where the height of the engagement position (60S) where the pair of sealing bodies (61, 62) of the seal cutting means move close to and apart in the vertical direction to sandwich the packaging material (F1, F2) is changed according to the height of the packaged article (W), and when the engagement position (60S) of the pair of sealing bodies (61, 62) moving close to and apart in the vertical direction moves upward from the height position of the specific engagement position (60X), the length of the transfer path from the set position (P) of the print head (52) to the cutting position (60C) is the shortest compared to the length of the transfer path from the set position (P) of the print head (52) to the cutting position (60C) at the specific engagement position (60X), the absolute value of the difference in the reduced length of the packaging material (F1, F2) is Th, The distances to the cutting position (60C) in the transfer path are set to satisfy the relationship of formula (1), A > Print head (52) setting position (P) > B + Th Formula (1) Or, In the case where the height of the engagement position (60S) where the pair of sealing bodies (61, 62) of the seal cutting means move close to and apart in the vertical direction to sandwich the packaging material (F1, F2) is changed according to the height of the packaged article (W), and when the engagement position (60S) of the pair of sealing bodies (61, 62) moving close to and apart in the vertical direction moves upward from the height position of the specific engagement position (60X), the length of the transfer path from the set position (P) of the print head (52) to the cutting position (60C) increases to the greatest extent compared to the length of the transfer path from the set position (P) of the print head (52) to the cutting position (60C) at the specific engagement position (60X), the absolute value of the difference in the increased length of the packaging material (F1, F2) is Th, The distances to the cutting position (60C) in the transfer path are set to satisfy the relationship of formula (2), A-Th > Print head (52) setting position (P) > B Equation (2) Or, When sequentially packaging arriving packaged items (W) without changing the height of the meshing position (60S), if the height of the specific meshing position (60X) is constant and the difference Th in length between the packaging materials (F1, F2) is assumed to be Th=0, The distances to the cutting position (60C) in the transfer path are set to satisfy the relationship of formula (3), A > Print head (52) setting position (P) > B Equation (3) Each time the packaged item (W) reaches the engagement position, the printing area (PS) in the packaging material (FS) of one packaging length after the last packaging passes the print head (52), and then the feeding of the packaging material (F1, F2) is stopped and the sealing bodies (61, 62) clamp the packaging material (F1, F2).

[0011] According to the invention of claim 1, by setting the relationship of the distance to the cutting position on the transport path as in formula (1), (2), or (3), when the leading end (FEJ) of one packaging length of packaging material (FE) that has been printed in the planned printing area (PS) and has been printed is at the cutting position (60C), the planned printing area (PS) in one packaging length of packaging material (FS) that is one packaging length after the one packaging length of printed packaging material (FE) will be located in a position upstream of the cutting position (60C) on the transport path of the packaging material (F1, F2) from the set position (P) of the print head (52), regardless of the planned printing area (PS) in one packaging length of any type of packaging material stored in the control unit. In other words, when the front end (FEJ) of one packaging length of printed packaging material (FE) is positioned at the cutting position (60C) and the feeding of the packaging material stops, the printing area (PS) of the subsequent one packaging length of packaging material (FS) one packaging length after the printed packaging material (FE) will not be printed, regardless of the printing area (PS) for one packaging length of any type of packaging material stored in the control unit (40). Furthermore, each time an item to be packaged (W) arrives at the engagement position (60S), the intended printing area (PS) in the packaging material (FS) of one packaging length after the item to be packaged (W) arriving at the engagement position (60S), i.e., the intended printing area (PS) in the packaging material (FS) of one packaging length selected corresponding to the item to be packaged (W) one length after the item to be packaged (W) arriving at the engagement position (60S), passes through the print head (52), and then the feeding of the packaging material (F1, F2) is stopped and the sealing bodies (61, 62) maintain a relationship in which they clamp the packaging material (F1, F2).This configuration makes it possible to complete printing in the intended printing area (PS) in various types of packaging material (FS) of one packaging length before stopping the feeding of one packaging length of packaging material (F1, F2), thereby achieving good printing. Furthermore, since printing can be done on one length of packaging material (FS) each time without having to perform a cumulative calculation of the length of one package of packaging materials (F1, F2) before and after each package, an increase in control load can be suppressed. As described above, it is possible to provide a packaging system that can suppress an increase in control load and can produce good printing when randomly packaging packaged items (W) of different sizes.

[0012] Next, in the invention according to claim 2 dependent on claim 1, the control unit (40) stores a range of sizes of the packaged items (W) that can be packaged, corresponding to each of a plurality of types of single package length information stored in advance, and selects which size range the size information of the packaged item (W) detected by the item detection means (21, 22) falls into, and commands the printing means to print the single package length information corresponding to that size range.

[0013] According to the invention of claim 2, even if packaged items (W) of different sizes arrive, the size information of the packaged items (W) detected by the item detection means (21, 22) is selected to fall within a size range, so that packaged items (W) of different sizes can be packaged in packaging material (FE) of a corresponding one package length, and since the printing means is instructed to print one package length information corresponding to the size range of the packaged items (W), the printing information can be printed in an appropriate position.

[0014] Next, the invention according to claim 3, which is dependent on claim 1, is characterized in that, when printing on packaging material (FS) corresponding to packaged items (W) whose height is higher than a set height pre-stored in the control unit (40), the print start position on the packaging material (FS) is shifted so that the printed area (PE) on one packaging length of packaging material (FE) is located upstream of the length from the front end (FEJ) of the packaging material (FE) to the front upper end of the packaged item (W) contained in the packaging material (FE), and is located downstream of the length from the front end (FEJ) of the packaging material (FE) to the rear upper end of the packaged item (W) contained in the packaging material (FE), and is positioned downstream in the packaging feed direction from the set position (P) of the print head (52) when packaging material feed stops.

[0015] According to the invention of claim 3, when printing is performed on packaging material (FE) corresponding to a packaged item (W) whose height is higher than the set height stored in the control unit (40), the printing start position on the packaging material (FE) is shifted so that, when the packaged item (WF) is in the packaging form (WF), the printing area does not straddle the film area facing the side and top (or bottom) of the packaged item (W), but is positioned in the film area facing the relatively flat top (or bottom) of the packaged item, making it easier to check the printed content.

[0016] Next, the invention according to claim 4, which is dependent on any of claims 1 to 3, is configured so that either the position of the guide roller (34) that wraps around and guides the packaging material (F1, F2) arranged on the transport path between the meshing position (60S) and the print head (52), or the installation position of the printing device (50) or the position of the print head (52) can be adjusted manually or automatically, and by adjusting either of these positions, it is possible to change the relationship between the distance from the set position (P) of the print head (52) on the transport path to the cutting position (60C), the single packaging length of the stored multiple types of packaging material (FS), and the position of the intended printing area (PS) for each single packaging length.

[0017] According to the invention of claim 4, if the need arises to change packaging specifications, for example, when changing the packaging length of some (or all) of multiple types of packaging material, or when changing the position of the printing area (PS) in one packaging length for some (or all) of the packaging materials of various packaging lengths, the relationship of formula (1), (2), or (3) set forth in claim 1, which had previously held true, may no longer hold, resulting in a setting that could cause the packaging material (F1, F2) to stop during printing. However, by manually or automatically adjusting the position of the guide roller (34), the mounting position of the printer (50), or the position of the print head (52) so that the relationship of formula (1), (2), or (3) set forth in claim 1 holds true, it is possible to avoid the packaging material (FS) from stopping during printing. In other words, the degree of freedom in setting the printing system can be expanded.

[0018] Next, the invention according to claim 5 is an article conveying means consisting of a first conveying means (11, 12) that sequentially conveys packaged items (W) of different sizes, and a second conveying means (13) that conveys the packaged items (W) sent from the first conveying means (11, 12); an item detection means (21, 22) that detects at least length information of the packaged item (W) in the conveying direction conveyed by the first conveying means (11, 12) and height information of the packaged item (W) and acquires the information as size information of the packaged item (W); packaging material transfer means (31, 32, 34) that transfers packaging material (F1, F2) drawn from original rolls (R1, R2) along a predetermined transfer path to the second transfer means (13) together with the packaged item (W) so that the packaging material can cover at least the outer periphery in the transfer direction of the packaged item (W) being transferred by the article transfer means; a seal cutting means for sandwiching and sealing the overlapped packaging materials (F1, F2) with the sealing bodies (61, 62) so that the packaging materials (F1, F2) have a length selected in accordance with the size information of the packaged items (W) that have been detected by the item detection means (21, 22) and arrived at the meshing position (60S), by moving a pair of sealing bodies (61, 62) close to and apart from each other and that sandwich the packaging materials (F1, F2) between them; and cutting the packaging materials (F1, F2) at a cutting position (60C) at the meshing position (60S), the seal cutting means being able to set an engagement position (60S) of the sealing bodies (61, 62) that sandwich the packaging materials (F1, F2) between the sealing bodies (61, 62) so that the packaging materials (F1, F2) have a length selected in accordance with the size information of the packaged items (W) that have been detected by the item detection means (21, 22) and arrived at the meshing position (60S); a control unit (40) that controls these wrapping operations; a printing means for printing by a print head (52) of a printing device (50) disposed opposite the packaging material (F1, F2) on the transport path in response to a printing command generated by the control unit (40); a pull-up roller (36) that contacts the packaging materials (F1, F2) between the meshing position (60S) and the print head (52) to guide the packaging materials (F1, F2), and that moves in a direction intersecting the feeding direction of the packaging materials (F1, F2) based on a command from the control unit (40) so as to lengthen the transport path of the packaging materials (F1, F2), thereby pulling up the packaging materials (F1, F2) downstream in the feeding direction; A packaging system comprising: The control unit (40) The information on the length of one package of a plurality of types of packaging material (FS) corresponding to the size information of the packaged items (W) of various sizes to be packaged, and the position information of the printing area (PS) in each one package length are stored in advance, For each size information acquired, the corresponding package length is selected, linked, and stored. When the packaged item (W) arrives at the engagement position (60S), the packaging material transfer means (31, 32, 34) is instructed to feed the packaging material (F1, F2) by one packaging length selected corresponding to the packaged item (W), and to stop feeding the packaging material (F1, F2) when the sealing bodies (61, 62) clamp the packaging material (F1, F2), and When feeding the packaging material (FE) by one package length, the printing command is issued to the printing means so as to print in the intended printing area (PS) of the packaging material (FS) which is one package length after the packaging material (FE), The printing means Each time the packaged item (W) arrives at the engagement position (60S), while the printed packaging material (FE) of one packaging length immediately preceding the engagement position (60S) is being sent, based on the print command, print information related to the subsequent packaged item (W) arriving after the packaged item (W) that has arrived at the engagement position (60S) is printed in the intended print area (PS) of the packaging material (FS) that is one packaging length after the immediately preceding printed packaging material (FE) of one packaging length, Furthermore, the relationship between the distance from the set position (P) of the print head (52) on the transport path to the cutting position (60C), the length of one package of the stored types of packaging material (FS), and the position of the intended printing area (PS) for each package length is set as shown in the following setting 1 and setting 2: The setting 1 is In relation to the height of the specific engagement position (60X), which is the lowest height of the engagement positions (60S), when packaging at the specific engagement position (60X), the length of the packaging material (FE) of the shortest one-package length from the cutting position (60C) on the transport path among each of the printed one-package lengths of packaging material (FE) is a1, and the shortest length between the front end (FSJ) of the packaging material (FS) and the front end (PSJ) of the intended printing area (PS) among each of the one-package lengths of packaging material (FS) is a2, and the sum of these is A (a1 + a2 = A), When the height of the meshing position (60S) where the pair of sealing bodies (61, 62) in the seal cutting means move close to and apart in the vertical direction to clamp the packaging material (FE) is changed according to the height of the packaged item (W), and when the meshing position (60S) of the pair of sealing bodies (61, 62) moving close to and apart in the vertical direction moves upward from the height position of the specific meshing position (60X), the length of the transfer path from the set position (P) of the print head (52) to the cutting position (60C) is the shortest compared to the length of the transfer path from the set position (P) of the print head (52) to the cutting position (60C) at the specific meshing position (60X), or When packaging the arriving packaged items (W) without changing the height of the meshing position (60S), The distances to the cutting position (60C) in the transfer path are set to satisfy the relationship of formula (1), A > Print head (52) setting position (P) Formula (1) Or, In the case where the height of the engagement position (60S) where the pair of sealing bodies (61, 62) in the seal cutting means move close to and apart in the vertical direction to clamp the packaging material (FE) is changed according to the height of the packaged item (W), and when the engagement position (60S) of the pair of sealing bodies (61, 62) moving close to and apart in the vertical direction moves upward from the height position of the specific engagement position (60X), the length of the transfer path from the set position (P) of the print head (52) to the cutting position (60C) increases to the greatest extent compared to the length of the transfer path from the set position (P) of the print head (52) to the cutting position (60C) at the specific engagement position (60X), If the absolute value of the difference in length between the packaging materials (F1, F2) is Th, then: The distances to the cutting position (60C) in the transfer path are set to satisfy the relationship of formula (2), A-Th > Print head (52) setting position (P) Formula (2) The setting 2 is In the transfer path when the feeding of the packaging material (F1, F2) is stopped, The distance from the front end of the print head (52) to the rear end (FEK) of the printed packaging material (FE) is defined as a distance C, The distance from the front end (FSJ) of the packaging material (FS) to be printed to the rear end (PSK) of the printing area (PS) is defined as distance D. If the distance of one package length of printed packaging material (FE) is distance E, The height of the engagement position (60S) when sealing the printed packaging material (FE) corresponding to the preceding packaged item (W) moves upward from the height position of the specific engagement position (60X). an absolute value of a difference in the length of the transfer path from the set position (P) of the print head (52) to the cutting position (60C) that is reduced from the length of the transfer path from the set position (P) of the print head (52) to the cutting position (60C) at the specific meshing position (60X) is defined as Th1; Let H be the increase in the length of the transport path of the packaging materials (F1, F2) caused by the pulling roller (36) of the packaging materials (F1, F2), then: If (C+D) > (E-Th1) ··Eq. (3), then The packaging materials (F1, F2) are pulled by the pulling roller (36) so that the printing area (PS) after the printed one-packaging length packaging material (FE) corresponding to the packaged item (W) arriving at the engagement position (60S) can pass the print head by one package length by the time the feeding of the printed one-packaging length packaging material (FE) immediately before the engagement position (60S) corresponding to the packaged item (W) arriving at the engagement position (60S) is stopped, so that the relationship of (C+D)≦(E-Th1+H)·· formula (4) is satisfied; Or, The height of the engagement position (60S) when sealing the printed packaging material (FE) corresponding to the preceding packaged item (W) moves upward from the height position of the specific engagement position (60X). an absolute value of a difference in the length of the transfer path from the set position (P) of the print head (52) to the cutting position (60C) that is increased from the length of the transfer path from the set position (P) of the print head (52) to the cutting position (60C) at the specific meshing position (60X) is defined as Th1; Let H be the increase in the length of the transport path of the packaging materials (F1, F2) caused by the pulling roller (36) of the packaging materials (F1, F2), then: If (C+D) > (E+Th1) ··Eq.(5), then The packaging materials (F1, F2) are pulled by the pulling roller (36) so that the printing area (PS) after the printed one-packaging length packaging material (FE) corresponding to the packaged item (W) arriving at the engagement position (60S) on the transfer path is stopped by the time the feeding of the printed one-packaging length packaging material (FE) immediately before the engagement position (60S) is stopped, so that the relationship of (C+D)≦(E+Th1+H)·· formula (6) is satisfied, Or, When packaging the arriving packaged items (W) without changing the height of the meshing position (60S), If (C+D) > E ··Eq.(7), then The packaging materials (F1, F2) are pulled by the pulling roller (36) so that the printing area (PS) after the printed one-packaging length packaging material (FE) corresponding to the packaged item (W) arriving at the engagement position (60S) can pass the print head by one package length by the time the feeding of the printed one-packaging length packaging material (FE) immediately before the engagement position (60S) corresponding to the packaged item (W) arriving at the engagement position (60S) is stopped, so that the relationship of (C+D)≦(E+H)·· formula (8) is satisfied, After the printing area (PS) of each packaging material (FS) of one package length passes the print head (52), the feeding of the packaging material (F1, F2) is stopped and the sealing bodies (61, 62) clamp the packaging material (F1, F2).

[0019] According to the invention of claim 5, as described in setting relationship 1, by setting the relationship of the distance to the cutting position on the transport path as in formula (1) or formula (2), when the leading end (FEJ) of one packaging length of packaging material (FE) that has been printed in the planned printing area (PS) and has been printed is at the cutting position (60C), the planned printing area (PS) in one packaging length of packaging material (FS) that is one packaging length after the one packaging length of printed packaging material (FE) will be located in a position upstream of the cutting position (60C) on the transport path of the packaging material (F1, F2) from the set position (P) of the print head (52), regardless of the planned printing area (PS) in one packaging length of any type of packaging material stored in the control unit (40). In other words, when the front end (FEJ) of one packaging length of printed packaging material (FE) is positioned at the cutting position (60C) and the feeding of the packaging material stops, the printing planned area (PS) of the subsequent one packaging length of packaging material one packaging length after the printed packaging material (FE) will not be printed, regardless of the printing planned area (PS) for one packaging length of any type of packaging material stored in the control unit (40). Furthermore, as described in the setting relationship 2, in the case of formula (3), the relationship of formula (4) is satisfied, in the case of formula (5), the relationship of formula (6) is satisfied, and in the case of formula (7), the relationship of formula (8) is satisfied, so that by the time the feeding of the printed packaging material (FE) of one packaging length immediately before the engagement position (60S) corresponding to the packaged item (W) arriving at the engagement position (60S) is stopped, the printing planned area (PS) after the printed packaging material (FE) of one packaging length is one packaging length. By using a pull roller (36) to pull the packaging material (F1, F2) between the engagement position (60S) and the print head (52) downstream in the feed direction so that it can pass through the print head, the printing area (PS) in the packaging material one package length after the printed packaging material (FE) will always pass through the print head (52), regardless of the printing area (PS) in one package length of any type of packaging material stored in the control unit (40). This makes it possible to stop feeding one package length of packaging material after completing printing in the print planned area (PS) on various types of packaging material of one package length. In addition, since printing can be done on one length of packaging material (FS) each time without having to perform a cumulative calculation of the length of one package including the preceding and following packaging materials (F1, F2) for multiple packages, an increase in control load can be suppressed.

[0020] Next, in the invention according to claim 6 which is dependent on claim 5, the control unit (40) stores a range of sizes of the packaged items (W) that can be packaged, corresponding to each of a plurality of types of single package length information stored in advance, and selects which size range the size information of the packaged item (W) detected by the item detection means (21, 22) falls into, and commands the printing means to print the single package length information corresponding to that size range.

[0021] According to the invention of claim 6, even if packaged items (W) of different sizes arrive, the size information of the packaged items (W) detected by the item detection means (21, 22) is selected to fall within a size range, so that packaged items (W) of different sizes can be packaged in packaging material (FE) of a corresponding one package length, and since the printing means is instructed to print one package length information corresponding to the size range of the packaged items (W), the printing information can be printed in an appropriate position.

[0022] Next, the invention according to claim 7, which is dependent on claim 5, is characterized in that, when printing on packaging material (FS) corresponding to packaged items (W) whose height is higher than a set height pre-stored in the control unit (40), the print start position on the packaging material (FS) is shifted so that the printed area (PE) on one packaging length of packaging material (FE) is located upstream of the length from the front end (FEJ) of the packaging material (FE) to the front upper end of the packaged item (W) contained in the packaging material (FE), and is located downstream of the length from the front end (FEJ) of the packaging material (FE) to the rear upper end of the packaged item (W) contained in the packaging material (FE), and when packaging material feed stops, the packaging form (WF) is located downstream of the set position (P) of the print head in the packaging material feed direction.

[0023] According to the invention of claim 7, when printing is performed on packaging material (FS) corresponding to a packaged item (W) whose height is higher than the set height stored in the control unit (40), the printing start position on the packaging material (FS) is shifted so that, when the packaged item (WF) is in the packaging form (WF), the printing area (PE) is positioned in the film area facing the relatively flat top surface (or bottom surface) of the packaged item (W), without spanning the film area facing the side and top surface (or bottom surface) of the packaged item (W), making it easier to check the printed content.

[0024] Next, the invention according to claim 8, which is dependent on any one of claims 5 to 7, is provided with a direction control means on the hand-pulling roller (36) that allows rotation in a direction that sends the packaging material (F1, F2) downstream but prevents it from rotating in the reverse direction.

[0025] According to the invention of claim 8, by providing a direction control means on the hand-pulling roller (36), when the hand-pulling roller (36) pulls the packaging material (F1, F2), the packaging material (F1, F2) covering the outer periphery of the packaged item (W) is prevented from being pulled back upstream in the feed direction, thereby preventing the position where the pair of sealing bodies (F1, F2) clamp the packaging material (F1, F2) from shifting, thereby preventing packaging defects, etc. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] By adopting the means of each of the above inventions, the present invention can provide a packaging system that can suppress an increase in control load and achieve good printing when randomly packaging items of different sizes. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a packaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a table showing the relationship between packaged items of different sizes and the corresponding packaging materials for one package length. [Figure 3] (a) is a diagram showing the engagement height of the seal body when sealing a low-height packaged item, and (b) is a diagram showing the engagement height of the seal body when sealing a high-height packaged item. [Figure 4] This is a schematic plan view showing the relationship between the setting position of the print head, the cutting position on the seal body, the printing area on various types of printed packaging material of one packaging length, and the planned printing area on various types of packaging material of one packaging length one upstream of that. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic view of part V in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic view of a portion VI in FIG. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the packaging system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0029] First Embodiment The packaging system of the first embodiment includes a packaging machine that pulls out upper and lower films F1, F2 as strip-shaped packaging material from raw rolls R1, R2 arranged above and below, respectively, via conveyors 11, 12, 13 that transport packaged items W consisting of stacked laminates, wraps the films around the outer periphery of the packaged items W in the transport direction of the packaged items W, and welds the ends of the films F1, F2, and a printing means that prints on the upper film F1 or the lower film F2. Here, there are two types of packaging machines in this packaging system.

[0030] (1) In the case of an embodiment in which a printing means for printing on the upper film F1 is provided In this case, the packaging machine uses a heat-shrinkable film for the lower film F2 wound around the lower raw roll R2, and a non-heat-shrinkable film for the upper film F1 wound around the upper raw roll R1. The packaged item W, around which the upper and lower films F1 and F2 are wrapped and welded, is sent to a heating device (not shown) by a conveyor (item conveying means), where the lower film F2, which is a heat-shrinkable film on the lower side, is heated and thermally shrunk. This results in a package in which the packaged item W is wrapped and seamed between the upper and lower films F1 and F2. Then, printing means prints on the upper film F1.

[0031] (2) In the case of an embodiment in which a printing means for printing on the lower film F2 is provided In this case, the packaging machine uses a heat-shrinkable film for the upper film F1 wound around the upper raw roll R1, and a non-heat-shrinkable film for the lower film F2 wound around the lower raw roll R2 (the opposite configuration to (1)). The packaged item W, around which the upper and lower films F1, F2 are wrapped and welded, is sent to a heating device (not shown) by a conveyor (item conveying means), where the upper film F1, which is the upper heat-shrinkable film, is heated and thermally shrunk. This results in a package in which the packaged item W is wrapped and seamed between the upper and lower films F1, F2. Printing means prints on the lower film F2.

[0032] In explaining this embodiment, we will explain (1) the case where a printing means for printing on the upper film F1 is provided as a representative example, but we will also explain (2) the case where a printing means for printing on the lower film F2 is provided as appropriate.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, the packaging system in the first embodiment includes an article conveying means, an article detecting means, a packaging material transferring means, a seal cutting means, a packaging control unit, and a printing means.

[0034] [Item transport means] The article conveying means has a first conveying means that sequentially conveys packaged items W of different sizes, and a second conveying means that conveys packaged items W sent from the first conveying means. The article conveying means has conveying surfaces that convey the packaged items W, each of which is made up of a belt, and is arranged in this order from upstream in the conveying direction of the packaged items W, namely, first conveyor 11, second conveyor 12, and third conveyor 13, with first conveyor 11 and second conveyor 12 serving as first conveying means and third conveyor 13 serving as second conveying means.

[0035] The first conveyor 11 is a conveyor on which packaged items W are placed by an operator on the conveying surface, and when the gap between the packaged item W and the preceding packaged item W is too small, the first conveyor 11 is driven and controlled to slow down its feed speed after the preceding packaged item W has been transferred to the second conveyor 12, thereby widening the gap between the packaged item W on the first conveyor 11 and the preceding packaged item W.

[0036] The second conveyor 12 is a conveyor that transports the packaged items W at a constant speed. If the second conveyor 12 does not detect a subsequent packaged item W, it stops transporting the packaged items W to the sealing position by the pair of sealing bodies S in the seal cutting means until the subsequent packaged item W is detected.

[0037] The third conveyor 13 is a belt conveyor consisting of two belts arranged side by side and spaced apart along the conveying direction, forming a conveying surface. Packaged items W are placed on the left and right conveying surfaces, and a recess is provided between the conveying surfaces to reduce the frictional force generated in the lower film F2 unwound between the conveying surface and the bottom of the packaged items W, making it easier to adjust the position of the leading edge of the lower film F2 relative to the packaged items W when unwound. The third conveyor 13 is a well-known shuttle-type conveyor whose starting end 13A on the conveying surface can move back and forth in the conveying direction. After the packaged items W are transferred from the second conveyor 12, the conveyance of the packaged items W is temporarily stopped. Once the upper and lower films F1 and F2 are joined by the pair of sealing bodies S, the packaged items W are conveyed toward a heating device (not shown) located downstream. Each belt is driven and controlled to run at the same speed in synchronization. When the upper end of the lower sealing body S moves to a position higher than the conveying surface to connect the upper and lower films F1 and F2, the starting end 13A on the conveying surface of the third conveyor 13 moves away from the terminal end 12A on the conveying surface of the second conveyor 12 to create a space to accommodate the lower sealing body S, and when the tip of the lower sealing body S moves below the conveying surface, it moves close to the terminal end 12A on the conveying surface of the second conveyor 12 to narrow the gap with the terminal end of the second conveyor 12, and the sealing body S moves close to and away from the terminal end 12A on the conveying surface of the second conveyor 12 in conjunction with the up and down movement of the sealing body S.

[0038] [Item detection means] The item detection means detects at least length information and height information of the packaged items W being transported by the first transport means, and acquires this as size information of the packaged items W. The item detection means has a first sensor 21 for acquiring height information of the packaged items W being transported by the first conveyor 11, and a second sensor 22 for acquiring length information in the transport direction of the packaged items W being transported by the first conveyor 11.

[0039] The first sensor 21 has a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged vertically on one side of the first conveyor 11, each emitting light horizontally, and a light-receiving element that receives light from each of the plurality of light-emitting elements on the other side of the first conveyor 11, and sends information about the light blocked and the light received as the packaged item W is conveyed to the packaging control unit that manages the packaging operation. The packaging control unit determines the height of the packaged item W based on this detection information (light-blocking information, light-receiving information).

[0040] The second sensor 22 uses a light-receiving element that pairs with a light-emitting element of the first sensor 21. The length of the packaged item W in the conveying direction of the packaged item W is determined by the packaging control unit from pulse information from an encoder attached to the first conveyor 11 from when the front end of the packaged item W blocks the light of the second sensor 22 until the rear end of the packaged item W passes the second sensor 22. Note that well-known detection methods, such as 3D sensors, may be used for the first sensor 21 and the second sensor 22. Furthermore, although the height and length of the packaged item W are determined by the packaging control unit, the item detection means may be configured to pass size information of the packaged item W from a separately provided dedicated control unit for determining height and length to the packaging control unit.

[0041] [Packaging material transfer means] The packaging material transfer means sends the upper and lower films F1, F2 pulled out from the original rolls R1, R2 along a predetermined transfer path along with the packaged items W being transported by the article transport means to the third conveyor 13, which is the second transport means, so that the upper and lower films F1, F2 cover the outer periphery of the packaged items W being transported by the article transport means. The upper and lower films F1, F2 are pulled out from the original rolls R1, R2 arranged on the upper and lower sides of the conveyor by respective payout rollers 31, 32, wrapped around and guided by multiple guide rollers 34, and guided upstream in the transport direction of the packaged items W from the meshing position 60S of the upper and lower seal bodies S between the second conveyor 12 and the third conveyor 13. The leading ends of the upper and lower films F1, F2 are joined by the upper and lower seal bodies S at the setting stage before packaging begins.

[0042] After packaging begins, when the packaged items W come into contact with the joint, the upper feed roller 31 and the lower feed roller 32 are controlled to feed out the upper film F1 and the lower film F2, respectively, based on detection information relating to the heights of the various packaged items W, which will be described later. For the sake of convenience, the first embodiment illustrates a case in which eight different sizes of packaged items W are detected and packaged, with one set consisting of items with the same packaging length CP (cut pitch) of the upper film F1 and high and low packaged items W, and three other sets having different packaging lengths CP (cut pitch) of the upper and lower films F1, F2.

[0043] The upper payout roller 31 begins to pay out the upper film F1 by the relevant package length CP of the aforementioned single package length CP based on size information about the package W obtained from the detection information by the item detection means when the next package W to be packaged arrives at the meshing position, or more precisely, when it arrives at the joint between the upper and lower films F1, F2, based on the feed amount of the package W obtained from the encoder pulses. Meanwhile, the lower payout roller 32 begins to pay out the lower film F2 by a preset length (taking into account the amount of thermal shrinkage) that is slightly longer than the relevant package length CP of the aforementioned single package length CP, based on size information about the package W obtained from the detection information by the item detection means, based on the feed amount of the package W obtained from the encoder pulses when the next package W to be packaged arrives at the meshing position, or more precisely, when it arrives at the joint between the upper and lower films F1, F2. The packaging length CP of each of the lower films F2 corresponding to the eight types of packaged items W is set slightly longer than the packaging length CP of each of the corresponding upper films F1, since it will be thermally shrunk by the heating device in the post-processing process.

[0044] After the packaged item W comes into contact with the upper and lower films F1, F2 extending vertically, it moves to the third conveyor 13 while wrapping the upper and lower films F1, F2 around the outer periphery of the packaged item W, and after the transfer onto the third conveyor 13 is complete, movement in the conveying direction is temporarily stopped when the running of the third conveyor 13 is temporarily stopped at a predetermined timing. When the packaged item W is sent by one package length CP as it crosses the third conveyor 13, the upper and lower payout rollers 31, 32 are individually driven and controlled in terms of the timing at which they start driving and the speed at which the upper and lower films F1, F2 are sent, so that the meshing position 60S of the pair of seal bodies S is positioned approximately in the center of the height of the packaged item W to be packaged this time, based on information on the height of the packaged item W and information on one package length CP acquired and stored based on information detected by the item detection means. The upper payout roller 31 and the lower payout roller 32 are controlled to be driven until just before the upper and lower seal bodies S sandwich the upper and lower films F1, F2.

[0045] [Seal cutting means] The seal cutting means moves a pair of sealing bodies 61, 62 extending in a direction intersecting the article conveying direction closer to and farther from each other, and the engagement position 60S of the sealing bodies 61, 62 that clamp the upper and lower films F1, F2 can be set between the terminal end 12A of the second conveyor 12 and the starting end 13A of the third conveyor 13 according to the height of the packaged item W, and clamps and seals the overlapped upper and lower films F1, F2 between the sealing bodies 61, 62 so that the upper and lower films F1, F2 become the selected single package length CP in accordance with the size information of the packaged item W that has been detected by the article detection means and arrived at the engagement position 60S, and cuts the upper and lower films F1, F2 at the cutting position 60C at the engagement position 60S.

[0046] The upper sealing body 61 and the lower sealing body 62 are each provided with a driving means such as a motor (not shown), and these driving means move the sealing bodies 61, 62 independently so as to approach or move away from each other in the vertical direction. The position where the sealing bodies 61, 62 interlock to hold the upper and lower films F1, F2 is set to approximately the center of the height of the packaged item W to be packaged this time, based on information on the height of the packaged item W and information on the single package length CP acquired and stored based on detection information from the item detection means.

[0047] A pair of upper and lower sealing bodies 61, 62 clamp and heat-seal the upper and lower films F1, F2 behind the transport direction of the packaged item W that has been transferred to the third conveyor 13, joining the upper and lower films F1, F2 together, and a knife (not shown) embedded in the sealing bodies 61, 62 moves back and forth to the film joining location, cutting the film joining location at a predetermined cutting position 60C to divide the film joining location into front and rear halves. As a result, the joints between the upper film F1 and the lower film F2 are located on the front and rear sides of the packaged items W on the third conveyor 13. Furthermore, by cutting the joints with a knife, the upper and lower films F1 and F2 downstream of the upper and lower payout rollers 31 and 32 are supported so as to extend vertically while still connected. The meshing position 60S of the pair of seal bodies 61 and 62 is controlled to be higher as the height of the packaged items W increases, but it may be set to a height as needed. In an embodiment equipped with a printing means for printing on the upper film F1, when controlling the height of the seal meshing position 60S, the higher the height of the meshing position 60S, the shorter the transport path of the upper film F1 from the cutting position 60C at the meshing position 60S to the print head 52 becomes. Conversely, in an embodiment equipped with a printing means for printing on the lower film F2, when controlling the height of the seal engagement position 60S, the higher the height of the engagement position 60S, the longer the transport path of the upper film F1 from the cutting position 60C at the engagement position 60S to the print head 52 becomes.

[0048] [Packaging control unit 40 (control unit)] The packaging control unit 40 is a control unit that controls the packaging operation. The packaging control unit 40 obtains information about the size of the packaged item W based on information obtained by the item detection means, selects which of the multiple types of upper and lower films F1, F2 should be used for packaging from among the pre-stored package lengths CP, and then issues drive commands related to the packaging operation for the item conveying means, packaging material transfer means, seal cutting means, etc. based on the information about the package length CP of the upper and lower films F1, F2 and position information about the packaged item W obtained from encoder pulses attached to each conveyor. The packaging control unit 40 also controls the packaging operation by issuing a print command to a printing control unit 54 in a printing means (described later) to print the obtained print start timing information and information about the package length CP of the selected upper and lower films F1, F2 based on information about the film feed amount and film feed speed attached to the packaging material transfer means and a print start position pre-stored and associated with the selected upper and lower films F1, F2.

[0049] [Printing means] The printing means prints using a print head 52 of a printing device 50 disposed opposite the upper film F1 in the transport path. The printing means comprises printing device 50 that prints on the upper film F1 and a printing control unit 54 that controls the printing operation.

[0050] The printing device 50 of the first embodiment is an inkjet printer that sprays ink particles onto the upper film F1 of one packaging length CP corresponding to the packaged item W immediately following the packaged item W at a predetermined timing while the upper film F1 is being transported from the time the packaged item W contacts the upper and lower films F1, F2 until the upper and lower films F1, F2 are sealed (while the upper film F1 is being fed by the upper pay-out roller 31).

[0051] The printing control unit 54 stores in advance printing patterns linked to information on the length CP of one package of each of the upper and lower films F1, F2 and information on the height of the packaged item W output from the packaging control unit 40, selects a printing pattern from this information output from the packaging control unit 40, and commands the printing device 50 to print using the selected printing pattern. Note that in the first embodiment, the packaging control unit 40 as a control unit that controls the packaging operation and the printing control unit 54 as a control unit that controls the printing operation are described separately, but they may also be an integrated control unit.

[0052] 2, for the sake of convenience, in the first embodiment, the planned printing areas PS on the upper film F1 for each package length CP of the four short packaged items W are set at the same distance, relatively close to the front end FSJ in the feed direction of the upper film F1 (the feed direction of the packaging material). Also, the planned printing areas PS on the upper film F1 for each package length CP of the four tall packaged items W are set at the same distance rearward in the feed direction of the upper film F1 from the aforementioned short planned printing areas PS. The planned printing areas PS for the taller and shorter packaged items W are shifted rearward to allow the printing content to be displayed in the area of ​​the film that comes into contact with the top surface of the flat packaged item W when the upper film F1 is wrapped around the packaged item W. When the packaged item W is tall, unlike when the packaged item W is short, if the intended printing area PS is set relatively close to the front end FSJ of the upper film F1 of one package length CP in the feed direction, the marking content will be positioned across the top and side of the packaged item W. This is particularly important when the printed content is a barcode or two-dimensional code that indicates identification information about the packaged item W, to prevent it from being misread or becoming unreadable by a reader. Identification information provided by barcodes and two-dimensional codes includes, for example, product name, quantity, type, unit price, amount, weight, production date and time, location, lot number, and order number, and is used for inspecting the accuracy of the printed content, sales transactions, traceability, etc.

[0053] When the upper feed roller 31 stops feeding the upper film F1, the printing device 50 has completed printing on the upper film F1 of one packaging length CP corresponding to the next packaged item W to be packaged, and the relationship between the distance from the set position P of the print head 52 to the cutting position 60C, each one packaging length CP, and the position of the intended printing area PS on each type of upper film F1 is set as follows so that the print head 52 is positioned somewhere in the range PX shown in Figure 4 in the film feed direction (packaging material feed direction).

[0054] The relationship between the set position P of the print head 52 and the distance to the cutting position 60C on the transport path, the stored packaging length CP of the multiple types of upper film F1, and the position of the intended printing area PS for each packaging length CP satisfies the following relationship.

[0055] As shown in Figure 5, when the lowest height among the engagement positions 60S is considered to be the height of a specific engagement position 60X, length a1 is the length from the cutting position 60C on the transport path to the rear end FEK of the printed film FE of the smallest one-pack length CP among the printed film FE of each one-pack length CP when packaging at such a specific engagement position 60X. Length a2 is the shortest length between the leading end FSJ of the film FS to be printed and the leading end PSJ of the area PS to be printed, within each package length CP. The sum of these lengths is A, i.e., a1 + a2 = A. Distance B is the distance from the cutting position 60C, which changes depending on the height of the engagement position 60S on the transport path, to the trailing end PEK of the farthest printed area PE on the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) of each printed package length CP.

[0056] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the distances to the cutting position 60C on the transfer path are set to satisfy any one of the relationships in the following formulas (1) to (3).

[0057] (1) In the case of an embodiment in which a printing means for printing on the upper film F1 is provided (Figs. 3, 4, and 5) When the height of the engagement position 60S where the pair of sealing bodies 61, 62 in the seal cutting means move close to and apart in the vertical direction to sandwich the upper and lower films F1, F2 is changed according to the height of the packaged goods W, and when the engagement position 60S of the pair of sealing bodies 61, 62 moving close to and apart in the vertical direction moves upward from the height position of a specific engagement position 60X, which is the lowest height of the engagement positions 60S, the length of the transfer path from the setting position P of the print head 52 to the cutting position 60C is the shortest compared to the length of the transfer path from the setting position P of the print head 52 at the specific engagement position 60X to the cutting position 60C, the absolute value of the difference in the reduced length of the upper film F1 is defined as Th. At this time, the distances on the transfer path to the cutting position 60C are set to satisfy the relationship of formula (1). A>Set position of print head 52 P>B+Th Formula (1)

[0058] (2) In the case of an embodiment in which a printing means for printing on the lower film F2 is provided (Figs. 3, 4, and 6) When the height of meshing position 60S, where a pair of sealing bodies 61, 62 in the seal cutting means move close to and apart in the vertical direction to sandwich the upper and lower films F1, F2, changes according to the height of the packaged goods W, and when meshing position 60S of a pair of sealing bodies 61, 62 moving close to and apart in the vertical direction moves upward from the height position of a specific meshing position 60X, the length of the transfer path from set position P of print head 52 to cutting position 60C increases the most compared to the length of the transfer path from set position P of print head 52 to cutting position 60C at the specific meshing position 60X, the absolute value of the difference in the increased length of the lower film F2 is defined as Th. At this time, the distances on the transfer path to cutting position 60C are set to satisfy the relationship of equation (2). A-Th>Set position of print head 52 P>B Equation (2)

[0059] (3) When packaging arriving packaged items W sequentially without changing the height of the engagement position 60S (Figs. 3, 4, and 5) The height of the specific meshing position 60X is assumed to be constant, and the difference Th in length between the upper and lower films F1 and F2 is assumed to be Th = 0. At this time, the distances to the cutting position 60C on the transport path are set to satisfy the relationship of formula (3). A>Set position of print head 52 P>B Equation (3)

[0060] The distances to cutting position 60C on the transport path are set so as to satisfy one of the relationships shown in formulas (1) to (3). Therefore, the relationship between the set position P of print head 52, the distance to cutting position 60C on the transport path, the stored package lengths CP of the multiple types of upper film F1, and the position of the print area PS in each package length CP is such that, each time an item W to be packaged reaches the engagement position, the feed of the upper and lower films F1, F2 is stopped and the seal bodies 61, 62 sandwich the upper and lower films F1, F2 after the print area PS in the upper film F1 for one package length CP passes through the print head 52. Therefore, the feed of one package length of packaging material can be stopped after printing is completed in the print area PS on each type of packaging material FS for one package length.

[0061] When printing on the upper film F1 or lower film F2 corresponding to the packaged item W whose height is higher than the set height pre-stored in the packaging control unit 40, the printing start position on the upper film F1 is shifted (printing start position changing means) so that the printed area PE on the upper film F1 for one packaging length CP becomes a packaging form WF (Figure 3b) that satisfies all of the following conditions: (1) In the packaging form WF, the printed area PE is located upstream of the length from the front end FEJ of the upper film F1 (or the lower film F2) to the front upper end (front lower end when printing is on the lower film F2) of the packaged item W contained in the upper film F1 (or the lower film F2). (2) In the packaging form WF, the printed area PE is located downstream of the length from the front end FEJ of the upper film F1 (or the lower film F2) to the rear upper end (or rear lower end when printing is on the lower film F2) of the packaged item W contained in the upper film F1 (or the lower film F2). (3) When film feeding stops, the printed area PE is located downstream of the set position P of the print head 52 in the film feeding direction.

[0062] The print start position is set according to the following relationship: Distance C is the distance in the film feed direction from the front end of the print head 52 to the rear end FEK of the printed film FE. Distance D is the distance from the front end FSJ of the film to be printed FS to the rear end PSK of the area to be printed PS.

[0063] (1) In the case of an embodiment in which a printing means for printing on the upper film F1 is provided (Figs. 3, 4, and 6) When the height of the engagement position 60S when sealing the printed film FE corresponding to the preceding packaged item W moves upward from the height position of the specific engagement position 60X, the printed upper film F1(FE) of one package length that is sent just before the engagement position 60X will stop at a position closer to the print head 52 on the transport path than when sealing at the specific engagement position 60X. Therefore, if the absolute value of the difference in length between the length of the transport path from the set position P of the print head 52 to the cutting position 60C at the specific engagement position 60X and the length of the transport path from the set position P of the print head 52 to the cutting position 60C at the specific engagement position 60X due to the height of the engagement position 60S when sealing the printed film FE corresponding to the preceding packaged item W moving upward from the height position of the specific engagement position 60X is Th1, the timing to start printing in the print intended area (PS) on the upper film F1(FS) one film after the printed upper film F1(FE) of one packaging length immediately before the engagement position 60X is set to start printing when the encoder pulse count value reaches the film feed amount that is the following feed amount on the transport path. Feed rate = C + D + Th1

[0064] (2) In the case of an embodiment in which a printing means for printing on the lower film F2 is provided (Figs. 3, 4, and 6) When the height of the engagement position 60S when sealing the printed film FE corresponding to the preceding packaged item W moves upward from the height position of the specific engagement position 60X, the printed upper film F2(FE) of one package length that is sent just before the engagement position 60X will stop at a position on the transport path farther from the print head 52 than when sealing at the specific engagement position 60X. Therefore, if the absolute value of the difference in length between the length of the transport path from the set position P of the print head 52 to the cutting position 60C at the specific engagement position 60X and the length of the transport path from the set position P of the print head 52 to the cutting position 60C at the specific engagement position 60X due to the height of the engagement position 60S when sealing the printed film FE corresponding to the preceding packaged item W moves upward from the height position of the specific engagement position 60X is Th1, the timing to start printing in the print intended area (PS) on the lower film F2(FS) one film after the printed one packaging length of lower film F2(FE) immediately before the engagement position 60X is set to start printing when the encoder pulse count value reaches the value corresponding to the film feed amount on the transport path which is the following feed amount. Feed rate = C + D - Th1

[0065] (3) When packaging arriving packaged items W sequentially without changing the height of the meshing position 60S (Figs. 3, 4, and 6) If the height of the specific engagement position 60X is constant and the difference Th in length between the upper and lower films F1 and F2 is assumed to be Th=0, the timing for starting printing in the print target area (PS) is set so that printing starts when the encoder pulse count value reaches a value corresponding to the film feed amount in the transport path as follows: Feed rate = C + D

[0066] Here, one embodiment is configured such that the means for shifting the print start timing (print start timing change means) is a print command from the packaging machine to the printer 50 to delay the print start timing. Another embodiment is also possible in which a take-up roller 36 that can be raised and lowered to take up the film F1 (or F2) is disposed downstream in the film feed direction from the position where the film F1 (or F2) and the print head 52 face each other, and the take-up roller 36 is temporarily operated before the print target area (PS) is fed to the print head 52 to absorb the fluctuation Th1 in the transport path that increases or decreases with fluctuations in the meshing position, and is returned to its stop position before printing is completed and film feed is stopped for one packaging length. In addition, this hand-pulling roller 36 can also be used to set the printing area in the packaging form WF in which tall packaged items are packaged as described in paragraph 0055.

[0067] [Relationship between the size of the packaged item W and the length of one package CP] The packaging control unit 40 has pre-stored therein multiple types (four types in the first embodiment) of information on different single packaging lengths CP of the upper film F1, and these single packaging lengths CP of the upper film F1 are pre-stored in correspondence with a range of sizes of the packaged items W for which the sum of the height of the packaged items W obtained by the item detection means and the length of the packaged items W in the conveying direction is within a predetermined range. Then, based on the information obtained by the item detection means, it is selected which upper film F1 of one packaging length CP should be used for packaging from among the multiple types of upper film F1 stored in advance. Furthermore, the packaging control unit 40 stores in advance, for each stored upper film F1 of one packaging length CP, relationship information about the position of the intended printing area PS relative to the leading end PSJ in the feed direction of the upper film F1 for two types of intended printing area PS: when packaging an item W that is equal to or shorter than a set height, and when packaging an item W that is higher than the set height.

[0068] [Printing commands and other related controls] After printing is complete, the packaging machine continues to feed the film using the upper and lower feed rollers 31, 32 until just before the upper and lower seal bodies 61, 62 clamp the upper and lower films F1, F2. Note that in the first packaging after packaging has started, the printing area PS on the upper film F1 for the first package has already passed downstream in the film feed direction from the set position P of the print head 52, so the packaging is done with the unprinted upper film F1. Therefore, the first packaging is designed to allow a dummy packaged item W to flow through and start full operation in order to obtain printed packages from the packaging of the subsequent packaged items W. During actual operation, the transport of the preceding packaged item W by the second conveyor 12 is stopped at a position just before it comes into contact with the upper and lower films F1, F2 extending vertically until the subsequent packaged item W is detected by the item detection means, and once the subsequent packaged item W is detected, the transport of the packaged item W by the second conveyor 12 is resumed and the upper and lower films F1, F2 are controlled to be unwound.

[0069] [Processing up to issuing a print command] Based on the size (height and length) information of the packaged item W on the first conveyor 11 obtained by the item detection means, film information for one package length CP corresponding to the currently detected size of the packaged item W is selected from multiple types of film information for one package length CP that have been previously set and stored, and stored in association with the currently detected packaged item W. Then, current position information for the currently detected packaged item W is obtained from pulse information from an encoder attached to each conveyor. Furthermore, the aforementioned distance C is calculated in relation to the size (height and length) information of the preceding packaged item W, and timing information for the print command for the current packaged item W is stored in association with the pulse information (film feed amount) in the encoder attached to the upper feed roller 31. At the same time, a film feed pattern for the upper and lower films F1 and F2 corresponding to the size of the current packaged item W is selected from multiple previously stored film feed patterns (patterns of film feed amount and film feed speed) for the upper and lower films F1 and F2, and associated and stored. Then, when the current item W to be packaged comes into contact with the upper and lower films F1, F2 on the second conveyor 12, an operation command is issued to the upper and lower payout rollers 31, 32 according to the film payout pattern corresponding to the current item W. Then, a print timing signal, which commands printing to start when the amount of film feed sent from the start of film payout, obtained from pulse information from the encoder attached to the upper payout roller 31, reaches the sum of distance B + distance C ± Th1 shown below, and information are sent to the print control unit 54 as a print command. At this time, information regarding the type of upper film F1 for the current package length CP and information regarding the feed speed of the upper film F1 are sent to the print control unit 54 as a command regarding the print pattern.

[0070] [Printing control unit 54 of printing means] The printing control unit 54 selects, from among multiple pre-stored printing patterns (identification information), the printing pattern corresponding to the information regarding the type of upper film F1 for the current packaging length CP received from the control unit of the packaging machine as the printing pattern corresponding to the current packaged item W, and prints in the printing area PS at a predetermined printing speed corresponding to the feed speed of the upper film F1 based on the received information regarding the feed speed of the upper film F1 and the print start command information.

[0071] Second Embodiment The second embodiment describes how to handle a situation where, when printing is performed on a print area PS on a print-intended film FS among the upper films F1 of a plurality of one packaging length CP, the film feed stops during printing when the print-intended area PS is at the set position P of the print head 52. Note that descriptions of components that are the same as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0072] In the second embodiment, a hand-pulling roller 36 is provided that contacts the upper and lower films F1, F2 between the meshing position 60S and the print head 52 to guide the upper and lower films F1, F2, and that, based on commands from the packaging control unit 40, moves in a direction intersecting the feeding direction of the upper and lower films F1, F2 to lengthen the transport path of the upper and lower films F1, F2 and pull the upper and lower films F1, F2 downstream in the feeding direction. The hand-pulling roller 36 is movable up and down and includes a one-way roller (feed direction regulating means) that allows rotation in a direction that feeds the upper film F1 downstream and prevents reverse rotation. The hand-pulling roller 36 is controlled to lift a set distance while the upper film F1 preceding the film to be printed FS is being transported so that all printing is completed in the to-be-printed area PS of the film to be printed FS by the time the trailing end of the upper film F1 preceding the film to be printed FS reaches the meshing position 60S of the pair of seal bodies 61, 62. To perform this control, the relationship between the distance (set distance) by which the hand-pulling roller 36 is raised, the distance from the print head 52 to the cutting position 60C, each package length CP, and the positions of the front end PSJ and rear end PSK of the print area PS (print length) in each package length CP is set to satisfy the following relationship.

[0073] The relationship between the distance from the set position P of the print head 52 on the transport path to the cutting position 60C, the single packaging length CP of the stored multiple types of film F1 (or F2), and the position of the intended printing area PS for each single packaging length CP is set as shown in the following settings 1 and 2.

[0074] [Setting 1] As shown in Figure 5, when the lowest height among the engagement positions 60S is considered to be the height of a specific engagement position 60X, length a1 is the length from the cutting position 60C on the transport path to the rear end FEK of the printed film FE of the smallest one-pack length CP among the printed film FE of each one-pack length CP when packaging at such a specific engagement position 60X. Length a2 is the shortest length between the leading end FSJ of the film FS to be printed and the leading end PSJ of the area PS to be printed, among the film FS to be printed in each package length CP. The sum of these lengths is A. In other words, a1 + a2 = A.

[0075] (1-1) In the case of an embodiment equipped with a printing means for printing on the upper film F1 (Figs. 3, 4, 6), when the height of the engagement position 60S where the pair of sealing bodies 61, 62 in the seal cutting means move closer to and away from each other in the vertical direction to clamp the upper and lower films F1, F2 is changed according to the height of the packaged goods W, and when the engagement position 60S of the pair of sealing bodies 61, 62 moving closer to and away from each other in the vertical direction moves upward from the height position of the lowest specific engagement position 60X among the engagement positions 60S, the length of the transport path from the setting position P of the print head 52 to the cutting position 60C is the shortest compared to the length of the transport path from the setting position P of the print head 52 to the cutting position 60C at the specific engagement position 60X, or (1-2) When packaging arriving packaged items W sequentially without changing the height of the meshing position 60S (Figures 3, 4, and 6), the distances to the cutting position 60C on the transport path are set to satisfy the relationship of formula (1). A>Set position P of print head 52 Equation (1)

[0076] (1-3) In the case of an embodiment in which a printing means for printing on the lower film F2 is provided (Figs. 3, 4, and 6) When the height of meshing position 60S, where a pair of sealing bodies 61, 62 in the seal cutting means move close to and apart in the vertical direction to sandwich the upper and lower films F1, F2, is changed according to the height of the packaged goods W, and when meshing position 60S of a pair of sealing bodies 61, 62 moving close to and apart in the vertical direction moves upward from the height position of a specific meshing position 60X, the length of the transfer path from set position P of print head 52 to cutting position 60C increases the most compared to the length of the transfer path from set position P of print head 52 to cutting position 60C at the specific meshing position 60X, the absolute value of the difference in the increased length of the lower film F2 is defined as Th. At this time, the distances on the transfer path to cutting position 60C are set to satisfy the relationship of equation (2). A-Th>Set position P of print head 52 Equation (2)

[0077] [Setting 2] In the transport path when the film feed of the upper and lower films F1, F2 is stopped, the distance from the front end of the print head 52 to the rear end FEK of the printed film FE is defined as a distance C. In the transfer path when the feeding of the upper and lower films F1 and F2 is stopped, the distance from the leading end FSJ of the film to be printed FS to the trailing end PSK of the area to be printed PS is defined as a distance D. The distance of one package length of the printed film FE is defined as distance E.

[0078] (2-1) In the case of an embodiment equipped with a printing means for printing on the upper film F1 (Figs. 3, 4, 6), when sealing the printed film FE corresponding to the preceding packaged item W, the height of the engagement position 60S moves upward from the height position of the specific engagement position 60X, and the length of the transport path from the setting position P of the print head 52 to the cutting position 60C is reduced from the length of the transport path from the setting position P of the print head 52 to the cutting position 60C at the specific engagement position 60X, and the absolute value of the difference in length is defined as Th1. Let H be the increase in the length of the transport path of the upper film F1 caused by the reeling roller 36, then: When C+D>E-Th1··equation (3), the upper film F1 is reeled in by the reeling roller 36 so that the printing area PS after the printed film FE can pass through the print head 52 for one package by the time the feeding of the printed film FE just before the engagement position 60S corresponding to the packaged item W arriving at the engagement position 60S is stopped, so that the relationship C+D≦E-Th1+H·· (equation 4) is satisfied.

[0079] (2-2) In the case of an embodiment equipped with a printing means for printing on the lower film F2 (Figs. 3, 4, 6), when sealing the printed film FE corresponding to the preceding packaged item W, the height of the engagement position 60S moves upward from the height position of the specific engagement position 60X, and the length of the transport path from the setting position P of the print head 52 to the cutting position 60C increases from the length of the transport path from the setting position P of the print head 52 to the cutting position 60C at the specific engagement position 60X, and the absolute value of the difference in length is defined as Th1. Let H be the increase in length of the transport path of the lower film F2 caused by the reeling of the lower film F2 by the reeling roller 36. When C+D>E+Th1··equation (5), the lower film F2 is reeled in by the reeling roller 36 so that the printing area PS after the printed film FE can pass through the print head 52 for one package by the time the feeding of the printed film FE just before the engagement position 60S corresponding to the packaged item W arriving at the engagement position 60S is stopped, so that the relationship C+D≦E+Th1+H··equation (6) is satisfied.

[0080] (2-3) When the arriving packaged items W are packaged sequentially without changing the height of the meshing position 60S (Figures 3, 4, and 6), in the case where C+D > E ·· equation (7), the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) is reeled in by the reeling roller 36 so that the printing area PS after the printed film FE can pass through the print head 52 for one package by the time the feeding of the printed film FE immediately before the meshing position 60S corresponding to the packaged item W arriving at the meshing position 60S is stopped, so that the relationship C+D≦E+H ·· equation (8) is satisfied.

[0081] In this manner, by pulling the upper film F1 (or the lower film F2) with the pull roller 36 in the above-described relationship, the printing area PS on the upper film F1 (or the lower film F2) of one packaging length CP passes the print head 52, after which the feeding of the upper and lower films F1, F2 is stopped and the sealing bodies 61, 62 clamp the upper and lower films F1, F2.

[0082] The reel amount H (set distance) of the reel roller 36 is set as follows so that the lifting and lowering movement of the reel roller 36 is the minimum necessary, so that the printing area PS after the printed one-packaging length of packaging material FE just before the meshing position 60S that corresponds to the packaged item W that arrives at the meshing position 60S can pass the print head 52 for one packaging length by the time the feeding of that printed one-packaging length of packaging material FE is stopped.If the relationship between the length of the printed film FE just before the meshing position 60S and the position of the printing area PS of the subsequent film FS to be printed is such that film feeding does not stop during printing, as in the first embodiment, the reel roller 36 is not raised or lowered, and the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) is not unnecessarily reeled in. As described above, if it is expected that the printing area PS will stop without passing the set position P of the print head 52 when the film feed stops, the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) is pulled up by the pulling amount H (set distance) of the pulling roller 36 before the printing area PS reaches the print head 52 so that the printing area PS will stop at a position beyond the set position P of the print head 52. Then, when returning the raised take-up roller 36 to its original position, after the printed film FE has been fed just before the meshing position 60S, if the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) between the meshing position 60S and the print head 52 is not being taken up and the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) is the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) such that the print area PS of the next upper film F1 (or lower film F2) will stop downstream of the set position P of the print head 52, the take-up roller 36 is lowered and returned to its original position. Conversely, if the print area PS of the next upper film F1 will not stop downstream of the set position P of the print head 52, the raised position of the raised take-up roller 36 is maintained or the height of the lift is changed so that the print area PS will stop adjacent to the set position P of the print head 52.That is, in relation to the distance from the set position P of the print head 52 to the next printing target area PS of the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) to be printed and the length of the film transport path until the rear end FEK of the printed film FE is delivered to the cutting position 60C at the engagement position 60S, a position is determined in which the raised hand roller 36 should be completely lowered, and the height position is changed until the rear end FEK of the printed film FE is delivered to the cutting position 60C at the sealer engagement position 60S.

[0083] When the print area PS reaches the print head 52 and printing begins, the packaging control unit 40 performs the following control. [When the upper film F1 (or the lower film F2) is not taken up by the take-up roller 36] When the upper film F1 is not being reeled in by the reel roller 36, a print command is sent to the print control unit 54 to start printing when the encoder pulse count amount corresponds to the film feed amount which is the sum of the lengths C+D±Th1 shown in the diagram of the first embodiment.

[0084] [When the upper film F1 (or the lower film F2) is taken up by the take-up roller 36] When the upper film F1 (or the lower film F2) is reeled in with the reel roller 36, the length of the transport path between the cutting position 60C and the print head 52 is increased while the print area PS is moved toward the print head 52, and therefore a print command is issued to the print control unit 54 so that printing begins when the pulse count amount equivalent to this increase in the transport path length is added to the encoder pulse count amount equivalent to the film feed amount which is the sum of the lengths C+D±Th1 described above.

[0085] [Control when lowering the hand-pulling roller 36 to stop hand-pulling when packaging the subsequent packaged item W] When the next item W to be packaged crosses the third conveyor 13 and before the next print area PS reaches the print head 52, the hand-reeling roller 36 is first lowered to eliminate (or reduce) the increase in the transport path length that occurred in the previous package, and then the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) is unwound from the original web roll R1 (or original web roll R2). In this case, a print command is issued to the print control unit 54 to start printing when the pulse count counted by the encoder attached to the upper unwrap roller 31 reaches the pulse count obtained by subtracting the pulse count corresponding to this increase in the transport path length from the pulse count corresponding to the length of C+D±Th1.

[0086] [Packaging Operation Control When Raising the Pull-Up Roller 36] When the packaging control unit 40 wraps the upper film F1 (or the lower film F2) around the packaged item W, if the hand-reeling roller 36 is raised before the rear end of the preceding printed film FE reaches the cutting position 60C at the sealer engagement position 60S, the amount of film fed by the upper pay-out roller 31 increases, and the encoder attached to the upper pay-out roller 31 counts a large number of pulses. For this reason, the upper film F1 (or the lower film F2) is wrapped around the packaged item W using the number of pulses obtained by subtracting the number of pulses corresponding to the increased film feed amount caused by raising the hand-reeling roller 36 and reeling in the upper film F1 (or the lower film F2).

[0087] [Packaging Operation Control When Lowering the Pull-Up Roller 36] When the hand-pulling roller 36 is lowered, the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) slackens, reducing the amount of film dispensed by the upper pay-out roller 31, and the number of pulses counted by the encoder attached to the upper pay-out roller 31 is therefore reduced. Therefore, the number of pulses counted by the encoder is added to the number of pulses corresponding to the length of the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) that slackens as the hand-pulling roller 36 is lowered, and the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) is wrapped around the packaged item W using this number of pulses.

[0088] [Film pull to shift the printing position in order to package items W that are higher than the set height] When printing is next performed on the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) of one packaging length CP corresponding to an item W higher than the set height, as in embodiment 1, when the packaging form WF is reached, the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) is fed from the upper pay-out roller 31 (or pay-out roller 32) so that the printing area PE does not straddle the film facing the side and top (or bottom) of the item W, but is positioned in the film range corresponding to the relatively flat top (or bottom) of the item W. The hand-reeling roller 36 is then moved to reel in the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) upstream of the hand-reeling roller 36, and the preceding printed film FE is then fed, so that printing is performed at the same printing timing as when packaging an item W equal to or below the set height. The timing for returning the hand-reeling roller 36 to its original position is set to occur between the end of printing on the intended printing area PS and the time when the sealer engages and film feeding stops. The number of pulses of the encoder attached to the upper pay-out roller 31 while the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) is being taken up is retained as a count of the film feed amount, and the retained number of pulses is added to the film feed amount count when printing on the intended print area PS is completed. If it is expected that film feed will stop during printing when the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) is taken up to shift the print position, control is further performed to take up the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) with the aforementioned take-up roller 36.

[0089] As described above, the packaging systems in the first and second embodiments have the following advantages. (1) The first and second embodiments can print on the upper film F1 of one packaging length CP each time without cumulatively calculating the packaging length CP of the front and rear upper film F1 (or lower film F2) for each package, thereby reducing the control load. Furthermore, each time an item W to be packaged reaches the engagement position, the feeding of the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) is stopped and the seal members 61 and 62 sandwich the upper and lower films F1 and F2 after the intended printing area PS on the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) of one packaging length CP passes the print head 52, thereby achieving good printing. As described above, a packaging system can be provided that can reduce the control load and achieve good printing when randomly packaging items W of different sizes. (2) In the first and second embodiments, the printed film FE is one package's worth between the printing position and the cutting position 60C at the engagement position 60S. Therefore, even if the sealing bodies 61, 62 bite into the packaged item W, causing an abnormal stop, the upper and lower films F1, F2 can be removed, and inspection and cleaning can be performed manually before operation is resumed. This reduces the number of wasted printed films FE. (3) In the first and second embodiments, even if packaged items W of different sizes arrive, the information for the corresponding one package length CP can be output to the printing device 50, so that the printing information can be printed in the appropriate position. (4) In the first and second embodiments, when printing on the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) corresponding to an item W whose height is higher than the set height stored in the packaging control unit 40, the printing start position on the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) is shifted. This makes it possible, when the packaging form WF is achieved, to position the printing area PE in the film range corresponding to the relatively flat top surface (or bottom surface) of the item W without spanning the film facing the side and top surface (or bottom surface) of the item W. This makes it easier to check the printed content when the packaging form WF is achieved. (5) In the first and second embodiments, the setting relationship of the printing position can be changed, which increases the degree of freedom in setting to prevent the upper film F1 (or the lower film F2) from stopping during printing. (6) In the second embodiment, when packaging and printing using multiple types of upper film F1 (or lower film F2) with different package lengths CP and printing start positions, even if a situation occurs in which it is difficult to avoid the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) stopping during printing, the configuration in which the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) is pulled by the pull roller 36 before printing in the planned printing area PS can expand the setting freedom to prevent the upper film F1 (or lower film F2) from stopping during printing. (7) In the second embodiment, the direction restricting means can prevent malfunction of the pull-up roller 36.

[0090] (Example of change) The present invention is not limited to the configuration of this embodiment, and can be modified as follows, for example: Furthermore, the configuration described in this embodiment can be implemented in various ways within the scope of the gist of the present invention, without being limited to the following modifications.

[0091] (1) The materials for the upper and lower films F1 and F2 wound around the raw rolls R1 and R2 may be resin materials, aluminum-deposited film materials, paper, etc. In this embodiment, a heat-shrinkable film is used for the lower film F2, but non-shrinkable films may also be used for the upper and lower films F1 and F2.

[0092] (2) In this embodiment, upper and lower films F1, F2 are unwound from raw rolls R1, R2 arranged above and below via a conveyor, and then wrapped around the upper and lower films F1, F2 along the conveying direction of the packaged item W to package it. However, the packaging machine may also be a packaging machine that feeds raw rolls R1, R2 arranged above or below via a conveyor toward a film winding roll provided on the other side, and wraps the film around the outer circumference of the packaged item W along the conveying direction.

[0093] (3) In a packaging machine that uses a seal cutting means in which the seal bodies 61, 62 move close to each other vertically, when printing is to be performed at the position that will become the underside of the packaged item W, the higher the height of the engagement position 60S of the seal bodies 61, 62, the lower the printing device 50 may be installed below the conveying means, and printing may be performed on the packaging material pulled out from the lower raw rolls R1, R2. In this case, when the height of the meshing position 60S is at its lowest, the film transport distance between the cutting position 60C and the print head 52 decreases. When printing on the lower film F2, the lowest height of the meshing position 60S is Th, and the relation is A-Th>set position P of the print head 52>B.

[0094] (4) The end seal device (seal cutting means) may be configured so that only one of the pair of sealing bodies 61, 62 moves toward or away from the other. Furthermore, the sealing device is not limited to a device that embeds heaters in the sealing bodies 61, 62 to heat-seal the film, and other sealing methods, such as ultrasonic sealing, may be employed. If necessary, the sealing bodies 61, 62 may not be configured to move toward or away from each other vertically, but may also move toward or away from each other in a left-right direction intersecting the product conveyance direction. In this case, the height information of the packaged items W obtained by the product detection means in this invention is considered to be length information of the packaged items W in the left-right direction intersecting the product conveyance direction, and is necessary for selecting packaging material for one package length CP. If the centers of the various packaged items W are conveyed by the product conveying means so that they are aligned in the product conveyance direction, the meshing position 60S will be constant, and the distance from the print head 52 to the cutting position 60C will be constant. Therefore, the values ​​Th and Th1 in the relational expressions shown in each embodiment can be calculated as 0.

[0095] (5) The item conveying means is not limited to a belt conveyor, and a chain conveyor, roller conveyor, etc. can be used as needed. Furthermore, the method is not limited to supporting the bottom of the packaged item W while conveying it, and a method of supporting the item from the side or the like while conveying it can be adopted as needed. In particular, the third conveyor 13 as the second conveying means can be a method of holding the packaged item W from both the left and right sides and pulling it downstream in the conveying direction together with the packaging, or a method of holding the packaging and pulling the packaged item W placed on the packaging downstream in the conveying direction. Furthermore, the first conveying means is configured so that the packaged item W is manually placed on the first conveyor 11, but it can also be configured so that the packaged item W is automatically supplied to the first conveyor 11 from a separate conveyor, and the first conveyor 11, the second conveyor 12, and the first conveying means can be a single conveyor.

[0096] (6) As the printing device 50 in the printing means, in addition to an inkjet printer, a thermal printer, a laser printer, etc. can be used.

[0097] (7) In the example shown, the position information of each packaged item W detected by the item detection means until it contacts the upper and lower films F1, F2 is obtained from the pulse information of an encoder attached to the conveyor. However, a sensor may be provided to detect the arrival of the packaged item W just before it contacts the upper and lower films F1, F2, and film delivery may be started.

[0098] (8) In the first and second embodiments, the printing position for each package length CP set corresponding to the packaged item W does not need to be at the same distance from the downstream end in the packaging material feed direction, and may be set at various distances corresponding to the packaged item W.

[0099] (9) In the first embodiment, the printing start timing change means was configured to issue a print command from the packaging machine to the printer 50 to delay the printing start timing, but the printing start timing may also be delayed by providing a reel roller 36 configured as shown in the second embodiment, which reels in the upper film F1 downstream in the film feed direction from the position where the upper film F1 faces the print head 52. Specifically, when printing is next performed on the upper film F1 of one packaging length CP corresponding to an item W that is higher than the set height, while the upper film F1 is being fed from the upper feed roller 31, the reel roller 36 is moved to reel in the upper film F1 upstream of the reel roller 36 to the length to which the printing position is desired to be shifted, and then, while feeding the preceding printed film FE, printing is performed at the same printing timing as the printing timing when packaging an item W that is equal to or lower than the set height. The timing for returning the hand-pulling roller 36 to its original position is set so that it occurs between the time when printing on the print area PS is completed and the time when the sealer engages and film feeding stops. The processing of the count value relating to the film feed amount obtained from the pulses of the encoder attached to the upper pay-out roller 31 while the upper film F1 is being taken up is the same as that described in the second embodiment.

[0100] (10) The print head 52 of the first embodiment is arranged so that, when the packaging transport stops (when the sealer engages), the printing position is located upstream of the printing end position of the packaging material for one package of printed film FE waiting adjacent to the sealer engagement position that is farthest upstream in the packaging feed direction, and is also arranged so that it is located downstream of the position obtained by adding the shortest length of the packaging material for one package set to correspond to the various packaged items W and the length from the downstream end of the packaging material set to a position close to the downstream end of the packaging material in the packaging feed direction to the planned printing start position within the packaging length for one package set to correspond to the various packaged items W.

[0101] (11) The packaged item W may be a laminated product overlapping front to back or left to right, or may be a single item.

[0102] (12) As an item detection means, in addition to the height of the packaged item W and the length of the packaged item W in the conveying direction, the width of the packaged item W that intersects with the conveying direction may also be detected as necessary.

[0103] (13) Although the packaging material transport means has been exemplified as obtaining information about the film feed amount and film feed speed from the pulse count of the encoder attached to the upper and lower payout rollers 31, 32, it is also possible to provide an encoder on the guide roller 34 provided in the film transport path to obtain information about the film feed amount and film feed speed. The same information may also be obtained from drive command pulses sent to a servo motor or the like that drives the upper and lower payout rollers 31, 32. If necessary, a dancer roller may be provided upstream of the print head 52 in the film transport path.

[0104] (14) In the second embodiment, when packaging an item W that is higher than the set height, the intended printing area PS may be shifted by raising and lowering the pull roller 36 in the same manner as the printing start timing changing means of the modified example (9) of the first embodiment, so that the printed area PE is positioned in the film area that contacts the upper surface of the relatively flat item W. The difference from the modified example (9) of the first embodiment is that in the second embodiment, even if it is predicted that if the hand-pulling roller 36, which serves as a means for changing the print start timing, is raised and the film is pulled to shift the intended print area PS, the film feed will stop midway through printing. However, by further setting the hand-pulling roller 36 to be raised and the film pulled as shown in the second embodiment, it is possible to complete printing on the intended print area PS.

[0105] (15) The upper and lower films F1 and F2 are unwound from the raw rolls R1 and R2 by the upper and lower unwinding rollers 31 and 32, but the packaging material transport means may be configured to drive and connect a motor to the support shaft that supports the rotation of the raw rolls R1 and R2, thereby feeding out the raw rolls R1 and R2. Furthermore, the take-up roller 36 shown in this embodiment that takes up the upper film F1 may be replaced by upper and lower pay-out rollers 31, 32 made up of a pair of a drive roller and a driven roller, so that the packaging material transport means pays out the upper film F1 and takes up the upper film F1. These upper and lower pay-out rollers 31, 32 may also serve as feed direction regulating means that allow rotation in a direction that feeds the upper film F1 downstream and prevent it from rotating in the reverse direction.

[0106] (16) In the first embodiment, the method for changing the settings of each positional relationship is as follows: The set position of the guide roller 34 between the cutting position 60C and the print head 52 can be changed by manually changing the installation position or by using a motor, etc. Here, in the example where a hand-pulling roller 36 is used, the initial position of the hand-pulling roller 36 can be changed. The setting position P of the print head 52 and the position of the printing device 50 can be changed manually or by a motor or the like. Here, it is effective that the printing device 50 is a thermal printer or the like; an inkjet printer is not preferable because it has a tank.

[0107] (17) Although not explained in detail in this embodiment, the length of one package of each packaging material to be used, information on the planned printing position, and information on the position from the cutting position 60C at the sealer engagement position 60S to the printer 50 are input into the control that manages packaging via the operation (display) panel of the packaging machine, so that each operation setting can be made. Furthermore, as in (16) above, the roller position, the position of the printer 50, and the setting position P of the print head 52 may be automatically changed using a motor or the like, or an assist function may be provided that notifies the operator of the position to be moved via the operation (display) panel, for example.

[0108] (18) The printing command method and command content are not limited to the present embodiment as long as they are linked between the printing control unit 54 and the packaging control unit 40 that controls the packaging operation. Also, an external server may be connected to the printing control unit 54 and / or the control unit that controls the packaging operation for communication, and information may be exchanged, such as receiving part of the printing content from the external server.

[0109] (19) The direction of movement of the pull roller 36 to pull the upper film F1 is not limited to the vertical direction, and may be set as needed. It is also preferable to set the range of movement of the roller in consideration of a length that can accommodate various packaging specifications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0110] 11: First conveyor (first conveying means, article conveying means) 12: Second conveyor (first conveying means, article conveying means) 13: Third conveyor (second conveying means, article conveying means) 21: First sensor (item detection means) 22: Second sensor (item detection means) 31: Upper feeding roller (packaging material transfer means) 32: Lower feeding roller (packaging material transfer means) 34: Guide roller (packaging material transport means) 36: Hand-pulling roller 61: Upper seal body (seal cutting means) 62: Lower seal body (seal cutting means) 60S: Engagement position 60C: Cutting position 60X: Specific engagement position 40: Packaging control unit (control unit) 50: Printing device (printing means) 52: Print head (printing means) 54: Printing control unit (printing means) F1: Upper film F2: Lower film FS: Film to be printed FSJ: Front end of film to be printed FE: Printed film FEJ: Front end of printed film FEK: Trailing edge of printed film PS: Planned printing area PSJ: Leading edge of planned printing area PSK: Trailing edge of planned printing area PE: Printed area PEK: End of printed area CP: 1 packing length H: Hand-holding amount R1: Upper raw roll R2: Lower raw roll W: Packaged item P: Print head setting position WF: Packaging format

Claims

1. an article conveying means consisting of a first conveying means for sequentially conveying packaged items of different sizes and a second conveying means for conveying the packaged items sent from the first conveying means; An item detection means for detecting at least length information of the packaged item in the conveying direction conveyed by the first conveying means and height information of the packaged item, and acquiring the size information of the packaged item; a packaging material transfer means that transfers packaging material pulled out from a roll of raw material along a predetermined transfer path to the second transfer means together with the packaged items so that the packaging material can cover at least the outer periphery in the transfer direction of the packaged items being transferred by the item transfer means; a seal cutting means for sandwiching and sealing the packaging material by moving a pair of seal bodies, which extend in a direction intersecting the article conveying direction, close to and away from each other, such that an engagement position of the seal bodies that sandwich the packaging material can be set between the first conveying means and the second conveying means in accordance with the height of the packaged items, and for sandwiching and sealing the overlapped packaging material with the seal bodies so that the packaging material has a single package length selected in accordance with the size information of the packaged item that has arrived at the engagement position after being detected by the article detecting means; and A control unit that controls these packaging operations, a printing means for printing by a print head of a printing device disposed opposite the packaging material on the transport path in response to a print command generated by the control unit; A packaging system comprising: The control unit One-package length information of a plurality of types of packaging materials corresponding to size information of the packaged items of various sizes to be packaged, and position information of the printing area in each one package length are stored in advance, For each piece of size information acquired in sequence, a corresponding package length is selected in sequence, linked, and stored. When the packaged item reaches the engagement position, the packaging material transfer means is instructed to feed the packaging material by one package length selected in accordance with the packaged item, and to stop feeding the packaging material when the sealing body clamps the packaging material; When the packaging material is fed by one packaging length, the printing command is issued to the printing means so as to print in the printing area of ​​the packaging material that is one packaging length after the packaging material, The printing means Each time the packaged item reaches the engagement position, while the printed packaging material of one packaging length immediately preceding the engagement position is being fed, print information relating to the subsequent packaged item arriving after the packaged item that has arrived at the engagement position is printed in the planned printing area of ​​the packaging material that is one packaging length after the immediately preceding printed packaging length, based on the print command, Furthermore, regarding the relationship between the distance from the set position of the print head on the transport path to the cutting position, the length of one package of the stored plurality of types of packaging material, and the position of the intended printing area in each of the one package lengths, In relation to the height of a specific interlocking position that is the lowest among the interlocking positions, a1 is the length from the cutting position on the transport path to the rear end of the smallest packaging material of one packaging length among each of the printed packaging materials of one packaging length when packaging at the specific interlocking position, a2 is the shortest length between the front end of the packaging material and the front end of the intended printing area among each of the packaging materials of one packaging length, and the sum of these is A (a1 + a2 = A), In each printed packaging material of one package length, the distance from the cutting position, which varies depending on the height of the engagement position in the transport path, to the rear end of the farthest printed area is defined as B. In the case where the height of the engagement position at which the pair of sealing bodies in the seal cutting means move close to and apart in the vertical direction to sandwich the packaging material is changed according to the height of the packaged goods, and when the engagement position of the pair of sealing bodies moving close to and apart in the vertical direction moves upward from the height position of the specific engagement position, the length of the transport path from the set position of the print head to the cutting position is the shortest compared to the length of the transport path from the set position of the print head to the cutting position at the specific engagement position, the absolute value of the difference in the reduced packaging length is defined as Th: The distances to the cutting position in the transfer path are set to satisfy the relationship of Equation (1), A > print head setting position > B + Th (equation 1) Or, In the case where the height of the engagement position at which the pair of sealing bodies in the seal cutting means move close to and apart in the vertical direction to sandwich the packaging material is changed according to the height of the packaged goods, and when the engagement position of the pair of sealing bodies moving close to and apart in the vertical direction moves upward from the height position of the specific engagement position, the length of the transport path from the set position of the print head to the cutting position increases to the greatest extent compared to the length of the transport path from the set position of the print head to the cutting position at the specific engagement position, the absolute value of the difference in the increased packaging material length is defined as Th: The distances to the cutting position in the transfer path are set to satisfy the relationship of Equation (2), A-Th > print head setting position > B Equation (2) Or, When sequentially packaging arriving items without changing the height of the meshing position, the height of the specific meshing position is considered to be constant and the difference Th in packaging length is considered to be Th = 0. The distances to the cutting position in the transfer path are set to satisfy the relationship of Equation (3), A > print head setting position > B Equation (3) A packaging system in which, each time the packaged item reaches the engagement position, the feeding of the packaging material is stopped and the sealing body clamps the packaging material after the printing area in the packaging material of the length of the subsequent package has passed the print head.

2. The control unit stores a range of sizes of the packaged items that can be packaged in association with each of a plurality of types of package length information stored in advance, A packaging system as described in claim 1, wherein the size information of the packaged item detected by the item detection means is selected to fall within one of the size ranges, and the printing means is instructed to print one package length information corresponding to that size range.

3. When printing on packaging material corresponding to an item whose height is higher than the set height pre-stored in the control unit, 2. The packaging system according to claim 1, wherein the printing start position on the packaging material is shifted so that the printed area on one length of packaging material is located upstream of the length from the front end of the packaging material to the front upper end of the packaged item contained in the packaging material, and downstream of the length from the front end of the packaging material to the rear upper end of the packaged item contained in the packaging material, and the printing start position on the packaging material is shifted so that the packaging shape is located downstream of the set position P of the print head in the packaging material feed direction when packaging material feed stops.

4. the position of a guide roller that wraps around and guides the packaging material arranged on the transport path between the meshing position and the print head, or the mounting position of the printing device or the position of the print head, can be adjusted manually or automatically; A packaging system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein by adjusting any of these positions, the relationship between the distance from the set position of the print head on the transport path to the cutting position, the packaging length of one package of the stored multiple types of packaging material, and the position of the intended printing area in each of the packaging lengths can be changed.

5. an article conveying means consisting of a first conveying means for sequentially conveying packaged items of different sizes and a second conveying means for conveying the packaged items sent from the first conveying means; An item detection means for detecting at least length information of the packaged item in the conveying direction conveyed by the first conveying means and height information of the packaged item, and acquiring the size information of the packaged item; a packaging material transfer means that transfers packaging material pulled out from a roll of raw material along a predetermined transfer path to the second transfer means together with the packaged items so that the packaging material can cover at least the outer periphery in the transfer direction of the packaged items being transferred by the item transfer means; a seal cutting means for sandwiching and sealing the packaging material by moving a pair of seal bodies, which extend in a direction intersecting the article conveying direction, close to and away from each other, such that an engagement position of the seal bodies that sandwich the packaging material can be set between the first conveying means and the second conveying means in accordance with the height of the packaged items, and for sandwiching and sealing the overlapped packaging material with the seal bodies so that the packaging material has a single package length selected in accordance with the size information of the packaged item that has arrived at the engagement position after being detected by the article detecting means; and A control unit that controls these packaging operations, a printing means for printing by a print head of a printing device disposed opposite the packaging material on the transport path in response to a print command generated by the control unit; a pull roller that contacts the packaging material between the meshing position and the print head to guide the packaging material, and that moves in a direction intersecting the feeding direction of the packaging material based on a command from the control unit so as to lengthen the transport path of the packaging material, thereby pulling the packaging material downstream in the feeding direction; A packaging system comprising: The control unit One-package length information of a plurality of types of packaging materials corresponding to size information of the packaged items of various sizes to be packaged, and position information of the printing area in each one package length are stored in advance, For each piece of size information acquired in sequence, a corresponding package length is selected in sequence, linked, and stored. When the packaged item reaches the engagement position, the packaging material transfer means is instructed to feed the packaging material by one package length selected in accordance with the packaged item, and to stop feeding the packaging material when the sealing body clamps the packaging material; When the packaging material is fed by one packaging length, the printing command is issued to the printing means so as to print in the printing area of ​​the packaging material that is one packaging length after the packaging material, The printing means Each time the packaged item reaches the engagement position, while the printed packaging material of one packaging length immediately preceding the engagement position is being fed, print information relating to the subsequent packaged item arriving after the packaged item that has arrived at the engagement position is printed in the planned printing area of ​​the packaging material that is one packaging length after the immediately preceding printed packaging material of one packaging length, based on the print command, Furthermore, the relationship between the distance from the set position of the print head on the transport path to the cutting position, the length of one package of the stored types of packaging material, and the position of the intended printing area for each package length is set as shown in the following setting 1 and setting 2: The setting 1 is In relation to the height of a specific interlocking position that is the lowest among the interlocking positions, when packaging is performed at the specific interlocking position, the length of the minimum one package length from the cutting position on the transport path among each of the printed one package length packaging materials when packaging is performed at the specific interlocking position is a1, and the shortest length between the front end of the packaging material and the front end of the intended printing area among each of the one package length packaging materials is a2, and the sum of these is A (a1 + a2 = A), When the height of the interlocking position where the pair of sealing bodies in the seal cutting means move close to and apart in the vertical direction to clamp the packaging material is changed according to the height of the packaged goods, and when the interlocking position of the pair of sealing bodies moving close to and apart in the vertical direction moves upward from the height position of the specific interlocking position, the length of the transfer path from the set position of the print head to the cutting position is the shortest compared to the length of the transfer path from the set position of the print head to the cutting position at the specific interlocking position, or When packaging arriving items sequentially without changing the height of the engagement position, The distances to the cutting position in the transfer path are set to satisfy the relationship of Equation (1), A > print head setting position Formula (1) Or, In the case where the height of the engagement position where the pair of sealing bodies in the seal cutting means move close to and apart in the vertical direction to sandwich the packaging material is changed according to the height of the packaged goods, and when the engagement position of the pair of sealing bodies moving close to and apart in the vertical direction moves upward from the height position of the specific engagement position, the length of the transfer path from the set position of the print head to the cutting position increases to the greatest extent compared to the length of the transfer path from the set position of the print head to the cutting position at the specific engagement position, If the absolute value of the difference in the packaging length is Th, then: The distances to the cutting position in the transfer path are set to satisfy the relationship of Equation (2), A-Th > print head setting position (equation (2)) The setting 2 is In the transfer path when the packaging material feeding is stopped, The distance from the front end of the print head to the rear end of the printed packaging material is defined as distance C, The distance from the front end of the packaging material to be printed to the rear end of the area to be printed is defined as distance D. When the distance of one package length of the printed packaging material is distance E, Th1 is an absolute value of the difference in length between the length of the transfer path from the set position of the print head to the cutting position at the specific engagement position and the length of the transfer path from the set position of the print head to the cutting position at the specific engagement position when sealing the printed packaging material corresponding to the preceding packaged item as a result of the height of the engagement position moving upward from the height position of the specific engagement position, Let H be the increase in the length of the transport path of the packaging material caused by the pulling roller. (C+D) > (E-Th1)... In the case of equation (3), the packaging material is pulled by the pulling roller so that the printing area after the printed one-packaging length packaging material corresponding to the packaged item that arrives at the engagement position can pass the print head by one package length by the time feeding of the printed one-packaging length packaging material immediately before the engagement position is stopped, so that the relationship of (C+D)≦(E-Th1+H)... formula (4) is satisfied; Or, Th1 is an absolute value of the difference in the length of the transfer path from the set position of the print head to the cutting position when the height of the engagement position when sealing the printed packaging material corresponding to the preceding packaged item moves upward from the height position of the specific engagement position, compared to the length of the transfer path from the set position of the print head to the cutting position at the specific engagement position, Let H be the increase in the length of the transport path of the packaging material caused by the pulling roller. (C+D) > (E+Th1)... In the case of equation (5), the packaging material is pulled by the pulling roller so that the printing area after the printed one-packaging length packaging material corresponding to the packaged item that arrives at the engagement position can pass the print head by one package length by the time feeding of the printed one-packaging length packaging material immediately before the engagement position is stopped, so that the relationship of (C+D)≦(E+Th1+H)...Equation (6) is satisfied; Or, When the items to be packaged are packaged sequentially without changing the height of the meshing position, If (C+D) > E (7), By using the hand-pulling roller to pull the packaging material along the transfer path, the printing area after the printed one-packaging length packaging material that corresponds to the packaged item that arrives at the engagement position can pass the print head by one package length by the time the feeding of the printed one-packaging length packaging material immediately before the engagement position is stopped so that the relationship of (C+D)≦(E+H)...Equation (8) is satisfied, A packaging system in which, after the printing area on each packaging length has passed the print head, feeding of the packaging material is stopped and the sealing body clamps the packaging material.

6. The control unit stores a range of sizes of the packaged items that can be packaged in association with each of a plurality of types of package length information stored in advance, A packaging system as described in claim 5, wherein the size information of the packaged item detected by the item detection means is selected to fall within one of the size ranges, and the printing means is instructed to print one package length information corresponding to that size range.

7. When printing on packaging material corresponding to an item whose height is higher than the set height pre-stored in the control unit, The printed area of ​​one length of packaging material is positioned upstream of the length from the front end of the packaging material to the front upper end of the packaged item contained in the packaging material, and is positioned downstream of the length from the front end of the packaging material to the rear upper end of the packaged item contained in the packaging material, and is positioned downstream of the set position P of the print head in the packaging material feeding direction when packaging material feeding stops, 6. The packaging system according to claim 5, wherein a setting is made to shift a printing start position on the packaging material.

8. 8. A packaging system according to claim 5, wherein the hand-pulling roller is provided with a direction restricting means for permitting rotation in a direction that sends the packaging material downstream but preventing reverse rotation.

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