Bag feeding device

Abstract

In a bag supply device, this effectively eliminates the adhesion between bags. [Solution] The bag supply device 10 has a support surface 25b that supports the bag B from below, a transport belt that transports the bag B along the transport direction d1, a feed belt 33f that contacts the bag B from above and feeds the bag B along the transport direction d1, and a vibration generating mechanism 40 that vibrates the bag B via the feed belt 33f.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a bag supply device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a bag supply device that supplies bags to a bag processing machine such as a bag packing machine has been used. The bag supply device is a device that supplies bags one by one from a stack of a large number of bags to the bag processing machine. Patent Document 1 describes an example of such a bag supply device. This bag supply device has bag separation means, a positioning stopper, and bag lifting means. In this bag supply device, the bags included in the bag group are separated from each other by the bag separation means and conveyed along the conveyance direction until they come into contact with the positioning stopper and are positioned in the take-out area. The bags arranged in the take-out area are lifted by the bag lifting means and supplied to the bag processing machine.

[0003] When the adhesive force acting between adjacent bags is large, the bags may not be properly separated by the bag separation means. In this case, there is a possibility that a plurality of bags are lifted by the bag lifting means while being in close contact with each other in the take-out area and supplied to the bag processing machine.

[0004] In order to solve such a problem, the bag supply device described in Patent Document 1 is provided with empty bag loosening means. The empty bag loosening means includes an air cylinder as a drive source and a loosening member fixed to the tip of the piston rod of the air cylinder. In this empty bag loosening means, the loosening member vibrates back and forth by the operation of the air cylinder and intermittently contacts the bag group sent to the empty bag separation means by the belt conveyor, and the adhesion between the bags can be loosened.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0006] In such bag supply devices, there is a need to more effectively eliminate the adhesion between bags before they are placed in the dispensing area.

[0007] This invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to effectively eliminate the adhesion between bags in a bag supply device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of this disclosure is, [1] A support surface that supports the bag from below, and a transport belt that transports the bag along the transport direction, A feed belt that contacts the bag from above and feeds the bag along the conveying direction, A bag supply device comprising a vibration generating mechanism that vibrates the bag via the feed belt, Regarding.

[0009] One aspect of this disclosure is, [2] The bag has an area from which it is removed from the bag supply device, The vibration generating mechanism vibrates the bag at a predetermined position upstream of the removal area in the conveying direction, as described in [1], the bag supply device. Regarding.

[0010] One aspect of this disclosure is, [3] The vibration generating mechanism vibrates the bag in a direction parallel to the support surface, as described in [1], the bag supply device Regarding.

[0011] One aspect of this disclosure is, [4] The vibration generating mechanism vibrates the bag in at least a lateral direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, as described in [3], the bag supply device Regarding.

[0012] One aspect of the present disclosure is [5] The vibration generating mechanism vibrates the bag in the conveying direction and the lateral direction, the bag supply device according to [4]. relates to.

[0013] One aspect of the present disclosure is [6] The vibration generating mechanism vibrates the bag only in the lateral direction, the bag supply device according to [4]. relates to.

[0014] One aspect of the present disclosure is [7] The vibration generating mechanism includes a crank mechanism, the bag supply device according to [1]. relates to.

[0015] One aspect of the present disclosure is [8] A support portion, a first pulley having a rotation axis and rotatably supported around the rotation axis with respect to the support portion, a second pulley located upstream of the first pulley in the conveying direction and movable around the rotation axis of the first pulley, and the feed belt is stretched over the first pulley and the second pulley, the bag supply device according to [1]. relates to. <00,00083>

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, in the bag supply device, the adhesion between the bags can be effectively eliminated.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present disclosure, and is a perspective view showing an example of a bag supply device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the bag supply device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a view showing the bag supply device as viewed from the lateral direction. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a view showing the bag supply device as viewed from the upstream side in the conveying direction. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the vibration generation mechanism of the bag supply device shown in Figure 4. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the present disclosure, showing an example of a bag supply device 10. Figure 2 is a block view of the bag supply device 10.

[0019] The bag supply device 10 in this embodiment is a device that supplies bags B to another device. The other device may be, for example, a packaging device that fills bags B with contents and packages them. In this case, the bag supply device 10 performs a bag supply process to supply bags B to the packaging device, and the packaging device performs a packaging process using the bags B supplied from the bag supply device 10.

[0020] In the example shown in Figure 1, the bag supply device 10 includes a transfer device 25, a bag loosening device 17, a dispensing device 33, a paddle device 30, a vibration generating mechanism 40, a stopper 34, a forward end detection device 35, and a removal device 28. The bag supply device 10 also includes a bag transport path T through which the bags B are transported, and a removal area P from which the bags B are removed by the removal device 28.

[0021] In this specification, the direction in which bag B is transported is defined as the transport direction d1, and the directions perpendicular to the transport direction d1 are defined as the lateral direction d2 and the vertical direction d3. The transport direction d1, the lateral direction d2, and the vertical direction d3 are all perpendicular to each other. The lateral direction d2 coincides with the horizontal direction. The transport direction d1 may also coincide with the horizontal direction. In this case, the vertical direction d3 coincides with the vertical direction. The vertical direction is the direction in which gravity acts. Furthermore, the transport direction d1 may be slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal direction so that it becomes lower as it approaches the downstream side. In this case, the vertical direction d3 is also slightly inclined with respect to the vertical direction. Bag B is transported by the transport device 25 from the upstream side to the downstream side along the transport direction d1.

[0022] The transfer device 25 in this embodiment may be configured as a belt conveyor. In this embodiment, the transfer device 25 includes a transfer belt 25a and a transfer motor. The transfer belt 25a is an endless belt and is stretched between a drive pulley and a driven pulley. The transfer motor is controlled by the control device 15 to drive the drive pulley. The transfer belt 25a constitutes at least a part of the bag transport path T. The transfer belt 25a is moved downstream by the drive pulley, thereby transporting a plurality of bags B placed on the transfer belt 25a downstream toward the retrieval area P. The transfer belt 25a has a support surface 25b that supports the bags B from below. In the example shown in Figure 1, the upper surface of the transfer belt 25a constitutes the support surface 25b.

[0023] In the example shown in Figure 1, in the upstream portion of the bag transport path T (left side of Figure 1), multiple bags B are arranged in an upright position, overlapping each other horizontally. On the other hand, as you move downstream of the bag transport path T (right side of Figure 1), each bag B gradually approaches a reclined position, and at the retrieval area P, which is the downstream position of the bag transport path T, the bag B1 to be retrieved most recently is positioned lying down on the transport belt.

[0024] Bag B2, which is adjacent to the immediately preceding bag B1 on the upstream side, is positioned so as to at least partially overlap the adjacent bag B3 further upstream, with its upper surface exposed. Bag B2 becomes the next bag to be removed, to be placed in the removal area P after the immediately preceding bag B1 has been removed. In the state shown in Figure 1, bag B2 is located directly below the paddle 30a.

[0025] In this manner, multiple bags B on the bag transport path T are placed in the retrieval area P in order from the downstream bag B, and are retrieved from the retrieval area P by the retrieval device 28 and supplied to other subsequent devices (e.g., packaging devices). In particular, in the example shown in Figure 1, bags B other than the most recent bag B1 to be retrieved located in the retrieval area P (including bags B2 and B3 shown in Figure 1) are placed on adjacent bags B on the upstream side, partially or completely overlapping them.

[0026] The bag loosening device 17 is a device for loosening the adhesion between multiple bags B arranged in the upstream portion of the bag transport path T relative to the dispensing device 33. The bag loosening device 17 is located above the transfer device 25 and upstream of the bag transport path T relative to the dispensing device 33. The bag loosening device 17 in this embodiment includes an air cylinder 18 and a contact member 19. The air cylinder 18 is the drive source for the bag loosening device 17. The air cylinder 18 may be controlled by a control device 15. The contact member 19 is a member fixed to the tip of the piston rod of the air cylinder 18. The contact member 19 is configured to be able to contact multiple bags B arranged in the upstream portion of the bag transport path T relative to the dispensing device 33. In this bag loosening device 17, when the air cylinder 18 is driven, the contact member 19 vibrates back and forth, and the contact member 19 intermittently contacts the multiple bags B arranged in the upstream portion of the bag transport path T relative to the dispensing device 33. This loosens the adhesion between the multiple bags B. Note that the bag loosening device 17 may be omitted. In other words, the bag supply device 10 does not need to have the bag loosening device 17.

[0027] The dispensing device 33 and paddle device 30 shown in Figures 1 to 3 position the downstreammost bag (the leading bag) B, which is the next bag to be removed, in the removal area P from among the multiple bags B that are transported from upstream by the transfer device 25. The dispensing device 33 then sends one or more bags, including the bag that is to be placed in the removal area P next, downstream toward the removal area P.

[0028] In the example shown in Figure 1, the feeding device 33 includes a drive motor 32, a rotating shaft 33a, a first pulley 33c, a freely swinging arm 33d, a second pulley 33e, and a feed belt 33f. The drive motor 32 is controlled by the control device 15 to rotate the rotating shaft 33a. The rotating shaft 33a is rotatably supported at both ends by the support portion 31 (see Figure 3) of the bag supply device 10 and rotates driven by the drive motor 32.

[0029] The first pulley 33c is fixed to the rotating shaft 33a and rotates together with the rotating shaft 33a around the axis of rotation of the rotating shaft 33a. Therefore, the first pulley 33c is also a drive pulley. Since the rotating shaft 33a is supported by the support part 31 and the first pulley 33c is fixed to the rotating shaft 33a, it can also be said that the first pulley 33c is supported by the support part 31 via the rotating shaft 33a. The axis of rotation of the first pulley 33c 33c1 (see Figure 2) and the axis of rotation of the rotating shaft 33a coincide with each other.

[0030] The free-swinging arm 33d is attached to the rotating shaft 33a and is rotatable relative to the rotating shaft 33a. In particular, the free-swinging arm 33d is rotatable around the rotation axis of the rotating shaft 33a (the rotation axis 33c1 of the first pulley 33c). The second pulley 33e is rotatably attached to the tip of the free-swinging arm 33d. In the illustrated example, the second pulley 33e is a driven pulley. The second pulley 33e is located upstream of the first pulley 33c in the conveying direction d1. Because the free-swinging arm 33d is rotatable relative to the rotation axis 33c1 of the first pulley 33c, the second pulley 33e is movable around the rotation axis 33c1 of the first pulley 33c.

[0031] The feed belt 33f is stretched between the first pulley 33c and the second pulley 33e. The feed belt 33f contacts the bag B located on the support surface 25b of the transport belt 25a from above and feeds the bag B along the transport direction d1. The bag B (B2) that comes into contact with the feed belt 33f is separated from other bags B (B3) upstream by the feed belt 33f and fed forward. The position of the feeding device 33 may be adjusted as appropriate. For example, the position of the feeding device 33 may be adjusted according to the characteristics of the bag B to be transported, such as its size and thickness. The position of the feeding device 33 may also be adjusted to secure workspace for maintenance work, etc.

[0032] The feed belt 33f is positioned above the bag transport path T (the transport belt of the transport device 25), and the space between the feed belt 33f and the bag transport path T is locally narrowed. This prevents a large number of bags from moving downstream of the feed belt 33f while maintaining an upright position, and allows only a limited number of bags (for example, a few bags) to be sent downstream in a horizontal or near-horizontal position.

[0033] The paddle device 30 further sends the bag B, which has been sent out from the dispensing device 33, downstream to position it in the retrieval area P. The paddle device 30 in this example has a paddle 30a and a paddle drive unit. The paddle 30a is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown). The paddle drive unit is controlled by the control device 15 to drive the paddle 30a up and down. The paddle 30a includes a rotating body and a plurality of blade members. The rotating body is rotationally driven by the control device 15. The blade members are flexible and highly elastic. Each blade member extends radially outward from the rotating body.

[0034] One or more blade members contact the bag B to be fed from above and rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating main body, thereby selectively feeding the bag B downstream and positioning it in the retrieval area P. In particular, the bag fed downstream by the paddle 30a is pressed against the stopper 34, ensuring that the bag is reliably positioned in the retrieval area P in the desired orientation.

[0035] Whether or not the bag is positioned in the retrieval area P is detected by the forward end detection device 35. This detection result is reported from the forward end detection device 35 to the control device 15. The specific configuration and detection method of the forward end detection device 35 are not particularly limited. The forward end detection device 35 can detect whether or not the bag B is positioned in the retrieval area P, for example, physically or optically. As an example, the forward end detection device 35 may have a detection piece (dog) positioned slightly upstream of the stopper 34 that is moved when an external force is applied. In this case, when the forward end detection device 35 reports to the control device 15 that the detection piece has been pushed by the bag B positioned in the retrieval area P, the control device 15 can determine that the bag B is positioned in the retrieval area P.

[0036] If the control device 15 determines that no bag B is located in the retrieval area P, it drives the dispensing device 33 and the paddle device 30 to position a new bag B to be retrieved in the retrieval area P. On the other hand, if the control device 15 determines that a bag B is located in the retrieval area P, it controls the dispensing device 33 and the paddle device 30 so that no new bag B is placed in the retrieval area P.

[0037] The paddle drive unit of the paddle device 30 is controlled by the control device 15 to move the paddle 30a in the vertical direction. As a result, the paddle device 30 moves between a delivery position (downward position) and a retracted position (upward position). When the paddle 30a is positioned in the delivery position, it contacts the bag B to be delivered on the bag transport path T from above. On the other hand, when the paddle 30a is positioned in the retracted position, it is moved sufficiently upward from the bag B on the bag transport path T so as not to interfere with the removal of the bag B from the removal area P by the removal device 28 and the supply of the bag B to other devices.

[0038] The retrieval device 28 is a device that retrieves bag B located in the retrieval area P and hands it over to another subsequent device (e.g., a packaging device). In the example shown in Figure 1, the retrieval device 28 retrieves bag B located in the retrieval area P and hands it over to the gripper 91 of another device.

[0039] The retrieval device 28 may have a suction cup capable of adhering to the side wall surface of the bag (particularly the upper side wall surface exposed upwards), and a suction cup drive unit controlled by the control device 15 to drive the suction cup up and down. In this case, the retrieval device 28 adsorbs the bag B located in the retrieval area P using the suction cup positioned at the suction position (lower position). Then, by moving the suction cup upward, the bag B is removed from the retrieval area P. The removed bag B is then passed to the gripper 91 of another device. When passing the bag B from the suction cup to the gripper 91, the bag B may be passed from the suction cup to a chuck device (not shown), and then from the chuck device to the gripper 91.

[0040] The control device 15 controls the overall operation of the bag supply device 10. In the example shown in Figure 2, the control device 15 is connected to a forward end detection device 35, a drive motor 32, a paddle device 30, a removal device 28, and a vibration generating mechanism 40. The control device 15 receives signals from the forward end detection device 35 and controls the forward end detection device 35, the drive motor 32, the paddle device 30, the removal device 28, and the vibration generating mechanism 40.

[0041] Next, the vibration generation mechanism 40 of the bag supply device 10 will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the bag supply device 10 viewed from the side. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the bag supply device 10 viewed from the upstream side in the conveying direction d1. Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the vibration generation mechanism 40 of the bag supply device 10 in Figure 4, and in particular, it is an enlarged view of the part labeled V in Figure 4.

[0042] As described above, in the bag supply device 10, in the upstream portion of the bag transport path T (left side in Figure 1), multiple bags B are arranged in an upright position, overlapping each other horizontally. Here, if the adhesive force acting between adjacent bags is large, the bags may not be properly separated in the dispensing device. In this case, there is a risk that multiple bags will be lifted by the dispensing device while still in close contact with each other in the dispensing area and supplied to other subsequent devices (e.g., packaging devices). The inventors of this invention have diligently investigated this problem and have found that the bags located on the transport belt can be vibrated via the feed belt of the dispensing device to eliminate the adhesion between bags.

[0043] The bag supply device 10 of this embodiment includes a vibration generating mechanism 40 that vibrates the bags B via the feed belt 33f. The vibration generating mechanism 40 applies vibration to the bags B in contact with the feed belt 33f when multiple bags B are positioned between the support surface 25b and the feed belt 33f. The vibration generating mechanism 40 may vibrate the bags B at a predetermined position upstream of the retrieval area P in the conveying direction d1. The direction, amplitude, and frequency of the vibration applied to the bags B by the vibration generating mechanism 40 are not particularly limited.

[0044] The vibration generating mechanism 40 may vibrate the bag B in a direction parallel to the support surface 25b of the transfer belt 25a. In this case, the bag B in contact with the feed belt 33f can be vibrated in such a way that it is shifted in the planar direction relative to other bags B that are overlapping with it. Therefore, the close contact between the bag B in contact with the feed belt 33f and other bags B that are overlapping with it can be effectively eliminated.

[0045] The vibration generating mechanism 40 may vibrate the bag B at least in the lateral direction d2. The vibration generating mechanism 40 may vibrate the bag B in the conveying direction d1 and the lateral direction d2, or it may vibrate the bag B only in the lateral direction d2. When the bag B is vibrated in the conveying direction d1 and the lateral direction d2, the vibration generating mechanism 40 may vibrate the bag B in a trajectory such as a circle or an ellipse.

[0046] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, an example of the specific configuration of the vibration generating mechanism 40 will be described. Here, an example will be described in which the vibration generating mechanism 40 vibrates the bag B only in the lateral direction d2. The vibration generating mechanism 40 of this embodiment includes a rail 42, a sliding member 44, and a crank mechanism 50. The rail 42 is fixed to the frame 12 of the bag supply device 10. In the illustrated example, the rail 42 extends linearly along the lateral direction d2. The sliding member 44 is a member configured to be slidable relative to the rail 42. Therefore, the sliding member 44 is movable only in the lateral direction d2. The sliding member 44 may consist of a single part or multiple parts. One end of the sliding member 44 is slidably connected to the rail 42, and the other end is fixed to the drive motor 32 of the feeding device 33. Therefore, the sliding member 44 and the drive motor 32 can move integrally with respect to the rail 42.

[0047] The crank mechanism 50 is a mechanism that vibrates the slide member 44 and the drive motor 32 relative to the frame 12. The crank mechanism 50 includes a motor 52, an eccentric pin 54, and a connecting rod 56. The motor 52 is a drive source controlled by the control device 15 that generates a driving force to vibrate the slide member 44 and the drive motor 32. The motor 52 has an output shaft 53. The output shaft 53 extends linearly along the central axis A1. The central axis A1 extends in the vertical direction d3. The output shaft 53 can rotate around the central axis A1 by the driving force of the motor 52.

[0048] The eccentric pin 54 is fixed to the output shaft 53. The eccentric pin 54 extends linearly along the central axis A2. The central axis A2 extends in the vertical direction d3. Therefore, the central axis A2 of the eccentric pin 54 and the central axis A1 of the output shaft 53 extend parallel to each other. The central axis A2 of the eccentric pin 54 is positioned offset by an eccentricity amount E in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction d3 relative to the central axis A1 of the output shaft 53. As a result, when the output shaft 53 rotates around the central axis A1, the eccentric pin 54 pivots around the central axis A1 of the output shaft 53.

[0049] The connecting rod 56 is a component that connects the eccentric pin 54 and the sliding member 44. One end of the connecting rod 56 is rotatably connected to the eccentric pin 54, and the other end is rotatably connected to the sliding member 44.

[0050] When the control device 15 drives the motor 52, the output shaft 53 of the motor 52 rotates around the central axis A1. As a result, the eccentric pin 54 pivots around the central axis A1 of the output shaft 53. Along with the pivoting of the eccentric pin 54, one end of the connecting rod 56 pivots together with the eccentric pin 54 around the central axis A1 of the output shaft 53. The other end of the connecting rod 56 is connected to a sliding member 44 that is movable only in the lateral direction d2. Therefore, the other end of the connecting rod 56 reciprocates along the lateral direction d2. As the other end of the connecting rod 56 reciprocates, the sliding member 44 and the drive motor 32 vibrate along the lateral direction d2. As a result, the entire feeding device 33, including the drive motor 32, vibrates along the lateral direction d2.

[0051] Here, if the eccentricity E of the central axis A2 of the eccentric pin 54 relative to the central axis A1 of the output shaft 53 is, for example, 1 mm, the entire feeding device 33 vibrates with an amplitude of 2 mm. Therefore, the amplitude of vibration caused by the vibration generating mechanism 40 can be adjusted by changing the eccentricity E. In addition, the frequency of vibration caused by the vibration generating mechanism 40 can be adjusted by changing the rotational speed of the motor 52.

[0052] The specific configuration of the vibration generating mechanism 40 is not limited to the configuration described above. The vibration generating mechanism 40 may generate vibrations by, for example, driving an air cylinder. Furthermore, the vibration generating mechanism 40 may generate vibrations by other configurations.

[0053] The bag supply device 10 of this embodiment has a support surface 25b that supports the bag B from below, a transport belt that transports the bag B along the transport direction d1, a feed belt 33f that contacts the bag B from above and feeds the bag B along the transport direction d1, and a vibration generating mechanism 40 that vibrates the bag B via the feed belt 33f.

[0054] In the bag supply device 10, in the upstream portion of the bag transport path T, multiple bags B are arranged in an upright position, overlapping each other horizontally. If the adhesive force acting between adjacent bags is large, the bags may not be properly separated in the dispensing device. In this case, there is a risk that multiple bags will be lifted by the removal device while still in close contact with each other in the removal area and supplied to subsequent devices. Also, when multiple bags are sent to the paddle device while overlapping, the distance between the paddle device and the uppermost bag decreases, causing the bag to be pressed strongly against the paddle device. As a result, the paddle device pushes the bag toward the stopper with great force, which may cause the bag to bend between the paddle device and the stopper. In this case, the suction position of the bag by the removal device may shift, and there is a risk that the bag will not be able to be properly gripped by the gripper.

[0055] According to the bag supply device 10 of this embodiment, a vibration generating mechanism 40 is provided to vibrate the bags B via the feed belt 33f, thereby vibrating the bags B that are in contact with the feed belt 33f. This vibration effectively eliminates the adhesion between the bag B in contact with the feed belt 33f and other bags B that are overlapping with that bag B.

[0056] The bag supply device 10 of this embodiment has a removal area P from which bags B are removed from the bag supply device 10, and the vibration generating mechanism 40 vibrates the bags B at a predetermined position upstream of the removal area P in the transport direction d1.

[0057] With this type of bag supply device 10, any sticking between bags B can be resolved before the bags B reach the retrieval area P. Therefore, bags B can be fed to the retrieval area P one at a time.

[0058] In the bag supply device 10 of this embodiment, the vibration generating mechanism 40 vibrates the bag B in a direction parallel to the support surface 25b.

[0059] With this type of bag supply device 10, a bag B in contact with the feed belt 33f can be vibrated in a way that causes it to shift in the planar direction relative to other bags B that are overlapping it. Therefore, the adhesion between a bag B in contact with the feed belt 33f and other bags B that are overlapping it can be more effectively eliminated.

[0060] In the bag supply device 10 of this embodiment, the vibration generating mechanism 40 vibrates the bag B in at least the lateral direction d2 which is perpendicular to the conveying direction d1.

[0061] In the bag supply device 10 of this embodiment, the vibration generating mechanism 40 vibrates the bag B in the conveying direction d1 and the lateral direction d2.

[0062] In the bag supply device 10 of this embodiment, the vibration generating mechanism 40 vibrates the bag B only in the lateral direction d2.

[0063] During the process of conveying bags B in the bag supply device 10, the transfer device 25 and the dispensing device 33 may apply a force to bags B along the conveying direction d1. This force along the conveying direction d1 may sometimes dislodge the bags B from sticking together. However, this force along the conveying direction d1 alone may not be sufficient to completely dislodge the bags B from sticking together. During the process of conveying bags B in the bag supply device 10, normally no large force acts on bags B in the lateral direction d2. According to the bag supply device 10 of this embodiment, by applying vibrations in the lateral direction d2, which normally do not apply to bags B, the bags B from sticking together becomes even easier to dislodge.

[0064] In the bag supply device 10 of this embodiment, the vibration generating mechanism 40 includes a crank mechanism 50.

[0065] With such a bag supply device 10, vibrations can be generated with a simple configuration.

[0066] The bag supply device 10 of this embodiment includes a support section 31, a first pulley 33c having a rotation axis 33c1 and supported so as to be rotatable around the rotation axis 33c1 relative to the support section 31, and a second pulley 33e located upstream of the first pulley 33c in the conveying direction d1 and movable around the rotation axis 33c1 of the first pulley 33c, and the feed belt 33f is stretched between the first pulley 33c and the second pulley 33e.

[0067] With this type of bag feeding device 10, the contact area between the feed belt 33f and the bag B is increased, so that vibration can be applied to the bag B more effectively.

[0068] It should be noted that the embodiments and modifications disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should not be construed restrictively. The embodiments and modifications described above may be omitted, substituted, and modified in various ways without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims. For example, the embodiments and modifications described above may be combined in whole or in part, and other embodiments may be combined with the embodiments or modifications described above. Furthermore, the effects described herein are illustrative, and other effects may result.

[0069] [Note] The following configurations also fall within the scope of the disclosed technology.

[0070] [Aspect 1] A support surface that supports the bag from below, and a transport belt that transports the bag along the transport direction, A feed belt that contacts the bag from above and feeds the bag along the conveying direction, A bag supply device comprising a vibration generating mechanism that vibrates the bag via the feed belt.

[0071] [Aspect 2] The bag has an extraction area from which it is removed from the bag supply device, The bag supply device according to embodiment 1, wherein the vibration generating mechanism vibrates the bag at a predetermined position upstream of the removal area in the conveying direction.

[0072] [Aspect 3] The bag supply device according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the vibration generating mechanism vibrates the bag in a direction parallel to the support surface.

[0073] [Aspect 4] The bag supply device according to embodiment 3, wherein the vibration generating mechanism vibrates the bag in a lateral direction at least perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0074] [Aspect 5] The bag supply device according to embodiment 4, wherein the vibration generating mechanism vibrates the bag in the conveying direction and the lateral direction.

[0075] [Aspect 6] The bag supply device according to embodiment 4, wherein the vibration generating mechanism vibrates the bag only in the lateral direction.

[0076] [Aspect 7] The bag supply device according to any one of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the vibration generating mechanism includes a crank mechanism.

[0077] [Aspect 8] Support part and A first pulley having a rotation axis and being rotatably supported by the support portion around the rotation axis, The system includes a second pulley located upstream of the first pulley in the conveying direction and movable around the rotation axis of the first pulley, The bag supply device according to any one of embodiments 1 to 7, wherein the feed belt is stretched between the first pulley and the second pulley. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0078] 10 Bag feeding device 12 frames 15 Control device 17. Bag loosening device 25 Transfer device 25a Transfer belt 25b Support surface 28 Removal device 30 paddle devices 30a Paddle 31 Support part 32 Drive motor 33 Dispensing device 33a Rotation axis 33c First Pulley 33c1 Rotation axis 33d Free-swinging arm 33e Second Pulley 33f feed belt 34 Stopper 35 Forward end detection device 40. Vibration generation mechanism 42 rails 44 Sliding member 50 Crank mechanism 52 Motors 53 Output shaft 54 Eccentric pin 56 connecting rods 91 Gripper T bag conveyance path P Retrieval Area B bag d1 Conveying direction d2 horizontal direction d3 Vertical direction

Claims

1. A support surface that supports the bag from below, and a transport belt that transports the bag along the transport direction, A feed belt that contacts the bag from above and feeds the bag along the conveying direction, A bag supply device comprising a vibration generating mechanism that vibrates the bag via the feed belt.

2. The bag has an extraction area from which it is removed from the bag supply device, The bag supply device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generating mechanism vibrates the bag at a predetermined position upstream of the removal area in the conveying direction.

3. The bag supply device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generating mechanism vibrates the bag in a direction parallel to the support surface.

4. The bag supply device according to claim 3, wherein the vibration generating mechanism vibrates the bag in a lateral direction at least perpendicular to the conveying direction.

5. The bag supply device according to claim 4, wherein the vibration generating mechanism vibrates the bag in the conveying direction and the lateral direction.

6. The bag supply device according to claim 4, wherein the vibration generating mechanism vibrates the bag only in the lateral direction.

7. The bag supply device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generating mechanism includes a crank mechanism.

8. Support part and A first pulley having a rotation axis and supported by the support portion so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis, The system includes a second pulley located upstream of the first pulley in the conveying direction and movable around the rotation axis of the first pulley, The bag feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the feed belt is stretched between the first pulley and the second pulley.

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