Packaging apparatus

Abstract

To provide a packaging device capable of ensuring the movement of a container so that the container can be moved to a proper position when the container is delivered at each place in the packaging device.SOLUTION: The packaging apparatus includes a packaging means for sealing a container with a film, a conveying means for conveying the container from the upstream side to the downstream side of the packaging means, a transfer means disposed on the downstream side of the conveying means, and a moving means for receiving the container from the conveying means, moving the container on the transfer means, and delivering the container to the transfer means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A conventional packaging device is one that performs the necessary processing on a large number of trays by carrying out top sealing processing and other processing on the trays while transporting packaged items on trays supplied on a conveyor (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

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

[0004] In the packaging device described in Patent Document 1, the packaging means and multiple means for performing various other processes are arranged to protrude significantly along the conveying means, and no consideration is given to space saving. Therefore, while it is conceivable to efficiently and centrally arrange multiple processing means in one device to save space, there are cases where the trays are not moved to the appropriate positions with high precision when being handed over between multiple machine elements. The present invention addresses these problems and aims to provide a packaging device that can ensure the movement of containers so that they are moved to the appropriate position when being handed over at each location within the packaging device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The packaging device of the present invention has at least the following configuration. The packaging device is characterized by comprising: a packaging means for sealing containers with a film; a conveying means for conveying the containers from upstream to downstream of the packaging means; a transfer means arranged downstream of the conveying means; and a moving means for receiving the containers from the conveying means, moving them on the transfer means, and handing over the containers to the transfer means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a packaging device that can reliably move containers so that the container transfer positions at each location within the packaging device are appropriate positions. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a right perspective view showing the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a left perspective view showing the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a top view showing the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the packaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the weighing means and packaging means (with part of the machine frame removed). [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the weighing means and packaging means (with a part of the machine frame removed). [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a rear right perspective view showing the appearance of the packaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how the moving means transfers the container from the transporting means to the moving means. [Figure 9] These are front cross-sectional views explaining the upper cutter die and the upper cutter die folder, where Figure 9(a) shows the upper cutter die folder when no upper cutter die is loaded, Figure 9(b) shows the upper cutter die alone, and Figure 9(c) shows the upper cutter die loaded in the upper cutter die folder. [Figure 10]10(a) is a top view, FIG. 10(b) is a front view, FIG. 10(c) is a bottom view, FIG. 10(d) is an upper perspective view, and FIG. 10(e) is a lower perspective view showing the upper die. [Figure 11] 11(a) and 11(b) are diagrams showing the state in which an upper die is loaded into an upper die folder, with FIG. 11(a) being a top view, FIG. 11(b) being a front view, FIG. 11(c) being a bottom view, FIG. 11(d) being an oblique view from above, FIG. 11(e) being a right side view, and FIG. 11(f) being a conceptual diagram showing a heat transfer member. [Figure 12] 12(a) and 12(b) are diagrams showing the state in which an upper die is not loaded in the upper die folder, with FIG. 12(a) being a top view, FIG. 12(b) being a front view, FIG. 12(c) being a bottom view, FIG. 12(d) being an oblique view from above, FIG. 12(e) being a right side view, and FIG. 12(f) being an enlarged view of portion D in FIG. 12(d). [Figure 13] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a lower die, with FIG. 13A being a top view and FIG. 13B being a side cross-sectional view. [Figure 14] 10 is a perspective view showing how a lower die is attached to and detached from a lower die folder. FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. [Figure 16] 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the lower die is pushed up relative to the upper die. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An example of an embodiment of a packaging device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the drawings below have been created for explanatory purposes, and for the sake of clarity, components not necessary for the explanation may be intentionally omitted. Furthermore, components may be intentionally enlarged or reduced in size for the purpose of explanation, and the drawings are not drawn to an accurate scale. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different drawings indicate parts with the same function, and duplicate explanations in each drawing will be omitted as appropriate.

[0009] (Overall composition) Figures 1 to 4 show the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with Figure 1 being a right perspective view, Figure 2 being a left perspective view, Figure 3 being a top view, and Figure 4 being a right side view. Figures 5 and 6 particularly show the weighing means and packaging means, with Figure 5 being a right side view (with part of the machine frame removed) and Figure 6 being a perspective view (with part of the machine frame removed).

[0010] 1 to 3, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention weighs the packaged items, carries the tray T carrying the packaged items into the machine, and automatically performs a series of operations up to carrying out the packaged items after top sealing and labeling, which involves a gas replacement process (processing the entire welded area at once) to extend the expiration date of the packaged items. In other words, the device has a packaging process between the process of weighing the packaged items and the process of labeling. More specifically, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 3, in the packaging device 100, when a tray T (see FIG. 5) carrying an article to be packaged is placed on the weighing means 1 (see FIG. 1), the weight of the article to be packaged is measured, and the tray T is carried by the conveying means IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6) so as to proceed into the machine frame having the packaging means 2. In the machine frame, the lower punching die 25 (see FIG. 1) pushes the tray T upward, and first, the air existing in the space formed between the film, which is always stretched and held at both ends by the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212 (see FIG. 1), and the tray T is replaced with an inert gas, and then the film is wound on the tray T. While the edges of the tray T are brought into contact with each other and sandwiched between the lower die 25 and the upper die 24 (see FIG. 1), the film is heat-sealed to form a sealed package, and after the film is cut, the lower die 25 and tray T descend to a predetermined height (home position), and the tray T is again advanced in the carry-in direction by the conveying means IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6), and is transferred to the area of ​​the transfer means 3, which moves the tray T in the carry-out direction perpendicular to the carry-in direction via the moving means 9 (see FIG. 7), and while the tray T is being carried out by the moving means, a label is affixed by the label affixing means 7, and the tray T is then discharged onto the first discharge table 4, and further moved in the opposite direction to the carry-in direction to the second discharge table 5. In this embodiment of the present invention, three types of upper and lower die dies are provided and configured to be interchangeable to accommodate three different sizes of tray T: large, medium, and small. However, this is merely one example, and the size types may be two, "large" and "small," or four or more sizes may be available, or even there may be only one tray size that is not intended to be replaced. The weighing means 1, packaging means 2, and transfer means 3 are arranged vertically from the front to the back of the device. As shown in FIG. 1 , a console 6 is located above the weighing means 1 and upstream of the weighing means 1 in the conveying direction. The console 6 has a display, a numeric keypad, a touch panel, and other operating elements on its front, and an internal control unit. To explain this arrangement in more detail, the lower end of the console 6 case is located upstream of the weighing means 1, and both the center of the console 6 and the center of the display are located within the area of ​​the weighing means 1. Although the console 6 is tilted, the upper end of the console 6 case is also located upstream of the weighing means 1. The upper portion of the transfer means 3 is a labeling means 7 that prints and affixes product labels bearing information such as the weighed weight, unit price, and price. Furthermore, the lower die 25 is equipped with a gas replacement mechanism (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 ). In this specification, "gas replacement" refers to "gas replacement" used in a broad sense (regardless of the specific process) of a process in which the air inside a packaged item is replaced with an inert gas to extend the expiration date, and includes both "gas replacement" used in the narrow sense in which the air is completely removed before gas is introduced, and "gas flushing" in which gas is sprayed to expel the air.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration, the top seal is performed while gas is replaced between the packaged item and the film, so that the gas replacement process for extending the expiration date of the packaged item and the packaging process using the top seal can be performed approximately simultaneously, thereby making the work more efficient.

[0012] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the tray T is inserted from the front, packaged, and then returned to the front, which significantly contributes to the efficiency of work in the backyard and realizes this configuration in a compact manner. However, from the viewpoint of performing the gas replacement process for extending the expiration date of the packaged items and the packaging process using a top seal substantially simultaneously, the configuration in which the tray is inserted from the front and then returned to the front is not essential. It is also possible to realize this configuration by simply transporting the tray in one direction from the front to the rear, or by first performing the packaging process and then the weighing process. Furthermore, it is also possible to eliminate the weighing process and labeling process and create an apparatus assembly specialized for the packaging process. This will be described later as another embodiment.

[0013] The machine frame shown in Figure 1, particularly the upper part, not only serves the purpose of arranging the packaging means 2 and other components inside, but also plays a vital role in isolating the inside from the outside. The lower part of the machine frame is also equipped with buffer tanks (buffer tank BT1, buffer tank BT2) for gas replacement (see Figure 6). Since beef will darken if it does not contain about 30% oxygen, an inert gas containing three types of gases is used, but for chicken and pork, an inert gas containing two types of gases is used because they do not darken. For this reason, two gas systems are used. After weighing by the weighing means 1, the tray T is transported, and the upper and lower cutters are closed to perform the top seal. To prevent an operator or the like from accidentally inserting their hand and causing an unexpected accident, a shutter 11 is provided between the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2, in a section that slightly includes the area of ​​the weighing means 1 (see FIG. 5). When the tray T is transported to the packaging means 2 by the transport means IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6), the shutter 11 is configured to separate the inside and outside of the housing. Since the transport means in this embodiment of the present invention is the transport means IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6) rather than a conveyor belt or the like, the shutter 11 is configured to close by rising from bottom to top, avoiding the chain portion (see FIG. 5). However, the shutter may be configured to close by falling from top to bottom, or a shutter may be omitted and safety may be ensured by stopping the device when a sensor detects the insertion of a hand.

[0014] To improve convenience during transportation, the first and second discharge trays 4 and 5 are detachable. After these trays are removed, the label application unit 7 is configured to slide fully to the left in FIG. 3 so that it fits within the machine frame's left-right range and does not get in the way during transportation. Conversely, in a "pricing mode" in which only pricing labels are issued without packaging, the label application unit 7 is slid fully to the right in FIG. 3 so that an operator manually applies pricing labels to products. To achieve this, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a label application unit slide rail 71 and anti-tip legs 72. The anti-tip legs 72 support the entire device to prevent the packaging device 100 from losing balance and tipping over when the label application unit 7 is moved all the way to the right.

[0015] The weighing means 1 is configured to weigh the placed packaged items and trays T, and transmits information on the weighed weight to the control means of the console 6. As shown in Fig. 5, rod-shaped in-feed bars are stretched across two left and right chains that can travel the entire circumference from the front of the weighing means 1 to the rear of the packaging means 2 at four circumferential positions, and are configured as conveying means IB that can carry the placed trays T into the machine frame that houses the packaging means 2 and send them out to the transfer means 3 via moving means 9 (see Fig. 7). More specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, a total of eight in-feed bar support members IB1 for stretching the in-feed bars are provided on the two left and right chains at four circumferential positions on the two left and right chains, and four antibacterial treated metal rod-shaped in-feed bars are connected to them (see also Fig. 6). The spacing between the in-feed bars in the circumferential arrangement is set so that when the in-feed bar makes a retreating movement (this will be described later), the in-feed bar will not interfere with the next packaged item placed on the weighing means 1. The height of the in-feed bar relative to the loading surface of the tray T is configured to be located at the center between the height of the bottom surface and the height of the top surface of the tray T, but the height may be changed as appropriate as long as the tray T can be transported stably.

[0016] As described above, three types of trays T are provided: large, medium, and small. Upper and lower cutter dies 24 and 25 are provided and interchangeable for packaging the trays T to accommodate each size. Specifically, in this embodiment, an upper cutter 24A for large trays (150 mm wide and 150 mm deep), an upper cutter 24B for medium trays (150 mm wide and 120 mm deep), and an upper cutter 24C for small trays (120 mm wide and 120 mm deep) are provided. However, the outer shapes of the cutter dies are all the same regardless of tray size. To properly center the three types of trays T (large, medium, and small) relative to the conveying means IB, four sensors are symmetrically arranged on the platform of the weighing means 1, corresponding to the large, medium, and small tray sizes, for a total of eight sensors. For trays of different sizes, if the left and right sensors can detect the object equally, it is determined that the centering is correct. However, if, for example, only one sensor on the left side detects an object while three sensors on the right side detect an object, it is determined that the tray is misaligned, and an appropriate notification means is used to notify the operator. A visually identifiable display may also be used as a means for centering. Even if there is some misalignment between the left and right sides, the sides of the tray T are inclined, so that the tray is naturally guided to the correct position when pushed up by the lower punch die 25. In addition to this, a slide member that narrows the width in cooperation with the left and right sides, as is commonly used in cutting machines, may be provided at the lower end of the opening defined by a shutter located in a part between the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2 that slightly includes the area of ​​the weighing means 1, thereby providing a means for correcting any misalignment at the start of conveyance.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 5, the tray T that has been packaged by thermal welding is transferred from the packaging means 2 to the transfer means 3. As shown in FIG. 6, the transfer means 3 is composed of a conveyor belt and functions as a discharge means that moves the tray T outside the machine frame, with a labeling means 7 above that prints and affixes product labels. In this way, the tray T is transferred by the transfer means 3 in an output direction perpendicular to the feed direction and is discharged toward the first discharge table 4. The first discharge table 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is equipped with a drive roller that moves the tray T in the opposite direction to the feed direction and sends it to the second discharge table 5. The second discharge table 5 is inclined, and the tray T moves under its own weight, so the rollers of the second discharge table 5 are simple rollers that do not have a driving force.

[0018] The packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an upper die storage means 24H and a lower die storage means 25H as storage means capable of storing all types of unused die dies for the upper die 24 and the lower die 25. This eliminates the need to store unused die dies in a location separate from the packaging device body, thereby saving space. The upper die storage means 24H and the lower die storage means 25H are located in the vicinity of the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212. More specifically, in the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the upper die storage means 24H and the lower die storage means 25H are located above the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2, corresponding to their placement. The lower die storage means 25H is located above the weighing means 1, near the console 6 having a display unit, and downstream of the console 6. Of course, this is merely an example, and the positions of the upper die accommodating means 24H and the lower die accommodating means 25H may be reversed, or the accommodating means may be divided into a space for accommodating upper and lower die dies of one size and a space for accommodating upper and lower die dies of another size. Details of the upper die accommodating means 24H and the lower die accommodating means 25H will be described later.

[0019] To summarize the machine frame containing the packaging means 2, in FIG. 4 , a film holding means 211 that holds the film used to package the containers and a surplus film take-up means 212 that takes up excess film after sealing the containers are arranged in the upper part of the machine frame, corresponding to the front-to-rear arrangement of the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2, respectively, as shown by the dashed line areas. These components collectively constitute the film hanging means 21. The film holding means 211 is provided with a film setting shaft lever 211L that can be raised or tilted, and the surplus film take-up means 212 is provided with a winding shaft lever 212L that can be raised or tilted. In FIG. 6 , the film setting shaft lever 211L is tilted approximately perpendicular to the axial direction, while the winding shaft lever 212L, which does not have a roll loaded, is raised and extends axially. As can be seen from FIG. 6 , the lever must be raised to insert the roll film; however, tilting the lever after inserting the roll film prevents the roll film from falling out. In addition, the setting shaft expands in conjunction with the tilting of the lever, tensioning the film's core from the inside, ensuring that the roll film is stably fixed to the setting shaft. Furthermore, the dimensions are set so that the side panel SP cannot be closed unless the lever is tilted, ensuring the safety of the device.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 , the film suspending means 21 is arranged to fit within the upper portion of the machine frame in which the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2 are located. The film is suspended in the same direction as the weighing means 1, packaging means 2, and transport means 3, which are vertically aligned from the front to the back of the machine. In other words, the film suspending direction is the same as the tray T transport direction. In conventional packaging machines, the film suspending means is typically arranged to extend significantly outside the machine frame in which the packaging means and other components are located. However, this embodiment significantly contributes to space savings. While the film suspending means 21 is arranged to fit within the upper portion of the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2, the surplus film winding means 212 may be extended to the transport means 3, or the console 6 may be located in a different position so that the film holding means 211 extends further forward. Even with such a configuration, it can be said that this is a technical concept for space savings that is clearly distinguishable from the prior art, in which a film suspending means is arranged to extend significantly outside the machine frame. Furthermore, even if the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212 are arranged in the opposite front-to-back directions, this does not impair space saving, and the film holding means 211 may be arranged at the rear and the surplus film winding means 212 at the front. 5, this embodiment employs an arrangement in which the film unwound from the film holding means 211 is given a constant tension by a dancer roller DR to stabilize the tension, and then the film is looped around two film feed shafts so that it passes near the bottom of the mounting means, and is then wound up by the surplus film winding means 212. The dancer roller DR functions as an adjustment means for adjusting the tension of the film, and is located above the weighing means 1 and below the film holding means 211. In FIG. 1 , the side panel SP is pivotally supported on the right long side and is configured to be rotatable rearward. This configuration allows the film roll to be replaced from the right side, and as described below, the upper die 24 and the lower die 25 can also be replaced from the right side. In this way, the upper die 24, film holding means 211, and surplus film winding means 212 are detachable from the same direction along the winding shaft during replacement. The lower die 25 is replaced by inserting it from the right side and then dropping it slightly downward (see also FIG. 12 ). The label application means 7 can be tilted (rotated) rearward, facilitating the replacement of the film roll and the upper die 24 and the lower die 25. The rotatable configuration also facilitates label replacement. The rotatable side panel SP may be located on the left side instead of the right side. In other words, the rotatable side panel SP does not have to be provided on the same side as the side where the first discharge table 4, etc. are arranged. However, in terms of space saving, it is advantageous to configure the side panel SP on the same side as the side where the first discharge table 4, etc. are arranged to be rotatable.

[0021] The top panel UP, front panel FP, and side panels SP of the machine frame are made of transparent material or have transparent plates fitted in them, so that the state of the film suspended on the film suspension means 21 can be checked. In addition to visual check, the top panel UP is configured to be slidable backward to a position where it does not come into contact with the label application means 7, so that any problems can be dealt with, and the front panel FP is also pivoted at its top edge and is configured to be rotatable. However, it may also be configured to be pivoted at its bottom edge or to be able to slide.

[0022] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, an upper die holder 240, into which the upper die 24 is loaded, is provided between the film hanging means 21 and the transport space for the tray T (transported by the transport means IB). The upper die holder 240 is provided with a locking means that prevents the upper die 24 from being removed after it has been loaded. To remove the upper die 24, the lock release lever 24L must be operated (see Figure 11). The lock release lever 24L is configured to prevent the unlocking operation in inappropriate circumstances in conjunction with various processes for the die, which will be described later. The locking means may also be configured as an automatic locking means. In this case, it is preferable to configure the locking operation to be linked to the temperature of the upper die 24 during various processes for the die, which will be described later. The upper cutting die folder 240 is provided with a heater means 241 (see FIG. 9(a)) for supplying heat for welding the film. The upper cutting die 24 is provided with a metal plate 242 (see FIG. 9(b)) (as a top seal portion 242) for transmitting the heat supplied from the heater means 241, and a film cutting means 244 (see FIGS. 9(b) and 10) for cutting the film. The heater means 241 contacts the metal plate 242 of the upper cutting die 24 loaded in the upper cutting die folder 240. The metal plate 242 has a protrusion 242a of a size corresponding to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protrusion 242a, and the heat supplied from the heater means 241 is transmitted to the protrusion 242a to heat-seal the film in contact with the edge of the tray T. In the embodiment of the present invention, aluminum, which has high thermal conductivity, is used as the material for the metal plate 242, but this does not prevent the use of silver, copper, gold, etc., which have higher thermal conductivity, and even if a material has a lower thermal conductivity than aluminum, it may also be used as long as there are no practical problems. In the embodiment of the present invention, the metal plate 242 has a structure including protrusions 242a corresponding to the edges of the tray T and an uneven shape, but the protrusions 242a and the central portion 242b are basically a single-piece structure composed of a single member. However, the metal plate may be configured by bonding two plates together and by extending a heat pipe between the two plates to conduct heat from the heater more quickly and more evenly over a wider area. Furthermore, because the protrusions 242a, which function as the top seal, of the metal plate 242 weld the film and the container, the central portion 242b, which is not located there, does not need to be hot. Rather, considering the risk of heat dissipation from the central portion 242b, it is preferable to configure the central portion 242b to have a heat-retaining material fixed thereto, and such a configuration may be used.

[0023] A lower die 25 is provided below the upper die folder 240, sandwiching the transport space for the tray T. The lower die 25 pushes up the tray T, and the film sequentially fed out from the roll film R loaded in the film hanging means 21 is sandwiched between the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 and the lower die 25, performing a packaging process (top seal process). In this way, the film hanging means 21, the upper die 24, and the lower die 25 constitute the packaging means 2, which is disposed downstream of the weighing means 1 in the transport direction.

[0024] In this embodiment, the roll film R is supported by passing the shaft of the film holding means 211 through its center hole. The fed film is sealed with a metal plate 242 and cut to the size of the tray T by the film cutting means 244, leaving only the cut periphery, i.e., the film in a hollowed-out state. This film waste is then sequentially wound up by the surplus film winding means 212.

[0025] A metal plate 242 (see Figures 9(b) and 10) that functions as a top seal is disposed so as to face the fed-out film. When the tray T is moved upward by the lower die 25, the film is heat-sealed along the edge of the tray T with the edge of the tray T and the film sandwiched between the lower die 25 and the metal plate 242 (see Figures 9(b) and 10) of the upper die 24. Before the heat-sealing, an inert gas is injected into the space formed between the film and the tray T to extend the expiration date of the packaged goods, and a gas replacement process is carried out to replace the air with the inert gas, which will be described later.

[0026] (Configuration of conveying means and container conveying operation by said means) As shown in FIG. 5 , the infeed bar, which serves as the conveying means IB, a mechanism for conveying trays T, is suspended at four circumferential positions on two left and right chains that can travel the entire circumference from the front of the weighing means 1 to the rear of the packaging means 2. The chains rotate, enabling trays T to be transported from the weighing means 1 to the packaging means 2 and then from the packaging means 2 to the transfer means 3. A moving means 9 is provided between the conveying means IB and the transfer means 3 to move the trays T to the appropriate position on the transfer means 3, ensuring reliable movement of the trays T from the conveying means IB to the transfer means 3. The specific configuration and operation of the moving means 9 will be described later. Since most of the packaging items are food, the metal infeed bar is treated with antibacterial and anticorrosive agents. The infeed bar is connected to the chains via a total of eight infeed bar support members IB1, which are provided at four circumferential positions on the two left and right chains.

[0027] The conveying operation of the conveying means IB, which is connected to the chain serving as the drive means and rotates in this manner, and the opening and closing operation of the shutter 11 will now be described. During standby, the shutter 11 is closed. When weighing is performed by the weighing means 1, the shutter 11 descends, allowing communication between the inside and outside of the housing. The tray T placed on the weighing means 1 is pushed by the infeed bar and transported to the packaging means 2, where the infeed bar stops. If this were to continue, the infeed bar would interfere with the infeed bar when the lower cutter die 25, described below, ascends. Therefore, the infeed bar temporarily retreats to the area where the weighing means 1 is located. As mentioned above, the spacing of the infeed bars in the circumferential direction is set so that when the infeed bar retreats, it will not interfere with the next packaged item placed on the weighing means 1. Once the infeed bar retreats, the shutter 11 rises from below the front part of the machine frame, isolating the inside from the outside and ensuring safety. This blocking state by the shutter 11 continues until the next product is weighed. The structure of the infeed bars, which are arranged intermittently in the circumferential direction, realizes a shutter configuration in which the shutter rises from below and performs a closing operation, avoiding the chain portions that are arranged continuously in the circumferential direction. After the top of the tray T is sealed by the packaging means 2, the infeed bar again moves forward and transports the tray T to the transfer means 3. At this time, the provision of the moving means 9 ensures that the tray T is reliably sent to the appropriate position. The height of the infeed bar relative to the tray T's placement surface is configured to be centered between the height of the bottom and top of the tray T, but the height may be changed as appropriate as long as the tray T can be transported stably. This embodiment, configured as described above, allows the transport of packaged items from the weighing means through the packaging means to the transfer means using a simple transport means, greatly contributing to space and cost savings.

[0028] (Configuration of moving means and container delivery operation by said means) As described above, a moving means 9 for moving the tray T to an appropriate position on the transfer means 3 is provided between the conveying means IB and the transferring means 3, and is configured to ensure reliable movement of the tray T from the conveying means IB to the transferring means 3. Fig. 7 is a rear right perspective view showing the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, for explaining the configuration of the moving means 9. Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing how the moving means 9 transfers the container from the conveying means IB to the transferring means 3.

[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, the moving means 9 is a slider that moves to the downstream end of the transporting means IB and supports the bottom surface of the tray T to move it to the transferring means 3. As shown in Fig. 7, the slider serving as the moving means 9 is cantilevered so as to protrude from a moving means support mechanism 91 located on the right side in the figure, is positioned above the moving means 9 with a gap therebetween, and is configured to be able to reciprocate from the downstream end of the transporting means IB to a position beyond the transferring means 3. A pulley belt (not shown) for reciprocating the moving means 9 is disposed inside the moving means support mechanism 91. Although the moving means 9 is cantilevered, a roller 92 is provided on the free end side to prevent the moving means 9 from bending when supporting a heavy tray T and damaging the conveyor belt serving as the transferring means 3.

[0030] A stopper 93 is provided at the rear side of the transfer means 3 in the front-to-rear direction of the packaging device 100 to prevent the tray T from moving out of the area of ​​the transfer means 3. The stopper 93 is cantilevered from approximately the rear end of the packaging device 100 and hangs down from above the conveyor belt serving as the transfer means 3 with a gap therebetween (see also FIG. 8). When the tray T abuts against the stopper 93, the movement of the transfer means 9 continues, and the movement means 9 moves away from the tray T, releasing support for the bottom surface of the tray T.

[0031] We have previously explained the transport operation by the transport means IB, but in addition to this, we will now explain a series of operations including the operation of transferring the tray T from the transport means IB to the transfer means 3, which is an operation performed in cooperation with the moving means 9 and the stopper 93. This series of operations can be considered as a tray ejection operation and a positioning operation for proper label application processing.

[0032] Figure 8(a) shows a state in which a tray T is placed on weighing means 1 and the packaged items are being weighed. As shown in the figure, an in-feed bar serving as conveying means IB is waiting on the left side. After weighing is complete, the in-feed bar advances to the right and pushes and moves the tray T, and as shown in Figure 8(b), the tray T is placed in packaging means 2 and a top sealing process is performed. After the top sealing process is complete, the in-feed bar advances further to the right, and the tray T, which was being pressed by the in-feed bar, is placed on a slider serving as moving means 9, as shown in Figure 8(c).

[0033] As shown in FIG. 8(d), the tray T moves to the right on the slider and hits a stopper 93, causing it to stop. Meanwhile, the slider continues moving rightward and exits the bottom of the tray T, causing the tray T to drop and be placed on the conveyor belt serving as the transport means 3. Since the tray T is out of the proper position for label application at this point, the slider then moves leftward, pushing against the side of the tray T and pushing the tray T back, as shown in FIG. 8(e). As shown in FIG. 8(f), the tray T, which has been pushed back to the proper position—specifically, the label application reference position in the width direction of the transport means—is then transported to the label application position in the feed direction of the transport means 3, where a label L is applied by the label application means 7 (not shown in FIG. 8). The amount of pushback by the slider varies depending on the size of the tray T or the die, and the tray T is accurately placed in the label application reference position. Therefore, even if the size of the tray T changes, the label L can be attached in the correct position. Note that the transfer means 3 is stopped during a series of operations from the stage in FIG. 8(a) before the slider starts moving to the stage in FIG. 8(f) until the slider pushes back the tray T. Typically, in a production line, a conveyor belt, particularly one used to change the conveying direction, is constantly operating. However, in this embodiment, the conveyor belt is configured to repeatedly operate and stop at appropriate times. Specifically, after the tray T is moved to the label application reference position, the transfer means 3 starts operating. The tray T is then transported by the transfer means 3 to the label application position in the feed direction, where a label is applied by the label application means 7. Once the transfer means 3 ejects the tray T onto the first ejection table 4, the transfer means 3 stops operating. If the transfer means 3 were constantly moving, the position and orientation of the tray T might change. However, because the transfer means 3 is configured to repeatedly operate and stop as appropriate, the position and orientation of the tray T are significantly stabilized.

[0034] When containers are transported using a long conveyor belt, as in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, the inertial force of the containers moving allows for smooth movement of the containers, even when the containers move between multiple conveyor belts. However, if the elements of the device are arranged compactly, the inertial force cannot be effectively utilized, which may make delivery difficult. The inertial force of the conveying means IB alone may not be sufficient to successfully deliver the tray T to the transfer means 3, or even if delivery is possible, the tray T may not be placed in the appropriate position. In particular, when an infeed bar is used as the conveying means, the inertial force is not sufficient, making the problem more serious. In this regard, the embodiment of the present invention allows the moving means 9 to accurately place the tray T when delivering it from the conveying means IB to the transfer means 3, enabling appropriate label application processing.

[0035] (Variations in transportation) The moving means may be shaped to support the edge of the tray T instead of a slider that supports the bottom surface of the tray. Specifically, the moving means is shaped by deforming the arc portion of the opening side of the fork so that the opening side is parallel to the edge of the tray. It is preferable that the size of the opening side can be changed to match the size of the tray. The moving means is configured to move left and right in the figure, similar to the slider shown in Figure 8. In this case, the moving means moves so as to pass above the stopper.

[0036] (Gas replacement and packaging operation by upper and lower die) FIG. 9 is a front cross-sectional view illustrating an upper die and an upper die folder, where FIG. 9(a) shows the upper die folder without an upper die loaded, FIG. 9(b) shows the upper die alone, and FIG. 9(c) shows the upper die loaded in the upper die folder. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the upper die, where FIG. 10(a) shows a top view, FIG. 10(b) shows an upper oblique view, and FIG. 10(c) shows a bottom oblique view. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the lower die, where FIG. 13(a) shows a top view, and FIG. 13(b) shows a side cross-sectional view. FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of portion A in FIG. 13(b), rotated 90 degrees so that the lower die is positioned horizontally. FIG. 16 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the lower die is pushed up relative to the upper die.

[0037] As can be seen from comparing the front cross-sectional views of FIGS. 9(a) and 9(c), the upper cutting die 24 is loaded into the upper cutting die holder 240 by entering from the right side. That is, as described above, the upper cutting die 24, like the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212, is detachable from the right side of FIG. 1, which is the same direction along the winding shaft. Also, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the upper cutting die includes a metal plate 242 that functions as a top seal when heat supplied from the heater means 241 is transferred, and a film cutting means 244 for cutting the film. As shown in FIG. 10, the metal plate 242 has a chamfered rectangular shape to correspond to the edge of the tray T, and the film cutting means 244 is disposed on its periphery. The metal plate 242 also includes a protrusion 242a sized to correspond to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protrusion 242a. The film cutting means 244 can cut the welded film to the size of the tray T. Although the heat from the heater means 241 is transferred only to the metal plate 242, a structure in which the heat is transferred to other metal parts is not excluded.

[0038] As shown in Figure 9(a), when the upper die 24 is not installed, the heater means 241 for supplying heat for film welding is positioned upward by a biasing means (not shown) (see also Figures 12(b) and 12(d)). When the upper die 24 shown in Figure 9(b) is inserted from the right side in the figure, the abutment portion at the tip of the upper die 24 abuts against the roller 2431 at the tip of the heater link 243, and the heater link 243 presses the heater means 241 downward as shown in Figure 9(c) (see also Figures 11(b) and 11(d)). This causes the heater means 241 to come into contact with the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24, enabling it to transfer heat for welding to the metal plate 242. In the embodiment of the present invention, the heater means 241 is formed by drilling holes in an aluminum material and inserting cartridge heaters into the holes (see also FIG. 12(d)). However, it is also possible to use a silicon rubber heater, a plate heater, a plug-type heater, a sheathed heater, or the like. Furthermore, in addition to a heat conduction type heater, the heater type may be a convection type or a radiation type (radiation type), and is not limited to a heat conduction type. The heater means may be configured to be in direct contact with the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24, or may be configured to be in indirect contact with the heater means and the metal plate 242 by adding a heat transfer member with good thermal conductivity, such as gold, silver, copper, or aluminum, to the metal plate 242. For example, if the extent of the heater means is small compared to the size of the rectangular portion of the metal plate 242, the heat transfer area will be limited to the center, resulting in poor efficiency. Therefore, by interposing a heat transfer member HTM with good thermal conductivity and a size comparable to the extent of the metal plate 242 between the heater means and the metal plate 242, the area to which heat is transferred can be effectively expanded (see also Figure 11(f)).

[0039] To accommodate three different sizes of trays T (for example, large, medium, and small), a single die from among a number of die sizes can be selected and attached. It is common to imagine providing a heater for each die. However, this requires the user to disconnect and reconnect the heat source connector each time the die is replaced, which is time-consuming. However, the packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention eliminates the need to reconnect the heater wires, and does not require additional work to establish an electrical connection when replacing the upper die, making the replacement process simple and efficient.

[0040] 10, the upper cutting die 24 is provided with a chamfered rectangular metal plate 242 whose size and shape correspond to the edge of the tray T, and the metal plate 242 is composed of a protruding portion 242a whose size corresponds to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protruding portion 242a. In this embodiment, an upper cutting die 24A for a large tray having a tray size of 150 mm in width and 150 mm in depth, an upper cutting die 24B for a medium tray having a tray size of 150 mm in width and 120 mm in depth, and an upper cutting die 24C for a small tray having a tray size of 120 mm in width and 120 mm in depth are provided (FIG. 10 shows the upper cutting die 24B corresponding to a "medium" size tray). The metal plate 242 transfers heat supplied from a heater means 241 disposed in the upper cutting die holder 240 (see Figure 9) to the film to perform top sealing. A cutting blade serving as a film cutting means 244 for cutting the film after top sealing is provided around the outer periphery of the chamfered rectangular metal plate 242. As shown in Figure 10, the film cutting means 244 is fixed to the main body of the upper cutting die 24. The metal plate 242 and the peripheral bottom plate 247 are connected to the main body of the upper cutting die 24 via a biasing means, and the biasing force of the former is set to be stronger than the biasing force of the latter. For this reason, when the lower die 25 is pushed upward while the edge of the tray T is in contact with the tray edge support portion 254 of the lower die 25 (see Figures 13 and 15), first the lower die 25 comes into contact with the peripheral bottom plate 247 of the upper die 24, then the edge of the tray T comes into contact with the metal plate 242a, and finally the film pushed up by the tray T comes into contact with the film cutting means 244. The upper die 24 is provided with three upper die holes 245 for detecting the die size, one of which is filled according to the size. The unfilled holes serve as light-transmitting portions, and the filled holes function as light-blocking or reflective portions. When attaching the upper cutout die 24 to the upper cutout die folder 240, the cutout portions 248 provided at the left and right lower ends of the upper cutout die 24 are first placed on rails 2401 on the left and right inner surfaces of the upper cutout die folder 240, and then the cutout die 24 can be easily loaded by sliding it (see also Figures 12(d) and 12(f)). When removing the upper cutout die 24 from the upper cutout die folder 240, the lock release lever 24L shown in Figure 11 is pressed downward to release the lock, and then the drawer grip portion 24G is grasped and slid to remove the die, thereby easily removing the die. Furthermore, if the side of the upper die 24 is grasped when the upper die 24 is removed from the upper die folder 240, the film cutting means 244 may fly out from the bottom surface of the upper die 24, which is dangerous. Therefore, the upper die 24 is provided with a gripping portion 246 for transportation, as shown in FIG. 10 . The gripping portion 246 for transportation is fixed to the peripheral bottom plate 247 and is pushed up together with the peripheral bottom plate 247 as the lower die 25 is pushed up. The presence of the gripping portion 246 for transportation causes the film cutting means 244 to fly out relatively downward when pressing to perform heat sealing, i.e., when the lower die 25 is pushed up. However, when the upper die 24 is removed and held in the hand, the film cutting means 244 does not fly out relatively. The gripping portion 246 for transportation also contributes to preventing burns when holding the upper die 24 before it has fully cooled.

[0041] 11 and 12 show the state in which an upper die is loaded into the upper die folder and the state in which an upper die is not loaded into the upper die folder. Fig. 11 shows the state in which an upper die is loaded into the upper die folder, with Fig. 11(a) being a top view, Fig. 11(b) being a front view, Fig. 11(c) being a bottom view, Fig. 11(d) being an upper oblique view, Fig. 11(e) being a right side view, and Fig. 11(f) being a conceptual diagram of a heat transfer member. Fig. 12 shows the state in which an upper die is not loaded into the upper die folder, with Fig. 12(a) being a top view, Fig. 12(b) being a front view, Fig. 12(c) being a bottom view, Fig. 12(d) being an upper oblique view, Fig. 12(e) being a right side view, and Fig. 12(f) being an enlarged view of part D in Fig. 12(d). Unlike FIG. 10, FIG. 11 shows a state in which the upper die 24A corresponding to the "large" size tray is loaded. As can be seen by comparing Figures 11(b) and 12(b), or by comparing Figures 11(d) and 12(d), when the upper die 24 is loaded, the heater link 243 presses the heater means 241 downward, as shown in Figures 11(b) and 11(d), whereas when the upper die 24 is not loaded, as shown in Figures 12(b) and 12(d), the heater means 241 is positioned upward by a biasing means (not shown), and the heater link 243 also jumps upward along with it. Figure 11(c) shows that the metal plate 242 is composed of a protrusion 242a having a size corresponding to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protrusion 242a. Figure 12(d) shows that the heater means 241 is positioned upward by a biasing means (not shown), and a hole for inserting a cartridge heater can be seen. 11(c) and 12(c), the extent of the heater means 241 is smaller than the size of the rectangular portion of the metal plate 242. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 11(f), a heat transfer member HTM with good thermal conductivity and a size comparable to the extent of the metal plate 242 is interposed between the heater means 241 and the metal plate 242, thereby effectively expanding the area over which heat is transferred.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b), the lower die 25 includes a gas inlet 251 for gas replacement (gas flushing), a gas diffusion step 2510 connected to the gas inlet 251, and an air outlet 252. The area including the gas inlet 251 and the gas diffusion step 2510 is covered with a cover, and therefore the gas inlet 251 and the gas diffusion step 2510 are depicted by dashed lines in FIG. 13(a). The gas diffusion step 2510 has a triangular shape in top view, which provides gas with diffusibility that allows it to easily spread laterally across the tray, as indicated by the hollow arrows in the figure. In FIG. 15, the dashed line F represents a film and also indicates the film support surface. However, because a cover covering the gas diffusion step 2510 and other components is located at the left end of the dashed line, only that area is depicted by a solid line. 15, the gas is diffused by the gas diffusion step 2510, enters the tray T, and is sent rearward, after which it finally turns downward and is discharged through the multiple air outlets 252. Note that the gas inlet 251 is disposed in the front (corresponding to the long side of the tray), while the air outlet 252 is disposed in the rear (corresponding to the opposing long side of the tray), but they may also be configured to be disposed on either side (either on both sides or on one side) corresponding to the short sides of the tray. Also, although the air outlet 252 is configured to communicate downward, it may also be configured to communicate rearward.

[0043] As shown in Figure 13(a), the lower die 25 has three lower die holes 253 for detecting the die size, one of which is filled depending on the size. The unfilled holes serve as light-transmitting sections, while the filled holes function as light-shielding or reflective sections. The tray T is raised by having its edges supported by tray edge supports 254 provided inside the lower die 25. The center of the lower die 25 is perforated vertically, and at this position, a container bottom support 26 is fixedly provided to the housing (see Figure 16).

[0044] A method for attaching and detaching the lower die will be described using Figure 14. Figure 14 is a perspective view showing how the lower die is attached to and detached from the lower die folder. As shown in the figure, with the lower die 25 loaded in the lower die folder 250, the lower die 25 can be easily attached and detached to and from the lower die folder 250 by gripping the hole into which the tray falls inside the tray edge support portion 254 of the lower die 25, that is, by gripping the surrounding areas, that is, the upper surface, lower surface, and inner surface, as the gripping portion.

[0045] The upper die 24, the upper die holder 240, and the lower die 25 cooperate to push up the tray T, perform a gas replacement process to extend the shelf life of the packaged items, and then perform the packaging process. This operation will be described below. Figure 16 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the lower die is pushed up relative to the upper die. Figure 16(a) shows the state in which the lower die 25 has risen slightly from the lowest position, Figure 16(b) shows the state in which the lower die 25 has risen significantly and is in contact with the film F to form a closed space, and Figure 16(c) shows the state in which the lower die 25 continues to rise, contacts the metal plate 242, and then rises further, and the film F has been cut (cut out) by the film cutting means 244. Partially enlarged views of parts B and C are also shown below Figures 16(b) and 16(c), respectively.

[0046] The tray T transported by the transport means IB from the weighing means 1 is initially supported at its bottom by the container bottom support portion 26. Thereafter, when the lower die 25 rises, support of the bottom of the tray T by the container bottom support portion 26 is taken over by support of the edge of the tray T by the tray edge support portion 254 of the lower die 25, as shown in FIG. 16(a). Thereafter, when the lower die 25 rises to the position shown in FIG. 16(b), a closed space is formed by the lower die 25 and the film F, and an inert gas is injected through the gas inlet 251 and the gas diffusion step portion 2510 to replace the air present in the space formed between the film F and the tray T. Instead, the air is discharged from the air outlet 252. This results in a gas replacement process (gas flush) being performed to extend the shelf life of the packaged products. The lower die 25 continues to rise thereafter, and the edge of the tray T comes into contact with the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 (this state is not shown, and the lower die 25 is positioned at a height between Figures 16(b) and 16(c)). In this state, while or after the top is sealed, the lower die 25 continues to rise, and the excess length around the top-sealed film is cut off by the film cutting means 244. Figure 16(c) shows that the edges of the film F and tray T are sandwiched between the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 and the tray edge support portion 254 of the lower die 25, with the cutting edge of the film cutting means 244 positioned below them. The mechanism by which the edge of the tray T first comes into contact with the metal plate 242 and then with the film cutting means 244 is achieved by setting the downward biasing force of the metal plate 242 to be weaker than the biasing force of the film cutting means 244, and by configuring the metal plate 242 to retreat upward relative to the film cutting means 244. Although not shown, when the lower die 25 descends, support of the edge of the tray T by the tray edge support parts 254 of the lower die 25 is taken over by support of the bottom surface of the tray T by the container bottom support parts 26, and then the tray T is transported to the transfer means 3 by the transport means IB.

[0047] (Gas replacement treatment) Gas replacement processes to extend the shelf life of packaged products are performed by replacing air with an inert gas. Inert gases are created by adjusting the ratio of three gases—nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen—to extend the shelf life of food. While oxygen may seem unnecessary, it is actually necessary to maintain the redness of meat. As mentioned above, gas can be efficiently delivered by injecting gas between the film and the container while the upper and lower die-cutting dies are closed. In other words, gas injection time can be shortened by injecting gas through the gas inlet 251 while evacuating the air inside the die-cutting dies through the air outlet 252. Furthermore, since the gas inlet 251 is located on the side of the weighing device 1, gas can be injected from the same position even with die-cutting dies of different sizes. Furthermore, since the gas inlet 251 and air outlet 252 are located in the film transport direction, the film can be reliably covered without shifting left or right. Here, only one type of film is used to eliminate the need to change film for each tray size. The same is true for trays T, which are all the same width and only differ in depth (however, multiple heights may be prepared), so film can be used without waste. Conventionally, most gas replacement packaging involves injecting gas into the bag during the manufacturing process. This embodiment is highly significant in that it achieves efficient gas replacement processing at the top seal by injecting gas while the film is sandwiched between the bags. Also, the configuration may be such that vacuum packaging can be selected by not injecting gas through the gas inlet 251 but evacuating the air from inside the die through the air outlet 252. Furthermore, the configuration may be such that neither gas injection nor air evacuation is performed, in other words, normal packaging can be selected.

[0048] The gas replacement time can be changed automatically or manually depending on the size of the tray T (large, medium, and small). Alternatively, the gas replacement time can be changed depending on the expiration date. The expiration date can be selected directly on the console 6, or a recommended expiration date can be linked to product information, and the gas replacement time can be automatically changed depending on the product selection. Furthermore, multiple gas inlets can be provided, for example, three dedicated inlets for nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, allowing the optimal gas ratio to be adjusted by setting or automatic control.

[0049] (Regarding another embodiment) The embodiments described so far have been for carrying out weighing, packaging, and labeling processes, but a packaging-only mode may be provided for carrying out only packaging. The packaging-only mode is suitable for fixed-price products that do not require weighing. Since there is no need to transfer the products to the transfer means for labeling, in the packaging-only mode, the conveying means IB may be configured to rotate in the reverse direction after packaging and eject the tray to the front side. Alternatively, the device may be configured as a dedicated device for packaging only. Even in this case, it falls within the scope of the technical idea of ​​performing a gas replacement process to extend the expiration date of the packaged products and a packaging process using a top seal substantially simultaneously. Furthermore, rather than switching to a packaging-only mode, the present invention also includes a device configuration that is specialized for packaging. In other words, the device may be configured as a dedicated device that performs only packaging processing by communicating with a separate device, without having components such as a weighing means, a console for that purpose, or a labeling means.

[0050] In the embodiment described above, the weighing means is provided upstream of the packaging means 2, but the weighing function may also be provided at the position of the container bottom support part 26 (see FIG. 16) or the transfer means 3 (see FIG. 5). If the weighing function is provided in the transfer means 3, the product will be weighed and labeled after packaging. Furthermore, the weight to be measured at this time will include the tray weight, film weight, and gas weight, so it is advisable to tare the weight including these and print it out. Note that if the container bottom support part 26 or the transfer means 3 is provided with a weighing function, the area indicated by the dashed line "1" in FIG. 4 will simply be a loading area for transporting the packaged items into the device.

[0051] It is also possible to provide the packaging means at the front stage. That is, upper and lower die sets may be arranged in the dashed line area of ​​the weighing means 1 shown in Fig. 4, and the tray may be placed directly on the lower die set, after which weighing and labeling may be performed. In this case, the weighing function is provided in the container bottom support part 26 or the transfer means 3 described above. When this configuration is adopted, it is preferable to provide a shutter at the front part of the front stage, which closes as soon as the tray is placed thereon, to ensure safety.

[0052] In the embodiment described above, the inert gas is filled by a gas flush, which sprays gas to expel air. However, a gas replacement (in the narrow sense) mode may also be used, in which the air is removed and then the gas is introduced. This takes longer than gas flushing, but is advantageous in terms of gas diffusion and the ability of the gas to reach every corner. In this case, the air outlet is initially configured as a suction port for removing air. Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the film is configured to be suspended in the same direction as the weighing means 1, packaging means 2, and transporting means 3, which are arranged vertically from the front to the back of the device, and the tray width is set to a single size, but the film may also be configured to be suspended in a direction perpendicular to the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2, so that the tray width direction can be changed for each tray size.

[0053] <Summary of the embodiment> [Technical field] The present invention relates to a packaging device that covers a tray on which an item to be packaged is placed with a film and heat-seals the film to the edge of the tray. [Background technology] A conventional packaging device is one that performs the necessary processing on a large number of trays by carrying out top sealing processing and other processing on the trays while transporting packaged items on trays supplied on a conveyor (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art document] [Patent documents] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-515654 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be solved by the invention] In the packaging device described in Patent Document 1, the packaging means and multiple means for performing various other processes are arranged to protrude significantly along the conveying means, and no consideration is given to space saving. Therefore, while it is conceivable to efficiently and centrally arrange multiple processing means in one device to save space, there are cases where the trays are not moved to the appropriate positions with high precision when being handed over between multiple machine elements. The present invention addresses these problems and aims to provide a packaging device that can ensure the movement of containers so that they are moved to the appropriate position when being handed over at each location within the packaging device. [Means for solving the problem] (1) As described above, one aspect of this embodiment is a packaging device 100 characterized by comprising a conveying means IB that conveys a container T from upstream to downstream of the packaging means 2, a transfer means 3 arranged downstream of the conveying means IB, and a moving means 9 that receives the container T from the conveying means IB, moves it on the transfer means 3, and hands over the container T to the transfer means 3. According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a packaging device that can reliably move containers so that the container transfer positions at each location within the packaging device are appropriate positions.

[0054] (2) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device 100 described in (1), which is equipped with a label attachment means 7 that attaches a label to a container T, and the moving means 9 moves to the downstream end of the conveying means IB, supports the bottom of the container T, and moves it to the transfer means 3. After the support for the bottom of the container T is released, the side of the container T is pushed back toward the conveying means IB, thereby moving the container to a label attachment reference position in the width direction of the transfer means 3. According to the above configuration, the label can be attached at the correct position.

[0055] (3) One aspect of this embodiment is a packaging device 100 described in (1) or (2), which is provided with a stopper 93 downstream of the transfer means 3 that prevents the container T from moving outside the area of ​​the transfer means 3, and while the container T abuts against the stopper 93, the movement of the transfer means 9 continues, thereby releasing the hold on the container T. According to the above configuration, the container can be reliably transferred from the moving means 9 to the transferring means 3.

[0056] (4) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device 100 described in any one of (1) to (3), in which the moving means 9 moves the container once and then pushes it back toward the conveying means IB, and the amount of push-back varies depending on the size of the container T. According to the above configuration, even if the size of the container to be packaged is changed, the container can be placed in the appropriate position.

[0057] The packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes design changes within the scope of the present invention that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 100 Packaging equipment 1 Measuring means 11 Shutter 2 Packaging means 21 Film hanging means 211 Film holding means 212 Surplus film winding means 24 Upper cutting die 24H Upper Die Storage Means 240 Top-cutting folder 241 Heating means 242 Metal plate (top seal part) 243 Heater Link 244 Film cutting means 245 Upper punch hole 246 Gripping part during transportation 247 Peripheral bottom plate 25 Lower die (gas replacement means) 25H Lower die accommodation means 251 Gas inlet 2510 Gas diffusion step 252 Air exhaust port 253 Bottom punching hole 26 Container bottom support part 3. Transportation means (conveyor belt) 4 1st discharge stand 5 Second discharge platform 6 Console (display) 7 Labeling method 71 Label attachment means slide rail 72 Anti-tip legs 9. Means of movement (slider) IB Conveying means (infeed bar) HTM Heat Transfer Material BT1 Buffer Tank 1 BT2 Buffer Tank 2 T-Tray R roll film DR Dancer Roller

Claims

1. 1. A packaging device comprising: a packaging means for sealing the container with a film; a conveying means for conveying the container from upstream to downstream of the packaging means; a transfer means disposed downstream of the conveying means; a moving means for receiving the container from the conveying means, moving the container on the transfer means, and transferring the container to the transfer means. A packaging device characterized by:

2. A labeling means for attaching a label to the container is provided, The moving means moves to the downstream end of the conveying means, supports the bottom surface of the container, and moves it to the transferring means. After the support of the bottom surface of the container is released, the moving means pushes the side surface of the container back toward the conveying means, thereby moving the container to a label application reference position in the width direction of the transferring means.

2. The packaging device according to claim 1.

3. a stopper is provided downstream of the transfer means to prevent the container from moving out of the area of ​​the transfer means; While the container is in contact with the stopper, the movement of the moving means continues, thereby releasing the container from its holding state.

3. The packaging device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The moving means moves the container once and then pushes it back toward the conveying means, and the amount of push back is varied depending on the size of the container.

2. The packaging device according to claim 1.

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